A Happily Ever After
Disclaimer: Not mine...never will be, but I wish I owned DJE. The doctor at Bethesda is MINE. :)
AN: Follows "The Reason" and "We're Here Now".
One Week after Engagement
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
The week had gone by in the blink of an eye. Harm and Mac had spent almost every minute of every hour together and were falling even more in love with each other...if that was at all possible. They had been happy, though at times the subject of telling their CO about their new arrangement came up and they became nervous, each one not knowing how exactly to work out the basics.
Harm and Mac had been sitting in his office for nearly half an hour now trying to work it out in their heads. They spent minutes looking at each other with an intense look of love and admiration and minutes looking down to their feet puzzled.
"Harm, how are we going to tell him? I mean...it would have been different with the Admiral, but this is General Lussman. We hardly know him and I'm sure he doesn't take well to his senior officers telling him they are engaged."
"I'm sure he won't be too hard on us. Besides, I know I'm willing to give up the Navy for you. I mean there are law firms in the civilian world. It won't be too hard finding a job with my skills." He added the last comment in an attempt to add some humor.
"There goes that ego of yours taking over. Look, I don't want you to give up the Navy for me. You have already showed me your love; don't do something you're going to regret later." She told him with a true look of sincerity.
"I won't regret it. I know I love you and as long as I have you, my job and where I work doesn't matter to me. I have already resigned my commission before. How hard can it be? Besides, maybe the General can get me a job elsewhere...that way I don't have to resign."
"Harm...please."
"Mac, I'm serious. We will work past that. Maybe the General can work something out for us." He gave her a look of confidence. He moved around to her side and leaned down to her lips where he planted a sweet and loving kiss. "We have some cases to work through, so get a move on it and we will meet with him later in the day ok." He kissed her again and settled himself behind his desk.
"Are you kicking me out of your office?"
Harm smiled and nodded in response.
General Lussman's Office
1535 Local Time
A knock on the door pulled the General away from a file that he was studying. The SecNav was really on his case trying to make sure that he did a good job keeping everything in place and in working order.
"Enter."
"Sir, we would like to discuss something with you." Harm said as he entered with Mac closely behind.
"Sure, but I hope this doesn't take too long. I have some stuff to finish, the SecNav is hounding me."
Harm smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sir, that seems about right."
"And why is that Commander Rabb?" He said with a demanding tone.
Harm had to clear his throat to answer. "Well, Sir, the SecNav likes to keep tabs on this place. He likes everything handled with care and without involvement with the media. Considering the current situation in Iraq, I'd say he just doesn't want us to create a bad image for the department."
"So he is. Now what did my two senior officers have in mind?" His tone indicating that he wanted this to be short and to the point.
Harm began to speak leaving Mac some time to prepare in case he got tongue tied. He cleared his throat again. "Sir, we wanted to announce that we are engaged. We have yet to set a date, but we wanted to tell you in order to fix our working situation. We thought you could work something out for us, sir."
"Alright. Who's the one to leave? I mean are you two planning to stay in the service?"
"Yes, Sir." They both responded.
"Ok. Well, one of you could stay. Have you discussed who would be leaving?"
"Me, sir." Harm answered with a strong tone. Mac looked at him and was surprised at how steadfast he appeared.
"Ok. I will see what I can do and I will inform you tomorrow. Would that be all?"
"Yes, sir." They responded.
"Very well. Oh, and congratulations. I haven't really had the time to know you two. I have heard many things...some good...some bad, but as far as I know, it will be a loss to this office when one of you goes." Before any of them had time to react to the compliment he had said, he dismissed them.
Once outside of the door Harm leaned toward Mac to whisper in her ear. "Now, that wasn't so bad was it?" He smiled and Mac shook her head in amazement.
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
2254 Local Time
Mac and Harm had eaten and discussed what would happen if he had to leave the Navy, but they hoped that wasn't the case. Maybe something would come up.
"Harm, I just don't want you to leave your life as a naval officer. It's everything you have."
"Mac, I don't care if I have to leave the Navy. You're everything I have. No matter what happens I'm glad that I'm going to come home to you, to our house, to our life, to our bed. I love you." He kissed her passionately and hugged her close to him.
"I love you, too."
Mac and Harm were curled up together on his couch enjoying the movie 50 First Dates. Or rather Mac was enjoying the movie. She was completely engrossed in it, crying softly when it became too much to handle. Harm was leaning on the arm of the couch with Mac settled between his legs leaning against him. He could feel her sobs as she tried to hide them.
"Mac why are you crying? Honey, it isn't that bad." He hugged her closer trying to comfort her.
"I just can't imagine living the same day every day. To wake up and not remember what happened the day before."
"Well, good thing you're not in the movie, huh." He chuckled slightly and they continued to watch the movie. Before they knew it, they were both sleeping snuggled closely on the couch.
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
The day had been the same as any other. The cases seemed to pour in every second, but being the lawyers that they were, they met each case head on. Still, Harm could not stand the confines of his office; he needed to be near her. Lately it seemed as if he could not live one precious moment without her, without touching her, without feeling her lips against his, but for the sake of trying to get all the work out of the way, he stayed surrounded by the walls of his working place. Finally, the ringing of his phone drew him out of the manila folder.
"Rabb."
"Hey, you."
"Hey beautiful."
"What are you doing?"
"Desperately trying to wrap up these cases. You?"
"Same. Except I can't work on the cases. My mind keeps drifting."
"Really? Where to?"
"I don't know...it might be to images of a tall handsome sailor."
"Do I know him?"
"Jerk." Harm was now laughing on the other end.
"If it helps, I can't seem to concentrate either. I've read the same paragraph for the last thirty five minutes."
"Yeah, it does help a bit... hold on." He heard some muffled speaking on her end. "I hate to spoil this but the General wants us in his office. See you in a bit. Love you."
"Love you, too."
Minutes Later
General Lussman's Office
The air was suddenly thick and neither of them could truly breathe. They were tense and awaited the news that the General had for them. The moment of truth was before them. Good or bad, either way, their lives were about to change and suddenly it all seemed surreal.
"Commander, Colonel, I have to say that pulling the strings for you was easier than I thought. Apparently you have friends everywhere. I guess hard work really does pay off." He paused as his officers seemed to let out a breath they'd been holding since they walked in.
"Commander, it seems that JAG is still in your future. You will, if you want, transfer to JAG Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Their JAG, Captain Smith, says that he just lost a top lawyer to a civilian law firm and they could use a replacement like you. Now if you don't want that..."
Harm was quick to interrupt. "No, Sir. I do want to transfer. I would love to continue working as a JAG lawyer. Thank you, Sir. Uh, when do I transfer?"
"Well, Commander, you can transfer in a week." The two officer's faces had been lightened and had been radiating with joy.
"Thank you, Sir." Mac told her CO.
"You're welcome. Now go set a date. Dismissed."
"Aye, Aye, Sir." They responded in unison.
They walked out of the office with a weight lifted off of their shoulders. Everything was finally right. No one had to leave the service; they had each other, and no more resignations. But there was still one thing...a date had to be agreed upon. There was also that thing about breaking the news to everyone.