TITLE: "Distant Hearts IV-One Heart" AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY/SPOILERS: The fourth chapter of the Distant Hearts series. Set after Head to Toe, Harm and Mac have made their first tentative steps toward coming to grips with the emotions which have swirled around them since their first meeting. Any JAG episode may or may not be referred to in this work. CLASSIFCATION/RATING: J/S/R/A PG for mild violence and language DISCLAIMER: JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al. No copyright infringement is intended with this work of fiction. FEEDBACK: Never expected let alone demanded. Always appreciated. We simply ask that the work and the effort be respected. Feedback addy is SSbpMN@aol.com. NOTE: All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there is no R nor NC17 content there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html [sadly, not always up and running] or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} ********************** Previously in DH-- After surviving an accident in the mountains, Harm takes Mac away from DC for a few days to say goodbye—and to cement the bond of love they now share. **************** From DH III— "I love you Sarah" his soft voice came through the machine. "I couldn't leave without saying that so you'd actually hear it. Because I don't want you to forget it." "I love you too" she whispered to the empty apartment. "And I want you back now." Her sobs echoed through the apartment as she sank down on the sofa, her hand clutching the gold wings that he'd left her. Nine months was going to seem like a lifetime. ******************** "Distant Hearts IV-One Heart"-- She cried for a long time. Cried until she had nothing left. It was a mistake. A mistake to make him promise her he would go and do his time. He was going to be miserable and her heart was breaking into tinier pieces with each sob she uttered. Would it have been so horrible if he had resigned and they had made a life together in D.C.? Both of them could have simply taken on civilian attorney jobs in the area and started a life together--the life they had been destined to make for so long. Having slept little the night before, she cried herself into an exhausted sleep, not waking until the apartment was in darkness and the phone was ringing. "Hey beautiful." "Harm. Oh Harm," she got out before another sob wracked her body. "Wait one Harm please." She would not let him know how upset she was if she could help it. "Sarah you OK?" "Yeah just give me a second here. I was asleep," she said quietly, taking several deep breaths and willing a calm into her voice. "OK. I'm so glad to hear your voice. Where are you?" "I am at the airport in Manama and waiting for my ride to NLSO and he's late--whoever it is. So I'm calling you because I couldn't wait to hear your voice. I thought I'd be in my quarters now." "I'm glad you called. Harm do you realize what our phone credit card bills are going to be like?" "Now ask me if I care," he shot back, "because I can hear in your voice that you're not OK. Talk to me Sarah." "I'm fine really," she sighed. "I just fell asleep is all and the phone woke me. I'm not a good waker-upper. I didn't sleep much the last two nights and it all caught up with me." "And you've been crying." "Over you? Don't flatter yourself Cowboy." She took a breath and added softly, "yeah I have, but I'm going to be OK. I'm a Marine--a Marine who's going to suck it up just like you are Navy." "Mac if it gets too hard--if it's not working, I can be home in twenty-four. You know that." "Yeah I do," she sighed. "I know, and that's an ace in the hole for me. How was the flight?" "Not bad, but I want to hear about you. You got home OK? Sturgis picked you up like he promised?" "He did, and he pretended not to notice I was upset, bless his heart." "I owe him big time." "And that brings me to something I want to talk to you about mister." Now fully awake her indignation over the way he had left her was up and running full. "Harmon Rabb, how dare you sneak out like you did." "You read my note. That said it all." "You should have let me make that choice." "No Sarah, because I know what would have happened. It would have been my flight duty all over again only this time I could no more have left you than I could have sprouted wings." "I wanted to say goodbye. To hug you. To thank you. To tell you how much I love you," she wailed softly. "All taken care of," he said easily. "Truth be told, I couldn't handle a good bye and I didn't think you could either. So I drew the line in the sand so to speak and besides. . .hey here's my ride now. About time she got here. Goodbye Sarah. I love you honey. I'll call you as soon as I can, and I'll email you. Remember we set up the separate accounts for that." "Yeah I do. Bye Harm. I love you. With all my heart." He was gone and with a long sigh she hung up the phone. She stumbled to her bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. It suddenly seemed so large without Harm next to her and she hugged her pillow close to her. With more tears falling, she closed her eyes, praying that she'd wake and Harm would be with her where he belonged. BAHRAIN "Sorry I'm late Commander Rabb" the young woman smiled as she approached Harm. "I'm Lt. Taylor Michaels. I'll be working with you in the Legal Services office." "Nice to meet you Lieutenant." Harm smiled. "And that's okay. Gave me time to make a phone call." "Miss home already?" she said gently. "Am I that transparent?" Harm sighed. "I know the look" she smiled. "You ready to go? I'm sure you're anxious to get settled in." "Yeah I'm ready" Harm said as he grabbed his bags. "So you're not real happy to be here are you?" she prodded when he remained quiet during the ride to the base. "It wasn't my choice if that's what you're asking" he sighed. "I guess I never expected they'd reassign me from JAG HQ's." "Well we're glad to have you here sir" Taylor smiled. "Things have been a little crazy around here since Captain Burns retired last week. So don't be surprised when you see the piles at the office." "Good the busier the better" Harm said quietly. "Less time to think about everything else." "So who is she?" Taylor said gently. "Sarah" he murmured. "She is..was..my partner at JAG." Taylor nodded her understanding. "Been there done it," she said softly. "You have someone special waiting for you somewhere?" Harm asked. "NLSO San Diego" Taylor smiled. "Aaron and I were assigned there together three years ago. We worked together, got close and then five months ago I was transferred here." "You're still together?" "As together as you can be when you're thousands of miles apart and there's twelve hours time difference. But we made a commitment to each other before we left that we'd make it work somehow." "Is it working?" Harm prodded. "It's not easy" she sighed. "We even talked about breaking it off before I left. But neither of us could do it. So we decided to give this a try. It's not for forever." "Seems like it though" Harm murmured and she gave him a sympathetic smile. "It seemed like that at first. But it does get a little easier as time goes by. And with things like IM and email it's not like we don't get to talk a lot. Even if one of us isn't awake." He smiled at that and thought about how he'd woken Mac when he'd called. The eight-hour time difference to DC wasn't going to make communicating easy but somehow they'd manage. "Home sweet home" she said a short time later as she pulled up in front of the barracks. "I hope you're not used to anything nice." "It's just a place to eat and sleep" Harm said quietly. "Home is back in DC with Mac." "Mac?" "Mac is Sarah" Harm explained. "Sarah Mackenzie, so in boot camp she went by Mac. It sort of stuck." "Good for a minute there I was getting worried about you Commander" she smiled. "Do you want a few hours to sleep before you head to the office?" "Actually I'm way too wired to sleep right now" Harm replied. "I was just thinking of dropping my stuff and seeing what's in store for me over there." "Bet your hungry though" Taylor smiled. "A little" he admitted. "Then let me show you the wonderful mess" she grinned. "OK this is not too bad," he decided, half way into his salad "Spoken like a man who's been in casual status for a good while," she smiled. "Actually it's decent here for the most part. You forget that we're a prime terrorist target for instance after a while and go about your business. The people are good to work for and with and. . .and speaking of that here's your partner now." "Whoa no one said anything about a partner," he yelped, looking around the small room. "Co worker, person to yell at when things are going to hell in a handbasket whatever sir," Taylor grinned and stood up, waving her hand. "Bethany come here would you. Someone you'll want to meet." Harm automatically rose as the woman approached them. Mac's height but there the similarity ended. Her auburn hair hung to her shoulders, framing her gentle features and ready smile. "Bethany Romero, this is Harmon Rabb--uh. . .excuse me sir, Commander Harmon Rabb. Sir, Bethany is a civilian attorney assigned here last month and she's already threatened to go over to the other side if we didn't get some help in here." "Commander so good--very good--to meet you finally," Bethany smiled. "When they said we were finally getting some assistance I was afraid to believe it. Captain Burns had things running like clockwork but then he got short and was taking care of his move and out processing and it all went to hell in that proverbial handcart." "My pleasure. And it's Harm please," he told her, letting his gaze linger for a moment on her warm smile. She was not Sarah Mackenzie, but she was a friendly face, as was Taylor, and right now he needed all the friends he could muster. Stranger in a strange land that he was. "Bethany you're a long way from the U.S." he observed as he took her tray and pulled out her chair. "There wasn't anything there for me any more," she said softly, twirling some spaghetti onto her fork. "At least not in Pensacola and when I started looking at vacancies in Naval Commands this came up and I jumped at the chance." "Well I'm glad to meet you. Both of you," he said sincerely, digging into his salad with renewed hope. It might just be bearable after all. "You have the desk next to mine," Bethany went on. "Only you can't see it. I've been stacking the-I'll get to it when hell freezes over-cases there. We spend half our day looking for stuff, though Taylor has been an enormous asset keeping things organized and keeping the brass off our sixes while we make some headway." "Who's the old man?" "Rear Admiral Jason Selby. Knows his stuff. Flew fighters in the Gulf." She looked to his wings and shook her head. "Oh my god the two of you are going to have a lot in common. Just let me out of the office before the aviator stories start OK? I'm allergic to that macho testosterone crap." "You got it," he grinned. Yes it might not be too bad. Harm spent the rest of the day getting acquainted with the office staff, small in number but dedicated Bethany assured him, and he met Adm. Selby who at once invited him for a drink at the club after the duty day. So it was a tired Commander who collapsed onto his bed in his quarters, reaching at once for his laptop. Hey Marine, how's it going. It's been the longest day I can remember in a long time but all in all not that bad except for missing you. I have a partner would you believe. Civilian no less. Bethany is her name. Our legal aide is a seemingly sharp lieutenant, and the old man is an ex fighter jock. Of course we've already had a drink and shared Desert Storm stories. And he actually knew of the Wild Ones and my dad. But enough of all that. Right now the one thing I want most in this world is to have you in my arms, and it's the one thing that's most impossible. I know you're probably still bothered by the way we parted but since I promised you I would make this effort it was my only chance to get away. Hey one day down. I'm a day closer to coming home to you. Know this Marine, once I have you back in my arms, I'm never ever going to let you go. I love you very much--forever and always. YH [your Harm] Thousands of miles away at JAG Mac let out a long sigh as she walked out of her office. Half a day without Harm at JAG had seemed endless and she had no idea how she was going to make it until he came back. She headed towards the break room to grab her lunch, nearly colliding with Singer as she raced down the hall, a large box in her arms full of stuff from her desk. "Excuse me ma'am" Singer smiled before continuing to Harm's office. "Lieutenant , what are you doing?" Mac demanded. "What are you doing in Commander Rabb's office?" "Correction. My office ma'am. At least until he comes back. If he comes back." "Does the Admiral know about this?" "Of course he does" Singer said with a long look. "You don't think I'd actually move in here without his permission." "I wouldn't put anything past you" Mac muttered as she walked out. Instead of the break room, she headed to the Admiral's office. "Tiner is the Admiral available?" she asked. "I'd like to speak with him please." "Go ahead ma'am" Tiner replied. "Colonel I figured I'd see you in here. Let me guess this is about Lt. Singer moving next door to you into Mr. Rabb's old office." "Sir, Harm is coming back. You can't just give his office to Singer." "Mac I don't know when Harm is coming back" AJ said gently. "It might be 90 days. It might be 120 days. Hell it might not be for six or nine months. The original posting called for as much as a year. In the meantime, I have an office to run and it makes no sense to leave the office empty when Lt. Singer could use a bigger space now that she's going to be handling more assignments." "I understand sir" Mac said quietly. "I'm sorry to have bothered you." "Mac I know this isn't easy for you. But you both knew this might happen one day. You're in the military. You're not assigned based on what fits your life. I'm sorry but this is the way it goes." "Understood sir" Mac sighed. She grabbed her lunch and headed back to her office. She logged into the account she had set up so she and Harm could trade emails and a small smile crossed her face as she saw the email from him. She quickly read his email, trying to ignore the stab of jealousy when he mentioned working with two females. But at least he seemed to be okay with it and she hoped she could hide from him just how much she hated this. She hit the reply button and started her letter back. Hi Flyboy, Miss you lots. I'm glad you're getting settling in there. It sounds interesting and maybe one day our paths will cross on a case. I can hope right. It's so different here without you and Sturgis. You may be back sooner than you think if I kill Singer. She moved into your office today. The Admiral explained why he did it but it doesn't make it any easier to see her sitting where you should be. I miss you more than I ever imagined. I just want to feel your arms around, and hear your voice telling me it's going to be okay. I love you so much Harm. I'm counting the days until this over. Whenever that will be. All my love Sarah With a sniffle she hit the send button. She looked at her lunch and with a sigh threw it in the trashcan. Food was the least of her cares now. She was about to reread Harm's email when she heard loud voices outside her office. "Bud what's going on?" she sighed as she walked out to the cause of the noise was Bud and Singer. "Ma'am, why is she in Commander Rabb's office?" Bud demanded. "Oh please. Would you two give it a rest already. He's gone. Reassigned. These things happen in the military" Singer scoffed. "The Admiral said she could move into the office" Mac explained to Bud as she ignored Singer's comments. "Of course when Harm comes back she'll have to move back." "When he comes back" Singer repeated. "Until then, it's my office. So stop referring to it as Commander Rabb's office." She marched to the office and Mac let out a long sigh. "Ma'am this sucks" Bud said quietly. "The Commanders' are gone and we're stuck here with her." "I know Bud" Mac said as she patted his shoulder. "I know." She retreated back to her office and was about to reread Harm's email when Singer burst through the door, a box in her hand. "Where do you want this stuff?" she asked as she stood beside Mac's desk. "What stuff are you referring to?" Mac sighed. "His stuff. I don't know why people don't clean out their offices when they leave." "Set it down" Mac ordered as she reminded herself that murdering Singer would keep her away from Harm longer than this assignment. Singer dumped the box in the middle of Mac's desk, her eyes catching sight of what was on the screen. "Flyboy and Ninjagirl" she laughed and at once Mac clicked the mouse and minimized the screen. "Lieutenant, get out" Mac ordered. "You have no business looking at my computer." "I'll remind you ma'am that government computers are to be used for official business only. Not personal love letters." "Get out" Mac repeated. "Now Lieutenant." "Yes ma'am" Singer smirked as she started towards the door. "Oh the Admiral said we would be working on the Alvarez case together. When would you like to start that?" "I'll let you know" Mac said coldly. "Now get out of my office." "God bless your man is gone and you're not getting any. OK I'm sorry but don't take it out on the hired help OK. Jeez." "Lieutenant you are about a millimeter from the insubordination line," Mac warned. "And the only reason I'm not charging you is that I'm not of a mood to deal with the paperwork. But I suggest you not cross me. Dismissed." "Aye ma'am," she replied. Only when the door was closed safely behind her did she add, "especially not with the Commander gone from your bed." Singer walked slowly to her desk, thinking how Mac had reacted when she had gotten a glimpse of her computer screen. She shook her head, her fingers to her lips to keep from laughing out loud. Flyboy? Ninja-girl? Bedroom names perhaps. This could be too good to let go. Casually she walked into the large outer office and looked around, spotting her prey almost at once. Ensign Joseph Corelli. The man to see about all things tech in the office. "Corelli I need to speak to you," Singer called. "Alone." "Ma'am." He rose and dutifully followed her. ================ BAHRAIN "Well Commander it doesn't look as bad as it did," Taylor sighed, surveying the results of a full day's work. "Oh come on there's just as much. It's just more organized that's all," Bethany groaned, straightening up painfully from where she had been bent over for the better part of an hour sorting files. "Don't discourage the commander," Taylor laughed. "You know he could whip out a resignation on that computer any second. In fact that's what he's doing isn't it sir?" She had noticed Harm tuning out the rest of the office as he began to type. "No I'm writing to Mac. My partner." "Uh Commander let's not get into that," Bethany teased. "Don't ask don't tell remember and if you've ever done a case like that you know the paperwork is hell." "Mac is Sarah," Harm groaned. "Mackenzie. My partner. And my life." "Oh." Bethany quickly turned her head. She had not known the good looking new arrival any length of time at all, but already knew she could be attracted to him. "Mac is his Aaron," Taylor explained quickly. "Ah say no more," Bethany smiled. "You guys don't know how lucky you are to have someone like that." "If you didn't spend every night in our quarters reading you'd have a better chance of meeting someone," Taylor screeched. "My god Bethany do have any concept of how many hot guys come through here daily. And I'm not even talking about the ones in custody." "Well truth be told I really wasn't looking for another Navy guy anyway," she retorted. "Not after Greg. Not after what he did." "This would be Greg in Pensacola?" Harm asked, barely looking up from the email he was beginning to compose. "Yeah it would and I just realized I broke my vow about never talking about the jerk again," she sighed. "Excuse me please." With that she hurried out of the room. "So who's this Greg when he's at home?" Harm asked Taylor. "If you're not breaking a confidence that is." "Sir I have no idea. I know she mentioned Pensacola a couple times and clammed right up. Obviously it's bad memories. Especially if she had to come halfway around the world to get away." She paused and added with a devious smile. "You want me to sleuth around and find out who this bastard is and what he did?" "Certainly not Lieutenant. At ease please. In fact take off. Nothing else is going to get done in this dust pile today. Have a good night." "Yes sir thank you sir," she screeched and ran out. "Lord just give me ten minutes of peace and quiet," he sighed, having wanted to write to Mac all day and not getting the chance. TO: Ninjagirl@jag.navy.mil Dear Sarah Looks like I made it through another day. Actually the day passed pretty fast. In fact we were so busy getting things organized I hardly had time to breathe and all I really wanted was to write you. Bethany and Taylor and I spent the entire day moving files around, sorting and prioritizing. I think we may finally be ready to make some real headway on dispensation tomorrow. Meanwhile I've found out that Bethany left unhappiness behind in Pensacola and Taylor is pining for some guy named Aaron. Of course pining doesn't begin to describe how much I miss you. I'm going to go to my quarters and shower and then take a walk and get something to eat. Then I'll come back and have a good night with you. Already I'm planning to be up at 0600 so I can do an hour in the gym. Have to do something to work off missing you. I love you so much. The only thing that's keeping me going is the assurance that this time next year this will all be a past nightmare. Forever my love, YH. JAG HQ's "Ma'am I can't do that" Ensign Corelli gasped. "You can and you will or the Admiral is going to find out about your friend Leonard" Singer threatened. "All it would take is a little unsigned note to the Admiral that you and Leonard aren't just room mates if you know what I mean." "How did you find out about Leonard?" he demanded. "I have my sources Ensign. I know everything about everyone in this office" Singer smiled. "The only way to get ahead is to know all the dirt on those you work with." "So what do you want from me?" the young man sighed. "Did you set up special email accounts for Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie? Something disgusting like Flyboy and Ninja girl." "Yes I did. The Commander asked me to and I figured it wouldn't hurt any to set them up. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. I just wanted to help out. It didn't seem fair that they were being separated like that." "Ensign, this is the military" Singer said with a long glare. "Okay, so you set up new email accounts for them on the server. Isn't that technically a violation of government rules concerning the personal use of equipment." "I..uh guess so" Joe stammered. "So if I told the Admiral about that and about your friend Leonard you'd be in really big trouble wouldn't you?" Singer smiled. "You wouldn't?" "I won't if you help me out. Otherwise yes, I'll tell the Admiral everything." "What help do you want?" he sighed. "Is there a way you can get me copies of the emails that go to these special accounts?" she asked. "Yes ma'am. It's real easy. I can just go in and tell the system to send a copy of the email to another inbox account." "And no one sees that right?" "No ma'am. It's all done in the system. The person sending the email simply sees it going to the address they sent it to and the person receiving the email has no idea that someone else got a copy." "Perfect. I want you to set up my email to get copies of everything that goes into Colonel Mackenzie's Ninjagirl account." "Ma'am this is wrong. Very wrong." "And it wasn't wrong for you to set up separate emails so the Commander and Colonel could send love letters back and forth to each other using government computers and on government time." "Yes ma'am it was. But if that's the case I should just delete the accounts instead of letting you read the emails." "If you do that, the Admiral finds out about Leonard" Singer smiled. "And we don't want that to happen now do we?" "No ma'am" the young man said miserably. "I'll start forwarding a copy of the Colonel's mail to you right away." "Thank you Ensign. That'll be all." ***************** Mac's Apartment 10:00 PM EST "Come on Harm" Mac sighed as she waited for Harm to join her on IM. He'd said he'd be up early and she just wanted a few minutes with him. It had been a long first day without him and she just needed reassurance that they would make it through this. Finally the little icon told her he was there and a small smile crossed her face as his words came across the screen a few seconds later. >>Good Morning Beautiful. I miss you. >>Miss you too. I think I'm going to go crazy without you. >>I know because I'm going crazy without you. >>Sounds like Taylor and Bethany are keeping you company. All I've got is >>Bud and Singer. Who will be dead long before you come back. >>She's not worth life in prison Ninja girl. Just keep telling yourself >>that. And I have no interest in Bethany and Taylor. I happen to love one >>Sarah Mackenzie. >>I needed to hear that. It was an awful day without you. >>I got your email about Singer taking my office. I'm sorry you have to go >>through that. >>It could be worse I guess. I just hate walking out and seeing her in your >>office. She should have been shipped to Bahrain not you. >>I wish. But we'll get through this Sarah. It will pass before we know it. >>I hope so Harm. I miss you so much. >>I miss you too. And I know it's late there and you're probably exhausted >>and ready to crash. >>I needed to talk to you first. Though I miss the sound of your voice so >>much. As she waited for his reply on screen the phone rang and with a sigh she reached for it. "Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie." "I love you Sarah" he said softly. "Harm" she whispered as she felt the tears brimming. "You didn't have to call. This has to be costing you a fortune." "I don't care about the money. You needed to hear how much I love you and that's why I'm calling. "Harm you've called just to hear me cry," she sniffled. "I'm sorry. I'm not handling it real well. Your Marine is a Camp Fire Girl I'm afraid." "My Marine is perfect," he told her firmly. "I'm not exactly the poster boy for calm and collected over here either." "But you have help. Taylor, Bethany--they're there for you remember." She had tried hard to keep any note of jealousy from her voice, and his answering chuckle told her she had not succeeded. "Sarah there is one woman on this planet that I'm interested in," he said softly, speaking slowly to be sure he had her attention. "I love you. And when I come home I'm going to prove that to you in a dozen ways." "Thank you," she breathed into the phone. "You were right. I needed to hear that from you in your voice. I needed to hear you say that. Now you hear me. I love you Harmon Rabb. And when you get back here I'm going to hold you to what you just said." "I want you to," he said seriously. "Every syllable." "You got it," she sighed and that sigh turned into a yawn. "Mac go to bed," he smiled, hearing the yawn clearly even on the other side of the world. "I'm going to run and then shower and get some breakfast before I start work. Once I get into that office I can't grope my way back out it seems like." "I will. I just hate to let go of your voice," she whispered, feeling tears well again. "You get to bed and get some good rest now," he urged. "Hey you're locked up good right?" "Yes I am. OK, going before it gets any harder. Good night Harm. I love you. "Good night honey. I love you." Across five thousand miles of space and time those words united two souls. BAHRAIN "Good morning sir." Taylor found Harm in the dining hall, sipping coffee and looking at the newspaper. A bowl of oatmeal with just a few bites gone was sitting neglected by his side, and the fruit in the bowl next to it was faring little better. "Can't get used to the food sir?" "My stomach is still having jetlag I guess," he sighed. "Sit down Lieutenant. You ready for another day?" "Actually sir yes, since you arrived, things are not as dim as they seemed." "Well that's good to know," he smiled. "Just don't get too used to me being here." "Excuse me sir? I mean tours are normally three years." He choked on a swallow of coffee at that. "Three years? Not likely. I'll be lucky to last three months thank you." "Is it that bad?" "This place or the job? No that's not the issue. I can do my job anywhere under any conditions except one. Being away from Sarah." "Yeah I know exactly your feeling," she reminded him gently. "Especially now. Sir. . ." She showed him her hand--her left hand, and a finger that was bare the day before now sported a small engagement ring. "Aaron I assume," Harm smiled wistfully. "Yes sir. My Aaron. The desk clerk had the package for me when I got back to the building yesterday. I had no idea. I mean I knew that's where we were going but for him to send it. . .well I was blown away." "It's beautiful," Harm sighed. "Permission to kiss the Lieutenant for congratulations?" "Yes sir but if we get gigged, I'm blaming you," she giggled and turned her cheek for his gentle kiss. "Excuse me sir? I see a friend and I want to show her." "Of course," he nodded with a long sigh of frustration and loneliness. He pushed away his food, his appetite totally gone now, and strode to the office, wanting only to open an email and pour out his misery to the woman he loved. ================= >>Dear Sarah, It's only been a few hours since I heard your voice but I miss you so much already. Every moment we're part is like a lifetime and I ache to hold you again. Taylor informed me that tours here are usually three years, not three months. There's no way I will make it three years without you. Three months seems like an eternity as it is. Three years is like a life sentence in prison. I love you so much Sarah. I know I promised I would give this a chance but I'm not sure I can do this. I want to be with you. It was so hard to hear your tears and not be able to do anything to comfort you. I wanted to reach through the phone and hug you and tell you it's going to be okay. Even though I don't really believe that myself. I'm rambling and I need to get to work. I love you Sarah. Please don't ever forget that. YH ***************** "Thank you Corelli" Singer smiled as she read Harm's email the next morning. "This is better than I thought." She quickly saved the email into another file for safekeeping. She'd think about how she was going to use this to her advantage. "Good morning Colonel" she smiled brightly when she saw Mac a short time later in the break room. "Lieutenant." Mac said without a second glance. "Ma'am, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday" Singer continued. "It was out of line and it won't happen again." "You're apologizing?" "Yes ma'am. I know this is very hard for you and I just want you to know that you'll have my full support around here from now on." She walked out leaving a stunned Mac staring after her. "Morning Ma'am" Bud said as he walked in. "What's with her? She seems awfully nice this morning." "I have no clue" Mac sighed. "But I'm sure there's an ulterior motive to her niceness." "There usually is" Bud nodded. "And I know you're really busy but can you spare a few moments to go over the Vincent case this morning." "Sure Bud. Just give me a few minutes and then I'll stop by your office" Mac smiled. She returned to her office and opened her email, happy to see a note from Harm again. But the tone of his letter was anything but happy and she let out a long sigh as she tried to figure out what to say to him. He was as miserable as she was and the idea that they'd be apart for three years was something she couldn't even bear to think about. But suddenly the Admiral giving Singer Harm's office made more sense. >>Dear Harm, I don't even want to think about you being gone for three years. It's not going to happen. We're going to be together long before that. I can't believe anything else to be true or I'll never get through this. I'm sorry for the tears last night. I know how hard this is for you and I don't want to make it worse. Somehow we'll get through this. Singer apologized for yesterday. I know there's something up with that and I can only imagine what's going on in her conniving little mind. Fortunately Bud is here otherwise I'd go crazy. I love you and I'll talk to you later sailor. Love always Sarah ******** One Week Later The week had finally come and gone and a new one had started. One week of being apart finally over. Only God knew how many more before they'd be together again. "Commander you interested and joining Bethany and I for dinner tonight?" Taylor asked Harm at the end of the day. "Mess special?" he asked as he looked up from his computer. "Actually no I was thinking of going off base into Manama" Taylor replied. "There's a Hard Rock Café there. You interested?" "You sure you want me along?" Harm asked. "Well I'm trying to get Bethany out of her doldrums. Since I got engaged she's been pretty down. So have you actually. So I thought maybe we all went out and had a good time that might help. And it might feel a little bit like home." "Only if Mac is there" Harm sighed. "You miss her a lot don't you?" Taylor said softly. "More than I ever could have imagined" Harm admitted. "But you know it might be a good idea to get out and do something tonight." "So you'll come?" "Sure. Just let me send an email to Mac and tell her so she doesn't wonder where I am when she comes on lunch to check email." "You telling her you're going out with the girls?" Taylor teased. "Yes. I have no secrets from Mac. I love her and she knows that." "Lucky lady" Taylor smiled. "I'll go round up Bethany and we'll get changed and then we'll meet you at your place in say a half hour?" "Sounds good" Harm nodded as he opened his email program. >>Good Morning Sarah, Well if nothing else this has gotten me calling you Sarah instead of Mac. Which I'm not sure how I feel about that. You've been Mac so long, but Sarah is more personal. At the same time I know that's what Mic called you. How is the Australian. . .uh never mind. I needn't speak unkindly of the departed even if there not dearly. Hey I know we haven't mentioned the three year thing since last week. I did get the courage to bring it up to the old man here, and he wasn't much help. Right now he's got someone who's clearing out the mess he was left with and I'm OK with that. For the time period I promised you. I'm not staying in this godforsaken part of the world for 3 years. If I make 3 months I'll be deserved of the Navy Cross. Enough of that. Have I mentioned lately I love you? Of course I have, in yesterday's mails. OK, then I'll just share that you'll be pleased to know that I'm not sitting alone in my quarters brooding tonight. Taylor and Bethany are dragging me into Manama to the Hard Rock. Bethany's been a little down. I'm not sure what's going on with her. I'm sure it relates to Pensacola but she doesn't want to talk about it. Anyway I'll go have a drink with them and some food that's not cooked on base. Maybe I'll actually feel like eating. But I'm really not sure why I'm going. I just wanted you to know where I was in case you sign on and I'm gone. I won't be late. Remember how much I love you and need you in my life. All love always, YH. He shut the program down and hurried to his quarters, taking a quick shower and was ready when Bethany and Taylor arrived. "Hey sir," Taylor smiled. "I hope you're more willing than Bethany here is." "Oh yeah? Bethany you wouldn't really rather be in your apartment moping now would you?" "It's just that I'm not real good to be around," she murmured. "Well you and I make a perfect matched set then," Harm grinned. "I just told Mac that I wasn't sure why I was going, but now I see two pretty young ladies who want my company and I'm OK with it. Come on. Promise if you really want to come back we'll let you." "I really could use a night out," Bethany sighed. "And a mood-improver of the liquid variety wouldn't hurt. You'll have to excuse me though if I get drunk off my ass on a wine cooler." "I'll deal," he grinned. "Taylor you didn't waste any time in taking advantage of the restrictions on town being lifted. We just got the directive today." "Yes sir. About time. And then I know this guy on the SP force and when he asked me if I had plans tonight--I'm not sure what part of I'm wearing another guy's ring he doesn't understand but that's beside the point--and I told him we were going to the Hard Rock he said to be careful. That as soon as the announcement hit, the threats and warnings started." "Just like the people at G2 predicted," Harm smiled. "All part of the game. Are we ready?" "Starving," Taylor declared. The center of town had come alive with the lifting of the travel restrictions and Harm found himself enjoying the chaos. A man could lose himself in the throngs of people and forget his misery, at least for a short time. ============== JAG HQ Same time "Ma'am you wanted those figures on the Los Angeles class subs." Bud's quiet words broke into her thoughts mid afternoon. "Yeah you can tell I've just been jumping for joy at the anticipation," she sighed, staring at Harm's email on her screen. "Ma'am?" "Just put the files over there where you can find room please Bud." "Yes ma'am. And ma'am. . .I'm not sure why but Tiner said you should come into the Admiral's office. He needed you to see something." With a long sigh Mac closed Harm's email before heading over to the Admiral's office. "Sir, you wanted me to see something?" Mac asked as she walked into the office. "Have a seat. I just wanted you to know about this before someone else told you. It appears there was a suicide bombing in Bahrain a short time ago. Not at the base thank god, but in the city itself. I thought you should know so you don't freak when you see it or someone tells you." "Where in the city?" Mac whispered, knowing full well that was exactly where Harm had gone with the two girls from the office. "Mac what's wrong?" AJ demanded. "Harm sent me an email that said he and some of his co workers were going to the Hard Rock Café in Manama. Please tell me that's not where the bombing was." "I don't know exactly where it was," AJ said quietly. "But I'll see what I can find out." He turned on ZNN and at the same time picked up his phone. "Tiner get me the SecNav's office." Mac's gaze went to the screen where they were now showing pictures from the bombing area. "This is Admiral Chegwidden. I need to get all the information available on the bombing in Manama." Mac's sudden gasp and choked cry made AJ turn his head and he followed her look to the screen just in time to see a glimpse of a man being attended to by US military personnel. That man being Harm. But the camera had quickly panned away before she could get a good glimpse to see how badly he'd been hurt. "Oh god he was there" Mac wailed. The image had passed by so quickly that she'd barely had time to recognize it as him. But she'd seen it long enough to know he'd be hurt. "Yes I'll be here" AJ sighed. "Please as soon as there's word on any US Navy personnel I need to know. Thank you." With a sigh he hung up and walked over to where Mac was sitting, a tortured look now on her face. "As soon as they know anything, they'll call me" he said gently. "Are you going to be okay?" "He has to be okay" Mac whispered as the tears slid down her face. "I can't lose him sir." "You're not going to lose him. Likely he might have been injured but from what flashed on the screen he didn't look to be seriously injured." "I can't even go to him" she managed before a long sob wracked her body. "He needs me and I can't go to him." "I'm sorry Mac" AJ said quietly. "You have no idea how sorry. I wish there were something more I could do. But this wasn't my decision remember." "I know sir" she sobbed. "I just hate it. I hate it so much." Her words ended with another sob and she finally gave into the tears, sobbing as much as she had the night he'd left. "Tiner get me Lt. Sims" AJ said quietly as he opened the door to his office to see the yeoman. "ASAP please." He closed the door again as Mac's sobs continued, only opening it when Harriet knocked a few moments later. "Sir you needed to see me" Harriet said quietly. She heard Mac's crying and AJ opened the door and let her in. "There was a suicide bombing in Bahrain" AJ said quietly and Harriet's eyes widened. "It was off base but Harm had told Mac he was going out with some co workers last night. And ZNN flashed enough of a picture that we're pretty sure he was there. I'm waiting for word from the SecNav's office on the status of any Navy personnel in the area." BAHRAIN "Sir thank god. We couldn't find you earlier." At the sound of Taylor's voice he looked up at the two young women he'd been out with when the world around them had suddenly exploded. They'd just left him to use the ladies room when the bomb had exploded. "Are you two okay?" Harm demanded. "A few cuts and bruises but I think we're okay," Taylor said shakily. "We were more worried about you" Bethany managed in a tearful voice. "The area we'd left you at was gone." She couldn't keep the tear back and Taylor reached for her friend as the young woman started to sob. "I'd just gotten up to go talk to someone I knew on the Henry" Harm said quietly. "I guess if I hadn't I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you." Bethany's sobs only increased at his words and Taylor hugged the young woman. "Bethany it's okay," Taylor said softly. "We're all going to be okay." As she said the words she looked down at the medic who was attending to Harm. "He is going to be okay right?" "Yeah. We'll have him checked out thoroughly once we're back on base but it looks like he was lucky and he's just got a minor head injury, some bruised ribs and of course lots of cuts and bruises." "Thank god" Taylor whispered. "God Harm I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Mac is going to freak when she hears about this." "Oh god Mac" Harm gasped. "If she sees this on ZNN she will freak. I told her we were going to be here. I have to get back to the base and call her." "Just keep your shirt on sir," the medic told him firmly. "You're going back to the base all right, to be thoroughly checked. Not only do I want you to. . ." He was stopped by one of the other medics coming over to them. "Seven dead so far. Four I don't hold out much hope for. And of course a few dozen with cuts and another assorted injuries. It was a shrapnel device." "Yeah. OK, let's start the transporting. Ma'am I want you to calm down now please." He looked to Bethany and then to Harm. "Sir maybe you can help there. She's got a nasty cut on her arm that I want to wrap before she half bleeds to death." "Bethany, Bethany you need to stop now," Harm told her firmly, taking the medic's words to heart. "Let this man bandage you. Now. I'm OK, and Taylor is OK, and we're going home real quick." With those words he pulled her into his arms as best he could with consideration for his ribs. In the annals of television news, there are some pictures and images that will live forever, such as a three year old John Kennedy saluting his martyred father's horse drawn caisson. This picture would join those ranks, for flashed around the world at that moment was the image of a tall dark American with his arms wrapped around a slender woman, crying softly as the paramedic tended to a gash on her arm. ============= JAG HQ "Mac?" Harriet nodded to AJ and approached her from behind. "Hey try not to think the worst." She put a firm hand on her friend's shoulder and then gave her an awkward hug from behind. "We know he's been hurt. He had a medic looking at him," she choked. "We just don't know how bad. I mean he could have internal injuries or be bleeding to death." "Or he could be holding a beautiful woman almost on his lap." AJ called as he watched the tragedy unfold and could not help the attempt at humor as the camera panned again through the devastation and then fixed on Harm, holding Bethany as best he could. "What? He's OK?" Mac swallowed one last sob, choking out those words. "I see the Commander has made a friend over there. And at least she's not a blonde," AJ teased, trying to keep her from her despair. "Harm works with two women in his office," she said softly, forcing herself to turn around. "They were just going to dinner in the city at the Hard Rock. That's all they were going to do. He didn't deserve to be hurt just for that." She dabbed her eyes once more and focused on the screen. "Is that not your Sailor?" AJ asked gently. The camera lingered for another few seconds on the shot of Harm holding Bethany while her arm was attended to and Mac sank into the chair in relief. "Feel better Colonel?" "Yes sir a little, but he could have. . ." She stopped to hear the announcer report that seven were known dead. "He could have been one of those sir." "And when you drive home tonight you could be one of the accidents that will happen across the area in rush hour," AJ reminded her. "Yes sir, but at least I'd be where I belonged, leaving the job I was supposed to have. And yes sir I know how unreasonable that sounds, but I don't feel in a very reasonable mood right now. Harm does not belong on the other side of the world. He belongs here at JAG." "With you," AJ finished for her. "Colonel I'm going to put your outburst down to stress of the moment," he went on with exaggerated patience. "And I'm very willing to cut you and the Commander some slack given that you've only just realized each other's importance in your lives. In other words, you love the guy. OK fine, but I'm still your superior officer, and this is still a military office where military protocol is needed." "Yes sir," Mac said with as much conviction as she could manage. "Permission to go to my office sir? I'm expecting an important call." "I bet you are. Get out of here." AJ shook his head as she left, then caught Harriet's small smile. "Lieutenant don't you have a husband out there who needs a file looked up or something." "Yes sir right away sir," she smiled, coming to attention and then dismissing, shaking her own head. Underneath that Admiral crust was a heart. ************ ASU Bahrain Base Hospital "Bethany you okay?" Taylor asked softly as the young woman walked into the waiting room of the normally quiet but now very busy hospital. "They've given her some pain medication" the nurse behind Bethany spoke up. "So she's a little out of it. She'll need someone to stay with her." "We're room mates so I'll make sure she's okay" Taylor nodded. "Can you tell me if the doctor is finished checking Commander Harmon Rabb. He was brought in with us." "I can check" the nurse said with a weak smile. "It's been a long evening here." "Come sit down" Taylor said as she gently reached for her friends arm. "As soon as we know Harm is okay we'll get you back home." "We could have been killed" Bethany whispered. "All of us." "But we weren't" Taylor reminded her. "You've got a nice gash but that's all and I'm sure Harm is going to be fine too." As she spoke Harm was slowly being helped out by the same nurse that had helped Bethany. "Is the guy you were looking for?" she smiled. "Harm how are you?" Taylor asked at once. "I'll survive" he said with a forced smile. "I just want to get home and call Mac." "He has a minor concussion and some bruised ribs" the nurse informed her. "Does the Commander have a room mate as well? He really shouldn't be alone." "No but he's going to get two for the night" Taylor replied. "Taylor that's not necessary" Harm sighed. "I'll be fine. Trust me Mac is always telling me how hard headed I am." "Yeah well I'm not going to explain to her why you were left alone with a head injury" Taylor countered. "You can come and stay with us. We've got a sofa that folds out so there's plenty of room." "But I'm going to call Mac and I know I'm not going to want to hang up for a long time and I don't want to run up your phone bill..." "You can pay me back for the call. And we've got phones in both bedrooms so you can talk in there if you need privacy." "Aren't you going to want to call Aaron?" "We can share the phone. Now either you can come willingly or I'll call Admiral Selby and he can make it a direct order." "All right" Harm sighed before looking over at the other young woman. "Bethany are you okay?" She could only nod as Taylor helped her to her feet. "Come on, let's go home." *********** JAG HQ's "Ring dammit" Mac sighed as she looked at the phone. She'd been waiting for Harm's call for what seemed an eternity. She'd tried calling his place and had gotten his machine so she knew he must still be at the hospital. "Ma'am any word yet?" Harriet asked as she stuck her head in. "No. I keep telling myself that doesn't mean he was hurt worse." "Of course not ma'am. The base hospital is probably just taking care of the ones that were injured badly first. I'm sure you'll hear from him soon." Soon was another half hour and Mac grabbed the phone on the first ring. "Colonel Mackenzie" she said quickly. "You don't know how good it is to hear your voice" Harm said softly. "Harm" she managed before the tears she'd kept at bay started to fall. "Please tell me you're okay" she wailed. "I'm okay honey. Just a little battered and bruised." "Where are you? Are you at home?" "Actually I'm at Taylor and Bethany's." "I see" she said quietly. "Honey it's not what your thinking. I'm only here because the doctor didn't want me to be alone." "Why?" she demanded. "You said you were okay? Harm tell me the truth. Are you okay?" "I have a minor concussion and some bruised ribs. That's why they wanted someone with me." "But you're okay right?" Mac whispered. "You're not lying to me are you." "Do you want to talk to Taylor? She'll tell you the truth." "No I trust you. Oh god Harm I thought I was going to lose it when the Admiral told me about the bombing." Her voice broke again as a loud sob escaped. "Sarah I'm so sorry you had to go through that" he whispered. "But it's over now and I'm fine." "But you're still there" she wailed. "And you shouldn't be. You should be here with me." "What do you think I was trying to tell you while I was making up my resignation in my head," he returned more sharply than he intended. "Mac I want to be there with you. More than anything I want that. Anything else is secondary, to include my career. But I did commit now. I'm not going to be able to back out gracefully. Can you live with that a while longer? Remember like you made me promise?" At first all he heard was a long sniffle that traveled the thousands of miles that separated them, then her soft voice, still tearful but more controlled. "I can. I just had visions of you lying hurt there and me not with you. Though truth be known, I was in the mental process of packing while I waited to hear from you. You know, how much clean underwear do I have--this type thing. I would have been on the next flight out." "No." "Excuse me? You don't want me there?" "Sorry, it didn't come out right. But no, I don't want you here. My god what if you'd been in the marketplace today, standing next to the idiot who did this. My only consolation was that you weren't here. Well in addition to the fact that his soul is tonight in hell where it belongs, the murdering bastard." She heard the agitation in his voice and drew a long calming breath for herself. "Hey I bet you're supposed to be resting quietly. Do I have to speak to Taylor or can you behave?" "OK, I'm better now," he sighed. "And Mac speaking of Taylor and Bethany too for that matter. You have nothing to worry about. You are the one woman on this planet- -my one in six billion--whom I love." "You're getting sappy Rabb," she sighed with another sniffle. "And you'd better get some rest. Will you call me tomorrow and let me know that you're OK. Please." "Of course. Who loves you honey?" "More sap, but the answer is--you," she sighed. "Almost as much as I love you. Please get some rest. Tell Taylor and Bethany to take good care of you." "I will. You rest too and don't be worrying. I'm fine. I promise. I'd tell you if I wasn't." "Yeah and you're a lying sack of dog doo-doo but I love you. Good night." Reluctantly she hung up the phone and sat for a long time before she walked out to Harriet's desk and sat down quietly. "Harm called." "I knew he would," Harriet said with a broad smile. "And of course he's fine." "He's OK. Banged up but OK." "Yeah well he should see you." Harriet took the opening and ran with it. "Ma'am you are not eating or sleeping. The mother in me tells me that if my eyes don't." "It'll get better," she sighed. "It has to. As for Harm, god Harriet I remember thinking when he left, OK it could be worse. He could be flying combat over Afghanistan. Now it is worse and all he did was go into the city for a crappy burger. What kind of a world is this? And how do you justify raising a baby to grow up and live in it?" "Because there's always hope with a new generation I guess," she said slowly. "Maybe the men and women of AJ's generation will settle things without bombs and bullets." "Harriet that part of the world has been an inflamed boil since before the time of Jesus Christ," she retorted. "Excuse me. I've got a case to prepare." BAHRAIN "Thanks for letting me use the phone" Harm said as he slowly made his way to the living room of Taylor and Bethany's apartment. "No problem. Did you calm Mac down?" Taylor asked. "I guess. Course now she's going to be freaking all the time about me being over here. Which is exactly what I didn't want her to do." "If she loves you nothing is going to stop her from worrying about you" Taylor smiled. "And speaking of love I'd better call Aaron before he flips. Before I do, are you two okay? Can I get either of you anything? Bethany?" "No" Bethany said quietly. "I'm fine" Harm assured Taylor. "Go call Aaron. And thanks again for letting me call Mac." She nodded before heading out of the room as Harm gently lowered himself to the sofa bed, grimacing as he did so. "You okay?" Bethany asked softly. "You look like you're in a lot of pain." "A little" Harm admitted. "I'd forgotten how painful sore ribs can be. How about you? How's your arm?" "Numb. Like the rest of me" she whispered. "We could have all been killed. In the blink of an eye we could all be dead." "But we're not" he reminded her. "But we could have been" she said with a small sob. "And others were. You saw them. People from here that I knew. They're dead." The tears started down her face as she sobbed softly and with a groan Harm pushed himself to his feet and made his way over to her, sitting beside her on the love seat. "Bethany" he said gently as he placed an arm around her. "It's going to be okay." "Harm I'm so scared" she wailed. "I'm not military like you and Taylor. I can't handle this kind of stuff." Her sobbing increased and Harm pulled her against him. "Hey just because we're military doesn't mean we're not scared too" Harm said softly. "We're just better at hiding it." "You're just saying that. If it wasn't for Taylor I would have lost it back there. I've never seen dead people like that before." Her voice broke again as more tears started. "You never get used to that" Harm said softly. "Trust me. But it's going to be okay. It's over now." "I'm sorry for being such a baby" she whispered as she finally lifted her head from his shoulder. "It's okay. If Mac were here I'd be crying on her shoulder" Harm said with a small smile. "She's very lucky to have someone like you" Bethany whispered. "I hope she realizes that." "She does" Harm said softly. "And I'm just as lucky to have her. Maybe one day you'll get to meet her." "I bet she wouldn't be crying like a baby like I am" Bethany said as she wiped her eyes. "Hey stop that. You've been through a traumatic experience." "Thanks for being so nice" Bethany sighed. "You're nothing like Greg." "You want to tell me about this Greg. Seeing as how he obviously hurt you so bad." "Not right now. I'm barely keeping it together here as it is. If I start talking about that I'll totally lose it." "Well you know if you ever need to talk, I've got good ears" Harm smiled. "Thanks. And I'm sitting here babbling and I should be letting you get some rest" she sighed. "I'm fine now. Honest." "You sure?" "Yeah. Let me help you back to your bed over there" she said softly. She gently helped him to his feet and led him back to the sofa bed. "Thanks" he grimaced as he lowered himself down again. "I'm going to head to bed. If you need anything just holler. I'm a light sleeper so I'll hear you." "Goodnight Bethany" Harm sighed as he tried to get comfortable with his aching body. "Goodnight Harm" she said softly. ============= "Good morning." "Hey Taylor," Bethany answered from the balcony rail of their apartment without looking around. She was staring at the city below, watching it start to come alive. "You OK?" Taylor carefully closed the door behind her, not wanting to waken Harm. "Yeah. Just sore. And sad." "And homesick?" "For Pensacola? In a pig's ear. For the U.S. maybe I don't know. I wasn't sorry I came here, and then Harm came and I was even gladder, but after last night now I'm confused again." "Speaking of Harm," Taylor began slowly. "Bethany, he's. . .well he's not available. He's taken. And for the sake of your happiness, and his because after all he is just a man and he could be tempted, if I were you, I'd stay clean away from any thoughts in that area." She nodded and looked back through the glass doors to the tousle-headed figure sleeping soundly. "It would be awful easy to make a move on him wouldn't it." "Of course it would but that doesn't make it any more right. Besides, if you're looking for someone, there's dozens of guys here. You're just not going to find them sitting in our apartment every night. Unless you count Mr. Khalid and his guys when they try to fix the water heater again." "I don't know what I want," Bethany sighed. "I thought I was doing the right thing coming here." "Well you can always go back. You're not like Harm and I, subject to the whims of the Navy." "I can't." "Because of Greg?" "Well yeah, but a practical consideration too. If I don't serve out my year here, the government bills me for the expense of getting me over here and bringing me back. Plus what I've consumed in housing. I'll be in debt the rest of my life." Taylor shook her head in sympathy. "I'm sorry. Maybe fleeing the U.S. wasn't such a good idea?" "At this point suicide is starting to look attractive." "Bethany no," Taylor gasped in shock. "I'm not serious," she sighed. "Just discouraged that's all." "Well that's not something to even joke about," Taylor scolded. "My dad. . .he was a Vietnam vet and suffered from Agent Orange and. . .never mind. It will just give you nightmares. Anyway, if you want to keep Harm as a friend, I would draw the line there. He's a good guy." "He is," Bethany nodded. "And very much in love." "Tell me about it. Last count there were six pictures of her, on his desk alone." ================ JAG HQ 1 Week Later "Bud did you get the email reply from Commander Byrnes from your inquiry?" The young lieutenant looked at Mac and swallowed hard. "I'll check right now ma'am. I'm sorry I was supposed to first thing and then get distracted." "It's OK Lieutenant. Just do it now please. I have Admiral Jennings on the phone." Bud pulled up his email listing and scanned down. "Uh pay no attention to some of those ma'am" he said softly. "Like MUFON. I just enjoy their newsletter. Uh. . .in downtime of course." "Of course Bud, but meanwhile I've got an Admiral waiting." "Yes ma'am. "And here it is. Should I print it for you?" "Please. Bud why do you get an email called "As JAG Spins?" His eyes widened. "Ma'am I've never seen that before. I don't recognize it, or even the originating address. I have no idea. I'll find out though and let you know and in the meanwhile here's your document." "Thanks." Mac grabbed the sheet and ran to her office. For a long moment Bud stared at the email, trying to fathom it, and finally after a virus check he opened it. "Oh wow" Bud gasped as he read the email. It was a love letter between two people, written with such emotion that Bud felt his eyes moisten. Whoever had written the letter was obviously very much in love with the other person. "Bud what are reading?" Harriet asked as she walked in to his office and found him glued to his screen. "Didn't you get this in your email?" Bud asked. "I have no idea who sent it but it's this really romantic love letter. Read." By the time she was finished reading Harriet was dabbing her eyes. "Oh that is so sweet. How sad that those two are separated like that." "I don't know why I got it or who it's from" Bud said as he looked at the email again. "Maybe someone just typed in the wrong address." "Well if you get any more of those take notes" Harriet sighed. "Whoever wrote that has to be one sensitive guy." "Hey I'm sensitive" Bud argued. "Not like he is. Wow. I'd love to hear words like that from a man." "Fine" Bud snapped as he closed the email. "I can be just as romantic you know." *************** "What the hell?" AJ muttered as he opened his email. "As the JAG turns. What in the world is this?" Moments later he sat staring at the screen, reading the love letter over and over again. It was mesmerizing to read such an eloquent display of love. "Sir, the SecNav is on line one for you" Tiner's voice came over the intercom and AJ sighed. "I'll be right with him" AJ replied. Two minutes later he was still reading the letter for the forth time when Tiner buzzed again. "Sir, the SecNav is still waiting" "All right" AJ groaned as he closed the email before picking up his phone. "Yes Mr. Secretary." **************** ASU Bahrain "Bethany you want to join me for lunch?" Harm asked as he walked over to the young woman. "No thanks sir" she said with a forced smile. "Bethany you haven't gone anywhere except from your apartment to this building for the past week" Harm said gently. "You want to tell me why?" "I've just been busy" she lied. "We're all busy. But you've purposely avoided going anywhere since the bombing. Bethany made you need to talk to someone about this." "And tell them what" she whispered as the tears formed in her brown eyes. "That I'm scared to death to be anywhere but in my apartment or here." "Are you?" he asked gently. "Yes" she whispered as she choked back a sob. "I'm so scared of that happening again. If I could go home I would but I can't." Her words ended with a sob as she finally gave into her tears. "Hey it's okay" Harm soothed as he gently pulled her into his arms. "That's not going to happen again. Especially not here on base where security is so tight." "But it could" she wailed. "And I don't think I could handle it if it did." "It's not. But if it did you would. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for Bethany." "I wish I had someone like you" she whispered as she clung to him. For a moment Harm froze before gently pulling away from her. "Bethany you know I love Mac right" he said gently. "I know," she said somberly. "And I'm sorry if that sounded wrong. But you're so kind and understanding and nobody has ever treated me as nicely as you have." "You're a wonderful person Bethany. And you deserve to be treated that way. And if I didn't love Mac, things could be different. But I do love her. I want to marry her when this assignment is over." "She's so lucky" Bethany sighed. "She has the most wonderful man on earth." "Thanks but I'm not that wonderful" Harm smiled. "And Mac will be the first to tell you that." "I'm sorry I'm such a baby. And I know you love Mac and it was silly of me to even say what I said." "Bethany the right person is out there somewhere for you" Harm said softly. "When you least expect it." "Thank you. I hope so. At least I think I do. After Greg I'm not so sure that I want any part of most men, though you I think I might have made an exception for." "You my friend are a warm and wonderful person," Harm told her. "And I wish I knew a guy here on base to introduce you to. I just don't get out enough myself." "Oh you know Taylor's tried to fix me up a dozen times. I even attempted a couple," she sighed. "And?" "Disasters in spades," she smiled. Harm made a derisive noise and shook his head. "Look I'm heading for lunch because I've got the Sprague thirty-two at 1300. I really wish you'd come with me." "Thanks. Rain check please. I have a good book and a cup of yogurt and I'd sooner sit on the patio with both." When Harm returned, he found her on the patio as she said, but she was not alone. "Sir," her companion greeted Harm at once. "Commander," Harm nodded to the Lieutenant Commander. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure." "Commander Harmon Rabb this is Lieutenant Commander Justin Lukens," Bethany spoke up. "Harm, Justin is taking over the Admin shop. Commander Sexton's PCSing this week." "Right," Harm nodded, shaking the younger man's hand. "Welcome aboard Commander, though I haven't been here long enough to be an official welcoming party I'm sure. I see you've met Bethany." "Yes sir. Actually we met in the laundry room a couple nights ago but she wasn't real talkative then. Today at least I got a how's it going out of her." Harm smiled broadly, noting Bethany's blush. "Well you young people have fun. I've got a court date. Bethany don't rush." His last comment caused her to blush even further. Harm walked to his office and flipped on the TV, wanting to hear the CONUS news before he had to go. The announcer was just finishing a story on a flash flood in Georgia and the camera flashed to the Pentagon, getting Harm's attention at once. "Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Captain Owen C. Cregan's office is just over my left shoulder," the ZNN reporter intoned. "This morning Captain Cregan was arrested in that office by a joint task force of D.C. Metropolitan police and Naval Investigative Service officers, who then conducted a search of his office. The Captain, who has long been the grist of rumors as a ladies man, is accused in the murder of Allison LaBianca, the 27 year old woman whose body was found in a wooded area in Maryland last month. Ms. LaBianca coached Capt. Cregan's 10 year old son's soccer team and friends had come forward when she disappeared three months ago to report that she and the Captain had been having a quote stormy unquote affair. Capt. Cregan is separated but not divorced from his wife of twelve years. Millicent Cregan has taken their two sons to an undisclosed location. Meanwhile the Captain immediately requested representation from the office of the Navy Judge Advocate General." Harm drew his breath in sharply just as Bethany appeared in the doorway. "Harm did you need. . . " "Sshhh," he ordered impatiently, his eyes fixed on the screen, knowing before her picture flashed exactly what was coming. "Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie has been assigned as his defense counsel." "Hey that's your Mac," Bethany chortled. "I was watching this in the break room for a minute. I'm impressed. I've been reading about this guy. Looks like they might have finally nailed him. Supposed to be a real womanizer. Not only that, but there was another case when he was stationed at Great Lakes about five years ago. A girl disappeared up there too, only she was only eighteen. She was their boys' sitter and they found her body. . .uh, sorry. I should have told you that true life crime is a hobby." Harm's eyes had gotten as wide as they could, looking from Bethany to the TV and back again. "OK so bottom line, this guy is some sort of serial killer who preys on women he's associated with and Mac is defending him? Is she out of her mind or just what?" "Uh I thought the case was probably assigned to her," Bethany offered timidly. THE END Watch for the next chapter of Distant Hearts coming soon.