Author: Erk
Subject: Untangling the Webb--Feb Challenge

Untangling the Webb
Response to the February Challenge

My writing has been really off lately, this felt forced to me, but in hoping to come out of my funk I told myself I would do these challenges. So, I hope it isn't too bad.

Disclaimer: I don't own JAG, I don't own the words, I don't even own the computer until next month when I make my last payment!


Walking towards the door to leave, Webb turns toward Mac, “I’m gonna miss sharing a bed with you.”

“Yellow light, Webb.” Harm states in disgust, walking towards the small table on the other side of the room. “You and Mac are free to do whatever you want, but I don’t want to hear about it.”

Completely ignoring Harm, Webb gives Mac a quick hug, whispering, “Night, Sarah.”

Mac follows him to the door and gently shuts it behind him before turning to Harm. “Oh, come on, Harm, Yellow light?” she asks disbelievingly. “Haven't we reached the point where we can drop the traffic signals?” she states plopping onto the bed.

At her comment, Harm starts to pace around the room, his tension mounting. “Sorry, Mac, guess I didn’t realize you and Webb had moved beyond traffic signals.” The hostility in his tone intensifies as he continues, “And in the midst of terrorists, a pregnancy suit, and torture; how kinky.”

Sitting up, livid, Mac starts, “HARM..”

Before she can get in another word, he continues his rant, “Ya know, I have always wondered why a female Marine is like the Energizer Bunny. Maybe I should go ask Webb.”

“I thought the Navy only trained their bobble heads to sink that low,” Mac practically spits at him.

“Ya know, on second thought, Mac, maybe I should switch Webb rooms. I’m sure he is not sleeping with the Marine of his choice tonight.”

Mac steps in front of Harm, halting his pacing, and stands in complete drill instructor mode. The fervor in her eyes and intensity of her stance enough to intimidate a gorilla. “How about I trade Webb rooms? Gunny is probably better company, anyway. Maybe you and Webb can duke it out?”

Harm turns around, throwing his hands in the air, “What Mac? You wanna watch us have a cock fight?”

“Absolutely,” she states. Stepping in front of him she adds caustically, “biggest cock wins.”

“Only fitting, Webb is one of the biggest dick-heads I know.” Meeting her gaze with an icy glare, he smugly replies, “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to insult your boyfriend.”

“There is nothing going on between me and Webb!” she screams at him.

“I saw you kiss him!” he shouts back. He turns away from her, running his fingers through his hair, and starts pacing the room again.

“Did it ever occur to you that that was a ’thanks for getting tortured to protect me’ kiss.” She pauses for a moment, but when she gets no response from Harm she continues. “Or how about the overwhelming sense of guilt? ’I know you are on the verge of death from protecting my ass, but I am gonna pawn you off on Gunny so I can go run around with Harm.’”

“Yeah, Mac, because we were just gallivanting around the country side.”

Again, she steps in front of him to stop his pacing. This time her demeanor much more vulnerable, “That is my point, Harm. We were shot at, blew up a semi, shot at, crashed a plane, you shot at me, we argued; it was hell. But I would have rather been in hell with you than the safety of a hospital with Webb any day.”

She locks his gaze, praying that he understand what she is trying to say; for a moment they stand frozen, neither willing to speak. It seems like eternity, until Harm final turns away. Grabbing his arm, turning him back toward her, Mac asks, “Why did you give everything up to come down here?”

Exasperated, Harms sighs, “Can we table this discussion for another time?”

Broken, she turns away from him, “Sure, it’s not important.”

“Mac, we’re both tired and irritable and-”

“You’re right, Harm. Let’s not get into it.”

“Mac, we are both exhausted, overwhelmed, I seem to have a knack for irritating you right now. I just want to take the two most important things in my life and put them on that table over there,” he says nodding toward the table. “Just until we have both had some sleep, please?”

“Two?” she asks apprehensively yet optimistic.

“I want to put two things on that table: that conversation,” he says while marching towards her. In one swift move, he grabs her under her knees and behind her back and carriers her to the table. As he gently sets her on it, he whispers, “and you.”

If possible, her optimism blossoms, of course so does the apprehension that seems to have intertwined like a poisonous vine. “Why?” she barely manages to get out.

“Because neither of us are thinking straight, and these are the two things I am not willing to screw up.” He gazes at her, his look so intense she would be weak in the knees if she were standing. He knows he has gone to far to back away now, but he is still not willing to hash this all out tonight.

“Why, why are those the two most important?”

“Simple. My life has no meaning without you in it. And, well, whether my life is happy or miserable, that weighs considerably on the outcome of that conversation.” With that, he turns and heads toward the bed. “In the morning when I have slept, hopefully I am coherent, and God-willing able to string a sentence together without provoking your wrath, I promise to take them off the table.” He pulls the blankets back, and crawls into bed, oblivious to the level of shock he has left Mac in.

After a few moments, Mac regains her senses, she also realizes that she is still sitting on the table. “Harm?”

“Hmph?” he mumbles, almost asleep.

“Do you expect me to sit on this table all night?”

Propping his head up on his elbow, he throws her his flirtatious half-smile, “Well, I did table you until the morning.” Noticing her wicked glare, he starts to scoot over, “I am sure there is room for you on the other side, Mac. Come on.”

“Um, Harm, I don’t think that is going to work,” she adds deadpan.

“Oh,” he mumbles, deflated.

“It’s just, if I crawl in bed with you right now, I am gonna want you to hold me.”

The wind instantly refills his sails as he shifts to the middle of the bed. Holding up the blankets in invitation, “That can definitely be arranged, come on.”

Mac snuggles her back into Harm’s broad body, and nearly melts when he wraps an arm around her waist. She wrapps both of her hands around his, holding it for dear life, praying that this moment will never end. Harm revels in the feel of her in his arms, he knows that if he died now, he would spend eternity with a smile on his face.

“Harm?”

“Yeah, Mac?” he asks snuggling closer to her.

“Thank you,” she whispers, pulling him tighter. “For coming here, for dealing with me, for giving everything up, for holding me like this.”

“Well, if you must know, I did have reasons of my own.”

“Really? Like what?”

“Well, I watched this movie a while back, where the guy swooped in, saved the beautiful girl, and they ended up going home--together.”

Rolling over facing him, barely inches apart, she asks, “Is that what you want?”

“Only if that is what you want. Not out of gratitude, or obligation, definitely not out of guilt.”

*RING, RING*

“Si,” Harms says, grabbing the phone. “All right. Uh, we’ll be right there.”

Hanging up the phone he rolls back over towards Mac. “That was Hardy. Marie Elena is dead.” He starts to roll back over to get out of bed when Mac grabs his arm and pulls him back towards her.

Leaning in, she places the gentlest kiss upon his lips, “Want. It’s always been you I want.”

Running his hand over her cheek, he leans down and gives her a tender kiss. He pulls back, grinning like a kid in a candy store, “Good. But we gotta go.” He stands and pulls her out of bed.

The get ready and head out the door, finally ready to embark on their journey, together.