AN: One more chapter and an epilogue to come up after this one. I'm thorougly out of inspiration concerning this story, so I'll wrap it up in the next installment. But don't worry, I've got a sequel to write (for "Stay away.."), several ideas for one-parters and a new, fluffy long story in the making.
Disclaimer: Last chapter I qeustioned my own sanity, with good reason. If I plead insanity this time...can I at least pretend I own DJE? Oh well...
Here we go...
CHAPTER NINETEEN
So they talked. Not much, just details, as everything was said and done so many times. They decided to stay for one more day, leaving La Jolla next Tuesday morning.
The days before they had to leave were spent eating, drinking and laughing with Frank and Trish and making love all night, choosing Mac's spacious guestroom rather than Harm's old bedroom.
They were resting in each other's arms after yet another session of lovemaking when Harm suddenly gasped.
"Damn! I almost forgot. I have a gift for you."
He leaped out of bed, taking the blankets with him.
"Hey, give me those blankets back, I'm getting cold here."
"Suck it up, Marine…"
Ignoring her protests, he rummaged in his bag until he found a small box and an envelope. Taking it out, he strutted back to the bed, for a moment just enjoying the view of stark-naked Sarah MacKenzie sitting on their bed, hair messed up, lips swollen, eyes hazy, skin glowing and absolutely breathtaking. And angry.
"Harm! Get your petty six and the blankets back in bed NOW! I'm freezing! Forget about that gift."
Okay, she knew she was exaggerating, but she was desperate to feel the warmth of her lover's body next to hers again. No present could ever top the wonderful gift of loving him and being loved by him anyway.
"Jeez, don't get your panties in a twist, impatient little jarhead."
"Too late."
She deadpanned, pointing in the general direction of the heap of clothes discarded on the floor. He followed her fingers and laughed.
"Okay, bad semantics. Now, come here."
The soft tone of his voice cradled her back to safety, as did his arms and the blankets, once again surrounding her. With a sigh of pure contentment she leaned back against him.
"Now, as for that gift…"
"I thought you wanted me to forget about it."
"So? Bad semantics. Gimme my gift."
Teasing her, he held the little box high above his head.
"How do we ask for a gift?"
"We don't. Marines don't ask, they don't beg, they just take."
She strained to reach the box, bringing her breasts to Harm's eyelevel. It was an opportunity that he simply couldn't pass by. Quickly he circled one taut peak with his tongue before gently sucking it into his mouth. Mac whimpered, her battle for the box forgotten as the familiar desire was building yet again. Helpless, she sank against him, getting lost in his love again.
"That was sneaky, Squid."
She managed to bring out between catching her breath. He chuckled, kissing her damp forehead.
"I can't remember you complaining…In fact, didn't you ask me, or rather, beg me not to stop?"
"I bet I did, cocky Flyboy. But…my gift?"
"How do we ask for a gift?"
"Harm, don't start again. I'm worn out."
"Okay, you win. This time. Here's your gift."
He produced the small box again. Mac suddenly hesitated. It was the size of a jewelry box, and if that's what it was, than…and she wasn't ready for that.
Reading her mind the way he always did, he gently shook his head.
"That'll come, my love. But not yet. We're not there yet. This is something else…now open it."
Tentatively she opened the box. And gasped. There, perched in the middle of a green velvet cushion were a pair of Oak Leafs. Silver Oak Leafs. Belonging to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She hadn't expected this. Bronze Oak Leafs maybe. At the most. She'd been thinking more in the lines of the two Silver bars of a Captain, the one Silver bar of 1st Lieutenant.
Instead, not only was she seemingly to be reinstated, but she would still be Lieutenant Colonel. She had set herself back for any other promotion and the bird on the collar would be a very distant future dream (if that), plus, her Flyboy would be her senior this time, but still…Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, USMC…
Harm handed her the envelope that came with it, nuzzling her neck (his favorite spot) in silent support.
He already knew what was in the envelope. Aside for the original paperwork surrounding her comeback, there was a personal note by AJ. One that would (hopefully) erase any doubts left in his Marine's head.
Mac unfolded the handwritten piece of ordinary stationary paper and almost choked at the words.
Dear Sarah,
Congratulations on your upcoming reinstatement. As your former and future CO I've done everything in my power to make sure you could keep your current rank and all benefits lawfully and deservedly yours. I am proud to have a well-educated, well-trained, sharp, intelligent and focused officer back in my ranks. Your office awaits you.
As your friend, I also welcome you back with open arms. I was informed by Harm of your whereabouts and what I assume is just a little part of your story over this last year, as well as of your new relationship. It's about time…I'm very happy for the both of you.
Do not worry too much about your comeback. I know and fully understand your feelings of awkwardness and hesitation, but they are unnecessary and will be proven ill-founded. No apologies are needed, neither are explanations. And no judgment will be passed, you have my personal guarantee.
But if you need a friend, a shoulder, a confidant…I'll be there.
With kindest regards, AJ Chegwidden.
"But, he's not even…he doesn't…"
She looked at Harm, happy and confused at the same time. He chuckled, her expression was kind of cute. He nuzzled her neck again.
"Mac, think about it rationally for a moment, from a legal point of view. You resigned your commission last year. Whatever happened next is none of the Marine Corps's business. You were no longer a Marine, therefore you didn't do anything wrong. However 'unbecoming an officer' your conduct might have been, you were legally and technically not an officer…you were a civilian. And what civilians do, is none of their business. Besides, AJ knows better than to give the high lords of the board any details about your past life and occupation. What they don't know doesn't hurt them. Or you. So, to conclude this final statement for my client: why wouldn't you go back to your last rank and privileges?"
He gave her a dazzling smile, so convinced of the truth on his words, he didn't give her a chance to start doubting them again. Mac turned to kiss him, gently and lovingly.
"You know, you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble. That smile would have been enough. In fact, it always was."
"I can remember you told me something completely different when we first met."
"Of course I told you something different. What did you expect? That I would have told you how that killer smile had won me over the very first second I saw it? That the moment it was directed at me, my knees threatened to give? That the first night after that I had a very steamy, interesting dream about you, which turned out to be a repeated event for the next years? Sure, you would have loved that, but your ego was big enough as it was, and besides…"
"Besides what, Marine?"
"I didn't think you'd be all that interested in me anyway."
"If only you'd known. I fell for you just as hard. Just as irreversible."
"Because I looked like Diane?"
He hesitated, the ghost of Diane once again threatening to come between them if he didn't choose his words very carefully.
"At first, yes. But later, finding out little by little everything you didn't have in common with her, I fell for Sarah MacKenzie, not my old deceased friend. Sarah, the memory of Diane is a dear one and I'll never forget about her. But you're not her replacement and you never were. I'm quite aware you're a totally different person and I fell in love with you for your beauty, your strength, your qualities. Not hers."
"But it was her you were kissing the first time…"
"You know, looking back, I'm not so sure anymore. I mean, you looked more like her than ever, in a Navy uniform. And it brought the memories all back. The lost chances…everything. But the moment I kissed you, you felt so alive, so warm, so real…I knew you couldn't possibly be Diane. But all I could remember after that was that it was one hell of a kiss. Ghosts don't kiss like that. Maybe angels do."
She grinned, letting the subject slide away, the ghost of Diane Shonke disappearing from the room.
"So I'm an angel?"
"My angel. My jarhead. My love."
He kissed her thoroughly, slumping down on the mattress with her soft body on top of his, glad their flight didn't leave until late the next afternoon, as sleeping was very far from his mind...
Just one more installment to go...
