Author's Notes:
I don't own any part of JAG. I am making no money on my little fictions. If you sue me, the only thing I have to offer would be my children (Have you read "The Ransom of Red Chief"?).
Rating: I'm going with PG because of some of the ideas, but I don't expect anything more serious than that.
I tend to start out with the basic idea and then work by the seat of my pants so references to any of the shows are possible.
Feedback - please. Helpful criticism is welcome, but please be kind. I grew up in the Air Force and my husband is in the Army so I'm familiar with the military. I'm not, however, very knowledgeable about the Navy and Marine Corp. Please forgive any errors I make.
Lastly, the first fic I wrote... Old Friends... I looked back at it and I hate the way I ended it too. For the amount of comments I got at the end, I'm not sure anybody else read it. Give me some time to think about what I want to do and I'll see if I can't repair the damage.
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1550 EST
JAG HQ Falls Church, VA
"Sir, I request a transfer out of Falls Church."
"Admiral, I've been with this office for eight years. While I really enjoy the work, I'm ready to live somewhere besides D.C."
"Admiral, I think it's time that I went somewhere else."
*Damn* Mac thought. *It shouldn't be this hard.* She had been mentally rehearsing her request all week and hadn't come any closer to knowing what she was going to say than she had last weekend when she realized that it was time for her to move on. Now it was Friday afternoon, and her requested appointment with the Admiral was in 3 minutes. She squared her shoulders and walked to the Admiral's office.
"Hey, Mac," Harm called out of his office, "got a minute to look at the Ebers Court Martial?"
"I'm on my way to see the Admiral and then I'm taking off for the weekend. We can do it on Monday," she answered, barely breaking stride.
Harm glanced up, surprised and a little annoyed. Usually she would offer to get together over the weekend if there was a trial looming. *Hmph,* Harm snorted as he returned his attention to the file on his desk. *Webb must be in town this weekend.*
In the Admiral's outer office, PO Coates waved her through the doors. "He's waiting for you ma'am."
Taking a deep breath, Mac entered the lion's den. At least, that's what it felt like. Coming to attention in front of the Admiral's desk, she waited for him to acknowledge her.
"What can I do for you today, Colonel?" AJ removed his glasses and looked up at her. He never worried when she came into his office. She rarely asked for anything out of the ordinary, and that was only when she was accompanied by the Commander.
"Sir, I know this is short notice, but I would like to transfer to another post at your earliest convenience."
AJ blinked twice. Waited for her to finish the thought. When nothing was forthcoming he leaned back in his chair. "Is there a reason you feel you need to leave here?" *Damn but I'm going to skin Rabb if he was behind this.*
"Yes, sir. I've been here for 8 years. I have learned a lot working here and serving under your leadership but I think it's time that I moved into my own command." *Boy, that sounded good! Pressure works best I guess.*
"Did you have somewhere specific in mind, Colonel?"
*Maybe it wasn't so great. I don't think he's buying it.* "I was thinking about MCAS Yuma, sir."
"Arizona?" Now he was interested. "What might be in Arizona that is better than here?"
"Just a change of scenery, sir."
The Admiral got up from his chair and made his way around the desk to stand on her left side. Calling up his best drill seargant stance he glared at her. "Are you looking for a place to retire, Colonel?"
"No, sir." Mac kept her eyes straight ahead.
"If you leave here that is exactly what you're doing. You're at the top of your game and in the best place in the service for promotion. Leaving here is asking to be passed over. Tell me again why you want to move?"
"To have my own command, SIR."
AJ backed up a little. She was determined. In the past that had always been in her favor, but right now it was beginning to tick him off.
"What has the Commander done this time?"
"Sir?" *Good grief. He thinks I'm leaving because of some tiff I've had with Harm. Have we been THAT transparent?* "I'm sorry, sir. Commander Rabb has nothing to do with my desire to relocate." *And that's almost the entire truth.*
"Is that your request?" he motioned to the folder clasped in her hand.
"Yes, sir." Mac handed him the file and waited.
"I'll look into it this weekend and see what's available. I'll let you know something early next week. Dismissed." Instead of returning to his desk, AJ walked to the window in the far corner of this office, making her leave with his back to her.
*At least it wasn't as painful as it could have been, I suppose.* Mac returned to her office to collect her briefcase and cover.
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Later that evening, Mac was sitting on her couch reflecting on the meeting with the Admiral. "It looks like he's going to go along with this. I just hope I can get out without a lot of fuss and explanation." She absently rubbed her abdomen as she thought about whirlwind of events that had brought her to this point.
Flashback
New Years Eve 2003, Midnight
Mac sat on her couch watching the ball in Times Square drop. Clay was out with "Mommie Dearest" so she was left to entertain herself. Harriet had invited her to their house but she just wasn't in the mood. She was reflecting on the disaster that had been 2003 and trying to find something better about 2004. The most promising event should have been Baby AJ's 5th birthday. This was the year that she and Harm were supposed to "go halves" on a baby. Somehow that didn't look as promising as it had 4½ years ago. Harm was guardian to Mattie, so he could be classified as "in a relationship" and he seemed to think that she and Clay were an item. Ok, so she hadn't done much to discourage those ideas. After the disaster that was Paraguay she just couldn't seem to find her way back into his life. Admittedly with fault on both sides. At least Clay meant she had a date once in a while. She was using him, like she had Mic, the difference was Clay knew it. And was a willing participant.
*You're not getting any younger, MacKenzie,* she told herself. *If you want to have kids in this lifetime you'd better get off your fanny and do something about it.* With Harm being out of the picture there was no one else that she could envision as a participant. She could adopt. There were children all over the world needing homes. But she questioned the chances that she would be allowed to adopt. She was single, in a dangerous career, and with no family support should she be deployed. She kept coming back to the comment Mic had made about the "do it yourself insemination kit". While the "do it yourself" part was most definitely out of the question, she wondered if she could actually walk into a sperm bank and pick a nameless, faceless donor. It just seemed so... cold.
