Author's Note: I hope that you enjoy the next installment of this story. It is more drtial and may cause you to have the beginning of H&MSS, which is not fun. Do not fear Webb bashing is on it's way but not quite there yet. I still enjoy getting your feedback and I am glad that you are critiquing me so that I may become a better writer. I hope for those of you who read these and pick them apart for mistakes will not find as many in this part I have tried. Anyway I should better shut up so you can read and tehn review.

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JAG HQ

Falls Church, VA

1925 ZULU

The next day

"Coates is the Admiral in?" Harm asked Jen.

"Yes sir and he can see you, he doesn't have an appointment until 1615. You can go right in." Jen said and Harm quickly stepped into the Admiral's office.

"Hello sir, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you." Harm said clearing his throat.

"Of course Commander, I have a feeling this is important."

"Very, sir. It is about me. As you know I went up for quals. last month and I am still qualified for active duty."

"Get to the point Rabb."

"Yes, sir. I want to change my designator back to flying." Harm said bracing himself for the barrage of questions.

"Why the hell do you want to do that?"

"Sir, flying is the only thing I have left."

"What is that supposed to mean? You have everyone at JAG and now you have Miss Grace and you can't leave her alone."

"Well sir Mattie can take care of herself and this I am hoping will be only temporary and part of the reason concerns a certain person at JAG."

"The Colonel, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why?"

"I am not at liberty to discuss that." Harm said staring straight ahead. The Admiral stood and shaking his head approached Harm.

"I am not going to ask why but I have a feeling it has to do with Webb."

"She told you?"

"Unfortunately yes she did and I was surprised. Anyway we digress, Commander you are one lucky son of a gun because I just received a fax from the skipper on the Seahawk. They are leaving for the Gulf on Sunday and he asked for you to be one of their pilots for some missions over the Middle East, do you want to do it?" Harm about jumped out of his uniform at the offer.

"Of course sir, but it will only be temporary right?" The Admiral nodded and handed Harm a folder.

"You bet your ass that it is temporary! These are your orders you will be gone for about two to three months depending on the situation and when you get back you can resume your duties as usual, dismissed."

"Aye, aye sir." Harm then took the file and started to take his leave. He was half way out the door when the Admiral's voice stopped him.

"You're giving her up without a fight?" Harm turned.

"Well sir, I am not giving her up without a fight, believe me I have fought."

"Commander it isn't like you, to just give up."

"I'm not giving up, I'm letting go. I remember someone saying that 'Fighting for a woman's love is like a tug of war, with her best interests in mind and in order for her to be happy one man has to let go.' I am the one letting go, all I want is for her to be happy and if Webb makes her happy then so be it."

"So you do love her?"

"Always have and always will with all of my heart."

"Well I hope that she reconsiders, she has no idea what she is going to pass up. A great chance with a fine and outstanding man." The Admiral commented.

"I think I will take that as a compliment sir."

"Good, now get out of my office." The Admiral barked, back to his old grumpy self and Harm left with a somewhat lighter heart.

Harm was so busy reading the file that he collided head on with Mac, whose pile of files scattered all over the floor.

"Hey watch where you're… Oh sorry Harm" Mac reacted. Harm stayed straight faced trying not smile as she fretted while hitting her knees and began picking up files and looking to make sure they were hers.

"Oh my I am so sorry I didn't mean to, it's just that I was distracted I…"

"It's okay Mac here let me help you." Harm offered kneeling and picking up files.

"No it's o…" Mac stopped. Her hand fell on Harm's which was on the last remaining file. They looked up at each other and the electricity that shot through both of them they could not ignore. Mac took the file and opening it read the first few lines before sitting down on the floor with a hand over her mouth as she skimmed the page. Harm didn't have to guess which file it was.

"Mac, could I have that back please?"

"Sure, when were you planning on telling me?"

"I didn't know until just a few minutes ago, now I have a lot of work to do." Harm said taking the file from her walking back into his office. Mac sat there on the floor in shock until Harriet came up and asked,

"Ma'am are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine Harriet, I have to get back to war…um I mean work."

"Is there something wrong, you just said war. This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the Commander?"

"Yes Harriet, he is going out on sea duty day after tomorrow. He is going to the Gulf to fly." Mac tried to hide the nervousness in her voice, but it didn't get past Harriet.

"Don't worry he will be okay, he always is."

"That's what I am afraid of, that we will be so okay with everything that he won't forgive me." Mac murmured standing and scooping the files off the floor. Harriet went back to her desk confused and Mac went to her office and for the first time since she had accepted Webb's proposal she was getting cold feet.

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Harm's Apartment

North of Union Station

0200 ZULU

Saturday night

"Harm it isn't fair! Why do you have to go?" Mattie demanded as Harm was packing his duffel.

"Mattie I can't refuse the Admiral and the captain of the Seahawk, it's my job."

"But, what if you get shot down?" Mattie worried.

"I won't get shot down I have to come back so I can be your guardian." Harm said carefully placing a photo of Mac in his suitcase, even though he wasn't sure why he was packing it, she was going to be Webb's in less then 24 hours and the thought made him dizzy. Mattie saw this and commented on it.

"And, so you can marry Mac, right?"

"Nope. That dream is long gone." Harm sighed zipping up his duffel.

"You gave her up without a fight didn't you. Man that is sad Harm." Mattie stated.

"God! Why does everyone think that I didn't fight for her!" Harm exclaimed, pulling out the Beretta sidearm out of his nightstand and unloading it placed it in the foam lined case, it wasn't like he was going to need it but he felt a little safer with it near.

"Well Jen and I will come to see you off and Mac will be there too, probably." Mattie said shrugging and walked out of the apartment. When she was gone Harm lit up another cigar. The week had just gotten even worse, if that was possible. He sat on his couch again with the lights off and looked up at the moon.

Mac's Apartment

Same time

Mac looked up from where she was laying out the white outfit she was going to wear tomorrow when she felt a strong urge to look up at the moon from her bedroom window. She pulled the curtains back and looked at it. It was full and she suddenly felt as if Harm was standing right beside her, so close that she could feel his breathing, and his arms wrapping her in his warm embrace. Mac relished in the thought for a minute before she shook away the thought, she was marrying Webb in the morning and she had to stop thinking these thoughts. Shaking her head she closed the curtains and putting on her pjs she set out the picture of Harm that was usually on her nightstand, she had put it away when Webb was over. And then she positioned it so that it faced her and she fell asleep looking at Harm in his flight suit with that Flyboy grin across his face.