A/N: So, this is the story my muse dictated I work on today…

Crash

Chapter 2: Monday Morning

0802 Local

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA

Harm gaped at his wife as she stood in the middle of his office. He wasn't aware she was home again, and he certainly didn't expect she'd voluntarily come to see him. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he managed to say anything more to her.

"You're back," he said inanely, cursing himself for his less than brilliant observation. Mac smiled that sad smile again.

"Yeah."

Harm nodded, then swallowed hard. "You look…you look good, Mac," he said softly, embarrassed that his eyes welled up with tears. He blinked them back, then studied Mac more thoroughly. She did look good; she'd lost weight, but her color was better, and she was standing a little straighter. She still had the dark circles under her eyes, he noticed, though she'd disguised them with makeup fairly well.

"Thank you, Harm. Naples was…good for me."

Harm merely nodded, and the two stood there awkwardly for several moments until Harm remembered his manners and offered her a chair. He debated sitting down next to her in the other guest chair, but decided he'd feel safer if there was a barrier between them. He wanted to kiss her so badly, hold her, and he figured she wouldn't take kindly to that.

"So…" Harm started, unsure of what he was going to say or what he was supposed to say.

"So…" Mac repeated, her lips curving up a bit in a poor attempt at even a sad smile this time.

"What can I do for you, Mac?" he asked gently. He noticed that now she wouldn't look him in the eye. "Mac?"

"Um…I wanted to tell you I was back…" she said hesitantly.

"I'm glad," he replied, his tone warm. He really was glad she was back, despite the current state of their relationship. Perhaps now they could try to work things out.

"…and I wanted to tell you I was leaving again," she continued.

"Oh," he said dumbly. Where was she going with this?

"Back to Naples…there'll be a more permanent position available in about three months. I'm going to take it."

What?

"Mac…no…"

At that her eyes snapped to his. There was anger in them, but right now he didn't care. "Harm, you—"

"No, Mac. How are we supposed to—to work things out if you're five thousand miles away again?"

"Four thousand, five hundred, ninety-eight, actually."

"Goddammit, Mac," he hissed, mindful of the still open door.

"Harm, under the circumstances, I think it would be better for you if I transferred, don't you think?"

"But—"

"No, Harm. No. You have to stop this. We aren't going to 'work things out.' It's over, Harm."

Harm stood up from behind his desk abruptly and stalked to the door, barely refraining from slamming it shut. Then, he leaned against his desk, his arms crossed over his chest while he glared at his wife. "I don't accept that," he said firmly, and she shook her head.

"Harm, I'm never going to change my mind about the divorce. There's never going to be an us, Harm. Not now, not ever." She stood from her chair and took a step closer to him. "Sign the divorce papers, Harm. Just let me go and then you can move on with your life." Her gorgeous eyes had the sheen of tears, but her whole body was tense with anger.

"No, Mac. I told you I'd never divorce you. I love you. You love me. Baby or no baby. You're just giving up. Unless…" He suddenly had a horrible thought.

"You met someone in Naples, didn't you." It was more a statement than a question, and he held his breath waiting for her response. He was surprised when he saw her stricken look.

"Of course not, Harm. How could you…why would…no, Harm!" Her tears did fall then, and part of him felt like a heel. The other part still felt a tiny tendril of hope. If she reacted this way, this wounded, at the idea of infidelity, she couldn't be entirely settled on 'never'.

"Maaac…" He stepped over and rested his large hands on her narrow shoulders. She felt fragile under his touch, and his heart clenched for her. "I'm sorry, baby…I know you would never do that. Let's…let's just start this conversation over. I love—"

Mac suddenly wrenched away from him. "NO! Stop it, Harm. Just stop…sign the divorce papers. It's over!" She was obviously furious now, and Harm felt his own ire rising. She was so damn stubborn.

"Not to me it isn't, Mac. Not to me. I will never sign those papers, and you can take that to the bank." He glared at her while she glared back for a long moment, and then she turned on her heel and opened his door. She paused for a moment, then looked back him as she swiped the tears from her face.

"I can do this without you, Harm," she said coldly, then spun back around and left his office.

"Just try it," Harm muttered as he rose to shut the door. "Just try it!" This time he did slam the door, and the rattle of the glass in its frosted window was oddly satisfying. He turned back to his desk and was just about to sit down when a knock came at the door.

"Enter!" he answered gruffly, assuming it was Mac again. He sat down hard on his chair. "Did you forget something?" he asked snidely.

"Not that I'm aware of, Commander."

The sound of his CO's voice had him scrambling to attention. "Sir, I'm sorry, I thought you were—"

"Someone else? As you were, son." Harm gratefully sank back down in his chair then looked up at Admiral AJ Chegwidden.

"Yes, sir, I—I..."

The admiral nodded. "Mac, I presume?"

It was Harm's turn to nod. "Yeah..." He tiredly ran a hand over his face.

"She looked good."

Harm sighed. "Yes, sir. She did." He wondered to himself where this conversation was going.

The admiral's expression turned more serious. "She came and spoke to me earlier, Harm."

Oh? "Oh?" he said out loud.

"She's transferring."

"She told me, sir."

"Son, maybe the best thing for you to do would be to—"

"Sign the papers? Get a divorce?" Harm snapped.

"Commander…" the admiral answered warningly.

"Sir, with all due respect, this is none of your business. In fact, it's none of your damn business!"

"Commander—"

"Look, I know you're on her side. She always was your favorite. Hell, you probably resent me for the fact that she chose to be the one to transfer out, but you need to stay the hell—"

"COMMANDER!"

"Out of it…" Harm's voice trailed off at the rancor in his CO's voice.

The admiral stood up and loomed over his desk, his face a mask of fury. "My office in ten minutes, Commander. Not a moment later."

Harm could only muster up a slow nod, and before he realized he should be back to standing at attention by now, the admiral turned and went out the door, slamming it behind him. The glass shook again as Harm sat frozen.

Great, he thought to himself. My marriage is a mess, and now my career probably is too.

"Just great," Harm said aloud before he buried his face in his hands.

End Chapter 2