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 8
Harm was up and dressed when Dr. Owen and Gwen stopped by on rounds at Bethesda. "You look much better." David smiled. Two transfusions and a liter of fluids with IV antiemetic worked like magic.
The large smile confirmed his appraisal. "I must be part vampire to feel this much better after getting blood." He joked.
"It's good to see you haven't lost your sense of humor." Gwen smiled.
"Your red cell count is back up to normal. I understand you have a court date in a couple of hours so I'll fast track your discharge."
"Thanks, I need to go kick a certain Marine Colonel's six in court this morning. I wasn't up to it yesterday, but she'll never know what hit her today." Harm grinned.
"I've got to go back by Fall's Church and sign some papers for my husband before Dr. Owen starts seeing patients. If you would like I'll give you a ride back to work." Gwen offered.
*******
Mac stood looking out her office window at the parking lot lost in thought when Sturgis appeared. "Have you heard how Harm's feeling today? I understand he had to leave in the middle of court yesterday. I went by last night, but he didn't answer the door. I thought perhaps he was sleeping."
"No, I think he spent the night at his girlfriend's house." Mac replied sardonically and turned to face Sturgis.
"I didn't know Harm was seeing anyone Mac." Sturgis sounded confused.
"A few weeks ago, I asked Harm out on a date." She smiled with a little embarrassment. "I was to pick him up, but he wasn't at home. I tried to call and never got him. The next day he showed up at work and never mentioned it. Later that week an attractive brunette shows up and returns his gloves to him. He had apparently left them at her place the night we were to have gone out. Then they agreed to see each other again that evening. When he became ill yesterday, I overheard him calling her. He went to her place for the evening." Mac explained trying to hide the hurt in her voice.
Sturgis nodded in sympathy, "We had a little confrontation the other day, he doesn't seem to be himself lately. I'm sorry Mac, but sometimes things aren't always what they seem. Have you asked him about this new person in his life?"
Mac let out a huff. "I'm not up to playing games with Harm." She walked back to her window and saw Harm exiting a vehicle with the woman she had seen him with before. "If you don't believe me, come look." She called to Sturgis who joined her in time to see Harm chatting with the attractive female driver.
********
No one in the courtroom from the previous day could believe the difference in the prosecutor. Harm's energy restored made him a force to be reckoned with as he tore apart every witness's testimony and won the case. Admiral Morris even commented that he was glad to see the old Harm back.
Yesterday, Harm had planned to tell the Admiral and his co-workers about his illness, but he felt so much better now that he decided to wait. He had very little hair loss so no one would have to know, and he could pretend that everything was normal a little longer. The Admiral was still aggravated and keeping him in the office doing the tedious work that most of the staff hated, so travel was not an issue. The Admiral began to wonder what was going on with his senior attorney when Harm voiced no complaints about the assignments and seemed content at remaining around headquarters.
What amazed most of the staff was that Lt. Singer appeared to be successfully kissing up to Commander Rabb, while he and Colonel Mackenzie, on the other hand, were at odds again. Harm's moods seemed to swing back and forth so erratically that everyone stayed clear of him as much as possible. One week he was his usual easy going self and the next he would irritably retreat to his office. With the Admiral keeping Harm in the office, the other officers had to pick up the extra caseloads involving travel, causing further strain to the already tense work relationships.
When one of the JAG staff hurt the whole place hurts. The problem was that no one had a clue what was causing the disruption, except Harm. He wanted to tell them especially when he felt so ill that he was afraid he couldn't make it another day. So many times, he would rehearse what he could say to his friends at work. "I know I've been acting like an ass, but I have..." At that point he couldn't say the words so he would procrastinate another day.
He knew he was finding excuses to hide the truth, but he just couldn't admit it to them because it would mean admitting the painful truth to himself.
**********
"Dad, how do you tell someone, hey I've got cancer?" Harm beseeched the name on long black wall. "I'm not handling this very well, but everything I do seems to backfire, and I don't know why. Mac stopped speaking to me for God knows what reason. Sturgis keeps trying to get me to go work out my frustrations on the basketball court or the track. I am barely able to make it to work everyday. What hurts the most is the Admiral has lost all respect for me. He thinks I don't care about my work. It's because I care so much that I can't let it go. I'm supposed to be at Bethesda tonight getting another transfusion, but I've found that's just a temporary measure. I'll feel great for a couple of days and then I'll crash again. How did you hang on for so long in your prison? I've only been in mine for a little over a month, and I'm loosing."
Harm's fingers stroked across the letters of his father's name. "You never gave up, and you died fighting." Harm blinked back unshed tears. "I'll keep trying to follow your example Dad." He vowed quietly.
"Harm, I thought that was you." The deep voice of Chaplain Turner interrupted Harm's reverie.
"Chaplain Turner, what are you doing here?" Harm replied awkwardly.
The older black man pointed towards a name on the wall. "Lt. Harry Barnes. He was a chaplain friend of mine who was killed over there thirty five years ago today." His friend's father looked empathetically at Harm. "Walk with me."
"I guess you heard me." Harm spoke softly looking straight ahead as they walked down the length of the long wall.
"I didn't come here to eavesdrop on your privacy, but I did hear some of what you said. It sounds like you are carrying a heavy burden. Maybe it's time to let someone help you." He placed his hand supportively against the younger man's back.
After talking for over an hour, the two headed to Bethesda together. Sturgis's father remained while the nurse started Harm's transfusion and medicated him so that he drifted to sleep. While quietly easing out of the room, the older man almost collided with a young blonde woman who had been lurking in the hallways.
"Aren't you Lt. Singer with JAG? Do you have someone here who is ill?" He questioned. Harm had explained that he had not told anyone of his illness and planned to keep it that way for as long as possible against the older man's advise.
"I just...ah...sort of." Loren stammered while trying to come up with a logical excuse and not lie to a preacher.
"You know don't you." The man had not reached his age without attaining some wisdom along the way.
Knowing she was caught Loren explained. "I was just checking up on Commander Rabb, but don't tell him. He's not aware that I know about his...leukemia."
"He told me that you have been supportive. He appreciates your help." The Chaplain replied easing the young woman's fears. "I promise I won't tell him. I'm curious, do you have feelings for the Commander?"
"No, not that way." She quickly replied. "I care that he is ill. I care that he has leukemia. My younger brother had leukemia." She explained with a brief look of pain, which quickly faded into a neutral expression.
"And what happened to your brother?"
"He died when he was eight." She said softly.
"I see. So you are trying to be Commander Rabb's guardian angel?" Turner quizzed with a caring smile.
Loren rolled her eyes, "Get real Chaplain. No one has ever considered me an angel. I'm more likely to be called a b...witch." She cleared her throat.
The wise old man smiled. "Those good works we do for His sheep in secret, brings a smile from the Father more often than those who receive public acclamation." He patted her on the shoulder. "Good night Lieutenant."
*********
Several weeks later, Harm finally felt like he had reached some sort of turning point. He wasn't as tired, his appetite was returning, and he just felt better. He waited in David's office for his two-month check up.
David walked in with a large smile across his round face, "Good news. Your blood work has stabilized, your numbers are good, and you are now officially in remission."
Harm laughed ecstatically over the news. He had won round one! He felt in control again.
Now he could tell them.
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