TITLE: "A Place Called New Orleans"
AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner
SUMMARY: Re-visit of Odd Man Out. Only this is the Shipper Version. A 
Harm-Mac story of course.
DISCLAIMER: JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al. No copyright 
infringement is intended with this work of fiction.
FEEDBACK: Yes, if you're moved to do so, to [SSbpmn@a...] and it 
would be much appreciated by both of us. However, if your intent is only to 
tell us you are not liking our work, please don't spend the time. While we 
realize our work does not please everyone, we do ask that the journey be 
respected.

NOTE: All parts of this story will be available at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
No subbing is required to read from the message archives.

"A Place Called New Orleans" Part 1--

"Seats? Superbowl seats--as in more than one?" Mac looked at Harm intently, 
trying to read his facial expression.

"It's a last minute thing," he shrugged sheepishly.

"So who are you going to take?" she persisted, visions of a warm weekend in 
New Orleans filling her thoughts.

"Yeah I'd like to hear that one myself," AJ chimed in, a slight quirk of 
amusement playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Yeah who are you going to take?" Sturgis joined them, bag in hand. "Tiner's 
been telling everyone about your good fortune. So are they on the fifty yard 
line or what?"

"Oh they're a little better than that," Harm grinned, having the good grace 
to look slightly embarrassed at all the attention.

"So who are you taking?" From Sturgis again.

Harm hesitated and Mac's gaze pierced him. "You're cutting it a little 
close aren't you?"

"Don't look at me, I'm booked," AJ yelped, walking away.

"When faced with a difficult decision, I'm going to do what I always do," 
Harm grinned. "Sleep on it."

"You are enjoying this way too much," Sturgis groaned, hefting his luggage.

"Where are you going anyway?" Harm demanded.

"New London," he answered. "But I'll be back in plenty of time. Harm, I 
trust you won't be swayed by emotional appeals." He shot Mac a meaningful 
look that Harm did not catch and hurried out.

"I'll see you in court," she growled, leaving as well.
==================
JAG HQ
Next Morning

"Colonel" Bud and Harriet said as they passed Mac on the way out of the 
break room.

"I just don't understand how you walked away with two seats to the biggest 
game of the year" Mac said to Harm.

"I have friends in high places" he said with a hint of a smile.

"Come on Harm. Who's your benefactor?"

"I'll tell you what. If you can guess, maybe I'll take you."

"Really" she said hopefully. "What about Sturgis?"

"I'm going to give you first chance."

"You are?" she smiled. "Well let's see. Normally I'd say Renee. But you two 
are disconnected."

"Yes we are."

"And I can't imagine Webb would give them to you. And we know Bobbi isn't 
speaking to you this year"

"Hey, you're supposed to be sucking up to me. This sounds like a slap in 
the 
face.

"Whichever will work" Mac smiled.

"Let's try the positive approach."

"Please Harm, I want to go. And as your best friend I will be forever 
grateful."

"Best friend?"

"Aren't we?" she said nervously.

"Yeah we are" he smiled. "And that was pretty good."

"So I get to go with you?"

"I uh, didn't know you were into football that much?" Harm grinned.

"Of course I am," she said quickly.

"So who's playing in the game?"

"Uh, I haven't really been following the playoffs that closely" Mac said 
lamely. "But I really want to go."

"I see. Well I'll have to let you know. Course there's Sturgis and Sergei 
to 
consider. And you know what a thrill it would be to Sergei to go."

"So you'll probably take him?" Mac said dejectedly.

"I didn't say that" he smiled. "Besides, Sergei's got his mind elsewhere 
right now."

"The INS?"

"No. Lieutenant Singer" Harm sighed.

"Excuse me, did I miss something? Sergei and Singer?"

"Don't ask. It's seems our resident busybody stopped by my place when I was 
on the Henry."

"Why'd she do that?" Mac asked.

"I have no idea. I'll be asking her about that when she returns. But in the 
meantime, my little brother fell for her."

"Harm, you need to have a talk with him" Mac laughed.

"I did. But I don't think anything sunk in."

"Hey he'll be OK," she smiled. "Though I'm getting the image of Sergei as 
the naive country boy and Singer as the wicked big city woman."

"Oh that makes me feel a whole helluva lot better," he groaned. "I think 
he's looking at her as a route to his green card, which INS is not going to 
buy for a second anyway. Fraudulent marriage is going to get him kicked out. 
Only proving he's my dad's son is going to get him permanent residence. But 
it's not an immediate problem. Maybe Webb can help. Right now I've got a 
weekend to get ready for."

"I'll think about you when I'm eating my tenth sushi roll," she sighed. 
"But I'm not going to beg."

"Are you that big a fan?" he demanded as she pushed past him.

"Of football not really," she admitted with a wry smile, adding just before 
she went around the corner. "Of the man with the tickets, yeah."

Harm swallowed hard when he was alone, remembering a time six months before 
on a ship called Guadalcanal when all he wanted was a sign from her that she 
wanted him. . .wanted them. "A sign," he murmured aloud. "Jesus Christ Rabb 
how big a moron can you be. She all but painted you that sign on poster 
paper."
==============
MAC'S APARTMENT
7PM That Evening

"Mac it's me," he called as he knocked lightly. "Bearing Starbucks hot 
chocolate and chocolate chip muffins."

"Food will get you admitted here any time," she grinned as she opened the 
door.

"What is that, your uniform of the home?" he chortled, taking note of the 
same flannel PJ's with the horse motif that she had worn Christmas.

"Did you drive over here to laugh at my PJs?" she pouted. "Old building, 
landlord doesn't exactly pour on the heat these winter nights. Now what can 
I do for you--unless you're hear to gloat about the case?"

"No, I don't even want to talk about that," he told her. "But this time I 
didn't have to drive seventy-five miles to see you in PJs. Of course the 
others were sexier but these are more. . ."

"Drop it Flyboy and hand me a muffin," she ordered. "Now is this a bribe or 
what?"

He flashed her one of his famous smiles. "It's a peace offering. What are 
you doing this weekend?"

"Spending it with you in New Orleans" she smiled hopefully. "And going to 
the Superbowl on Sunday."

"Maybe" he smiled.

"Quit toying with me Rabb" she groaned. "Do I get to go or not? Or is the 
muffin your way of saying sorry but I'm taking Sturgis instead."

"No it's not. I'm here to ask you if you'd like to join me in New Orleans 
for the weekend."

"You have to ask. Of course I'd love to go."

"I thought you might. I've uh, taken the liberty of booking us two rooms. 
Our flight leaves Saturday morning and we'll come back Monday morning."

"Did you clear this with the Admiral?" she asked.

"I asked if it would be okay if whoever I took had Monday off as well" Harm 
smiled. "He didn't seem to mind."

"So you haven't told anyone you're taking me?"

"Well I'll leave you to rub it in Sturgis' face tomorrow" he grinned. "Which 
I know you'll do."

"Me" she said innocently. "I would never do that."

"Of course not" he laughed. "So is that all okay with you?"

"More than okay it's great. So where are the seats at?"

"VIP box."

"No way. You're kidding."

"Dead serious. The best seats in the house."

"Okay now you have to tell me where you got these tickets from. Who on earth 
do you know has that kind of pull?"

"My secret" he grinned. "You'll find out when we get there."

"Should I wear something really nice. I mean, are we going to be hobnobbing 
with the rich and famous."

"Not quite. You'll see."

"Harm, you have to tell me how you got these seats" Mac begged. "I'll go 
crazy wondering."

"Well at least you won't go crazy wondering who I'm going to take anymore" 
he smiled.

"Yeah I was getting worried there for a while" she teased. "I thought maybe 
Sturgis was your best friend now instead of me."

"Sturgis never had a chance," Harm said softly. "I always knew who I wanted 
to take."

"You did" she smiled.

"Of course. You think I'd leave out my trusty partner who's put up with me 
for the past six years."

"I wasn't sure," she said quietly.

"Well I was. I just liked having everyone sucking up to me."

"Flyboy you are pathetic" Mac laughed as she gave him a playful smack.

"But cute right" he grinned.

"You only wish I thought that," she laughed and took a long drink of her 
cocoa. "This is fun. You have no idea how much I've missed times like 
these."

"Me too Sarah," he whispered softly, covering her hand with his. There was 
silence for long minute while the import of those few words registered with 
them both, and he added hopefully, "this is more of that beginning we started 
isn't it?"

"You'd better believe it," she smiled, leaning back in her chair, letting the 
warmth of the moment along with the warmth of the drink, wash over her.
===========
NEW ORLEANS HILTON
Sat. 2 Feb. 02

"Connecting rooms here Flyboy I'm impressed," Mac laughed, "and a balcony 
too. Plus it's Mardi Gras time."

"So you can throw beads and flash your chest."

"Yes exactly," she retorted. "But remember we have to bring Bud his beads."

"Right, that's real high on my priority list. Right below swipe match book 
from bar. I am wanting to bring AJ a tee shirt."

"The Admiral wants a tee shirt? Wow I never would have guessed that."

"The other AJ Jarhead," he groaned. "Go get changed."

"Harm you don't just tell a woman to go get changed," she retorted. "You 
tell her what for. In fact, what exactly is the agenda today?"

"Hell I'm just making it up as I go," he grinned. "No seriously, we're going 
to walk in the French quarter of course. And tonight we have dinner 
reservations. Bring your appetite--uh, never mind. Forgot who I was talking 
to. So go change already, and don't forget a sweater--the wind off the river 
is chilly."

"Who the hell are you and what have you done with my Harmon Rabb," she 
murmured, disappearing into her room before he could answer.

A short time later they were strolling through the French Quarter, slowly 
weaving their way in and out of the many shops and among the large crowd of 
visitors.

"Thank you so much for bringing me down here" Mac sighed as they walked 
along.

"My pleasure" he smiled as he reached for her hand. "Big crowd" he explained 
sheepishly. "Don't want to lose you."

"I told you you'd never lose me" she said softly, remembering that night 
that now seemed so long ago.

"And I'm holding you to that."

They continued along, finally coming upon the Voodoo Museum.

"Now there's what I need" he muttered. "A voodoo doll of Singer to keep her 
away from Sergei."

"Let's go find one then" Mac grinned. "I could think of a few things I'd 
like to do to her."

"Mac" Harm groaned. "You're not serious are you?"

"Come on" she said as she grabbed his arm. "It'll be fun."

They emerged from the shop a short time later carrying the voodoo kit Mac 
had purchased.

"I'm not accepting responsibility for this" Harm laughed.

"I wasn't going to do anything harmful" Mac teased and he rolled his eyes. 
"How about a spell to take her far away from Sergei?"

"When did you get into this voodoo stuff?" he asked. "Wait, never mind. I 
forgot, you're the one who danced naked with the Wiccans."

"Harm this is just for fun" Mac smiled. "That wasn't at all the same thing. 
I very much doubt that my wishing for her to go away will make it happen. It 
hasn't in three years."

He laughed at her words and reached for her hand again as they continued to 
stroll through the busy streets.

"So any more clues on how you managed to secure VIP box seats?" Mac asked as 
they walked along.

"No" he smiled. "But I'll let you know if you get close on guessing."

"Okay, it's not Renee. Not Webb. Not Bobbi. Wait, Frank, your stepfather?"

"No" he shook his head. "Keep guessing."

"Who else do you know?" she groaned.

"I guess you'll just have to wait until tomorrow" he smiled.

She glared at him and teasingly started to walk ahead, only to have him catch 
her hand. "Hey I wasn't kidding, this is a large crowd. I don't want to 
lose you," he called.

"I thought you told me you always knew where I was," she reminded him, 
nevertheless settling back into step with him. They traversed another block 
through the throng when she stopped suddenly, nearly causing a chain-reaction 
collision. "What is that wonderful smell?" She wrinkled her nose and 
sniffed again. "Heavenly."

"Not to me," he frowned. "Smells like dead animal cooking with onions."

"It's coming from there." Ignoring his comment, she tugged him to a vendor 
on the corner. "Lucky Dogs. Oh Harm they look wonderful."

Again he frowned. "You're not serious. Not only do you have no idea what's 
in those things, you're actually thinking of buying vendor food."

"You damn right I am," she laughed and tugging him behind, marched up to the 
vendor. "One, with everything you've got."

"On me, keep the change." Harm pressed a five into the vendor's hand and 
attempted not to grimace while he pulled a fat sausage from the steamer and 
set it on top of a loaded down bun.

"I hope you're hungry for dinner," he warned as they walked again.

"Harm this is a snack," she retorted. "And what's this about dinner? I just 
kind of figured we'd be getting some sort of sandwich or something from one 
of these cafes?"

"Not this time. Dinner will be. . . well like a date."

She stopped short once again, nearly choking on her bite of food. "You're 
inviting me on a date? Like a man and woman who are not partners do?"

"Like a man and woman who care about each other do," he answered seriously. 
"So how about another lap around the square and then we'll go clean up. 
There will be dancing afterward."

============
HARM & MAC's ROOMS
2 Hours Later

Once back to their hotel, Mac proceeded to fill the ice bucket with ice and 
water and set it on the table in Harm's room while he stretched out on the 
bed, perusing the TV channels. At least at first, but what she was doing 
soon attracted all of his attention. The voodoo doll was quickly assembled, 
Mac laughing to herself as she did so.

"OK do you stick a pin in the neck now or what?" he demanded.

"No of course not," she laughed. "We just want her gone don't we? Not dead."

He sat up to see better what she was about to do, and to his total surprise 
she plunged the now-Singer doll into the ice water. 

"Now I know you've lost it," he said as he stood up and walked over to the 
table. "What in the world did you do that for?"

"Well we want her to go away right? Why not to some place cold and icy? Does 
the name Keflavik ring any bells?"

"Yeah right like dunking the doll in the ice bucket is going to make it 
happen" Harm scoffed.

"Well it was fun anyway" Mac laughed. "So what's this date we're having 
tonight? We going somewhere special?"

"You might say that" he smiled. "I think you'll enjoy it."

"You know this weekend is turning out to be more than I thought it would 
be," she said softly. "I had a lot of fun today."

"Me too. I'm glad you came with me. I doubt I'd have this much fun with 
Sturgis."

"Sturgis wouldn't have made a voodoo doll of Singer and dunked her in an ice 
bucket" Mac grinned.

"No he wouldn't have" Harm laughed.

A few hours later they departed the hotel, Harm once again reaching for her 
hand as they walked. This time he led her to the Garden District of New 
Orleans, and the famed Commander's Palace.

"How appropriate" Mac smiled.

"Best Banana's Foster in the world" Harm grinned. "So I've heard anyway. But 
that's if you still have room for dessert after dinner."

"I always have room for dessert" she assured him.

They were seated at a quiet corner table and Mac looked around at the fancy 
restaurant.

"Quite a place you picked here sailor" she said softly. "Very nice."

"I wanted to take you somewhere nice for our first date" he smiled.

"Well you covered that all right. Did you see the prices on the menu?"

"I think I can afford it. And please don't be shy about ordering."

"You sure you're the same Harmon Rabb" she teased.

"Yes ma'am. The one and only."

"Well this is incredible and thank you" she said softly. "I really meant 
what I said about having a wonderful time so far this weekend. I can't wait 
until tomorrow and the game."

He smiled slightly but said nothing, saved by the appearance of the 
waitress.

"I'm stuffed" Mac declared an hour later. "How could you let me eat so 
much?"

"You didn't seem to have a problem when the food was coming out" Harm 
laughed. "No room for Banana's Foster?"

"We'd better take the long way back to the hotel" she groaned. "But I can't 
pass on dessert."

"Doesn't it make you want to yell fire in the hold?" Harm laughed when the 
flaming dessert arrived. 

"I never," she gasped in shock. "But then this weekend has been one 
surprise after another." 

The alcohol burned away quickly, leaving the sweet conglomeration of bananas 
with their coating of brown sugar and butter and between them they cleaned 
every bit of that platter.

"I'm too full to move," she sighed. "But what I really need is to go back 
and put on running clothes and do about ten miles."

"In this city at this hour? I think not," he told her seriously. "We can 
however walk fast."

Soft music was playing in the ballroom by the time they reached their hotel 
and he deliberately led her in that direction. 

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded, not comprehending his intention 
until they reached the large double doors. 

"I want us to have a dance before we go up," he explained.

"Now I know you're not my Harmon Rabb," she sighed, letting him sweep her 
onto the floor. The music seemed to slow and sweeten and the lights dim, as 
they began to dance. For the first half of the musical number they assumed 
the traditional dance position and then almost as if told to do so, her arms 
went around his neck and his around her waist for the finish.

"That was amazing," she breathed as the music died away.

"Yeah it was," he agreed.

"You should let me go now."

"Do I have to," he grinned and took her hand once more. "I think we're ready 
to call it a night." 

They were silent for the elevator ride up, and wordlessly Harm opened the 
door to his room, flipping on the lights and turning to her. 

"It was a magical night," she whispered. "Not something I'll soon forget."

"I'll walk you to your door," he grinned, draping his arm across her 
shoulders. 

A few steps later they reached the connecting doors and she stopped, looking 
up with a wry smile. "No mistletoe."

"I don't think we need it," he breathed.

"No we don't" she whispered before their lips met in a soft and gentle kiss.

"I'm beginning to like this" Harm smiled when they parted.

"Me too" she said softly.

"Good night Sarah."

"Good night Harm"

She made her way through the door to her room, closing the connecting door 
behind it and leaning against it with a content sigh. It had been a 
wonderful day. And tomorrow would only be better.

************
They both slept late and it was nearly noon before they ventured down to the 
hotel restaurant for brunch.

"So what time do we leave for the game?" she asked excitedly.

"Soon" he smiled, praying she wasn't going to kill him when she found out 
exactly what the plans for the day were.

After brunch they took another quick stroll down through the French Quarter 
before Harm realized they needed to get going and steered them back to the 
hotel.

"I uh, need to change and then I'll be right with you" he stammered when 
they arrived back at their rooms.

"What do you need to change for?" she asked as she once again admired him in 
the black jeans and black shirt.

"Uh, you'll see," he said before slipping into his room. Mac shook her head 
and headed into her room to primp a bit more. She had no idea who she'd be 
sitting with in the VIP box and she wanted to look her best.

"Harm, you ready?" she called fifteen minutes later as she knocked on the 
door adjoining their rooms.

The door opened and her mouth dropped open as he walked through in his 
flight suit.

"I uh, liked the black jeans better," she said slowly.

"Mac, there's a little something I haven't told you about today" he said 
quietly. "I'm not just here to see the game. Skates and I are in the 
rotation to fly cover over the dome during the game."

"You're flying?"

"Yes I am. But it's only for the first half. I'll be back on the ground and 
with you for the second half."

"Harm you should have told me" she said tersely, trying to hide the 
disappointment that he wasn't going to be with her for the whole game and 
her fear for him flying. Despite knowing he'd been up since the accident, 
the thought of him flying still sent waves of fear through her.

"You're mad aren't you?" he sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not mad," she said after a moment's silence.

"You look mad" he countered.

"I'm just surprised that's all" she sighed. "And maybe a little disappointed 
that you won't be there the whole time."

"Well if it's any consolation, you'll be in the VIP box with all the other 
guys' wives. And Skates"s fiance. And I'll be back for the second half."

"I know. And I'm feeling horrible about even giving you a hard time about 
this because I know you're doing what you have to do."

"I hear a 'but' coming in here" he said quietly. "But you still hate me for 
dragging you along and not telling you the truth?"

"No. Yesterday was wonderful. It's just that…" Her voice trailed off and she 
looked away.

"Just what?" he asked. "Mac, come on. What's really bothering you?"

"I'm being silly," she sighed. "I mean yesterday was totally perfect and I 
guess I just wanted it to continue today. But that you're coming to the game 
later makes it almost OK. Look, don't pay any attention to me. I'm just a 
little unnerved by your flying that's all. But I'm not sure I wish you'd 
told me."

"It's the kind of world we live in," he smiled gently. "You going to be OK 
with it?"

She took a long breath and looked up at him, unshed tears making her eyes 
shiny. "More than OK. Pretty damn proud in fact." She ran her hand along 
his arm and added, "Not to mention, you were always a pretty dashing figure 
in that flight suit Mister."

"Thanks. I really a couple times started to tell you, and then I couldn't 
and didn't and. . .well you know communicating with you isn't my best thing 
sometimes. If it was you and I would be. . ." His voice trailed off and she 
nodded her understanding of what he was wanting to say.

"OK Flyboy, last time you were on your way to fly I really messed up bad. 
Not this time. Good luck and good bye, and be careful."

"Always. Save me a seat in that box will you?"

"Right next to me." 

"Good Luck," she repeated and impulsively rose up to kiss the corner of his 
mouth. 

"Let's do it," he grinned, and took her hand to lead her to the lobby. 

The hotel was running a shuttle to the Superdome and Harm was being picked up 
by a military van, which arrived before the shuttle. As he climbed aboard 
the van she gave him a traditional thumbs up and he replied with a quick 
salute before the van took off.

"Your man?" The older woman waiting with her husband for the game shuttle 
asked Mac.

"Uh, we're kind of working on that," she blushed.

"Flyer?"

"Navy," Mac nodded, pride in her voice. "He'll be flying protective cover for 
the dome."

"Bless his heart," she smiled. "Bless all those boys. . .well girls too now."
*****************
Superdome

It was a nervous Marine Colonel that walked to the VIP seating area, wishing 
Harm was with her. Course she was actually glad he was flying first so they 
could enjoy the last part of the game together.

There was only one guy in the VIP box and Mac realized he must be Skate's 
fiancee.

"You must be the other half to Lieutenant Hawkes" Mac smiled. "I'm Sarah 
Mackenzie."

"Josh Summers" the man smiled back. "You're Harm's partner at JAG right?"

"Yeah. I won the mooch up to Harm contest at work to come down here. Course 
he neglected to mention that he was going to be flying."

"They'll be fine" Josh assured her, sensing her apprehension. "Routine stuff 
tonight. Can I get you something to drink? They've got a fully stocked 
refrigerator."

She settled for a bottle of water, too nervous for anything else at the 
moment. Before she knew it, the announcer was asking the fans to rise for 
the singing of the national anthem. Nearly seventy three thousand voices 
proudly sang along with Mariah Carey and at the end, the jumbo screen showed 
a quick glance of the fighters flying over the dome. Mac smiled softly and 
whispered a silent prayer heavenward to keep them safe.

Her mind was anywhere but on the game and she was glad when the first half 
finally came to a close, knowing Harm would be back soon. She was staring 
down at the field watching the conclusion to the half time show when she 
felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Miss me?" the voice she knew better than her own whispered softly.

She slowly turned around to see the flyboy smile she loved so much across 
his face.

"More than you know" she smiled softly. "How was it?"

"Fun but I kept thinking about this beautiful Marine Colonel down on the 
ground."

"Well said Marine Colonel kept thinking about you up in the air. And she's 
really glad you're back here with her."

"And I'm glad to be back here" he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Permission to hug the Commander for a good well done" she whispered.

"Only if there's a kiss to go with it" he grinned as he pulled her into his 
arms. 

THE END

Epilogue

JAG HQ
Admiral Chegwidden's Office
Monday Morning

"No. NO. I will not go. NO. Out of the question. I don't give a damn 
what kind of orders they are." The blonde Lieutenant's shrieks could be 
heard throughout that floor. "Iceland my ass."