Author: usmgrad
Subject: HBX May 2008 Challenge - Full Disclosure - conclusion of Feb. 2008 challenge "Someday"

May 2008 Challenge

Title: Full Disclosure - conclusion of February 2008 Challenge "Someday"
Author: usmgrad
Disclaimer: the characters are borrowed; some of the lines are borrowed; but the story idea is mine.

"Someday" (February 2008 challenge) took place at the end of the episode Guilt (October 2001). As Harm waits to hear if Mac is safe in Indonesia he makes a confession to her in an email but doesn’t send it. What would happen if Mac received the email?




A few weeks after the Jag-a thon, November 2001
Late Friday evening, JAG ops


Mac entered Harm’s office with a piece of paper in her hand and a puzzled look on her face.

“What is this?” she asked holding it up so he could see it.

At the sound of her voice he looked up, "a piece of paper?”

“Thank you,” she said sarcastically.

"Did you need anything else?" He asked when he realized she wasn't leaving.

Placing the paper on top of the open file on his desk “I meant what’s on the paper.”

Mac waited.

Harm read it and turned pale.

Starring at the paper, he whispered, “Where did you get this?”

“It was in my email” she thought it was obvious.

He was confused. “But I didn’t send it.”

Afraid maybe she had made a mistake, “Isn’t it from you?”

Shaking his head yes partly to answer her question, but also trying to shake some sense in what was happening, “I wrote it.”

Taking the paper from Harm, Mac asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Harm was unable to think, he looked up slowly, not knowing what to say. “I don’t . . . need to know?”

Mac smiled a sad smile, "Well, all things considered, I guess I needed to know.” She turned to leave the office.

"Mac . . . wait.” Harm started to stand and stop her from leaving.

Turning slightly at the door Mac looked back and said, “Read your email Harm.”

"What?" He sat back down. He was having trouble putting two thoughts together that made any sense. How did she get that email? Who could have possibly sent it without him knowing about it? And why was she unhappy about it? A flashing on his computer caught his eye, it was a new message alert. He opened it to discover an email from Mac, subject - Full Disclosure. What was going on?


To: flyboy@gmailcom
From: jarhead@gmail.com

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am providing you with information not previously disclosed.

If you can't give me a ride home after you read this I'll understand.



February, 2000

Harm,

Tonight didn't go exactly as I had hoped. I blame myself actually. I know better than to discuss something personal with you when you're working, and that’s what you were doing tonight, working. It’s one of the things I admire most about you, your dedication to your work, to finding the truth.

I’m enjoying watching you in the courtroom. Even here in Australia you are a force to be reckoned with. Mic doesn’t stand a chance, even with his home court advantage! I guess you were right, location doesn’t change who we are.

Did I tell you how nice you looked tonight? Who am I kidding you look nice in anything you wear, jeans, BDU's, summer whites, winter blues. By the way, what I said about dress whites and gold wings - I lied. The only thing I don't like to see you in is a flight suit. If you have on a flight suit it means you are going to fly and that scares me. It's not that I don’t trust your abilities, I do; you've always come back, jet jock attitude flying high. It's just . . . I'm scared that one day you won't come back. I don’t know if I could survive losing my best friend.

This makes twice now I’ve tried to have this conversation with you and both times it didn't end as I had hoped. Maybe I should stop trying. Maybe I’m just fooling myself into thinking there could be something between us.

Maybe I should just forget I'm in love with you and figure out what I’m going to do to get over you.




Harm sat there staring at his computer. Then the questions came. How could he have been so blind? Why didn't she say something? Why didn't he listen? Could they work things out now? Was he ready? Was she?

A small smile appeared on Harm's face and he knew exactly what to do. He hit the print key, shut his computer down, grabbed his cover and headed toward the door.

Out of the corner of her eye Mac saw him turn his light off and was sure he was headed home without her. She reached for the phone to call a cab.

“You ready to go?” he was standing at her door.

Surprised, Mac mumbled, “Uh, sure give me just a minute.”

Harm entered her office, his lawyer's demeanor quite obvious, “There’s a problem.”

“Look Harm if you don’t want to give me a ride home, I’ll call a cab.”

“That’s not it. The problem is with this” indicating the paper in his hand. “This is not full disclosure.”

“What?” she had no idea what he was talking about.

“Full disclosure is a legal requirement that seeks to balance the negotiating power of both parties to a transaction through equal possession of relevant information. It is a requirement that the whole truth must be told before a purchase is made or a contract is signed, so that the purchaser or signer is fully informed about the consequences of his/her decision.”

“I know what full disclosure is Harm." Mac was surprised at the direction the conversation was taking. Did he even read the email? And why was he treating her like a first year law student?

“The information you provided is almost two years old. How do I know it’s still relevant?”

“Harm I can’t believe . . .” he was going to argue with her about this?

Pointing to his email in her hand, “The information you received is only a month old. I think in all fairness we should both be in possession of current information.”

Mac paused, “Nothing has changed since that letter was written.”

Harm challenged, “Past actions would indicate otherwise counselor.”

Mac nodded understanding his objection, how could she answer him so he would understand?

“The views expressed in the evidence you have in your possession have not changed, even during the past actions.”

Harm nodded his head and smiled.

And there they stood, looking at each other; Navy commander and Marine Colonel, best friends, partners. Yet something had changed. The cover of denial had been lifted. Mac could finally see the love reflected in his eyes. No longer was it buried beneath the facade of best friend and military discipline. Harm could see her love for him expressed on her face as she realized he was not denying his love for her.

In all the past attempts, by him, by her, they had never made it to this point. Did they really want the same thing; at the same time? Did they need to rehash everything that had happened in the past six years; past lovers, former girlfriends, boyfriends? Would their careers get in the way? Have they finally found their way to each other?

Almost afraid to speak but knowing someone needed to say something Mac quietly asked, "What do we do now?"

Holding out his hand Harm declared, "Life's journey together begins with a single step. I'm ready, are you?"

Placing her hand in his, she smiled, "Yes."