Note: In this story, since it's a continuation of FOJ's summer season - Mattie is living with Cresswell while Mac and Harm get settled. Harm is in London and Mac is in SD. The Roberts had, finally, decided to move over to SD and Coates is there as well.

Enjoy!

J.

ACT 1

1820 Zulu

Harm's Office

London

"Are you alright, Captain?" Rain. It was something that many people hated. It made the days dark and dreary and yet, it always reminded him of her and a little fantasy he had once upon a blue moon when he was the commanding officer. Okay, so he was commanding JAG ops while Chegwidden was away, but those fantasies had kept him in a whirlwind. How did it go again? Oh yes. "It's perfect weather for making love." Now, he had other fantasies, thoughts of the few nights they'd managed to spend together which he treasured more than anything else in the world.

It was the General's idea, Mac was to head to her new billet in San Diego and Harm would go to his in London, until a suitable replacement could be found. He would then transfer back to aviation, working out of Coronado. It was perfect for them, his parents lived in San Diego, they would certainly help with Mattie's recuperation. Petty Officer Coates and the Roberts had decided to accept Mac's offer to join her in San Diego. Something that pleased Harm immensely. Thankfully, Mac had friends to help out with wedding plans in his stead.

"Captain? Sir?" Turning his attention away from the weather, Harm's gaze met with that of his yeoman, Petty Officer Newman. The young, British PO stood there with that typical impassive look on his face which had driven Harm crazy. "You don't seem well, sir. If I may, I could make you some nice herbal tea? That will make you feel better."

Tea. With Newman it was always that stupid cup of tea, never coffee. In fact, there wasn't even a coffee machine in the office; he'd checked. "Haven't you guys heard of coffee?" Harm was sick of his daily cup of tea. He'd been pouring Newman's transmission fluid-like tea into that ugly plant in his office. That was another thing, he was sick of the plant and the fact that it seemed to actually like the stuff. Instead of dying, as he'd hoped, the Little Shop of Horrors plant was actually growing! He wouldn't be altogether surprised if it one day up and swallowed up some small and furry animal. Top all of that off with this waiting period of transitioning to San Diego. Harm was going mad.

Newman's body language changed slightly. "Tea is better for you, sir."

Sighing, Harm softened his glare and shook his head. I give up! He handed his empty mug to the petty officer and forced a smile. "Sure, Newman, tea it is."

"Very well, sir."

Once the young man was out of earshot, Harm couldn't help but mimic his British accent. "Very well, sir." According to Mac, he was now picking up the British lingo. Whatever that meant. Leaning into his chair he found his mind wandering towards his fiancé. His eyes settled on his computer monitor and an e-mail he was writing her entitled: The Week From Hell. And that was exactly what it had been. Thank God it was Friday!

On Monday, Lieutenants Jerome Monroe and Lance Knight, two that were under his command, decided that they were going to fight over a girl. And it wasn't just a girl, she was enlisted.

On Tuesday, Files from an important case went missing and it was discovered that Newman had, by mistake, shredded them with classified information from another case.

On Wednesday, the roof to his apartment had sprung a leak right over his bed. He wound up sleeping on the couch; a whole foot and a half of his six foot four frame, hanging off one side.

On Thursday, he was pulled over for speeding as he tried to race to the office and prevent himself from getting there late. The police officer had been a woman, with a chip on her shoulder and an obvious hatred to males with Harm's kind of smile. To top it all off, it had been a couple of days since he had a proper conversation with Mac.

Dealing with her own command, helping Harriet and Bud settle in, toppled with them (read: her) going over wedding plans, was leaving a massive hole in the time they had to communicate with each other. Sure, they traded e-mails ending with promises to be together soon and managed to have two brief phone conversations that didn't pertain to work, but that wasn't nearly enough. Damnit, he loved her. He needed her and he wanted to be with her NOW. Somehow, the Navy didn't seem so important when he thought about it being the cause for them spending so much time apart.

With a deep sigh, Harm leaned into his chair again and closed his eyes. It really wasn't helping that with his longing came the fantasies of them being together. The memories of their first time were etched into every nerve in his body. He could practically feel her skin under his as they loved each other. It was, in a word, perfect. From that point in time he truly knew what it was like to be in love. It was exhilarating, exciting and so beautiful. And now, as he sat in his office, in a building surrounded by dreary weather, Harmon Rabb Junior felt truly lonely.

The distinct sound of an IM brought his attentions out of yet another fantasy.

NinjaGirlMac: Hmmm. You working hard or hardly working? ;)

Chuckling, he couldn't help but just stare at the monitor for a moment. This was, probably, the most impersonal form of conversation and yet, he felt closer to her knowing she was on her side of the world typing words that were only for him.

NinjaGirlMac: Mattie sends her love, I spoke to her until late last night, Cammie is entertaining her ideas to join the Academy.

God bless that girl, despite her current state, she'd often still dreamed of joining the Navy and being an aviator like her 'dad.' He and Mac had often spoken about the best method of care for his ward. Mac had made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that she would adopt Mattie, if that is what the teenager wanted.

NinjaGirlMac: I guess you're not there. . .Well, if you get this, I love you. I miss you. I can't wait to talk to you. . .And I really can't wait to see you. :kiss

Flyboy63:kiss I'm here. Sorry for not answering right away, just feeling very melancholy. :(

NinjaGirlMac:sighs: I know what you mean. :(

Flyboy63: Not to be sappy, but. . .I'm so lonely without you. :( I didn't know I could feel this way about someone. It physically hurts not to be with you, to see you smile, hear you laugh. It's like a part of me is missing. . .I need you. And it scares me to admit it, but I do need you.

In San Diego, Mac sat frozen in front of her computer. A solitary tear ran down her face as she realized, yet again, how much Harm could surprise her. Though she would be late for a meeting, she just couldn't resist chatting with him. To think, this was the man that she believed to be emotionally inept when it came to matters of the heart. Had they both really grown that much?

NinjaGirlMac: That sounds like something you told me the first night we made love.

Made love. He smiled at the simplicity of the term which carried so much feeling behind it. Harm never knew what it all meant until he spent the night in Sarah MacKenzie's arms. Now, it was his addiction; he never wanted to be anywhere else.

Flyboy63: Speaking of which, I am dying that I can't touch you right now, Sarah. . .You just have no clue. . .Well, maybe you do. ;)

Mac chuckled as she brushed away the tear. Oh, she knew what it was like, what he was feeling. And when she closed her eyes at night and let herself go, she could literally feel him there with here. How did they ever deny themselves the right to be loved in such a way?

NinjaGirlMac: I hate to end this, but I have to get going, love. . .Apparently your lateness is contagious. :Grin:

Flyboy63: I have to get going too. Newman's headed in with. . .you guessed it, more tea.

NinjaGirlMac: LOL! Don't be so hard on the kid. You'll have plenty of coffee when you head back home.

Home. That term seemed to alien to him at the moment. Glancing up, Harm noticed Newman with a slightly perturbed look on his face. "Something wrong, Petty Officer?"

"Sort of, sir. . .I just didn't want to interrupt but. . .well, General Cresswell is on line two and he says its urgent." After placing the steaming cup of tea on Harm's desk he retreated from the office.

FlyBoy63: Now I really gotta go, Cresswell's on the horn. . .Call me early tomorrow morning. . . I need a run and to wrap up things before I can blow this Popsicle stand and come HOME."

NinjaGirlMac: Home. That has a nice ring to it. I'll give you a buzz in your early AM. I miss your voice.

Flyboy63: I miss yours too. . . Talk to you soon, love you. :kiss

NinjaGirlMac:kiss I love you too. Bye.

Frowning, he clicked out of the IM and glanced at the phone with a slight trepidation. Yes it was common practice for both he and Mac to keep the General informed. But, when Newman used the term 'urgent,' Harm had a feeling he wasn't going to like being on the receiving end of that conversation.

Strange smells rose up from the mug on his desk making him scrunch up his nose with distaste. Taking the mug, he tossed it into the plant and shook his head. The sad fact of it all was that he really was going to end up hating tea. With a sigh, he grabbed the phone. "Captain Rabb."

"Captain, how are things in London?" Cresswell's slightly cheery voice wasn't completely deceiving. Despite the short span that Harm spent under Cresswell's command, he knew the news would not be good.

The first thing that came to mind was his ward. "Is it Mattie, sir?"

Cresswell sighed and chuckled uneasily. "No, Harm, she's doing just fine. . .She misses you though."

Harm smiled, he missed her too. "Well, to answer your question in regards to London: It's raining, my yeoman keeps sticking me with this thing called tea, I haven't been able to speak to my fiancé much and, although I know I sound like I'm whining, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dreaming of heading to California."

The General chuckled, "I am sure that part of that dream has to more to do with a certain female Marine officer than the sandy beaches and palm trees. . .Cheer up, Rabb, won't be too long now."

"I hope not." He ended that line of conversation, hoping Creswell would get down to business rather than the personal side of Harm's life that he just wasn't in the mood to get into. "What can I help you with, sir?"

"I heard about your two Lieutenants, what's going to happen with that?"

Ah, but Harm knew that wasn't want Creswell was calling about. "Article 32 is set for Monday. . . I figure, they'll probably end up getting an Admiral's Mast or some sort of minor punishment. . .The fight wasn't too serious and Chief Brighton claims she led both men on. . .Needless to say, I was and still am upset. . .So they will also have to deal with my wrath, no matter the outcome of the trial."

"Is it possible to hand that case to your highest ranking officer? Also, are there any cases that are pertinent to you?"

Harm had this strange feeling at the pit of his stomach. There was something about this case shifting that he didn't like. "Yes I can hand the case to Commander Rand, she is extremely competent. . .And no, the cases are not very pertinent to me. . . May I ask why you are inquiring, sir?"

The line remained deadly quiet for a moment or two. Harm was about to ask if the General was still on the line, when he heard his voice come through clearly. "I understand you've had boxing experience?"

A cold chill ran down his back at the seemingly harmless question. "Yes, sir. . .At Annapolis. . .I won a couple of matches but stopped when I realized that if I broke anything major it could hurt my chances of getting into a cockpit."

"How long has it been since you last fought?"

This conversation was truly starting taking a turn for the odd and unusual. Harm thought back quickly. He'd had a few 'battles' here and there against bad guys, but that wasn't really considered 'fighting.' It was more like a back street brawl. "Professionally? I haven't since the Academy. I do hit the gym several times a week and use a heavy bag to kick box."

It wasn't quite what the General was looking for, but there were few people that he trusted for the particular 'mission' at hand. "Let me cut to the chase. A Naval officer, Lieutenant Commander Maxwell Riedling was found floating in the Miami River with several bruises all over his body, a few broken ribs and a blow to the face that contributed to his death. . .Rumor has it that he was a member of an secret boxing circuit called The Underground."

"If it was supposed to be secret, how did information about the circuit leak?"

"Scuttlebutt had been floating around for quite sometime down in Miami, but no one has been able to find the who, what and where. That is, until now. . . A couple of days ago Marine Lance Corporal Tate Donovan was found half conscious on the side of the Palmetto Expressway and I sent Lt. Mayfield in to investigate. . . In a period of lucidity, he claims that he and two other Marines had thrown Riedling's body into the Miami river. . .Those two Marines: Corporal Paul Greene and Lance Corporal Mike Sutton belong to a contingent of joint service trainees out of SOUTHCOM. . Mayfield was not able to get more information out of Jones, sadly, he passed away from severe head trauma . . ." Cresswell sighed deeply, he hated having to ask so much of this man, but he had no choice. He simply didn't trust anyone else. "I need you to head to Miami, undercover, as the contingent's instructor and attempt to infiltrate the boxing circuit. . . We are not sure how high up The Underground goes, but if it goes up as far as it's rumored, some of the commanding officers down at SOUTHCOM might be involved. . .You can decline if you wish, Captain. But, the reason why I sought you before going elsewhere is due to your. . .unorthodox modus operandi."

Cresswell was often just like AJ Chegwidden, unwilling to send their personnel into the fire when things were getting too hot. But, another thing that both Cresswell and Chegwidden knew was that good officers wouldn't back down and Harm was a good officer with a superhero complex. He wouldn't back down. "I will get to the bottom of it, General. . .When do I leave?"

"I'll send Petty Officer Newman the information and details Jones has given us. . .You should be leaving tomorrow afternoon. . .I do appreciate you doing this, Captain."

"It's my duty, sir."

"One last thing. . . I know it's tempting to let the Colonel and your friends know that you are to be States bound, but I'd err on the side of caution. . . When you get to SOUTHCOM, Captain Harmon Rabb Junior will not exist."

It was a fact, the moment he heard the word Miami, he was already thinking about him being just a few hours away from Mac. And Mattie was even closer. "I'd probably be a bit too busy to spend time with them anyway." He voiced his random thought, frowning as his week just got worse.

Cresswell sighed deeply, knowing this was one of the most difficult orders he had to give anyone. "Captain, being a family man, I understand how it feels to be out of contact with those we love. . .It's difficult. . . But, it's part of our duty."

Tensing slightly, Harm got the full meaning of the General's words. He didn't like it, because it meant he was going to lie to Mac. Well, not lie exactly, but omitting details of his whereabouts. How was he going to be on the same continent, just a few hours away and NOT see her? His week from hell was getting worse. "Understood sir."

------

Commercial 2: Toe fungus got you down? Too much hair on that upper lip? Have no fear! Clark Palmer is here! With Palmer's Positively Perfect Chemical Mixing Set you can make all sorts of concoctions for your needs. Want to disable a super spy with just a cigarette? Do you have days where you have an overwhelming feeling to fake a heart attack? The included DVD will have the master of disaster, Clark Palmer show you how to get the chemicals just right! For only $1,244.99 YOU can be as crafty as Clark Palmer! Act now and we will toss in a facial molding kit ABSOLUTELY FREE! But hurry, Facial molding kit only available for the first 100 callers! Call 1-888-4-PALMER. That's 1-888-4-PALMER! Operators are standing by, call today!