Title : Where The Sea Meets The Sky
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV – and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.
Rating : G to PG-13
As I start this new story with a new idea, I hope all the readers/reviewers of the previous 'HNE-SNE' will enjoy this one as much. I have no idea where I'm going with the story, apart from the Middle East for a little while! Hope that summary whets all your appetites and you'll come back for more!
Thanks go to (in alphabetical order) : alicia5 – Another Tracy– CapriceAnn – cbw – DD2 – Jackie - jtbwriter - Lisa Brown - Melissa Turner – ninjaturtle – starryeyes10 – Steven Pennie, for your reviews and inspiration to write more!
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HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STREET
EARLY HOURS, SUNDAY MORNING
The woman turned in her sleep, and the image that came to her mind caused her to moan out loud. Beside her, the man she spent her days, and now her nights with opened his eyes, woken by her restless movements and her voice. Placing a hand on her shoulder he spoke her name, quiet, reassuring, calming her fears.
"Mac, wake up. You're having a dream, that's all."
"Mmmn, Harm?"
"Right here."
Mac sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes, turning to look at the tousled haired man beside her. Her grin was sleepy and lop-sided as she looked down at him, resting as he was on one elbow, his face turned up to hers.
"You're thinking about me doing my quals again."
Mac nodded. There was no denying that she feared this time of year when he went off for a few weeks to complete his medical and update his qualifications on the fighter jets he flew with the same skill and panache he always had, but now there was a wisdom in him that gave an edge to his skills, and made him a formidable force to be reckoned with, both on the ground and in the air.
"I'm okay with you going, really I am. You know I don't like it, and I know I don't like it, but I can get through it the same way I always have since that time…" Mac paused, knowing she didn't really need to say more. "It's just my subconscious that doesn't want to deal with it, and considering that's what's keeping me – and now you – awake, it's getting to be a pain in the…"
"I'm not going to make light of your feelings, Mac, and I appreciate that you deal with this so that it doesn't become an issue with us again. I'm just sorry you can't settle down to a good night's sleep because of what I do."
"It's only for a couple of weeks, and if I can wangle time out on the carrier I'm better knowing that I can actually see you in person."
"Yeah, that's always amazed me, how you manage to get a couple of days here and there? 'Fess up, Marine. Who do you bribe?"
Mac laughed huskily. "You really think Captain Ingles would take a bribe?"
"When it comes to your charm offensive, Marine, I'd say yes. You even won Tom over when he found out you'd been my RIO a couple of times."
"Hah, compared to Captain Ingles, Tom's a pussycat."
"Meow…" Harm murmured dropping his voice to the tone that made Mac melt, and then moved his arm slightly to dislodge her and drop her back to the mattress, landing conveniently on his outstretched arm, so he could then wrap both arms around her and hug her close.
"Come on, I'll sing you a lullaby."
"Aw, Flyboy, that's so sweet," Mac murmured, then dropped her tone to a throaty purr. "I'd really much prefer you to…" and as the rest of her words were heard only by the man leaning over her, the rest of the night spent dispelling her fears and replacing them with emotions much more welcome.
MATTIE AND JENNIFER'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
SAME TIME
Mattie sat up in her bed suddenly, not sure what had woken her up, or if she was even awake. Across the hall in Jennifer's room she could hear soft snoring. Mattie grinned sleepily. Yep, she was definitely awake. Unfortunately, now she couldn't get herself back to sleep for wondering what it was that had woken her up. It hadn't been a bad dream, her bed was not even really rumpled, as though her head had hit the pillow and she hadn't moved all night. Rolling off the bed she got to her feet and made her way through to the kitchen area. 'Warm milk' she thought, remembering a time when her mother would make her a mug of warm milk before bedtime. The memory no longer made her cry, but it did bring a warmth to her knowing that there were still times her mother could comfort her, even when she was no longer physically present. Putting milk into a mug and popping it into the microwave, Mattie pressed the *start* button and waited for the milk to warm through.
"Hi. Couldn't sleep?" Jennifer hid a yawn behind her hand and smiled at Mattie. They were very compatible roommates; both being independent from a very young age, they respected each other's property and privacy, and shared chores relevant to current activities so that if Mattie had extra studying for exams Jennifer would pull up the slack, and if Jennifer had late duties at JAG or exams for her own psychology courses at college then Mattie would cover her tasks as well. It was an arrangement that worked well, and Harm was not in the least bit surprised that his idea had been so successful. Mac frequently elbowed him in the ribs when he became too smug over his 'idea', telling him that it was Mattie and Jennifer that actually made it work.
"Something woke me up. It's driving me nuts that I can't remember, so I thought I'd make some milk and try to get back to sleep. It might come back to me then."
"Hate to tell you, M, but it's almost daylight. If you'll drop another mug in there, I'll join you in the land of the living instead."
"Sure." Mattie glanced at the digital clock on the microwave, confirming what Jennifer had said. It was almost 0530. "Okay, one more hot milk coming up. Sorry, by the way, for waking you."
"It wasn't you; my alarm has been set early for the past week, and I forgot to cancel it yesterday." Jennifer hitched herself up onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar. "So, kiddo, what's on your activity list today?"
"Mac and Harm are taking me to see my Dad, and then we're going on to meet some new friends of theirs."
"Sue and Jack?" ventured Jennifer, remembering the two FBI agents from the recent joint-agencies case.
"Yeah, I think that's what Mac said. "You've met them? What are they like?"
"They're really nice, and from what Harriet tells me, they remind her a lot of how Harm and Mac were before they got together."
Mattie screwed up her nose. "Oh, man, I hope it doesn't take them as long as it took Harm and Mac then! Jeez, those two should be in the book of world records!" Jennifer grinned across at her roommate as the buzzer sounded on the microwave.
"I wouldn't let Harm, or Mac even, hear you say that!"
"What, 'Jeez'?"
"Nah, that it's taken them so long to get together."
"I know. It's kinda cute, really. I mean, after all the years they've been together they know more about each other than most married couples do! I bet if they were contestants on a quiz show about each other, they'd win hands down!"
"Oh, Mattie, that's priceless!" Jennifer laughed out loud, and then stirred some coffee into the hot milk sat in front of her.
"What're you doing?" Mattie frowned, watching Jennifer.
"I figured seeing as we're supposed to be awake now, caffeine would be better than straight milk. You might want to put some in yours; it's going to be a long day for you, and you'd hate to fall asleep and miss meeting Sue and Jack. Especially Jack," Jennifer's voice dropped to a mock-seductive tone, and Mattie grinned.
"You like Jack, huh?"
"What's not to like. He's a shorter version of Harm. Kind, caring, and totally besotted with Sue."
"So, you won't poach?" Mattie asked, teasing. Jennifer grinned and shook her head.
"No way. Like I said, watching them is like watching Mac and Harm together. Besides, they have a friend who's just as dishy, and single…" Jennifer let the sentence drift, and got off her stool, mug in hand.
"Jen! You can't leave without telling me who!" Mattie squealed in disappointment, and Jennifer half-turned on her way back to her room, off to get washed and dressed.
"Say 'hi' to Bobby for me, if you meet him today."
"Bobby. Okay, will do. How will I know it's him?"
"Can't miss him, he's got the cutest Aussie accent."
"Whoa, this is scary!" Mattie put her hands up in front of her in a gesture of holding something away from her.
"What is?" Jennifer turned all the way back to face Mattie, curious now.
"Mac was engaged to an Australian once. Harm crashed his plane trying to get back for their wedding."
"Well, nothing to worry about there then. Neither Jack nor Sue fly, and Sue isn't remotely interested in Bobby other than as a friend."
"I wasn't talking about them," Mattie gave Jennifer a sly wink, and laughed out loud at Jennifer's retort.
"I'll get even with you, kiddo, when you hit eighteen!"
"In your dreams, Jen."
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To be continued
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV – and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.
Rating : G to PG-13
As I start this new story with a new idea, I hope all the readers/reviewers of the previous 'HNE-SNE' will enjoy this one as much. I have no idea where I'm going with the story, apart from the Middle East for a little while! Hope that summary whets all your appetites and you'll come back for more!
Thanks go to (in alphabetical order) : alicia5 – Another Tracy– CapriceAnn – cbw – DD2 – Jackie - jtbwriter - Lisa Brown - Melissa Turner – ninjaturtle – starryeyes10 – Steven Pennie, for your reviews and inspiration to write more!
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HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STREET
EARLY HOURS, SUNDAY MORNING
The woman turned in her sleep, and the image that came to her mind caused her to moan out loud. Beside her, the man she spent her days, and now her nights with opened his eyes, woken by her restless movements and her voice. Placing a hand on her shoulder he spoke her name, quiet, reassuring, calming her fears.
"Mac, wake up. You're having a dream, that's all."
"Mmmn, Harm?"
"Right here."
Mac sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes, turning to look at the tousled haired man beside her. Her grin was sleepy and lop-sided as she looked down at him, resting as he was on one elbow, his face turned up to hers.
"You're thinking about me doing my quals again."
Mac nodded. There was no denying that she feared this time of year when he went off for a few weeks to complete his medical and update his qualifications on the fighter jets he flew with the same skill and panache he always had, but now there was a wisdom in him that gave an edge to his skills, and made him a formidable force to be reckoned with, both on the ground and in the air.
"I'm okay with you going, really I am. You know I don't like it, and I know I don't like it, but I can get through it the same way I always have since that time…" Mac paused, knowing she didn't really need to say more. "It's just my subconscious that doesn't want to deal with it, and considering that's what's keeping me – and now you – awake, it's getting to be a pain in the…"
"I'm not going to make light of your feelings, Mac, and I appreciate that you deal with this so that it doesn't become an issue with us again. I'm just sorry you can't settle down to a good night's sleep because of what I do."
"It's only for a couple of weeks, and if I can wangle time out on the carrier I'm better knowing that I can actually see you in person."
"Yeah, that's always amazed me, how you manage to get a couple of days here and there? 'Fess up, Marine. Who do you bribe?"
Mac laughed huskily. "You really think Captain Ingles would take a bribe?"
"When it comes to your charm offensive, Marine, I'd say yes. You even won Tom over when he found out you'd been my RIO a couple of times."
"Hah, compared to Captain Ingles, Tom's a pussycat."
"Meow…" Harm murmured dropping his voice to the tone that made Mac melt, and then moved his arm slightly to dislodge her and drop her back to the mattress, landing conveniently on his outstretched arm, so he could then wrap both arms around her and hug her close.
"Come on, I'll sing you a lullaby."
"Aw, Flyboy, that's so sweet," Mac murmured, then dropped her tone to a throaty purr. "I'd really much prefer you to…" and as the rest of her words were heard only by the man leaning over her, the rest of the night spent dispelling her fears and replacing them with emotions much more welcome.
MATTIE AND JENNIFER'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
SAME TIME
Mattie sat up in her bed suddenly, not sure what had woken her up, or if she was even awake. Across the hall in Jennifer's room she could hear soft snoring. Mattie grinned sleepily. Yep, she was definitely awake. Unfortunately, now she couldn't get herself back to sleep for wondering what it was that had woken her up. It hadn't been a bad dream, her bed was not even really rumpled, as though her head had hit the pillow and she hadn't moved all night. Rolling off the bed she got to her feet and made her way through to the kitchen area. 'Warm milk' she thought, remembering a time when her mother would make her a mug of warm milk before bedtime. The memory no longer made her cry, but it did bring a warmth to her knowing that there were still times her mother could comfort her, even when she was no longer physically present. Putting milk into a mug and popping it into the microwave, Mattie pressed the *start* button and waited for the milk to warm through.
"Hi. Couldn't sleep?" Jennifer hid a yawn behind her hand and smiled at Mattie. They were very compatible roommates; both being independent from a very young age, they respected each other's property and privacy, and shared chores relevant to current activities so that if Mattie had extra studying for exams Jennifer would pull up the slack, and if Jennifer had late duties at JAG or exams for her own psychology courses at college then Mattie would cover her tasks as well. It was an arrangement that worked well, and Harm was not in the least bit surprised that his idea had been so successful. Mac frequently elbowed him in the ribs when he became too smug over his 'idea', telling him that it was Mattie and Jennifer that actually made it work.
"Something woke me up. It's driving me nuts that I can't remember, so I thought I'd make some milk and try to get back to sleep. It might come back to me then."
"Hate to tell you, M, but it's almost daylight. If you'll drop another mug in there, I'll join you in the land of the living instead."
"Sure." Mattie glanced at the digital clock on the microwave, confirming what Jennifer had said. It was almost 0530. "Okay, one more hot milk coming up. Sorry, by the way, for waking you."
"It wasn't you; my alarm has been set early for the past week, and I forgot to cancel it yesterday." Jennifer hitched herself up onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar. "So, kiddo, what's on your activity list today?"
"Mac and Harm are taking me to see my Dad, and then we're going on to meet some new friends of theirs."
"Sue and Jack?" ventured Jennifer, remembering the two FBI agents from the recent joint-agencies case.
"Yeah, I think that's what Mac said. "You've met them? What are they like?"
"They're really nice, and from what Harriet tells me, they remind her a lot of how Harm and Mac were before they got together."
Mattie screwed up her nose. "Oh, man, I hope it doesn't take them as long as it took Harm and Mac then! Jeez, those two should be in the book of world records!" Jennifer grinned across at her roommate as the buzzer sounded on the microwave.
"I wouldn't let Harm, or Mac even, hear you say that!"
"What, 'Jeez'?"
"Nah, that it's taken them so long to get together."
"I know. It's kinda cute, really. I mean, after all the years they've been together they know more about each other than most married couples do! I bet if they were contestants on a quiz show about each other, they'd win hands down!"
"Oh, Mattie, that's priceless!" Jennifer laughed out loud, and then stirred some coffee into the hot milk sat in front of her.
"What're you doing?" Mattie frowned, watching Jennifer.
"I figured seeing as we're supposed to be awake now, caffeine would be better than straight milk. You might want to put some in yours; it's going to be a long day for you, and you'd hate to fall asleep and miss meeting Sue and Jack. Especially Jack," Jennifer's voice dropped to a mock-seductive tone, and Mattie grinned.
"You like Jack, huh?"
"What's not to like. He's a shorter version of Harm. Kind, caring, and totally besotted with Sue."
"So, you won't poach?" Mattie asked, teasing. Jennifer grinned and shook her head.
"No way. Like I said, watching them is like watching Mac and Harm together. Besides, they have a friend who's just as dishy, and single…" Jennifer let the sentence drift, and got off her stool, mug in hand.
"Jen! You can't leave without telling me who!" Mattie squealed in disappointment, and Jennifer half-turned on her way back to her room, off to get washed and dressed.
"Say 'hi' to Bobby for me, if you meet him today."
"Bobby. Okay, will do. How will I know it's him?"
"Can't miss him, he's got the cutest Aussie accent."
"Whoa, this is scary!" Mattie put her hands up in front of her in a gesture of holding something away from her.
"What is?" Jennifer turned all the way back to face Mattie, curious now.
"Mac was engaged to an Australian once. Harm crashed his plane trying to get back for their wedding."
"Well, nothing to worry about there then. Neither Jack nor Sue fly, and Sue isn't remotely interested in Bobby other than as a friend."
"I wasn't talking about them," Mattie gave Jennifer a sly wink, and laughed out loud at Jennifer's retort.
"I'll get even with you, kiddo, when you hit eighteen!"
"In your dreams, Jen."
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To be continued