AN: Here we go again! Thanks for all the (again, very positive) reviews. Enjoy the new chapter!
Disclaimer: Well, you ought to know they're not mine, but if I really need to say it...
By the way: I forgot the disclaimer on my story "Don't ask". Consider this my correction.
On with it...chapter IV:
For years to come, the happenings of the next morning would become a traditional story, told to every newcomer who wanted to hear it. As for the present, the morning was a total chaos. The early birds, including Bud and Harriet (who never slept in since having AJ) and the Admiral had already had breakfast in the mess when most of the others, among which Jennifer and Sturgis came out of their offices. Everybody looked a bit crumpled, but considering the circumstances it was pointless to make any smart comments about it.
At around ten, everybody was accounted for, except for the Colonel and the Commander. In fact, the Colonel seemed to be missing. Her bed appeared to be slept in, but was vacated some time during the night, judging by the fact that the pillow and sheets were cold.
Nobody had seen her in the ladies room or the break room and her car was neatly parked outside, covered underneath a think blanket of immaculate snow.
So where was she? If she hadn't left the building (she wouldn't be that insubordinate anyway) and wasn't in any of the rooms…well, she couldn't have vanished into thin air now, could she? It was Jennifer who opted to ask the Commander. Without waiting for permission from the Admiral, she opened the door of Harm's office, forgetting to knock.
At the scene displayed in front of her, she quickly but quietly closed the door, not sure what to tell her CO.
"Well, Petty Officer?"
"The Commander is still asleep, Sir."
"And the Colonel is still missing. Which one of these things have priority do you think? The Commander's sleep or the discovery of the Colonel's current whereabouts?"
"Well, Sir, I…they…the Colonel…"
"You're babbling, Petty Officer. I don't need babbling, I need an answer."
"I…just see for yourself, Sir."
Mumbling something about discipline and the total lack thereof in his staff, the Admiral opened the door of Commander Rabb's space again, peering in. The first thing he saw answered the riddle of that morning, though the situation demanded more questions being answered in the near future.
There, tangled up in each other's arms, were two of his finest officers, including the missing Colonel. The slumbering chief of staff was, sparsely dressed, splayed in full length on top of an almost nude Commander Rabb, who, also still in dreamland, had both arms folded over her slender waist in a protective but gentle embrace. Both had smiles on their faces and both looked utterly content. Even if nothing physical had happened that night, than on an emotional level something certainly had. Deciding to give them a bit more privacy just for the time being, he closed the door, unable to wipe the grin off his face. Finally!
About ten minutes later, Mac started coming back to the land of the living. Just not entirely, her bed felt way too good. She hadn't had a full night's sleep since God knew when so with this solid eight hours (well, seven hours and fifty-seven minutes) under her belt she felt better than she had in a long time. Nobody would be able to persuade her to give up this pleasant warmth surrounding her yet. Even though she was miffed by the movement of her pillow…oh…my…God…
Suddenly wide awake, she took in her surroundings in a confused haze. How did she get here? What had happened? Why wasn't she in her own bed? How on earth did she end up wrapped up in the arms of her best friend? And the biggest question of them all: why did it have to feel so incredibly good? Her senses kicked in overdrive, she tried to fight an increasing panic attack. Not the fact that she fell asleep in his arms worried her (she would deal with that later), but the fact that it happened in the office. That they might have been exposed. And that, if asked for an explanation, she couldn't provide any. For the life of her, Mac couldn't come up with the meaning of it all.
She wriggled to free herself from his embrace, so she could sit up straight, which jolted him awake too. The fact it took him all of 5 seconds to be completely coherent and alert only added fuel to her agitation. As did the disturbing realization that he looked completely adorable. He stretched, yawned and gave her a lazy smirk that stopped her heart.
"Good morning."
What? They were half naked in his office on top of each other, they were probably already busted before they had to walk out into the bullpen to go to the bathroom (again; they weren't exactly dressed properly) and all the damn Squid said was 'good morning'? He was so dead. She groaned loudly.
"You consider this a good morning?"
"What's wrong with that? I slept very well…you look cute."
It didn't soften her up. If anything, it made her even more frustrated.
"Now is not the time to joke Harm. I mean, we're in the office, we slept together in the office."
"Mac…did something happen while I was asleep? Because I think I would remember very well if anything other than us falling asleep happened last night. And believe me, so would you."
He winked at that last statement, egging her on. She wasn't amused.
"Stop being so damn cocky, you stupid Squid. You know what this must look like. God, this is so embarrassing!"
TBC
AN: (hiding in a far corner) Please don't kill me. I'm still a shipper. I promise I'll make it up...but come on people, it's Harm and Mac, they never get it right the first time around!