(AN1: I really do hate having to use to author notes, I would much rather have remembered to put everything in in the first place.)
(AN2: I know I didn't mention Mattie yet, but she is in the story. I like her and how she's changed Harm. It will all be explained later when Mac meets Mattie about the custody bullshit.)
(AN3: I know how they don't normally use Harm's musical abilities, but I am and I'm going to take it up a notch later along with his Annapolis buddies.)
0600 GMT
USS Reagan
Onboard Gym
Harm controlled his breathing as he worked out on the leg press. He was subtly rocking his head to the beat of some rock song Mattie put on a playlist for him on his iPod. He smiled at the irony as some of the songs played.
She had been watching him for a few minutes, watching how his muscles moved under his clothes. She smiled as she watched him "jam out". She quietly walked over to him.
He looked up as he felt a tap on his shoulder. He pulled the earbuds out and continued the last two reps he had for his last set. "Why are you up so early?"
He stood up and wiped off his face with his towel. "Regular morning work out to start my day. We've got a hop at 0900. Keeter should be down here in a few." He took in her running shorts and a faded US Marines t-shirt. "You doing the regular too?"
"I don't know about regular, but yeah. It's harder to do this every morning since we're short personnel. I imagine it'll be even harder with Bud working for you now."
He led her over to the punching bags and started taking a few jabs at one. "Ya, but I think the Admiral is going to pull in some more lawyers." He looked over at the entrance to the gym area and grinned. "Hey Keeter! Did you finally decide to drag your ass outta bed this morning?"
Keeter walked over to them and started stretching. "Well, I know how you can't properly wake up without seeing my sexy face first thing." He turned to Mac and smiled at her, "Good morning Sarah."
Harm rolled his eyes and Mac smiled at them both, "Good morning Keeter. You two put on this show every morning?"
"No, normally we have company. Speaking of, Harm, where's the princesses?"
"Right here smart ass," said Commander Beth O'Neil and Lt. Commander Elizabeth Hawkes as they smacked Keeter upside his head.
Mac and Harm grinned as Keeter rubbed the back of his head. "Ow, what was that for?"
"G.P. wake up call."
Harm laughed and Keeter tried to seem mad. Mac looked at the other two woman, "G.P.?"
"General Purpose. Mattie came up with it."
"Who's Mattie?"
The two woman and Keeter looked at Harm, "Um, just a friend."
After an uncomfortable minute, Skates turned to Mac, "Ma'am, it's good to see you again."
"As you Skates." She turned to Commander O'Neil. She felt she knew her from somewhere, but couldn't place where. She stuck out her hand, "Since I can see they're not going to introduce us, I'm Colonel McKenzie."
Beth grinned, "We already met."
"Where?"
"Mac, it was the first time the two of us had a case with Manetti."
Mac looked slightly surprised. "I'm sorry I didn't remember." She looked slightly puzzled, "I thought you resigned your commission?"
"Oh I did, but Harm here talked me into coming back to help out. Said joining back up wasn't as painful as I thought it'd be and since we worked together a few times, he knew he could trust me."
Mac looked at Harm with an eyebrow raised, "Come on, the Intelligence pukes are off the treadmills."
As they were getting ready to begin running, everyone but Mac pulled out their iPods. "Uh, I forgot mine." Mac was going to use the fact she forgot hers in her sea bag as an excuse to get outta there. Unfortunately, Sturgis ruined her plans.
"Good morning everyone," said Sturgis as he walked over to the group.
"Hey buddy. You gonna join?"
"Ya, I met Beth on my way to the head and she said ya'll were here and said I should come too. When I was grabbing my iPod, I found Mac's in my bag as well." He handed Mac hers and started stretching out beside the only empty treadmill left.
"Thanks Sturgis." She turned to Harm and Keeter, "So how many are we doing squids?"
"Well normally we do 20, but we don't have time for it, so we're only gonna run 7." Mac raised an eyebrow at this and everyone put their earbuds in. Harm turned to Mac grinning broadly, "And Mac, these are 5 minute miles."
Mac only shook her head and they started their run.
0710 GMT
USS Reagan
Mess Hall
Harm, Keeter and Sturgis were waiting in line to get breakfast. Mac and Beth were sitting at a table holding it for the group and Skates had slipped off to the bathroom while they waited on the men to bring the food. Mac and Beth were chatting idly waiting for the food. Harm brought the tray of his and Beth's food over and sat down. "They didn't have any French Toast ready, so I got you your next favorite, a supreme omelet with bacon and toast." Mac watched them, slightly jealous at how close they seem to be. It just wasn't the same closeness he had with Skates. Harm stood up, "Shit, I forgot the jam. I'll be right back."
They watched him walk off before Mac turned to Beth. "You've about got him trained."
Beth grinned, "Yeah, almost, just need some more time."
Mac smiled slightly, "You two look good together."
Beth rolled her eyes realizing Mac still didn't understand. "Ha, we're not together."
Mac looked surprised. "Why? I mean he obviously cares a lot about you."
Beth grinned, "So? We're good friends and even if he did like me like that, it wouldn't work. And for the record, he doesn't, I'm just another sister to watch out for."
"What do you mean it wouldn't work?"
"Mac, if he were to ask me out to dinner as more than a friend, I'd have to decline, however, if you were to ask, I'd have to say hell yes."
Mac looked taken aback for a moment, "Wait you mean...?"
Beth grinned, "Yeah, don't ask, don't tell."
Mac finally understood what Harm and Manetti meant a couple of years ago finally and smiled friendly at Beth. It was with this new understandment that the rest of the group joined the two ladies at the table.
0800
USS Reagan
Ready Room
After everyone ate, the 4 pilots went to their rooms to change and get ready for their flights. Mac, Sturgis and Bud sat in chairs behind the 3 pilots while Harm and Admiral Boone gave the breifing. Afterwards, Harm stayed up front and was talking with the Admiral. Mac walked over to Skates and asked, "I thought you were a RIO? When did you become a pilot?"
"Well ma'am, I became a RIO after I washed out of pilot school. Hammer knew this and offered me a spot flying if I could finish the pilot program he and Keeter had to go through for the job. I passed, so I got the offer. And now here I am."
"Well congratulations Skates."
"Thank you ma'am."
"Your welcome." She watched Harm slip out of the room and head towards the gear area where they stored their flight gear. "If you'll excuse me." She followed Harm, missing the knowing grins on everyones faces as they watched her follow him.
Harm didn't even have to turn around to know who it was, he could smell her. He sighed deeply and relaxed his shoulders, but didn't turn around to face her. "What's up?"
Mac saw him purposely relax himself. She walked up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. She frowned slightly when she felt him tense up. "What can I cannot see how my best friend is doing?" He tensed up even more and her heart felt heavier.
He sighed and felt much better when she let go of him and sat down behind him. "Uh no, there's no problem with that, except that I don't see your best friend in here."
Mac felt the stung of his words and bit back bitterly, "You're right because a best friend wouldn't ignore me for months whenever I called and never returned them."
"Yeah well, my best friend would visit me when I'm sitting in fuckin' jail for a crime you should've known I didn't commit!" Mac visibly leaned back from him at the harshness in his voice and words. Harm took a deep breath. "Look ok, I think we barely know each other anymore." He turned around to face her, "Look you're going to be here for two weeks and unless you decide to run off with asshole spy, we'll spend another two at my mom's, so can we try to be civil?" After she nodded her head yes, he said, "Ok well, unless you want my ass and crotch in your face while I put on my gear, can you move down the bench some?"
She looked surprised and slightly embarrassed as she noticed she was sitting directly in front of him with his crotch in her face. She took a deep breath as she noticed close up how tight his flight suit was and how his g-suit caused his penis to be clearly outlined. She looked up at him with a mischevious glint in her eye, "I think 'little man' there is being squeezed pretty tightly behind all that gear."
Before he could respond, everyone else walked in the room, forcing her to move down the bench to allow the other pilots to put on their gear.
After gearing up, they all went up on the flight deck while the pilots checked over their planes. After they were finished, Bud and Sturgis headed up to the bridge, Mac headed up to PriFly to watch them taking off, remembering the stolen moment she had with Harm before they went on deck.
Flashback
Mac pulled Harm aside while everyone else left the ready room to head up to the deck. Harm looked questioningly at Mac. "I just wanted to wish you good luck." After he raised an eyebrow to this, she smiled softly at him. "I just didn't want you to go off again without saying it. Ya know, like how I did that one time and look what happened. Worst night of my life. Anyways, I'm rambling and I just di... mmph." She was stopped by Harm kissing her hard and pushing her against the wall. Before she knew it, he stopped, looked at her and then walked away heading upstairs.
End Flashback
Mac smiled softly, touching her lips while remembering the feel of his lips on hers. She loved Clay... well she knew she loved him at least as a friend, but she didn't know if she loved him as anything more. He was never able to make her feel the way Harm did when he kissed her. She let her hand fall back onto the rail and looked back down at Harm's plane.
Harm felt as if he was being watched. He saw the signal to rev up the engines to full afterburner. He did so and when he looked in his mirror to check that everything was working properly, he saw her standing up on PriFly. He waved at her and smiled when he saw her wave back.
She saw him waving at her and gave him a wave back before he turned his attention back to what was in front of him. She took a deep breath as she saw the plane shooter lunge forward along the deck and didn't release it until she saw his plane fly gracefully up into the clear blue yonder.
He pulled the flight stick back slightly pulling up to about 200 ft. and pulling out of afterburners, waiting for everyone else to join him on his wing. Beth on his left wing, Keeter to his right with Skates to Keeter's right. After checking in with Departure, he turned them back towards the ship at about 500 ft and they all waggled their wings, waving at the carrier.