THE FINAL WEEK

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS

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JAG OFFICES – 5 days before

"Oh you have got to be kidding?" Mac yelled from her office.  Her yell brought everyone running.

"Mac what's wrong." Harm said reaching the office first.

"How did this happen?" Mac yelled into the phone.

"Mac what is it?" Harm said again.

"Is she ok?" Harriet asked walking in; she was meeting Mac for lunch.

"I don't know." Harm replied.

"Well I suggest you contact whoever got it and get it back." Mac shouted. "She's where?" Mac slammed the phone down.

"What's going on?" The Admiral asked joining them in the doorway.

"Mac are you ok? What happened?" Harm asked again.  Mac looked as if she was going to pass out.  She was turning pale and was scaring everyone.

"Harriet, go get some water." The Admiral said. "Mac, what's going on?"

"My dress, my gown gone." Mac said trying to compose herself.

"What?" Harm asked.

"I just called the shop to say I would pick up my gown tonight and they put me on hold and then the owner came on and said that a Susan MacKegnie was given my gown." Mac said in one long breath.

"Oh is that all." Harm said.

"Is that all, is that all? Harm it's ok for you to be married in your uniform but it's not ok for me." Mac said.

"I know I meant they can just call her and get it back." Harm explained.

"No, according to the owner, she is getting married on a cruise ship that left Sunday." Mac said in a defeated tone. "You think she would have checked her dress before she packed."

"Mac it's ok. We'll get it back." Harm said walking over to her.

"How Harm she's somewhere in the Atlantic on the Good Ship Lollipop.  Who goes on a wedding cruise anyway? What is this a TV show?" Mac said.

"Mac we will figure something out. Relax." Harm tried to comfort her. The Admiral walked away.

"Mac you can always wear my gown." Harriet said handing her the water.

"Thanks Harriet, but I wanted to wear MY GOWN." Mac said.

Upon the Admiral's return, Mac asked. "Admiral permission to leave?"  

"Granted Colonel Harriet, take her home." The Admiral said.

"Sir, I think I should go with Mac…" Harm said.

"Commander my office." The Admiral replied.

Harm followed the Admiral to his office and Mac and Harriet left.

THE ADMIRAL'S OFFICE

"Harm, let Harriet take Mac home." The Admiral said.

"But she was upset.  Shouldn't I be with her?" Harm asked very confused.

"Harriet can handle it, you have something else to do." The Admiral said.

"What?" Harm questioned.

"I have an assignment for you." The Admiral replied.

"This week? I thought you said we would have light duty this week, my leave starts Wednesday." Harm groaned.

"Harm I placed a quick call to a friend, the only ship in the Atlantic this week that is a wedding cruise is the S.S. Vollendam."

"Great can we call them?" Harm said.

"Yes and go pick up the other gown." The Admiral said.

"Mac won't want to wear that." Harm protested.

"No I don't suppose she will, but I am sure the owner will want it." The Admiral said.

"But Sir, she's on a ship." Harm said confused.

"Rabb have you always been this oblivious?" The Admiral said.

"I am not sure what you mean." Harm replied.

"Harm we are in the Navy.  She is on a ship.  Get the gown to Norfolk, if we can helo officers all over the place maybe we can do the same for a wedding gown." The Admiral said.

"Oh yeah, good idea Sir." Harm said with a smile. Harm got up and ran out of the office.

"Dismissed." The Admiral called after him laughing.

THE BULLPEN

"Tiner Gunny I need your help." Harm said running up to them.

"Yes Sir." They replied.

"Tiner, I need you to get a call through to the Captain of the S.S Vollendam.  Gunny I need you to go to this address and pick up a wedding gown belonging to a Susan MacKegnie."  Harm said. "And Gunny don't take no for an answer."

"No problem." They both replied and took off for on their assignments.

HARM'S OFFICE

"Hi Harriet, let me talk to Mac." Harm said into the phone.

"Hi Harm, I was just checking to see which of my uniforms looks the nicest, you think I can wear pants?" Mac said sarcastically.

"Mac I know this is the worst possible time to tell you this but I have to go to Norfolk." Harm said.

"Great, so not only am I not going to have a gown at my wedding but the groom may be late." Mac said.

"Mac its Monday, the wedding is Saturday.  I will be back before Friday." Harm said.

"Yeah and my last wedding you said you would be back." Mac said.

"Mac last time I wasn't the groom." Harm reminded her. "Let's not go there now."

"I know, sorry. What's going on in Norfolk?" Mac asked.

"There is a problem with some purchase orders and they need a lawyer to look over the documents. Simple stuff." Harm said.

"The Admiral can't send someone else?" Mac asked.

"He was going to send you. I offered to go instead." Harm replied. "I am leaving tonight I will be back no later than Thursday."

"I love you" Mac said.

"Forever and always." Harm replied and hung up. He dialed the base at Norfolk and explained the situation.  The base CO was more than happy to assist.

"Sir, I have that call for you." Tiner said at his door.

Harm spoke with the Captain and explained the situation to him.  The Captain said he would advise Ms. MacKegnie of the situation and they ended the call.  Gunny returned with the gown and Harm went to his apartment and packed.  On his drive to Norfolk he called Bud.

"Bud you need to do me a favor." Harm began.
"What do you need?" Bud asked.

"Go to my apartment and get my dress whites and take them to the cleaners for pressing." Harm said.

"Harm where are you?" Bud asked.

"Long story." Harm replied. "Bud, just make sure you get my dress whites back."

"No problem." Bud replied.

"Bud, the last time I needed my dress whites for a wedding there was a problem.  Take them to a one hour service place and wait for them." Harm began to beg.

"I'll take care of it." Bud laughed.

"Thanks Bud, see you in a few days." Harm said.

MAC'S APARTMENT THURSDAY BEFORE THE WEDDING

"Hello?" Mac said.

"Mac hi it's me." Harm said.

"Harm where are you?" Mac asked.

"Still in Norfolk things are taking a bit longer. I'll be back tomorrow."  Harm said.

"Harm, tomorrow is Friday, we have the rehearsal dinner and the rehearsal remember." Mac said. "Not to mention your leave started yesterday."

"I know I will be there. Have I broken a promise to you yet?" Harm asked in that tone that just got to Mac every time.

"No, but this is crazy." Mac protested.

"Mac, trust me. I will be there. I am not going to miss my one and only rehearsal dinner." Harm said.

"Or wedding for that matter." Mac said.

"I love you." Harm said.

"I love you to." Mac replied.

Harm was pacing around the CO's office.

"Commander, would you care for a cup of coffee." A petty officer offered.

"No thanks." Harm replied.  Due to rain the past two days they were unable to make the exchange of the dresses.  The plan was to hover over the ship and lower the one gown down and then bring the other gown up.  The whole thing would take less than 10 minutes provided the weather worked with them.

"Mac, relax." Bobbie said.

"How? Harm isn't here; this off the rack long dress thing is horrible. Everything was too perfect." Mac began.

"Mac it's a very pretty gown." Bobbie assured her.

"Would you wear it?" Mac asked.

"Well Mac, it would be to short for me. I am taller than you." Bobbie teased.

"Thanks." Mac said laughing.

"Mac, all that matters is that you are getting married.  Harm doesn't care what you wear." Bobbie said.

"I think I should wear my dress uniform." Mac said.

"Unless you wear that then he will care." Bobbie said. "Hey I have something for you."

"What?" Mac asked.

"Well, it's not perfect but it was my mothers and she was about your size." Bobbie said opening a garment bag.

"Bobbie it's lovely." Mac said.

"A bit old fashioned but it will work if you want it.  Besides it would make my mother happy that someone else was wearing this gown. Since I am never going to, according to her." Bobbie said in a motherly tone.

"You know that's not true. Thanks Bobbie." Mac said.

"No problem. See you tomorrow at the rehearsal." Bobbie said, she hugged her friend and left.

Mac held the gown up to her and looked in the mirror.  It was beautiful and she just might end up wearing it.  She tired it on and it was a pretty good fit.  Maybe I can wear this, Mac thought and she went to bed.

She sat on her bed, everything had been going so perfect why was it such a mess.  Maybe she and Harm should have just eloped.  She fell asleep thinking about Harm, that's actually how she fell asleep every night.

FRIDAY

Mac woke up feeling a lot better. She looked over at Mrs. Latham's dress and smiled.  At least she had a wedding gown.  The night's sleep had done her a world of good.  She realized that it didn't matter as long as she and Harm were getting married.  Where was Harm anyway, she hoped he was on his way back.  She called his cell and got no answer.  She got dressed and went to get a facial.  After that she was going to the airport to pick up the Andersons.  They had offered to take a car from the airport but Mac wanted to pick them up.  Bud and Sturgis had requested the day off and volunteered to do airport runs for anyone else who was coming in from out of town.  Webb was meeting with the Parks Department on getting the ceremony location ready for tomorrow.  He had actually done a floor plan and had pictures of exactly how he wanted everything to look.  Bobbie and Harriet were meeting Chloe at the hotel and taking her out for the day. They had afternoon facials. Harriet's parents were in town watching the kids so Harriet was having a carefree day.

After her facial Mac called Harm again.  Still no answer, she was about to leave for the airport when Bud called and said he would get the Anderson's and that Mac should relax.  Mac was going to protest but decided against it.  She tried Harm again. Still no answer, she called the base.  She was transferred to the CO's office. The CO said that Harm was in the mess and there was a phone problem in there and he could not be reached.  He was proud of his lie and also told Mac he would have Harm call her as soon as he saw him.  Mac took a nap.  When she woke up it was 5pm the rehearsal dinner was at 6.  She took a shower and called Harm again.  This time he answered.

"Harm where are you?" Mac asked.

"I am an hour outside of DC." Harm replied.

"Cutting it a bit close flyboy." Mac said.

"I know Mac. It took longer than I thought." Harm said.

"Harm we are getting married in less than 24 hours.  Just once please be on time." Mac said,

"I'll meet you at the restaurant. Bring me a change of clothes all I have is my uniform." Harm said.

"Ok, I'll bring you a change of clothes but only because you are marrying me." Mac said.

"I love you." Harm said.  Silence. "Mac I love you."

"I heard you.  Harm please hurry up and get here." Mac said.

"I love you." Harm said again.

"I love you too." Mac said laughing.

Mac got ready for the dinner.  She called Harriet and asked that they pick her up and drive her over.  Everyone was at the restaurant at 6 sharp.  Everyone except Harm.