The Ring Part 3
Petty Officer Tiner looked like a criminal the way he was sitting at his desk, hunched hard over a small form. He kept glancing up to see if anybody was approaching, grinned, and filled out the form nice and neat. It took a long time to figure out how to word it, and he considered all day long whose names should fill in the boxes on the request chit. It was going to take months to do it right, but it was worth it.
"What's that?" Colonel MacKenzie said, popped an M&M in her mouth from Tiner's candy bowl and paused with a file before reporting to the Admiral's office.
Tiner covered the chit and looked up guilty. "Ma'am?"
The Colonel flicked her chin with a grin as she chewed, "Lemme see, 'Tin Man'."
"You can't tell anybody, ma'am," Tiner waited for agreement.
The Colonel nodded and held out her hand. She pulled the request chit to his eyes and her face lit up. She nodded, took another M&M and gave it back. "You should put her father in the CO's box."
Tiner shook his head, "I'm going to have to live with Gary and Skyler, ma'am."
The Colonel shrugged agreement at that and motioned to The Mahogany Door. "Are you armed today, Tiner?"
Tiner smiled and pressed a button, "Admiral, Colonel Mackenzie is here to see you, sir."
"Send her in."
The Colonel thanked him quietly, grinned a little about the cute request chit, and sighed away her resolve that Tiner was the keeper of the ring by the time the door closed behind her.
"Have a seat, Colonel." The Admiral said easily, put down his pen and got out of his chair.
Mac sat down, hung an elbow daintily on the armrest and crossed her legs. "What can I do for you, sir?"
The Admiral sat down in the other guest chair and turned slightly to talk to her. "Actually, I think there's something I can do for you."
"Sir?" She was listening.
"Have you considered your career options after JAG, Colonel?"
Her mouth opened a moment, and she lifted her chin with her answer. "I have given it a lot of thought, sir, but I'm not sure I'm ready to move yet."
"Has a judgeship been one of your thoughts?"
Her grin came out in waves of embarrassment. "Occasionally... sir."
He reached over to his desk and grabbed a single sheet of paper and his glasses. He put his glasses on and lifted his nose so he could read through them. "I received this notice from downstairs about a position opening up. They have requested I make a recommendation to fill the position and I, personally, think you would make and excellent judge, Colonel."
"Permanently, sir?"
He handed the paper over for her to see. "I don't think I need to remind you that it would be a change of command, and while I would have a hard time filling your position on my staff, I think, professionally and personally, it's time for you to move on."
Her mouth was softly agape and her eyes wide eyed on the paper. "That's a lot to consider, sir." She handed the sheet back and licked her lower lip.
"Consider it," he said quietly and quieted his voice even more. "We will miss you. I'm not telling you that I don't want the door slam you in the rear, but I know there are a few things on hold while you are still in this command."
"Professionally and personally," she echoed and nodded with full understanding now. "Yes, sir."
"My letter of rec is due by the end of the week."
"Yes, sir. I understand sir."
The Admiral got up with a soft smile on his lips, even if he wasn't looking at her, "dismissed."
The Colonel came to attention, "Yes, sir," about faced and left with a huge, overwhelmed smile.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Jodi came in with a visitor's badge and jumped a little to stay out of everybody's way as she moved through the office to Tiner's corner of the world. She paused when she saw that The Mahogany Door was open. She didn't want to get in the way of business.
She stepped around so she could see Tiner's desk. He looked up and slid a small form away and into a drawer. He flicked his chin for her to get in the chair and she followed the order as quietly as she could.
Tiner smoothly pulled out another file and opened it, glanced through the open Mahogany Door, the clock, and opened the file to work on something else until he could go to lunch.
Jodi could hear that the Admiral was on the phone now because his voice had risen with surprise. Tiner looked up again, then stood up at the motion of an order. He stepped around and closed the door. He looked worried.
"What's the matter?" She whispered.
He shook his head. He didn't know. He thought a long moment and moved to get back behind his desk, but the door opened again just as he was lowering to his chair.
Jodi watched the next scene with widened eyes and frozen in place.
The Admiral emerged with orders flying from his stiff mouth. He looked out to the floor and called the first body he saw, "Lieutenant! Gather key personnel for an emergency staff meeting in my office."
"Yes, sir."
"Tiner! Air Force One is taking off from Andrews in," he looked at his watch, "seventy two minutes." He pointed hard at his yeoman. "Get me on it."
Tiner was already at attention by the time the orders were done, but he collapsed to pick up his phone. "Yes, sir."
The Commander, the Colonel, Lt Roberts, Lt Simms… were individually hustling passed the Admiral to get into his office and find a place to stand at attention.
The Admiral's turned half way to go back in and his eyes caught on Jodi. He realized instantly that the social gatherings they'd had turned out to make this move to a civilian a hell of a lot easier, instead of harder.
He pointed at her and shoved a thumb over his shoulder. "You. Out."
He was fairly impressed when it worked.
"Yes, sir," Jodi said sharp and quick. She exchanged an understanding glance with Tiner as she hustled quickly out of the way. The only part that Jodi felt bad about was that she couldn't play sailor too.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Commander Rabb was at the end of the line in the Admiral's office, Colonel Mackenzie was next to him, then Sturgis, then Roberts, then Simms. All five were standing at attention and staring out the window and wondering, unworried, what this was all about.
After Admiral Cheggwidden was done barking at Jodi, he came back into the office and closed the door. "All right people, I'm off to Geneva. Commander Rabb-
"Yes, sir."
"-You are acting JAG. Commander Turner –"
"Yes, sir."
"-Take Commander Rabb's cases. Lt Roberts-"
"Yes, sir."
"-You are going to take the Colonel's cases-"
"Yes, sir."
"- Lt Simms, keep the office running smoothly and deal with that Watch Stander issue-"
"Yes, sir."
"-and Colonel Mackenzie." He stopped to hold his wrests behind his back and faced her, "unfortunately I can no longer give you a week."
Her mouth opened, but she closed it again, "I understand, sir."
"Can you give me an answer?" He angled his head expectantly.
Mac actually looked him in the eye. "Yes, sir. I'd like the opportunity, sir."
Tiner came through the closed door and closed it again behind him. He stood at attention just inside the door with a couple of files under his arm.
"Good," the Admiral said as if he would have ordered her to do it anyway. "I will fax it to Commander Rabb from Geneva, and Commander?" He looked the man in the eyes even if the man didn't look back, "you will forward my letter of recommendation for her transfer."
Harm expression looked like he'd just been kicked in the gut.
Sturgis, Roberts, and Simms all glanced in one fashion or another but flicked back before anybody saw. The only person that didn't look surprised was Tiner.
Harm looked at Mac, she was still standing at attention. His slanted brows turned to the Admiral. "Sir?"
The Admiral pressed his mouth and gave him a glare.
Harm went back to attention, but his voice was beaten. "Yes, sir."
The Admiral moved to his desk and pulled up his briefcase. "Rabb, you're with me to the airport so I can turn the rest of it over. Everyone else, dismissed."
After all the 'yes, sirs', they about faced and sighed as they moved passed Tiner out the door.
"A transfer, sir?" Rabb echoed now that most everyone was gone.
"Not now, Rabb." He stuffed a stack of files into the Commander's hands and slammed his briefcase shut. He was already rattling off the status of the things as they left the room. Rabb took the files and followed him. The Admiral paused at Tiner.
"You have a seat on Air Force One, sir, and I have a car ready for you," Tiner reported.
The Admiral nodded and jumped back into ordering the Commander things to do. Tiner fell in behind and followed their fast pace until they were outside. Petty Officer Greks stepped aside like everyone else for the Admiral to pass, but held the keys in the air when Tiner passed him. Tiner swiftly grabbed them with a 'thankyou' flick of his brow, and hurried up to opened the car door for the Admiral.
Tiner pretended not to hear anything unless it was an order addressed specifically to him. He was used to this. The seat was still warm from Greks driving the car over and leaving it in front of the quarterdeck for him. This wasn't the first time he, Greks, and Chief Yonsek so instantaneously managed a car that the Admiral barely had time to think what kind of an orchestra was required to pull it off.
Being a Yeoman was one of those jobs that no one noticed you unless you were doing it wrong, like being a hotel maid, or a janitor… Tiner climbed into the driver's seat, buckled up, and quickly got the car moving down the road.
In the back seat, the orders started to lean towards debating when the Commander made suggestions on how to handle this or that. He wrote notes on the file on his knee and asked the right questions about the right issues. The car sped up on the freeway and moved quickly around the loop, and eventually, the Admiral had nothing more to pass over.
The Commander looked over the notes so far. His pen hovered over the file. "Anything else, sir?"
"Tiner," the Admiral said, and leaned between the bucket seats to toss up his car keys, "get my car home and make sure my plants get watered."
"Yes, sir." Tiner took the keys from over his shoulder and stuffed them into his pocket.
"Didn't even get a chance to pack," the Admiral muttered, then shouted, "and call Ms Cavanaugh. Try to explain it to her. I won't be able to call from the plane."
"Yes, sir."
"Can't you call her now, sir?" Rabb asked cautiously.
The Admiral shook his head. "She's in class."
Rabb closed the file and settled in. "About Colonel MacKenzie's transfer, sir-"
The Admiral looked out the opposite window. His voice was loud and harsh. "You knew it was going to happen sooner or later, Commander."
"Where are you sending her, sir?"
The Admiral glanced over and pointed out arrogantly, "I am not at liberty to say, Commander."
Rabb closed his mouth and sighed through his nose.
"You know, Meredith keeps asking me about that damned engagement ring that Simms found in the office last week. She's wondering why it hasn't showed up on somebody's finger yet."
Rabb looked out the other window. Tiner's eyes flicked to the mirror and back to the road.
"Tiner?"
"Yes, sir?"
"You've got your ear to the ground," he said with an almost a smile. "What's the shoptalk have to say about it?"
"Honestly, sir?" Tiner asked cautiously. He really didn't want to have to admit this.
"Yes. Honestly. Who does everybody have the money on?"
Tiner swallowed and kept his eyes on the road. "The shoptalk has narrowed it down to three people, sir."
"And they are?"
Tiner stuttered this one a little, "Well, sir, they've narrowed it down to the three of us, sir. You, the Commander, and me."
The Admiral nodded, it was as he expected, and rolled his head easily to Rabb. "Now why would the JAG office think you are a suspect in that mystery, Commander?"
Rabb was staring out the window with his elbow on the sill and his fingers pinched in front of his pursed lips.
"Any more questions about the Colonel's transfer?" the Admiral challenged.
Rabb shook his head long before dropping his hand and verbally responding. "No, sir."
The Admiral nodded at his win and looked out the window at their progress.
Tiner pulled up in front of Andrew's AFB kiosk then and pulled out his ID card. In the back seat, the Commander and Admiral did the same thing. The marine ducked his head in each window to check them thoroughly, and came to a swift attention and salute to let them through.
They had to go through two more of the same inspection to get to Air Force One, and finally, Tiner stopped the car and hopped out. He saluted when he opened the door for the Admiral, and the Admiral was gathering his briefcase and his coat so much that he barely flicked at his bill so Tiner could put his hand down.
Without a glance at either of them, the Admiral step away. "Hold down my fort, Gentlemen."
"Yes, sir," they said in unison and watched the Admiral strut away to the heavily guarded jetliner.
Tiner waited to see if the Commander, now acting JAG, was expecting to have the door held open for him too, but Rabb didn't look at him. Still upset about Mac's transfer, he shook his head, stepped around the Petty Officer and climbed in the front passenger seat instead.
Tiner closed the back door and trotted around to the driver's side to hurry them both back to work.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
It was nearly 8 o'clock at night, but Harm was cleaning the counters of his kitchenette with the energy of a morning run. His mouth was stiff and his eyes narrowed as his arm rapidly scrubbed the sink. His face and shoulders were tense as if he was angry at the thing for not coming bright-white clean. But it was clean - it was just a black sink.
The phone twiddle itself alive again, but Harm only gritted his teeth a little and kept scrubbing, letting it switch over to the answering machine.
Mac's voice peeped up again. Beeeep. "Harm? I know you're home. I want to explain. I didn't have a chance to tell you about the transfer, first. . . . Harm? Please pick up?" She let out a deep sigh and hung up.
Harm's eyes didn't move away from the bleach white foam on the shiny black sink, but he did pause his scrubbing and closed his eyes. She's trying to run away again. He could feel it. Requesting a transfer was her way of putting distance between them. Had to be.
A soft knock sounded on the door.
Harm blinked out of his thoughts and threw the scrubber into the sink. He wiped his hands on a towel as he strode easily to the door. He had a suspicion who it was and debated whether or not to open the door. He wanted to talk to her, he really did, but he was afraid of the excuses, the explanations, and how bad they were going to hurt.
The phone rang again.
Harm closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself, swallowed hard, and opened the door.
Mac hit a thumb on her cell phone and dropped it into her jacket pocket. Harm's twiddling phone went silent without further ado. Harm sighed through his nose and stepped back to let her in, but didn't exchange glances with her until he'd already closed and locked the door behind her.
Mac pulled her jacket off as she watched him out of the corner of her eye. She casually hung it up on the old-fashioned coat rack.
He was looking up to the rafters with an open mouth and slanted brows. His voice was quiet and tight. "Where are you going?"
Mac couldn't help but smile at this. She folded her arms at her chest and faced him down with a lifted chin. "Downstairs."
First, his brows wrinkled, and then his eyes flicked to the side.
He lifted his head to leer his pure confusion at her.
Mac arrogantly raised a brow at him. "The Admiral has recommended me for the gavel."
His stomach tightened a little, but his tone climbed off the soap box. "Congratulations."
She angled her head to nod, "thank you," and swiveled on her heels to move deeper into the apartment. "I would have told you sooner but you were avoiding my messages."
"I asked you at work," Harm pointed out as he followed her. "You brushed me off."
"We're beyond being colleagues, Harm. I didn't want to have this discussion at work." She helped herself to the refrigerator and pulled out a half-empty bottle of sparkling cider. He had bought it for a dinner they'd had a week ago, and, as she suspected, hadn't touched it since then.
Harm sat down on the stool and crossed his elbows on the kitchen bar. "This will be a change of command for you."
Mac brought out two goblets and put them on the counter in front of him with a proud tilt of her chin. "Yep."
"I heard about the slot opening up. Did the Admiral say why he picked you for this job?" 'Instead of me', was the unspoken end to that question.
"Nope." Her deep brown eyes giggled as she poured the glasses. "But look on the bright side, Harm, you'll still have the chance to fire off weapons in the courtroom."
He rolled his eyes a little, and grinned out almost a squeak in his voice. "Not with you on the bench, I won't."
Her face blossomed into a big, power-filled smile at that. She picked up her goblet and looked over the rim at him as she sipped.
Harm had his head angled a little, gazing through a dozen deep thoughts into his cider as he rotated the goblet gently by the stem.
Mac put her glass down and folded her elbows on the counter to look him in the eye. His eyes flicked up expectantly. She was clearly teasing him. "At least it'll give you a chance to make use of that ring."
His face lifted a little more, almost to the point of looking down his nose at her, and clearly not folding so easily on this particular witness stand. "What ring?"
She licked her lower lip and stood tall again, leaving it at that, and strolled into the living room with her goblet. "Do you deny that you are the owner of the ring Lt Simms found under her desk?"
He nearly chuckled and swiveled in the stool. "I can neither confirm nor deny that, your honor."
Mac turned at his audacity before sitting down. "The witness will answer the question."
He lifted a brow as he got up, "the witness is being badgered."
Harm chuckled as he stepped over. Mac's eyes flicked to the sky for patience as she sat down. "Was it your ring or not?"
Harm chuckled deeply as he sat down on the couch next to her and set his goblet on the coffee table. "Asked and answered."
She dropped her head back with a groan and he only chuckled more at her.
His voice was smiling, but careful nonetheless. "Why are you so interested in engagement rings all of a sudden?"
Mac sighed and turned to him, resting her shoulder easily on the back of the couch. "I'm not," she said with honesty. "Not exactly, but when Harriett found it, the look on your face…" she inhaled a new smile and shook her head. "I don't know."
Blue eyes were intense on her, even with shining sparkles at her from the side.
Mac squirmed a little in the stare, and easily diverted her eyes with a slight change of subject. "Besides, I know whose ring it is already."
Surprise flooded his face so much that he leaned back on the couch and propped his elbow on the frame. "Do tell."
"I caught Tiner working on a request chit to send around to the family, 'respectfully requesting permission to ah…" she thought in the air to get the wording right, "love, honor, and cherish Jodi and her children for the rest of his life.'"
His smile showed all teeth and the tip of his tongue again before he shrugged indifferently. "Must have been his ring then."
He said that way too easily and Mac watched like a vulture at how he so casually reached over to pick up his goblet. Her eyes drilled into his as he faced her again, and Harm almost pulled off looking like he didn't notice when he lifted his goblet. "A toast to your promotion."
The goblets tinked quietly and they both sipped, but brown eyes watched over the rim for a flicker of confirmation that he had nearly been caught by the short hairs… and blue eyes watched over the rim realizing just how close he'd gotten to being caught by the short hairs.
Mac decided not to make him admit it now anyway. She just let herself drift into the intoxicating buzz that it made him squirm. It meant the thought had at least crossed his mind. She propped her head on her hand and pouted a little, "why is your bedroom so far away from your couch?"
Harm put the goblet down again, looked across the expanse of the studio apartment at his bedroom, and turned to her with a simple explanation. "Because the couch works just as well."
She giggled.
He ducked his face into her neck with a grin. "Tell me you brought a uniform for tomorrow."
She bit her lower lip and drooped her eyelids closed at his kiss. "No," she almost whimpered, "I didn't."
"Fine," he muttered into her collarbone. "You can borrow one of mine."
Mac showing up to work dressed in floppily long commander's whites? If that didn't give them away, nothing would. She snickered at the thought, and then cried out in surprise when he toppled her backwards onto the couch and convinced her to stay the night anyway.
