SUNDAY, 27 AUGUST
1445 ZULU
HARM AND MAC'S HOUSE
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA

"Why didn't you wake me?" Mac asked as Harm came in from jogging. "I would have gone with you."

Harm walked over to the couch and leaned over her, kissing the top of her head. "I thought you could use the sleep," he said as he sat next to her on the couch. "You were restless last night."

"I had a hard time finding a comfortable position to sleep in," Mac explained. "I didn't keep you up, did I?"

Harm brushed off her concern. "I'm fine," he assured her. If she had to live with nine months of weight gain and lack of sleep, among other things, it wouldn't hurt him to lose some sleep too. Watching the pregnancy progress had given him a new appreciation of what women went through. "Do you have any plans for today?"

"The Lawson court-martial is starting tomorrow, so Bud is going to come over this afternoon and we're going to do a final run through our plan of attack," she said. "He's bringing AJ with him. He said that Harriet could use the break to catch up on some sleep."

Harm's appreciation rose another notch. Not only did Harriet have to deal with the weight gain, lack of sleep and the other associated effects of pregnancy, she had to do it while trying to keep up with an active toddler. "What about you?" he asked, concerned. "You've only been back at work a week so you're still playing catch up plus you haven't been getting as much sleep as usual recently."

"Harm, I appreciate the concern, but I'm doing okay," she said. "I'll take a nap this afternoon after Bud leaves. Anyway, I've still got six months to go. I don't think it's going to get better any time soon."

"I just don't want you overdoing it, okay?"

Mac looked at him silently, the message in her eyes clear. He held up his hands in mock surrender. "I know," he added. "You're a Marine and you can take care of yourself. Doesn't mean I'm not going to be concerned and watch over you."

Tears started falling from Mac's eyes, startling Harm. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms so that she was sitting across his lap and just held her as she cried against his chest. After a moment, she pulled away slightly and looked up at him as he brushed the tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said, smiling slightly. "I guess it's one of those hormonal things. I don't know what came over me. I guess I'm just not used to being cared for like that."

"What about Brumby?" he asked reluctantly. "I may not like the guy, but ..."

"Yeah, he was sweet and he liked to take care of me," she explained, "but sometimes - I don't know. It's almost like his attention could be suffocating at times. You remember when Coster was stalking me? You were concerned and you showed that, but you also knew when to back off and let me deal with things at my own pace. Or like when my father died and you knew just how far to push me to get me to do what I needed to do for myself. When I went to Australia after that incident with the mishap report, I know he was trying to show his concern, but he kept pushing me to talk about what had happened and to let him help. I had already discussed what had happened with you and I really didn't need to rehash it. What I needed was a chance to get away from it all with no pressures."

"And you didn't get that?" Harm asked, trying not to sound judgmental.

"I know he was trying his best," she answered, "but he didn't really understand what I needed. He never really knew me well enough to know when to push me and to know when to back away. On the other hand, you always seemed to know that."

"Maybe it's because we've known each other so long," he pondered, "or that we just belonged together, even though we were too stupid or too blind to see or admit it."

"Given that, it seems a little hard to believe that I agreed to consider marrying him," she mused.

"Well, unfortunately, I didn't help out my cause after nearly six months on the Patrick Henry and those two weeks in Australia," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but if I'd listened better in Australia ..." she began, then shook her head. "We've already been over this. I don't see the need to rehash it."

Time to back off, Harm thought. Changing the subject, he asked, "What time is Bud coming over?"

"He said that he was going to have lunch with Harriet and AJ first," she replied, "so about one."

Harm glanced at his watch, then looked at Mac, a gleam in his eye. "I did just come in from jogging," he said suggestively as he let his hands roam over her back, "so I need to take a shower. Care to join me?"

"Well, I already took one this morning," she teased, resisting the urge to laugh at the crestfallen look on his face. "But I would not object to taking another one," she added, pressing against him.

-----

Later, Harm laid back on their bed, propped up on pillows as he watched Mac get dressed, an appreciative smile on his face.

"Are you planning on getting dressed," she asked as she buttoned her shirt, "or are you going to lay up here all afternoon while I'm downstairs with Bud and AJ?"

Harm's answer was cut off by the ringing of the phone. Mac, standing next to the nightstand, picked it up. "Hello?"

"Colonel Mackenzie, it's Meg Austin," Meg said. "I was wondering, if you haven't eaten already, if you and Harm would like to have lunch with me."

"Please, call me Mac," Mac insisted. "And I'm sorry, I'm meeting with Bud about a trial starting tomorrow, but let me pass you over to Harm. Maybe he 'd like to go." She covered the mouthpiece with her hand as Harm looked at her questioningly. "It's Meg. She wanted to know if we'd like to have lunch with her. I can't since Bud is going to be here in twenty-three minutes, but maybe you'd like to."

Harm took the phone from her. "Hi, Meg," he said.

"I thought you and Mac would like to go to lunch with me," she explained. "Kate and Jon both have friends in the DC area that they're visiting and Commander Krennick - well, she wouldn't be my first choice for a lunch companion."

Harm laughed, "Mine either. As you've already heard, Mac is working today, but I don't have any plans, so I'd be happy to join you. Did you have someplace in mind?"

"Well, I'm staying in billeting at Ft. McNair and someone told me that the food at the O Club here is pretty good," Meg said. "It's just down the street, which is convenient since Krennick has the car."

"If you'd like to go off post, I can take you somewhere," Harm suggested.

"The O Club is fine," Meg assured him. "What time do you want to meet?"

Harm considered for a moment. "Give me about forty-five minutes," he said.

"Okay," Meg agreed. "I'll see you then. Bye, Harm."

"Bye, Meg," Harm returned and hung up the phone just as Mac tossed some clothes in his direction. As he began dressing, he asked, "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"No, go ahead," Mac said. "I gave Meg and Kate our number yesterday because I figured they would want to get together with you sometime while they're in town. It was nice of Meg to include me in the invitation. I'm sorry I can't come. Anyway, I was thinking about inviting them both over for dinner sometime. We talked some in the stands during the game yesterday and I like them. Now, if Krennick had called ..."

"Don't worry," Harm said. "If she had called, I wouldn't agree to get together with her under any circumstances, even if she did invite you along. Neither of us needs that particular headache."

"Agreed," she replied. "Didn't we agree that we that we were going to forget about her this weekend?"

"Her who?" Harm teased.

-----

1730 ZULU
FT. MCNAIR OFFICER'S CLUB
WASHINGTON D.C.

"I'm sorry Mac couldn't join us," Meg said. "I like her, Harm. She's nice, she has a pretty good sense of humor for a Marine, and most importantly, she makes you happy."

"She does make me happy," Harm agreed as he took a bite of his salad.

"I could tell," she replied. "Yesterday, at the picnic after the game, I watched you two together. It was cute watching how you would hold her hand or put your hand on her stomach and listening to you call her 'Sarah'."

"Cute?" Harm echoed.

"Yeah, cute," Meg confirmed, smiling. "Seriously, with her you seem more, I don't know, relaxed than I think I've ever seen you. Your life has always revolved around the Navy, whether it was flying or JAG. You seem to have different priorities now. I'm sure your career is still important to you, but your life seems more balanced now."

"You're right," he agreed. "My life has always revolved around the Navy, even when I was a kid, having an MIA father, wanting to be just like him. I've always wanted a family, but never really pursued the idea, except for once and then it was too late."

"You mean Diane," she stated. "You took it hard when she died."

"I did," he said, "and it took a long time to get over. But I finally did, with help."

"Mac."

Harm nodded. "I had never told her about Diane," he explained. "When she finally found out, she listened to me talk about her and then she stopped me from making what would have been one of the stupidest mistakes of my life when I finally found her killer."

"You found her killer?" Meg asked. "Who?"

"Commander Holbarth, the Sea Hawk's XO," he replied. "When he ignored her sexual harassment claims, she threatened to report him, so he killed her. When I found out, I went after him and Sarah followed me."

"You wanted to kill him," she stated.

"Before I could do anything, Sarah showed up and Holbarth had a rather strong reaction," he revealed.

"He thought he'd seen a ghost?" she asked.

Harm nodded again and added, "It was raining that night and I'd left her standing out in it outside my apartment. Bud offered her one of Harriet's uniforms to wear, so when she showed up in Norfolk, wearing a Navy uniform, Holbarth thought Diane's ghost had come back to haunt him. He lost his footing and fell off the dock. He was crushed between the dock and the hull of a ship."

"It must have been pretty hard for you, too," Meg commented, "seeing Mac in that uniform."

"Not as hard as the first time we met," he replied. "Then, even with her wearing a Marine uniform, all I could see was Diane's face. But it didn't take me long to realize that while they may look alike, inside they were completely different. But that night, while I was a bit stunned when I first saw her in the uniform, I knew it was her." He was silent for a moment, looking down at his salad before continuing. "She told me that I saw her as Diane that night and I never corrected that assumption," he added quietly.

"You know, when I first saw her in the Admiral's office Tuesday morning," Meg said, "it startled me. Then someone told me that you two were getting married and I admit that I was a little worried about you. I'm sorry, I know that probably sounds bad, suggesting that you would fall for her looks alone or use her as a substitute for a dead woman."

"I can see how people who don't know Mac and I or who haven't seen us together might think that," Harm said. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"Anyway," she continued, "you're obviously very happy, so I'm happy for you. I'm looking forward to the wedding."

"I've got invitations for both you and Kate," he told her. "I'll bring them to work tomorrow."

"Mac said that yesterday," she said. "We're both looking forward to it. I don't think either of us is willing to pass up the chance to watch Harmon Rabb, of all people, get married."

"Very funny, Meg," he said. "I know we haven't been in contact much since you left Washington, but you are a good friend and it means a lot to me that you're happy for me."

"You know, I'm not sure if I should ask this, but speaking of old friends, what about Krennick?" she asked. "Does she know yet? I noticed yesterday you got this funny look on your face when her name was mentioned."

Harm was silent for a moment and Meg noticed that he got that same funny look again. Finally, he said, "I stopped in at JAG yesterday morning and ran into her. She knows that I'm getting married, but unless someone has told her more since then, she doesn't know it's Sarah."

"From the look on your face yesterday and just now, I'd say that seeing her yesterday did not go well," Meg commented.

"She made some rude comments about Sarah and her resemblance to Diane," he explained, "among other things. I left right after that."

And you were pretty angry, I'll bet, Meg thought. "I take it she is who you were talking about when you mentioned the possibility of people who haven't seen you and Mac together jumping to the wrong conclusions," she said. "I'm sure it is not a surprise to you that she was interested in you, back when we were all at JAG together."

"No, it isn't," he confirmed. "But it surprises me that you are aware of it. She was always so careful to avoid anything in public that might be construed as improper. It wouldn't have helped her ambitions to be charged with sexual harassment."

"I wouldn't have been," she replied, "if it weren't for Hong Kong. Otherwise, she was always careful to present a strictly professional front in public."

"What happened in Hong Kong?" he asked.

"When you were missing, she admitted that she wanted you," Meg revealed. "If she hadn't thought that you might be dead, I know she wouldn't have said anything." Meg didn't think there would be any benefit in telling him that she had admitted the same thing and for the same reason. "You think she might cause problems, especially after she finds out that you're marrying Mac?" she asked.

"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I hope not. After everything that's happened, Sarah doesn't need the additional stress."

"You know, I don't know Mac very well and I haven't seen that much of you two together," Meg said, "but from what I saw yesterday and from listening to you talk about her today - if you two love each other as much as I think you do, then you'll be fine. She won't be able to touch you."

"Thanks, Meg," Harm said. "That means a lot to me to hear you say that."

"Anytime, Harm," she said, smiling. "Anytime."

-----

MONDAY, 28 AUGUST
1150 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Harm breathed a sigh of relief as he entered his office. He and Mac had not run into Krennick when they had arrived at work. Questioning Gunny, he found out that the four visitors were meeting with the Admiral about their cases. He resolved to stay away from her as much as possible and to not let her get to him if he did run into her.

Smiling, he headed for the kitchen to get some coffee, where he ran into Tiner. "Good morning, Tiner," he said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Sir," Tiner replied.

"When do you start OCS?" Harm asked. "I haven't heard anything about it since the Admiral announced it in the staff meeting a few weeks ago. We were supposed to have a party for you that Friday."

Tiner remembered. The Admiral had made the announcement the day of the shooting and after what had happened, no one had been in the party mood. "2 October, Sir," he replied. "Then I start law school at George Mason the week after I return from Pensacola."

"Not much time to catch your breath," Harm commented, sipping his coffee.

"No, Sir," Tiner agreed, "especially starting back to work here at the same time. But I am looking forward to working with Colonel Mackenzie and you, at least when you're not on the Hill."

Harm smiled. The Admiral had already informed him that Tiner would be aiding him and Mac, much as Bud had done while he was in law school, although Tiner would also spend a few weeks shadowing Carolyn and Alan while Harm and Mac were on leave after the babies were born. "We're looking forward to having you work with us," Harm told him as Allison and Jon entered the kitchen. Forcing himself to keep smiling, he greeted them with a nod and said, "Commander, Major. Tiner, if the Admiral asks about my Ft. Worth report, I'll have it for him before the staff meeting. I'm getting ready to go over it one last time."

"Yes, Sir," Tiner replied as Harm left the kitchen. Allison quickly poured herself a cup of coffee and followed Harm back to his office.

In her own office, Mac looked up from the Lawson file just in time to see Allison head for Harm's office. Sighing, she considered calling Harm's phone to give him an escape, but decided against it. But she would keep her ears open just in case things got heated in there.

Allison entered the office without knocking to find Harm already seated at his desk, going over the report for the Admiral. "Commander, I need to go over your statement in the Johns case with you this morning," she said without preamble.

Harm didn't look up from his report, replying, "I need to finish this report for the Admiral and then, as I'm sure you are already aware, there is a staff meeting. I should have some time after that however."

Allison pushed the door closed and leaned over his desk. "Commander," she said, placing special emphasis on his rank, "you seem to be taking this case rather lightly."

Harm finally looked up, barely concealed fury evident in his eyes. "Oh, I take this case very seriously, Commander," he said angrily. "The woman I love could have died at that ... bastard's ... hands. We could have lost the babies she is carrying. Two other people did die and three others were injured, also. You have no idea what I am feeling, so do not presume to tell me that I am taking this lightly. Once again, you are way out of line."

She forced herself not to react. Unlike Meg and Kate, she had not heard that Harm and Mac were expecting more than one baby. Damn her, Allison thought. That Marine obviously has a very tight hold on Harm. "It is my job to win this case, Commander," she retorted, "and to do that, I need the cooperation of all the witnesses. I'm going for the death penalty and I intend to win."

"And when you do win it, I'm sure there will be more than one person here who would be happy to throw the switch," he said. "I have no doubts in your ability as a prosecutor. Everyone in this building is behind you and Major Williams one hundred percent on this case. Just don't make this personal between me and you. There is no me and you. Never has been and never will be."

"Speaking of which," Allison asked, "have you told your girlfriend about us? Better yet, how much does she know about Diane? I can't believe that you're pining over your dead Academy sweetheart that much that you would go out and find a woman who looks exactly like her. I wonder how your Colonel would feel about that?"

His eyes on her, Harm picked up his phone and hit a button. "Can you come in here please?" he asked, then hung up the phone. A moment later, there was a knock at the door and Mac stuck her head in. Harm gestured her in. "Please close the door behind you," he said.

Mac did as he requested and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk while Allison remained standing, barely controlling her rage. She couldn't believe that Harm was managing to push all the wrong buttons in her, never stopping to consider that she'd brought it on herself.

"Commander Krennick, I want to get something straight with you," he said, "and I want Sarah to hear this. You see, we have no secrets from each other." He looked her straight in the eye and continued, remaining deadly calm, "You are here to prosecute a case which my fiancée and I have the misfortune of being involved in. We support your prosecution of this case and have no problem dealing with you in that capacity.

"But should you approach either of us outside of your professional capacity as prosecutor of this case, I will have no problem with going to Admiral Chegwidden and telling him everything, from the first time you approached me at my apartment to the conversations Saturday and this morning." He paused to let the promise sink in, then continued, "You once indicated that you saw me as a threat to your ambitions. You push me - either of us - and you will find out just how much of a threat I can be. Have I made myself clear?"

"I believe you are perfectly clear, Commander," Allison replied tightly.

"Good," Harm said. "Then I would appreciate it if you would leave now. I will see you and Major Williams after the staff meeting to discuss my statement in the Johns case. Is that acceptable?"

"It is, Commander," she replied before turning and leaving the office, closing the door behind her.

After she was gone, Harm let out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry about that," he said, "but I wanted to make sure she is aware of where I stand once and for all and that I mean business."

"Harm, I'm sure you realize that you just backed her into a corner," Mac said, taking one of his hands in hers across the desk. "She may lash out."

"I know," he said, "but I have made her aware that if she does, I intend to lash back. You know, back then I was a little bit flattered by the attention from her. And it did occur to me that if I had reported her, it be a blow to my ego for people to think that I couldn't handle a woman. But it's not just me involved this time. You and our children are my life and what affects me affect you."

"Harm, you know I am behind you completely," Mac said. "I just wish I was more confident that this is the right way to go."

"I just hope Krennick will take the time to think about it," he said, "and decide that I am not worth risking her career over. If I do have to go to the Admiral, it would very likely ruin her career since it would not simply be a case of he said/she said."

"You mean, because Bud knows about the harassment," she suggested.

"Not only that," he told her, "but Meg told me yesterday at lunch about a conversation that she and Krennick once had when I was being held captive by the Chinese. Of course, Krennick was too smart to say that she was harassing me, but she did admit to Meg that she wanted me."

"In and of itself, not really damning," Mac mused, "but combined with yours and Bud's stories of the actual harassment ..."

"It would bury her," he finished.

-----

To be continued…