Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm hung up his phone with a sigh as he tried for the fifth time to reach Mac. He didn't get a chance to see her earlier that day because he was tied up reviewing the reports about the Patrick Henry incident with Commander Turner.
The Admiral had informed him that his cases were reassigned to Colonel Mackenzie until the investigation was complete. Harm felt bad for Mac because he knew she was carrying a difficult load this week with just her cases and she'd never tell the Admiral how hard it was to deal with some of them.
I just hope she doesn't wear herself out Harm thought to himself as he rooted through the fridge for something to eat. He dragged out a plate with a half-eaten slice of pizza left over from their late night case review last week. He smiled as he thought only she would eat food with a quart of grease on it.
That's my Marine he added. Wait a minute, my Marine? Where did that come from? "Jeez Rabb, this Tomcat crash really has you wired, hell you're even TALKING to yourself. One way ticket to the loony bin that's for sure!" Harm chuckled as he flopped back on the sofa to watch t.v. Flipping it on, he channel surfed until he came across one of his and Mac's favorite movies, Uncle Buck.
He settled back on the couch, trying to get comfortable yet there was something missing. Harm reached behind him to rearrange the cushions and leaned back, but something just didn't feel right. Then he realized that the one thing missing, the one thing that would make it right, was Mac…
~~*~~
Same time
Admiral Chegwidden's Residence
MacLean, Virginia (I think that's where it is)
Mac pulled up in the Admiral's driveway and sat there for a moment, contemplating what she would say. She regretted having to tell him that she could not handle Harm's caseload because of her uncle's illness. She also had to give herself a moment to put in place the tough façade she'd built up over the years so people, especially the Admiral, couldn't see how vulnerable she actually was.
If people only knew how I feel sometimes Mac thought silently.
She opened the door of her Corvette and quickly wrapped her coat around her uniform as the bitter November wind tried to match the coldness that had settled in her heart. Despite the cold, Mac slowly walked up the path to the Admiral's home, putting off the inevitable of disappointing him. She took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell, hearing it chime somewhere in the house. A few seconds later, footsteps approached the front door and she heard a lock turning. Mac instantly felt like running, but looked down at the porch floor beneath her instead.
The door opened and a surprised Admiral exclaimed, "Colonel, what are you doing here? Is everything okay? Come on inside, it's damn cold out here."
Mac took another deep breath and mustered up the courage to raise her head. "Um, I'll only be a minute sir," Mac replied hesitantly.
"Don't make me tell you again Colonel to come inside," AJ said with a smile as he stepped aside to allow Mac in.
Warmth and aromas of Italian food instantly greeted her when she entered his home. She looked nervously around as the Admiral closed the door. AJ sensed that something was wrong immediately by the way Mac held herself.
"Come sit down Colonel, can I get you anything? I've just finished cooking some fettuccini Alfredo, you're welcome to join me for supper" he asked, walking over to adjust the thermostat on the wall.
"No thank you, I won't be long sir," Mac replied quietly.
"What's wrong Colonel? You'd better tell me the whole story," AJ said trying to lighten his tone.
"I got a call this evening from Leavenworth sir, my uncle was very sick this week and they had him tested for cancer," Mac said, desperately trying to keep the tears at bay but instead opting to look at the hardwood floor beneath her.
"The results came back positive, they…well, the doctors say that he has about a month left, sir. They want m to fly out there as soon as I can so they can work out living arrangements for him. The officer informed me that Leavenworth allows terminally ill inmates to live out their remaining time at home," Mac went on.
"Mac, please know how sorry I am to hear about your uncle. Take as much time as you need to for this and don't worry about your caseload. Lieutenant Singer can manage some of them I am sure," AJ said, using her nickname to let her know how truly sorry he was.
He knew how much Colonel O'Hara meant to Mac, he was the one who truly loved her when nobody would in her younger years. He wondered why fate had to be so cruel as to take someone so special from a person like Mac.
AJ put a gentle hand on her shoulder and said, "Is there anything I can do for you Mac, anything at all? I don't care what it is, you name it, and I'll do it."
Mac couldn't believe what she had just heard. She managed to look at him as she stammered nervously, "You're not…not angry…with me because I….I can't handle the cases after I told you I could?"
AJ could practically feel her shaking through her overcoat and realized how extremely nervous she must be. How could I be angry with her? AJ thought silently. She's just learned that the most important person in her life is slowly dying, and she's worried with how angry I am?
AJ calmed her fears however, as a certain tenderness entered his voice when he spoke, "Mac, I'd never be angry with you, the only times I would be is when you're not telling me the truth or when you don't ask for help when you need it."
Mac was floored with his heart-felt response, the Admiral, not angry with her? Mac looked at him closely for the first time since she'd arrived. "Admiral, are you sure? I mean, I told you that I would do his cases, and…and now I can't. You'll be short-staffed sir; I just can't do that to you.. it's…it's not right!" she exclaimed frantically.
"I can assure you Mac, Lieutenant Singer WILL handle these cases or she will find herself scaling a coconut tree for her next meal because I kicked her six all the way to Borneo!" AJ said, making an attempt to get a smile out of Mac.
He was instantly awarded with one, however small. Mac felt the nervous fade along with her smile as she realized just how nice of a commanding officer she had. The favor he was doing for her was one she could never repay.
"Thank you, sir, for letting me go see about him. I hope that he will come home to live with me, you know…to um…live out his time there instead of some cold cell at Leavenworth," Mac replied quietly.
"You're one of the best officers I have Mac, I think of all of you at JAG as part of my family. If you ever need anything, let me help you out. I can pull Admiral's privileges if needed," AJ said just as quietly.
"I guess I need to get my things together and see about getting a flight out of here as soon as I can," Mac said as she made her way to the door.
"I'll get the flight taken care of, it's the least I can do for you at this moment," AJ offered.
"Thank you sir, that would be a tremendous help," she said with relief. That was one thing less she had to worry about.
"Call me when you get there, Mac, I want to know that my officer made it okay," AJ said.
"Okay, sir, you've got it," Mac complied immediately.
When they had approached the front door, Mac quickly turned around, and in a rare show of emotion, gave her commanding officer a hug before walking out the door.
"Be careful Mac!" AJ called after her, praying that she would somehow get through this all right.
~~*~~
2145 Zulu
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown, VA
After having tried Mac for 20 minutes straight, Harm decided to drive over and see if she just had the phone line tied up. He knocked impatiently on Mac's door, but to no avail. He wondered where she could be at this time of night.
It wasn't like Mac to stay out late, and if she planned to be she always called him so he wouldn't worry. He tried again for the fourth time to find that the music from next door was his only answer. Turning around, he headed out the building towards his Explorer. Something nagged him at the back of his mind, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Shrugging it off as fatigue, he turned the key in the ignition and drove out of the parking lot. He had to pick up Sturgis and get over to the airport in time to catch the flight headed out to Norfolk. There he would get a helo-ride to the USS Patrick Henry to begin his investigation.
~~*~~
2155 Zulu Mac's Apartment
Georgetown, VA
Mac opened the door to her apartment and shut it with a weary sigh. She felt as if she was experiencing a horrible nightmare, begging to be awakened from its cold, evil darkness. Mac walked into her bedroom to pack for the three-hour flight to Leavenworth. Opening her closet door, she began pulling clothes out to place in her suitcase when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Mac answered.
"Mac, it's AJ, I just wanted you to know I got a flight for 2445 tonight, it was the earliest I could get for you, the latest was tomorrow at 0815. I also booked a hotel room for you for as long as you need it", AJ responded.
"Tonight's flight will do just fine Admiral, thank you so much, I truly appreciate it sir. I didn't even think of room accommodations. Sir, how can I ever repay you?" Mac asked.
"Mac, it was the least I could do for you. I know hard times are lying in your path right now, I just wish you didn't have to go through it," AJ said sorrowfully.
"I'll get through it somehow sir, I have no choice," Mac replied sadly.
"Well I know it's late and you need to pack for your flight. Call me AS SOON as you land at Leavenworth, is that clear?" AJ said, trying to use his best fatherly tone.
"Understood sir, but it will probably be 0400 before I can get to a phone. Are you sure sir?" Mac inquired carefully.
"Yes Mac, I am sure, I don't give a damn if it's the butt crack of dawn, you call me and don't argue with me," AJ said, softening his tone so as not to hurt her.
"Yes sir and thank you again, it's a big load off of me." Mac thanked him.
"All right Mac, take care of yourself, goodnight" AJ said as he ended the call.
Mac set the phone back carefully in its cradle, wondering what she did in life to deserve such a kind-hearted commanding officer. She had grown to think of the Admiral as a father figure and often looked up to him for advice. She always tried to do her best, wanting the only thing as for him to be proud of her.
He had always helped her out in the rough times since she'd first arrived at JAG, from letting her spread her wings to allowing her to come back, not to mention his support in dealing with her father's death. She'd never forget the times when she'd truly disappointed him, but nevertheless he still kept her under his command. Mac, of course, never told him this and would die if he ever found out. Running a hand through her hair in an attempt to ease the headache she felt coming on, she went back to her packing.
~~*~~
2357 Zulu
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown VA
Mac took one last glance around her apartment and mentally did a checklist to make sure she didn't forget anything. Sighing heavily, she clicked off the light and shut the door, prepared to take the first steps on a difficult journey.
~~*~~
2430
Dulles National Airport
(Wherever it is)
Mac made her way through the almost empty airport to find the terminal for her flight. Setting down her luggage, she fished out the ticket number the Admiral had given her over the phone earlier. For a few moments she just gazed out into the dark night trying to get a grip on the situation that lay before her, willing herself to remain strong because she was a Marine.
"Passengers for flight 108, please begin boarding at the moment for departure at 2445," a voice announced over the airport intercom. Mac picked up her luggage once again and boarded the plane headed for Leavenworth.
~~*~~
0115 Zulu
Flight 108
Stuffing her travel pillow in the corner of her seat, Mac tried her best to get at least an hour of sleep before they landed. She knew she would need her strength when it came time to meet up with Uncle Matt.
Now was not the time to show him that she was weak, Mac would have to rely on her Marine training to get her through what would be for sure the hardest time in her life. She pressed her forehead against the cool window in an attempt to soothe her now throbbing headache. Mac let her mind wander to thoughts of Harm, wondering what he was doing at the moment.
Probably suffering through a miserable night trying to sleep in a 5'8" bed for his 6'3" lanky frame' Mac thought with a chuckle. She could just see Harm right now in the bunk aboard t e ship with his knees pressed up his nose. Mac saw a reflection of a small smile creep on her face at the picture. Silently she wished more than ever that Harm was here beside her instead of an empty seat…
~~*~~
Same time
Cabin 21 Bunk 3
USS Patrick Henry
Harm lay awake in his uncomfortable bunk unable to sleep as images of Mac floated through his mind. For some reason, she had been on his mind constantly ever since he was at his apartment earlier that night. Of course, it never bothered him when she was for he never tired of seeing his beautiful Marine There it is again Rabb "his marine", what is with you' he thought, but this time, something just didn't feel right, Harm could feel it. Turning on his side, he told himself that his mind was just overworked yeah right, you love her Rabb just admit it the little voice in his head said, but he added a silent prayer that she was okay before he finally drifted off to sleep.