Summary: What was supposed to by my rest of the story for the end of Dream Team morphed into a three chapter elaboration of the previews for the finale.
This isn't how I would normally have written the end - but given the previews, it was all I could come up with. I hope you enjoy it anyway...
Chapter 1
The silence in the room was momentarily deafening.
"Congratulations, sir, ma'am." Bud could hardly wait to get to a phone and call Harriet. This was excellent news for his mentors – both billets were primo assignments.
"Yes, Captain. Congratulations," Sturgis echoed.
Vukovic remained conspicuously quiet at the other end of the table. Only Coates noticed the normally cocky sailor contritely playing with the clip of his pen.
"I suggest you both get out of here," Cresswell spoke up. "You've got a lot to clear up before you leave, and I'm sure you'll want as much time as possible to pack and organize everything else. If my wife and I can be of any help to either of you, we've gotten pretty good at moving at the drop of a hat, just let me know. Also there will be a little gathering at my place after dinner, just a few drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and some of the local brass. Mess dress for you, Captain."
"Aye, sir," they chorused. Just what they needed, not only were their lives being turned upside down, but they had to put on a show for the brass as well, and dress the part to boot.
"That will be all. Dismissed," Cresswell nodded, his grin as broad as though he himself had received the promotion.
As the rest of the people in the room began moving around, Harm and Mac sat stunned in their seats. Harm was already calculating the time difference between London and San Diego: eight hours. Personal conversations would certainly prove to be challenging. By the time she'd get home from the office, he'd be sound asleep, and forget about weekend jaunts. With a fifteen hour flight, neither one would be doing much flying back and forth. No, Harm's heart was firmly resting in the pit of his stomach.
"We always knew it could happen," Mac spoke softly, still staring at her orders. "I just didn't expect..." She couldn't finish her thought. It was too painful to voice out loud. Good Lord, they would be halfway around the world from each other, most likely for years. She could feel her heart literally breaking in two. They hadn't been as close as she would have liked lately, but at least she'd known he was nearby. Knowing that had provided at least some small sense of comfort when she'd lay her head down at night. Now what was she going to do?
"Mac..." he began, his own sense of dread threatening to swallow him whole.
"Don't." She stood up. "Not now, not here."
"Then when? We have to... talk." Not that they'd ever gotten anywhere talking before.
"We also have to eat. Why don't you come over for dinner tonight? If you'd like, you can help me start packing." Packing. Her now broken heart was slowly crumbling into tiny pieces.
"Okay. How does 1830 sound?"
"Fine." Picking up the files on the table, Mac scurried past him. She needed air, now.
The day moved by in slow motion. Neither knew how they had managed to get any work done with the constant interruptions of well-wishers. Cleaning off their desks took less time than either had expected, and soon they were packing up what few personal items they had.
"Thought you might be able to use these." Sturgis stood in Harm's doorway holding two small boxes.
"Thanks." Harm set his model Stearman carefully in the box he had just packed.
"You deserve this," Sturgis said, placing a box on the desk and filling it with the last few books from the shelf. "Looks like you're almost done here."
Harm snorted distractedly. "Yeah."
"Force Judge Advocate. I'm happy for you." Sturgis noticed Harm's raised eyebrow. "No, really. I know things have been ...different between us lately, but you're still one of my oldest friends and I'm glad you're getting this opportunity." Sturgis extended his hand.
Without hesitation, Harm accepted his hand with a smile. "Maybe we can fit in one last game of hoops."
"Sure, if your ego can handle having your ass whooped," Sturgis grinned broadly, enjoying the once familiar banter with his old friend.
In the next office, Jennifer Coates was helping Mac by taking her personal things off the wall.
"I've always loved this poster. It's so sensitive for a lawyer. Uh, ma'am." When was she going to learn to keep her mouth shut?
Mac chuckled. "Why don't you take it?" she offered. "I've had that a lot of years."
"Oh, I couldn't, ma'am."
"Please, Jen. Consider it something to remember me by." Mac continued emptying out her drawers.
Staring at the fluffy white seal, Jennifer sighed. "I still can't believe both you and the commander, I mean captain, are leaving."
"You can't believe," Mac mumbled quietly, sealing another box.
"It's going to be so hard for him to leave Mattie." Jen set the poster to one side and continued removing the other frames from the wall.
"Mattie." Mac froze, suddenly ashamed of herself. She had been so lost in her own grief about being separated from Harm that she hadn't even considered what this meant for Harm and Mattie.
"I saw him leaving a few minutes ago. I think I overheard him telling Commander Turner that he had something to do for her." Jen wasn't sure what to make of the colonel's odd expression.
"This is going to be so hard for him." Mac desperately wished Harm had let her help him. There was little hope he would ever let her in now.
"I promised him I would stay with her. I guess it's a good thing he'd already made arrangements to have her transferred closer to DC. Now, it'll be easier to stay on top of things. I couldn't have done that long drive back and forth every day the way he did."
"He made arrangements?" Mac couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.
Nodding her head, holding Mac's diploma in her hand, Jen turned slightly before speaking. "When she woke up, Tom signed over medical power of attorney to the com...captain." This entire conversation was beginning to make Jen feel seriously uncomfortable. It was obvious that Harm and Mac weren't communicating as well as she would have liked.
"I see." Mac picked up another box. If she'd had any doubts over how far apart she and Harm had grown, this certainly cinched it. She needed more than a sugar coma to handle this new turn her life was taking.
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland
1630 hours
"How do you like the new accommodations?" Harm tried to smile as he walked into the room.
"Not bad," Mattie smiled.
Taking a seat by the bed, Harm searched for the right words.
"I've got something to show you," Mattie interjected, wiggling her brow.
Harm cocked his head slightly, wondering what was up. He stared at her curiously, waiting, completely unaware that she was drumming her fingers on the bed. When she began giggling, Harm sat back indignantly.
"What?"
"You still haven't noticed."
This was the first time he'd seen her smile since she'd woken up. His eyes scanning the room quickly, he looked back at her. Dropping his hand on the side of the bed, he was suddenly aware of the slight vibration. His eyes flew open wide. Tears instantly threatened to flow.
"I told you it would just be a matter of time, and hard work." Thank God, he thought. Pausing to gather his composure, and squeezing her hand in his, he continued, "I've also got something to talk to you about."
"It sounds serious." Her smile quickly faded.
"A little. I've been promoted."
"Cool!" If she could have bounced out of the bed with pride, she would have.
"Yes and no. It's a good move for my career, but it also means I have to leave Washington."
"Where to?" She tried not to sound too disappointed.
"London."
"Cool!" The joy in her voice was back.
That surprised him. He'd expected her to be upset that he was leaving her alone. "Cool?"
"Well, yeah! I'm not going to be stuck here forever. It will be really fun to go visit London. I mean, I think it would be fun to date a guy with an English accent."
"Date? Who said anything about dating?"
"Why? If I come visit, are you planning on locking me in a closet?" She was doing an admirable job of hiding the growing ache in her heart at the thought of his leaving.
"Well, no but..."
"So? What's the problem?"
Harm hadn't expected this. He was at a slight loss.
"I, uh, I only have a few days to pack up and leave. I have to be at my new post, ready to work, next week."
"Oh." This time she couldn't hide the tinge of sadness from her voice.
"I need to ask you something." Harm took Mattie's limp hand into his own.
"Anything."
"If it's okay with your dad, and the courts, when you're approved for transport, how would you feel about doing your convalescence in England?"
"Really?" Her eyes flew open wide.
"Really," he smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as he thought. He knew it wouldn't be difficult to get guardianship of her again. With Tom's drinking and attitude, he could very well be willing to give Harm legal guardianship without needing to go through the Social Services system. Harm seriously doubted that Tom would be up to the task of Mattie's rehabilitation.
"I've already spoken with Jen. She's going to keep an eye on you for me. There will be a speaker phone installed so you and I can talk at anytime, and it won't be long before we'll be able to move you to England."
"It'll be alright. I'm going to be okay." Mattie knew Harm needed reassurance. Truth be told, it felt good that he needed her as much as she did him.