TITLE: Quals
AUTHOR: Vid Z.
TIMELINE: Season 10
SPOILERS: Black Ops, High Ground, Scimitar, The Prisoner and so many more it's not even funny.
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc of the TV show JAG are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fic. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: we all know that Harm was a character with an amazing drive, determination and sheer force of will and never let an opportunity to learn something new and useful get away from him. Over 10 years we saw him work with Spec Forces many times, easily clicking in as if he was one of them, on mission or just when training with them.The list of such episodes is long, the list of that training mentioned during the show even longer. The training he'd gotten actually makes up the majority of what candidates for SEALs have to go through the get the trident and most of the time actually the missions fully trained and qualified SEALs execute. It was also repeatedly shown what an excellent marksman he is, contrary to that unbased myth of Mac being the best shot ever, a myth that wasn't substantiated on the show.
Just one example out of many for Harm's skill is the ep "Tiger tiger" with the scene where he shoots that hostagetaker in the head from 20 meters, while walking and without taking much time to aim after revealing who he was. That takes amazing skill. Though Navy, pilot and lawyer he may be, Harm has time and again proven that he is a much better soldier, either regular grunt, marksman or a Spec Ops operative, than any other regulars on the show, especially Mac, even though she so religiously kept repeating that she's a Marine. As one of my friend's grandfather (retired Marine) called Mac: pencil-pushing-Marine-wanna-be, which was the nicest thing he'd said about her "skills" (or lack thereof) as a Marine. But, those poor rabid Macaroons will still claim that their Mac is perfect and that she can kick Harm's ass or wipe the floor with him. Yeah, right, and my second vehicle is an aircraft carrier...
SUMMARY: what if Cresswell and Mac had happened upon Harm when they went to have their re-qualifications at Quantico and find out something neither of them had never known about him? No ship of any kind.
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Harm was taking the duffel out of his boot when the voice made him freeze in his tracks.
"Commander!"
'Oh crap.' thought Harm and turned around.
There he saw the General and Mac, both in their BDU's, looking at him confused.
"What are you doing here? Why aren't you at HQ?"
"Don't worry, sir, I'm not AWOL. I'm on an official business here."
"Okay." drawled the General, but still looked skeptical while Mac just looked confused. "Very well, CDR, carry on."
"Sir." Harm nodded, since he was out of uniform he didn't have to stand at attention nor salute, and turned away, leaving.
The other two just stared after him and the General shook his head. "I don't think I wanna know."
Mac just shrugged and they continued on their way.
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"Okay, that's it, General, here are your weapons." said Gunnery Sergeant Niven to the man as he handed over the two M16A2 along with 4 clips, each with 20 bullets.
"Hey, Commander!" he suddenly exclaimed and the two Marines turned towards the newcomer and were stunned at the sight.
"Hey, Gunny! How's life treatin' ya?" smiled Harm pleasantly at the other man.
Harm's manner wasn't what had caught his coworkers' attention, however.
It wasn't only the fact that he was there, but it was also the fact that he was wearing black BDU's, a boony hat on his head, black duffel over his shoulder and had a thigh holster on his right thigh, with a definitely not regular issue side-arm in it. His BDU's were unmarked, as in no name and no military branch stitched on the chest, no insignias and no flag on his shoulders, and no silver Oak Leaves anywhere on it.
Mac saw a female Corporal, Gunny's assistant, practically drooling at the sight of Harm. His tall, muscular frame with broad shoulders and strong chest and arms definitely looked heart-accelerating. Or stopping. But coupled with the black BDU's that made look dangerous she was almost melting in her shoes herself.
She sighed, knowing that she had no-one to blame but herself for the fact that they weren't in a relationship, nor anywhere close to entering it cause she'd said 'never' and that she was still pushing him away.
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After taking him for granted for the last too many years, she'd completely forgotten that there were other women who definitely liked the way he looked and who appreciated him as a person and who, most importantly, didn't take him for granted. It was just a matter of time before he'd found the woman he'd want to spend the rest of his life with and then Mac would have to look from a distance as he'd fall in love, get married and have kids with that woman, who'd deserve this wonderful man. But that is life for ya!
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"Can't complain, Commander. So, what'll it be? The usual?" replied the other man.
Mac and Gordon frowned puzzled. The two men obviously knew each other well, but from where? What did a Navy JAG and a Marine Gunny stationed at Quantico at the shooting range, have in common?
"You've got it, Gunny." smiled Harm again.
It occured to Mac that today was the first time she saw him smile in years and it was a glorious sight to behold. Too bad she wasn't the one to bring it out of him any longer.
"Sure thing, Commander. Michelle's been missing you since you dropped her off here last week, so I know she'll be glad to see you again." grinned the big man, waiting as Harm filled out and signed a formular, to have a weapon given to him.
"So, how are Jeannie and the kids, Mark?" asked Harm as he filled the form out.
The man grinned again, revealing strong, healthy teeth. "They're great, CDR, she sends her love and ordered me to make sure you come for lunch this Saturday, Jessica and Matthew have been missing you."
Harm smiled again. "Be glad to, thanks. And I've been missing the two rug rats myself."
"Just nothing Navy related this time, Matt's gonna be real man." jested the Gunny, knowing that it was pointless to ask Harm not to bring any presents for the kids, spoiling them, as Harm would still do it. He loved those kids nearly as they were his own.
Harm mock frowned. "Nothing Navy related? But you said he's gonna be a real man..."
The other man's smile widened, he clearly enjoyed the banter. "Aye, sir, I did." only the fact that they were both on duty prevented him from calling Harm by his first name.
The fake expression of dawning realization appeared on Harm's face. "But that would mean, if he's not gonna be Navy, thus a real man... he would become a land-lubber wuss!"
Mark nodded sagely.
"No!" cried Harm jokingly. "That's a fate worse than death. The poor kid deserves better than to become a Jarhead. He should become a real man, the best of the best, he should become..."
"Don't tell me, sir, he should become a sea-fruit!"
Harm mock glared at him and grumbled. "The word I was going for was Navy."
"Oh." the Gunny faked a chastened and apologetic look.
The two men laughed uproariously again together, used to their bantering after knowing each other for 6 years, while the two others just looked on, confused, slightly irritated by Harm's dissing the Corps. Not that it looked as if Harm cared if anyone objected to his making joke at the Corps.
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