Work

By MacMethos


Sarah MacKenzie was rooting through the refrigerator for something to eat when the phone began ringing. Her dog barked after every ring. “Okay, okay, I’m coming,” she hollered to both the phone and the dog.
“Hello?”
“Sarah…”the voice on the other end said softly.
“Mic?”
“Yeah. I heard about the hi-jacking. I’ve been so worried. I wanted to fly to Korea as soon as I heard, but they wouldn’t let me off. If there would’ve been something I could have done, I would have come anyway, to hell with them. You’re more important.”
“Oh, Mic.” He could be so sweet sometimes.
“So, have you made up your mind?”
“Mic!” Then other times… He was persistent, though, she’d give him that. Mic had proposed to her in Australia. Sarah wasn’t ready, but agreed to wear the ring on her right hand until she was.
“Sorry,” he said, but she could see him smiling at the other end of the phone. He had a great smile. “I need to see you.”
“When?” she asked. “We both have work.”
“I don’t care how or where, but I have to see you, Sarah.”
“Mic, this is exactly why we can’t work. We’re on two different continents. We both are dedicated to our work.”
“Sarah, we’ll make it work, I promise.”
“Okay,” she sighed.
”Okay, we’ll make it work, or okay, you’ll see me?”
“Both, maybe. Right now, okay I’ll see you, but you’re going to have to figure out how.”
“I will. I love you.”
“Oh Mic…” she paused, not quite able to get the words out, though it was how she felt. “See you.”
“Bye.”
Sarah hung up the phone and sank down to the tiled floor. She did love him, she truly did, but…. Could it work? She wanted to believe that it could.

Mic Brumby hung up the phone, and started thinking. How could he see Sarah? He didn’t know, but he knew that he had to. RAN had yanked him back from the JAG in the states to help in Eastern Timor. It wasn’t likely they’d let him take leave to go back there. Things were too hot. They wouldn’t let him go, but he’d told Sarah he’d figure it out, and he was going to. He just didn’t know how yet.

Sarah went to work at the Judge Advocate General the next day in a daze. And every day there after for about a week. She was thinking about Mic. About what she’d say to him when they were together, about what they’d do. “I’m sorry, what?” she asked her partner Harmon Raab, Jr.
Harm gave her a look, “Where are you Mac? You’re certainly not here.”
Mac stood up to clear her mind. “I know Harm, I’m sorry. I’m just preoccupied.”
“About what?”
“That’s none of your business,” she tried to sound gruff, but she couldn’t keep anything from Harm. He was her best friend.
“Thinking about switching that ring over again?” he said, nailing it right on the head.
“Well,” she stumbled.
Just then Admiral Chegwidden came out of his office.
“MacKenzie. In my office. Now.” He was her saving grace. Even if he was going to yell at her, it was better than being grilled by Harm. She knew he didn’t approve of her and Mic. But it really wasn’t his business.
“Yes sir,” she said, leaving Harm.
“Have a seat,” he said, once she came in. She sat in one of the matching black leather chairs facing his desk. She waited for Chegwidden to go around to his side of the desk and sit down, but he didn’t. He sat in the chair next to her.
“Colonel MacKenzie,” he began.
“Yes, sir?”
“Let me finish, Mac.”
“Sorry, sir.”
He cleared his throat. “As I was saying, Colonel MacKenzie. You’ve been in a daze the last week, and I feel your work may be suffering…”
“I’m sorry, sir, I won’t let it happen again.”
“Sarah, please, just let me finish.” He hardly ever called her by her first name. Something was up. She hoped she wasn’t in trouble. “I’m going to recommend a week’s paid vacation. Get your head cleared. Go somewhere. Australia, maybe?” He tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress a grin.
“Sir,” she protested, “I really don’t think I should. I have a case coming up.”
“Bud will take care of it. Now that’s final. Dismissed.”
“Yes sir,” she said, and got up to leave. She hadn’t put up much of an argument, but the truth was, she was relieved. Now maybe she would go to Australia and surprise Mic.

“Yes Admiral. Thanks a heap. Anything I can ever do for you.”
“Yes, well, I’ll keep that in mind, Commander. Her flight arrives at 0800 tomorrow morning.” Chegwidden said.
“Thanks again, Admiral.”
“Oh, this isn’t a gift. You do owe me, Commander.”
“Yes sir- wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Commander Brumby,” his commanding officer beckoned him.
“Yes sir?” Mic asked.
“You volunteered to go into Sydney for supplies?”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
“A lower man than yourself can do it,”
“I know sir, but I want it done right.”
“Uh-huh.” He was in a forgiving mood today. He remembered when he was Brumby’s age. Probably had a girl in town. “Well, be back by 0600 tomorrow.”
“Yes sir,” Brumby said enthusiastically. It was better than he’d hoped for.

Sarah MacKenzie got her baggage from the claim at Sydney International Airport and headed outside. It felt good to get out of her greens. She was dressed completely opposite her marine uniform in a light pink halter-top and blue jean cut-off shorts. She’d be worried about wearing this in Virginia, but here, it covered too much. Sarah walked outside, momentarily blinded by the sun.
“Sarah!” It sounded like Brumby. Could it be?
“Mic?” she questioned squinting to see. A cloud passed by and she could see. He was leaning against his jeep. He straightened, and she ran into his arms. “Mic,” she sighed. “How?”
“Shhh, no questions. Come on, I have a surprise for you.”
Sarah got in the jeep shivering with anticipation. She felt like a little kid, getting so excited. “So, where are we going, Mic?”
“A little place no one knows about,” he smiled. “Hold on,” he warned,veering off the road into the foliage. “This is what we call bush-bashing.”
Sarah shrieked in delight, enjoying every minute of it. Finally, they arrived.
“Close your eyes Sarah.” She obliged. Mic was fussing about, and couldn’t take it any more. She opened one eye a tiny bit; there was a red-checkered pattern. She shut it. A picnic! Mic was getting closer to her. Closer. Closer. Touchdown. His supple lips tentatively touched hers, and she moved closer to let him know it was okay. She let her mouth open slightly, and his tongue responded, entering her. He pulled gently away. “Later,” he said. Scooping her into his arms, Mic carried her to the picnic blanket, and set her down.
“Mic, you’re crazy,” she said, thoroughly pleased. He grinned.
“It’s not over yet, darlin’.” He opened the picnic basket and pulled out a strawberry. He brought it to Sarah’s lips, and she bit the top off. He ran the end down her chin, past the hollow at the base of her neck, down to her belly button, leaving a juicy trail.
“Mic,” she complained, “You made a mess!”
“No worries, I’ll clean it up.” And he did. He licked the juice from her belly button, and ran his tongue up the length of her body until he reached her mouth. He pulled away once again. “Shall we dine?” he asked.
“I thought we were,” she replied. “I am hungry, though, what do you have?”
“Sandwiches, cherry-ripes. I’m not much at cooking,” he grinned sheepishly.
“That’s okay, sounds great,” she said. Anything would be better than airplane food.
“And I’ve got non-alcoholic champagne to drink,” he added.
“Thank you, Mic. That is very thoughtful.” Sarah used to be an alcoholic, so she tried not to drink much. It was sweet of him to remember.
“Mic?”
“Yes, love?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
“I do love you.” There she had said it. Now that wasn’t so hard.
“I know.”
“That’s all you have to say? You know? I bare my soul to you?” She rolled on top of him, and pinned his arms back. He laughed, then turned serious.
“I love you Sarah MacKenzie.”