Title: The Spider and the Fly VIII
Author: Nan
Rating: PG
Classification: vignette, Harm/Mac, a shipper story.
Spoilers: Tangled Web
Summary: Speculation Fic - conclusion to Tangled Web
Part VIII
Meredith watched as AJ finished his run with Dammit. She could see him approach down the street in the diminishing daylight. She was looking forward to a good talk with him this evening. Their relationship had been a challenge lately. AJ had retreated into himself since the news about Mac missing in Paraguay. It wasn't a surprise to Meredith that Harm had followed Mac to Paraguay but she worried about AJ's reaction. She knew that AJ's brusque manner belied how close he was to his officers.
Today there had been good news. This morning, she had just set her purse down on her desk at work when a call came through from JAG. It was Tiner and he told her that Mac and Harm had been found. Events unfolded throughout the day and by 5.00 pm, AJ himself called to inform her that they were safe in the US Embassy in Asuncion. She could hear the relief in his voice.
She greeted him at the door with a smile, a kiss and a beer. Her eyes ran over him and felt her pulse pick up. He was in good shape for a man of any age. He sat down on a kitchen chair, panting and scratching Dammit's ears.
"Good run?" she said.
"Yeah."
"Got all your problems squared away?"
"I don't have any problems," he said and winked at her.
"It was good to hear about Mac and Harm. How did the office take the news?"
"With a lot of relief. Both Harriet and Jennifer Coates cried. There was something about this situation that had everyone worried," he said taking a long swig of beer.
"I bet it didn't help that Clayton Webb was evacuated from Paraguay in such terrible condition. Lord only knows what was done to him," she said.
"The doctors at Johns Hopkins say he will be okay. Time and a little plastic surgery will work wonders." He leaned back in the chair.
"He is at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore?"
"Only the best for Mrs. Webb's little boy."
"Now the office can go back to normal, right?" she asked.
"Almost. But not quite," he said quietly.
"Almost?"
AJ sighed and forced himself to think about a topic he wanted to avoid. "Rabb resigned his commission to find Mac."
"I know. But that is easily overturned, right?"
"Not so easy when the officer in question is as senior and as well-known as Harm. But still do-able."
"What are you worried about?" she said quietly. It was all coming out now.
"I haven't heard if Harm wants to be reinstated. And somehow, I don't think he is going to do it."
"Why?" she asked puzzled. Why wouldn't Harm want to return to JAG?
"Well, it is just a feeling I have. This crisis with Mac came directly on the heels of Singer's murder trial," he said slowly, trying to organize his thoughts.
"Accused and then tried for murder was rough."
"The three weeks Harm had in the brig during that ill-fated trial had an effect. Believe me, it would have an effect on anyone. But Rabb is tough and his attitude is good. He was putting it all behind him. Then Mac went missing."
"She has more influence over him than he cares to admit," Meredith knew where AJ was going with this. "It was like tearing away his anchor."
AJ nodded. "It is an understatement to say that Mac and Harm have a unique relationship. Hell, half the time I don't understand it. But one thing I am sure of is this. His feelings for her run pretty deep. I could never stop him once he had the idea of going to Paraguay."
"To rescue the woman he loves. It all sounds pretty romantic to me," she smiled at him.
AJ snorted. "There is something you don't know. Gunny told me this yesterday. He thought I should know. Which is funny in of itself. Gunny isn't one to pass on idle gossip. He said that after they found Mac and Webb in the terrorist compound, Webb confessed to Mac that he loved her. And Harm overheard this."
"Gunny is perceptive," she said. "You are afraid that Harm might find it hard to return to JAG. Especially if Mac takes up with Webb. Does Mac even like Webb?"
"I have no idea," he said. "I have one more confession to make."
"That is...?" she said.
"Well, I made a couple of comments to Harm before he left that I am not proud of. Especially in light of recent events. I challenged him about his relationship with Mac."
"It will be hard for him to face you. Is this the reason you have been so quiet lately?" she said.
"One of them, I guess. It's not easy to watch and do nothing when your friends are in danger."
"Being the Judge Advocate General of the Navy has its drawbacks sometimes," she answered quietly.
"Yes it does," he said with more vehemence than he intended. They sat in the dwindling daylight and said nothing.
Admiral AJ Chegwidden walked through the corridors of Johns Hopkins Hospital with purpose. His chat with Meredith last night had put things into perspective for him. Harm and Mac and their relationship would always be an enigma to him. This he knew. Past experience told him that there was little he could do to help them.
But this time was different. He wanted to get his office back to normal. Which meant getting Harm and Mac back to normal. Enigmatic relationship and everything.
He knew of one obstacle between him and a normal office. And he was going to have a talk with that obstacle. Now.
Room 341. Here it is. AJ stepped into Clayton Webb's room. He paused a moment and reminded himself not to feel sorry for the man in the bed. Despite that, he shuddered with inner horror at the marks and bruises all over Webb. He looked bad.
Webb opened his eyes and smiled at him. "AJ. It is good to see you. That is as long as you are not coming to hit me because of the op in Paraguay?"
The admiral smiled too. "It has crossed my mind but you look so god damn pathetic. How you doing Webb?"
"Thankful, I think. Better since I got the news yesterday about Sarah and Harm."
"Yeah, that was a relief."
"I guess I need to thank you for some of that."
"Don't thank me. Thank Rabb. I tried everything I could to stop him from going to Paraguay. Boone helped me keep track of him after he resigned his commission."
"Rabb won't be out of the Navy long, right? You will take him back?" said Webb.
"People keep asking me that. I really don't know, Webb. Harm hasn't told me yet what he wants to do," said AJ.
Webb shook his head. "I don't think the private sector is ready for Harmon Rabb."
The admiral smiled. "What does your boss think about this little mis-adventure?"
"The destruction of the stinger missiles is considered an important accomplishment. But we uncovered evidence of a leak in the operation down there. That is the bad news. Don't worry, I don't think the director of the CIA is coming after Harm. In fact, he might like to hire him." Webb looked at AJ.
"And Colonel Mackenzie?"
Webb swallowed. "Of course the company is in her debt. Sarah went through a lot and was a key component to the success of the mission."
AJ continued. "And how do you feel about 'Sarah?'"
Clayton Webb drew himself up on his bed and took a long, hard look at the Admiral. He said softly, "I'm not sure if that is any of your business, admiral."
"I'm making it my business, Webb."
"And this is because...?"
AJ said. "This is because you work in a dangerous field, my friend. And that is the last time you are taking one of my officers TAD to one of your ops. Colonel Mackenzie deserves better than that and you know it."
"If I didn't know better, I would swear you had feelings for her yourself, AJ."
"I do have feelings for her. As a friend and a fellow co-worker. Be careful where you take those feelings that you have for her," said AJ.
"She loves Rabb you know, admiral. But he is oblivious to it. Maybe she deserves better than that."
"That is for her to decide," he said and got up to leave.
"That we can agree on. It is for her to decide," said Webb.
"Clay, underneath it all, you are a good man. Do the right thing here."
Clayton Webb was silent.
The admiral walked toward the door. "Get better, Webb. It is hard to see you in this bed." And with that, he left.
Author: Nan
Rating: PG
Classification: vignette, Harm/Mac, a shipper story.
Spoilers: Tangled Web
Summary: Speculation Fic - conclusion to Tangled Web
Part VIII
Meredith watched as AJ finished his run with Dammit. She could see him approach down the street in the diminishing daylight. She was looking forward to a good talk with him this evening. Their relationship had been a challenge lately. AJ had retreated into himself since the news about Mac missing in Paraguay. It wasn't a surprise to Meredith that Harm had followed Mac to Paraguay but she worried about AJ's reaction. She knew that AJ's brusque manner belied how close he was to his officers.
Today there had been good news. This morning, she had just set her purse down on her desk at work when a call came through from JAG. It was Tiner and he told her that Mac and Harm had been found. Events unfolded throughout the day and by 5.00 pm, AJ himself called to inform her that they were safe in the US Embassy in Asuncion. She could hear the relief in his voice.
She greeted him at the door with a smile, a kiss and a beer. Her eyes ran over him and felt her pulse pick up. He was in good shape for a man of any age. He sat down on a kitchen chair, panting and scratching Dammit's ears.
"Good run?" she said.
"Yeah."
"Got all your problems squared away?"
"I don't have any problems," he said and winked at her.
"It was good to hear about Mac and Harm. How did the office take the news?"
"With a lot of relief. Both Harriet and Jennifer Coates cried. There was something about this situation that had everyone worried," he said taking a long swig of beer.
"I bet it didn't help that Clayton Webb was evacuated from Paraguay in such terrible condition. Lord only knows what was done to him," she said.
"The doctors at Johns Hopkins say he will be okay. Time and a little plastic surgery will work wonders." He leaned back in the chair.
"He is at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore?"
"Only the best for Mrs. Webb's little boy."
"Now the office can go back to normal, right?" she asked.
"Almost. But not quite," he said quietly.
"Almost?"
AJ sighed and forced himself to think about a topic he wanted to avoid. "Rabb resigned his commission to find Mac."
"I know. But that is easily overturned, right?"
"Not so easy when the officer in question is as senior and as well-known as Harm. But still do-able."
"What are you worried about?" she said quietly. It was all coming out now.
"I haven't heard if Harm wants to be reinstated. And somehow, I don't think he is going to do it."
"Why?" she asked puzzled. Why wouldn't Harm want to return to JAG?
"Well, it is just a feeling I have. This crisis with Mac came directly on the heels of Singer's murder trial," he said slowly, trying to organize his thoughts.
"Accused and then tried for murder was rough."
"The three weeks Harm had in the brig during that ill-fated trial had an effect. Believe me, it would have an effect on anyone. But Rabb is tough and his attitude is good. He was putting it all behind him. Then Mac went missing."
"She has more influence over him than he cares to admit," Meredith knew where AJ was going with this. "It was like tearing away his anchor."
AJ nodded. "It is an understatement to say that Mac and Harm have a unique relationship. Hell, half the time I don't understand it. But one thing I am sure of is this. His feelings for her run pretty deep. I could never stop him once he had the idea of going to Paraguay."
"To rescue the woman he loves. It all sounds pretty romantic to me," she smiled at him.
AJ snorted. "There is something you don't know. Gunny told me this yesterday. He thought I should know. Which is funny in of itself. Gunny isn't one to pass on idle gossip. He said that after they found Mac and Webb in the terrorist compound, Webb confessed to Mac that he loved her. And Harm overheard this."
"Gunny is perceptive," she said. "You are afraid that Harm might find it hard to return to JAG. Especially if Mac takes up with Webb. Does Mac even like Webb?"
"I have no idea," he said. "I have one more confession to make."
"That is...?" she said.
"Well, I made a couple of comments to Harm before he left that I am not proud of. Especially in light of recent events. I challenged him about his relationship with Mac."
"It will be hard for him to face you. Is this the reason you have been so quiet lately?" she said.
"One of them, I guess. It's not easy to watch and do nothing when your friends are in danger."
"Being the Judge Advocate General of the Navy has its drawbacks sometimes," she answered quietly.
"Yes it does," he said with more vehemence than he intended. They sat in the dwindling daylight and said nothing.
Admiral AJ Chegwidden walked through the corridors of Johns Hopkins Hospital with purpose. His chat with Meredith last night had put things into perspective for him. Harm and Mac and their relationship would always be an enigma to him. This he knew. Past experience told him that there was little he could do to help them.
But this time was different. He wanted to get his office back to normal. Which meant getting Harm and Mac back to normal. Enigmatic relationship and everything.
He knew of one obstacle between him and a normal office. And he was going to have a talk with that obstacle. Now.
Room 341. Here it is. AJ stepped into Clayton Webb's room. He paused a moment and reminded himself not to feel sorry for the man in the bed. Despite that, he shuddered with inner horror at the marks and bruises all over Webb. He looked bad.
Webb opened his eyes and smiled at him. "AJ. It is good to see you. That is as long as you are not coming to hit me because of the op in Paraguay?"
The admiral smiled too. "It has crossed my mind but you look so god damn pathetic. How you doing Webb?"
"Thankful, I think. Better since I got the news yesterday about Sarah and Harm."
"Yeah, that was a relief."
"I guess I need to thank you for some of that."
"Don't thank me. Thank Rabb. I tried everything I could to stop him from going to Paraguay. Boone helped me keep track of him after he resigned his commission."
"Rabb won't be out of the Navy long, right? You will take him back?" said Webb.
"People keep asking me that. I really don't know, Webb. Harm hasn't told me yet what he wants to do," said AJ.
Webb shook his head. "I don't think the private sector is ready for Harmon Rabb."
The admiral smiled. "What does your boss think about this little mis-adventure?"
"The destruction of the stinger missiles is considered an important accomplishment. But we uncovered evidence of a leak in the operation down there. That is the bad news. Don't worry, I don't think the director of the CIA is coming after Harm. In fact, he might like to hire him." Webb looked at AJ.
"And Colonel Mackenzie?"
Webb swallowed. "Of course the company is in her debt. Sarah went through a lot and was a key component to the success of the mission."
AJ continued. "And how do you feel about 'Sarah?'"
Clayton Webb drew himself up on his bed and took a long, hard look at the Admiral. He said softly, "I'm not sure if that is any of your business, admiral."
"I'm making it my business, Webb."
"And this is because...?"
AJ said. "This is because you work in a dangerous field, my friend. And that is the last time you are taking one of my officers TAD to one of your ops. Colonel Mackenzie deserves better than that and you know it."
"If I didn't know better, I would swear you had feelings for her yourself, AJ."
"I do have feelings for her. As a friend and a fellow co-worker. Be careful where you take those feelings that you have for her," said AJ.
"She loves Rabb you know, admiral. But he is oblivious to it. Maybe she deserves better than that."
"That is for her to decide," he said and got up to leave.
"That we can agree on. It is for her to decide," said Webb.
"Clay, underneath it all, you are a good man. Do the right thing here."
Clayton Webb was silent.
The admiral walked toward the door. "Get better, Webb. It is hard to see you in this bed." And with that, he left.
