Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge September 2008 Superficial

HBX Challenge September 2008

They are not mine and all that stuff.

SUPERFICIAL


The bar was crowded, the two waitresses that worked that night were running their feet off and some fat guy with a bald head had his eyes fixed on one of them. She was a good looking girl and she was used to having creepy guys in the bar hit on her, like all other times she put the beer down and slapped his hand away.

On a table at the far end of the bar four men sat with their beers, laughing and having a good time. They were all clean, handsome, well-trained men with their hair cut military style. The reason for their haircut was that they were in fact military men. Two of them still flew jets from hangar ships, one of them had been grounded a few years earlier because of a minor lung condition and was now stationed on land; the fourth still kept up his qualification to fly jets, but spent most of his time on dry land as a military lawyer.

Harm nodded a thank you to the waitress that came with the second round of beer that night. He put some extra money on the table for her and she smiled thankfully to him before walking away.

“You are to damn polite Harm.” Jack Keeter, a military pilot who spent most of his time flying secret missions for the CIA, laughed loudly and slapped Harm's shoulder.

“That's how Rabb is Keeter; always ready to help and especially a damsel in distress.” Hugh Johnson, one of Harm's good friends during flight school, joined in on the laughing.

Harm only shook his head, used to the guys teasing him about his good manners.

Daryl Scott, another good friend from flight school, raised his glass. “Let's drink guys, remember we are here to celebrate my divorce.”

“That's right buddy, you are now in the gang of single middle aged men.” Keeter raised his glass as well. “Good for you Daryl.”

“Don't I know it.” Daryl laughed with relief. “Now I can do whatever I want.”

“You couldn't when you were married?” Harm asked.

Hugh snorted and cut in. “Are you kidding buddy, marriage is prison. You know that, you're married.” He said and shook his head. “I'm telling you guys, marriage is prison.” He emphasized the second 'marriage is prison'.

Daryl nodded in agreement. “First of all you get the 'I'm mad at you for having a social life, because I want you to stay home with me all the time' look every time you mention going out for a drink with a buddy, then the sex stops and let me tell you that before the sex stops the shaving stops.”

Keeter laughed loudly again. “I'm so glad I didn't go into that trap. I can have sex with whom ever I want, when ever I want. Let me tell you guys about the hot brunette I hooked up with last night..”

“Please don't.” Harm interrupted before Keeter could give them any glory details.

“I want to hear it.” Hugh argued.

“She was something else, I can tell you that. Three times she woke me up wanting more, I'm actually pretty exhausted.” Keeter put his hands in the air as if he just won a big game. “Let me tell you that I scored big time.”

“I'm sure you did buddy.” Harm couldn't help but laugh by his friend's attitude towards life. “But marriage is not bad, it's actually pretty great. I have been married for five years, we have two kids and I have very few complaints.”

“You don't care that she's fat and doesn't shave and the lack of sex?” Daryl wasn't convinced.

“First of all she's not fat, she does shave and not that it's any of your business the sex is great. I've made a commitment to someone for the rest of my life and that's what I'm sticking too.” Harm smiled at the thought of his very beautiful wife.

“Don't make a promise you can't keep buddy.” Daryl said.

Harm smiled widely. “I never have yet.”

Hugh nodded in agreement. “Harm is right, Beth and I have fifteen years behind us and three kids. She has stuck by me even though I've been away most of our marriage; marriage is a prison, but it's a good prison most of the time.”

“Well, I'm done with prison. From here on and out I'm getting laid.” Daryl pointed towards a woman who had just entered the bar. “I want that one.”

Keeter was about to say something, but Harm gave him a wink with his eyes to shut him down. “No way, she's totally out of your league.” He directed towards Daryl.

“You don't think I could get her? Well, I bet that you can't either.” He leaned towards Harm with a competitive glare in his eyes.

“I'll take that bet.” Harm stood. “I'll bet you the whole bill for tonight.”

Daryl nodded excitedly. “I'll take that bet.”

Harm walked away from the group and in the direction of the woman Daryl had pointed to. He gave her a sexy smile before fusing his mouth to hers and kissing her deeply.

“That was quite the greeting.” The woman smiled and put her forehead against his. “Did you miss me that much.

Harm kissed her lightly. “I miss you whenever you are not around Mac.”

She laughed softly. “You are such a charmer Harm, I think I'll let you take me home tonight.”

“I'm counting on it.” He kissed her again before releasing her. “I didn't think you would show up, it was getting late.”

“Jennifer had a flat tire, she was late because she had to fix it. But she's home with the kid's now, trying to make Matthew go to bed. They were around the eight 'please aunty Jenn, five more minutes' when I left.”

“That's my boy, not backing down without a fight.” He tugged her hand. “Let's go say hi to the guys.

“Okay.” Mac followed him back to the table.
“Sarah Mackenzie, come here and give me a big hug.” Keeter stood to greet her. “You look beautiful as always.”

Mac smiled and hugged him. “Hey Keeter, good to see you.”

Keeter released her and turned to the guys. “Can you believe I spent two days in the Iranian desert with this woman and she ended up married to my best friend. I don't know what I did wrong.”

Harm laughed. “Guys, this is Lt Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. Mac, this is Commander Daryl Scott and Commander Hugh Johnson.”

Hugh rose. “It's nice to meet you Colonel.” He shook her hand. “Are you sure you want to sit with us, it can get very disturbing.”

Mac laughed. “Probably not more disturbing than sitting with Keeter in the Iranian desert listening to stories about his sexual encounters.”

“And you wonder why she married Harm and not you.” Daryl stood. “Nice to meet you Colonel.”

“Nice to meet you too Commander.” Mac shook his hand.

Harm offered his seat to Mac and found a chair from an other table to sit on. “You want your usual Mac?” Harm made a movement towards the waitress and she came to them within seconds.

Mac nodded. “Sure.”

“Three beers, one soda with a twist and bring me a coffee.” He put some money on the table.

“Coffee Harm?” Daryl questioned.

Harm nodded. “I've had enough to drink for one night.”

Mac smiled and reached for his hand. “So what are you guys up to tonight?”

Daryl smiled widely. “We are celebrating my divorce.”

“Really?” Mac didn't try to hide her amusement.

Harm chuckled. “Yeah, apparently marriage is prison.”

“Harm and Huge are trying to convince us otherwise.” Keeter leaned close to Mac. “I would have given up my bachelor style for you sweet thing, but now I'm single forever.”

Mac laughed. “You couldn't have handled me Jack.”

Keeter leaned back and nodded. “I know, but who can really handle any marine?”

They all laughed and Harm kissed Mac's hand.


Two hours later Mac and Harm walked in the door of their home and found Jennifer Coates asleep on their couch. Mac went over to her and touched her shoulder. “Why don't you go sleep in the guest room Jenn.”

Jennifer stretched and sat up. “I'll take you up on that offer ma'am.”

“Thanks for watching the kids Jenn. Did everything go okay?” Harm asked.

“No problem Sir, everything went fine. Matthew didn't want to go to bed, but he went to sleep eventually.” She yawned again and stood. “I'll go to bed now.”

They said good night and Mac and Harm secured the house for the night and turned off lights before walking upstairs. They looked in on the children before they went to their own bedroom.

Mac started undressing and Harm stood by the door watching her. He was a lucky man to be married to such a beautiful woman; her long slender legs, the flat muscular stomach. He focused on her face; her mouth and especially her eyes. She was a true work of art from nature, but hours at the gym kept her body to good to be true. Her body wasn't what made her so attractive to him though, it was the way she talked and the way she laughed, the way she yelled when she was mad, her stubbornness and her commitment to her friends and family.

“Are you going to stand there all night?” She stood in her underwear with her hands on her hip, with a smile on her face.

“Just enjoying the view.” He looked her up and down before his eyes landed on her eyes. “I'm a lucky man.”

“I'm the lucky one.” She walked towards him.

He put his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest. “I don't want to seem superficial by saying this, but I like that you still shave and that you are in just as great shape now as the day we got married.”

She laughed softly. “Okay, and why would I get fat and stop shaving?”

He kissed her head. “You know what they say; if you want a woman to get fat and stop shaving, marry her.”

Mac laughed. “Who says that?”

Harm leaned back so that he could look at her. “The guys.”

“Ah, them.” She rolled her eyes and pulled away from his arms. “ I don't shave.” She stated before opening her closet and pulling out a shorts and a t-shirt. “I wax.” She smiled and dropped her bra on the floor, slipping the shirt over her head and pulling on the shorts. “And I wont stop doing it or get fat, but I will not start sleeping in sexy lingerie, I like my shorts and t-shirt.”

Harm chuckled. “You only wear sexy lingerie to bed on special occasions and even then they don't stay on for long.” He took a quick step towards her, lifted her up and threw her on the bed. “But the shorts and t-shirt doesn't stay on for long either, so it doesn't matter to me what you wear.” He lay down on top of her.

She quickly flipped him over and sat across his stomach. “I have to admit that I'm very superficial.”

He put his arms behind his head and looked into her eyes. “What do you mean?”

She put a finger on his chest and traced a pattern down to his stomach. “I like my men fit.”

He smiled. “So if I get fat you wont find me attractive any more?”

“I wont let you get fat.” She leaned down and touched her mouth to his softly before sitting up straight again.

“You are extremely beautiful baby, but I will still love you thirty years from now when we are old and wrinkled. You'll still be beautiful then and I will still find you extremely attractive.” He moved his arms from the back of his head and put them on her hips.

“That goes both ways.” She put her hands over his where they were resting on her hips. “And you know why we'll still be happy thirty years from now?”

“Because we didn't marry each other because we wanted a partner that looked good, but because we knew that we would still want to be together even when the wrinkles comes sneaking.” He smiled widely when he said the last part.

She smiled back. “That's right. It turns out that we are not that superficial at all.”

He ran a hand up her arm, to her face and cupped her cheek. “You are my best friend you know.”

She kissed the back of his hand. “I know, you are my best friend too.”

They both looked up when the door to their room opened. “Mommy, daddy are you home?” Four year old Matthew stepped inside while rubbing his tired eyes followed by his two year old sister Jennie.

Mac got up from the bed and walked over to them. “Hey, what are you two doing up?” She lifted Jennie into her arms and kissed her head.

I heard Jennie calling you and I found her in the hall, so I brought her here.” Matthew yawned.

Harm had gotten up from the bed and he picked up Matthew from the floor. “Let's get you two back into bed.”

Matthew shook his head. “I want to sleep here with you in the big bed.”

Mac smiled. “Okay, let's all go to bed then.” She went over to the bed and held Jennie with one arm while she pulled the sheets down with the other and put her daughter down in the middle of the bed. Ever since Jennie had started sleeping in a regular bed instead of the crib, she would come sneaking into their room in the middle of the night. The previous night Matthew had found out about it and now he wanted to sleep in his parent's bed too.

Harm put their son down beside Jennie and pulled the sheet over them. “I'm going to get ready for bed.” He went to the bathroom and Mac followed him. They brushed their teeth and Harm put on a t-shirt and a shorts before they crawled into bed with the children.

Harm reached over the children and found Mac's hand. “Do you think we'll ever get to have this bed to ourselves again?”

Mac laughed softly. “Probably in a couple of years.”

Harm got out of bed and walked around the bed and crawled in on Mac's side. “I'm sleeping on your side, with you.” He tried to wiggle a little to get more room. “I'm glad we have a king-size bed.”

Mac snuggled close to him. “I love you.”

He kissed her head. “I love you too.”