PART II
Monday 0900 Zulu
(Harm entered the bullpen at JAG and to his astonishment received a round of warm and surprised smiles from those around him. Bud surprised to see him and in uniform no less spoke first.)
"Commander, good to see you!"
"You too Lieutenant."
"I take this site of you in uniform to mean that you are back at JAG sir?"
"Yes Bud, the ah, Admiral has graciously decided to take me back."
"That's wonderful."
"I couldn't agree more (said Sturgis). Welcome back buddy."
(Harm takes Sturgis' hand and shakes it.) "Thanks Sturg"
"Well I must say that this is a surprise to us all. The Admiral didn't mention that you would be coming back. He just told us your replacement would be arriving today. Or should I say second replacement after the Imes diabolical. How did this come about?"
"Let's just say we had a meeting of the mind and the heart and leave it at that ok?"
"Ok with me. Well in any respect Harm, your return is long overdue."
"Thank you Commander."
"Oh, Harm, does Mac know yet?"
"No, she and I haven't been speaking much since I left JAG."
"Ah..."
"Sturgis, don't start"
"I'm not saying anything" (walks away with a grin)
(Petty Officer Coates walks up to Harm) "Good morning sir."
"Morning Jennifer"
"I must say it is great to have you back at JAG sir."
"Thanks Jenn"
"The Admiral said he wanted to see you as soon as you came in."
"Thank you Petty Officer"
"Harm knocks on the Admirals door"
"Enter"
"You asked to see me sir?"
"At ease Commander, have a seat."
(Harm sits)
"Commander, first let me welcome you back, you actually made it on time so I guess I should take this as a first step toward a new beginning."
"Yes sir"
"Good. Commander, let me be blunt with you. It is my belief that you will rise above the cynicism and disbelief that you do not deserve to be back here that you may encounter from some of your colleagues."
"I will not let you down sir."
"I have no doubt. That being said Commander; you must realize that during the last six months things have changed around here and thus your return must not disrupt those changes".
"I'm not sure I follow sir"
"Your previous accomplishments not withstanding, life did go on when you weren't here. Things can't and won't just go back to the way they were. I need you to start at the bottom of the barrel so to speak in regards to assignments and case loads, helping review Carolyn Imes' cases and catalog them. After that mess is taken care of we will see about working your way back up to higher investigations and cases. You will also be taking over Commander Turner's former office as he seems quite settled in his new one."
(A little shocked yet undaunted, Harm responds.) "I understand sir. I'll get right on it and see that I don't let you down."
(AJ a little surprised at the lack of resistance in Harm he hides his disbelief that this is the same Harmon Rabb that once was the poster boy for the Navy and lets it slide.) "See that you don't Commander."
"Aye Aye sir"
"Dismissed."
(During his walk to his "new office" he passes Mac Harm leaves toward his new boring task.)
"Morning Colonel" (with a half hearted grin)
"Morning Commander" (As second nature responds, then is shocked to find before her...) "...Harm? What are you doing here...I mean in uniform...what I mean is..."
"I'm back at JAG Mac."
"I can see, I mean congratulations I guess"
"Thank you"
(Long pause, and stare between the two.) "Well," (she pauses trying to find words for someone with whom she was once so close with and now so distant). "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"
"It happened kind of fast and I didn't just want to call you out of the blue after six months and throw it at you."
"Thanks a lot! A heads up would have been nice. I guess I know where we stand now. Who am I kidding anyway; communication was never our strong point."
(Harm looks around the bullpen and sees people starting to stare after Mac's outburst. Frustrated Harm grabs what he can of his professional composure and ushers Mac toward her office. He closes the door.)
"Ok Mac here it is and I really only want to have this discussion once. I didn't tell you or a variety of reasons. First I didn't know until last Friday. Second, you made it clear after Paraguay wear we stood and I respected your choice and moved on. Third, quite frankly it was none of your damned business."
"Harm..."
"No, you did all the talking now it's my turn Mac. I am here to reclaim something I lost that was dear to me. In doing so I have to reprove myself again and go through tasks that a first year PO would be assigned. I did not come back to JAG under the pretence that you and I would pick up where we left off, nor under the concern of your "need to know". I'm here at the service of my country and my career. I will not be playing kids games with you daily because of how you feel. I have a job to do so if you'll excuse me you just have yourself a good day Colonel!"
(Harm walks away with Mac speechless and in disbelief.)
"Mac says to herself...good job Mac way to go. No steps forward...10 steps back."
************************************************************************ (The rest of the day for Mac went by slowly. She was unable to concentrate on her current case she was trying to wrap up. Simple prosecution of a Petty Officer Toscano for having a minor amount of Marijuana found in his locker. Mac didn't want to bother with the Article 32 so she called Bud into her office who just happened to be defending the Petty Officer)
"Bud you got a second."
"Sure Ma'am. What can I do for you?"
"It is about the Toscano Article 32 tomorrow. I would really like to wrap it up today and forgo the appearance before Judge Sebring."
"Ma'am, you know my client stands firm that the Marijuana was planted in his locker."
"Come on Bud that is the first excuse of any guilty accused."
"It is still possible, since the lock was not working properly on the locker. Anyone with a problem with the PO could have left it in there."
"Anyone with a problem with him. Half of the people he works with can't stand him. Ok look, his fingerprints are on the bag, plead guilty, 60 days confinement, mandatory drug counseling and forfeiture of pay for the next 90 days."
(Bud considers this "gift" of an offer) "I'll confer with my client, but I think we can say he'll agree. Colonel? Is everything alright, this is not like you to be so..."
"Go ahead and say it Bud"
"Well generous. This wouldn't have anything to do with the Commanders return would it?"
"Bud I'm going to pretend I didn't even here that question. Go confer with your client. Dismissed."
"Aye Aye Ma'am"
(Bud leaves as Mac puts her hands over her face. Life had been much easier for her at work with Harm not there. Truth be told, she had been feeling incredibly guilty about him resigning from JAG, but most of all how all she could do was give him a hard time in Paraguay and some ridiculous answer that they could never work because they both want to be on top. There was some truth to that statement that they were both ambitious, but she new Harm was the one person who would never stand in her way of success....well would not have stood in her way. All she did was spit in his face on a street corner in South America and destroy 7 years of friendship and what she knew would be their romance in the process. Oh and jumped into the arms of another man...well at least her relationship with Clayton Webb hadn't been going bad. In fact it kept getting more serious. She was the happiest she had been since Mic left two years prior... and seeing Harm a week prior asking him for help (as he reluctantly agreed) and now back at JAG made her feel guilty...and she knew she deserved some of it.)
"Damn you Harmon Rabb!"
"Has the Commander gotten back to pushing your buttons already Colonel?" (Mac is stunned to find the Admiral standing in her office doorway.)
"I'm sorry sir" (as she came to attention)
"At ease Mac" (taking a seat in front of her desk). "So tell me, are there problems between you two already?"
"No sir, in fact quite the opposite...he won't really speak to me. Not after I stuck my foot in my mouth this morning. It's just...well frankly his being back here caught me by surprise that's all."
"Well Mac, I seem to remember a conversation we had in my office where you did come to his defense no more than a week ago after the Ime's article 32. If I remember correctly you spent some energy reminding me of what a good attorney and investigator he is."
"Yes sir and I stand by my statements; it's just that he didn't warn me that's all."
"Ah, I see, he's keeping it strictly professional these days?"
"That would be accurate sir."
"Mac I know that things haven't been well between you two since the Commanders initial departure and I know I don't know all the details, but I do know you and the Commander pretty well. I don't expect that everything will be as it was prior to your leaving for Paraguay, but we have a duty to maintain the highest standards of justice and conduct in and out of this office...am I making myself clear Colonel?"
"Sir I can assure you that our personal issues will not affect our work here at JAG."
"Yeah right...and history never repeats itself (he says sarcastically). I may be overstepping my bounds here as your CO, but for my sanity and the rest of your fellow officers, listen up anyway. Over the last seven years I swear the two of you cost me more time and agony with all the trouble you get in, especially with each other. But you always seem to work it out, no matter the case you don't agree on, the relationship that one has that the other can't stand, or the nuclear bomb that's about to blow up and you can't seem to agree on which wire to cut. Bottom line is you make a good pairing. You are both excellent officers and attorneys and when you are on the ball together; nothing and I mean nothing can stop you."
"Sir we did have a great partnership, but we aren't there any more."
"No you aren't, but you will be."
"We will try sir...but"
"Mac listen. I asked the Commander to come back for a variety of reasons, partly because he convinced me that his cowboy days are over, but more importantly because of trust and faith. I have to have faith he'll do the right thing by the Navy and he has to have faith in me as his CO. It's not a perfect trust mind you, but its building slowly and strongly. You might think about that."
"I will sir."
"Good Colonel. Now you won't be paired together right away, you both need to do the sole searching yourselves and come to that arrangement. You'll know when you are ready."
"I have Commander Rabb...doing what he needs to do to get back in the groove and to see if he can handle a little grunt work. It should take him a week or so and then I will be assigning him investigations. I'm letting you know this as my chief of staff so this conversation will not leave this room, understood?"
"Completely sir."
"I expect whatever issues that are between you two will stay checked at the door...do I make myself clear."
"Crystal sir."
"Good, carry on. Oh and Mac...I promise, time will make the tension disappear. (Smiles) Either that or locking you both in a dark closet together until you can sort this out or kill each other..." (The Admiral leaves with a grin of obvious pain to come on his face. Mac picks up her phone and dials)
"...Webb"
"Hey it's me Clay."
"Sarah, this is an unaccepted pleasure!"
"I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight...I ah was hoping we could talk..."
"Do you even have to ask? Have I turned you down for a date yet Sarah?"
"Well, I seem to remember two months ago you canceling on me to go to Iran for some reason or another."
(Playfully) "Now I told you that was a matter of National Security....of the highest level no less."
"I'm kidding Clay...so say 2200 my apartment."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Bye."
(Harm entered the bullpen at JAG and to his astonishment received a round of warm and surprised smiles from those around him. Bud surprised to see him and in uniform no less spoke first.)
"Commander, good to see you!"
"You too Lieutenant."
"I take this site of you in uniform to mean that you are back at JAG sir?"
"Yes Bud, the ah, Admiral has graciously decided to take me back."
"That's wonderful."
"I couldn't agree more (said Sturgis). Welcome back buddy."
(Harm takes Sturgis' hand and shakes it.) "Thanks Sturg"
"Well I must say that this is a surprise to us all. The Admiral didn't mention that you would be coming back. He just told us your replacement would be arriving today. Or should I say second replacement after the Imes diabolical. How did this come about?"
"Let's just say we had a meeting of the mind and the heart and leave it at that ok?"
"Ok with me. Well in any respect Harm, your return is long overdue."
"Thank you Commander."
"Oh, Harm, does Mac know yet?"
"No, she and I haven't been speaking much since I left JAG."
"Ah..."
"Sturgis, don't start"
"I'm not saying anything" (walks away with a grin)
(Petty Officer Coates walks up to Harm) "Good morning sir."
"Morning Jennifer"
"I must say it is great to have you back at JAG sir."
"Thanks Jenn"
"The Admiral said he wanted to see you as soon as you came in."
"Thank you Petty Officer"
"Harm knocks on the Admirals door"
"Enter"
"You asked to see me sir?"
"At ease Commander, have a seat."
(Harm sits)
"Commander, first let me welcome you back, you actually made it on time so I guess I should take this as a first step toward a new beginning."
"Yes sir"
"Good. Commander, let me be blunt with you. It is my belief that you will rise above the cynicism and disbelief that you do not deserve to be back here that you may encounter from some of your colleagues."
"I will not let you down sir."
"I have no doubt. That being said Commander; you must realize that during the last six months things have changed around here and thus your return must not disrupt those changes".
"I'm not sure I follow sir"
"Your previous accomplishments not withstanding, life did go on when you weren't here. Things can't and won't just go back to the way they were. I need you to start at the bottom of the barrel so to speak in regards to assignments and case loads, helping review Carolyn Imes' cases and catalog them. After that mess is taken care of we will see about working your way back up to higher investigations and cases. You will also be taking over Commander Turner's former office as he seems quite settled in his new one."
(A little shocked yet undaunted, Harm responds.) "I understand sir. I'll get right on it and see that I don't let you down."
(AJ a little surprised at the lack of resistance in Harm he hides his disbelief that this is the same Harmon Rabb that once was the poster boy for the Navy and lets it slide.) "See that you don't Commander."
"Aye Aye sir"
"Dismissed."
(During his walk to his "new office" he passes Mac Harm leaves toward his new boring task.)
"Morning Colonel" (with a half hearted grin)
"Morning Commander" (As second nature responds, then is shocked to find before her...) "...Harm? What are you doing here...I mean in uniform...what I mean is..."
"I'm back at JAG Mac."
"I can see, I mean congratulations I guess"
"Thank you"
(Long pause, and stare between the two.) "Well," (she pauses trying to find words for someone with whom she was once so close with and now so distant). "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"
"It happened kind of fast and I didn't just want to call you out of the blue after six months and throw it at you."
"Thanks a lot! A heads up would have been nice. I guess I know where we stand now. Who am I kidding anyway; communication was never our strong point."
(Harm looks around the bullpen and sees people starting to stare after Mac's outburst. Frustrated Harm grabs what he can of his professional composure and ushers Mac toward her office. He closes the door.)
"Ok Mac here it is and I really only want to have this discussion once. I didn't tell you or a variety of reasons. First I didn't know until last Friday. Second, you made it clear after Paraguay wear we stood and I respected your choice and moved on. Third, quite frankly it was none of your damned business."
"Harm..."
"No, you did all the talking now it's my turn Mac. I am here to reclaim something I lost that was dear to me. In doing so I have to reprove myself again and go through tasks that a first year PO would be assigned. I did not come back to JAG under the pretence that you and I would pick up where we left off, nor under the concern of your "need to know". I'm here at the service of my country and my career. I will not be playing kids games with you daily because of how you feel. I have a job to do so if you'll excuse me you just have yourself a good day Colonel!"
(Harm walks away with Mac speechless and in disbelief.)
"Mac says to herself...good job Mac way to go. No steps forward...10 steps back."
************************************************************************ (The rest of the day for Mac went by slowly. She was unable to concentrate on her current case she was trying to wrap up. Simple prosecution of a Petty Officer Toscano for having a minor amount of Marijuana found in his locker. Mac didn't want to bother with the Article 32 so she called Bud into her office who just happened to be defending the Petty Officer)
"Bud you got a second."
"Sure Ma'am. What can I do for you?"
"It is about the Toscano Article 32 tomorrow. I would really like to wrap it up today and forgo the appearance before Judge Sebring."
"Ma'am, you know my client stands firm that the Marijuana was planted in his locker."
"Come on Bud that is the first excuse of any guilty accused."
"It is still possible, since the lock was not working properly on the locker. Anyone with a problem with the PO could have left it in there."
"Anyone with a problem with him. Half of the people he works with can't stand him. Ok look, his fingerprints are on the bag, plead guilty, 60 days confinement, mandatory drug counseling and forfeiture of pay for the next 90 days."
(Bud considers this "gift" of an offer) "I'll confer with my client, but I think we can say he'll agree. Colonel? Is everything alright, this is not like you to be so..."
"Go ahead and say it Bud"
"Well generous. This wouldn't have anything to do with the Commanders return would it?"
"Bud I'm going to pretend I didn't even here that question. Go confer with your client. Dismissed."
"Aye Aye Ma'am"
(Bud leaves as Mac puts her hands over her face. Life had been much easier for her at work with Harm not there. Truth be told, she had been feeling incredibly guilty about him resigning from JAG, but most of all how all she could do was give him a hard time in Paraguay and some ridiculous answer that they could never work because they both want to be on top. There was some truth to that statement that they were both ambitious, but she new Harm was the one person who would never stand in her way of success....well would not have stood in her way. All she did was spit in his face on a street corner in South America and destroy 7 years of friendship and what she knew would be their romance in the process. Oh and jumped into the arms of another man...well at least her relationship with Clayton Webb hadn't been going bad. In fact it kept getting more serious. She was the happiest she had been since Mic left two years prior... and seeing Harm a week prior asking him for help (as he reluctantly agreed) and now back at JAG made her feel guilty...and she knew she deserved some of it.)
"Damn you Harmon Rabb!"
"Has the Commander gotten back to pushing your buttons already Colonel?" (Mac is stunned to find the Admiral standing in her office doorway.)
"I'm sorry sir" (as she came to attention)
"At ease Mac" (taking a seat in front of her desk). "So tell me, are there problems between you two already?"
"No sir, in fact quite the opposite...he won't really speak to me. Not after I stuck my foot in my mouth this morning. It's just...well frankly his being back here caught me by surprise that's all."
"Well Mac, I seem to remember a conversation we had in my office where you did come to his defense no more than a week ago after the Ime's article 32. If I remember correctly you spent some energy reminding me of what a good attorney and investigator he is."
"Yes sir and I stand by my statements; it's just that he didn't warn me that's all."
"Ah, I see, he's keeping it strictly professional these days?"
"That would be accurate sir."
"Mac I know that things haven't been well between you two since the Commanders initial departure and I know I don't know all the details, but I do know you and the Commander pretty well. I don't expect that everything will be as it was prior to your leaving for Paraguay, but we have a duty to maintain the highest standards of justice and conduct in and out of this office...am I making myself clear Colonel?"
"Sir I can assure you that our personal issues will not affect our work here at JAG."
"Yeah right...and history never repeats itself (he says sarcastically). I may be overstepping my bounds here as your CO, but for my sanity and the rest of your fellow officers, listen up anyway. Over the last seven years I swear the two of you cost me more time and agony with all the trouble you get in, especially with each other. But you always seem to work it out, no matter the case you don't agree on, the relationship that one has that the other can't stand, or the nuclear bomb that's about to blow up and you can't seem to agree on which wire to cut. Bottom line is you make a good pairing. You are both excellent officers and attorneys and when you are on the ball together; nothing and I mean nothing can stop you."
"Sir we did have a great partnership, but we aren't there any more."
"No you aren't, but you will be."
"We will try sir...but"
"Mac listen. I asked the Commander to come back for a variety of reasons, partly because he convinced me that his cowboy days are over, but more importantly because of trust and faith. I have to have faith he'll do the right thing by the Navy and he has to have faith in me as his CO. It's not a perfect trust mind you, but its building slowly and strongly. You might think about that."
"I will sir."
"Good Colonel. Now you won't be paired together right away, you both need to do the sole searching yourselves and come to that arrangement. You'll know when you are ready."
"I have Commander Rabb...doing what he needs to do to get back in the groove and to see if he can handle a little grunt work. It should take him a week or so and then I will be assigning him investigations. I'm letting you know this as my chief of staff so this conversation will not leave this room, understood?"
"Completely sir."
"I expect whatever issues that are between you two will stay checked at the door...do I make myself clear."
"Crystal sir."
"Good, carry on. Oh and Mac...I promise, time will make the tension disappear. (Smiles) Either that or locking you both in a dark closet together until you can sort this out or kill each other..." (The Admiral leaves with a grin of obvious pain to come on his face. Mac picks up her phone and dials)
"...Webb"
"Hey it's me Clay."
"Sarah, this is an unaccepted pleasure!"
"I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight...I ah was hoping we could talk..."
"Do you even have to ask? Have I turned you down for a date yet Sarah?"
"Well, I seem to remember two months ago you canceling on me to go to Iran for some reason or another."
(Playfully) "Now I told you that was a matter of National Security....of the highest level no less."
"I'm kidding Clay...so say 2200 my apartment."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Bye."