Name: The Carnival (Part I)
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot.
Rating: PG (warning: mention of drugs and a few swear words)
Spoilers: 'Capital Crime' and a little bit of 'Lifeline'
Note: This kinda popped into my head, and then a plot developed and it became long and complicated. So it has to be in two parts. I'm going to get the next part up soon, don't worry.

1630 ZULU
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

"Did you hear about the Glen Fest carnival?"

I looked up from my paper work. My partner and best friend is standing in my open doorway, leaning against the frame. I would have complained about her not knocking, but I never do, and the door was open. I glance over her. I haven't seen her at all this morning; the Admiral had kept her busy with a case against a civilian lawyer and she had just finished her research into the case. I was nice enough not to bother her. And now she stood in my office almost giddy. Did she just mention a carnival?

"So you're alive?" I ask.

"Civilian lawyers are the worst," she says, smiling to show she was joking. I could have brought up a certain Australian who, at one point, had been a civilian lawyer, but finally sense found its way into me and I kept quiet. She seemed to know what I was thinking though.

"So what about this carnival?" I shove my papers into a pile on my desk and check my watch. "Damn watch," I say. The watch still reads 0730.

"It's 1155," Mac tells me in an off-hand way. "Let's go to lunch and I'll tell you all about the carnival."

I follow her out of my office into the break room to grab my salad and mineral water. Mac has a buttery looking pasta in her hand with a Coke in the other. We head outside and pick a table. She doesn't miss a beat.

"Try my pasta," she says, pushing her Styrofoam container towards me. I look at the buttery mess.

"You even have to eat unhealthy pasta?"

"Just try it, it's really good." I give in to her begging (like always) and twirl some of the pasta around my fork. I shove it into my mouth and chew. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but I can almost taste the fat and calories. I look Mac. She's looking at me with expectation. I grin at her.

"My pasta is better," I reply calmly. She just rolls her eyes and eats the rest of the greasy noodles. "Anyway, what's this carnival?"

"Harriet's inviting everyone to go on an outing to the Glen Fest Carnival, just outside of D.C. I was told to pass on the invitation to you," she tells me. I turned the idea around in my head. A carnival. Not bad...I hadn't been to one of those in years. With everyone from JAG invited it might be fun. And besides, if Mac is there...no, don't think about that.

"Are you going?" I ask her, hoping to sound casual and friendly.

"I plan on it," Mac replies, closing her empty pasta carton. "Are you going to spend Friday night with us or with your apartment?"

This is too good of a chance to pass up, and I congratulate myself on the idea. "I don't think I'll go." I stand up and throw away my plastic salad container. I brush my hands together, flash her a smile, and start walking back inside.

"Harm, c'mon!" Mac says behind me. I stop and turn around and raise an eyebrow at her. "Why don't you want to go?" she asks and we start walking back up to our offices.

"Has it ever occurred to you I might have other things to do?"

"With who?" she asks, her voice a bit hurt. Whoops. All right Rabb, you better fix this before it gets out of your hands.

"I never said I was doing anything with a person," I tell her and I can't help but grin. "Since when are you so interested in what I do?"

She stops in the hallway just outside the bullpen and stands in front of me. I look down at her; her face is less than a foot away. I think I might have a heart attack. Mac is smiling at me in her strange little smile that always spooks me. "I don't give a damn what you do in your free time, Commander, or who you do it with. I just wanted to beat you at the arcade games."

She walks away and I can't help but stare at her hips. She disappears into her office and I'm left to wonder whether or not I'll go to this carnival. I start walking to my own office when Harriet stops me.

"Commander, are you coming Friday night?" she asks eagerly. I glance at Mac's doorway, unable to pass the opportunity.

"Sure, what time?"

Harriet gives me a knowing smile. I hate how she does that. She busies herself with the papers she has in her hands to hide her smile. "Oh, we're meeting at the entrance around seven. I'll see you and the Colonel there, right?"

She walks away before I understand what she had just said. She had the nerve to imply I was going with Mac...as in together with her. I shake my head and retreat into my office to work on the Richardson case.

****

2345 ZULU
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown


I can't find my car keys. I have fourteen minutes at thirty-two seconds before I'm supposed to be at the entrance of the Glen Fest. Jingo keeps running around me, not helping my car key search at all. He rubs against my black jeans making the golden dog hair stick to me. I groan and brush him away. "Jingo, I need my car keys," I say, then realize I'm talking to my dog. I sigh and look down.

My jeans are covered in dog hair. I try to wipe it off, but it's stuck like glue. I don't have time to pick of each individual hair. My red shirt is all right. Overall, minus the dog hair, I look okay. I mean, it's just a carnival, not a date. Come on, Marine, get it together. Where are my car keys?

I look in the couch cushions for the fifth time when Jingo runs up to me and dances through my legs. Dog hair is now everywhere. "Did you have to do that?" I ask him, trying to remain calm. Then I see the glint of silver in his mouth, along with my Marine key chain. I grab the keys from his mouth and pet him. He rubs against me again and I shove him away.

Finally, with twelve minutes left, I turn off my lights, lock the door, and hop into my 'Vette. I know I'm speeding, but I'm almost late. I get there and cruise around for a parking spot. It's crowded with teenagers and college students and I'm starting to feel like an outsider. At least I'm not in uniform. I end up parking in some dark corner of the grassy field. I become tense, knowing that it's dark and I'm alone. I give my 'Vette one last glance, praying that it'll be there once I come back.

I walk past a bunch of creepy looking teenagers. That's great, I'm a Marine, Lieutenant Colonel, and I'm creeped out by a bunch of strange looking teenagers. Well, I guess it's reasonable if these teenagers are smoking. I speed up a little. I can see Harriet up ahead at the entrance. I relax considerably. The entrance is lit brightly and there are people crowding around. Not to mention Harriet has spotted me.

"Nice of you to come, ma'am," she says, smiling brightly.

"Harriet, we're out of office," I tell her.

"Of course...Mac."

I look behind her and see Bud talking to Sturgis, with Lauren nearby. Little AJ is holding onto Bud. "Where are the others?" I ask.

"Well, the Admiral couldn't make it. Tiner and Gunny went off with two girls," Harriet told me. I'm not surprised about Tiner and Gunny. They're young men and will go after anything with legs. At least, Gunny would. Not sure about Tiner. "And Commander - er, Harm, hasn't arrived yet. I thought he'd be with you."

I look at Harriet. She's giving me a puzzled look. I open my mouth to say something, but I can't think of anything. Why would he be with me? I can see Sturgis looking at me. He obviously overheard Harriet. He gives me a meaningful look and now I'm regretting again that I told him my feelings for Harm. Sturgis has been good with keeping it a secret, but he sends me these looks that no one else catches.

"No, Harriet, he isn't with me. But he's three minutes late," I tell her, brushing her comment away. "I didn't think he was coming."

"He is," Harriet says, smiling. I don't like how she smiles like that. Like she knows something that I don't know. "He told me yesterday afternoon." So he tells Harriet and not me? I'm not sure what to think of this. Bud, Sturgis, and Lauren join us. Bud hands AJ over to Harriet. Sturgis and Lauren greet me, Lauren a bit hostile.

"So, where's Commander Rabb?" Lauren asks.

"Late."

"Right here." I don't turn around. I only glance at him, giving him a nod in way of greetings. He's dressed in khakis and a navy shirt.

"Good, let's go then. What should we do first?" Harriet says. I'm starting to feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Since when do JAG lawyers go on outings to the city carnival. I shake it off and decide to badger Harm.

"Late as usual," I say. We're walking with Sturgis. Harriet, Bud, AJ and Lauren are all walking ahead. Lauren is trying to make friends with AJ.

"Early as usual," Harm replies.

"I thought you weren't coming. Thought you said you had better things to do?"

"Better things to do than jon us at a carnival, Mac?" Sturgis asks, his voice hinting sarcasm. "Never." I smirk. We walk past the giant Ferris Wheel.

"Someone's going to go with me on that," I say, gazing up at the brightly lit wheel.

"I thought you'd lose your stomach, Marine," Harm says.

"I can handle a Ferris Wheel."

"We'll see," he says. I'm not annoyed. I actually enjoy arguing with him. We've been following the others up to the fun house. AJ had made it clear that's where he wanted to go, and since this is basically a trip for him, that's where we're going. AJ stops walking for a minute to look back at us. He waves us over. Harm runs up to him and swings him up on his shoulders. It's a change to see Harm acting like that. Not a bad change, just different.

The fun house is in front of us. It's a big, goofy looking building with mirrors all along the outside of it. There's a clown at the entrance doing tricks. I spot someone in the shadows of the side of the building. Suddenly, as we're waiting in line with our tickets at hand, a kid stumbles from the shadows, yelling rude things and occasional obscenities. I frown upon him, as does everyone else in our group.

He comes close enough for us to see his face. His eyes are bloodshot and there's a cirgarette sticking from his mouth. I have a funny suspicion that cigarette isn't really what it appears. The teenager turns to an elderly lady and says something quite rude to her, something that would have made me blush if said to me. Harm gives AJ to Bud and walks toward the boy. He pulls him away from the crowd. The teen doesn't seem to notice.

I follow Harm, nodding to the others to save us a spot in line. The boy is goofy and I'm certain that what he was smoking was some kind of drug. Harm jerks the boy to get his attention. He looks at Harm with confusion, trying to pull the cigarette out of his mouth. Harm does it for him and smells it gingerly. He hands it to me and I inspect it. It looks like marijuana. I press it between my thumb and pointer finger to stop it from smoking anymore.

"What's your name and age?" Harm asks, slowly, as if speaking to a child. Well, I guess the teen is a child.

"Doug Nolan. I'm, uh, fifteen," he slurrs, the grins for no apparent reason.

"What is that you were smoking?"

"Nothing."

"This," Harm says, pointing to the marijuana joint between my fingers, "is nothing? Doug, this is a family establishment and you're running around smoking illegal drugs?"

"Nuh-uh," Doug says, becoming aggressive.

"Do you have any friends with you?"

"Maybe." Harm gives him his famous dirty look. Doug gives in. "Yeah."

"Where are they?"

"Dunno," Doug says. He seems not to know. I'm not surprised, judging by how drugged he is.

"Were they smoking marijuana, too?" I probe. He looks me up and down. I can feel Harm stiffen beside me, noticing the boys actions.

"Mighta been. How about you, good lookin'? Wanna get together?" he says. Harm is about to pound the boy, I can sense it, so I step in.

"Listen, Doug," I say, my voice low. "You're disrespecting a whole lot of people right now. Me and the families at this carnival to name a few. You think smoking weed is a great way to put away your pain? Think again. You're going to be in the hands of some police officer in a few minutes, and I promise they won't be as good looking as I am."

"Damn," he said, grinning. I think he's referring to my last statement rather than to the fact he's going with the police. I know what I said was conceited, but the boy is drugged up and hormones are obviously in control. That's the only way I knew to get to him.

"I'll send Sturgis for an officer," Harm says.

"No, I'll go find one myself," I say, not wanting to be with the teen. I walk away and quickly locate an officer in blue uniform. His name is Officer Peter Kayes. He seems friendly enough as I tell him about Doug and the drugs found with him. I hand the officer the joint. Officer Kayes inspects it and confirms that it is marijuana. I lead him over to where Harm is standing.

"That was a nice thing you did, ma'am. Normally people don't go around reporting things like this," Kayes says to me. I grin.

"I'm in the Marines, sir," I reply simply. He nods as we reach Harm. Harm introduces himself to Officer Kayes and hands Doug over to him. Doug looks Kayes up and down.

"Naw, you're right. He ain't as good lookin' as you," Doug says, winking at me. I'm disgusted. Officer Kayes thanks us and takes the boy away, talking into his two-way radio. Harm and I join the rest of the gang near the front of the line.

"Another good deed in the records of Rabb and Mackenzie," Lauren says. No one replies to her comment.

"What was he smoking?" Bud asks, holding onto AJ tightly.

"Marijuana," I say.

"That's strong stuff," Sturgis says. "How did he come by it?"

"No idea, Sturgis," Harm replies. "He's only fifteen."

"Excuse me folks, are you going into the fun house or not?" asks the lady collecting tickets. We all hand her our tickets and proceed into the fun house. It's brightly lit with different colored lights. I can't believe I'm actually in the fun house. I mean, I'm in the United States Marines and I'm running through spinning tunnels. It's actually a nice break from the norm, but a little out there.

Lauren catches up next to me. "Feels like a different place than JAG, doesn't it?" she remarks.

"It is a different place than JAG, Lauren," I say. "We do have lives."

She shrugs and hurries ahead. I roll my eyes and jump when I hear laughter behind me. "Don't kill her yet," Harm tells me.

"I'm tempted."

"We all are," he says. We walk into the mirror room. I hate this room to death. The first mirror I look in, I find out that I have a long neck. "Nice tactic to get to Doug, 'I'm good looking and you know it.'"

I knew that was coming. Harm is sometimes very predictable. Sometimes. "Harm, lay off. That's not what I said exactly-."

"Close enough."

"-and besides, he's ruled by his hormones. How else was I supposed to get to him?"

"How about, 'If you lay off the dope, I'll take you on a ride?'" he suggests.

"I hate to say this to you, but red light, Commander," I say.

"I meant one of the rides at the carnival," Harm tells me, grinning. "Better get your head out of the gutter, Marine." He walks away. I stare into the mirror. I have a huge six and a fat nose. I grunt and walk away from the mirrors.

****

2440 ZULU
Glen Fest Carnival
Outside of Washington, DC


AJ tugs on my sleeve, then points to a big stuffed giraffe hanging from the booth's back wall. I glance at the game. It's the one where you throw tennis balls into three rings, and if you make it land in the center ring, you get the prize.

"Want a giraffe?" I ask AJ. He beams.

"Oh, Harm, let me give you the money," Harriet starts. I wave her off.

"How much?" I ask the vendor.

"A dollar per ball," he man tells me. I dig out five dollars and hand them to the man. He gives me five tennis balls. I throw all five of them and end up missing. Mac laughs at me. I give her a dirty look. "I'll have another ball, please."

The vendor nods. "Another dollar, sir."

Just as I'm about to dig into my back pocket for my wallet, someone shoves into me. My hands fly out to stop myself from falling. Sturgis steadies me and I turn to look for whoever rammed into me. I shrug it off. It's crowded and people are trying to get around. I dig into my back pocket and come out empty handed. I dig into the other pocket. Nothing.

"Do you see a wallet anywhere?" I ask, looking at the ground around me. Mac gives me a look.

"You just had it, didn't you?"

"It's gone," I say in disbelief. "I've been pick-pocketed."

"Come now, at a carnival?" Harriet asks.

"Harriet, there are kids smoking marijuana around here. Do you think that pick-pocketing is stoppable?" Bud says reasonably. I'm still looking around me.

"Do you know who took it?" Lauren asks. I try not to yell at her...what a mundane question for her to ask.

"If I did, I'd be on his six-."

"Harm," Mac interrupts me. She glances at AJ, who's looking curiously at me. Mac reaches into her purse and pulls out a dollar. "Here, give AJ that giraffe."

"Unca Harm," AJ says, excited. "Will you make it?"

"Course I will," I say. Half-heartedly, I toss the ball at the rings. To my surprise it lands in the center one. The vendor smiles and asks what I want. I point to the giraffe and he takes it down. I give it to AJ; it's half as tall as he is. He hugs it.

"What do you say, AJ?" Bud prompts.

"Thanks!" AJ says, delighted. I smile at him. He tugs at Bud's sleeve again. "Bathroom."

"Ah, we'll be back," Bud says, then walks off with AJ toward the portable toilets.

"Anyone willing to take me to the Ferris Wheel?" Mac asks, gazing up at it again.

"You never quit, do you?" I ask.

"I'm going to go on it tonight," she says firmly.

"Didn't think you were that eager for throwing up."

"I'm not going to throw up."

"You will."

"So what if I do?"

"You won't be doing it all over me," I say. Sturgis raises his eyebrows at me.

"How about I buy everone ice cream?" Harriet suggests.

"Let me split the price with you," I say quickly.

"Stop being a gentleman, Harm," Mac says.

"We know what a miracle that would be," Lauren adds.

"And besides, you don't have your wallet, remember?" Harriet reminds me. "I owe you five dollars anyway."

Harriet's already ordering ice creams for everyone. I'm still arguing with her. We're standing behind her in line, very crowded. I'm pressed against Sturgis' side and Mac's six. Not that it's a problem, but...

"Excuse me, sir," someone asks behind me. I try to turn around. There's a woman with twins in her arms. "Could you tell me the time?" I look at my watch and find that it's not there. I stare at my wrist in amazement. I've never been pick-pocketed before, and now it's happened twice? The woman behind me is still waiting for the time. Mac answers for me.

"Eight o'clock," Mac says, refraining from using military time. The woman smiles and tends to her children.

"Where's your watch?" Sturgis asks, though he's obviously aware of the answer.

"In some thief's hands," I reply darkly. "I seem to be the target." I scan over the crowd (which isn't all that hard, as I'm pretty tall). Bud and AJ are walking back to us. The reach us just in time for AJ to get his ice cream. He's delighted. Harriet hands Lauren, Sturgis, Mac, and me one. I try to push it away, but she shoves it into my hand and turns around. I'm surprised by her force. We walk away from the ice cream stand.

"I don't get one?" Bud asks, frowning at his wife.

"You're trying to stay fit, Bud. Ice cream won't help," she says, wiping AJ's chin. Bud stares at her, rather dumbfounded.

"At least you've got someone looking out for you," I say to him, patting his back. "Your watch won't be stolen anytime soon."

"Your watch got stolen?"

"Just a minute ago," I inform him.

"How about we go on the Ferris Wheel after this," Mac says, trying to look innocent. "No one can steal anything off you up there."

"But your ice cream will be all over me," I say, unable to pass the chance.

"She's just looking out for you, Harm," Sturgis says, grinning.

****

0110 ZULU
Glen Fest Carnival
Outside of Washington, DC


Yes, finally, it's our turn. I'm a third grader all over again, eager to go on the huge Ferris Wheel. And we're just in time, too, since there are fireworks scheduled for eight-fifteen, just five minutes from now. Harm, Bud, AJ, and I are the only ones going up. Lauren says that she'd rather not go up. I asked Sturgis why he isn't going up and he told me, quietly, that he's, "leaving Harm to me." The nerve of him.

I've been standing in line for three minutes. The balding man who looks bored out of his mind waits until everyone else gets off the ride before letting us on. It takes forever; the first people hop in, the whole wheel turns a little, the next people get in. It was another minute before I climb into a seat. Harm follows me, giving me a look.

"What?"

"Is your ice cream digested?"

"Don't worry. If I feel the urge I'll turn my head," I assure him. We're jerked upward. Bud and AJ board on the seat below us. The sky is pretty dark by this time, perfect for the fireworks. "The fireworks will start soon." Harm doesn't reply. I turn to look at him. He's looking over the edge to Sturgis, who's mouthing something to him. Harm shakes his head slightly, but I catch it.

I look down at Sturgis. He winks at me and strolls off. "What was he telling you?" I ask Harm, dreading the answer. Sturgis is being a pain in my six.

"He's just being Sturgis." I guess that answers it well enough. I'm not about to prod him any furthur.

"You're hogging the seat," I tell him. He looks at the seat.

"Close quarters, Marine," Harm says. I roll my eyes. Suddenly the lights go off. Not all, but a good portion of them. Most of the lights on the Ferris Wheel go black. There are a few dots here and there along the carnival. I'm suddenly aware of how close I am to Harm. Talk about close quarters. He's trying to move his feet so that they're not smashed against the safety bar.

"Why'd they turn the lights off?" he grunts.

"Fireworks." The Ferris Wheel slows considerably. It's obvious they won't let us off until the fireworks are over. On my left the sky is lit by fireworks. The sound fills the air and I smile.

"Did we have to go on now? We'll never get off this thing," Harm complains.

"I'm trying to watch the show," I tell him. I suddenly feel his hand on my own and I look at him, surprised. He smiles sheepishly and moves his hand.

"Sorry, I'm still trying to adjust."

"Would you just sit down?" I whisper to him. I can see the fireworks reflecting in his eyes. There's a big moan of amazement from the crowd. Harm finally sits still, but his arms are awkwardly bunched in his lap. He lifts the arm closest to me and rests in on the back of our seat. I try not to fidget. I mean, it's not like his arm is on my shoulder. It's around the seat. That's what I keep telling myself.

"Getting cozy?" I ask him, joking.

"I've been better," he replies.

"I'm offended."

"The Ferris Wheel should be offended."

"Just watch the fireworks," I tell him. He obeys and we sit, watching the show. It's kind of tranquil sitting there, Harm's body warming me. I'm glad the lights are out. If Sturgis saw me like this he'd have a cow. The fireworks continue to explode in many different colors. I watch as the glowing sparks float down onto the pond.

"Your head is in my way," Harm tells me, completely ruining the moment.

"You must really hate Hallmark," I tell him.

"That wasn't a Hallmark moment," he replies. "Move your head."

"Where?" I ask him. Finally I decide to rest my head on his shoulder. Not that either of us mind.

"Thanks." I roll my eyes. What this must look like to the rest of the world; Harm's arm around the seat and my head on his shoulder. The show is ending and the lights are turning back on. I lift my sleepy head from his shoulder and he moves his arm. I move quickly so Sturgis can't pester me later. I'd give Harm money for his thoughts right now.

When we spin around once again and are on our way back down, AJ turns around and waves to us. We wave back before Bud grins at us and points out Harriet to AJ on the ground below us. AJ claps his hands happily.

"It's nice to have some youth around, isn't it?" Harm asks. His voice sounds distant.

"It makes me feel old."

"You're not old. If anyone, I'm old," he says.

"Harm, you're thirty-eight. You're not old."

"That's almost forty."

"What do you want?" I ask him as we stop. The first people are getting off now. "You've got everything going for you Harm, why are you so depressed about your age?"

He looks at me, his eyes staring into mine. "I want a lot of things." Suddenly, I'm reminded of our conversation on the Admiral's porch at my engagement party. Okay, must steer clear of that kind of conversation.

"I know what you want," I say, trying to remain serious. He looks at me, perplexed.

"What?"

"Your wallet, your watch, and a bigger Ferris Wheel seat."


Did ya like it? Tell me what you thought. Part II will be up soon.