Part 25

After a subdued supper, Mattie drove Harm to the base infirmary. As his was not an urgent case it was nearly ten in the evening, before the doctors saw him, and close to midnight before they returned home. They would have been home sooner, but the doctor wanted to take x-rays. As Harm had self-diagnosed at the time of the accident he did not have a concussion, or whiplash, but he would feel sore for a few days.

Despite the late hour, Harm wanted to let Mac know about the accident and the fact that he was not injured seriously. He most likely would get her at work, if he reached her at all. He dialed the number Mac had given him if he needed to contact her while she was in country.

"JAG offices, Corporal Langenscheidt speaking, how may I direct your call?" a young woman, with a very Southern drawl, answered.

"May I speak with Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, if she is available," Harm asked trying not to say that this was a personal call.

"May I ask who's calling?" the receptionist asked.

"This is Commander Rabb, calling from San Diego."

"I'll put you through." Corporal Liesl Langesnscheidt had heard from the Colonel of her upcoming wedding to the one time Navy poster boy. As she was from Salem, Oregon, she knew exactly how many hours difference there was between the engaged couple, if he was calling that late, it had to be a good reason.

A little while later, Mac went by the Corporal's desk, "Thank you for putting that call through, my fiancé was in a car accident earlier today, he just has bumps and bruises. He wanted me to know, it's a good thing he called when he did, I'll be off the base on assignment. Let him know Gunny Galindez is with me."

"Will do, ma'am."

Harm got the message, and was relieved to hear that Victor was with Mac, watching her six. "But not too closely, he thought.

November 10, 2005

2145 local

San Diego International Airport

Mattie was waiting for Chloe Madison to arrive for the wedding. If there were going to be a wedding. The bride was still in Iraq, and it looked as if the wedding would have to be postponed or performed over the phone. The last phone call Harm had received from Mac's commanding officer had stated that she was not yet released to return to the states. That was Tuesday evening Harm's time. They hadn't heard anything since then.

At the same time, at the NAS Harm answered the phone, "Harm, I just have a moment, my flight gets in at 0700 on Friday, we can do this without me at the rehearsal. I'll see you at the church tomorrow. Have Harriet bring all my stuff to the church at eight and I'll get ready there. Love you. Bye, the pilot won't wait for me."

He was about to say I love you too when he heard a dial tone, the sense of relief that the wedding would go on as scheduled was surprising to him. He then dialed the Roberts residence.

"Roberts residence" Harriet answered.

"Harriet its Harm, Mac just called, her flight gets in tomorrow morning."

"That's good, did you have a chance to talk with her."

"No, she just had enough time to tell me when her flight was due in. She only had enough time to tell me to tell you that you need to bring the dress, and everything else to the church at eight, she'll dress there."

"It will make for an interesting rehearsal tonight, with no bride." Harriet hoped that everything would go well tonight even with the bride not in attendance.

"I'll let her know if there were any changes from what she wanted, tomorrow when I help her get dressed." Harriet was not about to remind Harm that Mac had been through this before, with Mic, and had told Harriet what she didn't want to do in the ceremony with Harm.

The rehearsal that evening went without a hitch, Grandma Sarah had fun standing in for Mac. When she and her husband Michael married, they had a wedding at the justice of the peace since Michael had been given orders to report for duty sooner than expected. Her parents, as well as his had made the ceremony, but she never experienced walking down the aisle as a bride. Not that she hadn't been in any wedding parties, she had. Since her grandson looked very similar to her late husband, that is if he'd lived to be Harm's age, it was a treat for the older woman.

Bud was glad that the rehearsal dinner was low key, the engaged couple knew there were several children involved, and planned a picnic style meal. He hadn't had the best of luck at any rehearsal dinner he had attended. It turned out that the only problem he had was getting between Harm and the last few macaroons. Trish had made sure that her son's favorite cookie was there, and it turned out that most every one in attendance enjoyed them. The only person that avoided them was the videographer, as she was apparently allergic to almonds. Her loss, as these macaroons didn't have almonds. At the end of the dinner, as the Roberts family was preparing to leave Bud's daughter threw up on him. His streak of disasters continued. It turned out that she, like her honorary uncle Harm, was allergic to almonds. Once she literally tossed her cookies, she felt fine and was okay the next day, none the worse for wear.