A/N: Thank you all so much for the great feedback!! … I do believe this particular story comes to a natural end at this chapter. So, here is the conclusion. I hope you enjoy it!
-- Teacup (of JAG)
I See – Chapter 14
"Monday?" Mac repeated when the Admiral went inside.
Harm shrugged. "Well, he said he wanted to know as soon as possible. And we've already mentioned marriage, so I think it's safe to say we are at least starting to seriously think about it."
For a few seconds Mac simply relished what she heard Harm say. Then, remembering what they had just been through with the Admiral, she sighed. "Not even a half an hour into this relationship, and we're already busted," she lamented.
At that, Harm started laughing.
Mac looked at him like he was insane.
"Well, you're busted," Harm declared.
Somewhat indignant and somewhat confused, Mac pointed out, "I think this incident very much involved both of us." She had no idea what he was finding so amusing.
"I know," he agreed. "But you are very well 'busted,' and I think, … in that dress, you made the Admiral a little uncomfortable." Of course, the jealous part of Harm had also found the Admiral's momentary attention to Mac discomforting, but his pang of displeasure was quickly overtaken by humor.
Mac glared at Harm incredulously. "We've just been chewed out by our C.O. for making out on his front porch, and you're making jokes about my chest?"
She wanted to be offended, really she did. But no matter what her mind said, the fact that Harm was paying any attention to her figure made her feel … really good.
Harm suddenly became serious. "No, … there is nothing funny about the way you look tonight, Sarah. … You're beautiful."
There was no way she could even pretend to be mad at him now.
"Have I mentioned that you're looking quite handsome yourself tonight?" Mac took a step to Harm and started tracing a line down the edge of his suit jacket opening.
"No," he answered. Looking down at her touch caused Harm's own eyes to catch sight of and fall victim to Mac's endowment. He found himself captivated by the rounded lines in front of him that her dress was only accentuating.
She called him on it. "So, does my chest make you uncomfortable?"
He laughed again, but this time nervously. "It makes me something," he admitted, looking away.
Mac smiled. Oh, she was going to have some fun developing this relationship. "Have you always been this shy with women?"
He looked back at her. "Only with you."
She paused for a moment with a sense of déjà vu. "Well, maybe I should be flattered, but … I'm going to have to break you of that habit."
"Is that an offer?"
"Is that a request?" she countered.
Harm was well aware of the reuse of things once said on a ferry. "Are we going to replay that conversation?"
"Only if the outcome is different."
"I'm never going to make you think I'm pushing you away like that again, Mac."
"Good. 'Cause I'm not planning on letting you push me away anymore."
She pulled on Harm's tie, bringing his head down to her. They met again in a kiss, but before they finished, they heard the owner of a deep voice clearing his throat. They broke apart and looked up to see Sturgis. It seemed to never fail tonight. … They start kissing, and someone would walk out to discover them.
"I'm on my way out," said Commander Turner. "Just wanted to say bye. And … it looks like you two have worked some things out."
"Yeah. Yeah, we have." Harm put his arm around Mac, and she snuggled up to him with a hand on his chest. "Thanks Sturgis, for … everything," Harm said.
"Sure."
"Sturgis," Mac called. "You owe Harm your thanks too."
"Oh? For what?"
"For saving your life tonight," she stated.
"I see," Sturgis remarked.
Harm laughed. "Yeah, buddy, you don't know how close you came to facing a very angry Marine. And I've got to tell you, the way she was marching in after you, … you didn't stand a chance."
"Oh, that's not fair," complained Sturgis. "You made her mad, and she was going to come after me?"
Mac spoke up. "Well, lucky for you, Harm came to your defense. … He insisted that you didn't break my confidence. And then he … distracted me."
"And now I'm guessing he knows?" Sturgis checked for confirmation.
"Yeah, I hope he does." She looked up at the man in her arms.
"He does," Harm verified. "And she knows that I feel the same."
Mac nodded and then looked back at the submariner. "Anyway, thanks Sturgis … for not spilling my secret. And for whatever you did to help Harm come to his senses."
"Hey, don't thank me. I was just trying to ensure a safe and somewhat peaceful work environment. My motives were entirely selfish." With that, Commander Turner headed down the steps.
"Night Sturgis," Harm and Mac called simultaneously.
Smiling with amusement at how the new couple was so in synch, Turner replied, "Good night." Then he disappeared down the driveway.
"I guess I should be glad Sturgis talked to you, huh?" Mac admitted.
"Yeah." Remembering some other help he had, Harm added, "Oh, we should probably thank Bud and Harriet too."
"Bud and Harriet know too?" Mac was surprised. "How were they involved?"
"I'll tell you later."
"Is there anyone at work who doesn't know about us?" she asked rhetorically. "… Jeez, I'm going to have to transfer out of JAG Headquarters sooner than I'd planned just to avoid the embarrassment."
"Hey, loving me is embarrassing?" he asked with mock offense.
She grinned. "No, I guess not. Not when you love me too." Deciding that it really was getting late, and she was tired, Mac shifted the conversation. "… I should really get going. I need to give my regards to Francesca, and then I think I'll call it an evening."
She started to pull away from Harm, but he would not release her.
"Hey Mac, … come back to my apartment tonight?"
She gave him an unsure look.
"Nothing has to happen," he quickly assured her. "It's just, … I'm not quite ready to let you go," he admitted.
Mac gave him a gentle smile. "Harmon Rabb, if there is one thing I hope you never can 'let go' of, … it's me."
"Is that a yes?" he asked with hope.
"I don't know," Mac said playfully. "Won't your new neighbor be jealous that you're bringing another woman home with you?"
"Mac, my new neighbor is a fifty-some year old grandmother who can't drive anymore due to some problems with her eyes. Her husband spends most of his time at work and doesn't like to take her out anywhere when he does come home."
"Oh." Mac was slightly embarrassed that she had never even had a real reason to be jealous. It seemed so silly and almost humorous now. She suddenly resolved, "… We should take the poor woman shopping."
"You think?" Harm asked sarcastically, with a little laugh. "Well, we could offer to take her tomorrow."
"No, we're busy tomorrow," Mac declared.
"We are?" he asked, surprised by her authoritative decision. "What are we doing?"
"I'm not sure yet," she answered, "but whatever it is, it's just going to involve you and me."
Harm could see that her beautiful brown eyes were dark with desire. "Oh yeah?" he asked.
She nodded. "Unless you already have other plans."
"No. And if I did, I'd cancel them." That was a no-brainer.
"Good."
"I love you."
"Love you too," she replied.
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"Where is that damn headache medicine?" A.J. was rifling through the medicine cabinet.
Francesca appeared behind him, having followed her father to check on him. "Papa, what is troubling you?"
"Oh, here they are." He dumped the pills out onto his hand and swallowed them down with water.
"Papa? You are upset."
"Not upset. Just … frustrated."
"About what?"
"The fact that I should be extremely happy for two very stubborn, but important people in my life, who have finally realized what they probably should have figured out a long time ago, … but instead, it's giving me a headache."
"What is wrong?"
"What's wrong is that I'm very likely going to lose one of my best litigators, … this time for good." A.J. walked back out to the main room.
"Commander Rabb?" guessed Francesca, trailing behind her father.
A.J. nodded. "Or Colonel MacKenzie."
"I do not understand. You expect one of them to be transferred? Or to quit?"
"If they're headed where I think they are, one of them will have to."
She still did not comprehend what her father was saying to her.
"Regulations," he answered.
His daughter furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
With a vague gesture, A.J. pointed her attention in the direction of the front of the house.
Francesca walked over and peeked out one of the windows looking out onto the porch. She saw two familiar officers holding each other and ardently kissing.
Being able to guess now what kind of regulations her father spoke of, she smiled and simply declared, "… I see."
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The End!
A/N: Thanks for hanging with me on this story. And thanks again to those who have left me feedback. It makes me happy! I've had fun revising and posting the story on this site. What do you think of this final chapter? I hope it at least made you smile!!