Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I wish I did.
=====================================================================
JAG HEADQUARTERSOne month has past since the team returned from Hawaii. They have returned to the normal flow of things. Handling cases and mountains of paper work but they still had time for some fun.
Bud had been sent to the U.S.S. Nimitz. He was handling a situation where a Master Chief and a Petty Officer First Class were being charged with fighting. The JAG on board was inexperienced and the case was taking some very strange turns. The Captain requested assistance and had called a Captain's Mast.
Harriet was a bundle of nerves. She was filing papers but her mind was elsewhere. Bud would be gone about a week and she was impatiently awaiting his return.
"Lieutenant Sims, I need the Rogers file." Lt. Singer stated. Harriet lost in her own thoughts did not hear her. "Lieutenant!" Singer yelled, "I haven't got all day."
"Excuse me, what did you need?" Harriet replied.
"The Rogers file. Do you think I could see it before the trial is over?" Singer asked sarcastically.
Harriet just looked at Singer and handed her the file. She was about to say something back when Mac who had been witnessing the exchange called out, "Lieutenant Sims would you please come to my office?"
In Singer's mind she thought that Harriet was about to be reprimanded for being so scatterbrained, she didn't realize that Mac had just rescued her from Harriet.
"Harriet is everything okay?" Mac asked her in a caring tone.
"Yes, ma'am, I mean no ma'am. Well yes." Harriet replied.
Mac just looked at her, very confused. "Well which is it? Yes or No?" Mac asked.
"Everything is fine Mac, better than fine." Harriet said. "I need to talk to Bud."
"Harriet, you're not making any sense." Mac said. "Talk to me."
Harriet sat down and smiled. "Bud and I talked about expanding our family while we were in Hawaii."
"Harriet's that's great." Mac exclaimed.
"Oh, I know it is. I just wish Bud was here right now." Harriet said.
"He'll be back next week." Mac said trying to comfort her friend.
"I know I just wish he was here right now." Harriet responded.
Mac looked at her friend and suddenly got a huge smile on her face. "Harriet are you?"
Before she could finish Harriet jumped up with a big smile on her face. "YES!" She yelled, "YES, I am pregnant. Oh it feels so good to tell someone, I wanted to tell Bud first but he's not here. I have been busting at the seams. I don't want to tell him over the phone or in an e-mail."
"This is so incredible." Mac said hugging her friend. "I know, and I know exactly when it happened." Harriet giggled.
Just then there was a knock on the door. "Enter," Mac called out.
"Hey, Mac, I am going to go grab a sandwich can I bring you something? You too Harriet." It was Harm.
"Yeah that would be great. Want anything Harriet?" Mac replied.
"No, I'm fine, I brought something today." She was still smiling.
"What's going on here?" Harm asked seeing the smiles on both their faces.
"Nothing." Mac said. "We're just talking." Harriet chimed in.
"Well something is going on here." Harm teased.
"Hey, go get me my sandwich." Mac said to Harm motioning towards the door and Harm walked out shaking his head. No matter how old he was he would never understand women.
"So how are things going with you guys?" Harriet asked.
"It's going, but you remember my rule Harriet." Mac said.
"I know, how about dinner tonight so we can talk?" Harriet replied.
"Sounds good, I haven't really seen Little AJ since we got back." Mac stated.
"Tonight around 7ish?" Harriet said. "I'll be there." Mac answered.
ADMIRAL'S OFFICE"At ease." The Admiral said. "I take it you are both rested from your trip last month?" He asked half joking.
"Yes sir." Harm answered for the both of them without realizing he was.
"Good to hear, because you're leaving again." The Admiral said.
"Both of us sir?" Mac asked.
"Yes the both of you. And I can't believe where I am sending you."
"Where are we going?" Harm asked.
"Puerto Rico," said the Admiral. "You will going to the Naval Station at Roosevelt Roads. Recently there was another incident at The Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility on Vieques."
"Civilian protests again sir?" Mac asked.
"Not this time," the Admiral answered, "this time it's a Lieutenant Juan Mediavilla. He refused a direct order during training. Commander you will be defending, Colonel you will be prosecuting."
"Wow Puerto Rico. Sir, this is a simple case, why are you sending us?" Harm asked.
"Commander why is that every time you have the opportunity to go some place warm and sunny you question it? I am sending you because it is not a simple case and there is far more at stake here than just a case of refusing orders. The situation in Vieques has been controversial for some time now." The Admiral stated. "Oh and you won't be staying at the Naval Station, they are still making repairs from the hurricane in 2000. Rooms have been reserved at the El San Juan Hotel in Carolina. "Now I suggest you both get ready to leave. Dismissed." The replied in unison "Aye Sir."
"Harm, what is your problem?" Mac asked as they went into Harm's office.
"Nothing Mac, we just got back and now we are going away again. It would be nice if we could spend some time together 'here'." Harm replied.
"Harm it doesn't matter where we are as long as we have time together." Mac said.
"It's just hard to start as a couple when we are being sent away on cases." Harm whined. "Whining is not your style, mind telling me what's on your mind sailor?" Mac asked.
"Mac, it's just that here we are trying to see if we can build a life together and look at where we are going. Last month Hawaii, now to Puerto Rico, where can I possibly take you that would be special?" Harm sounded so hopeless.
Going through Mac's mind was, he wants to build a life together. What she said, "Harm any place you take me will be special; because I am with you." Mac returned to her office.
Commander Sturgis Turner was sitting at his desk. Reflecting on the past few weeks. His relationship with Bobbie Latham was going in the right direction. She was back in Michigan this week and he missed her. He was actually surprised at this revelation. He asked himself if he was falling in love. It had only been about 6 months that they had been together. Maybe it was time to move ahead, the casually broached the subject in Hawaii. Harm knocked on his door, which brought him back to reality.
"Hey buddy, can you do me a favor?" Harm asked.
"Anything." Sturgis replied
"I am going out of town, would you please take the vette for inspection?" Harm practically begged.
"No problem. Where are you going?"
"Mac and I have to go to Puerto Rico, there was an incident in Vieques." Harm said.
"Puerto Rico huh?" Sturgis smiled. "Must be nice."
"I guess." Harm shrugged. Sturgis gave his friend a puzzled look.
Mac was in the bullpen talking to Harriet and Gunny. "I hear Puerto Rico is beautiful,"
Harriet said, "but aren't you going right at hurricane season?"
"I don't know Harriet, but it would be just our luck." Mac said.
"Where are you going?" Singer interrupted. "Vieques, Puerto Rico," replied Mac.
"Oh, it is hurricane season there, well have a nice trip." Singer said sarcastically.
"I should have gotten her in the mouth." Harriet said. Gunny and Mac just chuckled.
"So, Gunny any useful phrases you can teach me?" Mac asked. "Sure, 'Tengo Hambre,' it means 'I'm hungry'." Gunny jokes. "Very funny, Gunnery Sergeant." Mac said in a mock official tone.
"Hey Mac," Harm called as he walked toward the group, "our flight leaves at 7am from Dulles. How about I pick you up?"
"Wow 7am?" Harriet said. "It's not so bad," Mac said. "At least it's a shorter flight and no time change."
The rest of the day was spent reviewing cases. At 5pm Harm and Sturgis walked to Mac's office. "We're gonna go grab a bite, I call you tonight." Harm said to Mac. "Sounds good, Harm. Remember, I am going to Harriet's for dinner." She said.
THE ROBERTS' HOME"Mac, Puerto Rico sounds so wonderful." Harriet said.
Harriet, it's business." Mac replied.
"Oh I know, but still," she said. Just then Little AJ came running into the room.
"Momma, where's Uncle Harm, I wanna play." Little AJ said. "Uncle Harm is not coming tonight. You can play next time." Harriet told her son.
"Hey AJ, come here," Mac said as she opened her arms for a hug. The little boy threw himself into Mac's arms.
"Sooooo?" Harriet asked with a big smile.
"What?" Mac asked back, with a sheepish grin.
"Mac, come on. How many rooms are you going to get in Puerto Rico?" Harriet asked.
"HARRIET! I can't believe you." Mac laughed. "Two."
So, Hawaii was business." Harriet pointed out.
"I know and nothing happened." Mac said.
"Well, why not?" Harriet demanded.
"HARRIET!!!" Mac laughed, sometimes sweet Harriet was so, well Harriet.
MCMURPHY'S TAVERN"So Puerto Rico?" Sturgis said.
"Yeah, can you believe it?" Harm replied. "Another beautiful island."
"Harm, you sound down about this." Sturgis commented. "A beautiful woman, a beautiful island, what more could you want?"
"A chance to take her someplace without the Navy being involved." Harm said angrily.
Sturgis just looked at his friend, what could he say?
MAC'S APARTMENT"Hello?" Mac said as she answered the phone.
"Hey there Marine how was dinner?" Harm asked.
"Wonderful, your godson was looking for you." Mac replied.
"Well I am his favorite godparent." Harm said with a laugh.
"Watch it sailor." Mac teased back.
"I just called to say good night, I'll pick you up in the morning." Harm said.
They hung up the phone.