What Sarah Wants

February 24, 2003

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Bellisarius Productions and Paramount. I'm making no money off of this story.

Chapter 1

0615 EST
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
(Harm’s POV)

Ugh…it’s morning already. It feels like I only just got to bed an hour ago. I roll over to shut off the alarm clock only to realize that I’m already on the edge of the bed. With a loud *thump* I fall on the floor, but not before the bedside stand takes a nice crack at my skull. I just lay there dazed for a minute, then get up slowly and go take a shower. It’s too late for my morning run, and now that I’m seeing double, I definitely don’t feel up to it.

I take a little longer than normal this morning. By the time I’m ready to go to work, it’s already 0730, and the Beltway is a nightmare in the mornings. I’ll be late…again…giving Mac just one more reason to harp on me.

We have a meeting with a female client at 0830. She’s being charged with indecent exposure…she flashed her…um…chest…at a bar while she was still on duty and in her uniform. I can’t even begin to fathom what would possess her to do that, but I guess that’s why we’re interviewing her. I guess I shouldn’t complain, though. Our case load lately has been Hell, and compared to all that, this seems like it should be a piece of cake.

0820 EST
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA

Hah! Only 20 minutes late. And I’ve still got 10 minutes before our client will be meeting us. As I step off the elevator, I catch sight of the most gorgeous Marine in the corps, and she’s spotted me, as well. I step through the doors, and flash her a full-blown ‘take no prisoners’ smile that works every time, though I know she would never admit it.

< “Oh, why does he have to do that whenever he knows he’s in trouble? God, I love that smile, but one of these days, I'm going to be immune to it, and then he'll be feeling the wrath of a Marine without coffee!” >

I stop strutting towards her, and I know my smile vanished that instant, because she says aloud, “Harm, what’s the matter? You’re looking at me like I just sprouted another head or something.”

I’m about to reply, but then I hear Harriet say, “Oh, he looks like he’s gonna be sick!”

So, instead of answering Mac, I turn around and direct my attention at Harriet, “I feel fine, thank you Lieutenant.”

Then, I hear Mac behind me say, < “He’s probably just trying to gain some sympathy before I give him a nice dose of Marine-strength verbal whiplash.” >

I wheel back around and give her a look that I hope conveys some form of hurt, or at least indignance, at her accusation, and I say, “I think you know me better than that, Mac.”

She just gives me this really funny look…the cute one, where she knits her eyebrows and does this sort of pouty thing with her lips. I don’t see that look very often, because it’s her confused look. Then she says, “I’m sorry, I had no idea I just said that out loud.”

Then I give her my best ‘yeah, right’ look and start to respond, “You—“

“You didn’t say anything, Ma’am,” Harriet says, effectively cutting off my witty retort. Damn! I’ve been waiting for the perfect slip-up from her to say it, and now I’ll have to wait until she’s confused again. Wait…I’m confused…

I turn to Harriet, “I—“

“I didn’t think so, either, Harriet, but Harm responded to what I was just thinking.” To what she was just thinking? She didn’t really say it?

“Wh—“

“Well, nobody else heard anything.” Oh, great, now Sturgis has joined in the game.

“Why—“

“Well, not that it’s terribly important, but I obviously said it, or the Commander would not have responded.” Mac again. Okay, now they’re beginning to get really confused, and I’m getting really confused, and I can’t even get a word in to just try and take away what I just did…whatever the hell I just did, or heard, or didn’t hear, and oh, great,

“Now I’m talking to myself in my head!”

Okay, everyone has stopped, and now I’m just standing here, all eyes in the room on me, then Mac speaks up, talking to me this time, as though I’m a child, “No, Harm, you just talked to yourself really loud in front of the entire office, and now I do think you’re ill.”

And at that, people start to chuckle and laugh, and the show’s over now, because they’re all getting back to work. She’s still looking at me warily, one eyebrow raised, lips set in a ‘I dare you to try something’ curve. I would love to just catalog all the things she can do with her lips…

< “Oh, geez, he’s daydreaming again. And it’s that euphoric look that he gets when I know he’s thinking about some leggy blonde dressed in heels and nothing else. I bet that’s it.” >

I have now focused all my attention on the fiery-eyed brunette who looks about ready to squeeze every last drop of testosterone from my body and then rip out my…

“HARM!” Whoa, that got my attention.

She silently motions me to her office, and I follow, listening to her muttering things the whole way, hearing them in my head, rather than my ears picking up the sounds. This is crazy…I am hearing Mac’s thoughts in my head! And the things she plans to do to me for punishment sound like a fate worse than death. Her thoughts are still raging in my head as I shut the door behind me, bracing myself for what’s coming, trying to catch an inkling of what it will be. I turn towards her after shutting the door, and then I very clearly hear,

< “Fresh meat.” >

Yikes! Suddenly, I regret not playing the ‘sick’ card. I must have hit my head harder than I thought!

Chapter 2

0829 EST
JAG HQ
Colonel MacKenzie’s office
(Harm’s POV)

Okay, I’ve been thinking about this, while I’m ‘listening’ to Mac, and I’ve come to the conclusion that hers are the only thoughts that I can hear. I mean, I’ve walked by at least ten women, and she’s the only one. And this makes me very uncomfortable. I just want to wake up from this nightmare.

< “Oh, damn, our client’s here; I wanted to make him squirm a little longer.” >

I turn around and watch as a young, pretty blonde makes her way over towards where we are.

< “Great, now he’s drooling. This is going to be fun.” >

I turn my attention back towards my partner and give her my most innocent look. She rolls her eyes and gives an accompanying < “Yeah, right” > before walking around her desk and heading off our client and redirecting her to the conference room, with a look back to see if I’m coming. I nod and wordlessly follow, trying to ignore the curious looks I got from the people in the bullpen. When I get to the conference room, the two women are already sitting down across from each other.

“Nice of you to join us, Commander,” says Mac aloud. I give her a sarcastic smile and take my seat next to her.

< “Mmm…he’s wearing that cologne that I really like.” > I make a mental note to myself to buy out the company that makes this stuff so that I never run out. While I’m doing this, Mac is proceeding with the interview.

“Petty Officer Grueder, why did you flash your breasts at the bar?” Leave it to Mac to lay it right out on the table.

“Well, Ma’am, some of my shipmates dared me to. It was a sort of initiation.”

< “Men.” > “Uh, Petty Officer, is this a common practice for all crew members to be initiated in this fashion?” Mac asked.

The Petty Officer faltered, “Uh…no, Ma’am. I don’t think anyone else in our crew has had to do it.”

Mac raised a questioning eyebrow. “Are there any other women in your…crew?”

“No, Ma’am.”

< “Mm-hm!” >

“But they wouldn’t do that to me just for a laugh, Ma’am…they’re my friends! They’re like brothers to me, we’re a family!”

< “Oh, great! A naļve one. This is just what I don’t need right now, on top of Harm’s arrogance this morning.” >

Ouch. That hurt. I decide to try and help with the interview. “Petty Officer Greuder, are you telling us that you didn’t feel isolated in the least for having to go through an initiation that nobody else in your crew did?”

< “Good question, Harm.” >

“Well, not really…I mean, I didn’t really give it much thought.”

< “I doubt she gives much thought to anything.” >

“Now, Mac, that’s not really fair!” Oops.

The look on her face is one of disbelief, and she says to me, “Commander Rabb, can I talk to you outside for a minute? Petty Officer, excuse us, please.” Great job, Harm. Open mouth, insert foot. Thus begins another great day.

I follow her out to the hallway and close the door to the conference room. She starts talking before I’ve even turned around. “Harm, what the hell is going on this morning? What are you not telling me?”

I try to look confused, like I have absolutely no idea that there is anything going on out of the ordinary. “I’m not sure I quite follow, Mac.”

She looks frustrated, and I know she wants to say it, because I can hear her thoughts, but I’m sure as hell not going to try and verbalize her thoughts. It’s already crossed her mind that perhaps I can hear her thoughts. “What did you mean in there when you said ‘That’s not fair’?”

Oh, no. I was too busy listening to her internal conflicts to try and come up with an excuse. “I always know what you’re thinking, Mac. I can read your facial expressions. You were thinking that she probably doesn’t give much thought to anything.” Oy. I shouldn’t have put it that way, that’s exactly what she said in her head. So I decided to change the focus. “You know, just because she’s a little naļve about what real friends are, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t know anything.”

< “Oh, I hate it when he makes a good point.” >

“Fine, Harm. I’m sorry. You’re right.”

< “And don’t you dare act shocked that I admitted it.” >

I thought she liked it when I did that. It always made her smile. “It’s okay; I think I can understand where you’re coming from.” I add a smile that I hope looks sincere.

< “Okay, maybe I’m too hard on him.” > She smiles back at me, and we both go in to finish our interview.

1248 EST
JAG HQ
Harm’s office

After about twenty more minutes of talking with the Petty Officer, she said that she would just take whatever settlement the prosecution had to offer. Like I said…piece of cake. And now that I’ve put a dent in the stack of files on my desk, I think I’ll go see if Mac wants to grab a bite to eat.

So I head over to her office, and walk in when I hear her say “Enter.”

“Hey, Harm, what’s up?” She asks.

“I was just wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch.”

< “Oh, I don’t have any money with me today.” >

“On me,” I quickly add.

< “Sometimes, he can be so sweet!” > “Sure, uhm…let me just finish up this file and then I’ll be ready. It should only be another five minutes.”

Score! I love spending time with Mac, and lately, we haven’t really had time for that with all our cases. I step out of her office and go into mine to get my cover and make sure I have money with me. I also take this time to just straighten up my desk a bit, always keeping an eye on her office to see when she’s finished. Finally, she closes the file and plops it rather unceremoniously into her ‘out’ box. I head once more for her office, and she grabs her cover and we both head out.

“So, Squid, where are you taking me?” she asks.

I wait a few seconds to see if any ideas pop into her head, but I hear nothing, so I say, “It’s up to you, I don’t really care.”

< “Hmm…he’s getting pretty good at avoiding punishment.” >

I quickly jump in, “Oh, and before you start thinking it, this is not just a ploy to make you go easier on me for being late and for my outburst in the interview this morning…I just really miss our lunches together, since we’ve been so busy lately.”

< “How does he know what I’m thinking?” >

“Actually, Harm, that thought didn’t cross my mind.” Yeah, and I’ve never once fantasized about her…right! “Okay, if you really don’t care, then how about Beltway Burger?” I knew she was going to test me.

“Alright,” I answer.

< “Really?” > “Really?”

I have to laugh at that. She actually said what she was thinking. “Yes, really. I mean, they have salads there, right?” She just grins and nods her head. “Alright, then. I suppose I’ve got a Marine to feed.”

Chapter 3

1330 EST
Beltway Burgers
Somewhere in Virginia (?)
(Harm’s POV)

We’re sitting here eating our lunch in comfortable silence…well, let me rephrase that…she’s talking about a mile-a-minute in her head, going over all the things she needs to get done for the weekend, and I’m silently listening. So far, I’ve learned that she’s got to call Chloe tomorrow to ask her how her big History mid-term went, she has to wash and wax her car before the next big snowfall and/or ice storm, she’s got to go grocery shopping because she has absolutely no food and she’s tired of take-out and she hasn’t had a chance this week to really run any errands.

< “Hmm…what else? Oh, yeah. Laundry and dry cleaners. Otherwise I’ll have to go run all my other errands naked.”> Well, I really can’t find anything wrong with that. Hell, I’d be the first to volunteer to help with her errands! I smile inwardly. Down, boy! Although…

“Hey, Mac, what are your plans for the weekend?” As though I don't already know.

< “And then, I have to…huh?” > “What? Oh, uhm…I have a lot of errands to run, housework, grocery shopping, laundry…why?”

I tried to hide my grin at my previous thoughts about laundry, and I answered, “I was just wondering if you wanted to do something with me…you do remember who I am, right? Harm, your friend? Maybe I could help you with some of the errands you have to run. I could go grocery shopping with you in my SUV…your ‘Vette is kind of small for groceries, and we could drop off your dry cleaning on the way. Actually, we’d drop off your dry cleaning, then bring your other laundry to the laundromat and I could bring mine, too…” Okay, I know I’m babbling, but I’m trying to plan as I go, and I don’t want to forget all the things she has to do, “…and we could go on Saturday to get your car washed, waxed, and ready for the next time the sky dumps snow and ice all over everything…” Okay, I covered groceries, laundry, car wash…wait, did she even say that one out loud? I can’t remember, now.

“Are you implying that my baby is dirty? ‘Cause I sure didn’t say anything about washing and waxing my car.” And then she did the eyebrow thing…you know, where it’s like one eyebrow shoots up and…nevermind.

“I just figured you’d want to get it done this weekend, since you seem to be doing everything else but take over the world.”

“What makes you think that’s not on my agenda?” And then she gives me one of her smirks…God, I love when she does that! I laugh with her, and we go back to eating.

< “I wonder why he’s so curious. I mean, I admit, I do miss hanging out with him on Friday nights, going to a movie, dinner at one of the apartments. I shouldn’t read into it…he probably has nothing better to do than to hang out with me.” >

It really hurts me when she sells herself short. God knows there aren’t many men who are worthy of having Sarah MacKenzie, and it always makes me happy when I get a chance to spend time with her. See, Harm, that is so easy to admit in your head. Now, why can’t you just say that to her? Wow, I’m pathetic.

“So, Harm, do you really want to do something this weekend?” I look up, broken from my thoughts.

“Of course I do. I told you already that I’ve missed our Fridays out since we’ve been so caught up in work.” She nodded, convinced.

“Okay. Do you want to go to a movie tonight, or do you need a little time away from me before this weekend?” she asked me. There was a whisper of uncertainty in her voice, but it screamed in her head and burned in her eyes.

“I will take any and all time that you have to offer! You’d just better be sure you won’t get sick of me before bedtime on Saturday,” I joked.

< “Hmm…bedtime. God, stop it MacKenzie! You are way too presumptuous!” > Wow, I like where some of her thoughts are headed.

Instead, she said, “Trust me, Harm…if I get tired of you, you’ll be the first to know.”

Oh, I don’t know about that.

Chapter 4

1653 EST
JAG HQ
Harm’s office
(Harm’s POV)

Okay, I can’t concentrate. I’m just sitting here, tapping my pen on the desk, staring alternately at the clock on my desk and the watch on my hand, as though one is going to start moving faster than the other. Why does time crawl when you’re waiting on something really great to happen? Mac and I are going to see a movie tonight. I’m picking her up at her place at 1900. If it ever comes. Oh, it’s 1654 now. Only 2 hours, 6 minutes, and…roughly 44 seconds before I show up at Sarah MacKenzie’s door. It’s not a date…not really. I mean, sure I’m taking her out to dinner, then to a movie, paying for everything…but it’s not a date. I just think of it as catching up on things that we’ve missed this past month. 1655. I may as well just start getting my stuff together. I’m not getting anything done just sitting around here.

I pack some files into my briefcase…not that I’ll get any work done this weekend, but I like to think that I will. I walk out of my office just as the clock reads 1700. I make my way over to Mac’s office just for a last-minute confirmation of our plans for the evening. Not that she’d ever bail out on me unless it was for a very good reason, but just because I like to hear it from her.

“Enter,” she responds at my knock.

I walk in and stand in front of her desk. I watch as she types away at her computer.

< “…put her up to it as an initiation. Failing to consider the consequences her actions might bring, she exposed her breasts to the men at the bar. The Petty Officer has waived her right to a trial and is ready to accept any punishment for her act…act…damn this keyboard!” > She hits the key repeatedly with her index finger—none too gently, I might add—which results in a delayed row of “i”s across the page. She lets out a frustrated sigh and then turns her attention to me. I quickly shoot her one of my best ‘cheer up’ smiles.

< “Why can’t I have him around all the time for whenever I get frustrated? I mean, besides the fact that he’s the cause of much of my frustration.” > My smile wavers for a fraction of a second. I know she’s right.

“Harm, are you going to stand there all evening and grin or are to going to say what you came in here to say?” < “Oh, that sounded meaner than I intended.” >

I quickly break into her thoughts, “Oh, uh…no, I mean, yeah…uhm…I just wanted to make sure we were still on for tonight.”

She gives me a tired smile. “Of course. I need a break from work, and I know that if I stay home, I’ll just end up writing reports.”

“Okay, then. I’ll see you around 1900. You should really head out soon, too. You look tired.”

< “Let it never be said that Harmon Rabb, Jr. lacks sympathy. It’s one of the qualities I love about him.”> “I’m just going to finish up this report and then I’m heading out.”

I wink at her and turn to go, when she says,

“Oh, Harm…” I turn to look back at her. “Thank you.”

I smile and head back out the door towards the elevator. This is going to be a great weekend.

1856 EST
Mac’s apartment
(Harm’s POV)

Hoorah! I am here early! I get out of my SUV and head up to Mac’s apartment. I knock on the door and listen as she jumps off the couch and hits her shin on the table. Ooh, and some of the words going through her head were definitely picked up in the Marines.

< “It’s only 1857, what is he doing here? He’s never early! Oh, God, that really hurts!”>

She opens the door, and I take in the sight before me. She’s leaning down, rubbing her shin, neck stretched up, eyes on me. Typical guy that I am, my own eyes stray almost immediately to the low-cut style of her shirt; more specifically, what the style revealed…oh, come on, I mean, she’s gorgeous, and they’re…there!

< “Oh-ho-kay, MacKenzie, maybe that is not the best position to be standing in. He has a clear view of your…oh, and he’s looking! Men are such pigs!” >

“Uh, Mac, are you okay? What happened to your…umm…that, thing…sh-sh-shin! Shin, that’s what I meant to, heh, say. Uhm, what happened to your shin?” Geez, real smooth, Hammer.

< “God, real smooth, Flyboy!” > “I just hit it on the table getting up from the couch. It’s okay, I just saw…stars for minute, would you like to come in?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I love making her flustered.

< “He does that on purpose.” > “Can I get you anything before we go?”

“Uh…no, thanks, I’m fine.”

< “Hmm, no argument there.” > “Alright, I’ll be ready in a minute; I just have to grab my purse.”

So, she thinks I’m fine. Interesting. This is way better than staying at home filling out reports. As she’s walking around her apartment, she’s making a mental checklist,

< “Okay, I’ve got my keys, wallet, phone all in my purse, I didn’t leave the iron on, the stove and everything else in the kitchen is off…” > I just have to laugh out loud at this. She acts like she’s leaving to go on vacation for the weekend rather than just a night out on the town. I shouldn’t have laughed, because now she’s looking at me with an expression that clearly says ‘what is so funny?’. I just shrug and go to help her into her coat. By 1901, we’re out the door and on our way.