Title: Déjà vu Author: Rising Sun For feedback e-mail me at: jagrslc@yahoo.com For updates on my new FF join: jagrslc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Rated: PG Summary: In the Twilight Zone Harm is given an opportunity to change his relationship with Mac. How many times will it take for him to get it right? Classification: JAG Story Spoilers: JAG-A-THON, JAG-A-THON and JAG-A-THON. Did I mention that the spoiler was JAG-A-THON? Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental. Same for the Twilight Zone... don't own it never did, never will. Author's Note: BRACE YOURSELF! Feedback: Would make my day! Story Written February 16, 2002 *****************************************************88 DAY BEFORE THE RACE - 1109 LOCAL JAG HQ, FALLS CHURCH, VA The elevator doors opened and Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. stepped out and encountered his company mate Commander Sturgis Turner. "Hey!" Harm greeted. "Ah! Just the man I was looking for." Sturgis announced. "Oh?" Harm was wary. Sturgis fell into step as they headed for the bullpen. "I need to pass on one of my cases…" Harm cut across him "Let me guess … the one I have been advising you on with Mac." Sturgis grinned. Harm groaned. + + + 1320 LOCAL THE BULLPEN, JAG HQ Harm stepped out of his office and headed for the elevator. On his way he spotted Sturgis… "Hey good luck in Court." Knowing full well that he had palmed a case onto Harm Sturgis was gracious, "Hey you too you too." Harm hesitated, "Listen… about before…" "What do you mean?" "This thing with Mac and I we're just in a weird place right now. So don't let it bother you all right?" Harm advised. "OK" replied. Harm wasn't convinced "It's bothering you." Sturgis was confused; "I don't even know what you're talking about!" "Well you were sensing something…" Harm insisted. Sturgis admitted; "Well tension." "There you go." "I don't think about your relationship it don't mean anything to me." Turner assured him. "Right." Harm said, "Just don't assume anything all right." Sturgis snapped; "Like what!" "Like nothing. Whatever you're thinking you're probably wrong." Harm was talking but as usual saying nothing. "If you say so buddy." "…'cause Mac and I are just friends." Harm stated. "Now I didn't say you weren't." Sturgis got defensive. "I know." Sturgis was suspicious, "Is there some reason to believe otherwise?" "No!" Harm hastened to reply. "Cause you seem to be suggesting…" Sturgis continued. "I'm not suggesting anything." Sturgis was on the hunt "Were you ever a couple?" "NO." The bloodhound would not give up that easily "Did it come up? … Harm are you involved with her?" Harm felt like a witness in a court case "I'm not." "You sure?" Sturgis was unrelenting. As the elevator door opened Sturgis spotted Mac just as Harm replied … "Look anyone who's ever been involved with Mac is either dead or feels like they are." He realized that something was wrong by the look on Sturgis's face… he KNEW something was wrong when he heard Mac murmur, "Excuse me." He watched her hurry away from them… from him. He looked at Sturgis for understanding. Sturgis replied to the look with "Please." The elevator door closed with a helpless Harm inside. ===================================================== DAY BEFORE THE RACE - 1109 LOCAL JAG HQ, FALLS CHURCH, VA The elevator doors opened and Navy Commander Rabb emerged and almost bumped into Lieutenant Bud Roberts. "Whoa!" Harm grabbed onto Bud as they nearly collided. "Sir!" Bud said. "Commander Turner is looking for you." "Thank you." Harm replied and went in search of his company mate Commander Sturgis Turner. "Hey!" Harm popped his head into the office "You wanted to see me?" "Yeah come in." Sturgis beckoned. As Harm sat Sturgis began to tell him the reason for the meeting. "I need to pass on one of my cases…" Harm cut across him "Let me guess … the one I have been advising you on with Mac." Sturgis grinned. Harm groaned. Then frowned. "What?" Sturgis noted the look. "You can't take the case?" "No nothing like that. I just had a feeling that I'd done this before." "Déjà vu." Sturgis diagnosed. "It happens." They dismissed the occurrence. + + + 1320 LOCAL THE BULLPEN, JAG HQ Harm emerged from his office with the intension of getting a coffee fix, but he needed a book out of the library first. He spotted Sturgis and clapped him on the shoulder. "Hey good luck in Court." "Hey you too you too" Sturgis reciprocated. As they walked Harm said, "Listen… about before." "What do you mean?" Sturgis asked. Harm explained "This thing with Mac and I we're just in a weird place right now. So don't let it bother you all right?" "OK" Sturgis was confused. "It's bothering you." Harm insisted. "I don't even know what you're talking about." Sturgis replied. "Well you were sensing something" Sturgis admitted "Well tension." "There you go." Harm was triumphant. Sturgis informed his friend "I don't think about your relationship it don't mean anything to me." Harm sobered up "Right just don't assume anything all right." "Like what!" This was getting maddening. "Like nothing." Harm replied, "Whatever you're thinking you're probably wrong." Sturgis sighed in resignation "If you say so buddy." "…'cause Mac and I are just friends." Sturgis informed him "Now I didn't say you weren't." "I know." "Is there some reason to believe otherwise?" Sturgis was now curious. "No" He continued "Cause you seem to be suggesting." "I'm not suggesting anything." Harm defended. They continued walking. The Sturgis asked, "Were you ever a couple?" "NO!" "Did it come up?" He watched a myriad of emotions play on Harm's face "… Harm are you involved with her?" "I'm not." But Sturgis knew Harm "You sure?" Harm snapped, "Look anyone who's ever been involved with Mac is either dead or feels like they are." He turned and came face to face with Mac. As Mac whispered "Excuse me." Harm looked at his friend, all he heard was "Please." … the elevator door closed. ===================================================== DAY BEFORE THE RACE - 1109 LOCAL JAG HQ, FALLS CHURCH, VA The elevator doors opened, Harmon Rabb stepped out and headed towards the bullpen. As he headed for his office, Commander Sturgis Turner stopped him. "Ah! Just the man I was looking for." "Then come into my parlor…" The two men entered Harm's Office. "Said the spider to the fly…' Sturgis finished. "I need to pass on one of my cases…" Harm cut across him "Let me guess … the one I have been advising … you … on… with … Mac." He drew out the statement. "Something wrong?" Sturgis asked. "No… nothing I can't fix." Harm assured him. "Send the file over I'll take care of it." "Will do and thanks." + + + 1320 LOCAL THE BULLPEN, JAG HQ Harm beat a determined path towards his friend Sturgis and virtually grabbed and dragged him along. This time the Twilight Zone was going to end his way or no way. "Hey!" Sturgis protested. "Hey good luck in Court." Harm told him. "… you too you too." Sturgis replied. So far so good Harm thought. "Listen… about before." "What do you mean?" Sturgis was not following his friend's train of thought. Harm explained "This thing with Mac and I we're just in a weird place right now. So don't let it bother you all right?" Sturgis shrugged "OK" "It's bothering you." Harm observed. Sturgis wondered about his friend sometimes "I don't even know what you're talking about." But Harm persisted "Well you were sensing something" "Well tension" Sturgis snorted. "There you go!" "I don't think about your relationship it don't mean anything to me." Sturgis guaranteed. "Right just don't assume anything all right." "Like what?" Sturgis asked. "Like nothing. Whatever you're thinking you're probably wrong." Sturgis began to loose interest, "If you say so buddy." "'Cause Mac and I are just friends." Harm insisted. "Now I didn't say you weren't." "I know." Sturgis's eyes narrowed "Is there some reason to believe otherwise?" "No" Came Harm's prompt reply. Maybe too prompt? "Cause…" Sturgis drawled, "… you seem to be suggesting." Harm pleaded the fifth "I'm not suggesting anything." Sturgis began to fire off questions "Were you ever a couple?" "NO." Sturgis asked another "Did it come up? … Harm are you involved with her?" "I'm not." And another "You sure?" Harm recognized that so far the day had played out with enough accuracy that he could predict the next few minutes. He had been riding the event now he needed to take control… On queue the elevator door opened revealing Mac just as he said … "Any one ever tell you that you are nosey? Look if you must know … I'm in love with Mac … but if I told her she'd probably break my neck." Mac froze in the elevator and Harm stepped in. As the doors closed all Sturgis said was "Please." ===================================================== DAY BEFORE THE RACE - 1109 LOCAL JAG HQ, FALLS CHURCH, VA The elevator doors opened, and Harm remained rooted to the spot. "Damn it!" he cursed. "I heard that…" A familiar female voice said, and was soon followed by Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. "Sorry." He grumbled as he stepped out. He was disconcerted, he was so sure that his confession whould have broken the cycle. "Sturgis is looking for you." She said even as she noted his discomfort. "Of course he is." He grumbled. She looked at him hard. "You ok?" "Where is Sturgis!" He ignored her comment as he braced himself for the next loop of time. "Last time I saw him he was hovering around your office." He walked away from her "Your welcome!" She shouted to his reseeding back. Harm didn't bother to look for his company mate. He'd eventually be found and he'd take the case. He looked up at the sound fully expecting to see Sturgis instead it was Mac. This was not part of the loop. He just stared at her. "You ok honey?" she asked as she closed the door after she entered. "Honey?" He began to hope. "What is the matter with you!" She demanded; then her guard went up. "Of course how stupid can I be? I've known you for so long yet I still fell for it!" She turned to leave obviously annoyed. "Mac wait! You've lost me!" He called. She turned, "You have pulled some dirty low down stunts in your time Commander but this … this is too low even for you." She whispered her rage. "You tell me you love me… make love to me … and then this obvious move to distance yourself from me!" He grinned. "Oh you find it funny!" She fumed. "No! No! You misunderstand. I meant it… all of it. I love you… I just wasn't sure that you knew it." He tried to explain. How did one explain? She was confused. There was a tap on the door and Sturgis popped his head in. "Harm I need to see you…" "Yes I'll take the case … just send the file over." "How'd you know?" Sturgis was stunned. "I've been hanging out with Mac." He grinned. THE END