The Right Allegiance

A/N: *Spoiler alert, I guess, for that whole NCIS LA thing. This isn't a story I wanted to write, but it was necessary therapy for me after the blow from the NCIS LA episode that broke my heart. I am ashamed to admit it, but I became so attached to these two characters and the way they developed over the years, and my belief in them facing anything together, that having heard that they self-destructed their relationship has really made me feel physically ill.

I'm not even going to list why the show was utterly ridiculous in many ways with regards to our JAG characters. I was happy with our open-ended hope at the end of the series, and I suspected more with each previewed clue of the NCIS LA show, that the writers would butcher the relationship that some of us so love. But I watched anyhow.

The TV writers'/producers' motivation is viewership, not keeping in line with character growth and keeping true to certain principles. So, I guess they figured that what made Harm and Mac work on TV was their 'we all know they love each other, but they can't get it together, but maybe they will someday' formula, so let's do that again. Or maybe this is a set up for other TV plans.

Point being, I was hurt and needed therapy, so I did what was natural to me … I wrote a story to do as much damage control in my head as possible to help ease my heart. Not a rewrite, but a sorting through of things based on the suppositions given. After being depressed Monday, after work, I got out my pen and pad of paper and stayed up half the night, eight hours straight, writing this story. (Yes, it's finished – converting it to being typed now.)

For as unforgiveable as I find what happened on NCIS LA, I do have to be grateful that they didn't make it even worse … At least they do heavily hint that Harm and Mac still have a chance. I do hope that they at least set things right, even if I'm generally planning on believing that Harm and Mac have been living a very happy life together all along.

So, on with the story …

The Right Allegiance – Introduction

The small statured woman declared over the satellite feed, "XO, we'll be needing someone from the USS Allegiance to come here to Los Angeles for a debriefing now that this incident is finally behind us. … I was thinking that since you monitored the situation most closely, that you would be the most logical choice."

Harm nodded slightly, a feeling of apprehension and elation mixing together at the suggestion. After all, … she was in L.A. He'd be in the same city as her if he went. But he had been the one working with NCIS, so it should be him to go. Although, he wasn't quite sure that going to their base of operations was really proper protocol in this situation. Nonetheless, he muttered, "I'll see about making arrangements now that things have quieted."

"Excellent," said Hetty. "And Captain, … I'll send you a list of some possible accommodations. I think you could use a nice break from military facilities after being on an aircraft carrier so long. You might even want to stay for a few days."

"I'd appreciate that list, Ma'am."

And that was how he ended up here. Just outside of L.A. After the list had been sent, after the debriefing, Hetty had pushed another piece of paper into his hand; it listed a phone number and an address. He recognized the number. It hadn't changed. The address was new, but he had no doubt to whom it belonged. He had looked up at Hetty with doubt in his eyes.

Her reply was simply, "Some place you should probably visit while you're in town."

TBC …