Making a Family
Spoilers: Putting this first, just in case. Um, the series ender; Fair Winds and Following Seas. But how many people haven't actually heard about how JAG ended? If you haven't and don't want to know then stop reading this now. Also deals with the events in episodes; 'Yeah Baby', 'Jag-San Diego and 'Four Percent Solution.'
Summary: This story is set in London, fifteen months after the events of FW&FS, the series ender. There have been lots of developments in this time. Mattie's is now living with Harm and Mac, who are now married. I've really loved all of the stories I have read so far, especially everyone's take on how Harm and Mac's wedding might have taken place and how they might have dealt with starting to set up a home together. I don't want to start rehashing everything immediately after the last episode, so there's going to be a slight jump, to end up where things in London are mostly settled…However, there is one thing that we JAG fans have been holding onto since the episode "Yeah Baby"; yep, Harm and Mac's baby deal. This has never really been resolved, because although Harm did say to Mac, when they reached the five-year deadline, that he still did want to have a child with her, we also know from the events of "Four Percent Solution" that the chances of having children 'naturally' (I use the term loosely, because I know many people regard their children to be theirs naturally, no matter the circumstances in which they come into the family) are vastly stacked against them. I used the term 'Making a Family' because it is sufficiently vague. As this story shows, there is more than one way to 'make a family.' This is just my take on what might have happened, had JAG continued…
Rating: At the moment this is a PG-13, or T, but that might change. If it does, I will put a clear warning on it.
Category: Harm/Mac shipper. This is also a bit of a Bud/Harriet fic, too.
Disclaimer: JAG does not belong to me, nor do any of the tv programs briefly mentioned; CSI, Law & Order and Forensic Academy. I'm just a science nut. Also, I don't make any money from what I write, just get to exercise my imagination so that it doesn't get too out of control! Anyway, enjoy! And please review...
Looking away from the case file, which he had long since stopped reading, Captain Harmon Rabb Junior decided that he'd leave the case reviews until tomorrow morning. If he could get into the office early, he'd have plenty of time before the morning meeting to go over the cases before he assigned them to his officers. With a deep sigh, his gaze wandered automatically to the framed picture on his desk. The smile spread across his face as he gazed at 'his girls.' It was funny, he didn't even recall the first time he started thinking about Mac and Mattie like that. He just knew that every time he did, his heart would swell with pride.
Since coming to the UK, things had not been easy, but Mac and Mattie had adjusted amazingly well to the change of country.
Mattie especially had come on in leaps and bounds, having still been confined a wheelchair for a month after setting wheel (her words!) on British soil. Four days a week, she went to rehabilitation sessions that usually lasted half the day. For another few hours until Mac secured and could come to pick her up, Mattie received tuition so that she would not fall behind with her education. And with the help that Mac was able to give her, Mattie was making progress that seemed nothing short of miraculous, considering how doctors in DC had been unsure if she would ever regain consciousness, let alone ever move again.
And Mac…Harm felt a lump in his throat when he thought about how much Mac had given up for him and Mattie. It may have cost her a command post and perhaps even a promotion to full Colonel, but Mac always refused to see it that way.
"It's all how you think about it," she had replied, when Harm had brought up the subject, "On the flipside, I've got what I've always wanted; a good man, lots of comfortable shoes and a family I've always wanted to be a part of."
Harm never saw any hesitation in her words, she said them without having to think about it. Her original goals in life really must have changed and Harm hoped that they had done so for the better.
"And the great career?" he had asked about the change to her previous goals.
"I've got a career that is good and I've got the chance to work on it even more," she had shrugged her shoulders, nonplused, "No matter what, I'd be doing that anyway. The speed of acceleration makes no difference to me."
So Harm had taken her at her word. She now worked on a part-time basis at the American Embassy in London, advising on legal matters and really did seem to value her work, though not nearly so much as her family. He had recalled the word she had used, 'family.'
Yeah, that's what he, Mac and Mattie were, even though Mattie wasn't actually biologically related to them. It didn't matter one bit to Mac, although she and Harm were still holding onto the hope that they could add to the family. But the future for the family was bright and it was something that Harm gave thanks for, every day.
The house was darkened when he got home and he wondered where everyone could be. He got his answer once he got to the doorway into the living room.
"Hey there," he greeted, smiling at Mac, who was sitting with the lights dimmed, watching something on the television.
"Hey there!" Mac's smile lit the room, "Good day?"
Harm nodded, "Yeah, but much the same as yesterday. Once we get through all of the backlog, it'll be better. Everybody's working hard, though.
"Good," Mac nodded in approval.
You could take the Colonel out of JAG, but you couldn't take JAG out of the Colonel!
"Where's Mattie?" Harm asked, curious.
"She's already gone to bed," Mac told him, regretfully, "She had such a hectic day that she could barely keep her eyes open through dinner. She must have been busy, she's been in bed for hours already. But I won't be surprised if she sleeps right through."
Harm nodded, understanding.
"Maybe it's for the best," he pondered, "I'm sure she'll have more of the same tomorrow."
Mac nodded, concurring with him, then smiled wistfully.
"What?" Harm asked, smiling also.
"I'm just really proud of her, you know?" Mac admitted.
"Yeah," he pulled her into a hug, "I know exactly what you mean."
And in silence, they settled down to watch America's Finest.
(AN: America's Finest is a set of programs that show on Channel Five in the UK. It consists of CSI and Law and Order. Depending on the night of the week, it is either one episode of CSI Miami, Vegas or New York with one episode of Law and Order the original series, Special Victims Unit or Criminal Intent. It was a tradition while I was at university and a chance to reconnect with home for my American flat mates! If we were lucky, afterwards we'd get an episode of Forensic Academy afterwards. It was always hard getting up for early lectures the next day, but well worth it!)
Afterwards, he turned off the television set and scooped his sleepy wife into his arms, to carry her to bed. She didn't say a thing or even look at him in question. This wasn't a common occurrence, but she just seemed to sense the need in him to show her his love for her. And as Mac always did, she accepted what he offered her and reciprocated in her own way.
"So, what are the plans for today?" Harm asked as he watched his daughter potter about the kitchen on her crutches, getting all of her belongings together.
On Fridays she got a ride to the rehab centre from the parents of a friend who also attended. He returned the favor on Tuesdays, because he was in work early for consultation with the junior officers under his command. Harm had been glad when Mattie had met Becky, the daughter of a British Minister of Parliament.
"Oh," she said, "The usual…a bit of torture on the rack, then perhaps some manhandling…If I do really well, they might put me in irons!"
Harm and Mac both laughed, not only at the joke, but because Mattie seemed to be taking it so well and they were, as a result, even more intensely proud of her.
When Harm continued to watch her carefully, ever her protector, she decided to reassure him.
"Don't worry, Dad, I'll be fine."
Harm just nodded and let Mattie get on with things, which is what she always did. She always believed that she would be 'just fine.' The specialist here in the UK was much more optimistic about her long-term recovery, not just her 'adjustment to her present condition,' than those in the US. And it wasn't that her doctors in DC had been doubtful about her abilities. In fairness they had known her for less time than her doctors here. But also, her doctors in DC had been more cautious, because her injuries at that point in time had been largely unknown. With the time that she had been in London, Mattie's body had had a chance to recover what function it could and doctors could now see what damage remained and were able to plan out what needed working on in order to compensate.
But if there was one thing that was a Godsend, it was that Mattie's neurological capabilities had been unharmed. She would always be the same Mattie that Harm and Mac loved, although there would always be some things that they would have to assist her with. All in all, Mattie had been very lucky. She was still a ways off 'full recovery,' but it was a goal that she worked towards, every day, with Harm and Mac at her side.
Just then, they were all startled from their separate thoughts by the beep of a horn outside.
"That's Becky and her Mom," Mattie told them, "Bye Dad, bye Mom…I'll see you on Sunday," Mattie quickly bid them goodbye, hugging them both.
"You want me to help y…"
Harm was quickly cut off.
"No, thanks. I'm good."
And with that, Mattie was gone.
"I forgot that she was staying with Jen this weekend," Harm told Mac, as they both continued with their breakfast.
What do people think? Any good? Should I continue? Please, please, please review...