Crossed Wires
Part 2
- - -
Two months later
"Something seems different about you sir." Bud said to Harm.
"What do you mean?"
"You seem more relaxed, happier than you have been since before you went to Paraguay."
"You think?"
"More so these last few months though."
"I've been spending a lot of time with Jess."
"She does rub off on people."
"She has one of those personalities that draws people in."
"I've noticed that too. I always enjoy working with her." Bud said.
"She's one heck of a woman Bud." Harm replied.
"What do you mean sir?"
"She's pretty amazing."
---
Next morning
"Isn't that an engagement ring?" Petty Officer Coates asked Jessica.
"Yeah."
"Congratulations." Jen said smiling at her senior officer.
"Thanks. Is the Admiral in yet?" Jess asked.
"He's in his office." Jen replied.
---
"Enter." Admiral Chegwidden said.
"Good morning Sir." Jessica said.
"Sit down, what can I do for you?"
"I thought I should let you know that I got engaged at the weekend and that I'm pregnant."
"This has come a bit out of the blue."
"It's been on the cards for a while, well the prospect of a wedding has."
"I take it the pregnancy isn't a planned one."
"No Sir, but its come at a good time."
"I'll arrange for you to be put on light duties. Congratulations Jessica."
"Thank you Sir."
---
"A woman in your condition should be taking things easy." Harm said to Jess as she carried a big pile of folders to her desk.
"You're not sick are you?" Harriet asked.
"She's pregnant. Jess put those files down." Harm replied; Jessica did as she was told, only because she had to run to the bathroom.
"Pregnant?" Harriet asked.
"Found out at the weekend." Harm replied entering his office.
---
'Knock Knock.' "Enter" Mac said.
"Good morning Colonel." Harriet said.
"Morning Harriet, what can I do for you this morning?" Mac asked.
"I don't know how to say this Ma'am."
"What are you talking about? Sit down Harriet." Mac said.
"Jessica is pregnant."
"Why would it be hard to tell me that?"
"Because it's the Commanders baby." Harriet said quietly however Mac heard her.
"Did the Commander tell you this himself?"
"He told her not to carry some folders in her condition, I asked what condition, he said that she was pregnant, they found out at the weekend."
"Oh."
"I didn't think you knew." Harriet said.
"Well thank you for telling me Harriet." Mac said trying to hide the fact that she was upset but Harriet could see straight through her.
---
"Congratulations on the pregnancy." Harriet said to Jess when she got back from the bathroom.
"Thank you."
"Feeling better Lucky?" Harm asked emerging from his office at the same time as Mac left hers.
"I've started to get used to it." Jess replied.
"Colonel, have you seen the Captain's engagement ring?" Coates asked.
"No, I haven't."
"You're engaged too?" Harriet asked looking at Mac.
"This weekend." Jess replied.
"Congratulations." Mac said walking through the bull- pen.
---
"Surprising news about Jess." Bud said to Harm at lunch.
"It's been on the cards for a while actually." Harm replied.
"Really?"
"I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner."
"Well it's certainly surprised the entire office."
"They'll get used to it, I have." Harm replied.
---
"I've been looking for you all day." Harm said following Mac into the elevator.
"Why?" Mac asked.
"Jut wondering how you were doing, we haven't really spoken for a while have we."
"I guess not. You've been busy these last few months; we've both had a lot of things to do. It's no wonder we've not had a chance to catch up."
"You know I'm around if you need to talk at all."
"Jess seems happy." Mac said.
"You should have seen her at the weekend, she was floating on air, everyone wondered what was up with her when she started singing and fell over. Everyone thought we were both drunk when I fell over trying to pick her up off the floor." Harm laughed.
"Nice to know that you've been having a good time." Mac said. They remained in silence until the doors opened.
---
"You kept that one quiet." Sturgis said to Harm.
"What?"
"Jessica."
"Not my place to tell. Who she tells is her business." Harm replied.
"If that's how you see it." Sturgis said.
"What do you mean?" Harm asked.
"Nothing."
---
"I need you to do me a favour." Jess said walking up to Harm.
"What?"
"I need to borrow your oven."
"When and what for?" Harm asked forgetting that Sturgis was there.
"Tonight, for the due at the club."
"You have an oven."
"I'm doing cakes in mine, I just need you to put the biscuits in."
"I don't have to make them do I?" Harm asked.
"No, I'll pop round later, mix it, all you have to do is take them out and bring them round to mine when you pick me up." "
Sure." Harm said.
"Thanks." Jess replied leaving.
---
"Due at what club?" Sturgis asked.
"Flight club we belong to. It's someone's birthday, we all pitch in for parties and stuff."
"You bake too?"
"Jess bakes, I just smile and carry stuff."
"Proper little husband aren't we?"
"I'd like to see you say no to Jess, especially at the moment."
"You have a point, she is persuasive."
"No, she's nuts, and being pregnant is just making her worse. She insists upon running almost every morning, with me might I add and she lives on hot chocolate and digestive biscuits."
---
Six weeks later
"The first church was ok but I didn't really like the look of it. The one we visited last night was the best by far." Jess said getting out of Harms car at HQ, Mac pulled up alongside them.
"You've made your mind up so why do you want me to go and see it?" Harm asked not noticing Mac.
"I want another opinion. Like you said I keep changing my mind. I just want another opinion."
"Then why not take Tom?"
"He agrees with whatever I say at the moment. You still give me an honest opinion."
"Fine, what time should I pick you up?" Harm said; Mac could hear what they were talking about.
"I'll walk saves time."
"No I'll pick you up. What time are we expected?"
"I have to make an appointment, but first I'm starving, I'm going to get some breakfast, want some?"
"No. You've already had two bagels smothered in jam and cereal, aren't you full?"
"I didn't keep any of it down."
"Yeah, I heard. I'll see you upstairs." Harm said walking into the elevator, Mac was straight behind him.
---
"Hey." Harm said.
"Morning, Jessica looks well." Mac said.
"She's having her second breakfast as we speak. I don't see the point, she'll only throw it up again."
"I heard pregnant women get morning sickness." Mac said dryly.
"She gets it all day at the minute, the drive into work is a pain. Now she tells me that my aftershave makes her feel sick so I've had to change that to one she can cope with."
"I'm going to lose my breakfast if we don't change the subject." Mac said.
"Sorry. It's not as bad as it appears, she's been so much happier these last few weeks."
"You have too."
"It's infectious, pretty soon everyone in the office will be living on hot chocolate and biscuits and smiling all day." The elevator door opened.
"Mac?" Harm asked.
"What?"
"Why are you acting so cold towards me?"
"I'm not, I'm just not interested in Jessica's morning sickness."
"Every time she's mentioned by anyone your expression changes, I thought you two were friends."
"Shouldn't you be helping with wedding plans?" Mac replied walking off.
---
"Bud, Mac, Harriet, Sturgis and the Admiral have all been acting coldly towards me." Harm said as he joined Jess for lunch.
"Same here. Maybe it's because we're always mentioning the wedding and the pregnancy they're probably just fed up with it."
"Yeah. Have you sorted out the appointment yet?" Harm asked.
"Seven. Pick me up at 6:30."
"Sure." Harm replied.
---
"Bud, can I have a word with you?" Harm asked entering the Lieutenants office.
"What can I do for you?" Bud asked.
"Why has everyone been acting differently to the Captain and I these last few weeks?" Harm asked sitting down.
"I haven't noticed anything."
"You've been doing it."
"If I have I'm sorry. It's just that it's all come about so suddenly, it's taking some getting used to."
"What has?"
"The pregnancy and the engagement, there's also the fact that you both keep talking about it."
"We both thought as much." Harm replied standing up.
"Sir." Bud said.
"What?"
"I'm glad to see you so happy, even if I haven't been acting like it."
"Thanks Bud."