AN: Okay, this one came to me in the car (like many and/or all of my song-fics do) while I was riding around. I set it after Australia and Bug-me and whatnot. I thought that the timeline sorta fit. I know this song wasn't out then (2001, maybe?) but bear with me and pretend, okay? It's fanfic land anyway.

Spoiler: Boomerang Part 1 and 2, I suppose.

Disclaimer: The song Lonely No More belongs to Rob Thomas, and the only thing of JAG that I really want to own is a box set of season 2-10 DVD's. Obviously that hasn't come out yet, and I currently have spare change to my name.


1309 Local
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Harm clicked closed his email and looked for his partner across the bullpen. Spying her in her office, he straightened his gold wings and took a moment to fix his appearance before leaving his seat and knocking on her doorframe.

"Hey, Mac. Got a minute?"

"Yeah, sure, I can spare one." She finished a quick note and looked up from her papers, shaking her head to move her bangs out of her brown eyes.

"Good. I wanted to ask you a question." He fidgeted nervously, closing the door to her office quietly before returning to lean on the leather chair in front of her desk.

"Yes?" Mac arched a brow at his shyness; his averted eyes and soft words gave him the demeanor of a cute geek trying to ask out the head cheerleader to prom.

"Well, um. How would you...no. Uh, could I...?" He shook his head, dissatisfied with his wording. Clearing his throat, he tried to shake off his odd lapse of articulation. "Do you...want to...you know, have dinner with me?" He finally glanced up from picking a lintball off his cap, blinking his blue eyes hopefully.

"I..ah...well..." Mac stumbled over her words, frankly at a loss for what to say. She didn't regain her speech fast enough as Harm sighed irritably and turned away, looking crestfallen for a fleeting moment.

"No? Is that it, Mac? You were offering yourself up on a silver platter in Australia, but now you won't go to a simple restaurant here with me?" She stood up a little straighter, feeling indignant.

"I believe I had more dignity than you give me credit for, and second, it was in AUSTRALIA. Thousands of miles and a few oceans away from all this! The reason I asked you then was so I wouldn't have to now."

"Well it seems like you can't make up your mind; first you want to, now you don't. I'm not the only one running hot and cold here, Marine."

"Hot and cold? You're going to start THAT argument? Don't even Flyboy, because you've shown and withdrawn interest more times than Oprah has lost and gained weight." Scoffing, she leaned back and crossed her arms, staring defiantly at him.

"Obviously something about being in a different country changes you, Mac, seeing as that we're back in the States you've raised all your walls again. Except maybe for the jerk-off Aussie." Suppressing the rest of his choice words for the other man, he glared back at her.

"If it matters to you at all, he was involved in a tragic accident with a native marsupial." Harm just about choked on his laughter, but coughed and passed it off. Catching his breath, he patted his chest.

"He what?"

"You heard me. The details were a bit fuzzy though, the authorities didn't say much..."

"I bet they were fuzzy alright," he muttered under his breath, a grin tugging at his lips before she spoke again.

"You know what, Harm? If you're going to be like this, petty and jealous, then my answer is NO. And I think you can get your sorry six out of my office right now." Striding to the door, she held it open and stared straight ahead as Harm huffed and stormed out, crossing the pen and slamming his office door shut at the same time she did. Everyone winced at the sound, and hoped that they could avoid being in the way of their next blowout.


2030 Local
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

The Commander found that it was too late to be working any longer, and shuffled papers, stuffing them in his briefcase to glance over before bed tonight. Hearing a clatter, he leaned over and picked up a jewel case. Without thinking he threw it in along with the rest, thinking that Bud might've given it to him and he just forgot. Upon arriving home he sank into his couch and pulled out the CD.

/Hmm...well it looks to be audio, so I'll just stick it in the stereo./ He didn't pay attention to the handwriting that had written his name neatly across the front before closing the player and starting it. A little static scratched before he sat down and froze, hearing her voice instead of Bud's.

(Harm, you know who this is. I can't stand this dance, and I refuse to play along with your little games anymore. This is my way of saying what I need to say. Hope you get the message, you insensitive jerk.) With that her voice clicked off, and he sat, staring up at the ceiling blankly, wondering what was next.

Now it seems to me
That you know what just to say
Words are only words
Can you show me something else
Can you swear to me that you'll always be this way
Show me how you feel
More than ever baby

What...the hell? He'd only heard this song once before, and his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to decipher the message in this. /Does she mean that she..still wants to be with me/ Obviously he still hadn't quite grasped the concept that he was being an ass about things yet.

I don't wanna be lonely no more
I don't wanna have to pay for this
I don't want another lover at my door
It's just another heartache on my list

I don't wanna be angry no more
You know I could never stand for this
So when you tell me that you love me know for sure
I don't wanna be lonely anymore

/Mac! I..want to be your lover, but not just for one night. I want to be there every night, from now until eternity. I tried to start today; wasn't that enough? I..have caused you heartache...but I don't want you to be angry either.../ Slowly it sank in that his behavior might not have been sparkling, and quite damaging to their 'relationship', in fact. Shit.

Now it's hard for me with my heart still on the mend
Open up to me, like you do your girlfriends
And you sing to me and it's harmony
Girl, what you do to me is everything
Make me say anything; just to get you back again
Why can't we just try

He knew that those words weren't exactly right, but he got the gist of them. She DID still want to give him a chance; and he almost lost it. /It's so hard to let you in, Mac. Because you've broken me down before. Even though you were there to pick me back up and put me together again, it's scary not having my control./ He sighed before contemplating a few of the other words in the verse. Did he really do all that to her? (Yes, yes he did, folks.)

I don't wanna be lonely no more
I don't wanna have to pay for this
I don't want another lover at my door
It's just another heartache on my list

I don't wanna be angry no more
You know I could never stand for this
So when you tell me that you love me know for sure
I don't wanna be lonely anymore

/I think we've both paid the price of not being true to each other. We've both done enough to each other, and for each other. You could never stand for anything less than perfect; you deserve MORE than perfect. I only hope that you can stand for me./

What if I was good to you, what if you were good to me
What if I could hold you 'til I feel you move inside of me
What if it was paradise, what if we were symphonies
What if I gave all my life to find some way to stand beside you

/I'll be good to you, Mac. I promise. You've been more than good to me, I think. Standing beside my stubborn side for all these years, and we've both nearly lost our lives for each other. I think that's enough. Every time we can be together without screwing up will be paradise, and I hear symphonies of music every time you speak. I would do anything to hold you, Mac. I will give anything. Let it be enough, Lord, please/

I don't wanna be lonely no more
I don't wanna have to pay for this
I don't want another lover at my door
It's just another heartache on my list

I don't wanna be angry no more
You know I could never stand for this
When you tell me that you love me know for sure
I don't wanna be lonely anymore

Harm gathered his keys and pulled on a black shirt over his white tank. Shoving his legs through jeans, he ran a hand through his hair and gave up on it after one glance in the mirror. He stopped in front of the stereo after his frantic clean up to listen to the last 20 seconds of the song, its message still playing in his mind.

I don't wanna be lonely anymore
I don't wanna be lonely anymore
I don't wanna be lonely anymore

/You won't be lonely anymore, Mac. Not anymore, I promise./ He turned off the CD player and exited his apartment, running down the stairs to his SUV and revving the engine to get to Mac's faster than he had ever gotten there before.


2207 Local
Mac's Apartment
Washington, DC

Mac looked up confused at the fevered banging on her door, and crossed the room, adjusting the strap on her tank top before gasping at the sight of a passionate looking Harm; it was pretty damn sexy folks, and Mac was having a hard time keeping her knees from giving out when his smile flashed at her.

"I got your song." She blinked a few times before leaning against her door for support and trying to play off her moment of weakness against that grin.

"So you did." She arched a brow at him, waiting for him to make the first move.

"I'm ...sorry, Mac." He hung his head and apologized, humbly and honestly. Her heart fluttered when he raised those beautiful blue eyes to her again, though Harm was having a tough time keeping them on her face as she looked pretty damn cute in some Marines boxers and a tank top. She ushered him inside, but he didn't take a seat. Closing the door, she crossed her arms.

"Well..." she began, but he didn't let her finish. Putting a finger on her lips softly, he gripped her shoulder lightly.

"Shh, please. Let me get this out before I can't anymore. That song said more to me than anything else has in a long time. And I guess that goes to show just how stubborn I am, because you've been telling me all along what I need is you. And you're right. So when I say I love you, Sarah," he smiled at her sharp intake of breath, "trust me; I know for sure. I can feel it right here." He took one of her hands gently and placed it over his heart, which began beating very hard at the closeness of her body.

"Harm...I...I don't know what to say." Her heart rate increased as well, and she found herself drawn in to slip one arm around him. She looked up from a spot on his chest that she had been studying intently and finally met his gaze, feeling that those azure hues pierced her very soul.

"You don't have to say anything..." He leaned down tentatively, and brushed her lips with his. She leaned up and captured his before they got too far away and began a hungry kiss; their tongues dueled for control and they finally broke apart when the need for oxygen overpowered them both. Breathing heavily, a smile curled both their lips and Mac hugged him tightly, biting a bottom lip swollen from his kisses before whispering to him.

"I love you too, Harm. I love you too."

"I promise that you won't be lonely anymore, and that I'll open up to you and I'll-" he was silenced by another kiss, and any other talk was forgotten as they made their way to her bedroom; finally about to prove to each other what they were worth.


AN: Blah, the ending just kinda went bleh on me, but I think it turned out okay on the whole. Now, I had another idea for it to be a Harm to Mac situation. Anyone want to see me do that one? Review to let me know, or just tell me how great I am. That works too. :D