…Till Death Does Us Part Chapter II – Part 11/26
Disclaimer - See part one for all important informationFriday May 28
6:34 PM
JAG
Naples, Italy
Mac sat in her chair getting upset at the major standing in front of her. "Major, where is your case?"
"It's been held up, Ma'am," he reported to her.
"It's been held up. By what the police ... a bank robber?" Mac asked as she rubbed her belly.
"Washington, Ma'am."
"Washington?"
The major took a breath. "Yes, Ma'am. A Commander at JAG has requested my witness to report to him this afternoon. She left last night and landed in DC this morning. I have been unable to contact the Commander who needs her."
Mac sighed. "Let me give DC a call and see if I can't smooth over any feathers. Do you know who has the case?"
"No, Ma'am."
Mac wrote down the name of the witness her Major needed. "I'll see if I can set up a video conference between you and the witness. That way you can at least get her statement."
"Thank you, Ma'am." The major nearly smiled.
"Dismissed."
"Yes, Ma'am." The major said before leaving.
Mac looked at her door as the major left and Lois came in with her tea. "Shouldn't you have left already, Ma'am?" Lois asked.
"I will after this call." Mac sighed, and then she sweetly looked at the young woman. "Thank you, Lois."
"No problem, Ma'am. Oh, and Sunday, at three, we are having your baby shower." Lois smiled.
"Lois, no one needs to do that. The baby isn't due for three months."
"We know, Ma'am, but you're leaving in two weeks and this is the closest to a JAG baby we're going to get," Lois explained.
Mac smiled at her Petty Officer. "Three o'clock at Gale's house."
"Yes, Ma'am," Lois said before Mac nodded for her to leave.
Mac picked up the phone as Lois closed the door. She hit the speaker button and dialed the number for JAG.
{"JAG. Petty Officer Coates, speaking."}
"Hi, Coates, it's Colonel MacKenzie."
{"Hi, Colonel. How are you?" Jen asked with a smile.}
Mac smiled at her cheerful voice. "I'm fine, Jen. I need to speak with the Commander who had a Lt. Commander Kaylan Brown flown in as a witness."
{Jen thought for a minute. "One moment, Ma'am. I need to find out who has that witness."}
"No problem." Mac stood up as Jen placed her on hold. She started to pace the office, stretching her stiff back and rubbing her belly as the baby also stretched.
{"Ma'am. I'll connect you," Jen instructed.}
Mac was about to ask to whom, but Jen transferred the call.
{"Commander Rabb." Harm's voice came through the speaker box.}
Mac paused in mid-step as she heard his voice. She was thrown from her shock as the baby gave her a big kick. Mac took a deep breath and tried to sound as normal as possible. "Hi, Harm. It's Mac."
{"Hey, how are you?" Harm asked in only mild worry in his voice.}
"Fine." Another kick came from the baby. "Looks like you are back to JAG. How are you doing?"
{"Yeah, I'm back and I'm good, thanks. Jen said something about helping you with a case."}
"Yeah, Major Madison was to interview Lt. Commander Kaylan Brown as a possible witness, but you had her flown into JAG to testify for another case."
{Harm flipped through the pile of cases on his desk. "Commander Brown, she's my afternoon witness in the Usborn court marshal."}
"Would it be possible to set up a video conference between her and the Major before the end of the day?" Mac asked.
{Harm looked at the clock. "Isn't it already the end of your day?"}
Mac chuckled. "Not for him. He needs his case notes on my desk by ten tomorrow morning or he's going to learn why my staff is scared of me."
{Harm laughed at her comments. "I thought Marines took care of their own."}
"Not when they are in command," Mac stated as a huge kick from the baby startled her. "Ouch." She looked down and rubbed the spot where the baby kicked.
{"You okay, Mac?" Harm asked with concern.}
"Yeah, the b….the chair attacked my foot." Mac rubbed her forehead as she realized she almost said the baby.
{Harm noticed the uneasiness in her voice. "You sure?"}
"Positive." Mac quickly changed the conversation. "When do you think you'll be done in court today with Commander Brown?"
{Harm caught the no-nonsense tone in Mac's voice. "Shouldn't be any longer than 2:00 or 2:30."}
"Great. I'll have Major Madison call you later today to set up the conference."
{"Sure, I'll ask Bud to help the tech guys set up the conference room," Harm told her as he wrote a note.}
"Thanks, Harm."
{Harm didn't want the phone call to end. This was his first time talking to Mac in six months. "Little AJ missed you at his birthday party."}
"I know, I called and we talked. I promised to be there next year."
{Harm thought about their five-year deal. "There are some promises we can't keep, Mac."}
Mac looked at her stomach as another kick was delivered. "Sometimes we keep them and don't know it. I need to get going, Harm. I'll tell Major Madison to call you around two."
{"Sure, Mac," Harm said in a confused voice as he thought about Mac's words.}
"Bye, Harm."
{"Bye, Mac."}
Mac hit the end button and held her hand over her stomach. "Okay, I guess you know. But next time could you not kick so damn much." Mac waited for the words to reach her baby's little ears. "Kick once for no and twice for yes."
The baby gave her three kicks in a row.
Mac sat back in her chair. "Great, my kid's a smart-ass."
End Part 11