Through The Eye Of A Shipper

S10 E04 A Whole New Ballgame

 
Rating – GS

Paring – Harm & Mac

Spoilers – Season 10 Episode 04 - ‘A Whole New Ballgame’

Disclaimer – JAG belongs to DPB, CBS, and Paramount.

Summary- How ‘A Whole New Ballgame’ should’ve been continued when you saw it through the eye of a shipper…

Author’s Notes-

1. Our plan is it to revisit every episode from season 10. However, this series doesn’t have a strict rule. Sometimes it may be a follow-up, sometimes it could be a changed scene, or even a change to the entire episode. And if that doesn’t work we could always do a ‘missing scene’-story. This means the length of the story is based on the way we want to ‘handle’ the revisit. But don’t worry…we plan to use more then 150 words!!!

2. Our beta readers for this one were the Treasure Seekers Island. Special thanks to Vered, Acer, and our Sparky. You guys rock!!! – Carol & Michi

3. Since this series will deal with a just aired episode, it means that we risk having a FF that might seem like someone else’s. There’s hope that our ideas are unique, but should that not be the case we apologize and swear to our god and the chocolate that we did not know it or do it on purpose.

4. Feedback is always welcome.

JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
8:17 PM

"Thanks for the little detour, Mac," Harm said with a smile as they made their way from the elevator to Harm’s office.

"Little detour, huh? You’re calling a drive from Andrews to your apartment with a stop here a little detour?" Mac asked with a laugh while they stepped into Harm’s office. "Think again, Harm."

They had just returned from their investigation on the USS Hennessey. Shortly before they’d landed in Andrews Harm remembered that he had forgotten a file in his office, a file that he needed to finish by Monday. Since he needed to work on the case this weekend, he asked Mac if they could take a ride to HQ before Mac drove him home. Before they left for the Hennessey they had left her car at Andrews.

"Okay, maybe it wasn’t exactly a little detour," Harm commented as he sat down in his chair and turned on the desk lamp. He started to search for the file in his desk drawer and finally found it. "It wasn’t that bad now was it? Think of it this way, you were able to spend more time with me," he continued with a grin. He intertwined his fingers and leaned forward a little bit, propped up on his elbows. He looked deeply into her eyes and waited for her response.

Mac saw his move and made one of her own. She stood right in front of his desk and laid her hands on it. Then she leaned forward as well, so she was finally eye-to-eye with him. "No, it wasn’t bad at all," Mac answered gently. "But if it wasn’t for this stop, by now I could actually be lying in my bathtub taking one heavenly bubble bath."

"Oh, now that’s a huge sacrifice you made. How can I make it better for you, Ms. MacKenzie?" Harm asked quietly with a raised eyebrow and tried to get even nearer to Mac. However, since he sat behind his desk it wasn’t possible. But it wasn’t really necessary anyway, since Mac was already so near that he could feel her breath on his face.

"Hmmm, I don’t know. I think a home cooked meal from you sounds like a nice start." Mac’s eyes were dancing while she waited hopefully for Harm’s answer.

"A home cooked dinner? And here I thought you would look for something like a foot rub or backrub." Harm smirked. "Guess dinner it is then. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight, Sarah MacKenzie?"

"I would…," Mac started to respond before a cough behind her made her stop and turn around in one swift motion. She now stood face-to-face with an old acquaintance. "Sir." Mac quickly stood at attention in front of one of her greatest worries without showing her surprise by seeing him there.

"Colonel MacKenzie," Major General Gordon Cresswell responded before his look settled on Harm, who now stood at attention. "Commander Rabb I assume. I saw the light and figured that I wasn’t the only one this late in the office."

"Yes, Sir." Harm answered. "We just returned from an investigation on the USS Hennessey and I needed a case file in order to work on it this weekend. Oh, and congratulations, Sir." Harm was just as surprised as Mac seeing Cresswell there, but didn’t show it either.

"Yes. Congratulations, Sir," Mac repeated Harm’s word. She felt a little unsettled and perplexed at the moment. Back on the Hennessey they thought Cresswell wouldn’t be their new CO, and now he stood in front of them, obviously as their new CO. Also she couldn’t read Cresswell’s reaction and didn’t know how much he had heard of her flirting banter with Harm from earlier.

"Thank you. Well I’ve had a long day and will call it a night now. Colonel, Commander, I’ll see you on Monday. Goodnight." And with that he made his way out of Harm’s office and walked through the bullpen to the elevators.

"Goodnight, Sir," both responded.

"Now that went well," Mac muttered quietly. "And it looks like he’s our new CO after all."

"Yeah, it looks like. But Mac, stop worrying, okay? Like I said on the Hennessey. You’ve changed a lot since Okinawa and maybe he has, too." Harm felt that Mac was unsettled now and he wanted to change that. He was sure there was no reason for her to be worried, but he also knew that it wasn’t easy for him to make Mac believe that. Instead of focusing on the problem at hand he decided to change the topic.

"So, since we got interrupted earlier I have to repeat myself." Harm made a step forward and now stood in front of Mac. He took her hand into his. "Sarah MacKenzie, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

"I would love to," Mac said softly and smiled.

"Very good. I think I have enough ingredients at home for a mean pasta and salad." Harm squeezed her hand before he let go of her and took the file from his desk. "Come on, let’s get out of here." He turned off the lamp on his desk before they made their way to the elevator. "You have some civilian clothes in your car?"

"Sure, why?"

"Good. If you want you can take a shower while I’m working on our dinner. It’s no bubble bath, but it should do the trick," Harm said gently while the elevator finally arrived.

"That would be great, thank you," Mac answered as they got into the elevator.

"You’re welcome."


Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
9:03 PM


It was already late when they got to his apartment, and Harm could see how tired Mac was. On the way to his apartment he’d asked her if she wanted to have a rain check since she looked so tired, but Mac assured him she was okay and didn’t want or need a rain check. He had to admit her answer made him happy.

"Here we are," Harm said as he opened the door and turned on the lights. "Why don’t you go shower and change while I start dinner? You can find some fresh towels in the bathroom’s cabinet."

"Don’t you want to freshen up first?"

"Nah, maybe I will take a quick shower while you’re making the salad?"

"Okay, it’s a deal," Mac said before she made her way to Harm’s bathroom.

Harm was right when he’d asked her about being tired. She was very tired between the investigation and worrying about their new CO that she barely got any sleep. She was glad that she had finally found some good-night-sleep after all the problems in the past few months. But now it seemed like the restless nights were back again.

It didn’t matter though. She was so excited about being together with him tonight that, when he had offered her a rain check, she couldn’t say yes to it. She just hoped the shower and some good food would wake her up. And most of all she hoped that being with Harm would make her forget about everything. No, she didn’t hope. She knew being with Harm would do that to her.

While she started to get undress in the bathroom she could hear Harm in the background. He was in the kitchen and clattered with some pots. But there was another sound she could hear coming from him. It was a sound that brought a sweet smile on her face. He whistled and sounded plain and simple happy.

As soon as the hot water hit her body she felt relaxed. Harm was right when he’d said it wouldn’t be like a bubble bath, but it for sure did the trick. Mac closed her eyes and enjoyed the little massage that the jet of water gave to her back.


Meanwhile in the kitchen


Harm couldn’t get the silly grin from his face and he didn’t really want to anyway. It felt so good to have this once lost connection with Mac again. It was like his missing part was back to where it belonged. He just had to find a way to have it back for good. And he knew there was only one way to make sure of it. And he would make sure of it. Sooner or later he would.

When Mac told him on the Hennessey that she feared their new CO could maybe transfer her to another billet and separate them, he didn’t know how to react. He wasn’t sure if she feared to be separated from him work wise, or if she even feared to lose their connection completely. If the second point was the case, then Harm knew what he had to do.

A curse from Mac out of his bedroom brought Harm out of his deep thoughts. He’d been so lost in them that he hadn’t heard the shower being turned off. Harm looked up at the bedroom entry. "Mac? Is everything okay?" He asked a little bit worried, but didn’t get an answer. "Mac?" Harm dropped the knife he was holding in his hand and started to make his way to his bedroom before a sight in front of him made him stop dead in his track.

‘I didn’t hit my head recently, did I?’ was the only thought Harm could come up with.

Right in front of him and clad in only one of his blue towels stood Mac. Some water drops were running down her neck and rib cage before they disappeared under the towel. She looked drop-dead-gorgeous. Harm gulped and told himself to breathe again.

"Harm?" Mac’s voice brought him back to the present and it sounded like she’d tried to get his attention for a while now.

"Yeah?"

"This is really embarrassing, but you don’t have by chance some boxer shorts I could borrow? Somehow I forgot my undies." Mac blushed. She’d been sure that her bag was fully packed but obviously she’d forgotten the undergarments. The suitcase she’d used for the time on the Hennessey still had panties in them, but since it was still in the truck of her car she couldn’t get them without running down wearing only Harm’s towel. And that was not an option.

"Of course. I think I have a pair you can use," Harm answered softly. He walked into his bedroom but couldn’t resist and turned around with a smirk. "You’re sure you don’t want to go commando?"

"Jerk," was the short answer he got from Mac and both laughed. "Besides where’s the fun going commando when you’re wearing shorts anyway?" She continued and had to laugh even more when she looked at Harm’s shocked look.

"Here, this pair should fit you. They’re too tight for me anyway," Harm said with a smile as he gave Mac a pair of colored boxer shorts.

Mac couldn’t stop the giggles when she looked closer at the cloth in her hand. "Speedy? Harm, you have ‘Speedy Gonzales’-boxer shorts? Who knew you liked to wear something like that. It’s kinda cute." She couldn’t hold back anymore and had to laugh.

"Very funny, Marine. Just so you’ll know, these are a birthday gift from our dear godson AJ. I couldn’t tell him that it’s not really my style now, could I?" Harm tried to be serious, but Mac’s laugh was just too infectious and he laughed as well.

"No, of course not. Too bad they’re too tight for you. I bet they would suit you."

"Go change, MacKenzie!" Harm tried to sound commanding, but failed due their laughter.

"Aye, aye, Sir!" Mac walked back into the bathroom while Harm made his way back to the kitchen to check on the boiling pasta.


10:15 PM

"It’s really coming down," Mac said as she stood by the window in Harm’s living room.

Harm moved behind her. "It is."

"I should get going before it gets worse."

Mac turned around but Harm caught her shoulder. "I don’t think that is a good idea, Mac. You’re tired and it’s raining. Plus it’s likely to get worse sooner then you think. Just wait it out, please." Harm was worried and didn’t want her to drive through this kind of weather, and for sure not while she was so tired. They’d enjoyed their dinner before they spent the rest of the evening on Harm’s couch, drinking coffee and talking about things like Harriet’s pregnancy, Little AJ and Jimmy. Most of the conversation was spent discussing the problems between Sturgis and Harm.

She went to open her mouth as a loud clap of thunder shook the apartment. She looked over her shoulder as a shock of lightning lighted up the sky. She looked back at Harm. "I guess you’re right."

"I have a tendency to do that every now and then." Harm smirked and ran his hand down Mac’s arm and into her hand. "What do you think about a nice foot rub?"

"Sounds heavenly," Mac said as Harm lead them back to the couch.

Mac groaned and laid back on the couch while Harm sat down at the other end and took her feet into his lap. He started to gently massage her right foot. "Mac?" Harm broke the growing silence between them. So far they hadn’t talked about her comment on the Hennessey, but he at least wanted to try it.

"Hmmm."

"You do know that he never could separate us, right? That, if Cresswell really would transfer you to another billet, we would still be together and not separated?" Harm asked softly and looked at Mac.

"I know," Mac responded gently. "But I would miss working with you and the energy between us."

"Yeah, I would miss it too. That means we have to use all the energy we’ve normally spent while working against each other in court for things we’ll be doing together after work. There are a few activities where you need a lot of energy for," Harm smirked with a raised eyebrow.

The first answer he got was a teasing move from Mac’s left foot in his lap, which signaled to him that she understood very well the meaning of his statement. "Yeah, I think you are right about that."

"Do you think Farrow will hear about our new CO?" Harm asked interested.

"We are still in contact and talk via phone sometimes. He heard about AJ’s retirement and called me because of it. I promised to tell him about our new CO as soon I would find out."

"Well, since he’d heard about AJ’s retirement I’m sure he will hear the news about Cresswell as well. How’s he anyway?" Harm wanted to know. He first felt a little bit jealous when he heard about the still existing contact between Farrow and Mac, but it was gone just as fast as it came up. He knew that John Farrow had a special place in her heart, just like Diane would always have a special place in his heart.

"He retired and moved to Colorado. He built a cabin in the woods and conducts guiding river rafting tours. It was always John’s dream to do something like that one day," Mac told Harm before she closed her eyes and relished the foot rub Harm was still giving her.

"You’re kidding, right?" Harm rumbled. That couldn’t happen, could it? He thought the scene with the blue towel was weird, but this took the cake. Mac just told him that John was doing exactly what he had done in Harm’s vision while the JAG crew had celebrated Coates promotion at the Chinese restaurant. That felt beyond weird and Harm couldn’t hold back and had to ask the most important question for him right now. "What about you? Could you do something like that? Retire and go to Colorado to live in a cabin in the woods?"

"No, I’m more the civilization kind of type. I do need people around me. I think it would simply drive me nuts. And I want my children to have friends in the neighborhood. John’s cabin is far away from the next civilization," Mac explained quietly.

"I’m glad to hear that," Harm responded before he let go of Mac’s right foot and started to massage her left one. A new silence started to build between them.

The next 20 minutes were spent with Harm kneading Mac’s left foot. "How does this feel?" Harm asked softly and looked at Mac. He had to smile when he saw that she was asleep. He couldn’t stop looking at her and continued to slightly massage her foot.

Finally he thought it was time for them to call it a night. It was nearly midnight and it was still raining outside. That’s why he didn’t want Mac to drive home and decided to carry her to his bedroom so she could spend the night.

He was glad that she didn’t wake up on their way to his bedroom. However, as soon as her head hit his pillow she opened her eyes slowly and looked sleepy at him. "Hi," she said quietly as she discerned her surroundings.

"Hi," Harm responded gently. "I think you shouldn’t drive home this late while you’re more asleep then awake. Besides, the rain hasn’t stop yet. So why don’t I get you something to sleep in and you get changed before you try to fall asleep again," he continued when he saw her questioning look.

"Okay, maybe you are right. But perhaps I should take the couch," Mac said unsure and started to get out of his bed.

"Do you really think that’s necessary, Mac?" Harm asked gently while he was getting a T-shirt for her to sleep in out of his drawer.

"No, I don’t think it is necessary." Mac smiled at Harm and took the shirt out of his hands. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome. There’s a new toothbrush in the cabinet for you to use."

"Okay," she said and turned around to walk into the bathroom so she could get changed.

Harm started to get undress himself. He decided to sleep as usual in his boxer shorts and in one of his undershirts.

"The bathroom is all yours," Mac said when she came out of the bathroom a few minutes later. "Umm, is there a side of your bed you prefer to sleep in?"

"No, not really. You can choose," Harm answered and made his way to the bathroom. "Be right back."

Mac was already settled when Harm finally came back again. She’d chosen the left side of his bed and was lying on her right side. She looked out of the window and her expression was as if she was deeply in thoughts.

"Are you comfortable, Mac?" Harm asked as his head finally hit the pillow.

"No, not yet," Mac whispered.

Her statement made Harm turn on his side so he could look at her. She still was facing the window.

"Are you okay? Is there something you need?" He wanted to know.

Mac didn’t answer him and simply held her hand out for him. Harm understood and moved a little bit forward so he was lying right behind her and could put his hand into hers.

The moment Mac felt his warm hand in hers, she intertwined their fingers and drew their joined hands to her so they could lay right next to her head. She kissed his knuckles before she turned her head so she could look deeply into his eyes and smiled. "Now I’m comfortable. Thank you," Mac whispered. "Goodnight, Harm."

Harm bent his head down a little bit while Mac tried to get her head even nearer to his. "Goodnight, Sarah," Harm softly responded before their lips met for a sweet kiss.

Soon both fell asleep; Harm spooned against Mac and with their legs and hands intertwined. They were together and not even separated in their sleep.


The End

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