Title : Christmas Comes But Once A Year…

(or, 'How wrong can a woman be'?)

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!)


Wow, all of you are amazing! Thank you so much for your reviews and for the excellent critique given to the chapters! I honestly never expected this reaction to what I thought was a one-off fanfic!

How wrong can a woman be! (Ha, ha!!!)

Okay, on with the story…

Harm's Apartment – Christmas Eve, Late Morning

As Harm pushed open the door to his apartment he saw the envelope on the floor as he walked in. He held a sports bag in one hand, and a bag of groceries in the other, and deposited them on the kitchen island counter before turning back to pick up the envelope. Recognizing the writing as Jennifer's he tore open the paper and lifted out the note inside.

Harm, just a 'heads up' to let you know you had a visit from Ms Montes this morning, just after you left for your run. I informed her of that fact, and that you were probably on your way to Georgetown at the time to meet Mac.

Give me a call when you're ready to leave for the Roberts' party, and thanks in advance for the ride!

Jen

Harm scowled as he read the contents of the note, realizing that Jennifer had to have been awakened early. His presumption that Alicia would come by the apartment had been correct, and a shiver of apprehension slid down his spine at the turn of events. Mac's supposition that he was being 'stalked' by the woman was becoming more of a reality with every hour that passed, and while he was more than capable of taking care of himself, who knew what was in the woman's mind with regards to others in his life? His mind drifted back to Mac's encounter years before with Coster, the detective investigating Dalton Lowne's death. That encounter had turned into a threat to Mac's life, and his own, when Coster had been found to be stalking Mac, and had killed Lowne himself. Shaking off the dark thoughts, Harm busied himself putting away the groceries he had purchased – he smiled at the thought of the plans he had made with Mac for later; he had remembered that he still 'owed' her for the interruption to their morning, and he fully intended to make it up to her! Once the groceries were stored he walked up to his bedroom and emptied the damp towel out of his sports bag into the laundry hamper, along with his running gear and sweats, as he made his way to the shower. Even while he washed himself down and shampooed his hair his thoughts were on what Alicia Montes might do, or try to do, next.

Mac's Apartment

The sound of the telephone ringing in the lounge brought Mac out of her daydreaming in the bathtub. Groaning initially at the interruption to her much-loved soaking in the water, a smile tilted her lips as she heard Harm's voice. As the content of his conversation reached her ears though, her expression changed to one of dismay. Pulling herself up out of the water she reached for a bath sheet and wrapped it around her body as she stepped out of the bath and padded through the apartment on bare feet to reach the telephone. Picking up the receiver she pressed '1' for Harm's speed dial, and waited while the line connected.

"Hi, it's me. I just got out of the bath."

"Now that gives me a welcome vision, Mac. Sorry to disturb you though, but I thought you ought to know Montes came by. Looks like she woke up Jen, too."

"This is starting to get creepy, Harm. I mean, I know we can take care of ourselves, but who knows what she's capable of!"

"I've been thinking that myself. Cresswell mentioned pointing her in his direction if she came to the office at any time, but I don't know what his reaction would be about what's happening now. This is outside of JAG, and could be deemed a personal matter."

"I'd call him, Harm. Just let him know what's been happening this morning. With Jen and I to back you up, he has to know this could be turning into something more sinister."

"I guess. Tell you what, I'll drop by to pick you up on the way to Bud and Harriet's. You don't mind coming to the Wall with me later, do you?"

"Not at all, but what about Jen?"

"I understand she's staying over to babysit the kids tonight so Bud and Harriet can go to the church service."

"That's good of her," Mac murmured, and then spoke up again as a thought entered her head. "Is Jen spending Christmas Day with them?"

"Yes. I said I'd pick her up again when we go through to give them our gifts. Why?"

"Safety in numbers. If Jen's with Bud and Harriet, at least for a while, we can probably deal with Alciia on our own."

"Deal with her?" Harm questioned, wondering what Mac had in mind.

"Yeah. If we let Cresswell know what's happened so far, since last night, leaving out the 'juicy' bits," Mac stopped and laughed, and Harm joined in, knowing she was talking about them having spent the night together, "…we might be able to flush her out and find out what's really going on."

"So, if she does try something, and we're together, at least Cresswell knows what's going on, and there won't be any reason to doubt why we're together. I like the way you think, Mac!"

"I know you do." Mac's retort was quick, and she laughed again. With the decision made to inform General Cresswell, Mac returned the telephone to its cradle and walked back towards her bedroom, to start getting dressed for the party at Bud and Harriet's house.

Two hours later

There was a knock at Mac's door and she opened it, expecting to find Harm and Jennifer standing there. Instead she found the caretaker of her building holding a florist's box.

"Oh! Hi," she muttered, and then smiled at the elderly man standing at her door. "Sorry, Mr Williams, I thought it was my friends. I wasn't expecting any deliveries today."

"Specially ordered, Miss Mackenzie. Although…" the man paused as he suddenly lifted one hand away from the box and looked in fascination at the glove on his hand. There was a distinct chemical aroma in the air, and the leather on his glove was peeling away, as though something was burning the material.

Mac pushed the box out of his other hand and pulled at the glove to remove it before it could get right through to his skin.

"What is that?" The caretaker looked down at the remains of his glove, and then at his hand. Luckily, thanks to Mac's actions, his skin was not damaged, but the same could not be said for his glove, or the area on the box where his hand had been placed moments before.

"Acid," Mac muttered, and the expression on her face was not one the elderly man was used to seeing.

"Are you all right, Miss Mackenzie?"

"I'm fine, Mr Williams. What about you?"

"Okay now, I guess. That was quick thinking, pulling my glove off. Why would anyone do this to you? Omigosh, look at your doormat!"

Both the caretaker and Mac were bent down over the mess in the doorway as Harm arrived with Jennifer.

"What's going on?" asked Harm, as Mac helped Mr Williams to stand up again.

"I've had an unplanned floral delivery, but the contents were rather 'acidic', " Mac responded, trying to make a joke out of the situation, at least until she could talk to Harm and Jennifer out of earshot of the caretaker.

Harm glanced down at the mess and then at Mac. As they shared one of their many silent looks that spoke volumes without words, Jennifer helped the caretaker lift the edges of Mac's doormat to move the mess out of the way, but both Mac and Harm called out. "Stop!"

"We need to leave that to show the General. This has gone past being a nuisance. It's now become obvious there is some danger. We can keep the matter in-house for now, investigate it through JAG, but as Mr Williams could have been seriously injured, not to mention Mac…" Harm paused briefly and shut his eyes before continuing, not wanting to think about what more could have happened to Mac.

"Jen, do you have the General's emergency contact number?" asked Mac, giving Harm time to compose himself again.

"Yes. Do you want me to call him?"

"No, I'll do it. You could give Bud and Harriet a call and let them know we'll be delayed a little. Don't mention what's happened exactly, just tell them I've had a mishap and spilled something on the carpet."

"Will do," Jennifer stepped over the remains of the box, glove and doormat and headed over to Mac's desk to pick up the telephone handset.

Harm was hunkered down looking at the mess, but Mac pulled at his arm.

"Don't get too close, the fumes can still cause problems," she advised, and Harm got to his feet again, turning to look at the caretaker.

"You're sure you're all right, sir?" he asked, and Mr Williams nodded.

"I'm fine, Mr Rabb. Glad to know you're here to watch out for Miss Mackenzie now. If you need me, you know where to find me. I'd be grateful if you'll let me know what's happening about all this."

"We will," Mac assured him, and then as she watched him turn away she thought to ask who had actually 'delivered' the box in the first place.

"Was it a man or a woman?"

"A young man, wearing a jacket with the florist's name on, and he came in a van. It's the shop from down the street, Miss Mackenzie, so I had no reason not to take the delivery."

"Of course not, Mr Williams. It just means we have a way of finding out who did order the delivery. Thank you. If you do have any discomfort, go to the nearest emergency room and then give me a call. You've got my cell phone number."

"I'll do that, Miss Mackenzie, if I need to reach you." The elderly man nodded and smiled as he turned and left the apartment, closing the door behind him.

Jennifer was talking on the telephone to Bud and so Harm pulled at Mac's hand and walked into the kitchen with her. Once out of Jennifer's sight he put his arms around Mac and gave her a hug, which Mac welcomed, lifting her face for a quick kiss.

"This is beginning to remind me…" began Harm, and Mac finished his sentence, nodding at the memories too.

"…of Coster."

"Yeah, and we both know Dalton Lowne paid the price for that obsession. I just wish I knew what the hell it is that Montes is after!"

"I'd hazard a guess and say that whatever it is, I'm in the way; who knows who else she deems to be a threat to her plans? Jen? Bud and Harriet? Everyone could be in danger, Harm!"

"I know, and that's why we need to find out, today!"

"It's Christmas Eve! Surely she's got family of her own that she'd be visiting?" Mac queried, but Harm shook his head.

"It's obvious by her actions so far that she's been busy today. I know we don't have proof yet that this is her handiwork, but I'd be willing to bet my stripes that it is."

"And mine!" Mac added, and then began to walk back into the lounge, heading for the telephone herself. "Time to call the General. At the very least, we have something to show him now."

Harm nodded and waited alongside Jennifer as Mac dialled the number she had been given.

"Sir, it's Colonel Mackenzie. I'm so sorry to bother you today, but there's been an incident at my apartment, sir. I believe it warrants your attention, if not your presence, and I believe it concerns Miss Montes." Mac held the receiver to her ear and nodded at the response she got. "Yes, sir. We'll be here. Your number, sir? I asked Petty Officer Coates for it."

Jennifer winced at the sound of her name, and Harm put his hand on her shoulder, smiling in reassurance as he murmured softly to her.

"Don't worry. We'll tell him we ordered you to divulge the information. If that doesn't work, we'll both defend you!"

"Oh, that really makes me feel better, Harm!" Jennifer pulled a face, and then grinned at the absurdity of the situation. Here they were, planning on joining friends for a seasonal celebration, and instead they were contemplating the arrival of their commanding officer to view the remains of a cardboard box, a leather glove, and an acid burn on a doormat! What a day, and it wasn't even lunchtime yet!

Mac replaced the receiver on the cradle and motioned for them all to take a seat. "He's on his way over," she murmured, and settled herself on the couch next to Harm as Jennifer sank down into one of the chairs opposite.

"Can I get you both some tea?" she offered, and Mac nodded. Since the time Jennifer had spent the night at Mac's apartment when she had been in Harm's custody for the 'Santa' incident, she knew her way around the kitchen cabinets and Mac welcomed the time alone with Harm while the younger woman busied herself making the drinks.

"It's going to be all right, sweetheart," Harm murmured, dropping a kiss on the crown of Mac's dark hair as she leaned against him. Jennifer happened to look out of the kitchen doorway at that moment, and she smiled at the scene she captured in her mind. Harm was right. It was going to be all right.

Out on the street a car was parked unobtrusively, and the occupant inside raised an eyebrow as an official JAG Department limousine pulled up at the kerb beside the entrance to Mac's apartment building. When Major General Cresswell stepped out of the vehicle and entered the building, Alicia Montes smiled to herself. This was working out so much better than she had planned! Not only were Harm and Mac together, obviously with Harm comforting Mac over the 'surprise' flowers she would by now have opened, now they would be caught out by their commanding officer!

How wrong can a woman be?


To be continued