Title – Through The Eye Of A Shipper – S02 E01 We The People
Authors' Names - Carol and Michi or Michi and Carol
Rating – GS (More information at Michi site)
Paring – Harm & Mac
Spoilers – Season 2 Episode 1: We The People
Disclaimer – JAG belongs to DPB, CBS, and Paramount.
Summary- How 'We The People' (Airdate: 01/03/97) should've been continued when you saw it through the eye of a shipper…
Author's Notes-
1. Our plan is it to revisit every JAG classic from season two to season nine. This series doesn't have a strict rule. Sometimes it may be a follow-up, sometimes it could be a changed scene, or even a change to the entire episode. And if that doesn't work we could always do a 'missing scene'-story. This means the length of the story is based on the way we want to 'handle' the revisit. But don't worry…we plan to use more then 150 words!
2. Since this series will deal with an episode, which aired many years ago, it means that we risk having a FF storyline that might seem somehow familiar. There's hope that our ideas are unique, but should that not be the case we apologize and swear to our god and chocolate that we did not know it and we did not do it on purpose. It's also possible that we somehow 'screw-up' a little with the dateline. We promise to give our best to work with the right dateline.
3. Please don't forget that the episode we're working on is the 'actual aired episode'. This means, nothing after said episode happened. Also know that each TTEOAS story is a 'Stand Alone Story' in this series.
4. A huge thanks goes like always to our dear beta-god Vered! We're happy that you said 'yes' to this project. Thanks, girl! However, we can't post a FF without our usual C&M warning. English is not our native language (yup, even Carol wants to use this statement LOL). Take this as a fair warning!
5. The rest of the 'Through The Eye Of A Shipper'-series you can either find at Carol or Michi's FF site.
6. Important note: Since "We The People" was the very first JAG episode with Harm & Mac be aware that this story will be more about their friendship.
Friday
10 January 1997
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
5:34PM
Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. picked up his cover and turned off the lights to his office. He shut his door and looked across the way towards his new partner's office. He took a breath and decided to make a bold move. He moved towards her office and knocked on the opened door.
"Enter," Mac commanded.
"Hey," Harm started.
Mac turned around and in her hands were a Marine mug and a lamp. "Commander."
Harm gave her a smile. "Do you have plans tonight?" His question caught her off guard and Harm saw her giving him a questioning look. "I was thinking we could go and grab a bite to eat and talk. It's nice to know a little bit about the person you're partnered with."
Mac bit her lip. "I would have to agree, but I really need to get my office in order, before the Admiral starts to pile cases on top of this mess." Her eyes moved around the office. It was filled with half empty boxes and there was already a smattering of case files.
"I could help," Harm offered as he went to place his cover down on the round table in the corner.
"It's okay, Harm. It's one of those things I would prefer to do on my own," Mac said as she placed the mug and lamp on her desk.
"Oh… okay," Harm said in an unsure voice. "Well, then I'll take a rain check."
"Sure, maybe some other night."
"No problem, Mac." Harm started to move out of the office when a photo in a frame caught his attention. "Seals?"
"Yeah, they are."
Harm looked at the walls of the office, finding a poster of the Marine Corps on the wall behind her desk. However, other then that the walls were still empty. "I would put it right there," he said and pointed at the empty wall to his left.
Mac looked at the spot that Harm selected. She tilted her head and then nodded. "I think that is a good spot for it. Thanks."
"No problem." Harm gave Mac a half smile. "Good night, Mac, and don't overdo it."
"Nah, I should be done in about two hours. Good night, Harm," Mac said as Harm started to leave the office. "Oh, Harm," she suddenly called behind him and made Harm stop dead in his track.
He turned around and looked at his partner. "Yes?"
"Thanks. For everything," she softly said with a little smile on her face, thanking him for all he'd done for her uncle.
"You're welcome, Mac. Good night," Harm answered and made his way out of the office.
"Night."
Mac's Apartment
The Washington 2812
Georgetown, Washington DC
8:26PM
"Oh, come on you stupid picture. Won't you just hang straight," Mac growled at the photo she was attempting to hang on the wall. She took a step back and was about to examine her work when there was a knock at the door.
She looked at the door and consulted her internal clock, before she walked to the door and unlocked it. "It's been 33 minutes and 45 seconds. I get the pizza for free." She then looked at the person standing behind the door. "Harm."
"Sorry, I'm not the pizza guy, but based on your friendly greeting I'm glad I'm not him," Harm joked.
Mac chuckled. "I should be saying sorry. Please come in."
"Thanks," Harm said before he walked in. He quickly looked around the apartment and almost chuckled. Her place was just as in a bad shape as his. There were packed and unpacked boxes everywhere. One of the walls looked like it had a fresh coat of paint on it and the others were just starting to get a few things hung on them.
"It's a slow task of moving in," Mac said as she closed the door and walked into the living room.
"I know the feeling."
"So what brings you around these parts?" Mac asked.
"Well, earlier you said that you would be done in about two hours and I thought you might like some dinner. It's just some salads from an Italian place down the road. I hope that's okay?"
Harm and Mac chuckled as her rumbling stomach gave him the answer before she could. "Like my stomach just said, I'm starved. Therefore, it's more than okay, thank you. Why don't you sit down while I get us some plates and forks? Would you like something to drink?" Mac asked as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Water would be fine, thanks," Harm answered and started to look around with a raised eyebrow. "Ummm, Mac?"
"Yes?" Mac called from the kitchen.
"Where exactly do you think I should sit down?" Harm curiously asked while his eyes continued to explore the living room. The room was empty, well if you ignored the packed and unpacked boxes that is.
Mac laughed as she came back from the kitchen, holding all the supplies they need for their dinner in her hands. "Sorry, I guess I'm already used to it. I'm still waiting for all of my furniture to arrive. The floor will have to do for now," she explained with an apologizing glance.
Harm sat down on the floor and shook his head. "And you think my apartment's bad?"
"I at least know how to plug in a fridge," Mac countered with a smirk and made him laugh.
"That may be true, but the rest is even worse than mine," Harm responded and started to eat his salad.
"Correct, but you have been in DC much longer than I have. I'm just glad there's a stocked kitchen," Mac pointed out and took a bite of her own salad. "Mmmhh, this is good."
"And much healthier than a pizza."
"I guess they forgot my order."
"Just tell them you're a lawyer and it will never happen again," Harm told her and chuckled. "So, when will your furniture arrive?"
Mac sighed and closed her eyes for a second. "It should be here by tomorrow. Which I'm glad about, I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again."
"Don't tell me you're sleeping on this hard floor."
"Nope, I bought an air mattress as soon as I arrived here in DC."
Harm looked with a raised eyebrow at her. "That sounds very comfy, Major."
"You have no idea," Mac answered and groaned.
"Do you want me to help you?"
"Huh?" Mac responded astonished, not understanding what her partner meant.
"With the furniture. I could help you out with the assembly tomorrow. Or have you hired a firm for it?"
"No, that would have cost too much money. I'll do it on my own."
"Then let me help you," Harm offered once more.
"You mean you don't have any plans this weekend? What about your own apartment?"
"No plans and I do have everything under control in my apartment. I have places where I can sit and even a bed where I can lay down on at night. Just say 'yes, I would like you to help me with the furniture, Harm' and offer me breakfast as pay-off, Mac," Harm told her, awaiting her answer.
Mac smiled lightly and took a sip of her water before giving him her answer. "Yes, I would like you to help me with the furniture, Harm. And I'm not only offering breakfast as pay-off; a pizza is also on the menu."
"The one you get for free, because they forgot your delivery today?"
"You bet," Mac answered with a smirk and took another bite of her salad. "Thanks for the offer, Harm."
"You're very welcome, Mac. I also could offer you my couch for the night, so you won't need to sleep another night on the very comfy air mattress."
Mac chuckled. "Thanks, but no thanks. I wouldn't be able to cheat on my dear air mattress. I also wouldn't know how to repay you for it."
"Easy, you can help me next weekend with my apartment," Harm promptly responded with a grin.
"You know what, I'll do it anyway. Since I know how to plug in a fridge, I'm sure that I'll be very helpful," Mac answered and smiled.
"Deal," Harm replied and smiled as well. But after a short while his smile slowly vanished and he looked at his partner intensely.
"What?" Mac asked, feeling Harm's eyes on her. "Why are you staring at me?"
Harm grinned and shrugged. "It's good to see you smile. You have a beautiful smile. It suits you."
Mac took a deep breath. "Do I have the same smile?" she quietly asked, remembering the conversation she had with Harm days ago while they were driving through the desert night. It gave her a weird feeling to know that there once was another woman, who looked and obviously talked just like she was. A woman Harm apparently knew very well.
"You do, but hers was easier to see," Harm told her as he took a bite of his salad.
"Meaning?" Mac asked in minor confusion.
Harm smirked. "Diane would smile all the time. For you to smile it takes an act of Congress." He then laughed and Mac joined him.
"It doesn't take an act of Congress."
"Nah, but it takes a while."
"I have a hard time trusting people who I've just met."
Harm carefully looked at Mac and got the feeling that she had been hurt in the past by people, especially men. "You have no reason not to trust me, Mac. I think we've got the start of a good friendship."
Mac glanced into his eyes and knew that he meant those words. "I think we do, too."
"Good, because I just don't rent my services out to anyone."
"Rent. Ha!" Mac laughed. "Your services are costing me breakfast and lunch tomorrow."
Harm joined her in the laughter. "Costing you? You're getting the pizza for free tomorrow."
The rest of the night was filled with conversations and laughter as the two started building their friendship and getting to know each other.
THE END
Coming up next: Through The Eye Of A Shipper - S02 E02 Secrets