AN: Thanks for all the amazing reviews, especailly VisualIDentificationZeta, jpstar57, byrhthelm, Semaphore, rlrct, jslee102 and Jeneral2885.
xxx
Meg was confused and slightly annoyed. Harm had woken her up at an ungodly hour of the morning. "Meg, Meg!" She shoved his hand off her shoulder.
"Too early." Meg mumbled sleepily. " I'm sleeping." She rolled over. Silence once again took over the room. Meg signed in relief, she was going to be able to sleep a little longer. Why on earth was he waking her up so early? She tried to get back to sleep. Her mind refused, why was he waking her so early? Giving up, Meg rolled over and sat up. Glancing through bleary eyes at the clock, "Harm it's quarter to five in the damn morning!"
Harm looked smug. "I know."
Meg rubbed her eyes, her blonde hair fell over her face. "Well it had better be good, I was actually sleeping." She yawned.
Harm looked a little guilty. "Sorry about that. Can you get up and showered in 10 minutes?" Meg grimaced. "Please?"
Meg looked at Harm. He looked so excited. The past week or so had been hard and tiring. Both of them were exhausted. "Fine." She was normally up by this time anyway. "But I need coffee when I come out of the shower and a good explanation. By coffee I mean good strong coffee. Preferably black." Just because she could have been awake, didn't mean she wasn't going to make him suffer a little for waking her anyway.
After coming out from her shower, Meg was running a towel trough her wet bob. Harm dumped a packed backpack down by the front door, and told her that he was going to fetch something from a friend. Heading over to the counter he handed her a cup of hot coffee. Gratefully taking it Meg raised her eyebrow at him clearly awaiting the last part of her deal. Harm grinned at her. "Not yet, it's a surprise. Trust me you'll love it." Handing her a similar backpack Harm told her to pack for two nights away. "Compact packing Meg."
Meg looked unimpressed, but she took the bag off Harm anyway. "This had better be good." Harm grinned at her and almost ran out the door. Meg had to admit she was very curious and a little bit excited. Harm had been quite down for a while, looking after her post-abduction wasn't easy. It was nice to see him happy and busy. Meg looked down at the bag in her hand. She had better get packing as she had no idea when Harm would be back. Hopefully in time for her to finish her coffee, or she would be extremely grumpy.
Xxx
"Meg, you packed yet?" Harm ran up the stairs and opened the door to her apartment.
"Yes. All ready." Meg came out her room bag in one hand and gulping down the last of her coffee. She handed the bag to Harm. "Are you going to tell me now? At least a destination please?" She looked at him.
"Nope. Remember it is a surprise Meg." He picked up his bag and took her off her. "Meet you downstairs." He turned around and walked away.
"A motorcycle Harm?" Meg grinned. Well this would be fun. "Is it yours? I don't remember you mentioning having one." She stepped forward to admire it.
Harm was stuffing her backpack in a plastic compartment attatched to the back of the motorcycle. "It belongs to a buddy of mine. He is on deployment at the moment and isn't due back for six months. I can use it as long as I don't even scratch it." Harm grinned at her. "You like it?"
Meg smiled. "I'd like it more if I knew where it was taking me Harm."
Harm gave her his backpack. "You're going to have to take that on your back Meg. I'm not telling you where we are going Meg." Meg swung the backpack over her shoulder. Harm handed her a helmet. She put it on. "Fit you fine?" Me g nodded. Harm put his own helmet on. "Off we go, you're behind me Meg." Harm started the motorcycle.
"Righto Harm." She sat behind him, her arms wound around his waist. "Ready when you are." Harm turned the throttle, and they were off.
Xxx
The breeze was strong, and whipped around them as they sped out of Washington and into Virginia in the early hours of the morning. Meg clung to Harm and watched the scenery go by. It felt so good to be out of her apartment, it had begun to feel like another prison. Harm drove fast but carefully, once or twice Meg thought she heard him laugh. The feeling of joy was mutual. Most of Washington was asleep, but the crisp air of the early morning was intoxicating. The world was still dark but a haze of light hovered in the air as the dawn came along to banish the night. Meg smiled under her helmet.
At around ten o'clock Meg was getting very hungry. In all the rush to get out of her apartment she hadn't eaten. Thinking back on the past week or so Meg realised she hadn't had breakfast once. But now her stomach was rumbling in complaint. The sun was beating down on them as they sped onwards. Harm brought the motorcycle to a stop. Meg eased herself off. She stretched her arms. Waking in a circle Meg asked, "Are we going to have breakfast, or are you planning on starving me?"
Harm looked up at her. "You want breakfast?" He looked shocked. He quickly recovered, "Sure, we'll stop at the next food place I see."
Meg looked at him. "No Harm, the next place that sells pancakes will be where we will stop." She smiled at him. "You're paying. Shall we ride?"
Harm looked at her like she was a different creature. He had hoped the journey would do her good, but results like this…. "Of course." Meg looked at him. "To all of the above, I'll find you pancakes and pay and we shall have to ride or else we could walk but as I don't know how far and coming back…"
"Harm, Shut-up. "
Harm sighed in relief. "Thanks." They got back on again and were off, leaving the dusty road empty.
"Here good enough Meg?" Harm finished fishing around in his backpack. They were in front of a small restaurant, the road was dusty and there were few trees in sight.
Meg was busy studying the menu written on a blackboard at the door. "They offer pancakes." As if that was all the confirmation she needed, Meg walked right on in. Harm gathered his wallet and backpack and walked after her. He felt happy, his plan was working.
Xxx
Harm looked at Meg's empty plate shocked. "Where do you put it all?"
Meg set her knife and fork down. "I was hungry Harm." She defended herself.
"You sure were." Harm got up.
"Hey are you complaining about me eating? I seem to recall someone begging me to eat yesterday.
Harm winced. "No, not complaining. Commenting maybe but not complaining." He quickly backtracked. Meg grinned at him. "Are you ready to go again Meg?" He handed her his backpack, which she set on her back.
"How far exactly are we going Harm? I need to know something." Meg paused in putting her helmet on.
"It's more than one night, that's all you need to know." Harm put his helmet on and sat on the motorcycle.
Meg smiled sarcastically at him. "I knew that. Overnight bag remember?" Harm turned away. Meg sighed, she was going to get nothing more out of him right now.
After three more hours on the road they stopped for lunch. Then they hit the road again, driving into the night. After around six more hours of travelling, Harm and Meg were exhausted, it was late and hard to find a motel at that time of night. They had left Virginia long behind, and were deep in Tennessee. They pulled into a motel and disturbed an unhappy lady to book a room for the night. She lead her two late customers to their room, gave them a key and bid them good night.
Meg and Harm opened the door. A double bed, TV and couch greeted them. At least there was a couch so they wouldn't have to share a bed. After reading Harm's letter Meg had found herself unsure of how to act around him, and where their friendship stood. Meg absentmindedly wandered around the small room as Harm brought her backpack from the parking lot. "They have a nice shower, and all appears clean. We'll have to draw straws for the couch and bed."
Harm grinned. 'You mean we're not sharing?"
"Bed or shower?" Meg bruised herself taking her bag off Harm. He was gazing at her mouth slightly open. Meg looked confused. What on earth? Then she blushed. "No! I meant do you want to go to bed now and shower in the morning, or shower now then sleep!" Her face felt very, very warm.
Harm chuckled at her. A little too cheerfully he said, "Sure, sure. I know what you meant." His eyes twinkled.
"Sir!" Meg protested.
"Meg?" Harm's smile grew wider.
Irritated Meg bit her lip. "Fine then, I'm going to bed now. I'll shower in the morning. Excuse me while I use the bathroom." She swept past a laughing Harm.
By the time she was ready for bed and over her embarrassment Harm was curled up on the couch with a blanket, fast asleep. She carefully and quietly put her stuff away and made her way over to the bed. Meg drew the covers back on the double bed and slid in. Pausing, she gazed at Harm. It was good to hear him laugh again, even if it was at her expense. In the darkness Meg felt herself blushing again. She should really keep her mouth shut. Lying down Meg realized how exhausted she was. She wondered where on earth Harm was taking her, but only tomorrow would tell. Meg fell asleep almost instantly.
That night was the first night in over a fortnight that both of them slept the whole night through.