Premise: Harm and Mac are forced to reevaluate their relationship when someone from Harm's past comes for a visit.

Notice: I do not own JAG, Harm, Mac, Bud and others. I just felt like I've known them for years.

Copyright Notice: All characters from the television show JAG and the show itself are the property of CBS and Donald Belisario. The story and storyline contained herein is the intellectual property of RJ Whitney copyright May 19, 2004 and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the author's consent. Inquires may be directed to the email address contained in the author's profile at fanfiction.net.

Author's Note: Credit where credit is due. The "I don't mean to sound all grandma on you…" line is from a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode.

A/N 2: This is my first JAG fanfic, even though I've been a fan of the show since season 2 so many years ago.

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Thursday May 20, 2004

19:25 Zulu

Commander Harmon Rabb Junior stood with his back to his office, gazing out the window at the sunny Virginia afternoon. What he wouldn't give to be up in Sarah right now, to feel the freedom flying always gave him. Not to mention the adrenaline rush. Slowly he began to smile, only to be stopped by the sound of a heavy law book dropping on his desk.

Turning around slowly he saw the scowl Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie was shooting in his direction. 'Fine. I'll play the game one more time' he thought to himself.

"Afternoon Mac. Something I can do for you?" he asked as he sat down at his desk.

"You railroaded me this morning!" she shouted angrily. "You knew that that petty officer had a history of drug abuse and you didn't tell me."

Raising his hand to forestall anymore shouting Harm mentally set his shoulders to calm down the angry marine. "Look Mac, I'm sorry but if you didn't research the witnesses enough I can't be held accountable."

"Damn it Rabb!" she started as she sat down heavily in the chair in front of his desk. "You knew you had to disclose that kind of….WHAT!?" Mac shouted as a light knock sounded on Harm's door.

"Excuse me Ma'am, I'm here to see the Commander if he has a moment. I didn't mean to interrupt." A melodious voice said with the hint of Texas twang.

Looking past Mac Harm felt the huge grin cover his face when he heard the voice. Seeing the slender blonde woman standing in his doorway he couldn't help but turn the grin into a smile. "Well I'll be damned! Meg Austin, come on in!"

"If you're busy sir…"

"Nonsense Meg, come in. Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie this is Lieutenant Commander Meg Austin."

"As in your first partner Meg Austin?" Mac asked as she stood up from the chair she had been sitting in. "Pleased to meet you Commander."

"Likewise Ma'am. And whatever the Commander here might have told you about me, its probably lies." Meg said as she stepped into the office.

Doing his best to sound hurt Harm stifled a laugh. "Lies, Meg? Lies? You know I'd never lie about you. What are you doing here? I thought you were in Pearl?" he asked as he retook his seat.

"I am sir, but I've been asked to come to DC to advise some people. So here I am, probably for a month the way things are going. Listen, sir, ma'am, I really didn't mean to interrupt anything. I need to go pay my respects to the Admiral anyway. Sir, if I could make an appointment to see you this afternoon?"

"Of course Meg…you shouldn't even ask. Come by after you've spoken with the Admiral."

After Meg had left Harm turned back to Mac who seemed to have lost the fire she had come storming into his office with. Why did they always have to be at each other's throats lately? If he was going to be completely honest with himself he had to admit that it was getting rather old, and so was he. He just didn't enjoy the fights the way he did a couple years ago.

"I'm sorry Mac…really I am. I thought you knew about the Petty Officer's past. That's why I didn't say anything. Honestly."

Seeing the frown on her face he shook his head. Just like her she was trying to stoke up the fires again, trying to find something wrong with what he just said.

"So, what do you have Webb have planned for the weekend?" he asked. As soon as the words left his mouth he knew he'd followed them with his foot.

"Not that its any of your business, but Clay and I are supposed to go to a fundraiser on Saturday." Mac said frostily.

"Ohhh…raising money for spooks!" Harm joked, trying his best to take the edge of the conversation. Why couldn't it be like it was before Paraguay?

"Funny Rabb. Yeah, you're a regular comedian." Mac huffed as she stood up. "Can't you take anything seriously?" she asked as she stormed out of his office.

Biting his tongue Harm looked down at his calendar to see what he could move around to make some time with Meg this afternoon.

"Sir…sir. Did you see Lieutenant Commander Austin?" a breathless Bud Roberts asked as he poked his head into Harm's office.

Smiling Harm thought back to the first time he met Bud on the Seahawk. Bud was just like a little puppy dog with Meg the whole time they were there. "Sure did Bud. She's just in with the Admiral and then she's coming back this way."

"Its good to see her again Sir. Tell her hi for me?"

"Tell her yourself Lieutenant" Meg said as she came up behind Bud.

Pulling himself up to stand at attention Bud turned around with a big smile on his face.

"Good to see you ma'am." Bud said cheerfully.

"Permission to hug the lieutenant?" Meg asked with a smile.

"Of course ma'am" Bud said.

"Its been too long Bud. I heard you transferred here after I left. Look at you…a full lieutenant! And what's this I hear that you have a wife and two boys! I'll have to ask Harriet what her secret is." Meg said as she clasped Bud is a warm hug. Harm noticed Meg's eyes go down to Bud's prosthetic leg and then flick back up to look at Harm. He saw the question in her eyes and mouthed the word "Later". Nodding she released Bud and took a step backwards. "Well Lieutenant, I'd best not carry on with that or people will start to talk. I remember what its like here."

"No ma'am, I mean yes ma'am. It's good to see you again ma'am. Excuse me sir…ma'am…I'm due in court in twenty minutes."

"Of course Bud. Don't play to rough with Sturgis." Harm said with a chuckle. "Damn it Meg get in here….where's my hug?"

Laughing Meg smiled as Harm wrapped her up in a big bear hug. "Damn it Meg…its been too long. I don't mean to sound all grandma on you, but you don't call, you don't write."

"Put me down sir." Meg demanded as her feet left the ground. "Harm, if you don't put me down I'm gonna give you a good ol' Texas ass whoopin." Meg said with a laugh.

As he unfolded his arms from around Meg Harm looked out over the bullpen and saw Mac standing there looking at him with a big frown on her face. 'Now what?' he thought to himself. When she saw that he'd seen her Mac turned away quickly and went into her office, slamming the door.

Turning back to Meg he couldn't help but smile. "So what's this mysterious business that's brought you to DC? Advising you said?" he asked as he sat on the edge of his desk.

"May I?" Meg asked nodding towards a chair. When Harm nodded she sat down and crossed her hands on her knee. No ring Harm noticed. "Yeah….advising. Someone heard about my weapons systems training and thought it would be good to have a lawyer with that kind of extra training hanging around the Pentagon. The Admiral said he thought of me instantly. To be honest that surprised me. I didn't think he thought that much of me."

"He loves you Meg, we all do." Harm said with a laugh. "A whole month of the Harm and Meg show!"

"Well I will be spending a lot of time at the Pentagon, and I imagine they keep you pretty busy around here….when you're not landing Hercs on carriers that is." Meg said with a smirk.

"You saw that did you? I guess everyone did." Harm said ruefully.

"It did make the top ten news moments of the year on a number of shows. What were you thinking Harm? The CIA? I know you love to fly, but for them?"

"Its complicated Meg…or at least I thought it was."

"Let me guess…there was a woman involved. There's always a woman involved with the Great Rabb. Am I right?"

"Well…alright there might have been a woman involved in there somewhere. Excuse me a moment…" Harm said with a sigh as the phone started to ring. Saved by the bell.

"Saved by the bell" Meg muttered.

Laughing Harm picked up the phone. "Commander Rabb."

"Hey kiddo, what's up?"

"How long is it going to be for?"

"Did you ask Jen?"

"Why would I ask her for you?"

"Alright…fine. I'll see you tonight."

"I love you too Mattie." He said as he hung up the phone.

"Mattie?" Meg asked with another smirk.

"It's not what you think…I guarantee it." Harm said with a chuckle. "One sec."

Picking up his phone again he dialed an internal extension. "Petty Officer, can I see you in my office for a moment?"

Hanging up the phone he turned back to Meg. "Really Meg, its not what you think. I'll explain it to you."

"There's nothing to explain if you don't want to." Meg said but he could tell the curiosity was eating her up.

"You wanted to see me sir?" PO Jennifer Coates asked.

"Jen, come in please. Have you met Lieutenant Commander Austin?"

"I have sir. Ma'am."

"Petty Officer."

"Jen…I just got a call from Mattie. She was wondering if she could go camping with her 'sister' this weekend. Of course it was only after I agreed that she informed that her 'sister' was not aware of the plans."

"Camping sir?"

"Camping Petty Officer. If you've got plans I can tell her that it'll have to be another weekend."

"No, no plans sir. I'd love to go with her. Will you be going?"

"You know I…" Harm started to agree then glimpsed at Meg. "I'm going to have to take a rain check, I've got some catching up to do with an old friend. You girls go ahead and have fun. Take my car…it's more practical than your's."

"Thank you, sir. Is Mattie at home? I'll call and find out what I need to pick up on the way home tonight." At Harm's nod Mattie smiled. "If that will be all sir?"

"Dismissed Petty Officer."

After PO Coates had left the office Meg looked up at Harm. "Now I am curious."

"I'll tell you about it…if you agree to have dinner with me tonight." Harm said with a grin.

"Well, I need to check into my hotel still…and then…I'm all your's. But you better fess up Commander…there's gotta be a story here."

"What, are you a reporter now?" Harm asked with a laugh. "Stay here…I'll be right back."

Getting up Harm stepped out of his office and walked over to Mac's office. The door was still closed he saw as he got closer. Snapping his fingers he turned around and walked over to the break room. Grabbing a coffee cup he filled it and grabbed a doughnut out of the box on the counter. Going back to Mac's office he knocked and then opened the door before Mac had a chance to tell him to go away.

"Peace offering?" he asked holding out the coffee and doughnut. "It's chocolate."

Huffing Mac looked at him coldly for a minute. Finally she showed a small smile and nodded. "Fine. Peace it is. Are we still going to meet at my place and go over the Gonzalez file?"

"That's what I'm here to talk to you about Mac. Listen, I was thinking…why don't we do it at my place. I'll make supper."

"'Harm's Meatless Meatloaf'?" Mac asked archly.

Chuckling ruefully Harm shook his head. "Wasn't even thinking about it; how about some vegetarian lasagna and California cheese toast?"

"Sounds good…I'll bring the salad."

"Great….oh and I was thinking about asking Mattie and Jennifer if they wanted to come over for the dinner part."

"How did I know that?" Mac asked with a smile.

"Alright, it's a date. How's 19:30 for you?"

"Its not a date flyboy. We've got work to do, remember?"

"Yeah yeah." He said with a grin as he turned around. When he got to the door he stopped and turned around. "Oh yeah…Meg's going to be coming over for dinner too." He said and then turned around and left her office.

"Great." Mac muttered to herself.