"To Get Back" part 7/7
By Rita Widmer
Disclaimer: JAG doesn't belong to me.
AN: Here's the last part. Enjoy, and thank you all for the wonderful feedback! There will be an epilogue coming. For those on the mailing lists, if you are looking for previous parts either email me or go to www.fanfiction.net/~lovejag where all my JAG stories are stored.
*************************************************************************************
Bethseda Hospital
Mac's Room
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mac lays sound asleep on her cot. Her mind had conjured up the images of that day where so many died, because of a terrorist attack upon the town that had taken her and her partner in for their undercover job.
All she could remember was walking through the school, and looking at each of those kids' faces, which would never know the evil that had brought their death. Stopping short of the outside, she saw a young girl who looked up at her with such hope, but it faltered as the child took her last breath and died before Mac could do a thing to save her. Those bright brown eyes haunted her dreams each night that passed.
There her dreams ended. There was neither memory of the trip in the truck nor the memory of waking up for a mere second when help came. The first true memories of those days in the hospital were those softly spoken words, "Because I love you."
Those words repeated over and over again in her head, but it was not a lone sentence in her mind. It was followed by more words of Harmon Rabb Jr., his words to Sturgis telling him that the man that her ex-boyfriends were either dead or wish they were. A harsh reminder of the men that fallen to their deaths, because they knew one Sarah Mackenzie.
She didn't want to believe his words were true. To believe would bring fear of what would happen to Harm because he loved her, and for no other reason he would die. Was it worth that chance that he might live or risk it for a short while with him?
Mac woke to the gentle feeling of fingers caressing her face. It was then she noticed that she had been crying in her sleep, and those fingers belonged to Harm, who never failed to wipe them away when he was allowed to see them fall.
"Sarah, don't cry. You are safe and home. Maybe not your home, but at least you are nearer then you were. Why are you crying?"
"I...I was dreaming of the bombing, and all those children that died because of me."
Harm stood up and looked at her sternly but gently. "Sarah Mackenzie those children died because of evil men who are out for revenge. You are not at fault for Eddie's and Dalton's deaths, or any other man that died in self-defense. I will not die just because we love each other." Harm walked over to the window. He wanted her to believe his words, and allow herself to love him with all her heart. No matter what he said he knew it would take time and encouragement from him.
"There's no use in arguing who's right or wrong, but Harm I want to believe you. I'm going to try. Just never stop loving me."
He walked over and took her hand in his, and said one simple but full of meaning word, "Never."
*************************************
A Church Cemetery - Alexandria, VA
A week later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The slight hill that curved in the grass was a testament to the newly laid body of a woman who had died. At the opposite end stood a gravestone on it were the words Caroline Raymond, July 1, 1967- November 14, 2003.
Mac stood watch over the gravesite remembering the woman who trained and went with her on that fateful mission. The mission that would take her life away while trying to save others. For a CIA agent, she was a rather optimistic outwardly friendly woman. She was not afraid to say what was in her heart.
Her tongue sometimes on the mission would want to run off on her, but she always caught it in time before it got her in trouble in a country where women were treated as third class citizens.
They had vowed that when they arrived home they would laugh until pigs could fly at those moments where seriousness could only be displayed. To have laughed would acknowledge that something was not right calling suspicion upon them.
The laughs never came, and now it was pain that filled Mac's heart at the memory of a life so young and vivacious. A woman who was not willing to let herself get down when life was harsh. Mac had not been able to go to the funeral, but she was going to pay her last respects to the woman that made it possible for her to finally find happiness in life. A part of Caroline would firmly lie in her heart reminding her to live and love always.
The crunching of the leaves brought another reminder. She would never be alone. Harm would always be there silently watching her and loving her until she was ready to come to him. She felt herself being taken into strong but safe arms as she was hugged.
Breaking away from him after a moment, she went over and said her final good-bye and turned back to Harm, and said "I'm ready."
Mac watched silently as Harm went to the grave, and she heard his soft, "Thank you for bringing her back to me."
Hand in hand they walked out of the cemetery.
************************************
JAG HQ
Two weeks later
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking through JAG Headquarters for the first time in months was like walking through your childhood home as an adult. There are so many memories there, but they are all that is left of the past. No longer does the adult belong, but the ghosts of memories past would always play there. It was a nostalgic walk for Mac as she entered the building.
There was no where inside or outside that didn't have some kind of memory for her. She was there to start her career anew once more. No one told her anything about the opportunities that would come forth at the meeting. She knew she would be welcomed back to JAG if she wanted, but was there something more important to her that would come.
She entered the bullpen slowly, looking around her hoping to find a glimpse of her old friends. It didn't long for them to notice her coming in, and she found herself bombarded by questions of her trip and her well being.
Off in the distance, stood Harm, who was wearing a bemused face as he watched Mac try to control the conversation so she could answer all the questions and get on her way to the Admiral's. When she looked up, he winked at her, and mouthed "later," which earned him a full Mac smile.
Soon she found herself in the Admiral's office. Each person staring at her as they awaited her to start.
"Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie reporting, Sirs."
"At ease and sit down, Colonel," ordered the SecNav.
"Thank you, Sir."
Webb who had been hiding in the back came forward to speak. "Mac, the three of us have spent the morning discussing your future in the military, and came up with several offerings. None of them though are for the CIA. With the death threat, you are too much of a risk.
"Mac, I want you to know that you are welcome to come back to JAG as a lawyer or a judge. We could use your help, but that is up to you to decide," said the Admiral.
"I think I have the best offer for you, Colonel. With the deadline set for putting together a government in Iraq, we need people who can help put it together. We need someone who know law, but also know the people and the language. If this new government is going to work it has to be able to work with the people of Iraq. There will be some traveling, but we will keep you out of the Middle East for your own safety and those that are with you. Think it over and get back to the Admiral or me on your decision," said the SecNav.
"Sir, I don't need time to think it over. Admiral, I was happy here at JAG, but I know that the SecNav's offer is to good to miss out on. It might not be where I thought I was heading when I transferred, but I learned something. These are people of my background. I have the opportunity to help them fulfill and become a great democracy."
"I really didn't expect it, but I wanted you to know that was an option still."
"Yes, sir."
"Webb, Mac, you are dismissed."
Walking out, Mac asked the important question weighing in her mind since she got back from Afghanistan.
"How's the Gunny, Webb?"
"He's doing fine, Mac. He'll be coming back here to heal pretty soon."
"Thanks, Webb, for everything."
With that last line, Mac headed to Harm's office. She put on a huge smile and walked into his office and shut the door and blinds. Catching both of them by surprise, she walked over to Harm, with a gleam in her eye, she bent over and kissed him passionately.
Mac knew deep down life was only going to get better and she would find her happiness with the man she was holding tight as they kissed.
The End (except for epilogue)
By Rita Widmer
Disclaimer: JAG doesn't belong to me.
AN: Here's the last part. Enjoy, and thank you all for the wonderful feedback! There will be an epilogue coming. For those on the mailing lists, if you are looking for previous parts either email me or go to www.fanfiction.net/~lovejag where all my JAG stories are stored.
*************************************************************************************
Bethseda Hospital
Mac's Room
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mac lays sound asleep on her cot. Her mind had conjured up the images of that day where so many died, because of a terrorist attack upon the town that had taken her and her partner in for their undercover job.
All she could remember was walking through the school, and looking at each of those kids' faces, which would never know the evil that had brought their death. Stopping short of the outside, she saw a young girl who looked up at her with such hope, but it faltered as the child took her last breath and died before Mac could do a thing to save her. Those bright brown eyes haunted her dreams each night that passed.
There her dreams ended. There was neither memory of the trip in the truck nor the memory of waking up for a mere second when help came. The first true memories of those days in the hospital were those softly spoken words, "Because I love you."
Those words repeated over and over again in her head, but it was not a lone sentence in her mind. It was followed by more words of Harmon Rabb Jr., his words to Sturgis telling him that the man that her ex-boyfriends were either dead or wish they were. A harsh reminder of the men that fallen to their deaths, because they knew one Sarah Mackenzie.
She didn't want to believe his words were true. To believe would bring fear of what would happen to Harm because he loved her, and for no other reason he would die. Was it worth that chance that he might live or risk it for a short while with him?
Mac woke to the gentle feeling of fingers caressing her face. It was then she noticed that she had been crying in her sleep, and those fingers belonged to Harm, who never failed to wipe them away when he was allowed to see them fall.
"Sarah, don't cry. You are safe and home. Maybe not your home, but at least you are nearer then you were. Why are you crying?"
"I...I was dreaming of the bombing, and all those children that died because of me."
Harm stood up and looked at her sternly but gently. "Sarah Mackenzie those children died because of evil men who are out for revenge. You are not at fault for Eddie's and Dalton's deaths, or any other man that died in self-defense. I will not die just because we love each other." Harm walked over to the window. He wanted her to believe his words, and allow herself to love him with all her heart. No matter what he said he knew it would take time and encouragement from him.
"There's no use in arguing who's right or wrong, but Harm I want to believe you. I'm going to try. Just never stop loving me."
He walked over and took her hand in his, and said one simple but full of meaning word, "Never."
*************************************
A Church Cemetery - Alexandria, VA
A week later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The slight hill that curved in the grass was a testament to the newly laid body of a woman who had died. At the opposite end stood a gravestone on it were the words Caroline Raymond, July 1, 1967- November 14, 2003.
Mac stood watch over the gravesite remembering the woman who trained and went with her on that fateful mission. The mission that would take her life away while trying to save others. For a CIA agent, she was a rather optimistic outwardly friendly woman. She was not afraid to say what was in her heart.
Her tongue sometimes on the mission would want to run off on her, but she always caught it in time before it got her in trouble in a country where women were treated as third class citizens.
They had vowed that when they arrived home they would laugh until pigs could fly at those moments where seriousness could only be displayed. To have laughed would acknowledge that something was not right calling suspicion upon them.
The laughs never came, and now it was pain that filled Mac's heart at the memory of a life so young and vivacious. A woman who was not willing to let herself get down when life was harsh. Mac had not been able to go to the funeral, but she was going to pay her last respects to the woman that made it possible for her to finally find happiness in life. A part of Caroline would firmly lie in her heart reminding her to live and love always.
The crunching of the leaves brought another reminder. She would never be alone. Harm would always be there silently watching her and loving her until she was ready to come to him. She felt herself being taken into strong but safe arms as she was hugged.
Breaking away from him after a moment, she went over and said her final good-bye and turned back to Harm, and said "I'm ready."
Mac watched silently as Harm went to the grave, and she heard his soft, "Thank you for bringing her back to me."
Hand in hand they walked out of the cemetery.
************************************
JAG HQ
Two weeks later
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking through JAG Headquarters for the first time in months was like walking through your childhood home as an adult. There are so many memories there, but they are all that is left of the past. No longer does the adult belong, but the ghosts of memories past would always play there. It was a nostalgic walk for Mac as she entered the building.
There was no where inside or outside that didn't have some kind of memory for her. She was there to start her career anew once more. No one told her anything about the opportunities that would come forth at the meeting. She knew she would be welcomed back to JAG if she wanted, but was there something more important to her that would come.
She entered the bullpen slowly, looking around her hoping to find a glimpse of her old friends. It didn't long for them to notice her coming in, and she found herself bombarded by questions of her trip and her well being.
Off in the distance, stood Harm, who was wearing a bemused face as he watched Mac try to control the conversation so she could answer all the questions and get on her way to the Admiral's. When she looked up, he winked at her, and mouthed "later," which earned him a full Mac smile.
Soon she found herself in the Admiral's office. Each person staring at her as they awaited her to start.
"Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie reporting, Sirs."
"At ease and sit down, Colonel," ordered the SecNav.
"Thank you, Sir."
Webb who had been hiding in the back came forward to speak. "Mac, the three of us have spent the morning discussing your future in the military, and came up with several offerings. None of them though are for the CIA. With the death threat, you are too much of a risk.
"Mac, I want you to know that you are welcome to come back to JAG as a lawyer or a judge. We could use your help, but that is up to you to decide," said the Admiral.
"I think I have the best offer for you, Colonel. With the deadline set for putting together a government in Iraq, we need people who can help put it together. We need someone who know law, but also know the people and the language. If this new government is going to work it has to be able to work with the people of Iraq. There will be some traveling, but we will keep you out of the Middle East for your own safety and those that are with you. Think it over and get back to the Admiral or me on your decision," said the SecNav.
"Sir, I don't need time to think it over. Admiral, I was happy here at JAG, but I know that the SecNav's offer is to good to miss out on. It might not be where I thought I was heading when I transferred, but I learned something. These are people of my background. I have the opportunity to help them fulfill and become a great democracy."
"I really didn't expect it, but I wanted you to know that was an option still."
"Yes, sir."
"Webb, Mac, you are dismissed."
Walking out, Mac asked the important question weighing in her mind since she got back from Afghanistan.
"How's the Gunny, Webb?"
"He's doing fine, Mac. He'll be coming back here to heal pretty soon."
"Thanks, Webb, for everything."
With that last line, Mac headed to Harm's office. She put on a huge smile and walked into his office and shut the door and blinds. Catching both of them by surprise, she walked over to Harm, with a gleam in her eye, she bent over and kissed him passionately.
Mac knew deep down life was only going to get better and she would find her happiness with the man she was holding tight as they kissed.
The End (except for epilogue)