HMS6 - Breathe

Title: Harm and Mac Songbook: Breath

Author: Rising Sun

Rated: R (for language)

Classification: JAG Story/Angst/Romance: Harm/Mac

Summary: A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. (Quote from DUNE by Frank Herbert)

Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual

people are purely coincidental.

Performing in this saga:

Faith Hill sings Breath off the CD Breath copyrighted to WEA/WARNER BROS.

Feedback: If you want.

Story Written - 2001

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I can feel the magic floating in the air

Being with you gets me that way

I watch the sunlight dance across your face

And I've never been this swept away

All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze

When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms

The whole world just fades away

The only thing I hear

Is the beating of your heart

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2100

FRIDAY

HARM"S APARTMENT

NORTH OF UNION STATION

WASHINGTON DC

Harm felt like a schoolboy about to approach the most popular girl in the school.

He could just see her:

In the office

In court

In the courtyard with that damn hamburger, watching the sunlight dance on her face

On a carrier with the wind in her hair.

What now? He groaned. She hadn't married Mic so what now? I need to get this right!

"I have been perfect at fucking up this relationship on all levels. I have to be just as perfect and mending it." He thought.

He needed to tackle this as if it were a mission. What was the objective? That was simple: Get Mc to marry him. He almost burst out laughing in as he sat alone in his apartment. Oh yeah like THAT was going to happen.

"I need to get out of here."

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2130

FRIDAY NIGHT

MCMURPHY'S

The place seemed to be jumping.

He walked in and saw the object of his affection on the stage. She punched in a few keys and the music started. Harm never heard it. His eyes were fixed on Sarah MacKenzie.

She finally came over to his table. Was there a message in that song? Dare he hope?

He needed to clear his head, he just wasn't sure which head needed clearing at the moment. When Mac decided she could be pure sex appeal and apparently tonight she had decided to ooze it in its purest form.

He took his life in his hands and walked up to her table as some one else claimed the microphone.

Bud spotted him as he approached "Commander! You are back!"

"Hey sir!" Harriet called "Did you see the Colonel?"

Harm greeted the table. "You had to be from Mars and ignorant of the ways of humanity to have missed the Colonel."

He leaned over to Mac and whispered, "Can we talk?"

She was about to answer but the look in his eyes told her not to. She nodded. They excused themselves and headed for the bar.

"Welcome back sailor." She said.

"Thanks... Umm Mac? I really wanted to talk in private ..." he waved his hands.

"OK but not tonight. Come over tomorrow about 1500."

"Sure."

"Great." With that she returned to her table. Harm stood there and knew he was in schoolboy mode.

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In a way I know my heart is waking up

As all the walls come tumbling down

Closer than I've ever felt before

And I know, and you know

There's no need for words right now

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SATURDAY

1500

MAC'S APARTMENT

They talked about what had happened at the office while he had been out of Harriet planning the Karaoke night and of the mission.

"Serves you right. Since when do you attempt such a mission without your partner!" She admonished, "Please tell me that you were at least successful."

"In more ways than one." He admitted.

She signed. "Harm you said you wanted to talk. Did I misunderstand? Did you really mean chit chat?"

Time! His mind screamed. He stood.

"Oh this is serious." Mac joked, then sobered up real fast at the look on his face. "Harm ... the last time you had that look I did not like the news it carried. It said to me that you were leaving to fly."

"Mac." He started.

"Oh God. " collapsed into a chair. "Give it to me straight."

"I left Mic for this!" She thought.

"Mac." He repeated. "This was one of the most dangerous missions that I have EVER been on. One always knows that one could die on a mission, but Mac I came too close for comfort."

She was focused totally on his words.

"As I lay there awaiting my call to the maker ... I got to reviewing my life. There had been good times and there had been bad. All in all I did not like what I saw."

"Go on." She encouraged.

"There is this woman that I know. I think I have feelings for her ..."

Mac closed her eyes at the words.

"No that is not totally correct. I discovered that I love her. Mac I have to pursue this but I don't know how. I have fucked up so badly with her that although she may reject me I must try."

Barely controlling her caldron of emotions that ranged from jealousy to rage to incredulity, she managed to say "And you want what my help with her?"

He just looked at her. "You don't understand."

"Oh contraire I understand all too well. Get out."

"Oh God Mac you don't understand." Harm wailed, "It is you. Only around you can I fuck up a confession!"

Her eyes narrowed. Her emotions were already all over the place and were running too strong to reign in easily.

He stepped forward cupped her cheeks and place a gentle kiss on her lips. Still she just stared. Then "What did you just say?"

"Essentially that I love you and that taking a page from the Brumby Encyclopedia of Courtship I indent to track you like an Australian Dingo."

"I though that that is what you said."

"I'm letting go. I'm letting all walls down and presenting myself on a platter to you."

Mac cleared her throat. "So what now?"

He gave a tentative smile "Umm is that a yes Mac? You accept me?"

"I suppose yes." She didn't sound to sure herself.

"Well I suppose we spend time together, but outside of work. Do stuff like we used to like go up in Sarah."

"And not get shot" she quipped. She was getting her equilibrium back.

Suddenly the whole situation felt awkward.

"Let's watch a movie. We can start tomorrow." She said.

"Sure." He agreed. He was just happy not to be out on the street after being thrown out by Mac. He was content to just hold her smell her perfume and feel her breath for as usual she fell asleep before the movie was half way through.

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Cause I can feel you breathe

It's washing over me

And suddenly I'm melting into you

There's nothing left to prove

Baby, all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch

Slow and steady rush

Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be

I can feel you breathe

THE END