Title: Harm and Mac Songbook: Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me

Author: Rising Sun

Rated: PG

Classification: JAG Story/Adventure/Agnst

Summary: While on assignment Mac and Renee call a truce.

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.

Pretender characters portrayed belong to Pretender and NBC. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely

coincidental.

Performing in this saga: Juice Newton sings "Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me"

Feedback: Would be nice.

Story Written - 2001

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1515 LOCAL

JAG HEADQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH, VA

ADMIRAL CHEDWIGGEN'S OFFICE

"Come in" AJ Chedwiggen barked at the knock on the door.

Lt. Colonel Sarah Rabb stepped in. "You sent for me Sir?"

"Yes Colonel have a seat."

Once she was in place he began. "Are you familiar with the TV Show Jaguar?"

She smiled. "It's my favorite sir."

"Ummm. A request has been received from the producers for an advisor for one of their upcoming shows. You have been nominated."

Mac sucked in her breath abruptly. "Sir? Don't they have persons in the service who vet and consult on such?"

"They do. It seems that the episode in question is in need of a JAG touch."

"Begging your pardon sir is it necessary for your Chief of Staff to be vetting a TV show no matter how popular?"

AJ glared at her and seemed to double in size and growled. "Colonel are you saying that this assignment is below you?"

"Below me? No Sir. Below your Chief of Staff? Yes sir!" She stood her ground.

He signed. "The request went to the SecNav who passed it to me and now to you. Deal with it Colonel. Find some enjoyment in the assignment and come back with a tan."

"Sir?" she was puzzled.

He smiled "The location is in the USVI. Enjoy!" He handed her the file. "Dismissed."

"Aye sir." She snapped to and left.

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

2020 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE

"So there you have it." She concluded.

"I have no regrets at leaving JAG, but there are times like this when I really miss the travel." Harm lamented. "The USVI!"

"I know. And it's Jaguar!"

"An assignment doesn't get any better. Be careful round those Hollywood people."

"Yes Dad. Imagine I'll get to meet David James Elliott."

"Who cares? Just bring me an autographed photo of Catherine Bell." He teased.

She hit him playfully. "You don't even watch the show."

"You're right I don't. I have you gushing about it enough to know about the ongoing the 'will they won't they get together' scenario." He replied.

She replied by leaning over to him and whispering. "So, you'll miss me?"

"Hell yes" and he pulled her to him and kissed her. "It's going to be a little bit hard on me."

"Oh good." She kissed him back.

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

Love's been a little

Oh love's been a little

Love's been a little bit hard on me

Love's been a little

Oh you know just been a little

Love's been a little bit hard on me

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

ONE WEEK LATER

ST CROIX, UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS

SOUTHGATE COURTYARD VILLAS

MAC'C ROOM

Mac had taken the opportunity on the flight across to read the script on which she was to be providing JAG advice on. Looked simple enough.

It hadn't taken her long to register at the hotel. She entered the suite and dumped the room keys on the TV, placed her travel case on the floor and examined the place.

The villa had its own private entrance and balcony [oh good a stunning Caribbean view], which overlooked the central garden/pool courtyard. There was a kitchen and dining area. The kitchen was a fully equipped modern kitchen that adjoined the dining room, while the living room was a comfortable place for entertaining, reading, or watching the TV. Maybe this Showbiz assignment wasn't that bad after all.

As she acquainted herself with the layout of the room there was a knock on her door. ALREADY! She thought. Who could be looking for her? She'd barely got into the room surely these Hollywood types weren't on her case already?

She opened the door and stared.

The apparition spoke. "Hi'ya Mac. May I come in? Thanks." Renee Peterson breezed past and entered.

Mac took a slow deep breath closed the door and turned. "Renee?"

"I see that the Military only send the best and of course that had to be you." Renee launched into her speech. "Since I left ... relocated east I have gone to bigger and better things. My latest is as a recurring director on Jaguar. And now we get to work together. Isn't that grand?" The sarcasm was veiled but there nevertheless.

"And you felt the need to welcome the military attaché?" Mac responded [down Marine down]

"Something like that." Renee replied. "Any way we need to go through the script with your comments etcetera."

"Fine. When and where?" Mac asked.

"One hour in Villa 9b. We have converted it into a conference room. You know where that is?" There was a challenge in the question.

"In one hour I will." Mac assured her then thought maybe this Showbiz assignment was as bad as that after all.

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ONE HOUR LATER

SOUTHGATE COURTYARD VILLAS

VILLA 9B

Jaguar was a Police Action Show and the stars may have been coached in Police SOPs but they didn't have a clue to the Standing Operating Procedures of the Military or JAG for that matter.

The episode called for the characters of Jared and Parker as played by David James Elliott and Catherine Bell to go under cover at JAG. They had to at least look comfortable with the moves of the Military and the language of the Law. Mac blocked Renee out of her mind and began the JAG Lesson 101 with the two actors.

Five hours later she was drained and was only too glad to get out of that air-conditioned atmosphere and return to her suite.

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THE NEXT DAY

CHRISTIANSTED

The motorcade that made its way to downtown Christiansted was impressive. The fact that the city was only five minutes away from Southgate Courtyard Villas made the parade oven more remarkable.

Jaguar may have been Mac's favorite TV show but the procedure for making the one-hour episode as tedious and boring. DJE and CB had grasped the lesson of the day before and Mac only had to tweak theirs and the supporting cast performances.

Filming had taken most of the day and part of the evening. The next set had to be erected over night and so the cast was given an early break. No one stuck around just in case the director changed her mind. That left the crew to get busy.

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I've got nothing to be ashamed of

Love's been a little bit hard on me

If I shy away it's only because

Love's been a little bit hard on me

Love's been a little

Oh love's been a little

Love's been a little bit hard on me

Love's been a little

Oh you know just been a little

Love's been a little bit hard on me

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

THAT NIGHT

SOUTHGATE COURTYARD VILLAS

Movie making was not for her. Mac had barely managed to send off a card to Harm and the folk at JAG. How Renee could do this was beyond her. She stepped out of the Villa with the intension of taking the five-minute walk to Gallows Bay for some shopping.

That was the intension.

"Hi Mac."

Mac groaned inwardly and placed a smile on her face.

"Hello Renee."

"You going out?"

"That was the idea." Mac replied.

Renee joined her and maintained the stride. "I think that the day went pretty well. We should be all done on schedule and you will be back with Harm and JAG in record time."

Uh huh here it comes. Mac thought.

"You must miss him." Renee said.

No reply.

"Mac?" Renee pushed. "All is well no?"

Mac stopped. By this time they were well on the way to the shopping quarter. "Renee what do you want."

"You never let Harm and I have a chance and I want you to know that I know that." Renee announced.

Mac took a claming breath. "Renee I never did anything to interfere with Harm's relationship with you. In fact I have NEVER interfered with any of his relationships. Now if that is all I'll be on my way." She stopped suddenly. "You arranged for me to be here didn't you!"

Renee dodged the accusation. "Mac wait." Renee said. "I don't want to fight. I just ..."

"You just what Renee. You a sucker for punishment or something? That you arrange for the wife of your ex-boyfriend to work with you? What is this!"

"Maybe." Renee’s voice got small. "I just wanted to know that he was ok and that you were doing right by him. I know all of you at JAG didn't exactly approve of me but I loved him."

[By the roadside I am having this conversation on the roadside!] Mac looked at the woman and said softly. "He is fine and I love him too. He cared for you Renee but ..." Her voice trailed away.

"I know Mac I know. It was a losing battle. I only had him in trust until you were ready."

[Damn even Jordan had said something similar to her.] "I suppose that is why they say that life's a bitch." Mac offered.

"Truce?" Renee offered her hand.

"Truce." Mac accepted. [Anything to get you out of my hair. Now may I go? PLEASE?] She thought.

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

I'll be back when I calm my fears

Love's been a little bit hard on me

See you around in a thousand years

Love's been a little bit hard on me

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

"That looked like the end to open hostilities." A voice interrupted. Both women looked around to see Catherine Bell walking towards them. "Are you all going to Gallows Bay?"

"I am" Mac replied. "Renee?"

"I'm just tagging along."

"Mind if I join you?" The actress asked.

[Why not] she thought "Why not." She said. As the trio headed off Mac thought [This Showbiz assignment was worse than as bad as that after all. Wait till got home and tell Harm. He'll NEVER believe.]

THE END