TITLE: "Without Anchor"
AUTHOR: Pat Steiner [SSbpmn@aol.com]
SUMMARY: Adrift Fic 
DISCLAIMER: JAG belongs to CBS et al, and no copyright infringement is 
intended with the following.

26 May 01
Site of the Brumby-Mackenzie Nuptials
Washington D.C.

"If I could get my hands on the bastard who invented zippers right now, I'd 
rip his flaming heart out," Mac muttered, trying in vain to reach the back of 
the wedding gown for the zipper. Another futile attempt and she sank into 
the chair, reaching for a tissue which she used and added to the growing pile 
in the tiny waste basket.

She was on her third attempt to conquer the zipper when Harriet returned, 
followed closely by Chloe. "Mac we'd be here to help you with that if you 
didn't keep sending us to check for Harm."

"I know that," she snapped and was immediately sorry. "Guys don't mind me. 
I'm..."

"Hey do not apologize to me," Harriet chided her. "You know what I was like. 
Now let me zip you. Harm will be here. We've heard nothing to indicate 
anything to the contrary."

The storm crashed overhead before she could answer and she automatically 
looked up. "Harriet he would not try to fly in this weather."

"No maybe he got back last night," Harriet said soothingly. "He's got twenty 
minutes before we even have to get concerned."

"He didn't...," she began and stopped, deciding she did not want to reveal 
that she had called his apartment repeatedly last night once she was alone.

"Mic looks handsome in his tux," Chloe smiled, trying to take her mind off 
the storm and Harm.

"He certainly made a hit with you," Harriet observed.

"Yeah I like him," Chloe admitted, only slightly grudgingly. "I mean Mac 
loves him and he loves her and well...I can live with that. Harm and I will 
still be friends anyway. And Renee is OK, but I don't think she likes kids 
much."

Mac rose from the bench at the dressing table, taking little notice of 
Chloe's words, and went to stare once more out of the window at the driving 
rain. "And you asked and no one--not even Renee--has heard from him?"

"Everyone--and I'm not asking again. People are beginning to wonder," 
Harriet laughed. "Mac try to relax some. If he promised, he'll make maximum 
effort. You know that."

Fifteen minutes passed in silence save the rain's incessant pounding. "Mac 
we should think about starting or saying if we're going to hold up," Harriet 
suggested gently. "If you're not ready, then by all means..."

Mac took a deep breath and stared again into the rain. "I'm going to go down 
to the little chapel I saw at the end of the hall," she said finally. "I 
need a few minutes. Please make my apologies to the guests and I'll be back 
in a little bit."

"Not a problem, but you're sure you want to be alone?" Harriet asked, and 
Chloe's face looked to her pleadingly.

"That's exactly what I want right now," Mac assured them. "Please don't tell 
anyone where I've gone."

Mac slipped silently down the hall and into the chapel. For a long while she 
simply stood at the back, staring at the small altar and cross, begging for a 
sign--a sign to tell her that marrying Michael James Brumby was the right 
thing to do. 

So lost in thought and prayer, she did not hear the doors open behind her, 
not turning until she sensed his presence.

"You came," she gasped.

"Of course I did," he whispered, taking off the raincoat that had soaked just 
from the taxi to the side door.

"How did you find me in here?"

"I always know where you are--remember?"

He closed the distance between them, taking her by each arm. "I missed you. 
I wasn't sure I'd even get here now. That's one helluva storm over the 
Atlantic. And Andrews had the nerve to try to divert us. But that doesn't 
matter. I'm here and..."

Her fingers went to his lips to stop his words. "You're here, with me, where 
you belong. Where you've always belonged," she whispered as she locked her 
hands together at the back of his neck, pulling his head down for her kiss. 

Their lips touched, the sweet taste began to fill his senses....

"He's alive." The leader of the search and rescue team screamed into his 
helmet mike to make himself heard over the noise of the chopper hovering 
above.

"Commander Rabb you've got a lot of people on edge worried about you," he 
went on, taking firm hold of the marooned pilot. "Let's see if we can get 
you back where you belong."

Cold water splashed his face...rain water....no. Sea water. He was lifted 
out, pulled away, ripped from the warmth of her arms. 

At that moment, Death was cheated of a soul, but so was.....

"Saaaaraaaaaaaah."

THE END