The Deal
By Bernadeen
Rated: M
Spoilers: Goodbyes, Standards of Conduct, and almost any other episodes before the end of season 8.
Disclaimers: I don't own and claim no rights to any of these wonderful characters. This story is only for entertainment purposes.
Summary: Of course it's about "The Baby Deal."
A/N: Here's the last chapter. To reviewers, thanks for your encouragement.I have a couple of more stories that are essentially complete but need a final edit, so you'll be seeing more from me in the next few weeks.
Chapter 5
Harm's apartment
Wednesday
1830 EST
Harm was testing the pasta for doneness when there was a knock on his door. He opened the door wide and Mac came in, shaking the snowflakes out of her hair. Smiling at the picture she made, he took her coat and asked, "Starting to snow?"
"Yeah, a little. I don't think it'll amount to much, though."
"The pasta's almost ready. Come talk to me."
Over a comfortable meal, Mac and Harm discussed the legal and factual issues involved in Mac's case. They hadn't done this for a long time and it felt good .. like old times .. like their friendship was back.
Later, with the meal finished and the case thoroughly analyzed, Mac couldn't find a good reason to stay. Regretfully, she rose and turned toward the door. "I should go .."
"You may want to rethink that."
When Mac turned back in surprise, Harm pointed toward the window. She walked over to it and looked out, dismayed to see that the snow was falling thick and fast, with the wind beginning to whip it around. "The forecast didn't say anything about this when I listened earlier."
"Maybe it won't last long. You should stay awhile to see whether it'll let up before you try to drive in it."
"Yeah, you're right. I better wait awhile." Her voice was uncertain, yet she was happy to be able to stay in Harm's home a little longer. As she wandered away from the window, Harm flipped on the stereo. Soft music surrounded them, soothing yet adding a romantic feel that made them both very aware of the intimacy of the situation. Harm seemed content to watch her nervously wander the room, avoiding his gaze.
Finally he went to her, gently taking her hand and leading her to sit beside him on the couch. He kept her hand in his and raised his free hand to lightly touch her face. He was so close that his breath tickled her cheek. With pounding heart, all she could think about was wanting him to kiss her. Unable to stop herself, she leaned toward him, just a bit. Then his lips were on hers .. gently .. sweetly .. firmly, yet demanding nothing except what she was willing to give.
With a sound almost like a purr, Mac returned the kiss .. willingly, but keeping passion in check. As the kiss deepened, she began to tremble. She had wanted this for so long, dreamed of this so often, but reality was so much better. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to the feel of his lips, his tongue. Finally, the need to breathe parted them. She lay back against his strong arms, her eyes still closed, her mind in a daze.
When she heard his deep, sexy chuckle and felt a kiss on the tip on her nose, she at last opened her eyes and smiled at him. His face was still close to hers. His smile was slightly bemused and desire smoldered in his eyes. Before she could think rationally, she whispered, "Don't ever let me go," and pulled his head down for a demanding, passionate kiss.
Harm felt his tight control slipping. Having a willing, passionate Sarah MacKenzie, the woman he had loved for years, in his arms, was pushing him to the edge of his sanity. He crushed her to him, feeling her firm breasts against his chest, devouring her mouth, delving deep with his tongue. In an effort to regain control, he left her lips and buried his face between her neck and shoulder, breathing in her scent while trying to control his passion. "God, Sarah," he groaned against her skin. "I want you .. I need you so badly, but we shouldn't .."
"Yes, we should," Mac answered breathlessly. "I've wondered what it would be like if you made love to me since the day I met you in the Rose Garden. We need to talk, but the way we feel, this can't be wrong. I want you .. every part of you." And as proof of her words, she began unbuttoning his shirt and kissing her way down his chest.
When she reached his waist and started to unbuckle his belt, he reached down and stopped her. "Sarah .. Sarah .. wait." She raised her head and he could see the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. "I'm not saying no, Sarah. Come with me. I have the supplies we need upstairs." He pulled her up, keeping his arm tightly around her as though he thought she might change her mind, and led her up the few steps to his bedroom. Once there he quickly reached into a drawer and placed a box of condoms within easy reach. Then he flopped down on the bed and pulled Mac down on top of him.
Since he had shed his shirt on the way to the bedroom, he was bare to the waist while Mac was still fully clothed. Slipping his hands under her sweater, he deftly unhooked her bra and pushed it aside. When he cupped her breasts in his hands and ran his thumbs over her hard nipples, she gasped and pushed her body closer to his. With practiced ease he quickly pulled her sweater over her head, saying softly, "fair is fair." When his mouth found her nipple, she felt the pull of desire right to her core. All she could do was raggedly whisper his name and lose herself in the feel of his mouth on her body.
The need for fulfillment was pulling her muscles as tight as elastic bands. She had never felt like this with any other man. Adrenaline and desire pushed her mind and body beyond control. She heard her own voice begging, "Harm, I need you in me now .. now .. please … please don't wait any longer .."
Harm unzipped her pants and tugged them down to her knees where she kicked them away. Her hands were fumbling with his belt but she was trembling so badly that he removed the remainder of his own clothes too. A quick turn to get a condom, another second and it was in place. Then he was positioned at the entrance of her pleasure. Holding his desire firmly in check, he eased into her, watching her face for any sign of pain. She was very tight and he was very large, but she was more than ready for him.
As he entered her, he felt her muscles begin to pulse with the beginning of an orgasm. He stilled his movements to let them both regain some control, while he gazed into her eyes. They were such beautiful eyes, now wide and liquid and nearly black with desire. "Sarah, my love," he whispered and kissed her swollen lips. Then he began to move. Long, slow strokes, pushing across her cervix, pressing against the entrance to her uterus that would soon hold their baby if they carried out their deal. He watched her face and knew the instant her orgasm began. Her body stiffened, her arms held him tight and her pulsing vaginal muscles brought on his own release. Groaning each other's names, they soared together and for a little while felt completely released from gravity, from the earth, from everything but their love and their passion and their joy in each other.
Harm collapsed happily but lay slightly to the side so his much heavier body didn't crush Mac. Slowly, muscle by muscle, their bodies began to relax into the warm contentment that follows great sex. Their bodies still joined, he pulled her close in the circle of his arms, her head tucked just under his chin. After several wonderful minutes just enjoying their closeness, he got up to dispose of the condom. When he returned, he found that she had slipped into his bed. She raised the covers so he could slip in beside her. He pulled her back into his arms, her head resting on his chest. After several minutes of companionable silence, Harm said softly, "I love you, Sarah. I don't know why it was so difficult for me to say it before."
"And I love you, Harm. I loved you almost from the first day. I fought it so hard because I thought you were off limits for me. I thought if I could find a good man that I liked, that I was fond of, that would be enough. But you were always the ghost lurking at the back of my mind."
Quietly he asked the question that had bothered him so long. "Why did you run away after Mic left? Why wouldn't you even talk to me? I nearly died trying to keep my promise to be at your wedding, and it was as though you hated me."
"I thought Mic would give me my dream .. a home and family. I was angry at you for ruining that. Oh, I know I was being unreasonable. And I was even more angry at you because when I thought you were going to die, I realized how much I loved you. I realized how empty my life would be without you. And I had never wanted to admit that to myself because I thought I couldn't have you. I was angry at the world and I took it out on you. I felt that if I had never met you, that I wouldn't be in so much pain. I'm so sorry for the way I treated you. You didn't deserve to be treated that way." She raised her head and looked into his eyes. "Can you ever forgive me?"
"Now that I know you love me, I can forgive you anything," Harm answered softly. "And we have a promise to keep in just a few months."
End