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.

Comments : I have had numerous encouraging reviews, thank you all. You are my inspiration to continue.


Naval Medical Center, Bethesda

Mac dropped her head, but Chloe could see the smile on her lips, and the sparkle in her eyes.

"Mac?" Mac turned to her 'little sister' and schooled her features into the professional she was.

"Yes, Chloe?"

"Nothing. I…I was just wondering…if Harm is up to seeing all of us. I don't mind waiting outside."

"I'm sure Harm…" Mac began, but was overridden by the Admiral, who nodded at Chloe.

"That sounds like a good idea, Miss Madison. As the Commanding Officer, I will go and see Commander Rabb, and then depending on his condition, we can take turns in spending time with him. Agreed?"

Between the other officers there – Mac, Bud, and Harriet - along with Chloe and Mic, all nodded in agreement. Mic, however, was determined to go in with Mac.

The Admiral walked up the corridor to the door from where Renee Petersen's voice had been heard. Knocking softly, he pushed the door open and walked through. Harm opened his eyes, and smiled at his new visitor. It wasn't quite who he had been expecting to see first, but the Admiral was welcome nonetheless. Renee was standing by the window, and didn't turn around right away.

Room 1509

"Commander, it's good to see you." As both Harm's commanding officer, and a friend, he was pleased to see the younger man in relatively good health, considering his near-death experience. Harm nodded as he tried to push himself up into a sitting position but he relaxed against the pillows again as the Admiral waved him down. "Miss Petersen," the Admiral added politely.

Renee turned around to face the older man, and managed a polite smile in return before speaking. "If you'll just excuse me, I need to use the ladies' room. I'll be right back. Harm?"

"Erm…sure, go ahead." Harm couldn't very well ask Renee to leave now that he had other visitors. He would have to endure her presence a little longer. As long as Mac was there, he could do it.

As Renee left the room Harm looked at the Admiral.

"I need to ask you something, Harm. Before Miss Petersen gets back. I had a meeting with Mac this morning, and she gave me an indication that you and she may need some time to discuss some things. Is that correct?"

Harm nodded immediately, and he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"Yes, sir. It is."

"Very well. Your other visitors are waiting outside to see you, and so…"

"Other visitors, sir?"

"Yes. The Roberts' are here, of course, and Miss Madison would like to see for herself that you are alive and well, if a little battered." Harm grinned at that, and the Admiral smiled himself, before continuing. "Mac is here also, along with Brumby, who insisted on accompanying her."

"I see…" Harm closed his eyes for few seconds and then opened them, looking directly at his commanding officer. "Sir, what I need to discuss with the Colonel…with Mac…is very personal, and it is going to cause some distress, not least to Miss Petersen."

"It has to be done, son, and better now than in the future. I will allow everyone in, and then request that they leave you alone to rest. Mac can return at her own discretion. If anyone asks, you are discussing cases."

"Thank you, sir."

"Very well. I'll be right back."

Harm watched as the Admiral turned away and left the room, returning almost immediately with an entourage consisting of Bud and Harriet, Chloe, Brumby, and Mac. As they all gathered around his hospital bed, Harm looked around at them all, smiling at Bud, Harriet and Chloe. His gaze came to rest on Mac and an almost imperceptible pause before he took in Brumby also. Returning his gaze to Mac, trying to impart his feelings to her in one single look, he turned back to take them all in.

"Thank you all…for coming," he managed to speak. His voice was getting weaker with the continued speaking, and Mac frowned, knowing that he was tiring. Brumby caught her expression, and her words were soft and caring when she spoke. Not what he wanted to hear from her.

"It's probably better that we leave you alone now, Harm. We can…visit…again, later." Reaching over, she put her hand on Harm's outstretched arm and squeezed gently. Her actions caused a number of reactions all at once. Harm nodded at her silent message, that she would return alone. Bud and Harriet smiled at the obvious affection between their friends. Chloe grinned cheekily, knowing that something was happening, but not sure exactly what that something was. Brumby reached out to touch Mac's arm, almost pulling her away from Harm. His gesture caused Mac to turn and look at him, before shrugging out of his grasp. And Renee entered the room again.

"What is going on?" she demanded, looking at Mac's hand on Harm's arm, and the obvious dislike in Brumby's expression. The Admiral decided it was time to retreat, but he was beaten to his orders by the nurse on duty.

"I want everyone out of here, right now! Commander Rabb is recovering, and needs to rest as much as possible."

"I'm staying with him," insisted Renee, and Harm shook his head. Turning to face him, she scowled. "What do you mean, no?"

"I want…to speak…to Mac."

"If Mac stays, so do I!" Brumby was infuriated. There was no way he was going to leave his fiancée alone with Rabb! Renee's expression had darkened, and she almost spat out her next words.

"I want to know, right now, what the hell is going on with you and Mac!"

"Lieutenant?" The Admiral turned his gaze on the nurse beside him, and she nodded in response. "I leave it in your hands to clear the room, however, I would like the Colonel to remain. If you have any problems, you have my permission to put them all on report, including the civilians."

"Thank you, sir." The nurse smiled briefly before walking past Mic and Renee, and standing beside Harm. "Everyone but the Colonel is to leave the room now." Both Mic and Renee were about to protest, but the nurse put up her hand to silence them. Bud and Harriet nodded at Harm and walked out of the room, and even Chloe, at a smile and nod from Mac, left quietly with them. The Admiral waited for Mic and Renee.

"Harm, please…what's going on?" Renee was speaking in a small voice now, as if acting wounded would get her back in his good graces. Harm looked from the nurse to the Admiral, and then at Mac, who smiled at him.

"Sir, I guess now is as good a time as any, right?"

"All the relevant parties are present, Commander, so I'd be inclined to agree. Nurse, if you would allow us some privacy, I will remain to monitor the Commander. If I feel he needs your attention, I will call you back."

The nurse looked confused, but nodded in assent and left the room. Whatever was going on with her star patient, it was certainly complicated! In a last effort to assert her position, she spoke up briefly.

"You will remember that the Commander is a patient in this hospital, and if his condition were to deteriorate due to the present…circumstances…be warned that I will write up each and every one of you as being aggravating causes."

"Not a problem," responded the Admiral, and closed the door behind the nurse as she left. Harriet and Bud, along with Chloe, were waiting in the small seating area near to Harm's room.

"Harriet, what do you think is going on?" Chloe asked quietly, somewhat subdued by the present situation.

"I'm not sure, sweetie, but try not to worry about it. I think, from Mac's expression at least, that it will be okay for her and Harm. I'm just not sure how Renee and Mic are going to react."

Room 1509

Inside Harm's room silence reigned. Renee moved closer to the bed, and attempted to grasp Harm's hand, but he withdrew, looking directly at Renee as he spoke.

"What I want to say isn't going to make you happy, Renee, and I'm sorry for hurting you in this way. I honestly don't remember our time together…I don't know if I ever will. What I do know is that I want to be with Mac, and she…" Harm paused to cough, and Mac moved forward to help him. Renee batted her hand away, and Mac stepped back, holding her arm and seeing the scratches on her hand from Renee's manicured talons.

"Renee!" Harm protested, and began coughing again. Mac stepped around the Admiral with a polite nod, and approached Harm from the opposite side of the bed. As she passed her commanding officer he handed her his handkerchief to wipe the bloodstains and wrap the material around her hand temporarily. Harm watched as both Renee and Brumby approached his bed.

"How long has this been going on?" demanded Brumby, staring hard between Mac and Harm.

"Mic," Mac warned him to back off, but the Australian was past being reasonable.

"I asked you a question! Answer me!"

"Nothing has been going on, Brumby," Harm managed to speak, "until now. I realized that I had still got a chance to tell Sarah I love her, and I did…"

"When? When did you tell her?" Brumby was insistent, and Mac took Harms' hand in hers as she answered, looking at both Renee and Mic as she spoke.

"I came to see Harm this morning, when he was first transferred."

"You bitch!" Renee screamed, and even the Admiral winced at the noise she made.

"Miss Petersen, please restrain yourself," he cautioned, but Renee was way past restraint!

"You condone this? This is tantamount to…to frater-whatever-you-call-it!" Renee continued screaming, and her voice could be heard in the corridor. The three people sitting there all looked at one another, but remained silent.

"Fraternization, Renee. It's called fraternization." Brumby's voice was calm, and almost conversational as he turned to look at the woman beside him. "It would appear you and I have been made fools of, Renee. It's obvious that they have been seeing each other behind our backs." Brumby stopped speaking as a thought came to him, and then he laughed. "The engagement party!" he muttered, and Mac glanced at Harm, who nodded. Mic noticed the exchange and continued ranting. "You were pretty cozy out on the porch all evening. Were you planning how you both could fool Renee and I?"

"No. We were talking about things that had brought us to the point where I was engaged to marry you, and Renee…"

"What about me?" Renee asked quietly, but her eyes were shooting daggers at Mac.

Throughout the exchange, the Admiral had kept quiet. As he caught the look between Harm and Mac however, in reference to the engagement party hosted at his home, he smiled as he remembered the evening.

"Sir?" asked Harm, aware of the Admiral's beatific expression.

"You were kissing on my porch!" The Admiral could not hold in his laughter.

"Kissing!" Both Renee and Mic screeched the word, and Harm and Mac could do nothing but smile and nod, looking at their commanding officer, who laughed some more.


To be continued