AN: I would like to thank joshklar for his wonderful review on one of my other stories (Broken Linked Hearts). It was so wonderfully inspiring and uplifting to me as a writer and as a person. If you are him and are reading this, please email me with your email, I would love to ask your advice on several ideas. The one that you had in my review was very beneficial and I admit that as a developing writer, I could use all the help and advice I can get.

Hopefully, you are all still enjoying this story. The chapters are getting longer and more detailed, ideas and constructive criticism are always accepted!

Chapter 10: Perfect Loves & The New JAG

A Few Weeks Later

Harm's Loft

Harm twisted in his desk chair, trying to straighten out the knots in his sore back. He had been trying to get some work done in preparation for the new JAG's impending arrival but had been constantly distracted by looking over at Mac. She was still sleeping peacefully in their bed, nestled in among the sheets and blankets. It was such an angelic sight that Harm couldn't seem to resist looking at her every few minutes.

It had been a long hard past couple weeks. Mattie had been so thrilled to find that her one-time guardian had finally gotten married to the one woman who had held his heart captive for so long. After the four of them had spent an hour talking, she had hugged them goodbye and left, whispering "I miss you" to each of them. They had promised to stay in touch more often.

He sighed with the memory that had followed that day. Mac had sat him down, made him promise that he would listen until she was finished talking before he would say a word. Confused, but trusting, he had agreed, sitting there as she spilled her decision and the reasoning behind it.

Mac had decided that it was best to retire from the Marine Corps. Harm opened his mouth to protest when he remembered his promise. She said that it was just time that she moved on to something new. She knew she wouldn't have the strength to do her duty in an acceptable manner, physically or emotionally. It's not that being at JAG wasn't important anymore, she just felt that it was time to move on. When she was done he had asked her only one question.

"Will you be happy?"

"I am happy, Harm, when I'm with you. This is what I'm supposed to be doing right now. This is where I'm supposed to be," she had answered.

And that was the end of it. She had submitted her resignation to Harm and he had reluctantly signed off on it. The rest of the office staff had been shocked when Harm had announced that Colonel MacKenzie had decided to retire, only her close friends understood the thought and purpose behind the decision. Harm had yet to fill her spot, even though the office desperately needed more lawyers. He just didn't have the heart to see someone else in her office. Truth be told, neither did anyone else. The Colonel had meant so much to them that they were all a little broken-hearted too.

Many of them had expressed to Harm a desire to stop by and see Mac in the hospital but it was her wish that none of them see her like this. She wanted them to remember the tough-as-nails kick-ass Marine Colonel, not weak and broken-down like she felt she was. Harm fielded requests and wishes between the two groups for several days before the JAG crew gave up on him and all just showed up at Bethesda to see Mac.

They all brought gifts, flowers, get-well cards, and the like. She was so surprised and so happy that the sight actually brought tears to her eyes. They all had a good visit and were chatting happily until Harm walked in. He looked at everyone, then at Sarah, then back at the others, specifically at Harriet. Knowing her like he did, she would be the one responsible for this. Sarah hadn't wanted any of them to be here, to visit her, what was he to do? Did she want him to kick them all out? She seemed to be enjoying their company but she had been so adamant about not having visitors while she was so sick.

"Sarah?" he asked. She understood his unspoken question and the reasoning behind his current look of confusion.

"Come here, Harm, I was just about to tell the story of our wedding day," she said, reaching a hand out to him. Had the look on her face been anything other than complete peace and calm, he would have objected. Instead, he smiled and sat down in the empty chair right next to her bed.

Harriet, Bud, Jen, Sturgis, and various other caring JAG officers were there as well as AJ were there. They needed to see her, to know that she was okay.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, ma'am," Bud tried.

"No, it's time we explain everything," Harm admitted. Holding his wife's hand in his, he lifted her slender hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on it.

She smiled back at him, wondering whatever had caused them to wait so long to finally love one another. He was constantly at her side, something she pretended to be annoyed at but secretly enjoyed. He was always showering her with kind gestures and sweet kisses, never pushing her for anything, letting her set the pace in their relationship. Harmon Rabb Jr. had finally let go and they had both never felt so freer in their lives.

"Well, Harm played hooky from work one day," began Mac with a grin on her face.

"I was not playing hooky," he stated indignantly.

AJ silently laughed, knowing that the younger man would rather spend his days, and nights for that matter, at home with Sarah than at work. He hated doing paperwork but there had been no one else to fill in from HQ but him. Mac was out of the question, Sturgis was busy with several big cases and didn't need the extra load and stress and Bud wasn't senior enough. He knew Rabb could survive the few weeks that it took for his old position to be filled.

"Commander," he said gruffly.

"Sir?" Harm gulped.

"I thought I left you in charge to work, not to 'play hooky' every day," AJ continued.

"Sir, I haven't been...that is to say... I haven't been skipping work...," Harm fumbled over his words, at a loss in front of who he still felt was his commanding officer. Old habits were hard to break.

"Harm, it's AJ. I'm retired now and I'm glad to see that you finally found something more important than your career and finally acted on it," AJ said.

"So am I," Mac spoke up.

The rest of the group broke into relieved smiles, finally seeing that the intimidating retired NAVY SEAL was just teasing Rabb.

"Back to the story," prompted Harriet.

"Harm took the day off and we decided to spend the day at the park." Mac proceeded to tell them the whole story, leaving out certain details that she was sure they did not need to know (the fact that she and Harm made out for nearly half an hour after she said yes). Harm listened to her spin her tale, filling in a few missing details here and there that he felt she missed. She made it sound so perfect and like a fairytale. He could just see her telling stories to their children one day. They had decided to examine all options over the next few months and keep trying. Adoption was something they would both love to do, but they were saving it as a last resort.

"That's simply perfect," Jen sighed when it was done with.

"She is," Harm agreed, looking directly at his wife.

The others saw the look that was passed between the two and smiled, but they missed the silent words of communication. Harm and Mac had always been like that, know what they other was thinking by just looking into the other's eyes.

Several more hours passed by as the group continued to talk, telling stories of past escapades and actions.

JAG HQ

The days seemed to move by slowly. Mac was better, their marriage and friendship was flourishing in a way that it never had, and everything was running smoothly. For once in their lives, everything seemed to be on track and good.

Then Harm received a memo from the SECNAV informing him of the new JAG. He saw the name on the paper and nearly fainted in disbelief and near horror.

Admiral Allison Krennick.

Via the intercom, he ordered Coates to hold all his calls for the next hour unless it was the SECNAV or someone more important. He rubbed his forehead as a pounding headache seemed to have appeared from nowhere. He could barely handle this woman when she was a Commander years ago, how could he handle her now? He was sure that her personality hadn't changed much over the years. He was married, he was taken, but that wouldn't stop her, of that he was sure.

Mindlessly, he picked up the phone and dialed home.

"Hi, Harm," Mac greeted.

"Hey," he returned. Had he been thinking normally, he would have asked her how she knew it was him but he wasn't.

"What's wrong, flyboy?" She instantly picked up on his bad mood. She just had a sense about these things when it came to him.

"We're getting a new JAG next week," he told her.

"That's great. Less stress for you. Who is it going to be?"

"Krennick."

"Who?"

"Admiral Allison Krennick."

"Is this the same woman who kept coming on to you when she was your superior officer?" Mac asked, already worried.

"Yeah," Harm answered helplessly.

"I'm sorry, Harm. But maybe she's changed. Maybe she's learned to behave in a better manner," Mac said, trying to cheer him up. Harm hadn't told her the full and complete story about Krennick's antics, just a general idea. Mac would go into full Marine-mode if she ever knew and the less stress she dealt with right now, the better.

"Yeah, and maybe we'll be attacked by aliens tomorrow," he threw back.

"Harm, why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off? You can come home and relax. Then when Krennick arrives, you can be calm and focused. You need to give her the benefit of the doubt right now." Mac hated saying that, but they had to play nice for now until she did something. If they went in with their defenses up, sparks might fly.

"I wish I could but I've got to sign these reports, distribute new cases and finish some paperwork before next week," he said, already tired. His headache was only getting worse with each passing minute.

"Are you going to stay late?"

"I'll try not to. How are you feeling, Sarah?"

"It's a good day," she lied. He was so distracted that he didn't pick up on her tone. Usually he would have caught it right away, they were just in sync like that, but he was just too worried. She normally would have told him the truth but she felt that he had too much to deal with. They had promised to be honest with each other and keep the lines of communication open and this was the first time she had lied to him since they had gotten married. Sometimes, you had to put the needs and feelings of the other person above and ahead of your own, no matter how bad yours may be.

"I'll be home soon," he promised.

"Okay, flyboy, as long as you're coming home to me," she teased, trying to take his mind off of Krennick.

"Don't I always?" he shot back.

"So far, so good," laughed Mac.

"I love you, Sarah," he said, getting serious.

"I love you too." Those words were not easily spoken and both knew that. That fact alone made them appreciate those three little words even more each time they were said.

Harm signed off on the last file, stacked it on the top of the large growing pile and glanced down at his watch. It was nearly 1830, he had promised to be home by 1900. If he wasn't, he would have a hungry, anxious Marine on his hands.

He packed up his things, grabbed his cover and a few files and headed out of the office, locking the door behind him. There were only a few people left in the office because he had sent most of them home a little early for the weekend.

"Have a good weekend, Jen," Harm said, moving to leave.

"You too, Commander. Uh, sir,...wait a moment," she said, getting up to stand in front of him.

"What? Have I forgotten something?"

"Sir, the Colonel called and ordered me not to let you bring any work home," Jen grinned, reaching out and taking the files from Harm's hand.

"Petty Officer, may I remind you that the Colonel is retired and is no longer your superior officer," Harm said sternly, a twinkle in his eye letting her know he was joking with her.

"Yes, sir, I am aware of that fact. I am also well aware of the fact that she is a Colonel and a Marine," Jen solemnly said.

"Are you afraid of Marines, Petty Officer?"

Jen shook her head. "Oh, no, sir. Just scared of one angry Marine Colonel."

Harm laughed out loud and Jen's face broke into a relieved grin. "Thank you, Jen. More importantly, I'm sure the Colonel will thank you for obeying that order."

"Good night, sir." She set the files down on her desk and watched as the tall Commander left the office. He had been like a father to her, taking her in and helping her out. He still paid for part of the rent on her apartment, something she was continually grateful for. She was glad to see him together with Mac, he was so much happier when he was with her. She had seen him down and troubled when Mattie started spending more and more time with her real father. She had seen how much it had hurt him when Mattie had decided that it would be time for her to give her father another chance. He had tried to put on this brave front but had only succeeded in acting well when Mattie was around. The minute Mattie was gone, a somber look would mask his face and his eyes would become empty and lost.

Now he had someone to help take away his pain and she was the only person in his life that could ever do that. They were perfect for each other, they had been for years. If only it hadn't taken them so long to figure things.