At Last

Rating: PG-13

Summary:  A sequel to my version of Odd Man Out, as promised.  Sorry about the wait—Real Life has kept me kind of busy lately, as have all the wonderful posts on the fanfic board.  Wow!

Disclaimer:  Please don't sue.  I have no $$$; obviously no life, and still even more obvious, no Harm/DJE, because if I did, that would negate my previous statement of having no life (and possibly the $$$ one, too). 

Spoilers: I'm not really sure what all eps, but certainly those in the seventh season, from Odd Man Out on.

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1308 ZULU

JAG HQ

Falls Church, VA

I shuffle off the elevator and into the bullpen, running a little late, and the first sight I am greeted with is Mac's smiling face.  If I didn't know better, I would think that she has been lying in wait for me.  I return her grin, unable to keep a straight face even if I wanted to in the light of that beautiful smile.

"Morning, Sailor," she says nudging her shoulder against mine.  I nudge her back.

I missed her.

"Morning, Mac," I reply.  She follows me into my office and shuts the door behind her.

"So, how was the big game?" she asks.

"You didn't watch?"  With her Rams playing I can't imagine Mac not tuning in.  Then again, given how I heard they played, I can see why she might have tuned out early.

"Yeah, I watched it," she whines disconsolately.  "It's the worst game the Rams ever played."

I chuckle.  "Well, I told you…"

"You did not.  You were rooting for the Steelers and they didn't even win their division."

"I was rooting for the Patriots, too."  She gives me a Look.  Okay, truthfully, I was hoping the Rams would win it, but I think the Pats deserved the win.  They worked really hard for it, but no need to get into all that with Mac.  She's no doubt still sore about the outcome of the game.

"Well see, you wouldn't have enjoyed the Superbowl anyway if I had had real seats."

She brushes her fingers along my sleeve.  "I don't know…" she murmurs.  I will myself not to react.

I missed…us.  This new "us" that we seem to have evolved to.  All I thought about while I was in the air during the game was her in my arms, her lips on mine, that black negligee she was wearing when I went to see her.  Wow.  Her letting me take in the beauty of her figure as she stood before me.  I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't pulled away from her. 

And now I'm back in Washington, and Mac's behavior appears to indicate she has no objection to the current progression of our relationship, which seems to be drifting carefully into uncharted waters for us—lovers.

I find myself yearning for that to be the case, and hesitant if it is.  I want to kick myself sometimes. 

I'm sure if I screw this thing up with Mac, there will be plenty of people in line to do just that.