Title: The Third Percent

Author: Hollyjp

Summary: In “One Percent” Mac opened up and admitted to Harm that she had been pushing him away after she not only survived but suffered only minor bruises from her accident on Christmas Eve - an accident she shouldn’t have survived. In the “Second Percent” Harm and Mac moved their relationship forward and allowed their passion and desire for each other to surface. They vowed to start the new Year with hope and optimism and welcomed it in each other’s arms. Now will they be able to move to the Third Percent of the Four Percent Solution?

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Everything through “Four Percent Solution” in Season 10.

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.

THE THIRD PERCENT

January 1, 2005

0830 Local

Mac’s Apartment

Georgetown

Harm slowly became aware of the warmth next to him and the hand on his chest. Turning his head to his right, he felt the hair tickle his nose and inhaled the scent that was Sarah Mackenzie. This felt so right waking up to her curled against him. One night of this was definitely not going to be enough for him and he hoped she felt the same way. If last night, or this morning was any indication, she felt the same way he did...unless between now and then she was having second thoughts. Deciding to tease her awake and expecting her to share his feelings he brought his hand around to trace patterns on her skin, behind her ear and on her neck and face.

“Mmmmm that’s a nice way to wake up,” Mac mumbled without opening her eyes. She began tracing patterns on Harm’s chest with the hand that had rested there idly while she slept. Harm leaned over her so he could drop kisses on her eye, nose and cheek as he worked his way toward her mouth. Between kisses he told her what he was thinking.

“I...could...get very...use to this...you know.”

“You think?” Mac asked her eyes twinkling as she slid her arms around his neck and rolled him onto his back.

“Yes. Couldn’t you?” Harm asked as he smiled up into Sarah Mackenzie’s eyes, ready to let her go where she wanted with this morning’s encounter.

“Let’s see how sharing the bathroom goes,” she whispered in his ear just before she threw back the covers and dashed into the bathroom, partially shutting the door. With a laugh and a groan, Harm got out of bed and followed her. By the time he entered the bathroom, she was stepping into the tub under the warm shower spray. He used the head and then stepped into the shower with her. Although they help each other to shampoo their hair and they soaped and rinsed the others back it was done playfully and lovingly. Stepping out of the tub together they wrapped themselves in towels to dry off.

Harm toweled off first and stepped into the bedroom to locate his clothes. He dressed in the clothes he had worn the night before minus the tie and jacket. By the time he was done dressing, Mac joined him in the bedroom wearing the red teddy she had worn under her dress the night before and her robe.

“Tell you what...I’ll go make breakfast while you dress and then after we eat, we can make a few phone calls to wish family and friends a Happy New Year.”

“Okay...then what?”

“I think I’d like to go home so I can change my clothes. Sturgis and Varese invited us to join them to watch the parades on television, have dinner and catch the football games. Do you want to join them?”

“Sturgis and I aren’t on best terms Harm,” Mac reminded him.

“I know. Neither are we - Sturgis and me - but we have to start somewhere and Varese really wanted us to join them. I don’t think she’s crazy about football and hopes you’re her ally.”

“But I love watching football with you guys!”

“I know - but she doesn’t.”

“So are we going to let people know we’re seeing each other?” Mac asked as she trailed her fingers across his back as she passed him in the bedroom.

“Mac, I think it’s going to be pretty obvious...I can’t keep my eyes or hands off you - especially when we’re out of uniform.” Harm almost blushed as he caught her hand and pulled her back toward him as he admitted his insatiable desire for her. Holding her in his arms and gazing into her smiling eyes he almost forgot he intended to let her set the pace this morning. He didn’t want her to feel it was too much too soon. Releasing her he reminded her he had offered to prepare their breakfast.

“You side track me very easily you know.”

“I know...now go.”

Harm left the bedroom so that Mac could get dressed. He found eggs, cheese bacon and toast in her refrigerator. After starting the coffee, he broke eggs into the bowl and cooked bacon in the microwave. After whipping the eggs he added the milk, cheese and some of the bacon before pouring the mixture into a frying pan to make an omelet. With the toast in the toaster, he got out the plates just in time to turn the omelet on to the plates, adding a few slices of bacon to Mac’s plate. He buttered the toast when it was ready, putting it on a small plate, and then poured them each a cup of coffee. Loading a tray he took everything into the dining room table at once and set the plates and coffee at their seats, while adding the toast in the middle.

“Hey, that looks good. You even did the bacon?”

“Yes. What else would you like?”

“For you to sit and eat breakfast with me.”

“You know,” Harm started as he sat down to enjoy breakfast with Mac, “You told me one time that you expected breakfast after you spent the night with a guy...I may not have produced the desired breakfast that time, but how does this one do?”

“Wow...You remember that?” Mac asked in mild surprise.

“Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I don’t forget about nearly crashing in a plane, being shot in the leg by deranged poachers, practically raped, killing a guy, freezing my butt off, dealing with an infection and being fired at while taking off in a defective plane all within twenty-four hours!”

“When you put it that way it sounds pretty bad,” Harm grinned sheepishly. “So does my breakfast meet your expectations?”

“Actually it does...you have actually surpassed my expectations in the last twelve hours, my dear.” Mac smiled feeling at ease with her companion as she reached for his hand. Their fingers entwined they ate breakfast making small talk about the day ahead.

“So Mac, why don’t you pack a bag and then we’ll be free to come or go and do what ever we feel like later...I mean, I thought maybe tonight we could either stay at my place, if you want to...” Harm let his words trail off.

“I think I’d like that.”

“Well, just in case, when I get to my place to change, I’ll pack a bag too. Then we’ll be able to stay either place and neither of us will have to do without.”

“I like the way you think Commander,” Mac flirted with Harm.

1100 Local

Sturgis Turner’s Apartment

Eight miles from JAG HQ

“Hey Buddy! Come on in...we’ve been waiting for you...Mac! I didn’t relize you were joining us. Come on in.” Sturgis greeted his guest warmly despite the slight surprise at seeing Mac.

“You told me I could bring a date, right?” Harm asked.

“Yes I did...I just didn’t expect...never mind...come in. Would you like fruit juice, coffee, tea, eggnog?” Sturgis offered.

“I’ll have coffee if you have it Sturgis,” Mac answered.

“Me, too. Varese here?” Harm wanted to know.

“Hi Harm...Mac...” Varese greeted them as she came from the bedroom.

“I’ve was puttering in the kitchen and spilled stuff all over me so decided to change. Mac, want to help me get the coffee?” Varese invited.

“Sure...play nice guys,” Mac warned as she left with Varese for the kitchen.

“I swear sometimes those two fight like brothers,” Varese grinned at Mac. “So have you and Harm been seeing each other long?”

“No...I mean we’ve danced around a relationship for the eight years we’ve known each other, but its only been this week that we’ve actually been on a date or anything. We’ve claimed ‘We’re just friends’ for so long that we had practically convinced ourselves that it was all that we could be...at least I had. Harm however has apparently had other ideas and it took an air bag in the face to wake me up to the fact that there is something more and he’s not going to walk on me when the going gets tough. That’s not something I’ve ever had before.”

“Well I think its great. Come on, let’s get that coffee.”

Same Time

Living Room

“Harm, you and Mac are not here just as friends are you? You’ve crossed the line, haven’t you?” Sturgis looked at Harm through squinted eyes as he spoke.

“Are you really surprised by this turn of events, Sturgis?”

“I shouldn’t be...but I am.”

“Why?”

“I just thought the adversarial way you dealt with each other was more powerful then your physical desires for each other.”

“Don’t make light of this Sturgis.”

“How serious are you Harm? Is this a hot passion that will burn out and you go back to being friends? OR is this the buy a house and plan a family kind of thing?”

“Well, we haven’t discussed buying a house just yet, but we have talked about having a baby together.”

“You are serious!”

“Yes...I’m in love with her Sturgis.”

“Have you told her yet?”

“Not yet. Not in those words at least.”

“What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t want to rush her.”

“Harm you’ve been dancing around this for eight years! Tell her already, Man!”

“Sounds simple...but if I rush it, then she won’t take me seriously. It took months for us to get to the point that she’s even take me seriously that I’d always be here for her. It took another week of just being there before she accepted a date.”

“And?”

“We have an understanding that we’re going to embrace the new year and hope we get the things we want out of life. There will be challenges and we have to adjust to the change in our relationship.”

“Are you going to be able to separate on and off duty times?”

“I hope so...I think so...”

“How are you going to avoid slipping into a too familiar role while you are in uniform and on duty?”

“Well, at work she is Mac or Colonel Mackenzie...at home or when in civilian clothes, she’s Sarah...”

“So you have a gimmick...what’s she going to do?”

“Probably Commander or Harm at JAG...or Sailor...she had nicknames for me at home...off duty...”

“Like what?”

“Never mind, Sturgis.”

2154 Local

Harm’s Apartment

North of Union Station

“Do you want anything to eat or drink?” Harm asked Mac as they entered his apartment after a day of food and football with Sturgis and Varese.

“No...I really need to be held and kissed though...” Mac smiled as she flirted with Harm.

“I think I could probably handle that...come here...” Harm growled in his low sexy voice as he walked toward Mac where she stood at the end of the dining room table. He reached for her hands, capturing them in his and pulling her toward him, placing her hands around his neck. With her arms up, her body settled tightly against his, and she smiled as he kissed her. The man kissed like no one she had ever known.

Mac felt his hands caress her back and her hips, pulling her closer still. While he kissed her neck, Mac found her voice, barely. “You make my knees buckled when you kiss me and touch me like this.”

“I don’‘t want you to fall...come with me.” Harm led her to his bedroom when their kisses and caresses once again allowed them to explore the hope, love and faith in their hearts.

January 18, 2005

2145 Local

Mac’s Apartment

Georgetown

Mac sat curled on her couch feeling sorry for herself. Harm was expected home from an investigation on a carrier and after being apart for over a week, she wanted nothing more then to make love with him to welcome him home. Instead she was sitting here with a heating pad and trying to make the cramps bearable. The endometriosis had made her menstruation painful at times, but the medication had helped that - or so Mac thought. Her doctor had told her two months ago that she shouldn’t get her hopes up and that there wasn’t a very good chance of her having a child. Not wanting to be week and needy when Harm got home tonight, she tried to think of some positives.

Over the past two weeks, Mac had completed her PT and riflery qualifications. She had found herself in an head to head competition with none other then her CO, Major General Gordon Creswell and had beaten him in every event they had faced each other. Harm had been so proud of her. They spent most of their off duty hours together until Harm had been sent out on an investigation on the Sea Hawk. In the past when he was gone, they emailed each other once in awhile. Now they exchanged email on a regular basis, usually every morning and night. Harm was expected home tonight and he had promised that he would be over when he got in. She had emailed him last night to tell him that she had started her period and they didn’t have a miracle baby started yet. Harm had responded with a sweet note reassuring her that it was still early and not to give up hope. He then asked her a simple questions that got her to thinking. He asked if she had gotten a second opinion. She hadn’t. She trusted Dr. Chen and had never felt a need to question her knowledge or expertise. Yet, when Harm asked the question she couldn’t stop thinking that maybe she should do just that.

Today she had called the fertility specialist at George Washington University Hospital and set up an appointment for next week. She had lucked out getting a opening made by a woman cancelling after learning she was pregnant. Mac got the appointment which made her feel like she was doing something about this problem. It was time she did. Harm had been there for her and was willing to accept other alternatives - more then she was - and it was the least she could do to ask someone else about her chances of conceiving.

Hearing the key in the lock, Mac wiped the hint of any tears from her eyes and smiled as Harmon Rabb Junior came through the door.

“Hey...I’ve missed you,” Harm whispered as he placed a tender kiss against her lips.

“I missed you too. I don’t sleep so good without you nearby, Sailor.”

“Me either...tonight I’ll hold you and we can both sleep.” Harm told her as he sat next to her on the sofa.

“I’m going to hold you to it.”

“I’d rather hold you to me, Sarah...”he smiled as their eyes met and held. “You feeling better?”

“More hopeful...most of the time. I go see a specialist next week at University Hospital.”

“Can I...aahh...come with you?” Harm was a little hesitant to ask. He didn’t want Mac to think he didn’t trust her, or that she needed him, but he wanted her to know he would like to be there with her if it was okay with her.

“I’d like that,” Mac smiled and treasured his hesitancy knowing that it came from his uncertainty to how she would react. “You know Harm, I am beginning to learn that you’re requests to do things for me show your respect for my wishes instead of your need to control...I’m sorry it took me so long to understand that.”

“It’s true you know...I want to be a part of your life - I told you that - but I also don’t want to control you or force you to do something you aren’t ready for.”

“I know.”

“You know what else?”

“What?”

“Sometimes I need you more then you need me...that’s kind of scarey.” Harm admitted.

“Like when?”

“Now...you look pretty content sitting here alone when I came in.”

“And what do you need?”

“Your touch...to be close...to talk...like this...its important to me that you trust me.”

“Why, Harm?”

“Because over the years I’ve done and said things that have broken your trust. I need to know that I’ve earned it back again.”

“Oh, Harm...I trust you...I always have...”

“Don’t Sarah...I know I’ve broken your trust...I’ve said things that have hurt you. Don’t bury them now...we have to deal with it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I know. It’s just that I don’t want them to be something we pull out and hurl at each other some day when we argue over something.”

“You think we’ll argue?” Mac asked a little surprised at where Harm was going with this conversation.

“I can’t imagine we won’t someday over something...wouldn’t be realistic.”

“You’re right. Harm, I know that you were very frustrated by the things I did and said...I mean, I didn’t then, but I do now. I guess I felt I deserved what you threw at me and I don’t think its an issue anymore.”

“Are you sure, Sarah?”

“I’m sure you are right...there will be things we don’t agree on, but I am sure that I have a much better understanding of you...and you apologized for the things you said and did...” Mac smiled lovingly at the man stretched out on her couch with his head in her lap as they talked. She smoothed the wrinkles on his brow and leaned down to touch her lips there.

“I love you Sarah.” Harm said as he looked into her beautiful eyes.

“I love you too Harm.”

Their words of love were not about just the physical aspect of their relationship, nor was it about the potential of having a baby together. It wasn’t about long term commitment, or friendship or any one thing. It was about unconditional love and the willingness to take risks and be there for one another no matter what. It was about building a future on a solid basis and embracing whatever that future held for them. It was about facing the odds and finding the third percent of the solution for and with each other. Harm had understood before Mac , that this is what they could have together. Tonight they had vowed to each other to be in this for the long haul with their declarations of love to one another.

THE END

AN: Yes, I am working on the fourth part of this story. I decided to make each one a stand alone - although I think they will be better if read together as four chapters in one story.