Disclaimers: same as before. I don't own a thing besides my 8 year old computer and my car, so PLEASE don't sue me.
1430 ZULU
December 23, 2003
still somewhere in the Persian Gulf
knock...knock
"Enter."
"Commander Rabb, you have a visitor sir from the USO tour." Petty Officer Reynolds said. "She asked to be brought to you directly, sir."
"Then show her in." I answered knowing full well who it was.
"You do realize you look more like your Father now, than you did just a few years ago. I guess it's the mustache you grew."
"Hello, Ms. Lake. It is nice to see you again. How has your family been?"
"My family has been great. In about a week I will be a Grandma for the first time. My oldest is expecting twin girls.," she informs me, and I smile thinking how nice it would be to be expecting a baby with Mac. "How about you Harm? I see that smile you gave me at the mention of a baby. Anyone special?"
"Not yet, but hopefully when I get home I can finally tell her how I feel, regs be damned." I exclaimed.
"Oh she's a fellow officer then if you have to worry about regs?" She asks and I nod my ascent. "Do you have any clue as to how you will tell her?"
"Well, she sent me a cd of songs that she has been listening to lately that I would have to be blind not to notice that they all mention something about a love that's lost. I really don't want that to happen, so I know I need to tell ..." I was cut off by a thin blond man entering the room who looked vaguely familiar. "Can I help you sir?" I ask him.
"Actually I was looking for Jenny. I wanted to rehearse the song she's going to sing, I've never been one to play Christmas music a lot." He replied.
"Harm, where are my manners? Harm this is one of the other performers Gunnar Nelson. Gunnar, this is Commander Harmon Rabb Jr." Jenny introduced us and I shook his hand. So that was where I knew him from.
"I have grown up loving your father's music Gunnar." I tell him.
"Thank you, you'll have to say something to Matt whenever you see him. I don't mean to pry, but when I walked in were you talking about ways to let someone know how you feel?" He asked me.
"Actually I was. My partner at work, Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, is the woman I have loved for several years, but have never had the guts to tell her. But after everything I have been through in the last three months, I don't want to loose another chance to tell her how I feel. I mean, Everyday that I live without her, I just can't help but dream about her." He smiled and nodded his ascent and I continued. "She always said I needed to get my head out of my six, and now I realize she was right. I love her, and I don't know how to tell her."
"If you don't mind me making a suggestion, I think I have a solution for you." He hesitates until I nod my agreement. "At the show dedicate a song to her. Not necessarily a love song, but one that definitely shows how you feel."
"Sounds good, but how will she even know? She's not on the ship, or even in this area. She is back home in Washington DC." I ask Gunnar.
"This whole show will be televised so even if she doesn't see it, someone is bound to see it and let her know. And if you'll let me make another suggestion, I think I have the perfect song for you." Gunnar asked me.
"What song would you suggest?" I asked him.
"When you were talking earlier you made a comment about dreaming about her, and it reminded me of a line from one of our songs called Everywhere I Go. I think it would be perfect, not too sappy, but it definitely will let her know how you feel." Gunnar tells me.
"I always have liked that song.." Jenny says smiling at me.
"Me too." I answer back. "I think I even know what I want you to say in the dedication."
"What do you want me to say?" Gunnar asks.
"From a Squid to his Jarhead, I have loved you since we met in The Rose Garden." I state.
"She's a Marine, Harm?" Jenny asks me.
"Yeah, and I love her anyway." I smile back at her. "Come what may, I will love her."
At this time another head popped itself inside my doorway. "I am sorry to interrupt this little chat flyboy, but these two are needed for some rehearsals. If you want to come along and watch I won't mind. You're kinda cute." This newcomer says.
I blush, but answer her. "Why thank you Ms. Midler, but I think I will stay here and finish getting my stuff organized to go home." I smile my best flyboy grin at her.
"That is the best smile I have seen on this ship since our pilot, a Jack Keeter, escorted us onto this ship." Bette says to me.
"Keeter was your pilot?" I asked surprised, and she nods yes. "Then I really feel sorry for you. If you see him, please let him know where I am?"
"Will do, and if you change your mind about watching us, I am sure you can find us." With that last statement Bette and the others turned and left the room.
I sat there in my now empty stateroom, and thought about what I had just done. I realized that I probably needed to get a hold of the Admiral and let him know what was going on. It's still early back home, maybe I can catch him at JAG? I got up and made my way to the payphones down the corridor from my stateroom. The line was quite long, but I decided to wait anyway. An hour later I was finally at the phone, picking it up, and dialing to JAG HQ. Then I heard Tiner's voice.
Admiral Chegwidden's office Petty Officer Tiner speaking. How may I help you?
"Tiner, this is Commander Rabb. Is the Admiral in?" I asked him
Commander! It's nice to hear from you sir. I'll put you right through to the Admiral sir. The next thing I know the Admiral is on the phone.
Commander Rabb! How nice of you to call. How are you doing Harm?
"Admiral..." I began before I was cut off by the Admiral.
Harm, call me AJ. I think after everything that's gone on you can call me that. So to what do I owe for the honor of this call? The Admiral asked.
"Sir, AJ, I wanted to tell you something that might affect my working at JAG when I get back."
Well, son, what is it? He asked me.
"Sir, I.." Suddenly I was grateful no one else was waiting for a phone. "I just wanted to let you know that I will be dedicating a song to Mac in the USO show, to let her know how I feel. I am not going to beat around the bush anymore. And I wanted to see if you would make sure that she would be watching the show tomorrow night?" I hoped the Admiral would agree.
Harm I can only say that it's about damn time you came to your senses. I can honestly say that Mac will definitely be watching the show. I don't think wild horses could drag her away from this one. All she has talked about recently was that this would be her opportunity to catch a glimpse of you and to assure herself that you are okay. And as for this affecting your working here, I don't think you have to worry about that. Even the SecNav knows how you feel, and he came to me the other day and said that if you two ever came to your senses then he would have no problem with it. Harm, I really must go now. I will see you when you get back.
"Thank you sir. And Merry Christmas to you." I answered him.
Merry Christmas to you Harm, and I hope you enjoy your gift you will be receiving tomorrow. With that the Admiral hung up the phone, and I was left with a dial tone.
I wonder what he meant by that? A present? I made my way back to my stateroom thinking about it all the way. As my roommate was already asleep on his bunk, I silently got ready and climbed into my bunk.