Here's chapter 3. It's not Beta read so all mistakes are mine !
Thanks for the reviews. I enjoy them a looot !
As always, Enjoy !
Chapter 3
JANUARY 3rd, 1997
1215 LOCAL
HARM'S APARTMENT
2812 M STREET, APT 4
NORTH OF UNION STATION
WASHINGTON, DC
"Interesting."
"Don't judge an apartment by its elevator."
"Apartment? It's more like a storage facility."
"Actually it's a little bit of both." He opened the door and let her in. "Cold drinks are in the fridge."
Mac looked around the apartment before setting her eyes on the photo of Harm and his father in the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom during the Fourth of July celebrations when family members were allowed on the deck of the Ticonderoga. 'Some things never change.' She thought to herself…
Flash-back
JULY 31, 1980
1420 LOCAL
OPERATION PURPLE CAMP
REDWOOD, NY
'How the heck does she do that?' Harm was clearly puzzled by Mac's ability to tell the exact time without using a watch. He followed her on autopilot in the line and got his lunch. They ate with the kids who were very excited about their win and couldn't stop talking about the morning's events and planning their afternoon. From time to time, Harm chanced a glance at Mac noticing her exotic beauty and wondering about her hidden wounds. She was different from the girls back home. She had this melancholic layer lying just underneath the brave façade she was displaying.
After lunch the kids were escorted to the play room by the instructor while Harm accompanied Mac to her quarters. He waited outside while she changed her clothes before they made their way to his quarters so he can also get out of his BDUs. Keeter was still in the woods with his team so he invited her in.
"Interesting." Mac eyed the posters and models of the F-4 Phantom and WWII Stearman with interest. Of course for her they were just planes. 'Boys and their toys.' She thought.
"Don't judge a book by its cover." Harm knew what she was thinking from the look on her eyes and the little snort she let escape.
"I don't see any books, just toys." She arched her brow.
"Actually, I like them both. And these," He said indicating the models "are no toys." He picked up the model of the F-4 Phantom. "This is an F-4 Phantom; it's a supersonic, long-range, all-weather bomber with two engines and a crew of two. The US Navy started using these birds in the sixties; they were initially used for training, combat in Vietnam and were returned to the US to be stored in a storage facility after fifteen years of service in the late seventies." He put the model back on the shelf and picked the mini Stearman up. "This one is a Stearman Kaydet, known under a dozen different designations and flown by as many countries. It was used as a military trainer in WWII and is officially known as the Model 75. Also, just for the record, the Stearman is actually a Boeing because prior to WWII, Boeing Aircraft absorbed the Stearman Airplane Company and continued to operate it as a separate facility."
"Show off. How come you know so much about this stuff?" Mac tried not to show that she was impressed.
"That's where the books part comes in." Harm explained with the Rabb cocky grin firmly in place. It was the first time that Mac was fully exposed to the dazzling smile of Harmon Rabb Junior and she was taken aback by the fact that she wasn't immune to it. Harm went to the next room to change his clothes while Mac continued exploring the contents of the shelves adorning the room. Her eyes settled on a framed picture of a little boy in the cockpit an aircraft accompanied by a Naval Aviator who, she guessed, was the little boy's father.
"Who's the little boy?" She asked when Harm reinterred the room indicating the picture in her hands.
"It's me." Harm replied curtly while snatching the picture out of her hands and putting it back on the shelf. "Do you want something to drink? I think we have some water and juice…if keeter left any that is." He was steering the discussion away from the picture and she knew it. Her curiosity perked up but she let it slide for the moment. The man in the picture must be his father, the y look alike. She didn't understand why he wouldn't want to talk about him. Was he an abusive drunk like her father? Or they simply didn't get along with each other?
"Water is fine. Thanks." Harm handed her a bottle and opened one for him. She was still studying the contents of the room. "Interesting décor; what are you, the poster boy of the Navy or something?" She couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice and immediately regretted it when she saw the hurt reflected in his deep blue eyes. She tried to back paddle. "I'm sorry Harm I didn't mean it like that."
"It's okay and you're not entirely wrong. I did get voted Navy Kid of the Year." He still couldn't understand why she was so aggressive.
"Yeah that's right. So what do you have to do to get so lucky?" The banter was back but this time she was joking and he took it as such.
"Just being my charming self I guess." He replied in kind. "Seriously, it's not as impressive as it sounds. It's just a title. Anyone could have it."
"Apparently not, since you're the only one who actually got it." She was intrigued by this boy and wanted to know more about him. After he snatched the photo out of her hand she knew from the look on his eyes that he might not be as carefree as he seems.
"Enough about me. What's your story?" Once again, he changed the subject.
"What do you want to know?" She asked.
"Which branch?"
"Me? None thanks God and if you mean my father he's in the Corps."
"It's obviously your first time here. So why didn't you join the camp earlier?"
"Simple, I didn't even know the damn thing existed. It was my father's idea. He wanted me off his hands this summer so here I am." Harm was taken aback by her answer.
"Why would he want to get rid of you? What does your mom think?"
"I think he's afraid I'll end up like him: bitter and drunk as for my mom she doesn't know nor care. She bailed." Mac was as shocked as Harm. How could she tell this stuff to a complete stranger? Maybe because she wouldn't see him again; but it's more than that. There was something about him that made her trust him. He was so…safe.
"I'm so sorry Mac. I don't know what to say." Harm was at a loss for words. He knew the military way of life was no walk in the park, but family members were supposed to support and comfort each other. What Mac was describing was beyond anything he could imagine. Faith had robbed him of his father but her mom walked away from her family on her own free will. What kind of parent would do such a horrible thing?
"You don't have to say anything Rabb. I don't need your pity." She was angry at herself for losing control and letting him see her so vulnerable. "Let's go we only have fifteen minutes to get the kids and go meet the Captain and the other teams."
"How do you do that?" He forgot about their current conversation for a moment truly bewildered by her gift.
"I've got great timing." She replied defeated.
"Mac I really I'm sorry." He insisted.
"Don't worry about it Harm not everyone is meant to be Navy Kid of the Year. Not everyone has to have your life." The resentment was evident in her voice.
"You don't know what you're talking about." His stare was ice cold and the hurt was lying just beneath the surface but she was too enthralled by her own wounds to notice.
"Ah yes? What do you know about real life? You're living in a bubble with your perfect family? Mister Navy Kid of the Year son of Captain America there." She waved her hand in the general vicinity of the picture. "Your life must be so hard." She was in a roll and wasn't about to stop.
"My father is missing you b****." Harm shouted. "He's MIA." He added in a low voice. The silence that followed that simple declaration was deafening. Mac stood dumbstruck like a deer in the headlights and Harm only glared at her before heading out the door.
End Flash-back
JANUARY 3rd, 1997
1215 LOCAL
HARM'S APARTMENT
2812 M STREET, APT 4
NORTH OF UNION STATION
WASHINGTON, DC
"Still no word about him?" Mac asked still holding the picture of Harm and his father in her hand when Harm reinterred the living area of his apartment.
"There were some leads here and there but nothing concrete. Despite the Freedom of Information Act, the trail is still hard to trace and my CO wouldn't be thrilled with me running off to Laos every now and then. I'm not sixteen anymore." Harm was referring to the summer he ran off to Laos in search of his missing father.
"No, you're certainly not." She was trying to get him nervous and by the way his cheeks burned it looked like she was succeeding. Harmon Rabb didn't change a bit. 'Yep, still a prude.'
"So what made you change your mind and join the Corps?" He was starting to get uncomfortable and needed an exit.
"Oh a certain Navy Kid that I used to now."
"He must be a great kid to change your whole perspective about the military."
"Don't let it go to your head. Uncle Matt had a lot to do with it. Both of you made me realize that there was more to the military than what I was seeing." She confessed but quickly changed the subject. "Enough of the warm and fuzzy stuff. We have to go we only got thirty three minutes." She urged him.
"I see you still got great timing." He smiled at her.
"Always." She returned his smile with one of her own.
"It's nice to see you again Mac."
"You too Harm."