Title: Flying Away 2: Shore
Leave
Author: Anne Taul, anne_taul@gowebway.com
Summary: Part 2 of the Flying
Away series.
Disclaimer: JAG, its characters, premise, etc, are the sole and exclusive
property of CBS, Paramount and
Bellasarius productions. No
profit is being made or sought from this purely recreational endeavor. No
infringement of copyright is intended.
Sarah MacKenzie stretched her arms over her head, and moved to shift her weight
in the airplane seat. This wasn't the most comfortable flight she'd ever made,
but she was beginning to feel a little better in her new position. It would
still be another hour and a half before the plane would land in FIJI. The
thought of a tropical vacation and a rendezvous with her former partner were
starting to sound exciting.
Yes, Harm had a week's leave from his duty on the USS Carmudgeon, and had asked
her if she'd meet him on the South Pacific island.
The last time she had seen Harm was six weeks after he had left JAG. He had a
leave in Washington for a few days before reporting to this assignment aboard
the Carmudgeon. Things had not been good between them. Their once close
friendship had deteriorated badly. The night before he left, they had vowed to
try to salvage what remained of their relationship. She didn't want to lose her
best friend any more than Harm did. It was by citing this trip as a chance to
spend time together and nurture their friendship that Harm had gotten her to
agree to come. So far, she was glad she had.
Harm hadn't contacted her at all during the time he was first away from JAG,
precipitating the collapse of their relationship. When she had agreed to make
the effort to rebuild the friendship, he had promised to stay in touch. And
.... He had been as good as his word. In the two months he had been gone, she
had received 6 letters. Most of them were 7 or 8 pages long and full of
detailed descriptions of everything and everyone on the ship. All of his
activities and feelings were recorded there. It made her feel close to him,
as she read them over and over again. She was sure that she could find her way
around the ship and recognize all of its crew just from the insight she had
gained from these letters. There had also been regular phone calls. At least
once a week she heard his voice. That also helped. Since Harm was making such a
noticeable effort to regain their past status, she felt that she needed to make
this trip to see him.
And then there was the thing that she tried not to think about. The night
before he left, when he had come to convince her to give their friendship a
chance, he had kissed her. It hadn't meant anything, they hadn't even mentioned
it since, but it haunted her. The sensation of his lips on hers was still fresh
in her mind.
She couldn't stop herself from thinking about that kiss. She couldn't resist
this temptation to see him again, to figure out what that kiss really meant.
All of this played through her mind, yet she knew that Harm's new found
attentiveness was really due to his personal challenge to win back their
friendship. He was proving that he could do that. For him, she was sure, all of
this was like a competition and Harm was definitely very competitive. As much
as she enjoyed being in contact with him, she feared that his actions were not
so much about being close to her, as they were about achieving this goal he had
set. Part of her still couldn't trust his commitment to the actual friendship.
No, things still weren't as they had been before, before when they had been
partners at JAG.
THE DAY BEFORE
USS CARMUDGEON
Two tall men, clad in flight suits, strode along the deck. "So, Harm, are
you going to tell her how you feel?"
"What are you talking about, Murray?"
"Your lady, the one you're on your way to see, are you going to tell her
that you are in love with her?"
"Murray, what makes you think that I am in love with her?"
"C'mon, Buddy, it's written all over your face."
"You're crazy."
Commander Murray smiled at his friend and fellow pilot, Lt. Commander Harmon
Rabb. "We'll see."
Harm considered it in passing, but he couldn't take a suggestion like that too
seriously. After all, this was Mac
FIJI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Mac saw him immediately when she got off the plane. She ran to him, and he
enveloped her in a big bear hug.
They quickly untangled themselves and headed for baggage claim.
"When did you get here?" she asked.
He explained that he had gotten a chopper off the ship yesterday and arrived
here last night. While he was waiting for her, he had rented a car, and leased
a beach house for the week.
"What's wrong with a hotel?" she inquired.
A buddy of mine on the ship told me that it was more fun and relaxing to stay
in a cottage. And I was able to get a good deal. It joins on to the main beach,
but also has a private beach."
He had also stocked up on a few supplies and gotten information about some of
the attractions they might like to see. Everything was ready for their vacation.v
"Mac, I'm really glad that you decided to come. This time together will
really help us to get to know each other again."
"I think so too." She responded.
Things were already going well.v
The house was lovely. It had a large living room and large kitchen as well as
three good sized bedrooms and two bathrooms. The beachfront view was gorgeous
and there was a private swimming pool in the back, enclosed by a fence.
Mac had to compliment Harm on his choice. This was an absolutely perfect place
for a relaxing vacation.
Harm helped her unpack, then insisted that she get some rest (jetlag can ruin a
good time) before they planned their sightseeing ventures.
She was happy to oblige.
A couple of hours later when she emerged from her room, Harm was bent over a
map, plotting a course.
She sat down next to him, and he excitedly began telling her about all the
things they could see and do. He presented several options for tomorrow's
activities.
"Whoa, there!" she stopped him. "Harm, we have several days, we can
probably do everything on your list."
"Okay. Mac, I just want this to be perfect for us. It should be a great
vacation."
"It will be. Why are you so nervous about it?"
"I feel like our friendship depends on it."
"Harm, this trip can help us reestablish our friendship, but everything
doesn't have to depend on it. Let's try to relax and just see what
happens."
"Tell me that I've redeemed myself. Do you trust me completely again, like
you used to when we worked together?"
"I feel better about things, but we're not back to normal yet."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid that once you win back my trust, that you'll quit trying.
Maybe I won't hear from you again."
"No, Mac, I promise, I'll ....."
"Harm, things may work out fine. We may be closer than ever, but we should
work on it a little first."
"Yes, Ma'am." He answered.
"I'm starved. Where is there a good place to eat?"
"There are several places back in town that we can try. It is
dinnertime."
"Good," she agreed, "let's go."
LATER
MANNY'S EATS AND TREATS
"This place looks like a dump." Mac observed, "but the burgers
are really good." To punctuate her comment, she shoved another french fry
into her mouth.
"Yeah, it's not bad." Harm agreed, munching on his salad.
After a few more bites, Mac excused herself and headed to the ladies' room. Two
teenage boys stood up to block her way.
She politely asked them to move aside, but they started taunting her with
sexual inuendos. One came very close to her face and puckered his lips. She
merely pushed him out of her way.
It wasn't until the second young man reached out and actually touched her that
Harm sprang into action. He was across the room in an instant. His hands closed
around the boy's collar ad sent him sprawling into the wall.
Harm dropped enough money onto the counter to more than pay for their meals,
then escorted Mac quickly out the door to the parking lot.
"Mac, are you okay?"
"Yeah, of course. They were just kids playing around, Harm. You shouldn't
have gotten so rough."
"He shouldn't have touched you."
"No, he shouldn't have, but teenage boys do a lot of stupid things.
Besides, if he had gotten out of line, I could have handled it."
"I know you could have, but you shouldn't have to."
She was touched by his concern, so she didn't offer any objection when he
casually dropped an arm around her waist.
They got into the car, and she looked at him with a smile, "Thank
you."
"Aw, shucks, it was nothing, Ma'am." He teased, with an accent.
Back at the house, he watched her moving around from one task to the next. He
couldn't help but wonder if Murray, his wingman had been right.
Could he be in love with her? He had certainly felt protective tonight when
those punks came on to her.
They sat up late talking, mostly about memories from their past exploits. They
laughed over many of the strange things that had happened on the cases they had
worked on together.
When they finally turned in, Harm was reluctant to see the evening end. He
wasn't sure why, but he felt a little lonely in his room by himself. It was
good to talk to Mac, to laugh with her.
Mac slept very soundly. It was perhaps the best night's sleep she had had in
ages. Her sleep was eventually disturbed by Harm. She knew that she was still
not awake, but he was there. In her mind, she thought that this really wasn't
so unusual. Harm was often in her dreams. She knew that he didn't belong there,
but he appeared many nights.
The never fail internal clock registered that it was only about 0500, but
Harm's voice was speaking to her. His hand touched her shoulder. In the
haziness of sleep, she expected him to lie down beside her. But he didn't. She
slowly drifted into consciousness, only to find that Harm was there, but it
wasn't a dream.
"Wake up, Mac," he encouraged, "You've got to see this."
"Harm, it's too early to get up, what are you doing?"
"Come on. I've heard that this island has the most beautiful sunrise in
the world. Let's go see it."
She couldn't believe that, of all people, Harmon Rabb was up for the sunrise.
But, if he could do it, she could too. She climbed out of bed, shooting him a
puzzled glance.
"Get dressed, Mac!" he pushed her.
She grabbed her clothes from the bureau, and began tugging at her nightshirt.
Harm just stood, impatiently waiting.
Mac cleared her throat, "Would you at least turn around while I
dress?"
"Oh" he replied, as if the thought had never occurred to him.
Harm turned his back, but was, for a reason he couldn't identify, plagued by
thoughts of her dressing so near him. He could imagine her stripping off her
night clothing and carefully donning each item. Why? He quickly dismissed these
thoughts.
When she was finally ready, they walked out to the strip of private beach
outside their villa.
The scene that greeted them was absolutely spectacular. Rose and lavender hues
blanketed the horizon. Brilliant orange streaks reached toward the zenith. It
was breathtaking. Surely there was no way that any person with emotions could
not be moved by this spectacle.
They stood in silenced, taking it in. Mac moved a little closer to Harm,
feeling that they were both a part of something much greater than themselves.
Harm's response was to hold her hand loosely in his own larger one. The
symphony of nature played a musical interlude in the air, but they were quiet.
When the sun had finished its show and begun to climb into the morning sky,
they started walking, absently down the beach. Their conversation was in soft
whispers, but they said much.
Harm listened to his friend and former partner as he'd never listened to her
before. What he learned surprised him. He had never had even an inkling of how
much being his friend and working with him had helped her define herself during
the past few years. He hadn't considered that his leaving JAG had left her
feeling empty and incomplete. Actually, he really knew that she was much
stronger than that, but he was glad that she was finally talking to him about
the emotional scars that had effected their friendship.
Mac, on the other hand, had no idea how torn Harm had been about leaving, both
JAG and his friends. She didn't know that he was experiencing major extremes of
mood. Flying gave him a high unlike anything else he really loved it. But
when he came back in to land on the ship, he rebounded into missing other parts
of his life, including her.
They continued to hold hands as they walked and talked for hours. The sun was
high in the noonday sky by the time they headed back to the beach house.
After a quick lunch together, Harm announced that he was going into town to pick
up a few things he had promised to bring back for his ship mates. He wanted it
understood between them, though, that they would continue the revealing
conversation that evening.
While he was away, Mac planned to check out the pool and/ or the beach.
TWO HOURS LATER
Harm had taken his time in town, so now he was anticipating continuing the
relationship-building process with his former partner. He had picked up some
brochures about the Polynesian History Museum on the island. They had exhibits
on the history and culture of the South Pacific, and they were open late. Harm
was hoping that he and Mac could do something interesting like this. The museum
also sponsored a luau dinner weekly, and tonight was the night. This is what he
would suggest for their time tonight.
When he arrived back at the beach house, he entered through the front door and
called her name. There was no response. Remembering that she had mentioned
going for a swim, he stepped out onto the porch to look toward the private
beach. He didn't see her anywhere.
He suddenly became aware of the sound of a radio from behind the house. It was
the pool. She was in the pool.
Harm went back through the house. He entered the pool area through a cabana.
For no reason that he could identify, he stood just inside the shelter and
watched her for a few minutes. She was wearing a pink colored one piece bathing
suit that molded to the curves of her body perfectly, especially when it was
wet. He couldn't help but stare. Her olive skin glowed with the sun's
reflection off the water which glistened on it.
Mac came up to the side of the pool and pulled herself up out of the water. She
sat nimbly on the edge of both the pool and Harm's imagination.
While she pulled herself out of the water, Harm noticed, with appreciation the
way the bathing suit molded to her figure. It accentuated all her curves and
highlighted her firm, muscular body. Had he never noticed this about her
before? He would definitely have to push this from his mind; after all, this
was Mac his best friend.
The wetness made her olive skin glisten and glow. For some reason, he had an
overwhelming urge to touch it. Why?
Mac reached behind her to grab a towel lying on a deck chair. As she brought it
toward her face, it fell into the pool. Watching it sink, she softly said,
"Damn!"
Harm picked up a towel from the pile in the cabana and walked toward her. He
stopped just behind her and handed it around.
Looking up, she saw him for the first time. "Harm, where did you come
from?"
He pointed in the general direction of the cabana.
"Have you been watching me?"
He almost choked. "Well... Yeah, I guess maybe I have."
"Why?"
He couldn't find any words to answer this. Instead, he reached for her hand.
She didn't object when he gently pulled her to her feet. Then, he took the
towel and wrapped it around her, together with his arms.
They stood there for a moment, looking deeply into each other's eyes. She
started to turn away, but he caught her chin with his fingertip. Her head moved
back toward him. When their lips met, they both closed their eyes.
The kiss was soft and slow, but quickly escalated into a passionate and hungry
contact.
She leaned in closer to him; his hands began to wander up her back.
With both of them letting their hands explore the other, Mac pulled Harm gently
but urgently back into the pool house. They barely made it before their passion
and desire exploded.
It was wonderful and magical. This was certainly something that had been
harboring on the fringes of their relationship.
After a session of powerful lovemaking, she lay in his arms, against his chest.
"Harm, how did this happen?"
"It's only been a few minutes. You already don't remember?"
"No, I mean, this is not what our relationship had ever been about."
"Could that be what was wrong with it?"
"I don't know."
"Mac...Sarah, I love you. I really do. I have for so long. That's why I
couldn't let you keep pulling away from me."
"Is that why you asked me on this trip, so that this would happen?"
"No, no. I never thought that it would. I was content just to keep my
feelings to myself. But now I can't. I love you."
She searched his eyes. "Harm, I've been in love with you for a long time.
That's why it hurt so much when you left me, and you never even kept in
touch."
"I'm sorry. I don't ever want to hurt you." He paused before going
on. "Think how our friends are going to react when they see us this way.
Bud, Harriet, the admiral, they'll all flip when they find out about us being
in love."
"Yeah," she agreed, "that's why I don't think we should tell
them. Not yet."
"What?"
"Well, we'll never get a moment's peace if everybody knows about us."
"You're probably right." He kissed her. "So, what do you want to
do?"
"For now, just for a little while, let's keep this a secret."
"Okay. If that's what you want." He confirmed.
"But, Darling," Harm ventured, "We can't have this relationship
either, if you don't trust me. I can't let you love me if you think I'm going
to abandon you."
"I feel better about that, Harm. I think maybe I do trust you again. I
want our friendship back."
"And this...?"
"I want this too."
He gently kissed her.
After a few more minutes, he helped her to a standing position and led her into
the house.
"What do you want to do now?" she asked.
He didn't speak, but picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.
The next morning, she awoke to the aroma of fresh coffee. She reached for Harm,
but he wasn't there. Then it had been a dream.
Just as that dawned on her, the door sprung open and Harm entered carrying a
tray of breakfast.
They ate together, with a kiss after each bite.
The whole day following the discovery of their feelings was spent together
walking and talking. They visited many of FIJI's tourist attractions. They held
hands and talked in quiet whispers. The kisses were abundant.
The next day, they went to the beach, still inseparable.
Then, it was the night before Mac had to leave to return to Washington. Her
flight was early. Harm would stay until later in the day, though he couldn't
imagine wanting to stay here without her.
They lay in bed holding each other tightly.
Her cheek rested on his massive chest, her head in the crook of his arm. He
kissed the top of her head and massaged her shoulder. "Sarah, Honey, it'll
work out alright. It'll be hard, but it will work."
"I don't know, Harm. I know that I can't give you up, but I hate the
thought of only seeing you every few months. Can't you get a leave
sooner?"
"Honey, I've been gone a week now. You know that it'll be a little while
before I can get time away again. As soon as I can, we'll meet somewhere, but
in the meantime, we'll have to learn to live with letters and phone
calls."
"Harm, I don't want to leave. I don't want this week to ever end."
"Neither do I, Sweetheart, but we have to be strong. We love each other.
That love will get us through this separation."
She raised herself up in the bed to kiss him, gently. He pulled her closer.
NEXT MORNING
AIRPORT
The PA system had called her flight twice, but they were still holding on to
each other. He kissed her one final time and said, "Be strong Marine. I
love you, and I'll call you after you have time to get home."
She reluctantly moved to board the plane. Turning at the entrance she waved to
him. "I love you, Sailor."
Their eyes met, then she was gone.
Both were already eagerly anticipating their next reunion.