All2Dance Studio
Washington, DC
Harm and Mac arrive to the studio within a minute of each other. Harm is leaning against his Lexus, waiting for Mac, when she pulls in. She exits her Corvette, and heads over to where he is standing. Harm was running different scenarios through his head on the drive over from Clyde's, but he couldn't come up with anything that Mac and the hostess might have been discussing. As she reaches him, he asks, "Still not going to tell me what the discussion was about at the restaurant?"
Mac simply smiles, and rattles off, "Now Harm, you know how classified works. I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you. I can't very well bear your children later if I kill you, so that wouldn't be in my best interest." Dropping the subject, and leaving him flabbergasted, she offers him her hand, "Are you ready for class?"
The mere mention of her carrying his children sends all the blood in his body rushing south. She is going to look so beautiful when she is pregnant. He needs to snap out of it before he gets himself in real trouble. Harm takes a quick moment to compose himself. He knows he isn't going to get any further information from her, at least right now, so he takes her hand and clasps it in his, "Lead the way."
When they enter the studio, they advise the woman at the front desk which class they are here for. They are escorted to a large studio in the back of the complex. There are approximately twelve other people in the room already. Some are politely conversing with others, a few are wallflowers, and one couple is dancing around the floor.
A woman, who appears to be in her late forties, walks into the room, exhibiting command presence similar to that of Admiral Chegwidden. Harm and Mac share a knowing glance, surmising this must be their teacher. The woman reaches the middle of the floor, and claps her hands once to get everyone's attention. "Good evening, everyone, and welcome to All2Dance Studio. I'm Jillian, and I will be your instructor for Beginners Ballroom Dancing. If these are not the droids you are looking for, the National Air and Space Museum is a quick two-step away, and you will find all the Star Wars items you are looking for there. I even hear that the President occasionally shows up, disguised as a stormtrooper. However, if you stick around for a few weeks, I will show you the best way to do that two-step."
Her comments give everyone in the group a good laugh, and the nervousness around the room drops several notches. It serves as just the ice breaker that was needed.
Jillian continues, "Let me introduce you to the couple that you have seen out here dancing tonight, while you were waiting for me. Linda Travers and Michael Goff are two of my finest. They compete professionally in several different types of ballroom dances, and they will be my demonstrators as I teach you new steps throughout the duration of these classes. They are merely here tonight so that I can introduce you to them. Now, this is a couple's class. All of you signed up with a partner. Predominately, that is the person you will be dancing with. Whether you are a couple, friends, or you hate each other is irrelevant to me. On occasion, as the class progresses, I may pair you with someone else for a short amount of time. If anyone is uncomfortable with that occurring, please see me when we take a break. Our agenda for this first evening is not going to relate to any specific dance. I am going to put the music on shuffle, and I want you to do what comes naturally. I want you to get familiar with how your own body moves, how your partner's body moves, and how you can best move together. Chances are, there will be some surprises. I've had couples here that have been married over thirty years, that can't coordinate their movements together. I've also had total strangers meld so completely together that you couldn't discern one from the other. There will be time to introduce yourselves to each other when we take our first break. If no one has any questions, and everyone is ready, we can get started."
The first song that begins playing resembles a fast polka. The group looks at one and other, wondering what in the hell they are supposed to do with that. A slim blonde, probably in her late twenties, makes the first move. She starts high kicking, and her boyfriend/husband/significant other stares at her like she is crazy.
Jillian chuckles, and tells the rest of the group, "I know this song is a little off the beaten path, but I'm not going to switch to the next one until everyone is moving in some fashion or another. Just let the music guide you. There are no wrong ways to move."
An older couple takes that as their cue. They hook their elbows together, and spin in a circle. Soon, one by one, each pair begins to move in some fashion. Harm looks at Mac, and gives her a devilish grin, before he wraps his arms around her waist, and lifts her off the ground, spinning her in a fast circle. Mac is caught so off guard that she can barely grab ahold of his shoulders to keep from falling. When he sets her back down, she is slightly dizzy, but laughing, "A little warning would be nice next time, Harm."
Harm raises his eyebrow, "Now where would be the fun in that?"
Mac shakes her head at him, "Just trying to keep me on my toes? Or off my toes in this case?"
Harm smiles, "Nah, I just always wondered what it would be like to sweep you off your feet."
Mac's first instinct is to sweep him off his own feet, with a nice slide behind his knees, but the fact that he might have actually meant his comment makes her reconsider. However, when she pictured him sweeping her off feet in her own mind, he was wearing his dress whites. "Well, Sailor, the gesture is welcome any time you wish to try."