Mac had to suppress a shiver as she walked through the house of
a dead woman. The actual scene of the crime was the master bedroom where
apparently the intruder entered then point-blank shot Alexia Cameron in
the head. She died minutes later for massive blood loss.
As promised, she returned on the Sunday to help Harm with his two
new charges. He had decided to return to DC that evening so he could begin
settling the kids into their new home while getting ready to tell his commanding
officer of the change in his family circumstances. He hadn't even told
Jordan yet, though Mac doubted the psychiatrist's opinion would make little
difference.
For now, she and Harm were packing clothes and toys for the children,
obtaining the police's permission to enter the house now that all the forensic
details had been collected. Kayla wanted to come but she could not face
going back to the house of her dead sister. Instead, she was at the FBI
crimelabs waiting for the eivdence to be processed giving them some clue
as to who had murdered her sister.
Harm was in Kaiden's room packing for his son leaving her to take
care of Kally's things. Mac smiled wryly. The way Harm had talked one would
think that just because she babysat for Chloe a few nights a month, she
was an expert on ten-year-old girls. The first suitcase filled with pyjamas
and underwear had been easy enough, but what clothes to pack for a kid
she barely knew?
Gazing around the girl's room, it was clear Kally was a regular
little tom-boy from the posters of baseball players and characters from
video games which adorned her walls. There were several books on space
travel and there was a large number of novels from the 'Goosebumps' series.
The only vaguely 'girly' items in the bedroom was a couple of stuffed toys
and a few 'Winnie The Pooh' ornaments. That, and the fact the room was
extremely tidy for a ten-year-old.
Mac smiled knowingly as she filled another two suitcases with jeans,
jumpers and shirts. In a sports bag, she packed two pairs of trainers,
a baseball uniform and a white Tae-Kwon Do suit. Maybe Kally could take
up the sports in DC. Harm had the children write a short list of any toys
they might want; quite a clever idea for someone who was a first-time father.
Once stuffing the various toys of Kallinda's into a rucksack, Mac's eyes
fell onto a large glass photoframe.
The frame held a few photos of Kally and her brother from their
infancy to their present ages. It also included the children with a beautiful,
fair-headed woman with a bright smile- she must have been Alex. There was
one photo which caught Mac's interest. It was of a much younger Kally standing
between Alex and Harm. They looked so happy and relaxed like a perfect
family; it made Mac think what life might have been like had marriage been
the next stage in their relationship. If having a family meant looking
that happy then Mac started to think that she could overcome her fear of
commitment and rejection just to feel that jubilation.
"Mac, are you finished?"
She looked up to see Harm standing on the landing surrounded by
three suitcases and two sports bags. It was just as well they had brought
the SUV and thought up the plan of her taking some of the luggage home
in her Corvette while he took the rest of the bags and the two kids in
his SUV.
"Yes," Mac replied, proceeding to drag Kallinda's things to the
landing.
Finally, she grabbed a bag which she knew contained the girl's lap-top
then the pair quickly transported the luggage downstairs and out to the
car, thankful to be leaving the house.
****************************************************
Kallinda's eyes roved around Harm's apartment, taking everything
in. After her mother and Harm broke up, they still met together for dinner
or to go shopping but they had never come to Washington DC before. Usually
Harm came up to Baltimore or they met up at the mall.
The apartment itself was quite small, there was only one bedroom,
but Harm had said that he would get new apartment once they'd all
become comfortable living together. Otherwise, it was a rather nice place.
Her best friend's parents were divorced and one time Kally accompanied
her friend when she went to spend the day with her dad. His apartment made
a pig sty look like the White House. She was glad Harm appreciated cleanliness
and tidiness.
"What do you think, Sport?" Harm asked, carrying the sleeping Kaiden
into the apartment and laying him on the sofa.
"It's okay," Kally said, wandering around.
"Just okay?" Harm asked in mock outrage.
Kally smiled and relented. "It's neat."
"Would you like anything to eat or drink, Kall? You haven't eaten
since lunch."
"No thanks, I'm okay."
The truth was food turned her stomach, making her feel queasy. Kally
only managed to force down some food each day so that Harm and her grandmother
wouldn't worry. It was bad enough that her mother was dead but she didn't
want them to think she was turning into an anorexic. Maybe she would be
able to eat again when the dull hole in her heart disappeared...but for
that to happen, her mother would have to come back to them.
"Well, the fridge is right over there. Any time you feel hungry,
just go get something. You live here now, Sport, there's no need to ask."
He paused. "I suppose tomorrow we should go shopping and get some kid food,
huh?"
"Yeah, that would be good."
"Right, you and Kaiden will be sharing my bedroom for a while. I
know that you're used to your own room but it will just be until we get
a new apartment. Come and I'll show you your lap of luxury."
Harm scooped Kaiden up and Kally picked up her rucksack then following
him. In the bedroom, Harm placed Kaiden on the bed and spread the covers
over the little boy. Kally looked around; it was a fairly big bedroom so
it wouldn't be too bad sharing for a while. Besides, she was the older
sister, she knew how to keep her kid brother in shape.
"It's quite spacious," Kally said, knowing Harm was waiting for
her approval. "It'll be okay sharing, Kaid's not that bad for a kid."
Harm smiled at her, taking by the shoulders. "I know that this is
hard, Kallinda, but I want you to know that I'll always be here for you
and Kaid. We'll get through this, your mom would have wanted that."
Kallinda looked down then slowly met his eyes. "I know, Mom always
liked you best out of the others. I did too."
The girl thought of all the freaks and jerks her mother had dated.
There had been no-one before Harm, not since her natural father, but there
had been about four after her mother had left Harm. First there was beady-eyed
Jimmy. Then there was William who was surgically attached to his computer.
After him came Scott who made odd noises when he was in the bathroom. Lastly
there was weirdo Paul. None of those relationships amounted to more than
three or four dates.
Personally, Kally had always liked Harm, he was so good to both
her and her mom. She just wished her mother would have taken her Grandma's
advice and married him.
Harm tousled her hair. "You get settled in and I'll go get the stuff
from the car."
The minute she heard Harm exit the apartment, she dropped to her
knees and began rummaging in her rucksack until she found the metal box
she was looking for. Using her penknife to pry open the lock, Kally smiled
faintly when the padlock fell to the floor. Glancing around, she carefully
opened the box to reveal a revolver, the six bullets laid beside it.
She studied her brother's sleeping figure and thought of Harm. She
had been too late for her mother but she wouldn't let anyone take Harm
and Kaiden away from her.
Lightly stroking the gun that she had stolen from the top of her
grandmother's wardrobe, Kallinda vowed, "I'll keep you all safe."
Carefully, she closed the box and slid it under the bed.
****************************************************
Admiral AJ Chedwiggen remembered his days as a young junior officer
and he knew how tough things could get. Bearing those memories in mind,
he tried to be an understanding and tolerant superior but there was nothing
he hated more than blatant disregard of procedure. To say he was reaady
to throttle a certain commander, who just dashed off without explanation
on Friday, was an understatement.
Chedwiggen honestly liked Rabb, he was an excellant lawyer and a
fine officer. However, his patience with the younger man was waning recently
after first he decided to change designation to go back to flying and now
he just runs off without notice. Major Mackenzie had tried to explain for
her partner, saying he had family problems, but Chedwiggen was not entirely
taken in by that.
There was a knock at the door breaking off Chedwiggen's infuriated
thoughts. *Speak of the devil...*
"Come in," he called, knowing exactly who it was.
Sure enough, Commander Rabb opened the door and stepping into the
plush office, shutting the door behind him. His face was schooled into
indifference but Chedwiggen had been around long enough to tell when someone
was slightly intimadated. Still, Rabb hid it well and that was what helped
to make him a superb lawyer.
Rabb stood at attention at his desk. "You wished to see me, Sir?"
he said, his eyes forward and his back stiff.
"Damn right I did," Chedwiggen replied, tersely. "Sit down, Commander,
I think we need to talk about basic decorum and conduct." Obediantly, Rabb
slipped into the chair opposite Chedwiggen's desk. "Well, I'm glad you've
decided to grace with your presence, Commander Rabb. I know you took a
little trip on Friday. Would you care to explain why you went off without
first running it by me?" He kept his voice low but threatening.
Rabb swallowed. "I can explain that, Sir, and for that same reason,
I wish to withdraw my request for change in designation." He sighed. "Actually,
I've been thinking of maybe resigning for the Navy and maybe go into civillian
law."
The Admiral's jaw nearly broke when it hit the floor. He thought
he'd heard every excuse, every scenario in the world but this well and
truly took the biscuit. He could almost believe Mackenzie quitting the
Marines or Harriet deciding to take an extended leave of absence to spend
with her newborn baby but Rabb was Navy through-and-through. What the hell
was going on here?
"What would make you do something so stupid, Rabb?" he demanded.
He had spent much time preparing and grooming the young officer
to one day be ready to take over as Judge Advocate General. He wasn't about
to see his well-laid plans shot to hell. He had ways to eventually weave
around the flying thing but if Rabb were to quit then that would be it-
finished! And deep down, Chedwiggen actually cared for the young man like
a surrogate son or a favourite nephew. He couldn't just let him go without
a fight.
"Goddammit, have you even thought this through?!" Chedwiggen ranted.
"This isn't one of those stunts Mackenzie pulled, is it? Becuase she is
not exactly an officer for you to base yourself on. Is this-"
Abruptly, Rabb broke into his rebuke. "I have thought about this,
*sir*. I 've thought about this long and hard and resignation is
a possible solution." Far from his usual paragon of respect, Rabb's voice
was burning with irritation.
"Oh really, a solution to what? What could possibly jusitfy you
throwing away your entire career?"
Rabb's eyes skittered away as he worked up his resolve then he breathed
in deeply, and looked at his superior officer directly. "The fact that
I am now a father."
"What...?"
"I said, I'm now a father, Admiral."
Chedwiggen assumed his morally-driven officer had laid someone up
so to speak. "When were the baby born?"
Rabb smirked mildly. "There's two *babies*, sir, and one
was born ten years ago and the other four years ago."
Stunned but immediatly collecting himself, the Admiral frowned.
"Are they both yours?" It wasn't really his business but this was so unexpected.
"The four-year-old is my son but I've known the older child since
she was very young...Their mother died on Friday, she was murdered. I've
got guardianship of the kids."
"Do they know who killed the mother?"
"No, the police are investigating and the FBI are assisting."
"Where are the children now?"
"Waiting in my office, I didn't have time to arrange a babysitter
and I haven't found a school for them yet." Rabb looked at the floor. "They
need me now, Sir. They just lost their mother and I have to be there for
them."
It certainly was quite a situation Rabb had and Chedwiggen didn't
know how he would personally handle it. When Harriet Roberts gave birth
to baby AJ, she had immediatly took a sabatical to be there for the child.
But then, Harriet was not an accomplished lawyer and she had always made
clear her family came first- a decision Rabb had never had to face before.
He knew that Rabb had an unyielding loyalty to his family, his friends
and to those he perceived as vulnerable, and he would do anything to protect
those people. It was hard being a single parent; Rabb had no experience
of fatherhood not to mention he held a full-time job.
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
Suddenly the door swung open and a little dark-haired boy ran in,
chased by an older blond girl. The boy halted in his tracks to stare openly
at Chedwiggen with wide blue eyes. Rabb stood up and walked over to the
boy and girl, trying to half-heartedly to look angry. When Chedwiggen moved
from behind his desk to approach the children, the little boy gasped and
ran behind Rabb's legs. The girl just watched the Admiral with mild interest.
"I tried to stop him," the girl told Rabb, "but he just ran in."
"It's okay," Rabb assured. "He just got scared. Isn't that right,
Scamp?"
The boy didn't answer, just peering around Rabb's legs sneaking
a peek. Chedwiggen smiled. He may seem like a gruff, daunting man to his
subordinates, nevertheless he did like children. He adored young AJ Roberts
and deeply regretted missing out on his own daughter's childhood.
Kneeling down, he tried to make himself less imposing to his little
intruders. "Hello, what's your names?"
"I'm Kallinda," the girl replied, seriously. When the boy remained
silent, she added, "And this is my kid brother, Kaiden."
The boy's eyes narrowed. "Are you my daddy's boss?" he asked.
"Yes, I am, Kaiden."
"Are you a captain? Y'know, like Captain Janeway?"
"No, I'm an admiral."
"Is that better?"
Chedwiggen's smile widened. "It *is* a higher rank," he admitted.
He straightened. "Take a few days paternity leave, Commander, and we'll
discuss your workload when you come back. We can deal with this."
Rabb blinked in surprise. "Eh, thank you, Admiral, I really appreciate
that." He lifted Kaiden into his arms, saluting his senior officer.
Chedwiggen sighed in regret. With all his problems and difficulties
he would have to face now and in the future years, Rabb was lucky- he had
the chance to watch his children grow up.
****************************************************
"How did it go?" Mac asked the minute Harm stepped out of the office
and entered the bullpen, carrying Kaiden, with Kallinda walking alongside
them.
"He was actually quite good about it," Harm said, setting Kaiden
down on an empty desk. "I thought he'd be pis- peed off about it but he
said we could work something out after I returned from leave."
Mac smiled at his slight slip which he quickly corrected when he
remembered his young audience. "Leave? He must be in a good mood."
She knew it was incredibly selfish and callous of her but on some
deep level she was pleased that Kally and Kaiden had come into Harm's life.
That meant that Harm had to stay at JAG, his plans to go back to flying
had to be put off permanently now. It sickened Mac to be thinking like
that, especially since the children had lost their mother brutally nonethless
that was the truth, a truth she could never share with Harm.
"So what are you going to do?"
"Oh, I have plenty to do- find a school for Kally, a pre-school
for Kaiden, a babysitter for them both, a new apartment for us all."
"Who needs a babysitter?"
They looked to see Harriet entering the bullpen carrying AJ and
a bag of baby supplies. She headed over to Bud's desk, giving him a peck
on the cheek and handed him his lunch box from AJ's changing bag. It was
when she turned she finally noticed the two youngsters standing beside
Harm. Mac knew Harriet could not resist anything little and cute- both
attributes possessed by the young siblings.
"Hi there," she gushed. "Are you kids lost? Where's your mommy and
daddy?"
Kaiden, after carefully scrutinising Harriet, answered, "Mommy's
dead and Daddy's here."
Harriet was surprised by the boy's statement but continued. "Where's
your daddy, sweetie?"
"Right here," he said, pointing at Harm.
Harm took over. "Harriet, I'd like you to meet my son, Kaiden, and
my..." He paused then smiled at Kally, "my daughter, Kallinda." At Harriet's
stunned face, Harm looked down to the children. "Kally, why don't you and
Kaid go into my office? There's a packet of Skittles in the top drawer
and you can play Solitaire or Minesweeper on my computer."
When the children were out of earshot, Harm quickly explained the
situation to Harriet. Of course the story was enough to turn Harriet to
mush.
"It must be hard," Bud empathised. "I couldn't imagine AJ just suddenly
dropping into my life...if you know what I mean."
"Yeah," Harm said, "I know, believe me, I know."
"Are you looking for someone to mind them while you're at work?"
Harriet asked. "If you are then I could do it."
"Uh, I don't know, Harriet. They're very energetic and you're not
used to older kids-"
Harriet interjected, "Sir, AJ's not going to be a baby forever,
it'll be good experience to spend some time with older children. Please,
I can do it. They'll be at school for most of the day so it won't be much."
"...Okay, but only if you're sure."
"I am, Sir."
Harriet seemed proud of herself. Mac couldn't blame her; Harm had
been intensely protective of Darlin and that instinct was multiplied with
Kally and Kaiden. It was no small feat to persuade him to give his trust;
it would have been murder for him to find an outside babysitter with his
paranoia and obsessive tendencies.
"Now what?" Mac asked.
"Now?" Harm smirked. "Now I have to introduce the kids to Jordan
and break the news to my mother that she's now a grandmother."
"Good luck."
"Thanks, I think I'm going to need it."
****************************************************
The rest of the day had passed reasonably pleasantly. Harm had taken
the children to the park then the library where he picked up a number of
prospectuses for schools and pre-schools in the city. Leaving the children
in front of the television in the afternoon, Harm poured over the various
credentials and curriculums of several state schools, privates schools,
boarding schools, single-sex schools and church schools. He didn't know
there could be so many types of schools.
Harm wanted to also consider what Alex would have wanted when he
decided on a school, she may not have allowed him the same opportunity
but he valued her opinion and she was the children's mother. Boarding schools
and single-sex schools were out since he was not going to abandon these
kids now that they were just entering his life, nor did he want them to
feel isolated from the opposite sex at such a young age. Harm knew that
Alex was a Christian but would not want the kids to be pressurized into
religion so that ruled out church schooling. Both he and Alex were against
class division and a private school would just exacerbate such thinking
in Kally and Kaiden. It appeared a state education was the best way to
go for now.
Bartonwood Elementary School seemed to have an excellant record
and not only was it not too far away but it also had a pre-school within
its grounds. Harm knew that Kally and Kaiden were not ready to be completely
split from each other so that inevitable dilemma was temporarily put off.
So after contacting the principal, he enrolled the pair to start school
on the Monday of the following fortnight.
However, choosing a school was apparently going to be piece of cake
compared to introducing your kids to your girlfriend. They had not even
sat down with Jordan yet Kally's cherubic features were darkened by a scowl
that could curdle the milk.
"Be on your best behaviour now, kids," he warned.
"We always are," Kally said, sweetly. Kaiden just gave him a beatifically
innocent smile.
Harm scowled slightly. "Please give her a chance."
Before Harm could caution her further, Jordan strolled into the
foyer of the restuarant where they were standing. She bestowed a wide smile
unto the youngsters only to be awarded with twin expressions of dubiousness.
"Hi, Harm." She kissed him; if looks could kill Jordan would have
shrivelled away from the daggers Kallinda shot her. But blissfully unaware,
she grinned at the kids. "And these must be Kallinda and Kaiden. They're
so adorable, Harm."
"Aren't we just?" Kally muttered, low enough for Harm to pretend
not to have heard.
Jordan reached to give Kaiden a hug but the toddler quick back-peddled
out of her reach. "Eww, cooties!" he exclaimed, his little nose scruched
up in distaste.
Harm just sighed at the boy, then explained to Jordan, "He's four;
he's allergic to most girls."
"I know, I have a little brother who was four once."
As they were guided to their table, Harm was quickly reminded that
eating out with children was quite an experience. Kally was a mature child,
sitting down quietly to peruse over the menu. On the other hand, Kaiden
required a cushion to prop him up and he fidgeted with the cutlery and
the bread whilst demanding that Harm choose him something 'not sucky and
yucky' from the kids' menu.
"Harm says you're a shrink," Kally said to Jordan. Her tone was
innocent but she did not fool Harm. He had tried many a time to scare off
his own step-father and so was more than aware of playing the angel when
he was really consumed with devilish thoughts.
"That's right, honey," Jordan replied, pleased that the child was
responding to her. "Though we prefer the term psychiatrist."
"Uh, do I resemble something sticky and sweet that has been produced
by a bee?"
Now Jordan was frowning. "No," she said cautiously.
"Good, than can you please not call me 'honey'. It's demeaning."
"Okay...Kally?" The girl nodded in acceptance. Jordan looked lost
for a minute but before Harm could jump in to, she then asked, "So, what's
your favourite subject at school, Kally?"
Harm was sure that question would be a winner. From numerous conversations
over the past few days, he knew that his new daughter enjoyed school. Unfortunetly,
one could not bank against a ten-year-old's determination as Harm learned
when Kally replied to Jordan.
"I like science, I can't wait until I go up to junior high and get
to do chemistry."
"Chemistry is an interesting subject, isn't it?"
"Yes." Kally smirked satanically. "I find it thrilling to know you're
actually working with chemicals that can sear through human flesh and blood
right to the bone but unfortunately we don't get to use those great chemicals
until high school. We do get to learn about of the poisons though, it's
amazing how quickly and efficiently some of them can kill a person."
Shaking his head, Harm couldn't help but see the irony in the whole
situation. This was probably his punishment for the way he treated Frank
when he himself was a precocious little monster.
The meal itself thankfully passed pretty quietly with Kaiden filling
in the conversation with his own little tales. When Kally did talk, Harm
was once again surprised by how versed she was on a number of different
topics. She was very articulate for one so young; no doubt Alex's influence.
"Can I go play in the ball pit?" Kaiden asked after dessert, his
big blue eyes riveted on the ball pit built in the resuarant's conservatory.
"Okay, but don't go wandering off and don't play too rough," Harm
said, wiping the sticky chocolate ice cream from the squirming tot's face.
Setting the boy down, he knew all of his warning would go unheeded.
Kally stood up. "I'll go watch him," she said. As she walked off
after her brother, she couldn't help but adding, "Try not to talk about
us too much."
"Bright child," Jordan commented.
Harm snorted. "Is that another way of saying she's a brat?"
"Yes, well, kids can be so cunning sometimes...How are they coping?"
"Okay, I guess. Kaiden's cried a couple of times but Kally is her
mother's daughter. She's been pretty calm about it so far. She's a very
strong child, always has been."
"Harm, that's not always a good thing. A child Kally's age doesn't
know how to deal with grief, especially that of a parent. She may not be
coping as well as you think. Maybe she may need some help in dealing with
her loss."
"She doesn't need to be thrown into the loony bin," Harm retorted.
He hated it when Jordan slipping to 'psyche mode', especially when
it involved him. It was not that he didn't appreciate her help but he was
not a child. And now she was sticking her nose into how he was looking
after Kally and Kaiden. He didn't need someone else telling him how to
raise his kids, albeit he was new to fatherhood.
"I didn't say she was mad," Jordan said, in her infinitely calm
'psychiatrist' voice. "I just said that Kally may need someone to talk
to about the death of her mother."
"She's fine." Realising he was sounding like a petulant child, Harm
said, "Look, I know you mean well, Jordie, but believe me when I tell you
that Kally is a strong kid and she has plenty of support and love not just
from me but from her grandmother and aunt."
"I'm sure she does, but she's still hurting...When your father disappeared,
I bet you didn't go to your mother in case you hurt her further."
Harm's eyes narrowed. "That's not fair."
"Well, it's true, isn't it?" At his silence, she continued. "All
she needs is a few sessions to help her cope. I'm sure she's a tough child
but even a tough child is still just a child."
Harm slumped in his chair. Jordan had to know she had him the second
she brought up the old wounds of his MIA father. Sometimes, he wondered
exactly who was it he was dating- Jordan or Doctor Parker?
"Okay, I'll bring her around to talk to you...but not until after
the funeral."
Jordan smiled, victorious. Harm just sighed. It was all very well
arranging for a psychiatrist but how the hell was he going to explain it
to Kally and avoid her erupting with her temper that could rivel a volcano?