Sorry, y'all, but this is the end. At 53,884 words, I ran out of story.
;) I do have another story in the works, but none of it is ready for
posting. Thanks for sticking with me and with this story for so long,
and thanks for the feedback. Now, without further adieu, Chapter 25...
Chapter 25:
Things Change
"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good and that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything. That power and money mean nothing. That good always triumphs over evil and I want you to remember this, that love ... true love never dies."
--Secondhand Lions
2345 Zulu
16 February 2004
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
Jack took the safety off of his weapon and nodded towards his group. They'd managed to insert an agent on the inside ages ago; it turned out that Van Dyne was good for more than his knowledge of diamonds. With a grunt of effort, they broke open the door and swarmed the group of terrorists inside.
Within minutes, all of the terrorists had been rounded up, cuffed, and made ready to haul off to prison. Jack knew that his current bosses wouldn't have minded if they'd simply eliminated the threats, but he didn't like the idea of mass murder, no matter how guilty the victims were.
"Is that all of them, Beth?" he called, trying to make sure.
"That's the last of 'em, Jack," Beth answered as she helped herd the stragglers out of the building. "So, I guess that means that we can get the hell out of here?"
"Yeah. Have you heard from Harm or Mac lately?" he asked.
"Mac says that he's getting better," she responded with a grin. "I threatened her into keeping me updated."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm betting she's doing it because she wants to. She's a Marine, Beth. She could probably break you in half without breaking a sweat."
"Sorry, Gunny," Beth said. She poked him in the ribs teasingly. "I forgot that you were a Marine."
"No such thing as an ex-Marine, Commander," he said with a half smile. "Just my luck," he grumbled good-naturedly. "I get stuck with a ex-squid flygirl as a partner for my last month before retirement."
Beth smirked at him. "Tell you what. You stop digging me about my checkered past, and I won't go talking to old friends of yours to get non-classified dirt to tell your son."
"And just how are you going to find these old friends of mine, Beth?" he asked.
"I'm a spook, remember? I know guys who can find out anything for me." Beth walked quickly towards the car.
"Yeah, well I've been a spook longer than you, and I can blackmail them into not talking," he called as he hurried to catch up.
"If I don't get to them first!" was her response.
Jack shook his head and chuckled softly. He'd almost miss Webb; he could tell that Beth would keep him on his toes.
1250 Zulu
16 March 2004
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm fingered the velvet box in his pocket as he struggled to catch up to Mac. He was mostly healed, but after so long without real exercise, he still needed to rebuild his endurance. "Mac, wait up," he called.
Mac turned around and smiled at him. "Hurry up, squid," she called. "The Admiral is waiting for us."
"Maac," he protested. "We're ten minutes early! With that internal clock of yours, we can't really be late."
"If you don't hurry we can be," she retorted. "We have seven minutes and fifty-six seconds to get up there."
Harm finally caught up to her. "Are you ever gonna tell me how you do that?"
Mac laughed and put her hand on his shoulder. "A girl's gotta keep some secrets, flyboy."
Harm groaned, shook his head, and followed her inside. The ride in the elevator was spent in a companionable silence. They'd had fights in the past month, but the time spent together had only served to bring them closer together. For the first time in what seemed years, they were comfortable around each other, and content with each other's company.
He touched the box in his pocket again and smiled. He knew how she felt about him, and it was well past time for him to do something about it. He couldn't help but think that if he'd been smarter, he would've done it years ago. Before the doors could open, a sudden impulse hit him to get it over with. "Mac," he began. "You know how I feel about you, right?"
The door opened before she could answer. "Not here, Harm," she murmured. "Later, okay?"
Harm choked back a groan. "All right," he said, disappointed.
The duo hurried towards the Admiral's office. "Colonel, Captain," Coates said with a smile. "The Admiral has been waiting, so you can go on in."
"Thanks, Jen," Harm said with a smile. They went in and came to attention in front of AJ's desk.
"Mackenzie and Rabb reporting as ordered, sir," Mac said.
"At ease. Take a seat, Colonel, Captain." AJ said, gesturing towards the armchairs in front of his desk.
He waited until they'd settled into the chairs. "So Captain, before I give you your options, are there any plans to... formalize things between you and my chief of staff?"
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Harm asked before Mac could say anything.
"Granted."
Harm slid out of his chair, onto one knee, and pulled the box out of his pocket. He opened the box, pulled out a ring, and reached for her hand. "You know how I feel about you, Mac," he said. "And I'm pretty sure that I know how you feel about me. Sarah, I never want to be without you again. Marry me?"
"Harm!" Mac hissed. "Why here? Why now?"
"I did ask him, Colonel," AJ said blandly. "Now what's your answer?"
"C'mon, Sarah. I figured that the only way to keep either one of us from running was to have a witness; who better than the Judge Advocate General of the whole damn Navy?"
"Damn straight," AJ muttered. "Answer the man, Colonel. That's an order."
Mac took a deep breath. "Yes," she answered finally.
A full-blown flyboy smile spread over Harm's face as he slid the sparkling engagement ring on her finger then got up.
AJ leaned back in his chair. "Go ahead and kiss her Captain. Just this once, you have my permission to do it in uniform inside JAG, but don't let me catch you doing it again."
Harm's grin got wider. "Aye, sir," he answered, then bent down to kiss her. Because of their location, Harm deliberately kept the kiss short and sweet. He broke off the kiss and then sat back down.
Mac looked at him, smiled, then turned to face the Admiral. "Sir, I believe you said that you were working on some options for us?"
AJ rested his elbows on his desk and leaned forward. "Originally I'd planned on sending one of you over to the judiciary and having you assigned TAD back to JAG when they didn't have enough for you to do, but your promotion, Harm, put a kink in that plan."
"Sorry, sir," Harm said, his smile still in place.
AJ picked up a list from the top of his desk. "It leaves us with fewer options. First, I could send you to learn to drive a ship, Harm, and keep Mac here as my chief of staff. You spend six months of every year deployed, and it'd be good for your career. Our second option is that I send you to Naples or Pearl, both of which will be needing new commanders soon, Mac goes to the judiciary over there, and the two of you stay together. Both of your careers remain on track, and you'd still be a candidate for this chair someday if you want it. Both of you get more experience this way; you both need it if you're going to stay."
Harm and Mac exchanged a glance. "I don't like the thought of you not being here for six months at a time, Harm," Mac said slowly.
Harm nodded. "When we have kids that would get old real fast," he said. "Sir, option two sounds good."
"Good," AJ said with a nod. "Coates has some work for you; new cases for you, Mac, and some Freedom of Information Act requests for you, Harm."
Harm and Mac stood up and came to attention. "Thank you, sir," Mac said.
"Harm, I talked to your doctor, and he told me that you still need to take it easy and build up your strength. Next week, I'll let you work on some cases until your transfer goes through. You'll be in Sturgis's old office for now since you're not going to be here with us much longer. Don't forget your follow-up doctor's appointment this afternoon, and I expect a wedding invitation from both of you. Dismissed."
They left together and gathered their files from Coates. "Think the Admiral'll let us leave early?" Harm asked.
"I doubt it," Mac said with a smile. "But we can try."
"Meet me for lunch?"
"Sure. As long as you're buying."
Harm laughed and headed towards his office. Suddenly, the morning didn't look like it would be so bad after all.
0146 Zulu
16 March 2004
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm leaned back against the couch and watched Mac through half-lidded eyes. She was concentrating on her newest case and wasn't really paying much attention to him. "You're beautiful, Sarah. You know that, right?"
"Uh huh," she answered absently.
"The doctor gave me a clean bill of health this afternoon," he tried again.
"That's good," she said, still not paying much attention.
"When I was still pulling sea duty, I saw a two-headed duck with two pairs of legs. One set was on its back, and the other where it was supposed to be."
"That's nice, Harm," she answered.
He studied her and decided that if he wanted anything more than "that's nice," he'd have to take matters in his own hands. He sat up, pulled her to him, and kissed her. Carefully he coaxed her mouth open and slipped his tongue inside to explore. It was a kiss that was completely opposite of the one in the Admiral's office, and what he'd wanted to give her earlier that day.
Mac dropped the file she was holding on the coffee table and wound her arms around his neck. After several seconds, they broke off the kiss. "What was that for?" she asked, breathless.
"Have I mentioned lately that I love you?" he asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Oh, not in the past eight hours or so," she said with a smile.
"Well I do," he said. "And I was just thinking that after all we've been through to get here, we deserve a... celebration."
"Hm. Well, we could go out and get some... dessert," she said. "Or, we could make our own now that you're feeling better."
Harm's eyes darkened. "I think I like the thought about making our own," he said huskily.
Mac leaned in and kissed him. "Works for me," she said in between kisses.
Harm stood up and headed towards the bedroom, exchanging kisses all the way. For years, he'd searched for someone to love and a place to call home. Funny that it'd been right in front of him all along.
The End.
Chapter 25:
Things Change
"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good and that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything. That power and money mean nothing. That good always triumphs over evil and I want you to remember this, that love ... true love never dies."
--Secondhand Lions
2345 Zulu
16 February 2004
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
Jack took the safety off of his weapon and nodded towards his group. They'd managed to insert an agent on the inside ages ago; it turned out that Van Dyne was good for more than his knowledge of diamonds. With a grunt of effort, they broke open the door and swarmed the group of terrorists inside.
Within minutes, all of the terrorists had been rounded up, cuffed, and made ready to haul off to prison. Jack knew that his current bosses wouldn't have minded if they'd simply eliminated the threats, but he didn't like the idea of mass murder, no matter how guilty the victims were.
"Is that all of them, Beth?" he called, trying to make sure.
"That's the last of 'em, Jack," Beth answered as she helped herd the stragglers out of the building. "So, I guess that means that we can get the hell out of here?"
"Yeah. Have you heard from Harm or Mac lately?" he asked.
"Mac says that he's getting better," she responded with a grin. "I threatened her into keeping me updated."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm betting she's doing it because she wants to. She's a Marine, Beth. She could probably break you in half without breaking a sweat."
"Sorry, Gunny," Beth said. She poked him in the ribs teasingly. "I forgot that you were a Marine."
"No such thing as an ex-Marine, Commander," he said with a half smile. "Just my luck," he grumbled good-naturedly. "I get stuck with a ex-squid flygirl as a partner for my last month before retirement."
Beth smirked at him. "Tell you what. You stop digging me about my checkered past, and I won't go talking to old friends of yours to get non-classified dirt to tell your son."
"And just how are you going to find these old friends of mine, Beth?" he asked.
"I'm a spook, remember? I know guys who can find out anything for me." Beth walked quickly towards the car.
"Yeah, well I've been a spook longer than you, and I can blackmail them into not talking," he called as he hurried to catch up.
"If I don't get to them first!" was her response.
Jack shook his head and chuckled softly. He'd almost miss Webb; he could tell that Beth would keep him on his toes.
1250 Zulu
16 March 2004
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm fingered the velvet box in his pocket as he struggled to catch up to Mac. He was mostly healed, but after so long without real exercise, he still needed to rebuild his endurance. "Mac, wait up," he called.
Mac turned around and smiled at him. "Hurry up, squid," she called. "The Admiral is waiting for us."
"Maac," he protested. "We're ten minutes early! With that internal clock of yours, we can't really be late."
"If you don't hurry we can be," she retorted. "We have seven minutes and fifty-six seconds to get up there."
Harm finally caught up to her. "Are you ever gonna tell me how you do that?"
Mac laughed and put her hand on his shoulder. "A girl's gotta keep some secrets, flyboy."
Harm groaned, shook his head, and followed her inside. The ride in the elevator was spent in a companionable silence. They'd had fights in the past month, but the time spent together had only served to bring them closer together. For the first time in what seemed years, they were comfortable around each other, and content with each other's company.
He touched the box in his pocket again and smiled. He knew how she felt about him, and it was well past time for him to do something about it. He couldn't help but think that if he'd been smarter, he would've done it years ago. Before the doors could open, a sudden impulse hit him to get it over with. "Mac," he began. "You know how I feel about you, right?"
The door opened before she could answer. "Not here, Harm," she murmured. "Later, okay?"
Harm choked back a groan. "All right," he said, disappointed.
The duo hurried towards the Admiral's office. "Colonel, Captain," Coates said with a smile. "The Admiral has been waiting, so you can go on in."
"Thanks, Jen," Harm said with a smile. They went in and came to attention in front of AJ's desk.
"Mackenzie and Rabb reporting as ordered, sir," Mac said.
"At ease. Take a seat, Colonel, Captain." AJ said, gesturing towards the armchairs in front of his desk.
He waited until they'd settled into the chairs. "So Captain, before I give you your options, are there any plans to... formalize things between you and my chief of staff?"
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Harm asked before Mac could say anything.
"Granted."
Harm slid out of his chair, onto one knee, and pulled the box out of his pocket. He opened the box, pulled out a ring, and reached for her hand. "You know how I feel about you, Mac," he said. "And I'm pretty sure that I know how you feel about me. Sarah, I never want to be without you again. Marry me?"
"Harm!" Mac hissed. "Why here? Why now?"
"I did ask him, Colonel," AJ said blandly. "Now what's your answer?"
"C'mon, Sarah. I figured that the only way to keep either one of us from running was to have a witness; who better than the Judge Advocate General of the whole damn Navy?"
"Damn straight," AJ muttered. "Answer the man, Colonel. That's an order."
Mac took a deep breath. "Yes," she answered finally.
A full-blown flyboy smile spread over Harm's face as he slid the sparkling engagement ring on her finger then got up.
AJ leaned back in his chair. "Go ahead and kiss her Captain. Just this once, you have my permission to do it in uniform inside JAG, but don't let me catch you doing it again."
Harm's grin got wider. "Aye, sir," he answered, then bent down to kiss her. Because of their location, Harm deliberately kept the kiss short and sweet. He broke off the kiss and then sat back down.
Mac looked at him, smiled, then turned to face the Admiral. "Sir, I believe you said that you were working on some options for us?"
AJ rested his elbows on his desk and leaned forward. "Originally I'd planned on sending one of you over to the judiciary and having you assigned TAD back to JAG when they didn't have enough for you to do, but your promotion, Harm, put a kink in that plan."
"Sorry, sir," Harm said, his smile still in place.
AJ picked up a list from the top of his desk. "It leaves us with fewer options. First, I could send you to learn to drive a ship, Harm, and keep Mac here as my chief of staff. You spend six months of every year deployed, and it'd be good for your career. Our second option is that I send you to Naples or Pearl, both of which will be needing new commanders soon, Mac goes to the judiciary over there, and the two of you stay together. Both of your careers remain on track, and you'd still be a candidate for this chair someday if you want it. Both of you get more experience this way; you both need it if you're going to stay."
Harm and Mac exchanged a glance. "I don't like the thought of you not being here for six months at a time, Harm," Mac said slowly.
Harm nodded. "When we have kids that would get old real fast," he said. "Sir, option two sounds good."
"Good," AJ said with a nod. "Coates has some work for you; new cases for you, Mac, and some Freedom of Information Act requests for you, Harm."
Harm and Mac stood up and came to attention. "Thank you, sir," Mac said.
"Harm, I talked to your doctor, and he told me that you still need to take it easy and build up your strength. Next week, I'll let you work on some cases until your transfer goes through. You'll be in Sturgis's old office for now since you're not going to be here with us much longer. Don't forget your follow-up doctor's appointment this afternoon, and I expect a wedding invitation from both of you. Dismissed."
They left together and gathered their files from Coates. "Think the Admiral'll let us leave early?" Harm asked.
"I doubt it," Mac said with a smile. "But we can try."
"Meet me for lunch?"
"Sure. As long as you're buying."
Harm laughed and headed towards his office. Suddenly, the morning didn't look like it would be so bad after all.
0146 Zulu
16 March 2004
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm leaned back against the couch and watched Mac through half-lidded eyes. She was concentrating on her newest case and wasn't really paying much attention to him. "You're beautiful, Sarah. You know that, right?"
"Uh huh," she answered absently.
"The doctor gave me a clean bill of health this afternoon," he tried again.
"That's good," she said, still not paying much attention.
"When I was still pulling sea duty, I saw a two-headed duck with two pairs of legs. One set was on its back, and the other where it was supposed to be."
"That's nice, Harm," she answered.
He studied her and decided that if he wanted anything more than "that's nice," he'd have to take matters in his own hands. He sat up, pulled her to him, and kissed her. Carefully he coaxed her mouth open and slipped his tongue inside to explore. It was a kiss that was completely opposite of the one in the Admiral's office, and what he'd wanted to give her earlier that day.
Mac dropped the file she was holding on the coffee table and wound her arms around his neck. After several seconds, they broke off the kiss. "What was that for?" she asked, breathless.
"Have I mentioned lately that I love you?" he asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Oh, not in the past eight hours or so," she said with a smile.
"Well I do," he said. "And I was just thinking that after all we've been through to get here, we deserve a... celebration."
"Hm. Well, we could go out and get some... dessert," she said. "Or, we could make our own now that you're feeling better."
Harm's eyes darkened. "I think I like the thought about making our own," he said huskily.
Mac leaned in and kissed him. "Works for me," she said in between kisses.
Harm stood up and headed towards the bedroom, exchanging kisses all the way. For years, he'd searched for someone to love and a place to call home. Funny that it'd been right in front of him all along.
The End.