TITLE: Forever Love
AUTHOR: Clairisant
CLASSIFICATION: Song Fic AJ/MacRATING: PG
FEEDBACK: Would love to hear both good and bad feedback but please try to be kind and constructive. Clairisant
CREDITS: A special thanks to my beta reader Qupeydoll.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
0900 EST
JAG Headquarters
Heading to the staff meeting AJ paused at Harriett's desk and smiled, "Harriett, I have a present for little AJ's birthday in my office. Don't forget to pick it up. Can't have him thinking his Admiral AJ forgot."
"Thank you, Sir. I know he'll be thrilled."
"Okay, let's get down to business," thumbing through the files, everything looked blurry. "Damn, must be time for new glasses! Colonel, please read today's agenda."
AJ headed back to his office, rubbing his temples trying to ease his headache. He made a detour to grab a cup of coffee. As he was pouring, Harriett came in, "Harriett, I have a package in my office, it's something for little AJ's birthday. Could you take it home for him? I don't want him thinking I forget."
"Sir? You already told me. I'll be sure to pick it up."
Nodding, AJ left the room, seeing Bud entering the bullpen, he stopped him. Harriett came out of the break room and was shocked to hear him say, "Bud, if you see Harriett, tell her I have a present for little AJ's birthday in my office."
"Yes, Sir, thank you for remembering."
"It'd be hard not to, Bud, since I delivered the little fellow," laughed AJ.
That afternoon, Harriett knocked on the Admiral's door. "Enter," he called.
Harriett stood at attention. "At ease, what can I do for you?" before she could speak, he continued, "Oh, before I forget. That package is for little AJ. I don't want him to think I'd forget his birthday."
"Admiral, that's the fourth time you've mentioned the present. Sir, are you feeling well?" she asked with concern. "It isn't like you to be so forgetful."
"I'm fine, I have a lot on my mind lately, I guess it's starting to show," he smiled sadly. "I didn't mean to worry you."
"Is there anything I can do to help, Sir?"
"No, there's nothing to be done. Thank you, Harriet, dismissed," he said, leaning back in his chair.
Friday, May 14, 2004
1300 EST
Bethesda Naval Hospital
AJ sat across the desk from Dr. LeSieur, after repeating the same tests he had hated five years ago, "Just give it to me straight, there's no need to beat around the bush."
"Okay. The tumor is growing. With the memory loss and the worsening of your vision, it seems to be growing rapidly. You probably have," she paused before continuing, "Six to eighteen months, but as I told you five years ago, once it starts growing, you will experience debilitating degeneration of brain functions. I wish I had better news for you, Admiral," she offered no sympathy, knowing he wanted none.
"I've had five years to get used to this. I just need you to do one more thing, please."
Later, AJ called the SECNAV to explain the situation and tender his resignation. AJ told him he could continue until Admiral Morris was brought up to speed, and that Colonel Mackenzie would smooth the changeover. They decided to make formal announcement next week.
"I'm sorry, AJ, I don't know what to say."
"There's nothing to say, Mr. Secretary. These things happen, we just have to face them as best we can," AJ replied.
AJ had put his affairs in order. He had explained to Bud that complete instructions for his funeral, letters to his family, and his Will were in his office wall safe. There were letters to Francesca and his sister Adele. The surprise would be the one addressed to Sarah Mackenzie. He needed to change it because recent events however.
Mac told him, as her CO, that she and Harm were going through with 'the baby deal'. She wondered if this would require a change in their positions at JAG. When questioned, Mac admitted that the conception would be done by artificial insemination. They had no plans for a relationship other than sharing parenting. In that case, AJ saw no reason for either of them to leave.
The following months Mac was injected with Harm's sperm at the height of her ovulation cycle. The first two times she got sick immediately after the procedure, but thought nothing of it. The third time she questioned her doctor. A simple allergy test determined she was allergic to his sperm. The baby deal was off.
Other than Harm, Mac had only told AJ about this. Last week, he heard Mac crying as he was leaving the office. They were the only ones still in the building and he had gone to investigate. It was then she had blurted out the news. Knowing how hard this had hit Sarah, AJ made a decision to help. That was the change he needed to make in his letter to her.