A/N: Chapter 7 is here! And now that it's done, guess what I'm going to do?! Charts! Yeah, I know, I have a problem.
Lost and Found
Chapter 7: Friends
0004 Local
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
"Hey, Chloe, can you get that for me?" The new year had just begun, and Mac's little 'sister' had come to spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with her. Chloe was now fifteen, as precocious as ever, but definitely calmer.
Mac had to smile as Chloe picked up the ringing phone for her; Chloe's telephone etiquette was immaculate, answering the phone with a crisp 'Colonel MacKenzie residence,' followed by her polite inquiry as to who was calling. Mac was so proud of her.
"Hey, Mac!" Chloe bellowed, hand not even covering the mouth piece. Apparently, etiquette only went so far. "He says he's a voice from the past!" By this point Mac had walked up behind Chloe, flinching at the loudness of her tone.
"Sorry, Mac. I thought you were still in the kitchen," Chloe whispered, not looking very sorry at all.
Mac quickly checked the caller ID. Ah. "Really, Harm? A voice from the past?" She smiled as she heard him chuckle.
"Well, it's still 2003 here." San Diego was three hours behind Washington.
"That's very clever, Harm. Everything alright?" She hadn't expected to hear from him while he was gone, so this was a surprise.
"Oh, yeah, everything's fine. I just wanted to wish you a happy new year."
Mac felt warmth spread through her. It had been so long since he'd called her just to basically say hello. "Happy New Year to you too. What are you doing tonight to celebrate?"
"My parents are hosting a quote 'small' gathering. I'm hiding out in Frank's study."
"Harm, you should be out there! I'm sure your mom wants to show you off."
"Mac, I'm her forty-year-old, single, childless son. She's happy to store me in here while all her friends show her pictures of their grandchildren."
Mac wasn't sure how to respond to that. She could remind him of their deal which would be coming due in five short months. Or she could let it pass. Or, she could tell him he didn't need to be single anymore…but, no. They needed to have their friendship on more solid ground before she went there.
"Maybe you'll meet someone there?" Damn, why did I say that?
"Mac, no one I want to be with is out there." His voice was low and husky. Does he mean me?
"They're all in their fifties and sixties…" Oh, so that's what he meant…
"Hey, Mac? What are you wearing?" What?
"Um, what, Harm?" She wasn't expecting that question.
"What are you wearing?" There was a smile in his voice.
"Wellll…It's pretty racy…"
"Do tell, Marine."
"It's blue…"
"And?"
"It's flannel…"
"You're killing me here, Mac."
Mac had to giggle at that. "Okay, okay, I'll put you out of your misery. I'm wearing my cowboy pajamas."
"Ooohh, my favorite!" Harm laughed then and Mac joined in. It was weird, wonderful, strange…all of that, to be bantering with Harm like this again, and suddenly Mac's eyes filled with happy tears. She turned her back to Chloe and brushed them away.
"Seriously, Harm. Get out there, have some fun. And you're not just her forty-year-old, single, childless son…you're a decorated naval hero, a pilot, a lawyer…and, may I say, devastatingly handsome." She blushed at her compliment to him. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Chloe giving her a knowing grin.
"Okay, Mac, with that endorsement, I promise I'll go out and mingle a bit and be around to drink champagne at midnight."
"Thank you. So, Harm, when do you get back in town?"
"My flight should get in around 2100 tomorrow, or I guess in your case, today, and then it'll be back to the old grind."
"I'll see you tomorrow, then. I'll be a little late; I have to drop Chloe off at the airport before I head in."
"Tell Chloe 'Hi' from me. I'll let you get back to her, and Mac?"
"Yeah, Harm?"
"This year's going to be much better than last year."
"You know Harm, I believe it will be." They listened to each other breathe for a few seconds until Harm spoke again.
"Happy New Year, Sarah."
Mac had to swallow the lump in her throat. "Happy New Year, Harm."
"Goodnight."
"You, too, Harm. See you tomorrow."
"I'll be there."
"Okay, then. Bye, Harm—oh wait, Chloe wants to say something to you." Mac handed the phone off to Chloe, who had been jumping in front of her and grabbing for the phone. She couldn't stop smiling. Their conversation was at once a conversation they'd had many times over the years—light banter, a little flirting…but it meant so much more now, and there was an undercurrent of something else there too. She listened with half an ear to Chloe's side of the conversation.
"Yeah, school is good. I'm going to be on the riding team…yeah, they really do have an equestrian team, Harm. Me, too. I'm glad I could make it here to spend time with Mac before school starts again. She is great, isn't she?" Mac blushed a little. They were obviously talking about her, and it both embarrassed and elated her. She turned her attention back to Chloe and yawned. She was getting too old to stay up this late and she probably should save Harm from Chloe soon.
Mac motioned to Chloe that it was time to wrap it up. Chloe nodded but that old mischievous glint was back in her eye. Oh, dear… Mac grabbed for the phone but Chloe dodged and turned her back to her. Chloe, please, please behave…
"So, Harm…when are you going to marry Mac?"
"CHLOE!"
0302 Local
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Mac woke up with a start. The nightmares of Paraguay were few and far between, but that didn't make them any more pleasant. They also tended to throw off her time sense for a few minutes, so she looked over at the clock on the nightstand. 0302…Harm would just be ringing in the New Year in La Jolla. There had been many times in the last several months when, after waking from a nightmare, she'd reach for the phone, intent on calling him. Sometimes she'd have half the numbers dialed before she remembered what had happened between them…and then the nightmare wouldn't be the worst part of the night.
As she lay there in the dark, heart still pounding from images of Sadik stabbing her in what she dreamt was a real pregnant belly, she realized this time she could call him. He'd be awake, they were friends again, it was New Year's…she reached for her phone.
And promptly drew her hand back. They probably weren't at the point where she could just call him in the middle of the night for comfort. She sighed and pulled the covers over her again. Headlights from a passing car floated across her wall, glinting off a bit of gold on her dresser.
It was her bracelet.
From Harm.
He was her friend again.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she had the phone in her hand and the familiar numbers dialed. He picked up on the second ring.
"Hello…Harm?"
0933 Local
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Mac rushed down the hall toward the bullpen. She'd meant to be here at least forty-five minutes ago, but after dropping Chloe at the airport, a pileup on the beltway slowed traffic to a crawl. She had a meeting with a client that should have started three minutes ago, and she had wanted to go over a few things before she saw him. Feeling harried and frustrated, she burst through the bullpen doors.
"Ma'am, I put Lt. Allison in the conference room for you. Can I take those?" Harriet motioned to Mac's coat and cover.
"No, thanks, Harriet, I need to—yeah, that'd be great." Mac handed her things over to the somewhat confused lieutenant. It was clear Mac's attention had been captured by something—no, someone—else.
Mac's chocolate-amber eyes met grey-green ones across the bullpen, and her mouth curved up into a happy grin as Harm's face lit up at the sight of her. He was standing with Bud, and Mac saw him say something to the younger man before he started heading in her direction. She met him halfway.
"Hey, how was your—"
"Did you get Chloe—" They both spoke at the same time, then chuckled when they both started speaking over each other again.
"You go first, Mac."
"How was your flight?" She was pleased to see he looked rested, and his skin didn't have as deep a winter pallor as it did before.
"It was long, but uneventful. Chloe on her way, then?"
"Yeah, but then I ran into an accident on the beltway, so now I'm even further behind. Speaking of…I'd better get to my client before he thinks I've dumped him."
"Yeah, you'd better snap to it, Colonel. Um…you think you might be free for lunch?" He rocked back and forth on his heels, his expression hopeful and anxious at the same time, reminding Mac of a nervous teen asking a girl out for the first time.
"Yeah, I should be…after this meeting I just have a pile of paperwork to do."
Harm's face broke out into his old flyboy grin. "Great! I'll stop by your office and pick you up around 1230, okay?"
"Sounds good, Harm." The two of them stood there, grinning at each other, their happiness going beyond the prospect of a simple lunch together.
Meanwhile, behind them, Harriet caught her husband's eye and winked. The bullpen had just gotten a whole lot brighter.
1258 Local (same day)
JAG Headquarters Cafeteria
Falls Church, VA
"Hey, sorry about Chloe the other night." She watched Harm swallow his salad, looking for any signs that he was upset or uncomfortable about the marriage question. She was relieved to see the twinkle in his eyes as he waved away her concern.
"Nah, Chloe was just being Chloe. She's never one to mince words or beat around the bush, is she?"
"No, not our Chloe." She took a bite of her cafeteria hamburger, noting it was certainly no Beltway Burger, but so happy was she to have her friend back, she would have even eaten Harm's meatless meatloaf. Okay, she probably wouldn't actually do that, but she was happy.
"Do you remember the first time she came to JAG?" Harm asked as he stabbed a slice of cucumber with his fork. Mac smiled at the memory.
"How could I forget? Especially when she climbed into the elevator. She is so embarrassed by that now." They both chuckled.
"I met Jordan that day."
Mac's mouth suddenly went dry and it was an effort to swallow the bite she had just taken. He had to bring up her? Now? Her appetite fled.
"Yes, you did." She looked up at him to find him staring off into the distance. "Do you…do you miss her?"
Harm looked thoughtful. "No, not really. I am sad that she died, and it was pretty rough for a while, especially since it was all so senseless. It's still hard to wrap my mind around it…but no, I can't say I miss her. You know, I feel kind of bad about that, not missing her, but then I guess we hadn't seen each other since before I left to fly. I cared a lot for her, sure, but she was out of my life, wanted out of my life after that, and it was just a weird coincidence that she contacted me so soon before she was killed." He looked over at her and shrugged. "I suppose that was more answer than you needed or wanted, huh, Mac?" Mac was about to answer him when he grinned suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why, Marine? You jealous?"
Her eyes widened at that, but she just snorted and threw a french fry at him. "Of course not." Yes, you are, her inner voice sing-songed. She knew it was ridiculous to be jealous of a dead woman, but she guessed some things never changed. She took a sip of her coke, hoping to wash down the bite of burger that still seemed stubbornly stuck in her esophagus.
"Well, she was certainly jealous of you."
1830 Local (one week later)
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac stood in front of Harm's door, a little apprehensive. She hadn't been to Harm's apartment since the night she found the ring, and quite frankly, she was afraid she would act weird. Of course, even if the ring hadn't been an issue, she'd probably still act strangely. The two of them hadn't had a casual dinner together since well before Paraguay, so this was somewhat of a big step for them. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"It's open!" she heard Harm call from inside. She stepped inside and saw him standing at the stove, stirring something in a saucepan.
"Sorry, Mac. I didn't want the sauce to burn. Hey, think you can stir this for me while I finish with the pasta?"
Mac just stared. For some reason, the sight of him at the stove, doing something he'd done countless times in her presence, made her choke up. She felt silly; he was doing something so normal, but it reminded her once again of how much she'd missed him.
Harm was looking over his shoulder at her again. "Mac? Something wrong?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "You're cooking."
He moved the saucepan off the burner and turned completely around, clearly bemused. "Well, yeah. Don't I always—oh, right." He blushed and looked down at his feet, obviously remembering the last time she was here. "Um…sorry, I—"
"No, Harm, I just really missed your cooking, that's all." She gave him a smile, blinking back the tears that had formed. He smiled back.
"I missed you too, Mac."
1745 Local
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Groundhog Day had dawned cold and sunny, and Punxsutawney Phil had definitely seen his shadow. It had grown even colder as the sun had set. Mac flittered around her apartment, tidying up, waiting for Harm to get there with their food. They were working on a case together, once again on the same side. Mac was nervous, excited, and felt incredibly silly for it. Harm had been to her place countless times, but everything since they had reconciled seemed to have deeper significance.
Mac looked back over the last month. They'd had lunch together quite often, had dinner a couple of times, and basically relearned how to be friends. Mac had slowly started confiding in Harm again; she finally told him about her occasional nightmares, and he told her to call him anytime if she had one. When she phoned him on New Year's Day, she didn't tell him about the dream that had just woken her up; she just took comfort in the sound of his voice as they both wished each other a happy new year again.
Harm told her about flying for the CIA. He couldn't really tell her much as most of it was classified, but he did tell her how much he loved flying so many different aircraft. Mac had worried that he was regretting returning to JAG, but he told her with a simple sincerity that he was exactly where he wanted to be.
The two of them bantered and flirted fairly innocently, though every once in awhile, Harm said something that made Mac wonder if it were more than just flirting. She always brushed the thought aside, though; Harm was probably just being…Harm.
A knock sounded at her door and Mac quickly crossed the room to answer it. There was Harm, standing there in his service dress blues, his briefcase in one hand and a bag of Italian takeout in the other, with his sea bag slung over his shoulder. But there was something else…
"Here, these are for you." Harm handed her a small bouquet of flowers previously hidden by his other burdens. "To brighten your day after finding out we're going to have six more weeks of winter." It was an arrangement of delicate pink and yellow roses and Mac wondered where he had gotten them. He just winked at her and told her to put them in water. She leaned up to kiss his cheek as a thank you, and then did as she was told. Harm set out their dinner.
Later they sat together on the couch, arms almost touching while they reviewed notes from one of their interviews. Mac let out a big yawn.
"You ready to call it a night, Marine?" Mac stifled another yawn and shook her head.
"No, I'll be fine. I just had a short night."
Harm immediately looked concerned. "More nightmares?"
"Yeah, one. It wasn't that bad, though."
"Maaac…I told you to call me if you had one. Anytime."
Mac smiled and patted his hand. "I know, Harm, but it really wasn't bad. It was more the headache."
"Headache? Does this happen a lot?"
Yeah, monthly, but I'm not telling you about THAT. "Not really, just once in a while. I take the meds and they usually work fairly quickly, but it was a little rougher this time."
She could see he was still worried. "I promise you, Harm. It was nothing that hasn't happened before."
"How do you feel now?"
"Just fine, Harm. My neck's a little sti—ohhhh." Harm had started working out some of the kinks in her neck, his fingers stroking and prodding, and Mac felt her body relaxing under his ministrations. "God, Harm. You certainly haven't lost your touch."
He chuckled softly. "I just know where to touch you."
Did he just say that?
"Did I just say that? Um, sorry, Mac." He took his hands from where they had been working the back of her head and neck. His fingers had been tangled up in her hair, and Mac was about to beg him to continue.
"Don't worry about it, Harm, just keep going." No red lights here.
"Uh, better not, Mac. Besides, it's getting late and we both have court tomorrow. Let's just go over a couple more things and then I'll get out of your hair."
Mac sighed but she had to agree with him. She sat back on the couch and picked up her file again. "Okay, Harm. Have it your way." She smiled to let him know she wasn't upset.
They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes, looking over each other's notes, before Harm spoke again. "Mac?"
"Yeah, Harm?"
"You will call me when you have another nightmare, promise?"
It seemed important to him, so she agreed, but he still seemed pensive. She put her hand on his arm. "Harm?"
"Um, Mac? Those times when you called…some of them were after a nightmare, weren't they..."
She couldn't lie to him. "Yeah, some of them. But they were a lot worse then. It's much better now."
Harm nodded and then fell silent once again. Four minutes and thirty-two seconds later she felt him shift beside her.
"Mac? I'm sorry I didn't answer your calls."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "It's alright, Harm. You're here now."
1932 Local (three weeks later)
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
"So, Mac, what are we watching?" It was Friday night, and for the first time in almost a year, they were having a movie night. They'd each successfully completed a case, work was at a bit of a lull, so it was time to relax. He grabbed a handful of popcorn before sitting down beside her on the couch.
"Charade with Cary Grant."
"Ah, a classic. You know, Cary Grant thought he was too old for Audrey Hepburn so he insisted her character come on to his, rather than have his character come on to hers."
"Really? What was the age difference?"
"Twenty-five years, maybe?"
"That's it? But that's perfect!" She grinned over at him as she reached for some popcorn.
"Perfect? He'd be dead before you'd even be middle aged!"
She shrugged. "I like older men."
"Seriously?" He looked incredulous.
"You're an older man." Her smile was impish as she bumped his shoulder with hers.
"Maaaac…five years is hardly 'older.' You'd seriously date a man twenty-five years older than you?"
She shifted her body toward him. "Harm, look at this from a practical standpoint. I marry a guy that much older, live the high life, he dies, I inherit his money, all while still being young enough to enjoy it. He'd be like my 401K, an investment toward my retirement." All this was said quite matter-of-factly.
Harm looked just a wee bit horrified. "Are you serious?" Mac nodded, trying to keep up an earnest expression. She failed miserably, though, and laughter bubbled out of her.
"Oh, Harm, the look on your fa—" Mac's words ended in a yelp of surprise. Harm had grabbed her and started tickling her. She squirmed, trying to get away, her laughter making her efforts ineffectual. Finally, she surrendered. Harm reached for the remote on the table and started the movie while Mac tried to catch her breath. She noticed that he still had his other arm around her. She noticed as the beginning credits rolled that he drew her in even closer to him. She noticed that she liked it…a lot.
She snuggled into him and rested her head on his chest, her hand settling over his heart. "Harm?" she whispered. "I really do like older men."
She felt his answering groan rumble against her ear. "Well, we'll have to find you some guy that's at least twenty years old than you."
"Nah, five years is just fine."
She settled in to watch the movie while his arm tightened around her.
2256 Local (same night)
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
"We'll have to do this again soon, Mac." They were standing by her door, Harm preparing to leave.
"Yes, we should."
They just grinned at each other for a few beats.
"Well goodnight, Harm."
"Goodnight, Mac." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
"Drive safe."
"I will." He kissed her other cheek. He put his hand on the doorknob and started to turn it.
"Wait!" Mac cried. His hand dropped away from the knob. "You forgot your gloves." She handed them over and he slipped them into his pocket. "And your scarf!" She grabbed it and slid it around his neck. "There you go." She kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Um, Mac? This is your scarf." He pulled it off and put it around her neck. "Thanks, though." He leaned down and brushed her lips with his.
"Oh, yeah. You don't have a scarf." She stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"No, I don't." He stared down at her. "Goodnight, Mac."
"Goodnight, Harm." She raised herself up again, intent on kissing his other cheek.
But then Harm moved...
Her lips fell on the corner of his mouth. She froze in place for a long moment, then ever so lightly brushed her lips over his mouth until she hovered directly over it, their lips now mere millimeters apart. Her tongue peaked out to moisten her Cupid's bow, and with another flick of the tongue she tasted his lips as well.
Oh, god...
Suddenly Harm grabbed hold of her upper arms, pulling her toward him until her body was flush with his. His lips crashed down on hers and his tongue swept across the seam of her mouth, begging for entrance. She opened for him, their tongues meeting to tease and dance. Strong arms wound around her as she slid her hands up his chest, then around his neck to weave her fingers through his soft hair. She pulled him even closer to her as they each tasted what the other had to offer. And yet, she wanted, needed, more of him. His hands stroked up and down her back, leaving trails of fire in their wake. One hand tangled itself in her hair and Mac was sure she'd combust in the heat of their kiss.
It was heaven...
Until he stopped.
He pulled back abruptly and her gaze lifted to meet his storm-tossed sea green eyes, widened with shock.
"Oh, god, Mac. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—it was great, but it was too soon, wasn't it? Please don't be upset."
Upset? Did he not just feel her tongue in his mouth? She was hardly upset. "Harm, no, no, it was—"
"I'd better leave now, I'm really sorry, Mac. I should have waited, I—"
"Harm, no, you should—"
Harm yanked the door open. "Goodnight, Mac. I'll behave next time, I promise. Just…just don't be mad, okay?"
"Harm—" She tried to get his attention, but he continued rambling and mumbling as he rushed out her door. Mac stood there stunned. How could he not see that she wanted that kiss? Hell, she'd actually kissed him on the lips first. She'd practically been in his lap the whole night! For once she was sure he really did want her, that he wasn't running out on her because he actually regretted kissing her. But he thought she wasn't ready?
Idiot!
She couldn't let him leave without knowing what she wanted. He'd be all awkward around her and it would probably be another eight years before he'd make a move. She looked around frantically for her coat. My room! She'd left it in there when she changed out of her uniform. She stepped in that direction. No! There was no time for that. She shoved her feet into some ancient sneakers and shot out the door. She didn't even stop to lock it behind her.
Mac burst through the main doors of her building, looking around frantically. Where had he parked?! Finally, she spotted him, just unlocking the door of his Lexus. "Harm!" she shouted. She started running toward him as he whipped around. She wondered what she could say to him to convince him not to run away. The distance between them was closing fast. She couldn't find the words. Her mind was blank.
Maybe it was time to let her actions speak for themselves.
Harm's arms opened to catch her as she leapt into them. Their lips met in a fiery, passionate kiss as Mac wound her arms around his neck. "Don't go!" she breathed into his mouth.
He pulled back a little and looked deep into her eyes, the question obvious in his. She nodded. "Stay, Harm."
"You want that, you want us?" She nodded again. "You won't go away again?" She knew he didn't mean that in just the physical sense. She brushed her lips against his.
"Never!" she said, fiercely. She nipped at his lips again then tilted her head back to look him straight in those stormy eyes. "And this time, I mean it."
End Chapter 7