Title: Something to Talk About

Author: Holly

Rating: Anyone

Prompt: Ann

From the episode “Good Intentions”: “It’s not the case I’m worried about. I’m worried about you.”~ Harm (Use it in a different contest).


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“Mac, you’re hurting my hand...What’s with you on this flight?” Harm asked as the plane continued to circle outside the city limits as they waited for their turn to land. When Harm and Mac traveled for the military they usually used military transport, but they had been booked on a commercial flight back from Italy this time.

Mac glanced down to where her trimmed nails were nearly breaking the skin on Harm’s arm, which was exposed by the short sleeves of his uniform. “I’m sorry...” she stammered quickly releasing him.

Harm reached over to take her hand gently in his hand. “Talk to me Mac. Why are you so uptight on this flight? Did something happen I should know about during our layover in Italy, before the call came in for us to take this flight?”

“No! Yes! No!”

“That clears that up,” Harm chuckled in spite of the concern he was feeling over Mac’s odd nervousness.

“I’m not uptight...and yes, I guess you could say something happened during the layover...or maybe it didn’t and everything is fine.”

“Mac....”

“Harm look...remember when I was holding some of our bags while you were making out the tickets?”

“Yes...and I made an extra one out.”

“Maybe...”

“Maybe?”

“Yes, you see, I’m not sure if I checked your case on the flight or if I lost it.”

“Mac, when did you start thinking about this?”

“When they announced that we would be in a holding pattern before we could land I started thinking about the things we still need to do before we get home. I suddenly couldn’t remember seeing your case tagged and loaded.”

“I’m sure its there.”

“Great, but I’m not!”

“Mac, I’m not worried about my case. It’s got my identification in it and its locked. If it’s in the airport, they’ll find it and send it along. I’m worried about you. I don’t remember seeing you this flustered before. Are you sure it’s not something else?” Harm pressed.

“Harm you know I don’t like it when our flight plan changes...and I am worried about your case. Did you forget that its where you put all our reports that are completed?”

“No. Mac, just remember I’m not flying, so you should be safe enough. If my case is lost, we’ll have a little more work to do redoing the report, but it only took us an hour the first time, so what’s an hour more if we have to redo it?”

“Thanks Harm.”

“No problem Mac...you know, this is one time that talking things out with you was a lot less painful then not talking.”

“Jerk!” Mac laughed just before the pilot came on to announce they were next in line for landing. “Does this mean I need to hurt you every time I want to talk something out?”

“I guess so Mac...hurting me is a lot better then letting me hurt you. I’ve done too much of that. Did I ever apologize?”

“Yeah, Sailor, you did. I of course informed you it was a sign of weakness.”

“ In other words I can’t win with you?”

“No...in other words, I need to rethink that saying. Apology accepted by the way.”

“Thank you. Remind me to show you my gratitude later...after we’ve landed, changed out of our uniforms and have some privacy.”

“I like the sound of that, Harm.”

The End