PART 29 – Pre-Valentine's Day Rustle

This is the first time ever that I've actually WANTED to celebrate Valentine's Day. Strike that out, the first time was when I was twelve, sappily 'in love' with Becky Friedman and in need to buy her a Valentine. It came in the form of a teddy bear with the words "I Love You" plastered on this little red t-shirt it was wearing. She thought it was 'sweet,' but Mikey Sharp had purchased her a bigger bear which dwarfed mine. Needless to say, I was heartbroken and mom licked my wounds.

Today is NOT Valentine's day. I mean, it can't be farther away, but I thought I would do something NICE for Mac, maybe a pre-Valentine's day. It is because of the past that buying something for Mac became quite the conundrum. I knew I wanted something special, but nothing that would outdo any other memorable moments. Also, what do you get a Marine that you are madly in love with? I think I've come up with a resolution that works. With a grin, I lean against her kitchen cabinet as I wait for the chicken I am baking to be done. She's going to love her present which is currently hiding in her bedroom inside a big box on the other side of the bed. "Well, at least I hope Mac will love it."

"You hope Mac will love what?" Turning around I find Mac staring at me with THAT look in her eyes. Yes, THAT look, the Sarah MacKenzie, I am undressing you with my eyes look. She wraps her arms around me and pulls me close, a form of bribery, I can tell.

"Something I got you. . . I know it's WAY ahead of time but I wanted to do like a Pre-Valentine's day thing."

Mac stares at me as if I've grown six heads. "Uh, it's October?"

"So?" Apparently she likes my reasons as I hear no protests. I hear the timer of her oven go off and stop Mac from opening the oven door. Turning her towards the kitchen entryway, I smack her six and point. "Out, go shower."

"Aye aye, sir." She salutes, then crashes into my arms kissing me senselessly. Despite myself, I kiss back with all that I am worth, holding her to me for just a bit too long. I push Mac against one of the cabinets, then pull her up to sit her down on it's top all the while kissing her.

I reach up, helping her remove her uniform only to find that she's slapping my hands away. "Hey. . ." I attempt to disrobe her once more, but get the same treatment. "Maaac!" I whine.

"It's burning."

"Oh, baby I know, I feel the same way."

Chuckling, she pushes me back slightly and then points at the oven. "No, I mean, whatever is in the oven." Spinning around I find a plume of smoke dancing out of the oven.

"Oh!" I dive towards it, attempting to rescue our meal. Grabbing the oven mitts, I pull out the chicken and am thankful to note that it's not a total loss. "Whew, it's edible."

"It better be, I'm starved." Mac says before smacking my backside and heading out of the kitchen. "I'll be in the shower."

Hmmm, Mac. Shower. Shower. Mac. Argh, the mental images are heard to get away from. With a sigh, and spritz of cold water on my face, I attempt to finish dinner. That's when I hear Mac yelp. And I do mean, YELP. Running across the apartment I find her wearing only her underwear and pointing under her bed. "What?"

"Something's there." I glance towards where she's pointing and nothing happens.

"Mac?"

She grabs me, very unlike her, and points down there again. "I think it's a rat."

Amused, I turn towards her, a broad grin in place. Learn something new every day. "You don't like rats?"

"No!" She yells at me and that is when we spot it again. Maybe she's right? And guess what? I don't like rats either!

Still, I am the MAN, I have to do the manly thing and kill the beast. I move in front of her and point towards the kitchen, "Broom, quick." She darts off and I await patiently for her to arrive. But, she never does and instead chooses to throw the broom at me which, of course, hits me upside the head. "Hey!"

When I take a peak towards the living room I find her standing on top of the coffee table, covering her nakedness with one of my jackets. "Stop standing around and DO something!"

"Mac, you just hit me over the head with the broom stick!"

"Oh, suck it up sailor!"

Suck it up sailor! "Mac, I am sucking it up while you. . .you." Glancing down I see whatever it is dart past me and into her closet. "AH!"

"What! What!" Mac yells jumping from the coffee table to the sofa. "What happened?"

Using the broom, I slowly open up the closet door. Oh this isn't good. It's dark in there and, that I can remember the light needs to be fixed. "Nothing, it's inside the closet."

"My closet! Inside MY closet!"

Annoyed, I yell back. "No, Mac, my closet. . .Shhh! I'm trying to get it." I move slowly, almost as if I'm coming up on an enemy and then step inside. It takes forever for my eyes to adjust to the lack of light and that's when I feel something nipping at my heal. "Ack! Get off!" I shake my foot but, whatever it is just not letting go. "Damnit! Get off!"

"Harm! Harm are you okay!" Mac's yelling from the living room as this rat from Hell is doing it's best to kill me. Between trying to whack it with a broom and it trying to gnaw me to death, I fall backwards landing hard on the floor. "Harm! What was that?"

Sitting up, I glance down at the offending critter and can't help but laugh. God this is one of those stories that you need to tell your friends about. "Nothing, Mac. . .It's okay, you can come here."

"You sure?" I hear her voice, closer than before. "Harm?"

"Yes, I am sure." Glancing towards the door, I see Mac come in and pierce me with an odd expression – a mixture of worry and surprise. I reach down and pick up the gray and white ball of fluff who is now trying to eat my shirt. "Happy Pre-Valentine's Day."

Mac comes down to her knees in front of me, extending a hand to pet the rambunctious Husky puppy. "Oh God, he's beautiful." The puppy immediately loves her and I do mean loves her. He ignores me completely and beings to bathe Mac in 'kisses' on any piece of flesh (mainly her face) which he can find. "Thank you, Harm" She leans in and kisses me and despite the sudden smell of doggy breath mixed with that perfume I gave her, I don't love her any less.

After enjoying a slightly burnt dinner and cleaning up, Mac and I are sitting on the sofa while the puppy is playing with an overturned box which it came in. "He needs a name." I say, already coming up with a good idea.

"Mmm, I think I have one." She says thoughtfully, while her hand continues to stroke my chest. I feel tingles all over my body when she does that. "But I want to hear yours."

"Rustle." I say, grinning at her as she turns to look at me with this completely baffled expression.

"Rustle?" By the way Mac's cutely scrunching up her nose, she doesn't like it. "Why Rustle?"

I point down at the puppy who is still in his box and smirk. "Well, he's rustling around in the box, so. . .Rustle." It's a good suggestion, isn't it?"

All I get is laughter. "Rustle because he's rustling around in the box? Harm you are INSANE."

Pretending to be offended, I shift slightly on the sofa. "Well, do you have something better?"

Of course she does, this is my Marine we're talking about. Always prepared, always ready to storm the beach. "Well, I was thinking about the way he attacked you. . ." She says, pausing to giggle indignantly. "Assassin."

What did she say? "Assassin?" She nods at me and I glance down at little Rustle. "You want to name him Assassin?"

Mac nods one more time, looking like a little girl who is afraid that agreeing will get her busted. "He is as sneaky as an Assassin and the way he attacked you. . . Assassin."

"Assassin?" Sighing, I stare down at ex-Rustle and shake my head. "Alright. . How about we put it to a vote?" I bend down slightly, "Rust-. . ."

Mac's whistling, cuts me off completely. "Assassin, here boy." Staring down I find him waggling his tail, his big blue eyes staring at Mac as if she were his mommy. "Come here boy." She coos and I am beside myself as the little thing comes over and rubs his fur against her legs. She lifts him up to her lap where he cuddles up. "See, he likes it."

"He likes you." And I am not going to inform her that I am suddenly jealous at a dog. I reach over to pet behind his ears when I hear the little hellion GROWLING at me. "Hey, woah. . . I thought we were buddies, Rustle?" Maybe, I shouldn't have called him that? He's now standing on Mac's lap, balancing between one leg and another as he barks as loud and as menacing as possible at me. "Okay, okay, Assassin it is! Sheesh!" Apparently, that seems to appease the puppy who is laying on Mac's lap once again. "But you're not sleeping on the bed with her, she's mine!" I say possessively only to laugh when Assassin barks in agreement.