Title : More Than Meets The Eye

Author : Jaggie 107

Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount.

Rating : G to PG-13


Spoilers : Episode 'JAG TV'; I watched this through vidclips recently, and wondered what would have happened between Harm and Mac, if she gave herself some space from Mic, and found Harm! Some of the story is in the style of 'emails' sent to and fro between Harm and Mac. And some of it is upfront and personal!

Summary : Mac is angry with Mic over his comments to the media, and Harm gets some good-humored ribbing from others on board ship when they see Mac on TrialTV. Harm is on board ship for an investigation, and doing his quals at the same time. Mac is sent out TAD as ship's JAG, and finds herself getting hot under the collar!

I found this in some files I was working through recently, and as it was quite long I've broken it down into chunks ready to read! I know I said I wasn't writing any more stories until I'd finished the current WIP's, but this is already complete – it just needed posting! And besides, I couldn't resist:o) Hope you all like it!

A/N – Words inside symbols ( ) denote the emails. Also, I'm not sure if it was Captain Johnson on the Sea Hawk at that time; if I'm wrong, let me know!


USS SEA HAWK - UNKNOWN LOCATION

"Hey, Hammer! You've been holding out on us!"

"Yeah? How's that?" Harm entered the Officers' Mess and walked across to the table that held the coffee machine and cups. Pouring himself a cup he then turned around to face the table of aviators – among them, his assigned RIO, Elizabeth Hawkes. It was 'Skates' who had spoken, laughter in her voice.

"You never said how good the Colonel looked in a bikini!"

"Huh?" Harm walked across to the table and pulled an extra chair over, turning it so he sat astride, resting his arm across the back of the chair. "I'm not following you, Skates."

"The Colonel, sir. Colonel Mackenzie? Boomer picked up an e-copy of PEOPLE magazine online and downloaded the article about the Colonel; and then there was Mary Hart on TV."

"It's a case Mac…Colonel Mackenzie is working on, Skates. It's high-profile, and the defendant chose to be represented on national television. How did you get the program, anyway?"

"Somebody stateside copied it and sent it as a CD, sir. It's been playing all day…I'm surprised you haven't seen it already."

"Skates, I work with Colonel Mackenzie, remember? And I don't watch TV. Too much junk these days."

"You haven't told us about the bikini yet, Hammer," Tuna, Harm's former RIO during his second designation as a naval aviator, spoke up, grinning widely. "Something to do with a case in Australia, wasn't it?"

"I heard she was at Manley Beach; that's famous for being topless, isn't it?" Boomer called out.

"You're right, Tuna, it was down under…and ex-Commander Brumby looked right at home. As for the Colonel, I couldn't say. To the best of my recollection, she had on both parts of her bikini."

"Oh, Hammer, you disappoint me," Skates murmured, tilting her head to one side as she observed Harm's expression. "Here I was, thinking you would at least have tried to find out the truth, the whole truth…and nothing but the truth!"

"Very funny, Skates. If you ever give up the Navy, try stand-up comedy!" Harm pointed a finger at Skates as he took a drink of his coffee and got to his feet.

"Aye, sir!"

Harm grinned. The ribbing he was getting from the crew was not intended to insult, nor had it, and he included them all in his 'good night' as he left the room and returned to his cabin. Turning on his laptop, he checked through his emails and found one from Mac.

JAG HEADQUARTERS - FALLS CHURCH – VIRGINIA

"Hey, beautiful, am I forgiven?" Mic Brumby stuck his head around the door of Mac's office, a bouquet of roses in his arms. Mac looked up, saw first the roses, and then the expression on Mic's face. While his voice asked for forgiveness, his face showed a smugness that belied his attempt at humility.

"What are you doing here, Mic? I told you I didn't have time to see you today, I have court this morning, and my backlog here this afternoon."

"You have to eat, Sarah," Mic attempted to coax a smile, but Mac was still too angry at him for his comments to the magazine reporter, and his attempts fell on deaf ears. As he walked further into the office Mac got to her feet.

"Mic, I'm swamped, really! I have to be in a meeting with the Admiral in ten minutes, and then I'm in court. I'm back here as soon as session is over, and along with any outcome from court, I really do have my work here to contend with as well. That's not including what Harm left behind!"

"Where is the illustrious aviator?"

"Mic…" Mac's tone of voice warned the Australian he was treading on thin ice, but there was still that shred of doubt in Mic Brumby that reared its head whenever Mac mentioned Harm's name.

"I was just curious. I thought he was working this case with you."

"Harm's gone out to the Sea Hawk. He's doing an investigation on board, and completing his quals at the same time."

"So, he's just gone off and left you holding the proverbial bag, eh?"

"No, he hasn't just gone off, Mic. The Admiral assigned the case, and I have Bud working with me here. Now, if you'll excuse me, the Admiral is expecting me, and so I think you ought to go."

"I'll call you later." It was a statement, not a question, and Mac bristled at his tone.

"I'll call you, Mic, when I get time. I really don't appreciate you hassling me like this!"

"Is it wrong to want to spend time with my fiancée, Sarah?"

"I'm not your fiancée, Mic."

"Not yet…"

"And that's the problem. You know we aren't engaged, so why did you say it to the reporter?"

"I didn't think it was a problem, Sarah. You're wearing my ring."

"On my right hand. It was given to me by a man who said I had a choice. I chose to wear it as a sign of friendship, which I have been doing. I didn't realize your agenda had been pushed up to force me into something I'm not ready for!"

"You're right, this isn't the time. I'll go now. Good luck in court." Mic turned and left the room before Mac could respond. The roses Mic had brought were left on top of the nearest filing cabinet. It struck Mac that he had only been using the flowers as a possible prop to his plan. If she'd gone for the lunch date, he would have given them to her with a kiss. As she had kept her distance and not mentioned them, they were of no more use to him.

Mac picked up the files she needed for the meeting with the Admiral, and put her briefcase on her desk ready for the court appearance. It really was going to be a busy day – she knew that was no lie when she had spoken to Mic, but she didn't want to have to pander to his needs later in the day either. When the working day was over she planned to soak in her bath and have as early a night as possible. As she passed the bouquet she collected it in her arms, along with her files, and deposited it on Bud's desk.

"Please ask Harriet if she'll give these a good home, Bud."

"Certainly, ma'am. Thank you."

"Thank you, Bud. You're doing me a favor. Drop them in a vase though; they'll need to be in water while you're working."

"Yes, ma'am. Not a problem." Bud Roberts went in search of a large enough vase, and once found, he deposited the bouquet stems in the water. Maybe he would tell Harriet the story behind the roses – that Mic Brumby had brought them for Mac, but he had dumped them when Mac had told him she was too busy to see him. Then again, that would have Harriet's 'Harm and Mac' radar going on overdrive! If Mac was mad at Mic, then maybe Harm stood a chance again! Bud was hoping that Harriet's latest pregnancy would keep her too busy to check on the renewed friendship between Harm and Mac, but his hopes were proving to be so wrong! If anything, Harriet's 'romance radar' was on full alert!

USS SEA HAWK - UNKNOWN LOCATION

(Hey, Harm! Hope all is well with you on board. I know you're in your most favorite place, doing your most favorite thing! And flying, too! Ha, ha! Seriously, I'm getting dragged down here with the court case. I don't know if you're able to follow anything news-wise, but this case has now gone to the national television audience – a trial by television! – and I don't want to blow my prosecution case, but because I'm not talking to the media, they're making up stuff about me! I don't recall you having this problem with the media when you made the advertisement for joining the Navy! It's an intrusion into my privacy, and I'm not prepared for it! I'm going to close for now. I'm in court in the morning and so I'd better get some sleep at least! Take care. Mac)

Harm smiled as he read the email, and then his expression turned serious as he saw behind her words and realized that she really was finding it difficult to deal with the intrusive side of the media. Unknown to the squadron members, or to Mac, he had downloaded the article in PEOPLE magazine too. The mention of her as Mic's fiancée didn't ease his mood either when he read that part. Without being able to ask her, he didn't know if she really had moved the ring over to her left hand. A more palatable option was that, as with the media hype, Mic had gone overboard on his interview and mentioned a few facts not in evidence! Keeping that thought in mind, Harm drafted a reply, pasted it into his email program, and keyed 'send', before turning out the light in his cabin and settling down on his bunk. Sleep didn't come straight away, but the vision of a dark haired, dark eyed beauty danced on his eyelids until he smiled, rolled to his side, and slept.

MAC'S APARTMENT

(Hi, Mac! I'm sorry to read that the media are giving you a hard time. You're a very private person, and this must be a nightmare for you. It doesn't help when others give their version of your life history. I know that my next statement might seem a bit contradictory, but how about you using the media like they have used you! Turn the tables on them, and your opponent in court, by giving your side of the case story. No need to mention anything personal. I know it goes against the grain to be in the media spotlight – you're an attorney with high moral and ethical standards, Mac, and that should be respected, but as it's being trampled on right now, trample back! You might feel a little dejected by it all, but ultimately it might settle the score for you, and then you can put the case behind you, dust yourself off and carry on in the legal world you know. So, I'll get off my soapbox now, and put this email to bed, so to speak. Good night, marine, and sweet dreams. Harm)

Mac read, and re-read the email from Harm. Somewhere between leaving her heart-broken in Australia and rebuilding a friendship in the US, Harm had found an eloquence that she thought was incredible. Normally his talent for saying and doing the right thing was reserved for his courtroom battles, but now it seemed he could bring those same talents to bear in personal communication. Albeit an impersonal means of delivery, the emails they were sending and receiving were taking on a life of their own. The words he had written served to remind her that the only way the press could have found out about her passion for dinosaurs, and her wearing a bikini at any time, were from three sources – herself, Harm, or Mic! Discounting herself, and Harm – he would never betray her privacy in such a manner – that left only Mic. Aside from his already having portrayed them as a couple practically tying the knot, Mic had disclosed facts that should have stayed private. While Mac had been reading what Harm had written her telephone had rung twice. Each time it had been Mic's voice leaving a message. Each time he had sounded belligerent, and had even swore at her on the second message. Mac turned off the laptop and closed the lid before she turned out the light in the lounge and made her way to her bedroom. As she curled up in the bed, alone, she twisted the ring band on her right hand. Her thoughts were jumbled and in her mind she saw the angry face of Mic Brumby, until it was replaced by one far more welcome, and it was only then that she settled, and finally slept.


tbc