A/N: Hey all, thanks for the feedback it has been great. This story was
originally gonna have 15 chapters but I think it'll end up with about 17 or
18 so I can finish the story off properly, hope your enjoying it.
From part 12
"Things are never simple with you are they?"
"What gave you that idea?"
"I heard that part of the conversation on the Admirals porch, I just never realised it's meaning."
Sensing that all that needed to be said had been, he stood up "Goodbye Renee."
"Goodbye Harm."
She watched as he walked to the door, she knew it was over but much to her surprise she was okay with it, maybe because deep down she always knew it was true or maybe because she realise that she was better off without him, after all Cyrus was a good man, one she could even come to love.
"Harm." She called out from behind him
"Yeah?" he said spinning around
"Do you think Mac would mind if I came in to see her and…"
"Rose."
"To see her and Rose?"
"No problem." And with that, he turned and walked away, giving her one last famous flyboy grin.
To Be Continued
What's Meant To Be Will Be 13
BETHESDA HOSPITAL 2 Days Later
Mac sat on the bed, she was sick of being cooped up in this room, the doctor had agreed to let here go for a short walk once a day but that wasn't enough, she just wanted to go home but neither her nor Rose was well enough to go home, it would be months before the let Rose go home, she wasn't strong enough but it was only a couple more days before she could leave.
There was a knock at the door, She wondered who it was considering Harm had gone into Jag to collect his mail and tie up loose ends, not that he had wanted too, the Admiral had offered to bring it in to him but she had made him go in, he had been at the hospital continually for days, only going home to sleep, which she was sure he didn't do much of.
Mac looked up and was surprised to see Renee standing in the doorway, Renee was the last person she had expected to see there. "Renee! Uh come in."
"Sorry to disturb you."
"Ah no that's fine, what can I do for you?"
"I… I just wanted to see how you were doing, and how Rose was."
"You didn't have to do that. How have you been?"
"Okay, well considering the events of the last few weeks pretty well I guess."
She knew Harm had gone to see her the other day, but he hadn't said much about how things went. Mac wasn't sure exactly why Renee was here, but something had changed about her, and much to her surprise Renee wasn't hostile or bitter in the least towards her. "You must be due any day now."
"Yeah, I'm due in 3 days but my doctors not sure I'll be on time."
"There's no problems is there" Mac said generally concerned
"No nothing like that."
"Well that's good to hear."
There was a uncomfortable silence that filled the room containing only the two women.
Renee spoke first "I… ah… the real reason I came in here to see you was, well to I guess see it all for myself, you know when He told me about everything I thought it would hurt a lot more than it did, but it didn't. I guess I've always known deep down that we were never meant to be, he's only meant to be with one person and that's you. When he spoke about you and Rose, I saw him truly happy, he had that look in his eyes of pure content, something that was never there when we were together, not even when I told him I was pregnant."
Mac sat silently for a moment and observed the woman she had come to despise, a woman she had thought possessed no human feelings and only did things to get somewhere in life. She was so wrong. When she looked a Renee she could see that she had loved Harm and was giving him up without a fight, the fact that she had come in here showed she was a lot stronger person that she had first thought. "I don't know what to say Renee, Thankyou for coming in here, I know it must have been hard but I do appreciate it."
"I guess it was something I had to do, you know."
"Yeah, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Did you know the baby wasn't Harms?"
Renee took a deep breath, she had hoped that Harm had told her about their conversation and that she would understand a lot of things but he obviously hadn't. "No… Well I guess if I had really thought about it I would have realised but I was so happy you know, I wanted it to be his so badly that I guess I kind of blocked it out and never thought about it again. If I had known then I don't know what I would have done, if I had known about your situation I would have told him no doubt but… well I guess I'll never know, I didn't do it to hold onto him, I guess I always knew that I we'd only have a chance until you both were ready at the same time…"
"Renee I'm sorry for how this worked out you know."
"Yeah, I know besides he's happy know."
"Are you happy?"
"You know what I think I am, the whole thing has been lifted of my shoulders, I don't have to worry about loosing him to you and I can move on with my life."
"Have you talked to the father?"
"Yeah and he'll support me which is good I don't think I could do it alone."
"And you shouldn't have to. Thanks again for coming Renee."
"Is it okay if I go and see her?"
"Yeah sure, I would come with you but I'm not supposed to get out of bed."
"No problem, good luck with everything."
"You too, and let us know when you have the baby."
"Yeah I will. Bye
"Bye."
She watched Renee walk out of he room, she had really misjudged her, and she could see that she was in pain, despite what she told everyone, and hopefully that would heal and she'd find someone who she can be with forever.
HARM AND MAC'S APARTMENT 4 Months Later
"Harm! What box did you pack the dinner plates in?"
"I don't know, the square one?"
"Ha, ha, Funny squid."
"They should be in one of the 2 marked breakable."
"You mean I have to go through both of them just to find the plates!"
"Yup."
Harm heard her groan and laughed, "haven't you had to do any work for a while?"
"No I just forgot how much I hated moving house."
"Yeah well once we find a proper house we'll have to do it again."
"Yeah well I vote we put off looking for a house for a while then."
"What ever you say, Mac."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
"Ohhh there she goes again, I thought baby's were supposed to be cute."
"She is cute."
"Harm, what is it with you, she never cry's with you!"
"I guess I must be her favourite."
"Marines don't have favourites!"
"OH and what makes you so sure she's going to be a Marine?"
"Because one squid in the family is enough!"
"Are you saying I'm hard to handle?"
"Yes."
"Oh really, then com'ere" Harm gathered Mac up in his arms and swung her around so her head was facing the ground, her arms and legs were waving around, struggling to get free.
"Harrrrrrm put me down!"
"Not until you say you're sorry."
"Never!"
"Then I guess you'll have to stay like this forever then."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
"You'll have to put me down so one of us can get her."
"Okay, okay you win." He plopped her down on the couch and went into the next room to check on Rose. They had moved into their new apartment 3 days ago, and still very little had been unpacked. Rose had been able to come out of hospital 2 day's ago, which all added up to a whole heap of stress for Mac.
Harm entered to room again, this time with Rose laying peacefully over his shoulder.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Get her to calm down so quickly."
"I sing to her."
"You sing?" Mac said raising her eyebrow, trying to picture Harm singing to their daughter.
"Yes I sing. Don't you believe me?"
"No it's not that, I just haven't heard you sing before."
[A/N: I apologise if Mac has heard Harm sing before, I only started watching jag at 'lifeline' so I'm not sure.]
"Well I'll sing to you sometime, but not right now, I'm due in the office in - Oh s**t – 20 minutes."
"You go and I'll put her back to bed."
"Alright, have a good day at work."
"Yeah I will, what are you doing for lunch?"
"Nothing why?
"Fancy having lunch with a good looking sailor?"
"Absolutely, when do I get to meet him?"
"You already have" he said leaning in and giving her a soft lingering kiss goodbye."
"See you at 1300?"
"Yeah, come into my office, Harriet's dying to see Rose again."
"She's welcome here any time."
"I know, I told her that, I think she plans on coming over without AJ one day."
"Goo, now you better go or you'll be even later."
"Okay, love you. Bye."
"Love you too."
And with that the door closed behind him and Mac was left alone with Rose to sort out the mound of boxes in the kitchen.
JAG HQ Same day 1250
Mac walked out of the elevator, and much to her surprise was a little nervous. She hadn't been back here for a long time, well not when it was full of people. She had some back on the odd occasion to see the Admiral but that was when everyone had gone home, and when Harm was by her side.
Not this time, the bullpen was buzzing with activity and Harm was in his office, yes he wasn't far away but she had to make it across the bullpen to get to him, meaning she had to get passed, Harriet, Bud, Gunney, Tiner and anyone else who decided that they'd come an congratulate her. Not that she minded but it was the questions that came with it, not all of them new the whole story and she wasn't exactly delighted at the thought of telling them either.
Harriet could see Mac standing at the edge of the bullpen, holding Rose in her arms, she could see the turmoil on her face. Harriet walked over to her, "Ma'am are you alright?"
"Not really." she hissed "everyone is going to be asking questions about… well about me and Harm and I'm not exactly sure I want to tell them the whole story."
"Walk with me Ma'am, you'll look less conspicuous with me."
"Thankyou Harriet, and call me Mac, I don't work here anymore."
"Okay, Mac."
They walked across the bullpen, Harriet positioning her self so that it wasn't obvious to everyone who she was walking with.
Much to Mac's surprise, the reached Harm's office without a single confrontation. "Thanks Harriet, you're a life saver."
"Not a problem Ma'a… Mac"
Mac gave her a smile and knocked on Harm's door.
"Enter!"
"Well isn't that a nice way to greet your daughter and…" come to think of it what was she to Harm? She wasn't his wife or fiancee' but could she really say she was his girlfriend? For some reason it didn't fit with Harm.
"And my Girlfriend."
"Are you comfortable with that?"
"For now, yes but I plan to make it more permanent one of these days."
"Oh do you?"
"Yes I do" he said as he moved closer to her as kissed her gently, then kissing Rose on the forehead.
"How has she been today?"
"Actually she has been and angel, maybe you should sing to her every morning."
"I can do that. Ready for lunch?"
"Absolutely, although do we have to go back out there?"
"Why?"
"Because everyone will ask questions, they know we are together now, but they'll want to know how this… eventuated."
"Well I'll tell them, I made the biggest mistake of my life and nearly lost the one woman I've ever really loved."
"Then you'd be lying though."
"No I wouldn't" confusion crossing his face as he spoke
"Yes you would. You loved Diane."
"Yes, when I was young and naïve."
"You were once naïve?"
"Yes I was and the moment I met you I realised I hadn't really loved Diane."
"Harm, it's okay for you to have loved her, I know you don't see her in me anymore."
"Mac, I… how do I explain this? For a long time I thought what I felt for you wasn't real, that I was seeing Diane but I wasn't. I don't know when I realised it but it was the other way around, when I was with Diane, I was seeing you."
"Harm that's insane, you hadn't met me."
"I don't know how to explain it, maybe I've always know we were meant to be together, maybe it was that connection of ours, I just know not that the only woman I have ever loved is you."
Tears were slipping freely down her cheeks now, what he had just said made all her fears and insecurities fade away. "Come on flyboy, lets get some lunch." They walked out into the bullpen and as she had expected people started asking questions. Harm did what he said he would and gave a meaningful yet vague description of the past 10 months. On the way out Harriet stopped and talked to them, well to Harm and the conversation was rather strange.
"Sir everything is ready."
"That's great Harriet thanks."
"Have you organised your end?"
Mac noticed that Harriet looked rather uncomfortable and kept giving sideways looks at Mac.
"Not quite, but I will have."
"Good, do you want me to do anything else?"
"Ahhh nope I think I have everything covered."
"Alright then I'll talk to you when you get back from lunch."
"Okay then."
"Bye Mac, bye, bye Rose" Harriet cooed as she walked away."
"What was all that about Harm?"
"Just some work stuff, nothing interesting." He was a very good actor and she would have fallen for it if he hadn't replied so hastily.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing, now where do you want to go for lunch?"
To Be Continued. (end chapter 13)
From part 12
"Things are never simple with you are they?"
"What gave you that idea?"
"I heard that part of the conversation on the Admirals porch, I just never realised it's meaning."
Sensing that all that needed to be said had been, he stood up "Goodbye Renee."
"Goodbye Harm."
She watched as he walked to the door, she knew it was over but much to her surprise she was okay with it, maybe because deep down she always knew it was true or maybe because she realise that she was better off without him, after all Cyrus was a good man, one she could even come to love.
"Harm." She called out from behind him
"Yeah?" he said spinning around
"Do you think Mac would mind if I came in to see her and…"
"Rose."
"To see her and Rose?"
"No problem." And with that, he turned and walked away, giving her one last famous flyboy grin.
To Be Continued
What's Meant To Be Will Be 13
BETHESDA HOSPITAL 2 Days Later
Mac sat on the bed, she was sick of being cooped up in this room, the doctor had agreed to let here go for a short walk once a day but that wasn't enough, she just wanted to go home but neither her nor Rose was well enough to go home, it would be months before the let Rose go home, she wasn't strong enough but it was only a couple more days before she could leave.
There was a knock at the door, She wondered who it was considering Harm had gone into Jag to collect his mail and tie up loose ends, not that he had wanted too, the Admiral had offered to bring it in to him but she had made him go in, he had been at the hospital continually for days, only going home to sleep, which she was sure he didn't do much of.
Mac looked up and was surprised to see Renee standing in the doorway, Renee was the last person she had expected to see there. "Renee! Uh come in."
"Sorry to disturb you."
"Ah no that's fine, what can I do for you?"
"I… I just wanted to see how you were doing, and how Rose was."
"You didn't have to do that. How have you been?"
"Okay, well considering the events of the last few weeks pretty well I guess."
She knew Harm had gone to see her the other day, but he hadn't said much about how things went. Mac wasn't sure exactly why Renee was here, but something had changed about her, and much to her surprise Renee wasn't hostile or bitter in the least towards her. "You must be due any day now."
"Yeah, I'm due in 3 days but my doctors not sure I'll be on time."
"There's no problems is there" Mac said generally concerned
"No nothing like that."
"Well that's good to hear."
There was a uncomfortable silence that filled the room containing only the two women.
Renee spoke first "I… ah… the real reason I came in here to see you was, well to I guess see it all for myself, you know when He told me about everything I thought it would hurt a lot more than it did, but it didn't. I guess I've always known deep down that we were never meant to be, he's only meant to be with one person and that's you. When he spoke about you and Rose, I saw him truly happy, he had that look in his eyes of pure content, something that was never there when we were together, not even when I told him I was pregnant."
Mac sat silently for a moment and observed the woman she had come to despise, a woman she had thought possessed no human feelings and only did things to get somewhere in life. She was so wrong. When she looked a Renee she could see that she had loved Harm and was giving him up without a fight, the fact that she had come in here showed she was a lot stronger person that she had first thought. "I don't know what to say Renee, Thankyou for coming in here, I know it must have been hard but I do appreciate it."
"I guess it was something I had to do, you know."
"Yeah, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Did you know the baby wasn't Harms?"
Renee took a deep breath, she had hoped that Harm had told her about their conversation and that she would understand a lot of things but he obviously hadn't. "No… Well I guess if I had really thought about it I would have realised but I was so happy you know, I wanted it to be his so badly that I guess I kind of blocked it out and never thought about it again. If I had known then I don't know what I would have done, if I had known about your situation I would have told him no doubt but… well I guess I'll never know, I didn't do it to hold onto him, I guess I always knew that I we'd only have a chance until you both were ready at the same time…"
"Renee I'm sorry for how this worked out you know."
"Yeah, I know besides he's happy know."
"Are you happy?"
"You know what I think I am, the whole thing has been lifted of my shoulders, I don't have to worry about loosing him to you and I can move on with my life."
"Have you talked to the father?"
"Yeah and he'll support me which is good I don't think I could do it alone."
"And you shouldn't have to. Thanks again for coming Renee."
"Is it okay if I go and see her?"
"Yeah sure, I would come with you but I'm not supposed to get out of bed."
"No problem, good luck with everything."
"You too, and let us know when you have the baby."
"Yeah I will. Bye
"Bye."
She watched Renee walk out of he room, she had really misjudged her, and she could see that she was in pain, despite what she told everyone, and hopefully that would heal and she'd find someone who she can be with forever.
HARM AND MAC'S APARTMENT 4 Months Later
"Harm! What box did you pack the dinner plates in?"
"I don't know, the square one?"
"Ha, ha, Funny squid."
"They should be in one of the 2 marked breakable."
"You mean I have to go through both of them just to find the plates!"
"Yup."
Harm heard her groan and laughed, "haven't you had to do any work for a while?"
"No I just forgot how much I hated moving house."
"Yeah well once we find a proper house we'll have to do it again."
"Yeah well I vote we put off looking for a house for a while then."
"What ever you say, Mac."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
"Ohhh there she goes again, I thought baby's were supposed to be cute."
"She is cute."
"Harm, what is it with you, she never cry's with you!"
"I guess I must be her favourite."
"Marines don't have favourites!"
"OH and what makes you so sure she's going to be a Marine?"
"Because one squid in the family is enough!"
"Are you saying I'm hard to handle?"
"Yes."
"Oh really, then com'ere" Harm gathered Mac up in his arms and swung her around so her head was facing the ground, her arms and legs were waving around, struggling to get free.
"Harrrrrrm put me down!"
"Not until you say you're sorry."
"Never!"
"Then I guess you'll have to stay like this forever then."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
"You'll have to put me down so one of us can get her."
"Okay, okay you win." He plopped her down on the couch and went into the next room to check on Rose. They had moved into their new apartment 3 days ago, and still very little had been unpacked. Rose had been able to come out of hospital 2 day's ago, which all added up to a whole heap of stress for Mac.
Harm entered to room again, this time with Rose laying peacefully over his shoulder.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Get her to calm down so quickly."
"I sing to her."
"You sing?" Mac said raising her eyebrow, trying to picture Harm singing to their daughter.
"Yes I sing. Don't you believe me?"
"No it's not that, I just haven't heard you sing before."
[A/N: I apologise if Mac has heard Harm sing before, I only started watching jag at 'lifeline' so I'm not sure.]
"Well I'll sing to you sometime, but not right now, I'm due in the office in - Oh s**t – 20 minutes."
"You go and I'll put her back to bed."
"Alright, have a good day at work."
"Yeah I will, what are you doing for lunch?"
"Nothing why?
"Fancy having lunch with a good looking sailor?"
"Absolutely, when do I get to meet him?"
"You already have" he said leaning in and giving her a soft lingering kiss goodbye."
"See you at 1300?"
"Yeah, come into my office, Harriet's dying to see Rose again."
"She's welcome here any time."
"I know, I told her that, I think she plans on coming over without AJ one day."
"Goo, now you better go or you'll be even later."
"Okay, love you. Bye."
"Love you too."
And with that the door closed behind him and Mac was left alone with Rose to sort out the mound of boxes in the kitchen.
JAG HQ Same day 1250
Mac walked out of the elevator, and much to her surprise was a little nervous. She hadn't been back here for a long time, well not when it was full of people. She had some back on the odd occasion to see the Admiral but that was when everyone had gone home, and when Harm was by her side.
Not this time, the bullpen was buzzing with activity and Harm was in his office, yes he wasn't far away but she had to make it across the bullpen to get to him, meaning she had to get passed, Harriet, Bud, Gunney, Tiner and anyone else who decided that they'd come an congratulate her. Not that she minded but it was the questions that came with it, not all of them new the whole story and she wasn't exactly delighted at the thought of telling them either.
Harriet could see Mac standing at the edge of the bullpen, holding Rose in her arms, she could see the turmoil on her face. Harriet walked over to her, "Ma'am are you alright?"
"Not really." she hissed "everyone is going to be asking questions about… well about me and Harm and I'm not exactly sure I want to tell them the whole story."
"Walk with me Ma'am, you'll look less conspicuous with me."
"Thankyou Harriet, and call me Mac, I don't work here anymore."
"Okay, Mac."
They walked across the bullpen, Harriet positioning her self so that it wasn't obvious to everyone who she was walking with.
Much to Mac's surprise, the reached Harm's office without a single confrontation. "Thanks Harriet, you're a life saver."
"Not a problem Ma'a… Mac"
Mac gave her a smile and knocked on Harm's door.
"Enter!"
"Well isn't that a nice way to greet your daughter and…" come to think of it what was she to Harm? She wasn't his wife or fiancee' but could she really say she was his girlfriend? For some reason it didn't fit with Harm.
"And my Girlfriend."
"Are you comfortable with that?"
"For now, yes but I plan to make it more permanent one of these days."
"Oh do you?"
"Yes I do" he said as he moved closer to her as kissed her gently, then kissing Rose on the forehead.
"How has she been today?"
"Actually she has been and angel, maybe you should sing to her every morning."
"I can do that. Ready for lunch?"
"Absolutely, although do we have to go back out there?"
"Why?"
"Because everyone will ask questions, they know we are together now, but they'll want to know how this… eventuated."
"Well I'll tell them, I made the biggest mistake of my life and nearly lost the one woman I've ever really loved."
"Then you'd be lying though."
"No I wouldn't" confusion crossing his face as he spoke
"Yes you would. You loved Diane."
"Yes, when I was young and naïve."
"You were once naïve?"
"Yes I was and the moment I met you I realised I hadn't really loved Diane."
"Harm, it's okay for you to have loved her, I know you don't see her in me anymore."
"Mac, I… how do I explain this? For a long time I thought what I felt for you wasn't real, that I was seeing Diane but I wasn't. I don't know when I realised it but it was the other way around, when I was with Diane, I was seeing you."
"Harm that's insane, you hadn't met me."
"I don't know how to explain it, maybe I've always know we were meant to be together, maybe it was that connection of ours, I just know not that the only woman I have ever loved is you."
Tears were slipping freely down her cheeks now, what he had just said made all her fears and insecurities fade away. "Come on flyboy, lets get some lunch." They walked out into the bullpen and as she had expected people started asking questions. Harm did what he said he would and gave a meaningful yet vague description of the past 10 months. On the way out Harriet stopped and talked to them, well to Harm and the conversation was rather strange.
"Sir everything is ready."
"That's great Harriet thanks."
"Have you organised your end?"
Mac noticed that Harriet looked rather uncomfortable and kept giving sideways looks at Mac.
"Not quite, but I will have."
"Good, do you want me to do anything else?"
"Ahhh nope I think I have everything covered."
"Alright then I'll talk to you when you get back from lunch."
"Okay then."
"Bye Mac, bye, bye Rose" Harriet cooed as she walked away."
"What was all that about Harm?"
"Just some work stuff, nothing interesting." He was a very good actor and she would have fallen for it if he hadn't replied so hastily.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing, now where do you want to go for lunch?"
To Be Continued. (end chapter 13)