1 Chapter 5
2
3 Monday, 0900 hours
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac hurried out of the car park and into the building. Rather than go to her office, she walked into Harm's office, closing the door.
'Why didn't you wake me?' she asked with her hands on her hips.
'Because you looked really peaceful lying there.'
She had spent the night at Harm's and they had decided to take different cars to work, so no one would suspect they were together.
'I wanted to get to work early.'
'Mac, it's only 0900 hours. Relax,' he said motioning her to a seat. 'Did you sleep well?'
'Yeah. Have you seen Bud or Harriet this morning? I wonder how AJ is?'
'Well if I know Harriet, I think AJ will be perfectly fine.'
'I'm going to find out. Are we having lunch together?'
'Can't. I'm getting together with Renee.'
'What are you going to tell her?'
'I'm not sure.'
'Well come and see me before you go.'
* * * * *
1300 hours
'Hi Harm,' Renee said as she took a seat at the table. 'I got your message that you wanted to meet here instead of where we had previously planned.'
'Yeah, sorry about that. I can only get away from the office for about half an hour. The Admiral called a meeting for one thirty.'
'So what did you want to talk about?' she was wondering what was going on. He seemed different.
'I'm not too sure how to say this, but I think we should break up,' Harm replied not looking her in the eye.
'What! Why?' Renee was shocked. She assumed their relationship was fine, at least it was a week ago. What had changed?
'I'm sorry. I just feel that our relationship isn't going anywhere. Also, we don't really have that much in common.'
'Maybe we could work on this. Maybe we should go and see someone and get some help.' She was desperately clutching at straws.
'Renee, it won't work. Goodbye,' he said standing and walking towards the building.
* * * * *
Tuesday, 2000 hours
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
Mac sat on the couch and read the letter for the tenth time. Everything she was feeling was in the letter. She picked up the envelope from the coffee table and addressed it. After glancing over the letter again, she folded it and slid it into the envelope. Next she dropped in a diamond ring wrapped carefully in tissue paper and sealed it.
* * * * *
Wednesday, 0850 hours
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Admiral AJ Chegwidden walked into JAG Headquarters and headed straight for the lift.
'Morning Admiral,' Mac said as she walked up and stood next to him
'Good morning, Colonel.' He replied as she pressed the button for the lift. There was something different about her, but he couldn't put his finger on it. That's it! She wasn't wearing her engagement ring. As he stood next to her in the lift, he took a quick look at her left hand. He let out a huge sigh of relief when it wasn't on her hand. He like Brumby, but he couldn't really see the two of them having much of a future.
'Sir, if you're wondering. Mic and I broke up,' Mac said when she noticed him looking at her hand.
'I'm sorry to hear that,' he said slightly embarrassed that he had been caught.
'It's fine. I don't think it would have lasted,' she replied as the lift stopped and opened to show the bullpen.
* * * * *
Saturday, 1130 hours
White House Rose Garden
Washington, DC
'Ok guys, lets have a break before lunch,' Renee said to the film crew. They had been working all morning on a commercial for perfume. She was still feeling very upset about her break up with Harm that she wanted to do a commercial that didn't involve anything to do with the Navy.
Grabbing a sandwich and a coffee from the table, Renee decided to go for a walk through the garden. This place was so beautiful when it was in full bloom.
'Very funny,' said somebody on the other side of the row of roses. She knew the voice but couldn't think of who it was.
'Well I'm a funny kind of guy.'
Harm! That was Harm and another woman! Taking a quick peek through the bushes, she saw Mac with him. And they were walking hand in hand. So that's why we broke up. She stole him from me.
'Do you want to know something, Mac?' Harm said turning her around and wrapping his arms around her waist.
'What?'
'I love you.'
'I love you too.'
That was too much for Renee. She dropped her cup of coffee and ran back to where they were filming.
'Ok people. Lets continue.'
* * * * *
Monday 1300 hours
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
'Ms Petterson. Can I help you?' Gunny asked walking up to Renee. 'If you're looking for Commander Rabb, he isn't here at the moment. He's in a meeting.'
'I'm not looking for him. I want to see Colonel MacKenzie.' She snapped at him.
'Sorry ma'am. She's in the same meeting.'
'Then I'll wait for her.'
'You can sit in her office if you like.' Gunny said pointing towards her office.
'Fine,' she replied, marching off to Mac's office.
* * * * *
1345 hours
'Ok people. I think we're finished for today,' the Admiral said, standing.
They had been in the meeting since 9 o'clock and everyone was beginning to get restless. As everyone walked through the bullpen to get back to their offices, the Gunny walked up to the Colonel.
'Ma'am, Ms Petterson's waiting in your office.' As he said this, Renee came storming out of the office, went up to Mac and slapped her across the face.
'How dare you!!' Renee screamed at her.
Everyone turned around and looked at the two of them.
'What was that for?' Mac snapped back, still in shock. What was she going on about? Then it clicked. This was to do with Harm. But how could she know?
'You know what that was for. You stole him from me!'
'I don't know what you're talking about?' Mac couldn't let anyone know about her and Harm. There was too much risk with work.
'Harm! You stole him from me.'
At his name being mentioned, he quickly walked up to defend himself and Mac.
'She did not steal me from you. There is nothing between us. I broke up with you because our relationship was going nowhere.'
'Ok, I think we better continue this in private.' The Admiral said approaching the three of them. 'Rabb, MacKenzie. My office now and Ms Petterson, I would prefer it, if you left.'
'Fine,' Renee said turning and storming across the bullpen.
* * * * *
'What the hell was that all about?' the Admiral demanded as Harm closed the door.
'Sir, Renee and I broke up a week ago. I guess she is still upset about it.'
'You guess! Rabb, she assaulted one of my people. I think she is a little more than just upset.' As he said this, he looked at the Colonel, who was developing a nasty red mark on her cheek. 'Colonel are you ok?'
'I'm fine sir. I'm a Marine. I can take a slap in the face from a woman easily.'
'So what is really going on between the two of you?' AJ asked crossing his arms and sitting on the edge of his desk. 'And I want the truth.'
'Nothing sir,' Harm said quickly, looking him in the eye.
'Colonel?'
'Exactly what the Commander said. We love our jobs too much for anything to happen between us.'
'Ok, I think the two of you should probably go home. If Renee returns, I don't want her to create another scene.'
'Yes, sir,' the two of them answered before leaving the office.
Yeah right there wasn't anything going on between them, AJ thought as he sat at his desk.
As Harm and Mac headed back to their offices, to get their things, Mac quickly whispered, 'that was close.'
* * * * *
1700 hours
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
'Mac, I don't care. I'm staying here tonight. Renee knows where you live. I want to be here in case she comes.'
'Harm, I'm a big girl. I can look after myself.' She wasn't going to give in to him. They had nearly been caught at work and if anyone found out he stayed the night, they would know what was going on.
'Please, let me stay,' Harm said walking up to her and giving her a kiss.
'Who could that be?' Mac said breaking away from Harm when she heard a knock on the door. She walked up to the door and took a quick look through the peep hole. 'It's the Admiral! Harm go hide in the bedroom.' She waited a few seconds before she opened the door. 'Admiral, what can I do for you?'
'Can I come in?' he asked.
'Sure,' she opened the door up further and let him in.
The two of them walked into the lounge room, where Mac noticed that Harm had left him uniform jacked lying on the couch. Hoping he hadn't noticed it, Mac asked. 'Would you like a coffee sir?'
'No thanks. I just came round to see how you were.' He replied looking at the bruise on her cheek.
'I'm perfectly fine, sir.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes sir. It's nothing. The bruise should be gone in a couple of days.'
'Ok then, I'll head off now. That's all I came for.' He said turning, taking another look at the commander's jacket on the couch. Wings and JAG insignia. I wonder where Rabb is hiding. 'I'll see you at work tomorrow.'
'Yes sir. Thankyou for coming around,' she said closing the door behind him.
'Is is safe to come out?' Harm asked, poking his head around the bedroom door.
'Yeah. You are such an idiot.' She replied walking the couch.
'Why?'
She didn't say a word. She just stood there and held up his jacket.
'Do you think he noticed?'
'I hope not.'
* * * * *
to be continued…….
2
3 Monday, 0900 hours
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac hurried out of the car park and into the building. Rather than go to her office, she walked into Harm's office, closing the door.
'Why didn't you wake me?' she asked with her hands on her hips.
'Because you looked really peaceful lying there.'
She had spent the night at Harm's and they had decided to take different cars to work, so no one would suspect they were together.
'I wanted to get to work early.'
'Mac, it's only 0900 hours. Relax,' he said motioning her to a seat. 'Did you sleep well?'
'Yeah. Have you seen Bud or Harriet this morning? I wonder how AJ is?'
'Well if I know Harriet, I think AJ will be perfectly fine.'
'I'm going to find out. Are we having lunch together?'
'Can't. I'm getting together with Renee.'
'What are you going to tell her?'
'I'm not sure.'
'Well come and see me before you go.'
* * * * *
1300 hours
'Hi Harm,' Renee said as she took a seat at the table. 'I got your message that you wanted to meet here instead of where we had previously planned.'
'Yeah, sorry about that. I can only get away from the office for about half an hour. The Admiral called a meeting for one thirty.'
'So what did you want to talk about?' she was wondering what was going on. He seemed different.
'I'm not too sure how to say this, but I think we should break up,' Harm replied not looking her in the eye.
'What! Why?' Renee was shocked. She assumed their relationship was fine, at least it was a week ago. What had changed?
'I'm sorry. I just feel that our relationship isn't going anywhere. Also, we don't really have that much in common.'
'Maybe we could work on this. Maybe we should go and see someone and get some help.' She was desperately clutching at straws.
'Renee, it won't work. Goodbye,' he said standing and walking towards the building.
* * * * *
Tuesday, 2000 hours
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
Mac sat on the couch and read the letter for the tenth time. Everything she was feeling was in the letter. She picked up the envelope from the coffee table and addressed it. After glancing over the letter again, she folded it and slid it into the envelope. Next she dropped in a diamond ring wrapped carefully in tissue paper and sealed it.
* * * * *
Wednesday, 0850 hours
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Admiral AJ Chegwidden walked into JAG Headquarters and headed straight for the lift.
'Morning Admiral,' Mac said as she walked up and stood next to him
'Good morning, Colonel.' He replied as she pressed the button for the lift. There was something different about her, but he couldn't put his finger on it. That's it! She wasn't wearing her engagement ring. As he stood next to her in the lift, he took a quick look at her left hand. He let out a huge sigh of relief when it wasn't on her hand. He like Brumby, but he couldn't really see the two of them having much of a future.
'Sir, if you're wondering. Mic and I broke up,' Mac said when she noticed him looking at her hand.
'I'm sorry to hear that,' he said slightly embarrassed that he had been caught.
'It's fine. I don't think it would have lasted,' she replied as the lift stopped and opened to show the bullpen.
* * * * *
Saturday, 1130 hours
White House Rose Garden
Washington, DC
'Ok guys, lets have a break before lunch,' Renee said to the film crew. They had been working all morning on a commercial for perfume. She was still feeling very upset about her break up with Harm that she wanted to do a commercial that didn't involve anything to do with the Navy.
Grabbing a sandwich and a coffee from the table, Renee decided to go for a walk through the garden. This place was so beautiful when it was in full bloom.
'Very funny,' said somebody on the other side of the row of roses. She knew the voice but couldn't think of who it was.
'Well I'm a funny kind of guy.'
Harm! That was Harm and another woman! Taking a quick peek through the bushes, she saw Mac with him. And they were walking hand in hand. So that's why we broke up. She stole him from me.
'Do you want to know something, Mac?' Harm said turning her around and wrapping his arms around her waist.
'What?'
'I love you.'
'I love you too.'
That was too much for Renee. She dropped her cup of coffee and ran back to where they were filming.
'Ok people. Lets continue.'
* * * * *
Monday 1300 hours
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
'Ms Petterson. Can I help you?' Gunny asked walking up to Renee. 'If you're looking for Commander Rabb, he isn't here at the moment. He's in a meeting.'
'I'm not looking for him. I want to see Colonel MacKenzie.' She snapped at him.
'Sorry ma'am. She's in the same meeting.'
'Then I'll wait for her.'
'You can sit in her office if you like.' Gunny said pointing towards her office.
'Fine,' she replied, marching off to Mac's office.
* * * * *
1345 hours
'Ok people. I think we're finished for today,' the Admiral said, standing.
They had been in the meeting since 9 o'clock and everyone was beginning to get restless. As everyone walked through the bullpen to get back to their offices, the Gunny walked up to the Colonel.
'Ma'am, Ms Petterson's waiting in your office.' As he said this, Renee came storming out of the office, went up to Mac and slapped her across the face.
'How dare you!!' Renee screamed at her.
Everyone turned around and looked at the two of them.
'What was that for?' Mac snapped back, still in shock. What was she going on about? Then it clicked. This was to do with Harm. But how could she know?
'You know what that was for. You stole him from me!'
'I don't know what you're talking about?' Mac couldn't let anyone know about her and Harm. There was too much risk with work.
'Harm! You stole him from me.'
At his name being mentioned, he quickly walked up to defend himself and Mac.
'She did not steal me from you. There is nothing between us. I broke up with you because our relationship was going nowhere.'
'Ok, I think we better continue this in private.' The Admiral said approaching the three of them. 'Rabb, MacKenzie. My office now and Ms Petterson, I would prefer it, if you left.'
'Fine,' Renee said turning and storming across the bullpen.
* * * * *
'What the hell was that all about?' the Admiral demanded as Harm closed the door.
'Sir, Renee and I broke up a week ago. I guess she is still upset about it.'
'You guess! Rabb, she assaulted one of my people. I think she is a little more than just upset.' As he said this, he looked at the Colonel, who was developing a nasty red mark on her cheek. 'Colonel are you ok?'
'I'm fine sir. I'm a Marine. I can take a slap in the face from a woman easily.'
'So what is really going on between the two of you?' AJ asked crossing his arms and sitting on the edge of his desk. 'And I want the truth.'
'Nothing sir,' Harm said quickly, looking him in the eye.
'Colonel?'
'Exactly what the Commander said. We love our jobs too much for anything to happen between us.'
'Ok, I think the two of you should probably go home. If Renee returns, I don't want her to create another scene.'
'Yes, sir,' the two of them answered before leaving the office.
Yeah right there wasn't anything going on between them, AJ thought as he sat at his desk.
As Harm and Mac headed back to their offices, to get their things, Mac quickly whispered, 'that was close.'
* * * * *
1700 hours
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
'Mac, I don't care. I'm staying here tonight. Renee knows where you live. I want to be here in case she comes.'
'Harm, I'm a big girl. I can look after myself.' She wasn't going to give in to him. They had nearly been caught at work and if anyone found out he stayed the night, they would know what was going on.
'Please, let me stay,' Harm said walking up to her and giving her a kiss.
'Who could that be?' Mac said breaking away from Harm when she heard a knock on the door. She walked up to the door and took a quick look through the peep hole. 'It's the Admiral! Harm go hide in the bedroom.' She waited a few seconds before she opened the door. 'Admiral, what can I do for you?'
'Can I come in?' he asked.
'Sure,' she opened the door up further and let him in.
The two of them walked into the lounge room, where Mac noticed that Harm had left him uniform jacked lying on the couch. Hoping he hadn't noticed it, Mac asked. 'Would you like a coffee sir?'
'No thanks. I just came round to see how you were.' He replied looking at the bruise on her cheek.
'I'm perfectly fine, sir.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes sir. It's nothing. The bruise should be gone in a couple of days.'
'Ok then, I'll head off now. That's all I came for.' He said turning, taking another look at the commander's jacket on the couch. Wings and JAG insignia. I wonder where Rabb is hiding. 'I'll see you at work tomorrow.'
'Yes sir. Thankyou for coming around,' she said closing the door behind him.
'Is is safe to come out?' Harm asked, poking his head around the bedroom door.
'Yeah. You are such an idiot.' She replied walking the couch.
'Why?'
She didn't say a word. She just stood there and held up his jacket.
'Do you think he noticed?'
'I hope not.'
* * * * *
to be continued…….