A/N: Yeah, I know, it took me forever to update, again. I barely have the time to breathe. Thanks for the wonderful reviews, especially to the ones I didn't respond to. Sorry about that. I'll make it up to you this time. I think that I'll write another chapter or two after this one and that's it.
Enjoy!
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
0756 hours local
'Good morning sir' Jen greeted the Admiral as he walked into his office.
'Good morning Petty Officer'. He plumped down in his chair. 'Anything I need to be aware of?'
Jen bit her lip. 'Actually sir…'
Alarmed by her trailing voice, AJ looked up. 'What is it Jen? Something happened to Harm and Mac?'
'Mr. and Mrs. Rabb you mean?' Secretary of the Navy Sheffield walked into the Admiral's office. 'Did you fail to tell me something AJ?'
The Admiral frowned. 'I don't know what you're talking about sir'.
As a responds, the SecNav threw a DVD on his desk. 'Look at this'.
AJ rose, put the DVD in his player and sat back in his chair.
"We decided to keep our marriage a secret for a while and all of a sudden Evan showed up, with Harriet's letter in his hand. Eventually we decided that it was probably a good idea to enter the show, and let everybody think that we had gotten together during the show" Mac explained further.
"You see Ronnie? You weren't meant to find out that Sarah and I got married three months ago; we didn't tell anyone and when my Mom is going to see this footage she'll kill me, but you left me with no choice. It took us long enough to get our act together and you're not going to ruin it. No one ever will".
Clicking the DVD out, AJ looked at the SecNav. 'What about it?'
'Well, did you know?'
'Of course I knew'. AJ sat right up. 'Did you really think that I didn't see the way those two have been looking at each other for the past year? Did you really think I missed out on that?'
The eyes of the SecNav grew wide. 'You actually knew?'
'Not that they were married' AJ shrugged. 'But I knew that there was a whole lot more going on than they let on'.
'And you didn't do anything about it?'
AJ shook his head. 'Listen sir. Those two are the closest thing to a daughter and son I have. I have seen them dance around each other for the bigger part of six years. Now, if they finally figure things out, I'm not going to restrict them'.
'You let them?' Sheffield was obviously not happy with him. 'You realize that you will have to break them up as a team?'
'I have to break them up as a team? Why would I want to do that? Just because they're married now?'
Sheffield leaned over his desk. 'What makes you think that they will still be such a great team AJ?'
'Because they watch each other's back. Because Mac is the only one who is able to keep Harm into line. Because they have been the best team I've ever had; even in the past year when they were dating. They proved that they can behave professionally when at work. Eventually, yeah I might break them up, but for now… Things are staying just they way they are'.
Sheffield looked back at him. 'What if the press finds out?'
'If you've found out, the press will find out. People will know. And honestly, I don't care'. AJ leaned back in his chair. 'I'm happy for them. Honestly, I'd say it's about damn time'.
It was then that they heard a squeal coming from the bullpen. And AJ didn't have to guess from who it was.
Gellar Residence
Somewhere in Tennessee
1650 hours local
After Harm and Mac's confession the producers had decided that they would let the show continue. To not let the press know Harm and Mac were the fake couple. And now, one of the last assignments Harm and Mac had to do was to help an older couple in the village out. They'd been assigned to the Gellars. The couple was in their mid-seventies and they needed some help on their farm.
Mac was leaning in the doorway, watching Harm working on the fence with Russell. She'd been helping his wife, Hannah, out with cleaning and the pot roast was slowly getting ready for dinner. Harm had pulled his shirt off and was wiping the sweat of his face.
Mac looked at the two, a bit worried that Harm would complain about his back later. She played with her ring, wondering about the past couple of weeks. She was so lucky to have him. Their feelings were finally out in the open. They no longer had to hide for them. And they hadn't.
After their talk in the mansion's garden two weeks into the show, they'd become this touchy couple. Cuddling, holding hands, stealing kisses. They were finally able to do what they hadn't been able to do what they hadn't been able to do the first three months of their marriage.
Hannah Gellar smiled at the younger woman who was so obviously in love with her husband. She hadn't seen a couple like them in a long time. When they'd arrived that morning to help her and Russell out with a couple of things, they had been holding hands, not letting go until they had gone their separate ways. Sarah in the house and Harm outside. Just one last kiss, one last look, one last smile. It was all so familiar.
'What are you thinking about dear?' Hannah asked as she came standing next to Mac.
Mac looked up, a bit startled. 'Nothing really. Just remembering how lucky I am with Harm'.
'That you are darling. But do you realize how lucky Harm is with you?' She searched for her eyes. 'No one else but Harm has told you that, have they? You've been through a whole lot in your life already; I can see that in your eyes. I only met you this morning, but I already know that you're one special person Sarah. You're kind, and loving and caring. But you're also afraid to get hurt. Because that won't be the first time and you don't know if you can handle that anymore. Am I right?'
Mac felt the tears well up in her eyes and she nodded. This woman cut right to the point.
Hannah put a hand on her shoulder. 'Everyone is lucky to have you in their lives. Your parents should be happy to have you, your uncles and aunts, your siblings, if you have those, should be. But until you came across Harmon, no one ever told you that they were happy to have you by their side. To have you watching over them. And now that you have your own life with him, they don't see you anymore. And not having you in their life Sarah, is their loss, not yours'.
Mac was really crying now. She didn't deserve those kind words. She didn't deserve that this woman was so great to her. Her mother had never said that kind of things to her, not her father; no one of her family, except for Uncle Matt, had.
And now, this complete stranger was telling her that all the people that had left her, lost her, not the other way around.
Hannah put a hand on her arm. 'It's true you know. You know what hit me when you two walked into the house this morning?'
Mac shook her head, wiping her tears of her cheeks. 'I have no idea'.
'He couldn't keep his eyes away from you. And not just because he's in love with you, although I'm sure he is, but out of concern for you. Like he wanted to make sure that you were going to be okay'.
'That's Harm' Mac said, sniffing. 'Always protective of me'.
The lady smiled. 'He has every right to be darling. Don't push him away and don't distrust him. He doesn't deserve that. He deserves to be loved and cherished. As do you'.
Inhaling deep, Mac looked back at Harm. 'You know Mrs. Gellar, he is all that. He is loved and cherished. By a lot of people'.
Hannah gave her arm a soft squeeze. 'But mostly by you'.
She turned her head to the side. 'What makes you say that?'
'Dear, I know something like that when I see it. He's at ease when he's with you. The further away he goes, the more muscles in his body tense. And when he gets to hold you or touch you all relaxes. But the way you look at him tells me all that too'.
Mac's eyes wondered back to the man she loved more than life itself. 'I guess you're right then. He's mostly loved by me'.
Harm felt someone watching him and looked up. He grinned when he got sight of Mac. He waved. Mac didn't hesitate for one moment but ran of the porch and made her way over to him. He caught her in his arms, surprised when she kissed him full on his lips.
The older couple smiled at each other. There were so many things a man could do, but loving a woman with all his heart and being loved in return, was the greatest thing on earth that could happen. And the younger couple had all that.
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