Title: Till We Meet Again Main Author: Rising Sun For feedback e-mail me at: jagrslc@yahoo.com Guest Starring the following authors in order of appearance: Anne Taul (annetaul@insightbb.com), Stacey (jaghm2@yahoo.com) Pat (SSbpMN@aol.com) Alexandra Ireland (jagrslc@yahoo.com) The FF of Rising Sun is archived at: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc The FF of Anne Taul is archived at: http://www.geocities.com/atjag101 The FF of Stacey is archived at: http://www.jagundercovers.com/warning.htm For updates on new FF by Rising Sun join: jagrslc- subscribe@yahoogroups.com Take part in the Fan Fiction Challenge at: ffchallange@yahoogroups.com Rated: PG-13 (NC-17 available) Summary: Harm and Mac meet and eventually fall in love (the way sane folk do) Classification: AU/Romance: Harm/Mac Spoilers: Season Seven in particular: Measure of Men, Answered Prayers, Head to Toe, Hero Worship and Tribubnal. Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental. Feedback: Send it. Permission to archive: Permission granted. Story Written March/April 2002 ****************************************************************** NOVEMBER 2001 ACADEMIA MILITARIA - HONDURAS Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. was in Honduras for two weeks. For the past week he'd been eyeing a particular Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. She was a complete package: Good looking, smart and capable. He'd only had a few passing words with her but with half of week one flying by and week two about start he HAD to get closer to her. He began plotting. =================================== SATURDAY - 2000 LOCAL DOMINATRIX RESTAURANT TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS He had decided to try the direct approach and surprisingly it had worked. "You know, Mac, if both of us were civilians or even one of us I'd know what to do? but as it is?" He trailed off. They had been having a wonderful time and he wanted more. "? as it is?" Mac encouraged. "As it is I feel as if a golden opportunity is about to be lost." "Not necessarily." She replied. "You're a JAG and I'm a pilot?" "Are you a typical specimen of NAVY? Cause if so I'm sure glad that I'm Marine." She teased. "Forget I'm a military lawyer and the traffic lights and regs. Talk to me. Man to woman." "OK." He drawled, "Mom always said that honesty is the best policy. I think that you are beautiful, smart and capable and I want to get to know you better." "There is know and there is know." She chuckled at his reaction. "Sorry words are my tools. Just how well do you want to know me Harm?" "Er ? well? I don't know if mom wanted me to be that honest." He replied. "Mom is a hell of a woman." Mac observed he nodded. Mac gazed at her dinner date. "We'll see." "In one week?" "Navy anything you can start this Marines can finish." She promised. =================================== SUNDAY - 0123 LOCAL MAC"S ROOM, INTERCONTENTIAL HOTEL Mac lay in bed wide-awake thinking of the Navy Commander. He was good looking and tall that she conceded. The question was did she want anything from him or even with him? What did she want from/with him. Of course this could be the start of something? but what? She sighed and rolled over in search of peace to sleep. But her mind raced. She and Mic were over and she had no ties to anyone so why not? =================================== MONDAY 2012 LOCAL - MAC"S ROOM INTERCONTENTIAL HOTEL Mac stepped out of the shower and picked up the phone. "Lt. Colonel Mackenzie speaking." "Mac? It's Harm." "Hey? Where are you?" She asked drying her hair. "In the lobby. I wondered if you wanted any company." To a passerby the question was innocent enough but to Mac it sounded loaded. "Come on up." She instructed. "Aye ma'am!" + + + By the time Harm knocked on her door Mac was dress and ready to receive company. She opened the door and welcomed him in. "Hey." He said as he entered. "Hey yourself." She replied. They chatted for a while then suddenly the moment paused. "Awkward moment number three hundred and ten." She said. "Pardon?" He asked. "Nothing. Insider joke." "Ahh" Nodded then stood. "I'd better be on my way." She stood also and followed him to the door. With her hand door the doorknob she turned to let him out. That is when it happened. Their eyes met and Harm moved into kiss her then he hesitated. "Commander?" She asked. "Green light Colonel? I can't have a JAG raking me over the coals." He grinned at her. "Green light Commander? anything the Navy can start the Marines will finish." She promised. He pulled her close and kissed her, she matched his intensity and kissed him back. Harm swooped her up into his arms intending to move to the bed. She stopped him. "No?" He couldn't believe it. "Wait." She arched her back as he clung to her and locked the door. "Now." She instructed. He continued towards the bed. =================================== DECEMBER 25 ? 2200 LOCAL ROBERT'S RESIDENCE The doorbell rang and was barely heard over the din being caused by the gathering at the home of Lieutenants' Bud and Harriett Roberts. Mac heard it and answered the door. "Sturgis! You're late!" She accused her partner. "Sorry had to go collect a buddy known for tardiness." He apologized. "Watch it." A familiar voice said. "Commander Harmon Rabb meet my partner Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie." Sturgis introduced. "Harm." He said and grinned to hide his surprise. "Mac." She replied as she gaped at them. "You gonna let us in Mac?" Sturgis asked. "Oh sorry. Sure. Come in." she stepped aside. + + + At some point during the evening Harm cornered her in the kitchen. "Hey" He said softly. She nodded in acknowledgement of his presence. "When Sturgis suggested this I had no idea?" he began. "How could you? It's all right. You in town on business?" "In a way. My father is MIA and every Christmas Eve I come visit The Wall." He explained. "Oh I'm so sorry." "Thank you. Mac I'm here for a couple of days only, but I'd like to see you." Harm told her. "For?" "Company and any bone you throw my way." He teased. She looked round and found what she was looking for. She quickly scribbled and handed him the paper. "Call first." She instructed as she returned to the party. =================================== TWO DAYS LATER MAC'S APARTMENT Mac peeped through the spyglass in her door and saw Harm she let him in. "Hey gorgeous." He swept her up in his arms and swirled her around. He then placed her down and kissed her. "I was hoping to meet you again." "You were?" She asked as they headed for the sofa. "Yep. You don't think that all I wanted was a roll in the hay did you?" he informed her. She shrugged. "With the track record I've had?" "You? Never!" he said. "? and certainly not with me!" "Oh really and what did you have in mind?" She was intrigued. "I don't really know but I figure there has to be a way for us to be." "Be." She sounded doubtful. "Yes be!" he repeated, "You know you and me equals be!" "Oh now that makes a lot of sense." She replied. "OK process this counselor. I want a relationship with you. The sex is great but the conversation is better. Left to me alone one day I'll marry you. Now it doesn't get more plain than that!" He folded his arms. She looked at his skeptically "Time will tell." "That it will." He agreed. "So if you like conversation how do you feel about reading?" she asked. "Oh I love to read" he assured her. "What kind of books are your favorites? Mystery's, war novels or are you a fan of the closet bodice ripper?" "The closet what?" he quizzed. "Oh you know the ones that go 'The chiseled features of the dashing Naval Commander glinted in the moonlight, causing the fire in her loins to rage uncontrollably'" Mac looked at him teasingly. "So you think I'm chiseled?" He stepped closer to her. She ignored the comment. "So Commander what time it is?" Brown eyes looked into blue. "Uhm, well it's about seven pm" Harm looked up from his watch to see her smiling at him. "I'll restate the question. Do you know what time it is, Commander?" Her hands were on the buttons of his shirt. "Fire fighting time?" His hands went to her hips. "Most definitely, can you man the hoses sailor?" "Ma'am, Yes Ma'am. " His lips hovered over hers. "Then turn to, Squid, you've got a fire to get under control." She pulled his head down to hers capturing his lips in a searing kiss. When it was over she looked at him. "Well Commander you're full of surprises it seems. Not only an accelerated reader but an accomplished firefighter" Mac panted as she clung to his shoulders. "What other skills are you hiding?" "That's for me to know and you to find out. Are you up for the challenge, Marine?" he stood with her still wrapped around him heading for the bedroom. "I do love a challenge." =================================== 2245 LOCAL USS GUADALCANAL, MAC'S ROOM "Enter!" Mac called in response to the knock. She was hunched over her laptop computer and didn't look up. The door opened and closed but there was no voice. She looked up. "Harm! What are you doing here?!" "I'm on the Patrick Henry and heard that there was one formidable female Marine JAG in the neighborhood. So being in the area I thought I'd come see if it were true." He leaned against the closed door. She stood and kissed him. It began to deepen. She stopped before it proceeded to its logical conclusion. "Why are you really on board and for how long?" Still holding her close he explained. "We are about to engage in a joint mission and we are here for the briefing. We're here for a week." "A week huh." She smiled. "A whole week." He hugged her. "In that case Commander I expect to be the one to debrief you after the missions." She instructed. "And comprehensive it shall be I assure you." He turned and locked her door, and then bent his head to kiss her. This time she didn't stop him. There was no need to. =================================== 1745 LOCAL INVESTIGATION ROOM, SAUDI ARABIA Mac was seething. She and her partner had just returned from the city and she didn't like the feeling of being a persona non grata and she was ranting. "Hear me out!" "After you've had a cold shower!" Sturgis countered. "In this weather and with that temper I suggest that you take his advice." A third voice interjected. "Harm. Buddy! What are you doing here?" Sturgis was ecstatic. "My squad is here to provide support to the humanitarian runs and if Lt. Danato gets convicted then the mission will need all the help it can get." He grinned at his friend. "Colonel." He acknowledged "Interesting garb." "Don't start her off again." Sturgis pleaded. "I told you its Mac." She corrected, "How are you?" "Fine just fine. This being an Islamic country would you like an escort to your quarters?" He asked. "Pardon?" she said. It really wasn't necessary for they were on base but Harm wanted an excuse to be alone with her. "Well I assumed that you were about to take that shower Sturgis recommended." "I give up. Sure why not." She picked up the headdress she had discarded and headed out the door. Once out of earshot she asked. "Are you following me Harm?" "Sure seems that way don't it." "I'm serious." He sobered up. "No I'm not. Our jobs just seem to lend itself to us meeting that's all. I assure you." "Ok" she accepted. "This your place?" they arrived at her quarters. She nodded. "See you later?" he hoped. She took a quick glance a round "If I have to sleep in a cold bed tonight Commander consider it a dereliction of duty." "As an officer and a gentlemen I swear that I will not disappoint." He swore. =================================== 1300 LOCAL USS JOHN COOPER "You are right. Our jobs do have us criss-crossing." Mac said as she stood in the thresh hold to Harm's cabin. "Mac! Hot damn what are you doing here?" Harm scooped her up. "Harm put me down before I have to charge you with conduct unbecoming ? in public anyway." She admonished. He put her down. "Well?" he demanded. "The fire on board; Sturgis and I are here investigating." "Oh yeah." He sobered "Worse thing to happen on a ship." Then he perked up. "Have time for me?" "Always. Later." And with that she was gone. =================================== 2300 LOCAL USS JOHN COOPER, MAC'S STATE ROOM "All work and no play will make Mac a dull woman." Harm said. She looked up and smiled ay him. "Come on in." "I thought that maybe you had forgot all about me." He said as he sat on her bunk. "Forget you? Never." She feigned shock. "Just got carried away with the case. Seems I'll prosecute and Sturgis will defend." "So you'll' be here a bit longer that first thought!" He was excited. "Looks like." She confirmed. "I'm glad you're here." He held out his hand to her. She took it and stood to join him. He anticipated her "I locked the door." "You are pretty sure of yourself aren't you?" "Only of the woman I love." He informed her. She paused "Love?" "Yep. You must know that I love you." "Lust I have no doubt of? but love?" she was cautious despite her growing affection for him. The declaration of love was a big step, in her book anyway. "I realize that you have not had the best of luck in that department and I don't want to pressure you in anyway. I just thought it fair that you know how I feel. If you ever reciprocate you'll let me know. Till then?" he kissed her effectively ending the conversation. =================================== 2030 LOCAL USS PATRICK HENRY "OK Harm I'll bite. What's the problem?" Lt. Elizabeth Hawks usually referred to by her call sign of Skates said as she stood next him at the look out. "Problem? Who says I have a problem?" He played the innocent to his RIO. Skates however knew him too well. "It's with money or love. So cough up so as we can get back to normal." She insisted. Harm gave up. "Woman." "Uh huh." It was like pulling teeth. "? and?" "I love her." Skates snorted. "And that's a problem?" "Don't think the feeling is mutual." He explained. "And that's a problem?" she repeated. "Explain." He commanded. "A good looking guy like you? A magnet to the female of the species? I've seen you work your charm! So I repeat what's the problem?" she insisted. Harm looked at his friend as if he was seeing her for the first time. He kissed her on the top of her head. "Thanks Skates." He headed for the door. "What you going to do?" "Get the girl of course what else?" =================================== ONE WEEK LATER - 1109 LOCAL JAG HQ, FALLS CHURCH, VA Mac stepped out of the ladies room and spotted her Godson AJ Roberts streak by. Almost simultaneously she heard his mother Lt. Harriett Sims shout. "Grab him!" Mac automatically lunged and caught him. As Harriett screeched to a halt Mac doubled over, "Ma'am! What's wrong?" She disentangled the two and Mac slipped to the floor. "I don't know." She panted as she clutched her stomach "Pain." "Someone get me an ambulance now!" Harriett shouted to no one and everyone. + + + LATER BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL "Say that again?" Mac was in shock. "You had a miscarriage Colonel." The doctor repeated. Mac's grip on Harriett tightened. [Harm] she thought. "Oh God!" she gasped. "You didn't know?" Harriett asked gently. "No." She said hoarsely. "Now what?" She had to focus. "Rest." The Doctor instructed. "I mean it Marine. Eight weeks off from work is not the time to spring clean. If I find that you are not resting I shall keel-hole you and admit you to hospital for strict bed rest. Am I clear?" "Crystal." Harm said. "Harm!" Mac jerked her head in his direction. "What ? how? " She didn't know what to say. "Later Marine. I got to JAG and found out that you and the entire senior staff were here." He moved to her side. "Told the nurse I was your husband and they let me in." Harriett was watching them "Husband?? Sir?" "A fantasy of mine." He grinned "Good to see you again Lieutenant." Harriett smiled "I'd better be going. See you soon ma'am. I'll come visit." "OK. Thanks Harriett." Mac replied. "Doc can she leave now?" Harm asked. "She may. A nurse will be in to check her out" He replied and walked out. Check out took longer than anticipated as the JAG Officers wanted to make sure she was indeed ok. =================================== 1400 LOCAL MAC'S APARTMENT "So!" Harm folded his arms. "Care to tell me what happened?" He'd kept his curiously in check the entire trip to her apartment. Mac couldn't look him in the eye. "Why are you here?" "Holiday." He lied. "Don't try to change the topic." She still didn't look at him. "I miscarried." He stood turned to stone. Finally. "You were pregnant?" She sobbed. "I didn't know!" and with that the dam broke and she cried her heart out. He took her in his arms and just let her cry. Mac sobbed, as she had never done before, not when Dalton died and not when her father died and certainly not when her mother had abandoned her. Finally she calmed down. "Sorry" she sniffed. He kissed her cheek. "It's ok. I did some crying of my own there as well." She went to the bath to wash her face and upon her return repeated. "Why are you here Harm?" "Aren't you glad to see me?" he teased. "I'm always glad to see you and never have I needed you more than today." She replied, "It will take some time to heal but I will. In the meantime you still haven't answered me." He took a deep breath. His arrival may have been well timed but the reason was not. "I got a three day furlough to come see you." "Why?" She insisted. "You don't give up do you?" "I'm a lawyer and you are dodging the question." "Oh alright." He surrendered, "I came with the intension of wining and dining you and then proposing. Now it doesn't seem like such a good idea." "Marry?" She gasped. "Well after today I think it's safe to say that every one knows about us." She shivered "If you don't mind I'll keep it under advisement." Harm was elated but kept his thoughts to himself. She hadn't said no! "Under the circumstances I cannot ask for more." She just nodded and looked at him. She had yet to say she loved him but the look they now exchanged said it all. She had been through hell and somehow this man had managed to be there at her side. Mac couldn't bring herself to say it but she loved him. For his turn he read the body language and was willing to wait? a while. =================================== 2247 LOCAL MAC'S APARTMENT "Hello!" Mac snapped into the phone. "Whoa! Easy Marine friendly troops here." Harm said. "Oh hi there. Where are you?" She calmed down. "On the carrier. Just wanted to hear your voice. I obviously called at a bad time." "Never. It's just that I'm sitting second chair with Singer and it's turning into the case from hell!" "Look, keep your head down, Mac." He advised. "I'm trying." She assured him. "It's hard to sit and watch while Singer presides over a train wreck in the courtroom." He chuckled "She have you on the run Marine?" "After I shoot her." She smiled. "So you miss me?" "Let me tell you just how much I miss you." He breathed. "I've been thinking of you all day." There was knocking on the hatch. "Is that knocking I hear?" Mac asked. "Yeah." Harm was grumpy. Not only was Mac not there with him but now he wasn't even being allowed quality phone time! "Duty." Mac was familiar and resigned to the concept. "Yeah" Was all Harm could say. The knocking continued. "Go deal with it my love. We'll talk again soon." "Damn straight." He replied. The conversation at an end Harm swung off the bed adjusted his clothes opened the hatch and froze. "Commander?" The Lieutenant said confused by the look on Harm's face. He suddenly swung around and looked at the phone and one thought raced through his brain. She called him "MY LOVE" Harm returned to face the young man. "YES!!!" composing himself he said, "Yes?" "Captain wants to see you sir." Harm nodded his thanks and headed for his CO. =================================== 2230 LOCAL MAC'S APARTMENT Mac got home to find a note under her door. "Mac ? I'm in town till Friday call me when you get in. You know the number. Harm." He was in town! She dropped her bag and grabbed the phone. + + + Mac just had time shower when half an hour later there was a knock on her door. She wrenched it open and launched herself into his arms. "Hey!" he grinned, "That's a hell of a welcome." She grinned back. "Been one of those weeks." "I heard." "Heard what!" "The tribunal, Afghanistan etc." he revealed. She sat in his lap. "You keeping tabs on me NAVY?" "Hey. Folks know I have a vested interest and keep me informed." He kissed her. "Welcome home jarhead." She snuggled into him "Thanks." Then looked at him suddenly. "What are you doing here anyway!" "After that welcome I'd thought you just be happy to see me." "I am happy to see you. But my question remains." "As usual." He sighed. "As usual." She echoed. "Give." "Marry me." He said with no warning. She was shocked "You came all the way here to ask me that?" "Don't dodge the question councilor." She stood. She needed to be away from him to think. "Mac I love you and you have never said it but I KNOW you love me. We have been the highs and lows. Why not make it official?" "You're on deployment for months at a time." She pointed out. "And like a boomerang I come back to you. I always will." He said. He stood as well. They had come to a crossroads. "I love you. Marry me." She looked at him standing before her and she remembered that as the prisoner held her at knifepoint in Afghanistan her thoughts had been of him. " First things first." He frowned what was she on about now. "First - You are right I do love you and I should have said so a long time ago. Second ? I will marry you." He took the three steps needed to bring them face-to-face and he kissed her. "I too have something to say." "You mean that the proposal wasn't enough?" She teased. He chuckled. "I've been offered a position to train pilots. My acceptance was dependant on you." She dared not think of the implications of the statement. "Meaning?" "Had you said no I would not have taken it." "That was quite the gamble." She told him. "Never. You and I can never be regarded as a gamble." THE END