Author: PreppyPrincess5103

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Harm. & Mac begin their life together, while both deal with the reality of Harm's decision to resign his commission. Spoiler alert: Mac doesn't handle it very well. (Continuation of It Started in Russia, and Everything is Going to Be Okay)

Notes: I'm glad you guys don't think that my version of Mac is a horrible person =) And I'm sorry for the drama on top of drama... I didn't plan that out very well.

Part Fifteen

One Month Later

"My mother made an appearance in my life a few weeks ago, and revealed she's dying of pancreatic cancer."

Commander Brenda Daniels glanced up from her notepad at the surprising outburst. Sarah MacKenzie had a hard shell that usually required a bit of work before it cracked. She sat her notepad on the table and crossed her legs. "Your mother?"

Mac nodded. "She showed up out of the blue and told me she was dying. I didn't know what to say at first. But then it had some time to sink in, and I saw her again. We talked a bit, and then she went back home." She laughed bitterly. "I don't even know where home is for her. She didn't tell me."

Brenda watched Mac spin her engagement ring around her finger. It was a nervous habit of hers that came out often in these sessions. "She doesn't want you there when she passes?" Mac shook her head. "Did she say why?"

"Yeah." She stopped fidgeting with the ring and picked at the hem of her skirt. "She told me that she didn't want someone there in her final moments that she had hurt as much as she hurt me."

"Do you believe her?"

Mac shrugged again. "I don't know. I don't really know her, so it's hard to know if she's telling the truth or not."

"Do you want to be with her?" Brenda watched as Mac inhaled sharply, and then slowly shook her head.

"I would go to her in the end, if she asked. But I don't want to go." She gnawed on her lower lip for a moment before sighing. "She came to my apartment to talk before she headed back. And I watched her as she looked at the framed photos we have on a bookcase." She took a deep breath, and tried to figure out how to best articulate her thoughts. "She was looking at pictures of my uncle and I – my Uncle Matt is her older brother – and she seemed so disconnected. Do you remember my first visit here? When I couldn't sit still, and ended up standing in front of the frames over there?" She waited for the doctor to nod. "That's how she seemed. She was looking at pictures of her daughter and her brother, the only family she has, and it was if she was looking at a stranger's memories. Never mind the fact that she took one of the photos. She asked about what law school I went to, and it felt like it does when you ask a stranger at a cocktail party what they do for a living."

Brenda moved to pick up her notepad. "What kind of mother was she before she left?"

"I don't remember." She closed her eyes for a moment, and then slowly opened them. "When I was little, I remember her yelling at my father to leave me alone. But I don't have many memories of her. My most vivid memory was when I saw her at his deathbed last year. She said she came to see me." Mac offered a wry smile. "When he was dying, I asked her to come into the room with me, and she refused. It was her first opportunity to be my mother since she abandoned me on my fifteenth birthday and she refused. I feel like that must be very telling about what kind of mother she was."

Mac walked into the apartment and dropped her keys on the counter. She rested her elbows on the cool granite and dropped her head into her hands. It had been her first therapy session in almost two months, and it had been a draining one. She had talked to Harm and Maddie, but talking to Commander Daniels was more… well, therapeutic. Therapy had been something she had balked at when she had been younger, but now she wished she had listened to her uncle, and to John, and had seen someone years ago.

She lifted her head and realized that the apartment was much too quiet considering it was after 7:00. "Harm?" There was no answer. She slipped out of her heels and walked towards the bedroom. "Harm?" Their room was empty, and she frowned. She glanced at the answering machine, and frowned again at the lack of a blinking light. Where was he? Usually he called if he would be late.

A few minutes later she had changed into jeans and a tank top and was back in the living room. Mac picked up the phone and dialed his number, and replaced it in the receiver when there was no answer. She took a deep breath and placed her hand over the back of her neck, and tried to soothe the tingling she was feeling. She picked up the phone again, and began to dial the number for the airfield. The line had rung twice when she heard keys rattling in the door.

Harm walked into the apartment and greeted her with his most charming smile. "Hey there. You're home early."

She frowned and sat the phone back down, and walked to him. She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. "My appointment got moved up. Where were you? I was worried."

He pulled back and brushed his lips over hers in a gentle kiss. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. Work was insane today. I had that meeting about becoming an FAA approved pilot school, and then I had meeting with two guys who are interested in us housing their multiple planes." He grinned again. I may actually start making money again soon if this keeps up. But I thought I'd be home before you were."

"I'm just glad you're okay. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong."

His grin faded and he studied her. "A serious feeling?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I was fine until I couldn't reach you. Then I started feeling a tingling in the back of my neck." She shook her head. "It's probably just the aftermath of my appointment. I never feel quite like myself after meeting with Commander Daniels."

He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "How was it today?"

Mac smiled softly. "Therapeutic. I actually had the thought that I should have listened to Matt and John and seen someone years ago."

Harm kissed her forehead. "You are now. That's what matters, right?"

"Right." She felt herself calming down and took a step away from him. "Let's go out for dinner. I don't really feel like being in the apartment right now."

He nodded. "Sounds good. Any preference?"

She scrunched up her nose as she thought. "Honestly, ramen. Even thought it's insanely hot outside."

He shrugged. "The restaurant is air conditioned. Let's go."

Mac leaned into him as they walked back into their apartment a few hours later. "Ugh. I'm stuffed. Why do I always end up eating so much when we go there?"

He grinned and plucked the keys from her hand. "I have no idea. I still haven't figured out where you manage to put it all." She rolled her eyes, and he kissed the top of her head. He heard multiple car doors shutting, and instinctively turned towards the sound. Two men in suits were walking quickly towards them, and he turned and tried to shield Mac.

She nudged him out of the way and smiled politely. "Can we help you with something?"

Both men took out badges, and Harm and Mac exchanged a glance as they introduced themselves as NCIS officers. The younger officer eyed Harm and cleared his throat. "I'm looking for Harmon Rabb Jr. I'm guessing that's you, sir?"

He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm Harm. What can I do for you?"

The older officer gestured to the apartment building with his chin. "May we speak inside?"

Mac nodded, and led them inside. No one spoke as Harm hung the keys and Mac hung her purse on hooks by the door. She glanced at Harm and moved to stand next to him. "What can we do for you?"

The younger officer studied Mac for a long moment. "And you are?"

"She's my fiancée." Harm was trying to be polite, but his patience was wearing thin. "Now. I'm going to ask again. What's this about?"

The officers exchanged a glance and the older one cleared his throat. "Do you know Jordan Parker?"

Harm paled, and glanced at Mac before looking back at the officer. "I do. We dated for a couple of months last year. Is she okay?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. She was found dead in her quarters this yesterday evening."

He frowned, and shook his head. "No. You have to be mistaken. She's in Spain. She got orders last year." Mac placed a hand on his arm, and he briefly covered it with his. "You have to be mistaken."

The younger officer cleared his throat and spoke this time. "We're sure, sir." He glanced at Mac again and blushed. "Mr. Rabb, you may be more comfortable if we speak about this in private."

Mac flinched, and started to pull her hand away. Harm held it tighter and shook his head. "We have no secrets. There's no need to speak in private."

"The phone was off the hook in her apartment when she was found. We pulled her phone records as part of our standard operating procedure. The last number she called before her death was registered to your apartment near Union Station."

Harm exhaled and leaned back. "I don't live there anymore, not for almost seven months."

"But yet you still have the phone connected?"

He eyed the younger agent. "Yes. I called to cancel the phone line, but it's part of a package that come with my security system. My bill would have increased if I had cancelled it." The two agents hared a dubious look, and he felt his body tensing. As if Mac could sense his frustration, she lightly squeezed his arm. "Look, I'm not screwing with you. Between starting my new business, my fiancée's demanding career, and planning a wedding, we really just haven't had time to decide what we want to do with the place yet. But I'm not using it as some secret lair to take ex-girlfriends to."

The older agent sighed and held up a hand. "Okay. Okay. Do you know why she was calling you?"

"No. I haven't talked to her since…" He thought for a moment and glanced at Mac. "After Thanksgiving?"

She nodded. "Yeah. You ran into her at the medical center right after we got back from Pennsylvania."

"That's right. I ran into her, and we talked for a minute, and then decided to grab a cup of coffee at the coffee shop in the lobby and catch up. I haven't spoken to her since." He glanced at Mac again, and then back to the officers. "What happened to her?"

The younger one shook his head. "We're not able to comment on that at this time." He looked to his partner, who nodded, and then back to Harm and Mac. "I think that's all we have for now. We'll be in touch if we need to speak to you again."

Mac stood, walked over to the desk, and pulled out one of her business cards. She handed it to the older agent and sat back down next to Harm. "Feel free to call if you need anything."

He glanced at the card and then back at her. "You're a JAG lawyer?" She nodded, and he sighed before pocketing the business card. "We'll be in touch."

Harm and Mac stayed on the sofa while the other two showed themselves out. Once the door shut, she turned to him and brought a hand to his face. "Are you okay?" He didn't move, and she ran her fingers over his jaw. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

He shook her hand off and stood. "I think I just need to be alone right now."

End Part 15