Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: No infringement rights are intended to those who own JAG.
Classification: PG- 13
Category: Harm/Mac Drama
Summary: Although Harm aggressively works to help his brother gain US
citizenship, he fails to provide the needed evidence that Sergei is truly
his father's son. A major life threatening turn of events however creates a
greater need for Sergei to remain in the US.
Part 3
Harm drove directly to the Lincoln Memorial and walked to his place of refuge. He stood oblivious of his surroundings for hours staring at the wall of names seeking encouragement and desperately trying to shake the numbness that had overtaken his thoughts. He shivered as the cold of night made him so uncomfortable that he finally retreated to his warm vehicle and drove home.
His watch indicated it was nearly midnight as he unlocked his door. Physically and mentally exhausted, he slid out of his clothes and winced at the pain in his hip. Opening the bottle of pain pills David had given him, he swallowed a couple and collapsed on his bed.
**********
"Commander, the Admiral's been looking for you." Harriet warned as Harm entered the bullpen almost two hours late the next morning.
He dumped his coat and cover on his office desk and proceeded to the Admiral's office. He knocked on the door to hear and irritated voice response, "Enter."
The Admiral, Sturgis, Mac and Bud all sat obviously in the middle of an important discussion. "Good of you to join us Commander." The Admiral's voice dripped in sarcasm. "Have a seat, we were just discussing the latest helo incident. There has been another crash in Pakistan. Two marines were killed and another four seriously injured. I'm sending Commander Turner and Lt. Roberts to investigate. Commander Rabb, I want you to pick up the Pickering court martial and the Torres article 32 from Commander Turner and Lieutenant Roberts. I'm sure you can handle the extra cases seeing that you have the time to come to work two hours late." The Admiral's voice became low with disdain.
"Yes Sir." Harm responded passively.
The Admiral stared intently at him as if he wanted to say more about the tardiness, but sighed deeply and turned to Mac.
"Colonel, I want you to go down to Norfolk. The Patrick Henry is in port and Captain Ingles has requested additional inservices on the latest changes in the rules of engagement for his fighter pilots." The Admiral looked at Harm and Mac expecting an objection, but instead received an immediate affirmative response from Mac while Harm remained silent.
Sturgis and Bud exchanged a fleeting frown of confusion while Harm maintained a neutral expression. "Sir, Commander Rabb recently assisted Admiral Bradford on updating those regulations." Bud came to Harm's defense.
"I am aware of that Lieutenant. If and when I need assistance in making assignments I will keep you in mind." The Admiral's icy response caused the junior officer to blush.
"Yes Sir." Bud swallowed deeply.
"If there are no other comments you are all dismissed except for Commander Rabb."
"Commander Rabb must be in it deep do do for the Admiral to assign the Colonel to the Patrick Henry." Bud remarked after leaving the office.
"The Admiral does seem extremely displeased with Commander Rabb." Sturgis commented to the other two officers after they exited the office.
"Well, he's not the only one." Mac snapped and pranced away towards her office.
"Oh no. Here we go again." Sturgis mumbled as he watched the irate officer retreat.
"Well at least we'll be on the other side of the ocean when it hits the fan." Bud replied.
"So you think we'll be safer at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border than here?" Sturgis looked bemused.
"Oh yes."
"Commander, in the past I have put a lot of trust and confidence in you, but lately you seem distracted and unconcerned about the responsibilities I have entrusted to you. Have I lost your respect?" The Admiral had walked around his desk and stood face to face with his officer.
"No sir, I apologize for my tardiness this morning. I have no excuse." Harm swallowed hard and maintained attention with his gaze to the wall behind the Admiral.
"I realize that you are concerned with your brother's welfare, but family matters need to be kept out of the office. I don't have time to molly coddle my people with all the increased activity of 'Enduring Freedom.' Now get out of my office." His temper flared as an earlier confrontation with the SecNav echoed in his mind.
"Yes sir." Harm replied stiffly and exited the room. The Admiral watched his officer leave and felt a sudden wave of regret for loosing his temper. He had 'kicked the proverbial dog' he realized, but instead of communicating more effectively he simply rationalized that Rabb probably understood the strain he was under. 'Sometimes this job sucks.' He thought as he picked up the phone to return a call to the Pentagon.
Tiner cringed after hearing the thunderous tone of the Admiral as he laid into Commander Rabb. He wished he had forewarned the Commander of the Admiral's disastrous confrontation with the SecNav.
Harm's defeated demeanor did not go unnoticed by Lt. Harriet Sims. She made a quick stop by the kitchen before approaching her son's godfather.
Harm looked up and gave the pretty blonde a half smile. "Lt. Sims, what can I do for you." He hoped he sounded better than he felt.
Harriet had observed the recent pallor and dark circles under his eyes. He was also losing weight. "I just thought you could use some caffeine. You're looking a little tired this morning." She sat his coffee mug on his desk.
"Thanks Harriet, that was thoughtful of you." Harm again tried to smile, but opted for sipping the dark hot beverage.
"Commander...Harm. Are you alright?" Harriet asked carefully.
Harm replied a little quicker than he intended. "Why do you ask?"
"You just don't seem yourself." Harriet frowned. "Are you feeling alright. You look a little under the weather."
"I'm fine Lieutenant." He snapped and instantly regretted his remark. "Harriet, thanks for asking. I'll be okay." He added more warmly.
"Let me know if Bud or I can do anything." She added to which he simply nodded and picked up a folder on his desk indicating their conversation had ended.
Mac looked up from her desk to see Harriet standing with coffee in hand. "Ma'am I thought you might want to take a break?"
"Sure Harriet, come in." Harriet sat the coffee cups down and closed the door. "What's on your mind?" Mac gave Harriet her full attention.
"Do you know what's going on with the Commander...Harm?" Harriet sat perched on the edge of her chair.
"No. Should I?" Mac tried to sound indifferent. She was still incensed over his behavior or lack of the night before. They had a date, and he wasn't home when she went by his apartment. He didn't answer his cell phone when she tried to find him, and he didn't call her back after she left messages on his home phone and cell phone. To top it off he did not even acknowledge the incident. She was really ticked off.
Harriet caught by surprise at Mac's coolness tried to explain her concern. "Well he seems...I don't know. Something is not right. I know he is upset about Sergei, but up until the past few days he was talking pretty openly about that."
"You know the Commander. He's probably sulking about the fact that he can't do anything about keeping Sergei here. He hates not being in control." Mac replied with a bit of exasperation in her voice.
"Maybe you're right, but if you get a chance to talk to him..." Harriet persisted.
"When he's ready to talk, I'm sure he'll let us know what's up." Mac said matter-of-factly.
Harriet frowned and eased out of her chair. "I guess I need to get back to work."
"I am not going to let him play with my head. I do not need a man in my life to be complete. I do not need Harmon Rabb Jr. in my life." Mac chanted to herself as she tapped furiously on the keys of her computer trying to ignore the irritating waving red flag in the back of her mind.
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