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 last chapter. I've enjoyed reading your reactions to the story, and I didn't expect such a 'forceful' reception. It gives me incentive to keep writing other stories! Thanks again!


NAS NORFOLK

"We agreed that you would both remain at JAG, but that you, Colonel," Chegwidden turned to look directly at Mac, and she unconsciously drew up her shoulders as he looked at her, "were to transfer to the Judiciary. If that is acceptable?"

Mac looked from Chegwidden to Harm, who nodded his head, smiling.

"You'll make a great judge, Mac," he murmured softly, and Mac gave him a warm smile before answering Chegwidden.

"That will be acceptable, sir. I do have one question."

"Which is?"

"What happens to cases in which the Commander is either prosecution or defence?"

"You may have to recuse yourself, as you see fit. However, at this point, considering that the two of you have operated in this capacity of 'almost but not quite' for some time now, I don't see the necessity to change routine. I trust you to tell me if you feel you need to change the circumstances. Even in the event of changing designation, it will remain at your discretion to remove yourself from any conflict, whichever of you that might fall to."

"Understood, sir. Thank you."

"Good. Now, I have to be back at JAG, but as it is almost 1600, and you have been travelling, I suggest you take the weekend to talk over recent developments," this was said with almost a hint of a smile on the Admiral's lips, and Harm, standing behind Mac now, squeezed her hand. Chegwidden saluted, which they returned, and turned to walk away. As he did, he threw his next words over his shoulder. "By the way, Colonel, you might want to let Brumby in on your news. He still seems to be riding on the wave of your so-called engagement."

"Yes, sir." Mac's tone was a little less enthusiastic, and with the Admiral's back turned to her and Harm, she looked up at the man in her life now. "Can we leave too?"

"Do you want to see Brumby now?" Harm had to ask. There was no doubting their commitment to each other, but he was wary of Mac's answer. When it came, he released the breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

"I just want to be with you, Harm. I'll deal with Mic when I have to. Can we go to your place? He won't come there. Not if he has any sense."

"I wouldn't put it past him, Mac, but of course you can stay with me."

"Good." Mac smiled up at Harm and he returned the smile with one of his own, reassuring and also a little restless. He wanted to be alone with her, she realized, as much as she wanted to be alone with him! They both fell into step together as they followed Chegwidden to the parking lot. When they reached the fleet vehicle that was to transport them to JAG, Chegwidden waved it off, and gave his reason to them.

"The less people that know you're together right now, the better. I'll drop you both off, wherever, and then Tiner and Roberts can deliver your vehicles respectively. They can drop the keys into your mail slots, and no-one is any the wiser."

"Thank you again, sir. That's very thoughtful."

"Just don't let me down, Colonel." Mac got into the Admiral's SUV behind Harm's seat, and Chegwidden took the driver's seat. The drive to Harm's apartment was undertaken in near silence, and once they had arrived Chegwidden waited while both officers exited the vehicle. He waved once and drove off, heading back to Falls Church and JAG.

HARM'S APARTMENT – UNION STATION

Harm dropped his and Mac's seabags on the floor at the entrance to his apartment. Mac put their laptops on the nearby desk. Empty handed, they stood and looked at each other.

"I need a shower," said Mac, for the sake of something to say, and not quite sure quite how to jump Harm without actually telling him she wanted to do that very thing!

"Want a hand?" asked Harm, and gave Mac the most intimate look she had got from him yet. Their kisses had been beyond compare for her, and his eyes had shown her how much he was affected by her nearness and the love they had confessed to, but now he wore an almost shy smile. Neither of them was without physical experience, but as this was their own particular 'first time', it was almost like the first time for them both.

Mac nodded, a smile spreading on her lips. "Yeah, I'd like that…" she answered softly, and reached to take Harm's hand as she made her way to the steps that ran to his bedroom, and the bathroom beyond. As she had been a constant visitor to his apartment almost since its inception, she knew every nook and cranny almost as well as he did.

The trail of their clothes began at the bottom of the few steps, and in a short time it ended at the entrance to the shower. Inside the steamy area, their two bodies were as close as possible without actually being one, and two voices could be heard, low and husky, promising a future, and a wild ride getting there! When soft moans began to replace words the rest of their conversation became secondary to the need to make their dreams a reality.

JAG HEADQUARTERS – FALLS CHURCH – VIRGINIA

Harm and Mac entered the bullpen first thing on Monday morning, laughing at something that had caught their attention during the weekend, and oblivious to the group that were waiting for them. Beside the Admiral, Harriet and Bud were hiding smiles behind controlled expressions, and only Mic looked angry. Mac glanced from Harm to Mic, and back again. Harm gave her an imperceptible nod, while his eyes told her so much more.

"Commander, Colonel, my office, please." The Admiral's tone brooked no delay, and both Harm and Mac left their coats, covers and briefcases on a chair in Mac's office, as Harriet moved to place them correctly. Mac shot her a silent 'thank you' and Harriet grinned.

As the Admiral entered his office Mic Brumby was right behind him, followed by Harm and Mac. Before Tiner could close the door Mic rounded on Mac, and it took all Harm's strength of will not to interfere. He knew this confrontation had to come, Mac had warned him, and so had the Admiral, with his words from the day he had met them at Norfolk.

"What the hell were you doing with him, Sarah?"

"I beg your pardon? You have no right to question me, Mic!" Mac stood her ground, and both Harm and Chegwidden shared a knowing look. Turning to face the Admiral, Mac spoke directly to him. "Sir, I would like to take this…meeting…somewhere else. It's not appropriate in your office."

"No, Colonel, it isn't. However, the conference room is less soundproof than my office, and quite frankly it is Mr Brumby who has instigated this confrontation. I would be remiss in my duty as your commanding officer, and your friend, to leave you alone with the man."

"Thank you, sir." Mac felt grateful, and it showed in the smile she gave; for Mic, however, it breached the absolute limit of his patience.

"I asked you what you were doing with Rabb! I deserve an answer!"

"Lower your voice, Mr Brumby, and perhaps you'll get an answer." Chegwidden spoke up, remaining standing, as they all did. Mic gave a withering look around the room at the two men who stood in defence of their colleague and friend.

"It's fraternization, Sarah. I can bring a civilian complaint against you. I don't want to, of course, and if you forget all this nonsense and put the ring back on, I'll forgive you."

"You'll forgive me?" Mac's voice was barely above a whisper. Harm recognized the tone, even though Mic didn't. It was Mac's 'take no prisoners' tone, and the recipients of her words rarely came back for a second go.

"For your information, Mister Brumby, you and I are not engaged now, nor were we. As I have already gone over that subject with you, I won't rehash it. As for Commander Rabb and I being 'together', we often work cases in one home or another, with the full knowledge of the Admiral, and the SecNav." Whether the SecNav knew or not, Mac didn't care, but using the fact of association made her argument more credible, and Mic faltered in his attack as he realized he had no comeback against Mac's points of issue. "If you don't have anything more to say, I suggest you leave."

"I…" began Mic, and then stopped. Nodding his head he turned to leave, and then paused as Mac spoke once more.

"One more thing, Mic. I understand you have continued to imply that you and I are engaged, even in my absence while I was aboard the Sea Hawk. I want a public retraction to your claims, and an apology for the personal details you gave to the media, and the distress you caused."

"Sarah? What will that prove?"

"It will prove that you do have some semblance of ethics, even if it is at the most basic level."

"I…" Mic began once more, and then stopped altogether. Without a backward glance he left the office, and all three remaining occupants breathed a collective sigh of relief.

In the silence that followed, the Admiral took his seat, and waved Harm and Mac down into the chairs opposite his desk.

"Down to business, then. I have an interesting case for you both."

As Chegwidden spoke, Harm and Mac relaxed, and listened to their commanding officer.

The End.


(I know, it's a funny place to end, but then this was only a rehash of an episode, and I don't want to make it any longer than this. Perhaps I can use the next episode in the series after JAG TV for another story…? Watch this space!)