Chapter 4/9 -- The HarmyBoard Extras Fanfic

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Date Posted: 13:50:52 01/01/15 Thu
Author: mkim
Subject: Chapter 4/9
In reply to: JoyZ 's message, "with you all the way, carrying on...." on 16:53:15 12/30/14 Tue

'It's a Wonderful Life' at JAG

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these JAG characters. I don't own the rights to the story or movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Any similarities to situations or person living or dead are purely coincidental. I don't own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story.

Spoilers: The movie 'It's a Wonderful Life.' The episodes, 'Adrift' 'Boomerang' and 'Critical Condition,' and others, will be touched upon.

A/N: This is where the story will be more 'It's a Wonderful Life' and less JAG seasons 5 through 10. You will recognize some details of things that occurred on JAG but I promise you, they won't be in the same order and some won't even have the same consequences.

A/N: There are some things that are show canon that you will not see at all, since this is AU, I reserve the right not to have to deal with them if I don't want to. (Smile)

A/N: Thank you to Karen for her beta read.

Rating K

0645

Saturday

February 5, 2000

Harm's Apartment

North of Union Station

It was a cold and icy morning in Washington DC. An artic front dipped unusually low into the Eastern seaboard, resulting in a snowstorm that blew into the District early Friday morning, paralyzing traffic and closing airports. The ice mixed with snow could be heard blowing against the windows of Harm's apartment. The sound, though barely audible, woke Mac as she lay on her side. Harm lay beside her, holding her as he slept. His breathing was deep and restful, his arms heavy with sleep.

Mac turned onto her stomach and Harm automatically tightened his arms as she did, "Hmmac...whereyagoin?

"I'm not going anywhere." She turned more fully toward him and rested her head on her hand.

Harm opened his eyes slightly. "Hey�. what time is it?"

"O647"

"Hmmm�Too early�c'mere. I want at least another hour."

She allowed him to pull her into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. She was wide awake now, but thought she might indulge Harm, just this once.

"Okay, but I wanted to tell you�you don't look any different."

Harm was already dropping off to sleep when it occurred to him what she said. "Hmm? I don't look any different?" His words were still slightly slurred as he came up from the fog of sleep.

"I just thought, you might, now that you're an old married man."

Harm heard the laughter in her voice. "Old married man?" He opened one eye.

"Yeah, I just realized that this is the first morning that I'm waking up a married woman." She nudged him and teased. "I'm an old married woman."

Harm was awake now. He pulled her more tightly into his arms and turned her onto her back. In a completely possessive move, he pulled her closer still and he corrected her assertion with a sly grin.

"No, Mrs. Rabb, 'we' are newlyweds. I think we have at least a couple of years before we become old married people."

They had been married the afternoon before, amid all the snow and ice and resulting traffic jams. By the time the ceremony was over, a state of emergency had been declared for the greater metropolitan areas of Washington D.C. and the airports were closed.

They had chosen the Bahamas for their honeymoon, they were only granted a week of leave. It had been a gift from his mother and stepfather, Harm had wanted to take Mac away and give her a honeymoon she would never forget.

They were to stay in a private villa on Musha Cay, with a 360 degree view of the ocean. He wanted to show her how special she was to him, that he would give her the world if he had the power to do so. But fate intervened and they spent most of their honeymoon, happily snowed into Harm's apartment.

"Harm and Mac returned to JAG the week after their honeymoon, with Mac joining the judiciary branch at JAG Headquarters. They had barely had time to adjust to married life when they were blessed, right away, with a daughter. Zara Fatemeh Rabb. Her birthday fell on a special day. She was born on the birthday of the Marine Corps, November 10, 2000, to her mother's joy and her father's consternation."

XO Gabriel and Lieutenant Clarence turned their attention to the next two years of the Mackenzie Rabb marriage.

2022

May, 25 2001

Olivia and Juliet's

Georgetown.

Harm turned his beautiful wife as they danced on the small dance floor. They were enjoying a rare night out, to celebrate the nuptials of Commander Mic Brumby RAN and Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Imes. The entire 'inner circle' at JAG had been invited. It was a lovely dinner and they were finishing it with dancing.

"Come on luv, how about a dance for the one that got away." Mic appeared suddenly, his bride to be still in his arms. He gave Harm a wink and quickly swept Mac from Harm's loose embrace, back onto the dance floor. Mac laughed then looked at Harm over his shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.

Mac knew that she was, in fact, the one who 'got away.' Mic had never been the one for her, she had known it long before she and Harm finally admitted their feelings for each other.

Harm watched as Mic and Mac danced. At that moment he wondered if she really was happy with the choice she'd made in marrying him. She had given up a lot. She had been Chief of Staff for Admiral Chegwidden. When they married, she had insisted on transferring to the judiciary. They had intended to start a family right away, though not as quickly as nine months later. Mac didn't want to take the chance of being transferred away from Headquarters JAG. Harm knew she missed working on investigations though, she was an excellent litigator. She didn't seem to regret the choices she made, but life might have been very different for her if she had chosen Mic.

He had offered to try and get a billet out of the Pentagon, but Mac wouldn't hear of it. If truth were told, he was relieved. The thought of 'flying a desk' was bad enough, but at least at JAG, he got out of the office for investigations and for shipboard litigations.

Harm had become lost in his thoughts when Mac walked up beside him.

"Penny for your thoughts?'

"I don't know if they're worth that much." He smiled wryly.

Mac frowned. "What's the matter?"

Harm suddenly felt foolish for what he had been thinking, her beautiful features actually seemed to glow with happiness. No one looking at her would think she had a 6 month old daughter at home.

"Nothing, you look wonderful tonight."

"Thank you, but keep your voice down Sailor, I wouldn't want my husband to hear you." She cocked an eye brow, teasing.

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Run away with me, he doesn't deserve you." Harm kept his voice low and suggestive. "We'll go someplace where they'll never find us." He played along but thought it really would be wonderful to get away for a while, to have her all to himself, without their jobs and responsibilities taking them away from each other.

They had planned to go away for their anniversary last February, but he had been called away at the last minute to an assignment in Australia, while she stayed home in snowy DC with the baby and a bad cold to boot.

The party began to break up shortly thereafter. Harm walked out of the building while Mac gave her last good wishes of the evening, to the bride to be. As he stood waiting for the valet to bring their new van around, he was approached by someone he never expected to see. Commander Teddy Lindsey seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Harm looked at him as though he was the lowest form of life and he should keep his distance. He smiled without humor as he thought Lindsey actually looked smaller, out of uniform.

Lindsey sensed his distain for him, but reined in his response, Rabb had always seen himself as better than he, though Lindsey knew he had a far better record than Rabb ever did. So what, he thought unreasonably, Rabb had a couple of DFC's; he was just in the right place at the right time. Rabb was a washed out naval aviator and mediocre lawyer who got by on theatrics, not talent. He had come to make Rabb an offer, a position with the CIA. He hoped the lure of flying, even if it was for Air America, would be enough to get him out of JAG and off Lindsey's own radar screen. When Lindsey heard of the opening, he thought he might finally be finished with hearing about 'the adventures of Harmon Rabb,' since any of his missions would be covert. Lindsey was sick of him and he wanted Rabb out of his way. He also still wanted to make him pay for his part in replacing him at JAG.

"Lindsey, what are you doing here?" Harm had turned away from him and was looking out into the courtyard, just adjacent to Olivia and Juliet's.

"My wife and I are with another party, given by the SecNav." Lindsey turned away from him as well, trying to keep his tone of voice friendly, belying his distaste for Commander Rabb and any of the present staff at JAG.

'I just happened to see you here and I thought now, was as good a time as any, to tell you about a billet you might be very interested in."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Why would Lindsey be interested in a billet for him?

"Your country is in need of your aviation skills Rabb."

"What?" He turned his head quickly.

"Langley is sorely in need of competent pilots, with�how shall I say it? Unique skills, in the air." Lindsey was trying hard to appeal to Rabb's ego, though it was galling him to do so.

"I don't think I'm Air America material." He turned away from him again, clearly dismissing him.

Lindsey raised his brows, trying to appear as though it made little difference to him. "Well, I suppose it is a bit unorthodox, even for you." He couldn't resist the last shot.

Harm put his hands in his pockets and turned to look directly at him. "Even for me."

"Look, forget I said anything, your focus might be a bit off, now that you're a family man. That particular job isn't for just anyone�..A lot of money though." Lindsey looked away, knowing he had planted a seed in Rabb's mind about the position.

Harm was quiet for a moment. He and Mac were doing alright; money wasn't really a problem, though they were far from wealthy. They could always rely on his parents, if they ever needed to, though outside of their honeymoon, Harm wouldn't hear of taking anything from them. The part that appealed to him was flying, really making a difference, he felt buried at JAG at times. He missed flying more than he let anyone know, even Mac.

"Think about it Rabb. You don't have to answer right away, just give me a call." The friendly smile looked completely out of place on his face.

Harm turned to look at him again and as he did, Mac approached from behind them.

Lindsey turned to look at her as Mac acknowledged him, "Commander Lindsey."

"Colonel Rabb or May I say... Sarah?" He gave Mac a look that was both condescending and disgustingly leering.

Harm saw it and remembered the true character of the man with whom he had been speaking. He was a small, back stabbing little spider that never did anything without an ulterior motive.

Lindsey looked back again at Harm and was puzzled by the unguarded disgust on Rabb's face. He decided to ignore it, hoping his plan would still fly. "Get back with me Monday Rabb."

"There wont be any need for that Lindsey, my answer is no."

"No?" He looked totally confused.

"You heard me; I don't know what your motives were for coming here and making your 'offer' but I can tell you, I'm not buying any of it. This doesn't have a damn thing to do with what is best for the country."

Mac stood closer to Harm and took his arm. He looked as though he might deck the Commander right here in front of everyone. Under her voice she tried to calm him. "Harm."

Lindsey looked from Harm to Mac.

"Get the hell out of here Lindsey, and if you ever come near either of us again, other than in an official capacity, I'll snap you like a twig." Harm could barely control himself, the bastard knew how to play him, and he had nearly fallen for it.

Lindsey understood now what Rabb had seen. The Colonel, another of the 'clique' at JAG who displaced him, seemed to bring out the worst in him. She was still a very sexy lady, and she had always used that to her advantage. Lindsey could only see her as he knew she was, just another woman, rising in the ranks in the only way she knew how. He had made the mistake of failing to conceal it.

No matter, he and Commander Rabb would meet again.

Harm and Mac made their way back home. Harm had been silent since they left the party.

"Harm, what happened back there?"

He continued to be quiet for a moment then said, "Mac, I don't really want to talk about it. Lindsey just got under my skin. It doesn't matter what he said. He's an idiot."

Mac watched him for a moment. Then deciding to leave the subject alone, she attempted to distract him out of his sour mood.

"I cant disagree with that." She reached over as he drove toward their house in Arlington and skimmed her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, hoping the gesture would return his focus to her.

"Let's not let him spoil this night. I've had such a good time; I got to dance with a handsome sailor most of the evening."

Harm couldn't conceal his smile as it stole across his face. He glanced at her and was drawn in by the mischievous look in her eyes. He returned his eyes to the traffic as they exited off of the beltway. "Think you'll be seeing this sailor again?"

"Oh, I hope so." She answered him with the sultry tone of her voice giving him just the slightest a hint of invitation.

Harm pushed down on the accelerator, just slightly, hoping Zara was fast asleep.

They both went to check on their sleeping baby after they thanked his mother for staying with her. Trish and Frank had taken a place in Arlington as soon as they heard that Mac was expecting Zara.

As they dressed for bed, Harm's mind returned to the thoughts he had as he watched Mac dance with Mic at the party earlier that night. Was she happy? Did she regret all that she had given up for him?

Mac had stretched out on the bed and was watching Harm as he approached their bed, wondering when he was finally going to tell her what was on his mind. He had been distracted since just before the party ended.

"Honey, what is it?"

"Nothing."

Mac looked at him knowingly, and waited for him to tell her.

"It's nothing." He answered her unspoken question.

"Harm."

Harm sat down on the side of the bed and turned toward her. She looked so beautiful lying there, he was so glad she had chosen him. He looked away, still embarrassed about what his thoughts had been.

"I just, sometimes, I wonder�if you regret�not choosing Mic. You've given up a lot for�us." He took her hand and finally looked at her again. "Life could have been a lot different for you."

Mac gave him an indulgent smile. "Harm, I am exactly where I want to be, I have no regrets. I intend to have the career I want and the family I want. I'm just playing catch up with the family part, for now."

Harm leaned across the bed and pulled her into his arms. He loved her so much.

Mac rose up slightly and kissed him. "Besides, I want my babies to look like you."

Harm kissed her but when the word 'babies' registered in his mind, he came up for air. He knitted his brow and asked. "Babies�..as in more than one?"

Mac just gave him an amused look and let him draw his own conclusions for a couple of long seconds. "Well, I'm only having one at a time."

"One at a time? Mac, are you saying that we�"

"Well Harmon� we are a dynamite team and it looks like we are both over achievers with something other than military law." A smile spread slowly across her face as she watched the realization dawn on him.

"You're pregnant?" Harm's eyebrows were up; his deer in the headlights look was firmly in place.

"Yes, we are."

"Are you okay, isn't this too soon?"

"It might be a little soon but I think we both know we're making up for lost time. Are you okay with this?"

Harm felt his heart beat accelerate as he finally grasped what was really happening, they were truly going to be a family, having Zara made them parents, but having another child seemed to bring them full circle. He felt ten feet tall, like the richest man on earth. "Mac�" He kissed her, this time more passionately. "Sarah."

The years that followed brought a lot of changes to the Rabbs and their extended family at JAG. Life changed as anyone knew it, after the attacks of September 11. The tension level around Washington in those days had been unbelievable, but the sense of purpose of the men and women in uniform had increased tenfold. Their enemies had shown themselves, if temporarily. Those enemies were being pursued, and for the moment, called what they were and had always been, terrorists.

The happy news that followed was that the year 2002 began with the celebration of the birth of Harm and Mac's son, John David. Mac's pregnancy had been difficult and she had to go to limited duty in her 3rd month, but as she said, Little Jack had been worth it. He had been named for his 'uncle' Jack Keeter and his middle name, David had been Harm and his father's middle name and also, Harm's grandfather's first name.

Life went on in 2002 and seemed more precious because of the losses of so many in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon.

Bud landed a position as shipboard JAG on the Seahawk a position he accepted with the encouragement of his superiors and eventually his wife.

Mac returned to full duty in April of 2002 with the love and support of her husband and a great deal of help from her mother in law.

Harm and Bud both had nearly lost their lives in May of 2002.

Following up on a case Bud and his legalman Jennifer Coates flew from the Seahawk to Khandahar. Bud stepped on a mine while in country, trying to save a young boy standing in a minefield and had lost his leg in the process. Bud eventually returned to JAG headquarters. His adjustment to his loss had been anything but easy, but with the support of his family and friends he returned to duty, seemingly better than ever.

Harm had walked away from his mission unscathed; he had been a part of an operation that uncovered a plot to launch a nuke packed with unshielded uranium at the Seahawk battle group. Harm had been one of two pilots who drew it far enough away from the battle group for it to lose its power and drop into the ocean.

The captain of the Seahawk had nominated him for yet another DFC and Commander Lindsey seethed. How Rabb always managed to get into an F-14 every other time he was aboard a carrier, was beyond him.

The events that occurred in the Persian Gulf and in Afghanistan that spring would have far reaching repercussions. Over time, it would start a chain of events that would spell the beginning of the end in the careers of many, from the SecNav all the way down to Commander Rabb.

A hunger for power and revenge would drive one man to follow a paper trail from Washington to Paraguay to Russia and back again to Washington.

TBC

A/N: I know, this is taking a turn, (I've made Commander Lindsey very Mr. Potterish, frankly, I don't think Lindsey had that much gumption) but it is going to mirror the events of 'It's a Wonderful Life' but in a much more dramatic way. This has turned into a much more serious story than I intended. It will get much more intense before the story ends, fair warning. I'm just going where its taking me�if that makes sense. I wrote this as a way to lighten up and I'm afraid, I'm in the dark for the time being. Bear with me folks; I know where I'm going. (Smile)

A/N: Zara is Arabic for Sarah. Fatemeh is Sarah Mackenzie Rabb's grandmother's name.

I just could not call a child of Harm and Mac's�. Zuzu. g

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[> [> [> [> Chapter 5/9 -- mkim, 13:53:29 01/01/15 Thu [1]

'It's a Wonderful Life' at JAG

Chapter 5

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the JAG characters. I don't own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. I don't own the rights to the story or movie 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

Spoilers: Any JAG episode is fair game. Remember� the order of events and their results will be entirely different than the show. This is definitely AU.

A/N: Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback and for the good thoughts and prayers in a tough and trying time. This is a great community!

A/N: This chapter sets up the next; it is full of detail that is essential to make the story work. Hold on to your hats! I promise it will all come together next chapter. (Smile)

A/N: Thank you Karen for your beta reading skills.

Rating K+

In the heavens above Northern Virginia�..

XO Gabriel and Lieutenant Clarence watched as a very dejected Commander Teddy Lindsey stood out in the parking lot of JAG Headquarters. He was leaning against his vehicle, looking up at the window of Admiral Chegwidden's office.

Commander Lindsey had tried to talk with Admiral Chegwidden about his possible selection on the O-6 board. Surely, the Admiral had no ill will against him. When he had been able to catch up with the Admiral yesterday, he had been very uncomfortable when he tried to speak with him. He knew for a fact that the SecNav had tried to put in a good word for him. He believed that connecting with him would help the Admiral remember how good his selection might be for his own career.

The Commander's cell phone ring tone pulled him from his reverie, he answered. "Commander Lindsey"

"Teddy, we have the final results of the O-6 board."

He waited in silence.

"You weren't selected."

"I see."

"I know this is a disappointment to you, but I want you to know that I did speak with Admiral Chegwidden and the board was reconvened, but they ended with the same result."

"I understand."

"I hope you do understand that if I were to intervene further, it could jeopardize both of our careers. It could be construed at undue command influence. I don't think it would be advantageous for either of us to have that on our records."

"Yes, sir" The Commander's responses were controlled and automatic.

"You've been doing a great job for me Teddy, your time will come." The SecNav tried to be reassuring but he knew Lindsey was terribly disappointed.

"Yes, sir"

"I'll speak with you tomorrow."

"Yes, sir." Lindsey slowly closed his cell phone as he returned his attention to the window of the office it was his ambition to someday occupy. His time would come. This set back only made him more determined to advance and throw every last one of Chegwidden's little 'clique' out of JAG Ops, and if possible the Navy, forever. He just had to find a way in.

The commander was startled from his thoughts by an unfamiliar voice. A beautiful young woman stood before him in a Naval Lieutenants uniform.

"Excuse me, sir, but aren't you Commander Lindsey?"

"Yes, I am." Commander Lindsey was still trying to compose himself.

She offered him her hand and he shook it. "Lieutenant Loren Singer, I've only just been assigned to JAG Ops. Pleased to meet you, sir. I understand you work with the SecNav�. it must be fascinating work."

"Yes, it is." He mustered a smile.

"I would love to hear about it sometime." The lieutenant smiled sweetly and took one more step closer to him. She was not inappropriately close, but she was making it clear that she wanted to know him better.

"I would love to tell you about it." He recognized the look of someone who could be similarly ambitious.

"I'm finished for the day, sir� and if you're not busy?"

"No, and you can catch me up with things at JAG. I was assigned there before my present tenure with the SecNav."

"Yes, sir. That is what I understand, I'm sure you are missed here at JAG Ops." Singer wanted to flatter the man, she hoped, without being too obvious.

Commander Lindsey had found a way inside, as if the fates had heard his thoughts, and if what he suspected was true, he had just met someone as ambitious as he.

"Shall we?" The Commander opened the car door on the passenger side of the vehicle.

"Oh, thank you sir."

This could be the beginning of a very fruitful relationship.

0800

Monday

February 12 2004

Nelson Residence

The former Secretary of the Navy Alexander Nelson watched his television screen as the ZNN reporter spoke about the scene behind her. It was the newest SecNav Sheffield, flanked by two of JAG's best senior attorneys, Commander's Harmon Rabb and Sturgis Turner.

Nelson had heard about Secretary Sheffield 'volunteering' to be tried in The Hague. It had disgusted him; he believed it was grandstanding, pure and simple.

Nelson thought back to the Senate hearings, hearings convened after an operation that saved the lives of everyone in the Seahawk Battle Group. Someone had alerted a Senator, with a great deal of influence, that the staff of the Judge Advocate Generals office had been utilized and operated without the knowledge of upper level personnel at the Pentagon and at the CIA. He had been hung out to dry, while the staff at JAG walked away from the incident without a ding on their records. Rabb had even been decorated� again.

Nelson had lost his position in the new administration, he had been surprised to be kept on after the last election, but any good will he had been able to garner since then, was gone. True, he was an appointee of the previous administration, but he felt he had served the President well.

This had all been too easy; for Sheffield to have been his primary accuser in the Senate hearings and then to have stepped into his place. He had been betrayed and the only other people who were as deeply involved as he, were being promoted, not punished.

He had not heard anything from or about Clayton Webb, but that was not unusual. He had heard, from his former assistant, Commander Lindsey, that the CIA operative had been transferred to South America, for no apparent reason. Teddy seemed to feel that there was more to it than that, but he really had no way of knowing.

He appreciated that Lindsey kept his ear to the ground for him. At least the Commander had not lost his job; though Chegwidden had sat on the O-6 board that refused to promote him. No one deserved promotion more than Commander Lindsey, to the former SecNav's mind.

1045

November 30, 2004

Office of the Secretary of the Navy

Washington D.C.

Teddy Lindsey happened to be very busy, at this point in his career, busy in some very serious self promotion. He had stumbled upon something that would exact revenge so complete and so sweet on his 'friends' at JAG that anything he had to endure up to this point was worth it.

He had kept his position as one of three assistants assigned to Secretary Sheffield, after the former SecNav's dismissal. If truth were told, Teddy Lindsey had been instrumental in informing the then Senator, Sheffield of the 'secret' joint mission utilizing members of the JAG corps and the CIA. He had a great deal of assistance; of course, Lieutenant Loren Singer had been his primary source of information.

Nelson had never suspected him and didn't to this day.

Today had begun like any other and then as he was going to enter the SecNav's office, what he heard was a gift, he thought, right out of heaven.

He had walked up to the SecNav's nearly closed door, to overhear Deputy Director Kershaw speaking with his boss.

"I don't have to tell you Mr. Secretary, how many careers and perhaps lives are at stake if this information gets into the wrong hands. One of Webb's sources for that information is living in the US under an assumed name. Russia may be our ally in the war on terror but it is a fragile truce. They will come after anyone they think will compromise their standing in the world. If the world community believed they had taken American POW's from Vietnam, during the Vietnam War, the damage to their creditability of their government would be enormous It could jeopardize their standing on the UN Security Council. Vietnam and the MIA issue still cast a long shadow in this country and elsewhere."

The SecNav considered what the Deputy Director had just said and then he spoke.

"I don't even want to think about what a Senate committee could do with this. They'd roast half of JAG Ops on a spit. I'm sure you have nothing to fear from anyone at JAG, they stand to lose most and they are the only ones who know. As for the other issue, Rabb isn't going to pursue something that he knows nothing about."

"The missions that Rabb and Mackenzie assisted Agent Webb with, unwittingly or not, place them in a very precarious position. The fact that we now know, but cannot confirm, that his father was, in fact, transported to Russia from Vietnam, must never come to light. They must have complete deniability. There is also the possibility of a child, of an American MIA, conceived while he was living in Russia; even the suggestion could be explosive."

"It is my understanding that Rabb's father is dead and there was never a body recovered. I don't see a problem."

"The problem is that Rabb and Mackenzie were in close communication with two KGB agents, an Agent Sokol, and another named Mikhail Parlovsky. Parlovsky is dead, but Sokol could be anywhere. They spent a great deal of time unaccompanied by anyone while they were in country, in Russia. Who knows what kind of contacts they made? It is in your department's best interest to keep that out of the press, to say it would harm the influence and prestige of the Navy and every administration since 1968, would be an understatement. Wasn't the JAG himself involved in that mission?"

"According to my predecessor, Chegwidden went to Russia to recover his people; he had no idea what he had walked into, until Agent Webb told him." The SecNav looked at the deputy Director over his spectacles and sat more deeply into his leather chair.

"Unfortunately Webb can't corroborate any of this; he was killed on a mission in Paraguay last year. Since that time, it has come to light that we have a rogue agent, someone who had access to everything Webb knew about that time."

"I see."

The Deputy Director walked back toward the door and Lindsey made a hasty retreat. He could barely contain his composure, what he had just heard gave him a way of ruining the careers of everyone he believed had wronged him at JAG.

All he had to do what get enough documentation to fill in the blanks of the story, and then spin it in the direction he wanted it to go.

He hadn't seen Loren in awhile, all he needed to do was put the 'carrot' in front of her. All it would take would be the possibility of a nice political job at the Pentagon, or better yet, a job with him at JAG. That is, after he cleaned house.

1845

December 2 2004

Benziger's Bar

Georgetown

Lieutenant Loren Singer sat across from Lindsey, so full of information and herself she could barely contain it. She believed she had learned enough from that idiot Lieutenant Roberts to allow Commander Lindsey to clear the way for her senior attorney's position at JAG.

Commander Rabb and probably Admiral Chegwidden were as good as out of there. Too bad they didn't have anything on Turner. Singer wasn't overly concerned; he was too much of a boy scout to be a threat anyway.

If anything came back to her at JAG, she could merely say her source of information was 'dear old' Bud. She had taken a immediate dislike to Lieutenant Roberts when she came to JAG, everyone seemed to be falling all over themselves to cover his six, now they would see who they had been protecting�a bungling idiot.

Getting Roberts to open up about how this had come about, had been ridiculously easy, all she had to do was pretend her admiration for Commander Rabb and throw out what little she knew about the situation, and helpful Bud, filled in the blanks.

"Well, what do you have?"

"According to Lieutenant Roberts, Commander Rabb first heard the rumor about POW's being transported to Russia from a CIA agent, his name is Clayton Webb. He told him about the possibility of this book that had the names of American POW's that had apparently been transported to Russia. There were these SOG agents� another name for the CIA in Vietnam� involved, at least one of them was a double agent and they both knew where Commander Rabb's father was in Russia�.but listen to this�"

Teddy Lindsey's mouth was watering. This couldn't get any better.

"I have a friend who works for State, and she once worked for an associate of Agent Webb's before he was killed. When I told her about the information I was looking for and about Agent Webb's connection to it, she said she'd ask around, discreetly, of course."

"And?" Teddy was losing his patience.

"She called back today; she said an agent, Edward Hardy, worked with Agent Webb before he was killed. Hardy says he has information that he was sure you might want. He refused to go through his former secretary; Hardy says he wants to meet with you, privately."

The hair stood up on the nape of Lindsey's neck. This could be all he needed or it could be a trap that would land him in Leavenworth.

He already had enough pressure in the SecNav's office, dealing with another woman who had no business in uniform. Lieutenant Commander Traci Manetti. She had actually been working at JAG, when they were short handed. It was a mystery to him that Chegwidden could use her help and not his. Sheffield claimed to be a close friend of her father, but Lindsey thought he knew better. They always seemed so secretive; something had to be going on.

"When? Where?" Lindsey refocused on what Singer was saying.

Singer took a phone number out of her pocket and handed it to the Commander. "He wants you to call him at this number."

1745

December 10 2004

Jefferson Bridge

Arlington, Virginia

Commander Teddy Lindsey stood on the bridge at its center, directly over the Potomac. It was just starting to get dark, though the lights on the lampposts on each side of the bridge had yet to come on. A man passed behind him and Lindsey tried to discreetly watch him, waiting to see if it was the person he had come to meet.

The man walked nearly 20 feet away, and then stopped to look out at the river. He dropped his keys, and slipped a large manila envelope out of the inner pocket of his overcoat as he retrieved his keys, he placed the envelope on the walk, near one of the posts. He never looked at Lindsey, he did not acknowledge him at all, the man merely walked on, leaving the bridge and walking along the shoulder of the road. He eventually got into a car that was parked nearly a quarter mile down the road. Lindsey could not discern his plate or even the model of the car from that distance.

Once the man left, Lindsey walked over and picked up the manila envelope, he placed it inside his coat and made his way, as quickly as he could, to his vehicle. He sat in the front seat, tempted to tear open the package, but he feared discovery or worse yet, that the man would return. He went back to his office at the Pentagon, the manila envelope and its secrets, sitting on the front seat beside him.

Once he got back and had locked his office door, he sat down at his desk with only the small desk lamp on and opened the package. As he read, he began to smile, more and more broadly, and then he began to laugh. This was perfect, this information had cast suspicion on every one he wanted to punish, even the JAG himself.

According to these documents, Webb was a double agent; who suspected that Rabb's father had been transported to Russia because he had agreed to cooperate with the KGB. Commander Rabb and the then Major Mackenzie had multiple exchanges of information with known Soviet Agents. Chegwidden had also played a role in the trip, they had taken to Russia in 1998. He had them all. Not one of them would escape the harsh scrutiny of a curious press and power hungry politicians of every stripe, competing for the most favorable publicity.

All he had to do now was get the SecNav worried about the Navy receiving bad publicity and allow him to 'suggest' a way to curtail it. He had a friend at the Globe; maybe he should give him a call.

At that same moment, outside the building�.

Edward Hardy sat in the large secured parking lot at the Pentagon. He sat in his vehicle, parked next to Lindsey's, the one he had shadowed all the way over here. This ambitious little sycophant would be his salvation. Webb had, in fact, suspected Hardy had turned rogue and had nearly uncovered Hardy's double agent status in Paraguay. Now, any suspicions Langley might have about him will surely die, as Agent Webb had. The bigger story and all of the Company's energies would go into covering themselves in this scandal; they would be too busy to follow up on whatever Webb had told them, if he had the chance to tell them anything.

In the heavens above Northern Virginia�.

Now Lieutenant Clarence understood, this man was not only going to destroy Commander Rabb's career but the memory and honor of his father and of his extended family at JAG. Him, his wife, and his mentor at JAG would all lose their careers; all of their families would be destroyed.

Now he understood the reason the Commander might want to throw everything away and why he must stop him.

A/N: Singers role at JAG comes much later in this story and she had much less status, but no less ambition. (Smile)

A/N: Just a reminder that this story is sooo AU. I should call it 'Scrambled JAG.' LOL! I know I'm pulling people and numerous situations from all ten years of JAG and not in the order that they occurred. Just letting you know, again, I know. (smile)

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[> [> [> [> [> Chapter 6/9 -- mkim, 13:56:06 01/01/15 Thu [1]

'It's a Wonderful Life' at JAG

Chapter 6

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the JAG characters. I don't own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. I don't own the rights to the movie or story 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

Spoilers: Some events in these season 8 episodes will be referred to, 'Fortunate Son' and 'Second Acts.' Just a reminder, events will not happen in the same order or have the same consequences as the original episodes. This is AU.

A/N: This is a warning, this is a very difficult part of the story, and if you are familiar with the movie, you will know why. Fair warning and if it makes you feel any better, it was as tough to write as it might be for you to read.

Rating K

1630

December, 13, 2004

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

The late afternoon sun shone through the windows and onto Admiral Chegwidden's desk. He had just replaced the handset on the phone when he buzzed Petty Officer Coates.

"Coates, inform Commander Rabb that I would like to see him, before he leaves for the day."

"Yes, sir." Was Coates answer through the intercom.

Later�.

Harm walked into the Admirals outer office.

"Can he see me now, Coates?"

"Let me see, sir."

She buzzed his office, "Yes, Coates."

"Admiral Chegwidden, I have Commander Rabb, to see you sir." She looked back at Commander Rabb as she spoke.

"Send him in."

Harm entered his office. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Have a seat." The Admiral nodded toward the chairs which sat in front of his desk.

Harm did as he was asked.

"I got a call from the SecNav's office this afternoon�.It seems that we have to deal with an editorial which appeared in the Washington Globe yesterday."

He frowned. "Sir?" What could this have to do with him?

"The editorial was about the government's waste of taxpayer dollars, especially those taxpayer dollars allotted to the military."

He knew this could not be good. He was well aware that he, himself, had been a strain on the budget of Headquarters JAG since he was assigned here, nearly 10 years ago.

"The SecNav has decided to be proactive in this matter, so he has authorized an audit of our expenditures here at JAG."

Harm waited, there was more, he could sense it.

"The person he has chosen for that duty is Commander Teddy Lindsey."

The name caught Harm's attention immediately, of all the people in the SecNav's office to choose, he thought. He remembered their conversation a few years ago. The great thing had been, that he hadn't seen Lindsey since. He wasn't looking forward to seeing him again. His thoughts must have been written all over his face because the Admiral asked,

"Is there something I need to know about, Commander?"

"It's probably nothing sir." Harm was hedging, he didn't want to explain to the Admiral that he had basically told Lindsey that if he ever came near him or Mac, in anything other than a professional capacity, he would snap him like a twig.

"Let me be the judge of that."

'It's just that Commander Lindsey and I, the last time we spoke�we weren't on the best of terms."

Admiral Chegwidden frowned. He remembered his own last encounter with Commander Lindsey and the pressure placed on him by Secretary Nelson to promote him when he chaired the 0-6 board. Since Lindsey wasn't selected, it was clear he wasn't on the best of terms with him either.

"Did your last conversation involve anything that might interfere with your ability to assist Commander Lindsey while he is conducting the audit?"

"No sir, it was a personal matter, not professional." Well, not really, but he didn't want to have to tell the Admiral that Lindsey had tried to tempt him with a job that involved flying. He still didn't understand why Lindsey seemed so interested in his career, at that point.

"See that you keep the personal and professional separate, through out this audit, Commander. Am I clear?" The Admiral had leaned forward in his chair and looked at Harm directly.

"Yes, sir"

"That will be all, you're dismissed"

Harm rose from his seat and came to attention. "Sir."

As he walked to the door, the Admiral spoke, "Rabb."

Harm turned, "Sir?"

"He will be interviewing Mac as well."

"I'll tell her." 'Just great,' he thought. This was just getting better and better.

In the heavens above Northern Virginia�.

For once Lieutenant Clarence asked no questions as XO Gabriel explained the unfolding events.

"Commander Lindsey conducted his audit over the course of the next 10 days. Everyone was cooperative, some personnel, more than others. Lieutenant Singer, as always was the most helpful of all. She had given him access to the personnel files of everyone at JAG.

He knew everything from the most minor indiscretion to what he saw as blatant abuse of authority and command influence. While all the minor infractions were things that would never stand as credible points in an article 32, for the people whom Lindsey resented most, he had more than enough to get an article 32 underway. He could almost guarantee courts martial for Admiral Chegwidden, Commander and Colonel Rabb. He would not only have them out of the Navy, he meant to send the lot of them to Leavenworth."

Harm sat at his desk, just finishing up for the day, a lot of the staff had already secured early. He picked up the phone to let Mac know he was on his way, he and Bud were both running late. They were to have dinner with Bud and Harriet tonight and then spend the afternoon Christmas Day with his mother and Frank.

Mac answered the phone, sounding slightly out of breath. "Hello."

"Hey, slow down Marine, I just wanted to let you know I'm finally on my way home. How are things going?"

"Zara has a temperature and I can't get your son to slow down long enough to get him dressed." Mac laughed in spite of herself. "He's your son, Harm."

"Zara's sick?" Harm's happy grin at his son's antics temporarily left him.

"Its low grade, just 100.2, but she's going to have to stay home, I spoke with Jen, and she's going to stay�" Harm was relieved momentarily, only to be startled by loud a crash in the background. "Jack, what are you into?" Mac called to her son.

Harm's smile returned; Little Jack had turned into quite a little tornado since he started toddling.

"What's he into now?" He could hear Mac walking across a tiled floor.

Mac walked into the kitchen. "Great� he pulled all the pots and pans out of the cabinet�he's sitting in the wok." Little Jack sat on the floor his blue eyes bright with happiness, holding his arms out to make an imaginary plane.

Harm laughed out loud when he heard his son say. "I fly Mommy! Brrrrmmmm!"

"Honey, I have to go, I'll tell you more when you get here." Mac ended the call before he had a chance to say goodbye.

Harm was clearing his desk and putting a few files into his brief case, when Commander Lindsey walked into the room.

Harm couldn't keep the sarcastic smile from his face when he saw him. "Saving the best for last, Commander?"

"I wouldn't say that Commander Rabb, but I am finished with my audit." 'Laugh now you idiot, I have you now' Lindsey thought smugly.

"How can that be? I haven't spoken with you yet, you seem to have spoken with everyone here at JAG, but my wife and myself."

'I'll get to the point Rabb, I have spoken with nearly everyone in this office, and for the most part, what I have discovered through my interviews is that , with a few minor adjustments this office can run efficiently, with a lot less expense, than has been required up to this point." Lindsey purposely tried to bore him with the details of dollars and cents, just before he hit him with what he knew would be the destruction of Rabb's life as he knew it.

Harm stood and was already thinking about leaving his office and Teddy Lindsey to whatever 'illusions of grandeur' he had concocted for himself.

"I think you should slow down Commander Rabb, what I have to say concerns you and people I'm sure you're very close to."

"You said you were going to make your point Lindsey�.do it, I have things to do." He wanted to get away from him before Lindsey had the chance to spoil what he had been looking forward to all day. Getting out of this office and home to with his friends and family.

Lindsey tuned and closed Harm's office door. "I won't rehash incidents like turning your hallowed halls of justice into a shooting gallery. Or that you have personally burned through over 10 billion dollars worth of flight equipment, most of which was after you left flight status to become a lawyer."

Harm was getting tired of this diatribe. "It's galling you isn't it? It's the classic good child syndrome. You do all the right things, talk to all the right people and still get passed up for promotion. While I haven't always done things by the book, but I've managed to keep my career, and I believe the respect of my peers"

Commander Lindsey could control himself no longer. "I hope you enjoy your Christmas Rabb, because after Christmas, you're not going to have anything to celebrate. Your life, your career as you know it, is about to change drastically."

"What the hell are you talking about, Lindsey?" Harm's patience was nearing an end.

Commander Lindsey had an advanced copy of the Washington Globe, to be distributed on newsstands the day after Christmas. He opened his briefcase and laid it on Harm's desk.

The headline read. "Former POW implicated in espionage." His father's picture was under the headline. With the caption that identified him as Lt. Harmon Rabb Sr.

In smaller lettering, "the former POW's son and other personnel at the Navy's Judge Advocate Generals office are also implicated."

"Is this a joke?" Teddy Lindsey couldn't possibly know anything about his father.

"Oh it's no joke Commander Rabb. I have evidence that your father was transported to Russia after he was captured by the North Vietnamese, that he cooperated with the KGB or what ever incarnation it was referred to at the time, and that you, your wife and your commanding officer met on several occasions with known Russian agents."

"You're out of your mind, Lindsey; you don't know what the hell you're talking about." Harm felt a knot forming in the pit of his stomach.

"I know exactly what I'm talking about Rabb. Keep this; I'll get a copy when it comes out day after tomorrow." He was getting through now, he was sure of it.

"You're crazy, your former boss knows all about this, no one here and certainly not my father were ever involved in espionage." Lindsey had accomplished one thing, he had accused his father of something that Harm had feared more than anything. He could not stand even the thought that anyone would think his father a traitor to his country, or as anything less than an honorable man.

Lindsey sneered at him. "It's happened before and you know how the old saying goes, 'like father, like son.'

a

Harm turned to call the SecNav's office.

Lindsey knew what he was doing. "Don't bother Rabb, the SecNav is out of his office until after the first of the year, I have his cell number, but I don't intend to share it with you."

"I'll talk with Nelson, he can disprove everything you told the Globe..." He could not allow this accusation to stand, unanswered.

"Former Secretary Nelson is out of the country, and if you think anyone at the CIA can help you, save your breath. We know about Clayton Webb's status as double agent, I intend to expose him for the traitor he was."

"You don't know what you're doing." Harm remembered Porter Webb speaking of her son's service and that of Clayton's father. The tradition of service to their country was as strong with them as it was with his family. Then something occurred to him, something he missed when Lindsey had spoken it. "Wait a minute�.was. You said the traitor he� was." Lindsey had been speaking of him in the past tense.

"Clayton Webb is dead; he was killed in Paraguay, before he could spend another day, betraying his country. For the record, Rabb, I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm clearing this office of liabilities, of people who are discrediting the good name of the naval service. You are on your way out Rabb, you, your wife and your 'friend' Chegwidden."

He turned on his heel, opened the door and walked out of Harm's office.

Harm was still reeling, trying to grasp what was happening here. Webb was dead? Harm followed Lindsey to his office door; he watched him walk away, still unable to believe what he had just heard. He saw Lieutenant Singer enter the bullpen and as she passed Commander Lindsey, she smiled and greeted him. Harm heard her say, "Good Afternoon sir."

He looked up in time to see Commander Lindsey touch her arm. Harm knew immediately how he had accessed all of their personnel files. It must have been through Lieutenant Singer. Since her arrival, Singer had done little to endear herself to the staff at JAG. She had shown nothing but callousness and blind ambition in all her dealings with her clients and staff. Harm called her into his office.

"Lieutenant Singer, a word with you." This was crazy, Lindsey couldn't possible know anything of value. He would make short work of this stupid accusation. Lindsey was crazy with professional jealousy, he always had been, and everyone who had ever really known Lindsey, knew that about him.

Lieutenant Singer entered Harms office. She came to attention.

"At ease Lieutenant." Harm was still standing, he walked to his window and as he watched Commander Lindsey walking across the parking lot, he asked the lieutenant.

"How well do you know Commander Lindsey, Lieutenant?'

Singer, feigning confusion asked, "Sir?"

"You heard me Lieutenant, how well do you know Commander Lindsey?"

"I consider that a personal question sir�"

"It is not a personal question, it is a direct question and I expect a direct answer." Harm turned away from the window and looked at her sharply.

"Sir, I fail to see what, how well I know Commander Lindsey, has to do with my duties here at JAG Headquarters."

Harm knew right away that she was being evasive with him and as the seriousness of Harm's situation began to sink into his consciousness; his patience began to wear thin.

"Lieutenant Singer, you know my question has everything to do with JAG and nothing to do with your personal life. Answer the question." His voice was beginning to take on an edge.

"I have shared a few lunches with the Commander over the past couple of months, I am very interested in his work with the SecNav�other than that�"

"Lieutenant Singer, the Commander was given access to a number of personnel files of the staff here at JAG, including myself, my wife and even the Admiral. Are you telling me you don't know anything about that?"

"No sir" she lied. Her heart rate had doubled, but she gave no sign of distress. She continued to feign confusion at the questions being asked, all the while calculating, how long it would be until she occupied the office in which she now stood.

"You're telling me you have had no conversation with Commander Lindsey regarding any of the staff here at JAG, during the audit he just conducted?"

"I didn't say that sir, of course he asked questions and I answered them, honestly. Nothing out of the ordinary�but there was one conversation I have to say he was very fascinated with. He asked about an Agent Clayton Webb. Apparently he used to be a fixture around here."

Harm turned more fully toward her, totally taken in by her lie.

"Anyway, I told him about a story that Bud told me, about the book you and Colonel Rabb found, something about how it helped you find your long lost father."

Singer shook her head. "I told Commander Lindsey I thought it was just a tall tale that Commander Roberts was telling me, you know, just because I was relatively new here at Jag." She could see the realization dawn on Commander Rabb. He was putting it together and he was going to blame Lieutenant Roberts. This was just too delicious.

"I'm sure it's nothing, sir." Singer's tone of voice dripped fake reassurance.

"That will be all, Lieutenant." What had Bud done? He couldn't believe he would be so foolish as to repeat something so personally damning to himself and to Mac. The Roberts were like family, two of their oldest and dearest friends.

Lieutenant Singer came to attention and left Harm's office. She exhaled as she fairly glided across the bullpen and out into the hallway to her office. This had been the most productive day she had ever had at JAG. It was just a matter of time now. She could not keep the evil smile from spreading across her face as she thought, 'Merry Christmas Loren.'

Harm, for his part stood in his office looking out the window at nothing in particular. He turned and looked at the folded newspaper Lindsey had left for him. He walked over to the chair behind his desk and sat down, heavily. He reached for the paper and opened it to the headline again. He shook his head in disbelief as he read, one lie after another, his heart feeling like a rock in his chest. This could not be happening; they were even saying his father had another son, living in Russia. It was too ridiculous.

Then he read the last paragraph and though it wouldn't be the worst that would happen in the wake of these unfounded accusations, the words. 'The governing board of the National Vietnam Veterans Organization, when its spokesman was asked for comment on the matter, has stated that should the charges against Lieutenant Harmon Rabb Sr. prove to be true, that they would fund the removal of Lieutenant Rabb's name from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.'

Harm folded the paper back roughly and opened his brief case and threw it in. He closed the briefcase and turning his desk lamp off, he started for his door. As he closed it he turned to see Bud leaving his office, as well. He had thought he was alone at JAG Ops and that everyone had left for the day.

Bud smiled and greeted him, "Hello sir, I didn't know you were here."

Harm looked at him steadily, wondering what Bud could have been thinking, how his momentary lapse of judgment, was going to cost them all.

When Harm didn't answer, Bud asked, "Sir? Is everything alright?"

"No Bud�everything is not alright." Harm kept his tone of voice even.

"I don't understand, sir."

"No you don't." Harm took one step toward him. "Do you know what you done? How could you tell that self serving little climber about how I found my father?" Harm walked away from him, not trusting himself to stay in the same room with him. What Bud had done had not been deliberate, but it had been stupid�.so stupid.

As he walked toward the elevators, Bud followed him, totally dumbfounded by Harm's revelation. "Sir, what happened? Is it the audit?"

"No Bud, it's not the audit. It's Lieutenant Singer and Commander Lindsey." He stepped inside the elevator and as the door closed with Bud on the outside, Harm turned and said. "You've ruined us, Bud. You've ruined us all."

Bud stood in front of the elevators, trying to understand the cryptic language of his mentor. What had he done? He couldn't think of anything he had told Lieutenant Singer or Commander Lindsey that could hurt the Commander or anyone else at JAG.

He walked back to his office in a daze; he locked up his office and closed his door. He picked up his cover and briefcase and as he approached the elevators, he remembered the conversation he had months ago with Lieutenant Singer. She had spoken so admiringly of the Commander; he had only meant to speak to the depth of the Commander's character. 'My God,' he thought, 'what have I done?' He had told her about Agent Webb and what he had learned about how the Commander found his father, he couldn't believe he had been so careless, he had hurt him and in the worst way.

1945

December 24, 2004

Rabb Residence

Alexandria, Virginia

Harm drove back to his home in Alexandria on autopilot, he had tried to reach the Admiral on his cell but was transferred directly to his voice mail. After he arrived at his house, as he approached his front door; he stopped, turned and looked back at his van. He couldn't remember for the life of him how he got home.

He used his keys to open the door and stood in the foyer, looking around his unusually quiet house. He looked at Little Jack's trail of toys out of the den and into the hallway and at the, too large for the room, Christmas tree, lovingly decorated by Mac, as always.

Harm suddenly thought of Zara and her temperature and went quickly up the stairs. He slipped into her bedroom, where she lay covered with a pink down comforter. She looked at him with sleepy eyes that sparkled with love and admiration when she saw him. "Daddy!" Her voice sounded scratchy and so small, and her face was pale, framed in her rich brown curls. Zara' cold was something that wouldn't have fazed Harm at all, had his world not just been turned upside down. Now the thought that his daughter was sick, even a mild cold, seemed devastating.

"Hey," He walked over to her bedside and sat down. "Mommy says you aren't feeling well." He brushed a stray curl back from her face.

She sat up and reached for her father and he gathered her in to his arms. "Mommy says I have a tenchipur." She sounded muffled as said it against his chest

"You mean a temperature?" Harm smiled sadly, pressing his lips to her, too warm, brow.

"Yes�tenn..chi..pur." She nodded the affirmative. "Look what I made, Daddy. I made you a present." She slipped out of his arms and reached for a small Christmas tree made of green construction paper and too much glitter. She placed it in his pocket, its glitter falling off and covering the inside and outside of his uniform jacket. Harm thought for a moment that he would have to have it cleaned, but then he thought it didn't really matter now, did it?

"Thank you, sweetie."

"Do you like it Daddy?" She looked up at him, questioning.

"Yes, it's very nice, but you have to lie back down now, so that you'll feel better in the morning, okay?"

Zara lay back and Harm tucked her back in as she burrowed further under the covers. He kissed her brow and she smiled at him. The love and trust so apparent on her face that Harm nearly lost his composure. He bade her goodnight and looked back at her before he left the room, wondering, what would he do now, how could he protect her from this? How could he protect any of them now?

Harm left the room and walked back downstairs, he walked into the den, still strewn with toys and sat down heavily on the couch. Just then Little Jack discovered that his father was home. "Daddy!" He ran to his father and jumped into his arms. "Daddy!"

"Hey," was all Harm could manage as his son threw his little arms around his neck.

"Hey, I fly Daddy, I fly!" Harm's son bounced on his lap, pulling on the lapels of his jacket, with PB and J covered hands.

Harm looked at his son suddenly, thinking of his son flying for the Navy, as he had, as his father had and his grandfather. What would his heritage be now? Shame? He looked down at his uniform and saw the peanut butter and jelly smears on his lapels and a smudge on his white shirt. Harm was suddenly unreasonably angry, and reacted without thinking.

"Jack! What are you doing? No!" He pulled Jack back and away from him and set him firmly on the floor. Harm stood and stepped angrily away from him. He seldom ever raised his voice to his children. All they ever required was a stern look from Harm and he had their full attention. This was a side of his father that Little Jack had never seen.

Little Jack drew in a breath sharply in shock; he looked at his fathers angry face and burst into tears. Mac walked into the den just as Little Jack began to cry.

"Harm, what is it? What have you done?" Mac reached for her son and stood looking at him, incredulous.

Harm walked to other side of the room. What was he doing? He looked back at his son, now in his beautiful mother's arms with tears streaming down his face. Harm's face twisted in pain before he turned back toward the window and his covered his face with his hands. He had ruined all their lives in his quest to find his father, it wasn't Bud's fault, it was his, Mac would curse the day she ever met him.

"Harm�what's happened?" She had never seen him so troubled.

Just then, the door bell rang. It was Jen arriving to baby-sit for Zara. As Mac answered the door, Harm remembered what they were supposed to do tonight. They were to celebrate Christmas with their friends, the Roberts's. The Admiral would be there, Sturgis, Varise, everyone. He couldn't bear it; he had to get out of here. He turned and walked toward the door. He had to get out of here. They would all know soon enough, what having been a friend of Harmon Rabb Jr. could cost them.

He brushed past Mac as she was handing Little Jack over to Jen. He glanced at her. "We don't really need a sitter tonight Jen, and if you know what's good for you, you'll get the hell away from here, it could cost you your career."

Mac stepped away from a very confused Jen, who was holding a still sniffling toddler. "Harm�Tell me what's wrong." She followed him out the door; he walked out to his van without a backward look. "Harm�please tell me what happened."

Harm stopped before he got into this vehicle and looked back at her. "You should never have married me Mac."

"What? Harm�stop, please, what are you talking about.." Mac crossed their porch and walked down the steps, folding her arms across her chest to keep fend off the cold. She tried to hurry to him before he had a chance to leave, but he pulled out of the drive way, before she was near enough for him to hear her.

Mac stood in their driveway looking out on a cold and icy night that 15 minutes ago, looked to be full of warmth Christmas magic, but now, appeared only to be full of darkness and foreboding. Something was wrong, something was terribly wrong. She had never in her life seen Harm act this way.

Harm could see Mac standing in the light of his headlights as he backed out of the drive. She was standing there, the winter wind blowing her hair back from her face, her red dress, one he had picked out himself for this occasion, draped beautifully on her body. He turned and backed out onto the street. He heart was breaking with regret, why had he allowed her to go with him to Russia? It could cost her career and her freedom, and it would cost his children, their mother.

TBC

A/N: I changed the amount of money on the aircraft equipment that Harm had burned through because I left a couple of crashes out of this story.(grin)

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