…Till Death Does Us Part Chapter II – Part 13/26
Disclaimer - See part one for all important informationJAG
7:03 PM
Mac stepped off the elevator and was greeted by the silence of the JAG office on a Friday night after five. She exhaled the breath she had been holding since the guard shack when Gunny Mills welcomed her back.
She moved towards AJ's office, as she approached Coates desk, she was glad to find it empty. Mac knocked on the outside of AJ's open door.
AJ smiled a mile wide as he saw Mac standing there looking like a scared little girl. "Welcome home, Colonel."
Mac smiled and chuckled softly as she walked into the office. "It's good to be home, Sir."
AJ stepped around his desk and looked her over. Mac knew what he was trying to look at. She took off her coat and held it to her side.
"You look good, Mac."
"Thank you, Sir." Mac rubbed her belly as the baby decided it wanted some attention.
"Kicking?"
Mac grinned. "I like the kicking better than the bouncing on my bladder." She then reached for his hand and placed it over one spot. "Right there."
AJ felt the tiny amount of pressure the baby was causing. "Hey, this is your Godfather talking, you be nice to your Mommy."
They both laughed as they felt two short kicks.
AJ removed his hand and motioned for Mac to sit down. They both sat down in the two chairs in front of his desk. "What did the doctor say?"
"Everything is fine. I need to watch my stress and make sure I'm eating enough. He wants to see me monthly, then once a week in my final month," Mac reported.
AJ shook his head. "How about your workload?"
"Well, I can't go on any long investigations. It would probably be best if I was assigned in house cases or even file reviews."
"That's what I was thinking, but I just wanted to hear it from you." He reached onto his desk and handed Mac a file. "Captain Hallworth faxed this to me today. The official letter will be placed in your file within the next day."
Mac quickly read over the letter from Hallworth. It stated Mac was a great asset to the office and handled her position with the respect of an officer, and was an example of a by-the-book Marine. As Mac read the words, she felt her emotions change and a tear fell down her cheek.
AJ looked at her with concern, but Mac quickly wiped it away. She turned her head to say something, but caught AJ's look. "Mood swings, Sir."
"Got ya," AJ quickly said. "Hallworth wanted me to express his pride in the way you ran the office and also offered you the position of Chief of Staff, after the baby is born."
Mac chuckled. "I think I'll stay at home for a while."
AJ leaned back in the chair. "So, how did you like your own command?"
"It was an experience, Sir. It made me very thankful that I was not in charge of what happens in this office."
AJ chuckled. "I wish I could get that feeling every now and then, Mac." He paused as he changed the mood in the room. "Mac, I want to know how you are going to handle coming into the office on Monday with no one knowing you're pregnant?"
Mac thought for a second, as she knew this was something she has been thinking about for the past five months. "I was just planning on walking into the office, Sir. I don't want to make a big deal about it."
"Mac."
"I know the baby is a big deal, but I just want to get my work back in order. I was planning on to stop by the Roberts house this weekend to break the news. I think everyone else will be okay with adjusting."
"Including Turner and Rabb?"
"Sturgis might have some concerns, but he won't bring them up at work."
AJ looked straight into Mac eyes. "And Harm?"
Mac was about to respond when Meredith knocked on the door. "Excuse me, AJ."
AJ stood up and looked at his wife. "Meredith, what are you doing here?"
Meredith chuckled. "You are taking me out to dinner. You forgot."
AJ glanced at Mac who was still sitting in the chair. Then he returned his attention back to Meredith. "I'm sorry, Mac and I."
"Mac!" Meredith said as her smiled grew.
Mac stood up from the chair and smiled at Meredith. "Hi, Meredith."
Meredith approached Mac with open arms. Mac stepped to the side and Meredith froze in place. "You're pregnant."
"Seven months," Mac stated.
Meredith stepped closer and smiled sweetly at Mac. "You're glowing."
Mac let out an annoyed chuckle. "I hate those words, but thank you."
Meredith laughed and pulled Mac into a friendly hug. "Now I know why AJ was calling you weekly," she said as they released from the hug.
"Just checking in on my godchild," AJ proudly stated.
"So, I take it the three of us are going out to dinner tonight," Meredith announced.
AJ grinned at his wife. "Yes, we are."
"Sounds great to me," Mac agreed.
"Well, I need to secure the office. I'll meet both of you bullpen." AJ moved towards his desk.
Meredith and Mac started to move towards the door, but stopped when AJ said Mac's name.
"Yes, Sir."
"I asked Coates and Sims to return your belongings back to your office. You might want to check to make sure everything is back in place," AJ told her.
"Yes, Sir," Mac said before she and Meredith left the office.
"You must tell me all about Italy and the baby. I'm so happy you're back," Meredith gushed.
"I'm glad to be back," Mac stated as they walked towards her office.
"I need to make a phone call; tell AJ I'll only be a minute," Meredith said as she walked towards the hallway.
Mac shook her head and walked to her office. The light was on as she opened the door. She looked around the office and saw everything was back in its place. The in box and the out box sat empty on her desk. There were pens and pencils in the Marines mug, and even a pile of new legal pads sitting on her desk. Behind her desk sat some new photos Harriet placed in there of Little AJ and Jimmy. She chuckled as she looked at the filing cabinet; there wasn't the usual pile of files and boxes. The table in the corner sat with two file boxes on it. She moved towards the two boxes when a voice entered the office.
"Hey, is that..." The voice stopped the moment he saw a woman in the office.
End Part 13