TITLE:   "I Always Know Where You Are"
      AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner 
      SUMMARY:  Missing Moments #14--this one from the
episode "Iron 
Coffin". 
 The fourteenth in a summer long series of 'in lieu of
a new JAG' 
stories 
wherein older episodes will be revisited and we'll
explore what 
happened that 
we did not get to see, or in some cases what should or
could have 
happened.
      DISCLAIMER:  JAG of course belongs to Paramount
and DB 
productions et 
al.  No copyright infringement is intended.
      FEEDBACK:  If you would like, but never expected
or demanded.  
Feedback 
addy is ssbpmn@aol.com  
+++++++++++++++++++++
 
"I Always Know Where You Are"--- Part 1

 "I always know where you are."  Harm had just said
those words to Mac 
when 
the elevator door opened and spilled them onto the
main floor at JAG.  
They 
had been talking and laughing for the past twenty-four
hours, too wired 
to 
sleep as they were returned from Iceland.  It had been
a good trip--a 
long 
time since they had spent that much time together and
it had paid off 
in that 
some of the tension that had hung between them had
evaporated, at least 
for 
that time they were together.  JAG and DC and Michael
Brumby and Renee 
Peterson had seemed a long way a way until. . .
 
 The smile froze on Harm's lips as he was first to
spot their welcoming 
committee.  "Back to reality," he whispered, nudging
her arm and 
nodding to 
Mic and Renee.  Mac looked up in surprise, and then
there was no time 
for 
anything else but Mic's hug.  Renee too wrapped her
arms around Harm.  
 
 "I missed you luv," Mic murmured and Mac turned her
head slightly to 
see if 
Harm had heard.
 
 He had, and was on the receiving end of a similar hug
from his 
'significant 
other'.  Renee gave him an extra squeeze and Harm
managed to evade her 
slightly, seeing Mac out of the corner of his eye. 
Her expression was 
at the 
least regretful, and almost pained, as if the last
thing she wanted at 
that 
moment was Mic's arms holding her.
 
 He knew his own face was saying the same thing.  Not
only was he 
uncomfortable with Renee latching on to him right then
because of where 
they 
were, he was aware of another emotion.  A genuine
disappointment that 
the 
warmth and laughter and camaraderie he and Mac had
shared for the past 
twenty-four hours was being forced to an end.  He
cleared his throat 
and 
forced himself to look back at Renee.
 
 "Renee, hi, and I'm glad to see you too but JAG HQ is
probably not the 
best 
place for this."
 
 "Harm you two have been gone forever," she wailed. 
"I can't help it.  
But 
on the other hand what I'm doing here pales compared
to what I'm going 
to do 
to you later."
 
 "Now that sounds like a plan," Mic laughed as Mac
disengaged herself 
from 
him.  
 
 "You hold that thought because Harm and I have do the
debriefing for 
what 
happened," she told him.
 
 "Exactly."  Harm shot Mac a look of pure gratitude. 
"So what we're 
going to 
do is walk you two to the elevator and see you later."
 
 "I'm getting the feeling we're getting the bum's rush
here," Mic 
groaned.
 
 "Renee I'll call you later," Harm told her, taking
her arm.
 
 With a little more urging, Mic and Renee were put
onto the elevator, 
and 
Harm and Mac exchanged a small sigh of relief.
 
 "The man loves you," Harm said quietly after a long
moment of silence.
 
 "Yes he does," she agreed.  "And Renee does you."
 
 He shrugged with elaborate casualness.  "But I
haven't given her a 
ring."

  At his words she stared down at the ring on her
finger, a ring that 
somehow 
  had never felt quite right.
  
  "No you haven't," she said finally. "Not that she
doesn't want one 
I'm 
sure."
  
  "What she wants and what she'll get is two different
things."
  
  "So you have no intention of having a serious
relationship with her?" 
Mac 
  asked.
  
  "No" he said without a thought.
  
  "You mean that don't you?" she asked as she studied
him carefully. 
"You 
  really don't plan on being serious do you?"
  
  "No" he repeated. "And before this conversation gets
any deeper we'd 
better 
  take care of business first. Like getting the
reports Captain Baxter 
is 
  expecting from us finished."
  
  "Why don't we work on them together" she suggested.
"Over dinner 
maybe? 
  Unless of course you'd rather not."
  
  "No that's a great idea" he smiled. "Of course
there's nothing at my 
place. 
  But we could pick up something and take it back
there."
  
  "What about Renee?"
  
  "Good point. And I guess Mic would be at your
place?"
  
  "Yes he will" she nodded. "I guess that isn't going
to work."
  
  "Why don't we pick something up and come back here
then?" he 
suggested. "By 
  then almost everyone will be gone anyway."
  
  "Sounds like a plan. What are you in the mood for?"
  
  "After the food on the Minsk anything sounds good"
Harm smiled. "But 
right 
  now a good old fashioned pizza sounds good."
  
  "With pepperoni, sausage and ham" she grinned.
  
  "Not quite what I had in mind" he laughed. "But I
think we can come 
up with 
  something."
  
  An hour later they returned with two small pizzas
from the local 
pizza 
shop, 
  his veggie and hers a meat lover. As Harm had
predicted they had the 
office 
  to themselves and they spread out in Harm's office
to eat.
  
  "So why did you tell Mic we would be busy
debriefing?" he asked 
finally.
  
  "Because you didn't look to thrilled to see Renee"
she smiled. "And 
because 
  I really wasn't ready to go home with Mic just yet."
  
  "Mac are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
  
  "Work on the reports for Baxter? Of course I do."
  
  "I meant marry Mic," he said quietly. "Is this what
you really want?"
  
  "I don't know," she admitted. "And I can't believe I
just said that 
to you."
  
  "Why? It's the truth isn't it? You're not sure you
want to marry Mic 
are 
  you?"
  
  "Harm don't. That's not a subject I want to get into
right now."
  
  "Just promise me you won't do something you're going
to regret just 
because 
  you think you have to" he said softly. "Because no
one would blame 
you if 
  you changed your mind."
  
  "Mic might," she said with a small smile. "Contrary
to what you think 
he 
  does love me."
  
  "But do you love him?" he prodded.
 
 "I. . .I. . ." Her breath caught and her cell phone
rang at the same 
time.  
"Hi Mic," she said into it, reading the incoming
number and carefully 
keeping 
her eyes from Harm's.  "No I don't know. . . I want to
get this done 
tonight. 
. . .Because I've got a desk full of regular work. 
Honestly Mic you 
remember 
what it's like to work here.  Gone twenty-four hours
and you're snowed 
under. 
. .Later yes I'll be home later.  Please don't wait
up."  With that she 
hung 
up the phone and shook her head.
 
 "The leash he's holding is a little short," Harm
remarked without 
looking up.
 
 "He loves me and he's concerned about me, and believe
it or not it's 
nice to 
have someone who's there when I walk in at night."
 
 "OK fair enough.  Do you love him?  I mean are you in
love with him?"  
 
 "Harm what does this ring on this finger say to you?"
 
 "That he guilted and brow beat you and wore you down
until you moved 
it," he 
replied calmly.  "That you are more afraid of being
alone than marrying 
a man 
you don't really love."
 
 "OK Doctor, you think you've got this all figured out
don't you," she 
retorted.  
 
 "No Mac I really don't," he replied, covering his
hand with hers.  "I 
haven't understood anything for a year now, not since
Sydney."  
 
 "I can top that," she whispered.  "I haven't
understood anything since 
the 
day you decided your life here at JAG wasn't enough
for you.  From that 
point 
on, things have just spiraled out of my control.  I
didn't realize 
until I no 
longer had my partner and my best friend how much my
life was wrapped 
in 
yours."
 
 His eyes widened with sudden understanding.  "So
while I was gone you 
pulled 
back from me didn't you?"
 
 "Yes I did," she admitted.  "That woman who cried in
your arms the day 
you 
left recovered and found out she could make a life
without you.  I 
fully did 
not expect you to ever return Harm.  So I straightened
out my career, 
got my 
promotion and. . ."
 
 "And took a new partner."
 
 "And for a long time we worked well together and he
was a friend.  And 
then 
you came back and there was that. And then we went to
Sydney and I 
ripped my 
heart out and handed it to you and you threw it back
at me."  She gave 
him an 
elaborate shrug.  "And I think we need to stop talking
about this 
before the 
great time we had in Iceland and coming back gets
spoiled."
 
 "Amen," he nodded, sliding his note sheet toward her.
 
 They worked in silence for an hour until her yawns
made it apparent 
they 
were not going to accomplish anything further.
 
 "Let's call it a night Colonel," he smiled.  "It's
been a harrowing 
seventy-two hours or so, but worth it.  The trip back
I mean.  I had a 
great 
time.  Thank you."
 
 "Thank you," she smiled as well.  "Walk me out?"
 
 "You got it."  Relieved that she was going to allow
him to walk her 
across 
the dark parking lot, he took her arm once they
reached outside.  "You 
know 
what," he began slowly.  "There's really no reason we
couldn't. . .I 
mean 
that we don't try to build on what we started on our
trip home.  We 
could do 
that?"
 
 "What exactly are you suggesting?" she frowned.
 
 "Simply that we spend a little time together.  That
we make the 
effort," he 
offered, his hand running along her arm.  "You and I.
. .we were at one 
time 
finding our way until I left.  Right?  Until I had to
see if I could 
still be 
one of the boys.  Would it be so bad if we tried to
find that again?"
 
 "And what of Mic and Renee?" she asked softly.
  
  "Well I don't have any commitments to Renee" he said
quietly. "But I 
would 
  understand if you didn't want to do that to Mic. You
are engaged to 
the 
  man."
  
  "I don't want to hurt him" she sighed. "But at the
same time I want 
us to 
  see if there's anything still there."
  
  "Mac we don't have to do this. You obviously love
Mic and I shouldn't 
be 
  stepping in where I don't belong."
  
  "I don't know that I love Mic" she said suddenly. "I
mean, I think I 
do. 
But 
  then sometimes I think that maybe I've just
convinced myself that 
that's 
the 
  case."
  
  "So you want us to try this?" he whispered. "Seeing
if there's still 
  something there?"
  
  "I do" she nodded.  "I just don't want to hurt him
or Renee."
  
  "If Renee has any ideas about me and her, they're
all in her mind" 
Harm 
  assured her. "I have given her no indication at all
that I want a 
future 
  with her."
  
  "You haven't?"
  
  "No Mac I haven't. So you're okay with us doing
this?"
  
  "Yes. We'll just have to be careful so that no one
finds out what 
we're 
  doing."
  
  ********
  1 Week Later
  JAG HQ's
  
  "Mic I'm sorry" Mac sighed. "Look I told you things
were crazy around 
here. 
  Yes I know I've been working late a lot but I can't
help it. I'll see 
you 
  when I get home." With that she hung up the phone,
smiling slightly 
when 
she 
  saw Harm standing in her doorway. "Hi. How long have
you been 
standing 
  there?"
  
  "Long enough to know that Mic isn't happy about not
seeing you as 
much as 
he 
  wants to" he said quietly.
  
  "He'll get over it. And he had my attention last
night. Of course all 
he 
  wanted to talk about was when we're setting a
wedding date."
  
  "He's really pressuring you isn't he?" Harm asked as
he sat down.
  
  "He's been pushing since the night he showed up at
the Surface 
Warfare 
Ball" 
  she sighed. "But I'm not going to be bullied into
doing something I'm 
not 
  ready for and likely never will be. But I don't want
to talk about 
that. 
  It's our night tonight."
  
  "In between the Hawkins case" Harm laughed. "That is
our cover story 
right?"
  
  "Of course" she smiled. "And you said Renee was out
of town right?"
  
  "Yes ma'am" he grinned. "We pick up some Chinese, go
back to my 
place, 
spend 
  a few minutes talking about Hawkins and then the
night is ours."
  
  "Sounds wonderful" she smiled. "Movie too?"
  
  "Do-able" he nodded. "I'll even let you choose as
long as it's not 
too 
  gushy."
  
  "Do I look like the gushy type?"
  
  "Yes. Despite the fact that you're a Marine you're
still a hopeless 
  romantic."
  
  "And you know this how?" she laughed.
  
  "I just do" he smiled. "What do you say we get out
of here and go get 
that 
  Chinese?"
 ===========
 "Harm I swear that place is some kind of gang hang
out for the Chinese 
in 
your neighborhood, but Ling Ding or whatever his face
is sure knows how 
to 
make a beef and broccoli," Mac smiled. 
 
 "Yeah I know.  I'm not sure I like the idea of taking
you around 
there, but 
the food is the best I've had," he grinned.  "And I
didn't like how 
that one 
guy kept eyeing you, like you would have made a good
gang bitch."
 
 "Harm," she yelped and then laughed again.  "This is
nice," she added 
after 
a long pause.  "Mic and I. . . ."
 
 Harm raised an eyebrow, sensing she had something she
wanted to 
expound 
upon.  "Yeah?"
 
 She shrugged slightly.  "Nothing.  It's just that we
don't laugh and 
talk so 
much any more.  If he's not talking about Brumby and
Brumby, then he's 
talking wedding.  I swear if his firm fails, he can
get a job as a 
wedding 
consultant.  Would you believe he's got charts drawn
up like for 
caterers, 
listing good and bad points about them; same for
honeymoon destinations 
and 
possible wedding venues and so on.  It gives me a
headache everytime."
 
 "Can I make an observation without you hurting me?"
he asked gently.
 
 "I think I know what you're going to say, but go
ahead Counselor," she 
sighed.
 
 "If you really loved him, and really wanted to marry
him. . .well two 
things 
are coming.  First, you wouldn't be here with me, and
second you'd be 
as into 
it as he is.  Uh. . .was your guess right?"
 
 "On the money," she nodded, a look of misery crossing
her pretty 
features 
and he reached over and covered her hand.
 
 There was again silence for a moment and she pierced
his eyes with a 
long 
look.  "And you and Renee?"
 
 "Mac I've told you there's nothing there, nothing
that's going to make 
up a 
future.  See when she and I first met, it was all
light and fun on both 
our 
parts."
 
 "Yeah but Harm it doesn't take a relationship expert
to see that it's 
not 
that way any more.  Not with her," Mac put in quickly.
 
 "OK yeah I'm aware," he snapped.  "She's gotten in
deep.  And the 
kindest 
thing would be to cut her loose.  But I could say that
for Mic too."
 
 "Hey I'm not as sure as you," she pointed out, "and I
think we need a 
subject change.  I want to be with you to get away
from conflict, not 
just 
have another source."
 
 "You got it," he smiled.  "In fact it's movie time if
you're not too 
full to 
move to the sofa."
 
 "I'll waddle over there," she assured him.  
 

Part 2 and 3 follow  immediately


She made herself comfortable and when he fixed the DVD
and joined her, 
he 
casually draped his arm across her shoulders.  "If
that's bothering 
you, just 
say so, don't break it," he said softly.
 
 Her only answer was to lean more into him, resting
her head on his 
shoulder.
    
  "This feels so right" he whispered.
  
  "I know" she sighed contentedly. "Wonderful idea
here sailor."
  
  "See I am good for something" he teased.
  
  "You're good for a lot of things Commander" she
whispered as she 
looked 
over 
  at him. "More than you know."
  
  In a bold move he leaned over to her, his lips
gently brushing hers 
in a 
  quick kiss.
  
  "Now you are going to break my arm aren't you?" he
said softly when 
she 
  didn't move.
  
  "I wasn't expecting that."
  
  "I know. And I wasn't planning on it. It just felt
like the right 
thing to 
  do."
  
  "Can we try it again?" she whispered. "Only not so
quick?"
  
  "My pleasure" he smiled as he gently wrapped pulled
her closer to 
him, 
their 
  lips meeting once again. This time it was anything
but a quick kiss 
and it 
  was only when the need for air forced them to part
that they did.
  
  "Better?" he asked.
  
  "Much" she sighed as she snuggled back against his
shoulder. "Of 
course 
  moments like that don't make this any easier."
  
  "You mean with your decision about Mic?" he said
gently.
  
  She nodded and he gently kissed her hair. "I know
you'll do the right 
thing 
  Sarah" he whispered. "Just follow your heart."
  
  "If I'd done that I wouldn't be where I am now" she
said softly. 
"Because 
in 
  my heart I knew there was only one person I wanted
to be with."
  
  "Do I know this person?"
  
  "Tall, handsome sailor. Pretty good pilot. Very good
lawyer. And the 
best 
  partner in the world."
  
  "Well said sailor knew there was only one person he
wanted to be 
with" Harm 
  smiled. "Only she was with someone else. So in
desperation he turned 
to 
  someone else."
  
  "Why couldn't we just be honest without ourselves?"
she sighed.
  
  "Because when I came back you hated me" he said
quietly.
  
  "I didn't hate you. It's just that everything was
different when you 
came 
  back and I had no idea how to fix it."
  
  "Neither did I" he admitted. "I was the odd man out
in the office and 
you 
  and Mic were best friends. And of course everything
went to hell when 
we 
  were in Sydney."
  
  "You pushed me away" she said softly.
  
  "I pushed you right into Mic's waiting arms. And
that was the last 
thing 
I'd 
  wanted to do."
 
 "But it's what happened," she agreed.  "Harm I was so
tired of being 
alone 
at that point.  Mic was there and you weren't and we'd
become friends 
and 
then he wanted more, and I didn't, but then you
rejected me and I just 
couldn't see myself waiting until you were ready.  If
you would ever 
be.  
Your words on the ferry were pretty definite Harm. 
Pretty indicative 
that 
you were rejecting me, a relationship, or both."
 
 "You let the man steam roller you Mac.  I've never
seen you allow that 
with 
anyone.  Certainly not with me, not in or out of the
courtroom.  And 
lord 
knows I've tried, but you stood right up to me, and
anyway, on the 
ferry, I 
was rejecting some kind of one nighter or fling or
roll in the hay."
 
 Mac regarded him seriously, a frown across her face. 
"Is that what 
you 
thought I meant?  Harm?  You thought when I asked you
long we were 
going to 
wait, I was meaning before we just got it on?"
 
 He gave her a helpless shrug.  "Yeah partly, and part
of me knew you 
were 
talking about that we needed to come out of denial
about us.  But I 
wasn't 
letting myself think about that."
 
 "And you weren't ready?"
 
 "I just. . " he stammered.  "It was all too fast
that's all.  But I 
will say 
this in my own defense, by the time I asked you to
dinner, that dinner 
where 
you couldn't go, I had regrouped and was ready to
discuss us."
 
 "I didn't know," she gasped.  "I mean I just thought
you were. . .I'm 
sorry 
Harm."
 
 He shook his head firmly.  "No, that's not why I told
you.  I just 
wanted 
you to know where my head was then..  And it's all in
the past anyway.  
Follow your heart Sarah."
 
 She took his hand and placed it against her chest. 
"Can you feel that 
heart 
pounding?"
 
 "Oh yeah," he whispered, leaning over to her.  Their
lips touched once 
more 
and as if it was ordained from above, the music on the
movie swelled, 
so much 
so that even had they not been lost in each others
embrace, they likely 
would 
not have heard the key in the door.
 
 "Harm I'm back.  What are you watching?"  Renee's
voice echoed into 
the 
living room, preceding her by all of about three
seconds.  Harm and Mac 
had 
enough time to part their heads but nothing else. 
Thus it was Rabb and 
Mackenzie cuddled together that Renee saw.
 
 "What in the hell is happening here?" she shrieked. 
"Harm I. . .Oh my 
god." 
 With fire in her eyes she advanced toward them. 
"What is she doing 
here?  
Harm answer me.  Mac what are you doing here?  This
is. . .this is my 
place 
and you've waltzed in here like you own it and. . ." 
She finally had 
to stop 
for breath and Mac took advantage of the pause in her
tirade to 
extricate 
herself from Harm.  
 
 "Renee, Harm and I were working a case and we started
watching a 
movie," she 
said softly.  "Nothing happened that warrants your
going off the deep 
end."
 
 "Then don't you have a fiancé who's probably missing
you?" she 
snapped.  
"I'd bet a million dollars the poor guy doesn't know
you're over here 
in my 
lover's arms."
 
 "Harm I'm going now," Mac said quietly, turning her
back on Renee.  
"You be 
OK?"
 
 Harm looked from Renee to Mac and back.  His heart
was giving him an 
order.  
All he had to do was pay attention.
   
  "Goodbye Mac" Renee smirked from behind her.
  
  With no response from Harm, Mac let out a long sigh
and started 
towards the 
  door.
  
  "Mac no" he said as her hand reached for the door.
"I don't want you 
to 
  leave. I want you to stay."
  
  "Harmon Rabb what the hell are you doing?" Renee
screeched.
  
  "What I should have done a long time ago" Harm said
as he crossed the 
room 
  to where Mac stood. "I love you Sarah. Please don't
go. This isn't 
how I 
  planned this to work out but I can't let you go this
time. You don't 
love 
  Mic and it's wrong for you to marry him. And I don't
love Renee and 
it's so 
  wrong for me to be with her when I love you."
  
  "You love me?" Mac whispered.
  
  "Sarah I have always loved you."
  
  "No" Renee shouted. "This isn't right. This isn't
how this is 
supposed to 
  work."
  
  "And I've always loved you" Mac said softly as Harm
reached for her, 
  gathering her into his arms just as the door
suddenly opened.
  
  "So this is where you've been?" Mic said quietly.
  
  "Mic" Mac gasped. "What are you doing here?"
  
  "I called JAG to see when you'd be home. When I
couldn't reach you I 
finally 
  got to the guard. He told me you'd left several
hours ago with Harm. 
So I 
  decided to see for myself what was really going on."
  
  "Mic I'm sorry" she whispered.
  
  "Just tell me the truth Sarah. Have you and Harm
been seeing each 
other 
  since you got back from Iceland?"
  
  "Yes we have" Harm answered for her. "And it wasn't
Mac's idea. It 
was 
  mine."
  
  "Obviously she was a willing participant" Mic
retorted.
  
  "Mic we need to talk" Mac sighed. "I owe you an
apology and I need to 
give 
  you something back."
  
  "No" Renee shrieked again. "Not the ring. You have
to marry him. He 
loves 
  you Mac. Don't be a fool."
  
  "Renee" Harm snapped. "Stay out of this. It's none
of your business."
  
  "I think we should have that talk now," Mic said
quietly. "Sarah 
maybe we 
  could take a drive?"
  
  Harm looked anxiously at Mac, not liking the idea of
her being alone 
with 
  Mic.
  
  "Yeah that's fine," she said finally. "I'll met you
downstairs in a 
few 
  minutes."
  
  Mic nodded and walked out and Mac turned to Harm. "I
have to talk to 
him. 
He 
  deserves that much."
  
  "You going to be okay alone with him?"
  
  "I'll be fine. Honest. Just promise me you'll be
here when I get 
back."
  
  "Of course" he said before pulling her into his arms
again for one 
last 
hug. 
  She stayed there until Renee's loud sigh made her
step away.
  
  "I'll be back," she said softly. "I think you have a
little 
explaining to 
do 
  yourself."
  
  "I do. And when you come back, we'll talk about
everything" Harm 
promised.
  
  She nodded and turned and walked out.
  
  "So I guess it's over," Renee said quietly. "You've
made it crystal 
clear 
  how you feel."
  
  "I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I should
have told you a 
long 
time 
  ago that I wasn't in love with you."
  
  "Yeah that would have been nice" Renee snapped.
 
 "Look Renee," he tried again, wanting to soften the
blow, the enormity 
of 
what he was doing pressing on him.  "I am sorry. 
Believe me I am.  In 
my 
defense I never told you that I loved you, not even in
bed right?  And 
at no 
time did I hint that we would have more together than
just good times."
 
 "Yeah OK my head knows that," she snapped again. 
"Just tell my heart.  
Look 
Rabb, do the women of the world a favor.  Not to
mention yourself and 
Mac.  
Make it clear to her how you feel."
 
 "I uh. . .I think I made a pretty good start on that
earlier," he said 
sheepishly.  "I'll walk you to your car."
 
 "Please don't.  Just let me get out of here.  I'll
come by sometime 
and 
collect the stuff I've left here."
 
 And with that she was gone, walking out of his life
just a little over 
a 
year from the time she had waltzed in.  He hurried to
the window that 
overlooked the parking, just in time to see Mic urging
Mac into his 
car.  
Small prickles of fear went up and down his spine. 
Fear possibly too 
strong 
a word he chided himself.  He had no reason to think
Mic would actually 
hurt 
her.  The man did love her, of that there was no
doubt.  Still, along 
with 
that love came possessiveness and a territoriality
that might make the 
man. . 
. "Rabb you are certifiable.  He's not going to hurt
her."  
 
 He watched Renee get into her car and drive away
behind Mic and a 
strong 
shudder passed over him.  He should have been the one
to leave, giving 
Mic 
and Mac the apartment to talk.  
 ==========
 "Mic where are we going?" Mac asked as the car picked
up speed and 
left the 
lights of DC behind.  
 
 He shrugged slightly before replying.  "I guess I
don't really know, 
maybe 
down by the river.  How about by the airport.  I just
want to spend a 
little 
time with you that's all.  You are still wearing my
ring."
 
 She was about to reply and bit it back.  Better
handled face to face 
and she 
assumed he would stop soon so they could talk.
 
   It was another hour before they stopped during
which she had sat 
quietly 
in the 
  passenger seat, wishing she'd never agreed to this.
  
  "I didn't realize we were driving to the middle of
nowhere," she said 
  sarcastically as he finally pulled off of I-95
halfway to Richmond.
  
  He didn't reply as he exited the freeway and made
his way through the 
small 
  town. She had no idea where he was taking her and
she was glad she'd 
  remembered her cell phone in her purse. He finally
pulled off the 
road and 
  Mac cringed when she realized he'd pulled into a
small cemetery.
  
  "Mic what are you doing?" she sighed. "Why are we
stopping here?"
  
  "This is where we're going to talk. Is that a
problem?"
  
  "The middle of a cemetery?"
  
  "It's quiet. Now you were going to explain to me
what was going on 
with you 
  and Harm weren't you? Not that the I love you you
said to him leaves 
much 
to 
  explain."
  
  "Mic I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
  
  "So you do love him?"
  
  "Yes I do," she said quietly. "I have since the
beginning. And that's 
why I 
  should never have accepted your proposal."
  
  "Why did you Sarah? Because you figured you weren't
going to get Harm 
so 
  you'd take second best."
  
  "I don't know Mic. I just know I was wrong and I'm
sorry."
  
  "How long have you and Harm been seeing each other?"
he demanded. 
"How long 
  have you been playing me for a fool?"
  
  "Only since we got back from Iceland" she whispered.
"Before that 
Harm and 
I 
  barely talked. But when he was almost killed on the
Russian Sub, 
something 
  changed. For both of us. We finally talked and
realized that there 
were 
  feelings there."
  
  "And you decided to explore those feelings? But at
the same time, 
keeping 
me 
  around just in case?"
  
  "Mic I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. I was
wrong and I hurt 
you 
  and I know that and I'm sorry."
  
  "Give me my ring" he snapped and she quickly slid
the ring from her 
hand 
and 
  gave it to him. "I gave this to you because I loved
you. Because I 
thought 
  that you felt the same way. But you never loved me
did you Sarah?"
  
  "No Mic" she admitted. "I didn't.  Not in the way I
should have-the 
way you 
deserved."
  
  "Get out" he said suddenly.
  
  "Here? Mic are you crazy? How am I going to get
home?"
  
  "Call your hero Harm" he snapped as he reached over
her and opened 
the 
door. 
  "Goodbye Sarah."
 
  She stepped out of the car and just as she closed
the door, he gunned 
the 
  engine. Dirt and rocks flew as the tires spun and
moments later she 
stood 
  alone in the middle of the cemetery. She reached in
her purse for her 
cell 
  phone and pressed the key for the first stored
number.
  
  ****************
  "Dammit Mac where are you?" Harm muttered as he
paced his apartment. 
He 
  berated himself for letting her go with Mic, afraid
something like 
this 
  might happen. He knew Mic had a temper and he just
prayed he hadn't 
done 
  anything to her.
  
  His phone rang and he hurried to grab it, picking it
up on the first 
ring.
  
  "Rabb" he said quickly.
  
  "It's me" Mac whispered.
  
  "Thank God" he breathed. "Mac where are you? Are you
okay?"
  
  "I'm a lot better now that I'm talking to you. And
to answer your 
first 
  question, I'm standing in the middle of a cemetery."
 
 "What the hell are you talking about?  Cemetery? 
Make sense here will 
you.  
And where the hell is that Australian idiot anyway?"
  
 "Harm calm," she said softly, wrapping her coat
around her more 
tightly.  
"We just started driving.  I'm not sure what was going
through his 
mind, but 
we left DC, got on 95, and he was silent and I didn't
want to press 
him.  I 
figured he was kind of gathering his thoughts and I
was avoiding the 
topic 
and OK we just ended up here."
 
 "And where the hell is here, and where is he I say
again?"
 
 "He's gone Harm.  Drove off."
 
 "What?"  Harm's voice exploded and he fumbled for his
car keys at the 
same 
time.  "You're telling me this man drove off and left
you in the middle 
of 
the night, in the cold, in a cemetery?  Is he on
something or just 
what?"
 
 "Harm I don't know.  He just got off the highway here
at the Thornburg 
exit, 
drove a little ways and pulled in to this place.  Then
we talked a 
couple of 
minutes and he ordered me out of the car and frankly I
was kind of 
hesitant 
not to go, given the strangeness of. . .Harm the
battery--the battery 
is 
going in this thing.  Are you coming?"
 
 "Yeah Mac I'm on my way but you can't stay there. 
It's too dangerous 
for 
you to be out there.  You need to call. . ."
 
 "Harm you're breaking up.  Harm?"
 
 And then there was silence.   
 
 There was nothing but silence and he slammed down the
phone. It was 
his 
 fault for letting her go with Mic. He should have
known better. He 
grabbed 
 his cell phone and keys and sprinted down to his SUV,
dialing 
information as 
 he did. Finally he was connected with the Sheriff's
department for the 
area 
 Mac had mentioned.
 
 "Officer Dun, how can I help you?" the officer who
answered asked.
 
 "This is Commander Rabb from the JAG office. Please
you need to send 
someone 
 to the cemetery just off the Thornburg exit. My
partner is there and 
she's 
 alone. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie."
 
 "Sir is this some kind of joke?"
 
 "No it is not" Harm assured him. "Please. Her fiancé
left her there. 
I'm not 
 joking. Please send someone to get her. I'll be there
as soon as I can 
but 
 in the meantime you can't leave her out there in the
cold."
 
 "Okay sir, I'm going to send a car over to the
cemetery. This better 
not be 
 some kind of prank.  Is there a number I can reach
you at?"
 
 Harm gave him his cell phone number along with the
order to call him 
as soon 
 as they found Mac.
 
 ************
 "Peachy" Mac muttered as she pulled her coat closer
to her again. 
"Just 
 peachy."
 
 With her cell phone dead, she'd had no way to call
anyone. It was up 
to her 
 to find her way out of the cemetery. A task easier
said than done in 
the 
 dark country area. There were no streetlights to
guide her, just the 
 occasional noise of a car whizzing by in the
distance. She was cold, 
tired 
 and desperately wanted to just sit down and cry. But
that wasn't going 
to 
 get her out this mess and with a sniffle she'd
continued on in the 
direction 
 of the road.
 
 She'd just reached the cemetery entrance when she saw
headlights in 
the 
 distance. To her relief they turned into the cemetery
and she let out 
a long 
 breath when she saw it was a county Sheriff car.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie?" the woman asked as she stepped
out of the car.
 
 "How did you know?" Mac sighed.
 
 "Your partner called and said you were here. I'm
Officer Moran. 
Officer Dun 
 thought for sure it was just a prank but fortunately
he sent me out to 
make 
 sure you really weren't out here. You okay? Your
fiancé didn't hurt 
you did 
 he?"
 
 "Ex-fiancé" Mac corrected. "And no he didn't hurt
me."
 
 "Come on let's get you back to the office" Officer
Moran directed. 
"I'll get 
 on the radio and have Dun give your partner a call.
I'm sure he's 
pretty 
 worried."
==============
With his cell phone perched in its holder on the dash,
Harm willed it 
to ring 
as he floored the accelerator.  At the same time he
was practicing his 
story 
in case the Virginia Troopers nailed him.  "JAG
officer.  Official 
Business.  
Matter of life and death or national security.  Pick
one sir."

"Thornburg. . .Thornburg," he muttered, trying to
place how far down 95 
that 
exit was, at the same time berating himself nonstop
for letting her go.  
He 
was just passing Aquia-Garrisonville when the phone
finally rang. 

"Rabb."

"Mr. Rabb, Dun here.  Officer Moran found her and
she's on her way in 
with 
him."

"Oh thank god."  He took a long breath and his voice
trembled when he 
spoke 
again.  "She's OK right?  That bastard didn't hurt her
that she didn't 
want 
to tell me about because she knew I'd tear him to
shreds?"

Dun chuckled on the other end of the connection. 
"Sounds like a man 
who 
cares a lot for the lady."

"A helluva lot yes sir.  She's OK?"

"He didn't report she needed care, though I'm sure
she's pretty cold.  
We'll 
get her warmed up.  Mr. Rabb are you speeding on the
highway?"

"No."

"Yes you are.  Slow it down.  You don't need a ticket
or worse.  We'll 
take 
good care of her until you're here."

"OK yes sir.  But can she call me when she gets there?
 Please?"

"You got it."

Falmouth loomed ahead of him when the phone rang
again.  "Sarah?"

"Yeah it's me Flyboy.  Cold and embarrassed to the
point of  
humiliation, but 
it's me.  I hear my white knight is on the way."


"You know it.  You're OK right?"  He allowed himself a
small sigh of 
relief 
as he listened intently to her, needing the
reassurance her voice was 
giving 
him.

"I am.  There's a very handsome sheriff deputy getting
me a blanket and 
coffee as we speak."

"Remind me to put him in the for the Navy Cross and
I'll be there 
shortly.  
You hang tight."

"And you drive safely.  You can't white knight me if
you're in an 
accident."

"I will.  Mac. . .Sarah. . . I. . ."

"Flyboy you're stammering, spit it out."

He paused for a long moment.  "No, better when I see
you, and with that 
he 
broke the connection.
 
  She had just finished her cup of coffee when Harm
came storming into 
the 
  station.
  
  "Mac thank god" he gushed as he flew towards her,
wrapping his arms 
around 
  her in one quick movement.
  
  "Glad to see you too" she whispered.
  
  "You're okay right?" he asked as he stepped back to
survey her. "He 
didn't 
  hurt you or anything right?"
  
  "No I'm fine. Nice and warm now and just so glad to
see you."
  
  His arms went around her again and for several
moments they stood 
like that.
  
  "You had something you wanted to say earlier Flyboy"
Mac whispered as 
she 
  held onto him, not wanting to lose the moment.
  
  "Yes I do" he said softly as he gently pulled away.
"I love you 
Sarah. I 
  might have said it earlier tonight but everything
has been such a 
blur that 
  I just want to say it again."
  
  "Good cause I love you too. And right now all I want
is to go back to 
your 
  place and have you hold me tonight."
  
  "You got it" he whispered.
  
  "Commander that was some record time you made
getting down here" 
Officer 
Dun 
  smiled as he walked over to them.
  
  "Yes sir it was" Harm said sheepishly.
  
  "I hope it will take you a little longer to get
home."
  
  "Yes sir it will" Harm nodded. "The woman I love
will be in the car 
with me 
  so I'll be taking it real slow."
  
  ***********
  "Honey we're home" Harm said softly as he pulled up
at his building. 
She'd 
  fallen asleep on the way home and opened groggy eyes
to look at him.
  
  "Since when do I live here?" she smiled as she
realized where they 
were.
  
  "Since I'm not letting you go back to your place
until the locks are 
  changed" he said seriously.
  
  "Good point" she nodded. "I guess I'll have to face
him eventually."
  
  "Yes but tonight let's not worry about that" he said
as he hurried 
out and 
  around to get to her. "You're exhausted and a hot
shower and some tea 
are 
in 
  order for you."
  
  "Thank you. You take good care of me."
  
  "Well I shouldn't have let you go with him in the
first place" Harm 
sighed 
  as they made their way up. "I should have known he'd
pull something 
like 
  that."
  
  "It's over" Mac reminded him. "Let's just forget
about it for now."
  
  A half hour later she lay in his arms, her eyes
growing heavy 
already. He 
  kissed her forehead and smiled as he looked down at
her. Everything 
he ever 
  wanted and needed was right there in his arms.
  
  "Love you" she murmured as she gave him a small
smile.
  
  "Love you too" he whispered.
 
  "Thank you for coming for me," she added after a
long minute, 
fighting her 
way awake.  "And thank you for not calling me foolish
for going with 
him or 
an idiot for even allowing him into my life or stupid
for taking his 
ring or. 
. ."
 
 Anything further she might have said was cut off by
his lips touching 
hers.  
"No thank YOU for not calling me any of those things
for allowing this 
to 
happen.  Mac you have to know that once you wore his
ring, I totally 
backed 
off.  I just butted out further and further as you and
him dug 
yourselves in 
deeper.  With Renee's help, it was easy for me to
pretend that I didn't 
care."
 
 "I didn't think you did," she whispered.  "I mean I
wasn't trying to 
make 
you jealous or anything.  I really was doing what I
thought best for 
me, and 
what I thought would make me happy.  But it didn't. 
And the time we 
spent 
together in Iceland--just those several hours--made me
realize I gave 
up on 
us much too quickly."  Her words were punctuated by
another yawn and he 
gathered her closer still.
 
 "You need to sleep.  We'll rehash all this in the
morning if you 
want."
 
 "OK, I can do that," she murmured, her head going to
his shoulder and 
her 
eyes closing.  A few minutes later her breathing told
him she was 
asleep and 
he allowed himself to relax.  Sleep for him did not
come that quickly, 
and it 
was not until he fixated on the image of his hands
around Mic Brumby's 
throat 
in retaliation for what he had done this night was he
able to sleep.
 ==============
 "Good morning I love you," he whispered as the sun
lit up the bedroom.
 
 "Good morning and what are the odds I could hear that
every morning 
the rest 
of my life," she sighed.  "And I love you too by the
way."
 
 "If you want to hear it every morning we should do
something about 
making it 
legal," he said with one of his characteristic grins. 
"Like churches 
and 
flowers and rings and a minister and. . ."
 
 "Stuff you know nothing about," she challenged.
 
 "Stuff I could find out about, if I had the right
woman who wanted me 
to," 
he returned, laughing at first and then quickly
growing serious.  "Do 
I?  Do 
I have the right woman?"
 
 "Yes you do," she replied, now just as serious. 
"You're holding her 
buddy.  
Holding the woman who could see her way clear to. . ."
 She left the 
thought 
unfinished and looked at him hopefully.
 
 "Marry me Sarah," he breathed before his mouth
engaged hers.  

Her verbal answer was lost as desire and emotions too
long held inside 
took 
over but there was no doubt as to the nature of her
response.
 
 "Do you realize how late we are," she gasped when it
was over and they 
were 
lying tangled with each other.
 
 "Yeah I do, and I'll take full responsibility," he
smiled.   "I'll 
give the 
Admiral a call while we get breakfast.  He needs to
know what happened 
last 
night."  He grabbed his robe and headed to the living
room for the 
phone. He 
was half way across the room when there was a knock at
the door and 
seconds 
later he stood face to face with Mic Brumby.
 
 "What in the hell are you doing here?" Harm demanded.
 
 "I came to make sure Sarah was okay," Mic said
quietly.
 
 "You didn't care about her last night when you left
her in the middle 
of 
 nowhere" Harm shouted.
 
 "Is she okay?"
 
 "Mic I'm fine," Mac said from the doorway of Harm's
bedroom. "Now I 
think 
 it's best you leave."
 
 "I'm sorry Sarah. I don't know why I acted like I did
last night. It 
was 
like I was someone else.  Like a stranger had taken
over my body or 
something. I had some 
 time to think things over last night and I think the
best thing is for 
me to 
 go back home. I just wanted to make sure you were
okay before I did 
that."
 
 "I'm fine. Goodbye Mic."
 
 "You heard her" Harm said when Mic didn't move.
"Goodbye Brumby."
 
 For a moment it looked like he wasn't going to leave
but finally and 
he 
 turned and walked away. Harm closed and locked the
door behind before 
 quickly crossing the room and gathering Mac in his
arms.
 
 "You okay?" he asked.
 
 "Yeah I'm fine. See I knew he wasn't totally
heartless."
 
 "You are way too nice" Harm sighed as he let go of
her. "But at least 
it's 
 over now."
 
 "Yes it is. And I believe you said something earlier
about marrying 
you 
 Flyboy?" she smiled.
 
 "I did?" he teased. "Can we talk about that in the
bedroom?"
 
 Before she could answer he swooped her into his arms
and carried her 
back to 
 the bedroom.
 
 "I think I'll just call the Admiral and tell him we
won't be in today" 
he 
 whispered before his lips found hers.
 
 "I thought we were going to talk?" she whispered when
they finally 
parted.
 
 "OK I'll talk.  Sarah will you marry me?" he said
softly.
 
 "Yes" she managed before his lips claimed her again.
 
 
 The End