Title: Flying Away 7: Anchors Aweigh
Author: Anne Taul, anne_taul@gowebway.com

Summary: The secret lovers meet for a romantic weekend in San Francisco.

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.

 

Flying Away 7: Anchors Aweigh

FRIDAY MORNING
FAIRMONT HOTEL LOBBY
SAN FRANCISCO


A family of six left the hotel desk and started toward the elevator. The youngest child, a boy of about five, took aim and fired a paper airplane into the air, directly in the path of the bellman carrying their luggage.

Mac, watching from her chair in the hotel lobby, smiled. She wondered if this was what Harm might have been like as a child. It wouldn't surprise her, as a matter of fact, it wouldn't really surprise her to see him do something like that now. She'd like to see him doing anything; he was almost an hour late. How like him!

Just thinking about him made her smile. She'd known Harm for years now. They had started as partners. Working with him had always been fun, and they had been a formidable team in the courtroom. Gradually, they had become friends, and more - best friends. Mac had never been one to let people get too close to her, so Harm was very special in that respect. When he had left JAG to return to his former career as a Naval aviator, she had resented it. She felt like he had abandoned her. It was really very personal to her. It had taken a long time to completely forgive him. Eventually, she had learned to live with this and even to support him, but it hadn't been easy. When they became lovers, her whole world had turned inside out. She had never been totally in love before Harm, and never involved with a man who was her friend, first and always. It was wonderful. He was wonderful. It had been two weeks since she had seen him in Norfolk, but it seemed longer.

She had received a telegram from Western Union two days ago, requesting her presence here at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco at this specific time today. Harm had told her last week that he was going to have liberty for the long holiday weekend, and that he would love to meet her someplace.

It seemed like a great idea. She was actually looking forward to spending time with him in San Francisco. Why he had picked this city, she wasn't sure. However, it was nice place to visit. Of course, anyplace would be nice with Harm. Where was he?

She stood up to relieve the boredom and shift her position. Stretching a little, she turned at the sound of something hitting the floor, dropped by a clumsy guest. When she turned back toward the door, she saw what she'd been looking for.

Harm crossed the lobby to join her in several long strides. She opened her arms to him, and he lifted her up off the floor in a huge embrace.

"Sorry I'm late." He apologized.

"That's okay. I'm used to waiting."

"Did you check us in?"

"No, I just waited for you."

He kissed her, then they headed to the desk.

Key in hand, they headed for the elevator which would take them to the twelfth floor of this historic hotel.

At the door, Harm paused, then he picked her up, carrying her across the threshold.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"Just because I love you, and I'm really glad we're here."

She pulled him over to sit on the edge of the bed. "What's going on? I haven't talked to you in three days. A lot must be happening."

"This weekend, they're having emergency procedure drills aboard the Carmudgeon. I was lucky to get away. They were talking about canceling some of the leaves."

"They better not try to keep you away from me. If you hadn't shown up, I'd have come looking for you."

"And God help the sixth fleet." He replied, with a grin.

Then she leaned very close to him and kissed him

They fell backward onto the bed, where they just stayed, together for a while.

By early afternoon, they had explored the lobby and eaten lunch at a nice little sidewalk café. The downtown area lent itself well to a amorous walk by two people deeply in love. They enjoyed themselves very much.

It was well after dark when they returned to the room. While Harm finished some remaining unpacking chores, Mac opened a folder she had brought from the office full of investigative reports for an upcoming court case. Soon, Harm was looking over her shoulder. He pronounced that he wanted to help her sort through this and plan a defense strategy.

"Harm, you're not a lawyer anymore. You can't get involved in this."

"I still have the same skills I always had. Let me help."

"No, Harm. Honey, why are you always so interested in getting involved in what I'm working on. Do you miss the law?"

"Part of me does."

"Do you regret your decision to leave JAG?" She hated that some part of her almost hoped that he did.

"No, I love flying. I just would like to be able to do both."

She had to have compassion for what he might be missing in either world, so she put her arms around his waist and kissed him tenderly.

Before long, jetlag began to catch up with Mac. She went into the bathroom to take a bath before bed.

Harm followed her.

When she questioned him, his explanation was that he would wash her back.

He did. Back washing turned into a playful romp in the sudsy water. They were both wet.

Getting into bed together, Mac lay her head against Harm's chest. She quickly fell to sleep.

SATURDAY MORNING
FAIRMONT HOTEL
ROOM 1215


Harm came very slowly to consciousness. He felt the familiar sensation of Mac lying next to him. He decided not to open his eyes, lest it might be a dream. Instead, he pulled her closer.

Mac, aware of his movement, turned in his arms to face him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began kissing his neck.

He eagerly returned the kisses, then propped himself up on one elbow to inquire, "How about some breakfast?"

"Great, I'm starved!" she agreed.

He sighed. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that I love all of you, even your healthy appetite."

"Good." She pronounced, handing him the room service menu.

Harm ordered breakfast, while Mac jumped in the shower.

She was out and dressed, and Harm was now showering when the food arrived.

As they ate, he asked, "What do you want to do today?"

"You mean outside the room, don't you?"

He laughed. "We have tonight for that, Darling."

"Well, let's go on a sight seeing tour."

Harm picked up a brochure. "Okay, there's that, or a trip to Alcatraz."

"Alcatraz? Yeah, let's do that."

EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON
ALCATRAZ
SAN FRANCISCO BAY


From a lookout point on the island, Harm and Mac stood gazing at the San Francisco Bay. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?" she observed.

"Yeah. Hard to believe it was a prison."

"I can't imagine what it must have been like to be incarcerated here, out in the middle of the water. You?"

"It wouldn't matter where, but I couldn't imagine being locked up without you." He leaned down to plant a kiss on her neck.

"So you'd like to see me locked away somewhere? Gee, thanks!"

"Come on, that's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Yeah. Well, I'm glad we're not here to interview a client or something like that."

"That would be hard to imagine."

They stood in silence, arms around each other's waists, watching the water lap against the rocks, until the tour guide called them back to the ferry.

THAT AFTERNOON
A BOTANICAL GARDEN
SOMEWHERE IN SAN FRANCISCO


Harm and Mac held hands as they walked through the garden. He decided that now was as good a time as any to broach the subject he had been thinking of when he told her they had things to talk about on this trip. "Sarah, where are we going?"

"Oh, I'm not sure. Why don't you look at the map?"

He held up the hand opposite the one intertwined with hers, which held a map of this area. "No, that's not what I mean. Where are WE going?"

"You mean long term?"

"Yeah, long term, where are we going?"

"Harm, what we have is good. I wish we could be together more, but when we are, it's really intense and -wonderful. We love each other, and it's good, what more do you want?"

"I want to believe that we'll always be as happy, every day of our lives as we are today."

She led him to sit on a bench. "Harm, you're a pilot; I'm a lawyer. We have to live in two different places, two different worlds, this may be the best we'll ever have. But it's not bad. It's great."

"What if I need more? Sarah, I don't want to lose you."

"There is no more, Harm. We have everything. And you can't lose me. You're stuck with me, now, Flyboy."

He leaned down and gently kissed her lips. He knew that there could be, and should be, more. He knew because he thought about it all the time. But he loved her, and she was right, this was wonderful.

Mac knew what more he was talking about. She had often thought of a permanent life with him, but that might never be possible. They did live in two different worlds. She knew that they were just lucky that they could make their lives intersect from time to time. She also knew that if this was all there ever was, she'd gladly take it - whatever she could get of him, she'd be happy with.

The conversation made Mac a little uncomfortable, so she got up, tugged at his hand, and walked on.

He caught up quickly. "Whatever happens between us, you know that I love you, right?" he wanted to assure her.

"Yeah, of course I do."

THAT EVENING


When they returned to the hotel after a long day of sightseeing, Mac was very quiet and pensive.

"What's wrong, Honey?" Harm asked.

"I'm afraid you're not happy with our relationship."

"Well, let's see, I'm in a beautiful, romantic city with the most beautiful woman in the world, who I love more than life itself, oh, I'm happy."

"Really?"

"Of course, really! I tell you what, let's not talk about it right now. Let's go get some dinner."

"Great, I'm starved. What do you have in mind?"

"This is San Francisco, let's go to China town."

They dined on a sumptuous feast of Oriental noodles and vegetables in a dimly lit, romantic little restaurant. Ironically, they both had the same fortunes in their cookies: "Spend time with the one you love."

They laughed., then held on to each other tightly, as they walked down the street, taking in all the sights.

Colored lanterns glowed, along with the streetlights, casting patchy shadows over the street, and their faces. Magic was in the air. Their passions mounted being so close together.

When they eventually made it back to the hotel room, she could stand it no longer. As the door shut behind them, Mac pulled his T-shirt out of its place neatly tucked into the top of his jeans.

Harm responded with equal fervor by beginning to unbutton her blouse.

They managed to make their way to the bed before their desire consumed them, but barely.

Afterward, she lay in his arms and whispered, "What we have is good, Harm. It's enough."

He just kissed her cheek.

SUNDAY MORNING


They awoke together with a sense of complete fulfillment and joy.

After a leisurely breakfast, they got into the rental car and headed out for a driving tour of some of the vineyards. It was a lovely sunny day, and they relished the time together.

At one stop, he took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "You're sure this is enough for you?"

"Yeah, this is everything need. How about you?"

"I'm not sure. I'll let you know."

SUNDAY AFTERNOON


Mac and Harm spent several hours riding the historic cable car around the city. At each stop, they got off and looked around. It was a glorious day, and they were two people very much in love. Everything was perfect.

Back at the hotel, he stopped her outside and gathered her up into his arms. He held her tight and whispered in her ear, "Yeah, this is enough for me. I'm totally happy. I love you."

She laughed, then ran inside.

He followed.

LATER


"Honey, this is our last night. Are you coming to bed?" Harm asked impatiently.

"I just need a couple of minutes to finish reading through these notes. I've got to make sure that I have the best possible strategy for Ensign Carter's court martial on Tuesday. I'm going against Bud, and you know he'll be prepared."

Harm sighed, as he got up out of the bed. He walked to stand behind the chair where she sat. His arms wound around her, and he dropped a light kiss onto the top of her head.

After a few minutes, he pointed to one of the pages she was reading, "Look, this witness said that she didn't actually see Carter at the bar that night. She only saw his car, so she knew he was there. I hate to bring up the obvious, but anybody could have been driving that car."

Mac tilted her head back to look into his big blue eyes. "But Carter has already testified that he was driving the car that night."

"Oh." Harm answered, disappointed.

"That was a good try, though." Mac continued. "Harm, if you really miss this so much, why don't you think about coming back?"

"No, Love, I can't do that. I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. Flying is an important part of me, you know that."

"Yes, I do." she conceded, wistfully.

MONDAY MORNING


They woke up fairly early, but kept putting off getting out of bed.

"What time is your flight, again?" Harm asked for the fourth time.

"1400," she supplied, for the fourth time.

"What about trying to get a later one?"

"Harm, I can't. As much as I'd like to stay right here forever, I have to be in court in the morning at 0800."

They finally got up and made it to the hotel's brunch. Then they took a stroll outside, toward the pier.

LATER
AT THE AIRPORT


"Don't forget," Harm instructed her, "We promised no tears this time."

"Okay." She agreed, then repeated, "No tears."

When they called her flight number, she leaned harder against him, tightening the hold she had round his waist. "When will I see you again?"

"I'm not sure."

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, kissed the top of her head, then turned to go.

Mac fought hard to keep her "no tears" promise, as she boarded the plane that would take her back to Washington.

Harm stepped back to watch her board. He was glad that she couldn't see the tears that streamed freely down his cheeks.