Five days later Harm finds himself stateside in a courtroom. This time the accused. On charges of conduct unbecoming an officer. Of course, Bugme is the prosecution and Sturges Turner is Harms attorney.
"Commander Rab, can you tell us why you got into a physical fight with Lutenin Buxton?" Its Surges' turn to question the accused.
"Lutenin Buxton made inappropriate comments regarding Cornel Mackenzie."
"And you felt that you had to defend the Cornel's honor? Why?"
"We are friends, have been for many years and its part of my upbringing to always defend a ladies honor."
"Thank you, your honor no further questions." Surges ends his questioning.
Mic is up and ready for a next round of badgering. "Commander Rabb, would you say the way you where cleaving to Cornel Mackenzie moments before the brawl was defending her honor?"
"As I said before. The Cornel and I have been friends for many years. She was as you know on her way back to Washington and I was merely saying good bye with a hug."
"And you do not see that as unwanted attention, fraternizing or miss use of power?"
"No, I do not. For goodness sake the Cornel has a higher rank then I do how is this a miss use of power and she is a Marine I can promise you she can wand of any unwanted attention.
"Do you greet all your friends with a hug?"
"Not always no."
"So just the Cornel then?"
"That's not what I said."
"Is it because she is a woman? Are you aware Commander that it is prohibited for personnel under the same command to be in a relationship?"
"I am aware but the flaw in your reasoning lies in the fact that Sarah is under the command of Admiral AJ Chegwidden and I am not. I am no longer in the JAG core I am an aviator aboard the USS Patrick Henry."
"No Commander the flaw in your reasoning lies in the fact that although you are stationed at sea and part of the F14 squadron you are still a lawyer and can still be transferred back to JAG."
"Fine have me disbarred. Then I'll only be a pilot and can't come back to JAG."
The court room erupted in sounds of shock.
"Order in the courtroom." The judge calls. "We will have a 20min reuses."
Upon leaving court Mac waits for Harm at the door and falls into easy step with him as he heads to the elevator. "We need to talk."
"Lead the way." Harm answers.
Once outside he can see Mac is fuming. "How could you Harm? Just kill your law career just like that. Forget about all of us at JAG. Making sure you can never come back."
"Hold up. Who said anything about forgetting anyone?"
"You are making dame sure you'll never be able to return to JAG. You are…" Before Mac can finish her sentence Harm places his hands on the side of her face and kisses her. The kiss only lasts a second or two but it is enough to stun Mac to silence. Harm lays his forehead against hers. "I am making dame sure; I'll never be under the same line of command as you again. Because if I, am I can't do this and that does not suit me."
"What are you saying."
"I am saying I am in love with you Sarah. Have been for a long time but being under the same command has kept me from telling you."
"But now we are no longer under the same command." Mac starts to put the puzzle pieces together as the brain fog from the kiss clears away.
Harm nods. "And with your permission, Ma'am I'd like to kiss you now."
"I'll shoot you if you don't." Mac smiles.
Back in the courtroom Brumby is at it again.
"Commander Rabb. Are you and Cornel Makenzie in a romantic relationship or are you not? And I remind you that you are under oath."
"We are." Harm looks up just in time to see Bud's eyes almost falling out of its sockets, the admirals disapproving shake of the head and Mac blushing.
"How long have you been in this relationship?"
"If you are asking me how long I have loved Sarah its more than 3 years now. But if you are asking me how long she has known about this and how long we have been a couple, it's about 30 minutes give or take."
Sitting at a table in Mac's favorite restaurant waiting on their food order to arrive. "I can't believe the case was thrown out." Mac says.
"Bugme did turn it in to a circus."
"It cost him a win."
"Hmm." Harm grunts.
"Is it wrong of me to say I wish the case could be drawn out a little longer. Just so you could stay a little longer."
Taking Mac's hand and rubbing the back of it with his thumb, Harm answers. "At least this time you know I am leaving my heart with you."
"And you know you are taking mine with you."