Title : The Return
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.
Rating : G to PG-13 (Just in case!)
Summary : An alternative start to Adrift II when Harm is brought to the hospital. I wrote it a while ago, and found it in my files.
Thanks to those who reviewed – you convinced me to continue. I hope this works! (Fingers crossed!)
Room 1509 - Naval Medical Center, Bethesda
"Harm, I have to go in to work."
Mac was seated back in the chair at the side of the bed. Earlier they had almost got 'caught out' when the same nurse came by to check on Harm. It was only the polite knock on the door that alerted them, and by the time the nurse entered the room Mac was leaning against the wall, looking out of the window. What the nurse didn't see was Mac re-fastening the buttons on her jacket.
"I'm going to miss you, Marine." Harm's petulant response had Mac laughing softly.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours, Sailor."
"Yeah, but it's not just going to be you, is it? And that woman…Petersen…she'll most likely want to come by. How long did you say…?" Harm didn't have to finish the question. Mac knew what he was asking.
"You've been seeing her for almost a year, Harm." Mac looked away, and only looked back when Harm reached out his hand to her.
"Mac, look at me." When Mac didn't move right away, Harm spoke again. "Mac…please?" At the tone of his voice she turned to face him again, putting her hand palm down on his. At that moment the light through the window settled on the diamond on Mac's left hand. Both of them stared at the shimmer the jewel gave off before Mac walked over to Harm and stood looking down at him. Harm spoke again. "We have to tell them, today." Mac nodded.
"I know." It was a simple statement, but it was effective enough to have Harm nod his head and close his eyes, a sigh of relief going through him. Mac leaned forward and brushed her fingers gently on the bruise over his left eye.
"I have to go, really," she murmured, dropping a kiss where her fingers had strayed. When she pulled back she smiled down at Harm, whose eyes were open again, and fixed on hers.
"Okay, but don't forget – I love you, and I'm not letting you get away from me this time."
"I love you too, Sailor. Stay put. I'll be back." With a nod and a wave Mac left his room, and Harm turned his face to the windows, letting the heat from the sun's rays warm him through. Despite knowing that he loved Mac, and that she loved him in return, the next few hours were not going to be easy for either of them. People were going to be hurt. The warmth through the windows went some way to easing his mind.
JAG Headquarters
"Colonel Mackenzie?" Mac looked up at the sound of her name, and found herself face to face with Renee Petersen.
"Renee…hi! I…I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you to come to JAG. When I left the message it was just to let you know Harm has been transferred from the ship."
"I wasn't sure, so I thought I'd find out from you directly."
"Find out what?" Mac's quick response had Renee's thin eyebrow raised a notch.
"Look, Colonel…Mac," Renee paused, and Mac closed her eyes for a second, picturing Harm back in his hospital room, and the words they had spoken and shared. It boosted her flagging spirits in front of the career woman in front of her. How could I have been so blind! thought Mac. How could I have let Harm go to a woman like this? Renee continued talking.
"You could have all been to see Harm when he arrived, but you're letting me spend some time with him first. I appreciate that. I guess I'll see you all there, later." It was a rhetorical statement. Renee was implicitly stating that she didn't expect to see anyone from JAG anywhere near Harm and herself for as long as possible. Mac frowned slightly as the telephone on her desk rang.
"Mackenzie?"
"Hello luv, it's me," Mic Brumby's Australian twang sounded even more pronounced over the telephone, and Mac winced slightly at the loudness of his voice. "Mac?"
"I'm here. What is it, Mic?"
"I just wanted to call and tell you I'll pick you up for lunch." It was not a request, more of an order, and Mac was tired of Mic's demands, on her time and her body. No more. After today, she would be able to spend her life with Harm.
"That…won't be possible today. I'm going to Bethesda, with the Admiral. Harm and Skates were brought over from the carrier earlier today. Renee…is going to visit Harm first, and then we will make our way there later."
"What about Chloe?"
"I've asked Tiner to bring her here later this morning."
"Don't bother. I'll bring her through to the hospital, and meet you there." Mic's offer was double-sided, as were most of his actions. If he was at the hospital with her, Rabb wouldn't make any moves on Mac.
"I…okay, fine. Thank you."
"No need to thank me, luv. See you later." Mic hung up the telephone and scowled at the inanimate object, his thoughts miles away at the hospital, wondering what shape his nemesis was in after his ordeal.
Mac replaced her own telephone handset and looked at Renee again.
"Mic," she murmured, feeling obligated to speak.
"So I gathered. Well, if that's all, I'll get off to see Harm. I'll call his mother and let her know."
"I…don't think that's a good idea, Renee."
Renee gave an almost venomous look before composing her features and replying.
"You sound like Lieutenant Roberts, Mac," Renee spoke softly, as though she were teasing Mac. "I'm sure Harm's mother would like to know that he's safe, and back in Washington."
"Yes, and she will be informed. It's not a whim of mine, Renee. Both Harm and I have emergency details on each other, and Harm's written request is that his mother only be informed of any incident involving him either by him after the fact, or by myself in the event of his going MIA, or his certified…death." Mac faltered on the last word, but felt relief that he wasn't dead, and was waiting for her return to the hospital.
"Very well, I will not call Mrs Rabb right now. But I will check with Harm myself."
Mac felt she must have had a look of total amazement on her face at Renee's attitude. Pulling herself together, Mac stood up from her chair and walked around to face Renee.
"If you feel you must confirm with Harm, be my guest. Do you have his mother's telephone number?"
"Yes. Lieutenant Roberts eventually gave it to me that night." Renee remembered Bud's reluctance to hand over the information, the night of the rescue.
"Well, you might want to change one important detail," Mac smiled as she spoke, but the expression didn't reach her eyes.
"And that would be?" By now, any pretence Renee had shown at civility was fast dissipating.
"Harm's mother remarried after his father was legally declared dead. When she remarried her name changed, to Burnett. It might be courteous to her to remember that. I'd hate to think of you committing a faux pas when you finally meet her." Mac wasn't sure if Renee had met Trish Burnett yet, but her previous error with the surname seemed to indicate that the answer was 'no'. Despite her differences with Harm recently, she was sure he would have told her if his girlfriend and his mother had met.
"My mistake," Renee conceded, reluctantly, and then turned to leave Mac's office. Just before she left, she turned round to speak again. "Harm's going to be fine, now, Mac. I'm here for him. If I were you, I'd concentrate on getting your wedding sorted out again. I'm sure Mic's eager to get the show on the road."
Mac counted to ten in her mind, and added ten more for good measure. Then she answered Renee.
"If…" Mac faltered, almost slipping up before she and Harm could face Mic and Renee together. Mentally shaking herself, she took a breath and began again. "As and when we choose to reschedule, it will be our decision. The Admiral and I will be at the hospital in a little while." Mac watched as Renee flounced out, tossing her blonde mane in a gesture of irritation. As she walked away, Bud entered Mac's office.
"Ma'am? The Admiral would like to see you in his office. I believe it's about Commander Rabb."
"Thank you, Bud. I'm on my way. I need to speak to the Admiral about Harm…the Commander…as well."
As Bud nodded and left her office, Mac closed her eyes and concentrated on Harm for a few moments.
Room 1509Harm was asleep when Renee entered his room. For a few moments she observed him, seeing the cuts and grazes on his face, the signs of exhaustion in his expression as he slept. However, he seemed to be enjoying something in his sleep, if the smile on his face was any indication! Moving further into the room the toe of her shoe caught the metal door stop and the noise woke Harm. Breezing forward, Renee didn't give him a chance to speak first.
"Harm! Oh, I was so afraid!" Dropping her purse onto the chair at the side of the bed, Renee perched herself on the edge of the bed, and Harm moved himself far enough to put some distance between his body and Renee's. If she noticed the movement, she made no issue of it. Working herself closer to him, she leaned over, so her hair brushed his face.
"It's Miss Petersen, isn't it?" Harm's voice was still hoarse, and Renee jerked back, wondering if she had heard him right. Harm continued. "It's been a while since…we did the commercial. I'm not sure…why are you here?"
"Harm? It's been a year!"
"Then why are you here now? I don't understand…" Harm didn't have to feign the confusion. He really couldn't remember Renee Petersen, nor his relationship with her over the past year. It was only Mac's summary of his dalliance with the woman that helped him recognize her when she came into his room.
"Harm, are you messing with me? We've been together a year! I practically live at your place, when I'm in Washington."
"I don't…remember. I'm sorry. Mac said you…"
"Mac?" Renee scowled, and Harm stopped talking, never having seen such an expression on a woman's face before. It contorted the heavily made up features into something that was far removed from Renee's usual countenance. Realizing, however, that he had almost slipped up, Harm sidestepped easily.
"I spoke to her," he amended, mentally crossing his fingers as he continued to make Renee believe he had only spoken on the telephone to Mac.
"I spoke to her too, at JAG."
"You went there?" Harm's eyebrow raised, and his voice rose with it. Renee stood up off the bed.
"Yes, I did. Mac left me a message to say you'd been transferred here. She didn't, however, say anything about your amnesia."
Harm closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Harm? Are you all right?"
"Actually, no…I've swallowed so much seawater I can hardly talk. Would you mind coming back later? I'm really not up to visitors right now."
"Not up to…HARM!" Renee's voice could be heard down the corridor, and it was the screeching that drew the attention of the party that walked out of the elevator and down the corridor. Admiral Chegwidden commented briefly, and the others hid smiles at his words. Even Mic!
"It would appear Miss Petersen is here."
To be continued
