Chapter 9/9 -- The HarmyBoard Extras Fanfic

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Date Posted: 14:07:29 01/01/15 Thu
Author: mkim
Subject: Chapter 9/9
In reply to: mkim 's message, "Chapter 8/9" on 14:05:21 01/01/15 Thu

'It's a Wonderful Life' at JAG

Chapter 9/9

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 episodes, Seasons 1 through 10 are fair game. The movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' on which this story is very loosely based. There will be a specific reference to the episode 'To Russia With Love.'

A/N: This is AU. Events that may have occurred on JAG or in the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' will not occur exactly as they did originally, and will not necessarily have the same result. Some events, as you may have noticed, don't occur at all, aint it cool?

A/N: Many thanks to Karen for her beta read and encouraging words.

Rating K

Christmas Eve

McMurphy's

In Lieutenant Clarence's Universe�

Harm stood in front of McMurphy's. The place looked the same, maybe this would be one place where someone would know him. Maybe he would wake from this walking nightmare, here. Everything that had occurred up until now told him otherwise, but his need to see Mac made him unreasonable, he had to find her, to be whole.

He stepped into the bar saw a woman who might have been Mac, sitting alone facing the windows. She held a drink in her hands, she glanced at him over her shoulder, then Harm knew... it was her.

"Mac!" Harm was nearly running across the room.

Mac nearly dropped her drink as she turned toward him. Harm kept coming toward her and as he got closer she stood up. She was dressed in civilian clothing, her complexion sallow, and worse yet, her eyes, with dark circles underneath, held no light or recognition of him.

"Mac." Harm impulsively took her by both of her arms. "Mac" He wanted to pull her close, bury his face in her neck, hold on and never let go. "I need you."

Mac pushed him back with all the force she had. "Who the hell are you?"

"Mac�It's Harm, I'm your husband�don't you know me?" Harm's voice was pleading; he still couldn't believe that the center of his whole existence, would not know him. He tried to get close enough to touch her again.

"No, and if you ever put your hands on me again, I promise you, you'll always remember me." Mac took another step back from him, the look in her eyes and expression was hard, without a glimmer of compassion for Harm's confusion and fear, or need of her.

"But you're my wife. We both work at JAG. Please Mac, help me, I need you." He searched her face, looking for some spark of feeling for him, he could see nothing. "Where is Zara?" Surely she would remember their daughter.

"I'm not your wife, not in this life. I worked at JAG, but that was a long time ago, and I sure as hell don't remember working with you, or Zara, who ever the hell that is." She looked toward the bartender who had already called the police. "Don't you have a bouncer in this place? This idiot thinks he's my husband."

Harm turned back to see the bartender, who stood looking at him in disgust. "Look Buddy, Commander or who ever you are, the lady isn't interested. If you can't back off, you're going to have to leave."

A man, who had been sitting at the bar, turned and looked at him. Harm recognized the face of Bud Roberts immediately. Surely he would know him.

"Bud!"

The man flinched wondering who this nut case was. Harm walked quickly up to him. "You know me. I stood up for you at your wedding. Mac and I both were there."

"Stood up for me at my wedding? I don't know you and I have never been married." He looked back at Mac and shook his head as though agreeing with her that this man was off his rocker.

"You work with me at JAG; you have for over 8 years."

Bud got up from the bar stool, "I don't work at JAG, I'm a public affairs officer in the SecNavs office." He had tried law school, but had washed out, he was lucky he was able to go back to his former job, he wasn't sure what he'd have, if he weren't in the Navy. Bud thought he smelled the alcohol on his breath. "Maybe you better go home�.sir." 'Great example for the Navy, he thought. This officer was drunk and half out of his mind, trying to force himself on some woman who doesn't know him from Adam. How the hell this guy ever made commander, was beyond him.

Harm turned, looking around the room at the people in the bar, no one there knew him and no one cared to know him. He was a stranger to them all, suddenly he was desperate. He looked toward the door; he had to find Lieutenant Clarence. Just as he started to walk toward the door, a familiar face appeared there; Gunny Galindez stepped inside the bar, and recognized him immediately, but probably as a possible escapee from a mental ward.

Gunny stopped and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Well well, Commander�we meet again." The Gunny was wondering if this guy was a Commander at all, he probably stole the uniform� bought it from a surplus store.

Harm looked back a Mac, hoping she would help him but only saw her indifference to him. To her, he was a drunken stranger, someone who should be locked up and kept away from decent people. Harm could not allow Gunny to take him anywhere, he had to find Lieutenant Clarence, and he had to get his life back.

The Gunny walked toward him and Harm stood stock still, until he got within arms reach. Harm hit him, as hard as he could, under the chin, just as Gunny was reaching for his arm. He knocked him completely backward, leaving Gunny flat on his back.

Harm began to run for all he was worth, out of the bar and onto the street, he had to get back to that bridge, to the place he first saw the Lieutenant Clarence. Finding him was the only way back to his family.

Harm ran until his he thought his lungs would burst, when he was sure no one was still pursuing him, he hailed a cab to get back to the Jefferson Bridge.

Once he was there, he stood with his hands clasped together. He called out to Lieutenant Clarence, hoping somehow to reach him, though the only sounds he heard were the echoes of his own voice, and the rushing river beneath him.

"Clarence, Lieutenant Clarence�.I want my life back, I don't care what happens to me, get me back to my wife and kids."

He prayed there was no one around to hear him, yelling at the top of his voice to no one, at least that no one that anyone could see. He was afraid he really would end up in a mental ward somewhere.

Suddenly a soft snow began to fall again and Harm heard a vehicle come to a stop on the road behind him. He turned around quickly, recognizing the Government Issue vehicle as one from JAG. He saw Gunny get out of the car and call to him. "Commander Rabb? Sir, you need to come with me."

Harm backed away from him. "Get away from me Gunny, get the hell away�I'm not letting you take me anywhere."

"Commander�sir? What's the matter, I've been looking everywhere for you. The Colonel has been calling all over the District." Gunny stepped in more closely. "Sir, your lip is bleeding."

Harm was stunned for a moment, he had mentioned the Colonel, he seemed to know him, could it be that he had finally awakened from this nightmare? "Gunny�do you know me?" Harm reached up and winced at the touch of his sore and bleeding lip.

"Do I know you? Commander�are you sure you're alright? I'm supposed to take you back to your house, the Colonel, Admiral Chegwidden�everyone is waiting."

He was back, thank God, he was back. Harm walked slowly toward him, he saw then that Gunny really did know him. Harm grabbed his arm and shook Gunny's hand as hard as he could. "Man, am I glad to see you. I'm fine, Gunny, I never felt better in my life." Suddenly Harm was laughing, way too loudly. "Lead on. I'm ready�.I'm ready to go home."

Gunny got Harm back to his and Mac's home in short order, though he kept one eye on him most of the way home. The Commander seemed to be alternately laughing and crying all the way home.

"Are you sure you're alright, sir?"

"Yeah, Gunny I'm fine�. I'm�I'm going home." He'd wipe tears off of his face and laughed a bit at himself, only to have a fresh batch form in his eyes and course down his cheeks. He was past caring about how he must seem to Gunny or anyone watching him, he felt he'd already been given a reprieve from losing everything that he loved most in the world. His pride at the moment was not an issue.

Gunny pulled up in front the Rabb's house; the drive way was full of cars, more than one of which were government vehicles.

Harm was oblivious to anything except the sight of his own home before him. The red brick Colonial, with a white porch across the front, there was the tree in the front yard, he and Zara had planted the spring before. The wreath on the door, the lights from their tree clearly visible from where he stood. It was still here, his life was still here.

He slowly got out of the car and looked at the house he and Mac had built. It was real, just as he remembered it, no construction site and or empty lot. This was their home, the one they brought little Jack home to.

Gunny had parked on the street and warily watched, as the Commander walked up the middle of his snow covered yard. Gunny followed, though keeping his distance behind him.

Harm walked slowly and stopped at the center of his yard. As he read the house number on the house, it finally dawned on him; his family was there, his wife�his children. He broke into a run and took his front steps two at a time until he got to the door. He opened his door and walked into his house. All sound became an echo and it seemed Harm was moving in slow motion.

He called out for Mac and he saw her enter the hallway from the back of the house. He saw the recognition in her eyes and his heart swelled with gratitude.

He heard Mac say his name.

"Harm?" Her voice was still muted, an echo in the room, but the love and concern in her eyes, nearly brought him to tears. He had her back. He saw her look around him at Gunny. "Is he okay Gunny? Where was he?"

"He was near the Mall ma'am. I think he's alright, just a bit shook up."

Harm wasn't listening to Gunny; he kept looking at Mac, even when she wasn't looking at him. He was suddenly fascinated with everything about her, her body language, her hands reaching for his arm, her head tilted toward him. It seemed to him that everything she was doing told him she was his. His wife. He reached for her arms and turned her more fully toward him. He cupped her face in both of his hands, anyone else in the room forgotten. "Mac�do you know me? Are you real?"

"Yes, come on we've got a lot to tell you. It's going to be alright." She started to lead him toward the closed double doors of their den, but Harm stopped her, pulling her firmly into his embrace. Her face colored slightly, when she looked at Gunny and nodded toward the den. "Gunny, you can join the others in the den. We'll be in, in just a moment."

He had heard her answer him, and thought to ask her, who else was here, but then he heard the voice of his daughter from the top of the stairs. Harm could not keep from calling out to her. "Zara!"

"Daddy!" There she stood peeking at him over the stair rails, the image of her mother, except for green of her eyes. She was the first living breathing evidence that he had lived and loved Mac and that she had loved him in return.

"Baby, come down here," Tears welled in his eyes and his chin trebled with emotion, he couldn't wait to get his arms around her.

She ran down the stairs and flew into her fathers arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing tightly. "I'm better Daddy, no more tennchipur"

He kissed her forehead and laughed, with tears flowing down his cheeks, unchecked. "I'm so glad, baby"

"What's the matter Daddy?"

"Nothings the matter, honey. Daddy's just glad to see you."

Harm was suddenly aware that Mac had stepped away from him. "Mac� where are you going?" He never wanted her to leave his sight again. He heard it then, the reason she had left him, it was the familiar sound of a sleepy and cranky toddler. She went quickly to little Jack's room upstairs. As Mac was coming back down, with him, Harm stood looking at them in wonder. It was like seeing them for the first time.

Little Jack pointed in his direction; his little cherub face was in a pout. "My Daddy, want my Daddy�.now!"

Harm went quickly to her, pulling both Mac and little Jack, along with Zara, into his arms. The toddler reached for his father, determined to be held, by him. Harms mind and heart were reeling. The most overriding thought that played over and over again in his head, was this. They all knew him and loved him; nothing anyone ever did would change that. Harm kept looking at Mac, unable to believe the recognition that he saw there. She was his again� they all were.

"Honey, are you alright?" Mac worried as she smoothed his hair back, a gesture so comforting that Harm grasped her wrist, to hold her hand in place. He could only nod his answer.

Little Jack was pushing away to get down, suddenly wide awake and raring to go. Zara took him by the hand to help him walk down the stairs with her. "Come on Jack, let's go see Jennifer."

Harm took Mac back into his arms and kissed her passionately, not caring who could see them as the doors of their den swung open wide.

Mac couldn't keep from laughing and blushing profusely, "Harm�honey� wait... I need to tell you�it's going to be alright." She didn't have time to explain, the best way was to allow him to watch as things unfolded, everyone was waiting.

Harm laughed along with her, but didn't stop. He kept kissing her, her cheeks, her eyes and Mac was trying to pull away.

Their door bell rang and Mac did pull out of his arms to answer the door. It was Commander Lindsey and Commander Tracy Manetti .Lindsey and Manetti had been dispatched to the Rabb's at the request of the SecNav.

After Lindsey had informed the SecNav of the Washington Globe article that a 'friend' who had 'connections' told him about, the SecNav told Lindsey he wanted Rabb taken into custody tonight. Sheffield wanted him to handle it personally; Lindsey thought this was going to be one hell of a feather in his cap.

It rankled Lindsey a bit to have to do this on Christmas Eve, but considering the result of this little visit, it would be worth it. Lindsey had wondered why Commander Manetti was to accompany him tonight, but no matter. He just wanted to get it over with and get on with his plans, to get back to JAG and all that he perceived, had been stolen from him.

Mac invited them in and Harm turned, greeting them all, with an almost silly lopsided grin.

He nodded toward Commander Manetti, greeting her and then reaching for Lindsey's hand, shook it and wished him the hardiest Merry Christmas he could muster. He was so glad to be in his own life, that even the existence of Teddy Lindsey couldn't take away the joy of it.

Lindsey gave him a tight lipped smile and thought 'Merry Christmas to you�in Leavenworth'.

Mac began to lead them all into the den and much to Harm's surprise; the room was full of nearly everyone who was important to him. He looked around the room�stunned and truly touched.

The Admiral was here, with the SecNav. Bud and Harriet Roberts stood near them with, Jennifer Coates and Gunny. On the other side of the room, stood his mother and Frank, with another man who looked strangely familiar to him. Then as Harm scanned the rest of the room he looked curiously at some people whom he didn't think would be here.

Loren Singer stood with Deputy Director Kershaw? Then as quickly as worry crept up on him, he dismissed it. He was home, that's all that mattered.

The voice of the SecNav pulled him from his reverie. "Are we all here?"

Commander Lindsey was surprised to see that the SecNav was here, waiting for them. Why had he not told him he would be here as well? Commander Lindsey was beginning to get a really bad feeling that his Christmas was about to take a very unexpected turn.

He turned toward the doors of the den and Gunny closed them. The SecNav began immediately, taking a folded newspaper out of his overcoat pocket.

He opened and turned toward Commander Lindsey, looking at him over his spectacles. "Do you know anything about this?"

Lindsey looked up at Loren Singer, who averted her eyes toward Deputy Director Kershaw. Something was terribly wrong here and Teddy Lindsey knew for a fact that he wasn't going to like it.

"No." He lied.

"Are you sure?" The SecNav walked over to Loren Singer and stood beside her, he looked knowingly at Commander Manetti, who still stood beside Commander Lindsey.

"No sir, I don't know anything about it." He looked quickly at Manetti and stepped away from her. Lindsey would have been very surprised to learn of a conversation that Manetti and Loren Singer had. It had been very enlightening.

Deputy Director Kershaw had heard enough, He walked over to Lindsey and stood in front of him, he took two pictures out of his inner breast pocket of his jacket. "Commander Lindsey, do you recognize anyone in these pictures?"

"How did you�.." Commander Lindsey stopped speaking, knowing if he said more, he would land in worse trouble than he was already in.

"It seems Lieutenant Singers 'friend' at State, was actually a good friend of ours, as well as being acquainted with Edward Hardy." Kershaw gave him a smug smile.

Commander Lindsey saw pictures taken the day he had picked up the manila envelope on the Jefferson Bridge, from a person he believed was Edward Hardy. The 'gift' that was too good to be true, really had been.

The SecNav spoke again, "It appears�Teddy�that your ambition, led you right into the middle of a bigger investigation. We were looking for a rogue agent; imagine our surprise when we found that you were assisting him in covering up the murder of another colleague."

"Murder? I don't know anything about that." Lindsey looked at Singer. "Tell them! You know!"

The Admiral, "Lieutenant Singer has told us what she knows, and now thanks to her association with you, she has problems of her own."

Sheffield looked at Manetti, then again at Lindsey. "We've been doing a bit of investigating of our own, in tandem, you might say, with your investigation. It seems you have a credibility problem, Commander, at least when it comes to JAG. To say your view of the conduct of JAG staff is skewed, would be an understatement. You should really stop listening at doors and peeking through keyholes."

Gunny and two other Marines, who up until now, had been waiting outside, stepped up behind Lindsey. "Take him, and his friend." Secretary Sheffield ordered sternly.

Commander Lindsey and Lieutenant Loren Singer were dispatched from the Rabb's home, to the brig in the Washington Navy Yard, forthwith. The Lieutenant's testimony would ensure that she had a much shorter stay than Commander Lindsey, though they would both be civilians upon their release. The sad thing was that Loren, upon her release, would more than likely, be able to pass the bar, in some unsuspecting state and open her own practice on an unsuspecting public.

The SecNav and Commander Manetti followed not far behind, them. "If you'll all excuse us. We have a Christmas Eve service to attend, Commander Manetti's father and I have never missed a Christmas." He smiled at the Commander as they made their way to the door.

Mac was still concerned about the Washington Globe and ZNN. "What about the newspaper reports, and the 24 hour news cycle?"

Bud walked over to their television and turned it on. "Look at this." The ticker on the bottom of announced a new alert. "Former ZNN reporter Chuck DePalma debunks premature reporting of 'spy ring.'"

Harm smiled, thinking that DePalma had come through for them, again.

The Admiral spoke up, "He's promised to give them an interview, to 'clear up' the matter." He smirked, "It's pretty lucky that newspapers are a lot more 'gunshy' than they used to be. If there is even the slightest chance of this being a false report, then the Globe wont touch it with a ten foot pole. There may be a need to follow up on the story, but DePalma will at least keep that edition of the Globe from being published the day after Christmas. We'll leave damage control to the SecNav's office. Lindsey is their problem, not JAG's." Admiral Chegwidden shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows, maybe the SecNav will throw Lindsey to the wolves. The charges against Lindsey alone, should be fodder for a lot of airtime and newspaper print. It would serve him right."

The Admiral shook Harm's hand and said his goodbyes, ending with, "After Mac and I spoke and I talked with the SecNav, and everything just seemed to come together. You had more going for you than you knew, son."

Harm could only nod, grateful for the older man's support, wondering how he could have ever thought of giving up.

As the Roberts' made their way to the door, Bud looked at Harm with a shamefaced expression. "Sir, I'm so sorry for my part in this, I should never have said anything. I don't know what I was thinking."

Harm placed his hand on his shoulder, still so happy to have his old friend back. Harm shook his head and reassured him. "You were only speaking to someone you thought was a friend and colleague. Don't worry Bud."

Harm watched, still holding on to Mac, still not quite believing that his nightmare was over. It was as though he was outside himself, watching this unfold.

His mother and Frank approached him, along with the man Harm was still couldn't quite place.

His mother spoke first. "Darling, it's going to be alright, Mac has contacted nearly everyone you know, and they won't let these lies stand. You have a great many people here�all over the country really, who care about what happens to you." She turned and looked at Frank and he placed an arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

Frank spoke to Harm, "Do you remember Hugh Blackadder, son?"

Now, he did remember, he had brought him and Mac the money they needed to search for his father while they were in Russia. "Yes sir, I do." He reached for Mr. Blackadder's hand and shook it.

"I've been instructed to tell you that Mr. Lewis will speak with anyone on your behalf, he will testify as to the nature of his communication with your father, in Vietnam and in Russia."

Harm felt his knees nearly give way; this would clear his fathers name and his own. Harm could barely speak for the lump forming in his throat. "Thank you sir, and�please tell Sam that I am in his debt."

"He says to tell you that he is fulfilling a promise that he made to your father, almost 25 years ago. He said you would know what he means."

Harm did remember. In 1980, the then, Viktor Lushov had promised his father that if he ever got to the United States that he would tell his wife and son that he was alive. He did not keep that promise until Harm found him, living as Sam Lewis, in 1998, working for Consolidated Aircraft in California.

Harm pulled Mac more tightly to his side. "I do know�and again, thank you, sir."

Harm's mother kissed his cheek and Harm saw the happiness in her eyes and maybe for the first time was grateful for Frank's steadfast influence on her life, and his own. Their lives continued to be full and happy, just the way his father would have wanted it. They bid each other good night as they all began to file out of the Rabb home. Each coming to Harm and wishing him a Merry Christmas, each time Harm felt grateful for the privilege of having them in his life. All the while Harm held on to the center of his life, his wife Mac, his children, never out of his sight.

As the last guest left, Harm and Mac saw three men coming quickly up the walkway. Harm tensed, fearing this was a beautiful dream and that he would be taken away from them all. As the three men step into the light Harm was startled by who stood before him and blinked, trying to clear his vision.

It was Clayton Webb, and with him his best friend Jack Keeter. Between them stood a young man who looked to be in his early 20's. Lindsey had told him that Webb had been killed in Paraguay; it had pained him to think he would never see his friend again.

"Webb? I thought you were�.Lindsey said you were."

"Don't believe everything you hear Rabb. You should know better than that." Webb looked at him with the same sardonic smile that he always seemed to wear. "I've been out of the country for some time, following up on something I think you might be interested to know.

Keeter grinned, not able to stay quiet any longer. "You know I had to hunt him down, after Mac called I figured he owed you a few favors�at least."

"I think this will go a long way toward 'favors owed'." Webb gave Jack a sidelong glance.

Harm was grinning from ear to ear, he was so glad to see them both. He then turned his attention to the young man that had accompanied them. "Who's your friend?"

At that moment the young man stepped forward, looking only at Harm. "I am Sergei Zhukov, and you are Harmon Rabb Jr�.. my brother."

Harm felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him, it was really true, what Lieutenant Clarence had said. He had a brother. He extended his hand and clasped Sergei's in a firm grip. "Hello." Harm was overcome. When Harm clasped his brother's hand, he felt an indescribable connection, a connection to his father. A connection he was sure that, though he didn't know Sergei very well yet, would be unbreakable.

Mac's voice was warm and reassuring in this awkward moment. "Please, all of you come in."

As they all made their way back into the den, Mac closed the door, causing the bell inside their Christmas Wreath to jingle. Upon hearing it, Zara, who stood on the steps with her brother watching this unfold, felt she should make an announcement to them all.

"Daddy, did you know that Jennifer says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."

Harm turned to his children and scooped them both up in his arms. "That's right." He looked up at nothing in particular and said" 'Atta boy, Clarence."

Mac took a very sleepy Little Jack from his arms. "Clarence?"

"Just thinking about a friend of mine, I'll tell you about him sometime." He kissed her cheek, giving her a sly grin.

In the heavens above Northern Virginia�.

Lieutenant Clarence stood looking down at his handiwork; he stood taller and prouder now that he had his wings. It may have taken the better part of one hundred years, but he had done it.

"Congratulations, Lieutenant Clarence." The newly 'winged' angel heard someone speaking.

The lieutenant smiled and turned to see who was congratulating him. It was the man he had seen earlier in this journey. Commander Rabb's father. "Why thank you, sir."

"Great job." The elder Rabb smiled at Lieutenant Clarence and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks." He turned and began to walk further up into the heavens with him. "Now you won't have to worry about your sons anymore, they're together."

The elder Rabb nodded. "I suppose I can stop worrying, at least until Little Jack starts flight school."

FIN

A/N: I know, I added the little part about Harm Sr. and Clarence but I always thought that in the story, he had to want them to be together. Love that strong doesn't die. I think that the people we love, that go before us, look down on us, and watch over us, somehow. It's probably not the most sophisticated way to think about this, but since this is a Christmas story and AU to boot, I thought I would just go for it. Even if I am a couple of months late. (Smile)

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