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, skyefire, aserene, Manda May, jtbwriter, snugglebug, hardluckmarine, Sarah, Blueangel, alix33, Abigaile, XBlueShadowX, Razz-Mi-Tazz, Lisa, Radiorox and joanoa for your wonderful reviews. Hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please keep reading!
JAG OFFICE - USS SEA HAWK
"Harm! Come take a look at this!" Mac was sat at the computer terminal in the JAG office on board the carrier, and at her urgent command Harm looked up from the file he was reading. Pushing the chair he was in across the gap between the desk he was using and the terminal where Mac was seated, he came to a stop beside her.
"What's up?"
"Look!" Mac could only point at the screen, and at the emailed words written there.
'With the approval of The Secretary of the Navy, the Judge Advocate General and his staff congratulate Commander Harmon Rabb Jr and Colonel Sarah Mackenzie on their joint collaboration. Future appointments as yet to be discussed, at the discretion of the Secretary, but present status at JAG to remain in force, with decorum. Full details to be advised on return to Norfolk.'
"What the hell…?" Harm looked from the words on the screen to Mac's face, and back to the screen.
"What do you think it means?" asked Mac, puzzled, but Harm could only shake his head.
"I have no idea. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless the Admiral knows!"
"About us, you mean?" Mac look worried, but Harm nodded, smiling.
"If I'm right, we're about to be recalled to dry land. I did say earlier that I thought the Admiral and Captain Johnson had already been discussing us," Harm reminded her, and Mac smiled as she recalled his words. At the same time she recalled the events that followed too!
"Then this could mean…"
"That we have the approval of the SecNav no less." Harm's statement caused the pair of them to fall silent in awe of that fact, and it was like this that Captain Johnson found them when he knocked on the open hatch.
"Sir!" Both Mac and Harm got to their feet, standing to attention. Johnson waved them back to their seats.
"It would seem you've both been recalled to JAG." Harm and Mac looked at each other with a smile. The Captain continued. "I've just received a message from Admiral Chegwidden to that effect. As you've completed your quals, Commander, it only remains to wish you well, and tell you that we look forward to your next visit on board, whether it's six months from now or earlier."
"Thank you, sir." Harm shook hands, and then Johnson turned to Mac.
"As for you, Colonel, your commanding officer believes you are needed back at JAG to maintain good order, as his Chief of Staff."
"Thank you, sir, but your JAG still hasn't returned. I…"
"That is no longer your worry, Colonel. I'm sure Commander Rabb will be able to advise Petty Officer Wardman on how to maintain the office until your replacement comes out to the carrier, or our own JAG returns."
"Of course, sir," both Mac and Harm answered together, and Johnson shook his head, amazed at how the two of them thought, and spoke, alike!
"I'll advise you when the helo is inbound."
"Thank you, sir." This time Harm answered for them both, and Johnson smiled at them before leaving the room.
FLIGHT DECK – USS SEA HAWK
Captain Johnson stood on the deck with Harm and Mac. Following his earlier conversation with Admiral Chegwidden he was now aware of yet another facet of the relationship between the two departing officers. As the LSO gave them the all-clear to approach the helo, Johnson touched Harm's sleeve. Harm turned as Mac, unaware, walked away.
"Sir?"
"Good luck, Commander." Harm's eyebrows drew together briefly in confusion, and then he grinned widely.
"Thank you, Captain."
"I'm sure you'll approach this…assignment…with the same sense of duty as you display in all other ventures."
At those words, however, Harm shook his head, still smiling.
"Oh, no, sir. Being with the Colonel is a pleasure, always."
"I'm sure it is, son," replied Johnson, saluting in return as Harm raised his own hand.
When Harm settled on the helo next to Mac, she smiled at him.
"What kept you?" she asked, and Harm grinned.
"Captain Johnson wanted to wish us luck," he answered, wanting so much to lean over and kiss Mac but settling for letting her know his intentions with his expressive eyes. Mac read his expression correctly, as always, and nodded in silence. In the time since they had admitted their love for one another, they had spoken very little about the actual consummation of their relationship, but both of them knew it would come about, and sooner rather than later!
NAS NORFOLK
Harm was the first off the helo, and Mac was right behind him, handing down her seabag and briefcase to Harm as she jumped down. Harm bent over to offer her a hand and, straightening up, she saw their commanding officer striding toward them.
"Heads up, Harm! Admiral to the rear." Mac's muttered words brought Harm up straighter and they both turned to salute the Admiral.
"At ease, people. Welcome back," Chegwidden's greeting was brief, and both Harm and Mac responded with thanks.
"Walk with me." Chegwidden's request was more of an order, Harm and Mac followed as he walked away from both the helo, and their vehicles, heading for an open space at the edge of the tarmac. Far enough away from the noise of the flightline, and from being overheard.
The Admiral turned, and he raised his eyes to the sky before focusing on the pair in front of him. The two officers wondered what he would say next. They didn't have long to wait, and they were pleasantly surprised by his words.
"When I sent you the email I had just returned from the SecNav's office. While I was there we had an interesting talk about the two of you."
"Sir?" Harm resisted looking at Mac, and kept his eyes forward. Mac followed suit.
"It hasn't escaped our notice that the two of you are…shall we say…more involved than usual? If our beliefs are correct, then it was felt in our best interests to keep you happy. To that end, the SecNav is happy for the status quo to remain right now, and for the foreseeable future. You will conduct yourselves with the utmost decorum in and out of the office, during working hours. Your personal time is, of course, your own. If any queries are raised to the contrary, he will alert me, and I will alert you. If that happens…you don't want that to happen, believe me!"
"No, sir." Both Mac and Harm answered together, trying desperately to hide the grins that threatened to break out at the Admiral's words. They really were being given permission to live a life together!
"Should your relationship progress at any time so that the subjects of marriage and parenting arise, we have that covered also."
"You and the SecNav appear to have had quite a discussion, sir," Mac observed, and he smiled at her.
"Sure as hell took me by surprise, Colonel," he admitted, and Mac grinned.
"What exactly did you agree on, sir?" Harm couldn't resist the question, and Mac turned her grin on him, which he returned with an additional wink.
tbc
