Author: Rising Sun
E-mail: jag@lucianstuff.every1.net
FF Updates: jagrslc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
FF URL: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc
Rated: PG
Classification: Story
Summary:
Mic and Harm have a conversation.
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:
“Man to Man” is sung by hot Chocolate
Feedback: Would be nice.
Written December 3, 2001
Man to man let's sit right down and talk about it
Man to man let's work it out before it gets too late
She's confused, she don't know which one to choose
For the children's sake she don't know which one to lose
Though it hurts to know that she wants someone else
I can't stop this feeling of love I have inside for her
If you really love her the way that she's in love with you
If you really love her as much as I do
Sometimes I look into her eyes and I wanna die
Although she's close to me she's so far away
Somewhere else with you
If you really love her the way that she's in love with you…
MONDAY - 0755 LOCAL
CAPITOL HILL
It was Harm’s first day on the job and somehow he had managed to beat the traffic and arrive to work not only just in time but earl albeit by five minutes. He walked into Congresswoman Bobbie Latham´s office and was greeted by her secretary.
“Morning Commander Rabb, the Congresswoman asked to see you the moment you arrived. If you would follow me.” She rose and led the way. Harm followed.
Bobbie was already hard at work. She thanked the young woman and dismissed her.
“Congresswoman.” Harm greeted her.
“Harm please, its Bobbie. Not because you are now assigned to my office means that will change.” He shrugged. “Have a seat.” She waived at a chair. “Have you heard of the Oslo Guidelines?” She launched into the day’s work.
“You start early don’t you.” He observed.
“Have to. Now do you know of the Guidelines?”
“Yes” he replied. “It’s a non legal document created by members of the United Nations in Oslo hence the name. It sets down protocols for the involvement of military assistance in disaster relief operations. It sets down the expected actions of the donor government and the recipient government.” He replied.
“Good. Good.” She was happy that he didn’t need briefing. “At the last meeting of the Security council… Israel recommended that the Guidelines be made a legally binding document on its signatories.”
“Which at present it is not.” Harm said.
“Exactly… and so in true United Nations form there is to be a review of the document. Pack your bags Commander we leave for Costa Rica in four hours.”
“Bobbie I’m getting married next week. I can’t go traipsing around the world!”
“Harm. Do I look brain dead? Or like someone with a death wish? I’ll have you back by the weekend or Mac´ll kill me the.” She smiled, “After which she’ll kill you.”
================================
MONDAY – 0910 LOCAL
JAG HEADQUARTERS
The elevator doors opened and Harm stepped out and ran into Sturgis.
“Harm its your first day at a new post and are back here already!” He teased.
“Yeah right.”
“Oh its not work related. In that case leave the poor woman to adjust to your absence.” Sturgis grinned at Harm.
Harm grinned back and followed his friend into the bullpen.
“Commander!”
Harm turned to face the Admiral. “Yes sir!”
“Am I mistaken? It seems to me that you no longer work here.” AJ stood with his arms folded.
“You are correct sir.” Harm replied. “Came to see the Colonel sir.” Then he added “On business sir.”
“Mmmm likely story.” AJ teased “Carry on.”
“Aye sir.” He spotted Harriett “Don’t you start…”
“Who me sir? Why never!” She grinned, then “Couldn’t stay away huh sir!”
He groaned and knocked on Mac’s door.
+ + +
“Enter.” Mac called and was surprised to see her fiancé walk through the door. Before she could react he cut across her. “Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.” He ordered.
“OK” she said, “So what ARE you doing here?”
He sat opposite her “Do you have a copy of the Oslo Guidelines? He asked.
“The Oslo Guidelines as in protocols for military assistance in civilian situations?” she sort verification.
“That’s the one.” He confirmed, “All my stuff is in boxes and God knows in which box my copy is in.”
“Let me think.” She hit the intercom button “Harriett come a moment please.”
A few seconds later Harriett popped her head in, “yes ma´am?”
“I need a copy of the Oslo Guidelines. It should be in among the files for Memoranda of Understanding, Protocols etc.” Mac instructed the junior officer.
“Aye ma´am.”
“So why do you need it?” she asked.
Harm took a deep breath. “I travel to Costa Rica with Bobbie Lathum in two hours.”
“Damn that was quick.” Then she reacted “Harm! We get married next week!”
“I know I know… Bobbie promised to have me back by Friday or to place her life in your hands for a slow painful death.”
“Well I suppose it is your job now.” She conceded “But you tell Bobbie I am a Marine and I can keep that bargain of a slow painful death.”
“Yes ma´am.”
“Enter.” Mac called, to the knock on her door.
“Here you are ma´am” Harriett handed her a copy of the document.
“Thanks” Mac received the copy and passed it to Harm, as Harriett left.
He took it and stood “Thanks Mac.”
“Anytime.” She also stood and walked round to his side. “See you in a couple of days.”
“Come here.” He replied, held her close and kissed her as thought was shipping of to war. He let her go walked out and didn’t look back for if he did he wouldn’t leave.
================================
MONDAY – 2100 LOCAL
COSTA RICA
Harm and Bobbie checked into the hotel then headed for the restaurant for dinner. There they continued their discussion on the review of the Guidelines.
“You session won’t start till after lunch at two I think, so you have the morning off. I recommend that you use it to buy your fiancé a gift and not sleep in.”
“Why what great idea?” Harm enthused falsely
Bobbie ignored him “See you tomorrow Harm.”
“Night Bobbie.” He replied.
================================
TUESDAY – 1027 LOCAL
DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
Harm sat and was in awe of the city. He had a bottle of water drinking from and with the thirst he had worked up, the water never tasted sweeter. He had been walking the streets of the City and marveled at how all cities tended to look the same. New York, London, Paris, Munich they all had the same city look: Mass concrete and people … masses and masses of people and San Jose was no different.
He missed Mac; with all this Spanish floating around she would have been working over time to translate for him. The locals could be fluent English speakers for all he cared – he simply missed his Marine.
He sat on the concrete bench in Parque Central and looked at the Catedral Metropolitana. This was a Catholic country … the many churches in the city stood as witness to that. A young boy walked up to him. Harm understood not one word, but sign language had broken down many a barrier and the two understood each other, the boy was offering a shoeshine – Harm accepted.
He watched as the boy got down to business. Someone joined him on the bench – he looked up and got heartburn.
“They let any one into the country now.” He said.
“G´day to you too Harm” Mic Brumby replied. “You here for the Oslo Guidelines Conference.”
“Yep.”
They sat for a moment then Mic broke the silence. “How’s Mac.”
“As to be expected.” Harm replied. What he really wanted to do was punch the Australian.
“Was it worth it Harm?”
He turned and saw that the Commander had offered a serious question; he bit back his flip reply. “There has been much heart break and heartache so I suppose the answer is no… but when the woman is Mac is any price too high?”
“When I first met Sarah Mackenzie I finally understood why men went to war. Governments… Politicians they go to war for ego and territory. Blokes like you and me do it for women like Mac.” Mic said quietly.
“You’d do it all over again.” Harm realized.
“I’d do it all over again.” Mic confirmed. He offered a toast “To Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie…”
“Soon to be Rabb.” Harm said with no hint of spite.
“…God’s gift to man.” Mic finished. “You do right by her Rabb.”
“I will,” He promised.
They sat watching the shoe shine boy work. He had finished Harm who had paid him and he’d begun on Mic. Harm stood to leave. He gave Mic a salute with the water bottle. “Good luck, Mic.”
“Live long and prosper mate.” Mic replied, “See you at the conference.”
Harm nodded and walked away. He still hadn’t got a gift for Mac.
THE END