(A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update, my internet has
been screwed up. Disclaimers, same as in last chapter, please
read and review.)
Fade in
(Harm's POV)
I hesitated a minute before going into Josh's room. What was I going to say to him? I took a deep breath, opened the door, he turned to me and smiled.
"Hi."
"Hi," I said taking a chair right next to his bed.
My heart dropped into my stomach when I got a good look at him. He had a black eye and countless bruises on his face. His left arm was in a sling, and he had a bandage above his other eye.
"It's not as bad as it looks."
"Like hell it is!" I said louder then I meant to.
If he was startled by my tone, he hid it well. He grabbed a cup of water, and took a long slow drink, before answering me.
"I guess the social service's lady talked to you."
"Yeah."
"What did she tell you?"
"That you were hurt very badly, and that your mom died. I'm so sorry Josh."
"You know I'm not as sorry as I really want to be."
"Your mom didn't hit you, did she?"
"No, she left that part to Jim."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"That's okay. But when you feel like talking, you know you can always talk to me."
"Right, I'll give you a call from the orphanage."
"That's enough Mr. Pendry," I said.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"It's okay Josh."
"So who did you marry?"
"What?"
He pointed to the ring on my left hand.
"Do you remember Mac? We got married about two years ago."
"Yeah I remember her. She's nice."
"Josh, what do you think about coming to live with Mac and me?"
"Really," he said with enthusiasm in his voice.
"I'll have to talk it over with Mac, but yeah I would like you to come and live with us, if that's what you want."
"I would love to."
"Alright buddy," I said standing up. "You sit tight, and I'll check on you latter. Is there anything you need?"
"Do you think you can go to my house, and get my music? My CD's and CD player are in my room on my desk."
"Sure. Just sit tight, and don't harass the nurses. I'll be back later."
"Thanks Harm."
I smiled at him, before exiting the room. How was I going to explain all this to Mac? Oh hi honey, Josh Pendry was beaten by his stepfather, and his mother was killed, and I want him to come live with us. Yeah, that'll work for sure.
I ran my hand through my hair, and pulled out my cell phone. This was not going to be easy.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mac."
"Harm, is everything okay? What-"
"Everything is fine Mac, and I was hoping we could talk about it over lunch, can you get a break?"
"Sure. How about we meet at Jill's in ten?"
"I'll be there."
"Is everything okay Harm?"
"I'll see you in ten Mac," I said hanging up the phone. I called the police officer I spoke to and got permission to go pick up a few things for Josh. As I jotted down the address, it really started to hit me, that I might be adopting a fourteen year old boy. How was I going to explain this to Mac?
(Mac's POV)
I was worried about Harm, not about not having any idea what was going on, but the fact that he was early for our lunch date, worried me even more.
"What's going on Harm?"
"Can we order first? I didn't get anything to eat this morning."
"Sure."
After we placed our orders, I questioned him again. He sighed, and rubbed his eyes, before he answered me.
"I got a call from child and family services this morning. Josh Pendry was found beaten unconscious in his home last night. By the time the police got there, Annie was dead. There are looking for the step father right now. "
"Oh my God."
"They called me, because Josh was asking for me. He was hurt pretty bad, broken bones, and a lot of bruises. I talked to Ms. Carter, the social worker, and she asked me if I would consider adopting Josh. I talked to Josh about it, and he said would want to. I told him and Ms. Carter that I would have to talk to you about it first."
"Harm, I don't know what to say. Adopt Josh?"
"Please tell you'll think about it. Mac, a long time ago, I promised Luke that I would watch over Annie and Josh if anything happened to them, and I know I have screwed up, but I can't abandon him now. He has no where else to go Mac, no family or anything."
I took his hands in mine, and tried to read the hurt that was etched across his face.
"Okay. Let's adopt him, Harm."
"Are you sure?"
"Very."
Harm smiled, and leaned over to kiss me.
"Let's go tell him. We'll have to call Ms. Carter and set up an appointment."
"What will we have to do?"
As Harm explained to me the process for adopting Josh, I could tell how exited and relieved that he was. We left our lunch half eaten, and headed to the hospital to talk to Josh.
(Webb's POV)
I shoved some papers in brief case, and was just about to head out for the day, when another agent came in, and handed me a folder. Flipping through I stopped dead in my tracks, when I read what it said.
"Oh shit. Not again."
"What do you want to do sir?"
"Get this taken care of once and for all," I said putting the folder in my brief case, and heading up to the directors office.
TBC
(I have new info, about the JAG in two weeks, if anyone is interested, please e mail me.)
Fade in
(Harm's POV)
I hesitated a minute before going into Josh's room. What was I going to say to him? I took a deep breath, opened the door, he turned to me and smiled.
"Hi."
"Hi," I said taking a chair right next to his bed.
My heart dropped into my stomach when I got a good look at him. He had a black eye and countless bruises on his face. His left arm was in a sling, and he had a bandage above his other eye.
"It's not as bad as it looks."
"Like hell it is!" I said louder then I meant to.
If he was startled by my tone, he hid it well. He grabbed a cup of water, and took a long slow drink, before answering me.
"I guess the social service's lady talked to you."
"Yeah."
"What did she tell you?"
"That you were hurt very badly, and that your mom died. I'm so sorry Josh."
"You know I'm not as sorry as I really want to be."
"Your mom didn't hit you, did she?"
"No, she left that part to Jim."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"That's okay. But when you feel like talking, you know you can always talk to me."
"Right, I'll give you a call from the orphanage."
"That's enough Mr. Pendry," I said.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"It's okay Josh."
"So who did you marry?"
"What?"
He pointed to the ring on my left hand.
"Do you remember Mac? We got married about two years ago."
"Yeah I remember her. She's nice."
"Josh, what do you think about coming to live with Mac and me?"
"Really," he said with enthusiasm in his voice.
"I'll have to talk it over with Mac, but yeah I would like you to come and live with us, if that's what you want."
"I would love to."
"Alright buddy," I said standing up. "You sit tight, and I'll check on you latter. Is there anything you need?"
"Do you think you can go to my house, and get my music? My CD's and CD player are in my room on my desk."
"Sure. Just sit tight, and don't harass the nurses. I'll be back later."
"Thanks Harm."
I smiled at him, before exiting the room. How was I going to explain all this to Mac? Oh hi honey, Josh Pendry was beaten by his stepfather, and his mother was killed, and I want him to come live with us. Yeah, that'll work for sure.
I ran my hand through my hair, and pulled out my cell phone. This was not going to be easy.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mac."
"Harm, is everything okay? What-"
"Everything is fine Mac, and I was hoping we could talk about it over lunch, can you get a break?"
"Sure. How about we meet at Jill's in ten?"
"I'll be there."
"Is everything okay Harm?"
"I'll see you in ten Mac," I said hanging up the phone. I called the police officer I spoke to and got permission to go pick up a few things for Josh. As I jotted down the address, it really started to hit me, that I might be adopting a fourteen year old boy. How was I going to explain this to Mac?
(Mac's POV)
I was worried about Harm, not about not having any idea what was going on, but the fact that he was early for our lunch date, worried me even more.
"What's going on Harm?"
"Can we order first? I didn't get anything to eat this morning."
"Sure."
After we placed our orders, I questioned him again. He sighed, and rubbed his eyes, before he answered me.
"I got a call from child and family services this morning. Josh Pendry was found beaten unconscious in his home last night. By the time the police got there, Annie was dead. There are looking for the step father right now. "
"Oh my God."
"They called me, because Josh was asking for me. He was hurt pretty bad, broken bones, and a lot of bruises. I talked to Ms. Carter, the social worker, and she asked me if I would consider adopting Josh. I talked to Josh about it, and he said would want to. I told him and Ms. Carter that I would have to talk to you about it first."
"Harm, I don't know what to say. Adopt Josh?"
"Please tell you'll think about it. Mac, a long time ago, I promised Luke that I would watch over Annie and Josh if anything happened to them, and I know I have screwed up, but I can't abandon him now. He has no where else to go Mac, no family or anything."
I took his hands in mine, and tried to read the hurt that was etched across his face.
"Okay. Let's adopt him, Harm."
"Are you sure?"
"Very."
Harm smiled, and leaned over to kiss me.
"Let's go tell him. We'll have to call Ms. Carter and set up an appointment."
"What will we have to do?"
As Harm explained to me the process for adopting Josh, I could tell how exited and relieved that he was. We left our lunch half eaten, and headed to the hospital to talk to Josh.
(Webb's POV)
I shoved some papers in brief case, and was just about to head out for the day, when another agent came in, and handed me a folder. Flipping through I stopped dead in my tracks, when I read what it said.
"Oh shit. Not again."
"What do you want to do sir?"
"Get this taken care of once and for all," I said putting the folder in my brief case, and heading up to the directors office.
TBC
(I have new info, about the JAG in two weeks, if anyone is interested, please e mail me.)