Title : Where Do We Go From Here… (at last, Part III of the Trilogy!)

Author : Jaggie 107

Disclaimer : JAG and NCIS 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. (I remembered to add NCIS to the Disclaimer – missed it for a few chapters. Sorry!)

Rating : T (I think!)

Thanks for the reviews to : jtbwriter; Radiorox; DD2; Nikki; froggy0319; anna7; Jbird7986; beegirl; JAGFANWI; Abigaile; Judy; roxy; KJFlygirl87; mayaresi; alicia; starryeyes10; skyefire; jnp; JAGJenni; laura carr; AnniGH4ever; Arian04; aserene; rosan; achaon; martini1988; Sarah; wheels04; BlueJay; chawkchic; Manda; BrittanyLS; jaggurl; DushiNoSushi; prymtns; Mey80; kchs123; Sariana of Wind; daisymh

To BrittanyLS, prymtns, daisymh, jtbwriter, froggy0319, Mey80, MiDushiNoSushi and starryeyes10 who all reviewed the last chapter – thanks so much to you all, and apologies for not returning comments just yet – it's been a while since I wrote the last chapter and I'm trying hard to work out why this is taking me so long to pull together. Other things going on in RL, but I am still here, and I am determined to get the story out! I know what I want to write, it's just the 'doing' part that's a pain! Please stick with me – I'm worth it!

Jack's Apartment – Sunday Morning

"Jack! Wake up! We're late!" Sue shot up in the bed and leaned over Jack's sleeping form to get to the alarm clock. Too late, it slipped from her grasp, and as she dived to catch it she landed heavily across Jack's inert body.

"Oof!" muttered Jack, rudely awakened from his sleep to find Sue grabbing desperately for the alarm clock on his side of the bed. "Hey, what's the rush?" he asked, having touched Sue's face to get her attention.

"We're late, Jack. The alarm didn't go off!" Sue pointed to the offending object on the floor, and Jack had the grace to look sheepish, taking a quick look at his wristwatch.

"Erm…no, we're not. The clock is broken. I forgot to move it."

"You forgot? But when I looked last night, it said nine…oh, that's when it stopped, right?" Sue sat up in the bed, her hair disheveled, and a contrite look on her face. "Did I hurt you?" she asked, remembering how she had landed on top of Jack in her haste to rescue the clock.

Jack shook his head, reaching a hand out to touch Sue's face, bringing her down to where he lay back on the pillows.

"No, you didn't hurt me, but you can still kiss it better if you want to…" he invited, and Sue grinned down at him.

"You're bad, Jack…we could still end up being late, you know…" Sue began, and Jack nodded, rubbing a finger absently across her shoulder.

"I know…" he murmured in response, but didn't stop rubbing her shoulder. Sue spoke again, her voice hitching as Jack began stroking a line now from her shoulder to her collarbone.

"We have to go pick up Levi too."

"Mmm hmm," Jack nodded once more, and this time his finger trailed down past her collarbone. Sue groaned softly and closed her eyes, keeping them closed as she felt Jack's lips touch hers.

Annapolis Academy – Maryland – Later, Sunday Morning

They were the last to arrive at the Academy, finding Mac, Harm, Jennifer and Jack Keeter waiting for Mattie's exit from the Assembly. As Mac and Harm turned to smile at them, Keeter put out his hand to introduce himself.

"Jack Keeter. You must be Sue and Jack, and this…" Keeter dropped down to stroke Levi's fur as he grinned at Mac. "This must be the new blond Harm's been telling me about?" Mac groaned at the corny joke and Harm gave Keeter a dirty look. "What?" answered Keeter, laughing as he got to his feet and shook hands with Sue and Jack.

"Nice to meet you, Jack. Sarah's told me so much about you," Sue smiled as she spoke, and Keeter turned to give Mac a dirty look as she shrugged her shoulders. When he turned back to the couple he took the outstretched hand that Jack offered.

"This could get confusing, having Jack and Jack. How about you call me Keeter, and I'll call you Hudson?"

"Works for me," Jack answered amiably, and Sue gave both men a surprised look. Mac called out then, and Jack tapped Sue on the shoulder to catch her attention.

"Hey! There's Mattie!" Six heads turned to face the Assembly Hall, and the two people walking toward them. "Who's that with her?" Mac turned to look at Harm, and found Keeter giving her husband an amused look. As the young couple came closer Harm suddenly paled. "Harm?"

"Oh my God," whispered Harm, and Keeter nodded, catching his eye.

"Looks just like him, doesn't he?"

"Josh…" As Harm spoke the name, Mac recalled the small, blond haired boy who had idolized Harm as the reminder of the father he had lost. The same small boy who had been taken out of Harm's life by the mother that could not, and would not, accept the military in her son's life when it had already taken her husband from her. That Annie Pendry had taken Harm into her life, when the Navy was such a strong part of him, had been a surprise to Mac, along with the jealousy she had also felt. Harm's indiscretion of taking Josh on board a naval ship without his mother's consent had ended the relationship, but in her anger and fear Annie had severed all ties with Harm, and those he had with Josh.

"Dad!" Mattie caught sight of the group, and Harm in particular, and raced the last few steps, throwing herself at Harm who managed to recover in time to catch her in a warm embrace.

"Hey, kiddo!"

"I have so much to tell you!" Mattie began, and then remembered that she wasn't alone. "I understand you know my new friend here…" Mattie turned as Josh stepped up, his hand out in greeting to Harm.

"Hello, Harm. It's been a long time."

"Too long…" answered Harm, softly, and took Josh's hand in a strong grip, trying to convey just how much this surprise meeting meant to him.

Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel – Pusser's Landing Restaurant

With the remnants of the lunch cleared from the table, coffees were served as ordered, and conversation had settled into a number of topics, with Mattie seated next to Jen now and across from Sue and Mac. Harm, Keeter, Jack and Josh were laughing about something Luke Pendry had done during his time at the Academy, with Keeter as the storyteller. During the tale Josh had kept glancing at Harm, giving him a self-conscious grin when he was caught out. Harm grinned back, pleased to note that despite the abrupt end to their involvement there seemed to be no hard feelings. Harm was curious about one thing – where was Annie Pendry? As Keeter and Jack picked up on the conversation Mattie was having with the other three women, Harm turned to Josh and spoke in a lowered voice.

"Do you have time to come back to the apartment with us today? There's so much I want to say, about what happened…back then," Harm paused, and Josh nodded his head.

"There's a lot I want to say too, and to ask. Harm…?"

"Yeah?"

"I know what Mom did…I found a couple of cards and letters you'd sent…but I don't understand why you didn't come see her? To try, you know…to sort things out…" Josh faltered, and Harm put his hand on Josh's shoulder.

"I did come by, Josh. The day after, you were back at school. I tried to apologize, but your Mom…Annie…she just closed down. Told me again that I was wrong to do what I did, and if I'd done it once, I would do it again. I couldn't deny that. I'm so pleased to see you at the Academy, and I never had any doubts that you would make it, but your Mom knew that I would have done whatever I could to help you, too."

"She thinks I'm doing it because of Dad, which is partly true…like you," Josh grinned, remembering Harm's stories about his own father and Josh's, "but it's not just that. I wanted to go to the Academy for me. I want to try at least, to see if I have it in me to be a Naval Aviator. The fact that my father was a graduate is part of my history, but it isn't the main reason why I'm here."

"We can talk more back at the apartment. What time do you have curfew?"

"I have liberty this weekend, so I don't have to be back until tomorrow. I was going to be spending some time at a friend's house, but when I was assigned to Mattie, and found out just who her father was, my plans changed," admitted Josh, and Harm felt something indefinable flicker at the back of his mind.

"Well, Mattie'll be back with Jen at their apartment, so you're welcome to crash on our couch."

"I'd like that. It looks like you've got a lot to tell me too," Josh observed, looking across the table at Mac and Mattie. Mac raised her head as Harm's gaze rested on her and smiled at the two men. Josh gave her a shy smile in return, and Mac got to her feet to come around the table to where he sat with Harm.

"We haven't had much chance to talk, Josh, but we can do that back at the apartment."

"How…how did you know…that Harm just asked? Wow…" Josh paused, looking from Harm to Mac, and then across at Mattie as she winked at him. "Mattie told me…" Josh began again, and then went a little red as he recalled just what Mattie had told him. Mac grinned at him and eased his discomfort as she spoke.

"Harm and I have been together a long time, Josh, and we've developed a kind of radar for what the other's thinking…that's probably what Mattie told you, or words to that effect, hm?"

"Yes, ma'am," Josh answered, but Mac shook her head.

"It's Mac, at any time except when on duty, which we're not. You're practically family, Josh." At Mac's comment Harm's head came up and she caught his look of surprise, filing that thought for later as the look turned to one of pleasure at her easy acceptance of Josh in their lives, for however long he might stay.

To be continued.

Notes –

I have no idea if the Naval Academy has an 'Assembly Hall', so this is actually creative license, and no offence intended to the hallowed Academy.

For those who may not know, Luke Pendry was Harm's friend who was killed in Series 1, leaving a widow – Annie – and a son – Josh. There were three episodes – that I know of – covering their relationship. Jinx (S1), Someone To Watch Over Annie (S3) and Tiger, Tiger (S3). If I've missed any others, please let me know!