Return To Me

by Radiorox

COMPLETE Harm and Mac went to separate ends of the world and never stayed in touch. Four years later, when Harm returns to the States, he and Mac find that you can’t fool destiny. That friendship is the road that leads to the heart.

17. Welcome Aboard

Okay, so i said I wasn't going to write, but I got some ideas that i had to put down. :sighs: Addict that I am.

Anyway, there will be more of the sailboat scenes I promise on Part 18. And a bit more of what trouble Jarvis might get Harm into. ;) I'm feeling a lot of animosity towards Jarvis and Vic, just can't figure out why. Muahahaha. ;) Anyway...

Hope you like it!
Jackie

PART 17 – Welcome Aboard

2230 Local
Mac's House
San Diego, California

At was Friday and nearly a week had passed since the ordeal in Harm's office. Despite bringing a Detective in, nothing had come out of the investigation. Ted Jarvis had come out of it all smelling like a rose and working for another investigative firm in San Diego, a larger one that was quickly becoming serious competition. The fact that Jarvis was familiar with a few of Harm and Gunny's top cases made them all quite nervous. All Harm hoped was that he didn't try to sabotage one of the current open cases which he was trying to resolve as soon as possible.

Nearly every day he'd spent visiting Gunny who had, thankfully, woken up two days earlier. Now, all he had to do was recover which the doctors believe would happen relatively quickly with some minor physical therapy to make sure his motor skills were intact. "Keep at it." Gunny had told him in regards to the case with Patterson and Nichols. "Finish it. . .They're counting on us." What had begun as a case was now becoming a personal vendetta.

Exhausted, Harm hauled his body up the steps to Mac's room and crashed onto the bed placing his laptop on top of his abdomen. Mike Benson was doing a little reconnaissance on Patterson, something that they hadn't really done much before since Harm and Gunny were the primary's on that investigation. Because of that, he kept the laptop close, hoping to get some pictures over e-mail that can get a next phase of the investigation into play. There was something up with Patterson, he knew it in his gut. Now, if he could only connect the dots.

Frowning, he turned to the side finding the spot next to him to be empty. Mac was baby sitting the Roberts' kids while Harriet and Bud visited with Gunny. Things between them weren't exactly at a standstill, but they weren't moving forward either. There just hadn't been time, at all. He'd spent most of his time with Gunny, dealing with the investigation and Mac had another week from hell at the office. The base CO had been tipped off at her 'skipping' on Monday and had been all over her six because of it. Apparently the knowledge that she had been hurt meant absolutely nothing to the man.

At the present time, all Harm wanted was to make it up to her, though, wasn't too sure Mac would be thrilled with his plan. He was planning to whisk her off on Frank's yacht and return sometime on Sunday. Sighing happily, he leaned into the pillows, closing his eyes as he thought back to the past Saturday, the first and only time they'd been officially 'together.' Dreams didn't quite compare. He'd surrendered his self to her and believed she'd done the same for him. He'd surrender anything to be entangled with her once again. More over, he'd sell his soul to be able to tell her everything he felt for her, but he wasn't sure how to start. How do you tell someone that you love them when you aren't sure how to love?

Coming out of his reverie, he felt a pair of eyes settled onto him. Opening his eyes, he looked up to find Mac standing on the side of the bed, jacket missing and wearing only the long sleeve blouse and skirt. "Hey." He said, gently, grinning as she removed the laptop off of his abdomen and placed it at the end of the bed.

Mac crawled over, settling herself on his lap. "Hey, yourself, sailor." As Harm sat up, she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him close as they kissed passionately.

She'd been watching him for a good five minutes, wondering if he was asleep or merely resting. The last week had been a far cry from what she expected. Not that she expected too much, if they hadn't figured it out in nine years together she was slowly losing faith in them ever doing so. Still, he had surprised her. Every night they had slept in the same bed. Before going to sleep he would kiss her goodnight and hold her as if he were sheltering her away from the world. For the simplicity behind it all, it mean the world to her.

"Mmm, Harm." She rasped out as his arms snaked around her body, bringing her even closer to allow his mouth to kiss down her neck.

Little did she know that he was multitasking. While kissing her neck, he was reaching around behind them trying to click on his laptop and check an incoming message. "Mmmm, Mac." She was now kissing down his neck, allowing him to peek, with one eye, at the screen. "Oww! What was that for?" Surprised, he pulled away from her, once he felt a pinch on his backside. "That hurt."

Between kisses to his lips, Mac giggled out, "Do you want to play with me or that little computer?"

Clearing his throat, he reached over, pulled the laptop across the bed and settled it right next to them. "I've been waiting for an important e-mail." Keeping one eye on the downloading messages, he continued kissing her.

"Then check your e-mail." Mac said, placing her hands on his chest to stop him momentarily. She tried to disengage herself from his body but Harm would have none of it.

"But, I don't want to stop kissing you." He kissed her again, this time eliciting a soft moan which pleased him beyond belief.

"Then don't stop kissing me." She reasoned.

Harm chuckled, "I don't think my employees would be thrilled to know that I wasn't paying attention to them because I was making out with a sexy Marine."

"You have some very boring employees." Giggling as his lips found a certain spot on her neck, Mac arched her back, rubbing her chest against his own. "Oh God, right there." When he removed his lips from her neck, she instantly felt the separation. Distraught, she cracked one eye open to find Harm grinning at her in a way that would have made her knees buckle had she been standing. "What's that grin for?"

"Oh, nothing." He shrugged, that grin widening just a bit more. "I was just wondering what you were doing this weekend?"

That was, somewhat of an odd question if you considered all of the happenings. Raising an eyebrow, she wondered if she really wanted to know. "Not a thing, why?"

Keeping on hand on Mac to steady her, Harm reached over and across the bed, grabbing for this laptop case. He unzipped it, then rifled through papers inside. "Aha." Pulling out a picture, he turned it over so that she could look at it. There in all of it's glory was The Lady Patricia, a 40 foot luxury sailboat that Frank had given to Trish for their twentieth anniversary. "Frank said that I could use it anytime and I figured, this might be the time." He pointed out hesitantly. "We can leave tomorrow morning and be back on Sunday night. . .Just tell me the word and I'll have the Yacht club staff stock her for us." Harm waited for something to change in that unreadable façade she had suddenly slipped into. It was unrealistic for him to panic and yet, that is exactly what he was doing. "Eh, a umm. . .Yes or a No would do. . .Mac?"

The white and navy blue sailboat seemed to gleam in the picture Mac was holding. In the background, behind it's masts she could see the bay on a beautiful, sunny day. "He let you borrow this?" She showed him the picture, seemingly in awe of the notion. "Wow. . I."

"Say, 'Yes'?" Harm wasn't fond of pleading but, if that's what it took to got away with her, even for a weekend, then he'd get on his hands and knees. "We both need a day or two way and I promise, I'll do everything in my power to make sure that we're safe. . .We won't even go that far off.." Still nothing in regards to her agreeing. "I mean, there is an island off of the coast, we can have a picnic there, swim. . .have fun?" His voice literally sounded like a lost, pleading, little boy. Harm wasn't even above pouting if that would work. "So?"

Mac placed the picture on top of the laptop case, then turned to face Harm. Her fingers gently pressed on his chest, then ran slow circles. "I think it's a great idea, but under one condition."

"Anything."

Grinning, she leaned downwards so that her lips were barely an inch away from his. "When things settle down, I want to do a longer trip."

Now, that was definitely an arrangement he could look forward to. "I'll have my people call your people."

2310 Local
The Dive
San Diego, California

Rock Classics blasted through the double doors once they opened. The hypnotic hum of records over a jukebox calling to everyone looking for something non-modern. The smell of cigarettes and stale beer would linger on your clothing for days and still, The Dive was usually packed, especially on Friday night. But it wasn't just any people, it was usually the type that didn't like the hip club scene. The types that would arrive in order to hide their tawdry affairs. The type that wanted to drink away the stresses of the week without company. That was exactly the type of place that Ted Jarvis was looking for.

"A shot of Cuervo." He didn't offer even the slightest of pleasantries to the cute blonde behind the bar; ogling was enough. He simply gave his order with disdain and sat there, staring at the tv screen above. A recap of that days San Diego Padres game kept his interest momentarily until the blonde returned with his drink. He took a shot, letting the burning, bitter liquid slide down his throat. Digging through his pockets, he found his wallet and placed his credit card on the bar. "Start up a tab and give me a Guinness." The blonde gave him an odd look, no doubt, she was wondering about the bruise that lingered on the side of his face, a parting gift from that Colonel which Rabb was involved with.

Before closing his wallet he spotted his Rabb and Galindez Investigative Services identification card staring back at him. Chuckling, he took it out and stared at it for a moment. They were fools, bumbling idiots who thought they can run and investigative firm. And now, he was working for the opposition, finding anyway possible to bring them down. He started with the pictures which he had taken on the last case he'd been presented. It really didn't matter that Benson was the primary on that case, nor did it matter that he'd signed a waiver that could pose costly for him if Rabb decided to take him to court. Technically, he wasn't even supposed to have the pictures seeing as that was Nelson's job, but, he'd graciously decided to cover that day. Good deeds were always rewarded.

Grinning, he took a peak at the paycheck inside his wallet. His new firm, Intrinsic Investigations, had given him a rich bonus for the information. 'So much for ethics,' He thought smugly. The girl behind the bar gave Jarvis a small smile which he returned back. He wasn't a bad looking man, quite the contrary, he was quite good looking, but unfortunately had the cockiness that came with that. A cockiness that was neither amusing or sexy. He played it for what it was and what it could get him and, at this moment, the blonde behind the bar was his target.

"Pretty good looking, isn't she?" A brown haired, dark eyed man asked him.

Turning his side, Jarvis regarded the man with a seemingly uninterested shrug. "I've had hotter women, but she'll do."

The guy chuckled. "Sure of yourself aren't you?"

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no." He watched the TV set all the while rolling his eyes. At the moment, the only thing he wanted was to be alone, with the blonde behind the bar, not make new friends. "Excuse me." Grabbing his Guinness, he set his sights on an empty table at the back next to another table with two beautiful women. He came off of the bar stool, attempting to leave his new friend at the bar when the man called him back.

The man was starting at the ID left on the smooth wood of the bar. Something about it called to him, probably it was the fact that the name 'Rabb' was staring back at him. "Hey, buddy." He held up the ID towards the other man. "You forgot something."

Jarvis returned to the bar, reaching to snatch the card away which was purposely held it just out of reach. "Rabb and Galindez, huh?"

"Yea, so?" Annoyed, he snatched the card away slipping it into his back pocket.

"Harmon Rabb, he used to be full time Navy. . .So you work for them?"

The gentleman's inquiry struck him as strange. Was he a client? Maybe someone who needed the services of a reputable PI? Or did the man have some dirt on Rabb which could be used to his advantage? "Why do you ask?"

"We used to work together. In fact, I work with his girl now." Smugly the man extended his hand as he made his introduction, "Lieutenant Gregory Vukovic. . .You can call me Vic."

"Ted Jarvis, TJ will do." Though he wanted to run as far away from Vic and dealings with Rabb, the comment about Rabb's girl caught him by surprise and peaked his interest. As far as the rumor mill and eavesdropping went, they were nothing but friends. Maybe Vic was referring to a different girl? "You said you work with his girl? That wouldn't be - legs for days, sexy as sin, brunette?"

"That would be one Marine Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, yes."

Hoping back up on the stool, Jarvis waved the blonde over to refill his Guinness. "You really think there is something going on with them?"

"Oh, I totally believe they are hitting the sheets." Vukovic waved the blonde over and asked for a whiskey straight. "The crappy part of it all is that she is my commanding officer and has a chip on her shoulder. . .Rabb is just a prick."

Though Jarvis wanted nothing more than to get back at Rabb, he still felt an apprehension when someone poked into his former employer. It was almost as if a shred of heart was showing through his uncaring exterior. "What's it to you?"

"Nothing, just that I. .. Nevermind."

If there was one good quality about Jarvis it was his ability to read others and, glancing at Vic, he could tell one key thing about him. "You have the Jones for her."

Vic snorted, shaking his head in disbelief. He had just a little more than the Jones for Mac. Consequences and the UCMJ be damned, if she was willing, he would be more than able to take care of any sexual desires. "Any straight man would be insane not to have the Jones for her. But, she's my CO."

"So you friends with them?"

Something about the way the conversation was turning put Vukovic at ease. Happy workers seldom spoke about their bosses in such fashion. And, the fact that Jarvis' ID was haphazardly forgotten on the bar, made him believe that here was a man just as disgruntled as he was. "Friends? No, I don't seem to fit into their crowd."

"Neither do I." At Vic's surprised expression, Jarvis cared to elaborate. "I was laid off. Something was jacked from our office and Rabb thinks I did it."

"Did you?" Jarvis' appearance totally looked that of a man which spent some years fighting the law. What gave him away was the lack of an answer and the guilty expression in his eyes. Vic wasn't the most moral of characters which he was suddenly surprised at being so concerned. "What did you take?"

"I didn't take a damned thing." His voice was just a bit louder than it was appreciated in the bar. Jarvis received stares from other patrons. Pure vehemence dripped as he leaned into Vic. "You a spy, Vic?. . .Did Rabb send you out here to get dirt from me?"

Vukovic rose his hands in defeat. "Woah, woah, woah. . .Hell no! And if I were a spy, what would I gain by telling you I worked with Rabb? Nothing, that's what." He really didn't have a reason to believe that Jarvis hadn't taken a thing and yet, there was something the other man was hiding. His lawyer side couldn't help but ask, "You know something though, don't you."

"I could have stopped them from stealing the cocaine, yes."

Cocaine? Vic's head was screaming, seething. What had he just gotten himself into? "Cocaine?"

Jarvis rolled his eyes. Vic's pretty boy exterior screamed 'square' and Jarvis hated squares. "Rabb's been involved in some case with a drug runner. He got the guy put away and is now setting his sights on the guy's former girlfriend. . .Galindez, his partner, managed to score some 'blow' from the local PD. . .I'm assuming he was going to use it for a trade, or some s like that."

"Do you know who took it?"

Shrugging, he lay his head on the counter. "No. . .I don't."

"But, you could have stopped it? I don't get it."

Annoyed, Jarvis straightened himself up. "I was paid a lot of money to leave the office open. . .They promised no one would get hurt." Ah, so that was the guilt that Vic saw in the other man's eyes. The fact that people had gotten hurt. "I didn't mean for Victor to get shot or Rabb and that woman to get injured. . .they swore it wouldn't happen."

The reality of it all felt almost like a punch in the gut. Vic's night out on the town was officially taking a downfall. He straightened his spine, gulping down nearly all of the whiskey. "You need to tell the cops."

"They'll kill me and anyone else who squeals." Jarvis stated without emotion. Not to mention, it really didn't bother him one little bit that it was Rabb he was screwing with. As far as he was concerned, Rabb deserved to get everything bad that was coming to him and more. "How much do you hate Rabb?"

That was a good question. How much did Vic hate Rabb? At first, the man had been his idol, a person he wanted to be better than. The one guy at JAG that had gotten away with murder and still was seen as a hero. Hell, he even got promoted. "A lot." He thought about that case they had worked on together and how Rabb, essentially, made him look like a fool.

"Enough to ruin him?" That smarmy look would have disgusted most. But, Vukovic wasn't most.

The last few years had been hard for him, most of it had to do with his belief that both the General and Colonel were trying to ruin him. As a result, he'd decided to go over their heads to the SECNAV. In the end, he'd wound up with a position at JLSS, a promotion and to keep the same assignment he'd had at JAG Headquarters in Falls Church, to be the SECNAV's spy. From his understanding, Sheffield was being pressured to remove a Marine from being the Judge Advocate, but that couldn't be done without dirt. It would also be in their best interest if one Colonel MacKenzie, also a Marine, were removed from her position. Jarvis was, literally handing him some sort of key on a platter. "Yea, enough to ruin him." And maybe by ruining Rabb, he could, somehow, go after MacKenzie.

Jarvis extended his hand, taking Vic's and shaking it. "Welcome aboard."

0600 Local
San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego, California

"Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies at morning, sailor's heed warning." Mac rhymed the old maritime mantra, then straightened herself and glanced around. There wasn't a single speck of red on the skies and absolutely no clouds. Shades of blue where becoming lighter around luminance of the horizon where the sun was struggling to come over. "Hey, Captain, we're in luck, no red skies."

Harm shook his head in amusement then pointed to one of the bags that was on the docks next to Mac. "You know, sometimes that little myth has some truth to it. There's been a few days at sea with red skies in the morning that we've had some hellish weather. . .Toss me the duffle bag."

"Same thing when I was on the Guadalcanal. Thank God, I don't get motion sickness." Checking around her, she found there wasn't anything left to load on the sailboat. The Yacht Club crew had done an excellent job of stocking The Lady Patricia and the only thing they needed was the basics. "I think we're all set."

"Okay, get the mooring line in the front and hop on in."

Mac did as told, dropping down and landing safely inside the boat, something that the low tide afforded as the it was sitting below the dock. "Not to ruin this calm weather between us, but, isn't your girlfriend going to be upset that you are going sailing with me?" She teased, laughing when Harm gave her an amused 'you didn't go there' look.

Snorting, he shook his head, taking her hand as she moved towards the stern, by his side. "Ah, no. . .She thinks I am away on business."

She stood behind him, placing her hands on her waist. "Oh, so I am just business now?" Mac teased, then wrapped her arms around him affectionately.

"Well, I don't think she'd appreciate knowing that I am totally smitten by a female Marine whom I am taking sailing."

"That sounds good actually. However, for your purposes, I doubt it would work."

Though she was still teasing him over the case, Harm couldn't help but feel a hard pang over his heart. This was killing him and for all of her bravado and hidden emotions, he knew it was killing her too. Joking was just an easy way to get through it. "I'm trying to finish that as fast as possible, Mac." Harm turned around completely to face her, his hand rising up to cup her cheek. "I mean it."

"I know." She kept her gaze on his eyes, not looking away, breathing deeply when she saw the emotions that were playing against his normally calm exterior. She saw the storm in his eyes, a possible sense of guilt.

His biggest concern was not that other woman, he could handle Kendra Nichols. And he wouldn't allow her to push their 'relationship' further. Even before his involvement with Mac, he made a decision that nothing could make him sleep with Kendra. No, his biggest concern was that unyielding sense of unworthiness that seemed to plague Mac even when things were in her favor. He knew her better than most and had seen how much she literally waited for real life to hurt her. Harm didn't want to be the next catalyst, though, he knew he'd given her a fare share of pain. "I don't want to hurt you."

"I know." And she did know, though they've both hurt each other enough in the past. Most of it, she knew, wasn't conscious, it just sort of happened.

Harm couldn't help to ramble on, making sure she really understood. "But, this is. . . this is out of my control. . and I just, . .no, well, it's not out of control, I can control it but. . .I." He felt her hand on his lips, stopping his uncontrollable words from saying something stupid.

"Harm?" She smiled at him. "I understand." Standing on her toes, she wrapped her hands around his neck, then pulled him down, kissing Harm softly.

Breaking away, Harm rested his forehead on hers. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"Yup, I know." She slipped out of his grasp, chuckling at Harm's childlike, pouting expression. "Now, Captain, let's stretch her sea legs."

"Aye, aye, ma'am." He saluted before turning to remove the last mooring line. "Ready, Mac?" He turned the ignition, grinning as it sputtered to life. "Here we go."

They headed off to the West, Harm taking the helm while Mac snapped pictures of the seas. She couldn't help sitting near the bow, taking a picture of him while he sailed the boat. A slight wind began to pick up and Harm decided to kill the engines and show her what a real sailboat could do. He pointed the bow of the boat into the wind, then hopped close to where Mac was in order to remove and attach the halyard to its headboard.

"I'm impressed, flyboy. .. uh, I mean, Captain." She grinned, watching as Harm worked on the sails. "You seem to need help." Coming to her feet, she stood by Harm, helping him release the mainsheet and letting it run free. Hand over hand, they began to raise the sail and soon she took the winch, spinning it rapidly until it hit the top of the mast. At Harm's surprised expression, she shrugged, then wiped her hands on her jeans. "What? I learned how to sail when I was a girl scout, I guess I never forgot."

"Never cease to amaze me, Mac." After securing all of the lines, he headed behind the helm, taking Mac's hand and motioning for her to join him. He stepped away slightly, placing both of her hands on the wheel as he stood behind. "Turn it slightly." She did and it wasn't too long before the bow rose out of the water and the sailboat was powered by nothing but wind.

Mac's eyes widened as the sailboat took a life of it's own. "This is amazing." Leaning back slightly, she rested against Harm, feeling the warm of this body warm her very soul. "Thank you for this, Harm."

"My pleasure, Sarah. . .my pleasure."

They sailed for a good hour until Harm had found the exact spot where he wanted to take her. It was a cove, hidden behind massive dunes just a few miles North. He'd first discovered it when he was a boy and Frank would take him fishing. Thankfully, the seas were calm that day, allowing for a safe passage with the small dinghy that was tugged behind the sailboat.

As he stepped down into the quarters below, he stopped dead in his tracks. Mac stood in the galley wearing a dark blue bikini. It's top composed of two triangles with strings that disappeared behind her neck and the others behind her back where he assumed they tied. The bottom part was tied on the sides with nothing more than a couple of strings which she was double knotting. Breathing was suddenly becoming a problem as he sat there staring. For one thing, there were no regs between them anymore. For another, they were together which gave him a bit more freedom to appreciate just how sexy she was. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't deny it anymore, Harmon Rabb Junior was utterly smitten.

Mac could feel his eyes on her and did her very best to seem absolutely oblivious to his nearness. Nonchalantly, she reached for a sarong which lay folded on the galley table, shook it open and proceeded to wrap it around her waist. It's sheer blue and green material not exactly covering much. Coyly, she smirked up at him. "See something you like, Flyboy?"

"Rhetorical question, right?" He really didn't care that he'd been caught admiring. When a woman looked as good as she did, it was all worth any punishment one could receive.

"Mmm, maybe." She teased him, sexily walking to Harm. She stopped just a foot short, hands on hips as if challenging him to do something about it.

"Mac, look good enough to eat." The words came out before he had a chance to censor them. Raising a brow, his cheeks flushed red. "Did I just say that out loud?"

"Yes, and it was very much appreciated AND reciprocated." Grinning, she swayed passed him, heading up the steps as she called down. "You coming, Captain?"