AN: as some of you have already realized, this was posted once before, but I took it off the net because I was alerted by a friend to some errors. Now I'm reposting it repaired and making slight changes along the way.
I would also like to thank you all for your support and for giving my fics a chance, even though they are far from all the normal pairings. Thank you!
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gree: I also write other pairings, not just Harm/Jen. One of my other currently posted fics is a Harm/Singer fic. In my personal profile you can also find Harm/Meg, Harm/Mac fics and the Drabble Series, which was written that way specifically so that any reader can insert the female character, they want with Harm, in the role of his significant other.
As for frat regs: I am very aware of frat regs, since I have researched them personally. I also have a copy of them on my disk. I write fics in such way that Harm and Jen do not break them. Before they even enter a relationship either one of them resigns, or they have been in a committed relationship before Jen's enlistment (married), or they get married without dating first (either by choice or due to some circumstances, as in the fic "What A Mistaka To Maka"). Frat regs, while forbidding dating and sexual relationships, they allow officer/enlisted marriages. This is all explored and explained in depth in my fic "What A Mistaka To Maka". Whatever way I choose, rest assured, they won't break the regs.
Now on with the fic.
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Jen finished drying off and Harm averted his eyes to give her the privacy she deserved. She didn't even ask him to look the other way, because she was in too big of a hurry to get out of her cold, wet sweater to give any thought to privacy and even if she had thought of it, she knew Harm is too much of a gentleman to oggle her. She swiftly removed her sweater and T-shirt in one move and quickly pulled the offered sweatshirt over her head.
As soon as the sweatshirt was in place, her senses were assaulted and overwhelmed by the smell of Harm. Even though it was clean, it still held the scent of his aftershave and the scent she could only categorize as Harm. 'Oh, god, this was not a good idea. I'm already too aware of him and now this.'
For a few seconds she felt dizzy from the sensations, but then managed to pull herself together.
Harm had also brought along some sweat pants and she proved her agility by managing to take off her wet jeans and replace them with the dry, warm sweat pants in the confines of the small car.
Last, but not least, was the thermo full of hot coffee, which Harm prepared while getting dressed at home. Jen, who was warmed even more by his thoughtfulness, quickly unscrewed the top, poured the coffee into a cup and took a grateful sip. Immediately letting out a happy sigh, feeling warmth spread through her cold, shivering body. 'Now, this is heaven. Harm is such a sweet and thoughtful guy. How is it possible that he's still single?'
She turned her head towards Harm who was still looking the other way. She touched his arm to get his attention.
When Harm turned to Jen he lost his breath again. She was giving him a thankful smile, the appreciation for everything he did for her tonight was shown clearly in every feature of her beautiful face and in her expressive, chocolate eyes. 'My god, she's so beautiful. Why are there such things as frat regs?'
He composed himself just in time to hear her start talking.
"Sir, thank you for coming out here in the middle of the night." she took a breath and then continued "You can't imagine how grateful I am to you. Few people would be willing to just get out of bed and drive for over one hour in the middle of the night and in such a bad weather, even for a friend. So, thank you."
Harm interrupted her with the wave of a hand and with a smile pulling at his lips. She was just so adorable when she was babbling.
"Jen, it's okay. We're best friends and you know I'll always help if I can. And call me Harm, not sir. It makes me feel old and, besides, we're off duty." 'Best friends... That's all we are allowed to be. Even though I love you so much it hurts at times.' Harm sighed sadly, the reality again pressing down on him.
"You're not old, in fact..." Jen said quickly and immediately cut herself off, when she realized how vehemently she protested. She sank back into her seat and tried to make herself invisible. 'Please, don't tell me I really almost said that. Please, ground, swallow me. This is so embarrassing.'
Harm had to fight hard not to laugh at seeing her flustered expression and the intense blush that crept from her chest to her hair. It felt good to his ego, which was not as big as Mac always believed it was, that Jen didn't think of him as of an old, grumpy Commander.
His insecurities increased when he woke up one day and realized he was of the rank and age of his instructors at the Academy, of whom he at the time thought of as "old people". This made his already bruised ego take even more beating.
Mac had once accused him of having an ego too big to fit into the cockpit of his Tomcat. But it seems she didn't know him enough to realize that it was all just show and facade. In reality he was a shy and insecure man when it came to his personal and love life. He rarely made the first move on a woman out of fear of rejection, especially if the woman sent out vibes that his attention was unwanted, like being hostile towards him or choosing someone else over him. Usually it was the women who made the first move. He knew he was good looking, but never took advantage of it. He also never had a woman in every port, contrary to what most people believed. He was never stupid and was always aware of the dangers of one-night-stands. In his whole life he was involved with only 4 women: Gym, Annie, Jordan and Renee. He and Diane were never involved. They were very good friends, but there were no romantic feelings on either side and both knew it. It was true what he said to Mac about him and Diane spending the weekend to discuss the future. But it was not meant in the way she thought it was. Diane wanted to get a transfer to the mainland to be closer to her ailing parents and they were supposed to plan her transfer and everything else over that weekend. But it was not to be. An out of control XO destroyed all their plans and their lives with one stupid act.
Contrary to common belief he was never involved with Maria, the flight attendant. She was a friend of his and he took her under his roof when her plane had a layover in D.C.. If Krennick assumed there was something more, he didn't negate it, because it helped to keep the Dragon Lady at bay. Even a temporary relief from her unwanted advances was welcomed. Harm and Maria had a good laugh over Krennick's reaction to finding Maria under his shower.
And Harm's last relationship was over 3 years ago. Even though Alicia Montes blatantly showed her interest, Harm didn't want to get involved with her. She was a nice woman, who would make some man very happy, but it would not be him.
Harm was startled out of his musings by a gentle hand on his forearm and brown eyes, filled with worry, staring up at him.
He realized he had zoned out while staring at Jen and it was his turn to blush.
Quickly turning around to hide the redness on his face, he turned on the engine.
The engine roared to life and Harm executed a careful U-turn and then started off in the direction of home.
Silence settled over them and Harm wanted it to go away. 'Well, this is uncomfortable. I just had to zone out, didn't I? And now she's worrying for nothing.'
Jen was sipping her coffee and glancing at him from time to time with a thoughtful look in her eyes. 'What brought on that sad, hurt and lonely look into his eyes? Was it something I said? No, I'm sure that's not it. Then what was it?'
Trying to divert her attention, he decided to ask what has been bugging him since she called him. Taking a breath he started.
"Jen?"
His voice cut into the silence and she jumped a little, startled by it. Harm saw this and felt guilty for scaring her.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
She shook her head to clear it of her musings and answered.
"It's okay, sir... Er, I mean, Harm. I was just thinking about something."
It was quiet again and Harm debated whether to leave her to her thoughts or just proceed. He decided to just go ahead.
Just when Jen thought he wasn't going to say anything more, he continued.
"I just wanted to ask what happened to your car to strand you out here like that and what were you doing at such a late hour on the road."
Jen frowned remembering the events leading to her being let down by her car.
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