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 : T


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; LiseGirardi; tb

aserene - Thanks for your review. I agree; I would be lost without the fanfiction, too. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

jtbwriter - Hiya! Thanks for your review, as always. I've been checking out SpoilerFix regularly, and I was wondering if, maybe, they'd re-shot the last episode? You think? Fingers crossed! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

skyefire - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

snugglebug - Thanks for your review. I'm having home extension /renovation work done at present so the house is upside down, but as the episodes are coming thick and fast toward the end, I'm trying to keep up with them. Other fics are suffering at present, but I'll sort them out asap! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

manda - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

cbw - Thanks for your review. I found the fanfic sites just over a year ago, and I've had such fun writing all my stories, and much more fun sharing them with such wonderful people as yourself, and discovering that you like them too! While you're out there, I'll keep writing, I promise! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

LiseGirardi - Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your review. I really like the General – I think TPTB have made him in the mould of the Admiral, albeit a different service. At least he seems to have Mac and Harm's interests at heart, like AJ did. Not sure if he actually wants them 'together', but he seems to care about them individually. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

tb - Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your review. I guess it would be too much to hope for, but I wrote elsewhere in my reviews that maybe TPTB re-wrote the last episode in favor of Harm and Mac? What do you think? Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

starryeyes10 - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

bluejay742 - Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

KJFlygirl87 - Thanks for your review. I wanted to write something that would cancel out the lousy scene of Harm and Mac on the show, and I think I managed that. I also wanted to involve the General with Harm seeing as he said what he did about taking the time he needed. Makes him human! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

froggy0319 - Thanks for your review. I hope many other fanfic writers keep going after the show – there is still so much out there, and I enjoy reading as much as writing! Hope you like this chapter, and (I know, I always say it!) please keep reading!


What could have happened after the end of Two Towns…

Bahrain International Airport – earlier

"Colonel! I thought it was you! When did you hit town?"

"Hit town? I'm in Departures, Lieutenant." Mac addressed Vukovic in a lowered voice, and stressing his rank didn't pass his attention. Vukovic toned down his exuberance and nodded, suitably chastised.

"Ma'am, of course. I didn't know you were over here."

"Is there any reason why you should have known?" Mac enquired, her eyebrow raised. Vukovic shook his head.

"No, ma'am. I hope your visit was successful."

"It was. And yours?"

"Same, ma'am. Um, you're traveling back tonight?"

"That's the idea, yes."

"Are you traveling alone, ma'am?"

"As I traveled out here alone, that would be the general idea."

"It's just…would you mind if I sat with you, ma'am? I'm seated next to a guy I've just spent time in the desert with, and…"

"And as that is your assigned task, Lieutenant, I suggest you comply with your duties. The General informed me that you were due to travel back with an injured soldier. He did save your life, didn't he?"

"Yes, ma'am." Vukovic looked hard at Mac. "Have I upset you in any way, ma'am? Because if I…"

"Lieutenant, I have a report to file, so if you'll excuse me, I need to use the Executive Lounge. We have a flight change in London, and so I may see you there. If not, have a safe flight and I'll see you back at JAG." Mac turned away, smiling at her ingenuity at upgrading her booking at the last minute. SOP had military personnel traveling in coach unless otherwise authorized, or paid for by personal means. Mac had chosen to upgrade for two reasons – the first, it was much more comfortable; the second, she had known that Vukovic would be on the flight, even if he hadn't known she would be, and she blessed Jennifer for giving her the heads-up.

"Yes, Colonel, you will." Vukovic watched as Mac turned and walked away. His statement was directed more at the fact that they had the stopover in London than at being back at JAG on Monday morning. His gaze lingered until Mac was out of sight. At that point the Marine he was traveling with caught up to him.

"Hey, Vic! You should check out the shops, man! They're great!"

"Yeah, so I've heard…" Vukovic turned, grinned at his companion, and followed him back to the duty-free area.

London Heathrow Airport – Terminal Four

Vukovic was aware that Mac had flown ahead of coach class, but when he tried to locate her in the disembarking passengers he was unable to pick out her uniform among the many coats and jackets the other passengers wore.

"Vic? Who're you looking for? Colonel Mackenzie?"

"We work together. I wanted to pick her brain about a case coming up."

"Give the lady a break, man! By the sound of it, she's had a hard time in Iraq too, so maybe she's looking forward to a little r-and-r in London."

"What do you mean?" Vukovic turned around to face Smith, who was grinning and pointing off into the distance, where the Exit signs were indicated.

"Looks like the Colonel is taking a break right here in England, Lieutenant, sir. I'm headed for Germany, and you're on your lonesome back stateside."

Vukovic scowled. Somehow, Sarah Mackenzie had managed to elude him once again.

Mac, for her part, had forgotten about Vukovic as soon as she had left him in the terminal building in Bahrain. With enough time to complete and file her report direct to the General, via Jennifer's computer, she had then brought out her cell phone and sent a message to another number without having to look up the details, it was as familiar to her as her own number.

Once the aircraft touched down at Heathrow, and the seatbelt sign switched off, Mac had taken down her flight bag and made her way off the aircraft. During the flight, when most of the passengers had slept, she had changed out of her uniform and into civilian clothes consisting of jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket. Her uniform was stored inside the bag, ready for the cleaners when she returned to the States. With her hair unfastened from the secure knot she used for work, she had tied it off to one side with a soft band, and it hung over her right shoulder as she had settled in to sleep. It wasn't quite the same as travelling with Harm, considering she usually used him as her pillow, but Mac made do with an actual pillow, and managed a couple of hours sleep before she felt the aircraft begin its descent into London. With no thought further than finding her way to the exits, and what awaited her, Mac walked along with the other passengers who filed through the airport on a daily basis. In her pocket her cell phone bleeped once, and Mac pulled it out, reading the message displayed, and smiling widely. Putting the cell phone away again, she glanced across the concourse of Terminal Four Arrivals and spotted him right away.

"Hi, Sailor."

"Hello, beautiful." Harm reached to take Mac's holdall off her shoulder with his right hand, and she tucked her hand into his left, squeezing tightly as he pulled her closer to him. "I've missed you," he murmured, bringing his face close to hers as the other passengers moved around them, some paying notice, most paying little heed to the couple. It was a scene that was played out time and again at the airport in any one of the four terminals, whether in arrivals or departures, and apart from the odd cursory glance, no one paid much notice at all to the tall dark haired man, and the slightly shorter dark haired woman as they kissed.

"Want to get out of here?"

"Wherever you're going…" Mac acknowledged, and Harm grinned. Hefting her bag onto his shoulder a little more securely, he walked out of the terminal building with Mac, heading for a rental car outside.

Hotel Room – London City Centre

"How did you wangle this time off, anyway?" Mac asked, as she and Harm lay on the bed in the room, content to murmur conversationally as they had sated other needs, for the time being. They were now waiting for room service to deliver a food cart.

"The General wanted me to find out some information on military service protocols over here, and as I felt it would be prudent to meet face to face with some of the top brass, I offered to travel in person, on my own time. As it was also close to the weekend, I put forward the idea that maybe I needed a little time to work out what I was going to do about Mattie, too."

"You haven't said anything. How is Mattie?"

"No change," Harm murmured, and Mac leaned in to kiss him gently. As she pulled back to look at Harm, he smiled at her. "I wanted to be with you, alone, for a little while at least. With you being sent off to Iraq as you were, this seemed too good an opportunity to miss spending time with you."

"I'm glad you called. It's been a crazy few months for us."

"Absolutely. By the way, you didn't get chance to tell me what the General said to you after he came to visit Mattie at the hospital. He didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

Mac grinned and shook her head.

"Actually, he was really nice. Said something about what he didn't see didn't bother him, but if he were to see unprofessional behavior at work, he'd have something to say about it. Ah, and he also said that if you were to plan on doing something like going on bended knee, he wanted to know about it!"

"That's roughly what he said to me, too. I guess that means we have his approval, to an extent."

"What about the 'bended knee' part? Are you going to be doing something about that soon?"

"Soon," Harm echoed, smiling, and then he put his hand under his pillow and pulled out a small, grey velvet box. Mac drew in a breath, her eyes widening as she looked from Harm's face to the box, and back again.

"Harm…I didn't…you don't have to…"

"It isn't the engagement ring I have for you, Mac. I have other plans for giving you that ring. This is something just as significant though. I think you'll understand the message I'm trying to give you."

"You…you've already planned how you're going to propose?" Mac managed to utter the words, not sure how she got them past the lump forming in her throat. Harm's next statement brought the tears to her eyes with no trouble whatsoever!

"I've known for a long time, Sarah…" he murmured softly, and Mac felt his lips on hers, despite the salty wetness he found there when he kissed her. In that instant she knew just how long Harm had been waiting for her. Once, long ago, Jordan had told her that Harm was just waiting until Mac said she was ready. Somehow, Mac knew that it was long before that when Harm had first realized just what an impact Sarah Mackenzie would have on his life. Whether he had planned to ask her to marry him back then, Mac didn't know, but she did know that it wasn't long after he had saved her on the USS Watertown that his thoughts had turned to being with her on a full-time basis, both at work and in private. As the emotions rolled across Mac's face, Harm put his hand over hers, opening the box for her. As the diamond and emerald eternity ring came into focus, Mac laughed. Yes, she did understand the significance right away. Eternity! The bridge with lights in Sydney; the amount of time they had waited to get where they were today; the promise of forever. It was all tied up in one beautiful, jeweled circle and given with hope, and love. Mac picked the ring up delicately between finger and thumb on her right hand, and turned it to place on her other hand. As she held it over her third finger, left hand, Harm reached up to push it gently into place, and Mac leaned into the crook of his neck, lifting her finger to admire the jewelry.

"It's beautiful! Thank you," she murmured, and Harm wrapped her up in a bear hug, giving her his answer in gesture; words not possible at that moment.

A knock at the door brought them out of their embrace, and Harm gave a lop-sided grin as he grabbed the complimentary bathrobe and went to answer the door. When he had tipped the waiter and pulled the cart all the way into the room, Harm gave an exaggerated bow and announced 'Dinner is served!' Mac laughed and clambered off the bed to go and seat herself at the nearby table.

JAG Headquarters - following Monday

Vukovic was waiting by Jennifer's desk when Mac and Harm came out of their respective offices and walked together to see the General for their morning briefing. As they passed, Harm murmured something to Jennifer, and she nodded silently but gave Harm a small smile. Mac nodded her head too, and then glanced across at Vukovic.

"I see you made it back in one piece, Lieutenant. How was the journey?"

"Uneventful, ma'am. How about yours?"

Mac didn't blink as she addressed her junior officer.

"Just fine, Lieutenant." With that brief retort, Mac walked into Cresswell's office ahead of Harm who neatly sidestepped Vukovic, and his attempt to enter the room behind Mac, without breaking stride. Cresswell, however, hadn't missed the breach in protocol.

"Lieutenant," he began, his voice deceptively low.

"Sir?" Vukovic looked directly at his commanding officer.

"I believe you know your protocol in the presence of senior officers?"

"Of course, sir."

"Then don't let me see such a vulgar display again."

"Aye, sir…I mean, no, sir. It won't happen again." Vukovic looked straight ahead, as Mac and Harm dipped their heads. Mac had missed Vukovic's attempt, being in front of him, but she had been aware – as always – that Harm had not followed her immediately into the room. As Cresswell turned to address them their heads came up in unison.

"Colonel, thank you for your report. I find technology wonderful when it gives me free time. I see you do, too."

"It seemed the most convenient means to get the report to you at the earliest, sir."

"Absolutely. I was able to take action on it before the weekend, and the matter is now closed. As for you, Commander…"

"Sir?" Harm looked directly at Cresswell. He had seen the older man's gaze drop briefly to the ring on Mac's finger.

"Is there anything I need to know?"

"Not at this time, General. The talks with London were successful, I believe, and I have left them with a copy of the report I sent to you. We are just waiting to hear from them in return. As for other matters, you will be advised of any changes as promised."

"I see. And in the meantime?"

"In the meantime, sir, it is simply an affirmation of existing situations."

"Very well. Now, down to business. Take a seat, all of you." Cresswell returned to the chair behind his desk, as Mac, Harm and Vukovic took the chairs in front of them.

Vukovic had no idea what Harm was referring to, but he too had seen the ring on Mac's finger. The reference to London wasn't lost on him either, but although he knew Mac had stayed over in the capital, he had been unable to find any record of Harm having been away on official business, and no one at JAG would be likely to tell him anything, least of all Jennifer Coates.


To be continued