A/N: The muse called out to me while watching the episodes Legacy (Part one and two) and Florida Straits. Mic was being his usual obnoxious self (Florida Straits is the episode that convinced me he would one day turn violent.) Rene also couldn't understand the navy life. The timeline is slightly different from the show. Anyhow… here goes.
Endings
North of Union Station
October 7, 2000
1700 Local
Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. unlocked the door to his loft, then quickly made his way toward the bedroom. He was tired. Weary. The past few weeks had been, for lack of a better word, interesting.
A trip to Russia where he learned he had a half-brother. The two of them, along with Mac and Captain Volkonov were instrumental in thwarting an assassination attempt on the Russian President.
Harm had mixed feelings upon learning Sergei. On one hand, he was excited and had taken an instant liking to the young man. He could see many of their father's traits in his brother.
On the other, it pained him to know his father had been unfaithful to his mother. Yes, Trish Rabb moved on with her life, having Harm Sr. declared dead and marrying Frank Burnett, but Harm had always looked upon his father as a hero.
Learning about Sergei, along with meeting Jenny Lake at The Wall last Christmas Eve, lead Harm to believe his father wasn't everything he'd imagined him to be. Jenny Lake never said the two of them slept together, but if they didn't, why did she feel the need to assure him of his father's love for his mother?
Harm knew what it was like to be away at sea for six months at a time. While he'd never been one to have a girl in every port, he'd had his share of women. Then again, unlike his father, he was single. He couldn't see himself being unfaithful to… Mac.
Why had her name automatically pop in his head? They were best friends and partners at work. She'd made it clear that's all it would ever be when she showed up at the Sydney airport wearing Brumby's ring. Now that the arrogant bastard was in the states, it was probably a matter of time before she switched it to her left hand and they "officially" became engaged.
If that happened, who knows what would happen to his friendship with Mac. One thing was certain—Brumby didn't like him and probably wouldn't want Mac to remain friends with him. Hell, the Aussie would probably try to convince her to leave the Marines. Maybe even move back to Australia.
It was all his fault. If he hadn't clammed up on that ferry ride back in Sydney…
Harm quickly undressed and stepped into the shower. All he wanted now was to get a few hours of sleep. He'd barely gotten home from Russia when the Admiral sent him to Florida. He was grateful to get that investigation wrapped up quickly and prayed he'd have time to rest.
Once showered, he slipped on a clean pair of boxers then slipped beneath the covers. Hopefully, no one would bother him for the next few hours. After giving his report to the admiral, Chegwidden assured him he would not be called out the rest of the weekend.
And he didn't have to worry about Rene showing up. He realized things would never work out between them before he went to Russia. She'd driven him to the airport when he left. All the way there, she kept harping on the navy and asking why someone else couldn't go instead of him.
"I'm going to be so lonely while you're gone. I wish you didn't have to travel so much. This is so hard for me. I'll try to find something to keep me occupied when you're away."
I. Me. Mine. He wouldn't call Rene a narcissist, but she certainly liked being first and foremost. But she went too far with her next words.
"I wish you'd leave the navy for good. Go into civilian law practice. That way you could stay in Washington. I thought when I hooked up with a Navy attorney, he wouldn't be traipsing all over the world. You might as well be deployed for months at a time."
Something inside him snapped. He remembered a conversation with Jordan when he was considering changing his designator to active flight status.
I've been dumped for another woman before, but never for an airplane.
I'm not dumping you. Look, Jordan, frankly, you're one of the reasons that I haven't made up my mind. But if I do decide to return to a squadron, it doesn't change what we have.
It does for me. I fell in love with Harmon Rabb, the lawyer, not a fighter pilot I might see twice a year if I'm lucky.
I'm still the same man, Jordan.
Although he didn't intend to end things just as he was about to board the plane, he couldn't take Rene's endless bantering. He told her he had no intention of leaving the navy for her or for anyone. If she couldn't accept every part of his life, then it was over between them. "Our lifestyles are too different. Getting involved with you was a mistake. It's time you moved on with your life and let me move on with mine."
Rene had been a distraction. He hadn't intended to use her, but he'd turned to her because of Mac's involvement with Brumby. So now, Harmon Rabb Jr., lawyer and fighter pilot, was alone.
What was the old saying? "If the navy had wanted me to have a wife, they would have issued me one?"
Harm pulled the pillow over his head and closed his eyes.
Outside Larry Kaliski's House
October 7, 2000
1730 Local
Sarah Mackenzie was furious with Mic Brumby. She'd agreed to attend the function at his boss's house even though she knew it would probably make her uncomfortable. She'd been right. No sooner than they arrived, Kaliski whisked Mic off where they stood talking and looking in her direction.
She also didn't like the stares from others in the crowd, both men and women. What had Mic been saying about her?
She suffered through a couple of hours of small talk before they were able to leave.
"Were you talking about me to Larry Kaliski?"
"Yeah. He likes you," Mic responded.
At least he admitted it. "In what way?"
"He thinks you're the complete package. Sharp, smart, and sexy. He's not wrong. You are."
"Is that why you were gloating?"
"Gloating? I have a right to be proud of you, Sarah."
"Mic I came here as a favor to you."
"I came because I had to. You wanted to be with me."
She had said that, hadn't she? Why? "But you knew how uncomfortable I was going to be."
Mic's next words surprised her. "Wait a minute. This day was about me. Four hours when I didn't have to pursue you or excuse myself while you spoke to your colleagues. Or take care of your dog."
"I apologized for that."
"That's how you see me. A moon-aced admirer who massages your ego and helps you forget your past."
"That is not true."
"Look, I work for this man now. This is a bloody good opportunity and I'm not going to jeopardize it because of something that happened to you before I was in your life."
"Mic, you're wrong about—"
"Sarah, leave it. Get in the car!"
Something inside her snapped. She had allowed Mic to weasel his way into her life. When he showed up in the states unexpectedly, he immediately began demanding all her time. Not only that, he thought he had a right to know things about her job. Classified information. The audacity of him to say to Webb, "I need to know."
Naturally, Clay did not back down. If only she'd been half as strong. She'd even apologized to Mic for all that. When had she stopped being Mac the Marine and became Sarah the sap?
"I will not leave it and I will NOT be told what to do. I'm not some weak-willed woman who is at your beck and call every minute of the day. I'm not arm candy that you can show off to a bunch of money-hungry lawyers who don't give a damn for justice but are out to win at all costs. I am a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marines and I've worked damn hard to get where I am."
"Sarah—"
"No, you leave it! We're having this conversation here and now. I didn't ask you to reserve your commission and move here. You didn't even consult me in the matter. You've pushed and cajoled ever since I met you but no more. It's over."
"This is not the place to be having this conversation." Mic glanced toward the people staring in their direction. "People are watching."
"Oh, well that's too bad. Afraid it might damage your reputation when they hear what an arrogant, self-serving bastard you are? No, wait. You fit in with that crowd perfectly." She twisted the ring from her finger.
"Now you get in the car. I'll find my own way home. And you can take this ring and stick it where the sun doesn't shine."
"Sarah, calm down. You're not thinking rationally."
"I'm thinking rationally for the first time in months."
"I won't take the ring."
"Fine!" She threw it toward him, then stalked off away. It was a good thing she had her cell phone. Maybe Harriet would be able to pick her up. Bud was away with Harm. Pulling the phone from her purse, she automatically hit speed dial one, not giving a second thought as to who she was calling.
North of Union Station
October 7, 2000
1800 Local
Harm had just drifted off to sleep when his phone rang. Grumbling, he thought of letting the answering machine pick up but changed his mind. Even though the admiral assured him he wouldn't be needed until Monday, it might be something important. He just hoped it wasn't Rene. He wouldn't put it past her to try to reconcile with him.
"Hello."
"Harm?"
"Mac?"
"You're home."
"Got in about an hour ago. Just trying to get some rest."
"I… I'm sorry. I intended to call Harriet. I'll let you get back to sleep."
Something was wrong. He could sense it in her voice. "Mac, what's going on?"
"Mic and I had a fight."
"Are you at home?"
"No. I'm at his boss's house. I need someone to pick me up."
Harm swung his legs off the bed. "What's the address?"
Mac gave him the directions.
"Is Mic still there?"
"Yeah, I think he's trying to get back in everyone's good graces. Our argument got rather heated. I threw the ring at him."
"Good for you, Ninja Girl. Don't let him try to talk you into anything. He's manipulative. Nothing he would try would surprise me."
"I'm not going anywhere with him."
"I'll be there in twenty minutes."
Harm ended the call, then threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Damn that bastard Brumby. He didn't know how this day would end, but one thing was certain. He was damn sure he'd do everything he could to fix what went wrong in Sydney.