Title: The Way Life Should Be Author: Nicole Carter Category: S, R [Harm/Mac] Rating: PG Spoilers: We the People Disclaimer: Bellisario owns ‘em, but we have all the fun with ‘em. Summary: it’s kinda hard to explain, read it and find out. Author’s Notes: the civvies that Mac wears on the job are the clothes that Drew Barrymore wears on the cover of ‘Charlie’s Angels.’ Also, if you know about Section 31 in Star Trek, it will give you a clue about this story. Just in case, I’ve included the definition of S31, taken from the Star Trek Encyclopedia and the S31 caption from the S31 Star Trek books, and slightly modified them to fit the story. The S31CJ is the Section 31 Code of Justice. The story was initially going to be much longer, but I didn’t write anything during the 3-year period of the story, so it’s short. I might write Mac’s adventures some time in the future, but for now, it’s just this. And don’t ask me how Mac managed to run in high heels, just… use your imagination or something. And if you’ve read all the author’s notes, I commend you! Section 31: Secretive covert operations unit of the Central Intelligence Agency. Section 31 is responsible for searching out and identifying extraordinary dangers to the United States. Section 31 is also responsible for dealing with such threats and did so quietly, often employing extralegal techniques. Section 31: They are the self-appointed protectors of the United States. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of the CIA, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the United States at any cost. No law. No conscience. No stopping them. Mac held out her hand. “MacKenzie. Assuming they were Marines.” She responded to Webb’s comment. “If they weren’t they used to be. And as you people in the Corps like to say, there’s no such thing as an ex-Marine.” Mac immediately recognized the prearranged signal and answered, “Or an ex-CIA agent.” Webb tilted his head and raised his eyebrow slightly in recognition and Mac could feel her heart beating rapidly. With those four words she had signed her life away. *** Six years later… AJ picked up the extension in the conference room. “Chegwidden.” He barked into the receiver. He listened for a moment then said, “Colonel, it’s for you. And try to cut the personal calls, will you?” Mac felt herself start to blush as she reached for the phone. “MacKenzie.” She listened for an instant, then said, “Could you call me back in about an hour?” She listened again. “Goddamnit!” Mac yelled, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. “You said you wouldn’t do this to me!” She viciously jabbed the transfer button and hung up the phone, sprinting to her office, leaving the room in shock. Mac slammed the door to her office shut and picked up the phone, not saying a word. “Mackenzie?” the man on the line asked. Silence followed. “Come on, give me a sign here.” The man exclaimed. “What do you want, Zech?” “Ah, so it is you. Look, I’m sorry, but you’ve been pulled.” “You said you wouldn’t do this to me.” Mac repeated her earlier statement. Zech sighed. “I know, and I tried. But, Mackenzie, you know that I don’t control everything.” Mac sighed. “I know. Where’s the deal?” “Ireland.” “When?” “We’ll be there in half an hour.” Mac nodded. “That doesn’t give me much time.” “I know. But the higher powers ordered it this way.” Mac sighed again. “Do you ever feel that we’re just puppets for the higher powers?” Zech chuckled. “Yup, all the time.” “Okay, I guess that makes me feel a little better.” “I better let you go, you only have 27 minutes left.” “Right. Bye, Zech.” “Later, Mackenzie.” Mac hung up the phone and grabbed a duffel bag from a drawer of her desk and headed to the women’s washroom. She came out five minutes later and Harriet stared at her. “Ma’am?” Harriet asked as Mac twisted her breast-length locks into a French twist. “Yes, Harriet?” “Why are you in civvies, Ma’am? And what happened to your hair?” Mac gave a sardonic smile. “I can’t really answer the first question, but in answer to your second question, my hair was a wig. This is my real hair.” Harriet’s mouth dropped open and Mac kept walking to her office. Mac was sitting behind her desk, digging through a drawer when Admiral Chegwidden entered her office, mad as hell. “Colonel MacKenzie!” He shouted. Mac looked up leisurely. “No need to call me Colonel, Admiral. I’m not in the Corps. Never have been.” Chegwidden’s eyes bugged out. “What?!?!?!” Mac smiled as she leaned down to continue looking through the drawer. “I have never been in the Marine Corps. Sarah MacKenzie doesn’t exist.” Mac suddenly slammed the drawer shut. “Dammit, where is it!” She exclaimed. She stood up and left the office, heading to search Harm’s office. Chegwidden followed Mac out and saw Lt. Loren Singer leaning against the wall. “Looking for this, Colonel?” Singer said in a sickly sweet voice. Mac turned to see Singer holding the very file she was looking for. “Singer, give me the file.” “Hmmm, now why should I do that?” Mac took a step forward menacingly. “Singer, give me the file,” she ground out. Singer shook her head and laughed slightly. “Now, Colonel, you don’t think I’m really going to fall for that ‘I’m so tough’ trick, do you?” Singer flipped open the file and gaped at what she saw. Mac saw her chance and, just as a group of five civilians entered the bullpen, kicked the file out of Singer’s hands, it’s contents sliding across the floor. Harriet went to pick up the papers, but stopped when Mac yelled at her not to. Singer started to go for the papers as well, but was stopped by a woman grabbing her and pinning her against the wall. When Mac finally got all the papers, she turned to Singer who was screaming blood murder to the woman holding her. “Devany, let her go.” Devany looked doubtful, but did as she was told. She stepped away from Singer, who turned, glaring at her and Mac. “What the hell was that for?” “Clay, I think you can handle this?” Clayton Webb stepped forward. “Lieutenant Loren Singer, you are under arrest for the violation of Article 1378 of the S31CJ. Your charges will be explained to you later, in a setting with no witnesses. You will not be allowed a lawyer, if you wish representation, you must represent yourself.” Clay motioned to two other men who had just entered the bullpen and they each took Singer by an arm and led her out. “Mac, what’s going on here?” Harm asked, a puzzled frown marring his handsome features. “Webb, what are you doing with my people.” Chegwidden demanded. Mac looked at Clay and the three other people that had come with him. “Zech, do we have time?” The other man nodded slightly. “Harm, Harriet, Bud, Admiral, in your office, please.” “Mackenzie, be careful what you say.” Clay warned as soon as the office door was closed. “I know, Clay.” Mac turned to the small group of her ex-co-workers. “You four all know me as Sarah MacKenzie, kick ass Marine. But I’m not. My real name is Mackenzie Daniels, and I cannot tell you what my job is.” Mac motioned to a tall, blond man with clear green eyes, who then stepped forward. “Zechariah Tyson,” the man said, his accent betraying his Australian heritage, “a colleague of Mackenzie’s.” A woman with dark auburn hair and smoky blue eyes then stepped forward. “Devany McKenzie.” She said, her Irish accent coming through her words. “Tylin Jace McKenzie,” a woman with honey-blonde hair and bright violet eyes said in a seductive voice, also with a lilting Irish accent. “Kazi Jamison.” The Australian brunette said softly, her dark green eyes flicking over Harm’s body in an approving glance. Mac stepped in again. “And of course you know Clayton Webb.” “Mac, what is all this?” Harm asked, perplexed. “I can’t tell you. I’m sorry, but there’s a lot you don’t know about me. A lot you never can know about me.” Mac sighed. “In fact, you probably won’t ever see me again.” Harriet frowned. “Why not, Ma’am?” “Harriet, don’t call me ma’am. And you won’t because I can never come back here.” Mac turned to Harm and took him by the hands, leading him to the other side of the room. “Harm, I have something to tell you, and it won’t be easy for you to hear.” Harm frowned. “What is it, Mac?” “Harm… Diane was never dead. In fact, she was never alive. Diane Schonke was an assignment of mine. I was to play the part of a Navy Lieutenant. I’m sorry. I never meant to fall for you, and I never meant for you to fall for me. Harm stumbled slightly as he took in the information. “Mac… Diane?” Mac nodded, her eyes filled with tears. “Yes. I am Diane. I’m so sorry, Harm.” “But… why?” “Because the people that I work for wanted another corespondent in the Navy. So they created the persona of Diane Schonke for me. Harm, I truly never meant for you to fall in love with me as Diane. I had hoped you would as Sarah, but not as Diane.” “I had. Fallen in love with you as Sarah. I loved both of you. Mac… why did you hope I had fallen in love with you?” Mac sighed. “Because I had fallen in love with you. God, I wish I had told you that I love you before! Then maybe we could have at least been together for a short time.” Mac leaned her head onto Harm’s shoulder. Harm gently lifted Mac’s face so that he could look her in the eyes. “Mac, I love you, and I’ll wait however long I have to for you to be in my life. I promise you, if you can ever come back, I’ll be right here waiting.” Mac sighed, tears falling down her cheeks. “Oh, Harm. I can’t ask you to do that for me. I love you, that’s true, but it would be unfair to you to do that!” Harm shook his head. “I’m not doing it because you ask. I’m doing it because I want to. Even if I don’t see you again until the day I die, as long as I can hear you honestly say that you love me, I will die the happiest man on the earth. I love you, Mac.” Mac’s breath caught as Harm leaned down and lightly kissed her. Harm pulled away slightly, but Mac pulled him back into a more passionate kiss. They kissed for about a minute before they both felt someone tapping them on the shoulder. They slowly pulled away and looked at Devany. “Mackenzie, we have to go, now,” Devany said quietly, not wanting to break up the moment but knowing she had to. Mac sighed. “I understand.” She turned to look back at Harm. “I will come back. I promise.” Mac kissed Harm one last time, then left the office, not looking back. Harm stared after her, willing her to come back, even though he knew it was impossible. Devany placed her hand on Harm’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she offered, pulling away when Harm didn’t even glance at her. 3 years later… “You wanted to see me, Sir?” the young Lieutenant asked the Admiral. “Yes, take a seat, Lieutenant.” Harm turned from the window and sat at his desk. “There have been a few rumors circulating, apparently originating from you.” Lieutenant David Patrick squirmed slightly. “Would you mind explaining?” “Um… well, Sir, the new ensign was asking why you were so… unapproachable and seemingly sad all the time, Sir. I only told her what I thought and what I heard from the grapevine before Captain Roberts and Commander Sims got transferred, Sir.” Harm nodded. “I see. And what was that, Lieutenant?” “Well, Sir, everyone says that about three years ago your soulmate left and never came back. That she didn’t even tell you where she was going, Sir.” Harm nodded. “I’m going to tell you the truth only because some of the rumors were way off and slightly insulting. Three years, two months, eight days, four hours and seventeen minutes ago, I found out that my partner, who I fell in love with, was a part of some covert agency thing that she couldn’t talk about. I also found out that the woman I had fallen in love with years before that, who I thought had been killed, was actually my partner. And seven minutes before she had to leave, she told me that she loved me.” Harm sighed, his eyes tearing slightly. “I haven’t heard from her since.” Patrick frowned slightly. “I’m sorry, Sir.” “But,” Harm looked up a little, “she did tell me that she’d come back, so I’m just waiting.” Patrick smiled. “If you don’t mind my saying so, Sir, that’s really cute.” Harm smiled slightly, then slipped back into ‘Admiral’ mode. “Well, Lieutenant, now you know the story, so if I ever heard anything else from you, I’ll make sure your career feels it.” “Aye, Sir.” Harm opened the door to his apartment, sighing as he dropped his cover on the table and kicked off his shoes. He made his way through the darkened living room to the kitchen, opening the fridge to search for something to eat. He grabbed some leftover Chinese and leaned against the counter as he ate. Harm glanced up when he felt eyes watching him, but he shrugged off the sensation when he didn’t see anybody. He went back to his dinner, not noticing the two eyes taking in his every move. Harm finished the Chinese and dumped the container into the garbage, walking back through the living room to the bedroom. “If I had been anybody else, you would be dead right now.” The soft voice cut through the silence. Harm froze and turned around, his eyes scanning the living room for any sign of life. He saw nothing. “Even a younger agent wouldn’t have trouble with you. You already have the life seemingly drained out of you.” Harm felt his heart racing and he forced himself to calm down and answer. “My life ended when you walked out of the office. You took my heart, my soul, my spirit. A man can’t really live without them.” Mac stepped out of the shadows into the light cast by the street light. “I take it that means that there was nobody else?” Harm shook his head, unable to answer as he took in the sight of his love. “I told you I’d come back. I’ll never leave again, Harm. I told them I wouldn’t do any more assignments. I came back to be with you, Harm.” Harm was still silent, not answering. “God, Harm, say something.” “I love you, Mac,” Harm whispered softly. Mac felt the tears she had held in overflow, making trails down her cheeks as she ran into Harm’s waiting arms. “Oh, God, Harm, I love you, too. I always have.” Their lips met in a passionate and desperate kiss as Harm picked Mac up and she wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her to the bedroom. The next morning… Mac woke up to a surprising feeling of peace and belonging. She smiled as the events of last night rushed to her and she stretched, reveling in the dull aches and the feel of Harm’s body against hers. Mac turned to her side, staring at Harm, and gently traced her index finger over his features. When she got to his mouth, she giggled as he unexpectedly pulled her finger into his mouth. She looked up into his open eyes and smiled. “Good morning, Flyboy.” Harm smiled back lazily, releasing Mac’s finger from his mouth. “It is. I love you, Mac.” Mac leaned close to Harm and whispered, “I love you, too, Harm,” before kissing him lightly. Harm immediately rolled them over and they were lost in each other again. Six months later… Mac anxiously tugged at her dress, smiling at her reflection in the mirror. ‘Today is the day,’ she thought to herself, jumping nervously when she heard the door open. “You ready, Mac?” Harm’s voice called to her from the living room. “Yup!” Mac exclaimed, walking over to him. She smiled when she saw the dress whites and gold wings, then laughed when she saw the statement on Harm’s face. “Wow, Mac, you look… gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe you!” Mac blushed and twisted a lock of breast-length brown hair between two fingers. Mac’s eyes widened as Harm knelt down on one knee in front of her. She glanced around nervously and saw that the patrons of the restaurant were watching their every move. “Mac, ever since that day in the office when you told me that you loved me and had to leave, I have been anticipating this moment. I could say some big, fancy speech about how I love you and will never leave you, but I know you already know that. So I will just say simply, I love you, Mackenzie Daniels, and I would be honored if you would be my wife.” Harm pulled a small ring box out of his pocket and opened it, revealing a beautiful diamond solitaire. “Oh, Harm! Yes! I would love to be your wife!” Mac laughed happily as Harm slid the ring onto her finger, kissing it lightly before standing up and taking her in his arms. “Harm,” Mac said after they shared a kiss, “ I have something I have to tell you.” Harm pulled away slightly, giving Mac a curious look. Mac took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know we haven’t talked about children, but… sometimes things happen… and, well… I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.” Harm’s jaw dropped and he just stared at Mac. “Um, Harm, are you okay with that?” she asked uncertainly. “Oh, God, YES!” Harm picked Mac up and twirled her around. “I love you so much, Mac, and I love it that you’re carrying my child!” Mac smiled happily. “I love you, Harm.” “I love you, too, Mac.” Their lips met in a soft kiss, sealing their love for all time. 8 months later… “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Rabb, you have a beautiful baby girl and a beautiful baby boy.” Mac smiled tiredly and Harm grinned madly as they were handed the two babies. “Catherine Patricia Rabb after her mother and grandmother, and Harmon Rabb and Third after his father and grandfather,” Mac said softly. 4 years later… Mac smiled from her beach blanket, watching her husband with their two eldest children. “Wow, Mackenzie, it’s amazing to watch the change in you. Five years ago, you were the kick-ass agent, intent on getting the mission done. But now? Now you’re just a happy stay-at-home mom with three kids.” Mac smiled at Tylin. “I know. It is amazing, isn’t it? Sometimes I forget I’m out of Section 31, but I’m not sad about it. All I have to do is take one look at my husband or my sons or my daughter, and I don’t miss it at all.” “I think it’s adorably romantic,” Kazi sighed, a smile lighting up her beautiful features. Harriet laughed. “We always tried to tell them at JAG, but they never listened!” Mac shrugged. “What can I say. We were blind! But,” she added, “everything is wonderful now. We’ve been married for five years, we have four-year-old twins and a six month old baby.” Mac sighed, “Life is perfect.” Loren shook her head. “Y’know, I never used to understand what Harm saw in you. I mean, it was obvious what you saw in him, just look at him! But I could never see why he loved you. I thought, maybe it’s because you have the biggest breasts at JAG, or because you were the only woman with brown eyes, or something like that. But now I see it. I see that he could never be happy with someone else, that you are his soulmate, and nothing can change that. No matter how much I wanted to sleep with him!” The women erupted into laughter at that, and Harm turned to look at them. “Having fun?” he called over. Mac grinned. “Oh, yeah! Flyboy, you better watch it! After this, you won’t be able to look anyone in the eyes!” Harm gave Mac a mock-horror look. “Oh, no!” he exclaimed sarcastically, “You’re telling all my secretes!” “You bet your sweet six, I am!” Harm just shook his head and turned back to the kids, ignoring the women until he heard one of them call out to him. “And what a sweet six it is, too!” Kazi yelled. The women all grinned when Harm turned to face them again, his face a light pink. “All right, all right, lay off already!” “Kazi!” Sergei yelled to his fiancee. “That’s my brother!” Kazi grinned. “I know, love, and he is hot! But not near as hot as you!” Sergei blushed and turned back to his brother and niece and nephew. Mac handed baby David over to Harriet and got up, walking over to where Harm was standing. “Ohhhh, poor Flyboy. Is your ego bruised?” Mac asked in an overly sympathetic tone. Harm smiled. “Oh, you’re asking for it, Mac.” Harm ran to Mac, and she took off with a squeal of delight. Harm chased Mac down the beach, finally catching her with a tackle. “Okay, I’m getting my revenge, now, Mac! Be warned!” Harm picked Mac up and carried her into the ocean. “No! Harm! Ahhhh! Stop it, Flyboy!” Mac kicked her legs and flailed her arms, but Harm kept right on going. When he was in the water up to his waist, he dropped Mac straight down. She came up sputtering and wrapped her arms around Harm’s neck, dragging him down as well. The two went under, resurfacing after a minute, locked in a kiss. Devany smiled slightly. “This is the way life should be.” The End