MAY 6TH 2000
0800 EST
NATIONAL MARINE CORPS MUSEUM
Mac was surprised to find a photoshoot already in progress when she arrived on location. She slowly turned her head from the blonde beauty posing in front of the angled windows of the building when she heard her name.
"Hi, I'm Todd," a man of average height and build with dark hair held out his right hand, "You're Lt. Colonel MacKenzie, right?" he glanced at the clipboard in his left.
"It's Mac," she responded with a smile, holding out her hand. "I thought it was just going to be hair and makeup this early."
"Oh, no, we have several different locations to shoot at today, so it's rolling thunder with the models. That's Erin posing, and we have another model," he glanced at the clipboard again, "Shonda, who is in hair and makeup. While she's doing her shoot, you'll be in hair and makeup," he motioned for her to follow him to a Tent set up at the edge of the monument.
As she entered, Mac was greeted by a stunning Shonda whose dark brown skin was accentuated by the golden eyeshadow Candice was applying. "Hi Mac, take a seat," the stylist smiled and pointed to a chair close by, "we're just finishing up."
She watched as Candice put the finishing touches on Shonda's makeup. "You look amazing," Mac complimented her fellow marine.
"Thank you! But this is all Candice," Shonda motioned to her hair and makeup as she stood.
"Okay, Mac. First thing's first, did you bring a robe like they requested?" Candice asked, motioning for Mac to stand and follow her to a screen in the corner. She nodded in response, reaching into her bag to pull out an ivory, silk kimono.
After she emerged, Mac took the seat in front of the lighted mirror. As Candice styled her hair and applied makeup, Mac and Shonda got to know one another.
"Shonda," Todd poked his head through the tent, "We're going to get you into wardrobe in about five minutes."
"Sounds good," she replied.
"Do you know what you're wearing?" Mac inquired.
"Yeah, they gave me a few options to choose from last week. I think I'm the designated camo girl – super low waisted utility pants with a sports bra, maybe an open jacket over the top. You?"
"I don't know, yet. They mentioned something about a bikini, but I was asked last-minute, so they weren't sure," she shrugged.
"A bikini? I wonder where they're going to do your shoot." Shonda smiled.
Mac tried not to distort her face in surprise as Candice continued applying her makeup. "I thought they were doing it here?"
"Oh, maybe they are! But I thought Erin and I were the only ones doing our photos here. They said something about driving to another site after I was done," Shonda said, before Todd came to take her to wardrobe, "It was really great meeting you!" She smiled, standing up.
"You too," Mac responded, hoping Shonda could see her genuine smile in the mirror. When Shonda was gone, she looked at Candice, "Do you know anything about another location?"
Candice shrugged, "I think they said something about a ship? Something on the water, that's probably why the outfit would be a bikini."
Mac almost laughed out loud in disbelief. Of course, I'm the one who ends up on a damn ship, she thought. At least Harm-the-prude won't know about it. She finally found an upside to him being against the whole thing.
Todd soon came to collect her much as he did Shonda and escorted Mac to wardrobe. Her clothing options hung on a rack near a small changing area. A green bikini that tied at the hips, neck, and back, a pair of teeny tiny boy shorts, and a cropped tank top with a rip at the neck and an American flag on the front. There were also combat boots, heels, and a green service cover.
"Anna says you should choose whatever you're most comfortable with," Todd motioned to the rack. "After you change, you can either ride with her or follow the crew to your site – the USS Barry in the Washington Navy Yard."
"Thank you," she smiled at him despite a feeling of nervousness starting to take over.
Mac turned the keys of her Corvette and jumped when the radio blared. She almost blushed, remembering how she cranked up the volume to loudly sing along to a favorite song the night before. As she reached to turn it down, a strong beat with a funky bass line began playing; the words of the first verse set the stage for a defiant expression of independence.
Yeah, she thought, starting to move in her seat as the refrain broke through.
"Sisters are doing it for themselves…"
Yeah! She found herself reaching to turn up the volume even more. She could feel her heart beat loudly in her chest with the realization that the only reason she needed to have for doing the photoshoot was that she wanted to do it. And she did.
Throughout early adulthood, Mac felt the need to cover herself up - to somehow make up for the indiscretions of her youth; prove to herself that she got where she was because of her intelligence and merit. And she knew that was true, but always harbored insecurities about the ways other people, mainly men, looked at her out of uniform and made assumptions about her.
Even Harm couldn't be excused from that list. Unless you really were topless. So what if she was?! She didn't deserve his or anyone else's judgement. She was sexy, dammit! And if she wanted to be topless on that beach, she had every right to be.
And then there was Mic. Encouraging – no, coaxing – her to take her swimsuit top off. So he could, what? Leer at her? Show off her breasts? They sure as hell weren't his.
She scoffed and pulled the ring from her right hand, dropping it into her purse.
The photographer met Mac on the deck of the ship, "We'll have you stand next to the railing, so we get the water in the background," Anna explained as her assistant collected Mac's kimono and touched up her make up. She also tousled the marine's hair, giving it a sexy disheveled look.
Mac leaned back against the railing and looked at the camera, "is this right?" she asked.
"That's good for now," the photographer responded, "We just need to take a few to figure out the best light and then I'll give you more direction."
She followed the photographer's instructions well, posing her body and facing the right angles. "Your body is incredible," Anna said, looking at the photos on the back screen of the camera, "I just really need more expression from your face."
"Umm, ok," Mac said, smiling at the camera.
"Think about your boyfriend," Anna said, realizing her mistake when Mac let out a small huff, "Ooor how about someone or something that makes you feel sexy."
She took a breath and looked up, trying to remember the last time she truly felt sexy. Mic's dirty phone talk never really did anything for her… but Harm… God, the way he looked at her sometimes… How his eyes would take on a greyish hue… How they looked black that night on the ferry… She wondered would happen if she answered her door in nothing but her kimono and let it drop to her shoulders, encouraging him to untie the knot that would bare her naked body to his hungry gaze…
"That's it, yes!" Anna said before Mac had even realized how her thoughts were affecting her body language.