Title: Twice Upon A Time

 

Author: Rising Sun

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Rated: PG-13

Summary: So Harm and Mac got together AT LAST. Then Harm messed up… what now?

Classification: JAG story/Romance: Harm/Mac

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.

 

Author’s Note: Tribute to KIP who keeps us in the loop!

 

Feedback: Would make my day!

 

Story Written February 10, 2002

DIMANCHE GRAS (FAT SUNDAY)

1809 LOCAL

MAC’S RESIDENCE

 

Mac was curled up on a large beanbag while her friend was stretched out on the sofa.

 

“I’m going to put you in my next book.”

 

Mac sat bolt upright. “Don’t you dare KIP!” She was horrified.

 

“Why not? I’ll change the names to protect the not so innocent but you are raw material just waiting to be molded.”  KIP said.

 

“Karri I. Paul you put me in one of your novels and I’ll… I’ll…” Mac couldn’t think of a punishment to fit the threatened crime.

 

KIP grinned at her. “Think about it. In three years you have been engaged, separated, married and divorced and not to the first fiancé. This is the stuff of novels. What I haven’t quite got straight in my mind is what the hell happened between you and Harm for you all to end up divorced in such record time.”

 

“Obsessions.” Mac gave as her explanation.

 

“Pardon?”

 

“His was flying mine was not.” Mac elaborated.

 

“Ah a case of come see me come live with me being two different things.” KIP lamented.

 

“Pardon?” It was Mac’s turn to be lost.

 

“My grandmother had a saying down in the Caribbean. Come see me and come live with me is two different things. In other words we really don’t know a person until we REALLY are with them.”  KIP explained.

 

Mac shrugged. “Whatever.”

 

“You dating?”

 

“Off and on.” Mac replied.

 

“You still love him.” KIP accused.

 

“And if I do?” Mac was defiant.  “Anyone tell you that you are nosy?”

 

“All the time.” Her friend grinned.  “Answer the question.”

 

Mac resigned herself “I’ll always love Harm. He’s in my blood but then so can be a cancer.”

 

“Mac!” KIP admonished.

 

“Why the interest anyway.” Mac ignored KIP’s horror.

 

KIP weighed the pros and cons of her information and decided to tell. “I was at the Office of the Inspector General recently and bumped into Harm.”

 

“How recent is recent.”

 

“Tuesday last.” KIP informed her “Anyway the man looked fine… but haunted. He asked about you and indicated pride in your Acting position of JAG.  How long will you be JAG anyway.”

 

“Until the Admiral returns in five months and two weeks time.” Mac counted off. “I hear that he is the Acting IG.”

 

“Now you see there is my point.  If you both are so over each other why keep tabs?” KIP was triumphant in her conclusion.

 

Mac made a face at her.

 

“Be careful it will stay that way if the wind changes.” KIP teased then laughed as Mac chuckled at the warning. “Seriously I have the feeling that the man is lost without you and would like to make a move.”

 

“A move.” Mac sounded doubtful.

 

“Yes. But the females of the Marine Corps are more deadly than the male and I think he is hesitating at the mere thought of knocking on your door.”

 

Mac looked at her friend as though she’d spouted two heads.  “You are beginning to read your books.”

 

“I don’t write romance but I may start with your situation.” They had come full circle.

 

“Don’t you dare!”

 

“We’ll see.” KIP made no promises.

 

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

 

MARDI GRAS (FAT TUESDAY)

1827 LOCAL

MAC’S RESIDENCE

 

Mac was placing the final touches of her makeup on when there was a knock on her door.  She opened to allow her chauffer in. As the Chief of Staff at JAG she had on occasion managed to dodge the annual Mardi Gras Ball but as the resident Judge Advocate General she didn’t have such a luxury. 

 

“Have a seat Corporal, I’ll be out soon.”  She returned to her bedroom. 

 

The Corporal appreciated the site of the Marine and wondered if she was indeed a Marine a Colonel at that. She was wearing a Marine Green floor length evening gown with full-length sleeves. She was mummified from neck to ankle but the dress hugged every contour she had and the slit of the dress ran from that very ankle to her hip. Every step flashed flesh.

 

She reached for her purse and noticed not for the first time that she was still wearing the rings: engagement and wedding.  She put the purse down. After two years of being a divorcee it was time to remove the symbols.  They were stuck fast.

 

“Damn!” She muttered. She’d remove them when she got back.

 

She re-emerged ready for battle.

 

+          +          +

 

As usual the Ball was a huge success. It was a time for relaxing and catching up with friends who; although they worked in the same City one almost never ever saw.

 

Mac stood waiting for Clayton Webb to bring herself, Harriet and KIP their drinks. “Oh look there he is.” KIP pointed out Harm in the crowd, resplendent in his dress whites.

 

“He’s coming this way.” Harriet observed.

 

Mac groaned. “KIP tell me you didn’t…” she was cut off.

 

“Evening ladies.” Harm said but never took his eyes off Mac.

 

“Hi Harm.” KIP replied. Mac only nodded and turned her head in search of Webb.

 

“I hear congrats are in order as you are the Acting JAG.” Harm said to Mac.

 

“Thank you and the same to you. I assume that our duties will see us crossing during the tenure.” She was polite.

 

“How long will you be IG sir?” Harriett asked for this now made Harm her CO.

 

“Four months.” He replied.  “May I have this dance Mac?”

 

She hesitated, but KIP nudged her without anyone noticing.  Still feeling the prod Mac took the offered arm and allowed her ex-husband to lead her to the floor.

 

“Where’s Mac?” Webb asked as he handed out the drinks.

 

“On the floor with the Captain.” Harriett nodded in the direction of the dance floor.

 

He looked at KIP. She shrugged in reply.

 

In the meantime Harm and Mac were on the dance floor. As he took her in his arms she instinctively stiffened, then forced herself to relax.  “Sorry.”

 

“Perfectly understandable.” He replied, “No apology needed.”

 

They began to move to the music and without either realizing it; the rhythm that comes with familiarity crept up on them. They fit like two jigsaw pieces and for a moment forgot the pain of the divorce and that there was anyone else at the Ball.  When the medley was finally over they disconnected reluctantly.

 

Harm escorted her back to the group, which now included Bud. “Thank you.” He said formally to Mac.

 

“You are welcome.” She replied.

 

As he walked away he heard KIP hiss “Mac what am I going to do with the two of you!?”

 

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

 

MERCREDI CENDRE (ASH WEDNESDAY)

2118 LOCAL

MAC’S RESIDENCE

 

It had been a light day at JAG and Mac made good her escape before all that changed.  As usual she was curled up on the beanbag that Harm had given her. Maybe there was an underlying reason why she was always on it… but she was too content to move.

 

Then the doorbell rang.

 

She opened the door and there stood Harm with a massive pizza in his hands.  “May I come in?”

 

Wordlessly she swung the door open and he stepped in.  “It’s half and half.”

 

She followed him into the kitchen.  “Does this bind me to any future endeavors?” she asked solemnly.

 

“Nope.”

 

“No?”

 

“No”

 

“You know where the plates are just place my half in it. Still diet coke?” she said.

 

“Yep.”

 

She grabbed to cans of coke and headed back to the living room.  They ate a couple of slices in silence, but her curiosity could take it no more. “Haven’t seen you in two years now I see you twice in two days.”

 

“You looked beautiful last night. Well you always do but at the Ball wow!” he said. She remained silent and just looked at him.

 

“Do you believe that people can change?”

 

“People? Or you.”

 

“Me.”

 

“No.” She said, “Next question.”

 

“You’re still mad at me.” He lamented.

 

“I’m not mad at you. I was never mad at you. I was disappointed in you … in us. You know the story why are you here.”

 

“To share a pizza?” he teased.

 

“Harm what do you want!” she demanded.

 

He got on all fours as would a toddler and crawled across to her. “You.”

 

“What?!” She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “You need help.”

 

“Yes and only you have what I need.” He kneeled at her feet.  “I love you Mac.  I can’t believe that I let flying play such a part in my life that it cost me you... my marriage to you.  I’ve changed. I did the day we divorced but I figured that separating was for the best. It was not.”

 

“Did KIP put you up to this?”

 

“No. I’ll admit meeting her at OIG refocused my thinking but what sealed the deal was the Ball.  I saw that you still had my rings on and I held out that may be just may be I had a chance.”

 

“Shit! The rings!” She yelled.

 

“What about them!” he asked.

 

“I have been trying to remove them and vowed that tonight I’d tackle it.” She explained.

 

He got pensive. “Don’t remove them.”

 

“What? Why not?!” she demanded he was still at her feet.

 

“I love you Mac.  I want a second chance.  I’ve always loved you but I never seem to get my act together.  Give me a chance.” He begged. “I’m begging on bended knees.” He opened his arms wide.

 

She was torn; she loved him still but was scared to go through that hell again. She took a deep breath to clear her head. He was too close to her for her to think straight.

 

“Mac.” He kissed her.

 

“I” Kiss

 

“Love” Kiss

 

“You.” Kiss

 

He began to pull back. She grabbed him.  “Lord have mercy on my soul.” She breathed as she initiated a proper kiss.  “Yes I’ll take you back.”

 

THE END