Author: Hollyjp
Subject: Open Mouth (January HBX Challenge)

HBX January Challenge: Open Mouth

Author: Hollyjp

Synopsis: Takes place in Australia season five during Boomerang before going its own way. Think about what would have happened if Mac had pushed a little more with Harm on the ferry and he had caved. Then think about how they both might have reacted the next morning. Add to that Bud making an off-hand comment to tease his mentors, oblivious to what had transpired. Bud hits too close to the truth of what happened...will it drive Harm and Mac further apart or bring them together?

Disclaimer: JAG is the property of Bellisario Productions, CBS, and Paramount. I have borrowed their characters for entertainment purposes only. No monetary gain will result from their appearance in my story.

Author’s Notes: I got to thinking about some of the discussion around canon vs fanon. One of the things that was mentioned was the assumption people made that Harriet was a ‘shipper’. When I started thinking back, I actually came up with more evidence to support Bud as the ‘shipper’ than Harriet. As I thought about a few of those classic bumbling Bud moments, the phrase ‘open mouth insert foot’ came to mind. I immediately got an image of Bud with his broken jaw in “Boomerang” and then this idea came to me. We’ll see where it goes.


“Open Mouth”


Koala Inn
Sydney, Australia


“Alright Bud, got get some rest...and call Harriet,” Harm instructed his junior officer.

“What are you going to do sir? Ar you taking Mac out to dinner tonight?”

“In a way Bud. I’ve got to go out to the ferry dock. Mac enjoys a good mystery so I’m going to give her the privilege of helping me figure out a few things.”

“And buy her dinner?”

“Yeah...I’ll get her a hot dog.” Harm grinned at the horrified expression on Bud’s face.
“She loves that kind of thing Bud...and they don’t have Beltway Burgers here.”

“I suppose. If Harriet was here I’d take her on a moonlight ride on the ferry and I’d take her to one of the quaint restaurants around the corner from the wharf, and I think I’d spring for flowers too.”

“You’re quite the romantic Bud...if you could keep your foot out of your mouth,” Harm teased watching Bud squirm after his libertine comment to Harriet after seeing all the topless sunbathers on the beach.

Not that Harm would admit it to Bud...or anyone...but he’d been a little uncomfortable with the casual approach to nakedness in public...especially when it had been Mac. He still couldn’t be sure if she had been topless or not. He couldn’t decide if he would rather see for himself what was under Mac’s uniforms or if he was just mad that he thought Bugme had seen something he hadn’t.

Harm wasn’t even sure he wanted to know more then he already knew...it could be more than he could handle when he recalled that vision at an inopportune moment. It was bad enough having visions of her in his head wearing a green bikini and heels in Florida a couple of years ago or wearing that white night gown she had tormented him with in Russia.

“So you’re just trying to get me going aren’t you?”

“What do you mean Bud?”

“You’re going to take her somewhere nice aren’t you?”

“Why would I do that Bud?”

“To make sure that she’s more interested in coming home with you than with Commander Brumby.”

“Mac’s going to do what she wants to do, Bud. She knows her own mind.”

“Yes sir...she just doesn’t know yours.” Bud walked out and shut the door behind him.

Harm chuckled. “See you later Bud.”

The truth of the matter was, he was taking Mac out to dinner, but not until he threatened to buy her only a hot dog. He dressed casually in civilian attire and even thought about buying her flowers as Bud had mentioned, but thought better of it at the last minute.

Harm met her at her door at the agreed upon time. She answered seconds after his knock. One look at her in that silky skirt and off the shoulder olive top and she almost knocked his socks off. Seeing her on the beach when she might have been topless had him sweating already. Now he found himself trying to figure out if she was wearing a bra under that top or not. He closed his eyes a second feeling very much out of control and afraid of embarrassing them both before the night was over if he didn’t rein in his wayward thoughts about her breasts...and six. He nearly groaned aloud as she turned to get her wrap just as he opened his eyes. All he could see was her six, draped in that silky material. How he wanted to feel that six under his hands!

“Harm?” Mac turned around and watched him fight the desire that flared in his eyes. Mac felt her own desires spark and she hid her smile as he caught up to her. That desire flared into full life as she felt his hand on her six. Grinning ear to ear, pleased he was showing signs of letting go of that damn control of his, Mac thought just maybe there was a chance for them yet.

Harm walked along several steps enjoying the feel of her muscles moving under his hand as they walked along. Suddenly realizing what he was doing and to who, he quickly slid his hand to the more familiar spot at the back of her waist - a much safer location for his hand and for his thought. This was more like him...the officer and gentleman he had trained to be. He exhaled slowly realizing that he had been holding his breath. He resolved to make this a memorable evening for both of them...even if he didn’t think he was ready to go as far as his subconscious was hinting.

They rode on the ferry in the moonlight, chatting about this and that like the old friends that had become. Both were aware that something more was simmering under the surface. Both ignored it as best they could at first. Harm fought to keep his eyes off her breasts. He was sure she was braless now, after walking side by side and accidently brushing his arm against her breasts as he pointed something out a couple of times. The second time he could have sworn she had inhaled then held her breath a few seconds.

Proud of himself for keeping things under control, while allowing himself to be a little closer physically as he enjoyed her scent and heat, he miscalculated badly. One minute they were sailing along smoothly and the next second she was challenging him about being a prude because he thought she had been topless on the beach and asking her if she’d go topless for him. It wasn’t exactly what he meant, but when she had grinned up at him with all the heat in her eyes and asked him if it was a request, he had to make a split section decision. Deny it vehemently or give in and ask for exactly that...just not in public. No way. When she bared her breasts for him, he wanted it to be in private where he could worship them as he wanted without prying eyes. A bad idea he knew, but he had to be honest with himself at least.

Somehow he found his tongue and his voice and countered with something inane about the bridge where they had written eternity in lights on New Year’s Eve (a little tidbit he had picked up from Bud’s endless chatter) and the next minute he was being accused of being a prude.

“Is that how long we’re going to wait?” Mac challenged him. She watched those emotions on his face once again seeing desire and fear competing for control. Maybe he needs a little more push to get him to give into this sizzle between us. “We’re not even on the same continent,” Mac reminded him when he threw their partnership out as an excuse.

“Location doesn’t change who we are Mac.”

“But you can’t let go yet can you?”

Harm couldn’t get the words out. He should have known the way Mac was looking at him that she could see it in his eyes; in his face.

“You’re only like this with me, aren’t you?” Mac asked.

If she only knew how afraid he was to screw this thing up with her. Somehow he knew that she was the one for him, but he had a terrible track record with women. He always seemed to do or say the wrong thing with Mac and he really didn’t want to lose her.

Funny, he thought, here’s this beautiful woman, with a beautiful name, standing alone with me on the ferry in the moonlight, and I call her Mac. He rarely called her Sarah, even though he loved her name. At first it was to remind himself that she was his pal, his partner. Then it was because he hated the way Dalton, Farrow and Brumby sounded when they said it. But this one he wanted to see if she reacted to the way he said her name.

“Only with you, Sarah; only with you.” Harm felt Mac moving in closer. She was his if he wanted her. But could they handle what would come with a change this big in their relationship - at least at work?

Mac saw Harm pull back once again. Damn it all, she swore to herself. Don’t pull away from me Harm...please don’t pull away. We’re so close to finding out what this thing is simmering between us...I hear it when you say my name, when I smell your scent, when I feel your touch and see the desire in your eyes when you look at me.

As he was so apt to do after an awkward moment, he immersed them in their jobs and got them back onto safe ground. He had done it again on that ferry ride. It didn’t take long before they were acting normally with one another, as only they could do. He directed them into acting out the events of the night the young sailor had been killed. His arm around her some how seemed to ground them and restore the status quo especially when she threatened him with her Marine skills in dropping a combatant.

In a fashion so typical of Harm, he bought her a hot dog as they walked along the outside of the carnival, telling her it was her dinner and reward for helping him to figure out more facts of the case.

“So what are you going to eat, Mr. Practically a vegetarian?”

“A corn dog?”

Mac laughed, “You are such a goof at times.”

“Actually I’ve got reservation for us at a Bistro just up here.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You didn’t really think I would call a hot dog dinner did you?”

“Maybe...You do sometimes get wrapped up in your work and forget to eat.”

“Maybe... but I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Harm held the door for her to enter the restaurant with its cozy candle lit ambiance. They talked about the case; the improved weather in Australia; Bud’s goof up with Harriet; and the wonderful they were eating while they consumed their meals. Mac had chosen a filet of beef, while Harm had gone for the seafood platter. They shared a salad and a baked potato.

Anyone that didn’t know them, or that couldn’t hear their conversation would have thought they were speaking to one another as lovers. It was certainly how they were looking at one another, now they had relaxed and once again let down their guard. Both relaxed having survived a close encounter, neither realizing just how much danger they were in. While they relaxed and spoke uninterrupted, their control was drifting away unnoticed by their false sense of security.

When they finished dinner, Harm paid while Mac freshened up. When she rejoined him, he tucked her against his side as they walked along back to the ferry. On this trip, they didn’t speak. They just stood close, leaning against one another, taking in the sights.

Just before they got to the Koala Inn, where they were both staying, Harm found a flower vendor just closing up and bought Mac an orchid.

“Wow...you’ve never bought me flowers before. Thank you.”

“Technically its only one flower...”

“Thank you Harm.”

“You’re welcome Mac.”

They rode up in the elevator together, getting out on the fourth floor. Harm walked her to her door.

“You want to come in for a minute...have coffee?” Mac asked.

“I’d like that.” Harm said while following her into the hotel room and closing the door behind them. “But I’d like this better...” he whispered as he turned her toward him and lowered his head to kiss her.

Mac stood still in stunned silence at first, just feeling his lips ply hers, sipping at them, tasting and nibbling. She groaned then, leaning into his big tall body, letting her hand slide up his chest to rest on his shoulders as his mouth plundered hers asking for her response.

She gave it then, as good as she got. She opened her mouth to him, slipping her tongue into his mouth to challenge his tongue to a duel. Slowing separating, Mac looked up at him and whispered, “I forgot I don’t have a coffee maker.”

“I don’t care...I didn’t want coffee anyway.”

“What do you want, Harm?”

“You, Sarah...only you.”

Mac pulled back a little and looked at him straight on, then on his left side, and then on the right side.

“Mac, what are you doing?”

“Just making sure its you.”

“It is...I promise you Mac.”

“Then I’m yours,” she whispered and waited for him to take what she gladly offered.

The next morning, Harm woke first and turned to look directly into Mac’s eyes that had just popped open. They both sat up in shock and then turned away from the other.

Was this a dream? Had they really crossed that line? Oh good Lord where was this going? One night stand - no... or a mistake? No, this had meaning; deep feelings; this needed to be studied, nurtured, embraced. How would this change how they worked together? What would people say? How would they answer?

“Mac.”

“Harm.”

They both laughed nervously as they spoke at the same time.

“Go ahead Mac.”

“I was just going to say that last night was...wonderful.”

“I hear a but there somewhere.” Harm could feel himself slipping into his cave for protection from the intense emotions still ricocheting around his system.

“I just don’t know if I’m ready for everyone else to know.”

“Me either.” Harm admitted reluctantly.

“Are you upset or embarrassed about...?” Mac prodded the uncertainty clouding her eyes nearly breaking his heart.

“No...I just want to keep it to ourselves so that no one can do or say anything to ruin the beautiful memories I’ll take away from this experience.”

“Are you saying that you don’t want a repeat performance?”

“Not at all. If I could stay with you all day I would...but until this case is over I think we should keep this between ourselves.” Harm held her in his arms and brushed a kiss over her brow.

“Okay...but do we have time for one more encore before we go?” Mac asked looking pleadingly into Harm’s eyes.

He had no problems rising to the occasion and pleased Mac thoroughly once again. Mac slept while Harm threw on his clothes went one floor up to shower and dress for court. He had just dressed when the phone rang. He knew it would be Bud before he ever picked up the phone.

Harm was ready for court, however he didn’t notice that he was whistling as he strode over the ground toward the courthouse. Bud walking along beside him did notice it, but he didn’t say anything. Frankly he was disappointed in his mentor. Imagine working with a woman as beautiful as Sarah Mackenzie and only seeing her as one of the guys. He takes her out for dinner to get her to work on his case with him, feeds her a hot dog for dinner, and probably doesn’t even hold her hand. Seemed pretty cheesy to Bud.

Harm had thought Mac would sleep in after he left, but after discussing how they would handle this change in their relationship she was too wired and she had felt his kiss brush her temple before he left and then the door closing behind him. She had recalled each and every memory of their interlude - every touch, sigh, kiss, almost every tingle. When that man let his control go - wow! Mac touched her lips once again before slipping out of bed and into the shower. She looked at the clothing in the closet that she had brought with her, and a few new items she had purchased like the rainbow of skirts and tops that she had found here that appealed to the ‘girly-girl’ side of her personality. Harm reaction to last night’s choice made her smile as she recalled his hand sliding across her six. She selected the pink set for today. The top wasn’t as daring, but it made it perfect for court.

She was on her way to the courthouse when Mic Brumby trotted up beside her.

“Hello Gorgeous. Looks like Australia is sitting well with you.”

“Thank you Mic.”

“So are you going to join me for lunch today so we can decide where we’re going for dinner?”

“Don’t assume Mic. I have plans tonight.”

“With Rabb?”

Mac just smiled.

“Did you meet someone else?”

Mac smiled mysteriously as she excused herself. “You need to get ready for court, and I need to find a seat.”

Mic Brumby was so sick of Rabb showing up and spoiling his chances with Sarah. He had thought when she showed up in Australia, he might have a chance with her, but so far she hadn’t budged. He was getting sick of it. Rabb was raining on more than one aspect of Brumby’s life and he wanted nothing more than to knock the snot out of the bloody American naval officer for no better reason that he thought he could.

Bud was helping Harm get things set up for the trial. Harm’s whistling usually meant he was pretty confident but he usually saved it to torment his opponent. Today it was different. He was whistling for the sake of whistling. He wondered who Harm had gotten lucky with last night. Maybe he had run into Webb again who had shared one of his beauties. It made Bud a little uncomfortable. Some how he had thought maybe Harm and Mac would take their relationship to another level, yet for all the time he had known them and traveled with them, he had never seen anything that was remotely romantic between them. Bud heard something and looked up to see Mac entering the court room. She looked dazzling. Her cheeks were a bit flushed, her eyes sparkled, and her smile was breath taking.

Bud saw Mac advert her eyes a bit, yet her smile brightened even more for just a second. Harm’s voice distracted him then.

“Bud, you got the evidence file?”

“Huh? Oh yeah...right here.”

“Thanks Bud...good man.”

“Sir, Colonel Mackenzie is here.”

“Is she?” Harm asked trying to pretend he hadn’t noticed her when she entered. She was breath-takingly beautiful and the high color in her cheeks this morning he put there and he knew it...while no one else but Mac did. Those that thought sexual tension faded when you gave into it, certainly hadn’t tried to hide the changes in their relationship. He had thought controlling his lust had been hard before, it was nothing to what he suspected they were both feeling now.

“You both look like you got lucky last night,” Bud muttered under his breath. It was loud enough for Harm to hear.

Harm felt his ears get red. He wanted to protect Mac and reacting on lack of sleep and emotion, Harm turned on Bud.

“How Mac and I spend our private time is not open for speculation - you got it?”

“Yes sir....sorry sir...I just meant you’re both happy this morning...and never mind.”

Damn, Harm thought to himself. He’d over reacted. It probably told Bud more than if he had seen them kiss in front of him. He’d have to watch it - guard against those little things that might give them away. “Sorry Bud...I’m a little tense this morning trying to get ready for a trial.”

Some how Bud and Harm both knew it was a lie, but no one commented on it. It was time to get his head into the court room drama.

Harm had been successful and gotten his client released on his own recognizance. He was pleased with the way things had gone in court, while Brumby was seething. To top it off, he heard her tell someone that she was planning on a picnic for lunch in the nearby park...and it wasn’t with him.

As they stood on those steps, the tensions high already, Brumby felt his anger bumbling up toward Harm. When the fight brook out, he was ready to pound someone and it didn’t matter who. He spotted Harm in his sights and pulled back. The bloody American was quick. He spotted the change in Rabb’s demeanor and knew he was going to counter attack. So much for a sucker punch.

Like two run-a-way trains, the bulky Australian fist traveled toward the tall American, while the lean, powerful arm of the naval officer traveled toward its Australian target. Somehow when both fists made contact it was with an American jaw - Bud Roberts was down for the count on the ground between him with a furious Mac bending over to tend to him.

The fight went out of Harm immediately. Mic called for an ambulance while Harm and Mac supported Bud on the ground. They went with him to the emergency room. Harm was delegated to call Harriet and let her know what had happened because Bud couldn’t talk. His jaw was broken.

Harm spent the better part of the day at the hospital waiting for Bud to come out of surgery. Mac called Admiral Chegwidden to let him know what had happened. He was furious and Mac knew that Harm and Bud would be lucky to come out of this incident unscathed.

Harm had needed to leave regarding the case, but Mac stayed with Bud. They were going to let him go back to the hotel once he was fully out of the anesthesia. He would have to live on liquids for the time being. His jaw had been wired shut, but Mac had been able to understand him when he mumbled. A little awkward at first, but they soon figured it out. Once he knew there was little Mac couldn’t understand, Bud enjoyed contributing his ideas. They knew Admiral Chegwidden was en route, and wondered what consequences Harm would face for his part in it all.

“I ‘o’ ‘an’ ‘im ‘oo ge’ in ‘ou’le o’r ‘iz. I’ ‘ea’y ‘a’ an a’i’en’, ‘o’ne’,” Bud mumbled.

“I know it was an accident Bud, but still, they were both wrong to throw a punch. They both deserve to get into trouble over this Bud.”

“‘ou ‘oun’ ‘ike ‘ou ‘an’ ‘im ‘o ge’ ‘ou’le?”

“And you don’t?”

Bud emphatically shook his head no. Mac saw the worry in his eyes. She knew Harm was Bud’s hero but she hated the idea of Harm throwing a punch, yet she knew he could hold his own.

“You’re entitled to press charges Bud.”

Still he shook his head no and then pointed at Mac.

“Me?”

Nodding his head she thought back to that whole situation. She hadn’t heard either of them mention her name, nor had they looked at her.

Bud grabbed a paper and a pen and wrote a note to Mac. He didn’t want this one misunderstood. He handed the paper to her and she read it aloud. “They agreed to stip blouses one day over you. Maybe that’s what his is about.” Mac turned her back to Bud and closed her eyes. Did Bud know that she had Harm had... no he couldn’t...could he?

“Bud, why now? What started it?”

Bud shrugged.
“No, I think it was just two bull headed males trying to show off their muscle power and you got in the way. It could have been anybody. They both deserve to get what’s coming to them.”

Bud looked sad; Mac seethed; and in his temporary office Harm paced.

It had been twenty-four hours since the incident when Mac, Bud, Mic and Harm were all summoned to Brumby’s commanding officers office. When they opened the door as directed, they found two angry commanding officers in white, one looking much more intimidating then the other. Mac and Bud were both glad they weren’t the ones commanded to stand front and center at attention for this dressing down.

It was chaos as the admiral exploded almost immediately. Bud tried to tell him that he didn’t want to press charges and Mac translated for him.

“You understand him Colonel?”

“Yes sir.”

“There’s not much I can do without you pressing charges...” He held his hand up to stop Bud again, “I know you say it was an accident and other witnesses they didn’t even know either of them said the same thing.”

The two admirals stepped out of the room leaving the other four to wonder.

“You know this is over Colonel Mackenzie, don’t you?” AJ asked his counterpart.

“I surmised. She is beautiful.”

“Yes, well, she and Harm have been partners for years, but they’ve never crossed the line - told them not to get to close myself the day I introduced them. Spotted the sparks in the air immediately.”

“And you still paired them?”

“They are the best damn team I’ve ever seen. They push each other to be better...they hold each other up when you is down. Look up partners or teams in the dictionary and its probably got their picture beside it. Look, how would you feel about issuing a rather unusual, non-judicial penalty on the two?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Have any place private where they could stip blouses and finish this thing where no one else can get hurt?”

“The blimp hangar?”

“Perfect. If they’ll accept it, and they damn well better had, I’ll take it out there.”

Next thing Harm knew he was stripped to his t-shirt and staring at the hair chest of the one man that seemed to push his buttons by just existing. In all honesty, if they had met in the courtroom, Harm would have considered him a worthy adversary and nothing more. But the man showed up on his turf, tried taking his place at JAG while he had been testing the air once again, and when he returned, he had stated his intentions clearly that he was going after Mac.

Harm had moved ahead in that competition until this situation had happened. Now, he didn’t quite know where they stood. There had been no time to talk and find out. Mac had stayed at the hospital with Bud last night and then cared for him during the day today.

Harm’s stomach turned when he thought about how much pain Bud must be in. He had tried to pull back, but it had been too late to stop his fist. He had made contact, but apparently not as much as Bugme. Bugme had some nasty looking knuckles as a result of the contact. Harm didn’t even have a sore hand. Yet right now that was little consolation knowing that he was going to be dishing out as much pain as he could and taking as much as he could until one of them was unconscious, Chegwidden called a halt or they died of exhaustion.

Chegwidden closed the hangar door and turned to see Bud and Mac sitting on the stone wall nearby.

“If they’re not out in twenty minutes, stop them.”

“Yes sir.”

“They’ve both got this coming to them.”

“I know sir.” Mac nodded trying to hold the admiral’s look.

“You don’t agree Bud. That’s okay. This isn’t about you, now is? We both know that. I wonder if you realize that Mac. Do you?”

“So Bud told me...”

“What you do on your own time is your own business. Just don’t bring it in the office.”

“Yes sir.”

Mac and Bud both knew that Mic had been a boxer and that he could inflict a lot of damage with those hands of his. Harm was fit, tall, and strong, but he wasn’t a boxer and they feared he would certainly suffer more from this than Mic.
They could hear the blows landing and the whoosh of air from the targets lungs or the thud of fist against muscle and bone as a blow connected. Mac hated the sound. Fear for Harm filled her stomach with bile while anger at his willingness to go along with such idiocy raised her blood pressure.

If Bud could have talked he would have called Harriet, apologized for his libertine comment, asked her advice on how to handle these people and then thanked her and heaven’s occupant for giving him the ability to know his own mind and the confidence to do something about it.

“Times up. I’m going to go in there and stop them...and then kick both their asses into next week.” Mac fought down the bile as she stood. Bud’s hand on her arm stopped her.

“‘i’en. ‘’hey ‘oppe’ - i’z ‘ie’.”

“You’re right Bud...they have stopped...it is quiet...too quiet. Let’s go.”

TBC...