Title : Where Do We Go From Here… (at last, Part III of the Trilogy!)
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV – and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. Thanks also for the use of NCIS; they turn up soon!
Rating : G to PG-13 (Just in case!)
Thanks for the first reviews to : jtbwriter; GuitarVixen; DD2; Nikki; froggy0319; anna7; Jbird7986; beegirl; JAGFANWI; Abigaile; Judy; roxy; KJFlygirl87; mayaresi; alicia; starryeyes10; skyefire; jnp; JAGJenni; laura carr; AnniGH4ever; Arian04; A
To all readers / reviewers :
Better late than never, the newest chapter is here now. Not quite going the way I planned (I have the ideas, and I have some chapters already written out, but they come later, and for the first few chapters I'm really laboring to get them together). Hope you will all bear with me, and I promise it will get better! (At least in my totally biased opinion! :o))
jtbwriter – Hiya! Long time since I replied to your review, but thank you as always, and please keep reading! I laughed at your W&G moment! That's has to be the absolute worst! Knowing you aren't supposed to be where you are, and someone you know finding out! Oops! Almost a story in itself:o) froggy0319 – Thanks for your review. There's someone out there for all of us! I found my 'other half', and although he isn't 6'4" or even in the Navy, he's my kinda guy! Hope you like this new chapter, and please keep reading! Arian04 – Thanks for your review, and your encouragement. Hope you like this new chapter, and please keep reading! A – Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your review, and please keep reading! starryeyes10 – Thanks for your review. Hope you like the new chapter, and please keep reading! mayaresi – Thanks for your review, and your encouragement. Hope you like the new chapter and please keep reading!
JAG Headquarters – Monday morning
Harm picked up the telephone handset on his desk and dialled a now-familiar number. As he waited to connect the call, he spotted Mac walking past his office and he waved her over as he also heard a voice in his ear that was not Jack Hudson, but was familiar.
"Sue! Hello, it's Harm. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you. How are you and Sarah, and the family?"
"We're all fine, and growing." Harm smiled as he heard Sue laugh, and then his conversation turned serious. Mac had heard him mention Sue's name and she walked into his office, first drink of the work morning forgotten. "Sue, Jack left me a message to call him, regarding a case. Would you happen to know what it is about?"
"I'm sorry, Harm, I don't. Jack's out of the office right now, but he's still in the building, so I'll have him call you when he returns. Will that be okay?"
"We have Mac's swearing-in ceremony this morning, but I'll be free after that."
"Swearing-in?" Sue sounded puzzled, and Harm outlined Mac's transition from JAG lawyer to Judge, and the official ceremony that went with the posting. "I'll have to ask Sarah what that is all about."
"I can arrange that, Sue. Mac happens to be in my office right now. I'll talk to you later, and hope to see you both soon."
"Good. I'm looking forward to that, too. It seems ages since we saw you both." Sue answered Harm, and then heard Mac's voice murmur something to Harm, and the pause that could only have meant a show of affection between the two officers, and then Mac was speaking.
"Sue! Hi!"
"Hello. You sound very excited. Is the ceremony very long?"
"Not really. I swear to my utmost by my country, and get a new chair! In fact, I'm feeling quite displaced, as my belongings have already been transferred to the Judiciary floor. I'm not going to be able to look over and see Harm hard at work."
"You mean he actually gets any work done? I seem to spend most of my day looking over at Jack when we're in the office. I think Ted Garrett sends us out on assignment so that he knows we'll get some work done!"
Mac laughed at Sue's words, and then spoke a little more about her pregnancy, how well she was doing, and when they were going to get together.
"If you'll give me a couple of days to find my feet as a judge, I'll be able to sort out our social calendar and then I can let you know when we have free time."
"Sounds good to me. I'll talk to you soon, then."
"Absolutely. Take care, Sue."
"And you too."
Mac replaced Harm's handset and looked up as he re-entered his office. In his hand was a mug of coffee – his, and a cup of herbal tea – Mac's. Without words he had known what she needed first thing, and was rewarded with a wide smile.
"You are too good to me, Mr Rabb."
"It pays to keep in your good books, Mrs Rabb. Pregnant marines are known to be…feisty…without their first hot drink of the day."
"Ha!" Mac laughed. "You'd better be prepared for when I can drink real coffee again; that's when you'll have to worry!"
"Not a chance," replied Harm, and leaned in, as though to give Mac a kiss. Her eyes, however, were focused on a spot over his left shoulder.
"Admiral, incoming," she murmured, and Harm straightened, grinning at her.
"Colonel Mackenzie, welcome back. However, I thought you'd left us for a loftier employ?"
"Good morning, Admiral, and thank you. I was on my way to my office, sir. I just wanted to have a last look around, and the Captain was in his office."
"You're always welcome here, Mac, you know that; but of course, we're very proud of your new posting at JAG."
"I know." Mac's answer was short, but she didn't trust herself not to burst into tears at the obvious affection and respect she was receiving from not only Harm and the Admiral, but others in the bullpen that she had worked with for so many years. As much as she was looking forward to her appointment to the Judiciary, she was also going to miss her life as a JAG lawyer. She was going to miss Harm; at least at work. As if he knew of her turmoil, the Admiral smiled at Mac.
"We're still here, Mac. Don't ever forget that. Besides, you deserve this, as Harm no doubt tells you. Aside from being an obvious solution to your marital status, you've proved yourself more than capable of holding the post of judge."
"Thank you, sir." Mac swiped at a tear that had escaped, and Harm handed her his handkerchief without a word. Turning slightly, Harm asked the Admiral who would be officiating at the ceremony.
"Newly appointed Admiral, by the name of Sebring."
"Captain Sebring?" Mac's reaction was a wide smile. "I mean…Admiral Sebring. That's wonderful! I look forward to offering congratulations."
"I'm sure he'll welcome them. Now, I need to speak to Harm about his caseload this week, and you need to get to work."
"Aye, sir," Harm acknowledged, and Mac nodded.
"On my way."
As Chegwidden walked out of Harm's office Mac leaned in to Harm and got a quick kiss.
Without breaking stride, the Admiral's voice came from the bullpen.
"With me, Captain Rabb."
"Aye, sir." Harm gave Mac a rueful smile and she grinned as she followed him out of his office and made her way to the Judiciary floor.
JAG Headquarters – Bullpen – mid morning"…and I do solemnly swear…" Mac intoned, repeating the Oath of Allegiance in the process of her swearing in as the newest judge at JAG Headquarters. Newly-promoted Admiral Sebring stood in front of Mac and heard her oath before handing her new insignia to her husband, for him to perform the honor of pinning them to her collar.
As Mac watched, Harm deftly performed the duty assigned, and for good measure he dropped a quick kiss on her lips.
"Congratulations, Colonel Rabb."
"Thank you, Captain."
Mac's brief acknowledgement sounded almost official, but both of them knew that their personal celebrations would start later, when they returned to Harm's apartment.
While Mac was being congratulated by all in the bullpen, Harm was called over to Jennifer Coates' desk.
"Sir, there's a call for you on line one. Mr Hudson, from the FBI building."
"Thank you, Jen. If Mac asks for me, would you tell her I'm in my office?"
"Of course, sir."
Harm walked around the edge of the bullpen and slipped into his own office, picking up the telephone handset and speaking immediately.
"Jack, hi! It's Harm."
"Hey, how was the honeymoon?"
"You looking for ideas?" Harm commented dryly, and Jack laughed.
"You bet! It's not going to be too long before Sue and I have our own plans in the process. Just thinking ahead."
"Good idea. So, what can I do for you, Jack? Your message sounded urgent."
"Kind of. We've had a case of a woman's suicide, in the Crowne Plaza. No apparent foul play, but the medical examiner ruled her death as misadventure. There is no proof that it was suspicious, but there is no proof against it either, hence the ambiguous verdict. My interest in this case, and hopefully yours, is that this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Three young women check into different hotels, and are found dead within twenty four hours. Individually, there are no suspicious circumstances."
"You're thinking these deaths are linked? That there is a killer on the loose?"
"I'm not sure, Harm, but I'd appreciate your help on this."
"I'll do what I can, Jack, but I'm not sure why you're calling me…I mean, for a civilian death…"
"The women were married to, or living with, men in the Naval service."
TBC
A/N - I've reread Where The Sea Meets The Sky to check continuity, but if I've missed anything, please let me know!