AN: Well, it's about time, isn't it? Hope you like another one of my chapters...
Disclaimer: After the cheerleader one of last time, I scared myself enough to keep it normal this time (normal, me?). I'm only borrowing the characters of JAG.
On with it...
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tomorrow. He would get here tomorrow. In less than twenty-four hours he would be there again, to hold her, comfort her, to tell her face to face that they would make it again.
Words were only words after all, and Washington D.C. an abstract term. Until, in a few days, she would have to pack her bags, leave this peaceful nook of the world and finally do what she'd been thinking of the last few days.
She was making herself stir crazy, pacing the living room of the Burnett residence, trying to summon up the courage to finally accept the following days as facts rather than ideas. She just couldn't get herself to do it, Semper-fi or not.
How could she expect their understanding for the things she did, things she didn't even understand herself? But, on the other hand, didn't she deserve a lucky break, even if it was just one?
She was so busy with her inner struggle, she didn't hear Trish come in. The older woman stopped at the threshold, not wanting to disturb the privacy of their reluctant guest, but fearing for her mental well-being as well.
During her stay, Mac had tried not to intervene with Harm's parents own life, opting to spend a lot of time on the beach or by herself in the guestroom, where she had her own TV if she wanted the distraction or her own thoughts if she chose to mull. Which was most of the time.
But her solitary actions had concerned Trish. She knew very little about Sarah MacKenzie, except for the fact she used to be a Marine and that her son was ass over teakettle in love with her. And of course she knew she'd all but vanished from this world for a year, remembering with a true mother's pain the conversation she'd had with Harm a few days after her disappearance. When reality had sunk in. She wasn't coming back to them. To him.
With the exception of his father's sad absence from their lives, Harm had never shown more grief than that one phone-call. And though she didn't blame Mac personally for her only child's heartache, she very badly wanted to get the younger woman out of her sorry state of mind. For Mac's sake as well as her Harm's.
Trish decided to make her presence known.
"Darling, you're gonna wear a hole into my carper at the speed you're going."
Mac halted abruptly, offering a shy smile.
"You're right, Trish. I'm sorry."
"No need. But please, sit down. Have some tea with me."
Taking it as the barely concealed order it surely was (Trish wasn't a military spouse and mother for nothing), Mac obediently took a seat on the sofa, while Trish busied herself in the kitchen with the teapot and the cookies, meanwhile contemplating her next move.
She put a mug in front of the younger woman, she accepted it and took some careful sips of the hot liquid.
"So…you ready for the big reunion with my son tomorrow?"
Mac felt herself turn beet red at the direct question of Harm's mom. He'd warned her for her forwardness, but clearly she'd underestimated her.
"I'm sorry, my mouth is running away with me again."
Mac giggled despite herself.
"Something genetic, you think?"
"Definitely…but are you ready?"
"To see Harm again? Yes. Most definitely. Can't wait…"
"You love him."
"Deeply."
"That's wonderful. I've always known you would, eventually, be the one to make him happy."
"He makes me happy too."
"That's great dear. That's a good start you know."
"It's more than I could have hoped for after this year, but…"
Mac's knuckles turned white with the force she had to apply just to keep herself from fidgeting, at the same time making Trish glad she decided to take mugs instead of her good china. Mac would have crushed it without a doubt. Trish put her hand tentatively on Mac's arm.
"I don't know what happened this past year and you don't have to tell me anything, but if my son believes you're worth it, than you are. That's all I need to know. Now I don't know your friends, but that's what they are and apparently still want to be. Give them that chance Mac. Don't insult them by turning them down."
Now that certainly was a side of the medal she hadn't looked at. Would it actually be an insult to turn down a friendship when it was generously offered? A sudden insight took over and she bit back tears (again, how much could a person cry?) while she nodded.
"You're right. They want to be my friends, I want them to be my friends…and this time, I'll prove that I'm worthy. I'll show them."
She grasped the hand still laying on her arm.
"Thanks Trish. For everything. For letting me stay here, for not pushing me. But most of all for doing such a wonderful job of raising your son. He's everything to me."
"As are you to him, dear. Now, I think we're done sitting here in this salon bawling, when the weather is too wonderful to resist. Care to do some shopping?"
Recognizing the attempt of diversion, Mac leaped up.
"Shopping sounds wonderful."
"Doesn't it always? Believe me, dear. Shopping is a woman's answer to everything."
The two women laughed at that and after leaving Frank a message, they left the house together, arms linked like mother and daughter.
When Harm got home the next morning, he was pleasantly surprised to see two of the most important women in his life hitting it off the way the apparently had. In fact, they hadn't even heard him come in.
"So a man comes home after a week of hard labor and this is the welcome he gets?"
"Harm!"
"Humph!" , was the only sound coming from him.
Okay, so he asked for it. Now he was buried underneath both women in a fierce hug, all but knocking him over.
First he turned to Trish, hugging his mom back. After that, she wisely disentangled herself and left the two lovers on their own.
Harm now concentrated solely on the beautiful figure left in his arms, more like clinging to him. She'd put both her arms around his waist in a dead-like grip and her head was resting on his chest.
"I missed you," she murmured softly, sound muffled by his shirt. Gee, he hadn't noticed.
"Missed you too, Ninja-girl. Now give me a proper kiss."
She lifted her head at his demand and placed her lips against his, moaning softly from the heat the contact created. If anything, Harm was one talented kisser. A master, a wizard…blissfully, sinfully good. If he were a weapon, he should be barred by the Geneva convention.
The kiss all too soon turned into something very improper considering they were in the middle of the living room and he reluctantly immersed for some oxygen. The sight of his Marine, wearing a simple white dress showing all her curves as well as the glowing, tanned skin of her long arms and legs left him breathless no matter how much fresh air he tried to inhale. She was intoxicating. A goddess, and all his.
"Love you."
"Love you too, Sarah."
"Hey you two, get a room."
Frank's comment as he walked in on them, startled them both. Mac blushed bright red and again buried her face in his chest. Harm just smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry Frank, hadn't heard you come in."
"Harm…you two wouldn't have heard a Tomcat coming in."
"No, probably not. Sorry for this little display here."
"Hey, don't apologize for loving your lady. But please tell me you're too old for another sex-talk."
Both men cringed at the memory, while Mac, remembering the story, bit back a giggle.
"So you remembered too, huh?"
"Hard to forget. Sadly."
"Not our finest moment, Frank."
"Painful to say the least. But, I'll leave you two alone now. Your mom just asked me to inform you that we'll be out for lunch, but she left you a salad and some sandwiches in the fridge if you're hungry."
They thanked him for his effort and a minute later they watched Frank and Trish walk to their car. Harm kissed the top of Mac's head, rocking her in his arms like a baby. She sighed in contentment, glad to be held.
"Alone at last."
"Yeah…time for your punishment."
"Can't wait. But let's have a talk first."
Oh oh...another talk...coming up in the next chapter!
