The expected week-long TAD became three and with the help of several phone calls and many, many emails, many of which were way above hot and steamy, Harm was more than ready to get back to Washington, get back to Mac and get back into bed.
Mac had been having her own problems keeping her mind on her job, frequently she caught herself daydreaming about what may have been and what still might be. Each time she did she felt her heart quicken and her breathing rate increase. Butterflies flew in her stomach in anticipation every time the phone rang or she saw she had mail. Mac desperately wanted him back in Washington, back in her life and to be back in his bed.
Late on Friday night, Mac was still working away in her office. It was 2124 and there was no one else around, she didn't have any pressing work, it served to keep her busy and her mind off that interrupted Saturday morning three weeks ago. When she heard the elevator doors open and disrupt the silence of the office she paid little attention. Two staffers were due in to run scheduled maintenance on the computer network and the noise was not unexpected.
The visitor at her door was however.
"Hello Stranger," he said leaning on her door jamb.
"Hello Flyboy," she smiled getting up from her desk. They stood there momentarily both wondering if they had built this 'reunion' up too much.
"Good to see you," Harm finally offered taking a step forward.
"You too," said Mac, moving just a bit. "Wasn't expecting you back til next week."
"Got lucky."
Play your cards and you'll get lucky again, Mac thought to herself. "That's good."
They stood within touching distance, gaze locked, hearts racing.
"I can't wait, Mac." Harm closed the gap quickly. He grabbed her tightly, kissing her long and passionately.
Their ardent embrace forced Mac backwards into the bookshelf and toppled a few books to the floor stopping them instantly. Both stood only inches apart, breathing heavily and unaware of anything else.
"We could go home…your place is closer," Harm finally offered, kissing her again.
"Yeah but we could just stay here and …" His tongue in her mouth made speaking impossible.
He began unbuttoning her shirt systematically but she ripped his buttons right off.
He moved them back to the desk, moving her inbox out of their way but she swiped the rest of the desk clearing it at once.
He kissed her again and again and again, moving them closer and closer to the desk. "Oh God, Mac, oh…"
"Oh, uh, Sturgis."
Harm stopped instantly. "Evening Sturgis," Harm said before turning around.
"Evening you two, didn't mean to interrupt." Sturgis said, a smile on his face. Both of them pulled at their uniforms in an attempt to look half decent. "Good to see you back, buddy."
"Thanks Sturgis," said Harm, his face flushed with more than embarrassment.
Sturgis stood there grinning.
"Something we can help you with?" Harm finally asked.
"Um, yeah, but it can keep if you'd rather be left to your own devices."
"It's alright, Sturgis," Mac lied, the sooner he'd said his piece he would go and then they could retreat to the privacy of her apartment and avoid interruptions.
"It's actually Harm I wanted to see," Sturgis began.
Me too!!! Mac thought to herself. "Would you like me to give you a minute alone?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
Mac headed off to the bathroom to make herself presentable.
"What's up Sturgis?"
"Well Harm, for reasons I have not yet figured out, Varese has agreed to marry me," he announced.
"Congratulations Sturgis," Harm said shaking his hand and patting his back. "You're a lucky man."
"That I am, Harm. I was hoping you'd be my best man."
"Really?" They had been friends for so long but their friendship over recent times had been somewhat strained.
"Really."
"Sturgis, I'd be honoured." Harm extended his hand and shook Sturgis'.
"Great, Varese will be pleased," said Sturgis.
"So when's the big day?"
"23rd of next month."
"So soon?" Harm asked.
"Yeah, we need to fit it into her touring schedule."
"You are a lucky man, Sturgis Turner," Harm repeated.
"So are you," Sturgis said nodding towards Mac who had stopped at the water cooler in the bullpen.
"Don't I know it."
"I can't believe it has taken her this long to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"That she lo…" Sturgis stopped, the look on Harm's face was enough for him to realise Mac had made no such disclosure.
"She what?"
"She…she?"
"Sturgis?!"
"She loves you," Sturgis finally said.
"She loves me?" Harm asked, not believing.
"Yeah."
"And you know this because…?" Harm spoke quietly, not wanting Mac to overhear this particular conversation.
"She told me."
"When?!"
"A while back."
"When exactly?"
"Remember the case Mac and I worked on where she had those visions?"
"Yeah, that was about four years ago."
"Then."
"Then! And you didn't tell me til now?"
"She made me promised."
"Who made you promised what?" Mac said from the doorway, startling them both.
"Ah, Varese," Sturgis lied. "She made me promise to ask Harm to be my best man today."
"Your best man? Oh, congratulations, Sturgis," Mac said kissing his cheek.
"Thanks Mac."
"And what did you say?" Mac asked turning to Harm and noting a change in his colour. "Are you alright Harm? You look pale."
"Uh, oh, yeah, I'm fine," Harm recovered.
"Must be the shock of my good news," Sturgis offered by way of defense.
"Maybe," Mac said, but it didn't explain why Harm was looking at her so strangely.
"Now that's done, I can go home. Thanks again, buddy, and again I'm sorry for the interruption."
"Have a good weekend, Sturgis," Mac said as he departed.
"I'm sure you will too," he called back without looking around.
"Can we go home too?" Mac asked looking back at Harm.
"Aha," he said picking up his briefcase.
"You alright, Harm?"
"Aha," he said kissing her quickly.
As they stood waiting for the elevator they were surrounded by an unusual silence. Mac knew something had changed but she didn't know what. She slipped her hand into his and when the elevator doors opened she went to walk in but Harm didn't move causing their link to break.
She turned and grabbed his arm pulling him into the steel box.
"I don't know what happened but have you changed your mind?" she finally asked.
"No!" he said loudly and forcefully.
"Then what?"
"Nothing." He moved forward and kissed her in a way she had only dreamed of. When the doors opened in the lobby, Mac tried to pull away but Harm wouldn't let her. The doors opened and closed several times before Mac realised that if they didn't get home soon their first time would be captured for all to see on CCTV.
"General," she finally called out as the doors opened yet again.
Harm instantly moved back and spun around.
"General, I can…" he began nervously but there was no one there.
"Made you look," Mac laughed as she ran passed him and out to her car.
"I'll get you for this," Harm said running after her.