Title: Harm Leaves JAG

Author: rooster dawn

Classification: Harm/Mac

Spoiler: fifth season

Summary: How does Harm deals with the impending marriage of Mac and Brumby.

Disclaimers: The characters of JAG are the property of Donald Bellisario and Bellisarius Production, Inc. Used without permission. No copyright infringement intended. May be reproduce if unchanged, author given full credit, and no financial transaction is involved.

Feedback is greatly appreciated and welcomed.

part 2

21 June 00

Jag Headquarters

The next day Mac was in the bullpen area. She had been looking for Harm most of the morning but couldn't find him anywhere. She hadn't seen him all morning and she was a little worried. She saw Bud and walked over to talk to him.

"Bud, have you seen Harm today?" asked a concerned Mac.

"No Ma'am. I believe he is on leave for the next two weeks." replied Bud.

"That doesn't sound like Harm. It's not like him to take off without telling me where he's going." responded Mac as she wondered what was wrong with him that he wouldn't talk to her before leaving.

"With all due respect Ma'am, that was when the two of you were an item, but now that you're marrying Commander Brumby, I don't think he's taking it too well.

I'm sure he thought you would send Brumby packing back to Australia sooner or later like the rest of us." replied Bud in an apologizing manner.

"Bud, we were never an item. My being involved with Mic hasn't stopped us from being friends. We still tell each other everything that's important. And what do you mean like the rest of us Bud?" questioned a hurt Mac.

"Well everyone thought you and the Commander would one day get married, once you both decided it was what you both really wanted. I know the Commander loves you Ma'am.

He worships the ground that you walk on. And I'm pretty sure you love him too, at least that's what Harriet keeps telling me." Bud rambled on.

"Yes, I do love him, but Harm has never expressed to me that he loves me. I tried to get something started with him when we were in Australia, but he turned me down. He wasn't ready." responded Mac defensively.

"With all due respect Ma'am, he was focusing on a murder trial. I don't think he was expecting you to express your feeling for him at that point and time." replied Bud as he tried to defend his mentor.

"It seemed to me that he was rejecting me. He couldn't let go." wailed Mac as frustration was beginning to set in.

"I think all he needed from you was a little more time Ma'am. To think over what you said to him." begged Bud.

"I have given him four years Bud. All I wanted was a sign from him that he wanted me as much as I wanted him." wailed Mac.

Was Bud right? Did she really catch Harm unprepared to deal with her request. Was it a mistake to let Mic's ring stay on her finger? She needed to find Harm and talk to him.

"Well he may not have said it in so many words Ma'am. But the way he looks at you and talks to you. You can see that everything he does is to please you and make you happy." stated Bud passionately.

"It doesn't always seem that way to me Bud. We've been fighting quite a bit lately. And it all started long before I put Mic's ring on my right hand. I can't wait forever for him Bud.

I've given him ample time to tell me he loves me, but he hasn't done so. I don't think he ever will." wailed Mac as she tried to hold back the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes.

"Why do you think he and Brumby were fighting back in Australia?" asked Bud.

"Because they don't like each other." replied Mac with distained.

"Well that maybe true on some level but it wasn't the real reason Ma'am. They were fighting over you. They both want you." replied Bud fighting for his mentor Harm.

"Then why didn't he say anything?" asked Mac.

"You didn't give him the chance Ma'am. He wanted to talk to you about it that night you had dinner with Brumby. He wanted to tell you how he really felt about you and to ask you to be patience a little while longer while he sorted through his feelings.

As much as he loves you he wasn't sure that you loved him. Once you let him know how you felt and what you wanted, he had to work it out in his own mind what it all meant.

Any relationship between the two of you would mean some major changes at work and possible career implications. But once you took Brumby's ring he couldn't tell you Ma'am, not as long as you were wearing his ring." replied Bud as he rambled on for what seem like forever to Mac, but was very informational.

"What do you mean Bud? It was a friendship ring for six months. He even said so himself at the airport. He knew that it only represented what I was looking for with him, a loving relationship that could some day lead to marriage.

He was just being stubborn and pigheaded like he always is when he can't control the situation." replied a very confused Mac.

"That maybe so Ma'am, but to a man of the Commander's character, the ring represents your commitment to Brumby. He had to respect the ring because he's an officer and a gentleman.

You don't move in on another man's woman even if you don't like him. He could only express his love for you after you gave Brumby back his ring or took it off." responded Bud.

"Are you sure Bud?" asked Mac with the first ray of hope she had in a longtime. She really didn't believe it. It was a load of crap. While she believed that to be true between good friends, Harm and Mic were not.

"Yes Ma'am. It's the code." replied Bud.

"The code?" asked Mac.

"The code of being an officer and a gentleman. Even Commander Brumby respects the code." replied Bud earnestly.

"Thank you Bud." responded Mac as she went back to her office.

After work Mac decided to go over to Harm's place to talk to him. He wasn't home. Where was he? She decided she would try to catch up to him later.

She would call him later that night, but when she tried later she met the same lack of success. She would see the Admiral tomorrow at work. Surely he would know where Harm was.

28 June 00

JAG Headquarters

The following week Mac went in to see the Admiral. She had been unable to get a hold of Harm all week. He wasn't anywhere he usually hung out during the weekend either.

She even checked out the airfield to see if he had taken his bi-plane anywhere, but he hadn't. She wanted to know where he was and what he was doing. She knocked on the Admiral's door.

"Enter!" bellowed the Admiral.

"Sir, do you know where Harm is? asked a concerned Mac. She hoped the Admiral had an idea where he was.

"Not precisely. He said he needed to get away by himself for awhile. He had a lot thinking to do. He'll be back next week. I don't think he's dealing too well with your impending marriage to Brumby." replied the Admiral with reluctance.

He wanted to tell Mac about Harm leaving the Navy but he had to respect Harm's wishes for now.

"Are you sure Sir? I need to talk to him about something. It's very important." wailed Mac.

"What's it about Colonel? Is this about your wedding?" asked a confused Admiral.

"Not directly Sir. Some information has been brought to my attention last week. There apparently has been some miscommunication between the Commander and myself. I need to straighten it out with him before I get married next month." she replied.

"Well I don't know what to tell you at this time Colonel." replied the Admiral sullenly.

"Thank you Sir for your time. Will you let me know if you hear anything from him?" pleaded Mac.

"Yes Colonel, I will, dismiss." replied the Admiral as he shook his head after she left the office. Why couldn't these two get it together? They seem to belong to each other.