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** "Saying Goodbye"**


"When is Sturgis coming?" Mac asked sticking her head out of the bathroom door.


"He should be here any minute, where are the boys?" I replied and caught my shaving kit that she threw at me.


"Matt and the twins are watching a movie, and Troy is still sleeping.


"Still?" I said amazed. "He has been sleeping for what? Almost three hours now."


"Yeah, I figure the longer he sleeps the better," she said finally emerging from the bathroom.


"I wish we didn't have to go," I said taking her into my arms.


"Me either, but hopefully we can get back before the twins birthday," she said. "God if we miss that..."


"We won't. Listen the allegation against Sargent Miller is weak. All we have to do is go iron out his story and we'll be on the first plane home."


"Come on let's take our gear down, and go say goodbye to our rugrats," she said leading the way downstairs.


Downstairs Mac and I watched while the boys were engrossed in the movie. I stood behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist as we watched our boys. It has taken us so long to get to this point, and sometimes I still wake up thinking that these past few years have all been a dream.


The sound of the doorbell shook me out of our revere, as Sturgis let himself in.


"Anybody home?" He called dropping his duffle bag on the floor.


"Uncle Sturgis!" the boys all said at once, launching themselves in his arms.


"Well hello to you guys too," he said and laughed. When he finally turned his attention to us, he just shook his head and laughed.


"I don't know how you guys do this day after day."


"Are you sure you're going to be okay with them Sturgis?" Mac asked picking Troy up.


"We'll be fine you guys," he said picking up the twins, Shawn and Bobby.


"We had better get to the airport," I told Mac taking Troy out of her hands.


"Momma, Dada when you come home?" Shawn asks.


I leaned down in front of him and ruffled his hair. "We'll be home as soon as we can champ. You guys be good for uncle Sturgis, okay?"


"We will," Booby said Shawn said together followed by Matt.


I know it was foolish but Mac and I hung on to the boys until Sturgis was literally pushing us out the door. When the three of us were alone on the front porch, Mac and I filled Sturgis in on some last minute rules.


"...oh and if by some chance that we don't make it back in time for the twins birthday party, their presents are in the top of our closet."


"Don't worry about it, and besides you'll be back in time. Now go before you miss the plane."


We said one last farewell to the boys and headed to the airport.


"What's wrong Mac," I ask noticing that she looked a little sick.


"Nothing, I'm okay," she said.


"Is it that stomach bug? the one that Matt had?"


"Yeah, that's probably it," she said distractedly taking a small sip of her water.


"You know if you're not feeling good, I can ask the Admiral to send someone-"


"Harm, I'm fine! Would you just quit worrying? Besides the sooner we get this investigation over with the better."


"Sarah I just-"


"I'm fine Harm, lets just leave it at that."


We drove the rest of the way to the airport in silence.


TBC...


(A/N: Just so you're not confused, harm and Mac have four boys. Matthew James 6yrs, Robert (Bobby) Andrew (Twin) 4yrs, Shawn Patrick (Twin) 4yrs, Troy Nathaniel 3yrs.)


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