Didn't really beta this baby so all mistakes are my own! ;) Gets a little sappy at the end, but we all need a little sappy ever so often no? ;)

Jackie

Part 5 – Another Kind Of Dessert

It's the middle of the week and Mac invited me over to her apartment. Managing to duck out of ops three hours early, she called me around five to remind me that I was to bring dessert. Oh, did I forget to mention that this is a date? Yup, after the oddity that was our first real time out, we sort of agreed that it would be easier on the world and us if we stayed in our second time, then work from there. The idea seems great to me, but, I usually prefer dates on weekends where, if things should move into extracurricular activities, you have several days to enjoy it.

After work, I went home to change (there was no chance I was heading to her place in uniform) then swung by this Italian place that makes the best tiramisu I've ever had. In days of old, Mac and I, when cases were tough and needed a break, would head to that joint. I have a lot of very fun memories of Mac polishing off the tiramisu off of the spoon and me trying to find a way to sit as it always had an affect on me. So much for being "just good friends." If anyone believes that's all we've been, they are surely mistaken. Yea, so, we've never been together. But Mac and I don't have to be romantically involved for people to deduce we're good for each other. Hell, the first time mom even heard me speak of Mac she got this silly expression and when I called her on it, she, not so subtly implied that I was smitten.

I step into the elevator of Mac's building and punch the number for the second floor. She always complains about my elevator, but this one, for being a more swanky place, travels at a snails pace. You could probably read War and Peace from cover to cover before you get to your destination. Seems this stupid thing can read my thoughts, it starts to make a god awful noise. Maybe I shouldn't have been so judgmental in my thoughts over the elevator because, apparently, it is now angry with me as it sits between the second and first floor with its emergency lights on. "Mac's going to kill me." I say, taking a gander at my watch to find I am already ten minutes late.

Are we cursed or something? Is there some crazy cosmic force that just does not want us to be together? (Yes, he's called DPB, devil incarnate :P Sorry, random author's note.) With a huff, I dig the cell phone out of my jean pocket and dial a familiar number.

'Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie' She sounds exhausted, hmmm wonder what she's been doing? When she asked me over, I forgot to ask her if she would be cooking or buying dinner. Hmmm, if she is cooking, I wonder what she'd be making? 'Hello?'

Woops! Stop thinking to yourself and answer the woman, Hammer! "Uh, Mac, hi. . .it's me. . .Harm." No, duh, like she doesn't' know your voice by now.

'You're late, flyboy. . .and by twelve minutes.' I would have thought ten, but okay, I won't argue with her sense of timing. 'You're not calling to cancel are you?' There is a disappointment in her voice as she adds on, 'I mean, I actually COOKED. . .I've spent two hours cooking. . .'

She sounds almost desperate and I smile at the thought that she wants to see me that badly. "No, I am not canceling, just called to let you know I am stuck in your building's elevator."

'Oh!' Mac says, sounding relieved and maybe a little foolish? I hear her mumble a few curses followed by a yelp and suddenly, I am panicking.

"Mac?" Okay, she's not answering! Why isn't she answering? "Mac? Are you there?" There's nothing on the line but a dead silence followed by that tone that tells you the conversation has ended. I try calling her line again, but she's not picking up. What the hell? Glancing around the elevator, I opt to try and pry the doors open. I've seen it done in movies and have no clue if it would work in real life, but here goes.

Using some, superhuman, Hulk-like strength I manage to pry open the elevator door only to find that I still have the outside door to contend with. Taking a deep breath, I try those doors as well. C'mon damnit! Budge you stupid, good for nothing. . .finally! Saying a silent prayer that this stupid thing won't start and cut me in half, I hop onto the floor above which is, thankfully Mac's floor. I run down the hall with whatever force I have left and bang on her front door. Damnit! No answer!

Fishing for my keys, I am shocked when I see the door open as if from its own volition. I walk in tentatively, taking in my surroundings noting that nothing was out of place. Okay, that is a good sign, but where is Mac? Walking into the kitchen I find hot pasta spilled over the floor. Well, at least it seems like it's hot if the steam rising from it was an indication. By the sink, I find the object of my. . .Never mind, I am at a loss to find something witty to say. "Mac?"

Stepping carefully around the spilled pasta, I move up behind only to find Mac running her left hand under the water. "Ooooh… Ahhh… Jeez." She mutters and as I peek down at her hand I find it an angry shade of red. "I was trying to move the pot of pasta into the sink to strain it, instead it decided to attack me." She looks at me for a moment and despite her pain, gives me this silly grin. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" I ask in exasperation. "What's wrong! Well, for starters, we're talking, you yelp and the phone line goes to hell. . ." I really can not explain how hard my heart was thumping at my chest thinking a million things. Okay, so I am like a granny sometimes, but Mac and I have enemies. . .I have more than her but. . . whatever, I worry! "I had to pry open both sets of elevator doors." With a sigh my arms wrap around her and my mouth finds this spot on her shoulder which I kiss. "I am just. . .happy you're okay."

Mac turns to face me, but keeps her left hand under the running faucet. She has this totally cute expression on her face. "Wow, can't say I've ever had a guy attack and elevator for me." There is a hint of a tease, but there is something else in there, admiration maybe? Leaning in, she gives me this barely there kiss then smiles at me. "Thank you for caring, Harm."

I stand there in this stupid trance, with, I am sure, a stupid grin on my face. God, this woman is turning me to mush and I love her for it. "I um. . .yea. . .sure." Wow, smooth talker there, Harm. And you're a lawyer? Wow! Genius. Shaking my head, I stare down at her injured hand and frown. "How about we go get your first aid kit? I'll patch you up."

"What about dinner?. . .Without the pasta, it's pretty much ruined." She frowns slightly, I can tell she was really looking forward to this.

"Do you have more pasta?"

"Yea, in the cupboard, why?"

I take the box of noodles and rummage through her cabinets until I find a microwave safe bowl. In it I pour the pasta, a bit of salt and water before tossing inside the divine nuker and setting the timer. You just gotta love microwaves. "They'll be done in about fourteen minutes. . . Now, c'mon." I walk her through the apartment and for the first time notice just how intimate things are. There are candles on the table, the fireplace is a'roaring and from her stereo, this slow, jazzy number is playing. "Hmm, been busy I see?" I ask as I sit her down on the bed.

Mac just stares at me with interest. "Yea, well. . .you want to uh. . .set a mood." I smile at her before heading into the bathroom to locate the first aid kit then return and place it on the bed as I sift through it for the burnt ointment. Locating it, I take a good look at Mac's hand, it's not too badly burnt, but there are one or two places which will blister if we don't get ointment on it and then bandage it. Doctor. Rabb to the rescue. That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Doctor Rabb. "What are you grinning about, flyboy?"

Hmm, I guess in my idiotic, self appreciating state, I managed to embarrass myself. With a shrug, I pour some ointment over her hand then use my fingers to smooth it over the burnt skin. "Just thinking. Just a few days ago you were taking care of me, now Doctor Rabb is taking care of you." I waggle my eyebrows for no other reason that just to tease her and Mac laughs. "Since this doesn't look too serious, you won't need to head to the doctor, ma'am." I say in my best doctor/corpsman/health whosywhatsy voice.

"Hmmm. . .that reminds me." Mac says, as grab the gauze from inside of the kit. "Was Renee the last woman you were with?"

Out it's own volition, the roll of gauze springs out of my hand, I bobble for it a few times but don't manage to catch it. So much for aviator's reflexes. The gauze rolls under the bed and I go after it, trying to retrieve it and also, trying to avoid he question. "C'mere you!" I come up to find Mac chuckling slightly. It's official, she likes torturing me. "Uh, I got it."

"So I can see." She says glancing at me with an expression that clearly says 'Harm, I am not letting you off the hook.' Great, I am soooo screwed.

With a sigh, I start wrapping the guaze around her hand and that is when I get it all out, in a jumble, without pausing at all. "The last woman I was with was Renee and I wasn't that I haven't had another chance its just that I haven't wanted to be with anyone else don't get me wrong I find women attractive and all but it's just that they haven't really done it for me and I don't want to get into another fruitless relationship again and have it go all wrong because I just wasn't into it and frankly there are other forms of entertainment." Whew, what a mouthful and did I actually use the word 'fruitless?'

Well, the way Mac is starting at me with her mouth slightly open, I bet she's considering me to be a few cards short of a full deck. At this present time, I wouldn't disagree. "There are other 'forms of entertainment'?" She asks and moves back slightly with a disgusted look. I raise my eyebrow in question.

'Oh, I get it.' I think calmly and smile at her, but then, I really do get it. Harm, you moron! "Uh! No no! I didn't mean it in a sleazy way. . .God, I just realize I sounded like some guy who would you know pay for something like that and I won't do that because I. . ."

I feel her lips on mine, warm and sweet. Any other ramblings get completely cut short as my lips move with hers. With a sigh I part from her and stare into those chocolate depths that always have drowned me, always. "Harm, you talk too much."

Oh I couldn't agree more and when her lips take mine again for another kiss, all thoughts of conversing fly out the window. God, I am kissing Sarah MacKenzie. I am kissing Sarah MacKenzie on her bed. Wooh, things just can't get better. Well, yea they can, we could eat, have dessert, listen to nice music, then fall in bed. After all, that was in my plan anyway. Breaking our kiss, I offer Mac a hand and lead her through the apartment and into the kitchen where I put the finishing touches on the garlic shrimp and pasta.

Dinner was excellent, but so was the company. After dinner, I cleaned up the plates then made my way over to the living room where Mac was seated on the sofa. The jazz CD had stopped playing and when I went to start it again, Mac called me over. "Hey, where's dessert? You didn't forget did you?"

"Forget? Course not. . . why would I? Ugh!" Oh damn! In my rush to make it up to the floor to check on her, I'd forgotten all about the tiramisu. "I'll be right back!" Opening her door, I fly down the hall and staring to the elevator doors. I hit the down button a few times and when it finally 'dings' at my floor, I find that it's completely empty. With a defeated sigh, I let the doors close and trudge my way back to her apartment. Farewell tiramisu! Aurevoirdessert! Auf wiedersehen! Adios! I'd add something in another language, but I've run out of linguistic skills. As I head into the apartment, I find Mac staring at me with an overly amused expression. "Someone jacked my tiramisu." I say in a tone that sounds more like a child pouting for a toy.

Mac pats the sofa next to her and I head towards her like a puppy following a master. So pathetic am I and I love it. "Aww, I'm sorry, Harm." She wraps her arms around me, squeezing tightly then, all together lets go. "Did you say tiramisu?" I nod, completely enthralled as her hands move up to my hair. "From that Italian place we used to go to?" I nod again and am suddenly realizing, she's thinking more about the dessert than me.

I glance up at her for a moment. "Want me to go get another?"

Mac looks as though she's thinking about it. The temptation is just too much for her. Then again, as I get that mental image of her polishing off her spoon, I am suddenly willing to head on out and getting the delicacy. Instead, Mac smiles at me and shakes her head. "You know? I have all the dessert I want right here." Her mouth fastens itself onto my own and after a few short, but sweet kisses I know that tonight is the night. Thank you God!

Slow kisses soon turn into more passionate, ones that I can feel run through my body. One of her hands she's managed to slip under my long-sleeved t-shirt and it's running freely along my chest. "I want you." I get out with in a rush and Mac repeats the same words to me adding a 'too' at the end. We are about to round second base, when this shrill cuts through the air. For a moment, my brain starts gravitating to the fact that we should put the music louder if this is what Mac sounds like when she is. . .uh. ..excited. Happily, I continue to kiss her, allowing my hands to wander down her back and under her t-shirt when that sound cuts through the air again. Suddenly, I am making out with air and that lovely warm body that was pressed up against mine is gone. I crack an eye open and find Mac standing by the sofa holding her cell phone. Ah, so that was the noise.

She grins at me and gives me that 'just a moment' look, giving me the chance to study my handiwork. Her lips are swollen from our kisses, her hair is a mess. That t-shirt is riding up on one side but fine on the other. But what gets me the most is the look on her face. Her eyes dance as they lock onto mine and I swear she is glowing. I can't help but think of how she's going to look after we make love. My heart swells a little bit at the fact that, tonight, I'll be sharing her bed. I hear her laugh and say something like, "I'll pick you up at the airport when you arrive sweetheart." And that little, disgusting, green monster rears it's ugly little head. "Okay, bye. . .I love you too." Mac, as though nothing had happened, slides next to me, then pulls me close. "Where were we?"

Uh huh, I am not letting that 'sweetheart' and 'I love you' slide on by, MacKenzie! She senses my hesitation to begin our activities again and does that eyebrow thing. Right now, I don't think it's cute. "Who's this sweetheart that you love so much?" I say, bringing my arms across my chest in an attempt to. . .to. . . I don't know? Look manly? Angry? Whatever!

Apparently my jealousy is amusing as Mac breaks out into a full out laughing fit. I don't find it funny, or even slightly hilarious. "Harm. . .are you. . . jealous?" She says between laughs. But, I am not one to stay around and be laughed at. And if she thinks I am going to share her, she's on crack. I go to stand up but, Mac pulls me back and in one swift movement is straddling my lap. "You have nothing to be jealous about." She says, as she starts kissing my face. "At all." Now she's kissing my chin, working her way down my neck and I hate that my traitorous body is responding to all of this. "Especially." She stops kissing and looks me in the eye. "of Chloe."

It doesn't take long for it to set in, at all and my cheeks start to burn. At least Mac is being a good sport about it and not digging into me any further. Though, by the look on her face, she is dying to do just that. Hmm, I try dissuasion. "Yea, I knew that." I say in tone that is a believable as I could muster. "I was just. . .messing with you." Riiiiiiiiight, which is why my face turned, I am sure, thirty different shades of red.

Mac nods. "Oh, okay. . .so where were we?" That's it? She's just going to let it drop just like that? I am inclined to pick a fight with her over it, but Mac's lips have a mind of their own, for that matter, mine are also busy. The woman knows how to kiss, how to apply the right pressure and when to let go. I am ashamed to say I've whimpered four times since we started kissing again. As she starts unbuttoning my shirt, I occurs to me that it's time to move this elsewhere. Not that I am partial to just the bedroom. God knows, I plan on exploring every place from the kitchen to the shower and everywhere in between, but, this is our first time. It needs to be special.

Thoughts of lighting candles and putting on romantic music flies straight out of my head as Mac's tongue swirls along my Adam's apple. That's it, this is going to happen NOW. With a superhuman force, I stand up and feel Mac's legs wrap around my waist. Our mouths are still fused as I try to make my way through her apartment, bumping into everything along the way. I hear the vase of roses, yea the ones from our first date, crash to the floor along with Mac's lamp from the table next to the sofa. Oh, the phone cord manages to get tied around my leg and I yank that to free us. Mac's chuckling between kisses. It isn't funny though! I am a man on a mission.

I finally get us to the door of her bedroom, but the door is closed. So, keeping one hand on Mac's. . .uh. . .six (you know, I wouldn't want to drop her or anything), I use my other hand to feel around for the knob and nearly topple us both into the bedroom. Whew! The woman has a voracious nature when it comes to kissing. Why hadn't we done this years ago? Better yet? Why didn't we just fall in bed the day we met? Would have saved us A LOT of heartache. I lay her on the bed and strip myself of my jeans and t-shirt, then find Mac staring at me with a sexy look as she curls her finger. "C'mere, sailor." She purrs in a voice that should be illegal and I find myself complying.

Hours later, somewhere around two am, I am still laying in Mac's bed with her warm body wrapped around mine. She's sleeping soundly, the rise and fall of her chest bringing me comfort as I lay alone with my thoughts of what happened tonight. I made love to Sarah MacKenzie. The thought just sends a tingle right through me and I wonder how, for so long, I could have evaded all I ever wanted. "Harm." I hear her groggy voice say as she snuggles herself closer to me. "I can hear the wheels turning in your head. . .shut them down for the night and go to sleep." Her eyes, half open slowly focus onto mine as this cute, lazy smile appears on those beautiful lips. "I love you. . .You know that don't you?"

"Yea, Sarah. . I know." My arms wrap tightly around her as my lips seek out her own. We kiss softly, sealing the end of the dance, but the beginning of something more powerful. "I love you, too." And I do, I really do.

TO BE CONTINUED...