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 14
Back at the table Harm and Mac were surrounded by their friends and co-workers. They all wanted to wish them congratulations for being engaged. They felt a warm feeling of love coming from everyone.
Mattie was taken by surprise by all the attention they were getting. She really didn't understand any of it. Even though she knew Harm loved Mac and was sure that Mac loved Harm, she didn't understand why everyone was so happy and excited for them.
She turned to Jen and asked "I don't understand Jen. What's going on here?"
"They have been through a very rough year Mattie. Before their trip to Paraguay they were getting pretty close. When I first met them I could tell that something was going on between them. It was very special.
The way they would look at each other was breath taking. I've never seen two people more in love than them. Mac had a young girl about your age staying with her. She told me about their past and what they had to overcome to be the successful people they were.
They help me out of a jam and help me turn my life around. I realized that my problems really weren't that bad. They gave me the inspiration to become a better person.
I was serving with Bud on the Seahawk when he step on a land mine. They both were there to make sure Bud made it through surgery and was alright.
They definitely help me get through Bud's operation. I don't know what I would have done if they weren't there." explained Jen with a tear in her eyes.
"The Commander risked his career to stay there for the Colonel. He wanted to support her and be there if anything happen to Bud. Fortunately Bud survived. I could see that the Commander wanted to hold the Colonel in his arms when they knew Bud was going to be alright.
But somehow I think that experience changed them for awhile. It was like they were numb and couldn't feel anything. It took them a long time to get back the closeness again.
From what I know from Bud they have been in love for almost eight years, ever since they met in a rose garden." smiled Jen who was so happy for Harm and Mac, her guardian angels.
"I do have to say they do make the perfect couple. They look so beautiful together, especially when they're dancing. They look like they are so much in love. Though I have to admit I wasn't sure when I first met Mac.
There seem to be something wrong when they were together. But now it's like seeing what life should be. There's so much happiness and love. I didn't know love could exist like it does between them." sighed Mattie.
"I know what you mean Mattie. Growing up with an abusive father, my mother died of cancer when I was ten. I never saw what real love could be like in my house.
Even with my friends who were happy and had two parents, I never saw this kind of unconditional love. What they have is very special Mattie. It doesn't come around very often." smiled Jen.
"Ma'am, I'm so happy for you! Your dreams are finally coming true! When's the wedding going to be?" cried Harriet.
She was so happy. Her friends were finally going to have what she and Bud had. She only hoped the best for them.
"Thank you Harriet. I'm sorry I had to play that little trick on you, but Harm and I weren't ready to deal with everybody. We wanted a little time to get use to the idea ourselves first." replied Mac with a smile.
"I think you both surprise us Sarah. I don't think any of us thought you and Harm were getting along never mind getting engaged." added a happy Caroline Imes.
"Actually Caroline if it wasn't for your misfortune, Harm and I might not have had the chance to get together. He had been avoiding me for five months before that. Even when Harm finally came back we were barely getting along.
I think it was Mattie coming into his life that finally help us get over the hurdle. It allowed me to help Harm out. It showed him that I still cared for him." wailed Mac almost in tears herself.
"So how did it happen Mac?" asked Sturgis.
He thought he knew everything that was happening around JAG. Their engagement came out of left field. When he had talked to Harm before the holidays the last thing he thought that would ever happen was them getting engaged.
Harm was still moaning about Mac being with Webb. Why did she keep dating men who weren't worthy of her? Harm had resigned himself of never having Mac in his life as a lover and mother of his children.
What the hell happen? What changed between them that he wasn't privy to? What did Harm do to get Mac to change her mind? Or was it Mac who got Harm to wake up and smell the roses again? Did she finally tell him she loved him and wanted him?
"Well I had testified in court that Harm was the type of guy I wanted to be the father of my children some day. Unfortunately for Harm Mattie's father decided to showed up and he wanted custody of her too.
The judge decided to place her in a foster home. Harm was able to take her to the Christmas Eve service that night. I could see how much he loved Mattie and wanted to keep her. So I had a talk with Mattie's father before he left with Mattie.
I convinced him to allow Harm to have her. That Harm would take very good care of her until he was ready and able to. Her father needed to be able to take care of himself first. He had to get his life in order." explained Mac.
Everyone was listening very carefully to her. They all agreed that Harm always did a great job of taking care of people. He was someone you wanted on your side.
It didn't surprise them that Mac had once again come through for Harm. If there was one constant in the universe it was that Mac took care of Harm and Harm took care of Mac.
Mattie had tears in her eyes as she listened to Mac. She knew some of the story, but not all of it. She had wondered how Mac had convinced her father to let her go to Harm, now she knew.
It gave her a little more respect for her father. That he did what was best for her now. And that he was taking the appropriate steps to get his life back in order before trying to take care of her when he wasn't ready.
"Harm had already left the church for the wall. I took Mattie to Harm. He had been talking to his father. Harm asked me to come back to apartment to celebrate. I was hesitant at first.
I was suppose to go to Webb's mother's house for a Christmas Eve party. After thinking about it for a little while, I decided to call Webb and cancelled. I figured I probably wasn't going to know anyone there.
I would make the rounds with him before he would eventually disappear. I went over to Harm's apartment after I went home to change. I had a small meal with Harm and Mattie before she retired for the night.
Harm gave me a small box with a ring in it. He told me he had originally intended to give it to me in Paraguay the night he rescued me. He wanted us to get marry last Christmas.
He then told me he was sorry for screwing everything up between us the past year. We won't go into everything here, it's too long a story that neither one of us is very proud of.
Anyway he gave me this ring which he thought had been made only for me. He was right it was perfect. I love it so much. He then told me he wanted me to keep the ring until I thought he had regain my trust and my love, that he would wait for as long as it took. When I was ready I could put the ring on my finger." sighed Mac.
"How long did you make him wait Sarah?" asked Caroline.
"As long as it took to me to read the inscription he had etched on the inside of the ring." smiled Mac.
"What did it say Ma'am?" asked Harriet.
"'Harm and Sarah - Forever together in Love - Forever in each other's Heart'." replied Mac.
"I then put the ring on my finger. I didn't want to give Harm the chance to back out. I've waited almost eight years for that day. Then we called his mother to give her the news. At first she complained that he never called her.
Then Harm told her he was getting married. Then we heard her saying 'Please, please God, let it be Mac, he loves her so much.' We both laugh at that. That's when I said 'Hi' to her.
She screamed like Harriet did when she realized Harm and I were engaged. Harm says it was probably the happiest day of her life, well at least in the last twenty five years." smiled Mac.
"We haven't set a date to get married yet. Though it's most likely contingent upon the availability of the Navel Academy Chapel." smiled Mac as she looked at Harm. Harm was a little surprised at this revelation.
"I thought you wanted to get married in a mountain meadow with a small herd of goats." teased Harm.
"That was when I was marrying Mic. He was going overboard with the wedding preparations. He was trying to give me everything he thought I wanted and then some. He was driving me crazy.
I know how much tradition is important to you Harm. It is for me too. It's where your father and mother got married. You have so many friends who went to the academy with you. It's a very special place.
I checked it out the week before I was suppose to marry Mic. You know when I gave that lecture on Captain MacKenzie and the Mutiny. I fell in love with the chapel.
It was so beautiful. It's the perfect place to get married with all our families and friends." smiled Mac with a tear in her eye.
All Harm could do was pull Mac into his arms. He leaned in for a kiss that lasted more than a few minutes. When they finally broke the kiss they heard "Ah ... !" from all their friends.
Everyone then proceeded to give Harm and Mac a hug before leaving so they could be alone. They were all so happy for Harm and Mac, especially Harriet. She was so bubbly one would have thought she was drunk on champagne, but she wasn't.
She was so high on life and love. Her best friend was going to marry the man of her dreams. She didn't know if she would be able to sleep tonight. Bud led her away wondering what to do now.
He knew Harriet wasn't going to sleep tonight. She probably kept him up all night too. He wouldn't be getting any sleep either. Then again he still had a few pills left that he use to take after he lost his leg. They usually put him out for hours.
"Everyone have a good time tonight?" asked Harm to his three girls.
"Yeah! Tonight was great. I've never seen anything like it Harm. It was like a fairy tale, you know, Cinderella and Prince Charming." exclaimed Mattie.
"He's Prince Charming alright." giggled Jen.
"How so?" asked Harm. He knew this a big night for her as it was for Mac and him.
"I couldn't believe what I saw. It was like the whole floor parted as you both walked out to the center of the floor. Then the way the two of you were dancing.
It was so romantic, the way you held Mac and moved as one. As you and Mac started gliding across the floor, everyone else began to stop and watch you both dance. They let you and Mac have the whole dance floor to yourselves!" exclaimed Mattie excitedly.
"If I didn't know any better I would have thought the Admiral had something to do with it." smiled Jen.
"I want to thank you for inviting Jason and me to accompany you and Mac tonight. It was a very special night, a once in a life time experience. I'm glad I was here to see it." smile Jen.
"We were glad to have you both here Jen. You both are special friends to us. You deserve a lot more after putting up with the Admiral this year. I know it hasn't been easy for you.
Maybe you can get some pointers from Jason about how not to torment him and ruffle his feathers so much." giggled Mac.
"It was so much fun going shopping with you Jen. You really have excellent taste and a good eye for fashion. And it was nice to be out with just the girls for a change." smiled Mac.
"Thank you Ma'am. I lost my mother when I was young. I didn't have a woman to look up to in my formative years. You're like a big sister to me.
You've been a great role model for me, Chloe, and now Mattie. It's an honor to have you in my life." smiled Jen who had tears in her eyes as she hugged Mac.
She held on for more than a few minutes. Mac was much more than a big sister. Like Chloe once told her, she's more like a mom. Her love and support was unconditional. She would always stand behind you and fight for you when you needed someone.
"Hey! It's getting too weepy here. I think it's time to go home." chirped Harm trying to lighten the mood. His three girls were getting very emotional now. He wanted to get them home and to bed with Mac in his arms.