Chapter 47

"I guess the answer to that would be, 'only if we didn't feel the same way'," AJ replied.

"And if we did feel the same way?" Mac asked.

"Then we would have some major career decisions to make."

"We would have that even if we didn't feel the same way, because if one of us said we had feelings for the other, and the other didn't share those feelings, then do you really think she could stay in his chain of command feeling the way she does about him?"

Slowly crossing the room, AJ approached her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders then asked, "How does 'she' feel about 'him' Sarah?"

"She loves him," Mac answered softly.

"He loves her too."

Mac asked, "So, if we were to cross that line and I admitted she was me…"

"And I admitted he was me…"

"Then where would we be?"

Drawing a deep breath he stepped away from her. It took all of his willpower to do so, but his honor would allow no less. "Sarah, as much as I would like to answer that with, 'in each other's arms' I can't."

"Why AJ?" she pleaded.

"You know why."

"Duty and regulations?"

"Yes."

"I'm beginning to hate them as much as I hate that line," she grumbled.

"No you don't, or you wouldn't be the woman that I…"

"Love? Do you love me AJ? Please let me hear you say it?" Mac begged.

Knowing that if he looked into her face he would be lost, AJ kept his head down, and said, "We should go to bed, and I will call the SECNAV in the morning."

"Okay, but if just admitting that we love each other is wrong, then wouldn't making love all night long be just as wrong?"

With a groan of frustration he turned back to her and stated, "I meant that you could use the guest room!"

"AJ don't you think before you call the SECNAV we should be sure of why we're calling him."

"You mean talk things through?"

"As much as I…desire to do more than just talk, I know your honor would allow no more."

"And yours would?" he questioned.

She could see the desire and longing in his eyes that she knew was mirrored in her own, "Oh god yes! I've loved you for so long that if there was any chance in hell that you felt the same way, then I couldn't stay out of your arms a moment longer." There! She'd finally said the words aloud; now let him decide what he was going to do about it.

He stared into the face of the woman he loved, the woman that had just declared that she loved him too and opened his arms to her. As she flew across the room to him, he said, "I love you too Sarah."

Mac lifted her face for him to kiss her and was surprised when he hesitated, "AJ, what is it?"

Keeping her at arms length, he asked, "Don't you have some vacation time coming to you Colonel?"

"Yes, but why would that matter here and now?"

"Because as of 1800 this evening, you're on vacation!"

"But we're already short handed without Harm, AJ I can't!"

"If you don't, you will have to go to the guest room now and stay there alone till morning!"

"And if I am on vacation?" she asked breathlessly.

"Then you can spend the night in my arms 'til we can talk to the SECNAV in the morning," he replied.

She sighed and said, "Too bad that's all we can do, since you're still so weak."

"Sarah, I could be on my deathbed and not be THAT weak!"

"Really?" she asked excitedly.

Grinning indulgently he suggested, "Maybe we could start with a kiss that wasn't for someone else's benefit?"

"Oh, I think I would like that," Mac admitted softly.

Lowering his head ever so slowly, almost as if he were giving her time to pull away if she wanted, AJ at last brought their lips together. Her sigh was released into his mouth as he parted his lips to capture hers. They were too emotionally charged to take this kiss slowly; it heated up faster than either of them had planned. Their arms were wrapped around the other so tightly that nothing could have pulled them apart. Their tongues met and caressed each other as the kiss deepened.

When at long last they came up for air, AJ regretfully told her, "I'm afraid that I'm not up to carrying you to my room yet."

"That's okay, I want you to know that I want to be there, so getting there under my own steam is just fine," she said as she wrapped her arm around his waist and they walked together into his bedroom.

To be continued…..