Author notes: Thanks for the reviews! They gave me the will to write more!
Sorry for the bottle of wine in the previous chapter and let's say Mac brought the dessert?
If you have any constructive criticism about what I have written, do not hesitate!
In the last chapter, I have forgotten to mention Morphea, my beta reader, who helps me writing in many ways. As she is not fan of the JAG (I wonder why I keep her as a friend!), I'm looking for a beta reader (mainly for grammar and vocabulary checking). If you want to, please contact me! (my e-mail is in my profile)
Consequences of a single night
The same day
In front of the doctor's office
Mac left the doctor's office. It was night now, and cold. People were hurrying back home…
She stood in front of the doctor's door for a while, just waiting to feel less dizzy. She mechanically put on her gloves while gathering and organizing her thoughts. She was quite stunned by the news she had just heard. She was pregnant…
Six weeks pregnant. And of course the father could only be Harm…
The coldness of the evening brought her back to reality. She started walking to her car. With the parking lot closed for renovations, she had a long walk to where she had parked. Two feelings were invading her. On the one hand, she was scared. Having this baby now would mean totally rehauling my life. It was not the best moment to become a parent. A lot of things needed to be straightened out in her life first. She had already thought about it, of course. But in her mind the scene should have played out differently. A loving, handsome man would be waiting for her at home. She would hurry to announce the great news. He would have been the happiest man in the world. But now…
I live alone, and my relationship with the father is…we didn't… I'm not sure… we haven't really talked since that night… What IS my relationship with the father of my baby…?? Oh, my God… My baby. It's the first time I've thought of it this way.
Now, on the other hand... Being pregnant was the kind of news that would have made her happy - under other circumstances…This budding life growing inside of her… A little part of her was trying to convince herself that it was the most beautiful day of her life, that everything would be all right. This thought had hardly crossed her mind when another followed…
Harm… A father… Of course, it sounds interesting, even quite appealing.
This thought was immediately replaced by another…
And it means announcing the great news to Harm … What will his reaction be? He likes his care free life… Would he change for a baby? I can't force him… He would feel obligated to help us… I can't have this baby… Not now.
I can't provide him with a willing father, or a stable life. After all, I'm a marine - a lawyer - but a marine. I could be transferred out at any time. I'm not ready. Not yet… We are not ready.
She was trying to convince herself that this was definitely bad news, but it was hard. As she thought about her job, she passed a toy shop. She stopped and glanced in the window.
There was a little girl standing nearly three feet from Mac. Her mother was holding her by the hand. The little girl's eyes were filled with wonder, staring at the toys…
"Kate! Come! Daddy's waiting for us!"
"I want the dolly with the magic pony!"
"I told you no, Kate! Stop that!"
"Daddy said yes!"
"That's not going to fool me!"
"Mom!! Please!!!"
"I'll think about it if you're a good girl!"
"I am, Mom!"
Her mother burst out laughing.
"That's what we'll see, Kate…"
Then they went away…
Mac looked at the doll with the magic pony in the shop window and put her hand on her belly… Maybe it was a girl…
* * * *
JAG headquarters
three weeks later, 10:38 PM
Harm was tidying papers, getting ready to leave the office. It was quite late and he had just finished up, but he didn't really want to go home. Lately, he found it difficult being alone in the evening. He missed something, and he refused to admit it could be his pretty colleague. That's why he was spending more and more time working. Even with all the extra work, it still wasn't enough to fill the void. As soon as he had a spare moment, his thoughts would drift to Mac and the night they spent together.
Since that fateful day, both had avoided being in the same room, or even talking to each other. When they had no choice, the atmosphere in the room became icy. The distance between them was growing, reaching a level it never had before, and they were allowing it to get worse. They didn't realize that everybody noticed it. Of course Bud and Harriet tried to help sort things out, but in vain: their friends couldn't fix a situation they refused to face.
Finally, Harm decided to take the files home and grabbed his keys. He turned off the lights, and closed the door. He realized there was light coming from the Admiral's office. He knocked at his door and, after hearing "come in", entered the office.
Chegwidden raised his eyes from the papers he was reading.
"Commander Rabb! Still working?"
"I was working on Lieutenant Kendry's case for court tomorrow. I didn't notice the time." Harm said with a smile.
"The desertion? It's not that hard a case?" the Admiral asked, knowing the answer perfectly well.
"No. But one can never be over prepared."
"Work is not the best way to be spending an evening…" the Admiral sighed.
"You are here too." Harm said teasingly.
"I have a lot of boring paperwork that needs my signature by tomorrow."
"I won't bother you any longer. Good night, Admiral!" Harm said as he walked towards the door.
"Commander," called the Admiral, "Wait, I'd like to talk to you. Come on and have a seat!" invited Chegwidden, indicating the chair.
Harm walked back and sat waiting for the Admiral to go on. He was quite intrigued.
"I'd like to speak to you about Colonel MacKenzie." Chegwidden started, crossing his hands. He didn't like interfering into the private life of his officers but he had to. On a more human plan, he was sad to see them spoiling their relationship the way they did.
As for Harm, he suddenly felt embarrassed and amazed. The memory of the night with Mac - the very memory he tried to forget so hard - became more present than ever in his mind.
"I don't know what happened between the two of you, and I don't want to know." the Admiral went on ignoring the Commander's obvious embarrassment.
"I mean… it's none of my business, but when the consequences begin to affect the performance of your job… Everybody has noticed the tension between the two of you, and how it is affecting your work…"
AJ raised his hand stopping Harm from interrupting, forcing him to keep listening.
"You can't go on this way. I've spoken with the Colonel. Now I'm speaking to you. Clear it up or I'll have to do something. It's a warning. I can't let you two threaten the efficiency of this office. I expect you understand the probable repercussions if you don't solve this problem. I won't be able to let it go this time… "
He paused to make sure Harm understood correctly. The Commander remained quiet, and looked worried. He hadn't imagined that the night spent with Mac would change things so much, not only between them, but also with the rest of the world.
The Admiral went on, in a kinder way…
"Now, as a friend… She has changed. I don't know what you did to her, or what she did…you're both consenting adults. I know the situation has never been very clear between the two of you. But this time it seems you went too far… Be careful."
"I didn't realize it was so obvious… Recently it got complicated…" Harm tried to explain. He knew that no explanation could make things better, and telling the truth to the Admiral was out of the question.
"I know. That's the point. You have something to clear up, and the sooner, the better…"
* * * *
Mac's apartment
11:14 PM
Mac was in her kitchen, and more precisely, she was in front of her fridge. She was looking for something to eat.
A piece of chocolate cake, no… Yogurt, no… Not fruit either… But this chicken wing seems quite appetizing…
Mac took the chicken wing and the piece of chocolate cake out of the fridge - it would be a pity to let it go stale. She started eating. She had been eating so much the last few days, it was impressive even for her. She suffered from morning sickness, which was more unpleasant. After a few minutes, she had finished the chicken wing and even the cake. She went to bed falling asleep almost immediately.
After three weeks thinking about whether or not to have this baby, she was no longer hesitating; she knew what she would do.
****
If you have any constructive criticism about what I have written, do not hesitate!
In the last chapter, I have forgotten to mention Morphea, my beta reader, who helps me writing in many ways. As she is not fan of the JAG (I wonder why I keep her as a friend!), I'm looking for a beta reader (mainly for grammar and vocabulary checking). If you want to, please contact me! (my e-mail is in my profile)
The same day
In front of the doctor's office
Mac left the doctor's office. It was night now, and cold. People were hurrying back home…
She stood in front of the doctor's door for a while, just waiting to feel less dizzy. She mechanically put on her gloves while gathering and organizing her thoughts. She was quite stunned by the news she had just heard. She was pregnant…
Six weeks pregnant. And of course the father could only be Harm…
The coldness of the evening brought her back to reality. She started walking to her car. With the parking lot closed for renovations, she had a long walk to where she had parked. Two feelings were invading her. On the one hand, she was scared. Having this baby now would mean totally rehauling my life. It was not the best moment to become a parent. A lot of things needed to be straightened out in her life first. She had already thought about it, of course. But in her mind the scene should have played out differently. A loving, handsome man would be waiting for her at home. She would hurry to announce the great news. He would have been the happiest man in the world. But now…
I live alone, and my relationship with the father is…we didn't… I'm not sure… we haven't really talked since that night… What IS my relationship with the father of my baby…?? Oh, my God… My baby. It's the first time I've thought of it this way.
Now, on the other hand... Being pregnant was the kind of news that would have made her happy - under other circumstances…This budding life growing inside of her… A little part of her was trying to convince herself that it was the most beautiful day of her life, that everything would be all right. This thought had hardly crossed her mind when another followed…
Harm… A father… Of course, it sounds interesting, even quite appealing.
This thought was immediately replaced by another…
And it means announcing the great news to Harm … What will his reaction be? He likes his care free life… Would he change for a baby? I can't force him… He would feel obligated to help us… I can't have this baby… Not now.
I can't provide him with a willing father, or a stable life. After all, I'm a marine - a lawyer - but a marine. I could be transferred out at any time. I'm not ready. Not yet… We are not ready.
She was trying to convince herself that this was definitely bad news, but it was hard. As she thought about her job, she passed a toy shop. She stopped and glanced in the window.
There was a little girl standing nearly three feet from Mac. Her mother was holding her by the hand. The little girl's eyes were filled with wonder, staring at the toys…
"Kate! Come! Daddy's waiting for us!"
"I want the dolly with the magic pony!"
"I told you no, Kate! Stop that!"
"Daddy said yes!"
"That's not going to fool me!"
"Mom!! Please!!!"
"I'll think about it if you're a good girl!"
"I am, Mom!"
Her mother burst out laughing.
"That's what we'll see, Kate…"
Then they went away…
Mac looked at the doll with the magic pony in the shop window and put her hand on her belly… Maybe it was a girl…
* * * *
JAG headquarters
three weeks later, 10:38 PM
Harm was tidying papers, getting ready to leave the office. It was quite late and he had just finished up, but he didn't really want to go home. Lately, he found it difficult being alone in the evening. He missed something, and he refused to admit it could be his pretty colleague. That's why he was spending more and more time working. Even with all the extra work, it still wasn't enough to fill the void. As soon as he had a spare moment, his thoughts would drift to Mac and the night they spent together.
Since that fateful day, both had avoided being in the same room, or even talking to each other. When they had no choice, the atmosphere in the room became icy. The distance between them was growing, reaching a level it never had before, and they were allowing it to get worse. They didn't realize that everybody noticed it. Of course Bud and Harriet tried to help sort things out, but in vain: their friends couldn't fix a situation they refused to face.
Finally, Harm decided to take the files home and grabbed his keys. He turned off the lights, and closed the door. He realized there was light coming from the Admiral's office. He knocked at his door and, after hearing "come in", entered the office.
Chegwidden raised his eyes from the papers he was reading.
"Commander Rabb! Still working?"
"I was working on Lieutenant Kendry's case for court tomorrow. I didn't notice the time." Harm said with a smile.
"The desertion? It's not that hard a case?" the Admiral asked, knowing the answer perfectly well.
"No. But one can never be over prepared."
"Work is not the best way to be spending an evening…" the Admiral sighed.
"You are here too." Harm said teasingly.
"I have a lot of boring paperwork that needs my signature by tomorrow."
"I won't bother you any longer. Good night, Admiral!" Harm said as he walked towards the door.
"Commander," called the Admiral, "Wait, I'd like to talk to you. Come on and have a seat!" invited Chegwidden, indicating the chair.
Harm walked back and sat waiting for the Admiral to go on. He was quite intrigued.
"I'd like to speak to you about Colonel MacKenzie." Chegwidden started, crossing his hands. He didn't like interfering into the private life of his officers but he had to. On a more human plan, he was sad to see them spoiling their relationship the way they did.
As for Harm, he suddenly felt embarrassed and amazed. The memory of the night with Mac - the very memory he tried to forget so hard - became more present than ever in his mind.
"I don't know what happened between the two of you, and I don't want to know." the Admiral went on ignoring the Commander's obvious embarrassment.
"I mean… it's none of my business, but when the consequences begin to affect the performance of your job… Everybody has noticed the tension between the two of you, and how it is affecting your work…"
AJ raised his hand stopping Harm from interrupting, forcing him to keep listening.
"You can't go on this way. I've spoken with the Colonel. Now I'm speaking to you. Clear it up or I'll have to do something. It's a warning. I can't let you two threaten the efficiency of this office. I expect you understand the probable repercussions if you don't solve this problem. I won't be able to let it go this time… "
He paused to make sure Harm understood correctly. The Commander remained quiet, and looked worried. He hadn't imagined that the night spent with Mac would change things so much, not only between them, but also with the rest of the world.
The Admiral went on, in a kinder way…
"Now, as a friend… She has changed. I don't know what you did to her, or what she did…you're both consenting adults. I know the situation has never been very clear between the two of you. But this time it seems you went too far… Be careful."
"I didn't realize it was so obvious… Recently it got complicated…" Harm tried to explain. He knew that no explanation could make things better, and telling the truth to the Admiral was out of the question.
"I know. That's the point. You have something to clear up, and the sooner, the better…"
* * * *
Mac's apartment
11:14 PM
Mac was in her kitchen, and more precisely, she was in front of her fridge. She was looking for something to eat.
A piece of chocolate cake, no… Yogurt, no… Not fruit either… But this chicken wing seems quite appetizing…
Mac took the chicken wing and the piece of chocolate cake out of the fridge - it would be a pity to let it go stale. She started eating. She had been eating so much the last few days, it was impressive even for her. She suffered from morning sickness, which was more unpleasant. After a few minutes, she had finished the chicken wing and even the cake. She went to bed falling asleep almost immediately.
After three weeks thinking about whether or not to have this baby, she was no longer hesitating; she knew what she would do.
****