Title: Moving On
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.
Author's Note: Angela B. (Thanks and it's kind of easy to see Harm as a father figure), Justme (wait no more), Bekki (Thank, and thanks for the review for the last chapter), William (Thanks, more to come), Tracy (I'm glad you're enjoying it.), Winjan (Harm and Mac are always fun to play with), Lisa Brown (It will start, I promise), Mary Kate113 (I'm getting to them, I just needed to get through the first lot of chapters), Eileen (Thank you for your kind words)
Moving OnChapter Four: New Acquaintances and Old Friends
Harm heard the knock but didn't look up from the report he was reading. "Enter." He heard the door open and close, ignoring whomever it was. It wasn't until he began to smell the perfume that he did look up, his heart pounding. He'd heard someone from JAG was on board but he hadn't been expecting it to be her.
He sat back in his chair. She hadn't changed in the time they'd been apart, but he had and yet he'd missed her even so. "Colonel Mackenzie, what can I do for you?"
Mac was taken back, she'd been preparing herself since she'd come on board, but know face to face with him was something different. He looked different; the mustache he'd grown made him appear so much like his father. "I'd like to talk with you about one of your pilots, Cag," she said finding her voice. Seeing him gesture to sit down. She did, continuing. "Lieutenant Katherine O'Reilly. I'd like to interview her."
"Phantom is in the air at the moment, you'll have to wait until she returns from patrol."
"Phantom?" She checked her file, hoping he wouldn't notice her hands were shaking a little. "I thought her call sign was Banshee?"
"It was the Tyco Tigers christened her with her father's call sign." Harm announced. She's still beautiful, he thought idly.
"I see," Mac quickly made the correction, keeping her mind off him. She was a marine, she could keep her mind on her work, not on how handsome he looked sitting there, or how much she wanted to ran her fingers over that mustache of his. "Just how long will Lieutenant O'Reilly be on patrol, Cag?"
"Another two hours and forty-five minutes," he answered and saw her arch an eyebrow, silently amused. "There's a clock behind your head on the bulk head."
"Oh?" she managed an embarrassed smile. "The First Lady would like a full report on how Lieutenant O'Reilly managed to land her Tomcat in the condition she was in?"
"Phantom is an extraordinary aviator," Harm pointed out.
"Like you flyboy?" Mac asked quickly, using the nickname she had for him when he was at JAG.
Smiling Harm nodded, relaxing a little. She remembered. "Kat and I have a lot in common Mac."
She relaxed a little herself, noting the pet name he had for O'Reilly. Quoting from what she knew. "You both lost your fathers and you both now use your father's call signs."
He smiled again. Same old Mac, he thought. "It's more than that, I served with Kat's father on the SeaHawk before my mishap. She reminds me of him and myself, so much at times I get déjà vu."
Sarah Mackenzie smiled warmly. Same old Harm, she thought. Some things never change. Had they? "Kat, huh, should I be worried?"
"I wouldn't be Mac, you're still my friend."
"I use to be your best friend," she stated soberly. Hoping she hadn't lost her chance.
His smiled. Slowly Rabb, take it slow. "Maybe you still can be," he said quickly and then snapped back into his roll as Cag. "Is there anything else Colonel?"
Sighing she stood. Easy, take it easy. You've both been hurt. "No, I have to interview the two captives the marines brought on board."
"Good luck."
She
wanted to ask what he meant by that, but didn't suddenly remembering the parcel
she was also carrying. She handed it too him. "From Bud, Harriet and the boys. They
wanted me to give it to you.
Leaning forward Harm took it. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Excuse me Cag, I'll be back when Lieutenant O'Reilly returns."
"Colonel," he acknowledged. Once she was gone, he put the parcel down and run his fingers through his hair. Squeezing his eyes shut, he hadn't expected to see her again or to feel the way he did. Opening his eyes, he spied the parcel; he emailed Bud and Harriet regularly. They were his only friends at JAG that did stay in regular touch, not even Sturgis did or the Admiral. He sighed and opened the parcel lifting the round tin of homemade cookies from the box smiling; the Tyco Tigers had helped him eat the last lot. Also included were drawn and painted pictures by little AJ and a hand and footprint of Jimmy's, obviously done by Harriet with little AJ's expert help. He'd also asked Bud to go to his apartment and grab some CD's he wanted, those were also included, as was the model of his stearman. He put it up on the shelf and got rid of the wrapping and box.
Before he went back to his reports though he glanced back at where the model sat, on one side was a photo of his past, his JAG family, on the other side was a photo of himself and the Tyco Tigers, his new family. He centered on Mac though, who in the photo stood at his side. He missed the friendship he'd shared with her. Their relationship wouldn't be what it had been, they couldn't go back but they could go forward and be friends again, even with him at sea and one day perhaps they could be more.
Sighing he shook his head and returned to his desk, he had to get these reports done before the Tigers came home and O'Reilly was to talk with Mac. Now that was going to be interesting, the two women he had a strong friendship with, were going to talk.
Two hours later Mac was following the directions given to her by the Captain's yeoman to the ready room, she knew she couldn't slip into the room without being noticed, so she just opened the door and went in. Harm noticed her but didn't acknowledge her, he just continued with the debriefing. Standing at the back she watched him, he seemed very much at home but then again he was Cag. He's not a lawyer any more, she reminded herself. He's Cag, this is what he's always wanted, be happy for him and he's not longer under the same chain of command as yourself. This is the chance you've been waiting for.
Harm finished up, shaking his head at what one of his pilots had commented about, grinning. "Lieutenant O'Reilly stay behind please, the rest of you Tigers, dismissed."
"Aye sir," all acknowledged. They filed out except for O'Reilly she stood next to the Cag.
Harm gestured Mac forward. "Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, Lieutenant Katherine O'Reilly," he introduced.
"Lieutenant," the Marine greeted, forcing her eyes off Harm.
"Ma'am." Katherine noticed the looks that passed between the two.
"Lets go get a cup of coffee, Lieutenant." Mac suggested.
"Yes Ma'am," she agreed and saw the Cag give her an encouraging smiling, following the Marine Colonel out.
"Don't worry Lieutenant, you're not in trouble."
"Ma'am if you don't mind, could you call me Phantom or Kat. Not even the Cag calls me Lieutenant that much."
"All right Phantom."
"So Ma'am if I'm not in trouble, than why?"
"Are you talking to me?" Mac answered her question with her own and saw the aviator nod.
"Well Captain Garrett put you in for a DFC and the First Lady heard about it."
"A DFC, Ma'am?"
"Yes."
"All because I didn't want to go swimming."
Mac chuckled; they went into the Ward Room and got a cup of coffee, sitting down. "So why didn't you eject?"
"I knew I could made it," Katherine answered her truthfully.
"Go on. Start from the beginning."
"Well we'd just gone feet dry – we'd crossed the coast, and were joking with the Cag when two MiG's popped up. They fired on us and we engaged the MiG's split us up. The Cag got MiG one, than waxed the bogie on my six. Suddenly a third popped up and flew between us. I got him but not before he fired rounds into my Tomcat. I shut down the right engine and the Cag came up beside us for a look, he asked were we hit. My RIO said no, but it was than I realized I was. I was stunned for a moment, the bullet had gone right through, there was blood everywhere and all I could do was hold my bloody hand up for him to see."
"So what did you do?" Mac asked her calmly, noting others in the room were listening.
"The Cag asked me if I could make it back, I told him I could. I even joked with him," she smiled about that. "As we approached the carrier I asked Piper – Lieutenant Scott McGregor, to punch us out if anything went wrong. Luckily nothing did, I landed than waited for help. Mostly I remember feeling I couldn't let the Cag down, he'd made a promise to me and I was determined to stay alive to see him for fill it."
"What promise was that?"
Katherine chuckled, her smiling turning into a copy of Harm's flyboy grin. "The day before I got bogie off his six and he said he owed me. I told him he could repay me with dinner and dancing. We laughed about it, but after I was shot, he made it a promise."
"And Harm never goes back on a promise." Mac said aimlessly.
"No Ma'am, he doesn't," the Lieutenant stated, seeing a message there. "Ma'am may I speak frankly?"
Seeing they were more or less alone now, Mac agreed. "Go a head."
"The Cag told me briefly how he came to be here with us on the Tyco. You're the Marine Colonel he gave everything up for, aren't you?"
Mac was going to deny it, but it was too late, her face had already betrayed her. "Yes."
Katherine pushed her now cold coffee away. "Than don't hurt him again Ma'am, because we all love him here. He belongs with us and we won't see him hurt," she declared and than without being dismissed she got up and walked away.
Mac sat there stunned, what the Lieutenant had said was true. Harm did belong here with them but she wanted him to be with her too.
Two days later:
Mac knocked on the door to the Cag's office and went in. Harm was dressed in his flight suit. His flying didn't bother her anymore, it was the possibility of him not coming back that did, but she could live with that if she could have him. She had for the past two days.
"Hey stranger, how was your interviews?" He asked cheerfully.
"Interesting."
"So were the Marines in the wrong?"
"No, they did everything by the book, but you knew that yourself," she answered and saw him smiled. Coming to the reason she'd come by. "I'm leaving Cag, I came by to say goodbye."
He got up and went round to her. "I know the Tyco Tigers are escorting the Cod out of enemy skies. Well Phantom and I are."
"Escort duty Cag?" she asked amused. God she didn't want to leave, not yet.
He shrugged. "I like to see my friends safe."
"Are we friends now, Cag?"
"We never stopped being friends, we just got lost a long the way."
She nodded, satisfied. It gave her hope. "Can we exchange emails?"
"I'd like that." And so much more, he added to himself.
Seeing this was becoming awkward she decided to leave. "Stay safe Harm."
"You too Mac," he gave her a warm smile, then: "Sarah," when she stopped, he took her in his arms. He meant it to be just a goodbye hug, but it wasn't enough. Before he realized what he was doing his mouth had seized hers in a sizzling kiss that had her melting in his arms.
Mac pulled away, breathing hard. This was what she wanted, what she'd always wanted. She put her fingers over his mouth when he went to say something, feeling the softness of his mustache under them. "No talking Harm, not this time," she told him and dragged him over to the couch he had in office. They didn't talk, they did pull at each other's clothing, than made love like there was no tomorrow.
"We should have done that years ago," she purred, kissing his chest as she lay in his arms.
"We weren't ready," he stroked her hair. "We are now."
"Mmm," she rested her head on his chest and sighed. "I have to get ready. I have twenty-three minutes before the Cod leaves."
"Call me when you get back."
"I will," she stood and helped him up. They dressed in silence. Mac straightened her shirt. "Harm."
He drew her back into his arms. "Me first, Mac," he insisted and took a deep breath. He could do this. "I love you, Sarah, I have since the rose garden."
Smiling she rose up on her toes and kissed him. "I love you too, Harm."
"Will you miss me?"
"Hopelessly," she mused, grinning. "I have to go."
"I know," he kissed her again, holding her tight.
She sighed against his chest. "Be careful Harm."
"I will, I have you to come home to."
"You certainly do, flyboy," she stepped back, smiling. "See you in the air, Hammer."
"You bet Colonel," he said, but didn't release her hand. "Sarah."
"Yeah?"
"Next time Bud goes to my apartment to check things out, go with him and look in the left hand side desk draw. There's something there I want you to have."
She nodded. "I will," she kissed him quickly, and then hurried out before she felt she couldn't.
Later that night, after the Cod was gone, the mission flown. Harm stood at the fantail looking over the ocean, he heard the hatch open and close. He wasn't at all surprised by who came to stand next to him. "I'm not going to jump Kat."
"I didn't think you were sir," she looked out over the ocean. "It's a beautiful night."
"That it is Kat."
Hesitating a little she asked: "So did you work things out with Colonel Mackenzie?"
He nodded. "I did," he answered; maybe he shouldn't have been talking to her about this, but he needed to talk to someone. Who better then a friend? "I love her, Kat."
"And she loves you?"
"Yeah she does."
"Did you talk?"
"Not a lot," he remarked grinning.
She chuckled, grinning cheerily. "So you tested out the couch in your office."
He was stunned. "Kat."
"Oh come on Cag, I'm twenty-seven years old, not a innocent kid."
He laughed. "No, you're no kid, Kat."
"I'm happy for you, Cag."
"Thanks, Phantom."
They stood in silence, listening to the ocean, the noises the carrier made.
"If your father hadn't of died, would you have still become an aviator, Kat?" he asked her.
She nodded. "What about you sir?" She asked and saw him nod also. Continuing. "My Dad always told me I could do anything I set my mind to, that I should never give up on my dreams."
"What are your dreams, Kat?" He asked, seeing so much in her eyes.
"A good career, a good man and…"
"Comfortable shoes, lots of them," he smirked.
She laughed. "I have those sir," she remarked, glancing at the boots she wore with her flight suite, then his grin as they laughed.
"You also have a good career," he noted.
"Yes sir."
"What about a good man?" he asked and saw her shrug. "Come on Kat, spill it?"
Sighing she turned and sat down, leaning against the rail. Waiting until he'd sat next to her. "I was engaged to a guy while at flight school, he broke it off though. He couldn't handle his fiancé being better at flying then he was."
"His lose," he saw her smiled sadly. "What else Kat?"
She opened unzipped the pocket on her the sleeve of her flight suite and removed the second photo she kept there. She gave it to him to look at. In it she was hugging a little boy about eleven, who shared her brownish red hair and green eyes, not to mention her smile. "He found out my cousin is actually my son."
Harm handed the photo back to her; he knew she had her son from her service record. No one other then the Skipper and her friend from the Academy did though. He expected not even Scott had any idea. "Tell me about him?"
"I was sixteen when he was born, I named him after my dad," she tucked the photo back into the pocket and zipped it back up. "They guy I was dating in high school refused to believe Jason was his, his parents of course believed him and I never saw him again," she paused. "I thought my hopes of going to the Academy were finished, but my Uncle Jack and Aunt Maria wouldn't hear of it, they adopted Jason so I could still be accepted and was. Jason thinks of them as his parents, he knows who I am. They've never hid that from him, but it's better this way. I was too young and he needed a mom and dad who could take care of him. So now he has that and a birth mother who spends six months of the year at sea, flies Tomcats and brings him cool presents from all over the world."
Harm laughed, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. "He sounds like a great kid."
"He is,"
Standing he helped her up. "Come on Kat, I'll buy you a cup of coffee."
She smiled warmly. "Thanks Cag."
"That's what I'm here for."
"You're going to make the Colonel a great husband one day, Hammer and a great father."
"One day, Phantom, one day," he agreed as they walked inside. Especially if Mac accepted what was in the draw of his desk.
One day later:
Katherine rushed through the ship with the message clutched tightly in her hand; she jumped over the knee knockers with ease. Skidding into the ready room, interrupting the briefing the Cag was giving the Wolverines.
Harm crossed his arms against his chest. "Lieutenant, you better have a good reason for this interruption?"
"Sorry sir," she apologized. "But you wanted to know if you had a reply come through from the States."
Uncrossing his arms he crossed the distance between them in seconds, taking the message from her, reading it.
Scuttlebutt had flown around the ship faster then Mach 1, it was common knowledge the Cag had purposed to the Marine Colonel who'd been on board, in his own way. The Wolverines all gathered around, waiting to see what the out come was.
"So Cag?" Lieutenant Johansson asked.
A grin slipped easily on his lips and he gave an excited whoop. "She said yes," he announced and Katherine hugged him.
"Way to go, Hammer," she said happily.
The Wolverines gave him their congratulations too. "Next port we stop at Cag, we're buying you a drink." Ensign Marshall announced.
"I'm holding you to it, ladies," he smirked, folding the message up and tucking into a pocket. "All right Phantom, out, I have a briefing to complete."
"Yes sir," Katherine said happily.
To be continued…