A/N: Couple of weeks ago, Radiorox asked what songs made us think of Harm and Mac. For some reason, Toto's "Africa" popped into my head. In the show, our dynamic duo never went there, but it wasn't the location that made me think of them. Some of the lyrics resonated with I believe may have gone through Harm's mind.
In true writer fashion, an idea found its way into my head, and I couldn't let it go. The story is set two years after the series ended. Mac went to San Diego, Harm to London.
If you're a Mattie fan, sorry but she does not appear in this story. I didn't care for the direction the last two seasons went. IMO, Mac and Harm should have gotten together in Paraguay. There would have been no need for Harm to join the CIA, let alone taking a job as a crop duster.
Really what were the writers thinking? In any case, I don't see the need for Harm to be tied to the encumbrance of raising a teenager.
Okay, I'll stop ranting and get on with the story!
I've never been inside Heathrow Airport, so forgive me if I have the logistics wrong.
Disclaimer: Don't own them, just borrowing for a while.
Reflections
London, United Kingdom
May 25, 2007
2250 Local
Captain Harmon Rabb, Jr. rushed through the doors of Terminal Three at London's Heathrow Airport. His tendency of never being on time hadn't changed over the years, but tonight he cursed himself for his lateness.
Mac's flight was scheduled to land twenty minutes ago. Two years earlier, they finally admitted their love for one another. Two long years had passed since he last saw her. Two agonizing years since he'd allowed the woman he loved to walk out of his life.
As he made his way toward baggage claim, he glanced at one of the incoming flight monitors and said a silent prayer of thanks when he saw the flight was delayed and not expected for another forty-five minutes. The extra time would enable him to meet her at the gate. This meeting was too crucial, too important, for him to mess up. He'd done that too many times in the past.
He chose a seat as far away from others as possible. The last thing he wanted was to become involved in idle conversation. Worse yet, for some woman to attempt to latch onto him. Even though his forty-fourth birthday was in a few months, he still didn't have trouble attracting members of the opposite sex. The last thing he needed was for Mac to get off the plane and see a long-legged blonde by his side.
As he sat there waiting, he thought back to the many times he'd screwed things up with her.
The first time was on the Watertown.
How did we get to this point anyway?
I guess we were due. We have been on a honeymoon of late.
Are you saying this was inevitable?
I don't know. But I think maybe we should talk about it. You know, there might be deeper issues.
I am not going there with you. This is not a marriage, okay.
What? Do you have a better idea?
Yeah, let's get through it. We have an investigation to conduct.
In typical Rabb fashion, he turned away. Everything had to be for the good of the Navy. Duty first. Damn the fact he might have a personal life. Fortunately for him, their friendship got back on track. It took a deranged corpsman trying to kill them. They ended up saving each other's lives.
But in a few short months, he left JAG to return to flying. His time away all but destroyed their friendship. She'd given him another opportunity to make things right the day he left.
Did you think you'd sneak away without saying goodbye?
Well, why goodbye and not good luck?
Didn't I say that to you once, when I was stupid enough to leave JAG?
Yes, you did. You said you were happy for me.
I was. But that was different. You were in love.
And you're not? What does love have to do with anything?
Why couldn't he admit his feelings for her? And why had he taken time to email her more often? Once again, he used the Navy for his excuse. He had to work hard to get back into a fighter squadron, and he'd be damned if he was going to screw up again. So his personal life took a back burner. Yes, he was a bit hurt that Mac didn't tell him about her promotion. And truth be told, he was a little envious she was promoted before him. Admiral Chegwidden had warned him going back to flying was career suicide. He was grateful the man accepted him back at JAG and that the Navy saw fit to promote him a few short months later.
He had to get his footing again. The closeness he once shared with Mac was gone. She was tight with Brumby, and the smug Australian was hot on her scent. So, he did the only thing he knew to do—try to reconcile with Jordan. It was his bad luck Mac had walked into his office and overheard him leaving the message.
When Brumby returned to the land down under, Harm hoped things would get better between him and Mac. But the Aussie wasn't giving up, continuing to call and email her, encouraging her to visit. It didn't take a genius to tell she was disappointed when Brumby asked for him and Bud to investigate the matter of Petty Officer Kevin Lee.
Mac managed to find a way to make the trip. Harm guessed she was eager to see Brumby. But then there was the disastrous ferry ride.
Didn't know Webb was multilingual.
Maybe he's not. Both women were stunning, though.
Are you saying that a man doesn't need to understand a woman as long as she's beautiful?
Look, even speaking the same language, what man understands a woman?
You're referring to me. Let me guess. You don't understand why I went to the beach with Mic.
That Opera House is really beautiful, isn't it?
Smashing. So, what bothered you? That I went to the beach with him, or that you thought I was topless?
You weren't?
Harmon Rabb, you are a prude.
I am not. Look, I don't care if you wanna go topless.
You do if it's in front of Mic.
You work with the guy, Mac. You wouldn't go topless in front of me, would you?
Is that a request?
You know, they wrote Eternity on this bridge in lights on New Year's Eve.
Is that how long we're gonna wait?
Mac. We're not in Washington. We're not even on the same continent.
Location doesn't change who we are.
Most men would disagree with you.
I know. I disagree with me sometimes too.
But you still can't let go.
Not yet.
You're just this way with me, aren't you?
Yeah. Only with you.
I suppose I should be flattered.
You should, Sarah.
Two days later, she showed up at the airport wearing that damned Aussie's ring on her right hand. Then, when Mic showed up in Washington, having reserved his commission, Harm knew it was only a matter of time before he lost her forever. Harm had come close to telling her his feelings the night of her engagement party.
Mac, you have someone who will always love you.
And you have somebody that loves you.
We're getting too good at saying goodbye.
Why couldn't he have just come out and said, "I love you, Mac. Don't marry Mic. We belong together." No, he had to do the honorable thing and let her make her own decision.
Him crashing the Tomcat in the Atlantic seemed to be the catalyst that ended Mac's engagement. He recalled her words the day the JAG crew showed up to see him at Bethesda.
Mac, I'm sorry I missed the wedding.
You didn't.
Really? Now I'm really sorry. Have you set another date?
Don't worry about it. It's the least of our concerns.
There was no love lost between him and Mic Brumby, but Harm knew what he would have felt had the situation been reversed. Having your fiancée put a "friend" before her marriage spoke volumes. The night Mic went back to Australia was another missed opportunity. Yes, Renee had shownup after her father's unexpected death. And instead of talking things out with Mac, he'd comforted Renee, telling himself it was the honorable thing to do.
There were other missed opportunities—on the Guadalcanal, during the Jagathon, Paraguay… But nothing compared to their last night together before leaving DC.
Mac had come to him, bearing her soul. She'd had the courage to lay it on the line—something he'd never seemed to be able to do—even though he had good intentions three days earlier.
We both knew this day might happen.
Your elevation to greatness?
Our separation. San Diego's what, about six-thousand miles from London?
Five thousand four hundred eighty-nine. Ten and a half hours flying time.
A lot of decisions need to be made. And I'm not talking about staffing decisions.
We have three days, Captain.
When she came to him that night, he told her he loved her. Even asked her to marry him. She accepted. Then, he made a colossal mistake…
