Thanks again to all of you who have left me such lovely reviews :-) i hope you'll enjoy this installment!
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McMurphy's Bar, the same evening
Throughout the evening, while Sturgis was getting to know his new work colleagues, he kept on eye on Harm and Mac whenever they were together…which was pretty much the whole evening. Their relationship intrigued him. There was obviously a lot going on beneath the surface, his conversation with Harm had enlightened him to that. And yet, they still seemed almost completely in sync, even though at times he noticed almost identical looks of longing and sadness flickering across their faces. He wondered what the others thought of their relationship. Certainly none of them batted an eyelid when Harm causally wrapped his arm around Mac's shoulder. Or when they sat in the corner of the booth chatting for the better part of an hour, paying no attention to the people around them. Or when Harm started on Mac's half finished drink when he had finished his own. It was only later on that Sturgis noticed any reaction amongst his colleagues to the way Harm and Mac acted. On he way back to the table form the bar, Mac was approached by a tall dark-haired guy asking her to dance. After a brief moment of hesitation she agreed, and after putting her and Harm's drinks on the table and offering him a brief smile, she turned and followed the dark-haired guy on to the dance floor. Sturgis noticed Harriet and Bud exchange amused glances at the look on Harm's face. While Mac could see him, he appeared relaxed and unbothered, but the moment her back was turned, daggers were shooting out of his eyes towards her dance partner. After a minute or so, he turned his attention away from the swaying couple, to join in the conversation about baseball between AJ and Tiner. A couple of songs later, he saw Harriet nudge Bud, and, following the direction their eyes took, found his eyes watching Mac, who was staring mutely at Harm's back. Before he could catch his friend's attention, Harm turned around and caught Mac's eye, nodding as he stood up, went over to the dancing couple, and cut in, taking Mac into his arms. The dark-haired man scowled, slouched back to the bar.
By this point, AJ had noticed Sturgis' scrutiny.
"Don't worry Sturgis, they'll figure it out eventually!" the Admiral said with a small smile. Sturgis jumped. He hadn't realised that he himself was being watched.
"Sir?" he enquired.
"Sturgis, we're off duty. When we are in here, call me AJ. And don't worry, about those two. They'll figure it out soon."
"Sir?!" Sturgis squeaked.
"You think I haven't noticed the 'thing' between them. You would have to blind not to!! You wait until they have an argument! Then you'll really see something! I remember one time I had to send them both to an aircraft carrier to force them to sort out their issues!" AJ smiled, and rolled his eyes. "They are both clueless. But I know they'll get there in the end. Look" he nodded in the direction of the dancing pair. Harm had his arms wrapped securely around Mac's waist, holding her close. Mac had her arms looped around his neck and was looking up at him with a look of complete trust. They didn't really seem to be noticing the music, and were engaged in deep conversation. Harriet leaned in to join their conversation,
"Looking at the clueless couple Commander?!" she said with a smile.
"Please Harriet, call me Sturgis," he replied, flashing her a charming smile. "Have they always been this useless?" he continued, nodding in Harm and Mac's direction.
"Always!" Harriet affirmed with a grin, "They are both so stubborn!"
"That they are Harriet," AJ affirmed, "But they'll get there in the end." He repeated.
JAG Headquarters, Tuesday morning
The following day Harm walked into his office to find Mac sitting comfortably at his desk.
"Morning Mac!" he said, acting as if this were an everyday occurrence. She pouted at him, an action which reminded Harm of Chloe.
"Why won't you tell me what song you are singing on Friday!" she asked. He laughed, he should have known that the conversation she had started when they were dancing the previous evening was not over yet.
"I told you! It's a surprise!! You won't tell me what you are singing either!" he replied, flashing her the flyboy grin which made girls weak at the knees. Mac rolled her eyes at him and poked her tongue out.
"Fine!" she said, standing up, "You're no fun! I'm going to talk to someone more interesting!!" Harm watched her leave, a bemused smile on his face. Almost the whole time they had been dancing the previous night, they had been discussing Harriet's fundraiser, and Mac would not stop bugging him about his chosen song. Which, for obvious reasons, he was not about to share with her. A small window appeared on his computer screen: You have a new message, read now? He clicked yes.
From: Mackenzie, Sarah
To: Rabb Jr, Harmon
Subject:
Tell me!!!!!!!
This communication is sent in confidence to the named recipient only. If you are not the named recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email.
The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the corporate views of JAG. JAG accepts no liability for the content of this email or the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
Harm laughed out loud at that. Who would have thought that his Marine would be such a kid at heart!?
From: Rabb Jr , Harmon
To: Mackenzie, Sarah
Subject: RE:
Have you been taking 'annoying lessons' from Chloe?!?! ;-)
This communication is sent in confidence to the named recipient only. If you are not the named recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email.
The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the corporate views of JAG. JAG accepts no liability for the content of this email or the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
From: Mackenzie, Sarah
To: Rabb Jr, Harmon
Subject: RE:RE:
Nope – from you! What can I say, I learned from the best!!!This communication is sent in confidence to the named recipient only. If you are not the named recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email.
The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the corporate views of JAG. JAG accepts no liability for the content of this email or the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
Mac couldn't help but laugh as she pressed the send button. It was like they were back in high school, just with better technology!
The light-hearted banter continued sporadically for the rest of the morning. Interspersed with work of course. After lunch Mac was due in court, and Harm had a catch-up meeting with the Admiral so their antics were put on hold for a while.
When Mac got back to her office late that afternoon, she noticed a package sitting on her desk. Her heart stopped beating for a second when she noticed the Australian stamps and postmarks. It had to be from Mic. She opened it nervously, wondering what could be inside.
Harm barely had time to look up when he heard the knock at the door, before a dark-haired woman raced in, threw something onto his desk and collapsed on the chair opposite.
"Mac, what's the.." he trailed off when he saw the tears running down her face. "Mac, honey, what's wrong?" he asked, jumping to his feet, squatting down in front of her, and grabbing both her hands in his. Something was seriously wrong, Mac never cried.
"I just got this letter from Mic." She sniffled, pointing at the object she had thrown at his desk on her way in. She hesitated. "Its all of the bills from the wedding. We were going to split the costs, but now he's refusing to pay a cent."
"Oh Mac, I'm so sorry!" Harm said, pulling her into a hug and stroking her hair, which he noted was silky soft, "Would you like me to fly over there and kick his arse?! I'm sure the Admiral and Bud would come with me as back up!"
There was another sniffle, followed by a small giggle. Mac pulled back slightly, a small smile now gracing her features at the thought of Bud Roberts beating anyone up.
"Why is he doing this to me?" she sniffed again, "I may have been the one to postpone the wedding, but he was the one that walked away for good." Harm gently wiped the tears away from her cheeks, and pulled back into his arms, stroking her back gently.
"Shhhhh," he said quietly, "you deserve so much better than him Sarah, you are so much better than this." He continued to hold her for a little while longer, until she had cried herself out. "You ok now Ninja girl?" he asked as she pulled away from his warm embrace, surprised at how much she missed it the minute she did so. She managed a weak smile.
"Nothing that a hot bath, Chinese food and winning the lottery won't be able to fix."
"Well, I can manage two out of three!" Harm said, "What do you say Jarhead? What says I drive you home, run you a nice hot bath, and while you relax go and get us some food and videos?"
"That sounds like the best idea you've had yet!" Mac replied, the smile on her face a little brighter now. "I'll go get my stuff." She got to her feet and headed towards the door. "And," she added, turning around and throwing Harm a genuine grin, "While we're on our way home, you can tell me what you are singing next week!!!
well? how am i doing? if u like it (or don't)and have a second then please leave me a review!!