Author's Note: Here is the next part I hope you enjoy it a lot I think some of you were suffering from H&MSS (Harm and Mac Separation Syndrome) I think that this part will cure that and answer a few questions that you might have. Anyway enjoy reading it and send reviews or no more of the story.
PS ~ Hey ninjaturtle, it is too bad that you can't e-mail chocolate brownies. Bummer! I was really looking forward to getting them. Lol!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*160E and 10N
USS Patrick Henry
1130 Romeo
5 ½ weeks later
Harm was suiting up for his next mission, when the Skipper entered the locker room and approached him.
"Commander, why are you suiting up?"
"I'm going on the mission sir, aren't I?" Harm asked puzzled.
"No son I'm afraid not. You're taking the noon COD off this floating frat house, and heading to Pensacola." Captain O'Brian stated calmly.
"But Sir why? Did I do something wrong?" Harm worried.
"No let's just say that there is a Marine in Washington who needs you and that there is one sourpuss of an admiral who is going to wring my neck if you're not back in four days." Captain O'Brian grinned.
"I'm going home sir? Your not joking are you sir?" Harm saw his face and decided he wasn't joking.
"Oh thank you sir." Harm stammered, wide eyed. He was going home! He was going to see Mac again (He had gotten her e-mail saying that she was back at JAG) and go back to working at JAG! When O'Brian dismissed him he took off his G-suit, and his dry suit and putting on his flight suit he ran all the way back to his quarters.
Once there he quickly changed into his khakis and then began throwing things into his bag. He had 24 minutes before the COD took off and he had to hurry. Although he was careful to take the pictures of Mac and pack them so they wouldn't break.
With ten minutes to spare he pulled on his flight jacket and grabbing his duffel headed out. He stopped by the flight ready room and gave a quick goodbye speech and then dashed up to the flight deck. It was the first time he was happy and almost giddy to see a COD. He climbed aboard after strapping down his duffel he strapped himself in and waited until they were brought up to the steam catapult. He could hear the engines roar and then he was slammed back into the seat as the COD sped off the end of the USS Patrick Henry towards Pensacola.
4 Days later
JAG Head Quarters
1305 Romeo
Mac was fiddling with the bracelet Harm had given her again. He was supposed to be here today and she couldn't wait for his flight to come in tonight at Dulles. She was counting the minutes and found it extremely hard to work. As she fiddled with the bracelet her fingers touched the heart and she remembered what he had written. 'The heart is mine and just remember that you are wearing it and it belongs only to you.' She sighed and then decided she needed to get back to work and began the mounting pile of briefs that lay before her.
Bullpen
A 6 foot 3 man stepped into the bullpen with a flight jacket on. He approached Harriet and asked
"Is the Colonel in?"
"Umm, yes sir she's in her…"
"Commander! You weren't supposed to come in until this evening." Harriet squeaked when she looked up from her computer. Her smile went from ear to ear. She hugged him even though they were both in uniform.
"Well Harriet it is nice to see a familiar face. How is little AJ?"
"He was so excited to know you were coming today that he didn't fight at all this morning. He missed you so much. As did we all. Oh and by the way yesterday a moving company called here to say that your couch would be here this evening, does that mean that you're here to stay?" Harm nodded and Harriet hugged him again.
"Now Lieutenant where is Mac?"
"Well she has been locked up in her office all day but I think she will be out soon considering that I haven't copied those files she wanted." Harriet admitted.
"Oh and speak of the devil," Harm said when Mac stepped out of the office grumbling to herself, and headed toward the copier without even noting Harm or Harriet.
That's my marine. Harm thought happily. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and thankfully she was his. He silently walked up behind her while she was copying and whispered,
"Hello, and who are we defending today, Colonel?"
Mac whipped around to see Harm. It took her a second to recognize him but when she did her face lit up and her smile was bright enough to light up even the darkest rooms.
She didn't care that they were in uniform or what he UCMJ said all that mattered was that Harm was here and he was hers. She finally did what she had wanted to since they had parted. Standing on her tiptoes and gave him a passionate kiss that expressed more emotions then words ever could. Harm wrapped her in his arms and kissed her back with just as much desire. They were both unaware of the entire bullpen watching them, the only thing they were aware of was the each other and the love that they were no longer trying to hide. When their lips parted they were both gasping for breath and suddenly they were VERY aware of their surroundings. Mac was crying and blushing at the same time and over the clapping and catcalls she said,
"See Sailor I told you I would wait and I always will." She then showed him her wrist with the bracelet on it. Harm smiled and replied looking around.
"Well should we give an encore for the audience?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Sure why not, but let's make this one a little showy." Harm nodded and then their lips met for the second time much to the enjoyment of everyone watching. Now for showing off, Harm her dipped backward like in one of those sappy romance movies and continued to kiss her.
"COMMANDER, COLONEL! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" The Admiral's voice rang through the bullpen. Harm almost dropped Mac and the catcalls stopped and everyone snapped to.
"Alright everyone back to work, except you two." The Admiral added to Harm and Mac who reluctantly followed him into his office.
When they entered the Admiral sat down and sighed,
"Now would you two please explain that… that, well fraternization." Harm was the first to speak,
"Well sir that was well umm…"
"What we have been meaning to tell you…" Mac stammered, thankfully she was saved by the Admiral's intercom beeping.
"Yes,"
"Oh their here? Well then send them in." With that he turned and waited for the door to open. When it did, in stepped Webb and to Harm and Mac's confusion the SECNAV.
"We will finish this discussion later now I will turn the floor over to Webb."
"Thank you Admiral. Okay as you know you have been separated and the reason for this until now was a matter of national security. NCIS packed your apartments for that reason and so that we could get you out quickly and make sure you weren't bugged." Webb began, Harm and Mac rolled their eyes and then turned their attention back to Webb,
"Anyway, the reason you were split is because of some valuable information that you know from me taking you on various missions, and a well sought after terrorist wanted it. So we had to split you up so you two would be a more difficult target and so that we could catch this guy and thankfully it worked. He is now in our custody and is being interrogated as we speak." Webb concluded. Harm and Mac stared at him in amazement. Mac recovered after a minute an inquired,
"Well if he was hunting us down what information could we possibly possess that would be of use to his organization?" Webb opened his mouth but the SECNAV filled in,
"Let me guess, that is classified." Webb nodded and the SECNAV continued,
"Well since we have that cleared up I believe there are some other issues that need to be discussed." He peered over his glasses at Harm's hand, which was loosing holding Mac's. They quickly pulled their hands apart and the SECNAV continued,
"So Commander, which would you rather have, a squadron on the Patrick Henry or come back to JAG?" Harm looked from the SECNAV to the Admiral and then to Mac who whispered, "It's your choice, I'll wait."
Sighing Harm smiled, thankful for Mac's patience. He sat for a minute weighing his options before he spoke,
"Sir I think that I will return to JAG. The people and things I love most are here so I will give up my duties on the Patrick Henry." He smiled at Mac who was still in shock. He had given up flying to stay by her and she was worried that he would regret it. The Admiral smiled at the SECNAV, who then spoke,
"I figured that you would say that and since you have I believe that another problem has now arisen. You both know that under the UCMJ you two are not allowed to be in the same chain of command but I say why break up the best team the Navy has had in a long time over something so simple to solve. Therefore you will both remain here and your duties will still be the same, under one condition that I will see a wedding invitation some time in the near future in my mailbox. Now Commander here is your JAG insignia back now you two are both dismissed for the rest of the day."
"Aye, aye Sir!" They said in unison. They both preformed an abrupt about face and left with smiles on their faces. When they were gone the three men looked at one another all thinking the same thing. That they had done something right and thanks to an international terrorist at least one thing was right with the world.
