Well here is the next bit – sorry for the delay in posting, kind of hit a bit of a roadblock in my mind and couldn't figure out where to go – im not convinced that this was the right way, but I hope you all enjoy it in any case!
Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter, and the many of you who have been repeatedly reviewing during the story, it means a lot so thanks :o)
Over the last few days, since Mac's operation, they had spent all their time together. Harm had all but moved into Mac's apartment, only returning to his place a couple of times to pick up some more clothes. And secretly, to pick up a small velvet box that had been sitting in the top drawer of his bedside table ever since his mother had heard that Mac's wedding had been cancelled. They had spent a lot of time talking. Even though they had agreed to put everything that had happened behind them, they still had a lot of issues to work out to be able to truly put it behind them. That week had allowed them to finally lay all the ghosts to rest, leaving them ready, if not eager to move on with the rest of their lives. Together. Other than that, they had spent most of their time snuggling on the sofa, more often than not snogging like a couple of teenagers.
"I could get used to this." Mac sighed, feeling all of the tension melting out of her body at the massage that Harm was currently giving her. Harm chuckled,
"Like what I do with my hands ninja girl?!" he asked teasingly. She rolled over to face him. Harm's mouth went dry at the sight of the 'come hither look' she was giving him, and he couldn't resist leaning in and giving her the most mind-blowing kiss that he could manage. When he pulled back, he laughed again at the slightly dazed expression on her face.
"It's not only your hands that I'm interested in!" she replied with a wink. He grinned smugly,
"I knew you couldn't get enough of me!" he replied, pulling back quickly to avoid the pillow that she quickly aimed at his head.
"Cheeky squid" she replied with a grin. "We both know it's the other way round."
"Well you won't get any argument from me there." He replied, flyboy grin firmly in place, enjoying the blush that appeared on her cheeks at his words.
"I can't believe tomorrow is our last day of leave." She said, flustered. "It's gone so fast." Harm grinned wickedly,
"Fancy playing hooky on Monday?!"
"I wish. But we've got to get back to work someday." Harm's face grew serious for a second.
"I'm so glad you are alright Sarah." He said, reaching out to give her hand a squeeze. The day before, the doctor had given her a clean bill of health, pronouncing her operation as a complete success.
"Me too." She smiled at him, "And I'm so glad you were with me through it all."
"There's nowhere I'd rather be Mac, you know that. You are the most important thing in my life." She smiled at him, a stray tear working its way down her face at his words.
"I'm amazed we haven't heard more from our incredibly nosy friends!" she replied, the look in her eyes silently acknowledging his words even if she couldn't voice her response. "Do you think the Admiral gave them an order to leave us alone?!" Harm laughed,
"I think he probably did. I spoke to him the other day; he wanted to know how you were feeling, and how we were doing. He also said that everybody was planning on going to McMurphy's tonight if you felt up to joining them?" he smirked, "I get the feeling it's been quite quiet in the office without us arguing every five seconds!"
"I think we should go." Mac replied, rolling her eyes at his comment. "It feels like ages since we've seen everyone."
"Together?" Mac shrugged, understanding the reasoning behind the question; there was the whole chain-of-command issue to sort out.
"The Admiral said he'd sort it out, and I don't want to hide this Harm," she looked at him, pleadingly. "It's not like it was ever a secret to begin with."
"That's true," Harm replied with a cheeky grin, "You did always want me!"
"Nice to see your ego's still in tact their flyboy!" Mac retorted with a grin.
"But you're not denying it!" Harm pointed out smugly. Mac blushed,
"There's no need, everybody knows that it was the other way round! You always were mine, flyboy!" Harm leaned forward so that their noses were touching, looking deeply into her eyes.
"So I'm your flyboy now am I?!" he asked, his eyes dancing in amusement. She batted her eyelashes at him teasingly,
"Yep! And you don't get a choice in the matter!" she replied, kissing him firmly on the lips. Harm quickly deepened the kiss, trailing his hands down her body. "I…wouldn't…want…one..!" he murmured between kisses. He pulled back suddenly. "So we're going tonight?" he asked hopefully, relieved that she wasn't pushing to hide their new relationship.
McMurphys, later that evening
As they walked to the door to McMurphys, Harm felt Mac hesitate and, squeezing her hand in reassurance, he looked down at her.
"Are you sure you want to go in?" he asked, not noticing Sturgis and the Admiral coming up behind them. She nodded at him.
"Yes, I'm sure." She reached up and gave him a brief kiss, "Come on flyboy. Lets go!" she added, tugging on his hand slightly.
"Nice of you to join us!" Sturgis' voice came from behind them. They spun round quickly, not letting go of each others hands, to see both AJ and Sturgis looking at them with unmistakeable looks of amusement.
"Admiral, Sturgis, good to see you." Harm said, shaking both their hands. "Shall we go in?" The four of them walked into the bar, finding Bud, Harriet, Singer, Tiner and Galindez sitting at the usual corner booth waiting for them.
They quickly bought their drinks and joined the group who were all pleased to see Harm and Mac; especially Harriet who eagerly pulled Mac off to one side to go and gossip in the ladies room. Sturgis noticed with amusement the slightly resigned glance that Harm and Mac exchanged as Harriet was dragging her off.
"So buddy!" he asked, deciding that since Harriet was taking care of Mac's interrogation, he should get started on Harm's. "How has your week been?! Is there anything that you want to tell the class?" Harm hesitated briefly, glancing at the Admiral for support. At AJ's nod he smiled,
"Mac and I are together." He said quietly, a huge grin breaking across his face.
"That's great, it's about time too." Sturgis replied with a grin. "I can't believe it took you this long to get your head out of your six and ask that girl out!" Harm rolled his eyes at him,
"Now its your turn buddy; asked the Congresswoman out yet?!"
"How are you feeling?" Harriet asked, concerned. Mac had told her the reason behind her unexpected leave, and she had been beside herself with worry ever since the Admiral had given them a direct order to leave the pair alone while Mac recuperated.
"I'm a lot better now thanks Harriet." She replied, smiling at her friend, "Harm's taken good care of me, and the doctor gave me a clean bill health yesterday."
"That's great!" Harriet said, giving her friend a big hug, "I'm so relieved. So," she added, with an impish grin, "How are things with Harm?" Mac blushed,
"He's been great," she admitted, "like a knight in shining armour. He's treated me like a princess all week!"
"You two look great together." Harriet said with a teasing grin, "I always knew you would!" Mac blushed again, absentmindedly twisting an imaginary ring around the fourth finger of her left hand much to Harriet's amusement.
"I guess we have you to thank for it!" she said. At Harriet's confused look, she continued, "If you hadn't organised that fundraiser, we might have continued the dance for a hell of a lot longer."
"I don't think that's true." Harriet responded, with a grin, "I think we would have found another way to give you to the shove that you needed! The Admiral on more than one occasion suggested locking the pair of you in the conference room and ordering you to sort out your issues!"
"Harriet!" Mac exclaimed, embarrassed. "Let's go back shall we? The others will be wondering where we are."
On their return to the table Mac slid into the booth next to Harm, with Harriet taking up her place next to Bud and they all settled down comfortably laughing and joking like usual. Unbeknownst to Mac, Harm and AJ had had a quick discussion whilst she and Harriet were in the ladies room, with Harm basically asking AJ's permission to marry Mac, seeing as she looked up to him almost as a father. About twenty minutes later Harm, at a nod from AJ move his arm from around Mac's shoulders and slipped it under the table, taking her left hand in his, giving it a squeeze. She looked at him and smiled briefly, wondering what he was up to since he looked a little nervous. She opened her mouth to ask him, and he quickly leaned down to give her a kiss to keep her quiet. At the same time, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled the ring out of the box it had been sitting patiently in. Without really looking at her, and not saying a word, he gently slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand, leaning in and whispering softly in her ear,
"I'm yours forever, will you be mine?" She looked at him, stunned when she felt the cool metal sliding up her finger. She nodded, words failing her completely.
"I love you so much" he whispered, threading his hand with hers and bringing them up onto the table. Mac's jaw dropped as she looked at the ring on her finger. It was beautiful: platinum, with a perfectly cut diamond in the middle, with two smaller ones on each side. She smiled at him almost shyly.
"I love you to Harm," she whispered back, unable to believe how much her life had changed in such a short amount of time. A few weeks ago she had been a day away from marrying Mic. Now she was engaged to the love of her life. The one who she had thought only saw her as a friend.
Harriet squealed suddenly, the whole table stopping to look at her. She was pointing to Harm and Mac's intertwined hands, a look of shock and excitement on her face.
"Honey, what is it?" Bud asked, a little concerned.
"You're engaged?!" she all but shrieked, "You weren't wearing that when you came in this evening. How..?! When..?!" Harm and Mac looked around the table; taking in the shocked looks on everybody, except the Admiral's, faces.
"30 seconds sir!" Harm said with a wry grin, looking over at AJ. "I told you!" The rest of the group looked between them both, confused.
"We wondered how long it would take someone to notice." Harm explained with a grin, "I said about 30 seconds knowing Harriet!" he winked at her. "I believe the drinks are on you Sir!"
I know it finished abruptly here, but I thought I'd stop there so that peoples reactions can be done in another chapter. I also might do a flashback to Harm asking AJ's permission…
All reviews welcomed – reviewers are my heroes!!!