The next few months past by without much drama happening, Harm and Mac exchange emails at least twice a day. They'd even managed to see each other during his mid tour break. That was a memorable weekend for the both of them. Harm had came to DC and surprised her when she'd gotten home from work. They spent that whole weekend confined to Harm's apartment; well more like confined to the bedroom.

When Monday rolled around Mac hated having to leave their private little world, of just the two of them. However Harm promised her a nice home cooked meal upon her return that evening, which he did deliver on, he'd gone out of his way to fix her a fancy steak dinner with all the trimmings, just like he knew she'd love.

Plus he surprised her with 2 plane tickets, for their long overdue honeymoon, a trip to the Bahamas, she was over the moon. Life was just perfect, nothing or anyone could ruin it. Until that next Friday rolled around, and it was time for Harm to head back to the Henry. Now once again Mac had to watch the love of her walk out and back to his life on the sea.

That night she found herself crying herself to sleep, she didn't know how women could watch their husband's walk out and away from them? She held onto Harms pillow that night, longing for him, trying to force herself to go to sleep. Sleep wouldn't come that night at least.


USS Patrick Henry

Harm and Tunas Cabin

Harm laid in his cold hard bunk, thinking back over his last week he'd spent with Sarah; time had moved to fast in his mind, seemed like he'd just gotten there, and it was time to leave again. Nothing about was feeling good to him, when he'd first made his decision to return to an to an active flight squad, he was a single man, no wife, no life waiting on him.

All this made him think about his own father, he couldn't for the life of him figure out how he was able to walk away from himself and his mom; when he was having trouble leaving Sarah behind. He couldn't imagine leaving his child behind.He turned over in his bunk.

"Harm are ya gonna toss and turn all night down there?"

"I'm sorry Tuna, didn't mean to keep you up." Tuna hoped down, and grabbed a chair , "Well now I'm up;wanna talk about it?"

Harm raised up, coming to the edge of his bunk. "I'm just overthinking my life and the choices I've made."

"Okay; bad ones or good ones?"

"50/50 I guess you'd say, I thought I'd be happier back here in this world, after going home for a week; it's harder to be back here than I'd thought."

"Missing the little woman?"

Harm smirked, "Not just her Tuna; I feel I'm missing my life; what it could be."

"You mean kiddos; house; dog?"

"Not just that; it's the little things, like cooking for her; waking up next to her; watching her sleep."

"Oh the good stuff in life."

"Exactly; the normal everyday things about life.Giving her a Rose; just to see her smile."

"I didn't take her for the roses type."

Harm rolled his eyes and smirked, "Its kinda our thing; a reminder of how we first met."

Tuna was now intrigued, "I gotta hear this."

"Alright;we met in the White House Rose Garden."

"You're kidding right?"

"Dead serious; it was our first case; I had just received my distinguished flying cross from The President; Mac met us there, we where assigned a case, The Declaration of Independence had been stolen, Admiral Chegwidden assigned the case to us."

"Well that's one for the books; not too many men can say they met their wife in a rose garden."

"We'll try this on for size; first time I met her; I thought I was seeing a ghost, Mac is a dead ringer for my old academy girlfriend."

"What?"

"Just in looks; personality's are different as night and day.Mac is more squared away than Diane was."

"Was?"

"Diane was murdered."

"Sorry bout that buddy."

"I've made peace with it; with the help of Mac, she's another reason I feel like I've been given a second chance at love."

"Not too many of us can say that."

"What aren't you telling me Tuna?"

"I gave up my chance at a wife and kiddos, she didn't want a husband who's never around. Can't say that I blame her on that. One night she asked me to chose between her and The Navy asked me what I wanted more. I told her I want both; her and The Navy, she didn't want to hear that. She walked out and never came back."

"Tuna; man I'm so sorry, and here I am feeling sorry for myself."

"Harm; you're lucky; she understands you, cause she's in the military, she gets it. Be happy she does, some woman don't want this life. They want normal, you know the husband that works 9-5, house in the suburbs, 2.5 kiddos and a dog. Yours is just like you. Count your lucky stars."

Harm sat there for a minute; thinking about what Tuna had said; deep down he knew he was dead right about everything. "Thanks Tuna, I think I'll shoot the wife an email and than hit the rack."

"Happy to help Pappy." Tuna patted Harm on his shoulder as he climbed back into his bunk, Harm stood up and made his way over the small desk, he opened up his laptop and started his email to Mac.


JAG Headquarters

Falls Church Va

Mac breezed in; she was running late due to an accident on the beltway. This was no way to start a new work week. As she made her way threw the bull pen she couldn't help but notice everyone was looking at her. Thinking to herself 'dear god what have I done'. It was at that exact moment she heard the voice of Admiral Chegwidden.

"Major MacKenzie front and center."

Mac quickly placed all her belongs on an empty desk and made her way over to the Admiral; standing in perfect attention.

"Major on the behalf of myself and the Commandant of The Untied States Marine Corps I herby promote you to the rank of Lt Colonel. Now please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the uniform code of military justice; so help me god"

Mac repeated her oath of office and accepted her new rank of of Lt Colonel, on what should have been a happy day for her; was a sad one as she she looked out at all the happy faces of her colleagues, one face she longed to see not being there, her husband.