1500 Zulu
Jag Headquarters
Falls church, Virginia
Harm walks into his office and finds a note from Mac asking if they could have lunch together after her article 32 hearing this morning. Harm thinks to himself "Oh god, what could this be about? Does she want to apologize for last night? It is I that needs to apologize".
P.O. Tyner walks in, "The Admiral would like to see you in his office now sir."
"Thank you Petty Officer I'll be right there."
Harm knocks on the Admirals door.
"Enter!" the loud gruff voice of the Admiral commands.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes Commander, have a seat."
"Is this regarding my change of designator request, Admiral?"
"Yes. I spoke to the SECNAV and he has approved your request."
"Well, thank you sir. I didn't think it would happen this fast."
"I want you to think long and hard Commander about the career implications involved with this change. Think about all that you have accomplished here and can continue to accomplish here at JAG. I'll need to know by the end of the week whether or not you will accept these orders to fighter squadron."
"Yes sir. Will that be all sir?"
"You are dismissed."
"Aye, Aye sir."
Harm leaves the Admiral's office and runs into Bud, "Hey Bud! How's Harriet?"
"Due any day now sir."
"Well good luck Lieutenant."
"Thank you, sir."
Harm's mind was a million miles away. Trying to decide whether to stay at JAG or return to a carrier. He also was concerned about Mac's note and what she may want to talk about. Nonetheless, Harm left a note on Mac's asking her to meet him in the courtyard and he would have her lunch waiting for her.
1700 Zulu
Jag Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
After three hours of the hearing Mac was ready for a recess. The only good thing about her court appearance today was that it kept her mind off of her impending conversation with Harm. As she exited the building, she heard a familiar voice.
"Mac, over here!"
"Hey sailor. Thanks for meeting me."
"Well I got your note. It seemed important to you and after last night I feel I owe a chance to talk to me about it. Bye the way I got you a garden salad with light ranch dressing and some water. Is that ok?"
"Yes, it is fine. Thank you."
"So how is the hearing going?"
"Still too early to tell, I'll let you know when we reconvene. But I asked you to meet me because I wanted to talk about last night."
"I thought that might be the reason. Mac I am sorry that I didn't take your feelings in account before I told you about my request and I am sorry I didn't tell you about the laser ablation. I guess at times I can be a little too focused on the moment and I forget about all the implications my actions can have."
Mac smiles and chuckles, "You have no idea."
"Hey!" They both share a laugh.
"What I mean to talk to you about is that while it is your right to live your life as you want, I really cannot handle you walking out of it."
"Mac, I am not walking out of your life."
"Yes, you are. And things may never be the same again."
"What things Mac?"
"I will not see you every day or talk to you every day or have lunch with you when we want."
"Mac, I'll call you as often as I can. I'll send you emails daily."
"It's not the same Harm."
"I know. But it will be the best I can do."
"Harm, do you remember Bud's promotion wet down?"
"Barely"
"Well Jordan and I had a talk about you."
"What kind of talk?"
"Jordan told me that you were only going to be with her until I decided I wanted you."
"What! Why would she say that?"
"Because Harm it is true. Because you and I have been looking the other way and ignoring our true feelings. But now I feel unless I say something I will lose you forever and I cannot take that chance. So you see, you have to stay here at JAG so we can be together."
Harm is taken aback by Mac openness and is startled. "Wow Mac, you certainly dump a lot on a guy on a lunch date." Mac smiles and understands that Harm is trying to break the tension with a little humor. "Mac you know we are in the same command and it is against reg's for us to have a relationship. One of us would have to resign our commissions and neither one of us wants to do that."
"Harm, look at Bud and Harriet. They are married and they both work at JAG. We could do something similar. May be one of us could transfer to the Pentagon or NCIS or even the Inspector General's office."
"Mac." Harm takes Mac's hands into his, "how long has this been building up inside you?"
"Since the first day we met, in the Rose Garden. I knew I had to be strong, be a Marine and not let my feelings show. But Harm it is getting increasingly difficult every day and now with the possibility of you leaving I had to take this chance to tell you how I feel in hope it will make you stay."
Just as Harm was going to speak a young petty officer approaches them, "Major, they are ready for you in court now."
"Yes, thank you petty officer I'll be right there. " Well I got to go."
"Mac, I have until the end of the week to let the Admiral know if I will accept orders to the Patrick Henry. Let's discuss this over dinner tonight?"
"Ok, I'll call you when I get out of court. Good Bye."
"Good Bye, Mac."
0100 Zulu
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm is watching the vegetables boil and keeping an eye on the pasta for tonight's dinner with Mac. His mind cannot help but think back to their conversation during lunch. How shocked he was that Mac let her guard down and showed her true feelings to him, something he has been afraid to do as well. His thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hey Mac, how was your drive?"
"Good, thank you. Traffic was light tonight."
"Well sit down I'll make you a tonic with a twist." He says as he gives a playful wink.
"Thanks. So how was the rest of your day?"
"Uneventful. I was just working on the Lt. Anderson conduct unbecoming case. You know the officer caught streaking after he lost a bet with an Army Lieutenant."
"Oh, yes how could I forget? Did you get the brief filed?" They both laugh out loud.
"Enough. It is just a case of youthful exuberance."
Then the phone rings. "Now who could that be?"
"Hello?"
"Commander, be at my office at zero eight hundred, we need to talk." The Admiral says sternly.
"Yes, sir Admiral. May ask about what?"
"Just be at my office at zero eight hundred, we will talk then."
"Aye aye sir."
"What did the Admiral want, Harm?"
"He just told me to be at his office at zero eight hundred tomorrow. Here's your drink."
"Thank you, about our earlier conversation. I didn't mean to just dump all of that on you."
"Mac, I have been thinking about it all day. While it was unexpected I do understand the courage it must have taken to tell me how you feel, you are always so guarded when you discuss your feelings so I am going to open with you as well. "
Mac smiles but is cautious because she is unsure of what Harm is going to say.
"Mac, since the day we first met I fell in love with you. At first I was confused because of your resemblance to Diane, did I love you or did I see Diane when I looked at you. So I tried to keep it professional and friendly between us."
"That's understandable. There is a noticeable resemblance. Thank you. "As Harm places her plate in front of her.
Harm sits down and continues, "But as I became to know more about you I began to fall for Sarah MacKenzie and move on from Diane Schonke. That night at the pier, when you were in Harriet's uniform allowed me to let go Diane. For that I thank you."
"I am just glad you didn't kill CDR. Hobarth."
"I really do not know what I would've done that night if you hadn't been there. But I am glad it turned out the way it did. He deserved what he got. What I am trying to say is that I want to be with you too and that I love you and I want you."
The smile on Mac's face could've lit up the Beltway. Her gamble paid off and now she was going to have everything she'd always dreamed of.
Just then Harm leans over, gentle cups his hands on Mac's cheeks and pulls her close to him as he is seduced by her moist waiting lips. He kisses her gently and hears the passionate moan from her mouth.
Mac is lost in the moment, her passions overwhelm her. She let's go of inhibitions and surrenders herself to Harm.
Mac pulls away from Harm, "Is dinner the only thing you are going to serve me tonight?"
Harm looks deep into her eyes, gets up from his chair, takes Mac by the hand and leads her to his bed. He turns Mac around and she slowly begins to unbutton his shirt. As she finishes, she slowly starts to kiss his bare chest. She looks up at him and says, "Harm, will you make love to me?"
Harm looks her straight in her eyes. They both stare intently at each other as Harm unzips her snuggly fit jeans and Mac steps out of them and lies down on the bed.
"Care to join me?"
Like she needed to ask, Harm removes his jeans and climbs on top of her. Mac can feel the passion swelling inside of him as he begins to rub his manhood against her. Mac wraps her legs around his waist and her voice full of desire says, "I want you inside of me." Harm looks deeply into her eyes knowing that their lives will never be the dame after this moment, a moment he has been dreaming of for the last four years.
Mac releases her grip on Harm as he makes his way upon his knees. He slowly removes her underwear and tosses it on the floor. Their eyes never lose focus of each other's as Harm enters his lover.
The moans and groans of pleasure fill the room as their passion has finally been released. Harm feels all is inhibitions leave him as he for the first time in his life he lets go. Mac feels his desire and looks deeply into his eyes. Mac feels Harm tense up as he releases his passion. The moment over Harm is so fatigued that he slowly lowers himself onto Mac. She kisses him passionately and experiences feeling she has never had before, the feeling of being loved. Harm tries to roll off of Mac but she holds on tightly to him and says, "No. Lay here for a while I don't want this moment to end."
"No Sarah I like this better." Harm says as he rolls her over on top of him. Mac rests her head on his chest while slowly moving her fingers across his body. This, she thinks to herself, is what love is supposed to be like.