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A Flip of the Coin 2: I'll Be Home for Christmas By: slick1969 Summary: What happened after the coin landed? We join our favorite military pair at Christmastime. Just like the first chapter, no real JAG story, just Harm and Mac, being, well, Harm and Mac. Rating: GS - Guidance Suggested - Contains some situations unsuitable for children Disclaimer: I own these characters ... yeah right, I wish I did. I promise to play nicely with them, though. Well, maybe I'll play nicely with them... The song that inspired the title of the story is sung by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and dozens of others. Spoilers: Up through the series finale (Season 10). Anything beyond that, I've made up. Author's Note: I know I have taken some creative liberties with Naval regulations, etc., but hopefully not too many.
December 23 Rabb Residence, San Diego Harm switched off the radio. He only played it so there would be voices in the apartment, so it wouldn't seem so empty. But if he heard any more of that schmaltzy music, he'd have to toss the radio out the window. It was supposed to be their first Christmas together, as husband and wife. Instead, a TAD assignment had escalated into their first major fight and now Mac was half an ocean away. ********FLASHBACK******** "But it's Christmas!" Harm tried to keep his voice calm and even, but wasn't succeeding very well. "Believe me, I tried to find an alternative," Mac paced around the apartment. "But there's no one else here who can deal with this situation." "I thought that since you were in charge, you wouldn't have to travel." "Even the JAG has to travel from time to time. We both knew this was part of the job when we signed up. And it wasn't a problem before." "We weren't married before." Mac replied, "I didn't realize that a vow changed things that much for you, Harm. What if it was the other way around? What if you were the one who was being sent out to a ship for a training exercise?" "I'd, uh, make sure it didn't happen around Christmas." "Liar. You know as well as I do that you can't control things like that. And that if you were given the chance to fly on a carrier, it wouldn't matter if you'd be away on Christmas Day." Harm knew it was futile to argue it any further. And deep down, he knew that Mac had had no choice in this TAD assignment, and would have done anything to avoid having to take it. But he didn't get a chance to tell Mac that before she left for the Pacific Ocean. ********END FLASHBACK******** All in all, the last seven months had been like a fairytale. From his proposal on the eve of their reassignments, to the move out to San Diego, to the wedding at his mother's house in the summer, everything had gone smoothly. And then, as soon as something didn't go his way, he acted like a baby and not the understanding husband he had promised to be. Why had he been such an ass? Harm thought to himself. Now Mac was sitting on a carrier in the Pacific on Christmas, probably thinking that he was going to leave her. There had to be something he could do about that. He grabbed his keys as he realized there was something he could do. NAS North Island, San Diego "What can I do for you, Commander Rabb?" The yeoman on duty saluted Harm as he walked into the office. "There are no training groups, sir, it being right before Christmas." "I know. I've got other business. Is the Captain in?" One of the trade-offs they had made in relocating to San Diego was that he gave up his promotion and transferred to San Diego as a trainer for Patrol Wing Pacific - a small price to pay, considering he was still able to fly and be with Mac. "Yes, he is, sir." Harm went in and explained his situation to the Captain. Being a married man himself, he understood Harm's predicament and offered a solution. Harm took it. USS Nimitz Somewhere in the Pacific "Ma'am?" A young petty officer stood in the doorway to the office where Mac was burying herself in work so she didn't think about her argument with Harm. Mac looked up from the computer, rubbing her temples to ease the ache. "Yes?" "There's a call for you on the bridge, ma'am." "All right." Mac got up and followed the petty officer to the bridge, puzzled at who could be calling her. Unless something had happened to Harm. Her stomach tightened and she quickened her pace. Once she got to the bridge, the commanding officer handed her the handset. She searched his face for any hint about the call or the caller, but his expression didn't reveal anything. "This is Colonel MacKenzie," she spoke, surprising herself with how calm her voice sounded. A familiar voice vibrated through the earpiece. "Hello Colonel, yourself." Her knees wobbled and she covered by quickly sitting down. "Hello, Commander, what can I do for you?" She wanted to say so much more, but the fifteen pairs of listening ears prevented her from doing so. Harm took the lead. "I know you can't really answer me, but that's okay. I have something important to say." "Go ahead." "I've been a fool, Mac. I should have been understanding when your job took you out to the Nimitz, instead of throwing a tantrum. I wanted our first Christmas together to be special, but I forgot something important. "What does it matter where we are at Christmas? Home isn't an apartment or a house; it's you and me together. Let's not ever forget that." "No I won't, Commander." Tears started forming in her eyes. "And don't forget that I love you more and more every day that we're together." "Me too," she whispered. "And now that I've gotten you all emotional, why don't you go down to the deck? I've arranged for a little surprise for you." "Okay." She handed the receiver back to the commanding officer, who was smiling at her now. "I've got to go down to the deck, sir. Permission to leave the bridge?" "Permission granted."
Mac got out to the deck just as a jet was landing. That's funny, she thought, I don't remember any flights being scheduled for today... just as she finished that thought, she saw a tall figure stepping out of the cockpit and start jogging towards her. She met him halfway. "Merry Christmas, honey." Harm wrapped his arms around her tightly, as if he'd never let go. "How did you...?" Mac pointed at the plane. "Well, I went to talk to my CO and he reminded me that it was just about time for my carrier quals. Since he knew the Nimitz was out, he suggested that I take advantage of the time to do my quals." He threw his arm over her shoulder and turned her back inside the ship. He opened an inner pocket and handed her a photo. It was their Christmas tree, decorated and lit, with presents underneath. "I know it's not the same as being there, but it will still be there when we get home. Being with you at Christmas is more important than anything else." The End. |