CIRCUS TALES

Author: Isa

Summary: A circus and a lost (or found?) relative cause a lot of trouble.

Disclaimers: I don't own them (I wish I would, though); I'm just borrowing them for fun. I don't earn any money with it, so please don't sue me.

Author's note: This is my first fan-fic ever so please don't be too hard. Besides, English isn't my mother tongue, I'm only learning it in school. Alright, back to the story: Australia (the ferry) never happened; and Paraguay didn't happen either. Moreover, Chloe, who is about 14 or 15 at that time, hasn't found her father yet. I don't know if that's the case, but in my story Chloe has a room at Mac's place. I apologise for the title, I couldn't think of anything else. Have fun! 

CIRCUS TALES

Friday, 22:12 local
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown

Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie was sitting on the couch in her living room. But at this moment, nobody would have believed she was a member of the United States Marine Corps, since she looked rather like a teenager on a pajama-party, in her red PJs with little ducks on it. The teenager lying next to her was her sister Chloe who spent her holidays with Mac. Mac had taken a day off and they went to the park with Jingo, then went to Beltways for dinner and in the evening they were enjoying a movie together. Just like sisters did, though they weren't sisters in every way. Mac took part in a 'Big Sister-Programme' and Chloe was assigned to her. But by now, they behaved like sisters and trusted each other very much. Mac knew Chloe was almost grown-up, but sometimes she seemed as small and young as the day they met. So Mac wasn't surprised when Chloe had an idea for one of the next days.

Mac stood up to get the DVD out of the player when the film had ended and suddenly Chloe asked:

"Mac… Can we go to the circus?"

Mac answered: "Where did you get that idea from?"

"There was a poster in the park advertising a circus a short drive out of town. I haven't been to the circus for years and I would love to go there. So, can we do it?"

Mac couldn't resist her little sister: "Okay, if you want to, we'll go."

Chloe hugged Mac and said: "Thanks, Mac, that's great!"

Then the girl added: "And we can take Harm with us!"

Her older sister wasn't as enthusiastic as Chloe; above all she didn't want Harm to accompany them.

"But Chloe, we can do that alone, we don't need Harm."

"Oh, come on! He's fun to be with and I'm sure he'll like it. Besides, I want to spend some time with him, too."

With that, the discussion was over.

They both agreed on driving over to Harm the next day to invite him to the circus.

Saturday, 11:00 local
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown

After breakfast, Mac called Harm.

Rabb.

"Hey Harm! It's me."

Morning, Mac.

"Do you have any plans for today?"

Well, I'm free till the afternoon, and then I have a meeting with Bud to prepare a court-martial for Monday. And you?

"We don't know yet. But if you're free now, can we drop by? Chloe wants to ask you something."

Sure, just come over.

"Okay, we'll be there in thirty minutes."

See you!

Chloe had only listened to half of the conversation, but she was happy they could go to Harm this morning. She dressed quickly and then they drove off.

10:29 local
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station

Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb, Jr., heard a knock on his door and went to open it. In front of him he found Mac, his best friend, his soul mate, the woman he loved, and her little sister Chloe. He greeted them and they entered.

After offering them some tea he wanted to know:

"Okay, Chloe, I heard you wanted to ask me something. What is it?"

Chloe replied: "Are you free next Saturday?"

"Yeah, I am. Why?"

"Mac and I wanna go to the circus and we want you to come with us!"

"The circus?" Harm said astonished.

Mac interfered with the conversation: "Yes, the circus. Chloe got the idea when we were in the park yesterday and I really like it!"

Harm wasn't that easy to convince: "I don't know… That's not the kind of activity I prefer."

They both begged him and when they looked at him imitating puppies, he laughed and finally gave in.

Mac and Chloe stayed a little while at Harm's to chat with him and then they head to buy three tickets for the performance on Saturday. Afterwards they went home again to spend the rest of the day being lazy.

The next week passed fast. Mac went to work every morning and returned in the afternoon. In the meantime Chloe read books, watched TV, listened to music, surfed in the internet and leafed through photo albums in which she found many pictures of Harm and Mac together, sometimes with their godson AJ. Every time Chloe looked at this kind of photos, her sister and the man she was in love with, she had to smile. They were made for each other, but they just didn't realise it, she thought.

In the evenings, Mac and Chloe watched movies or just sat on the couch and talked for hours.

Friday, 19:47 local
JAG Headquarter
Falls Church, Virginia

Mac had to stay at work longer that day. She was ordered to help Bud with a case he couldn't handle alone because it was too much work to do. She was sitting in her office reading through files when all of a sudden her phone rang. Mac wondered who would be calling at that time. 'It can only be Chloe. But she knows I'm going to be late.' She answered:

"Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie"

…

"Yes, she's at my place at the moment."

…

"What?"

…

"But we all thought he was dead!"

…

"Okay, I'll tell her. When does he want to meet her tomorrow?"

…

"Okay, thank you."

She hung up the phone and thought about the news for a moment.

Then she stood up, when to Bud's desk and told him she had some personal business. He didn't ask what that was and so she left the office.

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So tell me, do you want more? - Isa