Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters do not belong to me. This is only for
entertainment.
Classification: PG 13
Category: H/M drama
Summary: Harm and Mac's Christmas becomes a challenge to survive when
an assignment to the Middle East turns threatening. This happens during
season 7.
Written 12/01
PART 3
"On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve days of leave time, eleven judges dancing, ten Admirals smiling, nine meatless meatloaves, eight pairs of new shoes, seven cups of Starbucks, six chocolate dove bars, Five F-14s, four red corvettes, three Beltway burgers, two new tattoos and a win against Lt. Singer!" Harm and Mac burst out laughing at the end of the chorus of their own rendition of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas'
"It's gotten colder." Harm commented and looked up into the now clear starlit night sky.
"It must have been awful for you that night." Mac's voice took on a gentle probing quality.
Harm knew she was talking about his night in the Atlantic. He sighed deeply and continued to look straight ahead. "The worst part about it was the lack of control." He said flatly not sure he wanted to talk about it.
"But you held on."
"I was drowning, cold , tired and hurting." His voice was controlled and distant.
"Everyone was so scared for you."
"Somebody must have been praying for me." He looked over to see Mac watching him intently.
"We prayed at the rehearsal dinner. It helped calm me." Mac admitted.
"I really messed your life up." Harm stopped their forward movement and leaned more heavily on the stick he had been using for a cane. Mac observed his deeply distressed continence.
"I guess we both were set adrift that night. You in the ocean and me in my relationship with Mic." Mac's hand automatically reached up and touched his cheek. "I realized that the reason that Mic and I didn't make it was not because of your crash, but because I didn't love him with all of my heart."
Harm blinked away a shine that his eyes had taken on as he looked at the beautiful woman standing next to him. He felt that deep longing that took a great effort on his part to keep locked away. Right now he didn't have the energy to fight it anymore and leaned towards her pulling her into his arms and slowly pressed his lips to hers massaging her mouth with his as the kiss deepened. Finally he slowly withdrew and held her gaze in his. For that moment in the middle of the cold desert they felt the warmth that had sustained their relationship through the years grow. There would be no turning back.
Mac smiled and looked deeply into his blue eyes, "Now will you tell me about your hallucination?"
"Show me your tattoo, and we'll talk." He responded to her challenge with a single chuckle. "The offer's on the table counselor."
"I guess this one will have to go to trial."
"Your honor the Marine in question was deliberately trying to bribe an officer and a gentleman."
"But! Your honor counsel is assuming facts not in evidence."
"But, your honor I believe an attempt to bribe was very much in evidence."
"I don't argue that point your honor, but the fact that the officer is a gentleman has not yet been established."
"Badgering!"
"Your honor the Squid in question asked to see said Marine's tattoo. No gentleman would ask to see a lady's tattoo especially..." She stopped abruptly and grinned.
"Especially? Please continue."
"Did you know that my favorite movie is "Lady and the Tramp."
"You just like the part where the two dogs suck on the spaghetti and kiss."
"So, I like spaghetti. What's your favorite besides 'Top Gun'."
"That's not my favorite. I like 'From Here to Eternity'."
"You get stuck on those Eternity issues don't you."
"Only with you." He smiled.
"Are you going to tell me about your hallucination?"
"Are you going to show me your tattoo?"
"How about another Christmas carol."
*****
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones in old D.C.
Where Tiner blunders and Jag lawyers argue until the Admiral starts
to steam
I dreaming of a white Christmas with every lengthy brief I write.
May all you cases be merry and light
And may all your clients be bright" Harm sang in true Bing Crosby
style.
"You are real talent there Squid."
"I aim to please."
"Shhhh! I thought I heard something." Mac whispered and helped Harm to the ground behind some sparse brush.
The sound of clanking and sheep being herded grew louder and louder.
"It must be some Bedouins." Harm whispered.
"Why are they traveling at night?" Mac argued.
"Let's ask them." Harm retorted. Mac rolled her eyes.
Soon they could make out a small flock of goats and sheep herded by Bedouins dressed in traditional garb. "They probably have water, and we are all out unless you want to open up that bottle of bourbon." Harm pointed out.
Mac stood up and made their presence known as Harm struggled to stand next to her.
She spoke in Farsi, but received no reply as several of the tribe approached.
"Maybe you're a little rusty. Try Russian." Harm suggested bringing a glare from Mac.
She tried again, but there was still no response. "They must not speak Arabic."
One of the young members of the group shyly approached and looked curiously at the two strangers.
He must have been around eight years old. Harm reached into the bag he was carrying and pulled out a piece of the peanut butter fudge and offered it to the child. Reluctantly he took the candy and looked at Harm. Harm pretended to eat bringing chuckles to the members of the tribe. The little dark skinned boy's dark brown eyes lit up in delight, as he tasted the treat. Harm immediately offered each tribe member a piece.
"Nice going Santa. Good thing his mother didn't teach him to not take candy from a stranger."
"I think we've made friends." Harm leaned over to Mac.
The leader offered them water and spoke in a language Mac did not understand.
"I thought I recognized a few Hebrew words, but I'm not sure." Mac added.
"Surely they can lead us to a waterhole or village if we follow them." Harm suggested.
"There is safety in numbers." Mac replied thoughtfully.
The group soon lost interest in the two strangers and continued their journey.
The little boy turned towards Harm and Mac and gestured for them to follow.
"It's amazing. These people have lived like this for centuries. Wondering around in the wilderness with all their worldly possessions being a flock of sheep and the clothes on their backs." Mac observed after they had walked for several hours.
"I hope they take a break soon." Harm grimaced and held his side as the long day of walking began to take its toll.
"Harm, let's stop and you can rest. We can catch up with them." Mac saw the fatigue in his face.
"Just for a little while." Harm's lack of resistance brought new concern from Mac.
"Why don't you eat another piece of that fudge to keep your strength up."
"I think a sip of that bourbon would help more right now." He groaned as he tried to find a comfortable position.
The little Bedouin boy had lagged behind to be close to Harm and Mac. When they stopped he walked over to them and brought them an animal skin water bag. Harm smiled and took a sip and passed it to Mac who also drank. "Thank you." The boy grinned and walked back to the herd and spoke to one of the men of the tribe.
Mac saw the rest of the group form a camp and began to build a fire. "Oh good, I think we can plan to stay put for the night."
Mac took out the Admiral's Christmas present to Harm and opened it. Harm looked at her as if to ask permission. "It will help you sleep." She said, and he took a long slow sip and grimaced as the whiskey burned going down.
He wiped his mouth and handed the bottle back to Mac. "That doesn't bother me you know." She answered his unspoken question.
"It brings back bad memories for you."
"Only when I drink it or whenever someone becomes belligerent or abusive."
"I guess Christmas around the Mackenzie household wasn't that great."
"That was in the past. I finally realized the past is part of what makes us who we are and I'm okay with that." She said somewhat philosophically.
"That's deep." Harm pulled one of the bags under his head to use as a pillow and opened his arms as an invitation.
She smiled and cuddled up against him. "It going to be cold tonight."
"Maybe not." He added and held her gently pushing her head so that it rested against the side of his chest that was not' so sore.
"It's Christmas Eve." Mac said sleepily.
"You can add that time thing to my list along with the tattoo." Harm said drowsily.
"That's two things to your one."
"I had more than one hallucination."
"Good night Harm."
"Good night Sarah. Are you going to tell me a bedtime story?"
"It was the night before Christmas and all through the desert not a creature was stirring except for an occasional goat and a squid."
"I guess you're the goat." He grunted when her elbow connected with his side. "Hey watch the ribs."
"Sorry."
He kissed the top of her head, and she smiled as the sound of his heart beating lulled her to sleep.
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