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Date Posted: 09:21:47 06/11/13 Tue
Author: Christa
Subject: Love Letters 98c

Love Letters 98c/?

JAG HQ

Biff Cresswell had picked up the file containing Harm's recommendations before the two men sat down. Once seated he held the file out to AJ. "Here, you read this and then tell me what you think!"

AJ took the file and perused the information inside. Once he had finished, he closed the file and laid it down on the table between the two men. "Before I comment on Rabb's recommendations, I have two things I want to clear up. One, I will share with you my observations of Harm and Mac over my tenure as JAG and two, I want to know why you are so bent out of shape about them being together. To the second, I think I have a basic idea, but I want to hear it directly from you."

"So if you think you know, why don't you just say it AJ?" Biff questioned guardedly.

"Because if I do, you won't tell me the truth. You'll follow my lead even if I'm wrong," AJ replied in a challenging manner.

"You don't trust me?" Biff replied.

"I didn't say that. I just want to hear your reason from you directly rather than solely relying on my perception," AJ answered.

"Well then, tell me your observations of them and I'll tell you my so called problem," Biff barked back.

"First of all, I warned them from the get go not to get too close because they were working together."

"A lot of good that did!"

"Are you interested in my opinion or not?"

"I'm sorry, I am. Please continue."

"They became the best pair I had at HQ. That's because they worked much better together than apart."

"But they both were ready for command positions of their own."

"Didn't you ever have a partner or buddy with whom you did some of your best work?"

"Probably, but that didn't mean we didn't go our separate ways."

"Mac was right. She said your goal would be to break up the team." AJ shook his head. "What was it....the fact that they had served with me or was it.....something else?"

"I thought you wanted to wait for my response," Biff said with a terseness in his voice.

"I do. Harm and Mac grew into their resepective roles within the team at HQ. Like I said, they were the best pair I had, even when they pissed off the brass." AJ chuckled thinking about the times they together or separately had ruffled feathers of some of the top brass. "From the moment they met, I could see a spark between the two and as their friendship grew, it was obvious that they had their own internal battles as to what to do or not do about their feelings about each other."

"Their relationship was a detrement to good order and discipline. Why didn't you nip it in the bud?" Biff interjected.

"Detrement...Hell NO! You've got to be kidding!!" AJ paused not only to get a drink of water but to laugh off the absurdity of Cresswell's statement. "They brought out the best in each other and were ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL! What more could a CO want?"

"You kept them at HQ much longer than the normal rotation. Why?" Biff asked.

"Why would I want to break up a good thing! Rabb was the glue that held the office together. I learned that when I dismissed him after his romp to Paraguay. Before you ask...I was mad as hell at him at that time. My hands were tied from higher ups and I knew as well as he did that Mac was in danger. I could also see that he was making a statement about his feelings for Mac and I wanted to see if he would follow through or take fifteen steps backwards. I couldn't just take him back when they returned. The thing that I learned was that I made a big mistake...not that Rabb didn't need a punishment for defying an order, but that I should have kept them together so they could work through the hell that Mac had been put through. But luckily, they worked through it and it worked better once Harm and I talked and I brought him back to HQ."

"You promoted their relationship?"

"They gave me no reason to sanction them, so I gave them the latitude to explore whether or not they wanted to persue a relationship. That coin toss was typical Harm and Mac. They more than once solved an issue with a coin toss. The thing that was different this time was that Mac had already made the decision. She wanted a life with Harm. She had finally gotten to the place where she had only dreamed of being before. She wasn't about to screw the pooch on that one this time."

"So you played matchmaker?"

"No, I let nature take its course. Now you want to share why you have such a problem with their relationship?"

Mackenzie is perfect for the San Diego job. I'm still getting pressure to get her to take it."

"She resigned. How hard it is to understand? You aren't trying too hard, maybe because you still have a thing against squids?"

"Hummpff! It would be easier to see them together if he was a tough as nails Marine."

"You pompous jerk! He's as tough as they come and you are just downright insulting to both of them!"

"Rabb's recommendations look like a soul searching journey. How can I present this recommendation to SECNAV?"

"Rabb does his best work when he leads with his heart. You're real problem with this recommendation is that it opens the door for team as in couple assignments. This would mean if accepted, that couples could change duty assignments together rather than spend months or years apart....effectively killing marriages and relationships. What could possibly be wrong with working to keep good officers in the service rather than making them choose to leave to preserve their relationships?"

"You think SECNAV would go for this?"

"If you don't screw the pooch in the presentation, yes."

"I'm not going to win this am I?"

"No and don't think that if you can get SECNAV to agree to this that Mac will come back to the Corps. She's made her decision and from everything I'm hearing, she's perfectly happy."

"She did great consulting work when she came in to work with Rabb recently."

"Like I said, they do some of their best work as a team. I look for them to go into practice together once they both retire."

"You're pretty sure about that aren't you?"

"Damn straight! If Mac were to come back to the Corps it would have to be on her terms and I don't know whether or not the Corps would accomodate....now the Navy....."

"AJ! Don't even say that she'd jump ship and join the other side!"

All AJ could do was laugh...

"So you're saying I should accept Rabb's recommendations and take them to SECNAV?"

"And take them with the conviction of standing behind them and getting SECNAV to sign off on them."

"I guess I could use your help in preparing my arguements for SECNAV. Would you be willing?"

"Only if you're willing to accept Rabb and MacKenzie as a permanent couple."

"Done" and Biff held out his hand to AJ who grabbed it and shook it sealing the deal. The two men set about to set up a plan of attack to get SECNAV's approval on the recommendation.

TBC...Chapter 98d will be up soon!

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Replies:

[> Wow Christa, that was awsome, should have seen this on screen, the conversation really rings true. Kudos to AJ! -- JoyZ, 10:39:39 06/11/13 Tue [1]


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[> This just gets better with every chapter. So glad you are continuing this amazing story. -- Beth, 11:06:25 06/11/13 Tue [1]


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[> Love it! -- Ciara, 11:51:59 06/11/13 Tue [1]


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[> This is great writing Christa bring on more please -- Bev uk, 15:02:03 06/11/13 Tue [1]


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[> Great and love how you write AJ and Biff in Part 98ab&c. -- Can Sheshe, 18:40:12 06/11/13 Tue [1]


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