Title: Flying Away 5: Flying Ace
Author: Anne Taul, anne_taul@gowebway.com

Summary: Mac investigates a crash aboard Harm's ship. What she finds scares her. Harm can't keep out of the investigation.

Disclaimer: JAG, its characters, premise, etc, are the sole and exclusive property of CBS, Paramount and Bellasarius productions. No profit is being made or sought from this purely recreational endeavor. No infringement of copyright is intended.

 

Flying Away 5: Flying Ace

Sarah MacKenzie awoke with a start. She knew instinctively that it was still about an hour before she would need to get up and get ready for work, but she was, suddenly, wide awake. Her pleasant dreams of Harm had been interrupted by...Harm. No, he wasn't there, but she could feel him the same as if he were. This had to do with a strong emotion, of that she had little doubt. A passing thought made her wonder if anything might be wrong with him. That, however, was a nonproductive and upsetting line of thinking, so she turned over, hoping to get a few more minutes of sleep, and a happy, contented picture of the man she loved.

The early morning wakening was barely remembered by the time Mac made her way into JAG headquarters to begin another hectic day of work.

She did still think about Harm, though. It had been almost three weeks since she'd talked with him on the phone. There had been a couple of letters but no phone calls since the night that he called and they had discussed a case, his continued interest in the law, and how much he missed working together with her. By this time, it had been nearly three months since she had seen him. She missed him desperately. Since it had been so long, she thought to herself, maybe he'll call tonight. The thought of talking to him, would get her through this day.

Mac had scarcely set down her things in the office when Petty Officer Tiner informed her that the admiral was waiting to see her in his office. She met Bud Roberts on the way in, and they entered together.

AJ Chegwidden hardly looked up from the notes he was writing as they entered. He motioned to the two large chairs in front of his desk. Mac and Bud sat down.

"There's been an accident aboard one of our aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. An F-14 crashed. The pilot was killed and the RIO seriously injured."

Bud spoke up, "Which ship, Sir?"

"The USS Carmudgeon." AJ responded.

Mac felt as the blood drained from her face. Her heart began beating in a pounding cadence, while her stomach rearranged itself into the back of her throat. In a soft murmur, his name escaped her lips, "Harm."

The admiral walked around to the front of the desk and gently touched her arm. "No, Mac. It wasn't Harm. Thank God."

When she heard this reassurance, some air slowly seeped back into her lungs. She could speak again. "Admiral, what happened?"

"The first reports said that something went wrong with the navigational system in the aircraft, causing it to crash. But later, there was an accusation made that the pilot was hotdogging, ignoring safety precautions, taking unnecessary risks. I expect the two of you to sort it all out, and let me know what actually cause the crash."

"Admiral, who made these accusations against the pilot?" Bud inquired.

"One of the maintenance crew chiefs aboard the aircraft. Mr. Roberts, you'll go to Bethesda this afternoon to try to interview the RIO. She's being treated there. Se if she has any information about the incident that might help the investigation." He hands Bud a folder. "Here's all the information we could put together on her. She's Lt. Janet Percy. Apparently the fliers call her 'Mercy.' Major, we'll send you directly out to the Carmudgeon to begin the investigation there. The lieutenant can join you in the morning."

"Aye, Sir," they answered in unison.

"Who was the pilot?" Mac asked.

"A Commander Derek Murray." Chegwidden responded.

The lump was back in Mac's throat. Harm's bunkmate, his friend. She'd heard so much about him. The early morning wakening and terror came back to her, all of a sudden. She knew Harm must be terribly upset.

Mac left for home to prepare an overnight bag for her trip to the Carmudgeon. She dialed the ship to shore operator to patch through a call to Harm. The call reached the ship, but she was told that Commander Rabb was unavailable. He was in the air.

Oh, well, she supposed she would see him soon enough. She should be excited about seeing him, it had been a long time, but the circumstances curbed her joy just a bit.

THAT EVENING
ABOARD THE USS CARMUDGEON
SOMEWHERE IN THE PERSIAN GULF


As soon as the helicopter landed, Mac was escorted to the bridge where she met with the skipper and the CAG. Both men were visibly shaken by the accident and its aftermath. They tasked her with completing her investigation as soon as possible, so that operations aboard ship could return to normal.

When her gear had been stowed in the guest quarters, she set off for the air group's crew quarters. She had in mind to just say hello to Harm, and to see if he needed any comfort. She found his room okay, but he wasn't there. She decided to wait.

HALF AN HOUR LATER


Harmon Rabb opened the door to his quarters and entered. As always, he was quiet, so as not to wake Murray, who often went to sleep early. It hit him like a ton of bricks. Murray's dead. He's not going to be here, tonight, or ever again. He dropped the small box that he carried onto a chair. Wait a minute! The shower was running. Murray's not here. Who the hell was in his shower? Especially at this hour!

He heard the water stop, so he crossed his arms and leaned against the bunk to wait and see who was here.

The door opened and out walked . a beautiful brunette wearing shorts and a T-shirt. She was toweling her hair. Harm's heart all but stopped. "Sarah!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hi!" she answered.

"What are you..?"

"I'm investigating the crash, you know, Murray's death. I borrowed your shower. Hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"

"I tried. They told me you were in the air."

"Oh! It's been a long time. You look so good."

She smiled. "Thanks."

In one long stride, he was across the floor, and had her swept up in his arms.

Mac dropped her towel and held tight around his shoulders. She reached up to tilt his chin, so that she could initiate a deep and lustful kiss.

Harm responded.

They finally reached the bed, where their long suppressed passions took over.

They were lovers who had been without each other for nearly three months, so everything was intense.

Afterward, they lay contentedly in each other's arms. He stroked her hair.

"Honey, how are we going to handle the investigation?"

"We? Harm there is no 'we' to it. You don't work for JAG anymore, remember?"

"No, but I can help you."

"No, Harm. Darling, you left this world. You're a pilot now. I can't let you be involved in the JAG investigation."

"If I'm not helping you, how are we going to explain our spending so much time together?"

"We'll only be spending time together after hours, when my work is done. We can't let anyone know about our relationship, so we just say that we're old friends. That's true, isn't it?"

"Of course. I'm just so glad that you're here. It's great to see you."

"Me too, Flyboy."

They fell, together, into a deep and restful sleep.

When morning came, they were both reluctant to let this night together end. Their bodies ached for each other as though they might never be together again. But they did finally make it out of bed.

Mac ate breakfast in the officer's mess, with Harm, and about 300 of his ship mates. It was anything but intimate.

After eating, she headed out to the bridge to interview Captain Paul Collins, the CAG.

Commander Murray's mission, on the day of the accident, was a routine training exercise. He would launch and patrol a given sector. Simulated bogey would be launched at him to test his combat readiness. The CAG assured Mac that Murray was one of the very best pilots in the fleet. He had maintained his status as an ace for many years.

"Captain, 'ace' is a distinction based on number of enemy aircraft a pilot has shot down. How can it be maintained in peacetime?"

"Major, Murray earned that rating 10 years ago in the Persian Gulf War. The peacetime pilots can renew that rating by number of kills in training when there are no war situations. You have to rack up at least 3 every month. Murray just needed one more this month to qualify. We knew he'd get it when I sent him up that day. If I had had any idea what would happen, though, I'd have made him wait."

"So, you would say that Commander Murray was anxious to go up that day?"

"Hell, yeah. Nothing cold have held him back. As a matter of fact, your friend, Rabb offered to take the flight for him, but Murray would have none of that."

A knot began to form in Mac's stomach. Harm could have been on that fatal flight.

Mac's talk with Captain Collins was almost concluded when the XO entered to announce that the other lawyer had arrived. Bud Roberts followed him in and stood at attention in front of the skipper.

"Lt. Roberts, Sir. Permission to come aboard?"

The Captain looked up and nodded. "Of course. Stand at ease, Lieutentant. Welcome aboard."

"Thank you, Sir." Bud acknowledged.

A few brief introductions were made, then, Bud turned to Mac for instruction about what was going on.

"Bud, I know Harm's anxious to see you, so why don't you go find him. Say hi to him and stow your gear. I'll meet you in the 3rd floor conference room to begin questioning witnesses at 1300."

"Aye, Ma'am - and thank you." Bud replied with a huge smile on his face.

1300
CONFERENCE ROOM
USS CARMUDGEON


Mac rolled her eyes.

"And so, Corpman," Harm continued, "you would say that at his recent medical checkup, Commander Murray was in excellent shape?"

"Yes, Sir." The young man confirmed. "Of course, there are always things that don't necessarily show up on standard exams."

"Thank you, Chief." Mac said, dismissing the medic.

When the witness had left, she turned to look at Harm. "This isn't your job, anymore. You've got to get out of here and quit interfering with my investigation."

"But you and I work so well together."

"We used to. Harm, you just can't be involved in this."

"Yes, Ma'am." He said, coldly, as he left the room.

Bud, who had made a run for coffee, reentered at about that time.

"Going somewhere, Sir?" he addressed Harm.

"Yes, Bud. Mac doesn't need any help with her case. She wants to do this investigation all by herself."

Bud shot Mac a confused look.

"Come in, Bud." She answered. "Master Chief Reynolds of the aircraft maintenance team will be here any minute."

Harm was gone and Bud was sitting beside Mac at the table by the time Master Chief Reynolds arrived.

"Master Chief, what goes on to get an F-14 ready to fly each time out?" Bud questioned him.

Reynolds provided a rather detailed listing and explanation of the routine care and maintenance of the aircraft.

"And all of that has to be done before the pilot can sign the aircraft out?" Mac asked.

"Yes, Ma'am. We keep a log book with each plane listed. The technician who performs these checks signs off on the log, then the pilot signs next to him, when he takes the bird up. Sometimes the pilots have to wait to sign the aircraft out because we haven't finished with it. That always makes them plenty mad, but we have safe flights."

"Was Commander Murray one of these impatient pilots that you are talking about?"

"Sometimes, he was."

During the afternoon, Mac and Bud talked to everyone who had had contact with either Murray or the RIO, Lt. Percy. They also interviewed all the operations staff and everyone who had been on the bridge that day.

Bud sadly reported that "Mercy" had been able to provide no assistance. She was in a coma, and her chances of recovery didn't look good.

About dusk, Mac wandered out onto the weather deck. She stared aimlessly out into the vast expanse of the sea rolling along below her.

She was pondering her realization that she could just as easily be here to investigate Harm's death. No one knew about their relationship, but that didn't make her love him any less.

It was good to be with him. It had been exciting to be in the conference room talking to a witness with him. But they didn't work together anymore. She couldn't let him be a part of this case. If at came to trial, his involvement would get the case thrown out. However, she needed to be with the man she loved. She was going to have to figure out how to keep him at a distance professionally, while keeping him very close personally.

Her ruminations were interrupted when Harm came out to stand beside her. He copied her position, leaning his elbows against the railing. "Room for one more?" he asked.

She moved down a bit to give him plenty of space.

There was silence for a couple of minutes, then he said, "Mac, I'm sorry. I know I should never have butted in to your investigation."

"You miss it, don't you?"

"I guess I do."

"Harm, you made your choice. You're living with it, but you've got to let me live with mine, too."

He stood behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

She turned to face him, looked around to make sure no one could see, and kissed him.

Harm returned the kiss and pulled her close. Then he whispered, "So, you're not mad at me?"

"No, of course not. I couldn't be mad at you."

This perfectly serene moment was broken by the sound of someone coming up the steps, and Bud Roberts' voice calling, "Major MacKenzie, are you up there?"

They quickly pulled away from each other, each turning to grip the rail, as Bud burst onto the scene.

"Excuse me, Sir." He said to Harm. Then to Mac, "Ma'am Ensign Robinson is ready to make a statement now. She's waiting for us in the conference room."

"Thanks, Bud." She replied.

Mac moved to follow Bud back down the steps. As she passed Harm, she reached to gently touch his arm. It was a gesture that would have gone unnoticed to anyone who might have been watching, but it conveyed a whole range of emotion.

Bud was puzzled by the time Commander Rabb and Major MacKenzie were spending together. Of course, they were old friends, but there seemed to be something else. Walking toward the conference room, Bud asked Mac if everything was okay between them.

"What do you mean, Bud?"

"Well, Ma'am, things seem awfully intense between the two of you. You're not still mad at him for leaving JAG, are you?"

"No, Bud." She answered, and left it at that.

Mac didn't see Harm again. She looked for him at dinner, but he must have eaten in a different shift.

It had been a long day, so when she finished going through her case notes, she went to bed.

It was well after midnight when, having entered a deep slumber cycle, Mac was awakened by the feel of hands on her shoulders.

Harm had sneaked into the room and climbed into the bed beside her. He was using her shoulders to pull her against his chest. It was entirely pleasant, so she let him.

Later, they both woke up facing each other. She ran her fingers through his short hair and buried her face in his massive chest.

"What is it, Sarah? What's wrong?"

"The CAG told me you volunteered to take Murray's flight that day."

"Yeah. So?"

"So, Harm, if you'd made that flight, I might have lost you. Is that the way it's always going to be for us? you off putting yourself in danger and me risking being alone?"

"No. First of all, there was no chance that Murray would let me take that flight, Darling. He needed one more kill, and he was determined to get it. Secondly, nothing's going to happen to me. Knowing that I have you to come home to, makes me extra careful."

"I hope so." She tightened her arms around his shoulders and kissed him deeply.

Their passion carried them away. They knew that they were the two luckiest people in all the world.

In the morning, Harm had to get up early for a training exercise. He left Mac in the bed with a kiss and a promise: "Sarah, when I get back, I want us to start making plans for our future together."

She spent most of the morning wondering what he meant by that.

Bud had dug up some recall notices, from manufacturers, on some of the equipment being used to service the Tomcats. They spent a good deal of time looking into that.

After lunch, Mac looked for Harm. She couldn't find him anywhere. He was back from his flight, she had heard the announcement.

Finally, she located him on the observation platform, above the flight deck. He was watching the planes come and go.

She stood beside him, and said, quietly, "You really love this, don't you?"

"I do." He answered, then continued, "almost as much as I love you."

"Harm, you don't have to choose. You've already made the choice. I'll always be here for you."

"I needed to hear that." He confirmed, sweeping her up into his arms.

It was only a few minutes before they, again, heard the sounds of Bud Roberts coming to join them.

Quickly they broke apart and turned to greet him.

"Major, I talked to the mechanic who checked out Commander Murray's systems that day, like you asked me to."

"And?" Mac questioned.

"And he said that Commander Murray was in such a hurry that he almost couldn't get it done. He had Chief Reynolds sign the book to verify the inspection, because Commander Murray accused him of being too slow."

"Let's get the book and check on what time it was actually signed, then. Just to make sure everything is in order."

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll get right on it."

"Thanks Bud."

Bud turned to leave, then turned back to face Harm. "Oh, Sir, I almost forgot, Harriet asked me to give these to you." He hands Harm a few pictures out of his wallet.

"It's little AJ." Harm enthused. "He's really grown a lot since I've seen him. I guess I'm a lousy godfather."

"Oh, no sir." Bud assured him. "You can't help it that you're at sea. We just hope that you get a chance to get home to see him soon."

"I hope so, Bud. And, thank you. Thank Harriet for me too."

"I will, Sir."

This time Bud really did leave.

Mac looked up into Harm's eyes. "He's got incredible timing, doesn't he?"

"Where were we?" Harm asked, as he brought her back into his embrace.

LATER
FLIGHT HANGAR


"Master Chief, may I see the aircraft sign out book?"

"Sure, Major. It's over there, on the desk."

Mac crossed to the desk and picked it up. She began leafing through it. Turning to the page for the day of Commander Murray's accident, she stopped short.

She took it over to the master chief and showed it to him. "I see where Murray signed to take out the plane, but where did you sign to release it to him? Is there another spot to record that?"

Reynolds took the book from her and studied it with a concerned face.

"I don't see how that's possible." He stated.

"What, master Chief?"

"Remember, I told you that our crew said that Murray was in such a big hurry to get up and get his bogey that he didn't want to wait for us to finish the safety inspection?"

Mac nodded.

"Well, apparently, he didn't."

"What are you saying, Master Chief?"

"Major, Murray took that bird up before it had been cleared for flight. He ignored the protocol."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

When Mac and bud delivered the findings of their investigation to the skipper and the CAG, they were both angry. Captain Collins kept saying that he couldn't believe one of his flyers would be that stupid.

Harm, also, had a hard time accepting his friend's mistake.

2 HOURS LATER


With the investigation over, Mac and Bud prepared to return to Washington.

Mac was packing when Harm knocked on the door.

"May I come in?"

She stood to the side and allowed him entry.

"I wish you didn't have to leave. This visit has been way too short."

She looked directly into his eyes, "They all are."

He touched her cheek. "In about six or seven weeks, I'll have some leave time. Will you meet me someplace for a long weekend?"

She smiled. "You know I will. Just tell me where and when, I'll be there."

Harm tangled his fingers in her hair, and pulled her head close so that their foreheads touched.

"Harm," she began.

"Hmm?"

"Will you promise me something?"

"For you, anything."

"Please be careful."

"I'm always careful. Why do you say that?"

"Commander Murray gambled with his life, and he lost. Just be extra careful, okay?"

"Any man who had you to come home to, would always come home."

"Harm."

"I will. I promise, I'll be careful."

Their eyes met and locked. "Sarah...Darling, do you know how much I love you?"

She grinned. "How much?"

He bet and captured her mouth with his. The kiss was intense and passionate. They both knew that it might be the last one for a long time.

Just as it ended, there was a knock on the door. The voice of Bud Roberts asked, "Are you ready, Major? The helicopter's here."

"I gotta go." Mac whispered into Harm's chest.

"I'll call you when you get home.

"I love you." She said as she picked up her bag.

As Harm watched the chopper lift off, he wondered how long they could go on like this.