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Have Faith
Part Four:
Feelings of Family
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Mac rang the apt. bell once more, when suddenly three people, laden with bags, came from behind her.
"Sorry we're late. I stopped to get some dinner at a diner, and then we realized Beth left her bag in Wendy's car. So we had to stop to buy her some clothes." Harm explained, passing off one of his bags to Mac so he could reach into his pocket for his keys. He found them, took them out, and opened the door.
Mac walked in and put down her bag on the counter, "It's alright. I knew you'd show up sooner or later." She began to take out the food, as Davy placed her bag down and then plopped her exhausted body on the couch.
Harm laughed at the twenty-five year old.
Without opening an eye, Davy stuck out her tongue and spoke, "Kiss my six."
Her comment only made him laugh more, as he walked toward his bedroom and opened his dresser. He pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a Navy t-shirt, and then disappeared into the bathroom to shower.
Beth looked
at her sister, "Kiss my six?"
"I live to annoy."
Mac laughed at them, "You two would make a great stand-up team. I can see how you two get along with Harm so well." She quickly sobered, "So how are you Beth?"
"Tired." Beth replied, sitting down on one of the stools.
"Well, try and sleep as much as you can. The next few weeks are going to be hectic."
"Mac. No offense, but can we not talk about this right now?"
"Sure." The marine replied, patting the teen's shoulder.
"Thank you." Beth's mood changed, "I hope you like Italian."
Harm walked into the room in time to hear her reply.
"Actually, I prefer Scottish-American." She teased and then noticed Harm, "Food. Scottish-American food." 'That was close.'
"That's okay." Harm said, "I prefer Cherokee."
"Funny." She punched him lightly.
Beth smiled at the two, "Children. I knew it. Every adult is a kid in sheep's clothing."
Harm shook his head, "True."
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A little while later, after dinner was eaten, Beth changed into flannel pajamas Harm bought her earlier, and dove into his bed. In seconds, she was asleep, curled up in the blanket. Harm walked over to watch her for a few moments. She tossed and turned in her sleep endlessly, and then began to moan. "Beth…" Harm walked over to her, "Beth, it's alright." He shook her lightly, "Harmony Elizabeth Jewel Rabb…" 'Did I just say Rabb?' "Parker. Harmony Elizabeth Jewel Parker."
Beth's eyes flew open and she grabbed onto her uncle.
By that time, Mac had wandered over, having never heard Harm call Beth a Rabb, "Is she alright?"
Harm nodded, "I think so." After a few minutes, Beth fell back to sleep and Harm placed her back in her spot. He journeyed back into the living room and sat down on the couch across from Mac. Davy situated herself on the floor. Silence filled the apartment.
"You know, all this silence accomplishes nothing." Davy spoke to no one imparticular, "I'm the one who can talk about it. It's Beth who's terrified."
"Sorry, Davy. It's just…I've known Carli and Jacob since before my dad died, before they joined the Navy. It's hard to imagine them doing something so horrible. But I know you and Beth wouldn't lie about something like this." He sighed, "And now when I think about it, I realize there were signs. I just never noticed them. Never thought anything of it."
Davy dazed out for a moment, "I lied to her." She looked at her uncle, "She asked what we talked about. I didn't tell her that we discussed more then the 'bare facts'. I feel so bad – I've never lied to her before."
"She's going to find out eventually what you told me. I'm going to have to use it at the trial when I question you."
"I know. I…I don't think she can handle knowing that you know. She's afraid you won't love her."
Harm
sighed, "She has no reason to believe that. It's Carli and Jacob that I don't love anymore, I'll never stop loving
her." He paused, "Does she know we're going to the house tomorrow?"
"No. I'll tell her when she gets up." She looked at Mac, "I was
actually sort of hoping that you could take her shopping or something
tomorrow." She said, hopeful.
"That could be arranged." Mac replied.
"Thanks. There are things in her room alone that could give her nightmares every night for a month."
"Like what?" Harm asked.
Davy breathed in, and then sighed, "She has a canopy bed. Brand new. Each post has a hole big enough for a piece of nylon rope. If you ever look at her wrists and ankles, you'll see the scars from rope burns."
It took a minute for the two almost forty-year old JAG lawyers to figure it out, but when they did, a look of pure horror crossed their faces.
"Oh my god…" Mac whispered.
-*-*-
Don't look back now
Don't
look back over years gone by
They're
gone and now it's time to live
Harm awoke on his couch, to the sounds of Beth singing alone to a Donna Lewis song while cooking pancakes.
Don't
look back now
You have
to let your childhood go
And then
you'll find a peace within
Beth's soprano voice continued to sing along, unaware that her Uncle Harm was listening in on her one moment of innocence. "And you will free your mind to sleep and you will free yourself to weep…"
On the flipside, he was unaware of the importance the song held for her.
And you
will free your mind to sleep and free yourself to weep
Mac had spent the night. She too was awake, and noticed Harm was awake as well. She had slept on the floor – after prodding Harm to let her to.
Davy had fallen asleep in a chair, but Harm had transferred her to the bed with her sister around midnight. She was still asleep – the only one left.
Harm looked down at Mac. The two looked at each other for a moment, before Mac reached out her hand for his.
* Sounds like she's okay. * She mouthed.
* For now. * He mouthed back.
The song ended, and Beth leaned over the side of the couch, "I'm not an idiot. I knew you were awake. You always seem to be up when I am." She smiled.
'God,
she looks so much like him.' Mac thought, 'the eyes, the hair, and that
smile. That stupid lopsided grin.'
"Mac? Mac. Yo', Marine!" Beth teased, then realized what she said. She grimaced and braced herself, shutting her eyes.
"It's okay, Beth." Mac said, smiling, "I was thinking how much you and Harm are alike."
"We aren't alike. Are we?" The teen asked, returning to her cooking.
"Yes, you two are." She replied while getting up, as Harm literally fell of the couch and into Mac's vacated spot, "For instance, those eyes. Exactly the same color, and your hair is too. You both smile with that adorable lopsided grin. Both care about those around them. Both like the law…"
"Alright, at ease, MacKenzie. At ease." Harm laughed, walking over, "I'm gonna go change. Are you going to call the Admiral?"
"Yeah, in a little while."
Beth looked at the two curiously, "Is there something I should know about?"
"I was planning on taking the day off and going shopping so I thought maybe you'd like to come."
"Why do I have the sudden feeling that you two are hiding something from me?" She looked at them curiously.
"It's nothing. I just have to go visit your parents and the house." He murmured, "And ask your friend some questions at the youth court."
"Why?"
"Witnesses. I have to start getting things together for the trial." Harm told her; sipping the coffee he'd poured himself.
"So my choices are either go shopping or drive around town after really making my parents mad? Gee, I hate to ruin your day, Uncle Harm, but I think I'd like to hang out with Mac."
"I thought you would. I'll go get dressed, go to the bank, and come back, okay?"
"Don't worry about it, Harm, my treat." Mac told him, draping her arm across the teen's shoulders.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Sailor. Today is all about Beth." She looked at his face, "Oh, alright. Look we'll go out, have a nice day while you and Davy go talk to people, and if you still want to pay, you can transfer money into my account."
"That's better." He smiled at the two and walked away to get dressed. As he had the night before, he took some clothes – namely his only clean uniform left – and headed into the bathroom.
"So you really wanna spend the day with me? Or is Uncle Harm putting you up to this?"
"I want to spend the day with you. I think you're a sweet girl with a great spirit."
"How would you know?"
"I've seen glimpses of it. Singing this morning, the smiles, and your eyes. You are such a great person, Beth; you can be so good at anything if you try. And you obviously have the drive if you're the judge in the youth court." Mac leaned against the counter, "You are worthy of everything. You deserve to be loved by good people."
Beth smiled, "Thank you. Talk about your sappy moments!" She giggled.
Mac laughed along with her, and then picked up the phone. She dialed JAG and put the receiver to her ear, as it rang she looked at Beth, "After this, we'll see Davy and Harm off and then head over to my place. I'll change and then we'll go out, okay?"
"Oh, really, Colonel." Chegwidden's voice brought her attention to the phone.
"Sorry, sir. Sir, I'm calling…"
"Because
you want the day off."
"Yes, sir."
"I'm guessing you and the girls are going out, while Rabb goes to question some witnesses?"
"Actually, Davy wants to go with him. I'm going to take Beth out."
Unknown to
the marine, Chegwidden was smiling – a day out with a new friend might make
Beth happy at least for a few hours, "You can have the day off. I expect to see a smiling, beautiful young
lady when I see her next."
"Yes, sir. I think that can happen." She smiled at Beth
and gave her a thumbs up, "Goodbye, sir."
"Goodbye, Colonel." He said, before hanging up the phone.
Harm walked over, "I'm guessing from that everything's set?"
"I have the day off on the premise that the Admiral gets to see a happy young lady tomorrow. So I'll go change back into my uniform, and we'll head out."
Beth nodded as Mac walked away, "She's nice. I like her a lot."
"I thought you would."
"You like her, don't you?"
"She's my best friend, of course I like her."
"No, Uncle Harm, you like her."
He looked at her for a moment, "No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. I see the way you look at her. You love her." She paused, as she walked to get her clothes from the shopping bag. She returned, "Tell her. Before it's too late. Don't lose her, Uncle Harm. You'll regret it and so will she." She finished as Mac left the bathroom, and Beth entered.
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Cassie Jamie
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