Author: Teacup
Subject: Stranger at the Halloween Dance - Part 2/3 (HBX Chall. - Oct '08)

Stranger at the Halloween Dance

A/N: Yes, I am splitting this up into 3 parts, even though I had hoped to have it in 2. I want to give you something today though, and I have plans for this evening. I still plan to get the conclusion out tomorrow though (Thank goodness for the long weekend!)

Please read (or re-read) Part 1 first. Thanks!!

Hope you enjoy!!

Stranger at the Halloween Dance

Transition from Part 1

I think that she is hung up on Harm as much as he is hung up on her, so the mystery to me is why they are not together. I wonder if they were an item, but had some sort of falling out? I’ll bet it was some kind of misunderstanding blown out of proportion.

After another moment, Sarah suggests, “Maybe we should dance, too? No place is more visible than the dance floor.”

“You’re sure?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? … For the sake of tonight’s mission, right?” I wonder if he can tell that she is rationalizing. She wants him to dance with her, but doesn’t want him to know that she does.

“Whatever that mission may be.” He scans the room. “Let’s head over to the entrance area. That’s where King Kong seems to be focused.”

“Webb asked us to leave the giant primate alone,” she points out.

“Exactly. … Following Webb’s instructions is never a good idea. I want to know what the gorilla is up to. The ape has been rather aggressive in ‘embracing’ people, especially women, and leading them around tonight. We should head over and see if he grabs you.”

Her eyebrows rise. “Are you trying to throw me into his arms, Harm?”

“What? Can’t ‘Xena’ handle an oversized orangutan?” he teases.

She sighs and relents. “Alright.”

Part 2

The Colonel takes a few steps in the direction of the entrance area, but halts upon hearing the words, “Hey, Mac?”

“Yeah?”

I wonder why Harm calls her ‘Mac’ instead of Sarah.

I see him hesitate now. I think he wants to ask her something, … something important, … but he changes his mind.

Instead he points out, “I know this is business, … but can you at least pretend that we both actually want to dance together?”

A strange look comes over her face, partly, I am sure, at being embarrassed for marching off ahead of him, but there is something else too. Regret? But then it also almost seems as if she has been struck by déjà vu or something. Maybe I am imagining things.

At any rate, there is an interesting dynamic between these two people that I find fascinating. She allows him to catch up to her and even lets him take her hand to lead her to the far end of the dance floor. I am disappointed that they have headed out beyond my earshot.

Even so, their body language speaks volumes. A slow song is playing, and they come together, uncomfortably at first. This seems odd for two incredibly beautiful people who are very obviously attracted to each other.

One set of their hands is joined, but I can tell that Harm is struggling to find an acceptable place for the palm and fingers of his other hand to go. It seems that he doesn’t want to touch her skin, but, with her costume, that proves to be a challenge. He settles for holding part of the metal sheath on her back, and he keeps plenty of space between their bodies.

With some comments made by Sarah that make him smile self-consciously, Harm eventually allows her to slide his hand to where she wants it.

Well, if I had to guess, the spot just above her waist is not where she really wants his hand, but for their purposes in this very public place, it is her preference that he is at least touching her.

Okay, technically, since I’m no mind-reader, I am just assuming that it is her preference to have Harm’s hand on her… But come on, what woman in her position would not want to feel his hand making some direct contact?

Still, I can tell that it is she who is now enforcing the distance kept between their bodies. There is definitely a history between these two that makes them scared of getting too close. … Either that … or one of them has really bad breath.

No, … there’s no trace of disgust on either of their faces, so we can rule out that last possibility. There are definitely deeper issues at play here that are making things so awkward between them.

But as the song plays on, they exchange some dialogue and become more comfortable holding each other. I see some heartfelt expressions pass between them, and soon, I realize that they have pulled each other closer. Eventually, she lays her cheek against his chest, and he rests the side of his face atop her head.

I wish I had a camera. I believe that the Marine woman is actually snuggling against her man for warmth and comfort. … Yes, I do think that the ‘captain’ is her man. Her man for the taking at least. And she is his.

Oh, I can’t believe I’m getting teary eyed over the romantic picture of these two. My friend would tell me it’s my hormones. She blames any irregular emotional behavior on the continuous cycle of a female’s hormones. She’s probably at home right now, blaming hormones for her chocolate cravings and the stomach ache that is following her sugar splurge.

Although I feel a little bit guilty for it, thinking of my friend moaning because of a Halloween-candy-binge-turned-stomach-ache makes me smile, and I manage to blink back the moisture in my eyes.

But now my nose is running, … and my stupid costume doesn’t have a pocket for a tissue. Unless I want to use the sleeve of my shirt, I need to find something for my nose.

The restroom is clear across the room, and I really don’t want to parade myself out in the open. I look over to the drink table. There are those little cocktail napkins sitting in a pile. That will work, but it still means I have to leave my hiding place, even if it isn’t such a distance.

I re-consider using my sleeve; … after all, I hate this outfit. But my dignity won’t allow me to stoop so low. So I brave my way across part of the dance floor to the beverage table.

Thankfully, no one is currently by the drinks. Bud, the sci-fi enthusiast who had headed here earlier, has already gotten his soda and is seated at one of the surrounding tables.

Napkins grabbed, nose wiped, and … back into the shadows. A different spot, but just as effective. Mission accomplished.

My eyes drift back to where I last saw the couple, but Harm and Sarah are no longer there. Where did they go?

I scan the crowd looking for my favorite, tall, handsome ‘captain,’ but it is Sarah who I spot first, … mostly because she is being embraced and led across the room by a large, hairy baboon. And the ape is leading her in my direction.

She allows him ‘escort’ her, with his big arm wrapped around her waist, but I can tell that she wants to struggle free. My guess is that it is only her sense of duty, whatever that is in this situation, and of curiosity that is keeping her from using one of her Marine moves to break away … if not break the ape’s arm.

I’m getting a little nervous as they approach my corner, but the gorilla stops about five feet away from me and pivots Sarah to look at him.

But it is the Colonel who speaks first. “You want to tell me why did you dragged me over here?” she asks the beast.

“Talk to you.” The voice of the man in the monkey suit is muffled, but the words are understandable.

I giggle at my own thoughts. ‘Man in the monkey-suit’ … At a social event full of government big shots, I would have assumed that phrase would be describing an entirely different outfit.

“Talk to me? About what?” the ‘warrior princess’ asks.

Yeah, I want to know about what too.

When the man behind the mask doesn’t answer her last question right away, she presses on, “Do I know you? … Who are you?”

“Give him a chance,” is the only reply. … Apparently the big hairy guy doesn’t care to identify himself.

“Give who a chance?” she asks.

“Clayton Webb. Want you to explore a relationship with him.”

“What?” she asks with surprise. But within a second, she is just plain indignant. “Who are you? And what right do you think you have to interfere in my personal life?”

“Someone who has the best interest of you and your co-workers at heart.”

Sarah’s eyes widen in response to the implication, but then narrow with defiance. “Is that a threat?”

“No.” The gorilla slowly shakes his head. “Just want things to work out for the long run. Want there to be a long run.”

So, … I’ve officially decided that this Neanderthal is crazy, … as if I hadn’t made that determination when I saw him randomly grabbing people earlier tonight. I am pretty sure that Sarah thinks he is mentally imbalanced too. Her expression definitely conveys that impression.

“Why would I listen to a man in a gorilla suit?” she asks, pulling away from him.

“Don’t ignore me,” he pleads.

She is getting peeved now. “How could you possibly know what is best for my life?”

“It may not be best for you,” the ape admits. “Thinking about the bigger picture. About the safety of JAG.”

“Just what is that supposed to mean?”

“The future of JAG is at stake!” insists the hairy animal.

I can tell that he has her interest and that she is weighing her options in deciding how to proceed.

She visibly calms herself and attempts to understand what is going on. “So you want me to pretend to have a relationship with Webb? Is that why he’s been coming on to me all of a sudden after all these years?”

“No. I want you to have an actual relationship with him.”

“I don’t have those kinds of feelings for him.”

Well, that sounds like a clear declaration if I ever heard one. She’s not interested in three-piece-suit-guy.

Silence follows. The gorilla is staring at her. … It’s kind of spooky. … Perhaps that’s an appropriate moment of respect for the end of the ‘spook’ in the holey bed sheet … or at least the spook’s hope of a future with this Marine.

The man in the animal suit finally speaks again. “Because you’re already in love with Harm.”

Sarah’s eyes flash. “What does Harm have to do with this?” she snaps.

“I don’t want you involved with Harm,” says the gorilla. “At least … not yet.”

She shakes her head. “Harm and I are just friends,” she tries to dismiss the idea.

“Don’t kid yourself, Colonel. I know you.”

“But I don’t know you,” she counters with the stoic fortitude of the Marine she is.

The man in the full disguise hesitates, but then pulls the ape mask up, revealing his identity to her. From my angle, I can’t see his face, but I can see that he is red from the warmth of what I am sure is a stifling, hot costume. The little hair that he has is matted down with sweat. He’s obviously been in there for a long time.

I notice that Sarah is studying the man’s features, but she does not take on any look of recognition.

“I don’t know you,” she repeats, more in confusion this time.

“I have some influence over the happenings at JAG,” he says.

“You work with the SecNav?” she asks.

I have no idea what a secnav is, but it sounds dangerous. Maybe it’s something Russian … or middle eastern … or … I don’t know. I’ve never been good with languages.

“… Or the CIA?” asks Sarah, guessing again.

Ooh, I know what that stands for, and my guess is that she’s not referring to the Culinary Institute of America.

“Neither. Or both,” answers the sweaty man. “Look, the point is, if you and Harm get involved, … the status quo changes, … and … some people may not be interested in investing in JAG anymore.”

“JAG is a government organization. Its investors are the taxpayers,” states Sarah. She is still trying to figure this out. “… Do you work with a member of Congress?”

“No.”

She switches tactics. “… Why Webb?” she asks, getting back to the main issue. “What significance does he have to this?”

“I can’t say.”

She breathes out with frustration. “Of course not.”

There is a long pause.

“Do you love him?” the ape-man finally asks.

“Who? Webb?”

“Rabb. … Do you love him?”

“… I care about him,” she hedges. “… A lot.”

“But are you in love with him?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

I have to agree with her, even though I think she does love Mr. Rabb. It is creepy to have some stranger, … and you can’t get much stranger than a guy in a gorilla suit, … start prodding you about your love life.

He doesn’t answer her question, so she follows up with another. “What is it you want?”

Monkey-man shakes his head. “If you love him, it doesn’t really matter what I want.” His tone is that of disappointment, … or maybe just acceptance of the inevitable.

Sarah falters for a moment. “I don’t understand. How is my connection with Harm any business of yours? He and I have never had an inappropriate relationship together.”

“I didn’t say you did. I just want you to explore some other options … for awhile.”

“You want me to date Webb. Are you a friend of his?”

“Not particularly. This is business.”

“My personal life is business?” she asks incredulously.

“You’d be surprised,” is the answer.

She shakes her head in disapproval of the whole idea. “Are lives at stake?” she asks.

“No.”

“National security? The integrity of our government?”

The slew of questions is as good as a cross-examination, because she’s establishing her point and getting ready to dismiss him. “Are liberty and freedom somehow in jeopardy?”

“No.”

“Then why on Earth would I listen to you?”

“I can’t tell you. Except that, one way or another, things have to change at JAG. The powers that be would really like to keep both you and Rabb. And, frankly, I’ve got a special interest in keeping this team alive. … See, I was instrumental in bringing you on board in the first place.”

Her eyebrows furrow for a second, before she concludes, “So you do have connections with the CIA.”

Hmm. If the CIA was involved in getting her hired … or transferred … or whatever they call it in the military, I’m sure there is an interesting story there.

“I have connections, yes. But I’m not part of the Agency,” the man answers. “And I am not currently a member of the military either. I’m a business man, pure and simple. You have to trust me; … JAG, as you know it is going to be changing. So, I’m suggesting you give Webb a chance. Ask yourself what is most important.”

She shakes her head with resolve. “… I don’t know what game you’re playing, but unless you’re straight with me about who you are and what this is really about, … this conversation is over.” She begins to turn away.

“How do you feel about San Diego, Colonel?”

“What?” she asks, pivoting back around.

The man doesn’t say anything. He simply pulls his mask back on and plods away, leaving two very confused ladies behind him. I’m hoping that Sarah has at least a few more clues than I do. This is so bizarre.

“So, what was that about?” My favorite ‘captain’ has shown up.

“I have no idea,” says Sarah.

“Well, what did he say?” Harm asks. “I couldn’t hear anything, but it looked like there were some intense exchanges. You don’t look happy.”

I would say she looks more stunned than anything.

“He wants me to get involved with Clay. Romantically.”

Harm grimaces. “As a cover? I don’t think you should do any more missions with him …”

“No. For real.”

The grimace turns into annoyed astonishment, and if he didn’t have such a valid reason to be upset, I would find Harm’s agitated behavior to be very amusing.

“What, the guy’s hiring gorillas to woo you now?” he asks. “He’s more desperate than I thought.”

“No,” Sarah halts Harm’s line of thinking. “I don’t think this is completely Webb’s doing. The …”

She pauses, searching for the appropriate word, I think.

“… gorilla,” she decides on, “kept talking about this all being about business, and the ‘bigger picture,’ … and the future of JAG.”

“I’m missing something here.” Harm is looking baffled and concerned.

“Yeah, … me too,” she agrees. “We apparently don’t ‘need to know.’ … It sounds like it might be politics.”

“Could be,” he agrees. “There’s rarely much that makes sense when Capitol Hill is involved. He didn’t say who he was?”

“No, and I didn’t recognize him.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Harm scans Sarah’s face carefully. “… There’s something you’re not telling me.”

She looks up at him, caught, but questioning him just the same.

“Your lip still does that funny turn up thing,” he points out.

Aw, how cute! He knows her well enough to read her facial quirks.

Sarah averts her eyes and takes in a deep breath. “He seems most concerned that you and I don’t get involved. Not anytime soon, anyway.”

Harm’s face completely softens, and his gaze turns downwards. “Well, … I guess that’s not a problem then.”

He says it so dejectedly. What happened between these two?

She searches his eyes for a moment before looking away. With her own sense of grief, she concurs, “I guess not.” She is clearly disappointed.

Oh, Harm, follow up on this! Her words might sound dismissive, but her eyes are shouting that she hopes for things to be otherwise.

--

TBC ... (until tomorrow probably) I hope you enjoyed Part 2 at least half as much as some of you seemed to enjoy Part 1. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the first part actually made some people laugh out loud. :0)