Disclaimer: as in ch. 1

0900 EST

Tuesday, 14th July 2026

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Bethesda, MD

"How are you today, Trey?" Harm stuck his head inside Trey's room.

"DAD! MOM! Please get me out of here!" The wounded aviator begged.

His parents just chuckled slightly, knowing how much he hated hospitals.

"You gave us quite a scare, mister!" Mac tried to joke about it, but the two men could see how much it had really affected her.

Harm gently squeezed her shoulder as Trey grabbed one of her hands. "I'm okay, now, Mom. Honest!"

"I know, sweetheart."

Before long, the doctor arrived, bringing with him the news that Trey had been longing to hear. "You may leave now, Lieutenant, but take it easy. That leg of yours still needs time to heal."

"Can I go back to duty by next week?" Trey asked hopefully.

"Don't even think about it, mister!" Mac ordered.

"Mom!" Trey tried to protest, knowing full well that he'd lose to the willpower of the determined Marine General, but still trying.

"You are not going anywhere near any carrier until your cast is removed, and you've received a clean bill of health."

"Your mother is right, son," Harm said seriously.

"You listen to your mother now, Lieutenant. I'll let your CO know that you can return for duty in two weeks. Limited duty," the doctor quickly added.

"Two weeks?!? But, Commander..." His protest died out under the stern looks from his parents and the doctor.

------

1100 EST

Rabb Residence

McLean, VA

Once at home, Mac could not help but fussing around her son until Trey finally fell asleep.

"Mac, I still need to go back to the Pentagon. This thing with China is getting on my nerves." Harm yawned as he ran his fingers through his already slightly mussed hair. 

"Busy?"

"No kidding! Trey's sleeping?"

"Out like a light. I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll be home by dinner." He quickly kissed her then he was gone.

------

Three hours later

"Mom, I'm fine. Please stop fussing over me," Trey complained.

"You are not fine! Your next duty station will be either the bed or the sofa. Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?" Mac said sternly.

"Yes, ma'am." He sighed. Nobody really dared to talk back when the Marine used that tone. "But I'd like to be on the sofa, please. I'm sick of bed. Oh, and can I have some juice, please?"

Mac softened her tone and caressed his hair gently. "Of course, sweetheart. I'll get it for you."

Ten minutes later Mac returned to the living room with not only a tray of juice and cookies, but also with Clayton Jeremy Webb, Jr. and John Keeter trailing behind her.

"Hey, buddy!" Jeremy called.

"When did you two get here?"

"Uh...five minutes ago. So, how are you doing, Trey?" John asked.

"It sucks!"

"Hey, you get two weeks worth of leave, while I'm stuck in the tight quarters of a carrier."

"Trust me, John, I wish I was in my cramped quarters right now."

"Don't even go there, mister." Mac said sternly. "I'm going to leave you guys alone and go start dinner. Jeremy, John, you both are staying for dinner."

"Yes, Ma'am! We can't reject a home-made dinner, can we?" The two grinned widely, while Mac smiled in amusement as she headed for the kitchen.

"So, John, how'd you get leave? And, Jeremy, I thought you were supposed to be at Quantico."

"The Kennedy is in port this week, so I've got liberty until this Sunday. We'll deploy again on Monday."

Obviously satisfied with the answer, Trey turned towards Jeremy. "Jeremy...I...uh..." Trey hesitated for a second, but John realized whatever he was about to say was private.

"Hey, I'll go and see if Aunt Sarah needs any help."

Trey shot him a grateful look.

"Ok, squid, what is it?" Jeremy asked as soon as John had disappeared into the kitchen.

"Uh..."

"What?!?"

"Umm...have you seen Grace lately?" Trey asked shyly.

"Aha! What did you do to my sister this time, squid?"

"Well, I left out the part about the recon mission last time I spoke to her. Let's just say that if I hadn't ended up in Bethesda, she'd currently be kicking my six from here to China and back." Trey sighed in a resigned voice.

"Ah...you really pushed her buttons, didn't you?" Jeremy asked slyly.

Trey winced, looking incredibly guilty and miserable.

"I'm only joking! She's back at campus this week for final exams. She'll be home this weekend."

"Is she still mad at me?"

"Let's just say that you will need to do a lot of explaining, buddy." Jeremy patted his shoulder in encouragement, knowing just how angry his sister could get if she really got upset.

"I have to report back to Quantico tomorrow. When are you going back to the Kennedy?"

"Not for another two weeks or so. John says the Kennedy will deploy this Monday, but the doctor at Bethesda has restricted me to limited duty. I'm going to be stuck with a desk job for far too long."

"Ouch!" Jeremy grimaced.

"Yeah, no kidding! And now this thing with Grace..." Trey sighed, still looking very guilty.

"I've got liberty this weekend, and Matt is coming back from Annapolis, too. Maybe, since all of us will be free this weekend, we could get together for a football game? I don't think Uncle Harm and Aunt Sarah would mind, right?" Jeremy grinned at the prospect.

Trey snorted. "Geez...thanks a lot, buddy. Would you care to enlighten me on how I'm supposed to kick the ball with this cast on my leg?

"I didn't say you had to play. I said we'd get together. And, oh, if a certain student from Duke just happens to come..." Jeremy trailed off, a twinkle in his eye.

When he realized what his friend was implying, Trey's face lit up with his famous "flyboy grin." It would be the perfect opportunity for him to explain to Grace about what had happened.