A Park

October 13,2004

1800

Harm had decided on a run. It was not a usual thing for him to do directly after work, but he felt today a run might really help clear his head.

The air was very crisp, and the sun was just beginning to set as he started out. He breathed in the cool air and his thoughts started to flow.

Today had been an example of his ability to figure out if things would work with Mac. He had been in court most of the day, and by the time he had gotten out, Mac had already left for the day. He began feeling frustrated once again, and his feet hit the pavement harder. He knew what he wanted, but had no idea how to get it.

He thought to himself, maybe this is impossible? Maybe I should just accept the fate that Mac and I will never be. Then another part of his mind says, no, you cant give up without one more final try to see what could be between you two.

He continued this back and forth argument with himself until finally he was emotionally and physically drained. He stopped running to rest a minute. He bent over and placed both his hands on his knees, breathing hard to catch his breath.

"Dare to take a peek when tomorrow taps at your door."

Harm stood up and stared into the face of an old woman, who was walking two poodles. She was looking at him with a rather serious expression on her face.

"Excuse me?" Harm asked her.

The two poodles each sat down on either side of the old woman. She looked at Harm and gave a weak smile.

"I know you are in a hard place right now. You stated you needed help today and I have been sent to help you."

Harm was very confused, and was sure she had the wrong man. "I am sorry ma'm, but I really don't know what you are talking about."

She kept a straight face, and seemed to ignore his statement. "Your heart is confused, and tomorrow is tapping at your door. I cannot answer questions, only tell you that I am here to help you figure it out, so you can see and make a choice."

Harm was losing his patience. "Ma'm-" he started, but was cut off by her.

"No, that is all for now. Soon you shall see. Have a good night."

She called to her poodles, and continued on her walk.

"Wow," thought Harm to himself, "Poor old woman must be out of her mind." Though somewhere in the back of his head he knew that she had been right about how he was feeling.

No time for craziness, Harm pushed the old woman out of his mind and continued with the rest of his run.

Harms Place

October 13, 2004

1930

Harm had just showered and changed after his run. He walked in the kitchen to heat some leftovers for dinner. He took his heated food and went to the living room to sit down on the couch and watch some mindless TV. He thought, after his day, mindless TV and early sleep was just what he needed.

He grabbed his TV controller and hit the power to turn it on. All the stations were fuzzy. He thought, "This doesn't make sense. I know I paid the cable bill. What's wrong?"

He set his food down and got up to check the cables in the back of the TV and make sure they hadn't come lose somehow. They seemed to be in place, but he tugged on them nonetheless. Then the static stopped, Harm walked back and sat down to find something to watch.

He stared at the TV and rubbed his eyes. What was on the screen looked like the bullpen at JAG Headquarters. Impossible! He changed the channel, but the same thing was on every channel. He was confused and getting worried as to what was wrong with him. Surely he was now losing his mind!

As he stared at what he was now certain was the bullpen at JAG, a familiar voice came on the TV.

"Harm, Harm, do not be alarmed. I know this is strange, but I told you earlier today I have been sent to help you." It was the voice of the old woman in the park.

"WHAT!?" Harm jumped up from the couch, throwing his controller on the floor. He roughly ran his hands through his hair, and paced the room in circles.

"What is happening to me?!" He desperately asked himself.

"Please, calm down." the voice on the TV said.

"No! " Harm screeched," I cannot calm down!"

He grabbed the controller off the floor and pressed power to turn the TV off. Nothing happened, the TV would not turn off. He walked over to it and tried to turn it off manually. That did not work either.

"What is going on here!" Harm yelled at the TV.

"Sit down, Harm. I will explain it all to you if you will please sit down and listen."

Feeling helpless, Harm obliged, returned to sit on the couch and hear a television tell him how he has officially now lost his mind.

"I wonder if Mac's therapist see's male patients also." he muttered to himself.

The TV began to speak to him again. "Earlier today, you stated that you need help in figuring out your relationship, or lack of, with Mac. I have been sent to help you. Think of me as an Angel if you would like. I will help you by showing you how to get a relationship back with your best friend Mac. I will give you a glimpse of what could be. Its not a glimpse of the past, not of the future either, it is more showing you what can happen between you two if you pursue her. From there you can make a decision if a life with her is truly what you want.

I know your relationship is in threads right now, and it wont be easy to gain her back, even as a best friend, but if you will pay attention to what you are shown, and really work, even when it may seem hopeless, you may just see that the rewards are worth all you have been through."

"OK, ok, so assuming I have not just totally gone insane, how exactly do you help me with this?" Harm asked.

"As needed, possibly every night, when you turn your TV on, I will be here, showing you how to address the situation and the possible outcome. This may not be easy for you always, and you must trust in me. Now, that is enough discussing it, time to show you what I mean. This is your first night, and after watching, you will better understand what to expect. So sit back, relax, and lets get started with your first viewing and see how much you can learn from it."

With that the old woman's voice disappeared, and JAG Headquarters became in clear view on his screen. Harm took a deep breath and watched his could be life unfold.