Author: lisa
Subject: "Skating on Thin Ice" - another response to the HBX January challenge

AN: This is set sometime in season 8. However in my JAG world, Gunny never left and Bud never lost his leg.


Skating on Thin Ice

She’d always loved weekends! Two days with no responsibilities or agenda, other than the plans she set for herself. And the best weekends were when those plans included time with her favorite sailor.

They had often spent time together on weekends – at least when they were between significant others. Going for a run, catching a movie together, checking out the newest restaurants in DC. But the last couple of months, since she’d been lucky enough to have her best friend also become her lover, weekends had become infinitely more pleasurable.
Saturday mornings were now spent lazing together in bed, and there was no place she would rather be! A grin spread across her face at the memory of the heat generated between those sheets.

This Saturday she had some free time to do some girly things – to just be a woman and not the squared away, devil dog marine. Once a month her California flyboy indulged in his latest hobby, playing hockey with a group of guys at a local ice arena. So today while Harm was having his male-bonding time, she had pampered herself with a morning at the spa followed by a trip to the Pentagon City mall where she had treated herself to a few new skimpy items from Victoria’s Secret. Actually, Harm would probably enjoy those particular treats even more than she would!

Maybe when they came back to Harm’s place later tonight she’d let him pick the lingerie he’d like her to model first. She smiled thinking of their plans for this evening. While they hadn’t been hiding their relationship, they also hadn’t made it known to their JAG co-workers that they were now “a couple”. Tonight they were going public with their relationship at a get together at Bud and Harriet’s. No big announcement, just a few public displays of affection to send Harriet into a tailspin. She couldn’t wait to see the expression on Harriet’s face!

Checking her internal clock she realized Harm’s hockey game should be just about over. Maybe she’d stop by the arena and surprise him. They could grab a coffee together before going their separate ways to get ready for tonight.

Entering the arena she saw a swarm of hockey-clad, he-men just leaving the ice. She chuckled as she watched their antics. She could almost taste the testosterone in the air. Clad in helmets and hockey gear it was hard to spot Harm among the group. Walking up to the men, she spied Harm bent over to unlace his skates. Coming up behind him she cupped his butt giving it a firm pinch. She laughed as he yelped and whirled around.

“Mac, what are you doing?

“Just making sure it’s you. I’d know the feel of that cute six anywhere.”

Glaring over his shoulder at the group of hockey players who were laughing at his expense, Harm questioned, “Well, what if you’d been wrong and it wasn’t my “six” you grabbed?

“Well, Harm, then I guess one of these good-looking guys would have gotten a little thrill.”

Mac’s comment was followed by whistles and catcalls from the guys. “Hey, Mac, you can play grab ass with me anytime.” “Let me know if Mr. Dress Whites isn’t man enough to keep you satisfied, I’d be happy to offer my services.”

Mac laughed, saying, “Sorry, guys, I’ll have to take a rain check. I’ll let you know if it doesn’t work out, but I’m taken for now.”

Glancing at Harm, she saw he wasn’t joining in the laughter. “For now, Mac?” Glowering in her direction, he stormed off in the direction of the locker room.

Fueled by his annoyance she lashed out, “Harm, lighten up. Don’t be such a prude!”

“A prude? Well, if that’s what you think, Mac, there’s a group of guys back there that would be happy to give you a thrill. But you better choose - do you want to belong to me or play the field?”

“Don’t turn me into a possession, Harm. I went through that with Chris and with Mic and I won’t do it again.”

His voice lowered, laced with anger and hurt. “You’re inferring that I’m like Ragle and Brumby? That’s low, Mac, even for you.”

Turning to continue on to the locker room, Mac stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Harm, wait. Let’s talk about this.”

His eyes flashed as he brushed off her hand from his arm. “Not now, Mac. I’m not in the mood.”

“Fine. What time are you picking me up tonight?”

“I’ll just meet you at the Roberts’. It’ll save time.”

She could be just as stubborn as he could. “Well if that’s the way you want it, Harm. Maybe I’ll just catch a ride with one of your hockey buddies.”

“You do that, Mac.”

Mac fumed as she watched Harm disappear into the locker room. He was being ridiculous! How did a few teasing comments turn into World War III? He should know it didn’t mean a thing to her. She was too angry to see past her own viewpoint and hurt feelings to even try to figure out why Harm reacted as he did. Heaving a sigh of annoyance, she turned to head home to get ready for a night she no longer looked forward to.

Harm leaned back under the spray of the shower. Angry at Mac, at himself, at the way they had so easily reverted to sarcasm and snide remarks. He didn’t want to admit it, but Mac’s flirtatious bantering fed his insecurities that this relationship would crash and burn like all the others in his past. No one ever stayed. Somehow he always managed to drive them away and he secretly lived in fear that Mac would wake up and realize he didn’t satisfy her - at least not the needs of her heart. That she would decide he wasn’t worth the effort of scaling the walls around his own heart.

The thought of losing her scared him like nothing he had ever feared before. Towel wrapped around his waist, he left the shower room nearly ready to acknowledge that perhaps he had overreacted, until the teasing remarks began again with a vengeance when his teammates entered the locker room, re-igniting his ire as he nursed his injured pride. After all, what did he have to apologize for? It was up to her to mend this fence.

As Mac pulled up to the Roberts’ later that evening she saw that Harm hadn’t yet arrived and wondered if he even would. And what of their plans to reveal their relationship? She plastered a smile on her face as she mingled with the JAG staff. Twenty minutes later she felt rather than saw him enter. That connection couldn’t be broken by physical or emotional distance. Turning, she sought eye contact, trying to get a read on his feelings, but Harm avoided her gaze.

His greeting consisted of a curt, “Mac”, as he moved past her to engage Sturgis in a debate about their latest case. She fought back the tears that threatened as he systematically ignored her. How did they get to this place? Maybe they really were "due". Their relationship up to this point had been idyllic - more than she could ever hope or dream. The thought of losing Harm was like a physical blow. One she didn't think she could ever recover from. She wouldn’t let him so easily slip away.

Letting go of her pride, Mac realized that the cold shoulder she was receiving from Harm wasn't out of anger as much as from hurt. His modus operandi when angry was to confront, but when he was wounded the barriers came up and he withdrew. As she replayed the ugly scene at the arena, Harm's reply of "for now" stood out in her mind. She saw the hurt and fear behind the anger in his eyes. It all became crystal clear as she saw how her flirty banter with the guys, something Harm would have joined in on when they were merely friends, was now something that he interpreted as a threat to the permanence of "them".

What had he said at her engagement party to Mic? "What I want most, Mac, is to never lose you." And her comments, no matter how innocent in her mind, gave him reason to think that he might one day do just that. The big goof! Didn’t he realize that she was so hopelessly head over heels in love with him that she was ruined for anyone else?

It was up to her to once again come up with a plan of action – this time a passionate one – and fix this mess. They had originally planned to go public tonight. Well, she was about to “out” them and prayed it didn’t backfire in her face.

Strengthening her resolve, Mac walked up to where Harm was talking with the Admiral. Leaving no room for argument, she interrupted their conversation.

“Excuse me, Admiral, but I need to speak to Commander Rabb for a moment.”

“Colonel, I am in the middle of a conversation with the Commander. Can’t this wait?’

“Respectfully sir, it can’t wait another minute.”

The admiral met her determined gaze with an amused one of his own.

Well then, Mac, he’s all yours.”

Mac locked eyes with Harm. “I hope you’re right, sir.”

As the admiral walked away, Harm glared at Mac. “We are not doing this now, Mac.”

“Yes, we are.” Her tone softening, Mac took hold of his hand, lacing her fingers through his. “Harm, I’m sorry for today. I love you and only you. You’re it for me, Harm. There will never be another.”

With that she took hold of his shirt, forcefully pulling him to her, sealing her lips to his. Somewhere in the background a glass crashed to the floor and Harriet squealed. Mac ignored it all as she kissed him with all she had. A heated mix of lips and hands and tongue. Persuading with her mouth of her love, her commitment, her desire for him and him alone. After a few seconds, Harm pulled her to him responding in kind with a kiss that said ‘I love you; I want you; I need you. Don’t ever leave’.

As the kiss lengthened, silence reigned as every eye in the room was riveted to the pair. Harm eventually broke the kiss, but kept Mac close in his arms. Mesmerized by the love and devotion he saw as he gazed at her intently. “I love you, Mac. Marry me?”

Someone gasped. Was that Harriet or herself? It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the man holding her. Her friend, her lover, her everything. With her answer she reached down to squeeze his six, but this time it induced a grin. “Yes, Harm. You and me …”

“Forever, Mac.”

The moment was broken by Tiner. “Wow, Gunny, the colonel must be some kisser!”

“What do you expect, Tiner. She’s a marine. Semper fi, Ma’am!”

The laughter drowned out Mac’s response, directed to Harm. Only he heard her echoing ‘semper fi’. “I will always be faithful, Harm - to you. To us.”


Later that night the two lay wrapped in each other’s arms and in the afterglow of love. A passionate release of the tension that had built since the afternoon ended with a tender expression of love. Words and bodies declared apologies, love, promises, and commitment.

The new lingerie had been modeled and discarded to its rightful place - strewn across the bedroom floor. A diamond ring had been retrieved from a dresser drawer and now adorned its rightful place.

Mac broke the comfortable silence as she absently stroked Harm’s chest, admiring her new ring. “So, Harm, what will we tell your mother when she asked how you proposed?”

The hand caressing her back moved down to lightly squeeze her bottom. “I’ll just tell her the truth. ‘See, Mom, it all started when Mac copped a feel …’.”

The End