The Need to Feel Free Again - Part 10
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
May 30, 2004
The Clearing
Near the Anderson's Farm
Brattleboro, Vermont
8:23 AM
The minute Harm woke up, even before he opened his eyes, he knew something was wrong… something was missing. The warmth that surrounded him all night was gone. The only heat he felt was located near his left shoulder. Harm slowly opened his eyes and looked down to see Toby sleeping quite comfortably snuggled up right next to him in that special place that Mac had previously occupied.
'Great. This is the second time in a row thatI fall asleep with the most beautiful woman in the world in my arms, and wake up with a furry four legged creature cuddled up right next to me,' Harm thought smirking while shaking his head "Now where is your Mommy this time, buddy?" Harm asked Toby with a whisper, not really wanting to wake him up.
When he looked around in search of Mac, he could see that Scout was no longer in the same spot they had left him in yesterday. Moreover, right next to their sleeping place, he found a bag with a thermos full of hot fresh coffee plus a few bagels and strawberries. 'Hmmm, I guess someone was hungry, what else is new,' Harm mused and kept looking around. 'Now where is my Marine?'
Harm slowly got out of the sleeping bag, so he wouldn't disturb Toby's sleep. Looking around he found his jeans and started to get dressed.
When his eyes finally caught sight of her, he stood there in front of the pond totally mesmerized. "Wow," was the only coherent word Harm could utter as he let go of his jeans, dropping them to the ground. "I've died and gone to heaven," Harm murmured. "And I thought the scene at the lake yesterday was absolutely breathtaking."
On the other side of the pond, right in front of him, stood Mac under the waterfall. Her back was to him and her head was thrown back as she enjoyed the clear water that was soothingly running over her naked body. Thanks to her position, she had no idea that Harm was awake. With a gleam in his eyes, Harm quietly moved into the pond and swam ever so quietly over to the object of his desire. He moved through the water with the stealth silence of a SEAL ready to attack the enemy. As soon as he reached the rock wall, he silently moved out of the water and tiptoed towards Mac.
He came up behind her. "Good morning, Sarah," Harm whispered hoarsely in her ear. She jerked forward startled, but his arms instantly circled her waist drawing her back to him and his hands began stroking her belly.Harm nuzzled her neck sweetly before he slowly turned her around to face him.
"Mmmm, now it is," Mac said with a seductive voice and kissed Harm passionately savoring his warmth. She ran her tongue along his hungry lips, getting further when his lips parted. Mac started to moan when Harm placed open-mouth-kisses along her neck. "Good morning to you too, Sailor," Mac moaned. Thinking how she really could get used to greetings like that.
Harm twirled his fingers in her long hair and gave her a kiss full of desire and passion. Mac's hands traveled down his back, enjoying the way his muscles danced under her soft fingertips. She grasped his buttocks tightly and crushed his solid body provocatively against hers. She rocked her hips slightly against him, enticing a moan. Whether it came from him or from her, she didn't know nor did she care.
When the need for air broke their kiss, Harm started to lick and kiss his way down from her throat to her navel. The sensations that Mac felt through her body from his ministrations caused her head to rock back with delight. Harm's hands squeezed her butt before his mouth found its way back to hers.
It was a kiss full of hunger and Harm's hands once again grasped Mac's buttocks slowly lifting her up. Mac wrapped her legs around his waist and hooked her ankles together, keeping herself pressed against him intimately. Their arousal escalated from the close contact, making them both groan. Harm carried Mac to the rock wall behind the waterfall and leaned her gently against it.
He first kissed her lips gently and then started to kiss, lick, and nibble her ear, neck, and collarbone. Mac took Harm's face into her palms and looked deeply in his eyes. She kissed him with all the love she had for him before she broke it. She nodded to the silent question she read in Harm's eyes. She wanted this as much as he did and let him know that he would not and could not hurt her.
Though their lovemaking was powerful, it was still just as gentle and tender as their previous lovemaking episodes in the newly found sexual relationship that they shared. When their familiar dance was over, they spent a lot of time caressing and kissing each other until the growl of Mac's stomach broke their embrace and made Harm and Mac laugh.
"I guess it's time for breakfast," Harm softly said and licked Mac's right ear before he softly sucked her earlobe into his mouth, making her moan. "Hmm… I do believe your stomach is dictated by that internal clock of yours," Harm teased.
"Yeah," Mac agreed and groaned when they broke apart.
"You okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Harm worried when he heard her groan.
"Harm, I told you yesterday you could never and would never hurt me. If I ever feel uncomfortable, I promise I'll tell you. But please believe me when I tell you that what we just shared was every bit as exciting and as wonderful as our other times, and God knows I hope there will be many more times like this," Mac told him with a genuine smile placing a soft kiss on his lips while swatting his six. "Now let's go, I'm starving."
Mac started to walk through the waterfall, but Harm caught her hand. He took her back into his arms and gave her another long kiss. "I love you so much, Sarah MacKenzie. Thanks for making me feel free," Harm told her with a smile and Mac just smiled back and tugged on his arm.
Together they swam back to their roost where Toby was still sleeping soundly like a little baby in their sleeping bag. They dried each other off with the towel Mac got from Martha when she had ridden down to get some breakfast for her and Harm.
"What time did you get up this morning?" Harm asked curiously while he started to get dressed. He laughed when Mac handed him his now dried boxer briefs. "You're sneaky, Marine."
"I do my best," Mac replied with a roguish grin on her face. "I woke up around six. I thought I would ride Scout at a gallop and it worked just fine. It didn't take long to get us some breakfast at Martha's. I even had enough time to walk to the cabin so I could get your boxer briefs. After all, we can't have you going around commando now can we," she told him with a wink while she got dressed.
For the next thirty minutes, they sat and enjoyed their breakfast immensely. They fed each other ripe juicy strawberries, licking the sweet juices from each other's lips, as they kissed in between bites. When Toby finally woke up they both started to feed him some of the sausage Martha had given Mac specifically for the Golden Retriever. He always gave at least one 'woof' for a piece of food and a 'wet thank you kiss' in return.
Around ten o'clock Mac knew it was time for them to head back. They started to pack up their roost and prepare for the ride back. Thankfully, they didn't have time to think about the sad moment that lay ahead, as Toby did a great job of distracting them. He played with them and his crazy antics brought laughter from both Harm and Mac.
On their ride back they sat on Scout just like they had on their ride to the clearing. Mac sat in front of Harm while Toby sat in her lap. The only difference this time was that Harm had the reins in his hands. Just as Mac had not wanted to end their ride into the clearing, it was now Harm's turn to make a huge detour. It bought them at least forty more minutes to be together until they finally reached the Anderson's farm.
x
Anderson's Farm
Brattleboro, Vermont
11:38 AM
They brought Scout back to the stable and were now standing in front of Harm's motorcycle.
"I guess this is it," Mac said sadly while Harm held her in his arms.
Harm drew back a little so he could look into her eyes that were emitting so many emotions. "Hey, it's only for a week. It will be over before you know it," Harm told her with a smile, trying his best to sound self-assured. He didn't want to leave her in a sad mood. He knew this week would be over before either of them knew it. At least that was what he was hoping.
"Are you sure I shouldn't drive back to Washington today as well?" Mac asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure. The Thomsen case won't allow very much time to enjoy having you around and it wouldn't be fair to you. You should use this week to stay here, relax and have fun. Moreover, I bet Toby would like to have another week here as well. Don't worry, Marine. We'll be together again very soon and then..." Harm stopped to kiss her passionately.
"And then we'll make our own paradise in Washington and we'll feel free," Mac continued Harm's sentence when they broke their kiss.
"Oh, for sure we will," Harm answered, giving her the flyboy grin she loved so much. In return, he was rewarded with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen from her.
"Drive carefully and please call me when you get home. If you can't reach me then at least give Martha a message for me, promise?" Mac asked delicately.
"I promise!" Harm answered, giving her one last kiss filled with all the love he had. "I love you, Mac."
"I love you too, Harm. Now you better go quickly, or I won't be able to let you," Mac told him with just a hint of a smile and a tear in her eye.
"I know that feeling," Harm answered with a glimmer in his eyes, hoping to curtail his own tears from falling.
Harm got down on his knee right in front of Toby. "And you, buddy… you take good care of your Mommy. You hear me? She is the most important person in my life and I know she's yours as well. I can count on you, can't I?" Harm asked the puppy rubbing his ears.
"Woof woof," and a few wet licks were the answer he got from the Golden Retriever.
"Good boy," Harm said with a chuckle before he took Mac back into his arms.
"See you soon, Marine," Harm said. He gave her another soft kiss on her lips and wiped away the tear that started to run down her cheek. Then he let go of her to put his helmet on and started the engine.
"See you soon," Mac answered and waved one last time before Harm drove out of the driveway on his way back to DC.
Mac couldn't keep her eyes from the driveway and his retreating form. She thought about the decision she made earlier in the morning while she watched Harm sleep and when she rode to get breakfast. She knew what she had to do. She owed it to herself just as much as she owed it to Harm. She needed to do it in order to assure them a stabile and happy future. It was the first time she felt free to accept this option. It was the first time she even wanted to use the option.
A whimper from Toby finally brought her out of her thoughts. When she looked down at him she could swear she saw a look of sadness in his eyes and she was sure she mirrored the same look. She got down on her knees and started to pat him gently and rub his ears.
"I know you're missing him, Toby. I'm missing him, too," she told the Golden Retriever softly.
"Woof," was Toby's answer followed by a slobbery kiss that broke the tension and made Mac giggle.
"Come on, I have to make a phone call," Mac told the puppy and together they walked into the house to make one of the most important phone calls of her life.
x
Anderson's Farm
The Main House
Brattleboro, Vermont
11:49 AM
"Hello, Sarah. I assume that was Harm who just drove off?" Martha asked Mac when she walked into the kitchen. Martha looked up from the counter and stared intently at Mac. "You don't have to answer that Sarah, because it is clearly written in the depths of your eyes," was Martha's heartfelt response.
Martha walked over to Mac and gave her a much needed motherly hug.
"This is crazy. He's just gone for two minutes and I already miss him terribly," Mac choked out with a laugh that sounded more like a sob.
"It's not crazy, Sarah. It's called being in love," Martha told her softly when she broke their embrace. Mac's only answer was a warm smile and a nod.
"Martha, can I use your phone for a long-distance call? I have to make an important call and I've left my cell phone in the cabin."
"Of course you can. You know where to find it," Martha answered getting back to her work.
"Thanks," Mac said and walked into the living room. She pulled a business card out of her pocket and dialed the phone number on it. She knew she would get the answering service on a Sunday, but didn't care. She just had to make this call.
"Bethesda. This is the office of Lt. Cmdr. McCool. How may I help you?" A female voice asked on the other side.
Mac took a deep breath. She was surprised when the doctor herself picked up instead of the answering service. 'Guess I'm not the only one who likes to work on a peaceful Sunday,' Mac thought.
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. I would like to make an appointment," Mac said, sensitively closing her eyes for a second. She was happy she had mustered the courage to take another big step in her ongoing journey to feeling free and being Sarah MacKenzie again.