ALMOST FINISHED! Only the epilogue is left! :D This one is a lot "talky", but hopefully will do :)


Mac was sitting on the edge of the bed. She could hear the shower running. She entertained the thought of joining Harm in it but then thought better of it. Ever since her return five days ago they had not ventured into the lovemaking territory. There was plenty of body contact, sure. She craved his touch and he could hardly keep from touching her in return. But it was, so far, out of her need for comfort and his need to reassure himself she was, indeed, there, rather than anything sexual. They were both too fragile at the moment. The fact that Admiral Chegwidden - retired or no - slept just a wall or two away, was another reason. She longed for Harm. But she could wait. He had assured her of the same. But he had kissed pretty much every inch of her body, mapping all of the slowly fading bruises, whispering words of love over them, smoothing away all the residual pain with his fingertips. Last night she was the one to return the favour. She touched and kissed and traced the wonderful map of his chest and arms, she breathed him in and breathed love out.

She had shed her demons. They were dead. She could move on. She was ready to heal.

His greatest terror, however, would take more time to dissipate. She had noticed it the moment she returned. No matter where she moved his eyes would follow her. If she had to leave, even for a few minutes, he grew agitated, nervous. "You have disappeared on me twice, not to mention the fright I lived through when the loft exploded," he explained. "I... can't help it, Mac. I know it's irrational, but... these past few months I lived in a hell of my own too. I am still struggling to keep the gate to it closed. And when you leave the room... all I can think about is whether or not you will disappear again."

So she decided not to be bothered by him hovering, at least for a time. She offered her embraces, as tight and loving as his own, to give as much as she would take from him in return. They both needed time. They were together. They would make it.

Tomorrow would be Christmas, she realized. She had no plans other than to be with Harm. It made her happy. it was more than enough.

To distract herself from thinking about water currently caressing his well-toned muscles she fixed her eyes on the closet door. There, on the hanger, was her new, pristine uniform. The green others called drab was solid, earthy and calming to her. The silver oak leaves gleamed. She wondered if they would ever turn into eagles. With a sense of calm, she realized she was OK with the thought they might never do so. The Admiral had brought it yesterday. Harm's own new uniform, complete with perfectly polished golden wings, was hanging next to hers. She liked that. General Cresswell was expecting them. Apparently, there were important things to be said, serious matters to be addressed.

The sound of water from the bathroom stopped and minutes later Harm came out, hair still a little wet, a towel around his waist. Unashamed, she watched him, her eyes full of longing and promise.

Perhaps tonight?

She craved him and the blissful sense of everything being right which went with each and every time they had been together intimately.

But no. Even if they both felt up for it, there was still A.J. a couple of doors away. At the thought of him overhearing anything Mac suddenly blushed and giggled.

"You seem in a good mood," Harm said, dressing slowly.

"I am," she answered.

"Is it on my account?" he suggested and from his face, she could tell he was fishing. She would indulge him, just this once, she decided.

"Always," she said softly. Then she got up and stepping closer, pressed a short, sweet kiss to his lips, before helping him with the buttons of his shirt. Later he gladly returned the favour. Her uniform had never felt better than when he helped her into it. It was, however, a bit too loose.

"Don't worry," Harm said with mirth in his voice that had been missing for much too long. "I'm gonna fatten you up, stickgirl."


Stepping into the JAG headquarters felt like an almost out of body experience to her. It had not been that long since she was there last, but as if that had been in some other life. It was all familiar, yet new. Perhaps the people there had the same feeling when it came to her. She was cordially greeted by most but also realized there were a few new faces she had never seen before. Bud threw the decorum out of the window and hugged her.

"You have to come tonight," he insisted and she could swear there were tears in his eyes. "Harriet would never forgive me if I did not bring both of you tonight for dinner. We did not want to impose, but since you are here, Ma'am, Sir, please, even if just for a few minutes, do come."

"It is up to you," Harm said gently. Christmas at the Roberts residence meant joy, good food, love. It also meant noise, a throng of people stepping over one another and a good deal of chaos. She could face that, she thought and promised they would definitely come. She hoped she wasn't overestimating herself. Harm kissed her in the elevator.

"At ease," General Cresswell said and motioned for them all to sit. Harm, her, Bud on one side. Sturgis and Meg Hartley on the other. The battles lines were clear. Sturgis looked as if chiselled out of stone, not a muscle in his face moving. Somehow he had managed to become a complete stranger, even greater than he was on the day he had first stepped into JAG. Meg Hartley looked pale but composed. Her eyes were fixed on the table. For all the relief and peace Mac had been feeling in the past few days she could not help but feel a pang of something akin to contempt. She knew nothing about this woman. She only knew she had had a part in what happened. It would take her a long time to forgive. Mac knew holding grudges was not healthy, but she was no saint either.

Cresswell himself remained standing, his arms folded behind his back, apparently ready to command his troops and expecting to be obeyed to the letter.

"The past few weeks have been interesting, to say the least," he started. "Events of various nature escalated quickly and even my brief absence from this building apparently added to the mess. Fortunately, I have been able to clean up the said mess. I called you, my senior staff, here today to inform you about certain changes which I was forced to make, and steps I was compelled to take, before I inform the rest of the people at the office. Before, you ask, yes, these changes are definitely for the moment and have been approved by the SecNav."

He turned to Sturgis first.

"First of all, Commander Turner, thank you for taking my place again as acting JAG. You have proven to be a man of hard discipline, rigour and believer in the regulations which for the backbone of what we do here. Combined with your organizational skills and authority you have gained among the staff, all these qualities recommend you for a new post and duty station."

"Sir?" The look of perfect dignity fell for a second from Sturgis' face.

"I have recommended you for a newly created Command of our legal forces with the main seat in San Diego. You are to leave within 48 hours with a number of selected staff. Others will be provided to you shortly thereafter. If you should have any particular people in mind you would like to take with you, go ahead. The only people off limit are the people in this room and Petty Officer Coates, at least until I find another Petty Officer with her capabilities."

The absolute silence hung over the room for only a moment.

"Thank you, Sir," Sturgis said finally as his surprise melted into satisfaction. Harm felt an almost overwhelming urge to smack him. The bastard was getting his own command? Whatever for? As a reward for being a sleazeball?

"You're welcome, Commander," Cresswell said but did not offer any further congratulations. He went on after another short pause: "You should know that you were not the first choice for the command of this new unit. They had specifically asked for Colonel Mackenzie. Since that is now no longer possible, I pushed the idea of you through, because while I was impressed by some aspects of your work, I also value certain things above even discipline when it comes to my officers. Compassion and patience are too needed in a commanding officer. I hope your time in San Diego will provide you with that experience and you will become better for it."

"But sir..." Sturgis started to protest but was not given a chance.

"You should also know that this command does not come with O-6 status. You will have to await the next selection board just like everybody else. Thank you for your work here, Commander. I wish you to become the best you possibly can."

No slap could have landed harder. It was a promotion of sorts, yes. It was an achievement and something to be envied even. And yet, it felt like the greatest insult and Sturgis was wise enough to know it. He clenched his teeth and his eyes grew cold as ice. He still had the last poisonous arrow in his quiver though.

"Thank you, sir. I am going to take this as an opportunity, now that Colonel Mackenzie is going to be occupied with yet another Article 32."

"About that," Cresswell replied without bothering to look at Sturgis. "I somewhat take personal offence when somebody tries to throw my best people into the flames of Hell. This whole matter should have been brought by you to my attention first. Instead, you chose to go after people who I would have supposed were your friends with a vehemence that suggests hostility. There is room for competitive spirit and professional disagreements under my command but not for hatred and petty revenge. This whole thing reeks of just that."

"Sir, as an acting JAG..."

"You misused that position, Commander Turner, for personal vendetta, and that is it. I will hear no more about this from you. I am sad to lose an excellent litigator in you, but you are not irreplaceable. Commander Hartley," he turned to Meg. "I would like to offer you a permanent place here at the headquarters if you are still interested. I realize that you were the one who brought the alleged fraternization against Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie and I would like to believe you did so from a sense of duty. You are new here and have not had the opportunity to get the feel of the place, of the people and their affairs. Let me assure you that there is no fraternization between these two," Creswell nodded to Harm and Mac.

"Sir, I saw them... kissing and I know..."

"You saw them kissing, which while not entirely appropriate, is hardly a matter of fraternization considering that just before that public display of affection Colonel Mackenzie has been transferred out of my command."

Harm's head turned sharply towards Mac, who gave him a shy smile. She had hardly realized she didn't tell him. That was, after all the day which ended up with his loft being blown up. After that, she did not give her career a thought. Not until this morning in fact.

Sturgis could no longer keep quiet: "Sir, you talk about me misusing my position, but if you are trying to cover this up by..."

"By what, Commander? Falsifying papers? Rewriting dates? Lying? If I were you, I would sit and be quiet. It is still time to tear up your transfer papers and let you face charges for disrespecting your CO. But just so you know, Colonel Mackenzie came to me with her resignation papers that day. However, Admiral Chegwidden, before he retired, and Admiral Morris, had apparently prepared an offer - a possibility for the Colonel. If she or Commander Rabb decided to start a relationship - don't look so shocked, all of you, as if it had been any secret - Admiral Morris was quite eager to get the Colonel under his own command and into the judiciary branch of JAG. So when she came to me and explained, I made her this offer. She accepted. Thus, as you can see, there was no fraternization. There was no reason for bringing up the charges and there certainly was no reason to let this go as far as preparations for an Article 32 hearing. Neither was it necessary to force Commander Roberts to destroy his mentors and friends."

General finally descended into a chair, leaning back, his eyes measuring every face and every expression in the room.

"So there we have it. Commander Turner is going to San Diego. Colonel Mackenzie, after the New Year and if she feels up to it, will be officially given an office in another part of this building and take up her new duties. Commander Roberts, I would like you to become my Chief of Staff. I feel you have the necessary knowledge and character for that position. Commander Rabb, when you are done making googly eyes at the Colonel, please take note that I am not going to tolerate any inappropriate public displays of affection after today. Commander Hartley, you have not answered my question. Are you interested in staying with us for the foreseeable future and... try to fit into our cozy circle? I am two lawyers short right now."

Meg, who never lifted her eyes once from the table surface, just silence said: "Yes, Sir."

"Good. I will have the necessary papers ready for you by the end of the day. Now all of you are dismissed."

Sturgis burst out of the room without a glance back. Meg followed, her head high but eyes cast down. Mac moved to the door but Harm tugged at her wrist, stopping her. Overwhelmed by everything, especially relief, he then framed her face with his palms and kissed her deeply.

"I said I would not tolerate public displays of affection, Commander," Cresswell reminded him strictly, but he sounded more amused than annoyed.

Letting Mac go, Harm grinned. "You said since tomorrow, Sir. I was just taking up the opportunity."