Chapter 32 - Lighthouse

Harm was behind the wheel of Mac's Corvette, navigating it out of the Washington hustle and bustle, up the interstate and through tiny cities she never knew existed. The man handled the car beautifully, speeding it through winding roads with the precision of a fighter pilot and making her squeal in delight when he revved the engine. Despite his fondness for a classic car, the newer model was impeccably built and hugged the roads so much better than his Stingray ever could - not that he would admit that to Mac.

He drove the vehicle past a small city and towards a doc, leaving the vehicle offshore as he grabbed their luggage and walked onto a ferry boat. The air was chilly out on the water and as she stood on the upper deck leaning against the railing, Harm came up behind, his arms wrapping around her middle, his body keeping her warm. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and another to her neck on the exposed skin just above the scarf Mac wore. Even above the grinding sound of the engines, he heard her sigh happily, felt when her body relaxed against his. "You're going to an awful lot of trouble for a getaway."

Harm grinned and pressed a kiss to the back of her ear. "Mmm Hmmm. Thought you wanted to stay at a BB. Wasn't that the deal? I get to drive the Vette if I take you away?"

Mac chuckled, a rich sound that seemed to fill his heart with so much love it threatened to burst. "Yes but I wasn't exactly a deal more of a suggestion and I figured something in Virginia or Maryland. You seem to have kidnapped me, Commander." She joked and slipped out of his arms to walk along the railing - the dock they left growing smaller and smaller. Trees lined the shore, each in different shades of greens, reds and oranges as the boat cut through the water moving farther and farther away from the mainland. "Where exactly are we going?"

They'd been on the road for hours, stopping only for lunch and to use the facilities. Harm

purposely scoured the Internet for something remote, hard to get to and far away simply to make an adventure of this outing. That's how he found a little island off the coast of Hilton Head accessible only by boat - their final destination. He hoped she liked his idea of a romantic accommodation which he spotted coming into view the closer the ferry got. "We're staying there."

He pointed ahead to white, two story home situated at the water's edge and nestled between the large trees. A tower with a red cupula shot out from the top of the building and in the late afternoon the light inside the tower was functioning although the powerful beam would not be fully visible until dusk. "It's a lighthouse."

"Yep."

"A real working lighthouse." The excitement combined with wonder and awe made Harm chuckle. Her eyes came alive, big and bright and beautiful. Mac gripped the railing tighter with her hands and he would be hard pressed to find that expression was the same one she made as a little girl when something fun happened. Damn, did he love her, more and more each day.

"We're staying in the lighthouse." Harm whispered in her ear, his arms coming to wrap around Mac again. "Just the two of us." This was the benefit of having untapped finances at his fingertips that he rarely touched save for remodeling his apartment and the occasional pricey avionics parts for 'Sarah.' He never felt the need to splurge any of it on a woman - not Annie or Diane - not even one of his many conquests. Mac though, he wanted to give her the World.

"Oh." She glanced away from the lighthouse and turned in his arms. Her cheeks were burning red and it wasn't from the crisp air. "This is more than what I thought...I mean, I figured you'd find some hotel back home not this." Mac hadn't even held hope that he would find a bed and breakfast. Most men wouldn't go to such detail and care to find an almost secluded spot. "I don't deserve anything like this.."

His lips brushed her, a barely there touch that made her quiver. "I'm still groveling, remember?"

"Hah. Right. I think saving my life gives you a pass, Commander."

Harm placed his hands on the railing on either side of her trapping Mac against the hard planes of his body loving how well she fit him. "And I still wanna make it up to you for all of it. I could have lost you. That won't happen again." He framed her face with his hands and then leaned in and kissed her slowly.

The staff had done an excellent job of preparing the Lighthouse for them down to the little touches like the shape of a heart made out of red rose petals over the bed to the cozy fire. There was also the intimate dinner for two set in the main dining room with fine china and silverware.

"I have something for you." Harm said as he patted the spot next to him on the cushioned window seat that overlooked the water. The sun was soon to set and the skies had taken on orange and pink hues casting a lovely glow inside the bedroom.

Mac was getting ready for dinner - one of the few things the staff would prepare before leaving them all alone until morning - late morning, as Harm had requested. When stepped out of the bathroom he noted the red dress she wore and an appreciative smile spread across his lips. Oh yes, he loved her more in red. "You look handsome."

He wore a grey suit and had secretly packed that dress because Harm needed the night to be special. "And you're stunning." He couldn't help but brush his lips over hers and Mac responded back with earnest.

When they broke apart he held out to her a rectangular velvet box and motioned for Mac to take it. "It's not jewelry or anything like that. It's something better...At least, I think it is." He seemed nervous and excited all at once, his eyes bright and shining - a happiness that was infectious.

Mac found herself smiling more, acting a little less serious, enjoying simple things in life - with him. Once she cracked open the box she found the reason for his mirth. Inside was a pair of soft shoulder boards with three gold stripes and the JAG millrind. At first the 'gift' was confusing until Mac realized the significance. "We're the same rank now."

"Yeah, we are." Harm nodded. "I wanted you to know first and asked for AJ to wait for frocking until we got back. It's official by next week, ma'am."

Mac's fingers moved over each stripe and when she glanced at him she found him staring at her lovingly. "No more worrying about fraternization." Given her past and the issues that Farrow and Chris brought to her life for a time, they had been so careful to not be caught together outside of work. Where at first it was fun and exciting, the sneaking around, after a few weeks Harm had grown weary.

"And no more sneaking around."

"I kinda like sneaking around. It's just us - you and me…" She waved a hand between them and then let it drop to his knee. "Without anyone getting in the way."

"I enjoy the privacy too but it's getting exhausting. Sometimes I just want to go to dinner without worrying over how it looks." He threaded his hand through hers and raised it up to kiss the back of her knuckles, an action Mac was starting to grow accustomed to. It was a form of affection that occurred whenever their hands were linked and it made her heart flutter each time. "We still don't have to tell anyone. Just let them find out organically."

"Chegwidden suspects something and it began that night with you in the ocean. I acted like a grieving widow, not just a friend."

Harm took a breath and held it. Concern was evident on his face over the conversation he didn't really want to have along with his desire to leave the Navy for her. "Mac, the admiral knows."

"You told him."

"Yes." He swallowed hard and tried to decipher her odd expression that waa a mix of worry and relief. "I'm sorry that I didn't ask you first but, you were worried about Jordan, I needed someone impartial to get my head straight...I may have blurted out that I loved you." And was pleadanrly surprised when their xommanding officer didn't immediately dress him down.

"Harm…"

She tried to pull her hand out of his but he held steadfast, unwilling to let her go just yet. "You don't have to worry, he approves just wants us to behave like good officers would."

Mac snorted at that. "You mean he wants us to act like normal. We've never really behaved you and me. Some of our bullpen battles are the stuff of legends."

"I think he means: no making out in the law library."

Frowning, she heaved a dramatically long, suffering sigh. "Well there goes that fantasy."

The mention of her fantasy had Harm's eyebrows reaching his hairline. He too had several throughout the years. "Mmm. Your office, my office...I had a lot of fantasies."

"The supply room." She offered an odd Harm's shocked expression, Mac shrugged. "Don't judge, it's cozy in there."

"There's something else." He took the box away and placed it on the cushion and then reached into his pocket. "This is not an engagement ring, I think we need a little time before we get there but, it's my commitment to you."

In the palm of his hand rested his goldwings, the pin shimmering in the waning light. Many would not understand the meaning behind it or why it was so important, but Mac knew. He was letting go. "I passed my quals. I needed to know I still got it, that I was still good at flying. I'm done, I'm out, I don't need that noose - these belong to you now."

Mac took the wings and held them up so she could see even the fine details on the metal. It was a pin, nothing more and yet, to a pilot, it meant everything. "I can't have these. You love to fly."

"I still have Sarah." He wrapped his hand over hers, forcing her palm to close over the wings. "If it comes to it, I'm prepared to leave the Navy for you. I've drawn up the paperwork and told the Admiral I'm considering it if I ever..if we ever…"

"No." Mac pressed the wings into the palm of his hand. "No. What I ask is that you not go back to a carrier full time. But I want you to fly when you can. And I don't want you leaving the Navy for me."

"You're sure?"

"Yes." She hated when he was in the air because that feeling of apprehension always reared its ugly head. It was one of the most dangerous jobs in the World, landing a jet on a moving runway and Mac would always be concerned. But, she wouldn't let him leave it for her. "I fell in love with a lawyer who's also a pilot not one or the other. The Navy is part of you just like the Corps is part of me. You're not leaving that for me."

The serene feeling that came ov3r him was unlike anything Harm had ever felt before and he knew it was partly because of the woman sitting before him. Mac was his partner in every way and he thanked the Heavens for bringing h3r into his life. "You're amazing."

"Amazing? No. I'm in love." Her lips pressed against his moving slowly until Harm gathered her closer and deepened the kiss.

THE END.