Trinkets - Part 8

"I think you're getting us confused, Clinton. You killed someone today, not me."

"Well, I admit I had something to do with it, but really, it's your fault he's dead. And I'm thinking that it's going to be you that the police blame."

"You're insane," said Mac incredulously.

"Maybe. But we've delayed our game too long. So, Harm, … I'm going to ask you some questions, and what your answers are will determine if your lovely friend here will have to take part this round … or if she can safely sit this one out."

"Don't answer him, Harm."

Ignoring her, Clinton continued, "Let's start with something easy. What is your relationship with Sarah?"

Harm's brows furrowed briefly, as he did not expect that question. "… We work together."

"And?"

"And we're friends."

"And?"

"And what?" asked Harm.

"Are you lovers?"

It was Mac who answered. "That's none of your business."

"It is my business," said Clinton. "Because I have the gun."

"What is the point of these questions?" asked Mac. "You have some odd obsession with knowing if people are romantically involved? Are things so bad in your personal life that you have to get your satisfaction from hearing about others?"

"You aren't asking the questions, Sarah," snapped Clinton, appearing more irked than ever. "Do I have to remind you of the rules?"

"No," Harm answered for her. "She'll stay quiet. Just leave her alone."

"Then answer the question. Are you lovers?"

"No," Harm answered.

"Hmm. Have you ever been?"

Harm shook his head. "… No."

"But you want to be?" Clinton asked Harm.

Mac was about to object again, but Harm silenced her with a stern look. Then he answered, "… Maybe."

"Maybe?" repeated Clinton with disbelief. "Why only 'maybe?'"

Mac couldn't help but be a bit curious herself regarding that question, and she looked over to study Harm. His demeanor was that of extreme fatigue, but there was a sense of sincerity about him.

Staring at the floor, he slowly replied, "Only 'maybe,' because … I don't want to hurt her. … I don't want to be hurt. I don't want …" He transferred his gaze to Mac, as he finished, "…to lose her."

"You don't want to lose her?" parroted Clinton, not understanding. "If you're not a couple, then how is it that you have her?"

Harm looked Clinton in the eye. "… She's my friend. … My best friend."

"You are in love her, aren't you?" Clinton reflected. "You care more about spending time with her, and her being happy, than you do about sleeping with her."

Harm didn't respond, which was enough of an answer for the game's 'moderator.'

"Quite admirable. … Well, Harm. We're off to a good start. So, … as a reward … I'm going to ask Sarah to do something that you will like."

He turned to Mac. "Sarah, … dear, I think that Harm deserves a nice, big kiss for that, don't you?"

Mac wasn't sure how to feel about this. Kissing Harm was, of course, not a bad thing, but … to be forced to … while being watched by an evil manipulator wasn't exactly … romantic … or even comfortable. Nonetheless, … no point in wasting her energy on fighting or refusing something that wasn't all that objectionable. Besides, … if things didn't work out and either she or Harm didn't make it out of here alive … wouldn't it be nice to have one last kiss?

"Unchain me?" she asked of Clinton.

"No, not yet. I know you scoot yourself over to Harm, because you did it earlier. That ought to be close enough to perform the task."

'The task,' thought Harm. This wasn't right. Of course, he wanted Mac to kiss him, but not like this. Not under duress, not because some sick-o ordered it. And, frankly, he'd like to be in better condition to appreciate any affection he might get from this woman.

Mac got to her feet so that she was squatting again and, sliding her cuffs along the pipe that she was chained to, managed to sidle up next to Harm. She again dropped to her knees when she got close to him.

Harm sensed her apprehension. "You don't have to do this, Mac."

"Oh, but she does," Clinton disagreed, brandishing his gun. "Or there will be consequences."

"It's okay, Harm," Mac assured him.

"Good," concluded Clinton. "There really should be no objections to this request, and if you do this, Sarah, I think we can all declare ourselves winners of this round."

"Fine," Mac responded looking challengingly at their captor before swiftly turning her head and giving Harm a quick, but strong kiss on the lips. It was over in the blink of an eye.

"Come now, Sarah," Clinton scoffed. "You can do better than that. After all, this could very well be your last opportunity to bestow him such a gift. … I want to see some passion."

"You want to see passion?" Mac questioned before concluding, "You really are some kind of deranged voyeur."

Clinton shook his head. "If it was about me, it wouldn't be him you'd be kissing. No, I honestly want him to enjoy this."

Both Harm and Mac were justifiably confused, more so when, after a beat, Clinton added, "You know what? – Here, I'll even give you …" He reached in his pocket and started fishing for something. "… some gum. I'm sure all this dry air and such can make the breath a bit less than pleasant, and we don't want that to get in the way of anything."

He finally managed to pull out the small packet, but he frowned. "I've only got one stick left." He looked up at the two of them. "You'll have to split it."

Clinton came over and popped half a stick into each of their mouths, which they accepted, though shooting him glares about this whole situation.

"See, I'm not a monster. I want you both to enjoy this."

Although Mac did not understand his motivation just yet, she did realize that Clinton was not joking. For some reason he wanted Harm to have a moment of 'enjoyment.' She suddenly had a thought. "You know, it is dry here. If you want Harm to take pleasure in anything, you should probably get him some water." She asked Harm, "When is the last time you were given anything to drink?"

"… I haven't gotten any here that I can remember." He looked up at Clinton, half pleading, "But water would be really nice. I don't even have enough saliva to really chew this gum."

Clinton eyed them suspiciously, but decided that it was a reasonable request. "Alright."

As the captor turned to the table behind him to pick up a bottle of water, Mac quickly mouthed some words to Harm.

She could tell that he didn't quite understand, but she hoped that he at least made out the words that she was trying to indicate so that he could put the pieces together momentarily.

Clinton was already back, so no more communication could be made. Harm received a gracious amount of liquid, which he eagerly drank up.

While he was doing that, Mac addressed Clinton. "There's still one problem keeping me from giving him a good, passionate kiss."

"What now?"

"Our hands," she said, pulling on her wrist restraints. "It's not really comfortable to bend my head too far forward between my arms for more than half a second. And I can't slide closer without running into where his hands are cuffed."

"I'm not uncuffing you."

"Well, then uncuff him," she suggested, indicating Harm. "His hands are practically numb anyhow, and I don't think he's in much shape to get up and fight you. Let him be free to move his hands out of the way."

"And onto you?" Clinton asked lasciviously.

"… If he wants." Mac couldn't believe she was having this conversation, but it was necessary. "You did say you want him to enjoy this."

"… Okay, … but only for the kiss. Then it's back like he is."

Mac nodded in acknowledgment, while Harm began to understand the message she had given him a moment before.

Soon his wrists were finally free of the silver bracelets that had been digging into his skin. He shook out his hands to try to get some feeling back into them. He was technically free, but Mac was right; he wasn't in any condition to take on Clinton, especially since the man was armed. And he wouldn't even think of trying to make a run for it, even if he believed he could make it out, because there was no way he was leaving Mac.

"Okay, … let's have some lip action now!" exclaimed Clinton, who grabbed a chair from behind him, swung it around and straddled it, sitting on it backwards, while facing the two 'lovebirds.'

"You really are sick," Harm commented.

"Maybe. Maybe not. … Regardless, this may be the last time you two have the opportunity to share a kiss. Make it count."

Mac sighed and then looked at Harm. He looked apologetic, which actually made her want to kiss him more. She raised an eyebrow, silently asking, 'Are you ready for this?'

He gave her a small nod.

This was awkward, without a doubt. Mac began things tentatively, stretching her neck to lightly put her lips to his, waiting for Harm, as the more mobile one, to come closer to her. It didn't take long for Harm to scoot on his knees so he was right up against her, and his arms immediately went around her.

Mac responded by sliding her cuffs as far along the pipe above her as she could, pushing Harm back so he was sitting on his heels, as she straddled his thighs. His right hand went to her derriere, pulling her closer still, while his left hand roamed over her back.

Mac would have liked her hands to be free, but she certainly kept her mouth busy. Among other things, she pushed her half of the gum into Harm's mouth. She really, really wished the circumstances of this kiss were different. Regardless, she was losing herself in the experience … in Harm.

For his part, Harm did not even register the pain from moving his battered face against her beautiful one. At the moment, his arms, sore from torture, didn't protest a bit at the movement.

Eventually, their mouths did part from each other, and they shared a look of amazement as they both caught their breaths.

Harm was especially overwhelmed. That had been far more intense than he had expected! Why couldn't this kiss have been more than a damn show! Someday he would like to kiss her like that, - kiss her at all, without any odd circumstances …

"Now that's what I was talking about," Clinton interrupted their moment. "I don't think I need to ask if you enjoyed that, Commander."

Both Harm and Mac cast their eyes downward, feeling embarrassed, among a heck of a lot of other things.

"Seeing that would have killed Nichols." Clinton followed up that comment, joking, "Guess it's good he's already dead." He stood and moved the chair that he was sitting on out of the way.

"Sarah, if you could please back away from your friend now …" he 'suggested.' When she complied, Clinton approached them. "You know, Harm, I think you even got some of your color back," he observed as he put the handcuffs back on his prisoner.

"Would you like some more water?" He was being nice to Harm in an eerie manner. But Harm would be a fool not to take advantage of the offer. He was parched.

TBC …