Title: Laying Claim

Author: Hollyjp

Summary: Picks up at the end of “Fit for Duty.”

Spoilers: Of course...Anything is possible!

Disclaimer: JAG is the property of Bellisario Productions, CBS, and Paramount. I have borrowed their characters for entertainment purposes only. No monetary gain will result from their appearance in my story.

Author’s Notes: I had read some comments that indicated people didn’t feel there were any shipper moments in the episode, yet when I saw the last scene, my muse took off running with this idea. Hope you enjoy it...because this is pure shipperness at work!

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

“I’ve got an expensive restaurant all picked out so you can take me to dinner, Harm,” announced Agnes, the psychiatrist and friend of Jordan Parker who had been called to testify for both Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie during the trial that had just ended.

“You going to join us Mac?” Harm asked as Mac appeared behind Agnes hearing her announcement which had sounded as if it was a previously discussed plan.

“No thanks,” Mac responded stepping in front of both Agnes and Harm to get on the elevator. Harm watched Mac a second before rolling his eyes and smiling while Agnes followed Mac on the elevator. Although he was the last one on, he made sure he positioned himself near Mac in the elevator. He knew what was going on in her mind. She was falling back into old patterns, and he wasn’t going to allow it. He had hoped inviting her to join them, would have given him the chance to take her out to dinner. For some reason, she was still holding back. He wanted to figure out what it was that still held her back.

He let his hand drop to his side and brush against her hand. He smiled when he heard the quick intake of her breath at the contact of his hand. “Good,” he thought, “She’s not immune to me. I can work with that.”

Agnes was watching them and her eyes went to their hands and then looked up at Harm and saw his smile. Her lips tightened and Harm knew she was getting the message. Harmon Rabb belonged to Sarah Mackenzie whether or not she wanted him yet or not.

Mac wanted to bolt and get away from Harm. “Why is he doing this to me?” she thought in desperation. “This blonde appears and he actually asks me to join them so I can watch her make goo-goo eyes at him and he thinks I want to watch that! He knows damn well I won’t share,” Mac growled to herself trying to fight back the desire to cry, scream, or throw something at the moment. There were things about this trial that had made her confidence slip a bit and those old insecurities that she thought she had put behind her rushed to the surface when another woman came on to Harm and he didn’t seem to object.

The elevator door opened but unfortunately her path was blocked. Harm let Agnes out and then said, “We’ll be back Agnes...Mac and I forgot to sign off on some papers.” With that he closed the elevator doors again and pushed the button that would take them back up to the courtroom.

“Harm, what are you doing?” Mac demanded when she realized what he had done.

“You and I are going to talk...in private...and I know just the place.” Harm informed her as he gently took her arm and escorted her off the elevator when it stopped and the doors opened again. As he had hoped, the courtroom now stood empty. Once inside, he turned Mac to face him.

“Mac I think we need to get something clear before it causes problems.”

“Oh?”

“Yes...Agnes informed me that I owed her dinner for making her testify again. She also was Jordan’s best friend and she is having trouble getting past her death still and wanted to be able to talk to someone else that knew Jordan. I would prefer not to go to dinner with her alone...I’m not interested in that kind of relationship with her.”

“You’re not?”

“No.”

“But she’s blonde...”

“I’ve never had much luck with blondes, Mac....I’d much prefer you.” Harm watched her face and waited for a reaction. Mac just stared back at him. “Mac?”

“Yes?”

“Am I ever going to have a chance with you again?” Harm asked never looking away from her eyes. He saw them widen and then moisten as she gazed back at him.

“Is that really what you want?” Mac whispered.

“Yes.”

“I won’t share you.”

“Good. I don’t want to be shared unless its with our own family.”

“I probably can’t have children,” Mac reminded him.

“I know...but there is still a slight chance.”

“Yes...it will mean one of us will have to leave JAG?”

“I know.”

“I’m not sure I can handle that,” Mac whispered.

“You don’t have to make that decision right now, Mac. All I want you to do, is agree to come to dinner with me...with or without Agnes.”

“Why?” Mac asked feeling herself giving in to him.

“Because I want to spend time with you outside of work; because if you don’t go with us, I’m cancelling on Agnes and I think we owe her dinner for testifying; and because you have to take the first step sometime. Please, Mac, come with me to dinner tonight. You decide if that will include Agnes or not. Please?” Harm watched and waited.

“Let’s go eat...under one condition,” Mac bargained, a smile starting to lighten her face.

“Anything.”

“We go home first and put civilian clothes on and then meet her there.”

“Done.”

“Let’s go...I’m hungry all of a sudden,” Mac practically danced back to the elevator this time. It was her hand that brushed against his as they rode down. For a second, before the elevator doors opened, Harm caught Mac’s hand in his and held it, squeezing it slightly before letting it go.

Agnes was waiting for them when they stepped off the elevator. If she noticed the change in Mac’s attitude she didn’t let on.

“Agnes, there’s been a slight change in plans. Mac and I will meet you at the restaurant. Go ahead and get a table if you want. We should only be about ten minutes or so behind you.”

“Alright...if you’d like. Shall I order appetizers?” Agnes asked.

“That would be great. I’m famished,” Mac informed her with a smile.

Harm followed Mac out of the parking lot and to her apartment in Georgetown. The restaurant was only four blocks from Mac’s apartment and Harm knew he had a change of clothes in his bag in the back. He grabbed it out of the SUV before he followed Mac up the stairs.

“Do you mind if I change here?” Harm asked her.

“No...but be quick...you only gave us ten minutes,” Mac called as she shut her bedroom door behind her.

Harm headed for the kitchen and quickly stripped off his uniform jacket, shirt and pants. Standing in his t-shirt and boxers, he pulled out the black jeans and the gray-blue sweater in his bag and pulled them on after kicking off his shoes. He rolled up his uniform and put it in the bag, grabbed his shoes and sat on the coffee table to put them back on. He had just stood up when Mac opened her door and came out.

Harm looked up and his mouth fell open. Mac had changed out of her uniform and put on a black skirt that was much shorter then her uniform skirts. She had pulled on a soft fuzzy sweater in a dark red shade that highlighted her beauty. The v-neck was modest, but it drew the eye to the smallest peak of cleavage.

“Harm, close your mouth,” Mac instructed.

“Huh?”

“Harm...you’ve seen me dressed like this before.”

“Not in a long time...and I guess I wasn’t expecting it...you look so beautiful.”

“Thank you...ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

“You want to walk or take my car?” Harm asked as he pulled on his jacket and then held her coat for her.

“With my heels, I guess I’d prefer to ride.”

“Then let’s go.”

Harm and Mac walked into the restaurant twelve minutes after Agnes had been seated. She saw them coming. Harm’s hand was at the small of Mac’s back, at her waist, as he escorted her to the table behind the hostess.

“I’ve ordered artichoke hearts, mozzarella sticks, and stuffed mushrooms for appetizers,” Agnes informed them as they took their seats. Harm held the chair for Mac and then sat beside her, his arm resting on the back of her chair and his hand touching her shoulder every now and then.

Agnes kept watching them and Mac had to admit it felt good to have Harm attentive to her in front of this woman that Mac had chalked up as “another blonde bimbo.” As the meal progressed and Harm led them through a variety of topics including Jordan Parker Mac relaxed and found that there was something likeable about this woman. She certainly wasn’t a bimbo and Mac didn’t feel she could fault her for showing interest in Harm. The man was good looking and had a natural charm that attracted women without him even trying.

As they talked, Agnes suddenly sat up and looked at Mac. “I just realized who you are...Jordan liked you but feared you.”

“Feared me? Why?” Mac asked.

“She always felt that Harm was closer to you then her and that if you crooked your finger he’d be at your side in an instant.” Agnes revealed.

“I know...she told me one time that she thought he would be hers until I decided I wanted him.” Mac told her, glad she had already shared that with Harm.

“And you’ve obviously decided you wanted him,” Agnes commented.

“I think we’ve decided we wanted each other...I wanted him years ago and he didn’t want me. Then he wanted me and I didn’t want him...” Mac admitted to this woman.

“Why ever not?” Agnes asked.

“Excuse me ladies...can you not talk about me like I’m not here?” Harm asked.

“Oh we know you’re here...that’s what makes it so much fun,” Agnes announced.

“He squirms good, doesn’t he, Agnes?” Mac asked with a laugh suddenly enjoying herself more then she had thought she would.

“Maaccc....”

“Don’t whine, Harm.” Mac patted his thigh and effectively shut him up as the air froze in his lungs at her intimate gesture.

By the time they got to dessert, Harm was quite uncomfortable and couldn’t wait to get out of the restaurant. Mac had actually flirted with him. At first it was like she was staking her claim and warning Agnes off, but later it was different. It felt like she wanted to do or say those things so she just did or said them, naturally. He thought she was really enjoying the evening. It made that much more of an impact on him then it would have if she kept it light and flirty. Her touch linger longer and her eyes held his for a whispery second more as they chatted between them around the table.

Finally, when they had finished their meal and coffee, the waitress brought the check. Harm paid the bill and the three of them went to get their coats. Harm helped Mac into her coat and then slid into his own. Mac stood in front of him and leaned back slightly against his body. The move took him by surprise, but he put his arms up and held her arms lightly in his large hands. Her head wasn’t far from his chin and he could smell her shampoo in her hair. He inhaled her scent and it stirred his blood.

Harm and Mac saw Agnes to her car and made sure she was on her way before they climbed into the Lexus. She leaned her head back against the seat and waited for Harm to start the car. She turned her head to look at him when she didn’t hear him start the car. He was staring at her, or rather at her lips. Mac smiled. A little chuckle escaped her lips before she could control it.

“What?” Mac asked as he still watched her.

“Nothing...” Harm shook his head and started the car. He wanted to kiss her but not in the car on a busy street in Georgetown. He turned toward her apartment.

Once they got to her apartment, she opened the door and stepped into the room. Harm stopped her with a hand on her arm and when she looked up at him, he lowered his head and kissed her. It didn’t last long...not as long as they gazed into each other’s eyes afterward.

“Mac...”

“Harm...”

They spoke at the same time before moving into each other’s embrace. Their lips met again. They kissed each other and let their lips and tongue try to communicate what they were feeling and what they wanted.

Finally Harm lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. “I’ve been wanting to do that a long time.”

“Why didn’t you?” Mac asked as she closed the door without moving away from Harm’s embrace.

“Fear...that you didn’t want it too or weren’t ready for it...that you’d slap my face.” Harm admitted to her as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Sadly you’re probably right...although I think I was madder at myself then at you.”

“Why Mac?”

“Because when I wanted to say ‘yes’ I said ‘no’ and then I had to live with it...I couldn’t change my mind...and you didn’t try,” Mac observed.

“I know...but I thought it was so obvious how I felt about you, that it would only seem like I was pushing if I did try.”

“We really are something, aren’t we?” Mac asked.

“Yes...but together we could be so much better.”

“I’m willing to try it if you still are,” Mac admitted.

“You have to ask?” Harm smiled into her eyes.

“Yes...because I don’t want any more misunderstandings. I meant what I said...I won’t share you.”

“So what was that tonight...you don’t usually touch me like that Mac. What were you trying to do?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes.”

“I was laying claim to what is mine,” Mac admitted.

“And can I claim you now?” Harm asked.

“Yes, stake your claim, Harm,” Mac said as she raised her face to him again. He responded by taking her lips, her heart, and erasing her doubts about herself, him and what they could have between them.

Finally they had laid claim to one another. No one else would ever have a chance to destroy what they had almost lost so many times, but had fought to keep alive, alone and together.

THE END