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 4
The next few days dragged by as the heavy workload kept Harm at the office late into the night. With Mac in Norfolk and Bud and Sturgis in Pakistan, Harm had no one to help him catch up. Even Lt. Singer was busy building her defense for a case that Harm was prosecuting that week.
Sergei would come and bring dinner each night, and they spent the little remaining time he had in the US together at JAG headquarters. On the up side, the busy schedule and Sergei helped keep Harm's mind off his appointment on Friday. Despite his ability to suppress the idea that he may have a life threatening illness, Harm found it harder to get up each morning. He cursed the fatigue rationalizing that he was responding to the power of suggestion. To top off the week, he couldn't get his case against Lt. Singer's client together and failed miserably to convict. Singer made sure everyone knew of her victory and used whatever possible means to rub it in. When would this week ever end, he thought as he turned out the lights in his office Thursday evening and headed home.
"Harm, I have purchased my return ticket to Russia. I will leave Friday morning." Sergei announced after they ate dinner.
"Tomorrow?" Harm responded weakly.
"I thought it would be easier this way. It will be like I am simply going on a trip and will return one day." Sergei smiled sadly.
"Sergei, I will keep trying. I will appeal the immigration board's decision." Harm began rant.
"I need to see my mother. She is old, and I am her only son." Sergei responded calmly.
"I can try to arrange a visa for her. She could come to the United States." Harm said in desparation.
"She will not leave. Her brother and our father are buried in the Tiaga. She too wants to buried there." Sergei replied sadly. "I do not want to leave. I want to stay in the United States of America with you my brother. I have no choices, I must go."
"I'm sorry I couldn't help." Harm rubbed his hand through his hair feeling defeated.
"Let us not be sad, but let us celebrate the time we have had learning more about each other." Sergei offered with hope in his voice.
Harm nodded in resignation. The two brothers talked until the early hours of the morning sharing their experiences and dreams. Together they prepared breakfast, and Harm drove Sergei to the airport.
"Goodbye my brother. We shall stay in contact." Sergei gave his tall brother a hug. "Until we meet again."
Harm waved one last time as Sergei turned and smiled before entering the jetway. "I hope I will see you again, little brother." He whispered forlornly.
Harm arrived late for the second time that week, but he was so tired that he really didn't give a damn. He stood at the elevator when a familiar attractive female approached.
Mac had managed to mellow out after spending the past couple of days at Norfolk and was ready to talk to Harm about the broken date. She stepped into the entrance way of the JAG building just in time to see Harm talking with an attractive brunette Lieutenant standing by the elevator.
Harm's face expressed a combination of embarrassment and surprise as the thirty something year old woman approached. "Gwen, I didn't expect to see you until later today."
She reached into her pocket and handed him a pair of gloves. "You left these Monday." She smiled as they entered the elevator, and the door closed on the elevator's two occupants.
Mac felt her fists clinch after hearing the interchange at the elevator. That explained why he missed their date on Monday. She took the steps and angrily retreated into her office and slammed the door. She would not allow herself to be hurt again by Harmon Rabb. Never again. She vowed.
"My husband is retired Navy, and I needed to check on his benefits. How are you holding up Commander?" Gwen's smile faded as she noted the dark circles under his eyes.
"Do you always make house calls Lieutenant? I thought you were here on business." Harm sounded peeved.
"I am on business, and I was going to leave the gloves with one of the clerks. You look tired." She replied nonplussed by his remark.
"I'm sorry Gwen. It's been a rough week." Harm softened.
"I don't go checking up on my patients, really." She smiled before stepping off the elevator.
"See you later." Harm replied.
"Bring someone with you." She added as the doors of the elevator closed.
Harm struggled through the rest of the morning unable to concentrate. Mustering all the courage he could, he strolled towards Mac's office and tapped timidly at her door. She looked up trying to maintain a professional demeanor. "Can I help you Commander?"
"Are you busy this afternoon?" He fidgeted at the doorway.
"My schedule looks pretty busy." She answered flatly.
"Oh, I was wondering if you could go with me." He struggled with his request. "I want your opinion on something. If you could find the time, that is."
"I have an interview at PAX. I wasn't planning on returning after I finished." She replied coolly enjoying his apparent discomfort. He probably wants me to help him pick out a romantic Valentine's gift for his latest bimbo she imagined angrily.
"Oh." His obvious disappointment changed Mac's temporary elation to guilt. He visibly slumped as he walked away. Mac fought the urge to run to him and give in to his request, but the memory of his recent visitor still burned in her mind.
The Admiral had seen the interchange from a distance and followed Harm into his office. Harm looked up to his CO as he entered his office. "Sir?"
The Admiral shut the door behind him, "Commander, I understand Sergei has to return to Russia soon. If you would like some leave time, I'm sure we could spare you for a couple of days."
"Actually I took him to the airport this morning." Harm responded tonelessly. "I do need to leave early this afternoon. I have an appointment."
"Sure... Harm, I'm sorry about Sergei."
"Me too."
"Things have a way of working out."
"One way or another." Harm sighed slowly. He debated about asking the Admiral to accompany him to find out the results of his tests. Part of him still believed that he would be told that he was perfectly fine or that he had some minor illness that would be quickly treated. Suck it up Sailor.
***********
Singer stood at the information desk at the naval hospital waiting for Dr. Stringer, a trauma specialist and her expert witness in an upcoming case.
The receptionist finally discovered that he was in surgery and would be unavailable for the next few hours. Loren decided to reschedule when she spied Harm standing at a group of elevators. He disappeared into the elevator by the time she finished scheduling another appointment. Curiosity got the most of her as she watched the elevator stop on the fourth floor before it returned to the main floor. Boarding the elevator she traveled to the fourth floor and exited. She looked around, but did not see him so she walked to the reception desk. "Could you tell me, if a Commander Harmon Rabb has an appointment?"
The busy desk clerk flipped through the list."Yes, he does. I believe he's in the back already. Would you like for me to show you to Dr. Owen's office?" The receptionist offered.
"No that's okay, I'll just wait here for him." She then scoped out her surroundings until she found a sign listing all the physicians and their specialties. Dr. Owen was listed as an oncologist specializing in hematology. Loren raised her eyebrow at her discovery.
Gwen smiled and informed Harm that Dr. Owen would be in shortly. "I thought maybe someone would be with you."
Before he could respond Dr. David Owen entered in and greeted him with a quick handshake. He held Harm's chart in his hand and sat down so that he could face him. "Harm the biopsy report was positive. It confirmed that you have CML or Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia."
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