Just another Thanksgiving Night?

Just another Thanksgiving night?
By Ellinor

this fic was written for a fic challenge on shipper@yahoogroups.

It had to include the following items:
turkey
pilgrim
pmupkin pie
fire extinguisher
chips & dip
football
1st aid kit
and whipped cream

***********

Thanksgiving Night 2002
Harm's apartment

As he couldn't spend Thanksgiving at Grams' farm this year, Harm has decided to invite Mac to share this particular evening with him. She was in a strange mood though he thought. A costumed night. She was coming back from a Thanksgiving show at Chloe's school and the parents had been asked to be disguised. When he asked her to come over, she told him to get himself a costume. But what kind? He looked in his closet; nothing could really be called a costume. Except maybe his Full Dress White. Mac was always falling for his whites. So he checked the turkey leg that was roasting in the oven, just for Mac, and went in the bathroom to take a shower. He had almost an hour before her coming. So he stayed along time under the hot water, letting it flow over his face and body. When he stepped out of the shower, he shaved his face and went in his room to put his underwear and T-shirt on, followed by his prettiest and fanciest white. For once, he thought, putting on his big medals and his sword belt. Hey, why not? He had put it twice in his life and he enjoyed the feeling of the sword on his side. He put his sword and white cap on his bed, he would put them on at the last minute. Meanwhile, he checked the turkey again, close to be ready. But when he turned, he did not notice his belt getting tucked in the oven's button and turning it to "maximum"...

He checked his watch and went back to his room to put his sword and cap on. Two minutes later, the doorbell rang and Harm opened the door on...

"Mac?"

"Good evening, Harm!"

Harm looked at her with wide eyes. And burst out laughing.

"Harm, it's not funny! It's a traditional outfit!"

Mac was dressed as a pilgrim woman, brown dress with long pleated skit, white collar and white bonnet.

"Stop it, Harm!"

"Sorry, Mac. I never thought you were a puritan!"

"And you, why the dress white? It's not a costume!"

"Well, it's all I had ready to wear. And I wore it only twice before. So it can be considered as a costume."

"You're cheating Harm, but well... here are the pies, sweet potatoes and pumpkin, along with the cranberry sauce. Harm, what do I smell? Turkey?!!"

"Well, you like roadkill, and it's traditional for Thanksgiving dinner… so I bought and cooked a small turkey leg, just for you."

"I never thought you could actually cook meat! Did you touched it?"

"With extreme repulsion. But well… you're worth it."

"That's sweet of you."

"What do you want to drink? I have orange, apple and grape juice."

"Grape will be fine."

They sat on the couch, talking and laughing.

Suddenly, Mac frowned her eyes and nose.

"Don't you smell something strange, Harm?"

"Except the turkey roasting in the oven? No, not really."

"I go check it."

"I'm comeing with you."

Harm opened the oven. A cloud of smoke escaped from the oven and both started to cough.

"What happened?"

"I don't know! Oh my God! Look, Harm, there're flames inside."

Harm ran to get the fire extinguisher and he sprayed the powder on the oven. Once the fire put out, Mac opened the windows to get the smoke outside. Snowflakes came inside, and so did the cold. Coughing and shivering, they looked at each other, and laughed.

"I can't believe what happened!"

"Me neither. The first time I try to cook meat, it turns into a disaster. I'm sorry, Mac."

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"Of course not! I'm not *that much* against meat!"

"What shall we do now? What about going to my apartment? The pies are still eatable, and I guess I have enough to make a soup."

She looked at Harm, his beautiful suit dirty and smelly.

"I must have some change for you, there."

So they went at Mac's. She gave him a T-shirt and a Marines sweater, and a pair of jogging pants. He came out of the bathroom, she was cuddling on the sofa, in a red pajamas.

"I made some hot cocoa. Want some?"

"Sure."

Suddenly, she saw him stretch his hand, as if it was painful.

"Harm, what is it? Are you hurt?"

"I guess so. I must have burnt myself when I opened the oven."

"Wait, I get my first aid kit."

"Thanks."

Mac put some cream and a bandage on his wound. He looked at her tenderly. She looked up and saw him. She caressed his hand, blushing slightly.

"Okay, sailor. In a few days, you'll be as good as new."

He put his hand to her cheek and kissed gently the other. Breathing deeply, she turned her head and their mouths touched. She closed her eyes and savored when he deepened the kiss. When they parted to take a breath, they avoided each other's eyes. She got up and went to the kitchen to fix anything she had to eat. Harm took the remote control and flipped through the channels till he saw a football game. From the kitchen, Mac heard Harm shout at the players along with the whole stadium. She sighed with a smile and took what she had prepared. She put everything on the table, bowls of sauce, bowl of chips, the pies on plates and a can of instant whipped cream.

"I found some chips, and guacamole. With the cranberry sauce, it's perfect for dipping."

"Thanks Mac."

"I also cut the pies."

Harm saw the whipped cream.

"What's for?"

"The pies."

"The pies? You eat pumpkin and sweet potato pie with whipped cream?"

"Well, Rabb, that's what my mom used to put an pies to make me eat them when I was a kid. I still can't eat pumpkin pie without whipped cream. Another weird thing about me!"

"There is not a single weird thing about you, Sarah."

Again, Harm looked at her very tenderly.

"Are you the Harmon Rabb I know? Two sweet things in two minutes, cooking meat, you must be an alien who took my sailor's body!"

Mac turned away, blushing, and looked at the TV.

"Let's watch the game! Go, team, GO!"

"What team are you supporting?"

"Any one. The one who wins!"

They laughed and kept their mind to the football. Most of it, that is... There was a little part of their minds thinking of what they could do with the whipped cream...

Undercover - Chapter 13 and Epilogue

from chapter 12

Jamie sists down in Mac's car and passes through the gate without trouble. The car vanishes into the night

*******************

Chapter 13

0724 local

Tuesday

JAG HQ

Admiral Chegwidden enters the building, steps into the elevator and goes up to the floor that houses his team's offices. Like every morning, he's the first to enter the bullpen. But it's the first time he finds one of his lawyers tied to a chair, in her underwear. Her first move is to the phone to call for an ambulance. Then he unties Mac and puts her on the floor. He checks her pulse, strong and slow and notices the big bump on her head. Mac starts to stir but doesn't wake up. At that moment, the admiral notices the basket full of paper, ink and glue.

*******************

0735 local

Tuesday

Harm's appartment

The ring of the phone wakes Harm up. He turns in his bed, the mind clouded by the sleeping pill. He takes a look at his clock and sits on the edge of his bed.

Harm – Hello ?

Admiral – Commander Rabb ? Where the hell are you ? Have you seen what time it is ?

Harm – I just woke up, Sir.

Admiral – Did you see Mac last night ?

Harm – No, I saw her last week just before she left for Aurora. Why do you ask Sir ?

Admiral – I found her this morning cuffed to a chair with a bump on the head. Bring your six right now.

Harm – Aye Aye, Sir.

Harm hangs up and rubs his eyes, trying to wipe out the remanants of sleep from his brain. After a cold shower, his ideas are somewhat in place ans he leaves for JAG HQ. Or he tries, his car is not in his parking space. He swears and calls a cab.

*******************

0812 local

Tuesday

JAG HQ

Harm is out of breath when he enters the bullpen. He sees everyone rather unnerved and shocked by what happened. Bud points to the admiral's office. Tiner shows him in.

Admiral – The hospital just called, Mac is awake.

Harm – Oh ! Thank God !

Admiral – But what she's saying doesn't make sense. She swears Commander Bond did that to her. I checked with the Marines at the gate. They say the Colonel arrived at 2315 and left at 2350 but they never saw Commander Bond. Can you explain that to me?

Harm – I don't understand either. I haven't seen Jamie... hum... Commander Bond this morning. Have you tried her cell ?

Admiral – Yes, and it's been disconnected.

Harm is flabbergasted.

Harm – It's getting more and more incomprehensible.

Admiral – And this is what I found near Mac.

The admiral tends the basket to Harm, who jumps and runs to his office. He comes back after just a minute.

Harm – All the paperwork of my FBI mission is missing.

Admiral – Mac said she saw Commander Bond destroy the documents herself but she didn't say why.

Harm – That would have been useful.

Admiral – Mac also said the Commander would not have hesitated to hurt her. Or even kill her.

Harm is shocked, unable to react. A supposed FBI Agent had threatened to harm and kill her partner and friend ?

Harm – Let's take it back from the beginning. Last night Commander Bond enters this office without being seen. She starts destroying my files on the case we're working on. A case supervised by the FBI. Mac surprises her, gets cuffed and knocked out. And you found her this morning. And what do the FBI say ?

Admiral – They say Agent Bond's real name is Susan Brown and that she disappeared without a trace. The Marines at the gate were the last to see her, and they mistook her for Mac.she was wearing her uniform and driving her car. She even wished them good night.

The phone rings.

Admiral – Chegwidden ! Ah... well... so noted, thank you.

He hangs up.

Admiral – The police just found Mac's car ten clicks from here in an alley, keys on the ignition. But no trace of this Susan Brown.

Harm - What I don't understand is why she acted that way. Hey, there are hidden micros in my office, the feds must have the recordings !

The admiral shakes the basket full of glue and stuff. They hear a rattling.

Admiral – I'm guessing she unplugged them.

Harm – I don't get it... Unless...

Admiral – Unless ?

Harm – Unless she's part of the op we were trying to take down.

Admiral – What op ?

Harm – I guess I can tell you now. We were following an unknown organisation who was stealing military equipment and secrets starting about two years ago. I had just found out who was behing the thefts, but I was still missing the head of the whole operation. Maybe she's it. But now, with all the files destroyed, it's going to be hard to prove anything.

The intercom rings.

Tiner – Admiral ?

Admiral – Yes Tiner ?

Tiner – Two FBI agents are here.

Admiral – Show them in.

The door opens and Harm recognises the agents he'd seen on Jamie's pictures.

Harm – Sean and Moore.

Becker – Sort of. We're Agents Becker and Tollan. We are looking for Agent Brown.

Harm and the Admiral look at each other.

Admiral – She injured one of my officers and destroyed evidence. If you don't find her, we will.

Becker and Tollan exchange a look.

Admiral – Gentlemen ?

Tollan – Commander Rabb, can we talk in private ?

Harm – I disclosed everything to Admiral Chegwidden. After Commander Bond, I mean Agent Brown disappeared, and the discovery of my partner, cuffed and injured, I thought he deserved to know.

Admiral – Take a seat, gentlemen.

Tollan – We just got the last piece of the puzzle. Yesterday afternoon, you found the name of the Number two in the organisation.

Harm – Melbourne.

Tollan – Yes. We spent the night following his footsteps. As a kid, he was in trouble with the law a lot. Until his mom got him into the GrandPa association where retired vets take care of... difficult teens. Susan Brown, whose name at the time was Jessie Vilandro, was also in the same association.

Becker – There, they met Mitchell Jones, a VietNam vet who became a private pilot. He's a very dangerous man, with no morals. He gave them pilot and sniper training, got Melbourne in the Navy and the SEALs, and her into the FBI.

Tollan – By the way, your partner was lucky, if Brown had wanted her dead, she wouldn't be here anymore. But she doesn't like to kill.

Becker - When Melbourne entered the Navy, Jones started to put his pawns into place and two years ago he asked him to retire and help with his organisation. Brown stayed behind in the FBI to monitor things.

Tollan - When we started to investigate, she somehow got in with us. Jones had given her a false identity that was so good that nobody saw through it.

Harm – And now ? The file is gone, we don't have any proofs anymore.

Becker – Actually, every night I entered this office to copy all new materials. Our file is complete, and FBI agents are arresting everyone involved as we speak.

Admiral – Well, that's a relief.

Tollan – We couldn't have done it without Commander Rabb.

Becker's phone rings.

Becker – Agent Becker... Yes ? ... Oh fucking shit !

He hangs up.

Becker – Jones had chartered a plane to fly him, Melbourne and Brown to Paraguay last night. Texas Rangers just found its remains outside of Austin. No survivor.

Harm – Oh my God.

Tollan – Well, it's gonna spare some taxpayers money.

Becker – Case is closed for good now. Commander Rabb, your country thanks you. If you ever get out of the Navy, the FBI has a spot for you.

Harm shakes his head.

Harm – Jamie, I mean... whatever her name was, she told me the same thing.

Becker – She had a habit of saying the right thing at the right time.

*******************

Epilogue

1632 local

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Mac's room

Harm knocks at the door.

Mac – Enter !

Mac is lying in bed, a white bandage over her head. She smiles.

Mac – Harm ! Please tell the doctors I'm good enough to go back home ?

Harm – What did the doctors say ?

Mac – That I have a small concussion and I need to stay for the night just in case. But I feel all right ! I want to go home, get Jingo back and read a good book !

Harm – You can do that tomorrow. In the meantime, I have something for you.

Harm shows her the bouquet he was holding behind his back.

Mac – Oh, it's beautiful ! Thank you Harm.

Harm – It's for you if you promise to stay here tonight.

Mac – All right.

Harm takes a seat and tells Mac all the story. Dinner is served and Harm is about to leave.

Mac – Harm, wait. Can you stay until I flall asleep ?

Harm – Of course.

He pulls the chair closer to the bed and takes Mac's hand into his. Once she's asleep, he takes it to his lips. He puts a kiss on its back and rubs it gently. Mac smiles in her sleep.

Harm – She was right about that too...

THE END

Undercover - Chapter 12

from chapter 11

Harm keeps taking notes.

Harm – Thank you Chief Petty Officer Mattews. You may go.

CPO Mattews – Aye Aye Sir.

He stands up at attention and leaves the room. Harm finishes writing on his pad, looking worried.

*******************

Chapter 12

2126 local

Thursday

Harm's appartment

Jamie is sitting down on the open couch, ready for the night. She's reading, with some soft music playing in the background. Harm opens the door. Jamie doesn't look up but greets him.

Jamie – Good evening, Harm

Harm – Good evening Jamie.

Jingo sits up and greets Harm with some nose bops. Jamie puts her book down.

Jamie – So, what news ?

Harm – Nothing. Nobody saw or heard anything. Like everything disappeard into thin air. But I know how the load got off the base.

Jamie – Really ?

Harm – There were some helo parachuting exercises the night after. But of course, nobody saw or heard anything either.

Jamie – That's a good start. It's the first real clue we have.

Harm – I have something else. Nothing concrete, but it's interesting. In three of the missing items cases, lieutenants from the same promotion were on duty the night it happened. I only have this coincidence, but it probably isn't one.

Jamie – It's a good lead.

A moment of silence.

Harm – Listen, Jamie... about what happened the other day... I'm really sorry about what I said.

Jamie – No, I'm sorry I reacted that way. I just had a call from Moore. It seems our bosses are getting antsy. They want to close this case as soon as possible. And I get that.

Harm – Me too. Okay, enough for tonight. I'm turning in too. Good night Jamie.

Jamie -Good night Harm.

*******************

1634 local

Monday

JAG HQ – Harm's office

Harm is bent over his files. Suddenly, his expression jumps from bored to intrigued. He flips through pages rapidly, checks his computer, looking more and more excited. Then he jumps up and goes to Jamie's office, closing the door behind him.

Harm – Jamie, I think I got it !

Jamie – What ? How ?

Harm – I know who their leader is !

Jamie looks shaken.

Jamie – Really ? Tell me !

Harm – You remember the detail that intrigued me, about the lieutenants from the same class who were on duty on the nights the thefts were commited ?

Jamie – Yeah. How does it all fit together ?

Harm – It's the key. I noticed every time there was a theft, a Navy officer was involved. But it was weird. Every offcier was from a different unit. No match in age, rank, there were Navy, Marines, SEALs. All over the place. It started to clear with the three lieutenants. In annapolis, they were under the command of one man : Commander Barry J. Melbourne. Every officer involved in the thefts have been in contact with Melbourne at one time or another. Two years ago, Melbourne quit the Navy for personnal reasons. Since then, no news. But the thefts started soon after.

Jamie – It was under our noses from the start and we didn't see a thing. Great job !

Harm – We're only missing the name of his civilian contact.

Jamie – You think he sells the equipment and secrets he's stealing ?

Harm – I don't know. If it was the case, there would have been trouble, attacks. But we got nothing. I'm thinking he uses all that himself. With civilian help, like you thought. To close up the case, we have to find who's his number two.

Jamie – You still think he's not acting alone ?

Harm – No, I don't think so. He looks like a man who's used to following orders then to give them. I think he takes care of the logistics, recuperating all the stolen items. And somebody else is giving the orders. The civilian. And my gut says he's very high up the food chain. Moore and Sean will be happy !

Jamie – With the Director of the FBI and SECNAV. You're a gifted investigator. If you're looking for a job the day you leave the Navy, the FBI will welcome you with open arms !

Harm – Thanks, but I hate polyester suits.

Jamie – And someone's keeping you here as well.

Harm – Yeah.

A moment of silence.

Harm – I'll put everything in order, start my report.

Jamie – I'll look back on what I have with what you just told me. You did an impressive job, really !

Harm – Thank you. I'll see you tonight for dinner ?

Jamie – Sure.

Harm leaves her office. Jamies goes up, closes the door behing Harm she goes back to her desk, sits back down slowly. She looks desperate.

*******************

1906 local

Monday

Harm's appartment

Harm is under the shower, Jamie is fixing dinner, a dish of carbonara pasta. She gets a bottle of white wine, takes two glasses from the cupboard, serves the wine. She looks at the closed door, sighs and takes a pill out of her pocket. She puts it in Harm's glass where it disolves.

Few minutes later, Harm arrives in the kitchen. Table is set, pasta smoking, wine chilled.

Harm – Well, that smells good. What are we celebrating ?

Jamie – Your findings. And what we're going to find next.

Harm – Maybe you'll be the one to find who we're looking for.

Jamie – In that case you'll be cooking dinner.

She takes both glasses and gives one to Harm with a smile.

Jamie – To you.

Harm – To the both of us. You showed me the way.

Jamie – Okay, to the both of us.

They drink, then sit down and eat. After a while, Harm starts to feel tired.

Harm – I don't know what's with me tonight, I'm beat.

Jamie – Don't count on me to put you to bed. I won't be able to carry you !

Harm – I don't think I there yet. But I will go to bed early.

Few minutes later, after dessert, Harm can't keep his eyes open.

Jamie – Harm, you're asleep on your feet. Why don't you go to bed, I can clear the table by myself.

Harm – No fair, you cooked already.

Jamie – All right, I'll put the dishes in the sink, and you can wash them tomorrow.

Harm – Okay. Good night Jamie.

Jamie -Good night Harm.

Wobling on his knees, Harm goes to his room, falls on to his bed and straight asleep. Once he starts snoring, Jamie goes to check on him and verifies he is fast asleep.

Jamie – Sorry, Harm, there's no other way.

She leaves the apartment.

*******************

2304 local

Monday

JAG HQ

A shadow slides into the deserted office. Without a sound, without light, it opens Harm's office door, start by collecting the micros hidden here and there and rumages through the folders . It takes one specific folder, goes into the bullpen and approaches the shredder. It starts putting pages in to be destroyed. It looks at its watch and appears nervous.

Busy with its work of destruction it doesn't hear the elevator until it's too late. No time to hide. Someone exits the elevator and turns the light on. Mac and Jamie are facing each other. Jamie is the fastest. She pulls a pistol out of her belt and points it on Mac.

Jamie – What are you doing here ?

Mac – I should be asking that question. You have no reason to be here in the middle of the night, in civilian clothes. And what are you doing with those files ?

Jamie – You're too curious, Mac. Curiosity killed the cat. For the moment, I have the gun, so I'm asking the questions. What are you doing here at this hour ?

Mac – I just came back from Aurora, I'm here to drop my files.

Jamie – You should have come tomorrow, Colonel.

Mac – And miss you ? Does Harm knows you're here.

Jamie – Harm is sleeping like a baby. And you won't be waking him up.

Mac – What have you done with him ? Why can't I wake him up ?

Jamie – There's a gun pointed at you at the moment. I hope you don't want to test my markmanship, you'd lose. Now sit down and puts these cuffs on.

Jamie throws a pair of handcuffs at Mac. Who has no choice but to do as Jamie says.

Jamie – I suggest you don't make any sudden move.

Mac – You're going to tell me what is happening ?

Jamie – No. It's classified.

Mac – Don't make me laugh.

Jamie – And still.

Jamie is back near the shredder and keeps destroying evidence. Mac wriggles to try and free her hands.

Jamie – Mac, do you really want me to shoot you and let Harm find your body tomorrow ?

Mac stops moving. She looks around her, looking for a way to distract Jamie.

Mac – So all this living together was a charade ? You used him with no regards for his feelings. FBI agents have no right to use people like that !

Jamie isn't talking and that infuriates Mac. She treis to calm down. Jamie is well trained, and very dispassionate. Mac knows she could kill her.

After she finished shredding all the documents, Jamie goes to the copier, pulls the toner out and pours the ink on the little bits of paper. Once this is done, she finds some glue in a drawer and pours over the mess she did, rendering all paper bits unusable. Then she turns to Mac.

Jamie – I'm done. But what am I going to do with you now ? I imagine the sailor at the entrance saw you come in. Well, a Marine Lieutenant Colonel entered, a Marine Lieutenant Colonel is getting out. How lucky are you ?

Jamie approaches the chair where Mac is sitting. She throws the keys to Mac.

Jamie - Uncuff yourself and strip.

Mac – No way !

Jamie – Mac, you're not being reasonable. I'd hate to put a hole in your uniform, and make some blood stains, but if I don't have a choice...

Mac resigns herself and does as Jamie ordered. She takes off her jacket, blouse and skirt.

Jamie – Good girl. Harm will find you undamaged. Back on the chair, cuffs again and throw me the key.

Mac obeys looking furious.

Jamie – Bravo Colonel. And now, good night to you too.

She comes close to Mac and hits her on the head with her pistol. Mac passes out. Quickly, Jamie puts on Mac's uniform, hiding her braid under the shirt. She looks around one last time, verifies if she hasn't forgotten anything, goes to the elevator and turns the lights out.

*******************

2348 local

Monday

JAG HQ parking lot

Jamie sists down in Mac's car and passes through the gate without trouble. The car vanishes into the night