Title: A Long Time Coming
Pairing: Harm & Meg
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, settings, names, etc. of the TV show JAG. This was written for fun, not profit of any kind. I am but a humble author who couldn't get an idea in her head to shut up. Please don't sue me! No copyright infringement was intended.
A/N: I never watched JAG beyond the first season. They characters and the format of the show from season one were what I fell in love with. When that changed I stopped watching. So if you are a Mac fan this story is not for you. Please don't read it with the intention of bashing it. I accept constructive criticism, but only to a point. This isn't 'War and Peace', don't treat it as such. This is just something that I had rolling around in my head that refused to go away until captured in text.
JAG Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
1000 Hours
Commander Harmon Rabb surveyed the now empty office once occupied by his former partner of four years Lieutenant Colonel Sarah 'Mac' Mackenzie. Two days ago Admiral Chegwidden had briskly called her into his office and informed her that her preceding commanding officer, Colonel Thompson, had been diagnosed with terminal hepatic cancer. The news of her mentor's illness was devastating for Mac, so when she was informed that Colonel Thompson had personally and specifically requested that she be released from her current position to take over his post as Section Chief she agreed without hesitation and with her current CO's support. What hadn't been mentioned at the time was that said post was in Pearl Harbour, Hawai'i.
Their good-bye's had been quick and professional. Harm congratulated Mac on the promotion despite the difficult circumstances surrounding it, and confessed his jealousy over her new sunny work station. Still, two days later Harm felt a certain sadness now standing in the bare room. Admittedly, there had been some flirtation and a level of romantic interest, but when it came right down to it Harm knew himself well enough to realize that a relationship between them would never have worked out in the long run. Their differences too vast and their similarities too few, it would only have been a matter of time before the initial sparks were extinguished.
Across the office his commanding officer, Admiral A.J. Chegwidden, sought out his protégé and found Harm standing alone in the doorway to Mac's office. "Commander." He spoke making his presence known as Rabb snapped to attention. "Why don't you take it easy today? I know change can be difficult." The Admiral offered somewhat out of character.
But Harm refused, rationalizing that without a partner he could not afford to waste time. The Admiral smiled mischievously. "Don't you worry about that, Commander, I have plenty to keep you busy."
"Yes, sir." Harm answered, though slightly confused by his CO's cryptic statement.
The following days and weeks passed by slowly and Harm was beginning to wonder if he would ever get out from behind the mountain of paperwork he found himself buried under. He was also curious as to whether or not the Admiral planned on assigning him a new partner or at the very least bringing another lawyer on board to share the work load. It wasn't that he felt he really needed a partner, but he had gotten used to the company, friendship, and support a partner offered. While he and Mac had had their share of ups and downs he found the days dragging on with no one to share them with. With his head hidden behind a stack of files Cmdr. Rabb didn't perceive the arrival of the Admiral.
Clearing his throat Chegwidden made his presence known. Rabb jumped out of his seat to stand at attention. "At ease, Commander. To make this brief, I'm sure you've been wondering when I would get around to addressing the issue of a new partner for you." The Admiral looked at him, scrutinizing his face before continuing. "As I suspected. I'll put you out of your misery. It took me a few weeks to come to a decision and make the arrangements, but long story short, you will not be getting a new partner."
Harm raised his eyebrows in response. The Admiral continued without letting Harm speak. "However, I am bringing on a new staff member to work alongside with you. We both know you need someone to keep an eye on you, Commander. I only had one person in mind for the job and it wasn't easy to arrange as the Commander's current CO was very reluctant to let go of his talented star officer, but I get what I want, and I know that this particular Cmdr will be a real asset to JAG. Your new colleague should arrive from Naples next week, so I expect you're to be on your best behaviour. I know no one can replace Lt. Col. Mackenzie, but try not to scare off the new Commander, Commander." And with that the Admiral exited as quickly as he had entered, leaving Harm scrambling to salute him.
Commander Rabb was about to return to his paper work when he saw his aid Lt. Bud Roberts standing just outside the door.
"Bud, get in here." Harm called out.
"Sir?" Bud questioned as he entered the office.
"You're usually on top of the office scuttlebutt, have you heard anything about the new addition?" Harm questioned.
Bud looked confused. "New addition, sir?"
Harm nodded. "The Admiral just informed me that JAG will be adding a new member to the staff next week. All I got out of him is that it's some hot shot Commander from Naples that he handpicked. I was curious if you had heard anything about this guy."
"Sorry, Commander, I get my gossip from Harriet, and she hasn't mentioned anything to me." With an apologetic smile the Lieutenant was excused to go about his day.
Resigned to the fact that he would get no further information from anyone in the office about this new Cmdr, Harm tried to focus on his work and hoped that the rest of the week would pass quickly and uneventfully. He had had enough change and excitement for awhile and had mixed feelings about the arrival of a new team member. Mac was the second partner he had lost and he had mixed feelings about not getting a new one.
The following week arrived after an agonizing wait for Commander Rabb. While none of the cases he was currently working on were particularly challenging, they were numerous and he was actually looking forward to the relief another JAG lawyer would bring. Once in his office he got to work straight away, sorting through the files he would keep and deciding on which ones he would prefer to pass on to the new hotshot. Keeping busy left him with less time to dwell on Mac's departure or distract himself with the endless possibilities of who the new interloper could be. The JAG office had a carefully balanced dynamic among its workers, each one bringing something unique to the table that complimented other's skills. One bad apple spoils the bunch as they say, and the mood in the bullpen was already somewhat sour at having lost an important member of their team. Bringing in someone who is not a good fit would make life miserable at JAG.
Taking a break from sorting through case files Commander Rabb made his way to the common room for a cup of coffee, but before he could get there the voice of the Admiral's Petty Officer stopped him.
"Commander Rabb..." The young officer called out.
"Tiner?" Harm replied.
"The admiral has requested your presence in his office ASAP." The Petty Officer stated briskly replaying his CO's message.
Harm nodded and changed directions heading now towards the Admiral's office. Commander Rabb found himself feeling a bit anxious, an unusual feeling for him, but it was hardly surprising given everything that had happened in the last few weeks. What was surprising was Mac's sudden departure, his conflicting emotions as a result of it and being without a partner for well over a month. But now the last piece was falling into place and for better or for worse he had to accept this last shakeup. Yes, he knew exactly why he had been summoned to the Admiral's chamber. The time had come to meet the newest addition to JAG's workforce. Having arrived at said office Commander Rabb raised a hand and knocked sharply.
He was met by a gruff "Come in" being barked by Admiral Chegwidden in response. Grabbing the door knob Commander Rabb braced himself for whatever was waiting for him on the other side. Entering the office he stood sharply at attention saluting his superior. Chegwidden stood and saluted back before taking his seat again.
"At ease, Commander." The Admiral said before continuing. "I'll cut straight to the point. As you know I've brought in a new staff member. The Commander arrived in D.C. last week and will be starting today. I want you to show the Commander around. So long as everyone pulls together as a team it shouldn't take the Commander long to adjust to the new surroundings."
Harm looked around the office curiously as the new Commander was nowhere in sight. "Permission to speak freely, sir?" He waited for Chegwidden to nod before continuing. "Perhaps Lt. Roberts could show the Commander around? I have a lot of work to do and..."
"Stop right there, Commander Rabb." The Admiral interrupted. "I know you, and as a leader in this office I expect you to lead by example and make the new Commander feel at home and part of the JAG team. I can make that an order if need be."
Rabb stiffened, there'd be no getting out of playing tour guide. "No, sir. That won't be necessary, sir."
"Good." The Admiral concluded.
"When can I expect the Commander to arrive? The sooner he gets here the sooner he can start taking on cases. As you know there's no shortage of work."
Chegwidden laughed in response. "The Commander is already here. I excused the Commander to get the key to her office."
"Her?" Harm was puzzled. Chegwidden simply nodded for his part.
As if on cue there came a soft knock at the door, Chegwidden stood up and crossed the room to answer it. Commander Rabb hopped up from his seat to stand at attention still facing the Admiral's desk. He heard the door open and close as Chegwidden welcomed the officer into the office, "As always your timing is impeccable, Commander. I was just bringing Commander Rabb up to speed."
"Thank you, sir." Came a soft breathy voice.
Harm stood frozen. He had not seen who entered the office but he would know that voice anywhere. Immediately his heart rate sped up. There was no way the voice belonged to who he thought it did, a young woman he had spent the last few years trying to forget about... Suddenly his thoughts were taken back to four years earlier and visions of a smiling blonde Lieutenant filled his mind's eye.
Harm was shaken from his reverie by the sound of Admiral Chegwidden's voice. "Commander Rabb, I believe you know Commander Austin."
Harm stared at her for a long moment not sure if he could believe that what he was seeing was real. Like a ghostly apparition come to life, the image from his reverie materialized in front of him, tangible and more breath-taking than ever.
"It's nice to see you, Commander Rabb." Cmdr Austin said offering her hand to him.
Wordlessly, Harm took her hand in his, revelling in the familiar electricity that contact with Meg Austin had once caused him, and not surprised in the least that he still felt it. What did surprise him was that the same feeling seemed to be reflected in her eyes.
"Meg?" Harm whispered to himself.
"Commanders." Chegwidden barked. The two officers stood at attention. "I'm sure you both have a lot to do. I expect Commander Austin to be up to speed on all our most pressing cases by the end of the week. Dismissed."
Walking in stride to the door Harm opened it and allowed Meg to pass through first. They didn't say a word as they walked through the bullpen, ignoring the curious stares of onlookers wondering just who the tall blonde walking with Commander Rabb was. Reaching what had once been the door to Mac's office, Meg reached into her breast pocket for the key before inserting it into the lock and opening the door.
Harm was still in a state of shock. He needed a moment to collect himself. "I'm going to go grab a coffee and give you a minute to check out your new digs." He didn't wait for her to reply before walking back across the bullpen to the common room. This was easily the last thing he expected today.