Michi - It's hard to believe.
Carol - What?
Michi - That we finished it.
Carol - Yeah.
Michi – It has been a strange trip.
Carol - It has.
Michi - We should probably get to the FF soon.
Carol - Which one is it again?
Michi - TDDUP.
Carol - The Donald Duck Unquackalbe Predicament. I didn't think we were done with that one.
Michi – No, the other TDDUP.
Carol - The Dynamic Duo and Universal Parking.
Michi - Don't make me hit you.
Carol - The Desperate Drivers Usersguide to Potholes
Michi – Gum! Get me the bat!
Carol - (Smirks) If you give me some time I can come up with some for TTEOAS.
Michi - (To readers) Enjoy the following note. While Gum and I hurt her.
Carol - The Devil's Dark and Ugly Potholder.
Michi - Batter up.
Title – ...Till Death Does Us Part – Chapter IV (The Conclusion)
Authors' Names - Carol and Michi or Michi and Carol
Rating – GS/IM15 (More information: Michi's web site)
Paring – Harmand Mac
Spoilers – …Till Death Does Us Part – Chapter I, II & III. The Series started in Season 9, when Harm was still working for the CIA. Everything after that never happened in our JAG world. Mattie doesn't exist in our JAG world as well.
Disclaimer – JAG belongs to DPB, CBS, and Paramount.
Summary- This is the fourth and last chapter of the …Till Death Does Us Part Series. When great minds think alike and To Be Or Not To Be is no longer the question…
Authors Notes-
1. "It's done. This is the last chapter of our first series, and I'm saying goodbye to it with a laughing and a crying eye. It was a heck of experience and I've learned a lot through these months. Thanks to all the JAG FF readers for their support, patience, and enthusiasm. In addition, thanks to my co-partner and friend Carol. You rock, girl!" – Michi
2. "I just keep going back to the e-mail I sent Michi with the very first part of TDDUP with a note saying 'wouldn't this be funny' and 400 pages later we finally have the end of our story. It's bitter-sweet. I'm watching something that was such an integral part of my life leave. Something that brought many things into my life, when I was losing so much. The readers have been the best through parts of this story, thank you for being here. But this would have been nothing without the wonder and kind Michi. Girl, I don't know what I would have done without you in this and in everything else. Thank you so much for being there. You are the best. - Carol"
3. A special thanks goes to our beta-reader Vered. Thanks, girl! You rock!
4. We used AP (Author Privilege) a few times in this chapter.
5. Need to refresh your memory? The first three parts are among others at Carol's website and at Michi's website.
6.Feedback is always welcome.
7. We do not own JAG. But if DPB wants to give JAG to us, we'll take it and have some playing with all the characters. ("I wonder how flexible the new guy is?"- Carol "You're sick and twisted." – Michi "What? We didn't say how we were going to play with them."- Carol)
Michi – (drops the bat) Now what does TDDUP mean?
Carol - Thesauruses of Dastardly Deeds and Unexpected People.
Gum – I say we hit her harder. I know Shoe will help.
Michi – The last time Shoe helped her, she got an evil idea.
Gum – It was a good idea though.
Michi – Whose side are you on?
Gum – The left side. See you're left hand is next to me, therefore I'm on the left. See Shoe standing on your right.
Shoe – (waves) Hi.
Michi – I need some chocolate. (drops the bat and walks away)
Carol – Tremors! Doodle Ducky's Unexperiment Potion.
Gum and Shoe – (drum roll) And on to the FF! Happy reading.
...Till Death Does Us Part Chapter IV (The Conclusion) – Part 1/12
Monday August 22
JAG HQ
Falls Church, Virginia
7:57 AM
Harm looked over at Mac. "You okay?"
Mac gave him a nervous grin. "I'm just worried about what's going to happen."
"Everything is going to be fine," Harm told her calmly.
"I know. I'm just worried that…"
They stepped into the elevator before the doors shut. Harm grasped one of Mac's hands into his and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Don't be. AJ's going to figure something out. Even if it involves shipping me or you somewhere."
"I don't want you or me to go anywhere," Mac said with a little frightened tone in her voice.
"I know and I don't want that either. But if I have to leave JAG, I will. Our marriage and family mean more to me than my job and I know you feel the same way."
Mac leaned over and gave Harm a kiss on the cheek. Harm chuckled when she then wiped the lipstick off of his face. "Yes, I do. I love you," Mac whispered.
"I love you, too." Harm leaned over and kissed her lips softly. "And besides, when AJ rips into us, I'll just think about my happy place."
"Your happy place?"
"Yeah, but I can't decide which one is happier. Yesterday afternoon on the couch or this morning in the shower?"
Mac started to blush and stared directly at him. "I'm kind of partial to last night." Harm flashed her a sexy grin before the doors opened.
"That smile can get us in trouble," Mac told him and tried to have a stern look on her face.
"I know." Harm sobered up and put on a straight face as they walked down the hall to the bullpen.
Harm held the door open for Mac when Coates walked past the door and saw them. "Good morning, Ma'am, Sir. The Admiral said to go straight in."
Mac and Harm exchanged an uneasy glance. "Thank you, Jennifer." Mac smiled. "Could you please place these in our offices?"
Coates nodded her head and took their covers and briefcases. She walked to their offices as Harm and Mac went towards AJ's office.
AJ looked through his doorway to see the couple preparing to walk in. "Enter and close the hatch."
They entered and stood at attention in front of AJ's desk. AJ looked at them. He'd spent the entire weekend trying to figure this one out. He was glad when Mac told him on the phone about their decision to stay married, but it did put him into a minor predicament. "Have you two told anyone yet?"
"No, Sir," they both responded.
"I'm the only one who knows?" AJ asked.
"You and our lawyers, Sir," Harm said.
"Sit down," AJ commanded. "Do you two have any idea what kind of place you've put me into?" Before they could answer he continued. "You two are damn lucky I had a very interesting phone call last night."
"Phone call, Sir?" Harm asked astonished with a slightly raised eyebrow. "May I ask what it was about and with whom you talked?"
"You may, Commander, since it will affect you the most…," the Admiral started to respond when the intercom buzzed and interrupted him. "Yes, Coates, send him in. Here's your answer, Rabb."
A second later there was a knock at the door. "Enter," Chegwidden hollered.
"Hello, Admiral," the visitor said. "Harm, Sarah."
Harm and Mac looked confused at him before they looked at each other and finally at their CO. Harm was the first one who broke the silence. "Sir, I don't think I understand."
"He has a job to offer you, Commander," Chegwidden told him dryly.
"You've got to be kidding…," Harm started to say angrily but faltered as he remembered to who he was talking to. "…Sir. Sorry, Sir, but I don't want to think that me working for the CIA again is the best and only option we have," Harm told his CO.
"No, Harm, it's not the only option you two have here. But believe me, the job Webb has to offer you is the best one," AJ answered confidently.
AJ had been surprised when he got the call from Webb on Sunday. AJ had thought Harm and Mac had spoken with Webb about their problems, but they didn't. Apparently it was a pure coincidence that Webb had a job to offer Harm at the same time as Harm and Mac decided to stay married.
Harm didn't know what to say and looked confused at Mac. She hadn't had any type of reaction, neither visible nor audible, which Harm could read. However, when he looked at her, he could see she'd observantly studied their CO and Webb. He could read in her eyes that she somehow trusted their friends enough to know that what they had to offer couldn't be that bad.
Finally Mac's eyes met his and they started one of their silent conversations with their eyes before she nodded at him and mouthed 'hear them out.'
Harm nodded and turned to Webb. "Okay, Clay, tell me more about this job."
Before Clay started to tell Harm about the job he gave him a thick sealed envelope. "Here. You can find all the information about the offer in here. And don't worry; this has nothing to do with the CIA. Take your time. Read the papers and let me know if you're interested or not. The SECNAV told me that he needs an answer by Wednesday. Should there be something unclear about the job, you can give me a call as well."
Harm took the envelope from Clay and nodded. "Thanks, Clay. I'll call you Tuesday evening at the latest."
"Got it. Well I have to go. Talk to you later. Admiral, Sarah," Clay said and walked out of the Admiral's office while Harm and Mac stood again at attention in front of their CO.
"At ease, you two," AJ said softly.
"Sir, since the SECNAV apparently knows about this offer, does that mean Harm and I don't have to fear any charges?" Mac asked worriedly. She was still afraid that she and Harm would be charged because the Navy thought they both had lied and intentionally misled it by not telling about their marriage. The fear had controlled them and their feelings for months, and it wasn't easy to let go of it.
"No, Mac, there won't be any charges. After I talked with Webb last night I called the SECNAV and fortunately he believes that this was all a misunderstanding and not an intentional lie. He told me the offer still stands open; now even more than before. Webb was apparently able to convince Sheffield to be open to the idea and your situation," AJ answered.
"Thank you, Sir," Harm and Mac said at the same time.
"If that's all, you're dismissed."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
They walked out of AJ's office and Mac followed Harm into his office. He took his briefcase and put the envelope in it. "I guess these papers will have to wait, since I'm already late. I have a meeting in Norfolk," Harm told her gently.
"Don't worry, Harm. This can wait until tonight," Mac responded softly.
"You're not worried about all this, are you? I can see it in your eyes."
"No, for some reason I'm not worried at all. Since AJ told us it was the best offer, I'm sure it will be okay," Mac explained. "I just wished we both could still work together at JAG. But then again, we both knew it wouldn't work like that. It was clear one of us would have to go and we agreed to accept the fate." Mac chuckled softly.
They both had a lot of time over the weekend to cope with the outcome of their decision. Both of them had agreed that they would do anything to be together; to be married and to be a family.
"That we did," Harm answered with a chuckle and closed his briefcase. "Everything will be okay, Sarah," Harm said softly and sighed. "Damn, I wish I could kiss you now."
Mac took his hand and squeezed it. "We have the whole night for that. Do you know how long you'll be in Norfolk?"
"Not sure, but I should be home for dinner. Do you want me to get something on my way home?"
"How about some salad from the restaurant we ate lunch in yesterday?" Mac asked.
"Salad? Are you going healthy on me, Colonel?" Harm asked with a smirk.
"No, I'm not. I simply liked the salad, that's all. I may be married to a Rabb, but I'm not a rabbit," Mac answered dryly before she couldn't hide her grin anymore.
"I don't know. Sometimes we for sure…," Harm started to reply with a raised eyebrow.
"Harmon Rabb Junior!" Mac stopped him with a quiet stern voice while looking around to be sure that nobody had overheard their conversation.
"Okay, okay. Salad it is. See you tonight," Harm said and gave her hand a final squeeze. They hadn't even noticed that they were still holding hands and were glad their hands were out of the sight for the entire bullpen.
"See ya. And be careful," Mac told him gently before she let go of his hands to let him walk out of the door.
Monday August 22
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
7:34 PM
It felt so good to be home again. So far it was a very good day for Harm. The new case he worked on was a winner, and this morning it seemed like his life would finally calm down and everything would work out for him and his little family.
"Mac?" Harm called when he walked through the door into the kitchen. But he didn't get an answer. He walked through the first floor. Since he couldn't find her, he walked upstairs to see if she was getting Ty ready for bed.
However, when he opened the door to Ty's room she wasn't there as well. "Mac?" Harm called once more.
"Bathroom," Mac called back.
Harm put down his briefcase and made his way to the master bathroom. The closer he got to the bathroom the louder he could hear the laughing and giggling from his son and Mac.
When he opened the door, he smiled at one of the most beautiful sights in front of him. "Well hello, you two. You're having a great time I can see," Harm said with a smile and walked to the bathtub.
Mac was sitting in the tub and held Ty in front of her. They were playing with his yellow duck and a blue boat. Both of them had huge smiles on their faces, which showed him how much fun they had.
"Dada," Ty squeaked happily while kicking his feet.
"Hey, Buddy." Harm got down on his knees and kissed his son's forehead before giving Mac a sweet kiss on her lips. "Hi, Honey, I've missed you."
"I missed you, too," Mac answered tenderly. "What do ya think? Want to join us, Sailor?"
"I would love to," Harm said before he started to get undress. Mac moved forward a little bit so Harm could slide into the tub behind her. When he was seated, she moved back again so she could lie with her back against his torso. Together they watched their son splashing around and playing happily with his toys.
"Have you read the papers yet?" Mac asked quietly after a short time of silence.
"No, not yet. I thought we could do it together," Harm answered gently and started to massage her shoulder.
"Sure, I would love to. Let's eat dinner before we're getting Ty ready for bed. After that we can sit down, enjoy some quiet music and look at them together," Mac suggested.
"Great idea," Harm kissed her left shoulder and earlobe before he continued with the gently massage and watched his playing and giggling son in front of them.
End Part 1