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!)

Thanks again for the wonderful reviews! How can I not continue with such enthusiastic support! I've got to say, I was happy to find out that Alicia Montes was only in the Christmas episode in flashback, and not actually there in person.

To all who have read and reviewed throughout the story, thank you so much! This is it – the final chapter! I hope it ties up the story for you, and I'm so glad you hung around for the end!

On with the story…

Harm's Apartment – Christmas Morning

Gordon Cresswell watched the play of emotions across Alicia Montes' face as she wrestled with her inner thoughts. To hand over the gun would mean to admit defeat, and to lose Harm forever, to Sarah Mackenzie. To hand over the gun would be giving in, and that was something she wasn't prepared to do just yet.

Alicia smiled and glanced down at the gun in her hand, then across at Harm, who was now back beside Mac, shielding her once again.

"I never thought you were a woman who would hide behind a man, Sarah."

"I'm not." Mac stepped out from behind Harm, but took his hand in a reassuring grasp. "Harm just can't help being a Boy Scout sometimes," she added, smiling up at him to take the edge off her words. Harm raised an eyebrow at her, but his lips were tilting, and she laughed softly. "I haven't called you that in a long time, have I?" Harm shook his head, grinning at her.

"I can't help it. My father, and Frank, both taught me to be a gentleman, as did my mother."

"And they did a great job…" Alicia broke in, her voice taunting, but neither Harm nor Mac rose to the bait in her tone. "Problem is, I still see Sarah here, and I want her gone."

"That isn't going to happen, Alicia. You heard the General. Even he accepts that Sarah and I are together now."

"Never!" It was one word, said with such venom, and as Harm stepped forward Alicia tightened her finger on the trigger of the gun. Just at that moment, the door to Harm's apartment opened, and Bud stepped inside. Acting as though he hadn't seen the gun, he grinned at his commanding officer, and looked at Alicia.

"Ms Montes! Hello! It's a pleasure to see you again!" The greeting was made at almost double speed, and Harm seized his chance. While Alicia was still coming to terms with the sudden intrusion Harm lunged and knocked her arm up. Her finger had tightened on the trigger, but the bullet lodged harmlessly in the ceiling, albeit with a cloud of plaster. Before Alicia could release another round into the chamber both Harm and Bud had her arms held tightly behind her back, and a furious Alicia almost screamed as she shouted obscenities at those around her.

"Bud, how did you know…?" Mac asked, coming around to stand next to the General, who was interested in his younger officer's answer too.

"Mattie rang me, ma'am. Harm told her to call me and tell me what was happening. When I got here she gave me her key to the apartment, and I'd already worked out that I would just walk into the apartment as though everything was fine."

"You did a great job, Bud. Thank you," Harm smiled at the younger man, who nodded in return, and then Harm switched his gaze to Mac, the relief evident in his eyes. Mac looked at Alicia then, and reeled a little at the hatred in the other woman's eyes. Cresswell pulled out his cellphone and called down to his vehicle. Within minutes there were two Marine guards at the door.

"You'll never win this, Harm. I'll be released. You have no evidence of what happened here."

"On the contrary, Alicia. We have you on tape," Cresswell brought the recorder out of his pocket, and played back some of Alicia's words to her. "And in additioin to that, we have a bullet from your gun in Harm's ceiling. As the prints on the gun match yours, it's what is called a 'slam dunk'."

"For good measure, Ms Montes, I'll ensure that you face a psychological review board personally, and I'm sure after that is over, their recommendation will be incarceration in a facility for further assessment." Harm spoke quietly, but his words were clear and concise, and Alicia Montes paled as she stood between the two guards now, her hands bound behind her. As she was taken from the room she looked back over her shoulder, and there was a sickly smile on her face. Mac shuddered at the look, turning her head into Harm's shoulder.

"Well, all that's left for this morning is for me to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and to say that I'll see you all at the Roberts' for Christmas dinner later. Isn't that right, Bud?" Cresswell grinned at his younger officer, and Bud nodded his head in surprise, unable to form an answer.

When Cresswell had left Harm's apartment, Mattie dashed across the corridor and into the open doorway. Jennifer was right behind her.

"Are you two okay?" Mattie asked, flinging herself at Harm and Mac, and they managed to field her rush at them, holding her close in a reassuring hug.

"We're fine, Mattie. Honestly." Mac answered Mattie's question, looking from her worried face into Harm's relieved one.

"What's going to happen to Ms Montes?" asked Jennifer, coming in to the apartment and closing the door behind her. Harm gave her a reassuring smile.

"Whatever it is, it isn't going to spoil our Christmas," he murmured, looking at all three women. "Mac and I were going to come surprise you this morning, but we were the ones taken by surprise."

Harm's Apartment – later, Christmas Morning

The General had left, taking the recording with him and leaving the assurance that he would deal with Alicia Montes and NCIS. Mattie had been reassured that both Harm and Mac were all right after hearing the gun shot earlier. With the promise that Harm, Mac and Jennifer would be coming out to Blacksburg to spend New Year, she went off with her father to spend the rest of the Christmas holiday in Blacksburg. Jennifer had left again with Bud, as she was helping Harriet both with the children and the arrangements for the dinner later. With everyone gone, that only left Harm and Mac in Harm's apartment.

They were sat together on the couch, Mac's head resting back against Harm's chest, his right arm around her shoulders, his left hand rubbing lightly up and down her left arm. He felt the movement of her shoulders as she tried to suppress a laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"I was just wondering what Admiral Morris would say to that…" Mac answered, and pointed to the ceiling where the bullet was still lodged. It was evidence, and would have to stay put until NCIS made their investigation into the incident. Harm groaned.

I'm never going to hear the end of that story, am I?"

"That's not just a story, Harm, it's a legend!" Mac answered, and then couldn't hide the laughter any more. Harm turned her so that she was now laying on top of him, and the laughter died on her lips at the look in his eyes.

"Cat got you tongue, Mac?" Harm taunted softly, and Mac shook her head, but she couldn't find words enough to describe what she was feeling. Harm brushed back Mac's hair and cupped her face in his hands. "I could have lost you today. If Bud hadn't distracted Alicia…"

"Shush; I'm okay, and so are you. Harm, it's over. She's gone."

"And so will I be if you don't stop wriggling like that…Mac…!"

Harm put his head back and closed his eyes as Mac deliberately pulled herself up against his body, coming to rest with the vee of her legs resting right over his hardness., and her hands pressed against his shoulders for support. As she leaned over Harm he lifted his head and looked at her. No words were spoken as they read everything in each other's expressions. The fear, relief, need and wanting was all there. And the love. Mac leaned in further as Harm pushed himself up a little higher, and they were both lost to their emotions.

Clothes were removed and strewn around as they moved from the lounge to the bedroom.

"We'll be late," murmured Mac, tugging at the buttons on Harm's shirt. (He and Mac had got dressed after Alicia had been taken down to the General's car. It was one thing to have the approval of your commanding officer to fraternize, it was quite another to be all but naked in front of him!)

"They'll understand. We've been traumatized this morning," Harm responded, pulling Mac's top over her head. Her eyes danced with unadulterated amusement at his comment.

"What they'll understand is that from the moment we were left alone here this morning, you and I were making whoopee!"

"Whoopee?" Harm grinned, and Mac caught her breath, before letting it out on a low groan as Harm pulled her now naked body up against his, skin sliding against skin.

"Oh, yeah…" Mac managed, before giving in to the wonderful sensations he was creating with hands and mouth.

They were so going to be late!

Roberts Residence, Virginia – late afternoon, Christmas Day

Mac sat on the floor of the den, playing with AJ and his little brother, Jimmy. Harm was stood near the entrance to the hallway, his attention split between listening to Harriet and looking at Mac.

"Mac's going to make a wonderful mother, Harm," Harriet murmured, and Harm nodded, before he realized what had been said, bringing his attention fully to rest on Harriet. Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

"I thought that would get your attention!" she laughed softly, and Harm bent to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"You, Mrs Roberts," Harm began softly, " are altogether too intuitive!"

Naval Hospital, Bethesda - days later

"Of course, you realize, I shouldn't be here. He's supposed to be picking me up to go to a party. He promised, and he never breaks a promise." Alicia Montes got up from the seat she had been using, turning away from the other occupant of the room, and looking out of the window at the wintry scene.

"Did he tell you he would be by to pick you up?"

"Of course. He promised!"

"Alicia, where are you right now?"

"That's a silly question, isn't it? I'm in my apartment."

"So, why am I here?"

"Gordon's idea. Said I needed to 'talk' to someone. About what, I ask you?"

"He told me you wanted to talk about her. Sarah Mackenzie."

At the sound of the name, Alicia's body froze in the spot she was standing, and her face paled. Then she regained her composure, and smiled at the other woman in the room.

"Sarah Mackenzie isn't a problem any more. At least not to me. Harm and I have moved on, without her."

Dr McCool took a deep breath and watched her new patient. This was going to be a difficult case.

When Gordon Cresswell had ordered that Alicia Montes be treated in a military hospital, due to the involvement of military personnel, Mac had given him the name of the psychiatrist she had attended following the debacle of Paraguay, and Sadik Fahd. NCIS had approved the psychiatric evaluation, but insisted that Alicia remain in custody pending the outcome of the evaluation, and following that she would be tried in court on various charges relating to her pursuit of Mac, and Harm.

Alicia Montes still believed she and Harm had a life. Together.

How wrong can a woman be?

The End


A/N – I seem to have a lost the plot a little where Mattie was concerned. For the purpose of the story, she spent Christmas Eve at a friend's house, was dropped off early next morning to spend Christmas Morning with Harm and Mac, and then she was going to be spending the rest of the holiday with her father in Blacksburg, with a visit from Harm, Mac and Jennifer during that time to celebrate the New Year. Jennifer reappeared earlier than planned when Bud was called by Mattie. Hope that ties everything up again!