Title: The Truth be Known

Author: rooster dawn

pairing: Harm and Mac

Summary: What would have really happen if Harm took the bull by the horns.

Spoiler: Lifeline to Adrift II

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.

Feedback is greatly appreciated and welcomed.

part 9

1800 hours

Renee had been relieved when Mac called her to tell her that Harm was awake and wanted to see her. Mac told her that Harm was pretty bang up and might be sleepy. She was happy that Harm was alright and had asked for her.

She jumped into her car and drove to Bethesda. When she got there she walked into Harm's room stopping at the door. She saw Trish and Frank sitting there talking to Harm. Trish waved to her to come into the room.

She went over and took a seat by Harm. They exchanged pleasantries before Trish and Frank left the room to give her some privacy with Harm. They knew what was about to happen.

"You alright honey?" asked Renee.

"I'm bang up pretty good. I'll be in bed for the next six weeks recovering from the surgery on my back, hip, and leg." replied Harm.

"Does this mean we can't play Tarzan and Jane?" asked Renee disappointedly.

"It will be a long time before I can do anything like that." shuddered Harm.

"Is there anything I can do or get for you Harm?" asked Renee.

"No Renee, but there is something I have to tell you. I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt you." started Harm.

"Harm, I may be a little disappointed that I won't to be able to engage in any nighttime activities with you, but I can manage to survive for awhile without it. I can wait." whispered Renee before giving him a wet sloppy kiss. She didn't want his parents to hear them talking about sex.

"I don't think you understand Renee. The reason I asked you here today was to tell you that it's over between you and me. We can't be a couple any longer." continued Harm.

"What do you mean Harm? What did I do?" asked Renee with tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"It's nothing that you did or didn't do Renee. I got married last week." continued Harm. He wondered why she was being so dense. Even Harriet would be able to understand what was being said.

"You ... you got married? Who?" asked a puzzled Renee. She couldn't figure out who it could be. It couldn't be Mac, she was marrying Mic. Who? Who could it be?

"It wasn't Skates?"

"No Renee, Mac and I are the ones who got married." replied Harm.

"How's that possible? She wasn't even there. She was at the rehearsal dinner with the rest of us. She ran out of the room sobbing. She needed to be left alone. How's it possible Harm?" asked Renee.

"Mac and I went to Annapolis last week. I asked her to marry me and she said yes. The following day we were married." replied Harm.

Renee was now in a state of shock. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Mac married Harm. She was supposed to be marrying Mic. Harm was suppose to be hers. What happened to change all this? She looked over to Trish and Frank.

"Did you know anything about this?" asked Renee.

"We only found out about it last night after you left. Mac told us they got married after a long discussion." replied Trish.

"I'm sorry Renee." continued Trish. Renee began to cry. She took one more look at Harm and ran out of the room, out of the hospital, and out of Harm's life.

1800 hours

Mac's apartment

After showering and changing her clothes Mac spent some quality time with Chloe explaining to her all the things that had happened the last couple of weeks. She told her about the engagement party, the trip to the beach, the trip to Annapolis, how Harm asked her to marry him and then the wedding.

Chloe sat there quietly and listened, absorbing the story with great interest. She was a little disappointed that she wasn't able to be at the wedding, but she was glad Mac married Harm and not Mic.

She couldn't wait until she got home. What a great story she had for her friends. Later they left to go to Harm's place to get him some additional sleepwear, underwear, and clothes to wear home in a few days before heading over to Mario's Italian Restaurant to get some pasta for take out.

1900 hours

Mac and Chloe went back to the hospital and Harm. Mac pulled out the pasta she had brought back with her. She, Chloe, Harm, Trish, and Frank enjoyed a good meal. When they were finished Mac asked Harm how it went with Renee.

"About as well as can be expected. She really didn't have a clue. She wanted to be supportive, but I told her that it was over. I told her that I had married you. She started crying and ran out of the room." replied Harm.

"I'm sorry Harm. I know she had feelings for you." responded Mac solemnly.

"I cared for her too, but I didn't love her. I only love you." replied Harm as he held her hand and kissed it. Mac leaned over to Harm for a semi passionate kiss.

2200 hours

Mac's apartment

Mac had dropped off Chloe with the Roberts before heading home. She was exhausted and felt the need for a hot soak in the tub. After an hour she walked out of her bathroom after a long relaxing soak in the tub. She dried herself off and putting on her marine tee shirt and sweat pants.

Harm had convinced her that he would be alright for the night and that she should go home and get a good night sleep. She hadn't wanted to because she didn't want to spend another night away from Harm.

But she knew he was right. There was no reason for her to be there. He was out of danger and needed his sleep too. Harm's parents had gone back to their hotel for the night.

She laid back on the couch thinking. Tomorrow she would need to spend some more quality time with Chloe before taking her to the airport. She felt bad that she hadn't spent more time with Chloe, but Harm had needed her more.

And besides, Chloe was a big girl now. She understood why Mac went out to the carrier and why she was spending so much time with Harm. She knew Chloe was very happy for her.

Chloe had told her earlier today that she had some great stories to tell her friends when she got home. She was on cloud nine because Harm and she had finally gotten married.

As she was trying to decide whether or not she should read a book or go to bed, she heard a knock at the door. She moaned to herself as to who could possibly be visiting her at this time of night.

She walked over to the door and look through the peephole. It was Mic. What was he doing here so late? Why couldn't he wait until a better time of the day to visit? She was dreading this confrontation as she opened the door to let him in.

"Hello Mic, what are you doing here? It's kind of late and I'm pretty tired." greeted Mac.

"I needed to talk to you luv. I need to understand why you went out to the carrier yesterday morning after you told me you needed to be alone? I need to understand why you blew me off when I wanted to talk to you Sarah?

I need to understand why you avoided me all day? We were supposed to be getting married yesterday, but you weren't here. You ran off to be with Rabb. Why Sarah? Why? I love you." asked a very confused Mic.

"If you don't understand Mic, then you don't know who I am, which is the main reason why I wasn't there to marry you yesterday. Harm is my best friend. He has always been there for me and I have always been there for him.

Yesterday he needed me to be there for him. Therefore I was. He knows me better than I know myself. He respects me and lets me be who I am and not who he wants me to be." replied Mac.

"I respect you luv. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." replied Mic.

"That leads us to an interesting question Mic. When you first arrived here you kept mentioning to me what you had given up to be here with me, but you were willing to move back to Oz when you couldn't find a job and I hadn't moved the ring over.

Then last month you commented about how I at least get to wear the uniform. I got the distinct impression Mic that sooner or later you would ask me to resign my commission so that you could return to the Aussie navy.

I'm sure at some point in time you would have expected me to leave all my friends and my life to go back with you to be your stay at home wife." responded Mac.

"Would that have been so bad Sarah? I gave up all my friends, family, and the navy to be with you Sarah. Why shouldn't I expect the same from you Sarah? If you loved me like I love you then you would." argued Mic defiantly.

"The difference is Mic, I never asked you to give up anything. You proposed to me when I was in Australia with Harm. I told you then I didn't think it would work. But you force the ring onto my finger which led to worst year of my life as my best friend avoided me.

You drove a giant wedge between us that lasted for a long time. But we finally overcame it. When I look back now over the past year I realized that even though you showed me a lot of wonderful attention, you didn't respect me for who I was.

You seemed to always ignore what I asked of you and did things your own way. I've told you many times I don't like surprises, but you always want to surprise me with things I didn't want.

I've also told you that when I'm mad or upset, I like to be alone to brood and think. That's who I am, but you think that's the time you need to distract me because you want sex." continue Mac.

"But Sarah, I love you. I only want what's best for you." replied Mic on the same theme.

"I know that's what you believe Mic, but in reality I'm just a trophy wife to you. I look good on your arm. You need to be in control of everything. The problem is Mic, I don't like to be control. I like to do what I want, when I want, and with anyone I want." spat Mac.

"You need a brainless twit for a wife, who enjoys being the center of your attention, who doesn't know how to think, and is happy to just be your wife. That just isn't who I am or want to be."

"Come on Sarah, luv. Let's go to bed and make love. We can talk about it some more in the morning." responded Mic as he realized this conversation wasn't going in the direction he wanted it to.

He need to take control. Once he got Mac in the sack, she would forget about everything. She always caved in after a night of good sex. He would be able to get his way in the morning like always after a good night in bed.

"You're right Mic, it's time for me to go to bed. But you're not joining me. I had hoped to talk to you about this tomorrow, but I can see I have no choice but to tell you now. Last week at Annapolis Harm and I got married." stated Mac defiantly.

"What!" yelled Mic in surprised.

"Harm told me how much he loved me. He then asked me to marry him. I knew he meant it because he has a difficult time talking about his feelings. He wouldn't have asked me if he wasn't serious. He wants me to be happy." continued Mac.

"I don't believe you Sarah. You wouldn't do anything so rash like that. I know Rabb doesn't love you, he told me so." replied an angry Mic.

"He has been telling that story to everyone for years Mic. But everyone we have ever met has always made it a point to ask us how long have we been married or been together.

They all tell us they can see how much we love we have for each other. Even you thought that was true when you first arrived and saw us fighting. That's why all our relationships with other people have always failed, because they all knew we were in love with each other." responded Mac sincerely.

"I don't know what to say." replied a despondent Mic, conceding defeat in his mind though he wasn't ready to admit it to Mac.

"Just say congratulations and go home. I'm sorry Mic. I thought I loved you enough to marry you, but I love Harm so much more. I always have and always will." continued Mac hoping that Mic would understand and leave.

"You're right Sarah. I always thought that there was something between you and Rabb. I was too afraid to ask. And quite frankly I didn't want to know. Congratulations Sarah, I wish you the best. Good night." replied Mic as he gave her one final hug and kiss goodbye.

After Mic left it took awhile for Mac to settle down and relax. She felt like calling Harm to hear his voice, but she knew he was probably sleeping. She didn't want to disturb him. She made herself a cup of hot chocolate before retiring for the night.