A/N: Okay, so I had to re-write almost all of this chapter to fix various plot problems… (crosses her fingers and takes in a breath)... I hope you guys like it! (Don't worry, Mac's lying serves the greater purpose!)

Also, I don't know what's going on with the ff dot net site, but it's been deleting parts of my stories, and some reviews. Hopefully the problem won't last long.

Andsowego

Fair Winds and Following Fate

Chapter VII

Harm's Apartment
05:00
Monday morning

After spending the last two days at Harm's apartment, Mac quietly got dressed in the early morning hours. Harm hadn't stirred since she snuck out of bed and gathered her things. She debated whether or not to wake him at all, but decided to go ahead and let him know she was leaving. If he woke up and found her gone, he'd most likely panic, chaos would ensue, and he'd probably call in a search party to hunt down her whereabouts.

"Harm..." Mac whispered.

"Huh?" came the sleepy reply.

"Harm..." she called a little louder.

"Mac? What are you doing?"

"I have to leave Harm."

After bolting straight up in bed, Harm flicked on the light on the nightstand. With a look of total confusion on his face, he raised an eyebrow.

"Don't panic sailor, I forgot to bring a uniform with me, and if I don't get home now, there won't be time before work" she stated.

"Are you sure we have to go into work today?" he joked. "I mean, can't we just stay here, in bed..." Harm smiled.

"As tempting as that sounds, you know as well as I do that the General wants to see us first thing in his office. There's no way I'm going to be late, considering how we both just turned down promotions with him yesterday over the phone. I'm sure he's been on the phone with the Admiral non-stop since the whole thing transpired. We owe him an in-person meeting to explain ourselves Harm."

"I know Mac. Although, the idea of staying here with you all day long really is much more inviting than the prospect of grovelling in front of the General for his understanding...a guy can dream can't he?" Harm winked.

Kissing Harm quickly, Mac turned off the light. "I'll see you in a couple of hours flyboy. You'd better be on time, because there's no way I want to face the General without you!"

"Love you Mac" he mumbled as his head hit the pillow for another hour of sleep.

"Love you too Harm."

Harm was nearly asleep again as the apartment door clicked shut. Oh, how he could get used to waking up next to her everyday for the rest of his life. Up until now, it had only been a dream. She'd only spent the last three nights in his bed, but Harm was having a hard time remembering what it felt like to wake up without her there. It was like she'd always been there, even when he'd woken up alone all these years.

His mind reeled. They'd had a fantastic weekend... there was Friday, when they'd finally gotten their priorities straight... there was the visit with Mattie on Saturday, when they actually felt like a real family... there was all day Sunday, just enjoying each other's company. Not to mention all the middle-of-the-night hours they'd spent in each others arms. How had he gotten so lucky? The nine-year wait was completely worth it, if it meant they'd get to spend the next fifty making each other happy.

Reluctantly sliding out of bed, Harm headed for the kitchen. Who was he kidding? The bed felt so empty without her it was almost painful. Plus, there was no way he'd be able to fall back asleep now, knowing they'd have to face the General today, not to mention the rest of the staff at JAG. Now that was going to be an interesting experience. Harm wasn't blind... he knew that people at work had been suspecting something was going on between him and Mac pretty much since the day they met, but it had never been discussed publicly. How were they going to tell people? With any luck, the grapevine had already done the work for them; P.O. Coates wasn't exactly the most discreet person working at JAG, nor was Bud for that matter! One of them was bound to have let it slip this morning.

Pouring himself a cup of fresh coffee, Harm stared sleepily into the living room. Out of the corner of his eye, something flashing caught his attention. The answering machine. Funny, he hadn't remembered the phone ringing. After crossing through the living room, he pushed the 'play' button on the blinking machine.

Mac's voice came across the speaker. It must've been from Saturday morning... the wrong number when he was in the shower. He supposed she hadn't turned off the machine properly when she picked up the phone. Harm listened intently as an unexpected conversation unfolded.

"Hello?... no, he's busy at the moment... can I take a... what? Who is this? ... how did you know I'd be here?... no, he's in the shower...trust me, he's well out of ear-shot... I certainly don't want to discuss this over the phone... yeah, I'll meet with you... okay. See you then. Bye."

Harm stood silently in the living room as the meaning of the recorded message dawned on him.

Mac had lied to him.

Jag HQ
06:45

Harm arrived at the office early. It was a first for him... arriving at the office more than an hour early without just cause. He'd hastily dressed and practically flew out the door after hearing the message on his machine. How could she lie to him? And about something this important? He figured she'd had her reasons, but this wasn't like Mac. Granted, there had been many a time when he'd asked her how she was, and all she could say was 'fine', but this was ridiculous. They were getting married! This was definitely something that he could help her with. There really was no need for her to take on the whole issue herself. He sat at his desk, feet propped on the edge waiting for the morning meeting with Cresswell. They'd have to face the General, endure whatever dressing down came with the change in their relationship, and then he'd try to approach her about the phone call. There was no way he was going to let this one slide.

As the clock ticked by, Harm's mind wandered. He remembered the first time he met her. She looked so much like Diane it scared him initially. Even as she introduced herself, he knew she wasn't Diane, but still, there was always something familiar and captivating about her. She challenged him, intrigued him right from that first day in the rose garden. On some level, he supposed that he'd always been in love with her. Whoever said that love at first sight doesn't exist was obviously mistaken. It's what comes after the initial attraction that matters. Yes, it had taken them nine years to figure it out, with more heartache along the way than any sane two people should ever have to go through, but it was all so worth it in the end. He only hoped that she felt the same way. The thought of her not reciprocating his feelings completely made him feel sick to his stomach. No matter what happened over the next few hours, Harm knew that there would never be anyone else for him.

General Cresswell's Office

JAG HQ
08:01

As Mac and Harm stood at attention in the General's office, the silence in the room was almost unbearable. Cresswell paced back and forth behind his desk, his eyes to the floor, his fingers at his chin. The only sound came from his dull footsteps on the carpeting.

Finally, he spoke.

"How long has this been going on?" he questioned as the pacing continued.

"Sir?" came their unison reply.

Cresswell's pacing ceased, as his voice became angry.

"I said, how long has this been going on?"

It was Harm who spoke first.

"Sir, I'm not sure I understand the question. What exactly is it that you think has been going on?"

Mac held her breath. 'Don't push it Harm, you know exactly what he's asking and why...' she thought to herself.

"Commander Rabb. Are you trying to tell me that you have no idea what I'm asking you about?" the General steamed.

"Uh, well, no Sir, I mean yes Sir, I mean..."

"Allow me to recap the finer points for you then. Yesterday, I get a call from you and the Colonel, explaining that the two of you are getting married... to each other no less... and that you both are going to turn down the promotions I offered you before the weekend. Then, with no further explanation, I'm left with this bombshell of an announcement for the rest of the weekend, only to be called almost immediately afterwards by retired Admiral Chegwidden himself, who tells me the same thing. What is wrong with this situation people?" he practically yelled.

"Sir, if I may..." Mac interjected.

"By all means Colonel, you may."

"Sir, I believe what you're asking is how long Harm... uh, the Commander and I have been involved? If that is in fact your question, then there really is no answer, except to say that until the engagement on Friday, we haven't been involved Sir."

A look of confusion washed over the General's face as he processed Mac's words.

"You're telling me Colonel, that you and the Commander have never before been romantically involved while working under the same command in this office? Do you think I'm really that stupid?" he barked in his best take-no-crap marine voice.

"No Sir!"

"So, Commander, is it also your contention that there has been no prior inappropriate involvement with the Colonel while working in the same chain of command here at JAG?"

"Absolutely Sir. Mac and I have worked together for nine years without incident Sir."

If Harm wasn't mistaken, a smirk appeared on the General's face as he spoke, "Colonel, Commander, the two of you are either incredibly smart, or unbelievably stupid. Smart for not getting involved and forcing me to draw up fraternization charges... stupid for waiting nine years to get your acts together!" he laughed. "Colonel, I'm happy to have you remain here at JAG indefinitely, but are you aware that turning down this chance at your own command could be a career-killer for you?"

"Yes sir, I'm well aware" Mac stated.

"And Commander, I hear they're going to offer you a position at the Academy? Are you sure you know what you're getting yourself into?"

"I hope so Sir" Harm answered as he glanced at Mac.

"Well, then, I guess congratulations are in order! Now I'm just stuck with the job of finding someone else to take over in joint-legal services, and I'll be short an attorney here, but I'm sure there are some who will jump at the chance to move up the ladder. Colonel, glad to have you here... Commander, glad to see you've finally come to your senses! You'll remain here at JAG for the next two weeks until your billet at Annapolis opens up. I expect that you'll both maintain a certain decorum while working together?"

"Yes Sir" came the replies.

"Oh, who am I kidding, you two have had nine years of pretending not to be involved, why should it be a problem now? Dismissed!"

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Oooooooh… Now what? Harm knows that Mac lied!

Uh-oh! This story is getting crazy! So crazy that you want to leave a review?

Chapter VIII coming soon… Andsowego :)