Twisted Timing
Chapter 25
Tuesday, January 12, 1999
1400 Local Time
Norfolk, VA
The day of Harm's return was unseasonably cold for the Virginia coast in mid-January with temperatures in the low twenties. Sarah was standing with the crowd of families dressed in her long winter trench coat. It showed her legs in black silk stockings and three inch shiny black stiletto heels. She was amused to see other wives/sweethearts dressed the same. She wondered if they wore the same outfits under their coats as she wore under hers.
Earlier in the day the Patrick Henry looked impressive as it went through the Chesapeake channel and coming up to the dock. The docking procedures were completed and Captain Ingles gave the order for the crew to disembark. A cheer rose from the sailors and the families waiting when the order was given. Harm came down the gangplank with his sea bag over his shoulder to see Sarah waiting for him in civilian dress. He only saw the heavy long coat. He had no idea what was under it. She spied him as he appeared at the top of the gangplank and started to wave. She was so glad that she arrived home to the states first.
Through the vagaries of navigation and timing the Guadalcanal made port in San Diego a week and a half ago. The Patrick Henry had been delayed exiting the Med because of a ramp strike and the subsequent investigation and trial. Harm defended his RIO, Lt. Commander Elizabeth "Skates" Hawkes. She was the LSO (Landing Service Officer) trying to direct the errant pilot in, ostensibly against orders from the head LSO. The trial brought forth information that the Patrick Henry wasn't completely sailing at par. As a result the relieving carrier Seahawk had been delayed leaving port to become more ready to sail at par. Sarah was scared shitless when she was informed of the ramp strike and communications with the carrier were cut off. She felt immensely better when the dust settled and they could exchange emails confirming that Harm was alright.
As Harm cleared the gangplank, he met Sarah halfway as she rushed to him from the crowd. They embraced and shared a long kiss. As they came up for air, Harm tipped his head back and cupped her chin so they could look in each other's eyes.
"I missed you so much. I hope you have immediate plans for the rest of the week," Harm said seductively.
She kept her arms around his neck and pulled him closer so she could whisper in his ear. "I do. I booked a room at a nice hotel in Virginia Beach. And by the way I'm not wearing any panties. So if you don't mind, I'd like to get to someplace warm."
He looked at her startled. She just smirked knowingly and cocked an eye at him. He recovered and smiling back at her said, "Well let's go then."
They picked up his bags and went to her Corvette and on to the hotel. When they reached their room, Sarah was the last in as she hung the "Do Not Disturb" sign and doubled locked the door. When she turned around, Harm was standing with his arms open. They shared another long embrace and a deep kiss. When they broke apart, Sarah took him by the hand and led him to the bed. She had him sit as she unbuttoned her long coat.
As she let the coat fall Harm forgot how to breathe. He stared at his beautiful wife as she stood dressed in nothing but a black floral lace bustier. Her black silk stockings were held up by the garters attached to the bottom of the bustier. Also as she told her husband, she wasn't wearing any panties, proudly showing a thick, but still well trimmed triangle at the apex of her thighs.
Harm's breathing returned as Sarah said, "Sailor, you're overdressed. Do you need help to remedy that?"
"No ma'am I don't!" Harm declared as he stood to quickly shed his clothing.
They almost collided violently as they met and fell onto the bed. Needless to say, they went to town on each other. When they finally separated, they lay looking at each other, panting heavily as they caught their breath. She reached up and embraced him and whispered in his ear, "Harm I'm ovulating."
Harm pulled back a little to look in her eyes and gave his wife the full "flyboy" smile as he replied, "What do you say we make sure ninja girl?"
"I'm with you flyboy," Sarah said as she reached for him.
They didn't leave the hotel room for the rest if the night as they ordered in room service.
The next day they drove back to DC.
Monday, January 18 1999
0900 Local Time
JAG Headquarters,
1322 Paterson Avenue,
Washington Navy Yard, SE,
Washington, DC
After they checked out of the Virginia Beach hotel, Sarah and Harm practically raced home where they dove back into bed. They enjoyed their alone time at home for the rest of the week into the weekend. They didn't get out of bed much. They ordered in dinners for the whole week as they got reacquainted.
Now Sarah and Harm were sitting together in the first row of JAG Headquarters largest courtroom with the whole of the JAG Headquarters and DSO North office compliment. Sarah wore her Marine dress blue uniform while Harm was in the usual class A Navy blues. It was the first time they were at headquarters as a married couple. They were to receive formal commendations for their courageous acts. Harm was to receive a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Sarah was to receive the Meritorious Service Medal.
Sarah's medal was for her action saving the US Embassy staff during an incident in the Indonesian Province of Banda Aceh. Sarah had taken command and led the American staff out of the embassy as the locals rioted in protest of a Marine corporal seemingly being let go for raping a local girl. When Sarah returned to the LHP after the evacuation she emailed Harm to reassure him that she was alright before he received official notification of the incident.
Harm was earning his DFC for saving David and David's RIO. Due to illnesses in the fighter Squadron, The Raptors, Harm was pressed into flight duty with Skates as his RIO. He and David flew together as each other's wingman. During one mission David's Tomcat was hit by enemy ground fire. Harm used his Tomcat to push the wounded plane by its tailhook over a ridge so David and his RIO could punch out over the water. Later on when the squadron members gave him his helmet with his call sign changed from "Pappy" to "Hammer", after his dad, Harm could only say modestly, "I just had to save my roomie. (He and David shared quarters on the 'Henry'.) Besides he's my cousin-in-law."
On August, 29, 1998, a week after Harm's pushing Tuna to safety; Loren gave birth to Antonia "Toni" Teresa Harmony Medwick. When David took leave to see his new daughter, Loren was glad to tell him, "Well I just had to name her after the man who saved her father."
Now Admirals AJ Chegwidden & Stiles Morris came into the courtroom from the judges' entrance to the Marine corporal's call of, "Attention on deck!"
As everyone rose to stand at attention the admirals made their way to the podium facing the audience. AJ started the proceedings with, "As you were. Major Sarah Catherine Mackenzie-Rabb and Lt. Commander Harmon David Rabb please step forward."
Mac and Harm made their way to stand at attention in front of the podium. Admiral Morris took over. "We are here to recognize the exemplary action these two officers took to safeguard their fellow crew members. I will read first Major Mackenzie-Rabb's commendation. Admiral Chegwidden will read Lt. Cmdr. Rabb's commendation."
After both commendations were read AJ called, "Mrs. Diane Larkin and Captain Samantha Burnett please step forward and pin the medals on your siblings."
Diane and Sam stepped forward to stand in front of their sister & brother respectively. Stiles and AJ extracted the medals from their cases and gave them over and the two proceeded to pin the medals on the uniform of their sibling.
After they completed pinning on the medals, the two sisters broke protocol and engulfed their brother and sister in fierce hugs.
"I'm just so dammed proud of you big sister", Diane whispered into Sarah's ear.
"Nice going big brother", Samantha whispered into Harm's ear.
Harm and Sarah hugged their sisters back. When they broke apart AJ said, "I'll leave the next part to the two recipients."
Sarah and Harm turned to each other and muttered together, "Easy officer" as they rested their hands on each other's' shoulders and locked lips in a kiss that lasted a bit. There were the usual whistles and catcalls from the audience. When Stiles and AJ both coughed extravagantly, the two separated and stood at attention with Diane and Sam standing beside them.
"Congratulations you two" AJ said as he and Stiles shook hands with each of them in turn.
After that Morris called, "Attention on deck!" All the audience rose. He completed the call "Company dismissed!"
"Aye, aye sir!" the audience bellowed.
When everyone started to mingle to congratulate them, Loren came right up to Harm and engulfed him in her own hug. "Thanks for saving David, cousin."
Harm hugged her back with an embarrassed, "No problem Loren."
Loren let him go to hug her cousin Sarah.
When Loren disengaged, Sarah turned toward the pram where a squirming Toni was demanding attention. As Sarah bent to have a look Loren said, "You can pick her up. She loves to be held."
"Okay as long as mom says it's alright," Sarah said as she bent to pick her up. Loren moved to put a clean receiving cloth diaper over Sarah's shoulder and her ribbons.
As Sarah rocked, Toni settled in and got comfortable.
"See you're a natural," Loren said.
Harm looked on his wife as she cuddled and rocked Toni and thought, 'I can't wait till she does that with our child.'
He was broken out of reverie when David offered his hand in, "Congratulations Hammer."
"Uh thanks Tuna. I was looking at Sarah and hoping that she has the opportunity to do that with our child."
"Yeah I know the feeling. Still I know I can bring you a little closer to doing that yourself."
"Oh really how?"
"Loren's sister Meghan is going to be Toni's godmother. Loren and I want you to be Toni's godfather and I'm telling you right now, it's an offer you can't refuse."
Sarah overheard David make his request and poked Harm's shoulder saying, "Well you heard the man. How can you refuse family?"
Harm smirked indulgently as he said, "Well in that case the answer is yes. My wife is right. How can I say no to family?"
At that the small family left to attend the congratulatory luncheon.
Saturday March 27, 1999
0800 Local Time
Mackenzie-Rabb Apartment
Georgetown, NW
Since their reunion after the FJAs Mac and Harm's efforts at getting pregnant were taking the usual toll on their lives. After a few disappointing negative EPT tests in that time, they resolved to give the testing a break and just let it happen without the anxiety.
During the whole last week Mac had been out of town at the Naval Academy presenting and lecturing on an old case from the early days of the Navy. She was delighted to do it as it had been her law school dissertation. She stayed in the base's VOQ to save herself the long daily commute. She came home Friday evening feeling off and out of sorts. When she woke up with Harm Saturday morning she said, "You know I don't feel like running today. I feel yucky. I hope I didn't contract anything from the academy."
While he was getting dressed for his run, "Well, why you don't take it easy this weekend? Just rest and look over the housing brochures we got from the realtor."
Mac nodded and sitting up in bed said, "For a squid you're pretty smart."
"I do have my uses." Harm sealed his declaration with a kiss to her forehead. As he moved to the door of the apartment, he asked, "Need anything from the market? I'm going there after my run."
"Just the usual stuff; you know what I like."
"Okay see you in a while," Harm said as he went out and locked the door.
Mac lay back down and tried to go back to sleep. After tossing & turning for about an hour, she gave up. "Oh the hell with it, I'll just make breakfast for stickboy."
Mac got up and just putting on her robe over her white USMC long sleeve tee shirt and pink & white striped long cotton pajama bottoms, she went into the kitchen and started to prepare breakfast. She had an idea to prepare her ingredients. She found the bacon, eggs, English muffins, milk and orange juice and the other makings for Eggs Benedict and set about cooking her surprise meal for her husband. She puttered away in the kitchen for a time. After she finished frying the bacon, she started to prepare the Hollandaise sauce. When she got to the part when she needed to add the melted butter, she started to feel the bile rise in her throat. She shut off the heat under the pot and dashed into the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach, which weren't much. After heaving a couple of times, she flushed and sat back on the floor in front of the bowl. She spied an EPT test on the shelf over the sink. She got up and after rinsing her mouth, started to remove the test stick for use. She sat down and used it and left it on the sink. She went out to clean up the now ruined sauce and set about to put a modified breakfast of omelets with bacon and English muffins on the table for Harm's return.
After puttering around the kitchen which kept her waiting the required period of time, Mac gave it another 30 seconds. She went into the bathroom and took the test stick and read where the results would be indicated.
Mac smiled and said aloud, "Well that explains why I'm feeling so yucky."
She took the EPT test and gift wrapped it and placed it on the table in front of Harm's plate.
She put some buttered muffins on foil in the broiler and started the omelets. Just as she put the omelets on plates, she heard Harm come in the door. She called from the kitchen, take a shower and then come and have breakfast!"
She saw him wave and start pulling his clothing off as he walked into the master suite. She went to pick up the groceries that he bought and started putting them away. Few minutes later Harm came out to a fully set breakfast. He sat and was about to take the plate placed upside down over his omelet keeping it warm, when he saw the thin gift wrapped package. As Mac came in with the toasted muffins he asked, "What's that?"
Nonchalantly putting the plate with the toasted muffins on the table and sitting, Mac replied, "Why don't you open it."
Harm unwrapped the stick. When he had it open his eyes just about popped out of his head and his mouth gaped open.
Smiling Mac reached over and pushed his chin up with her index finger, saying, "So I guess you're happy?"
Harm gathered his wits enough to ask, "When did you take this?"
"Just a few minutes ago after I threw up."
"You okay now?"
"Yeah, but the Hollandaise sauce was ruined."
Harm smiled at saying, "So no more early runs for you. When do you want to see the doctor?"
"I'll call Bethesda today to make an appointment for Monday. We might even get Sydney Chegwidden assigned as our primary care OB."
"That would work out well."
At that they ate their breakfast. After they were finished Mac stood up and said, "Leave the dishes for later. I want to celebrate."
Mac took her husband's hand and led him into the bedroom. They celebrated the whole weekend.
Monday, March 29, 1999
1000 Hours Local Time
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, MD
Chegwidden & Creswell agreed to give Mac & Harm the morning off. The expecting parents called them with the request Sunday afternoon. They didn't tell the two commanding officers why, but they acquiesced just the same.
Now Mac was sitting on the examination table dressed in nothing except one of those paper examination gowns. All her uniform/clothing was folded neatly on a chair behind the changing screen. Harm sat in one of the chairs as they chatted.
Recalling their pre-deployment baby deal she asked, "After healthy, what do you want a boy or a girl first?"
"A girl with your looks and my brains would be nice."
"What about a boy with your looks and my brains?"
"That'll work to."
"You know you narrowly beat your deadline by a month."
"Which deadline?"
"Your prediction of having me pregnant by Ann Marie Marshall's first birthday."
"Oh yeah, well timing is everything."
They both shared a chuckle as Sydney Chegwidden walked in saying, "Okay we have another Mackenzie production happening. Sarah when was your last period?"
Mac smiled at that as she replied, "About a week before Valentine's day."
"When was the last time you two made love before you found out?"
"We made love a few of times since then." Mac replied. She was amused and Harm's blushing at the question.
"Hmm, hmm; so by those dates on your period and when you made love, Sarah I'd calculate that you're about four to five weeks along. Is there any morning sickness?"
"I threw up all three mornings Saturday, Sunday and this morning."
"Hmm well I recommend ginger ale and saltine or Ritz crackers to help with the nausea. I don't like to prescribe drugs on that; too many side effects."
Mac and Harm nodded.
After she washed her hands and put on examination gloves Sydney ordered, "Okay dad you sit over there. Mom, you lie down and put your feet in the stirrups and I'll take a look."
After the examination Mac sat up and Sydney washed her hands again saying, "You can get dressed now. The baby is in a good position. (She pointed to Mac's upper right quadrant of her belly.)."
As Mac got up and went behind the screen to dress, Sydney continued, "We'll schedule your monthlies for the first eight months and then once a week during the ninth. You're only 31 Sarah so amniocentesis is not warranted. I'll give you a prescription for pre-natal vitamins. Tell your CO and stick to the eight hour days. No running, jumping or lifting. Reduce the caffeine and alcohol. It's a good thing neither of you smoke, so that's one cut out you won't stress over. Tell whomever you want to tell when you feel comfortable. I'll let you tell AJ Harm in your own good time when Sarah lets you. I can't tell him because of doctor-patient confidentiality. "
Harm chuckled at that. In the meantime Sarah had come from behind the changing screen. She shrugged into her uniform jacket that Harm held for her.
"What about going traveling overseas to say Bahrain, Spain, Italy or even Great Lakes that my DSO covers?" Mac asked as she buttoned her jacket.
"Well as long as it's not under cover or a long deployment, it shouldn't be a problem. But I'd still like to see you stay as close to home as possible. If you want I'll call Cresswell and tell him to keep you close after you tell him."
"You know that would be a good idea," Mac replied in agreement.
After setting up their appointments and getting her prescription, the happy couple left for their offices.
1230 Local Time
JAG Headquarters
Harm was twirling his cap when he entered the bullpen. Matt Simms was coming out of his office and saw him and asked, "Hey Hammer what's got you so happy?"
Harm beckoned Matt into his office and closed the door before he answered, "Sarah's 5 weeks pregnant."
"Hey buddy welcome to the club. Here I have something that will add to your joy. This came in this morning," Matt said as he handed over the folder he was carrying.
When Harm opened it a read the document his face split into the biggest smile. "When does this take effect?"
"While frocking is authorized now, your promotion to commander and Sarah's to Lt. Colonel, takes effect April 1. We'll have the swearing in then. Congratulations Harm," Matt said extending his hand.
Harm took it and asked, "Does Sarah know?"
"Cresswell is telling her now. This is the part of being Chief of Staff that I like best. So when's the wet-down?"
"Ah let me call Sarah and we'll arrange something," Harm said.
"In the meantime, the admiral wanted to see you as soon as you came in."
"Let me go there now."
Harm arrived at Tiner's desk and pointed at the door. After Tiner called in and AJ acknowledged, Harm knocked and entered. He marched to stand in front of the big desk to say, "Lt. Commander Rabb reporting as ordered sir!"
AJ smiled, "Didn't Cmdr. Simms notify you of your promotion?"
"Ah yes sir he did."
"Well next time report correctly Commander, at ease and have a seat."
Harm sat as AJ asked, "How's your wife?"
"Sarah's good sir. She's five weeks pregnant,"
"Congratulations," AJ Said as he stood and offered his hand across the desk.
Before Harm sat back down AJ handed him a case folder saying, "This just came in."
Harm took the folder read the face page of the report. AJ was amused to see Harm's eyebrows attempt to go under his hairline.
"Admiral Boone was involved in a massacre in Vietnam sir?"