Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge April 2008 To think a lot alike

HBX Challenge April 2008

Harm: ”Have you noticed we're beginning to think a lot alike?”
Mac: (Agreeing) “That's something isn't it.”
Harm: How do you account for that?”
Mac: Er...A rip in the time/space continuum.”

The characters are not mine, I'll just use them for a while.

I thought season eight should have been the season where Harm and Mac got it right! So many possibilities!!


To think a lot alike


Harm couldn't believe how well they communicated lately. Work was great. They were spending a lot of their free time together as well; jogging, dinner and movie nights. He enjoyed it; it was like they were back to being best friends again. Best friends with possibilities for more he hoped; he loved spending time with her, no matter what they were doing. Harm had to mention it to her; to find out if she felt the same way.

“Have you noticed that we're beginning to think a lot alike?” Harm had to know if they were on the same page.

“That's something isn't it?” Mac was agreeing with him. Could it be that they actually were on the right track?

“How do you account for that?” Harm felt brave enough to dive into a serious conversation, even if they were in the middle of JAG Headquarters.

“Er...A rip in the time/space continuum.” She was laughing. Oh no, wasn't Mac taking this serious? Why ? Harm wanted this conversation to lead somewhere.

They entered her office. “But Mac I'm serious. We are getting very well along lately, don't you think?” Harm sat down in her visitor chair.

“We are.” Harm watched her sit down, then their eyes met over her desk. “It's kinda nice.” Mac smiled at him, she had a very nice smile. Not nice, beautiful was more right.

Harm smiled back, his eyes remained locked to hers. “You want to come over for dinner Friday?”

“I'd like that.” Her smile was almost flirting now. They were interrupted by a knock on her office door.

“Enter.”

“Excuse me Sir, Ma'am. The Admiral is asking for the Johnson file Colonel, do you have it?” Tiner appeared in the door.

“It should be here somewhere, did he need it right away?” Mac got up from her seat to look for the file.

“I think so Ma'am. He was kind of...” Tiner hesitated while he looked for the right word.

“Gruff and impatient?” Mac filled in.

“Exactly Colonel.” Tiner smiled.

“Here it is Tiner.” Mac gave him the file and the young man left her office.

Harm stood. “Well, I should get going. I have some work to do before the meeting with Sturgis and Lt. Singer.” Harm smiled. “I'll see you in the conference room.”
Mac watched him leave. Was he flirting with her? He had done that a lot lately; she had to admit that she was flattered. Suddenly the weekend seemed very far away.


Friday night
Harm's apartment

Harm was busy with preparations for his date with Mac. His date with Mac! At least he hoped Mac understood that he had asked her on a date, not a dinner between friends. It was time to make up for past mistakes and be romantic with Mac; she was bound to catch up to his plan eventually. He would state his intentions and then all he needed to do was follow through. After tonight he might be able to say that he was dating the woman who held his heart, the only woman he could see himself with twenty years from now. Harm had to admit that Bud's accident had made him see how short life was, there was no time to wait with the important things.
Harm looked around his apartment; the only light in the room was made by candles, in fact he might have been a little to eager with the candles, there were many of them around the apartment.
There were soft music on his stereo; together the candles and music made a romantic setting.

Finally there was a knock on the door, he took a deep breath and went to open it.
Wow, he didn't need to wonder any more if Mac understood that she had been asked on a date. The dress she was wearing didn't leave much to the imagination; not that his imagination needed any help to get going. Mac did have a great body, even if it was hidden behind clothes that wasn't meant to show off her body. Tonight however, her choice of clothing screamed for Harm to look at her.

“Hey Mac, come in.” Harm kissed her cheek. Wow, she smelled good to. “You look great.” Harm made a point to look her up and down.

Mac laughed. “Thank you Harm.” Then she looked around his apartment. “The place looks great. “

“I'm glad you think so, I wanted to set the right mood.” He walked to the kitchen counter. “You want something to drink? I have fancy bottled water.” He smiled and held up a bottle for her to see.

“Thank you, I'd like that.” She joined him at the counter, she watched him fill water in two glasses before he gave one of them to her.

“Why don't you sit down, dinner is ready.” Harm walked over to the table, put the glass down and held the chair for her.

They enjoyed a nice three course dinner. Afterwards they sat down on his couch. The whole evening had been wonderful, both of them openly flirting with the other. The conversation was light, neither of them touched any work related subjects. Harm had been nervous as to how Mac would react to his obvious romantic gestures, but when she returned it he quickly calmed down. This would be easier than he had thought, they really were on the same page.

“I went to see Bud today, he seem to be doing better.” Harm leaned back in the sofa, not to disturb the peaceful setting he talked with a soft voice.

“I talked to Harriet earlier; she said they'd had a hard time, but she's just glad to have him home alive. They are prepared for the rough road ahead.” Mac took off her shoes while she talked, pulled her feet up behind her and relaxed into the sofa.

“It makes you think about how fragile life is. If a guy like Bud, who doesn't seek out danger can be hurt like that, it's luck that's kept us from getting hurt. We don't exactly stay out of dangerous situations...” Harm leaned closer to Mac. “It sets things in perspective, make you reflect on things.”

“Is that why you've been this way lately?” Mac pointed between them. “With us?”

“I just feel like we've been wasting time. I think it's time I state my intentions, tell you how I feel and follow through.” Harm ran his hand down her cheek. “I don't want to waste any more time.”

Mac leaned in, touched his lips with hers. Harm ran his hand through her hair, behind her head and deepened the kiss. Mac changed position, moved even closer to him, her hands touching his face. Harm's hands moved behind her back, pulling her as close as humanly possible. There were no words between them, just two bodies touching, mouths tasting. It was all they'd ever longed for.

Saturday
Harm's apartment

Harm stretched, he tried to figure out why he didn't have someone in his arms, the way he had when he went to sleep. He slowly opened his eyes, looked around, then he smiled. Mac was propped up in his bed, a sheet covering her naked body, she was eating cereal and reading a book. She had never looked more beautiful to him than at that exact moment, his smile grew wider.

Harm saw how concentrated Mac was, she hadn't noticed that he was awake. Why was he awake at eight thirty on a Saturday? More importantly, why was she awake, and obviously had been for a while?

“What are you doing?”

Mac turned towards him, her concentrated look replaced by a smile. “I'm reading a book.”

“Why are you awake?” Harm grabbed her book and threw it on the floor. “It's Saturday, you can sleep all day.” He took her hand and kissed it.

Mac put her cereal on the bedside table and shifted so she was facing him. “I don't usually sleep in on weekends. Just because I'm fraternizing with the NAVY, doesn't mean that I can get lazy.” She smiled and leaned in to kiss him.

Harm deepened the kiss, pulling her on top of him. She tasted like jam and sugar.

“What have you been eating?” He asked when they ended the kiss.

“Your cereal, with strawberry jam and sugar. I got hungry, so I stole some food.” Mac laughed at his shocked expression. “What?”

“You had sugar and jam on my healthy cereal?”

“It tasted like cardboard. I'm not in the jungle now, don't need to pretend like it by eating crappy food.” Mac ran a hand down his chest. “You need to buy food that tastes like food.”

“Are we going to have our first fight as a couple?” Harm could have eaten his tongue. “I don't mean that we are a couple...I mean we're not not a couple, but we're not a couple couple...” Harm stopped talking when he noticed Mac was laughing. “What?”

“I just think it's cute when you do that.” She laughed some more, but then she turned serious. “It's okay to say that we are a couple. I love you.”

Harm ran a finger down her cheek, kissed her lightly on the mouth and looked into her eyes. “We really are beginning to think a lot alike. I love you too.”

They stared at each other for a long time, their eyes telling each other how true the statement of love was. This was it, the moment of true unconditional love. It was their turn to experience it, their turn to create a future. A future together.