Title: What They Say Isn't True
Author: rooster dawn
pairing: Harm and Mac
spoilers: Tangle Webb II and some other episodes of season nine.
Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Harm and Mac deal with the repercussions of Paraguay and a new woman in Harm's life.
Feed back is always appreciated, it's how we grow.
part 13
Sturgis had spent the last twenty minutes sitting there listening. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had seen the article. He had just finished reading the magazine article.
He shook his head in amazement as he began to realize that all the rumors he had heard over the last few years were in fact true. He had to admit Harriet was right on about this one too.
Whatever you do, don't ever get in the middle of Harm and Mac when they were fighting. The only one who will get hurt is you. All one could do is stand back and let them work it out themselves.
All interfering did was prolong the agony of the group as they fought.
He sighed. He couldn't believe it, but he was very happy for them. He knew that they both had been in love with each other for a long time,
but they were too afraid to lose each other instead of trying to see if they could have everything they wanted. Good for them he thought. Harm and Mac excused themselves from the Admiral and Sturgis.
It was time for them to do some dancing, something Harm never got enough of when it came to Mac. He loved having her in his arms. Dancing was usually the only way that was going to happen. They walked gracefully onto the dance floor.
Harriet saw them walking out to the center of the dance floor and pointed them out to everyone.
"Hey! Look! It's the Commander and Colonel! I think they're going to dance together." chirped Harriet excitedly.
To Harriet it was like watching the two most perfect people in the world perform exquisitely the act of love. When one saw them together one saw only one thing, unconditional love.
She hoped that maybe dancing together tonight they would feel their love for each other. When Harm and Mac got to the center of the dance floor he took her into his arms as they began to dance.
Mac nestled her head unto his shoulder. As they began to move around the dance floor cameras began clicking. Every movement of Harm and Mac was followed by the click of a camera.
They moved with such grace and style, one would think they were skating on ice. It wasn't very long before they were the only two people left on the floor dancing. Harm and Mac hadn't noticed as they were totally absorbed in only each other.
They moved in rhythm to the music, which was so beautiful. They felt as though they were part of it. Everyone in the room was now standing along the edge of the dance floor watching them dance.
They all were murmuring how beautiful and graceful Harm and Mac were. They looked so much in love. They were breath taking. They truly were the most attractive couple in Washington. Finally the music stopped playing.
Harm and Mac were still dancing as though the music was still playing. They hadn't realized the music had stopped. When Harm looked up for a moment he realized that there wasn't anyone else on the floor dancing.
"Mac!" Harm whispered to her.
"What Harm?" purred Mac softly.
"I think the music stopped." replied Harm.
"Are you sure? I can still hear it playing." purred Mac.
"Yes dear. There's no one else on the floor." replied Harm.
Mac lifted her head off his shoulder and looked up into his blue eyes. She wrapped both arms around his neck to pull his head down for kiss, a very passionate one. When they were finished Mac let go of Harm.
When she turned around to leave the dance floor she was shocked. Whoa! Everyone in the room was standing there watching them. They all began to clap giving them a rousing standing ovation.
Mac was embarrassed as she blushed and hid her face in Harm's chest. Harm quickly led her over to their table. By the time Harm and Mac returned to their table it was surrounded by everyone from JAG.
Whatever ruse they had been playing had been uncovered. Harriet as usual was very chipper as she watch them come over to the table with Mac's head nestled on Harm's chest unaware they were being watched by their friends. She wanted to know the truth.
"Is it true Ma'am?" exclaimed Harriet excitedly.
"Is what true Harriet?" replied Mac feigning ignorance as she realized they weren't alone.
"That you and the Commander are engaged." answered Harriet like a small child on Christmas morning waiting for her parents to get up so she can open her presents.
"Whatever gave you that idea Harriet?" asked Mac still feigning she didn't know what Harriet was talking about.
Even though she was smiling inside to herself she still wondered why it was so important to Harriet. Everyone else looked on with anticipation to her answer.
"You were dancing with the Commander." replied Harriet not understanding why she had to spell everything out.
"That is what one does at a formal party Harriet. It's something that Harm and I have done many times before. Harm is a very good dancer." smiled Mac.
"So we have noticed, but Ma'am, it's the way you were dancing." wailed Harriet in frustration.
"Harm, were we dancing any differently then we usually do?" asked Mac. She enjoyed teasing Harriet. It was so much fun.
"Not that I'm aware of. You were an excellent partner as always." smiled Harm. He felt like leaning over and giving her a kiss.
They both shrugged their shoulders as though they didn't understand what she was implying.
"Everyone on the dance floor, everyone sitting at the tables, they all stopped what they were doing to watch both of you dance." wailed Harriet as she tried to explain.
"And what Harriet? How many times have you said that Harm and I make the perfect couple? We both dance pretty well. Why wouldn't people want to watch us dance?
And what does that have to do with who I'm engaged to Harriet? Harm and I love dancing with each other. We have now for eight years." replied Mac enjoying the game.
Even though what Harriet believed to be true was right, how she came up with the idea was pure fiction, it was illogical. She wanted Harriet to come up with a better reason than they were dancing together.
Harriet was about ready to scream with frustration when she remembered the kiss. It was of storybook proportions. It was so beautiful and wonderful. Their kiss showed so much passion and love. She smiled.
"What about the kiss you shared at the end of the dance, which by the way was three minutes after the music stopped. You must have kissed for at least five minutes." smirked Harriet with satisfaction.
It actually was for five minutes and twenty two seconds thought Mac. How was she going to explain this one. But before she could answer Harriet there was clinking of glassware at the center of the dance floor. It was the Admiral trying to get everyone's attention.
"I'm sure you all have been wondering who our special couple is tonight. Some of you already know them. The work they've done fighting terrorism over the past year has been well documented. They refer to themselves as Butch and Sundance." smiled the Admiral to a round of applause.
"Recently they have been featured in the Washington Post as Society's couple of the year with an in-depth photo and written essay. This past week I have received copies from five different magazines with additional stories about them." paused the Admiral to another round of applause.
"For those of you who don't know their story. They have been working together for most of the past eight years. They have had their highs and lows, mostly highs. They have had their problems like most of us, but they have persevered through it all.
I didn't think they would have survived their latest heartache, but once again they have and are closer than ever before. Christmas Eve is historically a very sad day for the Commander.
His father was shot down and was listed MIA when he was five years old. Not a pleasant memory for a child. This past Christmas Eve's disappointment once again appear to be in stored for the Commander.
He was trying to become the legal guardian of a young lady whose mother had died in an auto accident and her father was missing from her life. He was denied guardianship when the young lady's father decided to show up.
Once again he felt the need to wonder what he had done wrong with his life. Another person he had grown to love was being taken away from him. But once again like so many times before, the love of his life came through for him.
She convinced the father that he wasn't ready to take care of his daughter. That the Commander would give her a good home and love her until he was ready and able to love and take care of her once again.
That night when the Commander was despondent and wondering if he would ever have someone to love unconditionally in his life, he went to the wall. He needed to talk to his father, the man he lost over thirty years ago.
As he was talking to his father wondering if he ever would be happy again. A miracle happened to him. The love of his life showed up with the young lady. They were there to be with him. The young lady was going to be his ward to love." paused the Admiral as another round of applause filled the room.
"Later that night he took another chance. He looked deep into his heart, took a chance and asked the woman he had loved for the last eight years to marry him. He told her to take her time to think about it.
He didn't need an answer that night. He would wait until she thought he was worthy and was ready to give him answer." paused the Admiral as he looked around. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
"He didn't have to wait long. She took a look at the ring and thought the ring was perfect, that it had been made especially for her. Inside the band she saw an inscription had been etched inside.
'Harm and Sarah - Forever together in Love - Forever in each other's Heart'." smiled the Admiral.
It was beautiful. Even he didn't think Harm had it in him. He also was feeling a little sad remembering Meredith's betrayal. The fact he had not wanted to see her or talk to her about it. He didn't want to give her another chance.
He wondered how Harm and Mac had managed to put aside everything that ever came between them over the years. He knew they both could fight with the best of them. They both had enough skeletons in their closets to last a lifetime.
But somehow they always manage to find their way back together. Their love must be something very special. It had survived so much. If there were any two people who deserved love and happiness, it was those two. He hoped they could make it work. They deserved all the love they could get.
"She put the ring on her finger and said yes. She didn't want to wait another minute, another second to declared her love for him. Her love was so great for the man she loved." sighed the Admiral.
There was a murmur throughout the room as everyone loved the sentiment that was expressed with the inscription. There was increase level of applause. Most of the women were crying now.
"Without further ado I present to you Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. Proof that it is possible for the Navy and the Marines to work it out and find a way to get along." smiled Admiral.
Harm and Mac stood at their table as the people in the room gave them a standing ovation for their preservation through the trials and troubles associated with combining a life in the military and a life together as man and wife.
Washington's number one couple was being recognized by all those who were present, military and civilian, as the special people they were. They both were recognized as heroes that had given everything to their country and were finally being given something back in return.