Title: Surrogate Series - Epilogue
Author: MSHDV, MSHDV@aol.com
Summary: Epilogue to the Surrogate series.
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.


Surrogate Series - Epilogue


JOCELYN AND KEN SAWYER'S RESIDENCE
KIRBY DRIVE
HOUSTON, TEXAS


MAY 29, 1980


The tall naval officer walked towards the aged oak that lent shade to the white gazebo protected by the branches of the imposing tree. Nearing the intricately designed structure nestled comfortably in the immaculately manicured landscape; he smiled seeing the young girl hunched intently over the elaborate microscope in front of her.

"Must be something really interesting. Can I have a look?"

"Maybe, if you move." The young girl looked with slight annoyance at the stranger that now blocked the little sunlight the tree afforded waving him out of the way of her light.

"My name is AJ and you must be Katy Lynn."

"My name is Katlin. What's your real name?"

"My proper name is Albert Jethro."

"I'd stick with AJ, if I were you."

"I'll keep that in mind. What exactly am I looking at?"

"The egg case of a Periplaneto Americano."

"If I correctly remember my biology that is a cockroach."

"Yea, well my mom says bones in the backyard are not socially acceptable, so I make due with what I can get."

"So what do you want to be when you grow up, Katlin? Do you want to be an entomologist?"

"I want to be a forensic pathologist. Sometimes I think the dead have more of value to say than the living."

"I see."

"What do you want to be when you grow up, AJ."

"An Admiral."

"Did you know that the H.M.S. "Bounty" was so infested with cockroaches that Captain William Bligh, a British admiral known for his mean temper, disinfected the entire ship with boiling water?"

"No I didn't, but I'll keep that in mind, Katy Lynn. I'll keep that in mind."

"You do that, Albert Jethro. You do that."


March 19, 2000


The smile of the precocious young Katlin Sawyer that shined on Commander AJ Chegwidden was as bright and warm as the Texas sun that surrounded them that day. It was an afternoon, he had never forgotten and one he would never forget. Not even when the reality of the present tried to steal the memories of the bright essence of her soul from his heart.

The image was whisked away, as fast as the 20 years that had passed, when AJ felt Ken Sawyer's presence on the patio and accepted the offered drink.

"She was our life, AJ. She was our little girl. She will always be our only little girl."

"I know, Ken. I know."

"Why didn't she just leave it alone, they weren't after her. They were after that Australian murderer and rapist! Why didn't she just let them have him? Why?"

"Because that wasn't who she was, Ken. That wasn't who Katlin Sawyer was."


QUANTAS AIRLINES
FLIGHT 1467
2230HRS (EST)


All the politicians and both governments were more concerned for a quick and quiet resolution of a situation that was a major embarrassment for the Royal Australian Navy and it's U.S. counterpart, as they forgot all reason, all integrity, all justice, all truth and all morality. All who had suffered, all who had been involved became keenly aware of how small an influence reason, integrity, justice, truth and morality exerted upon events in the circle of reality created by political machinations.

Commander Allison Broadhurst looked over at Roland Tommey, a.k.a. Mic Brumby, who slept shackled between the two Australian Federal Police officers that had flown to Washington to aid in the extradition of the rapist, the drug counsel, the murderer. She shuddered against the coolness of the plane window and the memories of the last week that had caused the career officer to question her own duty to country and the career path she had chosen in life.

It had been insanity and there was definitely no other word for it. Roland Tommey had so easily assumed his best friend's identity and slipped out of his Australian homeland into a new life as Commander Michael Brumby. He had slipped into a world full of light from the dark world of the Chinese Triads that pumped their poison into the streets of Sydney and channeled it throughout the continent. Roland Tommey had lived in the dark world of drugs, prostitution and all the illicit activities his employers offered to the weak and mindless, until his greed got the best of him and he was forced to run. Run from the Chinese Triad and the Vietnamese Gangs that were vying for the $600 million Drug Empire that had infested Australia like a swarm of killer bees.

Roland Tommey had murdered his childhood friend and used his illicit connections to provide him with all he needed to become a Commander in the Australian Royal Navy. They had hacked into the military computers, altered travel documents, service records and he had moved to the states, undetected and wealthier than he could ever have imagined with monetary gains accumulated by pitting one rival drug consortiums against each other.

Ego had precipitated his greed, which proved to be his first downfall. Ego had precipitated his lust, which proved to be his second. Ego had precipitated his arrogance, which proved to be his third. His experience as the Triad's "Lui Shi" provided him the prowess to move in Washington military legal circles competently, but his dark desire for one woman and his blind hate of one man's life had made him careless. The darkness and the evil that was Ronald Tommey surfaced and possessed him, once he was spotted, once he realized his time had run out again. When his eyes met Lo Chens in that restaurant in Chinatown, he knew he had been found and he knew his time had run out.

His overwhelming perverse need for Sarah Mackenzie consumed him and the knowledge that the raping of her dignity would ultimately destroy Harmon Rabb drove him to act on his satanic desires. But he hadn't counted on the sheer will of the Marine, he hadn't counted on the guilt to repent in Jesse Hawkin's dying soul, he hadn't counted on the depth of Harmon Rabb's love and he hadn't counted on the strength of Katlin Sawyer. The strength to propel her to stand between death and another human being. And finally, he hadn't counted on his friend's remains leaving their watery grave and floating to an earthly rest on that Port Botany shore below Bicentennial Park.

As Allison Broadhurst tried to shake the dark thoughts of Ronald Tommey from her mind, she once again glanced in the prisoner's direction. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart grasped by the chilling fingers of hate, as she saw the evil smile of complete satisfaction cross his dark features. She fought the uneasy feeling that grew within her. She fought the dismal knowledge that the murderer, the rapist, the drug lord could be given another secret life in exchange for providing the information needed to destroy the criminal organizations that fed on and killed thousands annually with their imported and concocted poisons.


OUR LADY OF GRACE CEMETERY
HOUSTON, TEXAS
1300HRS (EST)


The strong Texas sun beat mercilessly through the thick humidity that bathed the congregation that stood in a hushed mournful silence listening to the minister's words about the officer, the daughter and the friend. The woman who had given so much of herself in life to fight the depravity of the dark souls that traveled in her world, only to have her life force silenced by the same depravity. There was no pomp, no circumstance, no flags, no gun salutes, the only military presence at the graveside being the three officers that proudly saluted the lost comrade and the lost friend. Lost to them in life, but not in death as the footprints of Katlin Sawyer remained forever in their hearts.

Katlin Sawyer had found her future on the wings of death and was finally at peace with God and in the arms of Josh Randall. Their bodies not laid to rest together on that hill in Arlington National Cemetery, but their souls forever one in the kingdom of heaven...forever one for eternity.

Sarah Mackenzie walked to the graveside and laid the single yellow rose on the coffin, her fingers lingering against the smoothness of the bronze, silent tears slipping down her face. "Rest now my friend in the arms of the man you love. I'll never forget you, Katlin Sawyer. I'll never forget your friendship and all you have done for me. I wish things were different, I wish you were both with me today, but thank you from my heart and soul for saving the man I love."


WESTIN GALLERIA
HOUSTON, TEXAS
1650HRS (EST)


Sarah Mackenzie came out of the bedroom and found Harmon Rabb exactly where she had left him before she showered. It had been a long day for all of them, but the time spent with Katlin Sawyer's family had been especially difficult for him. The hate and revenge he felt for Mic Brumby had lessened with reason born by the acts of the past week, but the overwhelming guilt for the death of Katlin Sawyer was also now a part of his heart. He had never discussed the afternoon that she had died in his arms, but Mac knew it was part of him now, it would always be a part of the both of them.

"Hey, Sailor what to take a starving Marine to dinner?" Mac wrapped her arms around his waist planting small kisses on down his back. Feeling his hands cover hers, she leaned into the strength and the warmth his body always gave her, but as he took her hands to his lips and lingered there, his lips warm against her palms, she felt a new intensity, a new unrecognized need.

They stood quietly on the terrace, oblivious to the traffic that whirled frantically below them and the darkness that now cloaked them. It was not a time for words of regret, or words of remorse, or words of guilt. It was a time just to be spent together in quiet solace wrapped in the depth of their never-ending love and the strength that their love always had provided them.

"Have I told you how much I love you." Turning suddenly and gathering Mac into his arms, Harm's words were whispers carried on the moonlight that now cascaded around them bathing them in its surreal light.

"Not since we left Washington...I." Mac couldn't control the gasp that escaped her at the strength of his embrace, at the site of the clear piercing green eyes, filled with so much fire, filled with so much desire, filled with so much passion, filled with so much love and filled with an unrecognized need.

"I love you, Sarah. Sometimes, the words just don't seem to say enough."

Her response was lost when his hungry lips met hers. The kiss was not gentle nor was it tender, but it spoke of the passion that one human being could only find in the true love of another. It was a kiss that spoke of desire, desire that could only be satiated through the true love of another. It spoke the silent words of an ever-ending love that had always been in their hearts in the past, that was in their hearts at this moment in time, and that would grow stronger in their hearts forever together.


RAINBOW LODGE
HOUSTON, TEXAS
2030HRS(EST)


They had changed their dinner reservations three times, but Harm was insistent that they keep the last one and when they arrived at the rustic lodge on the shore of Buffalo Bayou, Mac was glad he had. It was difficult to leave the arms that had held her, to leave the arms that had spun her out of control into the abyss of true ecstasy, to leave the arms that had made her feel truly loved, that had made her feel whole. But when Harm took her hand the moment they were seated, the moment she saw the love shinning in his beautiful eyes, it didn't matter if she was at the gates of hell, as long as he was by her side.

The meal was excellent, the service impeccable and the surroundings perfect. Mac was not sure that the romantic air that still surrounded her was a product of the ambiance of the lodge or the memory of his hands caressing her body from the night of pleasure that lay behind them and the hours that still lay ahead of them. She shivered slightly, as they lingered over their coffee, still wrapped in a comfortable silence. Words had been something they quickly learned were not necessary between them, that the sheer presence of the other was all that was needed to put them both at ease.

"Cold?" Harm moved closer to her, placing his arm around her and a small tender kiss against her bare shoulder.

"No, I'm fine. It's just.."

"Let's walk, Sarah." He took her hand and guided her out into the unseasonably warm Texas night, never once losing contact with her as they walked among the lush greenery of the Bayou's edge.

They continued in silence wrapped in each other's arms, until they spotted the white gazebo that sat nestled in the manicured greenery. Once they mounted the steps, Harm lowered her next to him taking her hands firmly in his.

"I need to talk about that day."

"Harm, you don't..."

"I have to...I have to get this out. It will help me say the things that Katlin knew were in my heart." Harm strengthened his hold on Mac's hands and her heart broke at the thought of how hard the memories he was now reliving were for him.

"Go on, my love." She tenderly caressed his face and her words were carried on a whisper of a kiss against his lips.

"It all happened so fast. First we were talking and then suddenly she stepped out in front of me to shield me, she returned fire, drawing the attention of the triad enforcer and in a split second I felt her fall against me. I went for her weapon, but she was hit...all hell broke loose and I carried her behind the closest vehicle. Katlin lay dying in my arms and even then, even then she found the strength to...to...be Katlin."

"Harm..."

"Please let me finish. There was nothing I could do and she knew it Mac, she knew it. Suddenly, the pain seemed to lift from her eyes and she told me she understood, she finally understood. She told me she had found her future and that I should go after mine. That I shouldn't be afraid of what was in front of me, only what was behind me that consumed me, before time became my only enemy..and then she was gone..just gone."

Mac felt Harm's soft kiss against her lips and felt his arms surround her pulling her against him, almost as if he was afraid she'd slip away from him into the night. She nestled against him, her arm wrapped tightly around his waist. Hearing the sign that escaped him, she tightened her hold on him and let him continue.

"When we were at the house today, I talked to the Admiral. He explained so much, of who she was, of what she had been through. I had to know it all. I had to know all there was about the woman who had given her life to save mine. Suddenly the meaning of her words was so clear. So damn clear."

"Harm, she had so much in her life except the one thing she wanted, the one thing she needed. She didn't have the man she loved."

"It's so clear now, Mac." Harm lifted her face to him and he saw the silent tears that streamed down Mac's face. Tears of grief for her lost friend and tears of fear for what she had almost lost..what they both had almost lost on the deadly wings of hate and revenge.

As the rhythmic bayou sounds played against the darkened night that surrounded them, Harm caressed the woman he loved who was safe in his arms. His kiss started as a tender teasing taste of her lips, but grew with uncontrollable relief, uncontrollable desire and uncontrollable passion until he no longer could control the need that raged through his body. He had lost all sense of time, of space, as his hands roamed wildly over her responding body. He felt her lean into his every touch with equal need, only making the confines of their clothing more maddening. They were swept up inside of a whirlwind of private passion.

"Harm,let's go..Please let's go." Mac's words slipped from her as whispers through her ragged breathing, standing and taking him with her while still holding his hand and moved towards the stairs.

"Marry me."

Mac felt the tug on her arm, as Harm stopped abruptly behind her. She heard the words causing her to gasp and turn, thinking her mind was playing games with her over sensitized body.

"What did you say?"

"Marry me. I know this is sudden, I know we haven't talked about this and I know we have both been through a lot these last few months, but you are my world, Sarah. You are my future. You are all I'll ever want and all I'll ever need. I want to wake up with the feel of you in my arms each morning. I want to show you how much I love you each night. I want to fall asleep with you safe in my arms."

"Yes."

"I want to share your joy and I want to share you tears. I want to share your triumphs and I want to share your defeats. I want to share your anger and your laughter."

"Harm, yes."

"I want to feel our children grow in you. I want to watch them take their first steps, smile their first smile, speak their first words with you. I want to watch them grow in a house filled with our love. I want.. What did you say?"

"I said yes, Harmon Rabb. I will marry you!"


WESTIN GALLERIA
HOUSTON, TEXAS
0530HRS


Mac lay with Harm in her arms his head pillowed comfortably between her breasts, his breath faint warming puffs against her naked body as he slept contentedly. She watched as the another day dawned and felt the warming "presence" surround her once again.

"Time and distance has come and gone, Sarah and you have both recognized the truth and the strength in your never ending love. The road was a difficult one for both of you, but you both overcame the hurtful obstacles placed in your paths. Love my son, Sarah Mackenzie and let him love you in return with all his heart. There is nothing greater than the love of a lifetime."

"I promise, Sir. I will love him always." Mac felt Harm stir and place a gentle kiss against her bare skin.

"And I promise, Dad. I will love her always."


Harmon Rabb Sr. turned and disappeared into the bright light knowing his son had finally found all that he needed. All that he would ever want in the arms of Sarah Mackenzie. The son he had left so long ago was now in the safest of all harbors, one filled with a lifetime of love and family. And he knew that the book that his mother and Sarah Mackenzie had so lovingly filled with the Rabb Naval Legacy, would have many more additions through the years.


End Surrogate Series.