Title : When You're Ready…

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!)


To all the readers/reviewers shown – thanks for the support, and please keep reading!

cbw; cool cat; froggy0319; Lisa Brown; ryne'smom; anna7; harmsgirl-03; Dana; suz573; Grace; jaggurl; Nikki; Kirsty; kirsten; ss; Arian04; GuitarVixen; iammusic; JennaTripped; JagFan; starryeyes10; Kavi Leighanna; SarahRabb705; BrokenSkye; NavyCB; SailorGirl; moe; katydid13; serendipity112233; Dreamer20715; jtbwriter; joanoa; FoxyWombat; chawkchic; maidenpride21; r; heartandy112; General Mac; jagaddict; ducktapedmoose

General Mac – Welcome to the story! This chapter and more to follow, as requested. Please keep reading!

Jagaddict – Welcome to the story! I don't think you missed anything earlier. I checked out what I could on the UCMJ, and the only reference I could find was fraternization is between senior/junior officers and/or enlisted personnel. To my knowledge, Harm and Mac are equal rank. Whatever the distinction, this is fanfic after all! Please keep reading!

Cbw – I keep trying! Please keep reading!

Jtbwriter – Hiya! This chapter took some working on, I can tell you! Not sure why, just seemed difficult to get into. Anyway, here it is. Hope you enjoy reading it. Workwise, thinking of you. Like you, I make a mean coffee too, so I know the secretary situation well, and if you ever do get a job with DPB, I'll always work as your assistant! ;o)

Maidenpride21 – Well, you got your wish – Harriet appeared in the episode! Can't help it, re the General, I do like the guy – however, maybe 'cos he's having to eat fiber and have his BP taken, maybe he's going to have to 'leave' on medical grounds, and they could bring back AJ??? (That'd be great, wouldn't it?) Please keep reading!

Froggy0319 – Here's to happy dreamland, I hope. Not so happy with this chapter, as I've mentioned in author notes and to other reviewers; a touch of writer's block. Whatever the outcome, please keep reading!

Jaggurl – Not sure about this chapter, but hope you like it. Please keep reading!

BrokenSkye – The new guy isn't AJ, but he's got potential, if he were only a little taller! If you're interested in 'seeing' the guy, you can download vidclips from sites that have series 10 up and running! Email me if you're interested, and pardon me if I'm telling you something you already know! Hope you like the chapter, and please keep reading!

FoxyWombat – Ditto to your review! I can't help it, I like the guy! Please keep reading!

Dana – Wow, there seems to be a lot of JAGfans who are getting to like the new 'guy'. Hope I can keep you smiling, and sorry for the delay in this chapter. Had problems with it, as mentioned in reviews above and authors notes, but nonetheless it's now posted. Please keep reading (and smiling!).

Nikki – Thank you for your words – means so much, and keeps me going! Please keep reading!

Ducktapedmoose – Welcome to the story! Thank you for your review, it means a lot, and keeps me going. The best thing about writing fanfic is that 'the writer' gets to make the story go the way they want! (Hence, Harm and Mac together!) :o) You never know, it may happen on the series too! Please keep reading!

KJFlygirl87 – I miss Mattie too, great addition to the storylines having her on the show – and as there is a spoiler for her later in the series, I hope it means she's back for good, for Harm. Cresswell seems to be growing on a lot of JAGfans. Please keep reading! (PS – Noticed you write for STFBEye too! I like your stories!)

GuitarVixen – He, he!!! That's how my mind works too, sometimes, but that's a whole other story! Hey, it's Harm we're talking about here – he does everything with innate skill!!! Please keep reading!

Chawchic – This one took some time – I couldn't quite get it to gel right. Problems with it (see other reviews/author notes) but here it is. Hope you like it, and please keep reading!


What could have happened after the end of Camp Delta…

Courtroom – Guantanamo Naval Base

Harm watched Mac's expression, as Mac watched General Spinoza walk away. Leaning forward, he murmured to her, "Remember what Cresswell said; he doesn't like Marines much."

Mac grinned back at Harm as she answered him.

"Yeah, and he likes the Navy even less!"

"Well, so long as you like the Navy, I don't much care what Spinoza likes or dislikes."

"You know that's not a problem, Sailor," Mac responded softly, and preceded Harm out of the room as they made their way back to the VOQ facility on the base.

"What time is the transport back to Norfolk?" asked Mac, and Harm checked his watch. "Two hours. We'll be back stateside by tonight."

"It's the weekend. Are you seeing Mattie at all?"

"No. I was planning on seeing another particularly inquisitive brunette, actually," Harm teased, "…unless she has other plans?"

Mac glanced around to check that there were no other personnel within earshot before she answered Harm's question.

"If this brunette had planned on going somewhere for the weekend, would the sailor she's involved with like to come with her?"

"I think he would love to," Harm answered immediately, and smiled at Mac, which in turn caused her to flush, as always in response to that particular smile. Before Mac could make another comment, Harm continued talking. "In fact, if there are no actual bookings made, maybe the sailor has an idea of his own."

"Really?"

"Yes. I need to make a couple of phone calls, and then I'll confirm it. If there's any problem, we can revert to Plan A."

"Just keep me informed," Mac's voice suddenly turned official, and Harm straightened from where he was leaning into her. Behind him two other officers were approaching the VOQ.

Grinning at Mac, as he had his back to the officers, he sounded off a crisp, "Aye, ma'am!"

Enroute to Norfolk

"Have you spoken with Jen?" Mac asked Harm, turning in her seat to face him. Harm shook his head.

"Haven't had chance yet. With the quals, and this trip here, we haven't done much more than pass in the corridor at work and at home. She seems okay, and she did say she'd spoken to Mattie on the phone, but other than that…" Harm trailed off, and Mac watched his expression as he frowned.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I had an ulterior motive in asking Jen to help out by taking the apartment with Mattie. As well as helping me, I was hoping it would help Jen keep straight too."

"It's worked so far, and besides, Jen turned her life around long before Mattie came on the scene, so I don't think you have to worry too much about her, Harm. Jen has a lot of respect for you, you know? Even she knew it was important for Mattie to learn to accept her father again."

"Maybe it's bringing up her issues with her own father."

"Perhaps. I seem to have something in common with both Jen and Mattie, don't I? Absent, alcoholic fathers…"

Harm laughed softly as he corrected Mac.

"Actually, Jen's father is a bible-bashing preacher. 'Get thee from me, Satan, and the rest…" Harm recalled the time he had taken Jennifer back to her father, nearly two years before, rather than have her spend time in the brig over the Christmas holiday. At that moment he had realized that he would do whatever he could to help the young woman, no matter what.

"Earth to Harm," Mac interrupted him gently, and he turned to face her again, taking in the darkened eyes, and the soft smile, and thanking whatever entity he had to for finally being able to relate to the woman in front of him.

"I was just thinking about Jen, and her father, and…"

"The Christmas before last," Mac added, laughing. "I was there for some of it, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember." Harm couldn't make any overtly romantic gestures toward Mac as there were other military personnel aboard the flight, but he could convey an awful lot with his eyes, and Mac nodded as she read his gaze correctly.

"Me too, Sailor. Me too," Mac added. Bringing her attention back to their conversation before they left Guantanamo, Mac recalled that Harm had been going to make some telephone calls. "Did you find out the information you wanted, before we left Gitmo?" Harm nodded and smiled.

"I did, and it's a surprise." Harm was smug.

"Not even a tiny clue?" Mac was wheedling.

"Not even the tiniest." Still smug.

"Your brunette is going to be very upset with you if you don't give her an idea as to what she should pack, you know." Now Mac was threatening.

"Oh, she won't need to pack much – maybe a bikini…or at least, the bottom half," Harm answered cryptically, and Mac stared at him, speechless. The last time she had worn a bikini in his presence had been in Australia, and although he had believed her to be topless, she had actually been hiding behind the magazine she had been reading. It had been too much fun to keep Harm guessing for her to reveal that she had, in fact, still been wearing her bikini top, with the halter straps tied behind her back instead.

Harm gave her another 'smile', and sat back in his seat, keeping his silence until they landed at Norfolk and located his SUV in the parking lot at the base. He would only shake his head as Mac tried to find out more about his plans for them. When they reached his apartment he confirmed that all she needed was a sundress, a casual top and shorts, some jeans and a jacket to travel in, the bikini, and her passport.

"My passport? " Mac echoed him. "Harm? Where are we going? We do only have the weekend, you know," she pushed him to answer her, but he simply dropped his mouth to hers, gave her a knee-wobbling kiss, and threw his own clothes in a bag.

"Want to share my bag? We really are travelling light, Mac."

Mac shrugged, picked up the things she needed that she kept at his apartment, and dropped them into his luggage.

"Okay, I'm ready," she nodded, and Harm took her hand in his, picked up the bag, and left the apartment with her. Travelling towards Dulles, Mac began to have an inkling as to where they might be going, and a smile settled on her lips, pleased at her deductive reasoning. As Harm turned away from the main airport terminal however, she was thrown into confusion. At least until Harm pulled up outside the private side of the airport, and stopped the engine.

Out on the apron stood a readied jet, steps lowered, engines idling.

"We're going in that?" she asked in hushed tones, and Harm nodded, smiling down at her.

"We are. I guess you might have an idea where we're going now, hm?"

"The Bahamas; your parents' place?"

"Surprised?"

"Totally! Oh, Harm, this is too much…a private jet?"

"Frank arranged it for me, with Mom. It saves time rather than finding commercial flights, and all we have to do is enjoy ourselves."

"I…this is…God, Harm !" Mac could only stand and look up at him, and Harm put his arms around her.

"Are you upset?"

"Not upset…happy…ecstatic! I just never knew you could arrange something like this at such short notice!"

"Only for you…I wanted to make this special."

"Oh, it is! Harm…thank you," Mac flung her arms around Harm and squeezed herself into his big body, as close as she could get, and Harm folded his arms around her, bringing her even closer.

"You are very welcome, Sarah, but we're going to have to get on board now, or we'll be spending the weekend on the tarmac here, and you won't get to wear that bikini for me."

Mac drew away from his embrace slightly, and smiled up at him.

"You mean we'll actually make it onto the beach?"

"If only to see you in that bikini, yes," Harm confirmed, but the look in his eyes told Mac that while she might get into the bikini, she wouldn't be in it for very long!


To be continued

A/N – I had problems putting this chapter together – a mixture of writers' block and flu – and I'm still not happy with it, but here it is, better late than never.

For purposes of my story, the events of Guantanamo ended on a Friday, giving Mac and Harm the weekend together, hence the visit to the Bahamas.