A/N: Some dreams are wonderful. Others are painful. This chapter is a different twist from what we saw on the show. It has adult-only content, so I've changed the rating to M.

Dreams

Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean
2300 Local

Mac reclined in her seat, grateful the one next to her was empty. If anyone sat there it should be Harm, and sadly that wasn't going to happen. Sturgis sat across the aisle, respecting Mac's need for her own space. He'd been a good friend the past few months, never pushing, but silently offering a shoulder to cry on if she felt the need.

But she didn't cry. Wouldn't cry. At least not around others. Things were different when she was alone in her apartment when she often cried herself to sleep.

Mac closed her eyes. She needed to get some rest. They'd already been in the air for four hours, and still had a long way to go. Maybe the nightmares wouldn't haunt her. It wasn't long before the sound of the plane's engines lulled her to sleep.

"Oh."

"Ah."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. But I'm second chair."

"I'll be gentle."

"Don't be gentle, be good." Mac almost cringed when she realized the sexual implications of what she'd just said.

But Harm's gaze never left hers. His eyes took on a smoky gray color, and his voice grew husky. "How about if I'm gentle and good?"

Had Harm really said that? Was he finally ready to let go? After Sydney, she'd sworn to herself she'd never again make the first move, but almost involuntarily, she found herself drawing closer to him, their lips a hair's breadth apart.

"Mac?"

"Yes, Harm. Yes."

The kiss was gentle. At first. But it didn't take long before his tongue plundered her mouth as he drew her body close. Soon their tongues twined together as if in an age-old mating dance.

Mac had been kissed before. Had been kissed by several—including this man. But it had never been like this. A tingling sensation began in her toes and traveled up her body to the tips of her fingertips.

She whimpered as he pulled away, ending the kiss much too soon, but it was only to stand. He took her hand to pull her up. Harm's arms encircled her body, and soon they were melded together. Mac snaked her arms around his neck, urging him to kiss her again.

He did. Somehow, she had known Harmon Rabb Jr. would be a good kisser. She had no doubt he was good in bed as well. A fleeting memory of Jordan's arch smile when Carolyn Imes asked what he was like crossed her mind, and she quickly shut it out. She didn't want the ghosts of any of their past lovers to haunt them tonight.

Desire pooled deep within her as Harm's hands continued to stroke her body, moving beneath her sweater. Mac's fingers found the buttons of his shirt. She needed to feel skin. To be joined to him without the barrier of clothes.

Harm's growing desire was evident as well, his hardened member pressed against her stomach. For the second time, Mac whimpered when he pulled away.

She looked up into his deep-set eyes. He raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure about this Mac?"

"I've never been more certain of anything in my life."

With that, he picked her up and carried her up the steps to his bedroom. Dinner was forgotten as they began to undress one another. A fleeting thought they had to be at Andrews in two hours, forty-seven minutes crossed Mac's mind, but right now it didn't matter. The admiral could charge them with dereliction of duty for all she cared.

Now fully nude, the two of them fell back onto the bed. Harm took a moment to look at Mac's ample breasts before his mouth clamped down on one nipple. His hands continued to caress her body, going lower until he reached her silky folds. She was wet and ready. He pulled away long enough to reach in the bedside drawer, but Mac stopped him.

"Harm, it's okay. I'm on the pill."

"Good. I really don't want any barriers between us."

Mac's fingernails raked down his back as he entered her the first time, giving her body time to adjust, before pulling out, then plunging in again.

This was it. The two of them had crossed the line. No longer could they say they were just friends. Instead of dancing around their relationship, they moved in rhythm together, Mac climaxing just seconds before Harm.

She stirred in her sleep as the plane hit turbulence. She didn't want to wake up. She wanted to relive this memory forever.

Willing herself not to open her eyes, she tried to relax. It wasn't long before she was once again in that blissful state of slumber.

The new lovers lay tangled together in the sheets, their bodies glistening with sweat. Their lovemaking was everything Mac hoped it would be and more. As they both got their breathing under control, Harm spoke first.

"Wow, Ninja Girl. That was…"

"Mind-blowing?"

He flashed his flyboy grin. "And then some."

Harm wasn't exactly gentle. They had too many years of pent up passion to take it easy the first time.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"I'm wonderful. And no, you didn't hurt me."

Truthfully, she was a little sore. She hadn't been with a man since Mic left, and Harm was well-endowed. Just as she'd imagined he would be. But whatever pain she felt was worth it. Not that she would ever talk about their sex life to anyone, but if Carolyn Imes were around to ask what Harm was like, the woman would be green with envy.

Mac's internal clock alerted her they now had less than two hours to get to Andrews. She didn't want to go. If she had her way, she'd stay right here in this bed with Harm. Maybe they wouldn't leave the apartment for days. After all, they had a lot of time to make up for.

How was she supposed to go with him to a carrier and work together in close proximity without touching one another? How would they manage to keep this new aspect of their relationship a secret? And what were they going to do about JAG and working under the same command?

She managed to rein in her galloping emotions. It was way too early to be worried about one of them needing to transfer out.

"Harm?"

His voice was husky. "What is it, babe?"

"We have to get up. I need a shower before we go."

"Yeah, me too. Why don't we take one together? You know, conserve water and all that?" He waggled his eyebrows.

"As much as I'd like to, I have a feeling we wouldn't be concerned with showering. We can't risk being late and making the admiral angry."

"I guess you're right." Tossing the covers aside, he got out of bed, then walked to his dresser to pull out a clean pair of boxers.

When Harmon Rabb let go, he really let go. He seemed completely unmindful of his nakedness, and Mac took the opportunity to observe his broad shoulders, muscular arms, and perfect six. When he turned back, she admired his pecs, his six-pack abs, and found her gaze drifted lower.

Maybe there was a bit of the prude still within Harm. His face turned red when he saw what part of his anatomy she was focused on. But his phone rang, so he hurried to answer it.

"Rabb… Yes, Admiral… It was… Okay… Colonel Mackenzie… You can't? We, uh… We planned to ride to Andrews together… Okay, if you don't reach her first, I'll tell her. Thanks."

"The admiral tried to call me? You didn't tell him I was here, did you? No, of course you didn't. What's wrong?"

"Calm down, Mac. Nothing's wrong. And so what if I did tell him you were here? He wouldn't know what we've been doing. He called to say our flight from Andrews has been delayed. We won't leave until 0700 in the morning. That means we have all night."

The plane hit another area of turbulence, forcing Mac awake. She smiled as she recalled the first night she and Harm spent together as lovers. Their second time was slow and gentle as they took time to explore one another's bodies, to learn what the other liked. They finally took that shower together, which in turn led them back to bed for another round of lovemaking.

It was only because of Mac's impeccable sense of timing that they made it to the airport on time. Then the flight was pure hell as they tried to act as if nothing had changed between them. Fortunately, the admiral didn't seem to notice anything different. Mac wasn't convinced that Sturgis didn't suspect something, but being the disciplined officer that he was, he didn't say anything.

"Mac?" Sturgis spoke from across the aisle.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"On the contrary. It's the first time I've seen you smile in months. That's a good sign."

"It won't last long. Just thinking about happier times." She turned to look out the window at the blackness of the sky. Better to do that than to engage in conversation. She soon found herself getting drowsy again. This time she dreamed of another night. She and Harm were in her apartment.

"Harm, why do you have to be the one to do this?"

"It's my job, Mac."

"Can't they send someone else?"

"I've already accepted the assignment."

"I don't want you to go. What if something happened? You got lucky when you outran that dirty nuke, but sooner or later your luck is going to run out."

"Mac, I'm coming back. You don't think I'm going to let myself get killed now that I have you in my life, do you?"

"Harm, people don't choose to get killed."

"It'll be okay. I'll be gone for two weeks at the most. Now, how about giving me a proper send-off?"

They made love several times during the night before Harm arose at 0500. He'd brought his seabag to Mac's place and planned to drive directly to Dulles from there.

With timing that would make the toughest Marine proud, Harm was soon showered, dressed, and ready to leave.

Mac's walked him to the door. Memories of another time when he left to fly filled her mind. And just like that day at JAG, her eyes filled with tears.

Harm reached to brush them away. "Don't cry, Ninja Girl. I don't know if I'll be able to call you, but I'll be home before you know it."

"I'm counting on that."

He pulled her into his arms for a passionate kiss. When they broke apart, he said, "I love you, Mac."

"I love you too, Harm."

With that, he was out the door. Although they had expressed their love to one another in many ways, this was the first time they'd said it to one another.

And it turned out to be the last.

Two weeks later, Mac was in her office when Tiner buzzed her on the intercom. "Colonel Mackenzie."

"The admiral needs to see you right away."

Mac rose from her desk and made her way toward her CO's office. Tiner motioned her inside. "The admiral said go right in."

Chegwidden looked up as she entered the room. "Colonel. Close the hatch."

She walked to his desk, then stood at attention.

"Have a seat, Mac."

The two-star didn't often call her by her name. It was hard to decipher what he was thinking—the man was a pro at disguising his emotions. When he stood up from his chair and came around to the front of his desk, she knew something was wrong.

He spoke softly. "I know you and Commander Rabb are close. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but—"

"No. Please no. Don't tell me. I don't want to hear it. Don't you dare tell me he's dead."