Chapter 2
Harm and Mac make their way through the bullpen and towards the elevator. Harm places his hand on her lower back as he guides her through the doors when they both hear a loud groan. Looking over their shoulders they notice that Mic has shoved his way past Gunny and the guards and is making his way towards both Mac and Harm. The Admiral notices this as he is walking back towards his office but is too far to intercept Brumby's advances. Harm begins to shield Mac to protect her when out of nowhere Bud steps in unexpectedly and proceeds to show Mic just what kind of sailor he really is. Using the element of surprise Bud grabs Mic by the arm and using his own body weight against him swings him around and shoves him into the nearest desk which forces Brumby to double over knocking himself out on the computer monitor. Just then the Admiral and the marine guard catch up with him. The guards cuff him this time to prevent any further disruptions and Gunny says…
"Lt. Roberts, nice move, Sir!"
"Agreed, Son. Well done." The Admiral said, patting him on the back. The Admiral then looks at Harm and says. "Better play it safe and find a neutral place to go. I have a feeling as soon as this yahoo gets released he will be looking for you both."
"Yes, Sir, I have just the place. I will call you as soon as we are settled." With that they both continued on their way out of the building. As soon as they got down to the parking lot Harm said. "Ok, Sarah. I want you to drive your car and I will follow you. First we will go to your place and then we will go to mine so that we can both pack a bag. I think we should leave my car at your building and then we can use your car to run around in that way he hopefully won't be able to find us too easily." Mac just nodded and got into her car. Both of them pulled past the security guard letting them know that they would be gone for the remainder of the day. Being so early in the day the traffic was light and they made great time. Pulling up to Mac's apartment in Georgetown Harm opened the door for her and offered her his hand as she climbed out of her seat. Harm and Mac smiled at each other as they walked towards the front of her building.
"Do we have a plan? I know the Admiral wants us to find a neutral place but I don't want us to have to pay an arm and a leg for a hotel room. We're both capable of protecting ourselves, don't you think?"
"I do Hon, but I'm not going to disobey a direct order. Especially when it gives me permission to not leave your side and find a nice little cozy place for us to spend some time. I have a great idea and I just got off the phone with Frank with some good news."
"Well, don't keep me in suspense…" She smiled at him as they continued up the stairs. She handed her keys to Harm and he unlocked the door for her so that she could step in. Once he closed the door he pulled her close to him and gave her the sweetest most gentle kiss on her forehead. As he stepped back she pulled him back to her…
"Hey, I'm not through with you yet, sailor." Mac continued to give him sweet little kisses, finishing with a sweet little eskimo kiss. "Now what's the good news?"
"Well, Frank and his company are always leasing rentals in and around the capital for their lawyers when lobbying for bills that will benefit the automobile industry. They currently have a piece of property along Pennsylvania Ave., right in the middle of all the action and he said we can use it as long as we need it because congress is not in session at the moment so their lawyers are not in need of the place. What do you say? Want to live like tourists for a few days?" Harm's smile was so full she felt she could see straight through to his happy little soul.
"I think that sounds lovely, let me change out of my uniform and get my bag packed and then we can be on our way." Mac continued to make her way through the apartment gathering the things she felt she would need for the next couple of days. As she was keeping busy, Harm began to make plans in his head about what he would need to keep them entertained the next few days. With a mental list already forming in his head he asked Mac if she was just about ready. Mac grabbed a book she started reading and a clean uniform and said…
"Just a minute. I'm going to grab a few things from the fridge so they don't go bad. Then we can head on over to your place." Mac grabbed her little ice chest that she used when they planned picnics and filled it with the items she had bought for the charcuterie board she had purchased for their dinner. "Let me just let my neighbor know that I will be away for a few days…Ok, I'm all set." Harm grabbed her bag and her hand and headed down to the car.
Climbing into her car, Mac told Harm she would drive to his place and then he could take over the driving. Harm held the door open for her while she popped the trunk so that he could drop her bag and the ice chest in. Before he knew it they were pulling up in front of his building. Harm told her to just park in front close to the door so that they could load up easily.
"Hey Harm, what can I do to help?"
"Why don't you raid my fridge and see what we can add to your goodies while I throw a few things together." Harm changed out of his uniform then proceeded to move through his apartment throwing things into his bag at record speed. He was anxious to get settled with Mac and start their voluntary exile. Pulling out his box of games he searched for something he could play that would entertain them both. He found scrabble and Monopoly and figured that would keep them busy for a while if need be.
"Ok, I think I have grabbed what I can from your fridge but we will probably need to stop at a grocery store before we can have a full meal. Don't forget to grab a clean uniform…are you ready?"
"All Set, let's get going and then we can make some plans." They made their way back down to the 'vette, Harm popped the trunk and added his bag before sliding into the driver's seat. Harm made his way through the streets of his neighborhood and set his sights on Pennsylvania Ave. Once they got closer he told Mac they were almost there.
"Harm, why are you stopping here? This is the Willard Hotel."
"You are correct…Frank says they keep a block of residential suites available. They come with a butler service and a number of amenities. Pretty cool huh?" Mac was just wrapping her head around the idea of staying at the Willard when Harm pulled up to the valet. He stepped out and handed the valet the keys, he then proceeded to go around the car to let Mac out after he popped the trunk. "You ok, Sarah?"
"Uhhmm, yes. This is just a bit more than I expected. I was thinking it was a little brownstone somewhere that we could hide out in. This is really nice, Harm."
"I've never stayed here but Frank said that we could hide out of sight here because no one would expect us to spend this kind of money. He also said to just charge everything to the suite and he would take care of it. He wants to make sure you are safe and this is how he can help so he said to enjoy our time and try to relax."
"I can't believe this Harm…I feel like everyone is making such a fuss over me and I don't deserve all this." Harm stopped in the lobby and put their bags down, grabbing her hands and making her turn towards him he told her.
"Sarah, don't ever say you don't deserve this. If I had my way you would have these types of trips all the time. You are an amazing woman and I am so lucky that you allowed me the opportunity to continue to be in your life. You make me want to be better, you make me want to give you the world, not to mention you make me want to yell from the rooftops how lucky I am to be allowed to love you. Everything in your life has forged you into this precious gem that shines through all the challenges that you face. I am so honored to be the man in your life." Harm reached up to wipe the few tears that made their way down her cheeks. "Don't cry sweetheart."
"Happy tears…I promise. Thank you Harm. Thank you for making me feel so special."
"You are incredibly special and I will tell you everyday of your life if you will allow me to…Come on, let's get checked in." Harm picked up their bags and led Mac over to the front desk. Everything in this place just screams sophistication and oozes importance. Harm and Mac stepped up to the desk and were immediately approached by a bellhop.
"I'll take those sir."
"Hello, my name is Greg, how may I be of service? The man at the front asked.
"My name is Harmon Rabb, this is Sarah Mackenzie. We are here to check into the residential suite reserved under the Chrysler Corporation."
"Ahh, Yes…Mr. Burnett called ahead to notify us of your arrival. We are still getting the suite set up for you. We will have your bags taken up to the suite and we would like to offer you a complimentary massage in our house spa while you wait. Would that be satisfactory?" Harm looked at Mac with a smile from ear to ear, she couldn't do anything but smile back.
"That sounds lovely. Thank you."
"Excellent. We will have the attendants in the spa area notify you of your suite's location when you are done with your massage. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. Please let us know if we can make your stay any more comfortable.
Meanwhile down at the local PD station in Falls Church Michael Brumby was being lectured about the fine art of understanding that 'NO means NO' by the in house psychiatrist. Realizing the only way he was going to get out of this place was to play nice he decided to tell them exactly what they wanted to hear. So he made nicey nice and before he knew it he was on his way. Catching a cab back to the JAG parking lot to pick up his car he began to plan out his next move. "I've got to find Sarah, she belongs to me and this Clay is going to have to learn the hard way not to covet others possession. First I need to get rid of Rabb, if I know him he is working his angle on Sarah just as much as Clay is." Pulling up in front of Sarah's apartment he immediately notices that her car is not parked in her normal spot but Harm's vehicle is. He quickly made his way up to knock on her door. Mic continued to bang on the door and holler for her to open up. He was beginning to make a nuisance of himself when the neighbor stepped out into the hallway to see what the commotion was all about.
"Young man, that is quite enough of that racket…where's the fire?"
"I apologize ma'am but I am looking for my fiance and she isn't answering. I am starting to worry about her. Do you know where she might be?"
"I know exactly where she might be but it seems to me that if you were truly her fiance then you would know right where she is as well. Don't you think?" Mic looked like he was ready to spit fire but he knew that wouldn't get him what he wanted.
"Well, you see we had a bit of a falling out and she is confused at the moment. I need to find her so that we get things back on track. Can you please tell me where she might be?" Mrs. Garner knew better than to fall for this guy's smooth talking. Sarah had clued her in before she left town about the fact that this guy would try to find her. She also told her that she had filed a restraining order against him and that she should be careful because he had already attacked her once. Knowing all this she decided to proceed with caution.
"You wait here…I will go look for the paper she left for me." Mrs. Garner closed and locked her door and went to call the police letting them know that this man was making all kinds of racket in her building. She then went back to her door and handed Mic the note she had left with her.
Mic,
Leave my apartment at once. I told you it was over and it's my understanding that a restraining order has been filed. I have instructed my neighbor to call the police if you came around. I am not going to be easy to find so just forget about it. I am not your concern and I have moved on with my life. I suggest you do the same.
Mac
"Damn it…I better get out of here. That old biddy probably already called." Mic ran down the stairs and off across the street just as he heard the sirens off in the distance. He got into his car and moved down the street so that he could sit and wait for her to return. She has to come back at some point.
Meanwhile Harm and Mac had just got into their suite and began to get things settled. "Wow, this place is great Harm."
"It sure is. Look at this butlers kitchen in here. I guess we don't need to worry about going to the grocery store for now. We can just use the service while we are here."
"I guess so…I was kind of looking forward to hiding out at your loft and watching you cook up some of my favorites…but this is definitely nice."
"Well we can go back there once we know he isn't going to be looking for you there. We will just have to rely on our friends and co-workers to give us the all clear. I say we request some Christmas cheer up in this place and then we can settle in for dinner. What do you say?"
"Sounds interesting…let's see what we can drum up." Harm made his way to the phone to speak with the concierge about how they can get some Christmas decor. Before they knew if there were 4 housemaids and one butler arriving with boxes of Christmas decorations. After introductions were made the happy couple began working alongside the staff to deck the hallways with Christmas cheer. "The only thing we're missing now is the music."
"We can take care of that ma'am. If you just turn the tv on and check the guide. We have music channels for you to peruse at your leisure."
"Wonderful. Thank you Mr. Ryan. You are most helpful."
"I am here to make your stay a pleasant one. Please call on me anytime. I am going to go make arrangements for your dinner. What would you like this evening?" Both Harm and Mac looked at each other and silently conversed before turning to Mr. Ryan. Harm said…
"Mr. Ryan. I will have a salmon steak with sweet potato fries and a house salad with a lemon vinaigrette. Sarah will have an 8 oz. Ribeye, medium with a baked potato and some steamed veggies."
"Very good sir. And to drink?"
"Just water and tea will be fine. Oh, and surprise us with something to share for dessert. Thanks"
"I will get on that right away. I expect your dinner will be ready within half an hour." With the decorations up and the hallways decked they snuggled onto the couch while finding a channel of music they both agreed on. They ended up settling on a smooth jazz station when Mac finally asked Harm,
"Hey Harm, that song you sang for me earlier. I've never heard of it before. What was it?"
"Oh, well that was one of mom's favorites when I was growing up. It's called I'd like you for Christmas by Julie London. My dad used to sing it to her all the time. He even sang it on his letter tapes a few times for her around Christmas time. It sort of became a song I identified with when I started thinking about you in ways that were more than just friendly fantasies. I began to want those same things for you that my dad always said he would give to my mom because she was the most important person in the world to him."
"It was lovely…It made me feel very cherished. Thank you" They sat and talked about Christmas decorations and family traditions for what seemed like just a few minutes but before they knew it Mr. Ryan was back with their dinner. They were served at the dining table and enjoyed a wonderful meal. The surprise dessert ended up being Buche De Noel cake which they chose to share in front of the fireplace while they continued their conversation. During dinner they had begun a twenty question game of sorts. They had already covered quite a bit of new territory considering they felt like they knew each other fairly well, they were surprised at how much they were revealing to each other for the first time. Harm had covered things like what her top 5 vacation spots were. Whether she preferred beach or lake time…mountains or deserts…road trips or flight hoppers…farm living or city living…family heirlooms or brand new pieces of jewelry or furniture. He was absolutely loving all this information they had shared with each other.
"Ok, it's getting late…last question." Harm looked her in the eyes and gently stroked his chin as if in deep thought. Mac giggled at him saying,
"You look all serious…what's going on in that brain of yours?"
"What does your perfect day look like?"
"Oh, that's easy…any day with you. I win! Time for bed handsome." Mac stood up and turned off the tv music. She held out her hand and waited for Harm to stand with her. They both walked over to the bedroom and began getting ready for bed. Harm started to get a little nervous when he noticed that Mac kept watching him.
"How do you want to do this? I know we haven't taken that last step yet and I don't want to rush us either but I do want to sleep with you in my arms. Is that ok with you?" Mac looked into his eyes and said.
"There's nothing I would love more than to be in your arms all night. We will know when the time is right for us to take that next step and as much as I dream about being yours in every sense of the word I know that our time will come. Let's get comfortable. We have a big day tomorrow."
"We do? What did I miss?"
"Well we have to get to work and then we have the Marshall Article 32, not to mention the whole Brumby nightmare."
"Right! I was hoping to just hide out here with you away from all the cares of the world. Well, we will have to really be careful because you know he is going to try to catch up with us at HQ which means he might try to follow us."
"I know, unfortunately I don't think he is going to go quietly into the night…not after what he did today. Let's not think of that tonight. I just want you to hold me so we can sleep without any cares." Mac slid under the covers and watched as Harm stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt. He opened his arms to her and she slid right up to him resting her head over his heart.
"I love listening to your heart. It is so soothing. Good night handsome."
"Good night, My princess." Harm closed his eyes with the biggest grin on his face. Little did he know that the same grin was spread across Mac's face as well. Sleep befell them easily and they found that their night was soothing and restful.
TBC