HBX Challenge March 06 "What a day"

Title: What a day

AN /sort of summary and spoiler: This story is set somewhere in the early tenth season, Cresswell sends Harm on an investigation to a carrier and he also does his quals there, then there’s the whole incident with Sturgis…sound familiar? Around the time of “Bridging the Gulf”. Let’s just imagine Mac went with them…hey, it’s my story, my universe ;-)
The story starts after Harm shot down the plane. Mac’s POV.
Many, many thanks to my beta reader! You helped me a lot!!

Disclaimers: The usual, I don’t own them because if I did, there wouldn’t be a *last* season…*sigh*

What a day.

I just don’t know why this always happens to me, one second my life is running smoothly and then it just of starts to spiral out of control. Damn, I thought I had that behind me when I stopped drinking. I hate, really *hate* not being in control. Well, I know, I called Harm a control freak, he is, but I never said that I’m any better…

Just today, I mean, can’t this guy keep is six out of trouble just once in his life? I thought that he finally had grown up, out of this *I’m going to save the world at any cost*-behaviour. Guess what, I was wrong.

Now, I’m sitting in a chopper, *again*, to get to him and save his six, *again*. I’m actually a little surprised that the General sent me along with Sturgis. I’m still not sure why. As far as I’m concerned, Harm didn’t have much of a choice, being purely professional, of course. I trust his instincts. He’s been in such situations before and that’s why he was here in the first place. Because he knows how it is to be up there, because he knows how to make decisions in a matter of seconds and because he has the needed experience. Sturgis, on the other hand sees that a *little* differently. I just don’t know yet what to do about it. Since Sturgis is the lead investigator I don’t have much say in it. Well, even if I had it would probably be dismissed because I’m too close to Harm. The more I think about it, the more I think the General sent me along to prevent those two from getting at each others’ throats.

We landed a few hours ago and immediately met with Harm to get more information. Sturgis and I then went to talk to all others involved in this incident to see what we can dig up. And that wasn’t much. I felt my headache began when Sturgis and I started to discuss the outcome of his investigation. Sturgis can be so damn stubborn! I left him to write his report, hopefully he considered my advise. Hopefully. Now, I’m in my stateroom awaiting the outcome.

“MAC? You in there?”

Harm is screaming and pounding at my door. Uh oh, I take it Sturgis didn’t change his mind.
“Yeah, come in.”

“Mac, did you know, I mean…what is this all about?” He’s running his hand through his hair, a tormented look on his face. “I…I don’t understand…” He says and throws Sturgis’s report to me. I don’t need to read it, I know what it says.

“Harm, I…I don’t know what to say…I thought I had convinced Sturgis but…”

“Do you believe me, Mac?”

“Harm…”

“Do YOU believe me, Mac?”

“Harm, please.”

“DAMN IT. DO YOU BELIEVE ME?”

“Yes, Harm, I do believe you. I always trusted your instincts and I still do.”

He just looks at me. I’m not sure what’s going through that sailor’s mind, it was a long time ago that I was good at reading him. I guess I need to practice. I feel a sad smile spreading across my features.

“Thanks. That…means a lot to me.” He says after being silent for 45 seconds.

“I’ll talk to him. I’m sure we’ll find a solution.”

“No, we don’t need a solution. I need the TRUTH.”

“Haaarm!”

But it’s already too late. He’s gone, to chase the truth once again. Unbelievable. My day just went south. I didn’t even think that that was possible. Over the next few hours, I try to reason with Sturgis and try not to worry about Harm, he’s still gone wherever he went to.

Finally, after what seemed like eternity (damn that word) to me, Harm came back on board, of course having found proof of his innocence. As always, my knight in shining armor, indestructible. I’m standing on the weather deck, just looking out at the ocean around us. I still wonder how something so beautiful and peaceful can turn to a stormy sea in just a matter of seconds.

I feel his presence. I know he’s been standing there for quite some time now. I wonder what he’s up to. Slowly, I turn to face him.

“Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”

We just stand there. Looking at each other…he hasn’t looked at me like this since…

“When you look at me that way...what do you see?” I whisper, more out of memory than for him to hear it. But he does. I can see it in his eyes. That’s going to be interesting.

“I see…a desirable woman.” So he does remember...

“And I see… a man who’s so afraid to lose control.”

“In my world, you lose control, you die.”

So here we are again. I feel the tears running down my cheeks. Damn it. How can he do this to me? Why does he hold such power over me?

“Mac – Sarah.”

I have no idea why he is suddenly so near, brushing my tears away with his thumb. He isn’t supposed to do this, he’s supposed to turn and leave, to run away yet again. Can we please get it just over with? I don’t know how much more of this I can take.

“Harm.”

Our faces are mere inches apart. His lips are so close to mine. I can feel his breath on my face. I’m at a loss as to what to do or feel. My control over the situation has once again slipped away. Damn it. I close my eyes and then I feel it. His lips on mine, gently but passionately. I’m still thinking about resisting and slapping him when I feel my own body betray me and respond to his kiss.

But oh my, what a kiss. Full of longing and tenderness, I knew that he’s a great kisser, but it feels so much better being kissed without any outside influences, like a mistletoe...

His lips feel so perfect on mine. Oh my godness, he is, he is actually deepening the kiss!

Slowly but reluctantly we break apart, breathing heavily, although I guess panting would be the correct description. What a day.

“Who are you und what have you done with my flyboy?”

Stunned he looks at me, raising his eyebrow. I did NOT really say *that* out loud, now did I? Great, scare him off, go ahead MacKenzie!

“Your flyboy, huh?”
“Well, I…uhm…you know…it’s…”

I give up on my rambling explanation, I couldn’t explain it anyway nor do I want to. The Marines taught me that the best defense is a good offense. Well, time to prove it. My hands sneak their way up his back and before he knows what’s going on, my lips are on his, *again*. It takes just a few seconds for him to regain his composure and he responds to my kiss. Did I mention that he’s a great kisser?? His hands travel up and down my spine and then one of his hands is tangling with my hair. He’s giving me goose bumps. Never, ever in my life did something feel so good…so…so right. When we stop kissing he takes a step backwards and cradles my face in his hands.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

I expected a lot of things he could say but this…this…I don’t know what to say. He’s looking me straight in the eye, no room for misunderstandings and then he smiles at me. Not his cocky 1000-watt-flyboy-smile, no this one is so tender, so full of…, nah, it couldn’t be, could it? But well, it’s like his eyes are smiling too. I have never, ever seen this particular smile of his and I have seen *many* over the years.

I close my eyes, as I am sure that this is one of *those* dreams and any second my alarm will go off and I will be alone again.

“Sarah, you ok?”

I open my eyes, he’s still there and obviously I’m still here too. Okay, so this is not a dream…NOT A DREAM????

“Harm?” I whisper.

“I’m here, Marine and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Oh Harm!”

I throw myself at him and he embraces me. I snuggle my head against his shoulder. He’s brushing a lock of my hair behind my ear, swaying us slightly as if dancing to a music only he can hear. I never, ever want to leave this place again. We fit perfectly, it just feels so right to be in his arms. A million questions are running through my mind and I have somehow lost the ability to voice them or even think coherently.

“What…?” Is the only thing I’m capable to voice, great. He just chuckles and quickly kisses my forehead.

“I love you, Sarah.”

As if that was an explanation…wait…WHAT did he just say? He LOVES me? ME?
“You…you love me?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I love you too, Harm.”

When he registers my words, his eyes light up. Could it really be that all this time he was as insecure about my feelings as I was of his?? Oh boy, we do make quite a pair. Top lawyers not able to see what’s right in front of them. I can feel the happiness consuming me. Yup, I’m very, very in love with a certain sailor.

What a day, who would have thought that losing control could turn out so good? I promise I’m not going to complain anymore when things spiral out of control.

What a day.