Standard Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, I'm just taking them out to play. Not profiting from their usage, other than that of my own personal enjoyment. Hopefully, you all enjoy it as well.

For the series timeline, this takes place after "Back in the Saddle" and the less than warm offer extended by Admiral Chegwidden for Harm to return to JAG. So basically, ignore everything that happens in the rest of Season 9 and all of Season 10.

November 7, 2003

Harmon Rabb's Apartment – North of Union Station

2200 Eastern

The soft sound of classic blues could be heard from within the apartment, as Harm laid on the bed. His thoughts had been in a jumble ever since he'd left the Grace Aviation hanger that afternoon, following the Admiral's unexpected visit. Harm had been hard pressed not to laugh in the man's face during the confrontation with Mattie. To make matters even richer was the look on the Admiral's face when Harm had actually confronted him about the REAL reason that he was there. The only reason was that he needed Harm to come back and fix the mess that he'd made and his only concession was "we'll start fresh".

Harm had no great desire to "start fresh". He'd been on that merry-go-round enough to know the inherent lie those words contained. There was too much shared history involved for a truly fresh start, too many hurtful words slung at him by a man he'd once respected. Add to that the fact that Harm found himself enjoying being essentially his own boss, though he actually worked for Mattie, and he was getting in as much flying as he could want. The only fly in the ointment was Mattie and her missing father. Harm knew that eventually he would have to bring that situation to the attention of the appropriate authorities.

Harm was tired of it all and more than ready to move on with his life. Going back to JAG felt like defeat, resignation and caving in to pressure. Even when the Admiral had been asking him to come back, the man couldn't bring himself to praise Harm's work. Add in the fact that the Admiral seemed to believe that Harm needed to straighten up before he would ever find happiness grated on him.

No, he wouldn't be going back to JAG. He wouldn't put himself in that position again, where those he'd thought were his friends could turn their backs on him. Maybe being a crop duster wasn't what they thought he should be doing, but Harm wasn't overly concerned about the opinions of others. He was who he was and if that wasn't good enough for some people, then so be it.

November 13, 2003

JAG Headquarters – Falls Church, Virginia

0954 Eastern

The collective temperature of the bullpen seemed to have dropped by 5 degrees with the Admiral's passage through from the conference room to his office. Fortunately, or unfortunately, nobody in the office seemed to know why his attitude had turned even more hostile. It had been bad when the man had arrived that morning, but when Petty Officer Coates had delivered the morning's mail was when things turned even worse.

What nobody knew was that there had been an envelope within the pile of mail, a letter from former Commander Rabb detailing the reasons he wasn't interested in returning to either the Judge Advocates General Corps of the United States Navy or even the Navy altogether. Neither did anybody in the office know, except maybe Jennifer Coates, that the Admiral had visited Harm the previous week.

'I offered to bring the man back, to start over fresh,' AJ thought, a thoroughly pissed off expression on his face. 'And this is how he responds.'

The letter couldn't have been any more damning if Rabb had tried.

"While I appreciate the offer extended, I truly don't believe at this time that such a 'fresh start' would be possible. Too much has happened for me to believe that I could ever work with or for the people associated with the current staff of JAG Headquarters. From my perspective, the speed with which my resignation was processed and accepted indicates that you were happy to be rid of my presence. Further, I truly believe that if not for the current situation facing your office, that you would never have asked for my return. Therefore, I have no wish to have my commission reinstated and respectfully request that no attempt be made to do so."

'The sheer gall of that man,' AJ thought angrily. He knew he was being unfair, but Rabb's continued flouting of his commanding officer's authority had finally worn AJ out. So, there was some truth to be found in the letter. AJ really didn't want Rabb back, because he believed that it would set a bad precedent for the other staff. He couldn't let the belief be formed that they could just ignore him whenever he issued commands they didn't like or agree with and that's what AJ believed would happen if they saw Rabb come back as if nothing had ever happened.

The problem was, with Rabb refusing his offer to come back, the situation still remained. There were hundreds of cases that would have to be reviewed, verdicts possibly vacated and new trials ordered depending on the outcome of those reviews. Even worse, there were still new cases being sent to Headquarters for further action that couldn't be delayed simply because for the Imes issue. The defendants all had a right to speedy trials. AJ knew his staff needed help in order to prevent themselves from being completely swamped with cases, which meant that he would have to go to SECNAV and request permission to bring in more lawyers. More staff meant more money, meaning that the budget would have to be completely reworked or additional funds would have to be found.

"Coates," AJ bellowed, bringing the Petty Officer scurrying into his office.

"Yes, Sir?"

"I need a complete listing of all JAG officers in the O-4 and O-5 pay grades, including duty station. I also need a complete list of all attorneys in the Navy and Marine Corps that are not JAG designated, including present duty station and complete background check. Get the first part back to me ASAP!"

"Aye, aye, Sir!"

When Coates left the office, AJ turned to look out the window. A thought was pushing at the back of his mind and AJ was shocked that it hadn't occurred to him before that moment. If Rabb refused to voluntarily return, then AJ would simply make the Commander an offer he couldn't refuse. A wicked half smile came to his face as he contemplated the hard work he would stick Rabb with, especially in light of the letter refusing to return to active duty.

With those somewhat pleasant thoughts in mind, AJ picked up the telephone and called the SECNAV's office. Once he had explained the situation and then his ideas on how to at least partially fix the problems, SECNAV had been more than happy to grant AJ's request. Within the hour, orders were sent over to JAG involuntarily recalling one Commander Harmon Rabb to active duty and directing him to report to JAG Headquarters for duty. As an added measure, AJ had one of the Marine guards detailed to hand-carry a set of the orders to Rabb's apartment, with orders not to return until the orders were signed for.

Harmon Rabb's Apartment – North of Union Station

2218 Eastern

The sound of the elevator caused the Marine Sergeant to snap to attention. He had spent most of the day waiting for the apartment's occupant to return from wherever he had been and so had taken to leaning against the doorway. It was only when someone seemed to be coming that he had braced himself before relaxing once the possible arrival had passed without stopping on this floor.

This time, however, the elevator did stop. As the doors opened, he could see that it did contain the man he had been waiting for. 'Finally,' the Sergeant thought. 'I can get this done and head for home.' What was so important that he had wasted an entire day, he couldn't even begin to guess to, but orders were orders and that was all that he was required to know.

"Commander Rabb, Sir?"

"Yes," Harm replied as he exited the elevator. An uneasy feeling came as he took in the Marine Sergeant and the clipboard that was being extended.

"Admiral Chegwidden's compliments, Sir," the Sergeant said as he held out the clipboard and the envelope it held. "If you could just sign for acceptance of the envelope, Sir."

Harm realized that he had no choice and with the air of a condemned man being led to the gallows, he signed his name and took the envelope. With a nod to the Sergeant, he opened the door to his apartment and went inside before opening the letter and read his orders.

"That son of a bitch!" Harm growled, consumed by anger and a feeling of betrayal. Harm was angry with himself for failing to foresee this possibility, as well as for failing to adequately take into account the desperation that had been evidenced by the Admiral's visit to him. There was also anger at that Admiral for taking this step, after Harm had declined the Admiral's invitation.

'Well, if this is how that old bastard wants to play this, so be it,' Harm thought. 'I just need to fall back on the old Academy standard of "Yes, Sir", "No, Sir" and "No excuse, Sir". Don't give him any excuse and try to get through this as painlessly as possible.'

Taking several deep breaths, Harm was finally able to master him emotions and relax enough so that he could get on with the tasks of preparing for the next day. To begin with, Harm took out his service blues and checked them over. Judging it to be acceptable, he then found his cover and set it out as well. With that finished, Harm picked up his guitar and walked into the living room. Taking a seat facing the window, he started to play, alternating between up-tempo rock and slower blues. Harm never made a conscious choice in the songs or style, just letting the music flow along with his emotions. By the time he went to bed, he'd achieved a remarkable level of peace.