Title: Deployment V: New Beginnings

Authors: Anne Taul [annetaul@insightbb.com] and Rising Sun [jagrslc@yahoo.com]

The FF of Anne Taul is archived at: www.geocities.com/atjag101
The FF of Rising Sun is archived at: www.geocities.com/jagrslc
For updates on FF by Rising Sun join: groups.yahoo.com/group/jagrslc
Join the Fan Fiction Challenge at: groups.yahoo.com/group/ffchallange/

Rated: PG-13 (NC-17 available)
Classification: JAG Story/Adventure/Romance: Harm/Mac

Summary: Harm must win Mac all over again, but how can he when she is deployed AGAIN?!

Spoilers: Lifeline, Capitol Crime, The Measure of Men, We the People, Answered Prayers, Boomerang part 2, Code Blue, Silent Service, Family Secrets, Retreat Hell, and Tribunal

Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental.

Permission to archive: Permission Granted

Authors' Notes:

• This is dedicated to my co-author Anne Taul who has fallen out of cyber space. I wait for the day of her return.
• The entire Deployment Series NC-17 versions are available at www.jagundercovers.com/warning.htm and pub10.ezboard.com/bbehindcloseddoors
• Thanks to benedettaonjag who corrected our Italian. It wasn’t in time for the list posting, but in time for the archiving.

COURT ROOM TWO

JAG HQ

 

ac was on her feet “Your Honor, Commander Rabb has failed to produce sufficient evidence to lead a reasonable person to conclude…”

 

Harm jumped to his feet and interrupted "Your Honor, Counsel is not an expert on what reasonable people conclude."

 

“To lead a reasonable person to conclude the chain of command was compromised. Therefore the defense moves that this court enter a finding of 'not guilty' on the charge of fraternization.” Mac finished.

Harm turned to the Judge “Your Honor, Ensign Leland testified that he told Lt. Bayer that he loved her. She should have reported it immediately to her CO.”

“She counseled him like a good officer should.” Mac looked at him

“She led him on. He believed they had a relationship.” He turned to face her.

“Well, they did-- a working relationship.” Mac insisted, “Anything more was in Ensign Leland's mind.”

This was getting heated and was filled with innuendo. The two glare at each other. “Come on.” Harm insisted “The little glances, the innuendo, the intimate conversations.”

Mac kept a straight face “All in his mind. He mistook kindness and friendship for romantic interest.”

Harm was horrified and apparently forgotten that they were arguing a case before the court. “Kindness? Is it kind to let somebody believe you love them when you don't?”

Mac too was getting swept up in the argument. “Of course not. But that is not what…“

The Judge had hear enough “Counselors! The government has satisfied its obligation to establish a prima facie case. The defendant's motion for a finding of not guilty is denied. We'll start with the defense Monday at zero-nine-hundred. Court is in recess.” She banged the gavel shook her head and left.

With that over Mac turned to Harm “See you tonight?”

Harm grinned, “Wouldn't miss it.”

 

===============================

1300 LOCAL
HARM'S OFFICE

Harm was daydreaming. He did that a lot now. The exchange that had just played through his mind had taken place almost 2 1/2 years ago -- on the day of Mac's engagement party. Was he ever glad that she hadn't married Brumby! That whole day, from the arguing in the courtroom to the intimate discussion on the admiral's porch, had been charged with sexual energy between them. If he had acted on those feelings them, instead of waiting until she was leaving his life. Maybe they would still be together now. But, they had delayed any acknowledgement of what was going on between them until she was ready to be deployed.

 

When they did start their relationship, it was wonderful. But the Marine Corps kept sending her on assignments all over the war-torn lobe, so they really didn't get much time together. Now, she had lost most of her memory, including their intimacy; he was left with memories -- and he continued to daydream.

He did it when Mac was in Afghanistan. He did it when she was in India and now she was back at JAG he was still doing it!!! It was as if he was making up for all the time he had wasted being Mister He-Man.

Now the fates had dealt him the challenge of his life. Having acknowledged his feelings for this incredible woman not only did they take her away physically but now she was gone emotionally too!

He groaned.

"Problem sailor?" He heard her familiar voice.

[Nothing you can't handle.] He thought. "Nothing I can't handle." He said.

"Mmmm." She responded "Admiral calling ASAP."

"Lead on." He stood.

+        +        +

They entered to find Sturgis already seated and waiting; they joined him.

The Admiral addressed the three. "Colonel you are on the move again."

"Sir?" She queried.

"You are to be deployed to Guantanimo Bay…"

"Cuba? Sir?" Harm interrupted.

"Only one I know." AJ leaned back and folded his arms.

"Sorry, Sir."

"Mmm." He returned his focus to Mac. "Your language skills make you a valuable asset to the Corps."

"My orders are what, Sir?" She inquired.

"Commence the processing of the POWs there for trial." He answered. She nodded her understanding. "Share your work load between the Commanders. You leave at 2300 hours. Dismissed"

+        +        +

Mac was clearing the files on her desk.

"How do you find anything there?" Harm teased.

"Hey! I know where EVERYTHING is… except the Hendrickson file." She paused and frowned.

"Déjà vu?" He asked.

"With an incomplete memory I have no idea what is true memory and what is not. It's a miracle they don't discharge me."

"This déjà vu is genuine." He assured her. "You said it to me once."

She leaned back in her chair and looked at him. "I'm missing so much."

"It'll take time. Be patient." He advised. "Any way you are still a lean mean fighting Marine."

She just looked at him with a trace of a smile.

"What do you see when you look at me?" he asked.

"An over confident Naval Officer." She replied instantly.

("Not the man who loves you?") He couldn't help but think. "Nothing else?" he said

 

She hesitated then asked, "I have this memory of a Naval Officer. I loved him…" Harm's heart rate leaped. "But it's hazy. I remember an engagement party." His heart sank "But obviously that can't be true for I carry no wedding band." She looked at him with an unspoken request for information.

He supplied it. "Commander Michael James Brumby of the Royal Australian Navy."

"From your tone I take it you didn't like him."

"I DID NOT!" He confirmed.

"Why?" she needed to fill in these damn blanks!

"Testosterone." The look she gave him said that he could do better than that. "I suppose if I am to be absolutely truthful the reason I did not like him was you.  I felt you could do better, Mac. The guy isolated you; he didn't treat you right. You didn't like him yourself but somehow, somewhere he ran you down. And the next thing I know is that you are engaged to the man!"

Sturgis suddenly appeared. "Are you going to take eternity in here?"

Mac's face got white and Harm knew why.

[FLASHBACK]

Harm: You know they wrote eternity on this bridge on New Year's Eve?

Mac: Is that how long we're going to wait?

Harm: Mac...

Mac: We're not in Washington any more; we're not even on the same continent.

Harm: That doesn't change who we are.

Mac: Most men would disagree with you.

Harm: I know; I disagree with me sometimes too.

Mac: But you still can't let go.

Harm: Not yet.

Mac: You're just like this with me aren't you?

Harm: Yeah, only with you.

Mac: I suppose I should be flattered.

Harm: You should Sarah.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

"Mac?" Sturgis was concerned.

She snapped back to reality and passed him a bundle of files. "I'll get the Hendrickson file to you later."

When she and Harm were alone again he took the bull by the horns. "You had a memory surface."

"And not a nice one. It was of you and me on a ferry…"

"It's a true one. It happened in Australia and was the greatest mistake of my life. It was really a misunderstanding" He confessed. "Have dinner with me before you leave. I'll cook and then take you to the airport."

"Sounds like a plan."

"So you'll come?"

"I will." She agreed.

"Good see you round 1900?"

She nodded. He left and she returned to her work pile.

 

Mac hadn't told him about some of the resurfaced memories she'd experienced. Many of them concerned him, but they were often confusing. She knew they had spent a lot of time together over the years -- they were best friends. But some of what she was remembering seemed to contain other feelings.

 

Harm had been so sweet to her since the accident that had claimed her memory. Even without memories from their past together, she had developed some romantic feelings for him. But she strove to hide those. If there had never been anything between them before, there must be a reason. He must just not be interested. Still, she was sure that occasionally she caught him looking at her as though something more than friendship was in his heart. But she had to put that out of her mind. He knew how tortured she was by the gaps in her memory; if there was anything to tell her about their past relationship -- he'd have told her.  

Harm returned to his office and felt doomed. How was he ever going to get her to remember their love; if the first memories she had were of Brumby wanting to marry her and him rejecting her? And now she was on deployment AGAIN!!! Oh yes the fates were indeed dealing him the challenge of his life.

                      

Once again it crossed his mind, as it frequently did, that he should just tell her how much they had meant to each other. He knew she hungered for any bit of her forgotten past -- damn that amnesia! But he knew that he couldn't tell her. That would be pressuring her -- ad he had sworn that he wouldn't. The doctors had said she needed support and understanding to help her remember things naturally. She shouldn't be pressured.  It was best for her, and he'd honor their advice. His love for her demanded nothing less of him.

"Hey watch it!" A voice called. Too late Harm collided with Sturgis who had been waiting for him in his office.

"Sorry." Harm apologized.

Sturgis stared at him.

"What?" Harm got defensive. "Don't start with me."

"I haven't said a word."

"Yeah right."

"Mac is the one with the memory problems." Sturgis stated.

"Yeah. SO?" Harm challenged.

"So what's your excuse?"

"Get to the point Sturgis!" he was irritable.

"You have the Hendrickson file!" He friend reminded him.

Dawn lit on Harm's face. "Oh God you're right!"

Sturgis shook his head. "Get a control of yourself Rabb. Get control!"

===============================

1413 LOCAL
MAC'S OFFICE

Mac looked up to find Sturgis standing at her thresh hold. She motioned him in. He took a seat opposite her.

Sturgis began “I wanted to let you know that Harm had the Hendrickson file and to apologize for our bad start here.”

She smiled “I'm good at making you do that.”

“What--saying the wrong thing or apologizing?”

“Both”

Sturgis shrugged “I never feel on solid ground with you. The ground always seems to be shifting”

“That's because my life is an earthquake... you see I actually think we make a good tem. You're a little cerebral and detail oriented, and I'm neither one of those things. It kind of works in a Laurel and Hardy sort of way.” She chuckled.

He did a Laurel & Hardy imitation. Mac laughed out loud “Oh, so I’m the fat one?”

Sturgis pounced “You see, this is your problem. You don’t do this any better with Harm.”

“No, that's different.” For some reason she became defensive.

“In what way?!”

“It just is…” She insisted.

“There seems to be a certain tension with you two.” He pointed out “Even now that you are back Swiss cheese memory and all.”

“Some” She conceded.

“A lot.” He insisted.

“You're missing the point.”

“Come on Mac.”

“I never slept with him!” She retorted, “At least I don’t think so.”

“Is that the problem?”

“There is no problem!”

“Then why don't you just get over it and move on?” Sturgis advised.

“It wouldn't work.” She stood.

“Why?”

She closed the office door. “Because I'm in love with him.”

 

Immediately, she had another of those déjà vu sensations. But that would be ridiculous, she knew. Her realization of having feelings for Harm was a new one. She had fallen for him recently -- after her amnesia, when she couldn't remember whatever it was that had kept them apart all these years.

It wasn’t often that Sturgis was flabbergasted enough to be lost for words, but today Sarah Mackenzie achieved that feat. Sturgis simply didn't know what to say. Mac in turn was just as shocked. “Did I say that? You have to keep that to yourself.”

“OK” he agreed.

She got deadly, “I mean it Sturgis”

“So do I.”

What a mess she thought as her colleague left. She could almost cry. Almost. She wanted to cry for the part of her life that was lost to her memory; and she wanted to cry for the closeness with Harm that would never be.

===============================

HARM’S APARTMENT

Mac was seated at the dining table facing Harm in the kitchen as he moved between the two spaces. She knew the slip to Sturgis had been prophetic. She did love him – the decision now was did she or didn’t she tell him? She sipped her juice. “I see the Admiral handed you and Singer a doozie of a case.”

“Grrr.” He replied.

“Well it‘s not that bad!”

He walked in with a dish “I quote dear Harriett <<I think anyone involved in 9/11 should be drawn and quartered.>> can you believe that?”

“Our Harriett?” Mac was shocked. The woman didn’t strike her as the type to express such blood thirsty feelings but then what did she know?

“Our Harriett.” Harm confirmed.

“So what did you answer?” he mumbled. “Or may be I should ask instead how's your Fifth Amendment?”

”Awfully personal question, Colonel.” He continued to walk between the two spaces.

Mac giggled at the comment. “I wish I had that case instead of going to Cuba. It feels like I’ve been on the road forever.”

“Comes with the job.” Harm warned.

“I suppose, if I was on that case I’d want first chair though.”

“Ha!” He joined her. “With that hole in the wall memory!!!”

“Flip you.” She challenged.

“You’re not even on the case.” He observed as he fished out a coin from his pocket.

“Humour me.”

The coin ascended, spun, hit the floor and rolled away. They both dived for the coin at the same time, bumping their heads on the way.

Mac rubbed her head “I’m second chair.”

“I’ll be gentle.” Harm promised.

“Don’t be gentle be good.”

“Huh?” He rubbed his head.

“Whatever.” She replied.

Their eyes locked and he intuitively leaned towards her. He then hesitated. She didn’t – Mac closed the gap between them and kissed him. That was all he needed – the kiss deepened.

“Mac I…” Harm began she cut across him. “Dinner is getting cold.” She scrambled from under the table.

Harm sighed and followed.

 

Mac didn't regret initiating this kiss, but would later think that it had been another déjà vu moment -- and that that might have been the reason. Still, it had been a very pleasant kiss. And whether he meant to or not, Harm had responded to it.

===============================

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

Mac had been in Cuba one week and she was overwhelmed. The number of POWs detained at the Base was a revelation to her. She had been aware that they were being shuttled there but the actual numbers took her by surprise.

She'd known by day two that this work load was heavy but now she was faced with a unforeseen situation that meant she'd need assistance. One of the prisoners claimed to be an American! The files showed that authorities had already picked up one citizen in Afghanistan; now they were faced with another?

There was no way that she'd be able to process the horde she had; get the cases ready for trial and find time to verify every claim of citizenship.

She picked up the phone and dialed.

She heard Tiner's familiar voice.

"Tiner this is Colonel Mackenzie I need to speak with the Admiral."

By the time she hung up the phone she wondered if she had done the right thing. The Admiral was sending Harm! If her memory served her correctly, she snorted at the irony of that thought. This was a man who could not or would not commit to her. Yet he was obviously on the hunt now, with her as the prey.

"God." She prayed "I need strength and guidance but most of all I need memory!"

 

All she remembered about her feelings for him in the past, was that every time they got close to talking about the possibility of something between them, he backed away. But recently, his admiring glances had become more frequent; and some of his comments were almost suggestive. Could it be that he, too, was beginning to develop romantic feelings?

===============================

1400 LOCAL
GUANTANAMO BASE, CUBA
MAC'S OFFICE

Mac had been interviewing a prisoner and had been unable to meet Harm when he landed. A Gunnery Sergeant led him to her.

"Thanks Gunny." She said as she dismissed him. There was an awkward moment as Harm's instinct was to hug her. "Don't." he warned himself.

"I haven't done anything." He defended in his mind, as he sat down. Rather than saying anything to Mac, he just smiled at her. He hoped she could feel some of his love through it.

"Harm… " She began to chastise him.

 

"What?" he answered, innocently, "I didn't do anything."

 

My memory maybe shot but my intuition is not. This assignment is difficult enough without you starting up again."

 

"What?" he questioned again.

 

"When you look at me that way, you're thinking about things I can't remember. I don't know how to respond to that, and it kind of scares me. I feel like you're pressuring me to be something I can't remember."

His look was incredulous "That is not fair and you know it."

"All is fair and love and war." She replied and then regretted saying it. "Sorry I shouldn't have said that. But you are driving me crazy!" He grinned. "And that doesn't help either!" she said.

"I'll take crazy over indifferent anytime." He informed her.

"You're incorrigible." She grinned back at him. "But seriously the work load here is frenetic and constant."

"Mac." He too got serious "I promise you I am here to lighten the work load not make myself a burden. But I can't say the same for when we're off duty. I really don't want to pressure you, but I like the way our relationship has been going. "

"And you always keep your promise."

"Glad you remember that. Shall we start? Work, I mean."

"I consider myself warned." She replied as she handed him a file. "Case one. Mustafa Bin Azziz, claims to be a US Citizen. I haven't had time to verify. Follow up on that first."

He nodded.

"After that." She pointed at the mountain range of files "Take your pick and help a client."

===============================

SAME TIME
JAG HQ

"Attention on deck!" Someone ordered as Admiral Chedwiggen emerged from the hallway.

"As you were!" he counter ordered. Almost the entire staff returned to watching the panel of TVs. "There a problem Lieutenant?" He asked Harriet.

Suddenly realizing the implications of what she was watching Harriett gulped. "Sir… the news is reporting that a plane has crashed into the Pirelli Office Building in Milan."

He nodded. It hadn't clicked yet. So Singer joined the dots for him "Sir doesn't your daughter work in Milan?"

AJ turned to stone.

"Sir?" Tiner was concerned.

He snapped out of the shock and turned to his yeoman "Tiner with me NOW!" He headed for his office with the Petty Officer close on his heels.

+        +        +

As soon as the door to the office closed AJ barked an order. "Get me Commander Turner!"

"Aye sir!" Tiner leaped to comply.

+        +        +

Even from the outside his office Tiner could hear the ex SEAL cursing. He ventured in. "Sir?"

AJ whirled on him. "Tiner! Where is the Commander?!"

"At Norfolk on a case sir; as soon as he gets back I'll have him here. May I help sir?"

AJ handed him a paper with two numbers. "I've called her office and her home with no reply. You try and see if I'm dialing correctly."

Tiner nodded and tried both with the same result.

"She works in the Pirelli Building." AJ said softly. He made a decision "Tiner book me on the first transport to Milan. I don't care what time it's leaving. And get Commander Turner on the horn tell him drop what he's doing and report here ASAP!"

"Aye sir I'll call you at home with the flight info."

"WHY?"

"I assumed you would pack sir." Tiner replied.

"No time."

"Not even aspirin sir?"

AJ smiled as he remembered the last time Tiner asked him that. "Just get me that seat."

"Aye sir."

===============================

1001 LOCAL
CLEARING OFFICE

Mac had rearranged her office to accommodate Harm. It was easier than having two offices to work out of. They consulted so often that one office made more sense.

That day Harm walked in and laid a file on Mac's desk. "What am I looking at?" She asked even as she picked it up.

"Proof that MBA's claim is valid."

"MBA?"

"Mustafa Bin Azziz." Harm explained.

She placed the file down. "I will never understand how anyone born and raised in the West can subscribe to the fundamentalism of the Taliban!"

"I've begun the process of sending him State side."

She nodded.

===============================

1500 LOCAL
JAG HQ

"Sir Commander Turner is here." Tiner announced as Sturgis walked in.

"Commander." AJ got to the point. "I'll be out of office on personal business. You are JAG in my absence."

"SIR!" Sturgis was shocked at the suddenness of the announcement.

"Problem Commander?"

"Nooo Sir."

"Good. Anything you need Lt. Sims or Petty Officer Tiner can assist you with." AJ imparted.

"Yes sir."

"Dismissed." As Turner opened the door to leave AJ bellowed "Tiner! What's taking so long!!!"

Tiner bounded into the office with an airline ticket in one hand, a duffel bag in another and Lt Singer in tow.

"What can I do for you Lieutenant?" AJ said as he examined the ticket.

"Well sir its what I can do for you…"

"Tiner what this!" He cut across Singer and pointed at the bag.

"A duffle bag sir." AJ glared at him. Tiner gulped and rushed to explain. "I took the liberty of preparing a bag for you sir."

AJ softened. "Thank you."

Tiner grinned at his CO. "You're welcome sir."

AJ picked up the bag and headed for the door completely forgetting Singer.

"Sir?" She called.

AJ stopped, "Make in quick Singer."

"I'd like to volunteer to be JAG in your absence."

[After the last time?] He thought. "Thank you. Commander Turner has already been assigned." Without a second look or thought AJ left.

"What you looking at!" She snarled at Tiner who had witnessed the entire encounter.

===============================

UNCLE SAM'S PLACE
2124 LOCAL

Uncle Sam's Place was the local watering hole for the base. What it was really was a camouflage tent with a few benches and tables. But it was the military's piece of Americana away from home.

"I'm telling ya!" Gunnery Sergeant O'Hara slammed his glass down. "That Bin Azziz is an American!"

"OK so I believe you. Now what?" His counterpart Gunny March said.

"Make the young'un understand that American's don't kill Americans and sure as hell don't go round restricting women!"

The men around the table grinned in evil agreement.

+        +        +

Mac finally closed the file. "Harm. It's 2142. I'm beat."

He stretched. "I'm convinced that the files mate as soon as we leave and give birth to more files just before we return."

She giggled. "You're an idiot."

"Tell me you don't believe that this paper is endless." He challenged.

She sobered up. "Seems that way doesn't it?" She headed for the door, "Coming?"

"Sure." He stood. Did I ever tell you about Singer and the ID 10 T computer malfunction?" He asked as they headed for the door.

"No."

"Well…" He was about launch when the sound of a siren stopped him. "Now we're ambulance chasers?" he teased as they ran in pursuit.

When they got to the scene it was far from funny. A number of prisoners had been beaten including Bin Azziz.

Mac was livid. "Damn it!" she paced as the corpsman did his work.

"Report!" Harm commanded of an MP.

"A group of men arrived and jumped us. Before we knew what was happening they busted in beat up a few prisoners and were gone."

"Navy?" Harm dreaded the response.

"Marine Sir." The MP corrected.

Mac glared at the wounded man. She and Harm moved away to discuss the situation. "This is not good."

"Master of the obvious." She was grim. "Red Cross not to mention Amnesty International is going to have our heads." She turned on her heels and marched away.

"Hey wait up!" Harm ran to catch up.

+        +        +

Uncle Sam's Place was humming and no one noticed when Mac walked into the bar. She soon changed that. She pulled out her side arm lifted her hand and fired two shots into the air.

There was instant silence.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Now that I have your attention, let me introduce myself. I am Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. I am the Judge Advocate on this base." She prowled the room confident in the knowledge that Harm was covering her six.

All eyes followed her.

"Tonight two Military Police and at least eight prisoners including one American were badly beaten. That is a no no." She shook her finger at no one in particular.

"As a signatory to the International Red Cross treatment of prisoners, a member of the United Nations and a participant to the Geneva Convention on the treatment of POWs such treatment of prisoners is a breach of such agreements." She continued to prowl and the bar remained deathly silent. "If that were not enough I can and will, upon capture, charge the person or persons responsible with Articles 93 - Cruelty and maltreatment, 116 - breach of peace, 133 - Conduct unbecoming 134 - Assault and if anyone dies then 118 - MURDER."

There was a groan.

"These people are in our custody to be charged and tried for terrorism not for target practice!" and with that she stormed out, with Harm following.

The grumbling could be heard all the way to their quarters.

===============================

US BASE AT GUANTANIMO BAY
CUBA

Mac was on the verge of insubordination "But sir!"

"Colonel Mackenzie! This is not a debate!" Colonel Andrews the base commander roared. "These scum have been terrorizing people at will! If they can't take a little terror then they should not be dishing it out. DISMISSED!"

Mac stormed out of the office with a full head of steam still in place.

+        +        +

She stormed into their office and sat abruptly in her seat.

"Went that well huh?" Harm teased.

"Do you love life? If you do then don't mess with me NAVY." She warned.

He rolled his eyes "Went that well." He repeated and returned to his file. Mac sat and simmered.

===============================

1400 LOCAL
MILAN, ITALY

AJ's first action had been to contact his ex-wife Marcella Paretti. She knew nothing and was as frantic as he was… Together they had gone too see Sergente Giovanni Cade.

"Admiral!" Cade welcomed AJ. "Signora Paretti"

"You remember." AJ was relieved.

"You assist me with one of my biggest cases and you think I'll forget?" The police officer replied, "Please sit. How may I be of assistance to you?"

"My… " Marcella began "Perdon. Our daughter works here in Milan. In the Pirelli building."

"Say no more." Cade said, "I sympathize but search teams are still digging through the rubble and so far identification is slow and difficult."

"But we can help!" AJ was beginning to feel helpless.

"There will be a morgue set up soon. I know you do not like to hear this but as soon as it is set up I will contact you and you may come … look."

AJ was about to say more but Marcella beat him to it. "La ringrazio Senor." She stood. "Andiamo AJ."

"Thank you." AJ shook Giovanni's hand and followed his ex-wife out.

+        +        +

Once out on the street Marcella watched as AJ pulled out his cell phone and dialed. Commander. How is my office?" He listened then issued an order.

"Get Webb. Tell him I need a contact here to liaise with to find my daughter. Give him my cell number." He slapped the phone shut.

"All we can do is wait." He apologized.

"Is what I do." She was resigned.

===============================

1857 LOCAL
CLEARING OFFICE,
US BASE AT GUANTANIMO, CUBA

Harm stretched he'd been at it for five hours straight and the mountain range of files still defied him. He threw in the towel. "I'm beat and it's Friday. There has to be more to a Friday than this."

Mac was standing staring out the window at nothing in particular. Without turning she asked, "How many did we manage to process this week?"

"Nineteen." He replied. He was itching to leave.

"Hell of a week wasn't it?"

"That it was." Now she wants to talk?

She sensed his uneasiness. She turned and studied him "I'm sorry. I'm keeping you. Goodnight Harm."

"Night Mac." He disappeared into the night.

She returned to her study of nothing through the window. He has a date she deduced. "Damn it!" She struck the windowsill. Why should his being on a date affect her so? Every fiber of her being objected to the thought of him with anyone but her.

He was a classic; tall, dark, handsome and an officer and a gentleman to boot … an irresistible combination. She was torn. She was resisting him but she wanted him. Mac smiled as she remembered her prayer. She repeated it.

"God." She prayed "I need strength and guidance but most of all I need memory!"

===============================

2300 LOCAL
MILAN, ITALY

AJ grabbed the cell phone as it rang. "Yes?" It was Webb.

Chedwiggen got grim and Marcella became worried. "AJ what is wrong!" Under the stress her Italian accent got deeper. "TELL ME!"

"Repeat that!" AJ ordered. He listened then closed the phone and dropped into a nearby chair.

"DIMMELO!" She commanded.

AJ looked at her and chuckled "She's in DC."

"Que?" She was shocked.

"She's in Washington!" He repeated. "She was in the air when the crash occurred. By the time she called me at home, I was on my way here. She had an assistant call JAG and all they would say was that I was out of office. Then she got too busy to call back!"

"I'll kill her." The fiery woman vowed. "I'll kill her!"

AJ sighed, "I'm just glad that she's safe."

"I suppose." Marcella shrugged her shoulders "I'll kill her!"

===============================

0230 MAC’S ROOM
US BASE AT GUANTANAMO

 

She’d had another erotic dream. She had had them off and on ever since she lost her memory. They were always the same -- an unidentified man came to her and loved her in the most incredible ways, but she had never been able to see his face and know who it was.  This time she saw the face - it was Harm! It had been him all the time. The shock of the revelation had suddenly ejected her from the dream.

 

And, what a dream it had been! This time she'd been in Uncle Sam's here at Gitmo drinking a cola. The mystery man had entered from the opposite side of the tent. He smiled at her, and then approached in long strides. He took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Her body crushed up against his as they danced. She could feel every muscle in his body. She pulled him close and held on during the dance, closing her eyes to appreciate how intoxicating this man's presence was to her. When the music stopped Mac threw her head back to look up at this phantom lover, who couldn't stay out of her dreams and that's when she could finally see that her mysterious man was Harm.  

 

On waking, she just lay in a cold sweat.

It explained why for last two weeks without really meaning to, she had ended up everywhere he was going. Apparently her subconscious had been working over time to deliver the message.

This was no way for a Marine to act.

She got up, dressed and went for a jog. Later she’d tackle Harm. Besides which she had yet to see him to tell him they’d been recalled Stateside.

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0509 HARM’S ROOM
US BASE AT GUANTANIMO

There was a tap at the door. It was Sunday for heaven’s sake don’t people rest in this place? He quickly slipped on a jogging outfit and ripped the door open only to find Mac standing there.

“Have time for a fellow JAG?”

“Anytime.” Came the prompt reply.

“Walk with me?”

“Sure.”

The two went off in the direction of the wooded area. Harm sensed that something was up as she was quiet all the way to the wood.

“You come here often?” He asked, anything to break the silence.

“Huh?” she had been miles away.

He stopped. “Mac what’s wrong?”

“What makes you think that something is wrong?” She sat on a nearby log.

“Oh just the fact that you came to seek me out and then we walk here in complete silence. Just the fact that I seem to be alone here as you seem to be miles away.” He sat next to her.

“Sorry.” She apologized. “I was thinking about us.”

“You were?”

She nodded. “It’s obvious that there is more to us than work, just how much I don’t know and I need to know. Tell me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why!” She wailed.

“You have amnesia. You have to remember on your own.” He was torn.

“Don’t you think that the memory loss is particularly specific?” She asked. “I can remember my work, but not my friends, enemies or … lovers?”

This was getting awkward. “I can’t Mac.”

“OK then tell me this. You have been hinting to me and I’ve been dodging, now is the time to bite the bullet. Do you love me?”

And just like that Harm was faced with the question of a lifetime. He remembered the ferry in Australia and decided that he needed to correct that error. “Yes.”

“Were we lovers?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“About two years.”

“We have known each other for the past two years?” She was shocked. She’d lost two years with this man?

He fidgeted. “Harm.” She warned, “You’ve told me the essentials tell me the rest.”

“We’ve knew each other for eight years before we got together.” He confessed.

“Let me understand this. We knew each other for eight years and then for some reason decided that we were in love for the last two?” He nodded. “Do I want to know that story?”

“Not today.” He advised. “Mac?”

“Hmmm?”

“Why all these questions? He was tentative.

“There are times when a person must face the situation that they are in.” He waited for her to collect her thoughts. “I… I’m attracted to you but … but I don’t remember anything about us and I didn’t know what to do.” She chucked. “I still don't remember everything, but I’ve fallen in love with you anyway.”

“Oh thank you Father!” Harm declared.

“Brace yourself Commander.” She notified him “I’m going to kiss you.” With no further warning than that, Mac launched the promised kiss.

The kiss broke and Harm struck while the mood was right. “Mac I’ll never let you get too far away again.”

“Oh yes?” She laughed “…and how do you plan to do that? Have a heart to heart with Uncle Sam?”

“Marry me.”

She reacted unexpectedly to the sudden question. The shock sent a giddy wave through her and she swayed. Harm caught her. “Hey! The proposal wasn’t that bad.”

“Don't get too close. You'll be working together. That’s what the Admiral ordered, she said.

“You remember?” He was elated. “What else do you remember?”

“That's why I left there is no us. There's you and Renee. What would you give up to have me? Mic gave up the Navy and his country. Would you sacrifice your girlfriend?” she babbled.

He groaned that was one memory he personally had hoped he could forget.

“Awkward moment number three hundred and ten.” She laughed, “I’ve got my memory back!” She hit him.

“Hey what was that for?” he feigned pain.

“I remember you.”

He gave an exasperated sigh. “Marry me.”

“Didn’t I answer that?”

“NO!!”

She leaded over and kissed him. “Of course I will. Oh by the way new orders came in on Friday after you left. We ship out on Tuesday.”

“All right.”

“Yeah we can have the JAG family in attendance.”

“A wedding on a hill with sheep right?” He remembered.

~*~ END ~*~

 

Authors’ Note -- This is the final in the Deployment Series. The Adventures were picked up in the Series: Ripped From the Headlines available at: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc/toc_series.htm