Title: Pride

Author: rooster dawn

Alternative Universe

Summary: Harm and Mac act out Pride and Prejudice

Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright infringement intended.

Pride & Prejudice is the property of Jane Austen

(First known as First Impressions)

: Warner Brothers 1940

: BBC 1979

: Arts and Entertainment Network/BBC co-production 1995

: Universal Studio 2005

no copyright infringement intended.

Please let me know what you think, it's the only way I can write better stories for you.

Author's note: due to technical difficulties I will be posting once a week. I will however post more than one chapter to read at you leisure.

part twenty seven Confrontation and Relief

Mr. Darcy hailed a horse drawn carriage to take him and Mattie to the Burnetts. A half hour later they had reached Grace Church Street. Mr. Darcy knocked on the door. Mr. Burnett was surprised to see Mr. Darcy standing there.

"Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise. What may I asked is the purpose of your visit?" greeted Mr. Burnett.

"I've found a wayward waif, I'm returning her to you." replied Mr. Darcy as he stepped aside to reveal Mattie who had been hiding behind him. She was afraid of what her uncle was going to do.

"Who is it dear?" yelled Mrs. Burnett from another room. She was helping her young children clean up.

"It's Mr. Darcy dear. He has a surprise for us." replied Mr. Burnett. "Won't you come in Mr. Darcy. I think we have some things to talk about."

Mr. Darcy and Mattie entered the apartment and were soon joined by Mrs. Burnett. She was happy to see him again. She thought he was a very nice young man who was perfect for Sarah. She thought they made an excellent couple.

"Mr. Darcy! How nice it is to see you again. I see you found our missing niece." Mrs. Burnett greeted Darcy.

"Mattie, why don't you go into the other room with your cousins." requested Mr. Burnett.

Mattie did as she was told, but she wasn't very happy about it. She wanted to be with her Tumbleweed, but she was being treated like a little girl who had misbehaved. She had the impression that they were going to be talking about her future without her input.

"Is Mr. Mackenzie still in town?" asked Mr. Darcy.

"No Sir, he left yesterday to return to Longbourn." replied Mr. Burnett.

"How did you find her? Was she with Mr. Turner?" asked Mrs. Burnett.

"I knew someone who was close to him last year. I tracked her down and she told me where I might find him. They aren't married yet. It seems he has some logistics he needs to work out first. I'm going back there to talk to him." explained Mr. Darcy

"I'd like to come along with you if you don't mind." offered Mr. Burnett.

"That won't be necessary Sir. This is between Mr. Turner and me. It goes back several years. I'll handle everything. You take care of your niece. I shall return tomorrow with the particulars Sir. I'll make sure he does the honorable thing and marry your niece." replied Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Burnett wasn't exactly pleased with Mr. Darcy's decision. He thought he should be included in any decisions that were made regarding Mattie's future. A member of the family should be there.

He wondered what had happen between them that Mr. Darcy was taking full responsibility. At first he wondered why Mr. Darcy had gotten involved. It didn't concern him. He didn't have a vested interested in the matter. Then he remembered what had transpired last week.

They were at Pemberly. Mr. Darcy had invited them to dinner three times and had included them when his friends had come to Pemberly for a visit. He had been a charming host. Why? His wife suspected that he was in love with their niece, Sarah.

If there was any question about whether or not he loved Sarah, that question had been answered. What other reason would he had gone out of his way to find Mattie for them? He must be in love with Sarah.

"Did you have a talk with Mattie?" Mr. Burnett asked Mrs. Burnett.

"I did. I tied to explain to her that what she had done was wrong and very foolish, but I don't think she listened to me or cared about what I had to say. She only sees Mr. Turner and his red coat. She doesn't understand why or how she has hurt her family." replied Mrs. Burnett.

"Well at least Mr. Darcy found her. I'm sure my sister and Mr. Mackenzie will be greatly relieved." offered Mr. Burnett.

"We should let them know she is safe." replied Mrs. Burnett.

"I think we should wait until Mr. Darcy returns in the morning. I think he wants to handle things. I think we should find out what his plans are first." said Mr. Burnett.

Hickory Dock Inn

It wasn't long before Harm had return to the Hickory Dock Inn. He went up to Turner's room to have a talk with him.

"What the hell is wrong with you! What possible reason could you have to take off with Ms Mackenzie. She's only sixteen years old. Her family has no money. What could you possibly expect to get out of marrying her?" bellowed Harm. He couldn't understand the stupidity of it all.

"You!" replied Turner to a shocked Darcy.

"Me? How did you figure you were going to get me?" asked Harm a bit confused.

"I needed to get your attention. Before I left for Brighton I had a nice talk with Ms Sarah about her trip to Hunsford to see her friend Harriet Lucas. She told me she had met up with you. I got the general impression from her that her opinion of you had changed.

She had a look on her face that said things had changed quite a bit between the two of you, that she even liked you on some level. We both know what that means, she will if she hasn't already, fall in love with you. It's just a matter of time." replied Turner.

"What in the world are you talking about?" asked Harm a bit confused. If anything the opposite was true. They had had a very nasty fight before he left. Each of them was very hurt. He didn't think he would ever see her again.

"Come on Darcy, what woman can refuse you. You're rich, good looking, and then there is Pemberly. Once she has seen Pemberly, any reservations she might have had about you would be gone. She will fall in love with Pemberly and thus you.

Ms Sarah is a very special lady. She's beautiful and very intelligent. She's everything any man could want in a wife. I have no chance of ever being with her, I have nothing to offer her, but you have everything.

While Ms Mattie isn't as special as her sister, she is quite special in her own right. Her enthusiasm for life is intoxicating." answered Turner with a smirk.

"What is it that you want?" asked Harm. He believed that Turner might be right about Sarah. She did seem to be quite happy while she was at Pemberly.

"I have gambling debts that I can't pay off." replied Turner.

"This is the last time I'm going to help you, but there will be a few stipulations. You will marry Ms Mackenzie, you will not gamble anymore, and you will be joining the regulars. I know someone who can arrange for you to have a commission.

I'll arrange to have all your debts paid off. I'll give Ms Mackenzie a small dowry of ten thousand pounds. Her father will pay you one hundred pounds a year as long as he is alive. Do we have an agreement?" asked Harm.

Turner sighed, he had gotten pretty much everything that he had hope for except he had not planned on marrying Ms Mackenzie. She had been only a tool to get what he needed. But he was in no position to argue with Darcy so he agreed to the conditions.

"If Mr. Mackenzie agrees to pay one hundred pounds a year and any debts you owe in Meryton, you will marry Ms Mackenzie on the eighth." ordered Harm.

Saturday

31 July

Grace Church Street

The next morning as promise Harm headed back to the Burnett's residence. He had talked with his contact and had arranged for Turner's commission in the regulars. Turner would hand in his resignation to Colonel Foster of the militia.

He would be assigned to a regiment stationed in New Castle, eighty miles north of Pemberly. They would be a long ways from Longbourn. It would be a lonely life for Mattie as she learned the hard lessons about life as an officer's wife.

"Good morning Mr. Darcy, have you some news for us?" asked Mr. Burnett. He wanted to make sure his wife was there to hear the news.

"Good morning Mr. Burnett, Mrs. Burnett. I've had a talk with Mr. Turner. He's to resign his commission in the militia and accept a commission in the regulars.

I have arranged to pay off any and all debts he has occurred in town and in Brighton. He does have some debts to be paid off in Meryton, which I'm sure Mr. Mackenzie can handle.

I've arranged for a small dowry of ten thousand pounds for Ms Mackenzie. And finally he has agreed to have Mr. Mackenzie pay one hundred pounds per year for as long as he lives.

If this is agreeable to you and Mr. Mackenzie, I will tell Mr. Turner. I have also arranged for a wedding service for next Sunday the eight of August." explained Mr. Darcy.

"I'm sure it will be okay, it sounds quite reasonable. I can send a messenger to Longbourn with a letter containing the details." agreed Mr. Burnett.

"Good, here's a list of the creditors he owes money to in Meryton." replied Mr. Darcy as he noticed Mattie entering the room.

"Can I see my Tumbleweed now?" asked Mattie.

"We're working out the details Ms Mackenzie. If everything goes as plan, you and Mr. Turner will be married Sunday. You can see him then." replied Mr. Darcy.

"But I want to see him now!" whined Mattie, but no one heard her.

Monday

2 August

Longbourn

The Mackenzie girls were waiting as patiently as possible for any news of their sister Mattie from their uncle, Mr. Burnett. They hoped that nothing bad had happen to Mattie and that Mr. Turner had done the right thing and married her.

It had been almost a two weeks since Mattie had run away. They feared the worse as time passed. Where was she? Why hadn't she been in contact with the Burnetts? They couldn't understand why Mattie hadn't stop in and seen them.

If they truly were going to get married, why were they hiding in town? Were they afraid of what Mr. Mackenzie would say? Were they afraid he wouldn't let them get married? Why hadn't they kept in contact?

They tried to keep themselves busy, but no amount of work could take their minds off their sister. Why hadn't she been in contact? She had left a letter with Mrs. Foster when she left Brighton.

Sarah and Jordan were cutting some flowers in the garden to display on the different tables throughout the house when Mrs. Hill came up to them.

"What is it Hill?" asked Jordan.

"I come to ask about the letter." replied Hill.

"What letter?" asked Sarah.

"There was a letter from Mr. Burnett that was delivered to the Mr. Mackenzie a half hour ago." replied Hill.

Sarah and Jordan dropped their things and went looking for their father. Surely he must have read the letter by now. They looked in the house, his library, and then to his favorite spot by the lake. They saw him pacing back and forth.

"What is it Papa? What did uncle have to say?" asked Jordan.

"He's found your sister and Mr. Turner." replied Mr. Mackenzie.

"Are they married?" asked Sarah.

"You can read the letter." replied Mr. Mackenzie as he handed the letter to Sarah.

"He found Mattie and she is safe. They aren't married yet, but they soon will be if father agrees to pay Mr. Turner one hundred pounds a year." read Sarah.

"Is this true Papa? You're going to agree aren't you?" asked Jordan.

"Yes, yes, I must. It's a small price. Mattie spends almost that amount as it is. I'll hardly be much worse off." replied Mr. Mackenzie.

"It says here that Mr. Turner is to resign his commission from the militia and accept a commission with the regulars. How can Mr. Turner accept only one hundred pounds a year?" asked Sarah.

"I'm sure your uncle must have paid out a large sum as a dowry for your sister, which I'm not sure how I can repay." replied Mr. Mackenzie.

"How much do you think he had to pay?" asked Jordan. She was a bit confused about everything.

"He must have paid Mr. Turner at least ten thousand pounds." replied Sarah. She knew his history of going after women of small fortunes.

Friday

6 August

Longbourn

Mr. Mackenzie spent most of Thursday afternoon and Friday morning going to the different creditors in Meryton to pay off Mr. Turner's debts. They weren't as bad as he thought they would be.

When he was finished he retired to his library to relax and have a talk with Sarah. He hadn't seen her in nearly four weeks between her trip with the Burnetts and the week he spent in town looking for his wayward daughter.

"I'm sorry that I haven't been able to spend any time with you Sarah. This thing with Mattie has been very upsetting to your mother and me. How was your trip? Your aunt told me you made it to Pemberly." smiled Mr. Mackenzie.

Sarah wondered what her aunt and uncle had told him. She could sense her father was in a playful mood to tease her. Mr. Darcy was a popular subject with him. Her aunt had noticed her with Mr. Darcy and wanted to talk to her about Mr. Darcy.

She had tried to keep her answers to her aunt's inquiries to vague answers. She didn't want her aunt to know how she really felt about Mr. Darcy, but she suspected her aunt knew anyway. If she had talked to her father, how would she be able to deny any involvement with Mr. Darcy.

"It was a very pleasant trip Papa. We saw many beautiful manors and scenic vistas." replied Sarah not wanting to volunteer any information.

"I'm sorry it had to be cut short. Maybe Mr. Darcy will invite you to visit Pemberly again." smiled Mr. Mackenzie. It felt good to smile again.

"He wasn't supposed to be there. Aunt Marie wanted to see it. She said he wouldn't be there." wailed Sarah.

"It's okay to see him Sarah. No one is saying you have to marry him, but you have become part of his circle of friends Sarah. You've seen him here, in Kent, and now in his own environment at Pemberly.

It is okay to like him Sarah. It's okay to like the attention he gives you. It's okay to fall in love with a rich man." smiled Mr. Mackenzie.

"He was so different at Pemberly Papa. He was such a generous host. He even went fishing with Uncle Edward." replied Sarah.

"Did you like it there?" asked Mr. Mackenzie. Mrs. Burnett had told him all about how much Sarah liked Pemberly. She even hinted that Sarah might be in love with Mr. Darcy.

"Pemberly was very beautiful. I have never seen a more beautiful place in the world." sighed Sarah.

"Sounds like you may have found someone to love and married." smiled Mr. Mackenzie.

"Papa!"

"What? Your aunt told me that he is well respected and loved in Derbyshire. He is good looking and quite rich. You'll never want for anything. It's just as easy to love a prideful rich man as any other man." smiled Mr. Mackenzie.

"Papa!"