TITLE: "Fall From Grace"  Ch. 2
            AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
            SUMMARY:   Harm's life, and career, on a downward spiral.  
Or what happens to a 
stubborn man, full of pride and ego, who is used to life's goodies 
dropping into his lamp when they 
suddenly stop.
            CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   J/S/R/A    PG for language.
            SPOILERS:  In any of our work, any JAG episode may be 
referred to.
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Fall From Grace"  Ch. 2

LSO Norfolk
Five Days Later
 
 "Rabb I got a case for you" Captain Thomas Skylar said as he walked to 
 Harm's desk.
 
 "Can't wait to see what it is sir" Harm sighed.
 
 "Peeping Tom case. Some idiot set up a camera in the ladies' locker 
room aboard the 
 Briscoe. NCIS nailed him and the case landed here. Sounds like a good 
case 
 for you to prosecute."
 
 "What did I do to deserve this" Harm muttered as his CO walked away.

"Someone up there doesn't like you Rabb," Skylar yelled, having 
overheard him.

"No shit," Harm sighed, walking slowly back to his office.  As he sat 
down at his computer, he 
brought up a document.  His resignation.  He had typed it the first day 
he reported for duty.  As his 
first act in his new office.  Somehow it made him feel better to know 
he could whip it out at any 
time.

"Commander?  Commander are we going to go interview Ensign Mailor?"

"Dear Lord, let me close my eyes and wake up anywhere but here," he 
muttered, not turning 
around.

"Sir?"

"I hear you Lieutenant.  Come in.  But don't bubble."

"Sir with respect, when do I bubble?"  

He turned around to regard the young woman in his doorway.  In her 
final year of law school, Lt. 
[jg] Autumn Westover gave him a dimpled smile.  Always cheerful, never 
seeming to be tired 
despite the fact that he knew from experience she spent her days 
working and her nights either at 
class or studying.  Oh to be twenty-three again he thought, his eyes 
still fixed on her.

"You bubble constantly Lieutenant.  Now where's that no good partner of 
yours?"

"Sir, I don't keep track of Lt. Anderson."

"Yeah and I'm going to be appointed Secnav.  Try again Lieutenant."

Autumn blushed bright red. "Yes sir.  Josh. . .I mean Lt. Anderson. . 
.went to the brig to meet an 
incoming prisoner."

"Too much to hope it's a murder case."

"Yes sir, 'fraid not.  It's a dependent from the housing sir.  She was 
cited for allowing her dog to 
run loose and got belligerent when the SPs came to serve her notice.  
Apparently  she was having 
a pitcher of martinis with her afternoon soaps and well it's a. . ."

"D and D of course.  Why am I not surprised," he sighed.  "Now who's 
this Ensign Mailor when 
he's at home?"

"Sir he's the guy who urinated on the parade grounds.  Alleges the 
kidney ailment that the Navy 
can't seem to diagnose."

"Kidneys, got it.  And we have a peeper from the Briscoe."

"Oh yes sir.  I was hoping that was coming here weren't you?"

"Lieutenant you're bubbling now.  And yes of course I was.  My fondest 
wish."

"Sorry sir.  I can't help that I like my job though.  I'm thrilled to 
be here."  Another smile and this 
time it came with a flash of her dimples.

"Yeah me too.  OK let's get started.  What else is good in my life?"

"Well sir we have the cats."

"Huh.  I have cats in my life?  Lieutenant I asked for something good."

"I'm afraid this is as good as it gets" she giggled.  "This was even on 
the news the other night.  
Lieutenant Commander's wife while he was at sea turned their quarters 
into a cattery.  There was 
thirty of them when Animal Control raided.  Now they want to evict 
her."

"Gee I can't imagine why.  Go on."

"Well sir she wants JAG to help her out."

"To keep the cats?"

"Oh no sir, but she says she has no where else to go."

"I know the feeling.  OK, bring the car around and pick one Lieutenant.  
Any one.  Uh. . .well any 
one except the cats.  I'm not up to that one this afternoon."

   "The Peeper then" she smiled. "It's the biggest story around here."
  
  "Fine" he nodded. "Well go talk to NCIS and see what they have on our 
friend 
  Petty Officer Peeping Tom and decide what kind of case he's got."
  
  "Has he asked for JAG representation yet?" Autumn asked.
  
  "I have no clue. I just know the Admiral asked me to prosecute."
  
  "Sir I'd be happy to assist you on this" she smiled. "I mean this is 
going 
  to get all kinds of media attention and well maybe the Admiral will 
take 
  notice of me."
  
  "Oh he has" Harm sighed, remembering how he'd seen Admiral Skylar 
admiring 
  the young Lieutenant from the distance. Harm, on the other hand, had 
done his best 
  to stay clear of the young woman. Her bubbly, youthful persona was 
just a 
  reminder to him of how far from that his life had gone from that.
  
  "If he's noticed how come he doesn't let me do any of the good 
stuff?" she 
  whined.
  
  "Because you're very new at this. And if you're not going to lose the 
whine, 
  we're not going to have a good day."
  
  "Sorry sir. I know you're the only one who's allowed to whine." The 
words 
  came out before she realized what she was saying as she let out a 
loud gasp 
  as her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh God Sir, I am so sorry. That was 
so 
  inappropriate."
  
  "Yes but you're right. I'll let it slide this time. Just dont let it 
happen 
  again. Now go get us the car and we'll go talk to NCIS."
  
  She nodded and hurried from the office and he let out another long 
sigh. His 
  life sucked and there was nothing he could do about it. He reached 
for his 
  cover and headed out the door, not bothering to answer the phone as 
it began 
  to ring. Whoever it was could leave a message.
  
  ****************
  JAG HQ's
  Three Days Later
  
  No answer again. Either Harm was really busy or she just had lousy 
timing. 
  She hadn't wanted to leave him a message but she desperately wanted 
to talk 
  to him. She needed to apologize about Wilkes and so many other 
things.
  
  "Hi Harm" she said when she finally got the beep. "It's Mac. I really 
want 
  to talk to you. Please call me when you get a chance. I'll be here 
working 
  late so call me. Please."
  
  She hung up just as Tracy walked in and she gave Mac a small smile. 
"Trying 
  to still reach the Commander?"
  
  "He's never there. Unless he's just ignoring the phone because he's 
afraid I 
  might call."
  
  "I doubt that the cases. Most of the LSO offices are pretty busy 
ma'am. 
  Swamped with all kinds of cases."
  
  "Yeah I'm sure that's the case. I just wanted to tell him about 
Wilkes in case he didn't hear. I 
  mean he was right about the man."
  
  "Yeah he was" Tracy nodded. "He just went about it the wrong way."
  
  "True. I'm not responsible for his attitude. And why am I standing 
here 
  babbling about Harm. I'm sure you're here for a reason."
  
  "The Admiral wanted to see all of us. Apparently he's got someone 
coming in 
  TAD to cover the Commander's spot and he wants us to meet him."
  
  "It better be TAD" Mac said, more sharplys than she intended. 
"Because Harm isn't 
  supposed to be staying in Norfolk."
  
  "Colonel calm" Tracy smiled. "We all know its TAD. Harm will be 
back."
  
  "Sorry. I'm just a little stressed these days. And I know we need 
someone 
  here to help pick up the slack while Harm is gone. And as long as 
this 
  person doesn't plan on staying, well then that's fine with me."
  
  ***************
  Norfolk LSO Office
  Following Day
  
  Harm stepped into his office, groaning as he saw the message light 
blinking 
  on his phone. He already had too much going on and the last thing he 
needed 
  was another problem.
  
  "Sir I talked to Jo. . .Lt. Anderson" Autumn said as she breezed into 
his 
  office. "Admiral Skylar just assigned him to be Petty Officer 
McMichael's 
  attorney."
  
  "Help me here Lt." Harm sighed. "Who's Petty Officer McMichael 
again?"
  
  "Mr. Peeping Tom. Our case. We're going to go up against Lt. 
Anderson."
  
  "And that bother's you?" Harm frowned.
  
  "Well sir, I don't know how this will affect our. . .uh, friendship" 
she 
  stammered.
  
  "Friendship. I don't think the little embrace I saw you two in the 
other 
  night in the parking lot is just friendship."
  
  "You saw us?" she gasped.
  
  "Yes and quite frankly I should report you but at this moment what 
you do in 
  your personal life is no concern of mine. I have no life as you know 
and 
  there I go again and never mind. Just let me give you a fair warning. 
If 
  anyone else had seen you, you wouldn't be getting this warning.  Get 
a room next time."
  
  "Understood sir. Thank you for not reporting us."
  
  "Well why the hell should you have no life just because I don't" he 
sighed. "So I 
  guess we need to talk to Lt. Anderson and see if he's willing to cut 
a deal 
  or if he wants this to go to trial."
 
 "Yes sir," Autumn smiled at the thought of her partner and friend.  
Just a few months older, Josh 
had a step up in career having skipped his final year of high school 
and managed to complete law 
school and pass the bar.  He had also gotten his full Lieutenant rank, 
a fact which he often teased 
her about.
 
 Harm sent her another long look and she sobered at once.  "Yes sir, 
watching the bubbling 
tendency sir."
 
 "See that you do."
 
 He touched a button on his phone and requested Josh to join them.  The 
young man arrived 
almost on the run and Harm gave another sigh.  Not even in flight 
school was he that eager.  "OK 
Lieutenant, you've got a high profile case here and the tendency is to 
want to make a big splash," 
Harm told him.  "And there's nothing wrong with that, except when that 
splash comes back on you 
and it's more than water.  Now what kind of a deal is your client 
interested in?"
 
 "None sir."
 
 "Hey that's pretty good.  You've learned well from someone.  Now get 
serious."
 
 "Sir my client is a moron, but I refuse to allow him to be labeled as 
some kind of sex offender.  
This could have been handled onboard the Briscoe with a letter of 
reprimand and some 
punishment  detail.   Maybe a forfeiture of pay.  But someone thought 
it would be cute to spread it 
all over the Navy Times and then it was picked up from there.  Petty 
Officer McMichael needs 
some counseling about appropriate behavior and there needs to be some 
better kinds of leisure 
time activities aboard the ships for these young enlisted guys."
 
 "Oh brother," Harm groaned, glancing through the file.  He was about 
to speak when there was a 
knock at his partially opened door and one of the security force 
stepped forward.  
 
 "Sir, sorry to interrupt.  You have a visitor."
 
 "Tell him to wait in reception.  Or that you couldn't find me.  In 
fact, tell him I died will you."
 
 "Sir, it's a her, and I'm sorry sir but I refuse to lie to a Marine 
Lieutenant Colonel," he smiled and 
stepped aside to reveal Lt. Col. Sarah Mackenzie.  Josh and Autumn 
immediately got to their feet 
and Mac waved them back down.
 
 "As you were.  Hello Commander.  I see we've made new friends in our 
new duty station."
 
 "Mac if you arrived dressed in a bunny suit I couldn't be more 
surprised," he murmured.  "How 
have you been?"
 
 "Not bad.  And I see you're surviving."  She turned to the two 
Lieutenants.  "Hello.  I'm Sarah 
Mackenzie from JAG.  The Commander and I are partners at JAG when he's 
not suck here."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  He's uh. . .mentioned you. . .a few times."
 
 "That can't be good," she smiled.
 
 "I'm sorry." Harm finally found his voice again.  "Lieutenants Josh 
Anderson and Autumn 
Westover.  I'm overseeing them for the time being.  Lt. Westover is in 
process to take the bar, and 
Lt. Anderson is a full fledged JAG attorney and as you can easily see, 
he's just there in the 
afternoons, the rest of the day he's a high school student."
 
 Josh flushed and Autumn could not suppress a giggle.
 
 "Mac why?" Harm scowled at the two of them as he spoke.
 
 "I'm taking a long weekend.  And I'm visiting a friend," she smiled.  
"That's OK is it not."
 
 "Yeah it is.  Of course it is.  It's late anyway.  OK Lt. Anderson, 
we'll talk again.  And next time 
let's have something more than my client is a moron, which is a given.  
Tell Petty Officer Moron to 
decide if he wants to ruin his civilian life along with his Naval 
Career.  That's all."
 
 The two young officers left them alone and Harm motioned her to sit.   
"Let me get this straight.  
You just packed and bag and jumped in the car and drove down here.  Mac 
it's not like it's twenty 
minutes away."
 
 "No it's not but I beat the traffic out of DC, had a couple of new 
music CDs for company and here 
I am.  Since you've been ducking my calls."  She gestured to his 
co-workers, now talking 
animatedly at the coffee machine nearby.  "They're cute.  Belong to 
you?"  
 
 "Yeah.  She's assisting me and working with him at the same time.  God 
Mac I was never that 
young or bright.  I thought Bud was the epitome of that, but this kid. 
. .and she's right up there with 
him.  Or will be when she can stop bubbling."
 
 "She does look like a bubbler.  They involved?"
 
 "Probably but I'm not touching that.  Getting back to you, why?"
 
 "Sounds like the client is not the only moron here.  I wanted to talk 
to you.  To know how you're 
doing," she yelped.  "God Harm that's not so strange is it?  You want 
me to go home?"
 
 "No of course not," he told her, smiling slightly.  It would be good 
not to be holed up in his 
apartment for the duration for a change.  "You get a room?"
 
 "No I was going to see what you recommended.  What's close to yours?"
 
 "I'm in Extended Stay since I get the housing payment being on TAD," 
he explained.  "We can. . . 
. .Admiral Skylar sir."  He got to his feet with Mac quickly following 
and made hasty introductions, 
frowning slightly as the Admiral admired the pretty Marine with the 
same looks he often gave to 
Autumn.  In his final career stop,  the man was known to have a roving 
eye after three marriages 
and the tendency was largely overlooked.
 
 "Sir." Mac smiled and held out her hand.  "I hope I'm not disturbing 
anything.  Harm and I have 
been friends for years at JAG."
 
 "Not at all.  In town for the weekend Colonel?"
 
 "Yes sir."
 
 "We should get together for a drink," he smiled and turned to Harm, 
just missing the scowl on his 
face at the Admiral's suggestion.  "Commander you have another goodie 
arriving on the Kentucky 
Monday afternoon.  Lt. Westover will bring you the case file."
 
 "Yes sir.  Let me guess--the guy put fake vomit on the Captain's 
breakfast table."
 
 "Not quite.  Nice meeting you Colonel.  We should get together."  He 
left them alone and Mac 
smiled and shook her head at the same time.
 
 "What's with him?  And what's with the fake vomit?"
 
 "He's a dirty old man and the fake vomit is indicative of the kinds of 
cases I'm getting.  Come on.  
Autumn knows how to reach me if all hell breaks loose.  Otherwise I'm 
out of here."
  
 "Good. Can we start with dinner? My treat of course."
 
 "Mac you don't have to buy me dinner. I may have gotten sent back to 
the 
 bowels of hell but I'm still the same rank thank God."
 
 "I owe you dinner. You'll see why. Now what's good around here?"
 
 "What are you in the mood for?" he asked. "Steak, seafood. I for one 
would 
 like somewhere that has alcohol seeing as how it was another one of 
those 
 days."
 
 "That hasn't become a habit has it?" she frowned. "And I'm only asking 
 because I happen to care."
 
 "No it hasn't. Some days are just worse than others. Course those are 
the 
 days I skip the drink and just walk to the nearest pier and 
contemplate 
 tossing myself in."
 
 "You're joking right."
 
 "Yeah I am. Quite frankly it's probably Lt. Bubbly and her sidekick 
back 
 there that's kept me from doing anything rash. It's a little hard to 
want to 
 jump off the pier when those two are around."
 
 "I'll have to thank them then," Mac said with a small smile. "Now back 
to 
 dinner. Where are we going?"
 
 They settled on Kincaid's Fish, Chop and Steak house in the MacArthur 
Center 
 in Downtown Norfolk. Harm promptly ordered a beer while Mac settled 
for a 
 soda.
 
 "So what brings you to the land of the LSO" Harm said after a long 
drink of 
 his beer.
 
 "I needed to apologize to you. And I wanted to see how you were doing. 
You 
 haven't returned my messages."
 
 "I've been busy. You didn't notice what a zoo the place was. But as 
long as 
 you're here you might as well tell me what you want to apologize for. 
 Besides ruining my career."
 
 The look of shock on her faced matched his and he let out a long sigh. 
"I'm 
 sorry. That was uncalled for."
 
 "Is that really how you feel?" she asked quietly. "You think I ruined 
your 
 career?"
 
 "No. The only person I have to blame is myself."
 
 "Why don't I believe you actually think that?"
 
 "Because I probably don't believe it myself," he admitted. "Look I'm 
glad 
 you're here and obviously you came for several other reasons so why 
don't we 
 stick to that."
 
 "I came because I wanted you to know you were right about Wilkes."
 
 "So he was guilty," Harm said quietly. "I can't say I'm surprised. I 
tried 
 to tell you that from the beginning."
 
 "I know. And I'm sorry I didn't listen. And I'm sorry all of this 
happened 
 because of it."
 
 "Face it Mac this didn't all happen just because of Wilkes. There was 
 Lieberman and a whole set of events that just made everything suddenly 
go 
 out of control."
 
 "But Wilkes was the straw that broke the camels back" she said 
quietly. "The 
 Admiral was willing to let things slide until then."
 
 "So you think I got what I deserved don't you?"
 
 "Harm I didn't say that. And don't think I don't feel bad about what's 
 happened because I do. The last thing I wanted was for you to end up 
down 
 here. You have to believe that."
 
 "Look maybe this wasn't a good idea" he sighed. "I appreciate you 
coming 
 down here but there was a reason I avoided your calls and it was 
because I 
 knew this is what it would be like."
 
 "You still think I'm the one responsible for this don't you?" she 
whispered. 
 "That I made this happen."
 
 "Not directly but yeah."
 
 "Harm no one is more upset about this than I am," she said quietly. 
 "Especially after I found out what Wilkes was really like. You have no 
idea 
 how bad I have felt about this. Do you really think I like working 
with 
 someone who's not you?"
 
 "So the Admiral did find someone to replace me" Harm scowled.
 
 "He's TAD Harm. Just like you are down here. This is not a permanent 
move 
 unless you want it to be. And that's your choice mister."
 
 "So it's a he? What's his name?"
 
 "Major Gregory Owens. And he knows this assignment is temporary and 
he's not 
 looking to take over your spot."
 
 "Well he may get his shot anyway" Harm sighed.
 
 "Is that what you really want? To spend the rest of your career down 
here 
 working in the LSO office?"
 
 "No."
 
 "Then don't let it happen Harm. You're the only one who can stop it."

"On the contrary I've never felt like I was less in control of my 
destiny," he said softly, shaking his 
head.  "The bench thing started things in motion.  Like a train wreck I 
know that's going to happen.  
I just didn't know how to stop the train or jump off."

"Sounds like something I would have said about me and Mic. So tell me 
where you see yourself 
six months," she challenged.

"Anywhere from dead to back at JAG on the promotion list, depending on 
my mood," he smiled 
and shook his head.  "Seriously I stopped thinking about that. I take 
one day at a time and get 
through it.  And I'm enjoying the children.  Uh I mean the two young 
Lieutenants.  Except that I 
was never that young."

"Oh yeah you were.  Young and eager and out to tame the world," she 
replied.  "And for a long 
time you did just that.  Handsome Flyboy Lieutenant in his Tomcat.  
Looking at being the CAG 
someday."

"Amen," he sighed.  "A lot of dreams have gone by the boards in my 
life."

"I think that could be said of a lot of people," she reminded him.  
"Yeah OK a lot of dreams passed 
you by, but not all.  You did in fact fly.  You had two stints at it, 
and won a DFC each time.  You'll 
no doubt be recognized for what you did last spring off the Seahawk as 
well.  I mean how many--
what percentage--of personnel who aim for fighter pilot actually make 
it?"

"Yeah OK, all you're doing is feeding my wallowing," he scolded.  "Eat 
up and we'll go hear some 
music or something.  In fact we could go to the O Club at the NAS.  In 
one part they have a live 
band on Friday nights that's for dancing and you don't have to scream 
to be heard."
========
"This is not bad," Mac observed as they walked in.  "And you're right.  
The music is not that stuff 
that's sounds like the singer is being operated on without anesthesia."

He put a tentative hand to her back to escort her through the throng, 
finding a table in the back.  
"What is the lady drinking?" 

"Planters, no alcohol," she told him and he shrugged. 

 "Well I'm switching to bourbon on the rocks I think.  We're 
celebrating after all."

"OK that's news to me.  What?"

"That you and I can still be around each other."

And it was to that thought that he raised his glass to her when their 
drinks came a short time later.  
With the music making talking harder, they settled back to relax.  
After the second drink, Harm 
rose and bowed comically.  "I think it's time the lady danced with me."

"The lady thought you'd never ask," she smiled, accepting his hand and 
allowing him to lead her to 
the dance floor.  The music slowed as they reached it and he smiled 
sweetly.  "I think I'm going to 
enjoy."  His hands were tentative and she finally after a moment leaned 
into his touch.  

"Harm I won't break, and you'll make it easier to follow if you hold 
me," she said softly.

"I just didn't want to. . .well overstep or overwhelm you," he 
admitted, but needing no further 
invitation pressed her against him.  The smell of her cologne that he 
always remembered assailed 
his nostrils and he took a long whiff.  She felt good to hold on to and 
to be with.  Very good.

For her part she melded into his arms and against his body.  They had 
been so close.  Almost 
there when the whole thing fell apart over the judgeships.  It would be 
so easy. . .

"Mac you still with me," he asked after a minute.  "You had your eyes 
closed.  You OK?"

"Yeah sorry.  Just enjoying.  You're easy to get wrapped up in 
Commander.  Having you hold me 
like this is pretty nice.  It's been a long time, and it feels great I 
have to say."

"To me too."  The music began to wind down and she looked up at him, 
meeting this gaze.  Before 
she could react, he had placed a gentle kiss on her lips, and to his 
surprise she kissed him back 
as soon as her initial shock wore off.
  
 "You have something in mind Colonel?" he smiled when they finally 
parted. 
 "Because that kiss an invitation."
 
 "Maybe it was" she said finally, throwing all caution to the wind as 
he 
 pressed himself against her. Being this close to him was arousing 
every part 
 of her and at the moment she wasn't worried about the ramifications.
 
 "Then I think we should take this somewhere more personal" he 
whispered. 
 "Unless you object." His words ended with a kiss to her neck and she 
knew 
 there was no way she was going to be able to resist when he did that.
 
 "Not at all" she whispered.
 
 "Good my place isn't far from here," he said as he led her through the 
club.
 
 Once in the car, he turned to her again. She was so beautiful. How 
he'd 
 managed to keep his hands off her for so long he had no clue.
 
 "Sarah I want you" he whispered as he reached across the seat to her. 
"I 
 want you so bad."
 
 "I know you do" she smiled. "Can we wait until we get back to the 
room? It 
 might be a little more comfortable than here."
 
 He made it back to his room in record time and as soon as they were 
inside 
 the door, he grabbed her once again, a long kiss ensuing as he held 
her 
 against him. Finally his hands began to work at her clothing and she 
pulled 
 a way for a moment.
 
 "What's wrong?" he demanded.
 
 "Harm I don't know if we should do this right now" she whispered. 
"This 
 isn't quite how I imagined our first time. You're half drunk Harm. You 
 probably won't even remember this in the morning."
 
 "Sarah please don't turn me away now" he groaned. "Not when we've come 
this 
 far. I need you dammit. Don't do this to me." Without waiting for her 
reply, 
 he reached for her again. For a second she didn't fight him as he 
kissed her 
 long and hard but as his hands began to unbutton her blouse, she 
pushed him 
 away. This wasn't right. They shouldn't be doing this. Not now. Not 
when 
 they still hadn't resolved all the issues between them. It could only 
lead 
 to heartbreak. Her heartbreak.
 
 "No Harm" she whispered. "I'm sorry but I can't do this."
 
 "You're sorry. You let me think you want me and then you say you can't 
do 
 this."
 
 "I'm sorry," she said as the tears of regret and self-loathing slid 
down her face. "This was a big 
 mistake. I shouldn't have come here with you. I'll call a cab."
 
 "You're really leaving" he whispered. "You're walking out on me."
 
 "I have to" she said as she reached for her purse. "I'm sorry. I'm 
going to 
 go wait for the cab at the office."
 
 "Do yourself a favor and go back to DC" he said quietly as she reached 
the 
 door. "Because I don't want to see you again."
 
 "You don't mean that" she whispered, at the same time knowing how 
responsible she was for this 
debacle..
 
 "I do. And I can assure you when my time here is over, I'll think long 
and 
 hard before I come back to JAG HQ's."
 
 "I'm sorry.  Coming was a huge mistake and I'm sorry.  Maybe we're a 
little even now.  But I didn't 
come to hurt you, just like I hope you didn't intend to hurt me," she 
managed before hurrying out 
the door of this room. With fumbling hands she reached for her cell 
phone and called for a cab. 
She  would get her car at Harm's office and head back to DC tonight. 
There was no 
 reason for her to stay.
 *************************
 Monday Morning
 Norfolk LSO Office
 
 "Morning Commander" Autumn smiled as she walked into Harm's office. 
"How was 
 your weekend? You and the Colonel have a good time."
 
 "First off, you'll never mention the Colonel in my presence again. I 
suggest 
 you forget she ever came to this office. Second I have a blazing 
headache 
 and the last thing I need is your bubbling this morning. I suggest you 
find 
 your little partner and work on something that doesn't require my 
 attention."
 
 "I'm sorry sir" Autumn said quietly. "I'll stay out of your way."
 
 She hurried from the office, making it to her desk before a few stray 
tears 
 slid down her face. Despite the Commander's less than enthusiastic 
attitude, 
 he'd never been mean to her during his time there. Until now.
 
 "Hey what's wrong?" Josh asked as he walked to her desk. "You're not 
crying 
 are you?"
 
 "Of course not" she sniffled. "I just got something in my eye."
 
 "So how's the Commander this morning?" Josh smiled. "I bet he's in a 
better 
 mood."
 
 "I wouldn't suggest going near him. Obviously his weekend with the 
Colonel 
 didn't work out. He practically bit off my head for saying good 
morning."
   
"I'm sorry then," Josh frowned.  "He's a good guy.  And it seemed like 
they cared for each other 
didn't it or am I just being clueless male here?"

"You're clueless male all the time," she giggled despite her distress, 
wiping the last of her tears for 
his benefit, "but in this case you're right. There was something 
between them all right.  Like a long 
standing connection that's undergoing a lot of stress right now.  I 
want to help."

"Oh good grief back off Anne Landers," he crowed.  "Leave them to work 
out their own problems.  
You want to meddle, worry about the Smathers problem.  And how we have 
nothing for a week's 
worth of investigating.  In fact I was about to tell you that while 
you're talking to Cpl. Barnes this 
morning I'd go over to NCIS and bug them.  Again."

"Give her my love," Autumn giggled.

"I'm sorry?"

Autumn giggled again, glad of the distraction to ease the sting of 
Harm's words. "Kayla.  I thought 
she was going to bat her eyes into a coma when we were there the other 
day. She likes you 
Lieutenant."

"Oh please.  Since when do I look a pair of legs and long eyelashes 
and. . .and don't answer that.  
I'll be back.  You be careful."

Now it was her turn to be puzzled.  "Excuse me?"

"It's raining and the roads are bad," he explained sheepishly.  "Just 
be careful."
===========
JAG HQ
Same Time

"Sir I need to speak to Colonel Mackenzie but she has her door closed 
and that last slam seemed 
pretty final," Greg sighed.  "I don't think she had a good weekend."

Sturgis raised an eyebrow and looked at Mac's door.  "I don't think 
she'd bite you Major."

"Sir probably not but I don't know her that well.  Would it be out of 
line for me to ask you if you 
could ask her to review my findings on this case and sign off if it's 
OK."

"Major are you afraid of her?"  Sturgis asked with amusement.

"She likes you sir.  Me she doesn't know.  And I really need a good 
recommendation and 
evaluation from her when I leave here."

"What makes you think you'll be doing that?"

"Sir Admiral Chegwidden was pretty clear when I arrived.  He told me 
not to sign anything long 
term like a lease."

"Good answer Major.  Even though you're doing good work here. . .well 
the job belongs to 
Commander Rabb."

"Yes sir I know.  Sir the brief."

"I'll take care of it."

The rain outside matched Mac's mood and she barely acknowledged Sturgis 
arriving in her office.  
"Our young major has a brief for you to review and I'm getting out 
before I'm foolish enough to ask 
how your weekend with Harm went."

"Good plan.  Otherwise you might get a stapler upside your head."

"That good huh.  OK I'm gone.  But you know if you want to talk. . ."

"I don't.  It's over.  We gave it our best shot but it is over and 
done.  I don't expect to see him 
again."

"Mac he'll be back here in a matter of a few months."

"No I don't think so.  Not the way he's going.  He won't be invited 
back Sturgis, and I can assure 
you that's best for him, for me, and for JAG HQ.  Would you excuse 
me--I've got some feeling 
sorry for myself to do and I'd like to be alone."
================
The weeks passed slowly after that.  The JAG HQ staff knew better than 
to mention the name 
Rabb around Mac and gradually life there assumed a sort of normalcy.  
Normal for Sarah 
Mackenzie too except for the fact that the ache of loneliness deep 
within her never eased.

Harm for his part took that weekend as a sign that a new facet of his 
life was beginning.  Once 
over the initial shock and hurt of what had happened, he set about to 
straighten out his career and 
with the same determination that had made him a top gun, he managed to 
do just that.  The only 
thing he shared with Mac at that point was that same ache of 
loneliness.

Now on this spring morning he watched out of the window as Autumn and 
Josh arrived.  Together.  
Laughing and chattering.  He knew they were pretty much together.  Josh 
called it helping her 
study for the bar and Harm looked the other way.  He was destined to 
finish out his life alone, but 
no reason another man should have to share that fate.

  "Looks like you've been sprung Commander" Admiral Skylar said as he 
dropped 
  the official envelope on Harm's desk. "You're going back to the big 
leagues 
  in a week."
  
  Harm only nodded, barley acknowledging the man's presence. He'd been 
waiting 
  for the day he got his orders to go back to DC. And now that the day 
was 
  here, he wasn't sure what he felt.
  
  "You don't seem to thrilled there Commander? You starting to like it 
down 
  here?"
  
  "Just busy with this case sir" Harm said with a forced smile as he 
looked 
  up. In the six months he'd been at the LSO office, he still hadn't 
gotten 
  himself to like Admiral Skylar. There was just something about the 
man.
  
  "You work too hard Rabb" Skylar laughed. "You're a short timer now. 
What do 
  you care what goes on here?"
  
  He walked out and Harm let out a long sigh. He was going back to JAG. 
Back 
  to Mac.  It wasn't going to be easy.
  
  "Morning sir" Autumn smiled as she walked in.
  
  "Morning Lieutenant." Harm smiled as well. It had taken him months to 
get used to 
  the young woman and her pleasant attitude but in many ways she's been 
the 
  only reason he hadn't gone completely nuts here.  "How's the studying 
  going?"

  "Great. I may have a chance this time. And may I be nosy and ask 
what's in 
  that official envelope sir?"
  
  "My orders back to JAG HQ's. I'll be leaving in a week."
  
  "A week" Her face fell at his words and he gave her a small smile.
  
  "Come on Lieutenant. You're been counting the days until I get out of 
here. I know I 
  haven't been the most charming person to work with."
  
  "No way sir. I've learned a lot from you. A lot more than I'll ever 
learn 
  from the Admiral. Unless you count what he keeps telling me he can 
teach me 
  in the bedroom."
  
  "Autumn" Harm started.
  
  "I know sir. But this is my career. I'm not going to let it get 
ruined. I 
  can deal with his dirty little remarks until I get assigned somewhere 
else. 
  I just need to pass the bar and then I'll get out of here."
  
  "It's not right," Harm said quietly. "You know that."
  
  "Sir it's okay. I block most of what he says out anyway. And lately 
he seems 
  to have forgotten I exist. I guess he's found someone else to 
harass."
  
  "And that's exactly what this is" Harm frowned.
  
  "Never mind. We are not having this conversation. It's no big deal. 
Now what 
  would you like me to start on? Or are you in short timer mode now?"
  
  "Do I look like that type?"
  
  "Of course not" she smiled. "You'll be working all the way up until 
we kick 
  you out the door. I can see why you're one of the best. I just hope 
one day 
  I'm half the lawyer you are."
  
  "You already are" Harm smiled.
  
  "Are you happy you're going back to JAG HQ?" Autumn asked. "And of 
course 
  you are after being down here for six months handling D&D's and 
Peeping 
  Tom's."
  
  "It's been an experience that's for sure."
  
  "So this is going to be the first time you've seen the Colonel since 
that weekend isn't it?" 
  she prodded.
  
  "Lieutenant." Harm sighed.
  
  "Sir it's been almost six months and you haven't mentioned her name 
once since that 
  weekend."
  
  "That's none of your business Lieutenant. Now why don't you go find 
your partner 
  and see what he's up to this morning?"
  
  "Yes sir" she sighed as she walked out. She was happy for the 
Commander yet 
  at the same time she was sad he was leaving. She had learned plenty 
from him 
  in the past six months.
  
  Harm turned his attention back to the case in front of him, ignoring 
the 
  thoughts of seeing Mac that kept running through his head. Nearly six 
months 
  without a word. Likely she'd moved on with her life. And that would 
have to be fine 
  with him.
  
  His phone rang a moment later and with a sigh he reached for it.  
"Commander Rabb."
  
  "Sir?"
  
  For several moments there was silence and he was about to hang up 
when he 
  heard a voice.
  
  "Sir, I need your help" a small female voice said finally.
  
  "Who is this?" Harm frowned.
  
  "I can't say. But I need your help. It's about Admiral Skylar. And 
something 
  he did."
  
  "I can help" Harm said as he reached for his legal pad. "Tell me what 
the 
  Admiral did."
   
 "No sir, not like this.  Not on the phone.  You can meet me at the 
McDonalds that's just outside 
the gate.  I'll be in civvies.  Yellow sundress.  Please sir.  I don't 
know who else to turn to."
 
 "OK OK, calm down now," Harm urged.  "I'll come and listen to your 
story, but I make no 
promises until I hear what you've got to say."
 
 "Yes sir.  Just come please.  I'm leaving now."
 
 Harm hung up the phone with a deep scowl.  He knew the rumors about 
the Admiral, and knew 
that he was considered harmless.  That people felt he was all talk and 
that if he was ignored he 
simply moved on to another target.  No one had ever dared file charges 
and like a certain 
Commander Krennick the problem would just perpetuate.
 
 With another scowl he touched a button on his phone.  "Autumn, I'm 
going out for a little while to 
meet someone who needs to see me.  Hold the fort and you and Josh stay 
out of trouble."
 ===========
 McDONALD's
 20 Minutes later
 
 Harm spotted his contact at once, sitting alone in a far corner of the 
restaurant.  The other tables 
were filled with the chattering mass of youth who had gotten off the 
school bus and no one paid 
any attention to a tall Naval Commander who casually approached the 
woman.
 
 "My name is Rabb," he said softly.
 
 "Thank you for coming," she smiled, gesturing for him to sit.
 
 "You're welcome but I hope you're about to make it worth my while.  
Can we start with your 
name?"
 
 "Lt. Joslynne MacGruder sir."
 
 Harm gave her a quick smile and pulled out a small notebook, less 
obtrusive than his legal pad.   
"You wanted to talk about Admiral Skylar?"
 
 "Yes sir.  Sir he and I were sort of seeing each other.  We met at the 
O club about three months 
ago and we were seeing each other when we could."
 
 "As in not in public?"
 
 "Yes sir.  Of course."
 
 His eyebrow raised as he thought about the considerable age difference 
between them and she 
read his thoughts.
 
 "Sir I didn't at first think we were doing anything wrong.  We don't 
work in the same shop or 
anything.  Right sir?"
 
 "I'll give you a qualified right," he sighed.  "So what's the problem 
Lieutenant.  I gather you're not 
together now?"
 
 "No sir.  It's over.  But at first he was nice and we had a good time 
and then he started trying to 
control my life.  We made no commitment and yet he demanded to know 
where I was every off 
duty minute.  He would fly into these possessive jealous rages, which 
was really funny because I 
knew I wasn't the only woman he was seeing."
 
 "So he was abusive.  Verbally?"
 
 "All the time, and then it turned physical.  But not like he'd hit me 
with his fists.  He would just 
grab and push.  Nothing that would leave a mark that I would have to 
explain."
 
 "And you broke it off?"
 
 "Yes sir.  I wanted no more part of him but neither did he want me, 
after he. . .he forced me sir."
 
 Harm dropped the pen and his eyes widened.  "You're accusing a flag 
officer of rape Lieutenant."
 
 "Yes sir.  Yes I am.  And I have no proof."
 
 "You didn't report it."
 
 "No sir.  He left and I ran into the shower and stood there under the 
hottest water I could bear and 
washed myself raw."
 
 "OK well you look like a bright woman so I don't have to tell you that 
your word against his is 
going to get us nothing in court."
 
 "Yes sir I know."
 
 "So after this happened. . .?"
 
 "He was through with me sir."
 
 "I'm sorry?  Just to be clear you're saying once he and you. . .then 
he was done and. . ."
 
 "And he moved on sir.  He likes his women to make him work for it is 
what he calls it,  and then 
he finally decides it's time and the woman has no say.  But once it's 
over he's lost interest."
 
 "A real sweetheart," he muttered.  "Assuming this is true of course 
and that's not to say I doubt 
you but I have to remain objective.  Now what made you come forward?"
 
 "Sir he's targeting two other women, friends of mine.  A civilian 
named Katie Faber, and then 
someone you know pretty well because she works in your shop."
 
 "Autumn," he gasped before she could go on.
  
 She nodded. "I tried to warn Autumn but she doesn't listen. She says 
she can 
 handle him."
 
 "Okay this is not going to go on any longer" Harm declared. "Are you 
willing 
 to testify in court?"
 
 "What good will it do. Even you said it was his word against mine. 
They're 
 lot going to believe me."
 
 "There may be a way. I'm not going to leave here until I've made sure 
this 
 man is behind bars where he belongs."
 
 "This is why I called you. Autumn told me about you and I thought you 
might 
 be the person who would stand up for us."
 
 "Oh I will. And I promise I'll be in touch again. As soon as I can 
figure 
 out how we're going to build a case against Admiral Skylar."
 
 "Thank you. I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved with him. But I 
never 
 thought it would end up like this."
 
 "He's a sick man" Harm sighed. "I've seen it myself and I've tried to 
act 
 like there's nothing wrong but there is. And I'm going to make sure 
this 
 stops. Now."
 
 It wasn't until Admiral Skylar had left for the day that Harm finally 
called 
 Autumn into his office.
 
 "I got a call this afternoon from a friend of yours. Joslynne. She 
told me 
 something interesting stuff about Admiral Skylar."
 
 "She told you what he did to her?" Autumn whispered.
 
 "Yes she did. She also told me that our dear Admiral has become quite 
 enamored with you now."
 
 "It's nothing" Autumn said quickly. "No worse than he ever was 
before."
 
 "Autumn has he made any sexual advances on you" Harm asked quietly.
 
 "Yes" she whispered.
 
 "I'll kill him" Josh shrieked from where he stood in Harm's doorway. 
"I'll 
 kill the bastard."
 
 "Josh he didn't touch me" Autumn sniffled.
 
 "Lieutenant in here and close the door" Harm ordered. "And keep your 
voice down 
 will you."
 
 "Sorry sir" Josh said as he hurried into the office, pushing the door 
closed 
 behind him as he did so.  "Autumn I want to know everything that lousy 
 bastard said or did to you."
 
 "So do I" Harm said quietly. "What happened?"
 
 "Remember a few weeks ago when you two were in court" she whispered 
and the 
 two men nodded. "Well I stayed late one night working on a case. We 
were the 
 only ones here and he came over to my cubicle."
 
 "What did he say?" Harm asked.
 
 "He said something about being all alone and I tried to ignore him. 
But he 
 didn't leave. So I got up to leave my cubicle and he blocked me in. I 
asked 
 him to move and he said only if I did what he wanted. I made the 
mistake of 
 asking what he wanted and then he pushed me against the desk and he 
kissed 
 me."
 
 "You didn't tell me about this?"
 
 The question poured from both men at the same time and Autumn sniffled 
again 
 loudly.
 
 "That was all that happened. His phone rang and as soon as he was gone 
I 
 packed up all my stuff and left."
 
 "You should have told me about this" Harm sighed. "Autumn I told you 
before 
 you don't have to put up with this."
 
 "Would you have believed me?" she whispered.
 
 "Of course. Why would you even ask that?"
 
 "I don't know. I'm sorry. I just didn't want to think about it."
 
 "Autumn you're going to be at this office for a while. You don't have 
to put 
 up with this. And I'm going to see to that."
 
 "You're leaving in a week sir. What are you going to do?"
 
 "I'm going to nail Skylar. And if it means delaying going back to JAG, 
then 
 I'll come up with some excuse. Bottom line, I'm not leaving here until 
he's a dead man."
 
 "What are you going to do?" Josh asked. "Right now it's his word 
against 
 Autumns."
 
 "And Joslynne's" Harm sighed.
 
 "What if I got proof?" Autumn said softly. "What if I made myself 
available 
 to him?"
 
 "NO" Josh shouted. "No freakin' way am I going to let you do that."

"Commander can't you put him on stifle," she smiled, reaching for his 
hand.  "Josh sit and calm 
down.  You're going to blow a gasket."

"Oh way too late for that," he growled.  "Too late when I found out 
this jerk has been messing with 
you."

"Lieutenant at ease.  Now.  Sit," Harm commanded.  "Sit and calm or 
excuse yourself.  If you want 
to be part of this, then you're going to have to have some self 
control.  Not to mention that the man 
is still an Admiral."

"A condition I plan to rectify," Josh hissed, taking a chair and not 
releasing Autumn's hand.

"OK Lieutenant why don't you tell me what you have in mind?" Harm 
offered, with a glare to Josh 
reminding him to remain calm.

"Sir he keeps begging me to ask him over.  It shouldn't be that hard to 
set up a camera and tape."

"Entrapment," Josh muttered, his scowl even darker.

"Not if we let him make all the moves.  You guys could be watching from 
outside in a van or 
something," Autumn smiled.  "Right sir. If I do nothing to encourage, 
it's not entrapment."

"Well I don't know if we can get it as far as a jury, but at the very 
least he can be summoned to a 
Mast and dealt with there."

"Resigned in disgrace?" Josh offered.

"Something like that," Harm nodded.

"Well it's not as good as being hung from the flagpole by his private 
parts but I guess it's 
something."  Josh turned to Autumn and looked at her intently.  "You 
didn't have to handle this 
alone."

"I. . .I thought I could.  I mean he didn't seem like he was doing 
anything I hadn't heard a hundred 
times before," she stammered.  "You know women put up with a lot of 
crap and filing charges isn't 
always the answer.  But then Joslynne told me what happened.  I scolded 
her for not going 
immediately to the infirmary and reporting him, but it was way too 
late."

"And what if he'd done the same thing to you," Josh raged.  "And if you 
resisted what if he'd done 
worse."

"Don't scold me please," she begged.  "I know I probably handled it all 
wrong and I'm sorry."

"What you did wrong was keeping it to yourself," Harm chided her.  
"Lieutenant never forget you 
have a chain of command and friends."

"Very close friends who care about you," Josh added, dropping his free 
arm around her shoulders 
and pulling her into a hug as best he could.

"What he said," Harm smiled.  

"OK lesson learned," she blushed.  "Now how are we going to pull this 
off?"

"Sir is there no other way?" Josh objected.

"After the fact testimony alone is not going to get us much. If 
Joslynne had gone to the ER as 
soon as it happened. . ."

"He would have still argued consensual," Autumn sighed.  "This is going 
to be fine.  I'll let you 
guys know as soon as he does the invitation."

"Have I mentioned how much I hate this," Josh murmured, leaning close 
to her ear.

"Have I mentioned how cool it is that you care?"

"Oh please," Harm groaned.  "Out of here both of you.  And Josh, give 
her some space.  The 
Admiral is not going to approach her with you wrapped over her like a 
wet blanket."
===============
JAG HQ
Same Time

"Colonel a quick word with you please."  AJ halted Mac as she passed 
by.  

"Yes sir."

"Commander Owens will be departing shortly.  His TAD is running out.."
 
 "I know sir" Mac nodded. She didn't need the Admiral to tell her that 
Greg 
 had been there for nearly six months. She'd counted every day, 
wondering 
 what was going to happen at the end of the time. Whether or not Harm 
would 
 be returning.
 
 "You haven't asked me yet," AJ said with a small smile. "So I'll just 
tell 
 you. Your partner is scheduled to return here in seven days."
 
 "It will be nice to have him back" was all she said before walking to 
her 
 office.
 
 "Colonel" AJ said as he followed her. "Is there something I should 
know 
 about?"
 
 "No sir. Nothing at all."
 
 "You haven't talked to him since he went down there have you?" he 
frowned.
 
 "Sir it's better that way. But I promise you we will both behave once 
he's 
 back here. If not, well you can start the paperwork to send me away."
 
 "I don't want to send anyone away. You're both excellent officers that 
I 
 want under my command."
 
 "And hopefully that will happen sir."
 
 ***********************
 LSO Office Norfolk
 Four Days later
 
 "I got him" Autumn whispered as she hurried into Harm's office. "He 
asked me 
 what I was doing tonight. I said nothing and he asked if he could come 
over. 
 I gave him my address and he said he'd be by around seven."
 
 "Looks like its show time then. You sure you're ready for this?"
 
 "Yes sir. I can handle it."
 
 "I know you can. I just want to make sure you don't get hurt in the 
 process."

 "I won't. And I wish you were sticking around longer. It would be 
great to 
 have you as a partner. I bet the Colonel misses you."
 
 "Lieutenant" Harm started.
 
 "Sir, with all due respect, I don't know what happened that weekend 
but it's 
 pretty obvious that you're miserable without her. And from what I 
gathered, 
 you and her had a long history together."
 
 "Had" Harm sighed. "It's all over now."
 
 "But you're going back there" Autumn frowned.
 
 "Yes but it's never going to be like it was before. That's all gone."
 
 "Only if you let it be gone" she persisted. "Sir, I know you cared 
about 
 her. You can't tell me all those feelings are gone."
 
 "No they're not. But we hurt each other and we can't take that back."
 
 "But you can start again can't you?"
 
 "Thank you for your concern Lieutenant, but right now we have more 
important things 
 to concern ourselves with. Like finding your partner so we can get 
this 
 worked out."
 
 "Yes sir" she nodded. "I'll go find him."
 
 She hurried out and Harm let out a long sigh. He'd avoided thinking 
about 
 the fact that he was going back to JAG in a few days. It had seemed 
like a 
 lifetime since he'd left and he wasn't sure what was going to happen 
when he 
 returned. All he knew was if it wasn't going to work, he wasn't going 
to 
 hang out there making both of them miserable.
 
 ******************
 Autumn's Apartment
 2 Hours Later
 
 "You sure you're okay with this?" Harm asked the young woman again. 
"It's not too late 
 to back out on this."
 
 "I'm fine" Autumn nodded. "I know you and Josh are right there so I'm 
not 
 worried."
 
 "I'm just glad you're neighbor is letting us use her place" Josh 
growled. 
 "Though I still wish you'd let us hide out here somewhere."
 
 "Next door is close enough. Trust me you can hear everything through 
these 
 walls."
 
 "All right" Harm nodded. "Hopefully things won't get out of control. 
But if 
 they do, we'll be there right away."
 
 "I know. Now you guys better get out of here before he sees you."
 
 "Please be careful" Josh begged. "Seriously if this gets out of hand, 
just 
 scream."
 
 "I'll be careful" she smiled. "Now go."
 
 He dropped a quick kiss on her lips before he and Harm made their way 
over 
 to the apartment next to Autumn's.
 
 "Sir, you sure this is a good idea?" Josh sighed.
 
 "Chill Lieutenant. Every thing is going to be fine. I promise."
 
 They waited, listening as Admiral Skylar knocked on Autumn's door a 
few 
 minutes later.
 
 Harm at once sensed Josh's tension and he clapped his shoulder, 
whispering "be at ease 
Lieutenant.  She knows what she's doing and we're right here.  You want 
to nail this sucker, then 
let's be by the book."

"I'm afraid for her sir.  I know we're here but I'm still afraid for 
her.  You have a partner too, 
someone you care about.  You have to understand."

"Son I do.  Or at least did."

"No sir. Not did.  You still do.  You know you care very much."

"Why is my love life or lack thereof always up for discussion with you 
two.  Give it a rest 
Lieutenant.  And pay attention.  You may have to testify."

"Yes sir."

Harm paused as he was about to put in the earpiece.  "For the record 
Lieutenant, no.  I've never 
stopped caring."
==============
APPLEBEE's Restaurant
Falls Church, Va
Same time

"Harriet thank you for this," Mac smiled as she pushed away the plate 
holding the remains of her 
Snicker's cheesecake.

"You're very welcome.  I needed it too.  Much as I love Bud and AJ, I 
need some time away.  
When the baby arrives it's going to be really hard to get away."

"You telling me Bud can't change a diaper or handle a bottle?" Mac 
giggled.

"Can yes.  Want to, not really," she laughed.  "Bud loved AJ the second 
he was born but he didn't 
really relate to him well until he was a real person.  Playing and 
interacting."

Mac nodded and Harriet took a sip of her coffee.  "So Commander Rabb is 
soon to be back on 
duty."

"Apparently so.  I'm lining up transfer destinations for myself."

Harriet's gasp of shock indicated she took Mac seriously and Mac smiled 
and shook her head.

"Kidding Harriet kidding.  I'm sure it's going to be fine."

"Ma'am you never stopped caring.  You know you didn't and don't try to 
tell me you did.  It would 
be like when I ask AJ who ripped open the Oreos and he claims he 
doesn't know."

"Well how do you know it's not Bud?" Mac laughed, hoping to turn 
attention elsewhere.

"Because Bud has no clue where I hide the cookie stash," Harriet 
smiled.  "Now we were talking 
Commander Rabb anyway, not Oreos."

"Harriet, if we can find some basis on which to be friends again, I'll 
be happy for that," Mac sighed.  
"I used to think we were fated to be together, that all we had to do 
was get through the crap in the 
way first.  Now, well like I said, if we can be friends and just be 
civil to each other. . .well that may 
be enough."  She swallowed hard and wiped just the hint of a tear from 
the corner of her eye.  
"But for the record Lieutenant, no.  No I've never stopped caring."
===========
"Admiral come in," Autumn urged and the rush of soft music as she 
opened the door filled the 
hallway.  "How are you sir?"

"I'm ready for a pleasant evening thank you Autumn," he replied, 
handing her his coat.  "What 
smells so good?"  

"I'm just getting a stir-fry together."

"Wonderful.  I brought some wine.  Let the evening begin."
   
  He followed her to the kitchen and she took the wine and put in the 
fridge.
  
  "I was surprised when you took me up on my offer" Admiral Skylar 
smiled. "I 
  got the idea that you weren't interested."
  
  "I changed my mind," she said smiled as she turned to him.
  
  "Found out that Josh wasn't good enough for you didn't you?" he 
asked.
  
  "You know about Josh?" Autumn frowned.
  
  "I'm not that naive Autumn. I knew there was a reason you kept 
turning me 
  down. It was him wasn't it?"
  
  "Does it matter now?" she asked.
  
  "Not at all" he whispered as he moved towards her, pressing her back 
against 
  the kitchen counter. "God you are so beautiful," he said softly as 
his hand 
  stroked her cheek.
  
  "I need to stir the chicken" she managed.
  
  "Oh yeah dinner first" he smiled as he backed away from her and she 
quickly 
  moved to the stove to check on the stir-fry. Already she could tell 
this 
  wasn't going to take long and she blessed Harm and Josh for putting 
cameras 
  in both the kitchen and living room.
  
  ****************
  "Did you see that?" Josh growled. "That lousy dirt bag is already on 
to 
  her."
  
  "Yeah but she's handling herself just fine" Harm sighed. "I'm sure 
it's not 
  going to take us long to nail him. A few more moves like that and 
we're all 
  set."
  
  "And then we're getting him out of there. You've got his pager number 
  right."
  
  "Relax Lieutenant. It's all set. We'll get it on tape and then we get 
him out of 
  there. Very simple."
  
  ******************
  "Excellent" Admiral Skylar said when they finished dinner. He'd had a 
few
glasses of the wine along with it and Autumn knew he was probably more 
that partly drunk. 
  She'd taken just a few sips of hers, knowing she needed a clear head.
  
  "Thank you. I'll just clean up and then I'll join you in the living 
room."
  
  "Clean up later" he said as he reached across the table for her arm.
  
  "It'll only take a minute," she said calmly. "You go on and relax and 
I'll 
  be there in a minute."
  
  He let go of her arm and stumbled his way to her living room and she 
let out 
  a long sigh of relief. She needed a few moments to compose herself 
before 
  she moved onto the next act. She was in the process of putting the 
dishes 
  away when she felt someone behind her.
  
  "I thought you were coming to me" Admiral Skylar whispered as he came 
up 
  behind her, his arms wrapping around her.
  
  "I was. I just needed to clean up."
  
  "I don't want to wait any longer," he said as he whirled her around 
to face 
  him. Before she could stop him, he pushed her against the counter, 
his body 
  pressing against hers as his mouth covered hers. She tried to push 
him away, 
  but her little frame was no match for him. He pressed her further 
against 
  the counter with one arm while his other began to make its way down 
her body 
  to her pants. She continued to struggle, but it only made him more 
  determined. She felt the first wave of real fear when she heard the 
sound of his pants zipper
 and she prayed they were in the range of the camera, that 
  Harm and Josh would come soon.
  
  It was only a moment later when they burst through the door and at 
once 
  Admiral Skylar realized what was happening as heard their voices 
yelling for 
  Autumn.  He knew he had been set up.
  
  "Bitch" he swore as he grabbed her and flung her around with his arm 
around 
  her in a chokehold. He caught sight of the knife in the sink drainer 
nearby 
  and reached for it just as Harm and Josh sprinted in.
  
  "Let her go" Harm ordered as the Admiral brandished the knife near 
Autumn's 
  neck.
  
  "You set me up" Skylar hissed. "You were behind this. I should have 
known 
  better. Mr. Goody Goody."
  
  "Let her go" Harm repeated. "We've already called NCIS and the whole 
thing 
  is on film. It's over "
  
  For a moment the Admiral considered his options as he kept the knife 
near 
  Autumn's neck.
  
  "You're right," he said finally and he released his hold on Autumn. 
"It's 
  over."
  
  "Autumn over here" Harm ordered and she hurried to the two men, going 
at 
  once to Josh's waiting arms where they clung together.  He turned his 
  attention to them and away from Skylar for but just a moment but that 
was all the Admiral 
needed. Out of the corner of his eye Harm saw him move toward the young 
couple, the 
  knife raised above his head.
  
  "No" Harm shouted and immediately moved to intercept the crazed man.
  
  Josh heard Harm's shout and looked up just in time to see the two men 
  converge, the knife in the Admiral's hand plunging into Harm as the 
  two men struggled.
  
  "Josh stop him" Autumn screamed as she realized what was happening.
  
  With trembling hands the young man pulled the service revolver from 
his 
  pocket and aimed it at the Admiral.
 
 "Back off boy," Skylar screamed and dropped Harm, leaving him on the 
floor with blood spurting 
from his side.  "Back off."  Skylar raised the now-bloodied knife and 
lunged for Josh.  It took but a 
half-second for the young Lieutenant to know what he had to do.  In one 
blur of motion he pushed 
Autumn behind him and fired three times, putting three bullets into 
Admiral Skylar's chest.
 
 The older man bore a look of startled disbelief as he died, falling at 
Josh's feet.  
 
 For a long second there was total silence as both young officers 
contemplated what had 
happened.   Autumn recovered first, giving Josh a sharp shove in his 
back toward Harm.  "Help 
him.  Get that bleeding stopped.  My god it looks like arterial blood.  
I'm calling 911."
 
 With a tourniquet and pressure, Todd managed to slow the bleeding 
before the paramedics 
arrived.  Joey Malone took one look at the amount of blood pooled under  
Harm and yelled for the 
stretcher.  "Brandie we're going to scoop and run.  How's that one?"
 
 "Dead.  Very."  
 
 "Thought so.  And this one will be too if they don't get that artery 
repaired and him transfused.  
Let's move it."
 
 Josh and Autumn stood aside, his arms around her, feeling her 
trembling slightly with him trying 
to stay strong for both of them.  Strong in the face of the fact he had 
just killed a man.  The police 
arrived just as the paramedics were wheeling Harm out and the two stood 
in momentary shock at 
the blood that was everywhere.
 
 "It was self defense," Josh said softly,  "I'm going to reach for my 
JAG Corps ID and since the 
video is running, you'll see what happened easily enough."
 ================
  1 Hour later
 
 Autumn anxiously searched Josh's face when he returned to her from 
checking with the ER 
admitting desk. "Well?"
 
 "Not good.  His organs are threatening to shut down from the blood 
loss.  They just don't know," 
he said softly and immediately she stepped into his embrace.  
 
 "God this is so awful," she whispered.  "I mean I knew the Admiral was 
a little off, but to do this?  
He must have had some kind of total mental breakdown all of a sudden."
 
 "That would be my guess," he nodded.  "Once he knew he'd been found 
out.  My god I'm just glad 
it didn't happen when he was alone with you some other time.  He might 
have hurt you badly."
 
 "I know.  I'll be having those nightmares for a long time.  They won't 
say how Harm is besides 
that?"  Her voice was muffled by his shirt and she knew her tears were 
leaving a wet circle.
 
 "Yeah they did, but I didn't think hearing 'extremely critical' was 
going to cheer you up," he sighed.  
"They'll know more after the surgery."
 
 "You go wait for the news," she said firmly, pushing away from him and 
wiping her eyes with the 
back of her hand.
 
 "Where will you be?"
 
 "I'll be right there.  I have to do something first."  With that she 
hurried down the hall for the 
phone.  She knew she could reach Mac through the duty officer at JAG 
HQ.  And she knew that if 
the worst was to happen, Mac would at least want to say good bye.
  
 *****************
 Mac's Apartment
 Same Time
 
 The dinner with Harriet had brought back all Mac's thoughts of Harm 
and she 
 found herself wandering aimlessly around her apartment. In a few short 
days 
 he would be back. And they'd finally have to face each other for the 
first 
 time since that disastrous night in Norfolk. A night that still 
weighed 
 heavily on her mind. She had been just as much at fault as he had 
been.
 
 She headed to the kitchen to put on the teakettle for tea when her 
phone 
 rang.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie" she said a moment later.
 
 "Ma'am it's Lt. Westover" Autumn said softly.
 
 "Lt. Westover?" Mac frowned.
 
 "Autumn. From the LSO Office in Norfolk. I work with Commander Rabb."
 
 "Oh of course. I'm sorry. Is there something I can do for you?"
 
 "No ma'am" Autumn sniffled. "I'm calling because I need to tell you 
 something."
 
 "It's about Harm isn't it?" Mac gasped as she suddenly realized the 
only 
 reason why the young woman would be calling her. "Something has 
happened has 
 it?"
 
 "I'm sorry" Autumn managed as the tears slid down her face. "I'm so 
sorry."
 
 "Lieutenant tell me what happened" Mac ordered sharply, the fear that 
something was 
 gravely wrong threatening to overwhelm her. "Please."
 
 "He was stabbed" Autumn managed. "We'd set up a sting to get the 
Admiral. 
 But he went crazy when Harm and Josh came in. And I thought it was all 
over 
 and he grabbed a knife.." Her voice broke and a small sob escaped her. 
"He 
 stabbed the Commander. And then Josh shot the Admiral."
 
 "How badly is Harm hurt?" Mac whispered. "What's his condition?"
 
 "Extremely critical ma'am" Autumn sobbed. "The knife hit an artery. 
They're 
 won't say whether or not he's going to make it. They're taking him to 
 surgery now."
 
 Mac felt for the nearby chair and sank into it as she heard Autumn's 
words. 
 Harm might die. She might never see him alive again.
 
 "Ma'am are you there" Autumn sobbed. "Ma'am."
 
 "I'm here" she managed. "Lieutenant I'm on my way. Unless I can hijack 
a fighter out of Andrews 
it's going to take me a couple hours to get there. But I'll be there."
 
 "Ma'am hurry" Autumn whispered. "Please."
 
 "Where are you?" Mac asked.
 
 "Sentara Norfolk General."
 
 "I'm on my way. If you can, tell Harm I'm coming. And that he better 
not 
 think about leaving me before we've had a chance to clear things up."
 
 "I will" Autumn whispered.
 
 Mac hung up and for several moments she sat there, still in shock from 
what 
 she'd heard. Harm was critically injured. Stabbed by Admiral Skylar. 
None of 
 it made sense.
 
 The phone rang a moment later and she reached for it again, fearing it 
would 
 be Autumn again with worse news.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie" she said quickly.
 
 "Mac it's AJ. We need to talk."
 
 "I know sir. I just got a call from Lt. Westover in Norfolk. Sir, I 
need to 
 get there now."
 
 "Be at Andrews in a half-hour. I'm on my way down as well to find out 
what 
 happened down there. It's hitting the news and the SecNav wants 
answers."
 
 "I just want Harm alive" she whispered. "Sir, Lt. Westover said he was 
 extremely critical."
 
 "Don't count out your partner just yet," AJ said quietly. "I'll see 
you in a 
 half hour."
 ================
 Sentara Norfolk General
 1 Hour Later
 
 "Autumn please sit" Josh begged.
 
 "I can't sit. If he dies its all my fault" she wailed. "I got him into 
this 
 mess. He was supposed to be going home in a few days. Now we don't 
even know 
 if he's going to live."
 
 "It's not your fault. None of us realized the Admiral would ever go 
that crazy."
 
 "He can't die" Autumn whispered. "He just can't. It's not fair. Him 
and Mac 
 still haven't made things right."
 
 "She's coming right?" Josh asked.
 
 Autumn nodded as the tears started again. "I don't know how soon 
she'll be 
 here. I just hope it's not too late."
 
 He pulled her into his arms and she sobbed quietly for several minutes 
 before he led her to a chair.
 
 "It's going to be okay" he whispered. "Harm is going to be okay and 
he'll be 
 back at JAG with Mac where he belongs."
 
 He was still holding her when Mac and AJ burst through the ER doors a 
short 
 time later.
 
 "Harmon Rabb" Mac managed. "Please tell me how he is. I need to see 
him 
 right away."
 
 "And you are?" the woman behind the desk asked.
 
 "I'm his CO and if this woman wants to see him, you'd better let her" 
AJ 
 said in a tone that left no room for argument.
 
 "Ma'am sir" Autumn said quietly as she slipped from Josh's arms and 
made her 
 way over to them.
 
 "Is he?" Mac gasped when she looked at Autumn's tear stained face.
 
 "No" Autumn said quickly. "The last time I asked they said he was 
still 
 holding his own in surgery. But I never got to see him."

"At least he's still alive," Mac breathed.  "I was afraid I'd get here 
and find him gone.   And my 
protocol already is.  "Sir, Admiral Chegwidden, these are Lieutenants 
Anderson and Westover 
who've been working with Harm. "

"Sir," they both said at once, standing carefully apart.

"At ease and as you were," AJ told them.  "And I meant that literally.  
Looks like you two were sort 
of being there for each other.  Go right ahead.  I'm going to see if I 
can make sure the doctor 
comes to talk to us once the surgery is over."

"Sir if Harm needs. . .if there's a matter of giving blood, let me know 
will you," Mac called.  She 
paced several laps anxiously awaiting his return and finally walked 
over to Autumn.

"Thank you for calling me," she said softly.  "That was good thinking.  
You knew I'd want to be 
here."

"I knew you wouldn't want him to die without talking to him," she 
whispered, reaching her hand 
back for Josh, needing the connection.

"Thanks.  I don't know if I can do anything but be here, but at least 
I've done that," Mac sighed.  
"That's if he wants to see me."

"Oh he does ma'am," Autumn smiled.  "He's missed you badly."

"He discusses me with you?"

"No ma'am of course not," Autumn blushed.  "He doesn't open up easily, 
but he has his moments 
where you can tell what he's thinking.  I know whatever happened 
between you two before he 
came here and then only that the weekend you guys tried failed."

"Miserably," Mac put in, her voice sad.

"Yes ma'am.  He was ready to go home.  Home to JAG HQ, and you."

Another hour crawled by before a graying doctor approached them, 
stripping off his cap and 
surgical gown as he walked.  "Family for Mr. Rabb?"

"Yes that's us," AJ nodded and when the doctor looked at the four 
bedraggled people added 
quickly, "It's complicated.  Just tell us how he is."

"We got the artery repaired, which was child's play compared to dealing 
with the blood loss.  Now 
we're going to need to wait to see what if any permanent damage that 
caused.  He's been 
transfused and we're keeping a good eye on him.  He should be waking up 
in about two hours and 
we'll know more then."

"Doctor is it possible that he. . ." Mac got that far before she had to 
clear her throat and stop  to 
take a breath.  "Doctor is it possible he might not ever. . .wake up?"

"I think you're borrowing trouble young lady," he smiled kindly.  "He 
hung on through the surgery, 
and I see no reason he won't now.  Are you someone special in his 
life?"

She blushed and looked to AJ who simply nodded his assent.

"Yes," she replied firmly.

"Then why don't you let yours be the first face he sees when he wakes 
up.  Soon as he's settled 
I'll come get you."

"OK thank you sir," she sighed and when the look of distress on her 
face did not clear, AJ gave 
her a quizzical frown.

"Sir we didn't part on good terms.  We haven't spoken in weeks about 
anything.  I mean I'm 
scared to death here that he's not going to be OK, but I'm also scared 
that he's going to wake up 
and see me and he won't want me there.  I mean I don't even know how he 
really feels about me, 
despite Autumn's assurance that he still does care."

"Mac what if the situation were reversed, if that was you lying there?  
What would you want to find 
when you came to?"

She smiled softly at that thought.  "I'd want to wake up to Harm 
holding my hand."
  
 "And I'm sure he'd like the same."
 
 It was another half-hour before the doctor returned to escort Mac to 
the 
 recovery room where Harm was now settled. She mentally prepared 
herself for 
 how he would look but a small gasp still escaped her when she walked 
into 
 the room.
 
 "You're sure he's going to be okay" she whispered as she turned to the 
 doctor. Never before had she seen Harm like that before and the fact 
that he 
 was nearly the same color as the white pillows he lie against did 
nothing to 
 make her feel better.
 
 "So far we have no reason to believe otherwise" the doctor answered. 
"Course 
 its going to be a while before he's himself again. But he's past the 
worst 
 of it. Go on and have a seat. It shouldn't be much longer before he 
wakes 
 up."
 
 She nodded and sat down in the chair next to the bed, reaching at once 
for 
 Harm's hand.
 
 "Okay sailor" she said softly when they were alone. "I'm not sure 
you're 
 going to want to see me when you wake up but I'm here. And I'm not 
leaving 
 this time until we make things right."
 
 She settled back in the chair, studying him once again. It was hard to 
 believe she hadn't talked to him or seen him in six months. Six long 
months 
 of ignoring what had happened. And in a split second tonight she could 
have 
 lost him forever.
 
 He stirred a short time later, murmuring something inaudible to her 
before 
 he finally forced his eyes open.
 
 "Hi sailor" she said softly. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
 
 "Mac?" he frowned. The last person he expected to see was Mac. Why was 
she 
 here? The last thing he remembered was Admiral Skylar going towards 
Autumn 
 and Josh with the knife. After that everything was a blur.
 
 "Yeah it's me. You're probably wondering why I'm here."
 
 "Autumn, Josh?" he asked anxiously, starting to rise.
 
 "Both fine" she assured him, restraining him firmly. "Thanks to you 
from what I understand. You 
gave us all a good scare."
 
 "Skylar?"
 
 "Dead. Josh had no choice but to kill him. Good thing you gave him 
your 
 weapon. But that's not for you to worry about. The Admiral is here and 
he's 
 handling all that."
 
 "Why?" he started.
 
 "Why am I here?" she asked softly and he nodded. "Autumn called me. 
She was 
 pretty scared you weren't going to pull through. So she thought I 
might want 
 to come and at least say goodbye. Thankfully that's not the case. But 
you 
 were very lucky."
 
 "She shouldn't have called you," he said quietly.
 
 "Yes she should have and I'm glad she did. Despite what happened that 
night, 
 I never stopped caring for you. There's no way I could. You're too 
much a 
 part of my life that I could just walk away and forget what we had."
 
 "You still care?" he murmured as he fought to stay awake.
 
 "Dumb question Flyboy" she said as she gently stroked his forehead. 
"But you 
 need to rest and we'll have plenty of time to talk later. Right now 
I'm just 
 happy with the fact I know you're going to be okay."
 
 "Never stopped caring bout you either" he murmured before his eyes 
finally 
 closed.
 
 "Good" she said softly. "Then at least we're both on the same flight 
path."
 
 *******************
 1 Month Later
 JAG HQ's
 
 In the four weeks since that fateful night in Norfolk, Harm healed 
both 
 physically and emotionally. He'd seen Mac only once but during that 
visit 
 they'd talked honestly and openly about what had happened between 
them. 
 Talked enough that he was now looking forward to returning to JAG once 
 again.
   
 "Thank you sir. Glad to be back."
 
 "Why don't I get you acquainted with your partner then" AJ smiled as 
he 
 pushed a button on his phone.
 
 "Sir?" Harm frowned.
 
 "Come on in Colonel" AJ said a few moments later when Mac stood at the 
door. 
 "Commander Rabb, this is Colonel Mackenzie."
 
 "Commander" she smiled as she held out her hand to him.

"Harm," he smiled and stared.  It had been a lifetime ago, but she was 
Diane.  A dead woman 
whom he had once thought he loved.  Until he met. . .

"Mac." 

He recovered himself and returned her handshake.

AJ watched the interaction between them, his mind taking him back to a 
oddly warm day in 
January, 1997 and with a quick smile called softly.  "Don't get too 
close.  You have to work 
together."

THE END