Thursday 1030
"Commander Rabb." PO Tiner knocked on Harm's office door.
"Come in." Harm called.
"Sir, the Admiral would like to see you in his office immediately."
"I'm on my way."
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Commander take a seat. I've been asked to inform you that you're being temporarily reassigned."
"Where to sir?"
"The Freedom and Liberty. They need more fighter pilots for the battle group."
"How long am I going to be reassigned for sir?" Harm asked not wanting to be away for long.
"A minimum of 6 weeks upto 12."
"Sir I don't think I ."
"Commander the orders came directly from the SecNav. Do you really want me to tell him you can't go because you got Colonel Mackenzie pregnant, which we at this point aren't discussing and you had an argument which you haven't been able to sort out yet?"
"No sir."
"Good. You ship out at 0700 tomorrow. Hand as many of your cases over to Commander Turner as possible. The ones you can't leave detailed notes for Colonel Mackenzie when she gets back."
"Yes sir. Was there anything else sir?"
"Not officially. But unofficially come back safe Harm, I don't think Mac would take it well if you didn't. Good luck Commander."
"Thank you sir."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Damn." Harm kicked the bin in his office.
"Ouch what did it do to you?" Sturgis asked.
"Sorry. I've been reassigned by the SecNav. They need fighter pilots."
"So that's why I was told to take your cases. How long are you going to be gone for?"
"Minimum of 6 weeks, max 12. I've got to leave before Mac gets back."
"Ah. Did you too sort out your fight yet?"
"No. I suppose you'll find out eventually. Mac's pregnant and before you ask it's mine."
"And you had a fight and ran home after she told you." Harm nodded. "I'll keep an eye on her for you, we all will."
"Thanks. I still would have liked to apologise in person."
"She'll understand why you couldn't though. She knows you better than I do and I've known you a long time. She knows how you react to things, why do you think she had me come after you last week?"
"I know. Let's start with these cases." He changed the subject.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Before he left for the he sat down to write Mac another e-mail.
Hey Marine,
I have some bad news, I've been reassigned for at least six weeks. I Leave before you get back, I'm really sorry I wanted to be here to Apologise in person. I'm sorry, I really am happy about the baby, it Just took me a while to get used to the idea. Promise me you'll keep Me up to date with what's happening. Take care of yourself Ninja- girl.
Love Harm
P.S. I still owe you that ice-cream.
Three days later Harm managed to check his e-mail.
Hey flyboy,
Just to let you know I accept your apology. I'll be fine so will the baby. It's more you I'm worried about, be careful okay. This kid is going to need a dad. Besides you still owe me some ice-cream and it will be very disappointing if the Navy breaks a promise. Do you think genes from the father can rub off on the mother because I have developed a severe craving for lettuce. It tastes like bad water Yuck!!!!
Take care of yourself and write soon. Love Mac.
A week later.
Hey Mac.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. You didn't think I'd forget did you. I'm sorry I can't Be there. I have a promise to keep so your present is being delivered. Enjoy your day. Have fun and say hi to everyone for me.
Love Harm.
"Colonel." Harriet knocked on her door.
"Come in Harriet."
"Ma'am there's someone here to see you. They have a delivery for you."
"Show them in would you." Mac stood.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie?" The delivery man asked.
"Yes." Mac replied.
"Then these are for you." He handed her a bouquet of two dozen red roses. "And this too." He placed a cool box on the table. Mac put the roses in her chair and took the lid off. When she saw the contents she couldn't hold the tears in anymore.
"Is everything okay ma'am? What is it?"
"Chocolate Fudge Brownie flavour ice-cream. It's my birthday present from Harm. He asked little AJ what he should do to make it up to me and AJ told him to buy me a puppy or some ice cream. I told Harm I'd settle for the ice cream."
"That's so sweet. Happy birthday ma'am. Sorry I forget."
"Don't worry I wasn't in the mood to celebrate anyway." Mac wiped her eyes. "Sorry." She apologised to the deliveryman. "Did you need to take the cool box?"
"No. It's all bought and paid for I just need you to sign here to say you have accepted delivery." He held out a clipboard for her to sign. "Thank you and by the way Happy Birthday."
"Thank you."
"I'll go and get a vase for the flowers." When Harriet left Mac took the card out of the flowers.
Happy Birthday Be good and have fun. Love your flyboy Harm xxx
Mac smiled and smelt the roses.
"Nice flowers. From Harm?" Sturgis asked from the open doorway.
"Yes and the ice-cream too. He's in the middle of the the ocean somewhere and he still remembers my birthday."
"Happy Birthday."
"There you go." Harriet brought back the vase. "Do you want me to the put the ice-cream in the freezer part of the fridge?"
"Leave one tub in the cooler and I'll eat it in a minute."
"Do you think ice-cream is the best thing for lunch? How about I take you out as a birthday treat?"
"Okay, put all three tubs in the freezer and Sturgis I have a few phone calls to make so I'll bre ready in about thirty minutes."
"Works for me. I'll stop by then."
Mac sat down at the computer and wrote an e-mail while she was left on hold.
Hey flyboy.
Thanks you for the flowers and the ice-cream, but next time you decide To make incredibly sweet gestures don't have it delivered to the office. It's not very professional to cry at work especially for a Marine Colonel. Sturgis is taking me out for lunch, he doesn't think ice-cream is good Lunch food. But it doesn't matter I'm hungry anyway despite eating Four salad sandwiches since breakfast.
Be safe write soon. Love Mac.
"Commander Rabb." PO Tiner knocked on Harm's office door.
"Come in." Harm called.
"Sir, the Admiral would like to see you in his office immediately."
"I'm on my way."
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Commander take a seat. I've been asked to inform you that you're being temporarily reassigned."
"Where to sir?"
"The Freedom and Liberty. They need more fighter pilots for the battle group."
"How long am I going to be reassigned for sir?" Harm asked not wanting to be away for long.
"A minimum of 6 weeks upto 12."
"Sir I don't think I ."
"Commander the orders came directly from the SecNav. Do you really want me to tell him you can't go because you got Colonel Mackenzie pregnant, which we at this point aren't discussing and you had an argument which you haven't been able to sort out yet?"
"No sir."
"Good. You ship out at 0700 tomorrow. Hand as many of your cases over to Commander Turner as possible. The ones you can't leave detailed notes for Colonel Mackenzie when she gets back."
"Yes sir. Was there anything else sir?"
"Not officially. But unofficially come back safe Harm, I don't think Mac would take it well if you didn't. Good luck Commander."
"Thank you sir."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Damn." Harm kicked the bin in his office.
"Ouch what did it do to you?" Sturgis asked.
"Sorry. I've been reassigned by the SecNav. They need fighter pilots."
"So that's why I was told to take your cases. How long are you going to be gone for?"
"Minimum of 6 weeks, max 12. I've got to leave before Mac gets back."
"Ah. Did you too sort out your fight yet?"
"No. I suppose you'll find out eventually. Mac's pregnant and before you ask it's mine."
"And you had a fight and ran home after she told you." Harm nodded. "I'll keep an eye on her for you, we all will."
"Thanks. I still would have liked to apologise in person."
"She'll understand why you couldn't though. She knows you better than I do and I've known you a long time. She knows how you react to things, why do you think she had me come after you last week?"
"I know. Let's start with these cases." He changed the subject.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Before he left for the he sat down to write Mac another e-mail.
Hey Marine,
I have some bad news, I've been reassigned for at least six weeks. I Leave before you get back, I'm really sorry I wanted to be here to Apologise in person. I'm sorry, I really am happy about the baby, it Just took me a while to get used to the idea. Promise me you'll keep Me up to date with what's happening. Take care of yourself Ninja- girl.
Love Harm
P.S. I still owe you that ice-cream.
Three days later Harm managed to check his e-mail.
Hey flyboy,
Just to let you know I accept your apology. I'll be fine so will the baby. It's more you I'm worried about, be careful okay. This kid is going to need a dad. Besides you still owe me some ice-cream and it will be very disappointing if the Navy breaks a promise. Do you think genes from the father can rub off on the mother because I have developed a severe craving for lettuce. It tastes like bad water Yuck!!!!
Take care of yourself and write soon. Love Mac.
A week later.
Hey Mac.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. You didn't think I'd forget did you. I'm sorry I can't Be there. I have a promise to keep so your present is being delivered. Enjoy your day. Have fun and say hi to everyone for me.
Love Harm.
"Colonel." Harriet knocked on her door.
"Come in Harriet."
"Ma'am there's someone here to see you. They have a delivery for you."
"Show them in would you." Mac stood.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie?" The delivery man asked.
"Yes." Mac replied.
"Then these are for you." He handed her a bouquet of two dozen red roses. "And this too." He placed a cool box on the table. Mac put the roses in her chair and took the lid off. When she saw the contents she couldn't hold the tears in anymore.
"Is everything okay ma'am? What is it?"
"Chocolate Fudge Brownie flavour ice-cream. It's my birthday present from Harm. He asked little AJ what he should do to make it up to me and AJ told him to buy me a puppy or some ice cream. I told Harm I'd settle for the ice cream."
"That's so sweet. Happy birthday ma'am. Sorry I forget."
"Don't worry I wasn't in the mood to celebrate anyway." Mac wiped her eyes. "Sorry." She apologised to the deliveryman. "Did you need to take the cool box?"
"No. It's all bought and paid for I just need you to sign here to say you have accepted delivery." He held out a clipboard for her to sign. "Thank you and by the way Happy Birthday."
"Thank you."
"I'll go and get a vase for the flowers." When Harriet left Mac took the card out of the flowers.
Happy Birthday Be good and have fun. Love your flyboy Harm xxx
Mac smiled and smelt the roses.
"Nice flowers. From Harm?" Sturgis asked from the open doorway.
"Yes and the ice-cream too. He's in the middle of the the ocean somewhere and he still remembers my birthday."
"Happy Birthday."
"There you go." Harriet brought back the vase. "Do you want me to the put the ice-cream in the freezer part of the fridge?"
"Leave one tub in the cooler and I'll eat it in a minute."
"Do you think ice-cream is the best thing for lunch? How about I take you out as a birthday treat?"
"Okay, put all three tubs in the freezer and Sturgis I have a few phone calls to make so I'll bre ready in about thirty minutes."
"Works for me. I'll stop by then."
Mac sat down at the computer and wrote an e-mail while she was left on hold.
Hey flyboy.
Thanks you for the flowers and the ice-cream, but next time you decide To make incredibly sweet gestures don't have it delivered to the office. It's not very professional to cry at work especially for a Marine Colonel. Sturgis is taking me out for lunch, he doesn't think ice-cream is good Lunch food. But it doesn't matter I'm hungry anyway despite eating Four salad sandwiches since breakfast.
Be safe write soon. Love Mac.