Author: lisa
Subject: Play Ball! (Repost from last winter - but prequel to June HBX Challenge story below.)

Title: Play Ball!
Author: lisa
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Not mine, but oh how I wish they were!

A missing scene of conversations between basketball buddies. (Set before the pod people took over.)


Play Ball!

Harm drove toward the basket, eluding the attempted block by Sturgis. The ball rolled on the rim before finally dropping, giving Harm the winning goal.

“Hey, how about that shot! I blew you away, Sturgis.” Harm gloated, slapping Sturgis on the back.

“Blew me away? You won by two points, Harm! Besides I think we both know that the winning record of our games belongs to me.”

“I’m just trying to build your self-confidence, pal. I wouldn’t want to humiliate you by winning every time.”

Sturgis just shook his head, amused with Harm’s cockiness. He was as competitive on the basketball court as he was in the courtroom. “In your dreams, buddy. Come on, let’s hit the showers.”

“Hey Sturg, it looks like the cut on your forehead is still bleeding.”

“It’ll be okay. But speaking of bleeding, that looks like a pretty nasty scrape on your shin.”

Harm leaned over to examine the raw, bleeding skin. “It could use some bandaging. We’re pretty close to Mac’s. When we leave, why don’t we stop by her place and she can patch us up.”

Sturgis smiled. “You don’t think she’ll mind playing Nurse MacKenzie?”

“Nah, not Mac. Besides she still owes me for patching her up when she got shot in the leg.”

Surgis eyes widened in surprise. “What, she was shot? Why haven’t I heard about this before?”

“It happened years ago. Long story short, we were up in the mountains, we came across some poachers who had murdered a game warden, and one of them shot Mac as we were trying not to become their next victims.”

Sturgis shook his head in amazement. “I can’t believe you two. You’ll have to tell me the whole story sometime. But speaking of Mac, Bobbi has four tickets to next weekend’s NSO concert.”

“The National Symphony? What does that have to do with Mac? Don’t tell me the new Corp is now teaching its Marines to play the violin.”

“Funny. Actually, Bobbi and I thought you might like to ask Mac, and the two of you could join us. We could do dinner at Calisto’s before the concert and maybe hit a jazz club afterward for a little dancing.”

“I don’t think so, Sturgis. It sounds too much like a date.”

Sturgis heaved a sigh of frustration. “So, would that be so bad? Why not try romancing the woman? You two would make a good pair.”

Harm snorted, rolling his eyes in response. “I wouldn’t want to give Mac the wrong idea. She’s my best friend - no offense Sturgis – and our relationship is in a good place right now. Haven’t you noticed we haven’t been fighting as much lately? Why upset the apple cart?”

Sturgis felt like slugging Harm. He was so dense - not to mention stubborn! Remembering a secret revealed by a certain Marine and his promise to keep his lips sealed, he proceeded cautiously. “Are you so sure Mac feels the same way? Maybe she would like something more than friendship.”

“I think Mac is happy with the way things are. Now can we change the subject, please?”

Giving up - for now - on his imitation of a matchmaker, Sturgis asked, “Are you still planning on stopping at Mac’s?”

“Sure. We still need some first aid and who better to help than a best friend. How about you?”

“Why not? I’ll follow you.”

Twenty minutes later they each parked near Mac’s building. Knocking on her door, Harm pasted his best puppy dog look on his face, preparing to ask for sympathy. Mac opened the door and laughed at Harm’s obvious ploy for attention.

“What happened to you two; game didn’t go well?”

Entering with an exaggerated limp, Harm replied, “Actually it was a great game.”

Sturgis chuckled. “He says that only because he won. If he had lost it would be a different story.”

“Don’t listen to him, Mac. Sturgis is just a sore loser. And speaking of sore, how would you like to patch up a couple of wounded basketball players?”

Mac crossed her arms over her chest. “So, that’s all I’m good for, huh?”

“Among other things. So how about it, buddy? Besides, as I told Sturgis, you owe me.”

Mac rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance. “Don’t call me ‘buddy’. And what do I owe you for?”

Sturgis jumped in. “Harm was telling me how he patched you up after you were shot by poachers. That must have been quite the intense situation.”

Mac chuckled. “You mean after he got me in that intense situation to begin with?”

Harm looked chagrined. “Uh, I kind of left out that part of the story, Mac. But I did patch you up.”

The two locked eyes, remembering. “You did get me through it, Harm, just like you promised.” Breaking away from the intensity of his gaze, Mac returned to the task at hand. “Well, Sturgis, I see your injury. How about you, Harm? And don’t tell me it’s your tailbone. That I am NOT going to kiss and make all better!”

“Cute, Marine. Although, there have been times when I wanted to tell you to kiss my …”

Mac cut him off mid-sentence. “I’ll just go get my first aid kit. You two have a seat.”

As Mac disappeared into the bathroom, Sturgis slapped Harm along side the head.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“For being so stupid, Harm. I don’t know why you insist on treating Mac like one of the guys and not the beautiful woman that she is.”

“Give it up, Sturgis! I thought we were going to drop this.”

Moments later Mac returned, supplies in hand. Okay, Sturgis, I’ll take care of you first. That’s quite a nasty cut. How’d it happen?”

Before Sturgis could respond, Harm offered his own explanation. “Sturgis ran into my elbow with his head.”

Sturgis laughed with incredulity. “I ran into you? Do you twist the truth this much in the courtroom, Harm?”

Mac scoffed. “The stories I could tell about his courtroom sandbagging techniques.”

Harm jumped to his own defense. “Hey, what is this, gang up on Harm day?”

“Oh, poor baby. You’re just an easy target. There, Sturgis, you’re all set. Harm, your turn.”

Sturgis felt his bandaged forehead. “Thanks, Sarah, you have good hands; just what every man needs. Don’t you agree, Harm?”

Giving Sturgis a warning glare, Harm pulled up his pant leg and Mac got to work cleaning the cut “Ouch, Mac! Geez, I know you jarheads eat nails for breakfast, but could you take it easy?”

Mac cooed with false sympathy. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forget you squids are so soft.”

“I’m not soft! I just appreciate a little tenderness, but maybe you’re too macho for that.”

“Mac poured alcohol over Harm’s cut and laughed as he yelped. “Hey, that stings!”

“Watch it, or you’ll get worse.”

Knowing that Mac could take him down if she wanted to, Harm decided that in this case silence was the better part of valor as Mac finished with his leg.

Sturgis decided he’d give Harm one last prod in his matchmaking quest. “Hey Harm, didn’t you have something you wanted to ask Mac?”

Harm shot Sturgis a withering glance. “No, I don’t think so.”

Trying again, “Are you sure? I thought you mentioned something at the gym.”

Harm decided it was time to drop chaff. “Well Mac, I did want to ask you if you’d like to start working on the Murphy court martial tonight.”

“Uh, sure Harm. We could do that.”

Sturgis heaved a sigh of defeat. “Well if you two are going to work, I better get going.”

“Would you like to stay for a cup of coffee, Sturgis?”

Interrupting, Harm couldn’t resist taking another shot at Mac. “That swill you call coffee? Trust me, Sturgis, you don’t want to take her up on that offer.”

Mac slugged Harm in the shoulder, ignoring his yelp. “Well, how about tea, then?”

Sturgis got up to leave. “Thanks, but I better hit the road.”

“How about you, Harm?”

“Sure, tea sounds pretty safe.”

Mac headed toward the kitchen as Sturgis opened the door. “Put extra sugar in his, Mac. Harm needs all the sweetening he can get. See you both tomorrow.”


A moment later Mac was interrupted from filling the kettle by a pair of arms snaking around her waist.

“I thought he’d never leave.” Harm murmured as he nuzzled Mac’s neck.

Mac set down the kettle, leaning back against the wall of muscle that was Harm’s chest. Dear lord, it was hard to think when he was doing that! “So, do you think Sturgis has any suspicion that I’m more than just your ‘buddy’?”

Harm’s hands worked under the hem of her blouse, stroking the soft skin of her abdomen as he trailed kisses down her neck. “Not a clue. Poor Sturgis, he was desperately trying to get me to ask you out, though. Thought I should ‘romance’ you.”

Mac turned in his arms, lacing her fingers behind his neck. “You do quite well in that department, but a girl can’t have too much romance!”

“You know, we’re going to have to let Sturgis know about us soon. He thinks I’m a jerk for treating you like one of the guys. And since your little diversionary tactic of admitting to him of your ‘unrequited’ love for me, he is constantly dropping hints about how you’re so good for me, how beautiful you are…”

Mac took her own turn at kissing Harm’s neck. “I always liked Sturgis.”

Harm hauled her close to his body. “I think Sturgis is a little bit in love with you, Mac.”

“Well he’ll just have to love me from afar. My heart’s taken.”

Harm unbuttoned the top button of her blouse. “Could we talk about something other than Sturgis. Better yet, let’s not talk at all.”

Smiling seductively, “Why Harm, what do you have in mind?”

Button number two met the same fate as the first. “How about a little one-on-one action?”

Mac laughed. “I thought you already did that with Sturgis.”

“Eew, Mac, don’t plant that image in my head!” Harm lowered his voice to that gravelly, sexy tone that always sent flames of desire shooting throughout her body. “The kind of one-on-one I’m thinking of, I only want to do with you.” Harm leered at Mac, looking her up and down. “After all, I know from personal experience that you’re an excellent ball handler.”

Mac slapped his chest. “Harm, I can’t believe you said that!”

With as much innocence as he could muster, Harm replied, “What? I was talking about basketball.”

“Sure you were. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”

“Not the way I kiss you. Would you like a demonstration?”

Mac whispered against his lips. “That could be arranged.”

Harm captured her mouth with his. Light, teasing kisses, leaving them both wanting more. Groaning, he pushed Mac against the counter, deepening his kiss, relishing the soft little sound she made as he lifted her slightly, pressing her hard against him.

"Mmmm,” she murmured, “it feels like someone is all warmed up and ready to play."

Loosening his hold a bit, he turned walking Mac backward toward the bedroom, his hands on her hips to guide her, while his lips nibbled on any skin he could find.

As he reached to finish unbuttoning her blouse she stopped his hands. "So, who plays 'shirts' and who plays 'skins'?"

Harm growled, continuing on with his task. "For this, baby, we're both on the same team - skin on skin."

Laughing, Mac raced to undo his own buttons, stroking his chest as she completed her task. She didn't think she would ever tire of the sight of him, the feel of him. They quickly divested each other of the annoying remainder of their clothing. Moaning she pressed against his rock-hard body, savoring the feel of skin against skin.

Harm caressed her curves, feather-light touches up and down her back, over her hips, reaching between them to feel the glorious curves there. He'd never get enough of her. Overcome with love for this woman, he thanked God that Sarah MacKenzie was his.

Oblivious to everything except the feel of her body against his own, Mac took advantage of his distraction and hooked her leg behind his. Suddenly he felt himself falling to the bed with Mac landing on top of him. "Hey, dirty move Marine! That's a flagrant foul."

Mac pulled herself away from his body. "You want to expel me from the game?"

Yanking her back down and rolling over, Harm whispered, "No, I just want you."

"You have me, Harm. Always."

Looming over her, he began to tantalize with his kisses, as her hands did some tormenting of their own. Pressing against her he murmured, "So how do you want the pace of the game, coach? Do you want to play fast and hard, or…" moving to gently stroke between her thighs, "... do you want it slow and easy?"

Gasping, Mac writhed beneath him. "Ohh, I'll let you decide the tempo. Surprise me."

With a lascivious smirk, Harm tickled her ribs. "Maybe I'll just mix it up a bit. Keep you guessing."

Squirming under his relentless fingers, "What ever you do, I know it'll be good."

"Just 'good', Mac? Last night I think I heard incredible. Or was it magnificent?"

"No that's what you said to me! How about this for a compromise, together we're magnificent."

"Unbeatable?"

Sighing in frustration, "Yes, Harm." This man is insufferable! What does a girl have to do to get a little action?

"Mac, you know you're an all-star in my book."

“Ugh, Harm that is so lame. Enough with the basketball analogies! If you don't find a better use for that mouth, other than talking, you’re not going to score tonight!"

Grinning down at her, Harm had only one response.


The End - Let the games begin!