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Harm entered JAG Ops, heading directly for his 'office'. At the moment, he wasn't sure that it wasn't a good thing to be out of the bullpen and in this out of the way location. Less likely to draw General Cresswell's attention.
He was surprised to find the door open - and frowned when he saw the swords hanging on the wall - Backing up, he looked up at the nameplate above the door, and frowned again upon reading "Cmdr. S. Turner". Hearing a noise behind him, Harm turned to find Sturgis standing there, with a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Morning, Harm," he said.
"Morning. What's going on, Sturgis?" Harm asked, waving toward the office.
"I asked the General for permission to come back to this office. Your things are in your old office. Where they should have been all along. I never wanted to move to begin with, but Admiral Chegwidden insisted - practically ordered me to do it."
"Why?" Harm asked as Sturgis moved past him into the office.
"You were gone, and I think he was still a little angry -"
"I don't mean about that," Harm said, interrupting him. "I mean why ask to trade offices again?"
Sturgis took a deep breath. "It's your office. I'm fine here. It's quiet, and there are less distractions. And - well, I know I made a few enemies over the last few months, and I guess I hoped that by giving you back your office, the rest of the staff would be more willing to forgive and forget."
"I'm not complaining, mind you, but I don't see how giving me my office back would effect anyone else's opinion, Sturgis."
Sturgis shook his head. "You're liked by the rest of the staff, Harm. Most of them look up to you, even if you don't know it. They ask you for advice, look to you for their lead in how to handle things. Most of them weren't happy that you were gone last year - and my moving into your office wasn't well received. Most of them still referred to you it as your office, not mine."
Harm didn't believe any of it, but decided to let it drop. "What reason did you give the General for the switch?" he asked, and saw Sturgis wince slightly. "What?"
"I had to give him a thumbnail sketch about what happened, and to let him know why I wanted to do it."
"So he knows -"
"I told him that Mac was involved in a CIA op last year that went sour and that you resigned your commission to go after her."
"What did he say?"
"He wanted to know why the Admiral had let you come back."
"And what did you tell him?"
"That I believe that he saw something in you that you don't see in yourself," Sturgis replied honestly. "You're a natural leader, Harm. Even when I was temp JAG, most of them went to you instead of me," he pointed out. "I think that the Admiral knew that, and knew that without you here, things weren't - right." He extended a hand. "Anyway, enjoy the office."
Harm took his old friend's hand. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
"My pleasure. If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with a client in five minutes and I need to look over the file before he gets here."
Harm nodded and left the small office, heading back to the bullpen, where he found Mac standing outside of his office, looking at the nameplate on the door. Without being obvious, Harm noted several smiles of approval from the staff as he opened the door and stepped inside. "What's going on, Harm?" Mac asked.
"Sturgis asked General Cresswell if he could switch offices again."
"And the General just - agreed?"
"Not - exactly." Harm glanced up through the blinds to see Cresswell crossing through the bullpen to get some coffee. "I'll explain over lunch."
"Okay," she said, giving him a confused smile as she left to return to her office.
Harm saw that Sturgis had put most of his things where they'd been before - it must have taken most of the weekend for him to have done this. Smiling, Harm sat down at the desk, glad to be back where he belonged at last. For the first time in a year, he felt like he was finally home.
The End