Title: New Trials and Tribulations
Author: rooster dawn
Classification: Harm/Mac
Spoilers: season seven
Disclaimers: The characters of JAG are the property of Donald Bellisario and Bellisarius Production, Inc. Used without permission. No copyright infringement intended. May be reproduce if unchanged, author given full credit, and no financial transaction is involved.
Summary: Bud goes to the Seahawk. Harm and Mac prosecute. Tragedy strikes with many fallouts.
Good feedback is good for the soul and my happiness.
part one Harm and Mac go to Afghanistan
1400 hours
1 May 2002
Admiral's office
The Admiral had just gotten off the telephone with the SecNav. A very important member of Al Qaeda had been apprehended and being held on the Seahawk. The Navy was going to conduct a Tribunal on the Aircraft Carrier Seahawk.
Webb had been interrogating the terrorist for the last few days. He would have all the pertinent information they needed when the Jag personnel arrived. The Admiral called Harm and Mac into his office. After they were seated the Admiral inform them of the situation.
"The third highest member of the Al Qaeda has been apprehended and is awaiting trial on the Seahawk. I'm sending the two of you to the Seahawk to prosecute him." began the Admiral.
"Who will be defending him Sir." asked Harm curiously. It didn't sound like a job he wanted to do.
"Commander Turner and myself." replied the Admiral.
"Why Sir?" asked Mac. Why would he put himself into the media spotlight for a terrorist?
"Because we want to show the world that we are serious in prosecuting terrorism, but also that they will have the best available defense too. We have to ensure that he will get a fair trial." continued the Admiral.
"Any more questions? If not you're dismiss. We are leaving at 1000 hours tomorrow morning out of Norfolk." finished the Admiral.
2000 hours
Harm's Apartment
Harm and Mac left JAG early to go home and get ready for their trip. They anticipated they would be away for at least two weeks. Harm invited Mac over for dinner so that they could go over their plans to prosecute the terrorist.
Harm was busy in the kitchen when the door bell rang. He had set the table with the good china. He had also put candles and flowers on the table and had soft music playing in the background for ambience.
Harm went to the door to let Mac in. Mac looked up when the door open and gave Harm a big smile.
"I'm not too early am I?" asked Mac as she greeted Harm.
"Come in Mac. Dinner is almost ready." smiled Harm as he greeted her.
"It smells good Harm what are we having?" asked Mac as Harm took her coat to hang it up.
"We're having vegetarian lasagna, salad, bread sticks, and chicken parmesan." smiled Harm. "You look very nice Mac, is that a new outfit?"
"Thank you Harm. Yes it is, and you don't look so bad yourself. Do we have time to talk about the case before diner?" asked Mac.
"About fifteen minutes." replied Harm.
"There really isn't too much we can talk about until we get there. All the important information about the case is on the Seahawk with Bud." commented Mac.
"True, but we can assume that the Admiral will pull out all the tricks he has in his bag in an effort to defend the Terrorist. We have to consider all the possible defense strategies." smiled Harm.
They both then yelled out "first chair!" before smiling. Harm took a coin out of his pocket. He flip the coin. He wasn't paying much too attention to what he was doing.
Mac looked so gorgeous, that it was very difficult for him to focus on anything else but her. Mac yelled out "Tails!" as the coin ended up under the table. Harm and Mac both went down onto their hands and knees to look under the table. They bumped their heads in an effort to see who won the toss.
"Ouch! Heads, you win. You're first chair Harm." moaned Mac.
"I'll be gentle." smiled Harm.
"Don't be gentle, be good." Mac said to Harm.
"I can be gentle and good." replied Harm as he took Mac's face with his right hand and gave Mac a passionate kiss. After dinner they retired to the bedroom for some nighttime activities.
0800 hours
4 May
on the Seahawk
After a long and tedious trip the JAG contingent finally arrived on board the Seahawk. They were anxious to get going. Bud was there to greet them upon their arrival. Bud had assigned Ensign Brown to take them to their quarters.
Ensign Brown dropped the Admiral off first. He had a large single room due his high rank. Sturgis was assigned to bunk with Bud during the duration of his stay. Harm and Mac were surprised when they were given the same quarters.
"What's the matter Sir?" asked the young Ensign a little surprised.
"They don't usually have men and women bunking together in the same quarters Ensign." replied Harm.
"Sorry Sir, but we have very limited space available. There were only two available quarters for JAG personnel. All the other quarters are full due to the attention of this trial." responded the Ensign.
"I understand from Lieutenant Roberts that the two of you go away together a lot on assignments. This isn't anything new for you is it Sir?"
"What are you implying Ensign?" questioned Harm.
"Nothing Sir." replied Ensign Brown as he realized what he had said. He didn't say anything more.
After the Ensign left Harm turned to Mac and said "Remind me to have a talk with Bud and his loose lips."
"What's the matter Harm, you don't want to hot bunk with a marine." teased Mac.
"It's not that and you know it. It's the feed back from the Admiral and Sturgis that I'm worried about when they find out we're bunking in the same cabin." responded Harm.
"Then don't say anything Harm. They're going to be too busy defending their client to worry about whether or not we're sleeping together." smiled Mac.
Harm looked down at her and gave her a kiss.
"What would I do without you?" smiled Harm as he shook his head.
"Hopefully you're not going to find out anytime soon." smile Mac.
As they thought the trial lasted about ten days. They spent a couple of days preparing for the case before going to trial. Harm and Mac took turns hammering home the prosecution's case.
The Admiral and Turner fought hard and diligently in their effort to defend their client, but were no match for the dynamic duo. Turner came away very impressed.
This had been the first time he had seen Harm and Mac working in the courtroom together as a team. He couldn't believe how good they worked together. All the things he had ever heard about them were true, they were the best. He went over to them after the trial to congratulate them.
"Nice job Commander, Colonel. I had heard that you two work well together, but you were much better than I expected. It's no wonder why you both are considered the best team in all of JAG." grinned Turner.
"Thank you Sturgis. You and the Admiral did a good job with what little you had to work with." replied Mac.
"I don't know about that Colonel. I've work with and against the two of you in the last year. I knew you both were good lawyers, but the way you both work together on this case, it just blew me away. I don't think it's possible to beat the two of you together." replied Turner as he shook his head in amazement.
"Thanks Sturgis, but remember we've been working together for over five years. We know how to argue a case between us that allows us to be very prepare to handle anything that comes our way. We also know how to get the opposition to do our job for us too." smiled Harm.
"It's our secret weapon." laughed Mac.
"We give the appearance that we are fighting each other, but in reality we are only hashing out all the possibilities. It gives the opposition a false sense of optimism." continued Mac.
"So what's this I hear, the two of you are hot bunking together. How'd you managed that Commander?" asked Turner with a large grin.
"You heard about that did you. Does the Admiral know?" asked Harm.
"If he does he didn't hear it from me." replied Turner.
"Bud put us together. He figure that it wouldn't look good if the Admiral was bunking with Mac. And he knows Bobbie is the jealous type. Bobbie has always envied Mac for spending so much time with me. Bud also likes you Sturgis. He wants you and Bobbie to be together." smiled Harm.
"So this had nothing to do with you and Mac being in love with each other?" replied Turner.
"No Sturgis, this has to do with no room at the inn. Get your mind out of the gutter." smiled Harm.
0900 hours
13 May
JAG Headquarters
After the trial was over the Admiral and Turner returned to JAG. The Admiral was first greeted by Lieutenant Singer who he had left in charge of the administration side of JAG. She gave him a full report of all that was accomplished while he was gone including holding a fire drill.
Fifteen minutes later he was greeted by Lieutenant Sims. Who began her conversation with the Admiral by sucking up telling him how much he was miss. (Yeah right, when the cat is away, the mice get to play) Then she went on complaining about Singer. The Admiral had to stop her after a few minutes.
"Lieutenant Sims, enough. I left her in charge because she needs experience being in command. I left clear instructions with her about what I expected from her. She did exactly as I directed. I will not except this attitude and back stabbing from you Lieutenant. You're too good of an officer, I thought better of you." bellowed the Admiral.
"Yes Sir." sniveled Harriet.
"I know you miss your husband, but you need to learn to control yourself and not take it out on others. Do you understand Lieutenant?" demanded the Admiral.
"Yes Sir." wailed Harriet.
