Partners in all things
Sam released an audible sigh and said, "Harm, you better not stop this till I tell you too, otherwise I will have you brought up on charges of dereliction of duty."
Harm laughed, "Yes Ma'am. Found anything yet?"
"No. I just have this feeling that there is something we are missing. I just don't know what. But it has to be here in this information we have, somewhere."
"Speaking of somewhere, where's Brumby and Mac?"
"They've gone out for dinner," said Sam who felt Harm stopped he massaging for a brief moment.
"Speaking of eating, when was the last time you had something to eat?" asked Harm.
"Oh, I would say about the same time you had something to eat," said Sam.
"Okay then, how about we drop off everyone out there in the other room," said Harm nodding towards John, Webb who is on the phone, Meg sitting at a computer and AJ. "And I'll take you to one of those seafood restaurants on the Harbour with a view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge."
"Are you asking me out on a date, Commander Rabb?"
"Yes I am Commander Collins."
"mmmm…….Seafood restaurant with a waterside view, sounds nice. It's a date."
"Okay, let's go," said Harm as they picked up the information and started to head towards everyone else.
"So where's Commander Brumby and Colonel McKenzie?" asked AJ.
"I believe that they've gone to dinner AJ," said John.
"Yep! Rumor has it that it's a romantic dinner," said Meg.
"Really? Well I would say that those who have bets placed for that combination are looking pretty good then. Wouldn't you agree Lieutenant?" said AJ.
"Yes sir, it looks that way. In fact I would say that those who placed a bet with regards to Commander Rabb and Collins are looking pretty good at the moment also sir," said Meg looking at Harm massaging Sam's shoulders.
Webb got off the phone with a worried look on his face. "You are not going to believe this. I just found out that the body that the CIA thought was Steve Travis is actually someone else. What's more there is no trace of Steve Travis anywhere."
"What? Okay, this sheds a different light on things. There is more going on here than we originally thought," said John.
"What do you mean by that sir?" said Harm as he and Sam walked over the group.
They brought Sam and Harm up to date with the news that Webb had found. While everyone else was talking about this new piece of information, Harm was thinking.
"This is going to sound a bit far fetch but what if Pang isn't dead?" said Harm.
"But we know he's dead," said John.
"No, actually we don't. No one but Steve saw Pang dead. We just took his word that Pang was," said AJ.
"Yes. Now it's all making sense. Pang was part of the CIA because of his knowledge of the different rituals of the different Asian cultures. We've been assuming that it was a group of people when in fact it was just one person," said Sam.
"But why? It doesn't make sense," said John.
"Maybe it has to do with the fact that Pang thinks that you all left him behind to defend himself and it's his way of revenge," said Harm.
There was beep from the computer that Meg was working at. Meg turned to the information, which was displayed on the screen. "Actually, there maybe another reason why. I have connected to the CIA server and did a little searching. It came up with this."
"Hold on, were did you get the password for access into the CIA mainframe?" asked Webb but nobody paid any attention to him.
"Interesting. It seems as though Pang had reported to person in charge of the CIA at the time in Vietnam, that Mr Travis was involved with the Northern Vietnamese. He wasn't sure if anyone else was involved but after Pang had died an investigation was carried out but there wasn't anything to link Travis to the Northern Vietnamese, so nothing was done," said Harm. "Maybe Travis knew that Pang was onto him and the mission you went on was a nice way of getting rid of Pang without anyone finding out any more."
"Okay, considering that this is all speculation, what do we do now?" asked Webb.
"Well I vote that we all get some sleep, that is after we have something to eat. Whats more AJ and I both feel that it would be safe for everyone if we stayed in one place. I spoke with Mic before he and the Colonel left and he will be bringing both of them back to my place," said John.
"Okay, I will take Harm and Webb back to the Hotel and meet you all at home," said Sam.
"Okay then let's do it people," said AJ.
Mac was having a perfect evening. She and Mic had been getting closer everyday that she spent here in Australia and the romantic setting that Mic had organised make this trip all the more special. Mic had organised for one of the restaurants at the Opera House to be open and they had the harbour as the backdrop as they danced on the piazza outside the Opera House.
Mic was pleased with himself, the evening was everything that he hoped it would be and he felt that it was the right time for give Mac the gift he bought for her when he knew she was coming to Australia. "Mac, I know that you consider me a good friend and I'm really grateful for that. And I'm not pressuring you in any way but I just want to give you something to let you know how much I care for you."
Mac looked at Mic with a surprised look on her face. "Mac, as I said, I'm not pressuring you in anyway so this isn't a proposal. It's just a man wanting to give the woman he considers a friend, and thinks he is falling in love with, a gift," said Mic as he pulled out jewellery box from his pants pocket. He opened the box to reveal a beautiful necklace with a heart shaped black opal in the centre.
"Mic, it's beautiful."
"I'm glad that you like it. Let me put it on you." Mac turned her back to Mic and he placed the necklace on her.
Mac then turned back around and looked at the necklace. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," said Mic as he leaned forward and kissed her.
Sam was walked along the Collins' private beach when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Harm walking towards her.
"Sorry that our evening didn't turn out the way we planned," said Harm.
"It's okay. There are other evenings. Walk with me?"
They walked for a short distance in silence then Harm asked, "Sam, if you don't mind me asking, what is the history between you and Mic? I mean, he really seemed to be hurt when he found out that the Admiral was your godfather."
Sam sighed, "Mic and I had been seeing each other for about six months before he received word that he was to be transferred to JAG as part of the exchange program. Things unfortunately didn't work out and we had broken up before he received the transfer. I felt that it was best that neither Mic or Uncle AJ had preconceived ideas about each other so I never told Mic about Uncle AJ and Uncle AJ never knew that Mic and I were anything else but partners."
"Oh. So are you okay with the relationship between Mic and Mac that seems to be developing?"
"No more than you are."
Harm stopped walking, "What do you mean by that?"
Sam stopped walking and faced Harm, "Harm, when I told you tonight that Mic and Mac had gone out to dinner for a brief second you stopped massaging my shoulders. It was at that moment that I realised that you care for Mac in the same way that I care for Mic. And don't tell me that I'm wrong."
Harm was silent for a moment, "I do care for Mac. Hell, I love her but unfortunately by the time I realised this, Mac and Mic were already dating. Because I care for her so much and the fact that Mic makes her happy, I didn't feel I had the right to tell her."
Sam walked up to Harm, "We make a great pair, don't we?" said Sam.
Harm laughed, taking Sam into his arms and hugging her, "Yes we do. So tell me, if things with Mac and Brumby work out, what are you going to do?"
"Well I was thinking that I might ask this tall handsome lawyer, who by the way I suspect looks great in his dress whites and gold wings, to be my date for the wedding. Then I plan to sulk for the first 30 minutes or so with him and then say 'to hell with this' and have one hell of a good time."
"Sounds like a plan."
"I think so. So what are your plans if things work out with Mac and Mic?"
"Well first off I plan to say yes to being a certain RAN Commander's date to the wedding. After that, I might see if I can convince her to transfer to JAG in DC since we will be in need of a lawyer." Harm felt Sam laughed at that, then felt her move away from him.
"You know, we are going about this all the wrong way. We are thinking so negatively it's not funny," said Sam.
"You're right. We have to stop doing that. I mean after all, it may not happen," said Harm.
"That's right, so no more of this negative outlook on life Commander," said Sam with a very stern look on her face.
"Yes Ma'am," said Harm, laughing.
"Hey, no laughing," said Sam now smiling. "I do have to say one thing, when I first saw you I thought to myself, 'great another Yank who thinks he's the only one who can save the world'. My apologies for that, I couldn't be more wrong. I'm glad that you came, otherwise who knows how long it would have been before we met. Don't ask me why, but outside of Mic, I can honestly say that I have never felt closer to a man before."
"I feel the same way, apart from Mac, I consider you my best friend. And as for your feelings when we first met, I think we are even. You see my first thoughts were, 'great another woman who thinks they have to prove themselves to every male military personnel that they meet', "said Harm.
Sam laughed, "I suppose I do somewhat react like that automatically. Sorry. Just do me a favour, don't start saying that we are like a brother and sister. There is nothing worse for a women who is friends with a man to hear."
"Really?" said Harm seriously.
"Yes," said Sam. "Oh Harm, please don't tell me that you said that to Mac." Harm looked away from Sam. "Why on earth would you say something like that?"
"It was the case of either saying that or letting Mac know how I truly feel about her. I couldn't do that to her, she and Mic had been seeing each other and she seemed happy."
Sam sighed, "Well the first thing you do, if the situation changes in our favour, is apologise for that comment and tell her your true feelings for her."
Mic was standing on the balcony of the Collins' home. He and Mac had arrived back at the Collins' home and Mac had just finished settling into her room when she found him out there. She had had a wonderful evening. As she walked up to him, she reflected on how lucky she is to get to know the real Mic Brumby and not the one he showed everyone else. The Mic Brumby whom she considered as a friend was a very loving, passionate and caring man and not the overconfident person that everyone else thought he was. She just didn't know what was stopping her from falling in love with him.
Mac walked up to Mic and put her arm around him, "Thank you for a wonderful evening."
"It was my pleasure," said Mic, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"Do you know where Sam and Harm are? They're not in the house with everyone else," asked Mac.
"They're on the beach, over there," said Mic as he pointed in the direction that he last saw Harm and Sam. Both Mac and Mic notice Harm and Sam in a tight embrace.
Mac smiled, " They make a really nice couple."
"Yes they do. Actually they would be good for each other."
"You know, Sam is the first woman that Harm has liked that I can honestly say is his equal. It's a pity that they live so far away from each other," said Mac
"It's vice versa about them being equals to each other and if it's meant to happen, then they will find a way. Just like us," said Mic.
"Hey Mac did you have a good evening?" asked Harm.
"I did. Mic somehow managed with everything going on to organise a very romantic evening. Sydney is such a beautiful place. You know, you should take Sam out to dinner where we went tonight, I'm sure she'll love it," said Mac.
"You are trying to matchmake me Colonel?" said Harm.
"What! Don't be ridiculous. I was just making a suggestion that's all. By the way, I like Sam so I really don't know why you would think I be match making the two of you," said Mac, with a smile.
"Really, I can't recall you ever making a suggestion like to with regards to any of the women who I dated," said Harm.
Using an expression that Mic once used, "Commander, you have tickets on yourself!" said Mac who then walked away, a smile starting to form.
Harm just stood there, surprised, "I've got what?"
Feedback is always welcome. Let me know what you think.
Go to Part 4
Back to Fan Fic page