To Walk Away" 3/3
Rita Widmer
All important info is available in the first part. Thanks to Mac and Lauri for betaing.
***********************************************************************
Admiral's Office
Two Weeks Later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AJ stood in front of Mac looking for any sign that she had changed her mind about the CIA transfer. Her face was full determination, and it had not wavered since she left this office two weeks ago.
"Did any of those other positions appeal to you? I'm sure I can get you any of them with your experience and my recommendation."
"None of them are bad, sir. They are missing something that I want from my next position, and as long as I don't have a family or anyone else waiting for me back home this is the perfect job."
'Did she not realize that they would all care if something happened to her? Especially a certain commander?' AJ thought. "Mac, I know I'm not alone in feeling that if something happened to you we would miss you very much. At least you should know Harm would."
Mac barely controlled herself from rolling her eyes. She couldn't believe it especially after her last two dangerous missions. "Permission to speak freely?" He nodded. "If you guys felt that way then why did it feel like no one cared that I had come back safely after my last two missions. It was like no one cared I had left nor the work I did there."
"Mac, we did care. Harm came to me every free chance trying to get updates. When I finally got the news I found Harm, Bud, and Harriet sitting together worrying over you. No one wanted to bring it up, and talk about a hard subject for all of us. We were all proud of you."
"Thanks, Sir, I'm glad you guys care, but I got to do this for myself. Please sign my transfer papers?"
"If this is what you really want then I will do it. We'll announce it tomorrow at staff meeting. Harriet probably will want to throw a going away party for you."
"That is not necessary, Sir. She shouldn't go to all that work for me. May I be dismissed?"
"Yes, dismissed Colonel."
"Aye, aye Sir."
***********************************
Mac's office
Lunch time
~~~~~~~~~
"So you are transferring to the CIA?" asked Harm walking into her office.
"Word passes here quickly. Tiner must have gotten the paperwork."
"When it's Tiner it does. I guess I was hoping you would change your mind."
Looking out the door, she noticed people watching them. "Why don't we talk this over lunch at the park where we can have privacy?"
He nodded his head, and they left to get their food and head to the park. Harm was the first to talk, "You know I'm going to miss you? It just won't seem the same working without you."
"I know, and I will miss you too. I will be mostly working alone unless on some investigations, and if the CIA needs JAG we'll work together again. As long as you'll be here when I come home to greet me I will make sure to come back from any that take me away."
"You know I will. Just call and I will come running even in the middle of the night, and you need a ride home from the airport."
"Well I wouldn't let you do that when you won't be awake, and could get into an accident. I would feel so guilty. Is Harriet planning a party?"
"You should talk to her, Mac. She doesn't understand why you want to leave."
"I think you are the only one that does understand, Harm. Come on we need to head back to HQ its getting late."
************************************
McMurphy's
Going Away Party
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harriet hadn't allowed her to forget about doing a going away party. 'Harriet should be a lawyer with her persuasion skills,' Mac thought to herself as she entered. Mac noticed Harriet rushing towards her as fast as someone could that is 8 months pregnant.
"I'm so glad you allowed me to throw this for you, Ma'am. It would not be fitting for you to go without a party."
"I know, Harriet. How's the baby girl doing?"
"Very well. Everything is going to be all right this time."
"Yes it will. I will do everything in my power to be around when she is due."
"Just refuse to leave."
"Refuse the CIA? The outcome of that sounds dangerous."
"As a Marine, you can always transfer if they threaten you."
"And a Marine never steps down from a fight. I'm very excited for this job. Its going to be an opportunity of a lifetime for me."
"We may not seem like it, but we all are proud of you. We know that you can do it better then anyone else."
"Thanks, Harriet. I'm glad someone has confidence in me."
"No one wants to lose you, Mac, that's all."
"Come on lets join the party."
The party would stick with Mac for a long time. She hated saying good-bye to her work family at JAG. They had allowed her to be who she wanted to be, and be even more then she thought she could be. Now she was moving on to a job that she would find would use her skills very well. Time though would only show if she could be as happy as she thought she would be.
The end (Look for the sequel coming soon to a list or site near you.)
Rita Widmer
All important info is available in the first part. Thanks to Mac and Lauri for betaing.
***********************************************************************
Admiral's Office
Two Weeks Later
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AJ stood in front of Mac looking for any sign that she had changed her mind about the CIA transfer. Her face was full determination, and it had not wavered since she left this office two weeks ago.
"Did any of those other positions appeal to you? I'm sure I can get you any of them with your experience and my recommendation."
"None of them are bad, sir. They are missing something that I want from my next position, and as long as I don't have a family or anyone else waiting for me back home this is the perfect job."
'Did she not realize that they would all care if something happened to her? Especially a certain commander?' AJ thought. "Mac, I know I'm not alone in feeling that if something happened to you we would miss you very much. At least you should know Harm would."
Mac barely controlled herself from rolling her eyes. She couldn't believe it especially after her last two dangerous missions. "Permission to speak freely?" He nodded. "If you guys felt that way then why did it feel like no one cared that I had come back safely after my last two missions. It was like no one cared I had left nor the work I did there."
"Mac, we did care. Harm came to me every free chance trying to get updates. When I finally got the news I found Harm, Bud, and Harriet sitting together worrying over you. No one wanted to bring it up, and talk about a hard subject for all of us. We were all proud of you."
"Thanks, Sir, I'm glad you guys care, but I got to do this for myself. Please sign my transfer papers?"
"If this is what you really want then I will do it. We'll announce it tomorrow at staff meeting. Harriet probably will want to throw a going away party for you."
"That is not necessary, Sir. She shouldn't go to all that work for me. May I be dismissed?"
"Yes, dismissed Colonel."
"Aye, aye Sir."
***********************************
Mac's office
Lunch time
~~~~~~~~~
"So you are transferring to the CIA?" asked Harm walking into her office.
"Word passes here quickly. Tiner must have gotten the paperwork."
"When it's Tiner it does. I guess I was hoping you would change your mind."
Looking out the door, she noticed people watching them. "Why don't we talk this over lunch at the park where we can have privacy?"
He nodded his head, and they left to get their food and head to the park. Harm was the first to talk, "You know I'm going to miss you? It just won't seem the same working without you."
"I know, and I will miss you too. I will be mostly working alone unless on some investigations, and if the CIA needs JAG we'll work together again. As long as you'll be here when I come home to greet me I will make sure to come back from any that take me away."
"You know I will. Just call and I will come running even in the middle of the night, and you need a ride home from the airport."
"Well I wouldn't let you do that when you won't be awake, and could get into an accident. I would feel so guilty. Is Harriet planning a party?"
"You should talk to her, Mac. She doesn't understand why you want to leave."
"I think you are the only one that does understand, Harm. Come on we need to head back to HQ its getting late."
************************************
McMurphy's
Going Away Party
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harriet hadn't allowed her to forget about doing a going away party. 'Harriet should be a lawyer with her persuasion skills,' Mac thought to herself as she entered. Mac noticed Harriet rushing towards her as fast as someone could that is 8 months pregnant.
"I'm so glad you allowed me to throw this for you, Ma'am. It would not be fitting for you to go without a party."
"I know, Harriet. How's the baby girl doing?"
"Very well. Everything is going to be all right this time."
"Yes it will. I will do everything in my power to be around when she is due."
"Just refuse to leave."
"Refuse the CIA? The outcome of that sounds dangerous."
"As a Marine, you can always transfer if they threaten you."
"And a Marine never steps down from a fight. I'm very excited for this job. Its going to be an opportunity of a lifetime for me."
"We may not seem like it, but we all are proud of you. We know that you can do it better then anyone else."
"Thanks, Harriet. I'm glad someone has confidence in me."
"No one wants to lose you, Mac, that's all."
"Come on lets join the party."
The party would stick with Mac for a long time. She hated saying good-bye to her work family at JAG. They had allowed her to be who she wanted to be, and be even more then she thought she could be. Now she was moving on to a job that she would find would use her skills very well. Time though would only show if she could be as happy as she thought she would be.
The end (Look for the sequel coming soon to a list or site near you.)