Disclaimer: I don't own JAG, or any of its characters. This is just for
fun.
1420 Local JAG HQ Falls Church, VA
It had started out like a normal December Wednesday at JAG HQ and stayed that way all day; while it snowed outside people were bustling around the bullpen, some carrying stacks of heavy books, multiple folders, while some, like Harriet Simms, carried several colorfully wrapped gifts. Everyone was trying to get all their work done before the Christmas Holiday started on the following Monday. Mac sat in her office reading over her witness list for the Hernandez case, when Tiner knocked on the door.
"What is it Tiner?" Mac asked when she saw the young man standing there.
"Staff call at 1430, ma'am," Tiner replied brightly.
"Thank you, Tiner," Mac nodded.
"Aye, aye, ma'am," Tiner did an about face and walked off to notify Commander Turner, Lieutenant Simms, and Lieutenant Roberts.
Mac sat back from the witness list for a moment to reflect on all that had happened in the last few months. The biggest news was that Bud and Harriet were expecting another child. They had only just made the announcement and already the entire office was pulling for them. Much to everyone's relief, Singer had been sent out to the Seahawk when Bud turned the position down to be with Harriet, AJ and the coming baby. Commander Turner was pushing as hard as he had ever pushed in the courtroom and was gaining a considerable reputation. Mac thought that the last few months had been perfect, well, nearly perfect. Harm was still Harm and their relationship seemed to as stuck as it ever had been.
A knock at her door shook Mac from her reverie. "Ma'am, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Harriet," Mac said smiling, as she shook off the last of her thoughts about Harm, "Just drifted off for a moment there. How are you feeling? You look."
"Ma'am, if you say I'm glowing, I'll." Harriet smiled, "I don't know if I can handle another person saying it."
"Okay, I won't," Mac smiled, and just then Harm popped his head in.
"Mac, sorry I'm late," Harm started, then he noticed Harriet, "Hello, Harriet. You're positively glowing this morning."
Harriet's eyes blazed at him, "Thank you, sir. Ma'am." Harriet and Mac shared a meaningful glance before Harriet returned to her desk and the wrapping that awaited her there.
"What was that about?" Harm asked puzzled.
"Nothing," Mac laughed, "So, did you take a late lunch today?"
Harm tilted his head and gave her an innocent look that said 'What me?'
"Oh, come on, Harm," Mac said, "Last week it was traffic; Monday it was construction, so what was it today?"
Harm smiled. "Okay, you got me," then his voice became more serious, "I got a message from Webb about Sergei and I lost track of time."
"How is he?" Mac asked sincerely.
Harm shook his head, "It sounds like he's okay, for now."
Mac knew Harm wished he could so more to help his brother. "You miss him, don't you?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, I do."
There was a comfortable silence for a few moments, before Mac remembered, "Oh, we have staff call at 1430, and it 1428 now, so we better go."
"One of these days you'll have to tell me how you do that," Harm said.
"I did tell you," Mac replied.
"That doesn't count," Harm said, sounding like a little boy, "I don't understand Farsi."
"Maybe you should learn it," Mac joked as they reached the conference room.
They weren't the first people there. Commander Turner was already seated on one side of the table. Bud and Harriet weren't but a few steps behind Mac and Harm, and soon they were all seated at the conference table awaiting Admiral Chegwidden. Harm and Sturgis talked amiably across the table about a game of basketball they had played the night before. Mac and Harriet sat beside each other quietly discussing names for the new baby, while Bud smiled at them from his seat next to Sturgis.
When Admiral Chegwidden finally entered the room at 1435, all their chitchat ended and they all made to rise.
"Keep your seats," the Admiral said. After had taken his own he said, "I just got off the phone with the SECNAV," he said, his voice carried a hint of mild disdain, "It seems two of our officers got out of hand while they were on liberty in London and they were involved in a bar fight with a group of British sailors."
Harm, along with the rest of the officers smiled, but their smiles were short-lived.
"One of whom is the Prince's third cousin's son or something like that," said the Admiral frowning at the officers.
"Our sailors fought with a British Royal?" Harriet said disbelieving.
"They didn't know it at the time, but yes," the Admiral replied. He took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He sighed, and then continued, "The case was handled by our JAG in London, but the British press has gotten wind of it, and the US Ambassador says it's ugly. So, Commander Rabb, you and Colonel Mackenzie are going to the UK to smooth things over."
"Smooth things over, sir?" Harm asked
"The Ambassador asked me to go, but I can't spare the time," the Admiral told him, "You and Colonel Mackenzie will be acting in a diplomatic roles. This is high profile in the UK, we want to make a good impression."
"Yes, sir." Mac and Harm both sighed. Neither of them liked dealing with the press.
"Now, in order for you both to leave you'll have to hand off some of your cases. Commander Turner I'd like you to take the Hernandez prosecution from Commander Rabb."
"Aye, sir," Sturgis replied smartly.
"And Lieutenant Roberts, I'd like you to handle the defense for Colonel Mackenzie."
"Aye, sir," was Bud's determined reply.
Harriet being the only one he hadn't addressed, the Admiral looked at her and said, "Lieutenant Simms, I expect you to help Lt. Roberts and Cmdr. Turned in any way you can."
"Aye, sir," Harriet replied cheerfully.
"I'm sorry this all came down so close to Christmas, but let's try to get it wrapped up. "And Rabb, Mackenzie," the Admiral added as he stood and they all rose from their seats, "Please try to keep this simple. Dismissed."
A chorus of "Aye, aye, sir," came from the group of officers before they followed the Admiral out of the office.
"London, ma'am," Harriet said wistfully, "Oh, you're so lucky. You'll get to see all kinds of wonderful things. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace."
"If we get the time," Mac sighed.
"Even if we do, we'll be hounded by the press," Harm added.
"You won't let that stop you, sir," Harriet assured them, "And you'll have to remember everything you do because I want to know all about it."
Two hours later, Mac had passed off the defense to Bud and Harm had brought Sturgis up to speed on the prosecution as well as promised him a rematch of basketball when he got back from London. She and Harm were scheduled to fly out of Dulles International Airport at 0700 hours the next morning, so they had decided pack their respective things then Harm was going to pick Mac up at her apartment in Georgetown.
"I'll see you in themorning," Harm said, as he and Mac walked to their cars.
"You'd better not be late again," Mac laughed.
Harm flashed his trademark grin, and said, "I'm never late."
0530 Local Mac's Apartment Georgetown, VA
When there was no answer to his knocks, Harm used his key to get into Mac's apartment. Upon entering, he saw a few books scattered across the living room, clothes thrown over the sofa and a few dirty dishes by the sink. It was unusual for Mac to leave her apartment in such a state of disarray. He could hear Mac pulling out drawers down the hall. Harm added his cover to the pile of clothes on the sofa before he walked down the hall to find Mac. He paused at her door and watched her hold up a white shirt to herself in front of a mirror. She screwed up her face and tossed the shirt onto another pile that had formed on her bad.
"I didn't think that one was that bad," Harm said smiling.
Mac wheeled around, surprise and mock reproach on her face, "What are you doing sneaking up on me?"
"You didn't answer the door, so I let myself in," Harm said as he walked over to the clothes covered bed. He picked up the shirt Mac had just discarded. Mac had gone back to rummaging in her closet. "Mac, we're probably not going to be meeting the Queen."
"The Admiral said this is a diplomatic assignment," Mac reminded him, "I just want to be prepared."
"Mac, it's already 0539, if you take much longer to prepare, we'll miss our flight," Harm laughed.
"I know what time it is," Mac snapped back cheerfully, "Besides, I'm mostly packed: every day stuff, plain uniform, dress uniform."
"Then what are you looking for?"
Mac gave an exasperated sigh, and said, "Something appropriate for diplomacy."
Harm smiled. "We've got to go or we'll miss our flight." Harm looked at her; she was still fidgeting with the shirts in her closet. "Besides, you look great in anything."
Mac stopped going through her shirts. She looked around at him. He was looking at her, his eyes honest and he was grinning. She smiled. "Thanks, and you're right; we've got to go." She zipped her bag shut, then looked around the room. She looked perplexed but then made up her mind, "I'll deal with this when I get back," she said, indicating the clothes that had been strewn across the room.
"Alright, let's get out of here," Harm said, inwardly laughing at the mess the usually spotless Marine was leaving. He made a mental note to ask Harriet if she wouldn't mind stopping by to straighten it up, as a favor to him, and a Christmas present to Mac.
1420 Local JAG HQ Falls Church, VA
It had started out like a normal December Wednesday at JAG HQ and stayed that way all day; while it snowed outside people were bustling around the bullpen, some carrying stacks of heavy books, multiple folders, while some, like Harriet Simms, carried several colorfully wrapped gifts. Everyone was trying to get all their work done before the Christmas Holiday started on the following Monday. Mac sat in her office reading over her witness list for the Hernandez case, when Tiner knocked on the door.
"What is it Tiner?" Mac asked when she saw the young man standing there.
"Staff call at 1430, ma'am," Tiner replied brightly.
"Thank you, Tiner," Mac nodded.
"Aye, aye, ma'am," Tiner did an about face and walked off to notify Commander Turner, Lieutenant Simms, and Lieutenant Roberts.
Mac sat back from the witness list for a moment to reflect on all that had happened in the last few months. The biggest news was that Bud and Harriet were expecting another child. They had only just made the announcement and already the entire office was pulling for them. Much to everyone's relief, Singer had been sent out to the Seahawk when Bud turned the position down to be with Harriet, AJ and the coming baby. Commander Turner was pushing as hard as he had ever pushed in the courtroom and was gaining a considerable reputation. Mac thought that the last few months had been perfect, well, nearly perfect. Harm was still Harm and their relationship seemed to as stuck as it ever had been.
A knock at her door shook Mac from her reverie. "Ma'am, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Harriet," Mac said smiling, as she shook off the last of her thoughts about Harm, "Just drifted off for a moment there. How are you feeling? You look."
"Ma'am, if you say I'm glowing, I'll." Harriet smiled, "I don't know if I can handle another person saying it."
"Okay, I won't," Mac smiled, and just then Harm popped his head in.
"Mac, sorry I'm late," Harm started, then he noticed Harriet, "Hello, Harriet. You're positively glowing this morning."
Harriet's eyes blazed at him, "Thank you, sir. Ma'am." Harriet and Mac shared a meaningful glance before Harriet returned to her desk and the wrapping that awaited her there.
"What was that about?" Harm asked puzzled.
"Nothing," Mac laughed, "So, did you take a late lunch today?"
Harm tilted his head and gave her an innocent look that said 'What me?'
"Oh, come on, Harm," Mac said, "Last week it was traffic; Monday it was construction, so what was it today?"
Harm smiled. "Okay, you got me," then his voice became more serious, "I got a message from Webb about Sergei and I lost track of time."
"How is he?" Mac asked sincerely.
Harm shook his head, "It sounds like he's okay, for now."
Mac knew Harm wished he could so more to help his brother. "You miss him, don't you?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, I do."
There was a comfortable silence for a few moments, before Mac remembered, "Oh, we have staff call at 1430, and it 1428 now, so we better go."
"One of these days you'll have to tell me how you do that," Harm said.
"I did tell you," Mac replied.
"That doesn't count," Harm said, sounding like a little boy, "I don't understand Farsi."
"Maybe you should learn it," Mac joked as they reached the conference room.
They weren't the first people there. Commander Turner was already seated on one side of the table. Bud and Harriet weren't but a few steps behind Mac and Harm, and soon they were all seated at the conference table awaiting Admiral Chegwidden. Harm and Sturgis talked amiably across the table about a game of basketball they had played the night before. Mac and Harriet sat beside each other quietly discussing names for the new baby, while Bud smiled at them from his seat next to Sturgis.
When Admiral Chegwidden finally entered the room at 1435, all their chitchat ended and they all made to rise.
"Keep your seats," the Admiral said. After had taken his own he said, "I just got off the phone with the SECNAV," he said, his voice carried a hint of mild disdain, "It seems two of our officers got out of hand while they were on liberty in London and they were involved in a bar fight with a group of British sailors."
Harm, along with the rest of the officers smiled, but their smiles were short-lived.
"One of whom is the Prince's third cousin's son or something like that," said the Admiral frowning at the officers.
"Our sailors fought with a British Royal?" Harriet said disbelieving.
"They didn't know it at the time, but yes," the Admiral replied. He took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He sighed, and then continued, "The case was handled by our JAG in London, but the British press has gotten wind of it, and the US Ambassador says it's ugly. So, Commander Rabb, you and Colonel Mackenzie are going to the UK to smooth things over."
"Smooth things over, sir?" Harm asked
"The Ambassador asked me to go, but I can't spare the time," the Admiral told him, "You and Colonel Mackenzie will be acting in a diplomatic roles. This is high profile in the UK, we want to make a good impression."
"Yes, sir." Mac and Harm both sighed. Neither of them liked dealing with the press.
"Now, in order for you both to leave you'll have to hand off some of your cases. Commander Turner I'd like you to take the Hernandez prosecution from Commander Rabb."
"Aye, sir," Sturgis replied smartly.
"And Lieutenant Roberts, I'd like you to handle the defense for Colonel Mackenzie."
"Aye, sir," was Bud's determined reply.
Harriet being the only one he hadn't addressed, the Admiral looked at her and said, "Lieutenant Simms, I expect you to help Lt. Roberts and Cmdr. Turned in any way you can."
"Aye, sir," Harriet replied cheerfully.
"I'm sorry this all came down so close to Christmas, but let's try to get it wrapped up. "And Rabb, Mackenzie," the Admiral added as he stood and they all rose from their seats, "Please try to keep this simple. Dismissed."
A chorus of "Aye, aye, sir," came from the group of officers before they followed the Admiral out of the office.
"London, ma'am," Harriet said wistfully, "Oh, you're so lucky. You'll get to see all kinds of wonderful things. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace."
"If we get the time," Mac sighed.
"Even if we do, we'll be hounded by the press," Harm added.
"You won't let that stop you, sir," Harriet assured them, "And you'll have to remember everything you do because I want to know all about it."
Two hours later, Mac had passed off the defense to Bud and Harm had brought Sturgis up to speed on the prosecution as well as promised him a rematch of basketball when he got back from London. She and Harm were scheduled to fly out of Dulles International Airport at 0700 hours the next morning, so they had decided pack their respective things then Harm was going to pick Mac up at her apartment in Georgetown.
"I'll see you in themorning," Harm said, as he and Mac walked to their cars.
"You'd better not be late again," Mac laughed.
Harm flashed his trademark grin, and said, "I'm never late."
0530 Local Mac's Apartment Georgetown, VA
When there was no answer to his knocks, Harm used his key to get into Mac's apartment. Upon entering, he saw a few books scattered across the living room, clothes thrown over the sofa and a few dirty dishes by the sink. It was unusual for Mac to leave her apartment in such a state of disarray. He could hear Mac pulling out drawers down the hall. Harm added his cover to the pile of clothes on the sofa before he walked down the hall to find Mac. He paused at her door and watched her hold up a white shirt to herself in front of a mirror. She screwed up her face and tossed the shirt onto another pile that had formed on her bad.
"I didn't think that one was that bad," Harm said smiling.
Mac wheeled around, surprise and mock reproach on her face, "What are you doing sneaking up on me?"
"You didn't answer the door, so I let myself in," Harm said as he walked over to the clothes covered bed. He picked up the shirt Mac had just discarded. Mac had gone back to rummaging in her closet. "Mac, we're probably not going to be meeting the Queen."
"The Admiral said this is a diplomatic assignment," Mac reminded him, "I just want to be prepared."
"Mac, it's already 0539, if you take much longer to prepare, we'll miss our flight," Harm laughed.
"I know what time it is," Mac snapped back cheerfully, "Besides, I'm mostly packed: every day stuff, plain uniform, dress uniform."
"Then what are you looking for?"
Mac gave an exasperated sigh, and said, "Something appropriate for diplomacy."
Harm smiled. "We've got to go or we'll miss our flight." Harm looked at her; she was still fidgeting with the shirts in her closet. "Besides, you look great in anything."
Mac stopped going through her shirts. She looked around at him. He was looking at her, his eyes honest and he was grinning. She smiled. "Thanks, and you're right; we've got to go." She zipped her bag shut, then looked around the room. She looked perplexed but then made up her mind, "I'll deal with this when I get back," she said, indicating the clothes that had been strewn across the room.
"Alright, let's get out of here," Harm said, inwardly laughing at the mess the usually spotless Marine was leaving. He made a mental note to ask Harriet if she wouldn't mind stopping by to straighten it up, as a favor to him, and a Christmas present to Mac.