AN: Based on the first posting of this story at another site, I know that someone will have a question about the time line of this chapter, even if no one asks me the question, so I want to address it before the first chapter and get it out of the way. Yes, the standard or rule of thumb is six weeks off of work after having a baby, though a physician could/might allow a woman to go back to work sooner -I know one woman who was back after two weeks, I was back at four, and recently someone I know returned to work after four months. So, this story is going to follow the exception rather than the rule.

Okay enough from me ... on with the story.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - TOP OF YOUR GAME

PART ONE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007

JLS

0710

MAC'S POV

This morning, I arrived at the office earlier than was previously my customary report time of 0745, even though the duty day doesn't start until 0800.

I was on the phone daily with Petty Officer Coates when I was sitting around the house on medical leave, waiting for Matthew to arrive. However, once Matthew had arrived, I'd been able to easily put the office out of my mind until last week.

The three days prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, I called Petty Office Coates once a day and spoke to my XO, Commander Joseph Winston, to discuss the state of our office. Nothing in those talks gave me the sense that I had anything to come in and clean up before my replacement arrives on Thursday morning for a briefing on the command and a rehearsal for the change of command ceremony that will take place on Friday.

The reason why I'm at the office so early this morning is because, after yesterday's tearful farewell to Mattie, I was dreading leaving my children after more than a month at home, especially my precious baby boy. To make it easier, I decided that I had to leave the house before Harm. That way, I could tell myself that I was leaving Matthew in his father's care, which I'm now comfortable in doing.

I realize that I was deluding myself, but it was effective because I was able to get out the door with minimal distress, and the tears lasted for only a few blocks.

It helped that, as I drove away from the house, two thoughts kept rolling around in my head: 'You're back in your old uniform. It's a little tight through the bust, and the skirt is snug around the hips, but it's your original size six uniform.' When that one started to fail, I switched to, 'Only five more working days until you can stay at home with your children every day.'

As I pulled into my parking space, I looked at the building. It looked the same. This was going to be easy, I thought as I got out of my car and headed for the double doors.

I enter and approach the desk that serves as our quarter deck, and the young petty officer standing duty jumps to his feet, but I wave off the formality. "Welcome back, Ma'am," he says with a sincere smile.

"Thank you, Petty Officer. I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving."

"I did, Ma'am. Thank you."

"Am I the first one to arrive today, Petty Officer Smith?"

"No, Ma'am, you're the second one. Petty Officer Coates was here at 0645 to make sure that everything was in order for your return, Ma'am."

"Then I suppose that I shouldn't keep her waiting any longer. Have a good day, Petty Officer."

"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you, Ma'am."

As I head towards the elevator, the feeling of excitement of facing new challenges takes control of me. That feeling, along with a sense of adventure, are the reasons why I wanted to join the Corps. It was, at the time, a way to leave the bad childhood experiences behind and be part of something bigger. The Corps became my family and has been that for the last twenty years, but being part of the Rabb family and having children has made me see a different side of life. Suffice it to say that I understand Harriet's decision to leave her "JAG family" and the Navy for her "other" family.

Perhaps I should take the stairs today. Harm would say that a good way to burn off nervous energy is to exercise, so I pivot on my heel to adjust my course towards the stairs.

As I climb the stairs, I wonder how long I'll perform that 'turning on my heel' move that I just did after I retire. I don't notice doing it at home. I wonder if it's something that comes automatically when I put on the uniform.

As I reach the top of the stairs and start to cross the bullpen, my thoughts are on how I was dreading coming here this morning, but now how eager I feel to get down to business.

Having reached the doorway to the outer office, I address my yeoman with a cheerfulness that surprises me. "Good morning, Petty Officer Coates."

I can see that I've startled her as she jumps up, knocking over her cup of coffee in the process. "Good morning, Colonel MacKenzie."

"I didn't mean to startle you, Coates," I say apologetically.

"I just wasn't expecting you this early, Ma'am," she says, trying not to look down at her desk to see how much damage her spilled coffee has done to her work.

"I wanted to get an early start. I want everything ready to go for the new CO when he ... or she arrives on Thursday. It looks like you might be busy for the next couple of minutes ... " I say, glancing momentarily at the mess of pooling coffee on the papers on her desk. " ... but when you're ready, bring me the past six weeks of case summary reports, all the current case reports and the trial schedule."

"Is there anything else, Colonel?"

"Not at the moment, Coates. Carry on," I say, releasing her from her stance so that she can clean up the mess

"Yes, Ma'am," she says with some relief that she can finally assess the damage to the papers on her desk.

MAC'S OFFICE

As I sit in the chair behind my desk and sink into it in a way that's familiar and welcoming, I tell myself to savor every minute of my last days in this chair.

I once told Harm that I wanted to go out like Butch and Sundance. At the time, I was talking about how I'd like to die in some kind of action, but things have changed since that day in the desert.

I now see that retiring at the end of this week, after having been in command of a new concept for a JAG office with an excellent record, as a 'blaze of glory' in its own way.

As I sit here, I'm sad to realize that this is the start of the final days of my career, but I'm also looking forward to celebrating the twenty years that I've spent in uniform.

I briefly wonder if I'll be this reflective and nostalgic all week before a knock on the door disrupts my thoughts.

"Enter," I respond to the knock.

Coates opens the door and enters my office. "Ma'am," she utters as she raises her hands, each containing several file folders. "Which would you like first Ma'am, closed or current cases?"

"If I'm not going to look like an idiot at the morning staff meeting, hand me the stack of current cases and the trial schedule, and put the other stack down on my desk. I'll get to them later."

"Yes, Ma'am," she answers while handing me the stack that I requested. After she's placed the other stack on my desk, she asks, "Will that be all, Colonel?"

"Yes ... wait ... before you go, I want to thank you, Jennifer ... " I say, using her first name to reduce the formality. " ... for helping me run this place, keeping my schedule, handling what you can so that my time is free for more urgent things. With the arrival of a new commander and my retirement both at the end of this week, things might get a little crazy around here, so I wanted to say it now before time got away from me and I forgot to say it. So, thank you for your hard work and dedication. It's been greatly appreciated."

"I appreciate that you recognize my contribution, Ma'am, but your thanks isn't necessary. It's been my pleasure to serve in your command, Ma'am."

"Well, thank you, Jennifer, but seeing you come from being Harm's prisoner to being my yeoman - you've really turned your life around, and that's made it an honor to have had you in my command and I'm proud to have served with you."

"I wouldn't be here without you ... well, you and the captain, Ma'am. I don't know if I've ever thanked you for that, Ma'am."

"We'd better stop all this thanking or we aren't going to get any work done, and we don't want to turn over a sloppy office, do we? Any word on who we'll be turning it over to yet, Coates?" I ask, returning to military formality by using her last name to get back to business.

"Nothing official, Ma'am."

"Unofficially?" I inquire as I take a file folder from the stack of current cases that I've placed on my desk in front of me.

"I got a call last Wednesday morning from General Cresswell's yeoman. I was asked to make arrangements for a duty driver to pick up Commander Turner and to make temporary lodging arrangements for him."

"It isn't unusual for someone to take leave to check out the area before starting at a new command and, with Turner being married, a few days to investigate housing options or to look for a place to rent would certainly make your assessment logical. The fact that he hasn't contacted Harm since he got into town, even a call to say hello, is another reason to think that he isn't here on vacation. I'd say that you may be right, Coates. Your new boss may very well be Commander Turner."

I thought of more evidence to support her case, but I'm distracted by the thought of Sturgis taking over for me. I'm just not sure how I feel about that.

After quickly assessing that it doesn't matter how I feel about it if he has been chosen, I'm thankful that I'm not the one taking over a command from Sturgis. Our styles are just so different.

"Well, whether it's Turner or not, we've got things to do to get ready for his or her arrival, so let's get to it. I might as well jump in with both feet. So, bring in the end of month reports, too, if they're ready," I request of Coates.

If my replacement is Sturgis, he's very into the administrative side, so I'll need to double check that everything's ready for him.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll get them right away."

"And, Coates, when Commander Winston arrives, I want to see him ASAP, which means before the staff meeting."

"Aye, aye, Ma'am," she says cheerfully as she exits my office.

I don't know which of us seems to be enjoying my return more ... me or Petty Officer Coates.

MAC'S OFFICE

0737

"Enter," I reply to whoever's knocking on my door, knowing that, according to the time, it should be Commander Winston.

The door opens. "Colonel MacKenzie, Coates said that you wanted to see me."

"Yes, Commander, come in. Go ahead and have a seat." I wait for him to sit in the chair in front of my desk before I continue. "I've begun to read through the case summary reports ... " I say as I make a wave of my hand over the stack of file folders on my desk. " ... and I will finish reading them, but I don't have time to read all of them before the meeting. So, I want you to bring me up to speed on current cases and anything else that you feel is pertinent so that I don't have any surprises during our staff meeting."

"Most of the cases we've got right now are easy stuff, simple assault and petty theft among them. However, we've got a murder case that's still unfolding, the murder of Corporal Messings."

"I read that summary ... the accused is a Corporal Ballinger."

"That's the one, Ma'am."

"Anything keeping it from going to trial?" I ask.

"Not that I'm aware of, Ma'am. I think that Major Richards is just trying to be thorough."

"The report says that there's a witness, so let's make sure that we get an update from the major at the staff meeting."

"Aye, aye, Ma'am."

"Okay, anything in the area of personnel or morale issues that I should know about before we head to staff call?"

"I think that everyone is getting a little antsy about who'll be the new CO and XO and how it will affect them, but, other than that, I'm not aware of any issues in the office."

"Then let's head to the conference room for the staff meeting."

1149

The buzz of my intercom pulls my attention away from another report that I feel that I need to read. Even though I believe that, between the staff meeting and my XO's briefing, I've been brought up to speed on all the pending cases, I want to leave this assignment with no loose ends and no reason for the next CO to question my abilities to command or as a Marine when he - or she - takes over this office.

I reach over and depress the button on the box. "Yes, Coates," I say in a flat tone, the work having dampened my earlier cheerful and enthusiastic mood.

"Captain Rabb is here to see you, Ma'am."

"Thank you. Send him in," I say with surprise because I wasn't expecting him before releasing the intercom button.

My door opens and in walks my tall, handsome husband. Before I have time to process any thoughts about why he might be here, he lifts his arm, and I spy a brown paper bag dangling from his hand.

"I knew that you'd be trying to catch up and wouldn't take time to go out and get yourself something to eat, so I brought lunch to you," he says softly.

I stand and start around to the front of my desk to greet him.

"That was very thoughtful of you. I don't think that anyone would believe me if I told them that you're a sweet, thoughtful and gentle man," I say with a playful smile.

He turns and closes the door. "You can't say things like that when the door's open. I've got a reputation to maintain," he replies with a grin.

"Now that the door is closed, is it okay for me to do this ... " I ask the question, but give him no time to respond before placing my lips on his. I pull back, but my face is still close to his. " ... or would that tarnish your reputation, too?" I ask with a chuckle.

"Having a pretty woman kiss you is never bad for a man's reputation," he says with a smile. This time, he gives me no time to respond. His lips are coming towards mine and his arms slip around me. He pulls me into him, and our kiss becomes something more than a thank you for lunch, but less than a prelude to bed.

Our lips part, our arms release each other and it takes a moment for either one of us to form a thought.

Harm manages to find his voice first. "I brought you a turkey club from Stoli's Deli. I didn't know if onions would still bother you, so I had them put them on the side," he says, offering me the brown bag.

"I haven't had one of those for six or seven weeks. Is there something for you in the bag?" I ask, my cheeks still warm from our kiss as I reach for the proffered lunch.

"Yeah. If you have time, I thought we could have lunch together."

I move towards my desk with the bag in my hand, but stop and turn to look at him. "I'll make time to have lunch with you," I say and add a wink for good measure.

It takes only a minute for us to get seated across from each other at my desk with our sandwiches out and, after removing the wrapper from my sandwich, I reach for the little side cup of onions, but put it back down, opting not to add them to my sandwich.

"Don't want to risk it?" Harm asks, pointing to the onions before picking up the bag of baked chips that he'd bought for us to share.

"Onions never bothered me. It was your son who didn't like them, and since I'm breast-feeding, I don't want him to get onion-flavored milk if he doesn't like it, especially because it's such a pain to have to express milk at work. It would bug me if I had to throw any of it out because it upset his stomach or he just flat out refused it."

"So I take it that you've already had to pump milk this morning and it didn't go well," Harm states more like a question.

"It isn't so much that it went badly. It's that I don't see how other working moms do it." He looks confused. "Let me tell you about my morning and maybe you'll be able to understand. "I last fed Matthew at 0620 this morning, which means, on his current eating schedule of every three hours, give or take a few minutes, if I were home, he'd be nursing again around 0930. Well, at 0910, I was still in a staff meeting, and my breasts started to hurt because they were so full. At 0930, I was in my office relieving the pain in my breasts when it occurred to me that I actually have it pretty easy. I'm the boss here, so I can come and go pretty much as I please without waiting for a break or lunchtime, and I have an office for privacy, which means that I don't have to use a public restroom to pump milk. Then I started to add it up. I'll have to do it again after lunch and again mid-afternoon. That's three times a day ... every day ... on a normal workday, but if I had to work late, then I'd probably have to pump a fourth time. Add that to the time that I don't get to spend with him, and it's hard."

I'm afraid that I sounded a little whiny with that last statement, but I miss him so badly that I don't really care if I did.

"I can't relate to most of that, but I think that I understand what you mean. However, I can relate to the part where he isn't with you. I miss him, too," Harm replies with a slight pout on his face.

"So I gathered ... you called the house every day about this time after you went back to work to check on him when I was home with him." I lean back in my chair. "So how many times have you called home today with me at work, too?"

"When you were home, I was calling to check on you and him," he says defensively.

"So, how many times have you called the house this morning to check on him?" I ask again.

Our eyes are locked in an intense gaze.

"Just twice," he answers in a defeated tone, but his tone changes. "Which, according to my mother, is half as many times as you've called to check on him," he declares victoriously.

"I haven't called four times," I say defensively.

He smiles. "My mom said that, starting at 0700, which was a call to make sure that I'd been able to leave the house, you've called every hour on the hour, except at 0900. After hearing about your morning, I know that the only reason why you missed 0900 is because your staff meeting went over and then you needed to express milk."

My eyes dart around the room, trying to find something to focus on to avoid looking him in the eye. I knew that I'd called, but had I really already called four times? I don't want him or Trish to think that I don't trust her with Matthew, but I miss him. "I'll try to call less often."

"My mom wasn't upset that we were calling. In fact, she was actually very understanding that we miss him. So, you can call again now. It's almost noon," Harm says understandingly.

I take a bite of my sandwich, pretending that I don't need to call, but we both know that I'll be picking up the phone as soon as I swallow this bite.

1215

I was distracted from enjoying my lunch because I was wondering how I was going to make my noon call with Harm in my office, but now that I've spoken to Trish, with Harm's blessing, and found that Matthew is fine, I find it hard to concentrate on my lunch because, every time I start to take a bite of my sandwich or grab a chip, when I look up, Harm is staring at me.

"What?" I finally ask.

"Nothing," he replies calmly.

"It must be something, because you've been staring at me pretty much from the moment I hung up the phone after checking on Matthew."

"I wasn't staring ... I was studying you."

"Studying me ... why?"

"I do think that Matthew looks like you."

"No he doesn't. He looks like you. You just want him to look like me. Otherwise, you failed to follow through on one of the finer points of our deal." He looks puzzled. "He was supposed to have my looks and your brains, remember?"

He smiles. "Hey, you can't hold me accountable for it being backwards."

"Well, tell me, counselor, who do you think is culpable in this situation if it isn't you ... me or the doctor?"

I've got him in the proverbial corner where no answer is really a good one, and he knows it. Verbal exchanges like this used to be something that we used as a way to stimulate each other without physical contact.

I can almost see the wheels turning in his head, trying to come up with "the answer" to put him back on top.

I smirk at him. I think that I'm going to stay on top as I pop the last bite of my sandwich into my mouth, waiting for him to give a response.

"I think that ... " He lifts his eyebrow as if he's got an answer before saying, " ... I should head back to my office."

I laugh.

"It's certainly good to hear you laugh ... see you smile," he says lovingly.

"I must say that it feels pretty good to be doing it again," I reply with a sigh.

"I really should let you get back to work, and you won't do that while I'm here," he says, practically pouting.

"I probably wouldn't get anything done, but I like the company," I say with a touch of sadness while he stands, putting his hands on my desk for support and bending forward at the waist, causing me to look up at him.

"I like your company, too," he says before dropping low enough to quickly meet my lips with his before he pulls back. "I'll see you at home," he says as he stands upright and makes a move for the door.

I admire the view of his backside as he leaves my office.

HARM'S OFFICE

NCIS

1315 (local) and 1615 (Washington)

HARM'S POV

I hang up the phone from what I think is a strange call from General Cresswell and hit the button on my intercom box.

"Burns, round up Lafferty. I need to see him ASAP."

"Yes, Captain Rabb, right away, Sir," she says in response before I let go of the button, breaking the communication link between our desks.

1330 (local) and 1630 (Washington)

A quick rap on my door is followed by the door opening a crack and Major Lafferty asking, "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Yes, Major, enter," I respond in a commanding voice.

He walks in measured steps like he's marching to a cadence that only he can hear - must be a Marine thing - until he stops in front of my desk at attention.

"At ease, Major Lafferty," I say as I stand. "I got a call fifteen minutes ago from General Cresswell. He's ordered you to report to your new duty station tomorrow instead of Monday. You'll report to Colonel MacKenzie's office at Joint Legal Services at 0800."

"Do you know the reason for the change in my orders, Sir?"

"The general didn't give me any details, but he did say that he wanted a Marine on a team that's investigating some recently reported accusations. You'll get the details tomorrow morning."

"Captain, isn't Colonel MacKenzie your wife, Sir? She isn't in any kind of trouble, is she, Sir?"

"I don't think so, Major. She's been on maternity leave, so I don't think that she'd be able to get into the kind of trouble that would draw the attention of the Judge Advocate General in half a day. However, whoever or whatever is at the core of your case, it's big enough that it went through HQ."

"That makes it sound serious, Sir."

"Yes, it does, Major." I pause. "Since you're being whisked away early, you'll need to use the rest of the afternoon to finish up anything that you thought that you had the rest of this week to complete."

"Yes, Sir."

"Dismissed."

As Major Lafferty makes his exit, I have to wonder about the case that he'll be investigating at JLS.

I hope that it doesn't involve Mac. With her retirement on Friday, it could postpone her retirement until the investigation is completed. If it doesn't involve Mac personally, I hope that it can be wrapped up quickly. I'd hate for Mac to retire with a black cloud hanging over her command, thus casting doubt on her leadership abilities.

RABB HOME
NURSERY

1850

MAC'S POV

When I got home, Trish and Frank were still here, entertaining Sami while Ty and Abigail were doing their homework in the living room, which was keeping them out from underfoot in the kitchen where Harm's grandmother was making dinner.

After greeting the three children who were in the living room, I went to the nursery to check on Matthew. He was fine, just the way that I'd been told every time that I'd called home today, but I felt better when I could see him for myself. Any thoughts that I had of lifting Matthew out of his crib and spending some time with him before Harm got home ended when I heard Sami squeal that her daddy was home.

It seemed only polite to invite Harm's parents to stay for dinner since there was plenty and they'd been here all day, taking care of our children.

Matthew woke up a few minutes before dinner was to be served. Harm and I almost fought over who was going to go get him. The urge to run into the nursery and pick up Matthew the second his whimper came through the baby monitor certainly taught me empathy for what Harm must have been feeling since he's been back at work, but there was an understanding in Harm's eyes when he stepped aside to let me go to the nursery instead of him. In hindsight, I should've let him go since I knew that Matthew shouldn't be hungry yet. When I got to the nursery, I discovered that I'd been right. Matthew's displeasure was being caused by a dirty diaper that needed to be changed.

I returned with Matthew in his carrier a few moments later so that Harm could get at least a peek at his son before dinner.

After Harm had taken a look at Matthew, who was almost back to sleep, he said, "I guess he just knew that his momma was home and wanted to say hi." He said it with such sadness that I can translate it into, 'He never wakes up to say hi to me.'

I don't want Harm to feel badly and I think that it'll make him smile. "I should've let you go. He needed only a clean diaper before he was ready to go back to sleep."

Harm smiled and then laughed, his eyes almost dancing at the notion that he'd gotten out of dirty diaper duty.

1940

When Matthew woke up after dinner, he was ready for his meal, so I got to sit quietly and nurse him in our bedroom while Harm and the children cleaned up after dinner and said goodnight to his parents.

Now, I'm looking down at the soft wisps of Matthew's dark hair as he sleeps in his crib, knowing that I need to leave the nursery to help Harm with the bath and bedtime routine for our other children, but it's hard to leave the side of his crib.

I hear Harm and Sami coming down the hall.

"I want Pooh jamas tonight, Daddy," Sami announces.

"Let's get your bath water ready and get you in it, and then I'll go see if Momma can find them for you."

"Okay," she says cheerfully.

As energizing as being at work this morning made me feel, right now I couldn't be surer that I'm making the right decision to retire. I want time to spend with my children.

I spend another few moments looking down at our sleeping baby boy before turning to leave the nursery.

I reach the doorway at the same time that Harm appears there. "Are you okay?" he asks me, the concern in his voice evident.

"I'm fine. What made you ask that?"

"You've just been a little quiet. I thought that something might have happened at work after we had lunch that was on your mind."

"No, everything's fine ... " There's something about the look in his eyes. " ... unless you know something that I don't."

He diverts his eyes from mine and says, "I don't really know anything."

That tells me that he may not know everything, but he knows something.

"What is it, Harm? If you know something or need to tell me something, just say it."

He takes my hand. "It may not mean anything. I just have a funny feeling about it."

"About what?" I ask, slightly irritated by his beating around the bush.

"It's just ... this afternoon General Cresswell called and ordered Major Lafferty to report early to JLS." I hope that he can see the 'so what does that have to do with me' look on my face as he finishes his statement. "Lafferty is to report to your office at JLS at 0800 tomorrow morning."

"Since I didn't request him, did Cresswell tell you why he was to report to my office tomorrow instead of on Mondy when his new duty rotation starts?" I ask, now a little concerned myself.

"The general told me only that he wanted Lafferty there because he wanted a Marine on an investigation team." He pauses to let the information that he's just given me sink in. "Mac, if you need a lawyer tomorrow ... call me."

"I can't think of any reason why I'd be the center of their investigation, but, if I need a lawyer, I wouldn't call you."

"Why?" he asks, sounding wounded by my dismissal of him as prospective counsel.

"For one thing, I don't need my husband to ride in to my rescue."

"I've been your lawyer a lot longer than I've been your husband, so call me. Besides, it wouldn't hurt for you to have a lawyer with a vested interested in keeping that nice looking six of yours out of the brig," he says with a grin, trying to lighten the moment.

"And why would that be? Don't have an extra lactating mother around to feed your son?" I say, tilting my head back towards our sleeping baby.

"I've got a more selfish reason than that." I give him a questioning glance. "I don't want to have to sleep alone ... and I've found that I really like sleeping next to you," he says sheepishly before kissing me softly on the lips.

"Daddy, is Momma find my Pooh jamas?" Sami yells from the bathroom at the end of the hall.

"We've got our hands full tonight without worrying about things that we don't really know anything about now. You go get our daughter out of the tub before she looks like a prune, and I'll go get her Pooh pajamas. I'll worry about work in the morning at the office."

We nod in agreement, but before we set out on our tasks, we both move to give each other one more quick but reassuring kiss.

I head off in the direction of the girls' room, thinking that maybe there's something about the Ballinger murder case that's drawn HQ's attention.

I'll go in early, get a copy of the complete file and have it read before Lafferty arrives at my door.