Title: No Retreat
Author: Vivienne
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: vakhdar@y... all feedback, good or bad, is welcome.

AN: I watched Retreat Hell on USA the other night. This little idea came to me and wouldn't go away. 

Summary: Harm gets another hit on the head, and his subconscious really takes over.

JAG Library
1400 Local

"Harriet, are you sure you can get that? Maybe I should ask Tiner for help." Tracy Manetti's 
sounded hesitant as Harriet reached for a large volume on the top shelf. 

Harriet was standing on the ladder, precariously balanced as she struggled to get a finger on the 
large book. "No, I think I can get it…almost have it…" She stretched one more time and got a finger 
hooked under the binding. "AHA! Got it!" The victorious tone changed immediately to a 
warning. "Look out!"

The book teetered on the edge as Harriet grappled for it and fumbled. Tracy managed to move out of 
the way as the book fell, but Harm was not so lucky. Stepping around the corner, he was flipping 
through a file, not paying attention to the surrounding turmoil. At Harriet's shout, he looked up 
and got beaned on the noggin with the heavy tome.

He stumbled and fell against the shelves, barely avoiding falling to the ground. "Sir, are you all 
right? I'm so sorry!" Both Harriet and Tracy rushed to his side to check his wounds.

He managed a smile, a dazed look in his eye. "Yeah, I think so." Putting his hand to the large bump 
already present, he gingerly touched it and winced. "What happened?"

The two women exchanged worried glances, and then Harriet spoke up. "It's my fault, Sir. I was 
getting a book down and dropped it. I really am sorry." She put a hand to his elbow when he didn't 
reply. "Maybe you'd better sit down, Sir."

"Uh…no, I'm ok." Despite his reassurance, both women were concerned; the glassy look in his eyes 
alarming them.

"Sir, just let us walk you back to you office then. You really should have your head checked." 
Harriet meant this in the nicest way, but Tracy had to stifle a giggle. 

Harm shot her an amused look before answering. "I'm fine, Harriet. I'll just get some aspirin."

"You just go to your office, Sir, and I'll bring it to you."

"OK, thanks, I appreciate it." He turned to go, but then 
stopped. "Have you seen Mac this morning?"

"Yes Sir, she's in a meeting with the Admiral and Commander Turner. I believe they are discussing 
the Anthony court martial." Tracy answered him. She knew the Commander was aware of the meeting; 
he's the one who had told her about it.

A confused look crossed his face. "Oh, right. OK." He continued to stand there, apparently deep in 
thought.

"Why don't I walk with you to your office, Sir? I want to ask your opinion on a case I'm working on 
anyway." Again Harriet and Tracy exchanged glances worriedly.

"Um…sure…OK." Harm continued to stand there, this time staring off into space.

"Come on, Sir." Tracy put a hand to his arm, shaking him from his reverie. "Harriet, why don't you 
call a medic to check him out when you get his aspirin?"

"No, that's OK. Just the aspirin." Harm pulled himself 
together. "Where did you say Mac was?"

"She's in a meeting, Sir. Why don't you wait for her in your office?" Tracy pulled gently on his 
arm, and he went with her, a little unsteady on his feet. Harriet ran to get the aspirin and call 
for a medic. It was obvious the Commander was a little out of it from the blow to his head.

"Yeah…OK…Are you sure she's here?" Harm continued his questioning as they walked towards his office.

Harm's Office

The journey to his office had been calm, but as soon as he'd passed Mac's empty office, Harm had 
become visibly anxious. "Where is she? I need to talk to her." Only by constant reassurance that 
Mac would be there momentarily was Tracy able to get him to his own office, and she prayed Harriet 
would hurry with the medic. 

"Here's your aspirin, Sir." Harriet hurried in with a glass of water and a bottle of 
aspirin. "There's a medic on the way." This was a low aside to Tracy as Harm took the proffered 
medicine and swallowed it.

"Harriet…where is Sarah? I need to talk to her." Harriet's eyes widened at his question and the use 
of Mac's first name, and she gave Tracy an alarmed look.

Tracy shrugged helplessly. "He keeps asking, and I keep answering, but he doesn't seem to get it."

Harriet went around the desk and bent over to talk to him. Speaking slowly, as if to a small child, 
Harriet replied to his question. "She's in a meeting with the Admiral and Commander Turner, Sir. 
She'll be out soon, and I'll make sure she comes to see you."

Harm nodded and rested his head on his forearm for a moment. Harriet breathed a sigh of relief and 
straightened. Turning, she addressed Tracy again. "Look out for the medic, would you please?"

Abruptly Harm sat up. "I don't need a medic, I need Sarah. Where is she? I'm going to go find her."

He got up from the desk, but sat back down as Harriet stopped him. "I'll call her, Sir, all right? 
She'll be here in just a minute." 

He watched her carefully as she picked up the phone, settling back down completely as she began her 
conversation. "Admiral, this is Lieutenant Sims, Sir. I'm sorry to interrupt, but Commander Rabb 
needs to speak to Colonel Mackenzie as soon as possible."

Tracy watched sympathetically as Harriet crossed her fingers, hoping the Admiral would accept the 
simple request at face value and not question it. It was a vain hope. 

Tracy and Harm watched as she winced at the Admiral's sharp tone. He didn't like to be 
interrupted. "No Sir, I don't think it's an emergency…"

She was cut off as the Admiral let her know in no uncertain terms that it was not acceptable to 
disrupt his meeting without good cause. "Yes Sir…I'm sorry, Sir…Yes, I'll tell him…Good bye Sir."

She hung up and turned an embarrassed and apologetic face to Harm. "The Admiral says they should be 
finished soon, Sir. You can speak with Colonel Mackenzie then." It was obvious to Tracy that 
Harriet was hiding the Admiral's annoyance, but Harm was oblivious.

"Thank you Harriet, but this can't wait. I'll find her myself." 

The two women watched as Harm got up and walked resolutely out of his office. Tracy tried to stop 
him, but was unceremoniously, if courteously, brushed aside. "Wait Commander, don't interrupt them. 
She'll be out in a minute."

This last part was called to Harm's back, as he continued out across the bullpen towards the 
Admiral's office. They both followed him, trying to get him to stop, but were unable to convince 
him. Harriet gestured frantically to Bud, who left his office and joined the caravan.

Tiner watched in astonishment as they passed his desk, too surprised to object. Not many people, 
even Commander Rabb, walked in on the Admiral unannounced and without an appointment. He got up to 
follow them as well, anticipating the Admiral's displeasure and hoping to mitigate it in some way.

Harm didn't knock, just opened the door and strode in. The others stayed back, preferring to stay 
out of the direct line of fire, but within sight of the action.

The Admiral was seated behind his desk and looked up in surprise at the intrusion. "Commander, what 
do you think you are doing?"

Sturgis and Mac, both seated in their customary places in front of the Admiral's desk, turned 
around at the disturbance. Too amazed at Harm's sudden appearance, neither one said a word.

Harm ignored the Admiral, and all the audience surrounding him, coming to a stop in front of Mac's 
chair. "I need to talk to you now."

Dumfounded, Mac managed to get out, "Harm, is something wrong?"

He looked down at her and said seriously, "Yes, something is very wrong, and has been for a long 
time."

Still acutely aware of the surroundings, Mac tried to calm him down, having no idea what he was 
talking about. Glancing nervously at the Admiral, she answered him, "Harm, whatever's wrong, I'll 
help you, but you're going to get into trouble this way. Just wait a few more…" 

He cut her off. "I'm not waiting another minute. I love you, Sarah." 

Stunned, Mac did not say a word. In fact, for all practical 
purposes, she was unable to say or do anything. It was one of the few times those in attendance had 
seen her at a total loss for words.

You could have heard a pin drop as Harm ruthlessly pulled her out of the chair and kissed her 
passionately. She actually struggled for a moment before giving in, good sense and protocol flying 
out the window, and kissing him back. 

Tracy looked around the room from her vantage point at the door, and was surprised to see smiles of 
approval on everyone's faces, even the Admiral's. Harriet and Bud were actually beaming, Tiner was 
grinning, and Sturgis watched the performance with obvious satisfaction. She shook her head in 
disbelief.

Harm paused in his kissing to ask her one question. "Do you love me, Sarah?"

Dazed, all she could do was nod her head in acquiescence. Smiling, he resumed his self-appointed 
task of kissing the fire out of her.

Finally the Admiral decided to take control before his two officers lost theirs completely. "Mr. 
Rabb!" he barked loudly. There was no response. "COMMANDER RABB!"

Harm turned around without releasing Mac, who was limp in his arms.

"Kindly unhand my Officer and stand at attention!" The Admiral's tone was sarcastically polite.

Belatedly realizing that his actions might have severe repercussions, Harm looked at the helpless 
marine in his arms. The big brown eyes were dazed, so he set her carefully back in her chair. 
Unable to stop himself, he placed a kiss on her nose. She giggled.

Everyone smothered a laugh at that, and the Admiral was hard pressed to maintain a façade of 
irritation. The whole situation was so bizarre he barely could keep from laughing out loud. 
Glancing around the office at the smiling faces, he decided he'd better take command of the 
situation.

"ATTENTION ON DECK!" His voice was loud with irritation. Everyone snapped to attention except Mac, 
who tried to get to her feet, but apparently couldn't. He took pity on her, it wasn't her 
fault. "Except you, Colonel." Gratefully, she remained seated.

In spite of himself, AJ couldn't find it in his heart to be angry at Harm's breach of etiquette and 
total disregard for military protocol. He was glad that Harm had finally managed to get his head 
out of his six; he just wished he'd done it in a less spectacularly public way.

"Sir, I think I can shed some light on this." Lieutenant Sims stepped forward, bravely facing the 
lion in his den.

"I think the Commander can take the heat on this one, Lieutenant." The Admiral was firm; he did not 
appreciate anyone trying to take the blame for someone else, however well-intentioned.

"But Sir, the Commander had an accident, he was hit on the head. He's really not responsible for 
his actions." Harriet was trying to give Harm an out with the Admiral and spoke without thinking.

Mac paled as she realized the implication of that statement. She was going to have to request a 
transfer out if it was true. She doubted she would ever get over the embarrassment of this whole 
thing, admitting she loved Harm in front of everyone and he didn't even know what he was doing.

"Is this true, Commander?" AJ doubted that the office would ever recover from the ramifications if 
Harm disclaimed responsibility for his actions.

"Yes Sir, it's true I had an accident." Mac gasped and closed her eyes, mentally trying to prepare 
herself to start her life over somewhere else. She felt her heart start beating again at his next 
statement. "But it just knocked some sense into me. I take full responsibility for all of my 
actions, Sir." 

Harm smiled reassuringly at Mac when she finally met his gaze. "And I stand by them, Sir, 
completely."

`Whew!' AJ thought to himself. Out loud, he commanded, "Everyone out of here except the Commander 
and the Colonel."

As Sturgis joined the crowd outside the door, AJ called out, "And close the hatch!"

The door closed, AJ surveyed his two officers. Harm was still standing at attention, Mac still 
sitting and looking at him apprehensively.

"Sit down, Commander." 

Harm took a seat, shooting a sideways look at Mac as he did so. He knew he was in big trouble, but 
he couldn't care less. He'd finally gotten it right with his marine.

AJ steepled his fingers and considered what to say. In strict military terms, he could have both 
their asses; conduct unbecoming would just be the tip of the iceberg. But he knew he couldn't do 
it. He'd watched these two officers fight their feelings for too long, and he's always hoped they'd 
figure it out.

"I trust that something of this nature will NEVER be repeated, Commander."

"No Sir." Harm had the good sense to keep his answers short.

AJ sighed. "For God's sake, keep it out of the office from now on. I'll think of some suitable non-
judicial punishment." He couldn't keep the laugh out of his voice. "Thank God the SecNav wasn't 
here."

Neither Mac nor Harm said anything; there was safety in silence.

"Oh go on, dismissed." He waved a hand at them. AJ was disgusted with himself; he was turning into 
a soft-hearted idiot.

"Uh…Sir?" It was Harm again.

"What now, Commander?"

"I just wanted to let you know, I'm going to try to convince her to marry me."

AJ looked at Mac. She'd been dumfounded before, now she looked like she was about to faint.

"Do you think she'll agree?"

Harm looked at Mac, who was staring at him, open-mouthed in shock.

"I think so, Sir."

AJ sighed again. "Well, thanks for the warning. I'll think of something. Dismissed."

Harm stood by Mac's chair, waiting for her to get up to 
leave. "Mac? Are you coming?" He took her hand to help her up, putting a steadying arm around her 
when her knees buckled as she stood. Grinning, he couldn't resist teasing her a little as they left 
the Admiral's office. "Say Mac, you don't think I'm getting too predictable in my old age, do you?"

The End.