Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge 2007 The next level

They are not mine; I’ll just borrow them for this story.

HBX Challenge October 2007

The next level.

It was the longest elevator ride of her life. Three people trapped together in a small room. She could not believe Harm had asked her to tag along on a date! What was up with that? And after all they had been thru lately, he actually had the nerve to ask her to come on a date with him and another women. Did he really think that she would come with them as a third wheel?

Since her accident at Christmas they had been close. He spent the night with her at the hospital, and then he had taken her home. They had spent what was left of Christmas together, and also New Years Eve. It had been wonderful, and they had promised each other that this would be their year. And so far it had been their year. They had been on dates, gone to the gym together and had lunch together every day they were both in town. It had been like old times, except that now they were kissing and holding hands.

She had been shocked when she had heard Dr. Elgin say that she had found an expensive restaurant for him to take her too, and more shocked when he had asked Mac to go with them. Why would he go with Dr. Elgin in the first place? He had promised that his days of dating blondes were over, from now on there would only be a brunette by his side.

Finally the elevator arrived at the right floor. Mac said good night to Harm and Dr. Elgin, and left the building in a hurry. She got in to her car and drove home to her apartment, where she apparently would be spending the night by herself. Well she didn’t have to be alone; she could have gone on Harms date. Damn it! She should have gone with them. She should have sat by Harms side, and made it clear to Dr. Elgin that it was a thanks for your help kind of dinner, but nothing more.

Twenty minutes later when she got out of the shower, she was still cursing at herself. As she was dressing, she heard a knock on the door. She threw on a t-shirt and some sweatpants, and went to open the door. What she found on the other side came as a surprise.

“Harm. What are you doing here?” She didn’t know if she was mad or relieved.

He pushed by her. “I came to spend the night with my girlfriend.” He turned towards her.

“I thought you had a date.” She closed the door, and turned to look at him accusingly.

He looked at her in a way that made her feel she had grown a second head. “What?” She hated it when he looked at her that way.

“What on earth make you think I want to go on a date with Dr. Elgin?” His voice sounded hurt.

“Well, she’s blond and attractive.” She wasn’t about to let him of the hook yet.

“So what?” He was confused about her reaction.

“Well you do have an obsession when it comes to blondes.” She knew she was pushing him, but it had been a long day and she was tired and jealous.

“What? It is hardly an obsession. More like a coincidence.” He got defensive.

“Yeah right, you can walk away any time?” She knew she was being stupid, but she couldn’t stop the words from falling out.

“Any time!” He spat out.

“How about now?” She threw at him.

“Mac I walked away a long time ago. And I told you at Christmas that my days of dating other women are over. I’m invested in this.” He pointed between them.

Mac didn’t know how to respond. She walked closer to him, and she took one of his hands in hers.

He pulled her closer. “Please Mac, believe me when I say this. I want us to make this work.”

“I do too, and I’m sorry I got jealous.” She released his hands, and put her hands around his neck.

“That’s okay, I would have done the same thing.” He kissed her lightly, but she deepened the kiss and soon they were making out like teenagers.

Harm noticed that while they were kissing, Mac was walking them towards her bedroom. He ended the kiss and looked at her. “What are you doing?”

She smiled at him. “I’m taking us in to the next level of our relationship.” And then she kissed him lightly.

“I love you.” He looked in to her eyes.

“I love you too.” She kissed him again, and together they entered the next level in their relationship. And what a level!