AN: I'm back! Ok I can't say much about this chapter exapt if you don't like it...I'm sorry. It has a slight twist (hehe). Critisim welcome, and reviews enjoyed. Read!

xxx

Harm's POV

Harm was all packed for his departure from Washington, back to the Patrick Henry. His plane had been due to fly out at 0600 and unfortunately his plane had been cancelled. He now was due at the airport at 1400. He had a few hours till he was due to fly out from Washington. He had nothing to do now except wait.

Harm paced around his apartment. Maybe he should try Meg? She could possibly squeeze some time in for her old partner. Or maybe that was a bad idea, Harm didn't want to be seen as desperate to see her. But on the other hand he was going to miss her like crazy once he left for the carrier. He made up his mind.

Fishing around in his bag Harm drew out his phone, he wondered briefly if Meg would be too busy to find time for him to say goodbye to her. Deciding that trying her wouldn't hurt, Harm dialled her number.

It rung to answering machine.

Harm tried again. The same thing happened. Defeated Harm threw down his phone. Meg's case was probably keeping her very busy. He sighed. Harm had really wanted to see her again. He had missed her more than he would care to admit. His spunky Texan partner had endeared herself to him. He was about to go and spend three more months on the carrier, before he could see her again. He really wanted to see her again, he wished those three months were shorter.

Skates was off to see an old friend before she flew out with Harm. He had regretfully handed her the keys to his corvette. Skates wasn't picking him up for a while yet. Harm sat down on his bed and scrambled around for paper and a pen.

Dear Meg

My plane was cancelled; I had a few hours free. I missed you I guess, too busy with your case. Decided I'll drop this letter by before I leave. It was nice to see you again even if it was only for a very short time. You're looking good partner.

Hope your phone call made your case easier, to convict the guy of course. Maybe you'll get a nicer case next time, tell the Admiral I said so. Also give Bud, Harriet and little AJ my love.

Skates in picking me up soon. I am looking forward to getting back up in the air again. The guys probably met a few girls, gonna hear all their stories when I get back on board the carrier. I bet they have a few good stories to tell. Skates will spill the story of my burned dinner to all the guys, 'Pappy' will never live it down.

I left you the key to my apartment, the plants (I have one) needs watering. You don't mind do you? If you can't, or don't have the time, then just ask Bud to, and give him the key will you?

I better get going, Skates is coming soon. Good luck with your case.

Harm

Harm put down his pen. Gosh, he was going to really miss her. "Meg." He spoke to nothing. Her name sounded pretty. It was short, not that she was, but it suited her. "Meg."

He briefly wondered if he should consider coming back to JAG again. After all he wasn't getting any younger and his chances of promotion were slim as a Tomcat pilot. Harm decided that maybe in a few years' time he could seriously consider a transfer back to JAG, but for the meantime he wasn't giving up his time in the sky. He felt something for his partner, but he wasn't sure what it was yet. Meg would have to wait, he could deal with seeing her once every few months, couldn't he?

Harm put his letter in an envelope and scrawled Meg's name across it. He sat on his bed with the letter in his hands. He wished more than anything he could see her before he had to leave again.

Harm's head bowed in defeat.

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"This the place?" Skates queried. Harm's corvette was parked outside Meg's apartment. Skates glanced at Harm. He seemed to be in deep thought. "Harm?" she said softly.

"Huh?" Harm came out of his thoughts. "Oh, um yeah, this is it. I'll be two secs, just dropping this off." He waved the letter in Skates face. He really hoped she didn't analyse his mood. Harm opened the door, and stared up at the house that his partner called home. He took a deep breath and walked through the door and into the elevator.

Harm kept on wondering, why did he find it so hard to leave her? I mean he was going to see her in a few months. His feelings just didn't make any sense to himself.

xxx

Harm knocked on Meg's door. He still hoped he could catch her at home. No-one came to the door. And he knocked again. The apartment was silent. Harm sighed. It was a long shot anyway.

Harm took out his letter to Meg. He fingered it. Harm couldn't decide if he wanted to try and go by the JAG office to try find her. He fumbled and the letter fell. Harm picked it up and decided that it wasn't worth it; Meg was obviously very busy with her case.

"Sonny, she's not home. Didn't come home all night." An old man was slowly trying to put his key in the door to his apartment. "Watching that door like it has all the answers, isn't going to help." He smiled a toothless smile, "I should know."

Harm grinned faintly. "I'm leaving, just wanted to say goodbye." He tried to explain to Meg's old neighbour.

The old guy looked at Harm very seriously. "Don't do that. Leaving people is when they move on or bad things happen." The old man glared at Harm. "Anyway she has already been down these past months, forgets to say hello, looks like her world is darker. Don't you add to that pain Sonny." With that statement the little old man slammed his door will an unexpected amount of force.

Harm was left standing in a deserted hallway wonder what just happened. Something about not leaving her? Something that the old man had said niggled at the corner of his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp it. He went back to leaving his letter, Skates was waiting for him.

"Sorry Meg." He slid the letter under her door. "I am very sorry we didn't have longer to catch up."

Harm turned away and went back into the elevator, and back to Skates and the Patrick Henry.

xxx

Harm jumped off the Sea Hawk. He stopped and gazed out at sea, then at the Tomcats, he was coming home. He pondered what the rest of his squadron had done with their leave. Met some girls? Found some hot beaches? He took off jogging to see the boys.

To his surprise the CAG was running toward him. Harm speculated as to why the CAG needed him. Harm stopped and acknowledged him. "Sir."

"At ease Commander." The CAG looked serious. "You are to report to the XO immediately, and when I say immediately I mean?"

Harm said, "Last year, Sir." He grinned at The CAG.

The CAG gave a grim smile. "Well then why are you dawdling here Commander?"

"Yes Sir, sorry Sir." Harm was off at a run. The CAG smirked. As Harm made his way across the deck he wondered what was so important that he was summoned the minute he had landed. This wasn't normal protocol for arriving at the Patrick Henry.

Welcome to the Patrick Henry indeed.

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"Sir, Commander Harmon Rabb reporting as ordered, Sir." Several petty officers looked up from their work to gaze at him. He wondered briefly if he had done something that was putting his career on the Patrick Henry at risk. But apart from his usual tricks his mind was blank.

The XO lifted his head up from his map. "At ease Commander." Harm changed his position. "Admiral Chegwiddgen called from JAG." Harm looked confused. What on earth?! Why is the JAG office contacting him, and why was it so urgent that the message needed to be passed to him the minute his Sea Hawk landed? "It's concerning a Lt Austin. You were the last to see her alive…"