Adrift part 3 Chapter 9, a jag fanfic

We've finally arrived at the fundraiser people!! I've split it into two parts, you know, just to create a little suspense and whatnot!!! Hope u enjoy this part, I'll have the second part up in the next couple of days, depending on how busy I am at work!

Thanks again to those of you who left me feedback, its all muchly appreciated!!

I don't own any of the songs mentioned. The first set of lyrics is 'Complicated' by Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and the second set is 'Crazy Love' by Rod Stewart

Over the next three or four days, Mac was getting increasingly more nervous about the fundraiser. Harm had been driving her crazy. He hadn't really been doing anything different, Mac imagined that to their friends it would look like nothing had changed, they were still very close, they still bickered like mad, each seeming to enjoy winding the other up, and they still were very competitive in the court room. It was the little things that were driving her crazy. The slight touches on her arm when he was trying to get her attention or push his point home, the couple of times he had reached over and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ears, the frequency with which the flyboy grin was appearing. These things that with any other man would have been a clear sign of flirtation, but with Harm, could mean he was just glad to have his best friend back.

Harm was also getting more and more nervous, although he was enjoying Mac's reactions to the flirty gestures he kept sending her way, and he hoped that the song was going to well received by Mac. He had been practicing round the clock was fairly certain that he sounded pretty good.

Marriott Hotel, Friday night

Finally the night of the fundraiser had arrived. The participants from JAG and NCIS as well as a host of people from the SecNav's office, and a few congressmen and women all descended on the Marriott hotel, where the performances and then the party would happen afterwards. Mac and Harm drove over together in Mac's corvette so that Harm could have a couple of drinks if he wanted to. They were both wearing their dress uniforms, with their costumes for the evening in bags in the boot of the car. Although they didn't technically have to be in their dress uniforms, the JAG team had decided to show up in them in a bid to start off the evening showing up their NCIS colleagues, as there was a healthy rivalry between the two departments. But they all planned to change into ballgowns and tuxes after the performances.

"Are you ready to lose Flyboy?!" Mac teased as they got out of the car. Harm laughed and shook his head,

"If anyone's gonna lose here tonight, it's going to be you Jarhead!"

"Arrogant Squid!" Mac retorted with a playful smile, "The judges are going to love me!"

"Sure they are!" Harm answered, "Just not as much as they are going to love me!"

"Get in the hotel Flyboy" Mac replied with a roll of her eyes.

"Gee Mac, I thought you'd never ask!" he replied playfully with a jokey leer.

"Red light Commander!" Mac replied with a grin, pushing him through the main doors of the hotel. Harm pouted and winked at her,

"You spoil all my fun!" and then "Ouch!" His comment had earned him a smack round the head from the still-grinning Marine Colonel who was standing next to him.

"Come on Flyboy, you should go and prepare yourself for defeat!" She then sashayed off, following Jason Tiner and Victor Galindez who had followed them in and were now heading towards the ballroom to find Harriet. Harm watched her as she walked off; e loved how she looked in dress uniform. At the doorway to the ballroom, just a few feet away, she turned and called,

"Are you coming Flyboy? Or are you just going to stand there and stare at my six?!" Harm's jaw dropped, as she winked at him and disappeared through the door. Then he laughed; it looked like Mac had picked up on the extra bit of flirting he had been doing.

Harriet went out on stage to cheers and applause.

"Welcome everybody to the first JAG and NCIS Idol!" she announced into the microphone. "Before we begin, I'd just like to remind you that all the money raised this evening will go to Cancer research so please dig seep! Also that the judges have final say on who wins, but we also have a few mini-awards to give out, that you can vote for while the judges deliberate. These are 'Best choice of song,' 'Least likely to win a recording contract,' 'Best costume' and 'Most likely to melt someone's heart with their performance'" The audience all laughed, "You can vote using the ballot boxes and pieces of paper at the back there. It costs 50 cents each time you vote. " Harriet continued, pointing to the back of the room. "And without further ado, I'd like to introduce our first contestant, Admiral Chegwidden."

The Admiral stepped out onto the stage to laughter. He was dressed in a bright purple suit, had a ginger wig, and large 80s style glasses on. The music started, and he started to belt out a fairly impressive version of 'Your Song' by Elton John. Next came Tony DiNozzo and Abby Sciuto, two of the NCIS agents, singing a hilarious and very Marilyn Manson-esque version of 'Tainted Love.' During the first two performances, Mac and Harm had been sitting with Bud and Sturgis, but after Tony and Abby had finished, Mac turned and whispered to Harm,

"I better go and get ready. Save my seat Flyboy!"

"Knock 'em dead ninja girl!" Harm replied with a grin, his eyes following her as she threaded her way through the crowds to the dressing rooms.

"Earth to Harm!" Sturgis nudged him, "Look alive buddy!" he added with a grin, noticing the slightly dazed look on Harm's face. Harm snapped his attention back to the stage where Victor Galindez was currently belting out an absolutely fantastic version of 'Y tu te vas' by Chayanne. The applause for the Gunny was overwhelming and Harm felt a little nervous. He was going on last, and he wasn't sure he could top that. After the Gunny came Loren Singer and NCIS Agent McGee singing a duet of 'Romeo and Juliet' by Dire Straits. Next came NCIS agent Caitlin Todd, who sang a fun version of 'Sometimes' by Britney Spears, not taking her eyes off Tony DiNozzo as she sang, a fact noticed with amusement by her colleagues and some of the audience, and with a Cheshire cat grin by the object of her affections.

Backstage, Mac took a few steadying breaths as she heard Kate finish her song and the applause start.

"You ready Mac?" Harriet asked with a smile, "Don't worry you'll be fine! Harm is gonna love it" she added when she saw the nervous look on Mac's face.

"Well done Kate!" Mac said as the NCIS agent walked off stage, smiling.

"Thanks Mac," she replied, blushing as she saw Tony coming up to meet her. "Go get 'em!" she added, as Mac started to walk out onto the stage as Harriet introduced her.

In the audience, Harm sat up straighter as she walked onto the stage, absolutely transfixed by the vision in front of him. Mac looked absolutely stunning. She had her short dark hair pinned up at the back, giving the impression that if one pin was pulled out, her hair would cascade like a waterfall down her back.(despite being so short!) She was wearing a beautiful green evening gown, that had had to thin spaghetti straps holding it up and a rather daring split on one side that showed her shapely legs as she walked. She caught Harm's eye in the crowd and gave him a rather shy smile as the music started up, quickly dragging her gaze away from his as she started to sing.

I'm so scared that the way that I feel is written all over my face

When you walk into the room I wanna find a hiding place.

We used to laugh, we used to hug, the way that old friends do.

But now a smile and the touch of your hand just makes me come unglued.

It's such a contradiction

Do I lie or tell the truth?

Is it fact or fiction?

Oh, the way I feel for you.

It's so complicated

I'm so frustrated,

I wanna hold you close, I wanna push you away,

I wanna make you go, I wanna make you stay.

Should I say it?

Should I tell you how I feel?

Oh, I want you to know, but then again I don't,

It's so complicated.

Just when I think I'm under control, I think I finally got a grip,

Another friend tells me that my name is always on your lips.

They say I'm more than just a friend, they say I must be blind.

Well, I admit that I've seen you watch me from the corner of your eye.

Oh, it's so confusing,

Yeah, I wish you'd just confess.

But think of what I'd be losing,

If your answer wasn't yes.

All the while she was singing, Mac kept her eyes studiously away from Harm's, she was too scared of the expression she might find there. Harm was just staring at her, listening to the words, and the sweet melodic sound of her voice. Was she singing about him? He wondered hopefully. The intensity of his gaze increased as he willed her to look over at him, hope bubbling up inside him.

It's so complicated

I'm so frustrated,

I wanna hold you close; I wanna push you away,

I wanna make you go, I wanna make you stay.

Should I say it?

Should I tell you how I feel?

Oh, I want you to know, but then again I don't,

It's so complicated.

I hate it

Cause I've waited so long for someone like you.

What do I do?

Oh, Should I say it?

Should I tell you how I feel?

Oh, I want you to know, but then again I don't.

It's so complicated.

As she got ready to sing the last two lines, Mac gathered up her courage and glanced in Harm's direction. Her gaze caught his and they both stood, staring like two deer in headlights. She was so relieved that she didn't see any disgust in his face that she almost missed her final lines, realizing just in time, but still not taking her eyes of Harm's.

It's so complicated.

She started, pulled out of her reverie by the applause and whistles she was receiving. She took a bow, smiling happily, then turned and left the stage, nodding to Harriet and the next contestant, the NCIS coroner Dr Mallard.

When she got to the dressing rooms she found that the adrenaline had kicked in for real and she was shaking slightly. There she found Sturgis and Bud who were both getting ready, along with one of the NCIS agents that she didn't know.

"Mac, that was fantastic!" Sturgis said to her, as he pulled on an afro wig. He was dressed in purple flares and a purple shirt, getting ready to take to the stage as a member of the Jackson 5 singing 'Blame it on the boogie.'

"Thanks Sturgis, good luck boys!" she replied, blushing faintly as she grabbed her purse and headed back out to join the audience.

Back on stage, Dr Mallard, resplendent in black suit and tie, with a black hat looking like a very dapper member of the rat back, was just finishing 'Witchcraft' by Frank Sinatra to applause and catcalls from the NCIS team. Sturgis's rendition of the Jackson 5 soon followed, as did Bud's version of Sinatra's 'Come Fly with Me.' Mac had missed Harm on her way back to the crowd, as he was now getting ready in the dressing room, while she sat with the Admiral and Victor cheering on the members of the JAG core. After NCIS agent Cassie Smith had cheered them up with her version of 'Reach' by S Club 7, it was Harm's turn.

As he stepped out onto the stage, now it was Mac's turn to be transfixed. Harm was wearing a black tuxedo, the bowtie undone and thrown carelessly around his neck, one of his shirttails slightly untucked, his guitar thrown over his back so that only the strap was showing. He looked gorgeous as he sauntered across the stage, flyboy grin firmly in place. Settling onto the seat that Harriet had carried out for him, he took a moment to check his guitar was in tune, before starting to play. Mac's heart jumped as she recognised the song; it was one of her favourites. She saw Harm glancing around the audience, evidently trying to seek someone out before he started singing. Her heart started to race as his eyes fell onto her…..and stayed there, staring into her eyes as he opened his mouth and started to sing.

I can hear her heart beat from a thousand miles

And the heaven opens everytime she smiles

And when I come to her that's where I belong

Yet I run into her like a river's song

She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

During the instrumental bit he smiled almost shyly, still not taking his eyes off of her face. Mac was blushing, she could feel her face heating up, but couldn't bring herself to pull her gaze away. He was making his feelings perfectly clear, and it struck Mac that maybe she hadn't been imagining the extra flirting, or any of the 'moments' they had repeatedly been having recently.

She got a fine sense of humour when I'm feeling low down

And when I come to her when the sun goes down

Take away my trouble, take away my grief

Take away my heartache in the night like a thief

She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

And I need her in the daytime

And I need her in the night

And I want to throw my arms around her

Kiss and hug her, kiss and hug her tight

Sturgis couldn't help but laugh to himself when as he watched Harm sing to the woman he loved. I doubt he even realises that the rest of us are in the room he thought with a grin, Harm, you big softie! His grin got bigger when he noticed Loren Singer's reaction to the song, her eyes swivelling back and forth between Harm and Mac, looking completely amazed by the emotion evident in both their expressions. Trust Singer to be the only member of the office not to notice the sparks between those two! He thought, amused beyond belief.

And when I'm returning from so far away

She give me a sweet smile that brighten up my day

Yet it makes me righteous, yes it makes me whole

Yet it makes me mellow down into my soul

She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

As Harm finished the song he tried to tear his eyes away from Mac's, but found he couldn't bear to. He smiled at her, trying to convey how much he meant the words in that single glance, before forcing himself to look around and acknowledge the tumultuous applause he was receiving. He bowed, a blush rising up his face as he turned and headed off stage.

"Thank you Commander Rabb, that was a fantastic ending." Harriet said, grinning hugely at the crowd, "The judges should now come back stage to join me for deliberation. Everybody, please start casting your voted at the back of the hall, and get yourselves some drinks, the bar is now open." At her words, Congresswoman Latham and Agent Gibbs of NCIS got to their feet and headed backstage while the rest of the audience slowly got to their feet and headed to the back of the hall.

Mac on the other hand stayed where she was, not trusting her voice or her legs to work, her heart racing as if she had just run a marathon.

Next part up soon, I promise!!! How did you find this bit?