Rating: T for occasional language

Summary: Set in early season 5 when Harm was out flying. This story gives Harm a different (better!) reason for changing his designator than the show provided. And may just open the way for him to find his happily ever after – with a little trouble along the way, of course.

Disclaimer: JAG was created by Donald P. Bellisario and is owned in whole or in part by Belisarius Productions and Paramount Network Television (CBS Studios). This is a work of fiction playing with the characters that I have loved for more than twenty years – I make no money from this and no copyright infringement or disrespect is intended.

Letters Home: Doin' It Their Way

By: visions2share (a.k.a. Vi)

1408 zulu Sunday, June 13, 1999

somewhere over the no-fly zone

Harm took a deep breath and forced himself to tune back into the radio chatter, "... is inbound. Head on home. Over and out."

"Acknowledged," Skates responded, and Harm let the subconscious part of his mind that had cataloged the chatter catch up the rest of him.

"Plot us a course home, Skates."

"Aye, sir. Heading two four niner. Ninety miles out."

"Where'd Tuna and the others end up?" Harm asked, admitting to Skates and himself he hadn't bothered to keep track of them once he'd engaged.

"D-Man and Beaker are nearly home. We'll rendezvous with Tuna and Donovan in about thirty more miles and head home hand-in-hand."

"Okay. You alright?"

"I never thought I'd say this when flying - but, sir, I really wanna go home!" She sounded so young.

"Me too, lieutenant, me too. I need a shower, a cool drink, and a nap."

"Amen, sir."

"Unfortunately, the shower and the nap will have to wait until after debrief."

"Damn."

"Damn," Harm echoed, resigned and annoyed.

Just then, Tuna settled into place on his wing. "Pappy - you two alright?"

"No holes, Tuna. You?"

"We're fine. Pappy...?" Harm could hear the hesitation - Tuna was the most collected professional and adult pilot in the rest of the squadron, but as he trailed off, he sounded young. Just as Skates had moments before. Had Harm himself ever been that young? Somehow, he didn't think so. He'd been so determined, as a teenager, to keep the memory of his father alive, then he'd gone to 'Nam at sixteen. He may have been only eighteen in body when he came home, but any youthfulness of mind or spirit he'd ever had, he'd left in the jungle along with his innocence and most of his illusions.

"Ask, Tuna," Harm prompted.

"Is D-Man in as much trouble as I think he is?"

"More." After all, no matter how much trouble Tuna imagined, he didn't know that JAGs were already on route and Harm was of no mind to let this situation go unanswered. "Much more."

Author's Note: Another short one today. Thanks for reading! ~Vi