"One night in Red Rock Mesa" Ch02: "We need to talk"
A/N: AU. This is a fictional story, in a fictional Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. Mike. Characters borrowed with love and appreciation for the great team who brought us "JAG"; may your following careers blossom.
A/N: AU: "they aren't mine: I'm just playing with them - apart from any fictional character created by myself". Feel free to PM me if you spot any typos - my goal is 100% error-free. Feedback and comments are also welcome. Your opinions, critiques (and requests as PMs) are always helpful - and welcomed.
A/N: Published 30-AUG-2023: Another short story in the "Don't get too comfortable - you're gonna be working together" Alternative Universe. As you will know if you read my stories, I don't usually "ship" Harm and Mac. Chapter One formed a while ago. In the intervening month, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response and, accordingly, am pleased to take the story forward into Month Three of their unintended relationship, into March of 1997 and beyond.
A/N – link to Canon Episodes: Not really relevant!
Characters from FFNET – Harmon Rabb jr; Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie: and a new surprise!
"One night in Red Rock Mesa" Ch02: "We need to talk"
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That night was her second-best night's sleep of 1997 so far. Waking up in Harm's bed was a bonus.
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Saturday 1st March 1997, 08:37hrs
Home of Harmon Rabb, North of Union Square, Washington DC, USA
Sarah and Harm surfaced slowly at some point in the night.
They were still in each other's arms after the shared support in the aftermath of their adventurous night with the Romanian Princess and the assassin, followed by the Tale of Diane Schonke.
That morning, still lying in Harm's arms, Sarah Mackenzie experienced her first bout of morning sickness.
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Saturday 1st March 1997, 09:55hrs
Apartment of Sarah Mackenzie, Georgetown, Washington DC, USA
After a leisurely and light breakfast at Harm's, she made an incongruous sight, still dressed in her borrowed clothes as she sat in the taxi for the journey home. Upon arrival. she immediately realised that she needed to find a pharmacy, so she retrieved her car keys from the armoire. Driving in stiletto heels was definitely an acquired skill: fortunately she always carried a spare set of USMC uniform pumps in the trunk of her car.
The pharmacist enquired as to her symptoms and her general level of health. The standard Mac "I'm a US Marine" line was trotted out. The only conclusion that the pharmacist - and his wife who ran the dispensary - could arrive at was the need to eliminate a possible pregnancy. Mac scoffed - "as if!" - but even she could think of no other possible cause; the food at the Ball had been generous, sumptuous and well-served (not a finger buffet in sight!).
An hour later, she returned home from the pharmacy in Georgetown, having bought two different types of EPT.
This sickness wasn't normal.
She had - the day before - had absolutely no idea that she might be pregnant, but she had to eliminate the possibility of "Virgin Conception".
Three hours later - and after ANOTHER confirmatory trip to the pharmacy where the smiling pharmacist had run a test for her - she had to bow to the inevitable.
Three for three: "POSITIVE".
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"This can NOT be happening!"
But how had this happened? She had been like a chaste, inviolate nun for over two years!
Then she remembered - her "first night with Harm" out in the desert - exactly eight weeks ago!
"Oh shit - but wasn't that a dream?"
There was no way around this - she had to call the only man that she had been even remotely close to in more than two years.
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Saturday 1st March 1997, 12:48hrs
Apartment of Sarah Mackenzie, Georgetown, Washington DC, USA
She dialled the number - noting that her hands were remarkably stable considering the news that had rocked her secure, USMC-squared-away, lifestyle.
Idly, she rested her hand on the waistband of her jeans, noticing that everything seemed "normal".
Then she hung up before punching in the final digit.
What was her opening statement?
How would she counter if the reception wasn't what she expected?
Or what she wanted?
Or what she NEEDED? She still felt as though she had been gut-punched in a self-defence class.
However, she now knew with absolute, sickening certainty that her life was about to change – on a timescale which Mother Nature had fixed aeons before.
Moreover, she now knew (almost to the minute) the moment when Harm had impregnated her.
It could only be him; her partner; the man she had just spent an innocent night with. The man who had just looked *so* damn' gorgeous in his Mess Dress finery last night.
The man whom - she now knew - she had willingly and enthusiastically mounted in that pick-up truck two months before.
Her dream was now a reality; Harm's reaction would dictate whether it remained a pleasant dream or became a nightmare.
But he had said that he and Diane had planned to get together - to talk about futures - before she had been murdered.
Surely. "futures" meant kids - right?
"Come on Mackenzie, stop procrastinating - tell him; ask him; listen to him."
She rehearsed what she wanted to say to him, running through the information which she had to impart to her colleague when he answered. After two months of pleasant memories of a half-remembered dream, she had collided with the reality just about three hours ago!
Her mind leapt into word-association mode as she thought through her (their?) situation:
Motherhood
Marine
Pregnant
Fit
Sports car
Mom-mobile
Career-oriented
Career interrupted
Fit and active
Morning sickness
Heathy eating
Healthy eating (yep, that was a given!)
Secrecy
Swelling
Squared away Marine
Pregnant Marine
Morning run
Morning sickness
Wearing a uniform with pride
Maternity uniform
Love
Unconditional love
Healthcare
Priority
My baby
Harm's baby
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She dialled the number, rehearsing what she wanted to say.
"Hey Marine, couldn't stay away on this fine morning? Need more of me already?"
Harm's voice was light and friendly, acknowledging the affection which he had built up for his USMC counterpart during the previous two months.
"Oh heck, he would just *have* to mention wanting more of him!"
She chuckled at that thought – she already had more of Harmon Rabb than she had ever intended! A growing part of him...
Ah well, no point in delaying further. She gripped the handset of her phone firmly, to make the statement which was going to change their lives forever.
"Harm, there is something you need to know..."
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Saturday 1st March 1997, 12:53hrs
Home of Harmon Rabb, North of Union Square, Washington DC, USA
In future years, Harmon Rabb jr would always remember exactly where he was – and what he was doing – when the mother of his child first told him of her pregnancy.
Sarah.
His Sarah.
Pregnant.
With his baby (he had *no* doubts about that – they had already discussed their belief in monogamous relationships even though they were only at the heavy petting stage.)
After all, Sarah had fallen asleep in his arms last night after the excitement of the Ball.
He remembered unwrapping her body from its dress, snuggling down beside her and then gently drifting off to sleep alongside her.
The admiral's words came back to haunt him "Don't get too close…"
"Ah shoot, failed on that one, Admiral."
He realised that Sarah was still talking as he returned to the land of the living and concentrated once again on what she was saying.
"Yeah sure, Mac - I mean Sarah. Heck, you really *are* going to be my Sarah from now onwards, aren't you?"
He paused, suddenly uncertain. He was absolutely surprised, but he was also determined to "do the right thing" by his Sarah.
"His Sarah"? Now where had that come from?
Yet, in every way, she *was* "his Sarah".
The main problem – which he was dealing with and could now see clearly – was that she wasn't Diane Schonke.
Especially now that she was pregnant.
With his child.
Their child.
Holy crap, they had just up-ended their world; but how the heck was she feeling?
Harm realised that they heeded to talk – face to face – as the news sank in further.
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"Sarah, I'm sorry: you've obviously had a few hours, but I have had mere minutes."
He paused.
"Sarah, this will obviously affect you in so many ways; assuming that you want me, I would want to be with you every step of the way until the end of time."
Her soft chuckle stirred in the earpiece of his telephone handset.
"Steady Flyboy – don't make promises that you can't keep. Plus, it's my right to talk about delivery."
He groaned, smiling at her double-entendre.
"Oh Sarah; darling Sarah: I will commit until there is no breath left in my body – assuming that you want this."
He chuckled, gripping the phone and casting around for his car keys. A trip to Georgetown was on the way – and soon.
Then he heard her chuckle gently in return before she answered his question.
"Yes Harm, I do. Look, could we meet up for lunch?"
"Stay there, Marine; I'm on my way."
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Final A/N 30-AUG-2023: Thanks for the feedback: so, moving beyond the original one-off.
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End of: "One night in Red Rock Mesa" Ch02: "We need to talk"
Mike: UK, 30-08-2023