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!)
Please see notes at end of chapter re cancellation of the show.
To all the readers/reviewers shown – thanks for the support, and please keep reading! It's nice to see from the reviews given that the 'format' for the story is still working out!
cbw; cool cat; froggy0319; Lisa Brown; ryne'smom; anna7; harmsgirl-03; dana; suz573; Grace; jaggurl; Nikki; Kirsty; kirsten; ss; Arian04; Radiorox; 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; lehcar412; laura carr; bluejay742; dansingwolf; Tina Frank; snugglebug; Jackia; The Fiction Spider; Maria; Lisa; aserene; JAGJenni; martini1988; skyefire; MaritzaCarmicheal; Manda; Brittany4445; Jaka; Dessler; joshklar; KJFlygirl87
I told you I'd pull double duty on the reviews, so here goes:
snugglebug – Thanks for your reviews. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! Arian04 – Thanks for your reviews. I'm pleased you have seen the way I try to put Harm and Mac over to a reader – my writing must be improving! :o) Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! starryeyes10 - Thanks for your reviews. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! Brittany4445 – Hello and welcome to the story! I'm with you on being ashamed. I thought that DJE felt the same when he put his hand over his eyes as he was talking to CB in the hospital. He was probably groaning (or laughing!) at how stupid the lines were! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! Ryne's Mom - Thanks for your reviews, and you're welcome! It always makes my day when someone else enjoys what I write. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! jtbwriter – Hiya! Thanks for your reviews, as always. I heard the 'Doc' say coma to Harm in ep.16, and I'm a strong believer in coma victims hearing even when they appear to be totally 'out of it'! I wish DPB leaves NCIS alone too – although he seems a bit 'slap happy' regarding his productions these days! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! PS – Hope your 'boutique' day went well! froggy0319 - Thanks for your reviews. Maybe I should send some of my work to DPB – you think? :o) Seriously though, thank you for your support; it means so much! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! cbw - Thanks for your reviews. In some ways, while it's sad to see JAG go, I'm glad it's ending during DJE's time on the show. After all, he really did make the part his! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! aserene - Thanks for your reviews. At least now we don't have to worry about a Mac/Pukovic (my new name for 'him') storlyline. Whatever DPB leaves us thinking about Mac and Harm, we can always rewrite it! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! KJFlygirl87 - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! joshklar – Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your wonderful and entertaining review. I'm with you on the 'Mac' bio – she really isn't a giggly school-girl anymore, but seems to go all 'mushy' at any male who isn't Harm! Your 'ending' is sad, but feasible, but I'm still plugging for a H&M ending (if only in my dreams!). At least with the demise of JAG we won't have to wonder how 'JAG San Diego: The Show' would have fared on TV, nor where Mac/Pukovic would end up! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! Manda - Thanks for your reviews. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! joanoa - Thanks for your reviews. Imagination can put you anywhere you want to be, if only for a little while. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! Dessler – Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your review. To 'shipper hearts everywhere' – now I know why I chose to share my work with such wonderful people like yourself. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! Jaka – Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your reviews. Not sure if you've kept up on the JAG news, but with the cancellation of JAG, at least we can go out on a high with DJE in the last episode, as it should be! I'm just sorry it ended on a sour note for him. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! JAGJenni - Thanks for your review, and your support, and I'm glad we don't have to see Mac and Pukovic in another season! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! jaggurl - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! MaritzaCarmichael - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!
What could have happened after the end of Death At The Mosque…
Saint Vincent Hospital – Blacksburg – Virginia
Mac walked through the hospital toward the ICU, and paused before she pushed the button to be admitted to the unit. The last time she had seen Harm they had parted with him rebuffing her offer to watch over Mattie while he got some more sleep. It had hurt, Mac knew, but she had to look past his actions to what was happening to Mattie. The teenager hadn't come around yet, and the longer she was unconscious, the lower the chances became for her to make a recovery of any kind. The other thing on Harm's mind was what would happen to Mattie if Tom didn't pull himself together and sober up. Even if he did, it would still reflect badly on him, but with what Harm had told her, about finding Tom out on the street, things couldn't be any worse for him retaining custody of Mattie. Harm knew that he had to report Tom's disappearance, and have Mattie taken care of by other means. When they had spoken, Mac had recalled Harm taking on Mattie's care again, but Harm had vetoed the idea, saying the young girl didn't need 'a revolving door'. Mac was still unsure what Harm had meant by that, and because he had refused her offer to take time out, Mac had left him at the hospital with her words 'let me know when you need me' hanging between them.They had spoken on the telephone since that night, but hadn't been in each other's company since. It had only been a couple of nights, but since they had been so close to each other before, it seemed like they had taken a step back in their relationship. Mac took a deep breath and pressed the button.
"Hey…" Harm was the first to speak as he caught sight of Mac entering the unit. With a smile on his face he walked toward her, catching her right hand in his as he stopped in front of her. "Mac…I'm sorry, about the other night…"
"You had a lot on your mind."
"But that didn't mean I should take it out on you. I missed you, the last two nights. I do need you."
"I missed being with you," Mac answered softly, and then smiled at Harm. "Just don't shut me out, okay? I need you too." Leaning into Harm she gave him a soft kiss, at the same time as her arms came around his waist.
"Okay."
"So, what's happening?"
"With Mattie, not much change. She's still holding her own, and that's a good sign, but until she wakes up, there's no way to gauge how much damage has been done by the accident, and the coma."
"What about Child Services?"
"I've requested to speak to the woman who dealt with the case before. Ms LeMoine. I'll keep you posted, I promise."
"You'd better, Flyboy. You don't want to be tangling with an angry Marine, especially one you're in love with," Mac murmured, leaning in to kiss Harm again. As they parted, standing close together, a familiar voice had them both standing to attention, even dressed as they were in civilian clothes.
"Sir!"
"At ease, both of you. I came to see how your 'daughter' was getting on, Commander." Gordon Cresswell nodded at Mac and then turned his attention on Harm. As their commanding officer had made no mention of their closeness seconds earlier, neither did they.
"Sir, she isn't my…" Harm began, but Cresswell waved his hand.
"She's as good as, Commander, from what I've heard from Colonel Mackenzie. May I sit with you for a while?"
"Of course, sir…" Harm glanced at Mac, a look of puzzlement on his face, but she shook her head, as much in the dark about the General's actions as Harm was.
"If you gentlemen will excuse me, I'll go say 'hello' to Mattie and then get myself something from the cafeteria. I came straight from work and changed downstairs. I haven't eaten yet."
"By all means, Colonel. I'll see you before I leave, I hope?" Even voiced as a question, Mac knew the General intended to speak to her before the evening was over.
"Of course, sir." Mac echoed Harm's words, as she leaned in to give him a hug. If they were going to be reprimanded, she would face whatever came, but nothing was going to stop her showing what affection she could under the circumstances. Harm reciprocated, hugging her back, holding on for a few seconds longer than was probably warranted, but reluctant to let Mac go. "I'll be back up in a while. You can take a break then," Mac murmured, as she pulled away.
"Yes," Harm acknowledged, and in that instant the rebuff of days earlier was forgiven and forgotten.
Mac smiled as she left the two men together outside Mattie's room while she went inside, and walked up to the bedside. Leaning over the pale, still figure, Mac kissed Mattie's forehead, said 'hello', and promised she'd be right back after she had got something to eat.
"You know me, Mattie! I need my food! I'll be right back, sweetie. Harm's just outside, but he's talking to the General, so he'll be a while, but don't you worry, he's close by." Mac turned then and left the room, and the unit, while she went in search of something edible in the cafeteria. Right then she was hungry enough to eat anything – even hospital food!
Harm caught Mac's departure out of the corner of his eye, but his mind was on his conversation with his commanding officer.
"So, Commander, tell me more about Mattie. You don't mind if I call her by her first name, do you? It seems so formal to refer to her as Miss Grace."
"Of course not, sir. Technically, Mattie is using her father's surname now. Grace was her mother's maiden name, and she used it when she was estranged from her father."
"I'll stick with Mattie then." Gordon Cresswell smiled, and took a look through the window into Mattie's room. "Colonel Mackenzie tells me you were Mattie's guardian for a while. How did that come about?"
"When I left the Navy, a while back, I was employed by Mattie to fly crop-dusters."
"That's when the Admiral asked you to come back, hm?"
"It's in my file, sir."
"The official version, yes. But I want to get to know the personal version, Harm. I've read your file, right the way through, as you know. I find it very intriguing that a man who obviously loves children has none of his own."
"I've never had the right relationship, General," Harm admitted, and sat back with a surprised look on his face as he realized he'd never admitted that much to himself before, let alone anyone else!
"Until now, huh?" Cresswell grinned, and then looked at Harm closely. "I know you had a special bond with the Admiral, too, Harm, and I respect that he thought of you as a son. He admitted as much himself."
"He did?" Harm looked surprised, and Cresswell actually laughed.
"Don't look so surprised, Harm. I'd say you two had a mutual admiration society going on during your time together at JAG. What I'd like is to be able to count on your loyalty in that fashion too." Harm began to protest, but Cresswell put up his hand to stall him. "What I'm saying is that while I know you are as faithful to your duty and station as you have always been, I would like to count you as one of my friends also. I seem to have managed to make friends with the Colonel, through my daughter. It isn't a bad thing to have a two-star as a friend, you know?"
Harm grinned, and shook Cresswell's outstretched hand.
"I'd like that, sir."
"It's Gordon. We're off duty, aren't we?"
"Yes, si…Gordon," Harm corrected himself, and then glanced through the window at Mattie. Cresswell followed his gaze, and smiled.
"You were telling me about Paraguay," he prompted, and Harm gave him a wry smile, shaking his head as he did.
"Actually, I was telling you about after Paraguay," he corrected, but continued to talk, starting from Mac's deployment to the CIA, right up to the present day, and including the hearing when Mac had appeared as a character witness for him.
"Seems you and the Colonel are always ready to support each other, Harm. How did she take your being married, hm?"
"You know about that? It isn't in the file," Harm was amused to discover just how much Gordon Cresswell did know about him and his life.
"There's a lot I have been finding out about you, Commander Rabb. Coates is a mine of information, did you know that?"
Harm laughed then, knowing full well that Jennifer would never breach the confidence of another person with her commanding officer.
"I'm sure she is, but I know for a fact she would not give away such details."
"True. Okay, scuttlebutt was the main source, but I backed it up with a bit of detective work on my part. Now, back to the Colonel."
"Mac was already involved, with Clayton Webb."
"Is that why you married Miss Gale?"
"It wasn't a real ceremony, Gordon, which I'm sure you know. It served a purpose. I got what I needed, and I helped Catherine too."
"I'm sure you did, on both counts. I understand Mac isn't involved with Webb any longer. So where does that leave the two of you?"
"There's no point in denying we have been seeing each other, Gordon. After what you saw when you came in here, you have every right to throw the book at us for…"
"For what? All I saw was two friends comforting each other over the trauma that Mattie is going through. However, if there are any such shows of affection in JAG Ops, that would be another matter altogether. What I don't see, I don't know about, do I?"
"I guess not," Harm nodded, and both men smiled as they reached a common ground.
"If the status quo should change, say if you were to propose, then I'd expect to be one of the first to know, so that I can make arrangements."
"Arrangements?"
"To keep you both. You're a good team, and I'm aware that if one or the other of you were to be stationed elsewhere, it wouldn't be long before you'd arrange to be together, even if that meant taking terminal leave. I don't want that to happen, and I'm sure you don't either."
"No, I don't. But I don't see how…"
"Leave it with me. As my predecessor had certain 'privileges', so do I. Just keep me in the loop."
"We will."
"Good. Well, I'm going to catch up with Mac to say goodbye, and a few other things, and then I'll leave you two – sorry, three – in peace."
"Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome, Commander. As I told Colonel Mackenzie, take all the time you need. I'd like to think I would be this capable if it were my daughters."
"Aye, sir."
Harm shook hands once more, and then watched as his commanding officer left the unit. He then walked into Mattie's room and sat down beside the bed, taking Mattie's hand in his, waiting for Mac to return.
To be continued
CANCELLATION OF 'JAG':
By now you will all probably have heard the news about JAG being cancelled. All good things come to an end sometime but I, for one, am glad that it has ended in DJE's time, and not continued with the proposed storylines for Series 11. I am also saddened that it has ended on such a sour note for DJE, when it should have been ending with a rounding up of existing storylines for all characters and, of course, the perfect ending for Harm and Mac. Together. (Sigh!) Still, there's always fanfiction! Even with the series gone, I'm sure writers will still continue…I certainly shall!
A/N :
I tried to find out the correct spelling of the name for the part actress Joan McMurtrey played on the episode 'A Merry Little Christmas'. I could only find her listed as 'Guardian Ad Litum', but in the clips I heard her introduce herself as Ms LeMoine, so I'm taking a stab at how the name is spelled, and if it's wrong, I apologize.
