Sorry for the delay, ya'll. RL has been really busy lately. First there were exams, then Christmas, then I was diagnosed with lymphedema. Lymphedema is a chronic, reoccurring disease. See, what happens is that your lymphatic system becomes damaged, so your body dumps all the lymphatic fluid it can't process through the body below the damaged lymph nodes. There is no cure. I've got it in both legs below the knee, and I'm learning how to live with it and treat it. (There aren't any drugs for it, more's the pity ;) ) After that, well, my senior portfolio is due tomorrow so that I can graduate. I'm not sure when the next
chapter will be out, because my graduate school applications are due on February 15, so I'm gonna be
busy again...

Chapter 3:
Broken Places

"The world breaks all of us... but if we are lucky, some of us become stronger at the broken places."
-Madeline L'Engle

1259 ZULU
17 NOVEMBER 2004
JAG HEAQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Harm hurried into the room, laid his briefcase on the table, and slid into his seat. He was on time... barely. There'd been scuttlebutt running around HQ that two new lawyers were coming to investigate his and Mac's situation. It wouldn't do for him to be late and make a bad impression; he couldn't afford any more black marks on his record if he wanted to stay past his twenty.

He looked around the table, and then started in recognition when he noticed two of his ex-partners sitting on the other side. A huge grin spread over his face. Meg and Kate were the new lawyers? It seemed like forever since he'd last seen either of them; maybe after the investigation, they could spend some time hanging out and catching up.

He should probably call the Admiral and answer him sometime soon, as well. He just hadn't been able to figure out why his old CO was offering to help. It wasn't as if they had a good relationship anymore. Hell, it was all they'd been able to do in the last year to achieve an uneasy truce.

He wasn't sure what to say to the man. How could he trust him not to scuttle whatever was left of his career? AJ had told him to go wrestle alligators and to stop being Peter Pan the year before. It wasn't really about forgiveness—-it was about trusting someone again who'd done some things to him that were untrustworthy. He just wasn't sure he could risk that.

Harm tried to catch Meg's eye, but she avoided his gaze. He sincerely hoped that they'd get to the bottom of what had happened so that he could get on with what was left of his life. Mattie hadn't been gone long, but he missed her horribly. She still lived in a corner of his heart, and he knew that she'd always be his little girl there.

While the baby deal was now forever cancelled, he was thankful that Mac would at least let him be friends; he didn't think that he could survive without her at least there for him somehow. She'd twitted him about the missed phone calls in the past year, but what she didn't know was how many times he'd replayed them—and how he didn't answer for fear she'd tell him that she and Webb were getting married or something equally as bad.

Harm pulled some files and a legal pad out of his briefcase and arranged them on the table in front of him and waited for the General to come in. Briefly, he wished for how it had been a few years ago; he missed the joking, the laughter, and the camaraderie that used to characterize the JAG office. He opened a case file and started looking through it. His reports were ready, the case should be settled soon, and he'd be able to handle any other cases the General threw his way.

So immersed was he in the file, that he barely noticed when Mac, Sturgis, and Bud, respectively, came in and took their seats. He did, however, pay attention enough to immediately stand up and come to attention when the General entered the room.

"At ease" General Cresswell said, then took his seat.

Without preamble, he launched into introductions. "Lieutenant Commander Austin and Commander Pike are here to investigate the current situation involving Colonel Mackenzie's and Commander Rabb's alleged marriage. I expect all of you to extend them every courtesy and to cooperate with them."

It was only because he was standing next to the General that Harm heard his next remark. "If any Marines were free, I would've given the case to them." Cresswell muttered before rapidly assigning the rest of the cases.

Harm stoically accepted his share of the work, and bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something he'd regret if he managed to keep his job. The reason why the Admiral had contacted him was beginning to seem abundantly clear. It wasn't that AJ particularly wanted to defend him-he wanted to defend the Navy. He supposed he should be grateful; if it went to court martial, he'd need a lawyer, but he wasn't really in the mood to be grateful about anything.

As soon as Cresswell dismissed them, Harm grabbed his files and hurried towards the refuge of his office. He entered, not really noticing the man standing in the corner, dumped his pile of folders on his desk, then slumped down in his desk chair.

"Son, I hear you've somehow landed in a mess not of your own making" his former CO's soft voice filled the room.

Nine years of habit took over as Harm immediately stood and came to attention. "Sir" he said.

"I'm not your CO anymore, Harm" AJ said. He slid into one of the chairs in front of Harm's desk. "I am, however, an old friend who is in the position to help get you out of the situation you find yourself in."

Harm sat down and eyed AJ warily. "I swear, sir, I don't know how this happened" he said.

"I know, Son" AJ said. "You've got too much honor and integrity to blatantly flout regulations like that without a life-or-death situation; your new CO is just too blind to see it. However, I'm not and I'm going to defend you and prove that you and Mac never got married."

Harm looked down at his desk, unsure what to think of this new development. A show of faith from the Admiral was the last thing he'd expected after the past few years and he didn't know how to react. "Thank you, sir" he said finally.

"AJ. Call me AJ." The Admiral got up, walked closer, and clapped Harm on the shoulder. "I'm going to talk to a few people and see what's going on with the investigation. Hang tight, Son. We'll get you out of this."

Harm looked up and silently watched AJ leave his office. There wasn't a way he could refuse. He didn't really have the money to hire his own counsel even if he wanted to without talking to Frank, and that was something he didn't want to do. He slumped back in his chair before picking up a different case file. With his two ex-partners questioning him, it looked like it'd be a long day.

0135 ZULU
17 NOVEMBER 2004

JAG HEADQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Meg knocked on the door frame to Colonel Mackenzie's office. "Colonel" she called.

"Come in" was the response.

Kate entered first. "Colonel" she began without preamble. "The last time I was here, you and Harm were just good friends. Is that still true"

Meg settled herself in a chair and waited expectantly for an answer. She and Kate had been teamed up for three months and were used to running interrogations together. With her girl-next-door looks and southern charm, she was a natural for the good cop role, while Kate's more abrasive personality did well as the aggressor.

"Yes, it's true. Though I can't say we've exactly been friends as of late." The Colonel clasped her hands together in front of her on her desk. "I guess you could say that our friendship has been on the rocks lately."

"Why is that, Ma'am" Meg asked softly.

Colonel Mackenzie drew in a deep breath. "Since Lieutenant Commander Roberts lost his leg two years ago, this office has kind of been in upheaval." She looked down at the desk. "Between Harm's imprisonment, trial, resigning, coming back, becoming the ward for a teenager, and the Admiral retiring, we're just getting our friendship back." She looked Kate straight in the eye. "Things have changed since you were temporarily assigned here, Commander Pike."

"Did you and Harm have a... marital spat" Kate asked. She put both hands on the desk and leaned forward.

"We've never had that kind of relationship." Mac answered. "Harm is the best friend I've ever had and the one person I can count on to always be there for me when I need him."

"Does that include all your... needs, Colonel" Kate asked.

Meg bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. She'd seen Kate try that ploy quite a bit. It was usually effective, but obviously worked more against men to get them to spill their guts.

Of course, Meg noticed that it wasn't really having the same effect on Colonel Mackenzie. Mac simply leaned back in her chair and arched an eyebrow. "If you're asking if Harm and I have ever had a sexual relationship, the answer is no," she said evenly.

"Ma'am, can you please tell us where you were on December 18, 2001?" Meg asked before Kate could antagonize the Colonel further.

"I've been expecting that question since I found out about the marriage that Harm and I are supposedly in," Mac murmured. "Harm and I were on our way to Camp Lejeune when a snowstorm stranded us in Raleigh."

"So you were in Raleigh and decided that what the hell, you might as well marry Commander Rabb," Kate said dryly.

"No," the Colonel said. "All the hotels except for one were full, and we got the last room there." She paused for a few minutes, then looked Meg in the eye. "They only had one room left, so we took it, but I swear nothing happened. It was a suite, so Harm slept on the couch and I got the bed."

"If that's true, Colonel, then how do you explain this?" Kate tossed a marriage certificate down on the desk, then crossed her arms over her chest.

Meg wasn't entirely convinced that they hadn't flouted regulations and gotten married, but she had to admit that it was out of character for the man she'd been partnered with a decade before to do such a thing. He'd disobey orders if he had to, but he was always up front about it. Subterfuge just didn't suit him.

"I can't," Mac said flatly. She picked up the certificate and examined it. "Harm and I went on the Camp Lejeune the next day for the investigation and headed home afterwards." She paused and looked more closely at the certificate. "I can, however, tell you one thing-these aren't our signatures on the marriage certificate."

"How would you know it's not the Commander's signature?" Meg asked.

Mac dropped the document as if it were dirty and surreptitiously wiped her hands on her skirt. Meg took careful note of it and listened intently to what the Colonel said next. "I've been his best friend and sometime partner for nine years, Commander Austin," she said. "I've seen his signature hundreds of times, and this isn't it."

"Are you sure?" Kate asked.

"Positive," was Mac's reply.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Meg said. "We'll be conducting interviews with the rest of the staff if you remember anything else."

Meg stood up and all but pushed Kate out the door. "What'd you do that for?" Kate demanded.

"Kate, do you think that Harm would ever secretly flout regulations like that? It takes two people to get married."

"I don't know," Kate admitted. "I guess we'll just have to find out."

"That's what we're here for," Meg replied. She hurried across the bullpen to Bud Roberts's office. They'd get to the bottom of what happened; Harm didn't deserve to have his name dragged through the mud. And if he was innocent, then so was the Colonel, and she didn't deserve it either.

0135 ZULU

17 NOVEMBER 2005

JAG HEADQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Mattie waved at the guard, signed in, and pushed the button to call for the elevator. Her father hadn't been hadn't been at all happy that she was going to see Harm. In fact, he'd forbidden her to go, so she'd been forced to sneak out to come to JAG Headquarters. Nobody would stop her from her surrogate father when he obviously needed her help.

As far as she was concerned, he needed her now just as much as he'd needed her after he'd temporarily lost his hearing. Mattie tapped her foot impatiently and rushed out of the elevator when the doors opened. She brushed past Admiral Chegwidden, accidentally knocking him to the floor, and muttered a hasty apology as she pushed open the door and headed into Harm's office.

He had his back turned towards the door, so she snuck up behind him and gave him a hug. "Harm" she said softly.

Harm turned around, surprise on his face. "Mattie! What are you doing here" he asked. "Shouldn't you be in school"

"You need me" she said bluntly. "Something is wrong, and I'm not leaving until you let me help." Harm's actions belied his words as he returned the hug, pulling her close to him. He dropped a kiss into her hair and she smiled. "I made Mac promise to take care of you" she muttered. "Not even a week and she's already forgotten."

"Circumstances are... extraordinary, Kiddo" Harm said as he gave her a final squeeze.

"Harm, from what I've seen, that's the biggest lie you've ever told me. Now spill. What's going on that has you so miserable" Mattie pulled back and glared at him.

Harm sighed. "The long and short of it is that everybody thinks that I've been married to Mac for three years without telling anybody."

After almost a year of living with Harm, Mattie knew at least a little about military law. "And that's illegal, isn't it? Since you and Mac are in the same chain of command? But you're not married to Mac! She wouldn't even talk to us for months after she helped you get me." Mattie gave him another hug. "What a mess."

Harm closed his eyes and returned the hug. "Yeah, Mats" he said softly. "It sure is."

Mattie and Harm both looked towards the door as they heard someone clear their throat. Cresswell looked at the pair. "Commander Rabb, is this something I should be worried about" he asked mildly.

"You must be the new boss" Mattie said, stepping out of Harm's embrace. "Commander Rabb is my..." she hesitated for a second. "Dad" she finished.

"Mattie" Harm said warningly.

"It's true" she insisted, cutting him off. Mattie turned back towards him and gave him a smile. "I may be living with my father now, but you're still the man who was my dad when I needed one."

"Mattie was my ward last year, sir" Harm supplied.

"Was, Commander" Cresswell questioned.

"I decided to give my father another chance" Mattie explained. "So far, Harm is a whole lot better at being a dad than my original one." She shrugged. "Anybody can be a father, but to find a dad like Harm..."

Cresswell favored her with a sharp glance. "Young lady, next time you need to see the Commander, please refrain from doing it during business hours."

Mattie smiled inwardly as she figured out exactly what to say to him. She gave Cresswell her most innocent look. "But sir, the Commander is helping me get an appointment to the Academy so that I can be a Marine pilot someday."

"I see, so you want to be a Marine pilot, young lady" Cresswell asked.

"Yes, sir" she said with a big smile. "Harm has been teaching me to fly, and he says I'm a natural." Mattie glanced back and noticed that Harm was trying not to choke at her words. Sure it was a lie… but not by much. She wanted to be a Navy pilot, but Harm's boss didn't need to know that. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide the fact that the fingers of her left hand were crossed.

Cresswell raised an eyebrow. "Not in government equipment, I trust, Commander"

"No, sir" was the answer. "I own an antique biplane."

"Carry on" Cresswell said with a sharp nod, then left the office.

Harm strode across the room and shut the door behind the General. "Mattie! I can't believe you just did that"

Mattie grinned and flopped into one of his chairs. It felt good to have him scolding her again. "Yes, you can" she said impudently. "It worked, didn't it"

"Mats, we talked about lying before..."

"Yes, we did. That wasn't lying, that was sucking up" Mattie said brightly. "And for the record, I wanna fly Navy or I'm not going military. Besides, it didn't count because I had my fingers crossed."

Harm simply shook his head and sighed. "Mattie does your father know where you are"

"I told him. I stopped by your place on the way over and dropped off my stuff. I'm staying until this gets fixed, because I'm not leaving you alone." Mattie crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a stubborn look.

"What about school" Harm asked.

Mattie shrugged. "I've been gone for less than a week, and my new school doesn't have my records yet. I can go back to school here with Susan."

Harm rubbed his temples as if he had a headache coming on. "I guess I'd better start house hunting again" he muttered. "Mats, you've always got a home with me, you know that, right"

Mattie stood up, walked over, and gave Harm a kiss on the cheek. "I know. That's why you're my dad." She smiled at his as his arms came up around her again to give her a hug. Now that she was back, Harm wouldn't have to face the current mess alone.