Disclaimer: Do I have to keep doing these? Lol. I mean you all know that I don't own JAG so what's the point?
AN: Thanks to all reviewers. Just a quick note to Darklady who commented on the vegetarian Lasagne in last chappie – I realise that Harm is vegetarian and I upheld that by putting in vegetarian lasagne (it doesn't have any meat in it and therefore I am not guilty of committing any JAG crimes! Lol, so therefore as far as that fact goes, this story isn't AU. As for the actually part of Brumby showing up and everything – the story obviously is AU as I have set this in Season 8.)
Thanks again to everyone else who reviewed. Without you all I wouldn't be doing this, as I would have given up hope by now.
Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, but I spent some time researching International Flight and etc from Washington DC to Sydney and I had to do some other background research for other parts of the fic that are to come. I'm trying to make this story as acuate as possible and have been doing some extra JAG research for the hell of accuracy.
Anyway, enjoy this chapter. I love writing this and there are some surprises to come.
Summary: Harm, Mac and Mic jet set to Australia to start investigating Mic's innocence.
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"Like a ghost don't need a key
your best friend I've come to be.
Please don't think of getting up for me
you don't even need to speak.
When I've been here for just one day
you'll already miss me if I go away.
So close the blinds and shut the door
you won't need other friends anymore.
Oh don't leave home
Oh don't leave home."
– Don't leave Home, Dido.
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CHAPTER 5: RETURN TO AUSTRALIA (PART A)
MONDAY 2245 HRS
MAC'S APARTMENTGEORGETOWN, DC
Mac ambled into the kitchen, barefoot, covered head to toe in sweats and hungry for her definition of 'real food.' She opened the freezer, pulled out a large tub of chocolate ice cream and grabbed a spoon from the cutlery draw. She opened the tub of ice cream and dug the spoon straight into the centre, spearing a large piece of chocolate ice cream. Mac hurriedly placed the spoon in her mouth and savoured the taste. That was when she noticed the light on her answering machine flashing.
Curious, she replaced the spoon into the ice cream and crossed around the other side of the bench towards the phone and answering machine. Hesitating for a moment, she gingerly flicked the playback button.
Immediately Harm's voice flooded the room.
"Mac, It's Harm. I just received a call from Coates about the travel arrangements for tomorrow. Check in is at 0645 and the flight leaves around 0800 – I guess I'll see you there. Brumby will have all the files with him so we can spend sometime on the flight talking to him about O'Neil. Anyway, sorry I had to ring so late – I was actually hoping that I could catch you and tell you all about Coates plans Headquarters while we're away. Guess I'll have to tell you tomorrow." The message held a pause. "Goodnight Mac." Harm finished hanging up and leaving the beeping dial tone as conversation.
The machine rewound the tape and click off automatically. Sighing, Mac diverted her eyes towards the ice cream. Her sudden urge for a sugar fix dissolved and she felt a knot of apprehension settle in her stomach. She was ashamed that she had been able to stare war in the face but couldn't find the 'courage' to face Mic and his case. She stalked back to the ice cream, withdrew the spoon from the tub and replaced the lid. She threw the spoon into the sink and returned the ice cream to the freezer.
It was late enough; she didn't need sugar to keep her awake. Anymore. She scanned the kitchen quickly for any more clutter and satisfied that there was no cleaning up to be done, she locked the front door and turned off the remaining lights in the apartment. Sleep, was the only thought on Mac's mind and she unenthusiastically made her way towards her bedroom and empty bed.
***
TUESDAY 0630 HRS
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WASHINGTON DC
"You're early." Mac greeted Harm as she approached him in the flight lounge of the airport. "I thought you'd still be asleep at this hour."
Harm grinned.
"I usually am," he bantered, removing his luggage from the seat so that Mac could sit down across from him. "But I thought I'd be punctual for a change."
Mac leered and dropped her luggage on the floor. She quickly smoothed her uniform and lowered herself into the seat. She took a quick look around, surveying for Brumby.
"Where's Mic?"
Harm closed the paper he had been reading before Mac had arrived and shrugged.
"Don't know. He said he'd be here about 0645. What time is it now?"
"0630 and 6 seconds."
Harm leered and sipped at his water.
"Thank you Mr. Clock."
"No problem." Mac smiled high spiritedly. "Get much sleep last night?" she asked surveying the lines around Harm's eyes.
He looked like he'd been to hell and back through the night. Harm shook his head.
"Not really. Kept trying to add pieces to Brumby's puzzle. Seems that doesn't work when you don't actually have any pieces to begin with." He mused. "If he doesn't divulge any information soon, we may have to bash it out of him."
Mac smiled.
"Aren't those your usual questioning techniques?"
"Very funny Colonel."
"Thank you Commander. I'm in top form today."
"So I've noticed." He replied smartly.
Mac leered.
"At least you've noticed something."
Harm cocked an eyebrow at her as a reply.
"What can I say? I was inspired by the 'bashing the information out of Brumby' idea," she banted in return.
Harm chuckled and turned the bottle of water absentmindedly between his fingers.
"You would be." He replied. "You're not a Marine for nothing."
Mac snorted indignantly.
"And you wouldn't be?" she asked crossing her arms against her chest. "You said it first."
Harm rolled his eyes and pulled himself up from the chair.
"I think I need an aspirin. I'm already coming down with a headache." He mused loudly. "Pity there is no drug store here."
Mac grinned and snuggled further into the cushioned chair.
"I have some in my luggage if you want some?" she offered.
Harm shook his head.
"No thanks. I'll be back in a moment." He said nodding towards the restroom.
Mac nodded and grabbed Harm's paper from his vacant seat.
"There is no hurry. Brumby's punctuality is just as bad as yours." She said engrossing herself in a headline on the front page.
Harm shook his head amused and made towards the restroom. He was only gone for a couple of minutes before Mic announced his late arrival to Mac, in the form of a loud fake cough. Mac cocked an eyebrow and lifted her eyes from the outstretched paper in her hands.
"Morning Sarah." He greeted, dropping his luggage at his feet. "Where's Rabb?"
Mac nodded towards the restroom.
"He'll be back soon." She said ineptly, "And you of all people know that it's Mac."
Mic frowned and warily stuffed his hands in the pocket of his black slacks.
"You never used to mind." He replied quietly. "What's changed?"
Mac looked at him in disbelief. She quietly dropped the paper into her lap and focused all her attention to Mic.
"A lot has changed Mic, you made sure of that."
"What would you have me do Mac? You made it clear what you wanted. I only respected that."
Mac gulped involuntarily and met his dark eyes. She glanced towards the restroom, breaking their gaze, before meeting his eyes again.
"Where's Jennifer?" she asked, hastily changing the subject and picking up her paper again. "I thought she was coming with us."
Mic sighed and sat down two seats away from Mac. He smiled gently.
"She couldn't get a seat on the same plane so she's decided to stay in Virginia for another couple of days. She'll probably fly home on Thursday or Friday."
Mac nodded.
"She didn't even want to escort her dear Mickey to the airport?" she asked bravely, pretending to be distracted by the paper.
Mic bit his lip, slightly despondently. He stared at Mac in resentment.
"It's not like that Mac, and it's none of your business anyway." He replied crossly.
Mac nodded sincerely.
"I know." She replied. "But Jen is a big part of our investigation. How are we supposed to start if she's on a different continent?"
Mic smiled harshly.
"I'm sure you and Rabb will come up with something." He snapped. "You always do."
Mac frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked sadistically.
"Nothing." He spat back. "You had the nerve to comment on my relationship, the least I could do was give you a piece of my mind."
Mac folded the paper and tossed it into Harm's chair.
"What exactly is your problem?" She asked bluntly.
"What's yours?" He replied fiercely.
Mac bit her lip. Man she hated him some times! He could be so – so – Harm like at times!
"My problem?" she asked, eyes flashing. "Why do you care? If it's not obvious enough why bother!"
"I can see that I'm the problem Mac. I'm asking what exactly is your problem with me that has you so fired up! You were exactly like this when I saw you yesterday in Chegwidden's office. I didn't think you dwelled on hatred Mac."
Mac stood and glared at Mic.
"You have no right to enquire or even comment on my anger Mic!" She spat. "And as for hatred – it's well deserved."
Mic sighed.
"What exactly does that mean?!" he asked wildly. "And you had no right to comment on my personal life and you did. You know what they say Mac – if you can't stand the heat – get out of the fire."
"Kitchen." She corrected. "The term is 'kitchen'."
Mic frowned.
"You get my point."
Mac took a calming breath and straightened, looking Mic squarely in the eye.
"You're right Mic – I do get your point. In fact I get your point so well that I'm leaving."
Mac bend to her side, grabbed hold of her luggage and stalked off away from Mic as fast as her heeled feet could carrier her. Harm emerged from the restroom and almost ran smack bang into Mac and she stormed off. She didn't offer any words to explain her situation and just pushed past him, leaving him with a puzzled expression. He looked towards Brumby who sighed angrily and threw his hands up in the air.
"Where's she going?" Harm asked picking his luggage from the floor and lifting it into his seat.
Mic glared at Harm and dropped back into his chair.
"Who knows," he commented. "Maybe back to her cave?"
Harm cocked an eyebrow at Mic.
"Come on Mic, give her a break. She's just as uncomfortable as you are about this."
Mic glared at Harm again.
"It'd be a whole lot less uncomfortable if she'd actually stay in the same space as me. I mean what goods it going to do when I can't even make civil conversation with my lawyer?"
Harm shrugged and emptied the remaining water from the bottle into his mouth.
"You know what Brumby? That is your problem not mine."
"Thanks Rabb."
Harm smiled cockily – a smile reserved for Brumby only.
"Anytime."
***
TUESDAY 0755 HRS UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT UA9681 WASHINGTON TO SYDNEY (CONNECTING VIA TOKYO) DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WASHINGTON DC
Harm turned to watch Brumby climb aboard the plane behind him. Mic looked up and smiled weakly. Harm grimaced in return and turned to the Flight Attendant gazing at him.
"Good morning Sir." She greeted sweetly.
Harm grimaced and handed her his ticket. She read it quickly and smiled.
"Row 27, seat B. That's on the right." She said politely.
Harm nodded a thank you and grasped the handle of his bag tightly. He spotted Mac sitting idly in the window seat of Row 27. He walked towards the row, placed his hand held luggage in the luggage compartment and squished along the row until he came to his seat.
"Hi." He greeted sitting down beside Mac.
Mac turned her attention from the window and smiled weakly.
"Hi."
"You okay?" he asked, gazing at her.
Mac nodded.
"Fine. Just sit there for the whole journey okay?" she asked desperately.
Harm smiled.
"Sure."
Mac nodded thankfully.
"Thanks."
"Any time."
"Where's Mic?" she asked bitterly.
Harm smiled and nodded towards the front of the plane where Brumby could be seen chatting to the Flight Attendant.
"Flirting." He stated simply, sitting back in his chair and fastening his seatbelt.
Mac frowned.
"I can't believe that I'm actually doing this!" she said in disbelief. "It's not as if he's going to appreciate it anyway."
Harm frowned.
"Since when did you do anything to be accepted and appreciated by Brumby?" he asked diplomatically.
Mac glared at him.
"You're siding with him aren't you?" she asked wildly, as Mic bid his goodbyes to the Flight Attendant and made his way towards them.
Harm shook his head.
"No." he whispered gently, making Mac smile. "I'm not siding with anyone."
Mac shot him a glare and folded her arms across her chest in anger.
"Typical." She breathed. "I can't believe you either."
Harm grinned.
"You still love me." He whispered.
Mac shook her head.
"No I don't." She added madly, staring out the window again. "You just think I do."
Harm grinned again and rested his head back against the seat. He closed his eyes, and listened to the rustling of Brumby's luggage being locked away in the overhead locker and felt the movement of Mic lowering himself into the seat beside him.
"These are for you." Brumby stated, holding out 2 unmarked folders towards Mac and Harm.
Harm opened him eyes and took the folders from Brumby.
"Case files?" he asked passing the top folder over to Mac.
"Yeah." Mic replied blankly putting his seatbelt.
Mac opened the folder and skimmed the first page. Just background information on O'Neil and an A5 colour photo displaying her in her uniform. She had short dark hair that came roughly to her chin, and soft brown eyes. Mac felt a sharp pain in her chest as she studied the picture more closely. If it wasn't for the fact the uniforms were obviously different, at first glance she would have though that she was looking at her own picture. From beside Harm, Mac heard Mic shift uncomfortable in his seat.
"Uncanny isn't?" he asked softly, towards Mac.
"What is?" Mac choked.
"The resemblance that was between you and Megan?"
"Megan?" Harm asked questioningly.
"Major O'Neil." Brumby corrected, looking away. "You look very much alike."
Mac shook her head.
"No we don't." she laughed nervously, tucking the picture back into the file.
She looked at Harm. His eyes displayed worry that didn't help with Mac's own initially shock. Looking away nervously, she tucked the file beside her on the seat, and closed her eyes. Was she right to be freaking out because the woman that Brumby had supposedly murdered looked exactly like her? She chewed over the situation for a few moments before the welcoming Flight Attendant's voice wafted over the plane's PA.
"Good Morning passengers, my name is Jenny and I will be your supervisor on today's flight to Tokyo. Please make sure that all hand held luggage is tucked away in the overhead locker or is placed securely under the seat in front of you. Your seatbelts should be fastened tightly across your hips and they should stay on for the majority of the flight in case we encounter any turbulence-"
Harm snorted indignantly, which produced a small smile on Mac's face.
"Maybe someone should give safety talks to your passengers before you take off." She said smartly, eyes still closed.
Harm chuckled.
"Why? We never encounter turbulence when I'm at the controls."
Mac laughed.
"You're kidding right?" she asked opening her eyes.
Harm didn't reply, instead he smiled at her and tuned into the remainder of Jenny's routine speech.
CHAPTER TO BE CONTINUED ---