"They Can't Take That Away From Me" 1/3

By Rita Widmer

Disclaimer: If missing this dear show very much means I own it than I do, but legally that's not good enough. Obviously I don't own it. Also the song belongs to the writers George and Ira Gershwin, and originally sung by Fred Astaire in the movie "Shall We Dance" which it was nominated for an Oscar.

Rating: PG

Summary: A look back at moments between our favorite couple, Harm and Mac, through their own words.

Author's Note: I want to thank all of you who have read my stories for your support. I know I will never be remembered as one of the star writers for this fandom, but I hope I still brought a little joy to those who did read them.

Enjoy this little trip down memory lane for Harm and Mac with scenes that I have made up for them. It takes place during the series finale leading up to the proposal scene.

**** = Flashback

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The orders were given and taken. It was an end to an era for two people who had been everything to each other, but the one thing they desired the most, lovers. Nine years had passed between them with good and bad times.

Even in the worst of times they knew they would never have given up a moment of it. They may have wanted to change a few things, and they were both to blame sometimes one person more than the other. They now wanted to remember those good times before they went their separate ways on that bumpy road of love.

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Mac stared at the picture before her. It was one of her earliest memories between her and Harm. She had always known this day would come when she had to say good-bye to Harm and her dreams, but she had never expected the shortness of time or the distance that would be between them.

Turning back to her album, she couldn't help but smile.

**** Mac watched as Harm walked towards her with a frown on his face, but in his eyes was a hint of mischievousness. She was in a very good mood after the game. JAG had been split up into two teams, and her team had won thanks to a very close homerun by no other than Harmon Rabb Jr. However, she, Sarah Mackenzie wasn't going to allow a homerun by anyone especially not Harm. With a smile, she knew she was going to feel the crash with the fence tomorrow, but it had saved the game for her team making it all worth it.

"Nice catch," Harm said with that same frown on his face.

"Thank you, you should never have underestimated a Marine especially when it comes to playing against Squids," she answered with a smirk.

His mouth twitched at her comment. "I'll remember that next time." He finally let his flyboy smile out

Then the totally unexpected happened. He popped her hat down so it hung over her eyes so she could only see the ground below her.

"Come on, Mac, you owe me dinner," Harm said laughter in his voice.

She heard him take a few steps, but she still didn't move. She heard him come back to her. He lifted her hat half way up so he could look into her eyes, and he was now on the receiving end of the Marine glare.

He raises his hands up in surrender, her hat still skewed, he tried to sound fearful, "Now Mac, it was just a little joke. No harm done."

She straightens her hat, and looked him straight in the eye, and in a low quiet but stern voice said, "You better run, Squid."

He moved slowly backwards, and with an evil gleam she moved to chase after him. He turned and pretended to run away. The chase began, and just off field he let her catch him. They fell to the ground in one big lump, laughing hard.

Their laughter died away after a moment, and to break the tension that seemed to join them, Harm said with a wink, "You should wear your hat like that more often." ****

The photographer had captured them at that moment, all wrapped together and laughing. Mac laughed at the memory, but she felt the prickle of tears. She had missed those times.

She got up, and went to make herself some tea before she would continue her look through the album. As she was walking out again, she felt herself falling back into another flashback.

**** Mac smiled at Harm as she reentered her living room with two cups of tea. "I hope you like this brand. It was all I could find in my drawer." She sat down on the couch at a friendly distance from Harm.

Harm took the offered tea, and took a sip. "It tastes fine, much better than your coffee," he said with a smirk.

"You just don't enjoy the finer things in life."

"If you say so, Marine." It was then he noticed how she was sipping her tea. He watched her for a moment before asking, "Do you always drink your tea that way?"

"What way?" she asked innocently.

"That way." He pointed at her while she did it again.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing, but I have never seen someone do it that way."

She smiled up at him and laughed at his going overboard at the simple action of sipping tea. Knowing how it was getting to him, she did it again. She usually only did it once at the beginning to test the tea's temperature and the taste, but Harm's reaction made her want to keep doing it.

She watched Harm stare at her as she brings the warm tea up to her lips once more, and darts her tongue out just slightly to get a taste. Looking up into his now almost bulging eyes, she states, "Let's get going on this defense. We can't have Bud beating our butts tomorrow in court." Picking up a file, she studiously got to work.

After a moment, she notices Harm does too after a little shake of the head. ****

Mac sits down and tests out her tea, and picks up the album. Scanning through the many pictures, her eyes stop at the picture of her and Harm at her engagement party to Mic. For a party neither looked too happy.

**** They had one last chance to meet out on the porch that night after the intense kiss they had shared. It was an accidental meeting, but there were more things that needed to be said.

"Are we going to lose all those memories, Mac?" Harm asked, not looking at her but into space.

"Only if we let it happen. As long as we hold on to them they will always be a part of us."

"I can't let go of them, no matter how hard I've tried."

"Why have you tried?"

"You know why, Sarah. It's the reason why we are celebrating your engagement to Mic and not to me."

"We are both at fault for that, Harm. Just do one thing for me, please?"

"Anything," Harm said, finally looking at her.

"Remember the good times, because I'll always hold them dear and I hope you will too."

"Always."

That word held so many meanings to her heart, but it was a bittersweet thought. She felt like she was saying good-bye when a wedding shouldn't mean good-byes. ****

A couple of weeks later, Mac had almost come to the conclusion they had said good-bye when she feared Harm would die in the frigid ocean. He didn't, but it would take a lot of trial and error before they would get themselves straightened out and their friendship back on track.

TBC…(Harm's memories next)