Till Death Does Us Part
Chapter II
This is the second chapter of the …Till Death Does Us Part Series. This
time Harm and Mac have to face some consequences of their actions. To Be Or
Not To Be that’s still the question here, too.
Rating
– GS
Spoilers
– Takes place during season 9. Harm is with the CIA and Mattie doesn’t
exist.
Disclaimer
– "I’m still waiting for the day, where I can say, this is all mine.
Yeah right, dream on. JAG belongs to DPB, CBS and Paramount – or did I miss
something. Carol?"- Michi "I refuse to stop dreaming. There will
come a day…damn it. As God as my witness…..oh, wait wrong movie. No not
mine." - Carol
Author’s
Notes- (it’s like a small book)
1.
Please note we have decided to use AP (author’s privilege). Therefore we
have adjusted the JAG timeline to fit our FF…..enjoy the changes. Also we
are not doctors, nor do we play any on TV.
2.
Dr. Watermann and Dr. Harvey have spoke and ran several test on their patients
Michi and Carol. The doctors have decided that there is an evil-gene and
both of these women are in possession of it. The gene in them somehow
has mutated and is causing them to become completely evil. The doctors
have recommended that both Michi and Carol stop reading How to Be a Villain
by Neil Zawacki, start watching Disney and eat large amounts of chocolate.
Since the doctors recommended this no one has heard from Dr. Watermann and Dr.
Harvey. Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!!
3.
Y’all are sure Michi and I are insane. Well,
we are. Michi, as usual you are so much fun to work with and I’m little
worried about our next collaboration…in a good way. Fun, late nights on the
weekends, chocolate, and Pepsi helped create this FF. I hope everyone enjoys
it. – Smiles - Carol
4.
Carol…Your Highness…My Master, I do have to repeat myself. It once again
was a pleasure working with you. Can’t believe that you still allow me to be
the gum under your shoe. So let’s find more chocolate, much more chocolate
and keep the CV’s and MV’s coming. Guys, I hope you all will enjoy this
one, just like we did – Michi
5.
We want to give a huge thanks for Kay beta-reading this. Thank you so much for
helping out, you’re one of the best.
6.
Just in case you can’t remember TTDUP Chapter 1 go visit it at
FanFiction.net http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1758681
7.
Feedback is like always welcome. Good or bad, we want to know…
8.
And before we forget… to all of you, who read our latest story called
"Till Death Does Us Part – Epilogue", well let’s just say, it
never happened. We have so much more planned for our heroes. In case you’re
wondering http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1798332 (read all
comments after ‘The End’ we like to have fun)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunday
November 30
‘Just
keep it up; eventually the pain will go away,’ Mac thought to herself as she
pounded the payment. She’d been running since her breakdown in the kitchen
two hours ago. All the muscles in her body hurt, but none as much as her heart.
She
rounded the corner of the street and found herself in front of her building.
She glanced up to her bedroom window and decided to take another lap around
the building and maybe into the park across the street. She started to move
towards the street when her cell phone rang.
"MacKenzie,"
she said breathlessly into the device.
{"Colonel.
Are you okay?" AJ asked with worry in his voice.}
Mac
started to pace so her muscles wouldn’t cramp on her. "Sorry, Sir, you
caught me in the middle of my run. Is there something I can do for you?"
{"I
need you to get to JAG, ASAP," he told her.}
"Yes,
Sir," Mac responded as she heard the phone click off.
JAG
Mac
walked into the bullpen in time to see the admiral walking out of the kitchen
with two coffee mugs in hand. "Fifteen minutes, Colonel." AJ smiled.
"Sorry,
Sir. I hit every red light," Mac greeted him.
"That’s
fine, Mac. The SECNAV and I need to speak with you," AJ said leading both
of them into his office.
The
SECNAV was looking out the office window when Mac and AJ entered the room.
"I love this view, AJ."
"Thank
you, Mr. Secretary, I like it, too." AJ handed Sheffield a mug of coffee.
Sheffield
turned to Mac. "Colonel MacKenzie, I hope we didn’t wake you this
morning."
"No,
Sir. I was already up," Mac reported to him.
He
carefully took in her appearance pressed uniform, minimal make-up and wet hair.
"You’re hair is wet."
"I
was out running, Sir."
Sheffield
sat down in a chair and motioned for Mac to AJ to sit in the small grouping of
chairs in front of AJ’s desk. "Running is one hobby I’ve never been
able to get into."
Mac
glanced at AJ wondering why she was there. Sheffield noticed the glance and
smiled at her. "Don’t worry, Colonel, we’re not here to discuss
workouts. How do you feel about Italy?"
"Italy,
Sir?" Mac questioned.
"Yes,
Italy. It’s a peninsula in Europe surrounded by the Med," Sheffield
jokingly explained.
Mac
chuckled softly. "The few times I’ve been there I’ve enjoyed it,
Sir."
"Captain
Hallworth, the head of JAG ops in Naples has decided to take some personal
time. His wife has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor," AJ
explained.
"We
want you to replace him," Sheffield finished.
Mac
couldn’t hide her shock and surprise as she looked at the two men. "Me,
Sirs?"
"Yes,
you’ve proven yourself as an assist to this office as Chief of Staff and you
did very well when you served as a judge," AJ proudly stated.
"I’ve
spent the last few days reviewing your record and case files. Even with this
last event that occurred with the CIA, you’ve proven you can handle any
situation," Sheffield told her.
Mac
remained silent as the two men looked briefly at each other. "What are
you thinking, Mac?" AJ asked.
"I’m
in shock, Sir," Mac honestly told them.
"This
position is a great door opener for future command post’s and puts you on a
fast track for promotion," AJ stated.
Sheffield
took a sip of his coffee. "We don’t want to pressure you, Colonel. But
we need a decision."
"By
when, Sir?" Mac asked wondering about her future.
Sheffield
looked at his watch. "Within the hour."
Mac
shook her head.
AJ
glanced at her wondering again what she thinking about. "Mac, you don’t
have to do this."
"I’ll
do it, Sir," Mac informed them. "When am I needed in Italy?"
"Tuesday,
Hallworth will introduce you to the staff and get you acclimated to the
operations of the office. Then after a week he’ll be handing it over to you,"
AJ explained.
"How
long will I be stationed there, Sir?" Mac asked.
"Six
months to a year. Mrs. Hallworth’s doctor said she has about six months to
live." AJ said as Mac shook her head as a million thoughts ran in her
head. "I’ll call in Lt. Sims to assist you in any way needed. Hand over
your cases to Turner and Roberts tomorrow during the staff meeting and I’ll
have Coates get you’re flight information."
"Thank
you, Sir. Permission to be dismissed?" Mac asked.
AJ
bit back a grin. "Granted."
Mac
snapped to attention and left the office.
Sheffield
smiled as he watched Mac leave. "AJ, you’ve got great personnel. I
think she’s going to do fine in Italy."
AJ
grinned in agreement and tried to ignore the alarm bell ringing in his head
about Mac’s quick decision. "I know she’s going to do fine."
Mac
walked into her office and flopped down into her chair. "You life isn’t
an earthquake, it’s a damn minefield in an earthquake."
Monday
December 1
Mac’s
Apartment
Mac
carefully surveyed her apartment. She had left JAG at 7:06 and was taking care
of last minute things. Harriet has promised to take care of some of Mac’s
bills and other odds and ends. Mac walked into the kitchen, and started going
though some papers on the kitchen table. Her thoughts were wrapped around the
busy day she had as she organized the sheets.
Yesterday
she spent the majority of the day writing notes and figuring out who would get
what cases. She also packed up some of her office to be shipped to her new
office in Naples. Harriet promised to pack the rest and she also said she
would have it ready for her return, even if it meant kicking someone out of
her office.
Today
she spent time handing out those cases, addressing any problems, and getting a
hold of last minute witnesses to place them on the proper list. That took her
till about lunch where Harriet had organized a quick goodbye lunch in her
honor. Mac really didn’t have the time for it, but Harriet always had a way
to talk people into doing things.
After
the lunch she was off to the Pentagon to deal with her transfer. All the
papers were in order, but there was of course some red tape. Once she was able
to leave the Pentagon she had personal errands to attend to. Like calling
Chloe and Uncle Matt to tell them the news, both took it fairly well. Chloe
asked if she could visit, and Mac told her she would talk to Martha.
Once
she thought she was done with her errands she started to drive home to finish
her packing, but Bud called because there was a problem with a case she handed
over. So she rushed back to JAG and dealt with the problem, which wasn’t as
big as it seemed. After finally finishing up there and getting her orders
approved by the admiral, Coates handed Mac her travel itinerary and she was
out the door.
Her
hands fell upon the annulment papers and she pushed aside any and all feelings
associated with those papers. She grabbed a pad of paper and wrote a quick
note. Then she reached for an envelope and placed Harm’s address on it,
placed the papers and note into the envelope and sealed it.
"How
could you forget this, MacKenzie?" Mac cursed herself. "He’ll just
have to deal with it." Mac placed the envelope next to her carry on bag.
She would drop it in the mail before the cab picked her up at 4:35 for her
6:45 flight out of Dulles. Mac thanked her lucky stars it wasn’t a military
flight. The longer they were, the worse they were.
(2
weeks later)
Monday
December 15
Harm’s
Apartment
Harm
swung open his apartment door and tried not to drop anything, yet. Over his
shoulder was his duffel bag, a carry on bag on the floor, and his hands were
overflowing with two packages and what looked like thousands of bills. He
sighed heavily as he made it into the apartment, the duffle and carry on
making it into a pile on the floor as the bills, letter, and packages fell
across the counter top.
"It’s
good to be home," he muttered to himself before walking back and closing
the door, then locking it.
As
he walked back to the counter top of the island his stomach began to talk to
him. He opened his fridge to find the light illuminate some moldy bread,
something that was now a very good science experiment, water, apple juice, and
some beer. Grabbing a beer he picked up the phone and dialed for some Chinese
food. Luckily for him the place knew him and would deliver without costing him
an arm and a leg for coming to this part of town, and so late at night.
Once
the food was ordered, he proceeded to go thought the mail. There was a package
from his mother and his grandmother. He opened them, pleased to see they were
Christmas packages and he made a mental note to go shopping this weekend for
them and a few others. He started to go though the letters; there were a few
early Christmas cards. Another one was from Renee. She, Cyrus, and the twins
were doing fine and everything was perfect.
"Perfect,
for her." Harm smiled as he looked at the picture of the twin girls;
oddly enough they looked like Cyrus with their black hair.
He
piled the bills into one pile and was about to start on a few more envelopes
when there was a knock at the door. He looked thought the peephole, grinned,
and opened it. "Hey, Hank."
"Hey,
Mr. Rabb. It will be $12.34. How ya’ doing?" Hank asked as he handed
Harm the bag of Chinese food.
"Good.
You?" Harm asked the college kid as he reached for his wallet and pulled
out 20 dollars.
"Great.
I saw you on ZNN. That was a pretty cool thing you did with that plane. Are
they going to give you an award or something?"
Harm
grimaced as Hank took the money. "Or something. Keep the change,
Hank."
"Thanks,
Mr. Rabb. Have a good night," Hank said as he walked down the hallway.
Harm
closed the door and moved back to the island as he tried to force Hank’s
words out of his head. "Yeah, the CIA was nice enough to can my six for
that stunt."
Harm
started to eat his late dinner as he flipped through the Flight magazine in
front of him. When he finished reading the magazine he placed it off to side
to reveal another letter. He turned the envelope over to reveal Mac’s
handwriting. His heart stopped as he looked at his name written across the
front.
His
fingers felt the paper inside the sealed envelope and he wondered what she
wrote that would be this thick. His mind then started to scream at him for
leaving that night….for leaving her. He dropped the envelope and walked into
the living room with his box of Chicken and Broccoli.
As
he sat on the couch trying to focus on dinner and how glad he was home, he
kept finding himself glancing at the envelope from Mac. He tried to wish the
letter away, but then he also wished it was Mac on the stool over there and
not a letter on the table.
After
a few minutes he finally gave up and walked back over to the counter top. He
picked the envelope up and started to pull at the corner, but stopped.
"Not
now." He then took the envelope and opened his desk drawer. He looked at
the envelope again and sighed, before he tossed it into the drawer.
"She’s
probably just yelling at me anyways," he muttered as he walked back to
his dinner, holding back the fear in is body about the letter.
Tuesday
December 16
JAG
–
Mac
sat in her new office working on some case files when her yeoman, Petty
Officer Lois Banker, buzzed her.
Mac’s
hand hit the talk button on the phone. "Yes, Petty Officer."
"Ma’am,
there is a gentlemen here to see you," Lois said with a mild stumble in
her voice.
Mac
looked at her door wondering who was behind the closed oak.
"Gentleman?"
"Yes,
Ma’am."
"Does
he have an appointment?" Mac asked as she closed the case file.
Lois
took a second to answer. "No, Ma’am. He say’s he’s a friend."
Mac
sighed. "Send him in."
"Yes,
Ma’am." Lois compiled before she hung up her phone.
A
few seconds later Mac’s office door opened and Clayton Webb walked in. Mac
looked up at him and felt her anger at him grow. She glanced at Lois who was
standing by the door. "Thank you, Petty Officer," Mac politely said
as Clay smiled at the young girl.
"You
look good behind that desk, Mac." Clay grinned.
Mac
looked up at him. "How’s the nose?"
His
smile fell from his face. "Good, I can finally breathe again."
"Should
have hit you harder," Mac muttered.
Clay
took it upon himself to sit down in a chair in front of her desk and watch
her. Mac folded her arms in front of her chest. "If you’re here to
borrow people from my office, the answer is no."
"I’m
not here to borrow anyone."
"Good,"
Mac snapped. "Then tell me why you are here."
"I’m
here to make amends," Clay stated.
"Apology
accepted, you can leave now," Mac told him in her no nonsense voice.
"Let
me take you out to lunch."
"No."
"Sarah,
please. I want to talk to you."
Mac
sighed knowing he wasn’t going to go away. "About what?"
"Us."
"I’ll
make this conversation quick. There is no us, and there never will be an
us."
"Mac,
one lunch and then I am out of your life forever," Clay pleaded.
Mac
thought over his words. She picked up her phone and waited for Lois to answer.
"Do I have anyone stopping by in the next hour? ....... Okay. I’m going
to head out for lunch; I’ll have my cell phone with me in case anything
happens."
She
hung up the phone. "You have one hour."
Clay
grinned as he stood up. "Great. I know this great little café just a few
blocks away. We can walk there, it’s a nice day."
Mac
stood up and grabbed her coat and cover. "Don’t make me regret this."
Café
Gambrinus
Mac
and Clay had just finished their lunch in the small café. They shared basic
small talk about nothing at all, and Mac was just waiting for Clay to drop his
news.
"I’m
on a mission," Clay announced to her as they were enjoying dessert.
"That’s
nice," Mac calmly said before taking a bite of the sweet chocolate.
Clay
looked deeply at her. "I’ll be gone for a while."
"Clay,
why are you telling me this?"
"I
just want to know, is there a chance at all for us?"
Mac
tried not to laugh at him. "No, Clay, there isn’t. I’m not sure there
was ever a chance for an us at all."
"Do
you love him?"
"Who?"
Mac asked, hoping Clay wouldn’t bring up Harm’s name.
"Harm."
"Clay,
I’m not here to discuss Harm or you for that matter," Mac stated before
finishing her coffee. "If you want me to wish you luck on your mission I
will, but don’t ask me to answer questions about a relationship that
wasn’t going anywhere."
Clay
thought for a few seconds about her words. He wondered if the relationship she
mentioned was his or Harm’s. "Can we at least be friends?"
"How
about acquaintances?" Mac suggested.
Clay
reluctantly shook his head knowing he would never be more to Mac. Mac finished
her coffee. "I need to get back to the office."
Clay
stood up, as did Mac. "Yeah. Do you like it here?"
"I
do." Mac smiled. "It’s just what I needed."
"Mac,
I don’t know if it means much. But I’m proud of you getting this command."
Clay kindly told her.
Mac
gave him a sweet smile as they walked to the door of the café. "Thanks,
Clay, and good luck on you mission."
"Thanks,
Mac," Clay said as she walked down the street towards the JAG office and
out of his personal life.
"Mac,
wait!" Clay called after her as he quickly walked towards her.
"What
is it, Clay?" Mac stopped and asked a little bit annoyed.
"Please,
have dinner with me tonight."
"No."
"Come
on Sarah, one last dinner before I’m out of your life," Clay begged.
"You
said that already about lunch, and you are still here."
"Please."
"Okay.
When and where?"
"I’ll
pick you up at 7:00 pm."
"No,
just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there."
Clay
gave her the information she needed and she walked back to her office.
Clay
watched her and smiled. ‘It’s not over yet, Sarah. It’s not over yet.’
He thought before he turned around and walked back to his hotel.
Sunday
December 21
Harm
smiled, as he stood in baggage claim glad to be home, but also a little bit
sad that his visit with his mother and Frank was over. Since he was no longer
employed, he decided to take a small trip to visit his mom and break the news
to her. He had to admit, she handled it very well, and it only took Frank five
minutes before he offered Harm a job. The offer was declined, unless he
couldn’t find a job in two months. He would have spent Christmas with them
in California, but they were going to be spending the holiday in Hawaii. He
decided it was time to get back to DC.
Harm
picked up his bag and started to walk out of the area until he heard his name.
He turned around and tried not to grimace as he watched Clayton Webb approach
him.
"Clay."
Harm said in his usual tone.
"How
are you, Harm?" Clay asked as the two men walked towards the exit.
"I’m
fine."
"Still
unemployed?"
"You
didn’t happen to have anything to do with that, did you?" Harm asked.
Clay
laughed. "I don’t have that much pull. Besides I’ve been in Italy for
the past few weeks."
"Italy.
What’s in Italy?" Harm asked wondering what Clay was working on.
"Sarah,"
Clay answered.
"Mac’s
in Italy." Harm repeated
Clay
looked at Harm and knew there was story there. "Yeah, she’s running JAG
down in Naples."
"Wow,"
Harm said in a surprised tone. "How’s she doing?"
Clay
ginned as they walked outside. "Fine. I think Italy agrees with her,
she’s more beautiful then ever."
Harm
didn’t say anything, he just shook his head.
"We
spent time together discussing our relationship," Clay told Harm, trying
to pry some emotion out of the man.
"Well,
good luck there, Clay," Harm stated, throwing Clay off stride.
Clay
decided to make one last ditch effort. "We talked about our future."
Harm
heard enough and decided it was time to leave. "I’ve got to get home
and try to find a job. I’ll see you around, Clay."
"See
ya, Harm," Clay said as Harm quickly walked towards the parking deck.
Once Harm was out of ear shot Clay reflected on the conversations he had with
Mac and the one with Harm. "What the hell happened between the two of you?"
Not
even trying to answer Clay walked towards pick-up, where he was sure the limo
was waiting for him.
Monday
December 22
Roberts
Residence
"I’m
so glad you could join us for dinner, Sir," Harriet said as she and Harm
cleared the table form the remains of dinner.
"It’s
Harm, Harriet. I’m not in the Navy anymore." Harm smiled at her.
"Have
you heard from Colonel MacKenzie?" Bud asked as he and Little AJ walked
back into the room to help.
"No,
but I’m sure she’s fine." Harm handed Harriet a plate from the table.
"We
actually got a package from her today in the mail, Bud. I must have forgotten
to tell you," Harriet informed her husband. "She wrote a little note
and said she’s going to try to request a transfer for me. It seems the
office manger needs some organization training."
Bud
grinned and he was about to say something when the doorbell rang.
"Can
I get it, Daddy?" AJ asked.
"Look
out the window first," Bud said as AJ bounced towards the door.
Harriet
smiled. "He loves talking to people."
"It’s
Uncle AJ," AJ stated as he opened the door.
Bud
gave Harriet a nervous look and walked into the entryway to greet their CO.
Harriet glanced at Harm as Bud left the room.
"He’s
not going to bite you, Harm," Harriet said.
"He
might if he’s given the chance," Harm muttered as Harriet pulled him
into the entryway.
Harm
and Harriet walked into the living room where Little AJ was showing his Uncle
the tree and gifts. "These are for Jimmy, but I don’t think he’s
going to be able to unwrap them." AJ informed the older man.
"Probably
not, AJ," AJ said with a smile at the young boy’s enthusiasm. He turned
around to greet Harriet and was somewhat surprised to see Harm standing there
too. "Harriet this is a very nice tree."
"Thank
you, Sir." Harriet smiled.
"Harm,"
AJ said as he tried to test the waters with Harm.
"AJ,"
Harm said back, smiling to himself for not saying ‘Sir’.
Harriet
glanced at Bud who was still surprised to find Chegwidden at their house. She
was about to ask why he was there, but noticed Bud was holding a case file.
She smiled as she realized he must have overheard Harriet telling Bud about
Harm coming over for dinner and he decided to stop by.
"Sir,
we were just going to have some coffee. Would you like a cup?" Bud asked.
"That
would be nice, Bud. Thank you." AJ politely accepted.
"Great,
we’ll get that coffee." Harriet smiled, holding her hand out for Little
AJ to take.
Little
AJ looked up and took his mom’s hand, even though he wanted to stay and talk
to his uncles. Bud looked at the two men and thought they might want some time
to discuss something.
"I’m
going to check on Jimmy," Bud told them before he left the room.
AJ
and Harm were silent for a few minutes. "So, Harm, what are you doing
now?"
"Updating
my resume, AJ. You?"
"Planning
a damn wedding. I swear Meredith wants the strangest things at the
reception," AJ muttered. "Any prospects for a job?"
"I’ve
got a few interviews around town and even the DA’s office."
"Why
don’t you stop by JAG tomorrow? I can see if there is anything I can
do," AJ offered.
Harm
gave AJ an odd look. "You think there might be something."
"There
might be. I’ve been down one attorney for seven months now and my Chief of
Staff is now running JAG in Italy." AJ informed Harm.
Harm
thought for a second. "What time should I arrive for my appointment,
Sir?"
AJ
almost grinned. "How about 1100? We’ll discuss everything then."
"Sounds
fine," Harm said as Harriet walked into the room with a tray of coffee,
and AJ next to her, with the sugar and milk.
Tuesday
December 23
JAG
Harm
had arrived on time and AJ wasted no time offering Harm his job back. It did
take some minor coaxing on AJ’s part, but Harm quickly accepted the offer.
They also addressed some other problems between the two of them.
"It’s
going to be hard for awhile. Some of the staff is still buried under the Imes
case and we’re still low one attorney," AJ told Harm.
Harm
glanced at AJ. "Any chance one will be issued to us, Sir?"
AJ
dryly chucked. "I’ve been asking for one since May. With my luck, now
that you’re back, they won’t issue us one at all."
"How
about the training program?" Harm asked about.
"The
SECNAV has decided to have them start in some of the smaller offices.
Something about not throwing them to the wolves," AJ explained to Harm.
"You can start back tomorrow."
"Yes,
Sir," Harm happily said.
"You’ll
be moving, temporarily, into Colonel MacKenzie’s office. I’ll ask Lt. Sims
to finish moving her stuff out," AJ told Harm. He glanced at Harm and
noticed a mildly odd look on his face. "Is there a problem with that?
"No,
Sir." Harm responded.
AJ
decided to press the issue. "Was there something that happened between
you and Colonel MacKenzie I should know about?"
"No,
Sir." Harm lied.
"Once
she returns we’ll relocate you to another office."
"When
will she be returning, Sir?"
"In
six months to a year."
Harm
shook his head, hoping that would be enough time for them to overcome their
past. "Will there be anything else, Sir?"
"No,
Commander, that will be all. Report back here at 0800 sharp for your cases.
Dismissed," AJ proudly said to Harm.
"Aye,
aye, Sir," Harm said as he snapped to attention. Then he left the office.
As
he walked out of the office Jen looked at him and Harm grinned. Jen was
jumping up and down inside at the thought that Harm was back in the office.
Harm walked out of the office and waited outside the elevator. When the doors
opened, he walked in, hit the button and watched the door close. As he did, a
smile grew across his face and he started to softly hum and sing a familiar
tune to himself.
"In
the Navy, yes you can sail the seven seas. In the Navy, yes you can put your
mind at ease. In the Navy, come on now people, make a stand. They want you!
They want you! They want you as a new recruit!"
AJ
stopped as he passed by the elevator shaft when he heard a familiar tune.
"Who knew, Rabb knew that one."
January
21
JAG
Italy
Mac
sat at her desk and finished yet another ginger ale. Her stomach was bothering
her again; she felt nauseous since had gotten up this morning. "Damn
stress, is going to kill me," Mac muttered to herself.
She
was about to get up when Lois knocked on the open door. "Ma’am,
you’re one o’clock appointment is here."
Mac
smiled as she remembered who her one o’clock appointment was. "Send him
in, Lois."
Lois
nodded and let the man enter the office. Mac stood at attention and he
laughed. "I’m on vacation, Mac, at ease."
Mac
laughed with him. "I’m sorry, Admiral. How are you?"
"I’m
great. It’s nice to be back in Italy." AJ smiled as he looked around
her office. "Not as big as mine, but nice view."
"It’s
a nice office, Sir." Mac smiled until she heard a raised voice from the
bullpen. "Sometimes."
"One
of yours?" AJ asked as another voice joined the first one.
Mac
shook her head. "Sir, I want to apologize for any time in the past eight
years were I caused you undo stress during any and all of my cases."
AJ
chuckled. "Apology accepted."
"Please
have a seat, Sir. It will only take me a minute to deal with them," Mac
said to him before she left the office.
AJ
sat and laughed at the idea of Mac having to deal with some of the same things
he had to deal with.
Mac
groaned to herself as she walked out of her office. "I swear I’m going
to have them duel at each other at twenty paces one day."
She
walked into the bullpen area as she thought about the two young people. Lt.
Gale Martin and Doug Rogers were both going to be great lawyers one day. They
only had one minor problem, they argued too much when they worked their cases,
especially when they worked together.
"Attention
on deck!" Lois barked as Mac approached the bullpen.
All
activity in the bullpen stopped and everyone snapped to attention. Mac strode
directly in front of the Rogers and Martin. "Do we have a problem,
Lieutenants?"
"No,
Ma’am," they both responded.
"Are
you sure? Because it certainly didn’t sound that way to me," Mac stated
to them.
Rogers
decided to cover their butts. "We were discussing the case, Ma’am. And
I guess our words grew heated."
"Grew
heated?"
"Yes,
Ma’am. It won’t happen again," Martin replied.
Mac
looked at both of them and decided not to deal with it. "If it happens
again, both of you will find yourselves in the Artic. Do we have an
understanding?"
"Yes,
Ma’am," they both replied.
"Good
and next time you have a discussion save it till you’re inside your
offices," Mac added before she walked back into her office, leaving the
berated officers standing there to contemplate her words.
AJ
smiled as Mac entered her office. "Sounds like you have your hands
full."
"Yes,
Sir. I just." Mac stopped in mid-sentence, as she felt a little
lightheaded.
"Mac?"
AJ asked as he stood up to look at her.
Mac
opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She stared blankly at
him as the color from her face drained. Her eyes slowly shut and her knees
weakened. AJ watched as she started to faint, quickly moving to her and
helping to guide her to the ground.
Lois
watched from her desk and ran into the office. "What can I do, Sir?"
"Call
a medic," AJ instructed as he laid Mac on the floor, unsnapping her tie,
undoing the first few buttons of her top, and unbuttoning her jacket.
Lois
ran to her phone and called the first aid medic who was stationed in the
building. Once she was done talking to him she went back into the office.
"He’ll be up in a minute, Sir."
"Good,"
AJ said.
"What
happened, Sir?" Lois asked as she glanced at her unconscious CO.
"I
don’t know. She walked back in and started to say something when she
collapsed."
The
medic came through the door with his first aid kit. "What happened?"
"She
fainted," AJ told the medic.
The
medic looked at AJ then went into his bag and pulled out some smelling salts.
He waved them in front of Mac’s nose. After a few passes, Mac moaned and he
stopped. "Come on, Colonel, time to wake up."
Mac
slowly opened her eyes and looked at AJ with confusion. "What
happened?"
"You
passed out, Mac," AJ told her.
Mac
tried to sit up, but the medic and AJ held her down. "I’m fine."
"I’ll
be the judge of that, Ma’am," the medic replied as he pulled out a
piece of equipment and started to check Mac’s vitals.
"Can
I at least sit up?" Mac asked as he finished looking in her eyes with the
small pen light.
"Slowly,"
He instructed.
Mac
slowly sat up and only mildly felt dizzy.
The
medic checked her blood pressure. "It’s a little high."
Mac
resisted the urge to inform him about her job. "I’m fine."
"Ma’am,
has this happened to you before?" The medic asked.
"No,"
Mac told him.
"What
about yesterday, Ma’am?" Lois asked.
"Yesterday?"
AJ said, looking at Lois then Mac.
"I
didn’t pass out," Mac told Lois.
"No,
but you did get light headed, and you told me it’s been happening on and off
for the past few days," Lois told the small group.
The
medic looked at Mac. "Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to go to
base hospital and have the doctors check you out."
"I’m
fine and I," Mac started to say.
"I’m
pulling rank, Colonel," AJ said in his authoritative voice.
"You’re going to follow his orders."
Mac
bit her tongue. "Yes, Sir."
Mac
sat on the edge of the hospital bed waiting for the doctor to return with the
results of a few routine tests.
AJ
walked into the room with a tray from the cafeteria. "They didn’t have
much of a choice. Tuna salad or turkey sandwich?"
Mac
looked at both. "Turkey."
AJ
handed her the sandwich and a bottle of juice. "Has the doctor come back
yet?"
"Not
yet, Sir," Mac said in between bites of her sandwich. "You don’t
need to stay, Sir. He’s just going to come back and tell me I need to eat
better and not let the stress get to me."
"Then
I’ll wait and hear it from him." AJ pointed at her sandwich. "Eat,
Colonel."
"Yes,
Sir." Mac chuckled.
They
ate in relative silence till Mac asked, "So who’s watching JAG while
you’re on vacation, Sir?"
"Turner,
I thought he might do a good job watching the place."
"He
probably will," Mac said before she finished her sandwich and juice. She
placed them on the small table. "I hate hospitals."
"I’m
sure the doctor will return in a while," AJ said trying to calm Mac’s
nerves or was it to calm his.
As
if on cue the doctor walked into the room. "Colonel, Sir, I’m sorry it
took so long. Our lab has a tendency to work slow around lunch time,"
Captain Chapman said to them.
AJ
looked at Mac. "Do you want me to leave?"
"No,
Sir. I’ve already told you what he’s going to say," Mac stated.
Chapman
looked at Mac with mild surprise. "So you know?"
"I
should eat better and try not to let the stress get to me," Mac told him.
"And
the rest?"
"The
rest?" Mac asked him.
"That
you’re pregnant."
Mac
stared at him. "I’m what?"
"Pregnant,
probably less then ten weeks. I would like to do an ultrasound just to be on
the safe side," Chapman told her.
Mac
continued to stare at him. "I’m pregnant."
"I
take it this wasn’t planned?" Chapman asked.
Mac
let out a dry chuckle. "Nothing in my life is planned, Captain."
AJ
stared at Mac with shock on his face. "Mac, are you okay?"
"I
don’t think so, Sir," Mac told him honestly.
Chapman
looked at Mac. "Colonel, I would really to do the ultrasound now. It will
give us a better estimate of the age of the fetus."
"Okay,"
Mac said as the words started to sink into her.
"Let
me just get the portable," Chapman said before he left the room.
AJ
stood up from the chair next to the head of the bed. "I’ll just be
outside."
"Sir,
I would like you to stay. I think I’m going to need some help on this
one," Mac almost pleaded.
AJ
looked at her face and could tell she was scared. "Of course, Mac. But I
think for the rest of the day you should call me AJ. Somehow I don’t think
you’re CO should be here."
Mac
chuckled. "Thanks, AJ."
AJ
sat back down and gave Mac an encouraging smile.
Chapman
entered the room again with a handheld ultrasound and a nurse. "Just lay
back, Colonel."
Mac
laid back on the bed and the nurse pulled up Mac’s shirt around her waist,
putting some clear gel on her stomach. Chapman then pressed the small wand
over the area searching for the tiny baby.
"Bingo."
Chapman smiled.
The
nurse looked at the small screen. "About eight weeks."
Chapman
looked closer at the small black and white grouping. "Eight weeks."
He hit a button on the side of the screen and removed the wand from Mac’s
stomach.
The
nurse wiped off Mac’s stomach and helped Mac sit up. Chapman showed the
screen to Mac. "I know this is hard to see. But that mass right there is
your baby."
Mac
looked closely at the screen. "Wow."
"I’m
going to have the nurse print this out for you. Have you had any morning
sickness?" Chapman asked as handed the ultrasound to the nurse and she
left the room
"I’ve
felt nauseous, but nothing else," Mac told him.
Chapman
took out his prescription pad and wrote on it. "This is a prescription
for vitamins. I want you to come for monthly check-ups with an OB doctor.
I’m going to recommend Commander Kyle Henning, he delivered my son." He
handed Mac two slips of paper. "You need to eat better and try to lay off
the stress, Colonel. If you have any questions about the pregnancy, Commander
Henning will be able to answer your questions."
He
paused and looked at her. "Do you have any questions?"
"A
million," Mac nervously said.
"It’s
a lot to take in, but don’t worry just stay healthy and everything should be
fine," Chapman reassured her as the nurse walked back in. She handed
Chapman the picture and he gave it to Mac. "Congratulations."
"Thank
you, Captain," Mac said before he left the room.
AJ
stood up and sat next to her on the bed and looked at the picture.
"It’s a little fuzzy." He tried to joke.
Mac
looked at him. "Well, looks like I don’t need those two weeks to tell
my CO."
"Congratulations,
Sarah."
"Thanks,
AJ." She stared at the picture in awe now. "I’m going to be a
mom."
AJ
shook his head and wondered who the father was. Instead of asking her the
question he choose another. "Well since our lunch plans changed. Why
don’t Meredith and I take you out to dinner tonight?"
Mac
looked at the picture in her hands. "I don’t think I’m going to be up
for company tonight, Sir."
"Mac,
you need to eat and Meredith would love to see you again. If it helps, I won’t
tell her about the baby."
"I
would appreciate it, if you didn’t tell anyone."
AJ
stared at her with surprise. "People will find out."
"I
know, Sir. I just want to be the one to break the news."
"Understood,
Mac. But Meredith and I will pick you up for dinner at seven. There is a small
café she wants to go to and she made reservations for three last night."
Mac
laughed. "Harriet’s been rubbing off on you."
"That
she has." AJ laughed before he gently took her hand. "I just want to
make sure you’re going to be okay, Sarah."
Mac
squeezed his hand. "I will be."
Mac’s
Apartment
Mac
had returned from dinner with Meredith and AJ about ten minutes ago. She took
a shower and was now sitting on her couch in her PJ’s, staring at the
picture of her baby. It was so tiny and growing inside her.
"What
the hell am I going to do?" she muttered as she stood up to pace the
room. After a few short laps around the room she noticed a picture on her end
table. It was of her, Little AJ, and Harm. She picked the picture up and
returned to the couch, picking up the other sonogram picture.
"Congratulations,
Harm, you’re a dad." She let her mind wonder to what the baby would
look like. Blue eyes or brown? Boy or girl? His nose or hers? Then her
thoughts changed. "How am I going to tell him?"
A
few tears fell from her eyes as she allowed herself to realize this baby was
from that one night. The one night they both let go and express their
feelings. From the night he left her, alone. From the night they ended their
marriage. "What am I going to do?"
Wednesday
April 7
JAG
Mac
sat in her office with her feet propped up by a box under her desk. She was
reading a file as her left hand rest protectively on her belly. This had grown
steadily since she found out four months ago she was pregnant. The morning
after she found out she was pregnant, the morning sickness hit, and luckily
stopped a few weeks later.
There
have been several times when her hormones had gotten the best of her; at least
it only happened once or twice in the office. The only person who had
witnessed them was Lois, who was promptly sworn to secrecy. Lois just laughed
it off with, "Ma’am, I grew up with four older sisters. I know all
about secrets."
Last
month, during her doctor’s appointment, he surprised her by asking if she
wanted to know the sex of the baby. She declined, saying she wanted to be
surprised, but since then it had been killing her whether to know or not to
know. It was also around that time she felt the first movement of the baby. It
was a small flutter, and it surprised and shocked her.
Now
those rare flutters had changed into soft kicks and punches, which were
growing in amount and force. At least the baby was nice enough to sleep when
she slept and was only awake when she was awake.
Mac
was adjusting to being pregnant, and the office was also adjusting. The
personnel quickly learned not to ask what she was eating for lunch. They also
learned not say she was glowing, after she threatened Rogers with his life if
he ever muttered those words again.
"Ma’am,
Admiral Chegwidden is on the phone," Lois said as she walked in with a
cup of herbal tea for Mac.
Mac
looked at the tea. "Did I ask for this?"
"No,
Ma’am. But you always have a cup around this time." Lois smiled.
Mac
smiled back. "Thanks, Lois. He’s on one?"
"Yes,
Ma'am," Lois said before she walked out of the office and closed the door
behind her.
"Good
afternoon, Admiral," Mac said as she picked up the phone.
{"How
are you, Colonel?" AJ asked, leaning back in his chair.}
"I’m
fine, Sir. You?"
{AJ
groaned slightly. "Fine, except for a few officers who are trying my
nerves. How are yours?"}
"Well,
I overheard one of them saying he didn’t know which was worse: having a CO
who’s pregnant, having a CO who’s a Marine, or having a CO who’s a
pregnant Marine?"
{AJ
laughed. "Which one did he choose?"}
"The
last one." Mac laughed.
{"How
are you and the baby doing?"}
"We’re
okay. It’s moving more now then before."
{"Boy
or girl?"}
"I
told Dr. Henning I wanted to be surprised."
{AJ
thought about her personality. "It’s driving you crazy isn’t
it?"}
"Like
you wouldn’t believe."
{AJ
laughed. "I’m sure which ever one it is, it will be just like
you."}
"That’s
what worries me, Sir," Mac muttered then she took a second. "You
usually wait to call me at home. Is there something I need to know about,
Sir?"
{AJ
took a breath knowing Mac would figure it out. "Captain Hallworth’s
wife died last night."}
"I’m
sorry to hear that."
{"He’ll
be returning to Italy in June to take his command back."}
"I
see, Sir." Mac said, suddenly feeling depressed and slightly confused.
{"How
does that work into your pregnancy?"}
"I’ll
be seven months in June, Sir."
{"Then
I’ll lose you in August to have the baby."}
"Actually
the end of August or the first week in September."
{"You’re
going to work straight through?" AJ questioned.}
"As
long as my doctor allows it, Sir. Is that a problem?"
{"Just
promise not to have this kid in my office."}
Mac
chuckled. "Of course not."
{"We’ll
talk more about it when it’s closer to your transfer date," AJ said, as
there was knock on his door. "One minute, Mac."}
AJ
covered the mouthpiece. "Enter."
"Sorry
to interrupt, Sir," Harm said as he walked into the office.
"Just
let me finish this call." AJ instructed as Harm stood in front of his
desk.
{"Sorry,
about this, but duty calls," AJ told Mac hoping Harm wouldn’t say
anything.}
"I
completely understand, Sir. Should I expect the normal call next week?"
Mac grinned.
{"Of
course. I’ll talk to you later, Mac, have a good day."}
"You
too, Sir," Mac said before she hung up the phone.
AJ
looked at Harm. "What can I help you with, Commander?"
Harm
was thrown off a little by hearing Mac’s name, but tried to continue.
"I just came to update you on the Kerry court marshal. Commander Turner
and I have reached a settlement." He handed AJ the file.
AJ
opened it. "Good. Anything else, Commander?"
"No,
Sir." Harm reported.
AJ
looked up at him and decided to try a conversation. "Colonel MacKenzie
will be coming back in June."
"That’s
nice to hear, I’ll make sure I’m out of her office by that time,"
Harm stated.
AJ
leaned back in his chair. "Was there something that occurred between you
and Mac I need to know about, Commander?"
"Nothing
that requires your attention, Sir," Harm replied.
AJ
thought for a minute and figured he knew something Harm didn’t.
"Dismissed, Commander."
"Aye,
Aye, Sir," Ham said before leaving the office with an odd feeling that
something was up and he should have known about it.
Saturday
May 22
Roberts
Residence
"Hello,"
Harriet said as she picked up the phone.
{"Hi,
Harriet. It’s Mac." Mac smiled to her friend an ocean away.}
"Colonel,
this is a surprise."
{Mac
laughed. "Bud e-mailed me and said AJ was having his birthday party
today. I thought I would call and wish the birthday boy a happy
birthday."}
Harried
sighed at the sweetness of her friend. "Colonel, that’s so thoughtful.
He is outside with everyone; give me a minute." Harriet stepped into the
backyard and quickly spotted her son with Harm, showing him how to use his new
remote controlled toy car. "AJ, honey, phone call."
Just
as Harriet called to her son the admiral walked onto the deck. "I hope
you mean your son," he joked.
Harriet
laughed. "Yes, Colonel MacKenzie is calling to wish him a happy
birthday."
AJ
chuckled as his namesake ran onto the deck.
"For
me, Mommy?"
"Yes,
honey." Harriet handed him the phone.
"Hello,"
AJ tentatively said into the phone.
{"Hi,
AJ," Mac greeted him.}
"Aunt
Mac, is that you?" AJ asked.
{"Yes,
honey, it’s me. Happy birthday."}
"You
remembered. I knew you wouldn’t forget." AJ grinned from ear to ear.
{Mac
could feel his happiness through the phone. "Did you like the Matchbox
track?"}
"It’s
my favorite. Mommy and Daddy got me the carwash and the police station. Uncle
AJ and Aunt Meredith got the fire station and the garage. Uncle Sturgis and
his girlfriend got me some books, Daddy’s promised to read them to me. Jimmy
even got me a new toy; I guess I’ll have to share with him. And Uncle Harm
got me a really cool remote controlled car."
{"Wow!"
Mac laughed at the boy’s exuberance. "Looks like you made out like a
bandit."}
"And
Mommy and I are going to the zoo tomorrow, just the two of us. Like when you
would take me. When are you coming home?" AJ asked.
{"In
a few weeks, honey."}
"I
miss you."
{"I
miss you, too." Mac sniffled as a tear fell down her cheek.}
AJ
heard the sniffle. "You okay, Aunt Mac?"
{Mac
wiped her cheek. "I’m fine, honey. Just sad cause I’m not there with
you."}
"I
think Uncle Harm misses you, he’s been sad a lot today. But he’s trying to
hide it." AJ stated as Harriet looked at her son and wondered what was
wrong with Mac. "Are you going to be here for my next birthday?"
{"I
promise I will be there next year, Honey. Why don’t you give me back to your
Mom? Then you can go back to playing." Mac instructed.}
"Okay,
I love you."
{"I
love you, too."}
"Here’s
Mommy." AJ smiled as he handed the phone back to Harriet, before he ran
off the porch to go back to his new toy and Uncle Harm.
"Ma’am."
{"Harriet,
that’s a great kid you have there."}
Harriet
grinned. "He has his moments. Are you okay?"
{"Just
tired, Harriet. It’s been a long week." Mac sighed, as she got
comfortable on her couch, which wasn’t an easy task.}
"I
understand." Harriet agreed as the admiral motioned that he wanted to
talk to Mac. "Colonel, Admiral Chegwidden wants to speak with you."
{Mac
chuckled having a feeling knowing what it was about. "Sure, Harriet. I
should let you get back to the party."}
"It
was nice talking to you. I guess we’ll see you in a few weeks."
{"In
a few weeks, Harriet," Mac stated.}
"Here’s
the Admiral, Ma’am." Harriet handed the phone to the Admiral and walked
away.
AJ
glanced around the deck and knew there were a lot of good ear around the
backyard. So he decided to take the phone into the house. "I tried
calling you yesterday afternoon, Colonel."
{"Sorry
about that, Sir. I took the day off."}
"Is
everything okay?"
{"My
doctor was worried about my stress level."}
"Is
the baby okay?"
{Mac
sighed. "Everything is fine. I just needed a mental health day. How’s
everything with you?"}
"Fine,
Meredith is making an honest man out of me next weekend."
{"I’m
sorry I can’t be there, Sir." Mac apologized for the umpteenth time.}
"Mac,
it’s okay. You have an office to run. Besides Meredith loved the etched
Italian goblets you got us. How did you find those?"
{"Lt.
Marks was going to Venice and I asked him if he could get them made for
me," Mac informed him.}
"Did
they do the design?"
{"No,
Sir, I did. I was doodling one night and came up with that."}
"They
are beautiful, Mac. Thank you," AJ honestly told her as he thought of the
two goblets, which were now in his glass cabinet.
{"I
hope you get a lot of use out of them." Mac suggested.}
AJ
smiled. "We’re actually using them at the reception."
{Mac
smiled as she felt another emotion storm starting. "Damn hormones,"
She muttered.}
AJ
heard her and decided to have some fun. "What was that, Colonel?"
{"Nothing,
Sir," Mac lied.}
"Honestly,
Mac, how are you and the baby doing?"
{Mac
ran her hand across her belly as the baby gave a kick. "We’re fine,
Sir. It’s kicking up a storm every now and then."}
"And
now?"
{"Just
a few kicks. I think it knows when I’m talking to certain people," Mac
stated as the baby gave her another kick.}
"It
just gets better, Mac. You’re only at six months."
{"I
don’t think better is the word most women use," Mac joked.}
AJ
laughed. "Probably not."
{"Sir,
there has been something I’ve been wondering," Mac tentatively said.}
"Yes,
Mac."
{She
took a deep breath. "I was wondering….. Would you like to be the
baby’s godfather? You’ve been here from the start, and I know that you
would help the baby in any way needed."}
AJ
sat down on the couch in shock of Mac’s question. "You want me to be
the godfather?"
{"Yes,
Sir."}
AJ
grinned. "I would be honored, Mac."
{"Thank
you, Sir," Mac said before giving into a yawn.}
AJ
chuckled. "Okay, Colonel. I heard that. It’s time for you and the baby
to go to bed."
{Mac
chuckled. "Yes, Sir."}
"I’ll
call you next week. Good night, Mac."
{"Good
night, Sir." Mac smiled before she hung up the phone.}
AJ
hit the call end button on the phone and remained on the couch for a few
minutes thinking about Mac’s baby. Meredith walked into the room.
"Should
I be worrying about you and Sarah?" She joked.
AJ
laughed. "No, you shouldn’t. She’s a good officer."
Meredith
kissed him softly. "She’s a good person. I mean it is her fault we
met."
"True."
AJ stood up. "Let’s go back and join the party."
Harm’s
Apartment
Harm
sat on his couch, thinking about the whole day and stared the picture of him
and Mac taken in Afghanistan. "I’ve never broken a promise, Mac. And I
didn’t want to break this one. I’m sorry, I screwed us up."
He
placed it back on the shelf next to the one of the two of them and AJ taken a
few days after he was born. "I shouldn’t have said five years."
Friday
May 28
JAG
Mac
sat in her chair getting upset at the major standing in front of her.
"Major, where is your case?"
"It’s
been held up, Ma’am," he reported to her.
"It’s
been held up. By what the police ... a bank robber?" Mac asked as she
rubbed her belly.
"Washington,
Ma’am."
"Washington?"
The
major took a breath. "Yes, Ma’am. A Commander at JAG has requested my
witness to report to him this afternoon. She left last night and landed in DC
this morning. I have been unable to contact the Commander who needs her."
Mac
sighed. "Let me give DC a call and see if I can’t smooth over any
feathers. Do you know who has the case?"
"No,
Ma’am."
Mac
wrote down the name of the witness her Major needed. "I’ll see if I can
set up a video conference between you and the witness. That way you can at
least get her statement."
"Thank
you, Ma’am." The major nearly smiled.
"Dismissed."
"Yes,
Ma’am." The major said before leaving.
Mac
looked at her door as the major left and Lois came in with her tea.
"Shouldn’t you have left already, Ma’am?" Lois asked.
"I
will after this call." Mac sighed, and then she sweetly looked at the
young woman. "Thank you, Lois."
"No
problem, Ma’am. Oh, and Sunday, at three, we are having your baby
shower." Lois smiled.
"Lois,
no one needs to do that. The baby isn’t due for three months."
"We
know, Ma’am, but you’re leaving in two weeks and this is the closest to a
JAG baby we’re going to get," Lois explained.
Mac
smiled at her Petty Officer. "Three o’clock at Gale’s house."
"Yes,
Ma'am," Lois said before Mac nodded for her to leave.
Mac
picked up the phone as Lois closed the door. She hit the speaker button and
dialed the number for JAG.
{"JAG.
Petty Officer Coates, speaking."}
"Hi,
Coates, it’s Colonel MacKenzie."
{"Hi,
Colonel. How are
you?" Jen asked with a smile.}
Mac
smiled at her cheerful voice. "I’m fine, Jen. I need to speak with the
Commander who had a Lt. Commander Kaylan Brown flown in as a witness."
{Jen
thought for a minute. "One moment, Ma’am. I need to find out who has
that witness."}
"No
problem." Mac stood up as Jen placed her on hold. She started to pace the
office, stretching her stiff back and rubbing her belly as the baby also
stretched.
{"Ma’am.
I’ll connect you," Jen instructed.}
Mac
was about to ask to whom, but Jen transferred the call.
{"Commander
Rabb." Harm’s voice came through the speaker box.}
Mac
paused in mid-step as she heard his voice. She was thrown from her shock as
the baby gave her a big kick. Mac took a deep breath and tried to sound as
normal as possible. "Hi, Harm. It’s Mac."
{"Hey,
how are you?" Harm asked in only mild worry in his voice.}
"Fine."
Another kick came from the baby. "Looks like you are back to JAG. How are
you doing?"
{"Yeah,
I’m back and I’m good, thanks. Jen said something about helping you with a
case."}
"Yeah,
Major Madison was to interview Lt. Commander Kaylan Brown as a possible
witness, but you had her flown into JAG to testify for another case."
{Harm
flipped through the pile of cases on his desk. "Commander Brown, she’s
my afternoon witness in the Usborn court marshal."}
"Would
it be possible to set up a video conference between her and the Major before
the end of the day?" Mac asked.
{Harm
looked at the clock. "Isn’t it already the end of your day?"}
Mac
chuckled. "Not for him. He needs his case notes on my desk by ten
tomorrow morning or he’s going to learn why my staff is scared of me."
{Harm
laughed at her comments. "I thought Marines took care of their
own."}
"Not
when they are in command," Mac stated as a huge kick from the baby
startled her. "Ouch." She looked down and rubbed the spot where the
baby kicked.
{"You
okay, Mac?" Harm asked with concern.}
"Yeah,
the b….the chair attacked my foot." Mac rubbed her forehead as she
realized she almost said the baby.
{Harm
noticed the uneasiness in her voice. "You sure?"}
"Positive."
Mac quickly changed the conversation. "When do you think you’ll be done
in court today with Commander Brown?"
{Harm
caught the no-nonsense tone in Mac’s voice. "Shouldn’t be any longer
than 2:00 or 2:30."}
"Great.
I’ll have Major Madison call you later today to set up the conference."
{"Sure,
I’ll ask Bud to help the tech guys set up the conference room," Harm
told her as he wrote a note.}
"Thanks,
Harm."
{Harm
didn’t want the phone call to end. This was his first time talking to Mac in
six months. "Little AJ missed you at his birthday party."}
"I
know, I called and we talked. I promised to be there next year."
{Harm
thought about their five-year deal. "There are some promises we can’t
keep, Mac."}
Mac
looked at her stomach as another kick was delivered. "Sometimes we keep
them and don’t know it. I need to get going, Harm. I’ll tell Major Madison
to call you around two."
{"Sure,
Mac," Harm said in a confused voice as he thought about Mac’s words.}
"Bye,
Harm."
{"Bye,
Mac."}
Mac
hit the end button and held her hand over her stomach. "Okay, I guess you
know. But next time could you not kick so damn much." Mac waited for the
words to reach her baby’s little ears. "Kick once for no and twice for
yes."
The
baby gave her three kicks in a row.
Mac
sat back in her chair. "Great, my kid’s a smart-ass."
Friday
June 18
Bethesda
Naval Hospital
Mac
had gotten off the plane from Italy around five and took a cab to her
apartment, where she was greeted with a clean place due to the Roberts family.
She smiled when she opened the refrigerator and found it stocked with enough
food for the rest of the week. She showered, changed and left for her
appointment at Bethesda, as per her doctor’s orders.
"Everything
looks and sounds okay, Colonel," Major Klause told Mac.
"Great,"
Mac replied, as she sat up from the exam table.
Major
Klause gave Mac’s file a look over. "You sure, you don’t want to know
the baby’s sex?"
Mac
grinned. "Did Commander Henning tell you to ask me that?"
Klause
laughed. "Yeah, Kyle called me this morning and told me to ask. We went
to medical school together. He’s a good doctor."
"Since
he recommended you, I’m hoping you’re a good doctor."
"One
of the best," the nurse replied as she handed Klause a paper to initial.
"Thanks
Lieutenant." Klause smiled. "Now, Colonel, I’m going to have to
agree with Commander Henning. You are under a lot of stress and you need to
keep an eye on that, as well as your eating well and often."
Mac
smiled. "Trust me this kid makes me eat often."
"A
snack between meals is a good idea."
"Sometimes
the snack is a small meal," Mac told him as the baby gave her two soft
kicks. She gently rubbed her belly. "Yeah, I know."
"Kicking?"
Klause asked.
"Yeah,
is that going to stop soon?" Mac jokingly asked.
The
nurse laughed. "In about two months."
Klause
smiled at the humor. "Colonel, I want to see you monthly, and during the
last month of your pregnancy, weekly. Here is my card. My office number and my
answering service numbers are on the front and my home and cell are on the
back for you." Klause handed Mac the card. "If you have any
questions please call me."
Mac
took the card and smiled. "Thank you."
"If
there’s nothing else, I’ll see you next month." Klause stood up from
the stool and left the room.
The
nurse looked at Mac. "He is a good doctor, he usually only gives his home
number to people who are having tough pregnancies."
Mac
stood up and put her jacket on. "It’s probably my oak leaves that have
him worried."
"Yes,
Ma’am." The Lieutenant responded as the two women left the room.
Mac
took her time as she walked out of the hospital. Once outside she deeply
inhaled the smell of DC in early summer. The air had a fresh feel to it,
because of the fallen rain. The sounds of the busy streets filled her ears;
like music. "It’s good to be home."
She
started to walk to her car as her cell phone rang. "Mackenzie."
{"Made
it home in one piece, Mac," AJ said with a smile.}
Mac
grinned. "Yes, Sir."
{"I
need you to stop by JAG once you’re done with your appointment at
Bethesda," AJ told her.}
"I’m
leaving Bethesda right now, Sir."
{"Good.
We just need to discuss a few things, then I’ll treat you dinner."}
"Understood,
Sir."
{"Mac,
just promise not to order anything with mint sauce."}
"Mint
sauce doesn’t do anything for me, Sir. But chocolate and peanut butter is a
different story."
{"I’ll
ask Coates to stock-up for your return."}
"That
is a very good idea, Sir."
{AJ
checked the clock on his wall. "Good. I’ll expect you around seven.
You’re not too tired from the time difference, are you?"}
Mac
chuckled. "I’ve been tired for seven months, Sir."
{"Understood,
Mac. But if you feel like you would rather go home and sleep, we can discuss
this tomorrow morning."}
Mac
argued in her head. Go to JAG tonight when no one is there, or go in tomorrow
when everyone is there. "I should be able to make it there by seven, Sir.
Hopefully I‘ll miss some traffic."
{"I’ll
see you when you get here, Mac," AJ said before he ended the phone call.}
"Yes,
Sir," Mac replied as she stood next to her new car, which had been
sitting in storage for the past seven months. A little thought passed through
her head that she was glad she had chosen this car and not another sports car.
She placed the cell phone into her purse, unlocked the car door and sat down.
Before she started the engine, she placed her hand down on her stomach.
"You ready to see uncle AJ again?"
The
baby gave her two kicks.
Mac
laughed. "Two kicks mean yes."
She
pulled the seatbelt across her and started the engine. Within minutes, she was
on her way towards JAG.
JAG
Mac
stepped off the elevator and was greeted by the silence of the JAG office on a
Friday night after five. She exhaled the breath she had been holding since the
guard shack when Gunny Mills welcomed her back.
She
moved towards AJ’s office, as she approached Coates desk, she was glad to
find it empty. Mac knocked on the outside of AJ’s open door.
AJ
smiled a mile wide as he saw Mac standing there looking like a scared little
girl. "Welcome home, Colonel."
Mac
smiled and chuckled softly as she walked into the office. "It’s good to
be home, Sir."
AJ
stepped around his desk and looked her over. Mac knew what he was trying to
look at. She took off her coat and held it to her side.
"You
look good, Mac."
"Thank
you, Sir." Mac rubbed her belly as the baby decided it wanted some
attention.
"Kicking?"
Mac
grinned. "I like the kicking better than the bouncing on my
bladder." She then reached for his hand and placed it over one spot.
"Right there."
AJ
felt the tiny amount of pressure the baby was causing. "Hey, this is your
Godfather talking, you be nice to your Mommy."
They
both laughed as they felt two short kicks.
AJ
removed his hand and motioned for Mac to sit down. They both sat down in the
two chairs in front of his desk. "What did the doctor say?"
"Everything
is fine. I need to watch my stress and make sure I’m eating enough. He wants
to see me monthly, then once a week in my final month," Mac reported.
AJ
shook his head. "How about your workload?"
"Well,
I can’t go on any long investigations. It would probably be best if I was
assigned in house cases or even file reviews."
"That’s
what I was thinking, but I just wanted to hear it from you." He reached
onto his desk and handed Mac a file. "Captain Hallworth faxed this to me
today. The official letter will be placed in your file within the next
day."
Mac
quickly read over the letter from Hallworth. It stated Mac was a great asset
to the office and handled her position with the respect of an officer, and was
an example of a by-the-book Marine. As Mac read the words, she felt her
emotions change and a tear fell down her cheek.
AJ
looked at her with concern, but Mac quickly wiped it away. She turned her head
to say something, but caught AJ’s look. "Mood swings, Sir."
"Got
ya," AJ quickly said. "Hallworth wanted me to express his pride in
the way you ran the office and also offered you the position of Chief of
Staff, after the baby is born."
Mac
chuckled. "I think I’ll stay at home for a while."
AJ
leaned back in the chair. "So, how did you like your own command?"
"It
was an experience, Sir. It made me very thankful that I was not in charge of
what happens in this office."
AJ
chuckled. "I wish I could get that feeling every now and then, Mac."
He paused as he changed the mood in the room. "Mac, I want to know how
you are going to handle coming into the office on Monday with no one knowing
you’re pregnant?"
Mac
thought for a second, as she knew this was something she has been thinking
about for the past five months. "I was just planning on walking into the
office, Sir. I don’t want to make a big deal about it."
"Mac."
"I
know the baby is a big deal, but I just want to get my work back in order. I
was planning on to stop by the Roberts house this weekend to break the news. I
think everyone else will be okay with adjusting."
"Including
Turner and Rabb?"
"Sturgis
might have some concerns, but he won’t bring them up at work."
AJ
looked straight into Mac eyes. "And Harm?"
Mac
was about to respond when Meredith knocked on the door. "Excuse me,
AJ."
AJ
stood up and looked at his wife. "Meredith, what are you doing
here?"
Meredith
chuckled. "You are taking me out to dinner. You forgot."
AJ
glanced at Mac who was still sitting in the chair. Then he returned his
attention back to Meredith. "I’m sorry, Mac and I."
"Mac!"
Meredith said as her smiled grew.
Mac
stood up from the chair and smiled at Meredith. "Hi, Meredith."
Meredith
approached Mac with open arms. Mac stepped to the side and Meredith froze in
place. "You’re pregnant."
"Seven
months," Mac stated.
Meredith
stepped closer and smiled sweetly at Mac. "You’re glowing."
Mac
let out an annoyed chuckle. "I hate those words, but thank you."
Meredith
laughed and pulled Mac into a friendly hug. "Now I know why AJ was
calling you weekly," she said as they released from the hug.
"Just
checking in on my godchild," AJ proudly stated.
"So,
I take it the three of us are going out to dinner tonight," Meredith
announced.
AJ
grinned at his wife. "Yes, we are."
"Sounds
great to me," Mac agreed.
"Well,
I need to secure the office. I’ll meet both of you bullpen." AJ moved
towards his desk.
Meredith
and Mac started to move towards the door, but stopped when AJ said Mac’s
name.
"Yes,
Sir."
"I
asked Coates and Sims to return your belongings back to your office. You might
want to check to make sure everything is back in place," AJ told her.
"Yes,
Sir," Mac said before she and Meredith left the office.
"You
must tell me all about Italy and the baby. I’m so happy you’re back,"
Meredith gushed.
"I’m
glad to be back," Mac stated as they walked towards her office.
"I
need to make a phone call; tell AJ I’ll only be a minute," Meredith
said as she walked towards the hallway.
Mac
shook her head and walked to her office. The light was on as she opened the
door. She looked around the office and saw everything was back in its place.
The in box and the out box sat empty on her desk. There were pens and pencils
in the Marines mug, and even a pile of new legal pads sitting on her desk.
Behind her desk sat some new photos Harriet placed in there of Little AJ and
Jimmy. She chuckled as she looked at the filing cabinet; there wasn’t the
usual pile of files and boxes. The table in the corner sat with two file boxes
on it. She moved towards the two boxes when a voice entered the office.
"Hey,
is that..." The voice stopped the moment he saw a woman in the office.
Mac
turned around and looked at the owner of the voice. She chuckled at his
surprise. "Hi, Sturgis."
"Mac?"
"It’s
me," Mac said with a nervous sigh.
Sturgis
stepped further into the office and got a closer look at Mac. She smoothed her
hands over her belly.
"Seven
months," She told him before he asked. She had a feeling of his next
question. "And if you ask how, I’m going to call your father and have
him explain it to you."
Sturgis
laughed. "I know how, but….. I guess I’m just surprised."
"How
do you think I felt when I found out?" Mac joked.
"You
look good."
"Thanks,
Sturgis. You’re looking pretty good yourself."
"Really?"
"Yeah,
I would say you’re not under the same stress you were before."
Sturgis
felt his cheeks give a mild blush. "Well, I’ve been seeing
someone."
"It’s
about time. Who is she?" Mac asked with a smile.
"She’s
a jazz singer." Sturgis started but was interrupted.
"Sturgis,
just grab those two boxes and we’ll be…" Harm said as he walked into
the office. However, his words stopped as he saw a pregnant Mac standing
there. "Hi, Mac."
Mac
looked at him and felt a million butterflies take off in her stomach as her
internal emotions did the same thing. "Hi, Harm."
Harm
looked closely at her and was unable to find his voice as his eyes focused on
her stomach. He then watched as she ran a hand toward one spot and rubbed it
softly. He looked up into her eyes and saw fear in them.
"You
okay?" Sturgis asked Mac.
"Fine.
The kid just likes to kick." Mac told the two men. Mac needed to change
the conversation; she looked at the two boxes. "Are those yours?"
"Yeah.
Harriet and Jen helped pack while I was in court today. Then they unpacked
your things," Harm told her.
"Sorry,
I’m kicking you out." Mac apologized.
"No,
problem. I’m getting a nice little office down the hall."
Mac
looked at Sturgis. "You’re old office."
"The
Admiral won’t let me move back in there," Sturgis dejectedly stated.
"Well,
Buddy if he did, I would help you move." Harm grinned.
"Thanks."
Sturgis laughed.
Mac
looked through the window as Meredith walked towards them with AJ behind her.
"Well, I need to get going. The Admiral, Meredith, and I are going out
for dinner. I guess I’ll see you two on Monday."
"Can’t
wait for it, Mac." Sturgis smiled glad to have her back in the office.
"Me
too," Harm agreed.
Mac
forced a smile on her face as she wondered what Harm was thinking. "Good
night."
She
moved towards the door and Sturgis and Harm stepped out of her way. Just as
she was passing Harm she stumbled slightly and he caught her arm. They stared
at each other for a few seconds trying to read the other, but all they got was
confusion. Mac muttered a quick "thanks," then continued to walk out
of the office. She joined the couple in the bullpen and they left the office.
Sturgis
turned to Harm who looked like he was lost. "You okay, Harm?"
"Fine,"
Harm coldly stated.
Sturgis
knew something was wrong. "After we set up your office, you owe me a
beer."
"Yeah,
I could use a good drink," Harm said as Sturgis picked up one of the
boxes and handed it to him.
McMurphy’s
Bar
Sturgis
sat there across from his friend and wondered what the hell had happened. One
beer turned into five, which then became bourbon. Sturgis had lost count of
how many drinks Harm had consumed, but it was defiantly not a level he wanted
to join his friend in.
"I
just don’t get it. How could she do it?" Harm asked again.
"I
don’t know, Harm. Maybe you should ask her tomorrow."
Harm
drank the last of his latest bourbon. "She should have told me. I’m her
friend."
"When
was the last time you talked to her?" Sturgis asked, already knowing the
answer.
"When
she called about a case," Harm stated as he motioned to the waitress for
another drink.
Sturgis
exhaled loudly. "And when did you talk to her before that?"
"Before
she left."
"Was
there any communication between those two times?"
"No."
Harm paused. "She should have told me. We were married."
"By
accident," Sturgis brought up. "Neither one of you wanted it."
The
waitress delivered Harm’s drink and he stared at it as he thought about how
much he did want it. "I wanted it to be real," Harm muttered before
he drank the drink down in one gulp.
Sturgis
knew Harm was punishing himself for something, but didn’t know what.
"Harm, what is bugging you about Mac? Is it the fact that she is back, or
that she might have moved on?"
"I
think it’s great that she is back, but…"
"But
what?" Sturgis asked.
"But
if she’s moved on, where is the father?"
Sturgis
thought for a second. "Maybe he’s in Italy. She said she’s seven
months, so it could have happened there, or before she left."
‘Italy,’
Harm thought ‘Webb. I’m going to kill the bastard.’
"So
she moved on. I should do the same," Harm stated to some surprise to
Sturgis.
"Were
you waiting for her?"
"Waiting
for Mac." Harm laughed. "I signed the annulment papers, why would I
wait for her?"
"So
what are you going to do, now that she’s back?"
"Treat
her the same. She’s back; it will be nice to have someone to take some of
the cases. At least with her off of investigations, we’ll get the pick of
the cases."
"She’ll
still be in the office."
Harm
glared at Sturgis. "Are you afraid I’m going to hurt her in some
way?"
"No,
I just know the two of you have a history, and both of you tend to bring up
your personal lives in public."
"Mac
and I do not have a history. And we defiantly do not have a personal life
together. She made damn well sure of that!"
Sturgis
leaned back. "Sorry, Harm, didn’t mean to make you upset."
Harm
laughed. "I’m not upset."
Sturgis
raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"I
have no need to be upset. Let’s change the topic. How do you think the
Yankees are going to do this season?"
Sturgis
wondered again what Harm was thinking, along with how he was thinking. Sturgis
did know one thing, as Harm started to discuss the pitfalls and hopefully
success of the baseball team, something was going to happen with Harm and Mac,
and when it did, it was going to be big. He secretly hoped he wouldn’t be in
the office when it happened.
Tuesday
July 6
JAG
Mac
had been back for just over two weeks and had already adjusted to life back at
JAG. Getting back to work was the easy part; the hard part was adjusting to
the stares and people talking behind her back. They weren’t being rude about
her, just wondering.
No
one had come out and asked her about the father, not even Harriet. She guessed
everyone either didn’t care, or knew Mac liked her privacy. To help her
adjust to the office AJ gave her some simple settlement cases, and cases which
no one wanted to take to court. AJ was very pleased with Mac’s work and glad
to have her back on staff.
The
worst problem for Mac was Harm. He wasn’t rude to her or anything like that,
he was just silent. They didn’t talk to each other. The only time they
exchanged words were when they had to. She hadn’t told him about the baby
being his for several reasons, but the largest being that she couldn’t. She
couldn’t tell him about it, because of his sense of duty, that and the fact
they weren’t talking. There was a cold feeling around them, which everyone
was picking up on. Luckily for Mac, no one associated the baby being Harm’s
as reason for that cold feeling.
As
they discussed the new cases this morning, AJ found himself wary about the
next case.
"Major
Andrea Garner is accusing her CO, Colonel Scott Tunney, of sexual
harassment." AJ glanced at Mac. "Colonel, I would like you to
investigate."
Mac
stared at him in shock and surprise. "Sir?"
AJ
handed her the file. "Both of them are stationed at the Pentagon.
Commander Turner will assist you."
Mac
opened the file and looked it over, as Harm brought up the point, which
everyone was thinking about. "Sir, I thought Colonel MacKenzie was
handling the smaller cases."
AJ
spoke to Harm’s concern as Mac glared at Harm from the open file.
"Commander, are you asking to investigate this case instead of the
Colonel?"
"No,
Sir, I just thought I would bring up a mild concern," Harm stated with a
quiver in his voice.
"I
assure you, Commander, I will be able to lead the investigation without any
problems," Mac stated.
"I’m
sure, if the Colonel does experience any problems while she is investigating,
she will address them to me at that time," AJ stated. "Now, if there
is not anything else." He glanced at the officers at the table and did
not receive any objections. "Good. Dismissed."
AJ
rose from the table and his officers stood at attention. He exited the room
and the officers glanced at one another. Harm opened his mouth to say
something to Mac, when he watched her slowly close her eyes and sway slightly.
"Mac," Harm said to her.
Sturgis
noticed Mac’s sway and gently grabbed her arm, since he was standing next to
her. "Mac?"
Mac
grabbed the edge of the chair and leaned forward slightly. After a few seconds
she regained her balance. "Ummm."
"You
okay?" Sturgis asked as Mac straightened back up.
"Yeah,
I just stood up too fast," Mac softly said, feeling herself get
embarrassed. She looked at Sturgis, who was still holding onto her arm and
across the table at Harm, who had the same worried expression like Sturgis.
"I’m okay; I just need to remember to stand up slowly."
Bud
chuckled from across the table. "That should be a hard habit to
break."
The
other three chuckled. "Yeah, but it’s better then breaking my nose on
the table." Mac joked.
"Does
it happen often?" Bud asked as they left the conference room.
"Not
recently," Mac told him. "Now the first few months it happened too
much to my liking."
Harm
and Sturgis walked behind Bud and Mac. "Sturgis," Harm started.
"Yeah,
Harm."
"Keep
an eye on Mac during the investigation," Harm suggested.
Sturgis
gave Harm a confused look. "Of course, Harm. I was planning on to."
Monday
July 12
JAG
AJ
read over the report in his hands. "Bring charges?"
"Yes,
Sir," Mac told him.
"Since
we started the investigation we have found several other female officers
willing to also bring charges against Colonel Tunney," Sturgis reported.
"How
many women and in how many years?" AJ asked as he took off his glasses.
"So
far we have eight women from the past ten years. Every day it feels like
another women is willing to account for some type of harassment Colonel Tunney
showed them," Mac told AJ as the baby decided to remind Mac it was
hungry. Mac rubbed her belly and AJ caught the rub and the twinge on Mac’s
face.
"Everything
okay, Mac?" AJ asked.
Mac’s
cheeks blushed slightly. "Fine, Sir. Just being reminded I owe someone a
cookie."
Sturgis
laughed. "Better than the hotdog with the works it wanted Friday
morning."
AJ
chuckled and pulled a tin out of his desk. "Chocolate chip?"
The
baby gave Mac two hard kicks. "It’s favorite."
AJ
took off the lid and moved the tin towards Mac. Mac reached and took a cookie.
"Thank you, Sir. I’m sorry about this."
AJ
laughed. "You have no control over what the baby does, Mac. All you can
do is keep it healthy. Of course I don’t think hotdogs and cookies are good
snacks for the baby."
"I
had a salad for lunch," Mac defended herself with a smile.
Sturgis
just laughed at the scene in front of him. His CO was giving pregnancy advice
to his chief of staff as she ate a cookie during a meeting. "She did,
Sir, and it had no meat in it."
"Well,
I guess that is okay for my godchild." AJ stated before he turned their
attention back to the case. "This case is going to be ugly."
"Yes,
Sir," Mac and Sturgis replied.
"We
don’t want the media to get a hold of this."
"No,
Sir."
"Why
didn’t any of these women report it earlier?" AJ asked.
Sturgis
glanced at Mac and noticed her mouth was full with cookie. "It fits to
pattern, Sir. Tunney never harassed any of the women until they were being
transferred. Several women told us they were leaving the office and thought it
was no big deal at this point."
"Then
why did Garner bring it up?"
"Her
transfer fell through and is to remain in the office, Sir," Mac told him
before she finished the cookie.
"Serve
him with the charges and end this one quickly," AJ ordered.
"Who
will be counsel, Sir?" Mac asked.
AJ
looked at the both of them. "You two will be prosecution, and I’ll
assign Rabb and Roberts to defend." He looked at Mac. "Is that a
problem, Mac?"
"No,
Sir, Commander Turner and I have been working very well together on the
investigation so far," Mac reported.
AJ
knew she avoided the point of his question, but let it slide. "Very well,
dismissed."
"Aye,
aye, Sir," Mac and Sturgis said before they left the office.
Sturgis
and Mac walked into her office. Mac sat down in her chair as Sturgis closed
the door. "I swear this kid causes more embarrassment than it will when
it starts to talk."
"At
least the Admiral is taking it well," Sturgis said as she sat down across
from her.
"He
and Meredith have been very supportive of the baby."
"Are
they both the godparents?"
"I’ve
asked the Admiral to be the godfather, but I haven’t chosen a
godmother."
Sturgis
decided to take a chance. "Going to let the father decided that
one."
Mac’s
face fell as she thought about the father. "If he knew."
"Knew
what?"
"That
I’m pregnant," Mac told Sturgis.
Sturgis
leaned forward. "That you’re pregnant or pregnant with his child?"
"The
latter." Mac sighed. "Let me put it to you this way, Sturgis. Once
again I took my life and put it in a blender. Everything is mixed up beyond
belief."
Sturgis
gave her an understanding smile. "Mac, if you need anything, you know you
can ask me. Right?"
Mac
grinned. "I know and thank you, Sturgis." She sat up in her chair.
"But right now we need to get everything together for the case. I
haven’t been in a court room for eight months."
"Rusty?"
"Just
like falling off a bike."
"You
got to right back on."
"Might
hurt like hell, but I know we can get this one," Mac told Sturgis as they
started to discuss the case.
Thursday
July 15
JAG
Mac
and Sturgis walked into Mac’s office. Mac sat in her chair and ran her hands
through her hair. "How could he do that?"
"He
found an opening," Sturgis muttered as he sat down.
"Unbelievable.
He’s pulled some low moves in court, but that has to be lowest of them
all."
Sturgis
took a deep breath. "We’ll be okay, we just need to regroup. I don’t
think the members were swayed by the testimony."
Mac
raised an eyebrow. "She has a history of sexual harassment calls. This
wasn’t good, Sturgis."
"I
know, Mac, but remember his client has a history of harassing. I’m waiting
on a call from a Major Collins, who worked with Tunney and Garner. I think he
might have some information to help us."
Mac
was going to respond when there was a knock at the door. "Enter,"
Mac called.
The
door opened and Harm walked in closing the door behind him. "I’m
willing to listen to any bargains."
"Okay,
well give your client a dishonorable discharge and twenty years," Mac
replied to him as the baby gave her a kick.
"How
about in his favor, Mac?" Harm smiled.
"One
good moment in court isn’t going to help your client, Harm. It’s the
important battles that win the war, not the minor skirmish," Sturgis
informed his old friend.
Harm
opened his mouth but there was a knock. Mac called ‘enter’ and Coates
walked in. "Commander Turner, you have a phone call. He said his name was
Major Collins."
Sturgis
smiled at Jen. "Thank you, Coates." He stood up as she left the
office.
"After
the call, you and I will go to lunch. It shouldn’t take more than ten
minutes." Sturgis told Mac
"Good,
this one is hungry." Mac rubbed her belly.
Sturgis
laughed. "Yeah, you’re never hungry anymore, it’s always the
kid."
"You’re
lucky I’m sitting down," Mac jokingly warned.
Sturgis
moved towards the door and whispered to Harm. "Play nice and I’ll see
you in court at two." Then he left the office by closing the door behind
him.
Mac
looked up at Harm. "So."
"So,"
Harm echoed.
"That
was pretty low in court today," Mac told him.
"The
members didn’t think so," Harm noted.
"You
really think you fooled them?"
"Let’s
just say I got them thinking about the facts."
"Oh,
the facts. Is that what the case is about?" Mac asked sarcastically.
Harm
chuckled. "Sarcasm isn’t a good color on you, Mac. I thought I’ve
told you that before."
"You’ve
told me a lot of stuff, Harm. I just stop listening every now and then."
Mac shot back at him as the baby gave her a kick. "Stop that." She
soothed the baby.
"Problems?"
"No,
just kicks more then I like."
"Then
you shouldn’t have gotten pregnant," Harm muttered under his breath.
Mac
heard his words. "Excuse me," she said as she felt herself get mad
at him for that comment.
"Nothing,
Mac."
"It
was something, Harm. If you have something to say to me go ahead and say
it?"
"Fine.
I will. I can’t believe you would come back here, without anyone knowing
about your condition, and just expect people to accept it."
"Everyone
has accepted it, Harm. Except for you. Why is that?"
"Because
I know who you are?"
"Really,
and who am I?" Mac asked.
"You’re
someone who screwed up and got pregnant. I hope to God the father comes and
does something to help you, because we all know you’re going to need it.
That kid is going to need it." Harm told Mac in a steady voice before
muttering, "If you know where the father is?"
Mac
clinched her jaw as she saw red. "This baby and I are going to do just
fine."
"Yeah,
you’ve done fine so far. Every time you stand up you nearly pass out.
You’ve got Sturgis at your beck-and-call, and not to mention in court
you’re got Admiral Morris going easy on you."
"That
is not true."
"Please!
Every time I object in court it gets overruled because Morris doesn’t want
to upset you."
"Maybe
it’s because you’re objections aren’t grounded in reality. Did you think
about that, Commander?" Mac spat at him as her heart raced.
Harm
exhaled a heavy breath. "Why am I trying to argue with you? You’ll just
claim it’s a mood swing and then that’s the end of it. But you know what
Mac, it’s not the end. You’re not fit to be in the game anymore. But you
still are. I’ll be damned if I’m going to go easy on you while we are in
court. To me you are just a piece of meat, just like the man who got you
pregnant. I just hope for his sake he’s not still in the picture, you’re a
walking curse."
Mac
held back her anger as best as she could, as the tears fought in her eyes.
"Get out." She gritted through her teeth.
Harm
snapped to attention. "Aye, Aye, Ma’am." He turned around and
walked out of her office without slamming the door. He went to his office,
grabbed his cover and briefcase, then out the door of JAG. He had to get off
grounds and get his anger at Mac under control; he couldn’t let it explode
in the courtroom.
Mac
sat in her seat in complete shock. The tears threaten to fall, but she
didn’t let them. Her hands shook in rage as her vision blurred. The baby
moved and kicked her bladder. She checked her watch and knew Sturgis would be
back in five minutes, which would give her enough time to compose herself.
She
stood up from her desk and walked around it. As she stood near the corner of
her desk a sharp pain shot through her belly and her hands move to the baby.
Then her vision doubled, everything when black, and Mac crumpled to the
ground.
Harriet
walked through the bullpen with a file for Mac. Reaching Mac’s office, she
knocked on the closed door. She waited for the usual enter, but didn’t hear
one. She knocked again, still no ‘enter’. Harriet then slowly opened the
door. "Colonel MacKenzie?"
She
walked into the office and dropped the file to the ground as she saw Mac
unconscious on the ground off to the side of her desk. "Oh, my God."
She
rushed in and knelt to Mac’s side. "Colonel." She shook her arm
but there was no response. She leaned towards the door. "I need some help
in here!!"
Sturgis
sat at his desk, talking to Major Collins, when he heard the call.
"I’ll need to call you back, Major." He hung up before Collins
could respond and quickly joined the crowd near the outside of Mac’s office.
"Mac!"
He
pushed his way into the office as Bud and Harriet carefully rolled Mac onto
her side. "Bud, did someone call an ambulance?" Sturgis asked.
"They
said they would be here in five minutes, Sir. I then alerted the guard shack
to let them in and up here ASAP," Jen told them.
"Good,"
Sturgis said as he watched Harriet try to make Mac more conformable by
unbuttoning her tie and losing some buttons on her jacket. That was when he
noticed Bud was holding a cloth to Mac’s head. "What happened?"
"I
was bringing the Colonel a file; when I walked in she was on the floor."
Harriet told him with fear in her voice. "I called for help and then I
noticed she was bleeding."
"She
must have hit her head when she fell," Bud said. "It’s a small
cut, but it’s still a cut."
They
waited for a few more minutes when they heard the sirens from outside. The
crowd around the office quickly moved away as the EMT’s moved into Mac’s
office. They listened to what Harriet told them and strapped Mac to the board.
"Is
there someone you should call for her? Her husband?" The EMT asked as his
partner took Mac’s blood pressure.
The
three looked at each other and wondered. "Did someone call the
Admiral?" Harriet asked, knowing AJ was helping Mac with the baby.
"I
don’t think so. He’s been in meetings with the SECNAV all morning,"
Bud admitted.
"We
need to go. Her blood pressure is sky high." The EMT’s partner warned.
"I’ll
go with you." Sturgis told them.
"Good."
The first EMT said, before they raised the gurney and wheeled Mac to the
elevator.
Sturgis
ran to his office, grabbed his wallet, cell phone, cover, and keys. "Bud,
tell Morris what happened. I’ll be at Bethesda with Mac. Harriet call the
Admiral and have him call me on my cell phone."
"Yes,
Sir," the two said as he rushed towards the elevator and joined the
EMT’s, and Mac, at the opening doors.
The
doors shut and the first time in a long time complete silence covered the JAG
bullpen. Everyone was scared and worried for Mac and the unborn baby.
Bethesda
Naval Hospital
Sturgis
sat in the waiting area as Mac’s doctor looked her over and assessed the
case. His cell phone rang, the display said, ‘JAG – Chegwidden.’ He hit
the talk button. "Commander Turner."
{"How
is she Sturgis?" AJ asked, with noticeable worry in his voice.}
"Her
doctor is with her now. She regained consciousness for a few seconds in the
ambulance, but it didn’t last long," Sturgis told his CO.
{"Has
the doctor told you anything?"}
"No,
Sir."
{"Damn
it. I want to know ASAP about her condition," AJ ordered.}
"Yes,
Sir. As soon as I know anything I’ll call you." Sturgis looked up and
saw Major Klause walking his way. "Sir, Mac’s doctor is coming this
way."
{"Keep
me on the line, but talk to him," AJ ordered.}
Sturgis
lowered the cell phone and stood up and approached the doctor. "Is she
okay?"
"We
think her blood pressure rose unexpectedly and that, along with her low blood
sugar, caused her to pass out. I want to keep her over night for observations.
Then once she gets home I think someone needs to be with her for a few
days," Klause told the concerned man.
"What
about the baby?"
"We’re
a little concerned about the baby’s heart rate, but we think it will be back
to normal in a few hours." He looked behind him as two nurses moved Mac
out of the emergency room. "She’s being moved to her own room. If you
would like to sit with her that would be no problem. I’ll be in to check on
her in a few hours and to give her some advice about not doing this
again."
Sturgis
shook his head. "Yes, Doctor. Thank you."
"You’re
welcome. She’s being moved to the fifth floor," Klause said before he
walked away.
Sturgis
gave a sigh of relieve and lifted the cell phone to his ear.
"Admiral."
{AJ
sighed. "I heard, Commander. You have the rest of day. I want you there
when she wakes up. I’ll stop by as soon as I can."}
"Yes,
Sir," Sturgis said as AJ ended the call.
Room
534
Sturgis
sat there and watched Mac sleep. She looked so tired, and he wondered why he
didn’t notice that before. There was an IV in her hand, giving her some
medication. There was also a heart monitor attached to her and a fetal monitor
for the baby. He watched the lines move up and down on the screen to the left
of the bed. The baby’s heart rate was fast, but it was starting to get back
to normal.
Mac
moaned and the sound caught his attention. He leaned over the bed and tried to
get her attention. "Mac."
She
moved her head this time, and fought with her eyes to open.
"Come
on, Mac, that’s it."
Mac
slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times. She looked around and her eyes
fell on Sturgis.
"Hi
there." Sturgis smiled to her.
"Hospital?"
she asked.
"Yeah,
you took a fall."
"My
baby?!" Mac tried to sit up.
Sturgis
quickly stood up and stopped her. "The baby is fine. Now just sit back
and relax."
Mac
did so and she used her hand to feel her stomach. "What happened?"
"Harriet
found you in your office unconscious on the floor. I was hoping you could tell
me what happened?"
Mac
through for a second and it all came back to her, the fight with Harm. Her
face clouded with emotions and Sturgis caught each one of them.
"Nothing."
"Something
happened, Mac. You need to tell someone." Sturgis informed her.
"Nothing
happened, Sturgis. I stood up too fast."
Sturgis
could tell she was lying. He looked up at the heart monitors and got an idea.
"Mac, look to your left." She did and saw the monitor. "The top
line is your heart, and that fast one below you is the baby’s. It’s moving
too fast for the doctors liking."
He
paused and she turned back to him. "Everything you hold in effects this
baby. You need to talk to someone about what’s bothering you."
Mac
fell silent as his words made their way into the deep recesses of her
thoughts. Finally the words hit a raw nerve and a tear feel from her eye,
followed by another, and faint a sob escaped her lips. Sturgis was shocked to
see this amount of emotions from his friend. He moved and sat on a free part
of the bed and took her hand into his, his other soothed through her hair as
he softly spoke to her. "Hey, I’m right here, Mac. Talk to me."
After
a few minutes Mac’s tears subsided and Sturgis took a good look at his
friend. The woman in this bed wasn’t the Marine lawyer he worked with, but a
scared woman who had her heart ripped out of her chest.
"He
hates me," she said through a sob.
"Who?"
"Harm."
"Harm
doesn’t hate you," Sturgis softly said.
"Don’t
lie, Sturgis, you know he can’t stand to look at me."
Sturgis
shrugged. "He’s been a little cold to you lately, but he doesn’t hate
you."
"He
does."
"Mac,
what happened in your office before you passed out?" Sturgis asked as he
handed her a tissue.
Mac
blew her nose and wiped her eyes. "Harm and I had an argument."
"And
from one little argument, you think Harm hates you?"
"No,
it’s from his words, that I know he hates me."
Sturgis
took a breath, knowing that Mac was probably over reacting. "What did
Harm say?"
Mac
spent the next few minutes filling Sturgis in on the conversation. Sturgis
hated to admit it, but Harm was in the wrong here. He listened as Mac related
the story with anger in her voice and tears on her cheeks again.
Mac
finished the story in a sob. "Then he said he hoped the father of the
baby isn’t in the picture because I’m a walking curse."
Sturgis
wiped her tears with his fingers. "You didn’t deserve him to say those
things."
"He’s
been thinking them and he shouldn’t."
"No,
he shouldn’t," Sturgis said. "But he is."
"It’s
not fair to the baby, Sturgis. He can hurt me; I’m use to it, but not my
baby." Mac got upset and Sturgis saw the pain her eyes.
"Mac."
"He
doesn’t know what he saying about the father," Mac stated.
Sturgis
decided to take a chance. "Have you told the father yet?"
"No.
I can’t. He hates me." Mac lowered her eyes to the blanket.
Sturgis
took another chance. "When was the last time you saw the father?"
Mac
didn’t answer the question.
"Mac,"
Sturgis prompted her.
"Today,"
Mac muttered.
"When
today?" Sturgis asked as his brain thought about where he could beat the
crap out of this man for causing Mac so much pain.
Mac’s
fingers played with the blanket now. "A few hours ago."
"At
JAG?" Sturgis asked. Mac didn’t answer, so he tried again. "Mac,
does the father work at JAG?"
She
shook her head.
"Mac."
Sturgis sighed, wondering who the bastard was.
The
tears started to fall again. "He didn’t work there when I got
pregnant."
"He…"
Sturgis started to repeat, but his sharp mind put two and two together.
"Harm."
She
shook her head. "He hates me and the baby." The tears fell again at
a painful rate.
Sturgis
continued to soothe her nerves. "Its okay, Mac."
"This
wasn’t supposed to happen. I was suppose to wake up in his arms and tell him
everything, but he left. All he left was a note and he was gone. I got a note
and a souvenir." Mac cried.
Sturgis
tried his hardest to make her feel better but there was nothing he could say.
Mac was hurt and Harm was to blame. He knew he should hear both sides of the
story, before going off the deep end. But he didn’t think he could listen to
Harm talk. How the hell could his friend cause Mac this much pain? How could
Mac tolerate it for so long? How was the baby going to handle it? The
questions ran through Sturgis’ mind as Mac slowly cried herself to sleep.
Sturgis
noticed Mac had stopped crying and he gently raised himself off of the bed and
into the chair next to it. He watched as she rolled to her side in her sleep,
her IV-ed hand resting on her stomach as her un-IV-ed hand rested in his.
He
lifted the hand and gave her knuckles a soft kiss. "Mac, I promise to do
anything I can to help you and the baby. You both deserve someone to protect
you."
JAG
Harm
sat in the courtroom waiting for anyone to show up. After his lunch, and long
vent to himself in his car about Mac, he returned to JAG. Instead of stopping
by his office he walked straight into the courtroom. And that was where he had
been for 15 minutes, waiting for everyone else to arrive.
He
finally had enough and walked up to the bullpen. When he walked into the open
area, he felt a strange feeling in the room. There was an unusual easiness,
and everyone looked preoccupied, but not with their jobs.
He
walked towards Bud’s office and knocked on the open door. He saw Harriet
sitting in Bud’s visitor chair with tissues in her hands and Bud sitting
next to her, holding her hands.
"Bud,"
Harm said, getting their attention.
"Sir."
Bud stood up.
"Don’t
we have court? Where are Sturgis and Mac?" Harm asked in confusion.
At
the mention of Mac, Harriet started to cry again. He looked at Bud in total
confusion and fear now.
"The
Colonel collapsed in her office. She is at Bethesda and Commander Turner is
with her," Bud told Harm.
"What?"
Harm asked full of concern.
"I
went in to give her a file and she was on the floor. She was unconscious the
whole time and she hit her head too," Harriet told him as the tears fell.
Bud
reached over and wiped her tears. "She’s going to be fine, Honey.
Commander Turner will call soon."
Bud
turned his attention back to Harm. But he was gone; all Bud saw was Harm’s
back running towards the elevators.
Harm
hit the down button, but nothing happened. He then ran towards the stairs. He
shot down the stairs and out the main doors towards the parking lot towards
his car. Once in his car, he threw his cover and briefcase in the passenger
seat and started the engine. He stealthily pulled the car out of the spot, and
out of JAG, towards Bethesda.
"Please,
let her be okay," he whispered to anyone who might be listening.
Harm
pulled the car into visitor parking and ran into the hospital. He approached
the admit desk. "I’m looking for Sarah MacKenzie," he breathlessly
told the Lieutenant who was stationed at the desk.
"One
moment, Sir," she told him as she checked the name into the computer.
"I have a Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. Is that who you are looking for,
Sir?"
"Yes.
Where is she?"
"Room
534, Sir."
"Thank
you," Harm said before he moved to the elevators.
2:32
PM
Sturgis
remained next to Mac’s bed as she continued to sleep. He closed his eyes and
tried to imagine what she had been going through in the past few months,
especially the past few days. The father of her child, the man she told him
she was in love with, basically said he couldn’t stand the sight of her and
shared untamed words of hatred.
To
top it off, said father was one of his closest friends. But for some reason,
Sturgis felt compelled to protect Mac and this baby. It was hard enough to
watch Harm and Mac argue, but to throw the baby into it hurt. This child had
done nothing, and here it was in trouble, because its mother was too stressed
because of the father.
The
father needed to be told, but would he listen to Mac? Sturgis wondered this
again for the thousandth time. He looked up at the doorway of the room and
there stood Harm, looking into the room, with a look of total hurt on his
face. He also looked like he was out of breath.
"Is
she okay?" Harm softly whispered.
Sturgis
stood up and walked to the doorway. He made it outside and motioned for Harm
to follow him. The two men walked into the reception area of the floor.
"The
doctor said she’s under too much stress. He wants her to cut back her work
load and take a few days to recover," Sturgis explained.
"What
caused this?" Harm asked.
Sturgis
took a deep breath. "We all know she’s been under stress lately from
her cases, and it’s got to be hard to take care of herself and the baby at
the same time. But I’m pretty sure the argument you and she had this
afternoon didn’t help either."
Harm
looked surprised at Sturgis. "You know about the fight?"
"She
told me everything," Sturgis explained. "She’s been keeping
everything inside and it’s hurting her. What hurts her, hurts that
baby."
"It’s
her own damn fault," Harm muttered.
"Not
all of it, Harm."
"Yeah,
where’s Clay? Shouldn’t he be here?" Harm asked.
Sturgis
looked at Harm with mild confusion but then remembered what he told him at the
bar that night. "Clay doesn’t need to be here. Mac doesn’t want
anything to do with him."
"Well,
he should be; he got her here."
Sturgis
was ready to snap, Harm was taking no responsibility in this matter. "He
got her here?"
"Yeah.
He’s the father of the baby, and he should be taking care of her."
Sturgis
took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to yell at Harm. "You really
think you’ve figured everything out, don’t you? Leave the father out of
this. You need to understand something. Mac could have been seriously hurt
today. She collapsed in her office and knocked her head on the floor. Luckily
the fall wasn’t too bad. She could have severely hurt herself or the baby,
your argument with her didn’t help."
"A
lot of things aren’t going to help with her Sturgis. She needs to understand
she can’t get things to go her way, just because she’s pregnant."
"Mac
has never expected things to go her way. And especially now that she is
pregnant. She wants the same chances as before."
"Like
hell. She’s hoping everyone will play the ‘poor Mac got pregnant and is on
her own’ card. She’s got you eating out of her hand, man."
Sturgis
felt his anger grow at Harm, and found himself pushing down his anger more and
more.
But
Harm continued to talk. "I can’t believe this. After everything that
has happened, you’re sticking up for her. You know about the marriage and
how she treated me. You’ve seen her in the office. She’s trying to get
away with something, but God help me, I’m going to figure it out."
Sturgis
couldn’t take it. "Damn it, Harm! There is a lot you need to figure
out. Mac is pregnant and can’t handle too much stress."
"Are
you saying I cause her stress?!" Harm defensibly stated.
"Yes,
you know what buttons to hit and play her like a violin."
"You’re
the one she’s playing, Sturgis. If I didn’t know any better I might think
you’re the father with the way you’re acting."
"Well,
no one would accuse you of being the father the way you are acting."
Harm
scoffed. "I have no desire to have Train-wreck Mackenzie in my life
anymore."
"Harm,
are you here hoping to knock her down a few more pegs so you can feel better
about yourself?"
"There
is nothing left to knock down," Harm said without thinking.
However
Sturgis was thinking and heard it. As a reaction to his friend’s words he
did something he’d never done before. He hauled off and hit Harm in the jaw.
From the force, and the surprise of the punch, Harm found himself on the floor
holding his jaw with his hand and glaring up at his old academy buddy.
Harm
was about to get up when another voice entered the room. "Don’t even
think about it, Commander Rabb!" Chegwidden called form the elevator area
as he walked towards the two men.
Chegwidden
looked at both men and knew something had to happen to have Sturgis hit Harm
like that. Harm’s face was starting to turn red from the hit, and from his
anger at Sturgis. AJ looked at Sturgis, "Commander Turner, check on
Colonel MacKenzie."
"Yes,
Sir," Sturgis said, but before he left the area he glared down at Harm.
"Stay away from Mac or you’ll answer to me." Then he left the
room.
AJ
looked at Harm. "Get up."
Harm
stood up and didn’t even try to explain what just happened.
AJ
crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It must have been something to
get that response from him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that upset.
Do I need to be involved?"
"No,
Sir," Harm told him.
"Get
out of here," AJ ordered.
"Yes,
Sir." Harm complied before he walked to the stairwell.
AJ
watched Harm leave and stared at the ceiling. Then he looked down the hall to
Mac’s room and walked that way.
Harm’s
Car
Harm
pulled down the mirror from the visor and examined the forming bruise.
"He’s got a hell of a right."
He
touched the skin and let out a soft moan as his hit a few sore spots. He was
about to close the mirror when he looked into his own eyes. "I’m an
ass," he admitted after a few minutes of refection. He sat there for a
few minutes, wishing he could have down something different, wishing he could
have done everything differently.
Harm
looked at his cell phone and realized there was one thing he could do. He
picked it up and dialed a number. "Clay, it’s Harm….I’m
good…Listen do you have a few minutes?"
"So,
Rabb what brings you around?" Clay asked as they both stood in his
office.
Harm
looked around Clay’s office and noticed how it fit Clay’s cold and
well-off personality. "Mac."
"How
is Sarah?"
"She’s
in the hospital."
"What
happened?" Clay asked full of worry.
"She
collapsed at work and they rushed her to the hospital to make sure she and the
baby were okay," Harm explained.
"Baby?"
Clay questioned.
Harm
knew Clay didn’t know. "Yeah, baby. She’s about eight months
now."
"Wow,"
Clay said in shock as he sat down.
"Yeah."
Clay
stared at Harm. "Eight months."
"Yeah,
she must have gotten pregnant once she got to Italy, maybe in the first few
weeks."
Clay
thought about his visit to Italy. "She didn’t say anything when I
visited her."
"Maybe
you should have asked," Harm stated.
Clay
looked at Harm with confusion. "Why would I have asked if she was
pregnant?"
Harm
shook his head in disbelief. "If she was on anything."
"Why?"
Clay asked.
Harm
turned on Clay and couldn’t believe the ignorance of the man and the rage
inside him began to build more. "You’re not that stupid."
Clay
glared at Harm finding himself very confused. "What are you talking
about?"
"She’s
pregnant with your baby," Harm stated with anger.
Clay
shockingly looked at Harm. "I’m not the father."
"Pretty
quick to deny," Harm said, as he felt his anger grow at the agent.
Clay
laughed dryly. "Mac and I were never together in that sense. I tried a
few times, but she always stopped me after a few kisses."
"I
don’t want to hear about your sex life with Mac," Harm spit out.
"There
wasn’t one. After you were shot she broke my nose. In Italy I had to
convince her to have lunch and dinner with me."
"She
broke your nose?" Harm asked with surprise.
Clay
ignored Harm’s repeat. "We had lunch and dinner. I apologized to her
about everything. At the end of the night she went home and I went back to my
hotel."
"When
you told me you ran into her, you made it sound like more."
Clay
smirked. "It’s fun to get your riled up over nothing."
Harm
couldn’t resist the urge to rile Clay up. He grabbed Clay by the lapel of
his jacket and pinned him up against the wall. "Why do you use Mac
against me?"
Clay
stared at Harm in shock. "Because you care about her. She is your
strongest weakness."
"You’re
not the father?"
Clay
was actually scared to answer the question again with Harm holding him to the
wall. He looked at Harm’s eyes and found them to be a cold steel gray
staring back at him. "If I was the father, I wouldn’t be right here. I
would be next to her side and married to her." Harm thought about those
words as Clay continued. "Besides, Mac is a beautiful woman and could
have any man in the world, even the ones who won’t admit it."
Harm
stared at Clay as those words passed thought his head. ‘I’m an idiot’,
Harm thought, when some things finally connected in his brain. He let go of
the man and Clay fixed his coat. "Just do me a favor, Webb. Stay away
from me and Mac for while."
Clay
was about to respond but Harm left the office with the door slamming behind
him.
Sturgis’
Apartment
Sturgis
walked out of his bedroom wearing a t-shirt and sweat pants. He was about to
walk into the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. He looked through
the peephole and couldn’t believe his eyes. He unlocked the door. "You
have a death wish."
"No,
but I do have a piece offering," Harm said holding up a six-pack of beer.
Sturgis
looked at Harm’s face. "Get you’re ugly mug in here."
"Thanks."
Harm walked into the apartment.
Both
men walked into the living room. Sturgis sat down on the couch and Harm took
the chair next to the couch. He placed the beer on the coffee table and handed
one to Sturgis and took one for himself.
They
drank a little before Harm started the conversation. "First off, I’m
sorry for the things I said, they were out of line and I deserved to be
hit."
"Good,
because I wasn’t going to apologize for hitting you. But you shouldn’t
apologize to me. You should apologize to Mac." Sturgis took a long drink.
Harm
looked at Sturgis for a good while, hoping he would help him. "I know,
and I will. I have a question, and I need you to answer it."
"What’s
the question?" Sturgis asked.
"Am
I the father of Mac’s baby?" Harm asked.
Sturgis
placed the beer bottle on the coffee table and leaned forward. "I can’t
tell you."
Harm
sighed. "I know it isn’t Webb, and Mac’s not the type of person to
get with someone for one night and not use anything."
"But
isn’t that what happened?" Sturgis asked, knowing he fully didn’t
understand what happened between Harm and Mac.
"No.
Yes. I don’t know." Harm stood up and started to pace the room.
"It was one night, but I didn’t want it."
"You
didn’t want to have sex with her?" Sturgis asked, trying not to get
upset.
"No,
not that. But it wasn’t supposed to be one night. I wanted to wake up in her
arms and tell her the truth."
"What’s
the truth?"
"I
love her and I wanted to have a real marriage with her."
Sturgis
smiled at his friend. "You’ve got a hell of a way of doing
things."
"I
know."
"Why
didn’t you tell her?"
Harm
sighed. "The CIA called, so I left."
"You
left because of the CIA?!"
"Yeah,
but I left a note. I realized I couldn’t be married with her and work for
the CIA. It wasn’t fair to her or to us. So I wrote a note and signed the
annulment papers," Harm explained then he sat back down.
"What
did the note say?" Sturgis asked, wondering what Harm wrote.
"I
told her I wanted it to be real," Harm stated.
"You
wanted what to be real?"
"A
want a real marriage with her. I want that to be real," Harm explained.
Sturgis
exhaled loudly. "Did you write that?"
"No."
"How
the hell is she to know what you want when you don’t tell her," Sturgis
informed Harm.
"She
should have known what I meant?" Harm stated.
"You
two were still married when this happened?"
"Yeah,
but she took care of the papers later." Harm paused. "And she is
pregnant with my baby and she hates me."
Sturgis
honestly looked at Harm. "Could you blame her? I think Mac isn’t mad at
you, she’s more hurt and sad about the way your relationship is going."
"No,
I can’t blame her." Harm leaned back in the chair. "Is she going
to be okay?"
"In
a few days. The hospital is keeping her over night. Then tomorrow Harriet is
picking her up and taking her home. Where she will stay in bed for three days;
during the day she’ll be entertained by AJ, Jimmy, and Harriet. And I get
night duty."
"You?"
"One
of the perks of being the guy she tells her secrets to. Is her couch
comfortable?" Sturgis smiled.
"No,
but the bed in the guestroom isn’t too bad. Once you get over the boy band
posters and the pink blanket." Harm grinned.
"Pink?"
"Chloe
sleeps there when she stay’s over," Harm explained.
The
two fell silent again as Harm thought about the day and how his life had
changed in one day. His smile reached his ears. He lifted his beer bottle to
Sturgis. "To my baby."
Sturgis
chuckled as they tapped bottles. "Congratulations, Dad."
They
took a drink and Harm chuckled. "Now I just need to get his mommy to talk
to me."
"Good
luck"
‘Wow,
I’m going to be a Daddy.’ Harm thought
Sunday
July 18
Mac’s
Apartment
Mac
sat on her couch reading Hunt for Red October for the tenth time. She decided
to read the book since Sturgis was baby-sitting her at night for the past
weekend. He had left this afternoon when she threatened to watch the movie
again. Before he left he made her promise to call him in case anything
happened.
Harriet
brought her home from the hospital on Friday, and she and the kids kept her
company. Little AJ demanded that he stay in bed with Aunt Mac so she
wouldn’t get bored. She spent part of the day napping and the rest coloring
with the five year old. Harriet and she also spent a lot of time talking about
babies, and Harriet was more than happy to provide Mac with advice.
Around
seven it was the changing of the guards, and Sturgis came over with an
overnight bag. He and Mac played gin and a few other cards games; they had
dinner and talked. But before long he was ordering her to bed, which she did
welcome. She didn’t realize how tired she was until her head hit the pillow.
The day before, and the day in bed, did take a lot out of her.
Saturday
morning she woke to Sturgis cooking a healthy breakfast. They chatted over
breakfast and read the paper. At noon AJ and Meredith came over to relieve
Sturgis, he would return at seven for the night shift again. The
Chegwidden’s shared pictures of their wedding and honeymoon with her. The
three also enjoyed some classic movies on TV till Mac fell asleep.
When
she awoke Sturgis was already there with dinner for her. They ate dinner and
watched Hunt for Red October. Sunday morning they did the same thing they did
Saturday morning. She finally convinced him he didn’t need to stay, since
the doctor’s orders said two days and Mac would be all better.
She
set the book on the coffee table before she stood to walk into the kitchen for
a drink of water. As she rounded the couch there was a knock at the door. Mac
looked through the peephole and took a deep breath before opening the door.
"Hi,"
Harm said as he stood on the other side of the door.
"Hi,"
Mac echoed.
"Can
I come in?"
Mac
stepped aside and Harm walked into her apartment. She closed the door after
him and let go of the death grip on the door handle. Harm turned to face her.
"I came here to talk to you. Not to fight."
"Thanks
for the warning," Mac muttered.
"Mac."
"Sorry."
Mac sighed. "Want to have a seat?"
"Yeah."
Harm walked over to the couch and sat at one end as Mac settled into the
other.
"So
what did you want to talk about?"
Harm
took a deep breath. "I’m sorry about everything I said in your office.
I had no right to say those things. I hate myself for saying them."
"Then
why did you say them?"
"I
don’t know. I’ve been angry at myself, and at you, that my mouth just got
the best of me."
Mac
stared at him in surprise. "Why are you angry at me?"
"I’m
not angry at you anymore. I was, because I was confused about something, but
that confusion has been solved in recent days. I’m madder at myself for
acting the way I have been towards you," Harm told her as he looked into
her eyes. "Since you’ve come back you’ve been your usually self.
Happy and cheerful and glad to work, while I’ve treated you like an outcast.
You didn’t deserve that from me, especially considering I’m your…"
"My
what?" Mac asked cutting him off. "We haven’t really talked in
almost a year. After Paraguay you went to the CIA and I went back to JAG; we
didn’t see each other till Vegas and that whole mess. Even then we didn’t
talk; we just dealt with each other."
Harm
knew the point she was making, he was basically nothing to her officially
except for one thing. "You’re right, but I know one thing I am to
you."
"What?"
"I’m
the father of your baby," Harm told her.
Mac
stared at him as her heart ached slightly. "Did Sturgis tell you?"
"No,
I asked and he refused saying he promised not to say anything. I figured it
out."
"When?"
Mac asked as her voice broke.
Harm
smirked. "When I had Clay pinned to the wall of his office."
Mac
laughed out loud and changed the mood in the room. "You did what?"
"I
was going to break his nose, but I heard someone else already did that."
Harm chuckled.
"Why
did you do pin him to the wall?" Mac asked.
Harm
grimaced slightly at the words he was going to say. "I thought he was the
father and should be at your side."
"What?
You thought…. Webb was the father? Why? There was never anything between he
and I."
"I
know that now. But Webb told me once he saw you in Italy, and that the two of
you talked about your future. He made it sound like there was something
between you two. He played me against you."
"That
Son of a Bitch, you should have broken his nose. I’ve heard the third
time’s the charm," Mac muttered before they both laughed.
The
two smiled at each as they laughed, but slowly Mac’s smile left her face and
a few tears left her eyes. "I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you, Harm. I
didn’t know how to."
"Harm,
I’m pregnant," he suggested.
"We
weren’t talking and I was in Italy. I didn’t even know you were back at
JAG until I called that one day. I couldn’t tell you over the phone."
Harm
moved to the couch and sat closer to her. "Then how about once you got
home?"
She
sighed. "You were mad at me, and I didn’t know how to tell you without
you going off the deep end."
Harm
took her hand into his. "How about we forget that?"
"Deal."
Mac smirked. "So what do we do now?"
"I
think we’ll have to figure out, how we are going raise this kid. We also
have to find a way back to each other."
Mac
was going to say something, but the baby cut her off with two kicks. She
laughed and placed Harm’s hand on her belly where he then, for the first
time, felt a series of kicks.
"Wow."
Harm laughed as he felt the movement. "Does it do that often?"
"All
the time." Mac smiled.
Harm
took his other hand from Mac’s and placed it on her belly. The baby
continued to move, punch, and kick. "Wow."
Mac
grinned as Harm absorbed the movement of the life within her. "Baby, meet
your daddy."
Harm
lifted his gaze from her belly to Mac’s eyes. "I’m a daddy."
"Yeah,
you are. You really do keep your promises, don’t you?" Mac smiled to
him.
Monday
July 19
Harm’s
Apartment
Harm
whistled as he walked into his apartment. It had been a good day, of course
that was because of the good night.
After
he finished being in awe of the baby, he and Mac had talked. They really
talked, for the first time in a long time. They both decided they needed a
while to find their way back to the friendship they once had. They knew it
wouldn’t be easy, but they also knew their friendship could survive
anything. The past had proven that there was nothing Mac, Harm, and for sure
nothing Webb could do, to destroy their friendship. And now, with the baby in
the picture, it would help them find the right way to keep that friendship.
Also,
they decided to tell the admiral he was the father, and to start getting
things in order for their records. Then Mac told him about the pregnancy and
showed him the pictures of the baby. Harm fell in love with his child as he
viewed the black and white photos. They also talked about some other things,
such as work and what he was doing while he was with the CIA. He left when Mac
was getting sleepily, but promised to cook her dinner at his place tonight.
First
thing they did that morning was talk to the admiral. AJ took the news with
mild surprise. Somehow they got the feeling he already knew who the father of
his godchild was. They told him the baby was a product of a moment, and never
mentioned to AJ that at the time of the baby’s conception, that they were
married. Since this chapter was already closed, there was no need to tell him
about something that would just make him think Harm and Mac were completely
insane. AJ said he would look into everything, but didn’t think there would
be a problem.
The
rest of the morning and the afternoon were fine for him. As long as he
didn’t count when he found out he did lose the case to Mac and Sturgis, but
his client was guilty as sin so it didn’t bother him.
He
now moved through the apartment towards his bedroom to change out of his
uniform and into something casual. Mac would be there at seven for dinner and
she had asked for homemade Italian. She actually told him the baby wanted
Italian and he agreed.
After
he changed, he went into the kitchen and started to cook dinner. Twenty
minutes later he placed the lasagna into the over and remembered a new salad
he wanted to try. He walked over to his desk and opened the center drawer to
find the recipe of the dressing for it. He had read it in a health magazine,
cut it out and placed it in the drawer. His fingers felt around and finally he
found it, and something else.
He
pulled both things out and looked at them. He placed the recipe on top of the
desk as he looked at the tore corner of the envelope. He flipped it over and
saw Mac’s handwriting. His mind went back eight months to the night when he
got the letter. He sat down in his chair and stared at it.
He
took a breath and opened it, prepared to read the words of anger Mac wrote
him. However, as he unfolded the thick paper, there were no angry words from
Mac staring back at him, just a legal document. ‘Annulment of Marriage’
stared back at him, his eyes moved down to the bottom of the page where he saw
his signatures and Mac’s.
His
fingers moved across a note and his heart stopped as he read it. ‘Harm-
I’m going out of the country for, at most, a year. I don’t have time to
take care of this. You need to do it by December 7th. I’m sure if
it’s a few day’s late the courts will still process it due to extending
circumstances. -Mac.’
The
small note crumpled in his hands as his mind focused on one thought. He looked
at the papers again; they were signed and dated. He flipped to the back of the
group of papers and saw the marriage license from the Little Lost Love Chapel
of Las Vegas. The papers fell to the floor.
"We’re
still married," he whispered. The words fell around him as the reality of
the situation hit him too. "I’m still married to Mac."
He
picked the papers up from the floor and looked at them again.
"We’re
still married."
He
stared at the paper for a few more seconds, in shock and something more, until
a knock came from the door interrupting his thoughts. He shook his head and
looked at his watch. She was early.
THE END at least for now
Michi's
JAG Heaven - H & M Fanfiction Back
to the TDDUP-section
