Title: Do You Believe in Surprise Endings
Author: rooster dawn
Pairing: Harm and anyone who was around at the time
Alternative Universe : Harm and Mac don't work together. They meet at pivotal times in Harm's life.
Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright
infringement intended.
Summary: Harm is a Naval Aviator. With it comes a cocky attitude and the makings of an international playboy. Will his actions catch up to him?
Author's note: Harm and Mac look back on their lives that have gone in opposite directions. They meet again and come to a surprising conclusion.
Author's note 2: Many of the chapters are a reflection of what happened in the character's lives over the last ten years.
Good feedback is good for one's soul and everyone's happiness.
part ten What is the answer
Wednesday
30 Aug 2006
Harm's home
The three months had passed by quickly. Before he knew it Harm was heading back to Washington. Harm figured it would be a short stay. He had only a month left to go before he had his twenty years in.
He would submit his retirement papers to the General, get everything ready to be moved back to San Diego, and say goodbye once and for all to the Navy. His life was no longer about the Navy, it was about his two sons and three daughters.
It also concerned a beautiful Marine colonel that he was hopelessly in love with. He had asked her to marry him before he came back to headquarters. She had said yes. He couldn't wait to get back to San Diego to be with her.
Harm entered his apartment upon his return and saw the answering machine light blinking. He wondered who it might be. He really didn't want to talk to anyone, that is no one but Sarah. His mind was always thinking about her.
He listened to the tape. It was the General. He had something very important to discuss with him as soon as possible. He wanted to see him first thing in the morning. He wondered what could be so important that it couldn't wait a day or two.
Maybe Sarah had spoken to the General on the phone and told him what a wonderful job he had done in assisting her in setting up her command. The thought sent an uneasy queasy feeling to his stomach.
He forced himself to take a deep breath. Calm down sailor, if it hadn't been for this duty assignment he wouldn't have found out about Mike, Henry, Beth, and Heather. He wouldn't have spent so much time with his mother and good friends.
The only thoughts he was going to have were good thoughts. Only thirty more days until he was back in sunny southern California with his children and Sarah. Relax, calm down, good things were coming his way.
Thursday
31 Aug 2006
Headquarters
The next morning Harm went into Jag headquarters to see the General. He wondered if he should have his retirement papers with him, ready to hand to the General or not.
He really didn't see any reason why he should prolong the process. He knew it was what he wanted to do. That is he was ready to get on with the next stage of his life, life after the Navy.
He had five wonderful children he wanted to spend time with. He had missed out on too much of their lives as it was already. He didn't want to miss out on more just because the Navy had been an important part of his life for so long.
He knocked on the door to The General's office. He wondered what the General would say when he told him of his plans to retire. He wondered how much of the truth he would have to tell the General in an effort to explain why he was retiring.
He knew it wasn't going to be easy. He hoped the General would understand and not make a big deal out of it. The last thing he wanted right now was the General making his life difficult.
Harm entered the General's office when he heard the command "Enter!" He walked over to the General's desk and stood at attention.
"At ease Commander, take a seat. I wanted to talk to you about a couple of things before the next staff meeting. First off I wanted to commend you on the fine job you did in assisting Colonel MacKenzie.
I talked with her on the phone last week, she was very impressed with your knowledge of the law, your ability to judge personnel, and your professionalism. She was quite grateful for your assistance in aiding her in her efforts to staff her command.
A copy of her report was forwarded to the SecNav and the CNO. They both agree that you are a worthy candidate for a command of your own. The one we have in mine for you is the Force Judge Advocate Europe.
You would be stationed in London. This is a command that could lead you to becoming the Judge Advocate General in five to ten years. This is a choice assignment Commander." deadpanned the General.
He could see the look of bewilderment on the Commander's face. He was surprised to see it. He thought the Commander would be ecstatic when he heard the news. He wondered what was going on. Why wasn't he happy?
"Commander?" the General addressed Harm in an effort to get a response.
"Sir?" replied Harm.
"I'm surprised that you haven't responded to the good news Commander." answered the General.
"I'm a bit surprised and a little shocked Sir. When Colonel MacKenzie received her command, I just assumed that I had been passed over for command. I had reckoned that the Navy had decided that I wasn't fit for a command position.
I thought I had topped out and would never make Captain. I pretty much figured my career was over. I would put my twenty years in and retire quietly to the civilian sector.
To be quite honest with you Sir, I was trying to figure out when was the best time I should hand my retirement papers to you. I had contemplated giving them to you this morning when I walked in here Sir." Harm tried to explain.
"That's nonsense Commander, you have an excellent record, both as a lawyer and as a naval aviator. It's not often that an officer succeeds in one area, but you have done so in two completely different specialties.
There was never a question whether or not you were command material, but where would be the best place to utilize your excellent skills as a leader. The CNO, SecNav, and I have spent the last three months trying to figure out what the best solution was.
Your excellent negotiating skills and dedication to the truth above everything else led us to believe the Force Judge Advocate position was the best place for you. We need your skills to deal with the possible political ramifications that US policy tends to stir up with our European allies.
The Navy needs you now more than ever before. You are one of the best young minds in the military. With all the military conflicts going on throughout the world we need you in a command position.
Many of our European counterparts have great respect for your abilities Commander. They all have given you high praise in your handling of sensitive cases in European courts over the years, particularly when the SecNav appeared before the European high court.
You treated their charges with great respect even though many people in the states thought the charges were a joke. You dealt with the charges on their terms and you were successful. We need you Commander." informed the General.
"This is quite a surprise Sir. Three months ago I would have jumped at the opportunity, but so much has happened in my life since then Sir. Many of my priorities have change. The Navy isn't as important to me today as it was a few years ago." began Harm as he tried to explain.
"Does this have something to do with your wife's death a year ago?" asked the General.
"In a way Sir. I found out recently that I have children from a previous relationship that I didn't know about. I have missed so much of their lives already, I don't want to miss any more of their lives if I can help it.
Plus Cassandra, my daughter, has bonded with her new siblings. They have helped her get over the lost of her mother. I don't want to separate her from them and I don't think she would take it very well if she were to be leaving them Sir." replied Harm.
"Anyone I know Commander?" asked the General fearing that he knew the answer to the question he had asked.
"Possibly Sir, they live in San Diego near my mother, she lives in La Jolla." sighed Harm.
"Family is important Commander, but it is no reason not to take a command that's going to advance your career. All military men with families have had to deal with this, it's a part of military life.
I can't begin to tell you how many years I have missed out on with my family because I was assigned to a combat position where I couldn't take them. Your family will understand. In fact there will be housing for you and any family you might have.
I can give you a few days to talk with anybody that might be affected by your move, but I'm going to need an answer by the end of next week Captain. I hope you make the right decision." offered the General.
"Yes Sir." replied Harm.
Harm returned to his office. He wondered what he was going to do now. One would think it was a no brainer, at least from the General's perspective. It clearly was the best possible position and command he could ever hope for.
It was a position that included a promotion to Captain. It usually entailed a three to five year commitment, it could lead to being the next JAG of the Navy/Marines. It wasn't a command position one turned down and stayed in the Navy.
Seven of the last eight JAGs had held this position at some point in their career before becoming the JAG. What was he going to do? How could he possibly give up this opportunity? If he didn't though, he would have to give up time with his family, the family he had just discovered.