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Date Posted: 17:04:02 04/02/09 Thu
Author: .
Subject:

Title: Pro Bowl Payback

Author: ???

Prompt: Submitted by Lisa, from My Best Friend's Wedding, "Tell him you love him. Bite the bullet."

Rating: PG

Word count: 2,382

Classification: H/M Fun/Romance

Disclaimer: Just for fun; JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount, and Bellisarius Productions.

Summary: AU revision / expansion of the Season 7 episode 'Odd Man Out'. To recap, Harm supposedly has two tickets to the Super Bowl and Mac and Sturgis both try to curry favor with him. Sturgis has to go to New London and helps a submariner and his young wife resolve marital issues before his six month deployment, but before he leaves, he warns Harm not to be swayed by [Mac's?] emotional appeals. At the end of the episode, Sturgis and Mac have a conversation about Harm and the tickets in front of other people. I have relocated that discussion to a place without an audience. I also expanded it, significantly. Poetic license.

============================================================================

"It's the chance of a lifetime, in a lifetime of chance,
And it's high time you joined in the dance." - Dan Fogelberg, 'Run for the Roses'

============================================================================

"How did he get the seats, that's what I want to know." Mac slowed her car for a red light and turned a questioning eye to her passenger. She had offered him a lift to Harriet and Bud's Super Bowl party after she heard that his car was in the shop.

Sturgis Turner was more concerned with another issue. "My question is, who is he sharing the seats with?"

Mac grinned half-heartedly and shrugged. "I guess neither of us could come up with a Harm friendly offer."

"You didn't resort to emotional appeals." It was a statement rather than a question.

She answered as she put her Corvette back in motion. "Of course I did."

"You couldn't have." Sturgis swung his head toward Mac and sharply contradicted her.

Mac's reply came with a puzzled tone. "What makes you say that?"

"You'd be in the Big Easy with Harm if you had."

She chuckled. "Apparently you give my emotional appeals more weight than Harm does, Commander."

Sturgis's explanation of his reasoning was warm and smooth. "A beautiful woman, his partner and good friend for six years, tells him she loves him and Harmon Rabb doesn't take her to the Super Bowl? I'm not buying, Colonel."

An Antarctic wind suddenly blew through the passenger compartment. "I told you that you had to keep that to yourself, Commander."

Now it was his turn to chuckle. "What? You think your car is bugged?"

"And you think I would trade my feelings for tickets to a football game?" Mac was anything but amused.

Sturgis tried to tease her gently out of her anger. "No, but you did admit to using emotional appeals � and love's a pretty powerful emotion. Besides all's fair �"

"No, Sturgis. Love isn't a game. Not for me."

Mac left no doubt that this was no joking matter, so Sturgis followed suit. "What are you waiting for?"

Despite the seriousness of the question, Mac's tension eased as she found a way to pull back from the difficult subject. "Maybe a time when he would take me seriously. He was enjoying yanking our chains a little too much this week."

"Yes, he was," Sturgis slowly pondered, "you know, he seems to get that way when �"

"He's going to get a chance to go flying." They finished the conclusion in unison and laughed.

"So, he doesn't have seats to the game after all." Sturgis shook his head in disbelief.

Mac smiled. "Not with a view of the action on the field anyway."

"That man has some serious explaining to do when he gets back."

With a devious twinkle in her eye, Mac turned to her passenger, "You'll have better luck if you guilt him into spotting you five points in your next basketball game because he toyed with you."

He smiled again. "That's what I like about you marines, always looking for a silver lining."

"We aim to please," she offered between deep chortles of laughter.

"Did I tell you about my time in New London?"

Mac was working to regain her equilibrium after the outburst of laughter and his sudden change of topic confused her. "No, something interesting?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. A young wife thought she wanted to file for divorce �"

Mac quickly interrupted. "She either wanted a divorce or she didn't."

"If the world is so black and white, why is your relationship with Harm in perpetual limbo?" The words spilled from Sturgis's mouth before he had time to censor them.

"That's different," came the defiant response.

"How?" her inquisitor prodded.

Mac's defense came easily. "For starters, Harm and I aren't married. We're not even dating." She paused and continued softly, almost inaudibly, "we never have � and I doubt we ever will."

"You could be." Sturgis answered quietly and firmly.

Mac tried to turn the tables. "When did you get so pushy? I thought you didn't want to be involved."

Sturgis offered a knowing grin. "I saw the benefits of a helpful push in the right direction at New London."

"So, no divorce."

"No, no divorce. She was just scared and her first instinct was to bolt, but that wasn't what she really wanted to do." He paused for effect. "Sound like anyone you know?"

"Maybe." She offered noncommittally.

"Tell him you love him, Mac. Bite the bullet. You are a marine after all."

"That sounds like something Harm would say," she said ruefully. "But being a marine isn't particularly helpful when it comes to matters of the heart."

"Have you tried?"

Mac's reply was pointed. "Yes, Sturgis, I have." Then she continued quietly. "Since you're so interested, let me give you some of the historic play by play. No, I didn't tell Harm that I loved him, but I told him I was interested in a relationship. When he said 'not yet', I heard 'not interested'; then he turned into a jealous ex-boyfriend on the rebound, even though we'd never been involved, and I turned into another man's Stepford fianc�e. It wasn't pretty. Then Harm nearly dies trying to attend my wedding, which gets canceled, I leave town to try to clear my head and Harm follows me, but he can't even admit that he and Renee broke up, let alone clue me in on his feelings for me. And at the Jag-a-thon, he told me we were at the end. I offered to go back to the beginning, but either way, from where I sit, it doesn't look as if he wants anything but friendship from me. So excuse me if I don't jump at the chance to humiliate myself by telling him that I love him, okay?"

As Mac applied the brakes, Sturgis asked, "Are you finished?"

"Yes," she sighed. "Isn't that enough to satisfy your morbid curiosity?"

His response was reassuring. "I just wanted to make sure you had gotten out everything that you wanted to."

That garnered a bashful smile. "Thanks, Sturgis."

"I have a suggestion, but hear me out and think about it before you say anything, okay?"

Warily Mac agreed.

"What if I were to accidentally on purpose share the secret that I'm keeping?" Mac started to say something but was shushed by her companion as he continued. "That way, in the unlikely event that Harm doesn't share your feelings," a loud snort interrupted his plan, "in the highly unlikely event that Harm doesn't share your feelings, you will be spared any possible humiliation because of my reconnaissance."

"What about the humiliation of having to work with him every day knowing that he knows I love him but he doesn't love me?"

Sturgis tried to follow Mac's convoluted train of thought. "Do you really think that would be worse than the limbo of your imagination? Not knowing but always wondering, guessing, assuming �"

She shook her head. "No. Yes. I don't know anymore."

He put a hand on top of the one she had on the stick shift and gently squeezed it. "Just think about it. I promise that I won't say anything without your okay."

Mac turned to face him. "You're a good man, Sturgis Turner. What did I do to deserve a friend like you?"

"Friendships aren't earned, Mac, they just are." He smiled and added, "Sort of like love."

She paused and looked at him thoughtfully. "I do appreciate your offer, more than you know, Sturgis. But this, whatever it is," she waved her hands, "is between Harm and me, and we'll work it out. I promise."

"When, Colonel?" he prodded gently.

"Give me a week." She smiled slyly. "Now let's go enjoy this game that Harmon Rabb and his mysterious seatmate, who I would bet money is one Elizabeth Hawkes, aren't going to see."

Sturgis realized that the car had stopped and looked up in surprise to discover that they had arrived at Bud and Harriet's. "You're good, Colonel, you're very good."

"Thank you, Commander. It's nice when someone notices."

***One week later***

Mac put down the fossil she was cleaning and went to see who was knocking on her door. On the other side of the threshold she found one Harmon Rabb Jr with two brown paper bags in his hands and a penitent grin on his face. He offered the bags to Mac. "A peace offering for not taking you to the Super Bowl."

She took the bags and peeked inside. Tortilla chips, what she hoped were containers of homemade salsa and guacamole, several pints of ice cream, and the menu for her favorite pizza place. "You think this makes up for that?" Mac challenged skeptically.

He cocked an eyebrow and widened the grin. "I hoped it might be a start."

"Maybe a start." She relented and motioned him into the apartment. "So how was the game?"

"It was good." Harm followed as she headed toward the kitchen. "Weren't you watching?"

"Yes, I was watching." Mac continued to ask questions while she unpacked her treats. "Were your seats good?"

Harm smiled fondly at the memories. "Very good."

Mac looked up at him innocently. "Really?" You didn't have any trouble with the person sitting behind you, did you?

He shook his head. "No, not a one."

"That's good." She picked up the ice cream and headed toward the freezer. "Nobody getting sick or anything?"

Harm raised an eyebrow in question. "No � why would you think that?"

She turned back and shrugged her shoulders. "You know how it can be at these big events, people over indulge and then can't stomach all the excitement."

Harm saw the twinkle in her eyes and realized she knew good and well where his seats had been and probably who had shared them. "How did you know?"

Mac smiled. "Sturgis and I compared notes on Sunday and suddenly it was all very clear."

"But you're still going to eat all my food?" His righteous indignation lacked conviction.

She chuckled. "After the way you played us last week, you better believe it."

Harm nodded acceptance. "Sturgis trounced me at our hoops game on Thursday. Said I owed him at least five points, but he didn't need them with all the flagrant fouls he was committing. I'll have bruises for a week."

"Serves you right," she offered without surprise.

"It was your idea!" he challenged.

Mac shrugged again. "I might have made a small suggestion," she admitted, "but not about the fouls."

"And that makes it all right?" Harm demanded.

Mac returned his challenge with hands on her hips. "What about what you did?"

He deflated and relented. "Are we even now?"

She smiled but shook her head. "Not even close, but maybe I'll let you give me a foot massage during the game and then we'll talk."

"You'll let me give you a massage?"

Mac repeated slowly and patiently. "I said maybe I'll let you give me a massage and then we'll talk. Do you want out of the doghouse or not?"

He accepted his defeat. "Okay, okay. Chips or pizza first?"

"Call for a pizza and we'll have some chips as an appetizer while we wait."

Harm nodded knowingly. "Of course. What was I thinking?"

Mac added. "You do know the Pro Bowl isn't really a game."

Harm teased a little. "Yes, but you'll watch anyway."

"Call for the pizza, before I decide I don't need the massage."

After putting away the few remnants of the pizza, Mac returned to the living room, took off her slippers and leaned back into a corner of the couch and looked expectantly at Harm.

"So, you're going to let me give you a foot massage now?" Harm questioned with a grin.

"Let's see what you've got," Mac challenged.

He picked up her left foot and began a slow and thorough exploration. Harm glanced up just as Mac sighed and closed her eyes. He took that as a positive sign and continued his ministrations. He hadn't actually given a foot massage before, but he had flown by the seat of his pants more than once, so he assumed he could figure it out. Harm gently kneaded the top of the foot with his thumb and the bottom with two forefingers. The soft whimpers implied that he was on the right track. When he thought he had done all he could with the small bundle of flesh and bone, Harm picked up the other foot and repeated his efforts.

Mac struggled to open her eyes, "I love you, Harm."

He looked over at her and chuckled. "Sure, you say that now, when I'm doing this, but will you still love me tomorrow?"

Inspiration struck. She pulled her feet out of his grasp and sat up. "Yes, I will, but you don't understand, Harm. I love you. I'm in love with you. I don't want to go back to the beginning of our relationship. I want to build something more."

Harm took her hands in his. "You're serious."

Mac nodded. "Never more so."

He leaned forward and kissed her thoroughly before pulling back and whispering, "I love you, Mac."

She smiled and pulled him back for another kiss.

The rest of that year's Pro Bowl was quickly forgotten.

THE END

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Replies:

[> Good story - -- usmgrad, 19:47:56 04/02/09 Thu [1]

I knew that episode wasn't finished, thank you for bringing us the rest of the story. I don't think Harm stands a chance against Mac and Sturgis!

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[> I could actually hear Sturgis' voices as I was reading this. It was great. -- . . . - - - . . ., 19:55:20 04/02/09 Thu [1]

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[> Now that's the way to do it -- CAZ, 20:24:30 04/02/09 Thu [1]

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[> You transitioned so smoothly from tv episode into fanfic, that I'm sure later I'll "remember" actually seeing the fanfic on tv. Thank you. -- loti, 20:24:37 04/02/09 Thu [1]

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[> I always thought -- SP, 20:29:23 04/02/09 Thu [1]

the two of them should've paid Harm back for that prank. I always liked Sturgis back then, he was still a good friend to both Harm & Mac. Excellent advice, big guy!

Thanks for giving us a more satisfying conclusion to the story.

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[> An excellent and satisfying conclusion to an episode that never quite concluded. -- Loving all the new stories, 20:46:13 04/02/09 Thu [1]

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[> Very satisfying:) -- BlueJay, 21:05:50 04/02/09 Thu [1]

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[> What a great ending to an episode that was sorely lacking...Thank you!! -- JagfanNat, 22:39:15 04/02/09 Thu [1]

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[> Great stuff. -- anamika, 23:32:42 04/02/09 Thu [1]

Writer, whoever you are, you did a fantastic job with the characters in this. I could visualize the conversation between Mac and Sturgis. Great banter between Mac and Harm.

I had a guess about who wrote this until I reached the last few lines, which somehow seemed out of sync with the rest and made me second guess. All that said, excellent story, loved it, and I'll keep my guess about who the author is to myself because I'm not sure I'm right ;)

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[> Awsome!! Sturgis' voice was perfect...and Mac was so sweet =) -- Kim, 03:47:56 04/03/09 Fri [1]

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[> Fun! I always knew Sturgis was a smart one. -- BZB, 10:01:32 04/03/09 Fri [1]

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[> Great story. -- Bev uk, 15:32:43 04/03/09 Fri [1]

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[> Ah, yes. This is a good way to make the Pro Bowl actually accomplish something! -- Sammi, 18:28:05 04/03/09 Fri [1]

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[> [> (as above) -- ...Sue (Sorry--hit send by mistake), 18:28:48 04/03/09 Fri [1]

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[> I agree with those who said that this ep needed something else. And this was perfect! -- JAG Junkie (Ronda), 21:00:05 04/03/09 Fri [1]

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