Harm's Apartment

One Week after Mac's Release

"Come on Harm I have to find somewhere to live." Mac's apartment was sold and emptied by the men she used to work with. Her clothes were placed in a storage facility and were returned to her after her release from the hospital. She has been staying with Harm.

"Mac you know you wouldn't be happy in any old place. I don't care how long it takes you are welcome to stay here. Besides I like your company." Harmon Rabb Jr. has made the Marine Colonel blush. He gave her one of his famous smiles as he watched her look through the papers. "Come on you need to take a break. What would you like for dinner, and no Burgers, Doctors orders."

"When did you go back to school and become a doctor? I know I wasn't gone that long, and I know my doctor didn't say no burgers, just no work or labor. I will have whatever you are, ok?" It really wasn't bad living at Harm's. Harriet set up a cot and he insisted she take the bed. Something was definitely going on in that head of his she just couldn't figure it out. He has been extra caring to her needs. There have been more touches from him and more compliments. If she didn't keep a tab on her emotions she wouldn't be able to control her reactions to him. There were also some things she knew they needed to talk about. About things she wrote in her letter to him.

"Mac? You ok? I think I lost you for a minute." He was preparing some chicken soup for her and a salad for the both of them. Her body was much thinner then before this all began he noted.

"Yeah I was just thinking. Harm has the Admiral spoken to you about my returning to JAG? Would I still belong there?" Her dreams were haunted at night with the images of her friends turning away from her. Lt. Singer telling her she doesn't belong. She looked up into his eyes when he placed the bowl of soup infront of her.

"Mac everyone wants you back at JAG. Things haven't been the same since you left. Are you considering not coming back?" His nights were haunted by the possibility that she doesn't come back. He has images of her going off with Brumby leaving him with Renee.

"Harm. I want to come back. JAG is the first place I have ever felt accepted and wanted. In my line of work I never got much choice where I was to go. Now they have given me that choice. I don't pretend to know why, but I am not about to ask too many questions if I get to stay where I love. I am just worried about what everyone thinks of me. I lied to them Harm. I won't ask them to forgive that." She really didn't want to cry. Ever since she woke up in the hospital she has felt emotionally tired.

"Everyone was so horrified and upset when we thought you were dead. I myself had to keep everything in control or I would have fallen apart too. I knew you didn't want me too go out and make you my new quest. But I wanted to so much. People have this image of us at JAG as being built hard and strong, and unemotional. But we all know different. There is this bond between everyone who works at JAG. Give or take a few. Webb is in but Singer has definitely not charmed anyone. What I am trying to say Mac, is that we can't be mad at you. What you did you did because you had too. Maybe it would have been easier to accept that you were dead, and know. Then know you were alive but never know what has become of you. It wasn't your choice to tell us you were dead. I don't know if I am making any sense at all, but you need to know that no matter what you do nothing can change the way we feel about you. The way I feel about you." He watched her take in everything he was trying to say to her.

"I want o come back to JAG." She said with a smile at him.

"Now eat up or you do the dishes." Things were definitely looking up.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

"Bud hurry up with that. The Commander and Colonel will be here soon." They were all throwing a welcome back party for Mac at the Pub. Organized by Harriet of course. She was trying to get Bud to hang the sign but he was having some trouble.

"There. One big welcome back sign, thirty-six welcome back balloons, twenty-eight beltway burgers, and everyone was invited. I think that about does it Harriet. Has she found a place to live yet?" He was cleaning up the mess that he made with the tape, so he didn't see his wife smile.

"No. I do believe she is still staying with the Commander Bud. Isn't that great!" she knew she shouldn't be talking about two senior officers like she is but they are also friends.

"Harriet what are you talking about. The Colonel can't live with the Commander. Why would she go through all this trouble to come back when living together will get them reassigned?"

"Bud, they aren't getting married just staying with each other." Tiner walked up behind Harriet and handed her his gift.

"Who isn't getting married?" He was glad things were getting back to normal.

" I was just telling Bud how great I think it is that the Commander has offered the Colonel a place to stay until she can find something. It will give them a chance to work things out between them. I still think they belong together and even if it isn't appropriate for the Commander and Colonel to live together, if they wanted, I am sure the Admiral would work something out. Leaving out the problem of regulations HARM and SARAH who are two very smart people are due for some happiness in their lives. Don't you think so Tiner?"

"I would love to see them together. But if they do I hope it is ok with the Admiral because I am the one who always has to deal with the trail of what is left after a bad meeting. I don't like the Admiral in a bad mood." He was helping Harriet with the balloons.

"You know her would probably never say it to them directly. But my motherly instincts tell me the Admiral loves those two like his children."

"Harriet if I were you I would stop making assumptions about everyone. You know it only makes an ASS out of U and ME." Bud said with a laugh and Tiner joined him.

"Good one Sweetie. I don't believe I have heard that since grade school. Come on guys lets finish this up. Oh Bud and Tiner I bet you she doesn't move out of his place." Harriet was all giddy.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

"Mac we're going out tonight. It will be nice to get some air." He was watching her as she combed her wet hair in the bathroom area. He stood behind her and grabbed the comb so she could do her makeup.

God he was being so soft with her. He had a hand on her should as the other made slow strokes through her hair. It was beautiful to watch his concentration. When she was done with her makeup she turned around to him and was surprised to find him so close. She had to lean back on the counter to look up at him.

"Harm?" She breathed as he played with the strands in the front of her face.

"Yeah?" He loved how her hair was growing long. It was a little longer then it was when they first started working together. This woman had successfully turned him into a sap, he thought. And he had no problem with it at all

"It has been three weeks. I need to find somewhere to live before my stuff starts growing from every corner of this place." She didn't want him to stop, as his fingers continued to play with her hair.

"Your stuff could grow from the ceilings Mac. I really have no problem with it." Their closeness was starting to affect his thinking. He listened to her change in breathing and knew it was affecting her too.

"We need to think rationally Harm. I know I have asked you for this before, but I began to realize what you couldn't let go of. You have spent your life loving the Navy I can't let this ruin that. Harm…"

She was cut off by his kiss. It was slow in the beginning but quickly grew into a feeling of passion that floored them both. When they broke away for air he rested his forehead against hers.

"I have spent the last couple of years loving you Mac. I don't think I could give you up now after everything. It almost killed me to see you with Mic but I accepted that he made you happy. When you were sick I realized I couldn't let you go even if I wanted. I don't want to. Stay. Stay with me Mac."

"I'm not going anywhere flyboy."

And then she kissed him.

…………………………………………………………………………….

"Harriet are you sure you told the Commander seven thirty?" Bud was worried that they were late. He looked up as the lights went out and he heard Harriet whisper that they were coming.

The door to the Pub opened and Harm and Mac walked in. "Harm it's dark."

"SURPRISE!" everyone yelled.

Harm nodded his approval when he saw Mac smile ear to ear. "It's not my fault we're late. She may be a marine but she still takes as long as every other woman to get dressed."

"And whose fault was it that I had to get dressed twice." She whispered in his ear, and she was awarded with his hitched breathing. Harriet walked up to Mac to give her a hug and smiled approvingly at their closeness. This next year would be interesting indeed.

"Welcome back ma'am."

"Thank you Harriet. You didn't have to do all this." Mac looked around to all her coworkers who were busy getting food and drinks.

"We really wanted to ma'am. We all missed you terribly."

The evening was full of tears of laughter and love as the JAG family remembered all the good times they have spent together. Mac was happy she chose to stay with JAG. There wasn't anywhere else she wanted to be at that moment. It was inevitable that problems will arise somewhere in the future. Her and Harm will be forced look beyond the present and deal with the Navy regulations. But right now at this moment and in this Pub, tomorrow is not a factor and yesterday is just a memory.

THE END