I guess this is it. I hope you don't find the ending too anticlimactic. Thanks to all the wonderful readers.

JAG Headquarters Falls Church Virginia

A.J. Chiggwedden leaned back in his plush leather chair. The chair was one of the perks he enjoyed as an Admiral. Another was employing his command influence. It allowed his to collect favors from those who became useful to him. He had called in quite a few of those in the past couple of days. It wasn't altogether unpleasant either.
He rose from his desk at the knock on his door. "Enter."
Tiner stuck his head in the door. "Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Rabb are here to see you, Sir."
"Send them in and bring in some coffee, please."
"Aye, sir" Tiner disappeared. Mac and Harm entered the office. Mac came to attention and reported. Harm stayed at ease, hut stiffened some after a stern look from Mac. A.J. pretended not to notice.
"At ease," he said as he came around the desk to shake Mac's hand. "Sit down, please." Tiner entered with the coffee and left after the Admiral indicated he would pour. "How are you Mac?" He noticed she had dropped a bit of weigh and she lacked her usual air of confidence.
"Fine, sir. It was a close one, but the mission succeeded thanks to the intervention of Commander Rabb"
A.J. leaned back against his desk and regarded the two officers for a moment "So I hear. Yes, your mission was a success, but I want to know how you are. You went through quite an ordeal I understand."
"I'm fine, sir." The words came out too quickly and she ignored the incredulous glare from Harm.
"All right, Colonel." He folded his arms and looked from Mac to Harm and back. "Coffee?"
"No, sir. I'm fine." Mac was starting to feel like a bug under glass.
A.J. stood up and poured himself a cup. After considering it he put it back on the tray. "Fine then. I'm glad you're home and ...well." He scrutinized her again. "Colonel, you have a debriefing at 09:30 in conference room three."
Mac took her cue and stood to leave. "Aye Aye, Sir."
Harm was a step behind her when the Admiral called out to him. "Harm, do you have a minute? I'd like I word."
"Of course, Admiral." He smiled at Mac as she exited giving him a curious look. He sat back in his chair.
A.J. returned to his roost at the edge of his desk. "You've done everything but call me A.J."
Harm smiled thinly. "I meant no disrespect."
"The Hell you didn't!" A.J. retorted. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "And I don't blame you. I threw you to the wolves, Harm."
"You did what you had to do, sir."
A.J. chuckled and softened a little. "I remember saying something similar to you before you left." He rubbed his temple. "Did you?"
"I did. If I hadn't gone very likely Colonel Mackenzie would be dead right now. I couldn't live with that."
A.J. got up and went back behind his desk. "What about the other question I asked you that day?"
Harm was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. "I feel I'm exploring my options."
A.J.'s look soured. It was obvious that he didn't like Harm's lack of commitment. "What about her?" He waved the question away before Harm could answer. "Never mind, it's none of my business." He picked up a paper off his desk. "I've been so busy around here since I was left short-handed that I haven't had a chance to clear my desk. What would you like to do about this?" He handed Harm and neatly typed sheet of paper; his resignation.
Harm looked at it solemnly. The Admiral was trying to give him a chance to return to the fold. "Sir, if your asking me to chose between JAG and Mac there's no question. It took me too long to get where I am." He handed the paper back.
A.J. took it and examined it closely. "I don't believe there is a reason to make you choose. I can make Mac's position on the bench permanent. Then you wouldn't be in the same chain of command. Of course it would require some creative scheduling so you don't appear in the same courtroom. It can be done." A.J. looked at Harm pointedly across the desk. "There are a variety of other options as well, but this would be the most convenient for all concerned."
Harm looked at the Admiral with awe. "It sounds like you gave this a lot of thought, sir. It's more than I should expect especially with the circumstances of my departure."
"Hell, son, they don't make you an Admiral for just looking good behind a desk. And we both no I pushed you into making the decision to retire. I'm not proud of it."
A smile broke across Harm's face. "Thank you, Admiral. I'd like time to discuss this with Mac before I make a final decision."
"Not a problem. Call me tomorrow." A.J. got up and came around his desk. "Regardless what happens, I'm glad you and Mac are safe. I'm glad you mad the right decision to go get her. She worth a good fight."
"That she is, sir." He shook the Admirals hand and left.

Harmon Rabb's Apartment

Harm consulted his mental checklist one last time. Everything seemed to be in order; all he needed was a certain Marine to get here before he lost his nerve. He looked over the pasta again; it was simmering in the sauce. He watched it closely in case it got to soft, he didn't need the issue of a bad meal on his mind tonight. As he made his way around the apartment he checked all the pertinent details; CD player-check, flowers- check, candles-check. He took a deep breath and rolled his neck trying to ease the tension creeping in. A hundred little voices had invaded his mind telling him it wasn't to late to forget everything. After all if it isn't broke.. He sighed. That was the problem, it was broke and he knew just what he needed to do to fix it. How many men could say that their very best friend was the woman of their dreams. Not many, he suspected. He was almost startled out of his skin by a knock on the door. He opened the door with a smile. "Hey, Marine." "Hey," she met his lips half way. "Something smells good. Couldn't possibly be Harm's meatless meatloaf." "Very funny, marine. Be nice and I might give you the recipe." He turned for the kitchen. "Just what the world needs, a new bio weapon." She looked around. "Nice, did I interrupt a date or something?" He hit the button on the remote and Natalie Imbruglia's voice came through the speakers. "Just one with the prettiest jarhead in the marine corps." He gave her a devastating smile and opened his arms to her. Without thinking really she stepped into his arms and met his embrace. She had come to yearn for the warmth of his touch. In just a few days she knew she was addicted to him like a powerful drug, never again would she be able to return to the blissful ignorance of being merely his friend. She pulled away and met his eyes. There was a spark of contentment she had never seen before. Before she could comment he led her to the table. "I'd better feed my marine." With a long look he returned to the kitchen. Mac decided it was time to change tact, at least during dinner. "How did your meeting with the Admiral go?" He returned carrying plates of salad. "Surprising." He returned to the kitchen. Mac frowned at the answer. "Surprising? What encompasses surprising? Is he going to shave his head and join a cult?" Harm set dinner before her. "Not exactly." He replied as he took a seat across from her. "He asked me if I wanted to reconsider my resignation." Mac looked up from her food. "I see. Well, I guess it would be like it never happened." She pushed her food away, her appetite had left her. Harm knew this was his moment of truth, his one shot to get it right. If he clammed up now he may as well join a monastery. "No, not like before." He pushed his own plate aside. "I told the Admiral I wanted to talk to you first." The disappointment was so obvious on her face. "I also told him that if I had to decide between you and JAG there was no decision." He got up and went around the table where he kneeled in front of her. "Mac, I love the Navy and I want to be a Navy lawyer, but I want you more. It took me seven years to get my head together and go after you, I want to keep you and make up for those seven years." "So the alternative is for me to resign." She said slowly. "Harm I love the Corps but if that is what it would take for us to be together I would do it." Harm knew at that moment that the depth of feeling he had for this woman he could never have for another. He also knew he couldn't live without her anymore. "He offered another alternative. You could go to the bench permanently and I would stay at JAG. That's one of the things I wanted to discuss with you." Mac thought about it for a minute. "I think it would make us the happiest. Actually I have kind of enjoyed being on the bench, it's a learning experience." Suddenly relief washed over her. It was as if up to this very point she had been standing in a vacuum. "I can't believe we are actually talking about our future, an 'us' future." Harm pulled her to her feet and held her tightly. "It was too long coming." "Harm? You said that was 'one' of the things you wanted to talk to me about. What other bombshells do you have to drop on me?" Harm knew dinner was a lost cause. He led her to the living room and sat beside her on the sofa. His hands trembled and he reached back behind the cushions and removed a ring box. "Sarah, don't you think a seven year courtship is long enough?"

Roberts residence.

Harriet couldn't sleep. She had given up on it long ago and had crept down to the family room. A million details were running amok in her head. Caterers, florists, seamstresses.. She wrote on a binder notebook furiously lest the tinniest detail escape her attention. "Harriet! Come to bed, Honey." Bud stood looking at her from the doorway. "Come on, sweetie. The Commander and Colonel aren't getting married for another three months and you already have the cake ordered, flowers picked out and a new dress. You're going to wear yourself out." Harriet sat bolt upright. "Oh no! Shoes, I need new shoes!" Bud decided it was worth going down that road again. He hobbled off to a cold and lonely bed.

Th-th-th-that's all folks! Thanks for the great reviews! You can email me at alphanx@netscape.net if you have and comments or questions that need addressing