Chapter 11 The Deployment
Sherri always knew that the Col. was special to Harm, now she really knew just how special the Col. was to Him. What Sherri had thought was a special friendship between Harm and the Col. was in reality a romance that was unspoken between the naval officer and the Marine. Sherri felt like a fool, but she had to go on. She had the deployment to Afghanistan and Chris to worry about. She knew that her mom would take care of Chris, but to explain to a nine year old why her mom has to leave her again would prove difficult.
At the hospital, Sherri had a million things to take care of including her promotion ceremony that would take place this very afternoon. Sherri's office phone rang.
"Janet would you please get that for me?" Sherri asked her best friend and co-worker.
Capt. James's office, Lt. Meyers speaking.
Lt. This is Cmdr. Rabb. Is Sherri there?
Janet looked over at Sherri for a signal. She got one.
I'm sorry Cmdr. Capt James is sort of tied up at the moment. May I give her a message?
Just have her call me, Lt.
Janet hung up the phone. She noticed that Sherri had a tear in her eye.
"You still care for him, don't you?"
"Is it that obvious?" Sherri asked.
"Sure is." Jan said. "We better get our sixes to the promotion ceremony."
Everybody had gathered in Col. Johnson's office for Sherri's promotion to major. The presentation began.
The ceremony was short and to the point. Everyone there wished Sherri the very best. She was well aware that one important person who she still cared for was not present. Sherri was tired and wanted to go home and spent some time with Chris before she left the country.
At home Sherri relaxed with her daughter.
"Mom," Christina said to Sherri. "You were just promoted, but you still don't seem happy. I can tell you miss Harm. Why don't you go visit him? Grandma and I will be fine."
"It's not that easy, Chris. Yes, I still care for Harm, but he hurt me. It's an adult thing. You'll understand some day."
"Mother."
"OK. I'll call first."
Sherri called Harm on the phone. He was glad to hear from her and was appreciative that Sherri would give him a chance to explain.
Sherri arrived at Harm's apartment, north of Union station in DC.
"Hi, sailor. May I come in?" Sherri asked.
"Come on in, sweet thing. You look beautiful." Harm said with a smile. He held out his arms for Sherri.
"Harm, we need to talk." Sherri stated matter-of-factly.
"I agree. Make yourself comfortable. I'll get us something to drink while we talk."
"I can't have any alcohol before I deploy tomorrow." Sherri sat cozily on the sofa.
"No problem. How about some nice cool iced tea?"
Harm sat close to Sherri on the sofa. He leaned in toward her and gave her a passionate kiss.
"Mmmmm. Harm. Sherri whispered as she returned Harm's kiss.
"Harm, I care about you. I really do. No one has meant as much to me as you do in a very long time."
"I really care about you too, Sherri." Harm said
"I want to believe that Harm. I really do with all my heart, but how can I after I heard what you said to Col. McKenzie the night before our wedding? One question, Harm. Is Mac your dream girl?"
"Do you want the truth?" Harm sounded serious and Sherri held her breath.
"I can handle it." She finally answered.
"I've been doing some thinking lately."
"Are you in love with her?" Sherri was trying to not let the tear in her eye show.
"Come on, Sherri. She's getting married soon. We fight like cats and dogs."
"Then tell her to get out of your dreams. Sherri smiled.
"I know one thing" Harm said.
Here it comes the big but, Sherri thought.
" I want you in my life." Harm kissed Sherri tenderly.
"Not second best." Sherri asked, as she gently returned Harm's kiss.
Harm scooped Sherri up gently and carried her into a more private part of the apartment. The room was dimly lit and a romantic atmosphere was present. It was a wonderful night for both Sherri and Harm.
The next morning, Sherri woke up early and donned her uniform. She phoned her mother and arranged to meet her and Chris at Andrews at the appointed time.
"Wake up, sailor. It's almost time to go." Sherri teased Harm.
"Already?" Harm moaned as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
"Yup, you know what they say. The military waits for no man, or woman."
Harm pulled Sherri gently closer to him and kissed her passinately. She returned the kiss amorously.
"Harm, leaving now is harder then I thought it would be. I love you, sailor. I always have and I always will." Sherri gave Harm a huge bear hug and kiss.
Everyone arrived at Andrews. They gathered in a hanger that was set up so that the families of the departing troops could be with their families for a short time.
"There's mom and Chris." Sherri pointed out.
Sherri kissed her mom and held Chris tight. Barbara was glad that Sherri and Harm had a chance to talk things over. "Chris you listen to grandma and be a good girl."
Chris said that she would.
" I just want to let you know that I love all of you." Sherri said with a tear in her eye.
"Harm, stay safe. I do love you. Never forget that." Sherri had tears filling her eyes.
" I love you, too. You be safe until you return home to us." Harm kissed Sherri tenderly.
"I love all of you." Sherri shouted as she walked toward the aircraft that would take her so far away from Harm and her family.
Sherri always knew that the Col. was special to Harm, now she really knew just how special the Col. was to Him. What Sherri had thought was a special friendship between Harm and the Col. was in reality a romance that was unspoken between the naval officer and the Marine. Sherri felt like a fool, but she had to go on. She had the deployment to Afghanistan and Chris to worry about. She knew that her mom would take care of Chris, but to explain to a nine year old why her mom has to leave her again would prove difficult.
At the hospital, Sherri had a million things to take care of including her promotion ceremony that would take place this very afternoon. Sherri's office phone rang.
"Janet would you please get that for me?" Sherri asked her best friend and co-worker.
Capt. James's office, Lt. Meyers speaking.
Lt. This is Cmdr. Rabb. Is Sherri there?
Janet looked over at Sherri for a signal. She got one.
I'm sorry Cmdr. Capt James is sort of tied up at the moment. May I give her a message?
Just have her call me, Lt.
Janet hung up the phone. She noticed that Sherri had a tear in her eye.
"You still care for him, don't you?"
"Is it that obvious?" Sherri asked.
"Sure is." Jan said. "We better get our sixes to the promotion ceremony."
Everybody had gathered in Col. Johnson's office for Sherri's promotion to major. The presentation began.
The ceremony was short and to the point. Everyone there wished Sherri the very best. She was well aware that one important person who she still cared for was not present. Sherri was tired and wanted to go home and spent some time with Chris before she left the country.
At home Sherri relaxed with her daughter.
"Mom," Christina said to Sherri. "You were just promoted, but you still don't seem happy. I can tell you miss Harm. Why don't you go visit him? Grandma and I will be fine."
"It's not that easy, Chris. Yes, I still care for Harm, but he hurt me. It's an adult thing. You'll understand some day."
"Mother."
"OK. I'll call first."
Sherri called Harm on the phone. He was glad to hear from her and was appreciative that Sherri would give him a chance to explain.
Sherri arrived at Harm's apartment, north of Union station in DC.
"Hi, sailor. May I come in?" Sherri asked.
"Come on in, sweet thing. You look beautiful." Harm said with a smile. He held out his arms for Sherri.
"Harm, we need to talk." Sherri stated matter-of-factly.
"I agree. Make yourself comfortable. I'll get us something to drink while we talk."
"I can't have any alcohol before I deploy tomorrow." Sherri sat cozily on the sofa.
"No problem. How about some nice cool iced tea?"
Harm sat close to Sherri on the sofa. He leaned in toward her and gave her a passionate kiss.
"Mmmmm. Harm. Sherri whispered as she returned Harm's kiss.
"Harm, I care about you. I really do. No one has meant as much to me as you do in a very long time."
"I really care about you too, Sherri." Harm said
"I want to believe that Harm. I really do with all my heart, but how can I after I heard what you said to Col. McKenzie the night before our wedding? One question, Harm. Is Mac your dream girl?"
"Do you want the truth?" Harm sounded serious and Sherri held her breath.
"I can handle it." She finally answered.
"I've been doing some thinking lately."
"Are you in love with her?" Sherri was trying to not let the tear in her eye show.
"Come on, Sherri. She's getting married soon. We fight like cats and dogs."
"Then tell her to get out of your dreams. Sherri smiled.
"I know one thing" Harm said.
Here it comes the big but, Sherri thought.
" I want you in my life." Harm kissed Sherri tenderly.
"Not second best." Sherri asked, as she gently returned Harm's kiss.
Harm scooped Sherri up gently and carried her into a more private part of the apartment. The room was dimly lit and a romantic atmosphere was present. It was a wonderful night for both Sherri and Harm.
The next morning, Sherri woke up early and donned her uniform. She phoned her mother and arranged to meet her and Chris at Andrews at the appointed time.
"Wake up, sailor. It's almost time to go." Sherri teased Harm.
"Already?" Harm moaned as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
"Yup, you know what they say. The military waits for no man, or woman."
Harm pulled Sherri gently closer to him and kissed her passinately. She returned the kiss amorously.
"Harm, leaving now is harder then I thought it would be. I love you, sailor. I always have and I always will." Sherri gave Harm a huge bear hug and kiss.
Everyone arrived at Andrews. They gathered in a hanger that was set up so that the families of the departing troops could be with their families for a short time.
"There's mom and Chris." Sherri pointed out.
Sherri kissed her mom and held Chris tight. Barbara was glad that Sherri and Harm had a chance to talk things over. "Chris you listen to grandma and be a good girl."
Chris said that she would.
" I just want to let you know that I love all of you." Sherri said with a tear in her eye.
"Harm, stay safe. I do love you. Never forget that." Sherri had tears filling her eyes.
" I love you, too. You be safe until you return home to us." Harm kissed Sherri tenderly.
"I love all of you." Sherri shouted as she walked toward the aircraft that would take her so far away from Harm and her family.
