A/N Whohoo! A milestone...chapter 20. Well, another longer one after a shorter one. This one was fun to write as well.

A/N 2: You know I just realized I missed little James Kirk in a couple places where I've brought up the Roberts Clan. From now on he shall take his rightful place on the bridge of the Good Ship Roberts. (Thanks to AngelaB for helping me to notice this)


Chapter 20

USS Patrick Henry
Wednesday August 4, 2004
1400 Zulu

Harm popped the cockpit canopy as his turbines spooled down. The squadron had been on high alert for the last 36 hours, and they all needed sleep bad. Thankfully they hadn't lost anyone in the flurry of danger that made the alert level necessary. Intel had indicated that an attack on the carrier group was planned by dissident forces, but it had never fully developed. What they had faced had been more than enough.

Stepping wearily to the deck Harm motioned the rest of his just returned pilots inside. Once they were all off the flight deck he followed them into the ready room. Leaning heavily on the podium at the front of the room he looked over the tired faces before him. Good kids one and all, they'd all proven themselves to him and everyone else more than they should have had to. Even the rookies had the look about them now.

"Alright people, the fun level seems to have tapered off in the last six hours. We're going to stand down to having two elements in the air for the foreseeable future. New patrol schedule is 2 and 4 element, then 1 and 3 element, with 5 and 6 bringing up the tail. I want 5 and 6 in the air in thirty minutes. The rest of you are to grab a shower, grab some grub and then hit the racks. 1 and 3 you go up in three hours. If things remain as they are we'll stand down to regular 1 element patrols in 12 hours. Any questions?"

"Yeah CAG…why aren't you taking first patrol?" Tuna asked with a smile. He led the fifth element and just had to take a poke at his CAG.

"Because I'm an old man Tuna. And you young kids don't need as much sleep as me." Harm said with a smile.

As the laughter died down he held up his hand. "Alright folks. Lets get some rest."

"Aye aye CAG" a chorus of voices answered his order. He smiled fondly as they all filed wearily out of the ready room, still with that swagger in their step. No matter how tired, how wore down, his kids would have that swing to their step. As he followed them out of the ready room, Harm decided to stop by his office and file his after action report and just get it out of the way. No point in putting it off if he could get away with it. Stretching a kink out of his neck he hauled open the hatch to his office and stopped in shock.

"Jesus buddy, you look like hell." The man sitting behind his desk said.

"KEETER!" Harm said with a smile. "Thought you weren't gonna be out for two more weeks."

"Nah. They got tired of me hitting on all the nurses when I went for my physio at Bethesda." Keeter said with a grin as he stood up from behind the desk. "Came in on that Cod the kids escorted in an hour ago. Ingles said I was to wait for you here."

"Good to see you buddy." Harm said as he grabbed Keeter into a backslapping hug. "Let me get this report written and then we'll head down for some chow. The kids are all filling up right now…I'm sure they'll want to see you."

"Sounds good." Keeter said simply as he plopped down in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. Harm couldn't help but notice his friend still had quite a limp.

"Seen ol' Doc Johnson yet?" Harm asked referring to the flight surgeon who'd need to clear Keeter back to an active flight status. Sitting down heavily behind his desk he fired up the word processor and started on his report.

"Not yet…he said he'd see me in the morning." Keeter said and then sat silently as Harm typed up his report and then sent it via email to the Captain.

Leaning back in his chair Harm looked at his old friend. "Damn I'm tired Keeter. Its been a long three months."

"That's what I heard. I also heard you've handled yourself pretty damn well…especially with that whole inquiry thing." Keeter said. "The Company keeping you busy?"

"Not really…haven't heard from them since that 'whole inquiry thing'. Guess two appearances on the evening news was enough for them." Harm said wryly. "Not that I mind…I got enough flying for them long ago."

"You'll miss it buddy, trust me. I have." Keeter said with a wink.

"Not this time buddy. Its about time I got back to Mattie…she's been sending me four emails a day asking when I'm coming home."

"Is this the Harmon Rabb Jr. I went on my Segundo Cruise in Spain with? Harmon Rabb Jr. wanting to get home to spend time with…his ward?"

"My daughter Keeter. I'm going to petition to adopt her as soon as I can. I was going to do it in June, but coming out here kinda put a hold on that."

Shaking his head Keeter looked at his oldest friend in shock. This was not the Harmon Rabb Jr. he remembered. "She must be something if she can wrap you up like this."

"She's everything Keeter…I can't imagine my life without her anymore." Harm said with wonder. "She's…you wouldn't understand buddy."

"Try me."

"I don't know if I can put it into words buddy. She's…my life. As much as she would be if she was my own flesh and blood. I couldn't love her any more than I do if she was. I want to be there for every joy, every pain, every moment she has, and I curse the fact that I didn't get to be part of the first fifteen years of her life."

"Listen to yourself buddy." Keeter said in amazement. Where was the freewheeling Harmon Rabb he loved to go cruising for women with?

"I know…amazing isn't it?" Harm said with a smile. "Seriously buddy, check these out."

Harm fired up his email client and pulled up a couple messages Bud and Harriet had sent. Pictures of Mattie were attached to each and he opened them all up. Mattie at AJ's fifth birthday, Mattie with the Roberts family at the JAG summer barbeque, Mattie with Mac and Jen at Christmas. Grinning like the proud father he felt like Harm showed all the pictures of Mattie that Bud had sent for him while he was on board ship.

Shaking his head Keeter simply put a hand on Harm's shoulder. "I'm happy for you buddy. You've got something special in that girl." He said as he looked at the pictures. "So how does she feel about Mac?"

"She loves her…Mac and Mattie have something special…ever since Mac helped me get custody last Christmas." Harm said with a small smile as he stared at a picture of Mac hugging Mattie outside the Falls Church offices. He could feel the moisture start pooling in his eyes again. If he wasn't careful he was going to start crying…in front of Keeter no less.

"Come on buddy, lets go grab that grub." Keeter said softly.

"Yeah…that's a good idea." Harm said quietly as he sat staring at the picture for a couple more minutes before closing his email browser and all the open pictures.

"So I went out for some beers with Sturgis last week." Keeter said as they made their way to the wardroom.

"How's he doing? I haven't had an email from him in awhile." Harm asked.

"Good…he kept talking about this singer he's seeing." Keeter said. He winked at Harm and then asked "So you sure you want to go back to JAG? I hear the interim JAG is a real nut buster. Even Sturgis was bitching about her."

Harm had heard that an interim JAG had been appointed while the selection committee made their final decision. Mac had run the office for almost a month after the Admiral had retired before the interim had been able to move out to Falls Church. Harm was a little shocked that Mac hadn't been given the position, and a little angry. He still didn't know who the interim was…no one at the office would tell him, and honestly he'd been a little busy to find out on his own, and if he was going to be completely honest with himself, he hadn't really thought about it. Somehow who was running the JAG office really didn't matter when he was flying sorties off the deck of the Henry.

"CAG to the bridge immediately. Commander Rabb please report to the bridge immediately."

Well there goes some grub. "Guess I better go see what the old man wants. I'll catch you in the wardroom when I'm done…go let the kids know you're home." Harm slapped Keeter on the back and then set off for the bridge.

"CAG on the bridge."

"CAG. I take it you've been to your office?" the Captain asked looking up from a print out that Harm saw was his report.

"Aye skipper."

"Looks like Keeter was a bit anxious to come home."

"Looks that way sir."

"Have you thought about what we spoke of a couple months ago?" Captain Ingles asked referring to his offer.

"I have Skipper. And I'm honoured that you would make the offer to me. But to honest sir, I'm getting a little old for this game. And I've got a little girl waiting for me to come home and adopt her." Harm said with a smile. That Captain smiled back having seen all of Harm's pictures of Mattie and having listened to Harm talk for hours about his ward.

"I have to say I wish you would stay on out here CAG, but I didn't expect to win against that girl of yours."

"I'm glad you understand sir. She means the world to me, and I've been away too long as it is."

"At her age Commander, you miss a day you miss a year. She's what? Sixteen?"

"Fifteen sir…almost sixteen."

"Dating yet?"

Rolling his eyes Harm thought back to the numerous emails Mattie had sent him describing in detail the dates she'd gone on. Part of him hoped she was just pulling his leg, but he knew she'd have boys flocking to her. "Apparently sir. She did however wait until I'd been deployed to mention that fact."

"And you didn't highjack one of my Tomcats to get back to her? CAG you have more restraint than I do." Captain Ingles said with a laugh. Setting the report down on the chart table the Captain picked up an envelope that was sitting there. "I figured that would be your answer CAG, I know what you've got to go back to. So I had these cut in case you said you'd like to go back."

Harm took the proffered envelope and opened it to find orders for him to return stateside and report to JAG. "Tomorrow sir?" he asked seeing the date the orders were effective for.

"On the afternoon Cod. That should give you time to square away and see whoever you want to before you leave. I'm assuming Doc Johnson clears Keeter for flight status, but even if he doesn't Keeter can fly a desk for awhile."

"That would drive him nuts Skipper." Harm said with a smirk.

"I know…I just might have Doc Johnson keep him behind that desk for awhile anyway. Wouldn't be the first non-flying CAG, probably won't be the last. I spoke to the interim JAG…you don't have to report until Monday morning. You should be back Friday night or early Saturday morning, so you should have plenty of time to reunite with your daughters and anyone else you may wish to see upon your return Commander." Captain Ingles said, well aware of the unique family the Commander had developed. A teenager and a Petty Officer for daughters…and perhaps a mother on the way.

"Thank you for that sir." Harm said, grateful the Captain understood. Harm stood to attention and saluted the Captain. "With your permission, sir?"

Returning Harm's salute the Captain nodded. "Of course Commander. Join your kids in the wardroom, they're probably worried you passed out from exhaustion somewhere. The last thing I need is the Raptors tearing apart my ship looking for their lost CAG."

Harm smiled a little sadly. He wouldn't be their CAG much longer. "Thank you sir."

As Harm reached the hatch exiting the bridge the Captain called out "Commander?"

"Yes sir?"

"Do you ever do anything the easy way?"

"Excuse me Skipper?" Harm asked confused.

"Well normally people find a wife, then have kids. You've had the kids first, but I need to ask Commander. Are you going to provide those girls with a mother any time soon?"

"I hope to sir. I've got someone in mind…just need to talk her into it." Harm said with a smile.

"Good to hear son. Make an honest woman of her already, will you?"

"I mean to sir. I've already had an Admiral order me to do so, would you like to add your order to his?"

"The Admiral's a good man son. If it means anything, consider yourself so ordered."

"Aye aye skipper." Harm said with a smile and then stopped. "Skipper…did the JAG say if she told anyone else I was coming back early?"

"Didn't say anything about that."

Harm nodded satisfied, he had people he wanted to surprise, then stopped again. "Did you happen to catch her name Captain?"

"I did, but she ordered me not to tell you. Said it was a surprise."

A little shocked Harm stepped off the bridge without another word and made his way down to the wardroom to let his kids know he was going home. The Captain's comment about the JAG and the order not to tell him the name was quite strange.

North of Union Station
Friday August 6, 2004
0100 Zulu

The cab pulled up to the front of Harm's apartment building. He'd known that if he'd called Jen or Mac or Bud and Harriet would have come to get him when he flew into the airport, but he wanted to surprise a few people. He paid the cabbie and then got out and waited for the driver to pop the trunk to grab his bags and a large duffel he'd picked up on his way back. It was stuffed with more gifts than he thought he could carry. Stuff for little AJ and Jimmy and stuff for Jen and stuff for Mattie. Not to mention a few things he'd picked up for Mac he thought with a wicked smile. Unlocking the side door Harm made his way up the stairs until he was standing outside the door to Mattie and Jen's apartment. Setting his bags down softly he reached up to knock on the door.

After only a couple moments he heard Mattie's muffled voice call out "Pizza's here Jen…where's the credit card? I'll get it."

"Its on the coffee table." He heard Jen call back. Smiling he waited until Mattie opened the door.

As the chains and locks were thrown he tried to wipe the smile off his face but failed. When the door started to open he heard "How much do we….." and that was it. The door swung free as Mattie saw him standing there, and her mouth hung open in midsentence.

"I hope there's room left on that credit card young lady." Harm said in mock severity. When Mattie still hadn't said anything Harm smiled and motioned to her still open mouth. "You know that can become permanent if you leave it like that long enough."

Finally Mattie closed her mouth as a big grin split her face. "HARM!" she cried and then nearly bowled him over as she jumped up into his arms and hugged him. As she buried her face against his neck Harm could feel the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

"Mattie what is it? Is everything….Commander!" Jen said as she came out to see what her roommate was up to. Harm had to be careful not to fall over when the next wave hit as Jen ran up to wrap him a hug as well.

They stood there, Harm and the two daughters of his heart, for almost fifteen minutes as he wrapped them both in the biggest hugs he could. "Hi guys." He said softly.

"When did you get back?" Mattie asked. "Oh…just now I guess." She added when she saw his bags.

"Can I come in?" Harm asked with a laugh and was pulled in from both sides as Jen and Mattie each grabbed an arm and pulled. Once he was inside fully Jen went out to the hallway and grabbed his bags.

"Do you want me to take these to your place sir?" Jen asked.

"Jennifer." Harm said in a warning tone of voice.

"Yes Harm?" Jen answered in an innocent tone of voice.

"Just bring them in. There's a few things for you guys in there too."

"Really? What'd you bring us?" Mattie asked eagerly.

"Airline peanuts." Harm said jokingly as he sat down on their couch. Both girls climbed up, one on each side of him and snuggled close. It had been far too long since he'd seen his girls. Wrapping an arm around each one he was completely content.

Quietly the three just sat there on the couch until there was a knock at the door. "That'll be the pizza." Jen said. "I'll get it."

As Jen went to pay for the pizza Harm grabbed the duffle on the floor and opened it. "Let me see…what do we have here?" Harm asked as he pulled out a large stuffed bear wearing a flight jacket. He'd seen it in the shipboard PX and knew he had to get it for Mattie. It even had a Raptors squadron patch on the jacket.

"For me?" Mattie asked in a little girl tone of voice.

"For you sweetie." Harm said with a smile. Then he pulled out a Patrick Henry ballcap and plopped it on her head as she was examining her bear.

By then Jen had returned with the pizza and was just standing there smiling as Harm brought out his gifts for Mattie.

"What are you smiling at Jen? Sit back down and we'll get to you next."

"Me sir? You shouldn't have sir…"

"Nonsense. You're one of my girls. I couldn't come home without something for you." Harm said as he pulled out some first edition books he'd found that he knew Jen would like. "I know its not a fighter bear, but when I saw these I thought of you honey."

Looking at the books Jen couldn't help but smile. First edition Jung and Freud, along with a couple copies of some of Plato's works to add philosophy to the mix. Reaching out she wrapped her arm around Harm and pulled him close. "Thank you sir….Harm….dad." she added with a smirk. Harm reached into his bag and pulled out another cap he plopped down on Jen's head just like he had to Mattie.

"So." Mattie said. "Mac's wearing a jacket just like this lately. A lot." She added holding up her bear. "Know anything about it?"

"No…can't say I do. But you know what? Some no good lowlife stole my flight jacket. Couldn't believe it. I bet it was Tuna." Harm said with a straight face.

"Liar!" both girls yelled as they started tickling Harm.

After they had tired of tormenting him in that way Mattie looked at him with her head cocked to the side. "Have you seen her since you got back?"

Harm didn't have to ask who 'her' was. "No…I came right home to my girls. I'm going to head over there when you guys kick me out."

"Got anything in there for her?" Mattie asked curiously as she started to grab Harm's duffle.

"Maybe. Most of it is for AJ…" Harm said evasively. With a warning glance at both girls he slowly zipped the bag up to keep them from snooping.

"Want some pizza dad?" Mattie asked as she suddenly remembered their dinner.

"Ah…I can smell the meat on there from here. I think I'll pass. I'll let you two have your dinner. I have another stop to make before I can rack out for the night."

"Come back soon?" Mattie asked in her little girl voice.

"I'm back honey, and I'm not going anywhere for awhile."

Mac's Apartment
0230 Zulu

Harm had been standing outside Mac's door for ten minutes now. He'd been trying to think of what he should say…what could he say? Finally he steeled himself and raised his hand to knock on the door and then stepped to the side, knowing she'd use the peephole and ruin the surprise. He knew he was chancing her not opening the door when she didn't see anyone there, but he had a feeling. Leisurely he leaned up against the wall with his arm resting at an angle behind his head.

Slowly Mac's door opened and he heard her say "Yes?"

"Hey marine." He said softly. "Looking for a good time?"

"Harm?" he heard her whisper as she stepped out into the hallway and looked at him. He barely had time to notice she was wearing his jacket as he was suddenly once more under assault as someone barrelled into him and wrapped him in a hug. Man she could get up a lot of speed from a complete stop. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her even closer and rubbed his hand gently up and down her back. He raised his other hand to her hair and softly stroked it as he said "Hey there."

"You're really home?" she asked softly into his shoulder.

"Really really." He answered.

Suddenly he felt her shake as she broke out sobbing. "I can't believe you're finally home!" he heard her whisper fiercely.

"Sarah, as nice as this is…do you think we should take it out of the hallway?" Harm asked and then was forcibly pulled into Mac's apartment and the door was slammed behind him. Then he found himself in exactly the same position as she pushed into him for another hug.

Looking down at her smiling face as she looked up at him Harm reached up and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. "Hi." He said softly.

"Hi." She answered just as softly.

"Nice jacket."

Smiling Mac blushed as she said "I missed you and it reminds me of you."

Smiling at the twinkle he saw in her gorgeous eyes as she said that Harm slowly bent to lips to hers as he murmured "I missed you too Sarah."