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 6
The next week Harm started on his chemotherapy after another round of being stuck like a pincushion for the numerous labs. David had warned him that he would also experience drowsiness until he adjusted to the drugs and advised him to take a couple of weeks of leave time to deal with the side effects. The stubborn naval JAG aviator immediately squashed that idea. David was careful to not to veto any decisions his patients made concerning their lifestyles unless it posed a danger to themselves or others. Harm's tenacious spirit was going to be needed in the next weeks and months.
"COMMANDER RABB!" The Admiral's voice startled everyone in the conference room but especially Harm who had unintentionally drifted to sleep during their weekly staff meeting. "If you find this meeting so boring, perhaps you would find that backlog of freedom of information requests even more exciting." He snapped disconcerted over Harm's behavior.
"I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again." Harm responded trying to hide his humiliation.
The Admiral grunted and proceeded, "How are those contracts on the new aircraft progressing. The SecNav wants something by the end of this week."
Harm's expression communicated that he had forgotten that project. "Sir, I'll get right on it."
The Admiral frowned, "I was planning on sending you to Pearl to meet with the Pacific office on the new regs, but it looks like Commander Turner will go in your place since you haven't completed those contracts."
Everyone around the conference table looked uncomfortably away while Harm responded without showing any outward emotion of the embarrassment he felt. "Yes Sir."
As the meeting broke up the Admiral called Harm to his office. "Commander, what in the hell is going on with you? For the past few weeks you seem preoccupied. I've never had to remind you to do your work." He sounded perturbed. "Do I have to remind you that your fit reps are due this month and by the looks of your resent performance you will be lucky to get satisfactory marks. Maybe you need to drop those flight hours and put them to use here getting caught up!"
"Sir." Harm started to respond only to be interrupted by Tiner.
"Excuse me sir, but the SecNav is here."
"He's going to want an update on those contracts." The Admiral looked coldly at Harm. "You better get your six in gear dismissed."
"Way to go Harm." He muttered to himself as he made his way back to his office avoiding eye contact with any of his peers.
"Commander, I took the liberty to obtain the latest statistics from the company on the aircraft contract. I also had accounting at the Pentagon fax these numbers over. If you need any assistance, I'll be glad to do any footwork Sir." Loren Singer handed Harm a folder.
Harm suspiciously took the folder. "Thank you Lieutenant, but I'm sure you're busy with you own case load."
"Sir, I'll be over at the Pentagon most of the afternoon. There is no reason for you to make the trip just to gather data. I believe that it would be a more effective use of manpower." Singer explained in her usual over confident manner.
Struggling with his ever-increasing fatigue Harm nodded, "I would appreciate if you had Captain Rice review part of the contract and have him write in any changes. I have court in the morning and need to prepare."
"Yes Sir, I'll get it back to you this afternoon." Singer followed Harm into his office where he pulled out the necessary document for the junior officer.
"Thanks Loren."
Just a few more hours and he could go home and crawl into bed. At least he didn't have to worry about traveling he thought as he hammered out the details of the new aircraft contract. Thanks to his latest screw ups, he would be chained to his desk for the next few days.
"Harm, let's go eat. I was thinking about that Tai place. I'll see if Mac would like to go too." Sturgis offered from the open door.
Harm's stomach did a flip-flop as the thought of the spicy food. "I better use my lunch hour to try to get caught up."
"Are you and Mac having problems again?" Sturgis sat down not easily dismissed.
"You tell me. Mac seems pissed at me about something." Harm replied not really feeling like dealing with another area in his life that seemed to have gone to hell.
"Buddy did you say something to hurt her feelings again?" Sturgis probed.
Harm squeezed the bridge of his nose in frustration, "If I did, I really don't give a damn right now. She's a big girl and a Marine officer. She can come to me and deal with it or get over it." Harm snapped. "If you are finished playing counselor, I need to get to work."
Sturgis was speechless buy the uncharacteristic outburst of his friend. He waited a moment expecting Harm to offer an apology for his remark, which never materialized. "I apologize for taking your time." He said and exited his irritable friend's office.
The remainder of the afternoon Harm was undisturbed. Word was out that he was in a prickly mood. At 2000 Harm packed it up and wearily drove home. He picked up the phone and dialed the long distance operator. "Sergei?"
"It is good to hear from you brother. I did not expect for you to call so soon." The young Russian answered.
"I just wanted to check up on you. How is your mother? Did you find a job yet?" Harm clung to the phone needing to hear a voice that did not sound judgmental or dissappointed in him.
"My mother is fine. She was glad to see me, but wishes I could have stayed in the United States. She says there is no future for me here. A friend of hers helped me get a job in a garment factory. It does not pay much, but at least I'm working."
"With your skills as a helo pilot, you couldn't get a job flying commercially?" Harm felt indignant for his younger sibling.
"There are many people out of work here. I work along a conveyor belt next to a man with an engineering degree." Sergei added.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that your job was not good enough. I just hate to hear that you are not able to fly. I know how that feels." Harm's voice faded.
"It is alright. I will fly again someday and perhaps in the United States. How is Loren Singer?"
Harm smiled at the last statement. "She helped me out of a bind today."
"Were you tied with ropes?" Sergei misinterpreted the slang.
"She volunteered to help me with some contracts." He restated with a chuckle.
Harm spent the next few minutes listening to his younger brother talk. "I must get ready for work while you must be ready to sleep. There is a time difference." Sergei added with a hint of pleasantry.
"Sergei..." Harm fought his urge to tell him of his illness. He needed to tell somebody how afraid and out of control he was feeling, but instead he replied, "Yea, I need to get some sleep. Sergei, take care...I love you brother." His voice caught at the end of his words.
"I love you too brother." Sergei frowned as he thought he heard despair in his older brother's voice.
* NancyT's Stories * Please send Feedback! *
