Disclaimers in Part 1
Sonnet 153
Saturday, 14 December 2002
Roberts Residence
Rosslyn, VA
1100 ZULU
"AUNTIE MAC! AUNTIE MAC! WAKE UP!" AJ Roberts came bounding into the bedroom, screaming with excitement. Mac bolted awake, automatically reaching into the nightstand for her service revolver. When she realized it wasn't there, she remembered where she was. She pressed a hand to her racing heart.
"AJ, you scared me! Don't do that again, OK?"
"'Kay! Can we go see the dinosaurs now?" Mac had promised to take him to the Museum of Natural History that day, and AJ was wired.
Mac groaned. "Now?! AJ, it's only 0602! Let's have some breakfast first, and get you dressed. While I'm taking my shower, you can watch cartoons. Does that sound good?"
"Yeah!!" AJ flew out of the room and down the stairs. Mac shook her head and rolled out of bed.
An hour later, both were washed, dressed, and ready to go 'see the dinosaurs', as little AJ kept chanting. They were about to open the door when the doorbell rang. Mac looked at little AJ, and asked, "Now, who could that be?"
"I dunno. Open the door!" He lunged for the handle before Mac could stop him.
"AJ, wait!" But the door had already opened. A tired-looking courier stood there with a large bouquet of roses.
"Are you Sarah Mackenzie?" he asked irritably.
"Yes, I am."
"These are for you. If you'll sign here," he said, shoving the clipboard at Mac. She signed, handing it back to the man.
"Here you go, ma'am. Have a nice day." He gave her the flowers, stomping down the steps and back to the van.
"What's his problem?" Mac wondered. She carried the flowers inside and started looking for a vase. She lightly touched one delicate white blossom. She noticed a card tucked inside the flowers, and pulled it out.
"I will attend her here,
And woo her with some spirit when she comes.
Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain
She sings as sweetly as a nightingale:
Say that she frown, I'll say she looks as clear
As morning roses newly washed with dew:
Say she be mute and will not speak a word;
Then I'll commend her volubility,
And say she uttereth piercing eloquence:
If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks,
As though she bid me stay by her a week:
If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day
When I shall ask the banns and when be married."
Mac smiled. She knew whom these were from. Even if she hadn't recognized the writing, only AJ would have sent such a message. 'But how did he...Harriet! I thought she had a "cat that swallowed the canary" look on her face when she left!'
Interrupting Mac's thoughts, little AJ grabbed her hand, tugging on it. "Come on! Let's go!"
Laughing at the child's impatience, Mac said, "All right, we're going, we're going!"
Saturday, 14 December 2002
Museum of Natural History
Washington, DC
1730 ZULU
"So, AJ, you ready for lunch?"
"Yeah! Can we go to McDonald's?"
"Sure, why not? Do you want a hamburger?"
"Uh-huh. And fries, and soda, and a toy!"
"Oh, OK." Mac laughed a bit. AJ let go of her hand and started running. Mac stopped laughing. "AJ! AJ, get back here!" She ran after the little boy.
She caught up with him just as a familiar person stopped him.
"Hi, 'Mander Turner!"
"Hey, little buddy, how you doing?"
"Sturgis! What are you doing here?"
"Same thing as you, Mac. Enjoying the exhibits. Oh, and I have something to give to you."
Mac raised an eyebrow. "Really? Like what?"
Sturgis handed her a piece of paper and a stuffed animal. "Here you go. Have a nice day, you two."
Mac unfolded the paper and sighed.
"And even for that do I love you the more.
I am your spaniel;
The more you beat me, I will fawn on you:
Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me,
Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave,
Unworthy as I am, to follow you.
What worser place can I beg in your love,
And yet a place of high respect with me,
Than to be used as you use your dog?"
'What are you doing, AJ?' Mac wondered. Whatever it was, she wasn't about to complain. This was more romance than she had had in over a year. No man she had ever been with had done anything like this for her.
AJ squealed, "Doggy!"
"Yes, AJ, it's a doggy. Would you like to hold it?"
"Uh-huh!" He grabbed the small stuffed dog and hugged it to his chest.
"Let's go get some lunch now, OK?"
"'Kay!"
Saturday, 14 December 2002
Roberts Residence
Rosslyn, VA
0100 ZULU
Mac sighed and stood up. AJ had finally dropped off to sleep. She had to read him three stories before he would submit to his exhaustion. Even asleep, though, he wouldn't let go of the stuffed animal Mac had received that afternoon.
Mac went down to the living room and started putting away the toys that were strewn all over the floor. She yawned. 'No wonder Harriet looks tired all the time! I never knew a three-year-old could have so much energy!' She proceeded into the kitchen, cleaning the dinner mess. She smiled softly as she glanced at the roses sitting on the kitchen counter.
She finished cleaning up, and went upstairs. She changed into her pajamas, and climbed into bed. As she did, she noticed a tape recorder resting on the nightstand, with a sign taped on it that said: 'Play me.' She pressed the play button, and a familiar voice emanated from the speaker.
"Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Good night, Sarah."
Mac murmured happily, "Good night, AJ," as she let sleep overtake her.
Sunday, 15 December 2002
Roberts Residence
Rosslyn, VA
1200 ZULU
The telephone rang, waking Mac. She rolled over and lifted the receiver. "Roberts residence. Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie speaking."
A deep voice came from the other end.
"Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep:
A maid of Dian's this advantage found,
And his love-kindling fire did quickly steep
In a cold valley-fountain of that ground;
Which borrowed from this holy fire of Love,
A dateless lively heat, still to endure,
And grew a seething bath, which yet men prove
Against strange maladies a sovereign cure.
But at my mistress' eye Love's brand new-fired,
The boy for trial needs would touch my breast;
I, sick withal, the help of bath desired,
And thither hied, a sad distempered guest,
But found no cure, the bath for my help lies
Where Cupid got new fire; my mistress' eyes."
Mac, whose mind was still a bit fuzzy, thought, 'AJ?' Before she could say anything, the person hung up. Mac yawned. 'At least I got to sleep an hour later today!' She wanted to relax for a bit, but her charge came running down the hallway and took a flying leap into the bed. 'What a start to the day!'
Little AJ kept Mac running until 1800 hours, when his parents arrived home.
"Harriet, hi!" Mac yelled over the sounds of blasting and zapping coming from the television.
"Hi, Mac. Was he good?" Harriet, being a mother, was able to hear easily over the same noises.
"Oh, he was great." She disappeared into the living room. "AJ! Mommy's home!"
"MOMMY!!" AJ came scampering around the corner. "Hi, Mommy! Guess what? We saw the dinosaurs, and Auntie Mac got presents,and we went to McDonald's, and we played Marines, and..." AJ continued to babble in his mother's ear. Bud came into the house, and AJ proceeded to tell him the same things.
Harriet looked at Mac with a curious look on her face. "Presents, Mac?"
Mac grinned. "Yeah. Someone sent me flowers yesterday morning, and I got the cutest little stuffed dog yesterday. AJ hasn't let that thing out of his sight. I don't know how I'm going to get it back, but anyway... I also had a wake-up call this morning at 0700, a recording last night, and the gifts both had such romantic notes attached to them..." Mac trailed off. She regained her train of thought. "I think you know something about this, Harriet," she accused.
"Me? Why would you think that, Mac?" Harriet asked innocently.
"Don't give me that, Harriet," Mac said, scowling playfully. "You know very well you and Bud were the only ones who knew that I would be here this weekend, and Bud wouldn't think of saying anything about it. I think you called AJ and told him that I would be here. What are you plotting?"
"I plead the fifth, counselor," Harriet replied, turning to hide her smirk.
"You've been hanging around lawyers too long," Mac grumbled. "Well, I gotta go now; I need to get back to base." She gathered her belongings, said goodbye to her friends, and left. She had a dreamy look on her face, thinking of how she could thank AJ for the wonderful gifts. Harriet saw this, and smiled happily. She picked up the cordless phone by the front door.
"Admiral? Operation Shakespeare was a complete success! She was so happy when she left that I thought she would start skipping to her car! I think she wanted to go find you and thank you, but she didn't want to be late for work tomorrow," Harriet giggled.
"Oh, the op isn't complete yet, Lieutenant." AJ grinned widely. 'I don't want her to be late for work tomorrow, either!'
