Title: Harm and Mac Songbook: Honey

Author: Rising Sun

Rated: G

Classification: Angst

Summary: Some one dies. Who?

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.

Performing in this saga:

Bobby Goldsboro sings Honey.

Feedback: Would be nice.

Author's note: The HMS series is written in a manner that allows for each story to be read as a self-contained story or as part of an arc. This story is part of a potential quartet:

· HMS22a: Honey

· HMS22b: Turn! Turn! Turn!

· HMS22c: For My Broken Heart

· HMS22d: How Do I Live

Story Written September 2001

*******************************************

IT IS THE YEAR 2016 (JANUARY)

1305

OUTER OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL

Lieutenant Commander Jason Tiner breezed past Petty Officer Jennifer Manley.

"Sir! You can't go in there!" She cried.

Tiner held up his hand in a halt command and opened the door of the JAG's Office without permission and unannounced. He entered.

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

1306

THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL

The door swung open and Lt. Cmdr Tiner entered. "Apologies ma'am but I think you NEED to see this." He strode over to the TV, switched it on and tuned it to ANC (The All News Channel)

Petty Officer Jennifer Manley followed, "Sorry General I couldn't stop him."

Major General Sarah Rabb, first female Judge Advocate General glared at Tiner, then the TV. She stood, moved round her desk and came face to face with the set. Yet still the images facing her caused her difficulty. "Tiner." She said slowly. "Explain to me what I'm seeing here."

"There's been a massive earthquake near La Jolla in California. I know the Admiral's family is out there ..." He trailed off.

Mac whirled round. "Manley!" She bellowed.

"Ma'am!"

"Get me Rear Admiral Rabb ASAP!"

"Aye! Ma'am!" the PO left to execute the command.

"Thank you Tiner." Mac said indicating he was dismissed.

"Welcome ma'am." He turned to leave.

"... and Tiner?" She stopped him.

"Ma'am?"

"Don't ever burst into my office again."

"Aye ma'am!" he snapped to, rolled on his heel and left.

The phone rang. She grabbed it. "Rabb here. Put him through and get me Captain Roberts as soon as he comes out of Court... Harm? ... Did you see the news? ..." She listened for a while to her husband.

There was a knock on the door. "Enter" she called, she waved Bud into one of the chairs in front of her desk. She continued to listen to Harm. "Ok I'll meet you there." She hung up and looked at Bud.

"Tiner briefed me ma'am. I took the liberty of having Manley arrange for your children to be taken care of while you and the Admiral fly out to California."

She smiled at her Chief of Staff. "Thank you Bud in all the excitement I must admit that getting a sitter for them was not on the list. Who did you get?"

Over the years Bud J. Roberts Jr. had matured into a formidable lawyer and to be the Chief of Staff at JAG. He was also a great friend and godfather to her eldest. Bud replied, "They'll stay with Harriet and me."

Mac opened her mouth to say something but Bud stopped her. "With all due respect ma'am the kids know us, AJ and Sarah. You have no idea how long you will be out there. It makes sense for them to stay with us. Its no trouble."

Mac resigned herself "You're right. Of course." She suddenly stood up. "I'm heading out. Mr. Roberts you are the JAG 'till I get back. No time to brief you on anything sorry."

"I'm familiar with most and the rest Manley and I will deal with. Don't worry about us here ma'am." He assured her. "Good luck."

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

1335

WASHINGTON DC

EN ROUTE TO AFB

Having bought a corvette all those years ago Mac was hooked and whenever she had a change of car she had always bought a vette. Here she was in last years model and glad of it.

She shifted gear, and put the pedal to the metal.

Without realizing it she was praying. She prayed for Trish and Frank, for Harm, for her kids and for the victims of the unfolding tragedy. The reports had said that a 5.6 quake had struck at less than 1 mile below the surface. At such a depth the damage was expected to the phenomenal. Mac feared the worst.

She reached Andrews Air force Base having hit every green light on the way and missing every cop in between.

She grabbed the case she always kept packed from the boot and headed out in search of Harm.

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

THE NEXT DAY

1401 LOCAL

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

Apart from the initial greeting the Rabbs had barely spoken on the trip. They arrived in California and spoke only when needed. After five years as partners and fifteen years of marriage they knew how to operate around each other. Words were not always needed.

They finally made their way to La Jolla.

Their first stop was the Command Post. Neither was hesitant to pull rank if it would work. It was not needed. One look at the pair and their rank and they were waved through.

They were directed to the Red Cross area where people were being attended. After searching and asking numerous questions they found the section where they could commence the search for the Burnettes.

"Burnette?" The volunteer repeated.

"Yes." Harm replied wearily.

"Frank and Trish." Mac prompted.

"One moment please." They waited as she checked the database. "There we go. We have Frank but no Trish."

"Where is he!" Harm demanded.

"In the medi-tent over there ... you're welcome." She said to the retreating backs of the Rabbs.

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

And it was in the early Spring when flowers bloom and robins sing

She went away

And honey, I miss you and I'm bein' good

And I'd love to be with you if only I could

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

1510 LOCAL

RED CROSS TENT CITY

"Frank!" Harm called. "Frank!"

"Over here!" A voice replied. "Harm? Oh God Harm!" The usually self confident and controlled Frank broke "Harm!"

Harm and Mac moved to either side of Frank who now looked so small and frail. He held on to Harm's arm.

Mac touched Harm indicating to him to let her take charge. He nodded. She probed gently "Frank? Where's Trish?"

At the mentioned of his wife's name a semblance of the Frank they knew returned but only to tell a horror story. "She's dead."

"Dead?" Mac fought to control her voice so as not to panic Frank or Harm for that matter who seemed to have suddenly turned to stone.

"I was walking up the drive while she was inside, when the quake struck. It was awful! Something I never want to face again. I watched as the world buckled and the house heaved with Trish in it. The house just heaved and dropped!"

Harm remained frozen as Frank poured out the story.

"When it was done I scrambled up to the house and searched for hours. You'd think it would have been easy to find her. Any way I finally found her. Dead. May Trish was dead!" He howled. He released Harm and buried his head in Mac's shoulder.

Harm stood there numb and felt that he was watching a movie. This was not real. IT COULD NOT BE!!! [My mother can't be dead] He thought. [My mother can't be dead] He finally moved. "Where." His mouth was dry he coughed and tried again "Where is she?"

Frank didn't reply. Harm snapped. "Frank! Where the hell is the body of my mother!"

Mac stepped in "Harm! Get a grip. She's probably at a make shift morgue. We need to get Frank out of here then we can go find her."

He calmed down. "Sorry."

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

Eventually neither Harm nor his stepfather proved to be of any assistance. Both were traumatized by the event and the loss it had brought. Mac ultimately and inevitably took control of the situation and both men.

Leaving them in the car the Marine General set about tracing her mother in law.

It took some time for these were not ideal conditions. The President had already declared the place a disaster area. But the Bulldog was not the Marine Mascot by accident and the Bulldog in Mac would not give up. Finally she found the body that had hosted Trish Burnett. A woman who had welcomed her with open arms and heart and had been more of a mother than mother in law to her. There was no way Mac would let either man see the body. She identified the remains. [The remains] she thought [Is that what we become after a life time? THE REMAINS?]

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

One day while I was not at home while she was there and all alone

The angels came

Now all I have is memories of Honey and I wake up nights and call her name

Now my life's an empty stage where Honey lived and Honey played

And love grew up

And a small cloud passes overhead and cries down on the flower bed

That Honey loved

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

With minimum input from either man ... they both seemed to have gone zombie on her; Mac arranged the funeral. With minimum fuss or bother Trish Rabb Burnett was buried.

Frank retreated further into himself.

That night wrapped in the safety of his wife's arms and love Harm cried like a baby. He cried as he did as a six year old when his dad went MIA.

He cried and Mac let him.

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

0805

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

"Harm, I'm worried about Frank." Mac said.

"I know" he replied. The crying session though not mentioned had been therapeutic for Harm. "We may have to bring him back with us."

"I heard that." Frank said. "I'm not going back with you. My wife's buried here, my life and work is here and here I stay. You kids go back."

Mac stared shocked at the "U" turn in Frank. Now she was REALLY was worried.

"Where will you stay Frank?" Harm asked.

The Company owns apartments. Once cleared by the engineers I'll get one." He explained.

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

TWO DAYS LATER

1404 LOCAL

The engineers had cleared the apartment for use and the councilors at Chrysler had cleared Frank for duty. He was rearing and ready to go.

Mac still had her doubts but she boarded the plane ... her children needed her. She held Harm's hand and squeezed it.

He squeezed it back.

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

And honey, I miss you and I'm bein' good

And I'd love to be with you if only I could

THE END