Author: Hollyjp
Subject: Need to Know - May 2008 HBX Challenge

Need to Know

The Challenge lines for May 2008.
Harm: Why didn’t you tell me?
Mac: Need to know?
Harm: Well, I guess I needed to know.
(Empty Quiver)


Need to Know

Author: Hollyjp

Angst/Drama/Humor/Romance

One glorious night to cap off nine years of dancing. It was the way that Mac looked back on the one night she and Harm had let go and been honest with one another about their feelings. Or at least she had.

Harm was being Harm once again. He had left for London promising to stay in touch and help her find a way to make this thing between them work.

The coin toss had been a farce. The way things were in the country, top officers with good skills weren’t going to be let out easily. They had been given a promise to station them near one another as soon as possible, but Mac knew that was just to quiet them and get them to their new appointments as planned.

Mac was enjoying life on the west coast for the most part. She had found officers quarters near the beach. She had a deck just right for a small grill, two lawn chairs and a bistro table. She could step off the deck and take a run on the beach everyday if she wanted. She usually did. Last weekend, she had taken a long run, found herself eating lunch with the woman she thought might be her mother-in-law some day, and accepted a ride home with what would be her step-father-in-law. Trish and Frank Burnett had been thrilled to have Mac stop by for a visit.

“I knew Harm loved you, I think even before he knew it, Mac,” Trish had shared. “He always talks about you with such pride and joy.”

“Not exasperation?” Mac chuckled.

“Maybe once or twice,” Frank added in, “But then we just point out to him that we love him even though he’s not perfect and he’s pushed us to the limits a few times over the years.”

“I tell him his revenge will be having his own child and having to go through all the things he put us through,” Trish laughed again.

Mac had found a smile somewhere for that exchange. She didn’t think the Burnett’s were aware that her chances for getting pregnant were slim due to the endometriosis. She and Harm still were holding out hope for a pregnancy, or at least Mac was. Harm, well she didn’t know as she hadn’t heard from him in three weeks now. Maybe there was a new blonde on his arm these days.

Mac didn’t want to go there. She thought they had gotten past jealousy and doubt, yet the past two days Mac found those kind of thoughts were creeping in again. Nothing that she dwelled on, but fleeting thoughts that she refused to accept and readily dismissed. Mac decided a run on the beach would help her figure out what needed to be done to get things moving in the directions they were suppose to go - such as planning a wedding.

By the time she returned, she had a plan in place and grabbed the phone to initiate the first step.
Hanging up the phone from her first call, she grinned with delight as she placed the second one.

Airline ticket purchased, she grabbed her suitcase and started packing. She decided to pack the white sun dress she had recently purchased on sail, thinking it could double as a wedding dress if necessary. She really hoped that she’d find something else once she arrived in London. At the last minute she decided to call Trish and Frank. They might just decide to fly to London too for the surprise of Harm’s life - his wedding!

Leaving a message on the answering machine, she did one last check of her quarters before she stepped out the door to embark on her journey just as the taxi arrived. When she returned, she hoped she would be none other than Mrs. Harmon Rabb Junior!

By the time Mac had landed she had worked herself up into a bundle of nerves. She had been felt lousy during the flight and it got worse as she flew toward Harm and her wedding day - she hoped.

During the flight she had imagined all kinds of scenarios upon her arrival - none of them good. While most people would fear finding him with another woman, she thought she knew him better then that. She hoped. She hoped he hadn’t made a decision without her regarding a marriage between them. That would be more like Harm.

Then there was the scenario that she arrived to find him in the hospital injured and unable to respond to her or anyone. Or the one where he had been shipped out to the Middle East. .. or sent undercover... or thrown in prison. Mac sighed exhausted and sick with worry by the time the plane touched down at Heathrow.

Arranging for her luggage she turned her cell phone back on only to discover the battery level was too low to do her any good. Tossing it back into her bag, she went in search of a cab. Finding a one that was available, she gave him Harm’s London address and enjoyed the scenery trying to calm herself down and ease this unrest she was feeling.

Mac was impressed with the building the cabbie stopped in front of. Paying the man, she took her bags and headed for the door that appeared to be Harm’s. It was dark inside and quiet. She rang the doorbell and nothing.

Glancing back she saw the cab driver pull away and rang the bell again. Still nothing. Now what? She didn’t see an obvious place that he would keep a key so she peeked into the windows. The place looked empty! Panic began to set in. Forcing her Marine Corps trained self to kick in, she kept it together, walked to the taxi stand further down the street and fished out the address for headquarters.

Mac arrived and used her military identification to gain access to Harm’s division. A familiar looking yeoman greeted her, although she couldn’t place him right away.

“Yes, I’m looking for Captain Rabb. Is he available?”

“Captain Harmon Rabb, Colonel?” asked the young sailor.

“That would be the one,” Mac smiled.

“He’s no longer here Ma’am.”

“Where is he?”

“I couldn’t say, Ma’am. He said good-bye yesterday, thanked us for being patient with him, and wished well before he left. Are you the replacement Ma’am?”

“Replacement? You mean he didn’t just leave for a few days?”

“No Ma’am. We were told that his replacement would report today.”

Turning to hear what the commotion was behind her, she spotted a familiar face. “Sturgis?”

“Colonel Mackenzie! To what do we owe this pleasure?”

“No need for sarcasm, Captain Turner. I see you got a promotion too.”

“Yes, it seems that Captain Rabb wasn’t cut out for this tour of duty and requested an immediate transfer. I received my orders just over thirty-six hours ago.”

“So where is he?” Mac asked, now feeling a little foolish.

“No idea Ma’am.”

“May I make a phone call. My cell’s not working.”

“Go ahead...perhaps the yeoman can show you to an office to afford you some privacy.”

“That would be wonderful. Thanks.”


San Diego, California

“Mom, Frank, good to see you both. Thanks for coming to pick me up.”

“Glad to help out, son,” answered Frank as he shook Harm’s hand after Harm had hugged his mother.

“You didn’t let Mac know I was on my way home did you?”

“Of course not. I didn’t want to ruin your surprise of course,” Trish smiled up at him. There were times she couldn’t believe this giant of a man was her tiny baby...or at least once had been. He did however make her proud.

“Harm, you take my car so you can come and go as you’d like. We’ll take your mother’s car back to our place.”

“Thanks again Frank. You seem to be thinking of everything.” Harm slapped his step-father on the shoulder in a gesture of affection. Although they would never be as close as Harm and Harm Sr. Had once been when Harm was a little boy, as a mature adult he understood that Frank loved him as much as his own father had. The distance between them as father and son had come from Harm’s own reserve and refusal to let go of his father. Now that he had, they had an affection and respect that was very satisfying to both.

Harm hugged his mother, thanked Frank again and headed toward Mac’s quarters. He figured she would be getting home soon and he couldn’t wait to see her face and tell her his surprise.

Harm sat on the porch watching the sunset. Still no Mac. What on earth was holding her up. He had left his cell phone in the car with his luggage. He walked back to the car and got it out. He called her office and was told that Colonel Mackenzie was out of the office and wasn’t expected back for over a week.

“Over a week? Do you know where she is?” Harm asked disappointed that she wasn’t there for the big surprise.

“Sorry sir. Scuttlebutt is that she might be getting married,” the young clerk responded.

“Thanks...” Harm hung up in a daze. “How could she?” he muttered to himself as he climbed into the car and made the drive to his mother and Frank’s house. They had an agreement. Why couldn’t she wait just a few days more? He was ready. He wanted to marry her and he had set the plans in motion so they could get married and he wouldn’t have to leave to go back to England.

Harm had to find her and make sure that this wasn’t another roadblock to their happiness. He thought they had put their history of doubts and miscommunication behind them. He knew Mac loved him and he thought she knew he loved her. He had to find her and straighten this nightmare out.

Arriving at the Burnett residence he saw his mother and Frank just entering the house.

“Harm? Where’s Mac?” Trish asked hurrying toward him.

“Don’t know. She wasn’t home so I called her office. She’ll be gone this week they said.”

“Where did she go son?” Trish asked seeing the stricken look on her son’s face.

“I don’t know where to start trying to locate her. I couldn’t get an answer on her cell phone. Maybe Harriet talked to her. I’ll call her next,” Harm muttered as he punched in the Roberts’ number as he followed his mother and Frank into their house.

Trish leaned into Frank’s arms. They watched the emotions play across his face as they listened to his side of the conversation. Apparently the Roberts’ family had no idea where she was either.
“Nothing Harm?”

“They haven’t heard from her since last week. Who else can I call?” Harm pondered. “I know...” Yet Fifteen minutes later he still knew nothing after talking to Mattie, Chloe, and Jennifer Coates.

Suddenly Trish wandered out onto the patio motioning to Harm. “You need to hear this message Harm... It’s from Mac!”

“Is she okay?”

“Just listen to it son.” Trish advised, smiling.

“Trish, Frank, This is Mac. I’m not sure how you’ll feel about this - heck I’m not sure how Harm will feel about this - but I’m off to London and I have every intention of marrying Harm this weekend while I’m there. I know its last minute, but if you get this and can see your way clear to join us in London, I know it would mean the world to him to have you at our wedding. If not, we’ll understand. Wish me luck with Mr. Stubborn. Talk to you soon. Bye.”

“Wedding?”

Frank and Trish each laughed in delight as they watched Harm’s stunned expression. “Son, I think you’re suppose to be in London getting married about now.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Harm groused.

“I think it’s called a surprise, Harm,” chuckled Frank.

“I’m surprised all right...but I have a feeling Mac’s going to be even more surprised.”

“You could be right. How will you get a hold of her?”

“I’ll call the office and see if she stopped there. If she did, then someone can tell her where I am so she can come home.”

“Harm, maybe you should go to London and get married before you come home. Sounds like Mac’s gone to some trouble to pull this off.”

“You’re right. Will you be here in case she calls?”

“Of course son.”

“Just tell her to stay put and I’m on my way.” Harm was out the door and on the way to the airport, his cell phone to his ear.


London, England

Thanks to Sturgis and the staff in London, Mac was able to stay in temporary officers quarters for the night. She had tried the Burnett’s home phone and found it busy the night before and then tried Harm’s cell phone only to be put directly into his voice mail. She had finally fallen asleep without having talked to him. Arriving back at the office to make another attempt before she cancelled the arrangements, she was greeted by a sheepish looking Captain Turner.

“I’m under orders to keep you here in my sight.”

“Whose orders?”

“Your future husband’s I believe.”

“Harm? You talked to Harm?” Mac asked smiling once again.

“Actually no, he left a message for you on the voice mail. It said that if you showed up we were to tell you to wait here for him. He’s on his way here for the wedding and honeymoon.”

“How did he find out? It was suppose to be a surprise.” Mac explained to Sturgis.

“It sounds like everyone got a surprise. He is referring to your wedding, right?” Sturgis probed.

“Of course. Of Sturgis, after everything you don’t think I would dump Harm now, do you?” Mac asked.

“It’s not what I think you need to be concerned about, Mac. You planned a wedding without the man knowing. Don’t you think he needed to know?”

“Then how could I surprise him?” Mac challenged.

“Never mind. I don’t want to know and I don’t want to get caught up in the drama with you two again. Feel free to use the extra office. I’m sure we’ll all know when Harm arrives.”

Mac began going through her notes and checking the time. Not sure what time he would get here, she figured out what the deadline would be before she needed to start cancelling her plans. Her stomach growled sometime later, at about the same time she heard a disturbance in the hall around the corner.

“Mac?” Harm called as he hurried in the directions his staff for a short time pointed him.

“Hi,” she smiled looking up at his larger than life persona framed in the doorway. His coat flapped behind him, his eyes had dark circles under them. His hair, as short as it was, stood on end where he’d run his fingers through it. But he looked pretty wonderful to her about now.

“Mac, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Need to know?” she said, remembering another time she had used those same words to him while she had been acting JAG and he’s been acting like himself.

As he had before he responded, “Well, I guess I needed to know. I’m sorry I wasn’t here Mac...but I was kind of planning my own surprise for you.”

“You were?”

“Yeah...I convinced them I was better suited to take over at the justice school then be a diploimat in London. They agreed and I’m now stationed right in San Diego.”

“So you were traveling home while I was coming here?” Mac asked.

“Yeah...”

“Guess I needed to know to, huh?” Mac smiled at her fiancé.

“Guess so. Forgive me?”

“Come hug me and I might,” Mac laughed reaching for him as she stood up.

So Harm took her in his arms and welcomed her home, into his arms and his life.

“You know, Harm,” Mac said a few heartbeats later as she eased her upper body back to look at his eyes and mouth once again, “You could have told me what you were up to as well, then I wouldn’t have been going crazy thinking you found someone else.”

“You didn’t really, did you?” Harm asked. It would not be good if they each had doubts about the other still.

“Not really, but it did cross my mind for a second. I realized that you wouldn’t do that to me.”

“I know what I mean. When I was told you were getting married this weekend, I thought for a split second that you’d decided not to wait for me again.”

“And you thought I was wrong to think about you taking up with another bimbo!” Mac squeaked in a very un-Mac like way, as Harm once again guided her toward his chest and lowered his lips to hers.

“Like you it was a passing thought, Mac...then I thought about how good we are together and knew you wouldn’t do that to us.”

“Good save, Sailor.”

“So about our wedding...you going to fill me in?” Harm asked as he wrapped her against him and held on.

“Well, if you want to marry me this weekend, I have made arrangements for two o’clock this afternoon. Nothing fancy, just before a judge...”

“That sounds perfect. Why don’t we go find a hotel and get checked in. We can change there.”

At two o’clock, Captain Harmon Rabb Junior and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie were married in the judges chambers with Trish and Frank Burnett as their witnesses. Harm’s parents had made the trip just in time. Frank Burnett presented Mac to Harm before the judge began instructing them in saying their vows. They had asked him to add one key exchange to their vows. Harm had made the promise first.

“I, Harmon Rabb Junior, promise to love, honor, cherish and keep you informed of the things you need to know, from this day forth, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, as long as we both shall live.”

Mac repeated the same vow back to him bringing smiles to everyone. It would be a story to tell their children some day.

Harm slipped a gold band on Mac’s ring finger with a diamond cut pattern that made it sparkle nearly as much as her engagement ring. Mac slid a plain gold band on Harm’s ring finger. It was done. They were married and about to embark on a honeymoon before they settled in San Diego in Mac’s quarters until they were able to find the house they wanted. Mac and Harm both prayed that they would be filling the house with children soon.

(Author's Note: I'm working on a follow-up piece for this one. It's working title, Still Need to Know. Not sure when I'll have it finished but will post it as soon as its done.)