AN: Nothing more to say than : Here we go again! Oh, and thanks to all you faithfull readers and/or reviewers of course.
Disclaimer: I haven't been able to top the last disclmaimer yet, so let's just say I don't own them and get it over with.
On with the next chapter!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"You are one frustrating Lady, you know that?"
He wished he could be amused, but somehow, he found himself teetering on the edge of being thoroughly annoyed with her.
He fought the urge to grab a hold of her and shake some sense into that head of hers. Instead, he hoped his words would convince her.
"If there is going to change anything between us, it'll be for the better. We'll be open and honest, sharing the credits as well as the blame, right? I remember that was your idea anyway, wasn't it?"
He was all but screaming now, getting out of the bed, standing before her stark naked (his boxers discarded somewhere within the last hour) and so beautiful it took her breath away as well as any doubts.
"I didn't mean to make it sound like something bad Harm, and I guess I asked the wrong question at the wrong moment. I just figured you had to get on a plane in a few hours, going back to face the real world again, having to prepare them for my return, knowing everything that had happened to me…it won't be a breeze and I just didn't want you to loose this feeling or somehow think that I…used you."
"How can you even believe that's what I would think? Sarah…"
He rubbed the bridge of his nose to chase away the headache building there, before continuing his rant.
"Sarah…tonight was as important to me as it was to you. If anything, it only confirmed my joy at having you with me again. Don't you get it? When I'm gonna return to your apartment in a few hours, it won't be just to reminisce, it will be to get things ready for your homecoming."
She resigned, walking over to pacify him, leaning against his chest.
"I'm sorry for giving you a hard time. I just wish there was a way to make this easier. I know I can't just show up and expect things to still be exactly as I left them, but I am letting you glue back the pieces of my life…it's a big thing, Harm."
He pulled her into his hug.
"It is, but I'll be doing it gladly. Just trust me when I say that."
She sighed.
"I really missed them, you know. Can you tell them that? That it wasn't their fault I left, that I was just confused, sad…scared."
"Yeah, I'll tell them, but I think they already know, Mac. They missed you too. And they'll be happy to have you back. With, like I said before, the exception of Singer, but we'll deal with her the way we always did, right?"
"What, just ignore her?"
"Pretty much works for me, yes."
He gave her a small peck on the lips, than disentangled himself from her.
"As much as I would love to keep standing here forever, I have to get dressed and packing, Mac."
She let go of him with a little moan of disappointment. Everything was so much safer in his arms.
Methodically he was packing his suitcase, having done it countless times before. His mom had washed and pressed his uniform for him and he looked every inch the officer again.
Downstairs, he said goodbye to his mom and Frank, thanking them for letting Mac stay.
"That's okay, son. You know it is. She can rest here."
"I just hope she will. She's been through so much."
"We'll keep an eye on her. You go back home and tell the others."
"That'll be hard enough. I'm not really sure how to approach that."
"You'll have some time to think about that on your way home, sweetheart. Don't worry about Mac."
"I guess you're right. And yes, before you say it, I know you always are."
"I'm your mom, it's my job to be right, at least when it comes to you."
He grinned and gave his mom another hug, having learned long time ago not to argue when she had a point. This time, she had.
After shaking hands with Frank, he turned to Mac, who stood nervously next to his stepfather. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a sweet, thorough kiss.
"No more worries?"
"I promise, no more worries. Just…"
"No 'just'…no worries. Period. I'm going home, telling them what they need to know and nothing more. Than I'll come back to get you. Easy as that."
"Very well. Have a safe trip home."
"Atta girl."
"Love you."
"Love you too, jarhead. Be back before you know it."
He got into his rental car and started the engine. Before speeding away, he turned in his seat and gave them all a wink.
"See you in a couple of days!"
He revved the engine and sped out.
While he knew he'd better try to get some sleep on the flight back (he hardly had any last night), his mind was so full of images, news and Mac that closing off his eyes for the hustle inside the confined space of commercial flight was as far as he got.
Now that he was finally alone with his thoughts, he felt exhausted by them. Only a few days before, he was just a single working man, missing his partner like a widower. He hadn't had a date in all the time Mac was gone and mostly lived the life of a monk. A very celibate one.
Now, he had Mac back, out of the blue, and she was his now. In every way possible. He knew he loved her, no doubt about it. Would fight for her, kill for her, die for her…and the fighting would start in a few hours. Because no matter how ecstatic he was by her presence in his life again, he wasn't quite sure if his optimism about his friends (their friends?) was justified.
Well, he sighed within himself, he would find out soon enough.
He was glad when the plane landed. Not that he hated flying commercial (though he preferred doing the flying himself), but at least the usual stuff like baggage claims and checking out would keep him focused on something other than the dreaded upcoming confessions to his CO and their friends.
He was quick to get a taxi home, where he spent the first few hours of his homecoming unpacking, checking his mail and voicemail messages, taking a shower and a refreshing nap and a taking a quick route down the supermarket to restock his fridge.
With all the more mundane tasks accomplished, he had no reason to stall the inevitable anymore. Sure, he could make up tons of excuses not to head over to the admirals home on a Saturday evening, but he knew that the longer he stalled, the more scared he would get. Just one more thing he had to do before he would go.
Standing up from the couch where he'd collapsed after his trip to the supermarket, he stretched and picked up the phone from the side-table, dialing a familiar west coast number.
"Burnett"
"Hi Frank, it's me. Just wanted to let you know I got here safely."
"Good, good…now don't tell me you want to talk to me when your lady friend is here."
"As much as I would like to talk to you, I'm afraid you're right. Is she around?"
"Sure, let me call her for you."
He heard a rumble of voices and a few moments later, a happy sounding Mac came over the phone, immediately warming his heart,
"Hi Flyboy. Had a good flight?"
"Okay, nothing eventful. How're you doing?"
"Fine, Harm. Your mom is taking very good care of me."
Silence took over and he was sure they'd been disconnected somehow when he heard her again.
"Harm…I'm sorry…for making this so difficult for you. For everything."
He strained himself a little, wondering what she was getting at.
"Does that include last night?"
"No, of course not. I could never be sorry for last nigh, please believe that. But I am sorry for nagging to you, for letting you take the heat. Maybe I should just come over myself, save you the trouble."
"No Sarah, let me handle it. I'm about to go to the Admiral, talk to him outside the office. I'll call you once I know more. You just take it easy and don't worry too much, okay? Promise me?"
"Promise…I love you, Harm."
"Love you too."
