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. I hope you enjoy what I've got here, review it if you like.

A/N: As you've probably noticed I'm trying to limit myself to one perspective, Harm's. I'm doing this for a couple reasons: 1. because I'm looking on it as a challenge to write the story from only one person's viewpoint 2. Because I want to limit myself to a male perspective (because I'm male and it's the one I know best…and yes I know one of the fun parts about writing is to take perspectives you normally wouldn't)

A/N 2: I thought of this this morning when I was working on chapter 1. Seeing as I'm limiting myself to Harm's viewpoint, I wonder if one of the ladies out there would like to see if she could write a counterpoint story from Mac's viewpoint. The same storyline and same events, just a different viewpoint of the events themselves. If you would like to take up the challenge just send me an email at canuckrinkrathotmail.com.

Chapter 2

North of Union Station

Thursday May 20, 2004

24:28 Zulu

Whistling to himself Harm bustled around the kitchen making sure that everything was going to be ready. He was really looking forward to dinner tonight…and not just because he would be alone with four beautiful women. Although he had to admit to himself that was a definite plus. Smiling he chuckled to himself as he checked on the cheese toast.

"Hey Harm" Mattie said as she breezed through the door. "Mac here yet?"

"Not yet. Make yourselves at home…you always do." Harm said with a smile as Jen followed Mattie through the door. Who would have thought Harmon Rabb Junior would be so comfortable in a "family" role? He sure wouldn't have.

"Oh god, he's got that 'I'm so happy' look on his face again Jen. Maybe we better go." Mattie said wryly as she plopped down on the couch.

"You're not going to leave me alone with him, are you?" Mac asked as she walked through the still open door holding a covered bowl. "Hi Mattie, Jen." She said warmly, closing the door. "Harm." She said in a cooler tone. "Salad."

'Oh oh.' He thought to himself. 'She's into one syllable sentences.' "Hey Mac…glad you could make it. Thanks" he said with a smile as he took the salad from her and placed it on the kitchen counter. "Meg just phoned…she'll be here in about fifteen minutes."

"Who's Meg?" Mattie asked curiously.

"Meg's an old friend Mattie. She's going to be joining us for supper."

"An old friend eh? Do you like her?" Mattie asked with a devilish grin. Harm saw her eyes flick over towards Mac quickly and then back onto him. What was she up to he wondered.

"Mattie Grace…I don't think that's any of your business." Harm said indignantly. "And if you must know, Meg used to be my partner at Jag before Mac."

"You still didn't answer Mattie's question Harm...do you like her?" Mac asked casually. Harm looked at her closely, noticed the tightening around her eyes.

"Yes, I like Meg, as a friend. We worked together closely for a year. You know what kind of friendship that forms Mac. Meg and I had something like what you and I had." Harm said and then bit his tongue as he thought about what he said. "Have…what you and I have Mac."

"Ooops." Harm heard Mattie whisper to Jen.

Ignoring Harm Mac moved over to the couch and sat down between Jen and Mattie. "Is something burning?" she asked archly.

"The toast! Damn it!" Harm swore as he rushed over to the stove and pulled the cheese toast out. "It's not too bad…just a little black around the edges."

Hearing giggling coming from the couch he looked over to see all three of them looking at him, the whole lot of them trying to appear innocent. Just then the buzzer next to his door went off. Walking over muttering to himself he pushed the button. "Hello?"

"Harm, its Meg."

"Come on up." He said, pushing the other button to buzz the door open. Opening the door a crack he moved back to the kitchen, doing his best to ignore the whispers and giggles coming from the living room.

"Mattie, play nice. I haven't seen Meg in years and I don't need you trying to send her away in tears." Harm said in an attempt to appear stern.

"Me? I always play nice Harm, you know that." Mattie said with an attempt at an angelic smile.

"Right."

A soft knock announced Meg's arrival before she opened the door. "Hello?"

"Hey Meg, come on in." Harm said as the door opened.

"Wow…you've really done a lot with this place Harm." Meg said as she looked around. "Remember when you first bought it, what a dump it was? I'm impressed Harm, you did good."

"Thanks." Harm said with a smile, proud of his work. "Meg…you've met Mac and Jennifer. The other one on the right is Mattie Grace."

Jumping up Mattie walked towards Meg with her hand stuck out in front of her. "Hiya Meg. Good to meet you. So…you've known Harm a long time eh? Any dirt you want to dish? We could always use more dirt on good ol' Harm."

Laughing Meg shook Mattie's hand. "Hi Mattie…nice to meet you too. Yes, I've known Harm a long time, but I haven't seen him in years. And as for dirt…there was this one time we were in Iraq. We were supposed to represent this Marine corporal at a trial in Baghdad…." Meg said as Mattie herded her towards the living room.

Pushing his plate away form him a little bit Harm sat back and looked around the table. Again he was struck by the domesticated feel to the whole thing. Smiling he looked over at Mattie trying to dig more dirt out of Meg while Jennifer sat beside her trying to ignore what Mattie was doing. And then he looked at Mac who had been unusually quiet all evening. Catching her eye he gave her a little smile and a wink motioning with his head towards Mattie. Rolling his eyes he tried to think of a way to get Meg free from Mattie's grasp when he caught the question Mattie had just asked Meg.

"So you know Harm's my guardian right?" Mattie asked Meg.

"No, actually Mattie I didn't. Harm told me he would tell me the whole story tonight."

"Well, see a few months ago I was running my own business out at the air field where Harm keeps his plane. He needed a job and I needed a crop duster I could trust. Things just sorta worked out. After that he started hanging around more, trying to look after me. They were going to send me to some foster home but then Harm asked the court if he could be my guardian, you know look after me, make me go to school and stuff."

"Really?" Meg asked with a glance at Harm.

"Yeah well…the court wasn't going to let him…even after Mac came and told them what a great father Harm would make. That's on account of my dad coming back and screwing everything up. He's a drunk bastard and he doesn't care who he hurts…but Mac had a talk with him and the judge and convinced them to let Harm have me. That was at Christmas. Best Christmas gift anyone's ever given me, right Mac?"

"You bet Mattie." Mac said with a small smile.

"Well anyway…yeah so Harm's my guardian…but I live down the hall with Jennifer. She's sorta like his other ward….he looks after her too. And we look after him."

"His other ward?" Meg asked incredulously.

"Well ma'am, its not exactly like that. Commander Rabb has done a lot to help me out…he believed in me when no one else did. He's sort of my guardian angel." Jen said with a smile at Harm.

"Guardian Angel is he?" Meg asked with a chuckle.

"So…I've found myself with a bit of a surrogate family." Harm added with a smile.

"Well Harm, I must say its not exactly what I expected, but it seems to suit you."

"Well I try. Hey Mac, what's Webb up to tonight?" Harm asked, trying to draw Mac into the conversation.

"He's working on something. He said he'd call me later tonight." Mac said quietly.

"I won't ask on what…I know the drill; spooks and their secrecy." He said with a wink.

"You should know, you were one for awhile." Mac said bitterly. "Listen Harm, I'm not really feeling that well…maybe we should just skip working tonight…you've got a full house anyway. I think I'm just going to go home."

"You ok Mac?" Harm asked.

"Yeah…I just have a headache and I'm really tired. We can go over the case tomorrow at work."

"You sure? You're going to busy this weekend so we won't be able to do anything then." Harm asked as he stood up and moved around the table to stand beside Mac. Reaching out he started to put a hand on her forehead but she moved her head away sharply.

"Yes I'm sure. I'll be fine, I just need sleep. I'm a…"

"a Marine. I know I know. Just take care of yourself, alright? You're my Marine and I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

Stopping the process of pulling on her jacket, Mac shot Harm a glare. "I am not your Marine flyboy." Mac said bitterly.

"Easy Mac, I was just saying look after yourself."

"Whatever….bye girls." She said as she moved to the door. "I can see myself out."

"Bye Mac" Mattie called.

"Good night ma'am." Jennifer said.

Smiling Meg stood up. "Good night Colonel. It was nice seeing you again." She said as she moved to stand closer to the door. "I'm sure I'll see you in the office."

"Really?" Mac asked with her hand on the door knob.

"You bet." Meg said cheerfully. "The Admiral has decided that I'm to work out of an office at HQ while I'm here. Not the most convenient, but it is better than a broom closet at the Pentagon. I'll see you around the office, ok?"

"Sure thing." Mac said with an edge to her voice.

"Let me walk you out Mac." Harm said as he grabbed his coat and moved to join the ladies at the door.

"That's not necessary Commander."

"That may be true, Colonel, but I insist. Let me walk you to your car."

"Whatever."

"I'll be back in a minute girls." Harm called over his shoulder as he moved Mac out into the hallway.

Closing the door behind him Harm walked with Mac to the stairwell. Silently he followed her down the stairs. After a couple flights the silence was really starting to get to him.

"So…want to explain what that was?" Harm asked quietly as they passed the doorway to the floor below his.

"That was a door" Mac replied sarcastically.

"Thanks." Harm said dryly. "You know what I mean…you were almost mute through dinner, and then you might as well have bitten Meg's head off when she was trying to say good night. What's on your mind marine?"

"Nothing…I told you. I have a headache."

"Mac…you're not even that cold when you've been shot. I almost got frostbite tonight."

"Look, I said it was nothing. If you want I'll apologize to the Lieutenant Commander tomorrow."

"Her name is Meg Mac. And its not what I want…its what is right. You had no place being short with Meg tonight."

Silently they exited the stairwell on the ground floor and moved to the simple door they led out to the street.

"I don't like her Harm." Mac said.

"You don't know her Mac…how can you say that? Look…get to know her before you make any snap judgments."

"I'm not making any snap judgments. I'm a marine, I'm going with my gut."

"I don't think its your gut your going with marine. Just give her a chance, alright?"

"Fine. Whatever you want Commander. Good night."

With a sigh he watched her move across the street to her corvette. "Good night Sarah" he said softly as she got into her car and sped off.

Opening the door to his apartment Harm walked back into the sight of Mattie, Meg and Jennifer all doing dishes and cleaning his kitchen.

"Soooo….this is why I did it?" Harm asked with a grin as he stood watching the three women in his kitchen.

"Did what?" Meg asked with a laugh.

"Made dinner…or took in two stray kittens." He replied with a wink.

"Hey!" both Jen and Mattie cried indignantly.

Ducking the flying dishcloth Harm held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "I surrender…I surrender."

"Yeah well…I think we're going to go back to our place." Mattie huffed as she flounced past Harm on her way to the door.

"We're done the dishes anyway sir." Jennifer said with a smile as she followed her roommate.

"Oh Jen...I'll leave the keys for my car with you tomorrow…I'll see if I can spring you from the Admiral early so you and Mattie get a head start on camping."

"What about you sir?"

"Don't worry about me…I'll get a ride with Bud and Harriet."

"Not with the Colonel?" Jen asked with an impish grin.

"Get out Petty Officer." Harm said in his best 'I'm trying to sound stern' voice.

"Aye aye sir." Jen said with a wink closing the door softly behind her.

Laughing Harm grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses then motioned Meg into the living room. When he sat down he opened the bottle and poured two glasses of the red.

"You seem happy Harm. I'm glad for you." Meg said as she sat next to him on the couch.

"Oh it has its moments…trust me. And Mattie doesn't always like it when I have to spend a lot of time on cases out of town. It's caused its share of friction between us. I'm glad Jen is there to help out though."

Sipping on her wine Meg shook her head slightly. "Is this the cocky Harmon Rabb Jr. I worked with? The one who climbed out a window late at night in the middle of one of Saddam's palaces?"

"The very same Meg. The very same. Just a few years older…and hopefully wiser."

Silently they sipped their wine and sat there for a few minutes.

"So what about you Meg…is there a husband and little Meg waiting in Pearl?"

"No…no husband…no children. I thought I was close a couple times but it never worked out. The job."

Harm nodded in understanding. Not everyone understood the demands the service placed on those who sought to share the lives of those who served.

"I found my father." Harm said quietly after a few more minutes of awkward silence.

"You did? That's great!" Meg smiled. Noticing his sad eyes she paused. "Isn't it?"

Shrugging Harm set down his empty wineglass. "He was sent to Russia from Vietnam…he was eventually given his freedom, but the KGB wouldn't let him be truly free to return home. He lived and died in a small village in northern Russia." Harm said.

"Oh Harm…I'm sorry." Meg said simply.

"I've accepted it Meg…it took awhile, but Mac helped me through it. She's a good friend."

"Really? You guys didn't seem that friendly tonight." Meg said with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't get me wrong Meg…we've had our moments…and we're going through one right now…but she's my best friend. And I hope I'm still her's…"

"But this Webb guy?"

Shrugging Harm stared off into space for a minute.

"I've got a brother." He said in an attempt to change the subject.

"Really? Wow."

"Sergei…he's my half brother actually…he's Russian. A helicopter pilot too."

"Another Rabb pilot? I knew it was a family tradition…but wow. You guys really take it to extremes don't you? Rabbs flying on two continents." Meg said with a laugh.

"Harm…I didn't mean to pry…but Mattie and Jen were talking and they said some things…please don't be mad."

"Why would I be mad Meg?" Harm asked curiously.

"Well…we were talking about that C130 trap you made that was on the news….I was curious about why you were flying for the CIA…really…please don't be mad at the girls. Promise me you won't be Harm?"

"Alright Meg, I promise…." Harm said with a sinking feeling he knew where this was going.

"They told me Harm…about Paraguay…about you resigning your commission. Not a lot…just that Mac was in trouble and you went down looking for her. Why'd you do it?"

Standing up Harm moved over to the window, looking out at the spot where Mac's car had been parked.

"I don't know Meg…there's so many reasons why I did it. Because she's a friend and she needed me…because I knew in my gut that if I didn't go down there she would die…and she would have too. Because it was the right thing to do? Because there was nothing else for me to do but go down there? I thought I knew Meg…but I'm not so sure anymore."

Silently Meg stood up and moved to stand beside Harm. "Do you love her?" she asked softly.

With a soft snort Harm shook his head slowly. "I don't know Meg…I thought I did…I mean I thought I knew…but things have been so weird since we came back…she started seeing Webb after we got back and things…"

"Just haven't been the same?" Meg finished.

"Yeah."

"Who's Webb?" Meg asked.

"Oh…that's right. You don't know Webb. Sometimes it feels like he's been mixing us up in his schemes forever. Webb's with the CIA or State…depending on who you talk to. He's the one who took Mac down to Paraguay…he was with her down there and…well he wasn't treated that well once they were caught."

"So they started dating after you all came back?"

Nodding in answer to her question, Harm turned back to the table and poured himself another glass of wine. Looking back at Meg he raised his eyebrow in a silent question.

"Why Commander, I do believe you are trying to get me drunk." Meg said with a wink.

Laughing Harm took that as an affirmative and poured her another glass of wine. Taking the glass back to her at the window he thoughtfully sipped at his own glass.

"Enough of this…so how's Pearl treating you? And why haven't you written?"

"Pearl's good…nice. Always warm, beautiful beaches and sunshine year round. When it isn't raining. As to me not writing…I knew you were mad at me."

"Meg…its been eight years." Harm said sounding shocked.

"I know…I know. Really Harm…I did want to write…or call. I just kept convincing myself you didn't want to hear from me…" Meg said.

Setting his wineglass down on the window ledge Harm reached and put both hands on Meg's shoulders. Turning her to face him he smiled at her softly. "Meg…I was hurt and mad…was being the operative word. You really did a number on me, leaving without saying goodbye. But I learned to accept it…and I forgave you a long time ago. To be honest I never wrote because I didn't think you wanted to hear from me."

Laughing through the tears that were suddenly in her eyes Meg moved closer to Harm pulling him into a hug. "Only every day of every year since I've been gone Harm." She said softly into his chest.