Mac's Mountie - Part 3

Monday, 1 July 2002
0405 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

The Admiral woke hearing Mac call his name.  She had moved on the bed and lay without touching him now.  He watched as she began to thrash about in the bed; it was more than obvious what she was dreaming. But who was she making love to? 'Rabb,' he decided.

Mac's moans grew in volume and suddenly she screamed, "AJ!!!"

The Admiral was stunned. Next to him lay one of the most lovely women he'd ever known, and she just had a wet dream about him! "Dear God, Sarah, you are so wonderful.  Absolutely wonderful."  he whispered, brushing her hair off of her damp face and leaning over to kiss her forehead.

Mac's eyes flew open as she heard his voice. Startled at his words and finding him leaning over her, she lifted her chin, and his lips landed on hers instead of her forehead. He jerked back when he realized she was awake. He licked his lips. "Mac?"

"Mmm," she moaned in answer, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him back to the kiss. AJ rolled over and captured Mac in his arms, pressing her closely against his chest as his mouth claimed hers. His tongue parted her lips and he delved inside the recesses of her mouth. He released her mouth and moved his to her neck, gently nibbling on her ear. As he moved to her neck, he realized what he was doing and with whom... and the sudden realization made him bite down harder than normal before he let her go.

AJ tried to pull away, but Mac kept a firm grip on him. "Make love to me," she begged.

"Mac, we can't..."

"Yes we can.  I don't work for you anymore," she insisted.

"You don't really want me, Mac.  It's just because of your getting hurt... and your dreams..."

"No it's not, AJ.  I want you.  I've wanted you for a long time.  Pleeeease," she ground out.

"As much as I want to, Mac, I won't do this. I can't. We can't.  Not tonight.  Not like this."  Mac turned over and buried her face in her pillow and cried softly.  He reached for her and pulled her to his chest, holding her close.  "Go back to sleep, Mac.  Sleep now.  Shhh," he cooed in her ear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 11, 1886
1015 MST
Northwest Territory, Canada

AJ paced back and forth in the front room of the cabin.  He didn't know what else to do. Sarah had been in labor for 8 hours, and she was already fully dilated but there was no sign of the baby's head.  He knew what it probably meant:  a breech birth.  And in this country, breech births usually resulted in both the mother and baby dying.  He'd never successfully delivered a breech baby.  "I knew I should have insisted we go to the Fort for the last months," he muttered to himself.  

He heard Sarah call him, and he rushed back to the bedroom.  "AJ, my love... please don't fret.  It is not your fault.  It is mine.  I should have listened to you... I should not have been so obstinate about this.  I lost every baby I carried of Harmon's.  I should have agreed to go to the Fort.  I'm so sorry," she whimpered.

"Darlin', none of this is your fault.  I should have insisted.  Carried you there if I had to.  I am the man... you are my responsibility.  And I failed you."

"No, AJ!  You have not failed me.  You have always been here when I needed you.  You have loved me completely, and not wanted to change me.  I so wanted to give you a son..."

AJ heard a noise in the yard.  "Someone's here," he said.  "I'll send them away and be right back, Dearest."  

Sarah nodded and reached for her husbands hand.  "Kiss me first, AJ.  Before you go. Please, my love?"

AJ bent over and kissed her gently on the mouth.  "I'll be right back, Darlin'."

AJ grabbed his tunic and was buttoning it as he stepped outside.  "Good morning," he said in greeting.

The man who had just dismounted his horse turned and smiled.  "Good morning to you, Inspector Chegwidden.  I'm Lucas Fry.  My friends call me Luke," he said extending his hand to AJ.

AJ took it and replied, "I'm AJ."  He glanced back at the cabin.  "I'm sorry, Luke, but now is really not a good time for me.  My wife is..."

"Ah yes!" interrupted the stranger.  "Actually your wife is the reason I'm here today.  I was told by the Jacobs back at Fort Calgary that I should look you all up as soon as I arrived in the territory.  I understand your wife is with child?"

AJ was surprised.  "That's right.  Actually, she's..."

"And she's due fairly soon, if the Jacobs had their facts right."

"She's in labor now."

"Ah!  Then I timed my arrival perfectly, did I not?" Luke smiled.  "Let me just get my bag and I'll have a look."

"Timed?  Bag?  What are you talking about?" AJ asked, bewildered... until he saw the black medical bag the man was untying from his saddle.  "My God, man!  You're a doctor?!"

Luke turned around.  "That I am.  Didn't I say that?  I'm sorry.  Yes, I'm Doctor Lucas Fry."

AJ grabbed him by the arm and pulled him inside.  He spoke urgently.  "She's been in labor for 8 hours, the first 4 were mild, but these last 4 have been excruciating. She's completely dilated, but there's no sign of the head.  My thought is breech, and I've never yet delivered a breech successfully."

Luke's smile immediately vanished.  "Do you have water boiling?  Clean towels?" he barked.

"Yes to both."

Luke went to the basin and washed his hands thoroughly.  "Where is she?" he asked, drying his hands on a clean towel.  

AJ opened the bedroom door and led the doctor inside.  Sarah stirred.  "AJ, I hurt so much.  Hold me.  Please hold me," she cried.

"Darlin', there's a doctor just come up from Calgary.  He's here.  He's going to take over now."  AJ knew better than tell her everything would be fine.  They still might lose the baby. 'God, just let my wife live!' he begged his Creator.

"A doctor?"

"Mrs. Chegwidden, I'm Doctor Lucas Fry.  Just call me Luke, okay?"  Sarah nodded. "Now, I'm going to have a look at what you've got down here," he continued, throwing the sheet to the side.  "Normally, I'd talk to you a bit first, let you get used to me, before I examined you in such a way, but from what your husband tells me, there isn't time for that. So just be calm, and try to relax."  

The doctor took one look at her and knew AJ was right.  "You say she's been in hard labor for 4 hours?" The doctor grabbed his bag and pulled out his instruments.  He handed a bunch to AJ.  "Go boil these for me and bring them back in a pan of warm water.  And I'll need a couple of clean towels... big ones."  AJ scrambled to do his bidding.  

The doctor moved to Sarah's bedside.  "Mrs. Chegwidden, I'm not going to beat around the bush here.  Your baby's head is in the wrong position.  I'm going to have to turn the baby inside of you before it can come out.  Do you understand?"

Sarah nodded as AJ returned to the room.  "I understand, Doctor.  Do what you have to."

He smiled at her encouragingly.  "We need to move the bed."

"Move the bed?" AJ asked incredulously.  "Now?"

"I want you to be at the head of the bed, holding her up, supporting her.  That's best done if the bed isn't against the wall.  We just need to slide it out a few feet," the doctor informed him.

AJ nodded.  "Okay."  He turned to Sarah.  "We're going to move you a little, Darlin'."

Sarah moaned.  "It will be alright, Mrs. Chegwidden," the doctor assured her.  "You'll hardly know we're moving you."  The men stood on either side of the bed and as gently as they could, slid it forward a couple of feet.  "That should be plenty.  Now you stand at her head and lift her when I tell you," he instructed AJ.  Then turned back to the task at hand. "Okay, now this is going to hurt like nothing you've ever felt before, Mrs. Chegwidden."

"Sarah.  My name is Sarah," she panted.

"Sarah.  Beautiful name.  It means Princess, did you know that?" he asked.  The doctor proceeded to turn the baby inside of Sarah.  She screamed in pain and AJ felt so guilty for putting her through this.  Again, the doctor turned the baby and she screamed. And again. Finally the doctor stood up and looked over Sarah's bent knees.  "Well, it's time to have a baby, Sarah.  You up to it?"

Sarah nodded.  "Uh huh," she mumbled.

Luke smiled.  "Good.  Won't take long, now. You did just fine. The baby is positioned correctly now, and with just a few pushes from you, we'll be all set.  Okay?"

Not 10 minutes later, the doctor handed AJ his new son.  "Congratulations, Daddy," he grinned.  

AJ held the baby in his huge hands and lowered him so Sarah could see her son.  "He's here, Sarah.  We have a son, Darlin'."  

"Is he okay?" she asked.  "Does he have all his fingers and toes?"

AJ counted.  "Yes, Darlin'.  He looks just perfect."

Luke saw Sarah's face twist into pain and her abdomen contract again.  "Inspector, if you'll take him in the other room and wash him up, I'll finish here with the new mommy."

When AJ finished cleaning up the baby, he brought him back into the bedroom.  "I think he's hungry, Darlin'."

Sarah held her arms out to take him.  "I'll just bet you are," she cooed to her new son.  "So am I, actually," she hinted.

The doctor stood up and piled his instruments on a towel.  "Let me clean these up and I'll fix you a nice big lunch, how's that?" he suggested.  "AJ, you might want to change the bed linens."

Before the doctor left the room with his towel full of instruments, AJ moved to him and took his hand.  "Doctor, I can't begin to thank you enough for what you just did.  My wife means more to me than anything in this world.  And because of you, she's still alive.  And my son!" AJ's eyes welled with tears.  "I owe you, Sir.  More than I can ever repay."

"I'm just glad I arrived in time," said the doctor graciously.

AJ sat on the edge of the bed looking at his wife and son.  "Have you decided what you want to call him, Darlin'?"

Sarah gazed at the newborn, still wrinkled and pink, sucking greedily at her breast.  "Albert Jethro, Junior, of course."

"Sarah, why do you think I'm called AJ?  Because I didn't like Albert Jethro."

"But it's such a noble name, my love."

"How about we name him after two important people in our lives?" he suggested.

"And who would those be?" she asked.

"I thought... Lucas Harmon," he said softly.

Sarah gasped.  "AJ, you want to name your child after my first husband?"

"He was the reason I met you, Sarah.  He was a part of your life... a beloved part of your life."

"Oh, AJ, it is too much to ask of you..."

"You're not asking it, Darlin'.  It was my suggestion.  And you'll notice... it's his middle name, not his given name," he winked at her.

Sarah giggled.  "Oh AJ, my love.  You are the most wonderful man I've ever known.  What ever did I do to deserve you?  Your love?  And the honor of having your son?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday, 1 July 2002
0450 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

The Admiral hadn't gone back to sleep after Mac woke him the last time.  He lay there holding her, her back to his chest, wondering about what she said.  'It was just the dream.  She doesn't really want me,' he told himself.  'But what if she does? What if she really would want an old fart like me?  We can have a relationship now.  It would be tricky at first; have to be sure no one thought anything was going on before now.'

Mac began moaning and trying to get free from his grasp.  AJ released her and she immediately began thrashing her head back and forth on the pillow.  She looked like she was in pain.  AJ was just about to wake her when the scene changed.  She lay limp on the bed and tears slipped down her cheeks.  Not a minute later she giggled, "Oh AJ, my love.  You are the most wonderful man I've ever known.  What ever did I do to deserve you?  Your love?  And the honor of having your son?"

AJ inhaled sharply at her words.  'Dear God.  She dreamt that she had my baby?  And she was happy about it!'  AJ quietly got out of the bed and returned to the living room.  Mac was fine now; she'd been lucid every time she awoke during the night, even though she did have some odd dreams.  He thought it was time for him to head for home.  He'd get there just as he would normally be getting up to run.  He thought about leaving a note for Mac, but decided against it.  'She'll probably wish she could just forget last night.  But I'll never forget it.  I'll never forget holding her in my arms.  I'll certainly never forget the taste of her mouth.'

Monday, 1 July 2002
0600 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac awoke at exactly 0600 as she always did. "Funny that I didn't dream the last hour," she realized.  "Not since I had the baby."  She gasped as she stretched.  "Baby!  Oh God...  I dreamt I had the Admiral's baby."  'Mmm, and he was sooo wonderful!' Mac climbed out of bed.  Then she turned back to look at it.  "Wait a minute.  I thought he was with me in bed..."

She opened her bedroom door expecting to see the Admiral reclining on the sofa. But he wasn't there. She didn't smell any coffee, so she knew he wasn't in the kitchen. She searched her small apartment, and found no trace of him. "That's odd. Could it all have been a dream?" Mac rubbed the sore spot on her head. "No, I definitely fell. But did he stay?" Mac wasn't sure now.  "Maybe not.  Maybe it was all just a dream."  'But I can smell him... his aftershave... on my pillow...'

She went to the bathroom and showered. She stood in front of the mirror and noticed a small mark on her neck. She looked closer. Sure enough! It was a hickey. "He was here. He did stay. We did... kiss. Oh God, and I begged him to make love to me!"  Mac sat on the edge of her bed and hugged the pillow he'd used.

Monday, 1 July 2002
1135 EDT
The Pentagon
Washington, DC

Mac stood in her new office staring out the window, her arms folded across her chest. Harm paused in her office doorway, noticing her stance. He teased, "Hey, Mac, you picked up the Admiral's habit!"

Mac whirled around at the sound of Harm's voice. "Harm! What a surprise! What brings you here? And how's Sergei?"

"You," he said simply. "And my brother is fine. A little wiser, I think. I hope. But fine."

She smiled. "Good."

"So are you all unpacked? Or can I help?" he asked noticing her boxes were still taped shut and sitting on the floor by the door.

"Sure, you can help. Take me to lunch!"

"Actually, that was my plan," he grinned. "Come on. I have a table reserved at the Club." Mac walked around her desk and grabbed her cover from the peg behind her door. "Wooah, Mac! That's quite a hickey I left there. I didn't think I sucked on you that hard last night. I'm sorry," he told her.

Mac started to tell him that it wasn't his... then thought better of it. She'd have to explain more than she wanted to. "No big deal, Harm."

They arrived at the Army and Navy Club in Farragut Square and were seated right away. After they ordered their food, Harm said, "Okay, spill it, Marine. What's bothering you?"

Mac looked up surprised. "Bothering me? What do you mean?"

"Maa-ac..."

"Harm, I started a new job today. It's totally and completely different from anything I've done before. Why do you think I'm nervous?" she said sarcastically.

"Sorry, it just seems like... something else. I don't know. Maybe I'm seeing things..."

"You are," she insisted.

"So, why haven't you unpacked yet? I figured by the time I got there this morning, your office would be ship shape, with your seal hanging on the wall!"

"What?" she snapped, thinking SeAL... not seal pup.

"Your poster, Mac. The seal pup?"

Mac swallowed hard. "Oh. I didn't bring it with me."

Harm raised his eyebrow. "You love that poster, Mac."

"I forgot it. It's still on the wall in my old office at JAG," she said. "I'll get it sometime."

"Why don't we run out there and get it after lunch? Then you can really decorate your new office the way you want it. Besides, you don't want someone like Singer tearing it down, do you?"

"Singer's getting my office?!" she asked incredulously.

Harm chuckled. "No, Mac. The Admiral's putting Bud in there, actually. It's more centrally located to things, though you'd never get the Admiral to admit that's why he's giving it to him."

"He's such a dear," she murmured.

"A 'dear'?" echoed Harm. "That's something I've never heard said about the Admiral before."

"That's because you haven't listened, Harm," Mac told him. "Lots of people would agree with me."

"But they wouldn't say it, Mac."

"Harriett would."

"Well..."

"Well, nothing."

"Okay. The Admiral is a 'dear'. Fine. Now, what's really bothering you?" he pressed.

"Harm, I don't care to talk about it right now, okay?"

"So there is something..."

"Harm! Drop it!"

Monday, 1 July 2002
1325 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

The Admiral stood staring out the window, his arms folded across his chest. He saw Harm drive into the parking lot and watched as Mac climbed out of the passenger side, not waiting for Rabb. He smiled, wondering if she'd heard his message yet. But no, she couldn't have. He only left it 30 minutes ago, and if she was with Rabb... 'Oh well. She'll probably say no, anyway.' He decided to make a point of seeing her while she was in the office. No telling how long she'd be there.

Harm and Mac walked into the JAG Ops bullpen and Mac headed straight for her old office. "Hi, Bud! Harriett!" she said happily seeing them getting Bud's things squared away.

"Colonel! What a surprise!" "It's so good to see you, Ma'am!" they chorused.

"Couldn't stay away, Colonel?" asked the Admiral, stopping in the doorway.

Mac felt a shiver of excitement run up her spine when she heard his voice. She turned around with a smile on her face. "No, Sir. I sure couldn't," she teased. They all laughed lightly. "Actually, I forgot my poster..."

"Yes, Ma'am. I took it down this morning and rolled it up for you. I didn't want to chance anything happening to it. I put it in a cardboard tube. It's at my desk; I'll get it for you, Ma'am," replied Harriett.

"Thanks, Harriett."

"All settled in by now, I imagine?" said the Admiral.

"No Sir!" exclaimed Harm. "She hasn't even unpacked the first box. When I got there, I found her staring out her window with her arms folded across her chest. Just like you do, Admiral!" Harm chuckled as a slight blush crept up on Mac's neck and face.

The Admiral raised an eyebrow at Mac and looked deeply into her eyes. "Something troubling you, Mac?"

She swallowed hard, looking back at him. She reached up and lightly outlined the hickey on her neck, saying, "Not a thing, Admiral."

He smiled at her gesture.  "Good, good. Well, don't be a stranger now," he replied and left the office. 'Maybe she'll say yes!  Yessss!'

Harriett returned, handing the cardboard tube to Mac. "Thanks, Harriett."

"Colonel," said Bud, "I hope you don't mind my taking your office so soon after you left."

"Bud, I'm not coming back. Today or next week... doesn't matter. This is your office now. Enjoy it!" she told him. "I've really got to get back to my office now. I'll see you all later!"

"Bye, Colonel!" "Bye, Ma'am!"

"Harm, let's go."

"Mac, I need to make a call. Do you mind?" he said, walking into his office, not even waiting for an answer.

"Harm, I really have to get back..."

"He deserting you again, Mac?" quipped the Admiral, hearing the conversation as he headed back to his office from the break room.

Mac sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to come here after lunch."

"Let me get my things, Mac, and I'll drive you back," he offered.

"Oh, Admiral, I couldn't..."

"I have meeting with the SecNav at 1500, Mac. I have to go over there anyway. So I'm a little early. No big deal. I'll wait in your office," he grinned.

Mac smiled. "Very well."

"I'll be right out."

Harm hung up the phone, grabbed his cover off his desk, and said, "Okay, let's go."

"No need, Harm. You stay here. The Admiral's taking me back."

"Mac, it was just a phone call. It didn't take 3 minutes," Harm argued.

"Harm, he has to go anyway for a meeting with the SecNav."

"Oh. Well, that's different," Harm backtracked. "Okay. So, we on for dinner tonight?"

"Dinner?" she repeated, not knowing that the Admiral had walked up behind her.

"Yeah, you know... eating? Food? After work?" Harm said.

"Not tonight, Harm. I'm busy," she replied, thinking, 'I wish I was busy. I wish I was seeing him tonight. Will he ask me? Will he say anything about last night?'

"Let's roll, Colonel."  

The Admiral's words right behind her startled Mac and she jumped as he walked past her and punched the elevator Down button. "Right behind you, Sir," she said as she almost ran to catch up to him.  

They stepped on the elevator and as the doors closed, he whispered, "I certainly enjoyed being 'right behind you' last night, Mac."

Mac smiled. "So did I, Admiral."

He stood facing the elevator door, but turned his head to face Mac. "It's AJ."

As they reached his Escalade, he opened the passenger door and offered Mac his hand to help her step up into the vehicle. She accepted it and closed her hand around his, squeezing it, before letting it go. They smiled at each other. Beamed would be a better word.

AJ walked around to the driver's side and climbed in. Once they were out of the JAG parking lot, he reached over and picked up her hand. "May I?" he asked.

"Mmm, please do," she purred.

"Mac. About you and Rabb..."

"There's nothing between us, AJ. We've been exploring the possibilities, but that's all. There's nothing there. And I don't honestly believe there ever will be."

"I don't want to intrude, Mac. I don't want Harm to think I..." he paused.

"Stole his girl?" she finished for him. AJ nodded. "I'll be sure he knows." They sat in silence for a few minutes as AJ drove through the heavy traffic. Just as they pulled into the Pentagon parking area, Mac said quietly, "So am I?"

"Are you... what?" he asked, confused.

"Am I your girl?" Mac almost whispered it as the Admiral's cell phone rang.

He didn't answer her question. He answered the phone. "Chegwidden!"

Tiner's voice came through the line. "Admiral, the SecNav's office just called. He's moved up your appointment with him, Sir. You're now due in his office at 1400, Sir."

"1400?" AJ confirmed.

"Yes, Sir. That's in 5 minutes, Admiral," Tiner replied.

"And what the hell would he have done if I wasn't already here, Tiner?" AJ bellowed.

"Well, Sir, actually, they wanted to push it out to 1800. And I told them you were already on your way there. So they said 1400 instead. I hope that was..."

"Well done, Tiner. Thanks," AJ interrupted, turning off the ignition and snapping the phone shut. "I have 5 minutes to get to the SecNav's office, Mac. I'm sorry; I'll have to see your office later."

"That's quite alright, Sir," Mac replied.

"AJ, remember?"

"AJ."

Just as they were parting company, going in opposite directions inside the building, AJ turned and said, "Do you want to be, Mac?"

She gasped slightly at his words, knowing he was picking up the conversation from the car.  But he didn't wait for her answer.  He walked away quickly; he was already a minute late getting to the SecNav's office.  

When Mac reached her own office, she was floating on the proverbial Cloud 9.  She noticed the message light blinking on her phone. "Probably Harm," she decided. 'I don't want to hear his voice right now. I want to remember AJ's.' "AJ," she sighed.  "Yes, I do want to be your girl."

Mac pulled the poster out of the tube and unrolled it. She chose the perfect wall and pinned it up. Then she opened the first box of her things and started unpacking. Within an hour, she had her office just like she wanted it. "Perfect!"

The light was still blinking, so she decided she'd better listen to it. "Mac, this is Admiral Chegwidden," his deep voice said. "I was wondering if you... might be free... for dinner... tonight, maybe?" his words were halting.

Mac gasped as she listened. She sat down heavily in her chair and hugged herself. "Oh, AJ."

"Nice digs," the Admiral said, surprising Mac. She whirled around in the chair and almost fell out. "Wooah, Mac!" he rushed in and caught her. "That chair is dangerous!" he laughed.

"I'd love to have dinner with you tonight, AJ," she answered his invitation.

"I heard you tell Rabb you already had plans."

"No, I said I was busy."

"And? You're not busy now?"

"Of course I am. I'm having dinner with you."

"Mac, you hadn't heard my message..."

"I told Harm I was busy because I was hoping to hear from you," she confessed.

"And if I hadn't called?"

"I'd have called you."

AJ grinned. "I'll pick you up at 1930?" he suggested. Mac nodded her agreement.

Monday, 1 July 2002
1915 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

"Harm, it's a done deal. The guy is guilty as hell. Why should they give him a break?"

"Mac, he's sorry. He didn't really want to hurt the girl. It was an accident."

"Accident! Kiss my ass!" she blurted out as the doorbell rang.  

Mac was opening the door just as Harm replied, "I would dearly love to kiss your ass, Mac. Come back over here so I can reach it."

"Well, it sounds like I'm interrupting something," the Admiral said from the doorway, trying to keep his voice light.

"Admiral!" they chorused together. He raised his eyebrow at Mac's use of his rank.

"Sir, I was just getting Mac's opinion about the Bryant case."

"Save it, Harm," he barked. "I know what I just heard."

"But Sir..."

"Harm, it's not a problem.  You two don't work together anymore.  There are no regs against your having a relationship now of any kind," the Admiral told him.

Harm grinned.  "Yes Sir.  I'm fully aware of that," he said turning to Mac with lustful eyes.

Mac flushed at Harm's intense look.  She moved her gaze to the Admiral.  She couldn't tell what he was thinking.  'He has such a poker face at times!'  She looked back at Harm.  He was still eyeing her, almost undressing her with his eyes.  She felt trapped, like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

Before she said anything, the Admiral turned to leave.  "Didn't mean to interrupt.  Carry on," he said backing out and pulling the door closed behind him.

The sound of the door clicking brought Mac back to reality.  "AJ, wait!" she cried.

"Let him go, Mac," Harm said, reaching for her.

She broke away and out the front door, catching up to the Admiral on the front steps.  Her words poured out of her mouth in rapid succession.  "AJ, we were discussing the Bryant case, and Harm was wanting to know if I thought the prosecution would go easy on him. Bud has him dead to rights, and I told Harm that. He insisted that Bryant was sorry and didn't really want to hurt the girl... that it was an accident. I said, 'Accident! Kiss my ass!' just as you knocked. And he answered... what you heard... as I opened the door. It wasn't what it sounded like. Really."  She breathed in heavily.

"Mac..."

"Please, AJ.  You have to believe me..." she begged, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling his face down to hers, kissing him.

AJ put his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, returning the kiss and deepening it.  "Ohh, Darlin'..."

"AJ, please don't leave."

Harm stood in the doorway watching the scene unfold.  He was totally dumbfounded.  'Mac and the Admiral?  How did this happen?  He only just brought her home last night!  Damn it, Sergei...'

"Mac, are you absolutely sure about this?  About Rabb, I mean..." AJ's voice was unsure.

"AJ, I love Harm," Mac told him.  Harm smiled.  "I always have... and I always will.  He's the best friend I've ever had.  We've had our ups and downs, and no, he hasn't always been there for me when I needed him.  But he is the best friend I've ever had.  I don't want to lose him."

"Mac, you can't have both of us," AJ told her quietly.  Harm raised his eyebrows in shock.

"Why not?" she countered, surprising both men.  "I love Harm as my friend.  Nothing more."  She reached up and stroked AJ's face, "And I want you as my lover.  Nothing less."

"I'm going to ask you a question, Mac.  And I want an honest answer," AJ said.  Mac nodded.  "Have you ever slept with him?  Does he have any reason to believe you belong to him?  That I'm an interloper?"

"Yes," Mac replied.  Harm nodded, which caught AJ's attention.  AJ's face clouded over, but Mac hurried to continue.  "And no.  We've slept together a couple of times.  Once when I was shot when he had plane trouble... back my first year at JAG, you remember?"  AJ nodded.  "And just back in May when we were in country.  We started out under the stars, but the bombing started and we ended up in a cave."  

Mac kept talking; AJ was looking over her shoulder, back toward her apartment.  She figured Harm was probably standing there hearing everything, but she didn't care at this point.  "We kept each other warm, AJ.  That's all.  Nothing happened either time.  I have never made love to Harm.  And I've never slept with him the way I slept with you last night."  She heard Harm gasp behind her, but she continued.  "I never begged him to make love to me the way I did you last night.  And I never snuggled with him, kissed him, petted him... the way I did you last night," she said, her voice dropping to almost a whisper.

"So he has no prior claim?" AJ confirmed.

Mac smiled brightly at AJ.  "He has no prior claim, AJ.  None at all."

AJ looked from her to Harm and back. "Are you ready to go to dinner?" he asked her simply.

"Sure am!" She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed AJ lightly. She turned around to find Harm staring at them.  "I told you I was busy tonight, Harm. But you came over anyway. We're leaving now.  Lock up on your way out, okay?" Mac grabbed AJ's arm and they left... Harm standing in front of Mac's apartment with a shocked expression on his face.

When AJ and Mac finished dinner, he drove back to his place. "Harm might be waiting for you," he explained in jest. Mac giggled.

When they entered the house, AJ could tell that Mac was nervous. 'Does she think I'm going to jump her bones right here in the entry?  Hmm, not a bad idea.'  "Have a seat, Mac," he motioned to the living room. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Do you have any sarsaparilla?" she asked, sitting on the sofa.

AJ jerked his head around. "Sarsaparilla?" He chuckled. "No Mac, I don't. Don't think I've heard of anyone drinking sarsaparilla in 50 years."

"I've never had it. I just wondered what it was like. It was in my dream last night."

"It's akin to root beer. Different though. Coke? Pepsi? Or would you prefer a cup of tea?"

"Oh, tea would be perfect, AJ."

"Okay. Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a minute." He returned a couple of minutes later with 2 mugs of hot tea. "I don't like little teacups. Can't get but 3 swallows out of them." He handed her a mug as she blinked hard. "Something wrong?" he asked her, sitting down close to her.

She shook her head. "No, it's just that... you said something like that last night."

"I did? About tea cups?"

"In my dream," she nodded. Mac took a sip. It was weak and sweetened to perfection. She looked up at him and smiled. "It's delicious; thank you."

AJ put his arm around Mac and pulled her close to his chest. He set his mug on the coffee table. Then he took hers and set it down next to his. He looked into her eyes as he lowered his head and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Her lips parted and he thrust his tongue inside of her mouth. He moved his hands to pull her closer to him. She moaned her pleasure as he caressed her butt cheeks.

After a few minutes, AJ pulled back. "Are you sure, Mac? About Rabb? You two do make a sharp couple. Gorgeous woman. Handsome guy. And you know what they say about dress whites and..."

"...and a SeAL trident?" she interrupted.

AJ drew in a quick breath. "Mac..."

"AJ, please stop asking me that.  I don't want Harm.  I'm much more attracted to a certain SeAL trident than any old pair of wings," she whispered, looking look up at him.  "And I've always thought you far more handsome."  She saw the desire burning in his eyes. She knew he wanted her. Why was he stalling? "Of course, if you wanted to don a red Mountie tunic, I wouldn't object," she teased.

AJ cupped her face with his hand.  "A Mountie tunic?  I was a Mountie in your dreams?"

"Mmm, and what a wonderful Mountie you were.  I especially liked it when you "mounted" me!" she giggled.

AJ gently pushed Mac down on the sofa, kissing her skin as he unbuttoned her blouse.  "Do you want children, AJ?" she asked suddenly.

AJ looked up.  "Children?"

"Mmm hmm.  We had a son in my dream," she told him.

"Always wanted a son," AJ murmured.

"Then why don't we make one," suggested Mac.

Three hours later, Mac lay in AJ's arms, completely spent. He kissed her lightly and brushed her sweaty hair away from her face. "Dear God, Sarah, you are so wonderful.  Absolutely wonderful."

The End.