A Second Chance? part 2Feedback is cherished at rorie.brianne(at)nospamcomcast.net JAG HEADQUARTERS Harm was sitting at his desk, reviewing the week... his mind kept drifting back to Tuesday night at McMurphy's. He had been so mad at Mac for so long that he never saw that she was hurting, too. He had held a grudge against her for five years.... He had never hated her, as hard as he tried, his heart wouldn't let him, but he had definitely resented her to such an extent that it had colored everything he did in the last five years.... He had married Terri on the rebound... if you could call it that, since he and Mac never officially had a "relationship," he had forbidden Bud and Harriet from mentioning his former partner in any of their numerous letters or phone calls, he had even acted recklessly wondering if she'd be hurt if something happened to him. Everything came back to Sarah... Mac.... He thought about Theresa... he wondered if she knew the truth about their marriage and his feelings for Mac. He had tried to hide it after getting married. When they first re-met, they had had many conversations on the subject as friends... but, he thought he was able to convince her that he was over Mac by the time of the wedding... he certainly hadn't convinced himself. Terri was a perceptive woman... did he really fool her? He hated to think that he may have hurt her... he did love her.... A knock on the door snapped him out of his brooding. "Enter." Lt. Cmdr. Bud Roberts' face appeared in the opening. "What is it, Bud?" "Sir, this letter was just delivered for you... it looks like it's from a law firm... official." "Thanks, Bud." Harm said as Bud dropped the envelope on the desk and left the office. The envelope was the standard business-size white, it had a seal in the upper left corner that read "Hanson, Smith, Porter, and Janzen." Harm was confused... why would he be getting mail from a law firm in Norfolk? Well, I guess there's only one way to find out... he opened the letter... it read: //April 12, 2004 You have been the best part of my life... I loved you with all of my heart. As I write this, I am sad... sad that I won't be there to see Lauren grow into the beautiful woman I know she'll become... sad that I won't wake up to your smile every morning and fall asleep in your arms every night. I am also jealous... jealous of you and the time you will have with Lauren... jealous of the others who will have you in their lives. I am also hopeful... hopeful that one day we will be reunited once again. I know that you will take care of Lauren... the one truly great thing I have done in my life. Kiss her for her Mommy, tell her I love her and will always be watching out for her. Harm, I don't want you to spend your life grieving for me, and don't let Lauren, either. I want you both to go on with your lives. Don't give up on life... live it... for me. I know how you feel about Sarah... I've always known: the looks that passed between the two of you when you were still partners, the secret communication that no one else could ever understand, the times when you called her name in your sleep, the letters you wrote, but never sent. I know that you were constantly comparing me to her... don't feel guilty about it. You loved her... you still love her. I know you were hurt when she rejected you. But that's in the past.... I know you loved me, but no where near as much as you love her... it is a totally different kind of love. With her, you started out as friends, then best friends... that kind of love lasts. Ours began with you on the rebound. I'll admit I was always attracted to you when we worked together, but it was more of an infatuation. You were looking for someone to take away the pain of the rejection by the one you truly loved. It didn't matter who she was... you chose me... I was flattered... I guess I deluded myself in the beginning that I could make you forget her... I now know that I never could.... I don't blame you. You could no more change what's in your heart than you could turn the course of a storm... or the tide. Harm, go to her, please... tell her how you feel... give your love a second chance... don't lose the one thing you ever really wanted in your life... even if she refuses you again, don't give up.... I want you to be happy... you could only truly be happy with Sarah... only then, could I truly rest in peace. I will always love you. But I don't want you to turn your back on love when it's offered... make the most out of your life... not only for your sake, but also for our daughter. She deserves a father that is alive... not one who's living in the past. Your loving wife, Terri P.S. "The best relationships, the ones that last, are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before, like a switch has been flicked somewhere.... and the person who was just a friend is suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with." Harm, I found this quote recently... I think it was from some television show. Think about it.... [Author's note: This is from an X-files ep. Thanks to Kalysa for bringing it to my attention.]// Harm sat, staring at the piece of paper in front of him, silent tears running down his face... she had known...Terri had always known about Sarah.... He stood up, went over and shut the door then the blinds, and returned to his chair. He was now sobbing... for himself... for his daughter... for Sarah... but, most of all, for Theresa... his beautiful, loving, perceptive Terri who loved him so much that she wanted him to be happy with Sarah... for the two lives that were cut short by a drunk driver that day just days after she wrote this letter. It was almost like she knew something was going to happen to her and she had to say this before it did. JAG HEADQUARTERS Mac was standing by Harriet's desk in the bullpen. They were going over some notes for an upcoming case. When all of a sudden a child's cry was heard, "AUNT HARRIET!" A small blonde Tomahawk missile propelled itself across the room and right into Harriet's waiting arms. "Lauren, how did you get here?" Harriet asked, in a concerned voice. Lauren pointed towards the elevator... "Jenny brought me... I wanted to tell Daddy something really, really, really 'portant." "Did someone mention my name?" an amused voice asked. "DADDDDDDEEEEEE!!!!!" Lauren yelled as she ran to her father to be picked up and twirled around, which Harm readily obliged. A very exhausted Jenny came up behind them, "I'm sorry, Cmdr. Rabb. She insisted that she had to see you... she got away from me again." "It's okay, Jenny... I'm always glad to see my angel. I was getting ready to leave anyway." He looked at Mac with a question in his eyes. She nodded affirmatively. "What did you want to tell me, Angel-girl?" [Author's note: I know this is borrowed from 'Touched by an Angel.' I just thought is was a great nickname for a daddy's girl.] "Daddy, I sawed the planes at the mooseem. There was one that looked like 'Sarah.' And a space shuttle... no Tomcats, though..." Mac chuckled... this was definitely Harm's daughter. Lauren turned to face her, "I know you... you're Mac. I saw a picture of you.... You were sitting in the cockpit of Daddy's 'Sarah.'" "Guilty, Counselor." Mac said with another chuckle. She studied the little girl's face... she had Terri's blonde hair, but Harm's blue eyes... and definitely his grin.... I bet this one can twist anyone around her little finger. Harm watched the interchange between his daughter and his partner. Mac's throaty chuckles making him weak in the knees, and his daughter's grins making his heart melt. He'd definitely have his hands full if these two ever ganged up on him... he'd give them both any thing they ever wanted. "Come on, Angel-girl. Let's go somewhere for dinner. What'll it be?" "Beltway Burgers, Daddy... please, pretty please?" Mac laughed out loud at the look on Harm's face and flashed a "don't look at me" look. "Okay, Angel-girl... Beltway Burgers it is. Jenny, are you set?" "Yes, Cmdr... I'm fine... meeting Craig at the movies." "Okay, we're off... see you Monday, Mac, Harriet." He walked towards the elevator with Lauren swinging on his hand. Harriet remarked, "That's the happiest I've seen him in a while." Mac agreed... she wished he'd smile that way for her. JAG HEADQUARTERS Mac and Harm were both studying a file on the desk between them... their heads were quite close together... neither seemed to mind, though. In the past month, since their talk at McMurphy's, their relationship had gotten almost all the way back to the easy one they had had before Harm confessed his feelings for her and left JAG. It seemed that old habits die hard and the old teasing and camaraderie was definitely a habit between the two of them. Of course, neither of them had brought up the topic of a relationship closer than friendship... neither of them wanted to reinjure the new friendship they were enjoying. "This is ridiculous." Harm said, breaking the companionable silence between them, "We've been at this for an hour now, and we've got nothing." "Actually, Harm, it's been an hour, four minutes, and 33 seconds. But you're right, we have nothing." "How do you do that?" "I told you before... it's a Marine thing... I've got Swiss clockmakers in my family... I told you after we rescued Keeter in Iran, remember?" "Yeah, but that doesn't count... I don't speak Farsi..." "Tough luck, Flyboy..." she teased. "No fair, Marine..." he whined, in his best "little boy" voice. Mac just laughed. Outside the office door, Harriet paused... it was so good to hear the laughter from the office again. She had wondered if those two would ever get back the relationship they had before... Now if they'd only open their eyes and see what's right in front of them.... Harm was gathering up his courage to ask Mac a question, finally, "Uhm, Mac, there's something I'd like to ask you..." "What is it, Flyboy?" He shifted nervously... he felt like a schoolboy, trying to ask a girl to the dance... "Would you like to have dinner tonight?" "Are you trying to ask me out, Flyboy?" she grinned. "Uhm, yeah, I guess I am... so how about it?" "Well, what did you have in mind... no rabbit food, I hope." "Well, I was thinking about that new Japanese restaurant... I think they serve meat there... raw fish and the like." "Well, I'm not into raw fish... but Japanese sounds great.... I accept." "Great, I'll pick you up at your apartment at 1900, if that's okay with you." "Perfect, Harm... I can't wait." LT. COL. SARAH MACKENZIE'S APARTMENT There were clothes strewn all over Sarah's bed... she still hadn't decided what to wear tonight... Come on, Marine, make a decision... he's gonna be here in 24 minutes, 15 seconds. Leave me alone... this is important... our first date. Come on, Sarah, you've had dinner with Harm before. Yeah, but that was always as friends... *this* is a date. Well, get a move on, Marine, only 22 minutes, 10 seconds left. Finally, Sarah picked a short, black dress with a plunging back. She added a silver choker and silver dangle earrings. She looked in the mirror... Well, I guess this will have to do. Not a moment too soon... she stepped into a pair of black high-heels just as her doorbell rang. "Coming, Harm." she called. She opened the door... it was all she could do to keep her jaw from hitting the floor. He was wearing a dark blue sweater, that brought out his eyes, and brown corduroy slacks. Get a grip, Marine... if you don't watch it your eyes are gonna bug out and you'll start drooling. For his part, Harm was suffering from the same affliction... Sarah looked "drop-dead" gorgeous! "Are you ready, Mac?" he managed to stammer out. "Ready if you are... let me just grab my purse." She picked up her purse, locked the door and shut it. CHIKAMORI'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT (I
just couldn't resist, Animal.--VBG--) A nice-looking Asian waiter showed the couple to their table... a nice, secluded one in the corner by the fish tank. They looked at the menus for a few moments before ordering. They were content to just sit in silence until the waiter brought their orders. They engaged in light conversation over dinner and coffee. "Want to go for a walk, Marine?" "Sure..." THE MALL After driving for a bit, the couple ended up at the Mall, by the Washington Monument... they walked around just enjoying each other's company, not wanting the evening to end. They talked about nothing and everything. Unfortunately, too soon, it was time to go... MAC'S APARTMENT They drove back to Mac's apartment in companionable silence. Harm walked Sarah to her door... she opened it, "Would you like to come in?" "I can't, I promised Jenny I'd get home at a reasonable time tonight." "All right, I guess I'll see you on Monday." she started to walk into the apartment, when Harm stopped her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. She caught her breath at the light in his eyes as his lips descended to meet hers. She removed her arm from his grasp and wound her arms around his neck. She returned his kiss with all of the pent-up passion of five years of separation. Finally, they separated, both gasping for air. Mac looked up at Harm, there were tears in his eyes to match the ones in hers. "I'd better leave now," he said after catching his breath, "If I don't, I'll never be able to leave." "I know the feeling." she replied. "Sarah," she looked up at his use of her first name, "I don't think I can wait until Monday to see you again. How about tomorrow?" "Anything you say, Flyboy..." "Well, Lauren and I were going to take up 'Sarah.' We'd love for you to come with us...." "Well, I was hoping to be with you alone, but I'd love to go with you and your daughter..." He bent down and kissed her again... "That's gonna have to last you until tomorrow, Sarah... my Sarah." MAC'S BEDROOM Mac laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling, Harm's kiss branded on her lips. When she shut her eyes, she could see his face, feel his lips on hers... She finally fell asleep... a wonderful dream came to claim her.... //She is standing in the back of a church, she is wearing a long, ivory gown... She can see Harm standing at the front, Bud, the Admiral, and Clay next to him. Uncle Matt is waiting with her, Harriet tells her it's time... Harm's daughter, Lauren, and little A.J. walk down the aisle towards Harm, Harriet and Clay's wife, Sandy, [again, I just couldn't resist] follow the children... the wedding march begins to play... Uncle Matt takes her arm and together they walk down the aisle.... The scene shifts... she is lying in a hospital bed, her body wracked with pain... Harm is holding her hand, encouraging her... a doctor tells her to push again... it is time... a baby's cry fills the air... Harm smiles as he leans down to kiss her... "I love you, Marine.".... The scene shifts again... another church... this time she is sitting in the front row... a very nervous young man looks to her for assurance, she smiles at him... the wedding march begins to play... Lauren is walking down the aisle on Harm's arm... she smiles at her stepdaughter... a tear slides down her face as she remembers that Terri isn't here to see her daughter's special day.... The scene changes yet again... she is standing at the door of a big house... looking out towards the street... a car turns into the driveway... "They're here, Harm."... Lauren gets out of the car carrying a baby... "Your grandson, Mom."... another car comes in... her other daughter gets out... runs to her..."Mom, guess what... I'm engaged.".... Another scene... they are alone again...Harm leans over and kisses her... "I can't imagine my life without you in it, Marine."... "Me neither, Flyboy."... he picks her up and carries her to the bedroom....// Mac awoke with a start, and a smile on her face... her imagination already finishing the dream. LT. COL. SARAH MACKENZIE'S APARTMENT Sarah woke with a start, the telephone was ringing... she groped for it, "Hello?" she said, groggily. "Hello, Sleeping Beauty." Harm's voice said. She smiled, "Who's this, Prince Charming?" "Are you awake yet? Lauren's getting impatient to go flying." "Are you sure it's Lauren who's getting impatient, Flyboy?" she chuckled one of those throaty chuckles that made him go weak in the knees. "Got me..." he said. "So are you ready?" "Give me 20 minutes... I'll be waiting." "20 minutes it is... see you soon, Sarah." "See you soon, Flyboy." she hung up the phone, "I love you." 23 MINUTES LATER The doorbell rang... Sarah rushed to answer it... Harm and Lauren were standing there. "Are you ready, Mac?" Lauren asked. "Yes, Lauren, let's go." Lauren reached up and took Mac's hand in one of hers and her father's in the other. "Let's go, Daddy." Harm smiled at Mac over his daughter's head. Mac smiled back and mouthed, "She's definitely your daughter, Flyboy." He blessed her with another one of his "flyboy" grins... her knees went weak and she tripped over her feet. The drive to the airfield where 'Sarah' was hangered was uneventful. Lauren kept up a steady stream of 3-year-old chatter from the back seat... Harm and Mac just exchanged amused glances at some of the things she was sharing with them. THE AIRFIELD Lauren ran ahead to the hanger, while her father and Mac carried the picnic basket and jackets behind her. "Lauren, don't touch anything." Harm called after his rambunctious daughter. "Okay, Daddy." Lauren called back. Mac chuckled at the exchange... Harm looked at her, "What's so funny, Marine?" "I was just thinking how much fatherhood suits you... and that she acts just like what I imagine you would have acted at her age." "You're right... I did the same things whenever my dad took me to see the planes..." a fleeting look of sadness crossed his handsome face. "Are you alright, Harm? I didn't mean to bring up those memories again." "It's alright, Sarah... the memories that I have of my father are all happy ones... he wasn't around enough for me to develop sad ones." They reached the hanger in time to see Lauren starting to climb a ladder to see inside 'Sarah.' "Lauren," Harm said calmly so as to not startle his precariously situated daughter, "Come back down here... now." Lauren recognized the authority in her father's voice and reluctantly started her descent down the ladder with Harm standing close enough to be there if a disaster happened. When she got to the bottom, she ran over to Mac for protection, she figured that with a new person around, her father wasn't going to punish her... she was wrong. Harm excused himself and his daughter and took her outside for a severe talking to... he would never lay a hand on her. When they came back in several minutes later, Lauren was crying. Harm hugged her again, and then asked if everyone was ready to go flying. Lauren perked back up right away, "Yes, Daddy, I'm always ready to fly." Mac smiled at the little girl's answer before answering herself, "Yes, but how's this gonna work... there are only 2 seats?" "My mommy always holded me in the seat before... both of us had the seatbelt on though." "Okay, I guess I'm nominated for the holding, since I can't fly this thing." Mac said, "If that's okay with you Lauren..." "Uh huh... now can we go?" "Let's go, Angel-girl. Mac, you get in first, then I'll help you and Lauren get strapped safely." "Aye-aye, Sir." Mac answered with a mock salute. Harm wished he could kiss her right then and there, but wasn't sure what Lauren's reaction would be... she'd only lost her mother 2 months earlier... she seemed to be adjusted fine, but he wasn't sure if it was the right time to introduce another relationship to her. As he was thinking, Mac had climbed up and gotten into passenger's seat of the yellow Stearman. "I'm ready for Lauren, Harm." He climbed up the ladder behind his daughter and helped her climb onto Mac's lap... he adjusted the seatbelt and made sure the two of them were well strapped in. He then climbed into his own seat and got ready to taxi the plane out to the airstrip for take off. They flew for a while in silence, not even Lauren wanting to break the magic. Finally, Harm set the plane down in a clearing so they could eat their lunch. Mac couldn't help thinking about the first time she had gone up in 'Sarah' with Harm... she ended up getting shot by crazed poachers... they almost hadn't made it out alive. She realized then that she trusted her partner implicitly... he wouldn't leave her, no matter how much she pleaded with him to. It was also the first time we slept together. she thought with a grin. Okay, the only time we slept together. Getting out of the plane, Lauren took off over the field to run... it was okay because they could see her no matter where she went... it was nice and flat. Harm and Mac set up a picnic for the three of them. It gave them some time alone. Harm finally stole a kiss when he knew his daughter wasn't watching. "What's the matter, Flyboy? Afraid your Mom's gonna bust in on us?" Mac joked. "No, just an interruption named Lauren." he replied. "Speaking of which, here she comes..." "Daddy, can we eat now, I'm so, so, so hungry... I think I'm starved." "Me, too, Daddy." Mac chimed in. Harm shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of surrender. "I guess we won, Lauren, what do you want... tuna or peanut butter?" "Tuna... Daddy always eats peanut butter...he doesn't like meat." Harm glared at his daughter, "Lauren, you weren't supposed to tell my secret." "Some secret, Flyboy, I've known that about you almost since day one. Lauren, he always teases me about my Beltway Burgers... says I'm eating dead cows." "Me, too, but Mommy said it's okay to like hamburgers, even if Daddy doesn't." "So, Harm, it sounds like the women in your life think alike..." After ten minutes, Lauren decided she'd had enough of sitting still and got up to run, "Daddy, can I pick some flowers? I want to take some to Mommy." "Of course, Angel-girl. I think she'd like that... just don't go too far." Mac's heart was breaking for the little girl during this exchange... she waited until Lauren had run off, "Harm, how's she doing, really? I mean I know how it feels to lose a mother." "She seems to be doing fine... she has dreams... nightmares, really... and wakes up screaming for Terri. But during the day, I don't notice any differences from before... but, I'm just not sure..." "Is that why you won't kiss me in front of her? You're not sure how she'll take it, are you?" "No... I don't know... I mean, she's only 3, and she's already lost her mother and the baby... I don't want her to feel like she's losing me, too. And if it doesn't work out... I don't want her to feel like she's lost you..." "Shhh." she put her finger to his lips... "Don't talk like that... it's gonna work out.... we've waited too long for it not to." She gave him one of her "light-up-a-room" smiles before pulling him to her and giving him a kiss that made him forget everything else but that moment in time. Several minutes later, Lauren joined them again. "Daddy, can we go up again?" Harm looked over at Mac, who nodded. She handed the basket to Harm and grabbed the blanket herself. The three of them headed back to the plane to leave. ON THE ROAD BACK TO WASHINGTON Lauren had fallen asleep in the back seat, so it was very quiet in the car. Mac reached over and turned the radio on, it was playing some sappy love song that made Mac giggle at the words. She snapped it back off. All of a sudden, Lauren screamed in the back seat. Mac turned around as Harm pulled the car off of the road. The little girl was still asleep, obviously dreaming. Harm got out and into the back with his daughter and tried to comfort her, but she pushed him away. "No, I want Mommy... I want Mommy." she screamed. "Let me try, Harm... maybe a woman's voice will help." Mac got in the back and held the girl... "It'll be okay, Lauren, I promise." she repeated over and over as she rocked the child and stroked her hair. Lauren relaxed back into sleep again. The adults got back into the front and began to drive towards Washington again. "That was amazing, Sarah. It usually takes me twice as long to calm her down after a nightmare." "Like a said, a woman's voice helped... I remember what it was like to have nightmares as a child... only I never had anyone there to soothe them away... only the one who caused them." Harm didn't say anything... he couldn't think of anything appropriate. MAC'S APARTMENT Lauren woke up as the car stopped outside the apartment building. Mac got out to leave, Lauren stopped her. "Can I walk up with you? I gotta go to the bathroom?" "Of course, Lauren." to Harm, "I'll bring her back down as soon as she's finished." "Okay." He watched the two most important women in his life walk towards the front door of Mac's building. While they were walking down the hallway towards Mac's apartment, Lauren asked a startling question, "Mac, are you gonna marry my Daddy?" Mac was shocked, what should she say?... should she say anything? RABB RESIDENCE Harm had finally gotten Lauren back to sleep after another of her nightmares... she was having them every night now, but still no signs of problems during the day. He had called the pediatrician who had said that nightmares were normal at three, and she should grow out of them. Harm hoped so. He was now exhausted, it had been a long day at JAG, and then being up with his daughter's nightmare. He fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. //"Harm?" a woman's voice calls. He looks around, but sees no one. "Harm?" the voice repeats from behind him, he turns, there stands Terri. "Terri?! But how...?" "Shh... I don't have much time... just listen. I have been watching you since I left, Harm. I have been watching Lauren, as well. You are doing well with her... I know it's hard on you, doing this alone. But, you don't have to be alone... you could have Sarah...." Harm starts to say something, but Terri vanishes before his eyes. He stands there stunned. "Harm, Son, turn around." a voice he hadn't heard outside of his dreams since he was six years old. He slowly turns to face his father. "Dad, what are you doing here?" he asks. "Trying to help you, Son." Harmon Rabb, Sr. replies. "Help me with what?" he asks, though he already knows the answer. "Sarah." his father replies. "I know you love her, and she loves you... so what's problem?" "We work together, Dad... it's against regulations... Terri just died... it'd be hard on Lauren..." "Excuses, Son, just excuses...." The elder Harmon Rabb disappears before his son's eyes. He is standing in the front of a large empty room... it is decorated for a wedding. Suddenly, the room is filled with people he recognizes: the Admiral, Bud and Harriet, Annie, Luke and Josh Pendry, Jordan Parker, Meg Austin, Kate Pike, Carolyn Imes, Alan Mattoni, Mom and Frank, Lauren, little A.J., Dianne, Keeter, Bobbie Latham, Terri, Clayton and Sandy Webb, Francesca, Grandma Sarah, Capt. Boone, and various other people from his life. They are talking among themselves and don't seem to see him, he looks around for Sarah... she's not there... he wonders why all of these other people are around, but not her. All of a sudden, music fills the air, a woman walks down the aisle towards him. She stops at his side, a minister says something, he answers, "I do." The minister speaks again, she answers, "I do." He turns to look at Terri, there are tears on her face, but she nods her head 'yes.' He starts to lift the bride's veil to see her face...// He woke up suddenly, disoriented, he blinked a couple of times before realizing he was in his own bed. The dream had been so vivid. JAG HEADQUARTERS Harm and Mac were sitting at Harm's desk reading a file for a case that was going to trial in the next week... another drunk-and-disorderly... a Marine 2nd Lt. got sloshed and pulled a gun and shot up a bar... no one was hurt, but he did a lot of monetary damage. They had been staring at the file for a while. Finally, Mac stood up and stretched. "Come on, Flyboy, let's go get some dinner. We're not getting anything done here." Harm stood up, "I agree." "I'll just be a few minutes." she said as she headed off to her office. Harm watched her as she walked, a smile forming on his lips. They had been together as a couple for three-and-a-half wonderful weeks. They hadn't told anyone so far, but he was sure that Harriet suspected. That woman never missed a thing when it came to Harm and Mac's relationship. Mac came back, "What are you grinning at, Harm?" she said with a chuckle. "You...you're so beautiful... have I told you that I love you today?" "No, so do you?" "Of course, do you even have to ask, Marine?" He glanced around the office to make sure there was no one around, there wasn't. He bent down and kissed her. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back with a passion that equaled his. When they finally separated, both were breathless. When she caught her breath, she pulled back and smiled one of her "light-up-a-room" smiles, "Let's get out of here, Flyboy." LT. COL. SARAH MACKENZIE'S APARTMENT After a nice dinner together where they talked of everything except the case, Harm drove Mac back to her apartment. (They had decided to leave Mac's car at JAG, Harm would pick her up in the morning.) "Would you like to come up?" Mac asked with a seductive smile on her lovely face. "Maybe for a moment." he replied with an equally seductive smile on his face. He reached into the glove box and pulled something out of it when she wasn't looking. He put it into his pocket. The two of them walked hand-in-hand to the elevator and down the hallway to Mac's door. Mac unlocked and opened the door, Harm followed her into the apartment. "I'll just be a second. I have to get out of this uniform." she said as she headed to her bedroom. Five minutes later, she returned to the living room wearing jeans and a USMC t-shirt. Harm was seated on the couch, a CD was playing softly on the stereo system. "Better?" he asked with a grin. "Oh, yeah." she replied. "I love wearing my uniform, but by the end of the day, I usually can't wait to slip into a comfortable pair of jeans." "I think I'd rather see you slip out of those jeans." Harm said with a "flyboy" grin. "Red light, Commander." Mac said with a chuckle. She headed across the room to the couch so she could sit next to Harm. She leaned up against him and pulled her feet up under her on the couch. It felt so right for them to be together like this. After several minutes of companionable silence, Harm pulled something out of his pocket... a small jewelry box. He adjusted their position so that he could see Mac's face. "Sarah, there's something I want to ask you." She looked at him questioningly. Harm handed her the jewelry box, she opened it and gasped. Inside, was a ring with 3 small diamonds. It caught the light and blazed. She looked back at Harm, there were tears in her brown eyes. "Harm...." "Shh... let me finish. Sarah MacKenzie, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked formally. Sarah took a deep breath before answering, "Yes, Harmon Rabb, Jr., I'd be honored to be your wife." Harm bent down and kissed her thoroughly. After they separated, he took the ring from her. "Sarah, there's an inscription." She read the inside of the band, "Sarah, Semper fidelis, Harm." "I mean it, Sarah, 'always faithful.'" He slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. She held her hand up so that the diamonds caught the light. The sparkle in her eyes matched that coming from the ring. After a while of more kissing and talking, Harm sat up, "Sorry, Sarah, but I have to get home. Jenny needs to be able to go." "I know... I'll see you tomorrow when you pick me to go to JAG." a frown wrinkled Mac's brow. "JAG? What are we gonna do about work... the regs..." Harm put his finger to her lips, "Shhh, we'll worry about that later. Right now I just want to be happy with this night's developments." Sarah smiled, "Me, too, Harm. You'd better kiss me again before you go, Flyboy..." "Or what, Marine?" he retorted before following her order. BELTWAY BURGERS Mac and Harriet sat in a booth eating their lunch. Mac finished her burger and fries and crumpled up the papers on her tray. She sat sipping her soda. "Spill it, Sarah." Harriet finally said. "I can see from your expression that something big happened." "Harriet..." Mac started to protest then thought better of it. Her friend was persistent, she wasn't gonna give up easily. Mac reached up and pulled a chain out of her blouse where it had been hidden. On the chain was the diamond ring Harm had given her the night before. She removed it from the chain and slipped it on her finger, then she showed it to Harriet. Harriet's eyes got big and she gasped, "From the Commander?" "Yes, Harriet. Harm asked me to marry him last night." "Oh, Sarah, that's fabulous!!" Harriet jumped out of her seat and went around the table to embrace her friend. She returned to her seat, "So...?" "So, we're not telling anyone yet. We don't know what to do about the regulations and all." "Oh, the regulations..." Harriet's face lost a little of its joy, for a second, "Sarah, Bud and I got around the regulations. I'm sure you'll find a way." "Thanks, Harriet... I'm sure everything will work out." JAG HEADQUARTERS Harriet went to Bud's office and knocked on the door. "Enter." Harriet went in and shut the door, "Bud, guess what?" "What?" he asked, his curiosity peaked. "The Commander and the Colonel are engaged!" she grinned. "Really?" "Yes, really. But it's a secret... the regulations, you know." "Oh, the regulations." Bud echoed. 2030 ZULU (1530 EST) Mac walked out of her office to leave... she was so ready for a long, hot bubble bath. Everyone in the bullpen was talking excitedly, Tiner looked up and saw her and signaled someone else, all the talk stopped. She looked around the room at everyone confusedly... what were they all whispering about? Then it hit her... they all knew... the secret wasn't a secret any longer. Harriet! She shot an exasperated look at her friend who shrugged her shoulders. Just then Harm walked out of his office to leave. All of a sudden, someone started applauding. Mac just blushed. Suddenly, Admiral Chegwidden stalked out of his office, "What is this an office or a damn Broadway show?" All applause stopped as the entire room snapped to attention at their CO's presence. "At ease, People." "Uh, sorry, Sir." Harriet stammered. "We were just applauding something." "That much is obvious, Lieutenant. What isn't obvious to this ex-SEAL, is why you all were applauding. Care to explain?" Harriet recognized that tone of voice... it was definitely an order, not a request. She looked first at Harm, then at Mac, then back at the Admiral. "Well, Sir," she paused to take a deep breath, "It seems that Cmdr. Rabb and Col. MacKenzie are engaged to be married, Sir." Harriet braced herself for the inevitable explosion, she was surprised when the Admiral walked over to where Mac was and kissed her on the cheek. "Congratulations, Colonel." He went over to Harm and shook his hand, "You, too, Commander." "Thank you, Sir." they both choked out as he turned to go back to his office. The admiral turned back around to face the couple, "I want to see you in my office promptly at 0830 tomorrow to discuss the finer points of the fraternization regulations. Understood?" They snapped to attention, "Aye-aye, Sir." NAVAL ACADEMY CHAPEL Mac stood in the back of the chapel... it was just like in her dream. She could see Harm standing at the front, Bud, the Admiral, and Clay next to him. Uncle Matt, Harriet, Lauren, little A.J., and Clay's wife, Sandy, were waiting in the vestibule with her. The processional started, Sandy walked toward the front of the chapel. Harriet led the children to the starting point. Lauren turned around to Sarah, "Mac?" "Yes, Lauren?" "Can I call you 'Mommy'? Daddy said I had to ask you." Tears ran down Sarah's face, she moved to hug the little girl. "Of course, you can, Angel-girl. Of course, you can." The children started their walk down the aisle, followed by Harriet. Uncle Matt stepped over to his niece, took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped her eyes for her. She smiled a brilliant smile as the music changed to the wedding march. Uncle Matt took her arm and led her down the aisle to where her groom was waiting for her with one of his patented "flyboy" grins.... ANOTHER PLACE Theresa Coulter-Rabb watched the scene unfold in the Naval Academy Chapel with a sad smile. "What's wrong, Terri?" Harmon Rabb, Sr., said as he walked over to his daughter-in-law. She pointed... "Oh." he said, understanding the source of her pain. "But I thought you wanted them to get together." "I did... do, Dad. It just hurts some... I won't be the one who's there for Lauren the rest of her life... I won't be the one to take her to her first day of school. I won't be the one helping her get ready for her first date... I won't be the one sitting in the first pew at her wedding. I won't be the one holding my first grandchild." "I know how you feel... I felt the same way watching Trish marry Frank." "I'll be okay... I couldn't ask for a better person to raise my daughter than Sarah. Why do you think I wrote that letter... why do you think I went to Harm in his dream? I want my family to be happy. I know Sarah can make them happy." Harm, Sr., left his daughter-in-law to her musings. "Sarah, take care of them for me. I'll be watching over you all." THE END |
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