Title: Doppelganger

Author: Rising Sun

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Rated: PG

Summary: Finally even the dead can take the angst no more

and take steps to correct the situation.

Spoilers (in passing): Death Watch, Wilderness of Mirrors,

Lifeline, Port Chicago

Classification: JAG Story/Romance: Harm/Mac

Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and

Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended.

All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any

similarities to actual people are purely coincidental.

Feedback: Send it.

Permission to archive: Permission granted.

Story written – April 12, 2002

===============================================

MONDAY - 1515 LOCAL

JAG CONFERENCE ROOM

The senior legal team of Lt. Colonel Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie

and Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. had commandeered the

conference room to study the Mc Murphy case, the latest case

handed to them by their Commanding Officer Admiral AJ

Chedwiggen. Harm was deep into the file so it took a few calls

to get his attention.

"Harm."

"Harm?"

"Harm!"

He jerked back to the present. "Yeah!" he replied.

Mac looked up "What?"

"What!" he said.

"You said yeah. So I responded." Mac countered.

"You didn't call me?"

"Nooo." She smiled. "Getting old? Starting to hear things?"

"Apparently so."

=========================================

TUESDAY – 0838 LOCAL

JAG HQ

It was raining something awful and that was the excuse that

Harm was going to use as today's excuse for being late. As he

stepped out of the elevator he saw a new female Naval Officer

go round the corner.

He entered the bullpen and took a quick glance around.

Harriett spotted the action.

"Morning sir. Looking for something?"

"The new staff member."

"New staff sir? We're getting new staff?"

Warning bells went off in his head. "Er no my mistake." He

escaped to his office and as he put his case and coat down he

glanced up and saw the Naval Officer again. He sighed with

relief it was Mac. But why was she prancing around in a

Lieutenant's Naval Uniform? He grinned. She got soaked

again! He headed for her office.

+ + +

As usual without knocking Harm sauntered into Mac's office.

"So Mac tell me why you're wearing..." He stopped slack

jawed.

Mac looked up from her desk. She was in her Marine Greens

with all ribbons and pins in place indicating that she was a Lt.

Colonel and not to be messed with. "Why I'm wearing what

Harm?"

He frowned. Maybe he needed sometime off. He was

obviously beginning to hallucinate.

She stood "You OK?"

"Huh? Yeah. I'm fine." He assured her and left, leaving a

concerned and confused Mac.

+ + +

She turned and sat to resume her work when he returned.

"Harm! Don't do that! You made me jump!"

"Sorry. Mac I'm seeing things." He confessed.

"Seeing? Like when Palmer was playing with your mind?"

The concern magically lifted from his face. "Mac you're a

genius!" He grinned.

"Why thank you… I think."

"Call Leavenworth and check on his status."

She did as he bid. "He's there." She said as she placed the

handset back in its cradle. "Harm what's going on?"

He stood, closed her office door and returned to the seat.

"Remember yesterday in the conference room when I thought

you spoke to me?" She nodded "Well I just saw you in a

Lieutenant's Naval Uniform."

"Like the time at Norfolk?" She asked. He nodded "You sure

its me and not Diane?"

"You don't think I'm loosing my mind?"

"Too late. You lost it a long time ago. No need to worry now."

She teased. Then got serious "No. I know you. Something is

happening I just don't know what."

"Well if its Diane with a message I suppose she'll tell me soon

enough."

"Do you visit her grave?"

"Not for awhile.' He admitted, "Maybe I should go visit."

"Need company?" she offered.

He considered then refused, "Thanks I think maybe this is

something I should do alone."

"Sure I understand. If you need to talk I'm here."

"Thanks I'll keep that in mind." And with that he left.

=========================================

THURSDAY - 1606 LOCAL

ARLINGTON CEMETERY

It had rained for two days and finally the sun re-emerged and

Harm headed to the grave of his friend.

He had been there for ten minutes. He just stood at her side and

said nothing. What was there to say? A tear rolled down his

cheek and he suddenly remembered that he had an orchid in his

hand. In his mind Orchids were linked to Diane and Roses to

Mac.

He placed the flower gently on the grave.

"Rest easy kid."

=========================================

FRIDAY – 0900 LOCAL

JAG HQ, HARM’S OFFICE

Harm looked up at the knock on the door. It was Mac. He

waived her in.

"How'd it go yesterday?" she asked as she took a seat.

He made a face. "It was cathartic and so far no close

encounters."

"Good." She said, "and speaking of close encounters we have a

meeting with Singer and Sturgis on the Mc Murphy case." He

grunted. "That an objection counselor?"

"I'd rather have root canal." He informed her.

+ + +

Singer with an angry Sturgis following had been gone five

minutes leaving a stunned Harm and Mac. Mac was petrified at

the window while Harm remained seated head in hand, elbows

on the conference table.

He groaned.

The sound shattered the tableau.

Not bothering to turn Mac said. "If I kill her can you get me

off?"

"It'll never go past an Article 32 I promise." He assured her his

head still in hand.

Finally he raised his head; they couldn't remain shell-shocked

all afternoon. He stared. Mac was still at the window looking

out while seated at the table was Diane in uniform.

"Harm" Diane said, "We need to talk."

"OK whenever you're ready." He agreed.

Mac turned "You said something?"

"Yeah let's get the hell out of here." He answered.

=========================================

SUNDAY – 0123 LOCAL

HARM'S APARTMENT

Harm was deep in REM sleep.

He walked into the Captain's Cellar it was just as he

recognized it from his Academy days. Today it was empty but

for himself and one other person – Diane. He joined her at the

table.

"Hey" He said.

"Hi" She greeted him.

"How ya doing?"

"As good as any dead person is expected to be."

"Ah" he adjusted his position.

"Harm. What are you doing?" she demanded.

"I always found these seats uncomfortable." He explained.

"I don't mean that." She snapped, "You are living in the past

let go!"

"Me!"

"Well just look at where we are meeting." She looked around

and waived her arms to emphasize the point.

"You convened this tea party." He was defensive.

"It's your dream! You set the scene." She took a deep breath.

"Look Harm I came here to talk not to argue."

"You're right. So how may I help?"

She shook her head and smiled. "Typical of you. Well its me

sonny boy. I'm here to help you."

"OK I'm all ears."

"You need to let go. You're not flying a Tomcat now. You

don't need that lifeline; let it go before it becomes a noose."

He paled as he recognized the words from a conversation with

Mac.

As if reading his mind she said. "That's why I used them.

Harm you are an officer and a gentleman. We were friends who

missed being lovers. Don't repeat history."

"I don't understand."

"Of course you do. But I'll spell it out for you. You and I were

friends damn good friends. We were attracted to each other and

we chose friendship and Uncle Sam and figured we could wait,

and we waited till it was too late. You are doing the same

thing with Mac. The EXACT same!"

"Diane."

"Don't Diane me. Your foolish pride will leave you old, alone

and lonely and I'm rolling in my grave over the way you seem

quite capable of sleeping around and not settling down!"

"I don't sleep around!" He protested.

"Really?" She challenged and began a list. "Maria Elena

Carmelita Moreno Gutierrez, Kate Pike, Annie Pendry, Jordan

Parker, Renee Peterson, Francesca Paretti, Bobbie Latham and

yours truly."

Harm woke in a cold sweat.

=========================================

SUNDAY – 0432 LOCAL

MAC'S APARTMENT

Mac opened the door with one running shoe on and the other in

her hand. "Hey flyboy come on in." she closed the door after

him "You are up and about early." She returned to the sofa to

put the other shoe on.

He sat next to her. "Ever hear a saying that if you continue on

the path that you are on you will arrive at your destination?"

She finished tying up the shoe and sat back. "Yeah it's Chinese

no? Why?"

"Diane delivered her message."

"And that was it? Profound." She stood "Coffee?"

"Sure." He followed her to the kitchen and sat on a stool.

"Actually what she did was throw another quote at me."

"She was on a roll. What was the quote?"

"You're not flying a Tomcat now. You don't need that lifeline;

let it go before it becomes a noose." He repeated.

Mac looked up at him "You're kidding!" then suspicion began

to take root. "Harm what exactly did Diane want?"

"For me to swallow my foolish pride." He said. Mac remained

silent. They taught lawyers how to do that too, it was only they

preferred to talk. She waited.

Harm took a deep breath. "Mac I want to let go but I'm

scared."

"Of?"

"Of you not being there to catch me." He confessed.

Mac stopped the coffee making and moved slowly toward him

every word she uttered emphasizing her steps. "As your friend

I have always been there for you. Watched your six as it were.

Do you think I'd EVER let you fall?" She ended up face to

face with him.

"I want more." There he said it.

"More?"

"Mac."

"Yes?"

"I'm going to let go. Catch me?"

"Always."

"I love you." He whispered

"I love you too." She kissed him.

He grinned.

"What." She smiled back.

"I like the way you catch." He chuckled.

She poked him. "Idiot."

=========================================

MONDAY - 0616 LOCAL

ARLINGTON CEMETERY

Mac stood at the graveside of the woman she had never met.

"I wish I had met you. If only for the pleasure of having every

one we knew constantly trying to guess who was who." Mac

admitted. "I came to say thank you. Have no fear rest easy.

The baton has been passed and I will take care of him."

Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie came to attention and saluted her

**twin **

FINIS