PART 3
Two Months Later
1700 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm sat in his office reading Mac's e-mail to him for the hundredth time that day. He'd tried not think about her, to not feel a thing for her. It didn't work. As the weeks went by, he found himself still in love with her as much as he'd ever been. He figured things would have been easier since she was not in the office. However, it only made things worse.
For the first few weeks, he managed to make himself believe that he could live without her. When people asked about the Colonel's whereabouts, he would just shrug it off. For six weeks he stared at the e-mail that Mac had left him. Then, one day out of the blue, he decided to read it. His heart broke when he saw her apology. Mac wasn't the type to apologize. It soared when he read her open confession of love and realized that she had not meant it in a friendly fashion, but as something more.
It wracked his brains each time he read it over. The fact that she had signed the e-mail Sarah and not Mac made him consider several things. The main thing being that he would always love her.
Everyone in the office was worried about the Colonel. AJ continually reassured his staff that she was in no danger and would return as soon as things were wrapped up. Harm had contacted his friends within the brotherhood and all had reassured that Mac was safe. But he needed more than that.
"Commander, the Admiral will like to see you in his office ASAP." Coates said, standing under the door frame.
When he arrived at the Admiral's office, Harm was asked to be seated. "Commander, I have some news about Mac.." AJ said from behind his desk. Harm seemed to pale at the way the Admiral was speaking. His tone was just too soft for it to mean that something good had happened. "She's in the brig for murder."
"What? H-How? There has to be a mistake." Harm said, sitting up with eyes wide in shock. Mac a murderer? Not in a million years.
AJ sighed. "It's not a mistake. . . She murdered Clayton Webb."
Harm sat there for a moment, absorbing the information. Mac kill Webb? Well, there were certainly a lot of people who wouldn't mind offing the spook, but Mac? "Permission to defend the Colonel, sir."
"Why? When you were in the brig she didn't even bother to help you. . ." He slid his glasses on and started going through another case file.
"Because you didn't let her. . . Sir."
AJ looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Would that have stopped you if Mac were in the brig?" Harm hated it when the Admiral had a point. Though, for a man that was against personal matters of his staff, he was divulging a bit much into certain aspects of his and Mac's relationship, or lack their of. "Is that going to stop you now?"
Harm just remained cool and collected. "I request for you to put me as defense in Mac's case, sir."
"Request denied." AJ replied as he leaned back in his chair.
"But, Admiral . . ."
Looking up, AJ gave Harm one of the coldest looks he'd ever seen from anyone. "And if you decide to resign your commission again, it won't matter what stunt or strings you pull commander, you are grounded for real this time."
Harm stood and leaned over the desk, completely ignoring military protocol. "How could you do this to Mac? Leave her hanging again?"
"Just saving you the heartache, son. . ." He shrugged and then leaned back. "She doesn't care for you. . . probably never did. Brumby now Webb. I expected you to fix things when you ran off to Paraguay, instead you came back with blood on your hands and a woman that will never be yours."
"But, sir!" Harm interrupted.
"Your chance has passed commander. Let her rot and fry for her crimes. . . DISMISSED."
Harm shot up in bed, drenched with sweat. It was a dream, nothing but a dream. Looking over at the time, he saw it was nearly four in the morning. Damn her, he thought. Just how many dreams had she occupied since she left? Millions by now. As he tried to shake the notion out of his mind, the phone rang and instantly he knew it was her. He couldn't explain it, it was just part of him. "Mac. . ." She remained silent on the line, but he could see that look of hope in her eyes. "I'm coming."