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 to assist on another case, and finds herself getting hot under the collar!

A/N – Words inside ( ) symbols denote the emails.


Thanks go to HM foreva, Manda, Beach chickJASSNL, jaka, froggy0319, cbw, bluejay742, Cristina, Eternal Sleep, Denaliyasha, martini1988, SpaceMan546, cbw, skyefire, aserene, Manda May, jtbwriter and snugglebug for your wonderful reviews. Hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please keep reading!


USS SEA HAWK - UNKNOWN LOCATION

"Commander Rabb reporting as ordered, sir," Harm spoke as he came to attention in front of Captain Johnson.

"At ease, Commander."

"Thank you, sir. You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Commander. How are the quals coming?"

"A couple more, then I'm through for this session." Harm informed his temporary commanding officer, but had a niggling thought that Johnson had been following his progress anyway, and was fully aware of just how well Harm was doing – as usual, his skill in aviation was still as sharp as it had always been, and now it had the added factors of age and wisdom, which made him an even stronger combatant in the air, as well as on the ground. Harm knew flying, and the sea, and the law and, without bragging, he was currently the best the Navy had as an all-round qualified senior officer.

"I've been informed you've been helping out with some of our legal work while our JAG has been out on emergency leave. I'd like to thank you for that. You had your own case to work on, and the quals, so it is appreciated."

"Not a problem, sir. The Palermo case was cleared up pretty quickly, and the quals aren't paper-producing, so I had some time on my hands. Your JAG's legalman has a good grasp of procedure, and it was just a matter of keeping my eye on him."

"Do you think our Petty Officer Wardman has a future in the law?"

"He seems bright enough, sir. Eager to learn."

"I think you've turned his head, though, Commander."

"Sir?"

"He's beginning to think he ought to be flying instead!"

"I…don't think that would be an option for the Petty Officer, sir." Harm spoke, choosing his words carefully. He knew his family and career history followed him through the Navy, and with his father's skills preceding him, they were a formidable team to follow. There were legends spoken about Harmon Rabb, Senior and Junior, and Harm knew he had to be careful just what he did say to juniors, enlisted or otherwise, that he didn't raise career hopes, or dash them either.

"Don't worry, Rabb, it's just a dream. Even the Petty Officer knows that; but it doesn't stop him from dreaming though, does it; knowing it can, and has been, achieved?"

"I guess not, sir."

"Especially when you've done it not once, but twice! In both designations."

"I got lucky, sir."

"With the stuff you've gotten away with, I'd be inclined to agree, Commander," Johnson smiled at that point, and Harm bit back a laugh, but then Johnson became serious again. "We both know, Commander, that you're a hard act to follow, just like your father, but you've managed to remain level-headed throughout."

"Thank you…sir."

"Now, the reason you're up here is that we have a helo coming in shortly. I'm not able to meet it, and my XO will be tied up doing my job, so I'd like you to be on hand."

"Official visitors, sir?" Harm queried.

"Didn't say. Just asked if we could have a senior commanding officer on deck to meet and greet. I've just appointed you."

"Very well, sir. Do I bring the visitors up to the bridge?"

"No, bring them to my day cabin. Dismissed, Commander."

"Aye, sir."

Harm left the bridge and went to the deck office to collect a safety vest, helmet and goggles, before stepping out onto the flight deck itself. Walking across the deck to the LSO platform he waved as he saw Tuna and Boomer walking out to their aircraft.

"Hey, Commander!" 'Paddles', the LSO Officer In Charge called out above the noise of the active deck.

"Hi. I understand you have a helo on approach. I'm the meet and greet guy!"

"Really?"

"You sound surprised!"

"I am. I wasn't told that we had a VIP on board."

"Maybe they hitched a ride at the last minute?"

"Maybe, but even then the pilot would have squawked, and we've heard nothing. Maybe it's that Webb guy…wants to arrive incognito!"

"Webb couldn't arrive in anything without fanfare," Harm retorted, playing on the LSO's words, and both men laughed.

"I thought he was a friend of yours, Commander."

"Nah, we just get to play in his sandbox now and again."

"We? Oh, you mean Colonel Mackenzie."

"Yeah." Harm fell quiet for a moment as he thought back to the last email he had sent Mac. In reply to her email he'd said he missed her – he had meant to erase that last sentence, and instead he'd hit 'send', so the email went out. Harm had cursed, but then he had wondered just what effect his words might have on Mac, and what she might say in return. Up to going to see Captain Johnson, there had been no reply to his message, and now he was left wondering if he'd offended her, and set their friendship back yet again. Hopefully, when he'd seen to the incoming passenger on the helo, he'd have time to go check his emails again, just to torture himself if there was no reply.

"Incoming!" The crew on the LSO platform went into their well-oiled routine of landing an aircraft on the deck of the carrier, and as the helo touched down in an appointed area Harm made his way across, ready to meet and greet with his famed 'Navy poster' grin in place. The expression slipped a little when he realized just who was on the helo, and then it came back twice as wide.

"Mac!"

"Hi! I wasn't expecting you to meet me!"

"You want I should go away?"

"No! No, Harm, it's great to see you!" Mac shouted above the noise of the deck, and smiled, almost shyly, at him. "Permission to hug?"

"Absolutely!" Harm took Mac into his arms and was very aware that it had to be brief, given their location. "It's great to see you too, Mac. What are you doing here though?"

"I missed you," Mac replied, and Harm stopped dead on the deck. "I got your email, Harm."

"I…ah…okay, I guess."

"Did you mean it? That you missed me?"

"Yes." It was a single word, and it was an immediate response. Mac had no reason to doubt he genuinely had missed her.

"Of course, that alone wouldn't give me access to you on the carrier. Apparently the Admiral seems to think I needed a TAD assignment to get me away from the media. I happen to agree with him. I'm here to cover for the JAG until he gets back, which should be around the time you finish your quals, so we can travel back together."

"Just the media?" Harm didn't elaborate, but Mac knew exactly what, or who, he was talking about, and she shook her head, her eyes clouding slightly.

"Not just the media. I guess we have some talking to do."

"Yeah, I guess so." Harm took Mac's seabag and almost put out his other hand to hold hers. Mac noticed him withdraw the gesture, but she wasn't offended. They were already drawing looks at the prolonged stay on the deck, and so she followed him to the hatch and into the interior of the carrier.

"I'd better report to Captain Johnson," Mac murmured, making her way to the stairs ahead of Harm. His words stopped her progress, a look of surprise on her face.

"I was told to take you directly to his day cabin and wait there until he arrived."

"Day cabin? That's usually reserved for VIP visitors. As a TAD officer, I'm supposed to report to the bridge, aren't I?"

"Usually, yes. I'm beginning to think the Admiral and Captain Johnson have had communications on this matter before you and I were involved…in meeting each other…I mean, ah hell, Mac!"

"Harm, what's going on?"

"I'm not sure. I was told by Captain Johnson that he would be too busy to meet the helo, and as his XO would be covering his butt, he wanted me to be the senior officer on deck to meet and greet."

"Which you have done, thank you."

"Yeah. I guess we'd better follow orders and get you to his day cabin then. Do you remember the way, or should I go up front?" Mac grinned, and Harm cocked his head. "What?"

"You go up front, then I can watch your six."

"Mac!" Harm almost dropped her bag in surprise at her words, and then he hit her with the look that turned her to mush, every time, even though she managed to hide it well.

"What? That's what you call it in the Navy, isn't it? Watching your 'six o clock', to protect you from the rear."

"Under normal circumstances, yes," Harm acknowledged. Then he added, "This situation isn't normal."

"No, it isn't, but you do have the cutest six."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. After you, Colonel, and watch your head."

"You're such a spoilsport, Commander," Mac laughed.

"And you're an engaged woman, Colonel," Harm replied, then stopped as Mac turned to face him again.

"Actually, I'm not. That's one of the things we need to talk about, Harm."

"O…kay." Harm nodded once, and Mac smiled slightly, turning to face forward again and walking ahead to the directions Harm gave.


tbc