"You look tired buddy." Sturgis commented the next morning.

"That's because I am." Harm replied. "I woke up at 0300 to find Mac getting ready to go out and find a hamburger and French fries."

"So you went to get them instead." Sturgis said. "Being the gentleman you are."

"She's too pregnant to be driving around at that time by herself. So I drove around for an hour to find a place that was open but when I got back she was asleep. So I checked on Abi was wide awake so I took her downstairs so as not to wake Mac and Abi decided it was playtime. So I haven't been back to sleep."

"Ouch. Get some coffee." Sturgis suggested. "Lots of it."

"Cravings. Women have this stupid logic, when the twins are being good they are hers but when they are being bad they are mine."

"Sounds about right, but they are the ones who get fat, have their ankles swell up and bad backs." Sturgis pointed out. "They may deserve a little leeway."

"Did I tell you one of them is a boy?" Harm asked.

"You had the scan last night. How did it go?" Sturgis inquired.

"All happy and healthy, but they want to keep an eye on Mac's blood pressure."

"Well I'd love to stay and chat but I have to go and meet with Shaw's attorney to go over the plea bargain and clarify the part about her testifying against Krennick."

"Good luck with that." Harm said yawning.

"Coffee buddy, Marine strength coffee."

"So you're not going to be able to make it?" Faith questioned into the phone. "No I understand, but we need to go over your testimony before Monday. How does it look for tomorrow?.... I know the place 1300?... Good I'll see you then." Faith hung up and rubbed her eyes.

"Case keeping you up at night?" Brett asked through from the doorway.

"Try my neighbours across the hall. They had a screaming match until 0200. When they finally shut up and I got to sleep the police knocked on my door to see if I'd seen or heard anything."

"You should get some coffee." Brett suggested.

"Advising the opposition counsellor?" Faith questioned.

"Just looking out for my best friend." Brett replied.

"As much as I'd like some coffee we're due in court in five minutes." Faith said standing.

"And who do we have today?" Brett asked.

"Check your witness list Commander; it's very long and extensive." Faith replied sauntering past him.

"Ma'am, Lieutenant Roberts just had these dropped off. He said you knew they were coming." Jen said carrying a pile of files into Mac's office.

"Yes. They are things that need judicial signing off on." Mac replied. "I told him we'd fast track them to clear his desk."

"I see ma'am." Jen replied.

"Put the on the table over there and as soon as I get out of this chair and get over to the couch we'll go over them and get all the paperwork out of the way."

"Yes ma'am." Jen replied.

"Are you okay Jen?" Mac asked.

"Yes ma'am." Jen replied.

"Okay, did you and Jason have a fight?" Mac asked knowing something was wrong.

"No ma'am."

"Your Dad call?" Mac tried.

"I haven't spoken to him since before the wedding ma'am." Jen replied.

"So what's wrong?"

"I'm just tired ma'am. I couldn't sleep last night."

"Why not?" Mac inquired.

"I was thinking about Seaman Vern and her situation."

"Sit down." Mac suggested. "What about Seaman Vern?"

"I was thinking about how tough life is going to be for her. Then I couldn't sleep so I just lay awake for most of the night."

"Firstly both you and I are highly qualified to know that life doesn't always go they way you want, it's tough and if you're strong and have people who believe in you, you'll pull through. Harm's going to keep in contact with her and make sure that she's okay. Secondly the good thing about having a husband is if you can't sleep you can wake them up. Sometimes talking things through really does help."

"Yes ma'am."

"And now I have to go to the bathroom." Mac said. "Grab a legal pad and a pen and have a look through the files. We'll get started when I get back."

"Yes ma'am." Jen said.

"Good."

TBC