"Colonel, Commander, take a seat." The Admiral watched his two senior staffers come to attention in front of his desk before sitting in their chairs. "There was an incident with a helicopter out at Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Corps Base. I need you two out at Twenty-Nine Palms ASAP to investigate this." The two men looked at one another, both having the same question running through her head.

"Sir, don't you normally assign Major MacKenzie to investigations with Lieutenant Commander Rabb? Not to second guess your judgement sir but in the time I've been assigned here I've seen the two of them accomplish things I would have assumed impossible of two attorneys." The Colonel's question got and immediate reaction from the Admiral.

"Colonel, I don't take kindly to my officer's questioning my orders, Major MacKenzie is doing work for which she is better capable. You have been assigned to this case because you're a Marine and because the CO at Twenty-Nine Palms, a Colonel Ron Barrett is an old friend of yours who will likely give you information a little easier than responding to only a Navy man, understood Colonel?" The Admiral looked sternly at the Marine before him.

"Aye, aye sir." The Colonel gave him a small nod.

"Good, dismissed." The Admiral gave them an acknowledging wave before sending them on their way. The two men walked out of the Admiral's office and past Petty Officer Tiner on their way into the bullpen. Mac walked up to the pair of them, it was rare that either of them were in the office without her also being called and it was especially rare for both of them to be in there without her.

"What did the Admiral want to see the two of you about?" She approached Harm, ever since that day at the Wall; she'd been seeing a lot of Harm, at his apartment, at her apartment, just about anywhere.

"The Admiral is sending Jim and I to investigate a Helo crash out at Twenty-Nine Palms today. The CO out at Twenty-Nine Palms is an old friend of Jim's so the Admiral thinks we might be able to get information a little easier and expedite the investigation. Both of us tried to get you on the case Mac, the Admiral just wasn't hearing it." Harm realized that she seemed a little confused.

"First he's got me doing rookie work, now he's giving investigations away that you and I always do together. I'm starting to wonder what exactly I did to anger him." Mac was taken aback when Harm reached out and lightly stroked her right shoulder.

"It'll be okay Mac; like the CAG told me once 'everything in life is like a kidney-stone, it'll pass eventually'." He was rewarded with the smile that he was going for.

"How can you do that? You always manage to make me smile, even when I should only be feeling anger, you make me laugh." She sounded so tender, so soft in that moment. Seizing the moment, he raised his left hand to cup her cheek.

"That's because I like seeing you smile, Sarah." He smiled at her. If he only knew what he was doing to her, how he was tearing her between a career move and him. Every instinct in her body told her to seize the moment, to seize him and never let go, but she found her feet firmly anchored in place.

"Thanks Harm." She did reach for his arm but he hesitated and retracted it.

"Rabb! Get your six in gear! You, Bud and I got a transport to catch!" Jim called from across the bullpen. Harm ran to his office to pick up a few things and across the bullpen his two travel companions were taking part in an interesting conversation.

"Lieutenant, listen closely because I'm only going to say this once. I'd like a place in the pool, this Friday for fifteen dollars." Jim kept looking in the direction of his friends as he gave the order under his breath.

"Sir, Commander Mattoni has this Friday. I can give you Saturday?" Bud looked hopefully up at his superior officer.

"Bud, what insignia does Mattoni wear?" Jim couldn't believe he had to go through this again.

"Gold oak leaves sir." Bud answered innocently and slightly confused.

"And what insignia is on my shoulders, Bud?" The Colonel's tone was joking and his expression was humorous as the young Lieutenant seemed to finally get his drift.

"Friday it is sir, I'll just book Commander Mattoni over both days on the weekend that should make it up to him." Bud smiled and quickly wrote down the Colonel's order. Harm caught up to them as they were about to embark on their way out of the glass JAG doors.

"You guys weren't about to leave without me were you?" Harm laughed as he caught up to his friends.

"No, we were just going to stand out in front of the elevator while the Lieutenant told me a rather humorous anecdote about other times when you've given Major MacKenzie goo-goo eyes." Jim smiled and Bud looked like a deer in headlights as Harm tossed him one of those 'oh really?' looks.

"Sir…I wasn't…I mean the Colonel and I were just talking about…" Bud was stammering and tossing Jim a few pleading looks.

"At ease Lieutenant, I've already told you you're pushing the warranty on that tongue of yours." The three officers got on the waiting elevator and they were soon on a plane to Twenty-Nine Palms. The flight was long; Harm and Bud enjoyed it more than their Marine counterpart.

"Not enjoying the flight, Colonel?" Harm seemed amused by the sickened expression on Jim's face.

"I'll leave the flying to you Commander and you can leave jungle rescue missions to me, alright?" There was a small trace of laughter in the Colonel's voice.

"I don't know Jim; I might have some experience to rival you in that area. The name Francis Stryker mean anything to you?" Harm's tone was one of light inquisition.

"Stryker was one of my first missions as a Force Recon officer, when the government heard he was going after POWs in Laos and North Vietnam they wanted to get him the hell out of there, so they sent in the best. You been peaking in my service record Commander?"

"No sir, I went on a mission with him to rescue my father who I believed was being held by the Vietnamese after the war." Harm said as a member of the flight crew came back to tell them they were about to land.

"As noble a purpose as that is Commander, going on a mission with Stryker in those days was a good way to get yourself killed." The ramp door opened when the plane had come to a complete stop and the three officers walked out of the plane and on to the tarmac at Twenty-Nine Palms. The CO had come out in a jeep to meet the officers personally.

"Ron Barrett you old Jarhead I can't believe they're still letting you man a post, I thought for sure that they'd at least give you a cane." The two birds shook hands like the old friends they were.

"Jim Grant! I thought the Pentagon issued an order that kids were supposed to be kept away from small objects that they could swallow like silver eagle shoulder insignia." The two shared a laugh over their jokes.

"Ron, scuttlebutt is you've got a downed bird that collided with something out in the desert." Jim and his old war buddy walked down the runway talking like the old days.

"That's how it looks Jim, damnedest thing I've ever heard of. Hell of a courageous pilot though, managed to bring the chopper down and save everyone but himself."

"You gonna recommend him for a posthumous DFC?" Jim's question brought Harm's interest into the conversation.

"I've thought about it." After Colonel Barrett finished his sentiment Harm cleared his throat.

"Oh Ron, these are my two colleagues for this investigation. Two of the best the Navy has to offer, Lieutenant Commander Rabb and Lieutenant j.g. Roberts." Colonel Barrett shook hands with the two Navy officers.

"I see you're a pilot Commander." Colonel Barrett was blunt.

"Yes sir." Harm was trying to get a feel for who Colonel Barrett was.

"Good, let's hope that a Marine and a pilot will be able to tell me straighten up what happened out there that night." With that the four officers piled into a jeep and headed back toward the base.

Within the hour, the JAG team was out at the crash site scrounging around for whatever evidence they could find. "Sir, would you look at this?" Bud picked up a shiny piece of what appeared to be some kind of fibre-glass.

"What is it Harm?" Jim was standing on the other side of the crash site.

"It's a piece of something; my guess would be that it's a piece of whatever hit the Helo. We'll know more when we can do some testing on it." The two men shared understanding looks and continued to sort through the wreckage as two vehicles pulled up to the scene.

"Gentlemen. Special Agent Palmer DSD, here to investigate the crash of the helicopter." The man walked up to Harm and Jim who stood side-by-side between the DSD agents and the scene. "This crash is no longer JAG jurisdiction." Jim walked up to Palmer and looked at his badge.

"The hologram on your ID is outdated by three months." Jim observed.

"We're not moving from this crash site unless you've got an order that can force us." Harm fired back. Palmer reached into his jacket and produced a congressional order. Harm ripped it from his hands. "What do we do now?" He looked over at Jim.

"This order had to be issued by the House Armed Services Committee. You call Congresswoman Latham and I'll call Congressman Drexler. We'll see if they actually issued the order." Harm and Jim both pulled out cell phones and proceeded to dial the respective numbers. After a few minutes of phone conversation, the JAG officers huddled again. "Scott Drexler says the order was never voted on."

"Bobbi Latham just told me the same thing."

"So either they're both really trying to spread manure on this in hopes that something beautiful will grow or…"

"Or these guys aren't DSD. I'll pocket this object in case we need it but I think we should get back to the base and make sure we have jurisdiction." Harm got a maniacal smile.

"Damn fine idea Harm. Gunny!" Jim called for the Gunnery Sergeant in the detachment of men Colonel Barrett had given them to guard the site. "Gunny, the Lieutenant, the Commander and I have to go back to the base and square up a few legal loopholes." Than Jim proceeded to raise his voice so that Palmer could hear him. "If even one of those men over there get near the wreckage, shoot them!"

"Yes, sir!" The Gunny's reply came enthusiastically which brought a smile to all the officer's faces. With that the officers headed back to the base while the Gunny had his men at the ready walking the perimeter around the crash.

(A/N: I hate doing this for two reasons: a) I think it makes me a weaker writer and (b) I think it makes this chapter seem like an episodic rewrite, which though it sort of is, I don't like it. Skip to Scene After Harm is caught trespassing.)

"Gentlemen, I've had calls coming in from Washington all morning telling me to send you back there. There have been numerous calls to put you on the next transport out of here." Colonel Barrett did his best to sound his most authoritative.

"Sir, we have reason to believe that there's something hidden at the Bradenhurst Corporation, something that collided with your helicopter that night and that what ever it is, it's being covered up." Harm looked up at the two birds whose hard looks suddenly softened.

"Gentlemen, the next transport is full, there won't be another until 1000 tomorrow." With that the three JAG officers came to attention in front of Colonel Barrett before leaving his office.

"Harm, I'm disappointed with you. Not for trespassing, it's exactly what you should've done. I'm disappointed that you didn't take me along. If you'd a had a Force Recon Marine with you, you never would've gotten caught. I trust you've already got a plan for how you're going to get back in there tonight?" The middle-aged Marine looked at his friend expectedly.

"Actually yeah. I've got the skeletal details all worked out but I'm going to need a little help executing it, you two up for it?" Harm looked at Bud than over at the Colonel.

"Hell yeah!"

"Yes, sir." Bud looked slightly less enthused than the Marine on Harm's left.

"Good, now here's the plan…" Harm went on to explain the plan to his fellow JAG officers. "You think you can secure us some Desert Cammies from the Supply Sergeant, Colonel?"

"Shouldn't be a problem Harm, the may say 'Marines' on the chest though." Jim nudged Harm in the arm.

"Ah, I guess it'll have to do." With that the three of them slipped into their temporary office for the duration of the day until night fell and they would once again venture out into the desert.

Harm and Jim slipped out of the jeep and quietly made their way across the sand to a place near the gate to the compound. Bud drove off and set the explosion outside the gate just like the plan called for him to. Then he drove off as the guards on watch at the Bradenhurst gate opened the gate of the compound to investigate the explosion. The two officers exploited the open gate to make their way into the compound.

"That's never a good sign." Jim whispered as he and Harm threw themselves down on the sand once they saw a set of headlights coming down the road from the main building. "When the entrance is easy, the exit is usually a bitch."

"You don't need twenty-one years of Force Recon experience tell you that." They both got to their feet and started to once again make their way across the desert to the main building. They were almost to the main building when Harm stopped moving, he heard the same noises, felt the same atmosphere that he had felt the night before when he and Bud had followed the jet into the compound.

Jim stopped when he noticed that Harm wasn't moving alongside him any more and he looked back to see his Navy friend standing under what appeared to be some kind of stalled aircraft. When he saw the lights he made a mad dash for his friend. "Rabb, get out of there!" He tackled his friend to the sand as the pulse his the desert behind them.

"Thanks." Harm winced as he realized the Marine's elbow had nailed him square in the gut as they fell to the sand.

"Don't mention it. Just don't do it again." The two them got up and started once again toward the building.

"We had better get there fast; my guess is that plane was their way of signalling the welcoming party." Harm was actually starting to sound like a recon man, at least in the ears of his friend. The two of them quickly navigated the remainder of the desert and were soon standing against the building. The speed with which the Bradenhurst security teams had left the building to go find the two of them out in the desert mean that a side door to the hangar was open.

"More easy entrances?" Harm looked back as each of them pulled their side-arms and went through the door. There were a few technicians working around the plane but they didn't seem to notice the military personnel in their midst. An alarm was raised to alert them that there was a security breach and the technicians scrambled up the stairs and out of the hangar.

"Don't grab anything bigger than your hand, we need proof of whatever this thing is and proof that it exists." Jim whispered as the two of them dispersed looking for some proof of the aircraft. Harm pulled a pen out of his breast pocket and pressed the clip several times getting pictures of the plane. "James Bond issue?" Jim asked as he folded up a set of blueprints and stuffed them in his pants pocket.

"Pen camera, I got it from the Intel officer back at the base." Harm slid the pen back into his breast pocket and picked up a few floppy disks from the desk and once he's seen an engineer slide in the floppy drive on the computer. "You got evidence?"

"Yeah, let's get the hell out of here before they figure out where we are." Jim and Harm were about to dash up the stairs and navigate their way to the proper exit for an escape. Security personnel came bursting through the door that the technicians had left through.

"Well so much for leaving before they find us." Harm and Jim ran toward the door that they had used to enter as shots rang out behind them. "We've got to get a jeep or a car or something, there's no way we can out run these guys across the desert in the day." Harm noticed that the sun was cresting the dunes in the distance.

"What I wouldn't give to have Matt O'Hara and his chopper right now." Jim complained as the heat began to become apparent.

"There's an open truck across the parking lot, if we can get to it without getting shot, we might actually be able to get the hell out of here." Harm tried to catch his breath.

"Lead on MacDuff." The two men sprinted across the parking lot and into the truck. "You drive, you're the pilot."

"You shoot, you're the Marine." Harm hotwired the car and gunned it out of the parking lot. The Bradenhurst security teams were hot on their tail. Harm was pushing the truck as fast as he could, he was topping out near 100mph.

"This baby purrs just like the General Lee!" Jim shouted as he hung his torso out the passenger side window, sunglasses on and wind whistling through his hair.

"Well keep ol' Roscoe of our tail then Luke!" Harm laughed as he pushed the truck in excess of one hundred miles per hour and he pulled his friend back into the cab as they broke through the gate of the compound.

"Yeehaw!" Jim cried as he turned of the safety and loaded another magazine in his gun. Hanging himself out the passenger side window Jim prepared for another round of battle in the desert. Shots were being fired in all directions, but the only accurate shots were being fired from the truck with the JAG officers in it. Jim's service pistol rang out through the desert air as his shots put one of the security vehicles out of service by blowing up the engine.

"Nice shootin' Luke!" Harm yelled as he took the chase off the road and into the desert.

"Thank ya, Bo!" Jim shouted back. The Bradenhurst agents were now taking deliberate aim at the wheels of the truck but the Marine Colonel responded by changing his target from the agents' vehicles to the agents themselves. He managed to take down two before their shots finally took out one of the rear wheels on the truck and grind the vehicle to a screeching halt. The two men got out of the vehicle, their guns drawn and ready. "Looks like we're about to have a gun fight in Hazzard County cousin."

The Bradenhurst agents had their guns at the ready as well; the odds were at about thee to one, well within the realm of capability for the two officers. Palmer was out first, he tried to stand toe to toe with Harm. "Give me it, Commander!" Palmer demanded.

"What?" Harm looked stoically and indignantly down on Palmer.

"You know damn well what!" Palmer punched Harm in the face but the same arm that it Harm was soon the recipient of a bullet to the shoulder thanks to Jim's gun. Palmer fell to the ground screaming in pain. He rolled over and retrieved his gun with his other hand. "I'm authorized to use deadly force, don't you two understand that!"

"You haven't got the balls Palmer!" Harm came back as he got to his feet.

"You want to play chicken with your life Commander?" Palmer pressed his gun to the middle of Harm's chest. Jim had to keep his gun pointed at the other five agents but always kept Harm in his peripheral.

"You couldn't do it Palmer; you're a little man hiding behind that penis enhancement of a weapon." Harm's jaw was set firm.

"Oh I could do it Commander." Palmer seemed to be wavering slightly, perhaps from the blood-loss, more than likely from Harm's words.

"You and what army Palmer?" Harm's eyes were aflame with hatred for the man holding a gun to him.

"Me and my security team, Commander." Palmer's words seemed lacking in conviction. As the tensions rose, three Marine humvees came over the dunes and interrupted the scene. "And just who the hell are they?" Palmer asked Harm, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"My security team, Palmer." Harm smiled as Colonel Barrett got out of his humvee and approached the scene all the weapons were lowered.

"What the hell is going on here?" Barrett's tone was demanding.

"Sir, this man has articles in his possession that are rightfully my property." Palmer was posturing.

"Colonel, the evidence I have with me proves that the Bradenhurst Corporation was responsible for the crash of your Helo that night." Harm was self-assured.

"I am taking Commander Rabb and Colonel Grant into my custody along with any and all articles on their persons." Barrett was stoic as he got between Palmer and Harm. Colonels Grant and Barrett started to walk back to the humvees but Harm hung back and had his fist meet Palmer's nose once with great force.

"Sorry sir, I owed him that." Harm tried to look innocent as he sat in the backseat of a humvee next to Bud. Colonel Barrett looked over at Colonel Grant and the two of them laughed.

"And we get the bad reputation." Barrett said as he motioned for the humvees to head back to the base.

"Yeah but to be fair Ron, we did beat the shit out of that platoon of Rangers on our way home from Somalia." The officers all shared a laugh as they headed back to the base.

1500 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

"Unbelievable! One dead security agent, two wounded. Two destroyed vehicles! Who the hell do the two of you think you are?" The Admiral was sufficed to say unpleased with the actions of his officers.

"Sir, we fired only when fired upon and sought out the truth for the purpose of serving justice, exactly what a good JAG officer is supposed to do." Harm elected to speak.

"What the hell am I going to do with the two of you! Congress wants to give you a medal for proving that certain military powers bypassed their authority and the SECNAV wants me to let the pair of you fry on a stake." The Admiral threw himself down in the chair behind his desk.

"Sir, Congresswoman Latham and Congressman Drexler are here to see you sir." Tiner's voice was welcomed by both of the investigators who were both in the middle of the worst dressing down of their careers.

"Send them in Tiner." The Admiral ordered as he rubbed his temples. The door opened wide to reveal two congresspersons in their usual suits carrying their briefcases. "Nice to see you Congresswoman Latham, Congressman Drexler." The Admiral had the biggest fake smile on his face.

"Admiral, Scott and I, rare though it is that we agree on anything, are here because Congress has taken a very hard look at what happened out in the desert and we've come to the conclusion that these two officers acted in the best interest of their country. At this moment a petition by Congress has been forwarded to the President to pardon these two officers for any actions that they might have taken in the investigation and the President even believes that some kind of commendation may be in order for these two men." Bobbi Latham was forceful in her presentation of her case.

"I see. What do you suggest I do Congresswoman? I can't very well have my people turn into John Wayne every time the mood strikes them." The Admiral's voice was almost condescending.

"What ever disciplinary action you deem necessary for their evasion of the chain of command in dealing with the issue should be appropriate, Admiral." Scott Drexler stepped forward. "However, congress would like to request that they only be punished for evading proper channels in the course of their investigation."

"Agreed. Lieutenant Commander, Colonel, the two of you will report at 0900 every Saturday morning until the New Year for filing duties. To wit you will also forfeit six weeks pay. " The Admiral tossed the two of them a stern look.

"That seems appropriate Admiral, now if you'll excuse me; I have to get back to Washington to vote on a bill. You can keep Scott, the less Republicans we have on the floor for this one, the better." Bobbi turned on heel and walked out of the office with Scott fast on her heels. When the door slammed, the Admiral got to his feet again.

"It took an act of Congress, the support of both Democrats and Republicans and a Presidential pardon to keep the two of you out of serious trouble on this one. I just have one question for the two of you." The Admiral looked self-satisfied as he sat on the edge of his desk.

"And what would that be sir?" Harm's smile was playing on his face as he anticipated the question.

"If you two really screw up next time, will I actually get to meet God? Because he'll be the only person able to keep me from throwing both of you in the brig and melting down the key." The Admiral looked from Harm to Jim and then back to Harm. "Dismissed." The two men snapped to and then turned on heel and left the Admiral's office.

Bud and Harriet were standing together in the bullpen, the scuttlebutt was vicious today, it had set the whole mood, there was no escaping it, it was like a dark storm cloud looming over head. Harm walked to the elevator, he was going to go down and walk the grounds to clear his head. Jim went straight to his office and threw himself into his chair as a sort of catharsis. He put his feet up on his desk and draped his cover over his face to make it look like he was sleeping.

Mac had gone into the Admiral's office; every one in the office seemed to know what was going on. It had every one a little tense but it had her closest friends depressed. After a few minutes Mac walked out of the Admiral's office, the first people she saw were Bud and Harriet.

"Do you have to do this ma'am?" Bud's eyes were pleas.

"No Bud, I don't have to but I want to." She looked unsure but somewhat happy.

"I'm sure going to miss you ma'am this place won't be the same without you." Bud tried to muster a smile but couldn't.

"I'm a civilian now Bud, you'd better start calling me Sarah." She tried to get a smile from him.

"I don't think I can ma'am." With that Bud seemed to detach himself from the conversation.

"Have either of you seen Commander Rabb?" It was Mac's turn for her eyes to become silent pleas for help.

"No Ma'am." Harriet's voice was little more that a removed squeak. Mac turned away from her friends to the now familiar Marine green lump parked behind a desk across the bullpen from her.

"You always did find it hard to come back from a mission and delve into the paper work." Mac tried to make him laugh or at least pull his cover off his head. He did neither.

"You know Mac; I've done things in my life that I've regretted after I've done them. Your uncle always used to tell me I should've known better." The voice was loud enough to be heard but it was still somewhat muffled by the cover.

"Don't make me regret this please. I want to do this. I…I…" She looked at him as he removed the cover from his face. The boyish playfulness that she'd seen since she known him wasn't there. There was wisdom in its place now. She closed the door behind her as she entered the office.

"You, Sarah MacKenzie, are a conundrum. There are times when I can look at you and see strong, intelligent person you've become. But there are times like now when I look at you and see the same scared, angry girl who came out to the Rock to dry out all those years ago. You never ran from your problems, you never took the easy road, you always prized the just and the right above all else. You've stopped doing that, Mac." He looked at her like a mentor would a student.

"Damn it, why can't you just let me be! You always tried to save me; you could never just let me go. Every time I left and something happened you were still right there to save me, I don't need you to save me any more!" Her frustration wasn't all meant for him, but he was the nearest target.

"Mac, you're a Marine by nature. Eventually, whatever materialistic wool Dalton Lowne has pulled over your eyes will lift and you'll see all that's happened and what will you do than?" Jim looked up from relaxed position. He had hit it like guided missile, right on the one uncertainty that was gnawing at her. What if she got in too far to come back? Dalton would never be Harm, the firm might never be JAG, all these questions that had plagued her mind as she tried to sleep the night before were coming back.

"You know, you've known me the longest, you're one of the people closest to me, I thought at least you'd be happy for me." Her face was laced with hurt.

"I am happy for you Mac. My worry is that all this happened to fast and you didn't really think about it, all I'm trying to do is make sure you understand. Besides, if I wasn't happy for you would I be throwing your Dining Out at McMurphy's next Friday night?" Her favourite reassuring smile decorated his face as he got out from behind the desk and wrapped her in a big bear hug.

"I'm really going to miss you Big Jim." It was the first time since he'd been at JAG that she used Matt O'Hara's nickname for him.

"I'm going to miss you too Mac the Knife." He smiled and let her dry her tears with the tie on his uniform, it was the first time he'd used her Arizona nickname since he's been assigned to JAG. She released herself from the hug and stood back from him, those familiar hazel eyes were dull again; there had been a familiar light in them since he'd returned to JAG but it was extinguished once again.

"McMurphy's next Friday night right?" She looked up at him, a weak smile on her face. He merely nodded and she made her way out of the bullpen and over to the elevator. He, for his part, buckled and walked over to the Admiral's office, completely ignoring Tiner he just knocked on the door.

"Enter." The Admiral's gruff voice came through the door. Jim opened the door to find that the Admiral had read his mind. A bottle of bourbon was open on the desk and the Admiral had his glass half full, feet kicked up, indulging in the drink.

"Room for another old war-horse?" Jim threw himself into the chair facing the Admiral and undid his Marine green jacket.

"I was wondering when you were going to come walking through that door, Jim." The Admiral slid a second glass across the desk.

"Since we're on a first name basis, thanks AJ." Jim poured his drink. "Why'd you let her do it?"

"She came in here and tossed me some bull-feathers line about 'long-term career goals' and 'spreading her wings'. I figured she was trying to convince herself more than me so I took her resignation and slid it into my desk." The Admiral let out a small laugh.

"You're going to keep it until she runs out of leave days aren't you?" Jim's eyes were stoic as both men leaned up and stared at the painting of Admiral Burke.

"That's the plan, when do you think she'll be back?" The Admiral looked over at his drinking companion.

"The second Harm's in trouble." Jim never took his eyes off the painting of Burke and the two men sat there in a companionable silence.

Out in the parking lot Sarah MacKenzie was making what she thought was her last exit from JAG headquarters. She looked around the busy courtyard, when she reached the drive she looked around for the familiar sight of Dalton's Porsche but she didn't see it. "Trying to sneak away without saying goodbye Major?" It was a voice she'd wanted to hear. She turned to her left to see Harm leaning up against a wall.

"I prefer good luck." She walked up to him.

"Good luck, it's been a pleasure serving with you." He made an attempt at a smile.

"Commander…Harm, I know you probably feel betrayed, there are so many things I need to say, to explain myself." She started but felt her resolve weakening.

"No you don't, I understand, I may not like it but I'm happy for you. I mean hell, it's not like you're going to Afghanistan, you're taking a job in Washington right? We'll probably be fighting each other in court next week." He'd lied so many times in that sentiment he could swear he felt his nose grow.

"I'd like that." The tears in her eyes threatened to spill.

"That's because you're a masochist…." He smiled but he saw her cry and his heart broke all over again. "Hey, don't cry. You start crying…people see Marines cry it'll give the Corps a bad name." He was holding back his own tears.

"Permission to hug the Commander?" She was trying to compose herself.

"Do you even have to ask?" He reached out and wrapped her in a hug, a last chance for him to try and hold on to the only thing he held dearly.

"I'm going to miss you Harm." Her tears fell on his chest.

"I'm going to miss you so much Sarah." Had he meant the emphasis the way it had come across? Yes but would she take it that way? "Your ride is here, nice car." Dalton's Porsche pulled into the drive.

"Yeah, but it's no Tomcat." She looked up at him, hoping praying to God that he would say something.

"I'm losing my RIO, I don't think I could look at a Tomcat again." It was a bold statement to be sure, but that flight out at NAS Fallon was a real bonding moment for them.

"Harm, what is this?" She looked up at him, he's said something, it just wasn't enough for her to be sure.

"I don't know." He admonished. "And you deserve someone who does." With that he walked back up to the JAG office. Mac watched him leave and reluctantly got in the car to drive off with Dalton.

McMURPHY'S TAVERN

WASHINGTON D.C

THE NEXT FRIDAY

The Admiral, Harm and Jim all walked into the bar together, bringing with them the two Irish JAG officers that were over here on a joint investigation with Falls Church. Jim walked over to the bar and pulled the bartender aside. "Did you set up everything like I asked you?" The bartender merely nodded in reply. "Good man!" The five men sat down at the bar and ordered up their drinks and sat at the bar. A few minutes later Bud and Harriet came walking in to the bar and the party was moved to a large table.

After Bud and Harriet, Mattoni and his wife arrived and Tiner came in soon after them. Mac and Dalton were the last two people to arrive at the tavern that night. They took a seat at the table and Harm made the necessary introductions. "Mac, this is Lieutenant Commander Padraig Flanagan and Lieutenant Seamus O'Neill. They're doing an investigation with us this week and when we told them we were going to a tavern tonight for a dining out…"

"We told him that we wouldn't miss a chance to drink with Yanks for the world. Two stouts over here please!" Seamus O'Neill was a wiry young man. Commander Flanagan was a little more reserved, it didn't help his outgoingness that he was involved in a conversation with Colonel Grant. In fact, the Admiral, Colonel Grant and Commander Flanagan seemed to converse amongst themselves most of the time the rest were having open conversation and munching down on pub fare.

Once the fries and burgers had been downed, Commander Flanagan rose to his feet to address the crowd. "Alright quiet down you gobs! When were invited to this dining out we felt a little out of place having shared nothing with the Major at all while she was in the military. Well when we found out her last name hailed from our own beloved Eire we decided on what we could contribute to the night. With the help of Colonel Grant, we plan on providing a little music for your dinner and dancing enjoyment for the rest of the evening. Jimmy, Seam get on up to the stage with me!"

As Jim walked passed Harm's chair he passed Harm a cocktail napkin with some writing on it. "What should we start with boys?" Jim stated as he got up and placed the guitar around his neck.

"What would you say to a little 'Heave Away' Colonel?" Seamus looked him in the eye. Seamus took his place in front of one of the microphones, Jim was in front of the other one while he had his guitar over his shoulders. Flanagan picked up his fiddle and the house drummer took his place behind the kit at the back of the stage.

Back at the table Harm opened the napkin that Jim had passed to him. 'Dance with her, lad. You know you want to.' Harm smiled and looked across the table into Mac's eyes. Just then the band kicked up, the bass drum and the guitar first were soon joined by the fiddle. "Hey Mac, you wanna dance?" Harm asked from across the table, immediately catching the attention of Dalton Lowne and Admiral Chegwidden.

"Do you know how, I mean it's jig." Mac called back trying to make herself heard over the music.

"I don't care, let's try anyway." The two of them got up from the table and headed out on to the floor as an Irish voice came over the microphone:

Come get yer duds in order, cause we're bound to cross the water

Heave Away! Me jollies, Heave Away!

Come get yer duds in order for we're bound to leave tomorrow

Heave Away! Me jolly boys, we're all bound away

Harm and Mac had their arms intermeshed and were actually executing some pretty fancy footwork that in no way looked like a jig but neither of them seemed to care.

Sometimes we're bound for Liverpool, sometimes we're bound for Spain

Heave Away! Me jollies, Heave Away!
But now we're bound for Ol' Saint John's where all the girls are dancin'

Heave Away! Me jolly boys, we're all bound away

Harm and Mac looked happier making fools out of themselves than anyone else would've thought possible. They looked happy together, like they belonged together. They exchanged looks that made the Admiral and the Colonel very happy that they had set this in motion.

Now it's farewell, Maggie darling, for it's now I'm going to leave you

Heave Away! Me jollies, Heave Away!
You promised me you'd marry me, but how you did deceive me

Heave Away! Me jolly boys we're all bound away

Jim up on stage and strumming away at his guitar tossed Dalton a maniacal look which Lowne caught only to respond with a great deal of worry. His gaze returned to his girlfriend who was having the time of her life…with another man.

I wrote me love a letter and I signed it with a ring

Heave Away! Me jollies, Heave Away!

I wrote me love a letter I was on the 'Jenny Lind'

Heave Away! Me jolly boys we're all bound away

At this point the guitar and the fiddle broke away from the rest of the band and traded of in a duel of solos. Neither Harm nor Mac seemed to realize that the vocals had stopped and with each step more of their bodies came into constant contact with the other. Eventually the solos stopped and all the instruments stopped instead replaced with rhythmic clapping to accompany the vocals. "Alright you gobs! Let's all give'r a Heave Away along with the band!" Seamus called into the crowd as the clapping continued.

Sometimes we're bound for Liverpool, sometimes we're bound for Spain

Heave Away! Me jollies, Heave Away!
But now we're bound for Ol' Saint John's where all the girls are dancin'

Heave Away! Me jolly boys we're all bound away

When the crowd had chanted 'Heave Away' along with the band there were great smiles on the face of the musicians. Mac and Harm looked at one another, neither could remember ever feeling so happy. Than the instruments started up again to join the clapping.

Come get yer duds in order, cause we're bound to cross the water

Heave Away! Me jollies, Heave Away!

Come get yer duds in order for we're bound to leave tomorrow

Heave Away! MacKenzie cause, we're all bound away.

The last lyrical change had caused the bar to erupt into laughter and Mac looked up at Harm with a hungry look in her eyes. She grabbed him by the hand and led him out of the bar and into the parking lot. Dalton went to get out of his chair at the table, but the musicians came over and stood between him and the door.

"Hey Admiral why don't you join us for the next song?" The Admiral was conveniently sitting next to Dalton just in case this happened, the plan was falling together perfectly.

"No boys, I think I'll stay right here." The Admiral looked up with a smile at the young men who began to plead with him.

Out in the alley Mac was still leading Harm by the hand. She spun him around and pushed him backward into the side of his car. He had a bewildered look upon his face, her actions were confusing and surprising. She pounced on him, her hungry lips met his, her hands on his cheeks pulling him into her, just like she'd done when they were in Columbia a year earlier only this time the kiss was completed. His arms wrapped themselves around her, he wanted this so much but her aggressive approach hadn't exactly been what he'd expected.

He moved his lips from hers and gently attacked the nape of her neck under her jaw. She let out a soft moan and realized that for the last few minutes all the problems, all the obstacles that the world brought with it had been erased and she prayed that he never lifted his lips from her, fearing that his doing so would only bring them back.

He did remove his lips from her, he wanted to look in her eyes and see everything that she had to be seeing his eyes, all the love, the desire, the lust. He saw only doubt and fear. "Sarah, the things you do to me." He tried to reassure both of them but his words came to late.

"Harm we can't, it wouldn't be fair, to any of us. I'm so sorry." She couldn't control the tears that slowly rolled down her cheeks. He brushed them away gingerly. She got off of him and stood there, looking at him as he got in his car and drove away.