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)

1814 zulu Sunday, June 13, 1999

U.S.S. Patrick Henry

Mediterranean Sea

"Aye, sir," Harm stepped forward between the two groups and gestured at first the skipper than the CAG, "Captain Pike, skipper of the Patrick Henry, Captain Weston this is his first tour as CAG - he drives Seahawks, and then Lieutenant Junior Grade Josh Fogarty shipboard JAG - this is his first assignment out of law school. Gentleman, may I introduce Rear Admiral Thomas Boone, congratulations on the stars sir," Harm offered as an aside to which Tom nodded his acknowledgment, "Major Sarah MacKenzie and Lieutenant Bud Roberts JAG corps HQ." It was all Harm could do to move his gaze off of Mac to Bud and then back to Tom - he just wanted to drink her in and never stop.

"Thank you, Commander." Tom turned his gaze fully on the skipper and the CAG. "What seems to be the problem here?"

"Just a little misunderstanding, Admiral, nothing to concern yourself with. To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"

Tom ignored him and addressed the CAG instead, "You seem to have worked up quite the head of steam, Captain - since we could hear you halfway down the corridor. What is the issue?"

It was clear in the tone Weston took when he responded he thought Boone would be on his side and would send the lieutenant j.g. running for cover. How he could think so when Tom was literally flanked by two lawyers was yet another thing about the man Harm really didn't understand.

"Lt. Fogarty is persecuting the Raptors, Admiral, filing charges against them for having senses of humor."

Harm was sure Fogarty would have sputtered with indignation if he wasn't so freaked out to be faced with a two-star admiral.

"Skipper - you want to try giving me a real answer now?"

"Honestly, sir, we were just trying to establish where our breakdown in communication is occurring."

"Details?"

"We're still evaluating, sir."

"Like hell. Damn diplomatic wishy-washy answers. Rabb, did something happen I need to know about? Or the major?"

"Yes, sir."

"Skipper - last chance."

"We had a failure to communicate that has led to some confusion and bad feelings from all parties - including the lieutenant commander. I'm still trying to work through details to get an accurate picture of the problem."

"Oh, for crying out loud! Enough double talk. Rabb - you are here for this 'meeting' and Captain Pike believes you have an interest in this. Were you involved in this 'failure to communicate'?" Harm could well hear the heavy sarcasm in Tom's voice, but it appeared lost on the captains.

"Yes, sir."

"Walk me through it. What will your after action report be? Broad strokes."

"I was leading a four-man group in patrolling the fourth quadrant of the no-fly zone. Near the end of our patrol, an unidentified - no IFF, no squawking - group entered the northern corridor and did not respond to repeated calls to change direction. Eventually, the Henry informed us it was an Israeli escort group with pre-arranged clearance - on which we had not been briefed. Moments after they entered the zone, one of my pilots fired a missile without provocation or orders ..."

"Now wait just one minute, Rabb," Weston broke in.

"Do NOT interrupt, Captain," Tom's admonition was biting, and it was obvious he'd rather have addressed him as 'worm' than by his rank.

"... without provocation or orders. To be fair," Harm offered without even a glance at the CAG. "I received the ident on five-niner-niner. As soon as he fired, I started to pursue and ordered the pilot who fired and his wingman back to the ship. We were too close for missile-on-missile - I used guns. It blew - but it was close enough for the Israelis to have toasted marshmallows off the fireball. I radioed them again to apologize - they thankfully didn't retaliate and acknowledged. I returned to the ship."

"This is what you call a 'failure to communicate,' Captain. Sounds more like you narrowly avoided starting World War Three."

Author's Note: Thank you for sticking with the story. I won't be posting tomorrow. I don't use the internet on Sundays, so I can have a day for my mental health. But I will post chapter 17 on Monday. Thanks for reading! ~Vi