AN: And now one of the chapters you've probably been waiting for: Informing the home front! Enjoy...

Disclaimer: The only thing I own is a massive headache from conjuring up stupid disclaimers. Don't own the characters of JAG.

On with it...

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

So here he was. Sitting in his car in front of the Admiral's house, dreading to go in. Not as much afraid of his CO, but more of the way he would react. He had loved Sarah as if she was his daughter and Harm knew he'd felt her leaving as a great personal loss. Maybe not a betrayal, but a defeat. One of his own had been in great trouble and hadn't confided in him. And so he hadn't been given a chance to set things right, to lend a helping hand. And that must have hurt.

Now it was his task to ring that bell and tell the man he both considered a friend and an example that their little lost (black) sheep was found and wanted to join the herd. Preferably without telling too many details about where here journey had led to. And not what had caused it either.

He had to get out of the car before he would look suspicious. Heaving another deep sigh, he stepped out, locked his car carefully (just to stall) and casually strutted over, or so he hoped it seemed.

On the porch, another memory washed over him. A dear memory of a lingering kiss goodbye at her engagement party, before her departure had wrecked them both. Was she already pregnant then, and not knowing it?

Now or never. He rang the doorbell.

For a moment, like a schoolboy, he wanted to run before anyone could answer, but he already heard footsteps approaching.

"Commander…what can I do for you?"

In his obvious surprise at finding Harm standing in front of his door on a Saturday evening, Chegwidden clearly chose the more formal way of approaching his junior officer.

"Sir, I'd like to have a few moments of your time, if possible. There's something important I have to tell you."

"I figured as much, but can't it wait until Monday?"

"If this is a bad time for you, Sir…"

"That's not a problem, I'm just surprised to see you here. Is this a personal thing?"

Harm slumped a little, the portrait of a little boy lost. And suddenly, his CO's demeanor changed considerably.

"So it is a personal thing. Very well then, come in Harm."

The choice of using his first name relaxed Harm, knowing he had found the softer side of AJ Chegwidden. He got into the house, following his CO to the open door patio.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

Not awaiting, nor expecting an answer, AJ disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with two glasses of scotch, handing Harm one.

"That's all you're having, son, if you still want to drive home tonight."

Harm accepted and decided just to take a few small sips instead of drowning it all in one gulp.

"Take a seat."

They sat down and remained silent for a while, enjoying the cool evening air and their drinks.

"Now tell me what I can do for you. And for God's sake don't look so scared! I don't have a reason to ream you a new six, yet…or will I when you're done? Have you done something stupid in San Diego?"

Harm smiled, not at all surprised by the question. His file was full of stupidities, so he could understand where the question was coming from.

"No Sir, I…"

"We're not at the office Harm, and you said this is personal. Call me AJ"

"Very well, AJ. But to answer your question: No, as far as I know, I haven't done anything stupid in San Diego. But I would like you to reassign the case to someone else if possible."

"I'll look into it, but may I ask why? If you haven't done anything stupid, but you couldn't bring the case to an end anyway, than what happened there that got you this unnerved?"

Draining his last bit of scotch, Harm contemplated his next move, deciding to plunge in head first, since there was no other plausible option he could come up with.

"AJ, first I have to ask you to keep this to yourself for just a while. And, if possible, to approach this as a friend, a confidant, rather than my CO…"

"I'm only one man Harm. If this is anything illegal, I'm forced by my rank and position to report it."

"It's nothing like that sir, but…"

"Than consider me a friend, if that makes it easier for you to tell me."

"Thank you. Sir…I mean, AJ…I saw her."

"Saw who, Harm? Sounds like a ghost."

"Close, very close. I saw…Sarah."

There, that was out. Harm deflated in his chair, not daring to look in the direction of Chegwidden, though he could hear the other man gasp.

"Are you sure it was her?"

"Yes. I…I talked to her. For quite some time. I even convinced her to come back with me, maybe even get back to JAG. I left her with mom and Frank in La Jolla so I could inform you first about it, clear the paths so to speak, but…"

"Harm, you're getting ahead of the story here. Start at the beginning please. Where did you find her, what was she doing?"

"Okay, here's what happened…"

As Harm started to tell the tale, careful not to elaborate more than Mac had begged him to, he didn't notice AJ's expression change from surprise into sadness, into quiet resolve.

Only when his voice died out, did he dare to take a look at the older man next to him, who hadn't as much as stirred.

It was almost dark outside now. He'd been talking for over an hour. He shivered as the dark also brought the cold of the night.

"Let's go back inside, son. It's getting chilly."

It was the first thing coming out of AJ's mouth since Harm had told him everything. And obviously his mind was reeling. Harm couldn't blame him.

Inside, they sat down in the spacious study, so much like his CO's office Harm immediately had to fight the urge to stand at attention. Instead, he decided to remain silent for a while longer, so AJ could gather his thoughts again.

"So…she wants to be reinstated?"

This was so much like AJ, Harm stifled a laugh. Just try to ignore the emotions and get to the organizing part. That was what they could handle, that didn't require a close inspection of the heart. Better leave it at that, for the time being.

"Yes Sir. I mean…she knows, we both do, that coming back here might not be easy, maybe even impossible. And even if she does, it'll have consequences for her salary, her rank, her duties…her friendships. But on her accord, I had to ask, I still have to ask: is there anything you can do for her. Or even want to?"

"She thinks I wouldn't want to help her?"

"You'd have every right to be angry with her, disappointed in her and her actions and she understands that. But I promised her I would try anything I could."

Taking a pause to take a necessary breath, he plunged on.

"She feels sorry for running off the way she did, for not trusting either one of us with her inner struggles. On some level, she's disappointed with herself and what has become of her, but she's still every inch a tough as nails Marine, Sir. She's still all my Sarah…"

He'd left the bit of their new relationship out of his initial story, not realizing that his omission only made the fact even more crystal clear, as had always been the case. Now, much to his own shock, he'd said it out loud, hoping against hope the normally observant admiral hadn't caught on.

He had.

"Your Sarah? You both finally gotten your heads out of your respective sixes, then?"

Harm grimaced. At least he didn't sound upset.

"Yes, Sir, I guess we did. I'm very much in love with her, Sir, and she feels the same about me."

"Good, that's good. But you do realize that when she's reinstated, the fraternization rules kick in immediately and either one of you will have to be transferred?"

"Yes, I know that, Sir, I've been considering the same thing, but I think…wait."

It hit him. Square in the face. The consequences of the words of his CO.

"Sir, AJ, eh…does this mean…?"

He knew he was babbling, he just couldn't help himself. AJ smiled at the sight of his normally composed Commander, now sitting in his study with his mouth hanging open.

"That's what it means, Commander. I can't make any promises yet, but I think we might have some good use for a well trained, intelligent Marine officer…Let me look into things, okay?"

"Thank you. Thanks so very much. One more thing, sir…"

"I won't tell anyone, Harm. That's up to you. And Mac."

The others will be told in the next chapter. Stay tuned for their reaction! Meanwhile, all reviews very much appreciated as always.