"Colonel," the admiral called on his way to the elevator.
"Yes sir." Mac responded.
"I know that you are leaving early today. But I would like to see you in my office before you leave."
"Yes sir."
The elevator doors closed and Mac went on to her office. She knew why he wanted to see her. She hadn't been to see Harm since he was brought to Bethesda two days ago. She tried to tell herself that it was because there was much to do before Saturday. But that was a lie. In order to keep her resolution she had to keep as much space between them as possible.
As she entered her office the phone rang.
"Colonel Mackenzie."
"Sarah? It's me Trish."
She has always liked Harm's mother. "Hi. Are you doing ok?"
"I'm doing better now that I have seen my son. I was expecting to have seen you by now."
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to give you some time with him." Which wasn't entirely untrue, "I didn't want to intrude."
"I appreciate that Sarah. But you wouldn't be intruding at all. I know how close he feels to all of you at JAG."
"How is he doing?"
"He's getting his strength back. They are releasing him this afternoon."
"That is wonderful news. How is his memory coming?" Mac asked cautiously.
"He only remembers being a Navy pilot nothing about becoming a lawyer and going to JAG."
Part of Mac was relieved to hear that. It would be easier this way.
"The doctors tell me the more familiar faces and places that he is around, the better the chance he will remember."
Mac knew what was coming next.
"I am asking all of Harm's friends at JAG to drop by for a short visit tonight. I know that you're busy with the wedding and all."
"I'll be there." She said. Mac couldn't turn her down. Besides how would she explain her absence?
"Thank you. I wanted you especially to be there. The two of you have been through so much together. I am hoping that your close friendship will help bring his memory back."
'And I am hoping that it doesn't, at least not yet.' Mac thought to herself.
*******************************
Mac closed the file she had been working on and looked at the clock. It was 1400. She stood got her purse and cover, let out a deep sigh and headed toward the admiral's office.
As she approached she noticed Tiner wasn't at his desk and the door was standing open. The admiral saw her and motioned her in.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Please close the door and have a seat Colonel."
The admiral had a good idea of what was going on. He had seen these two do this little dance for a few years now. Even though he had never discussed it with the others, he was sure it was as obvious to them as well. Everyone was just standing back and waiting to see if these two knuckle heads would ever stop this ridiculous charade. When Mac had announced her engagement, he thought they had moved on with their lives. But with the recent turn of events he couldn't let this go any further.
"Right now I just want you to listen. I am not speaking to you as your CO I am speaking as a friend."
"Sir." Mac said as she started to stand.
"Please just humor me."
Mac eased back into the chair and sighed.
"I had promised myself not to get involved in this little dance you and the Commander have been doing. It is your business and I thought it would work itself out eventually. And it looked like had, you were to marry Brumby and Rabb is dating Renee. But the events of the last several days tell a different story."
"Sir the Commander has been a good friend to me over the years. I don't have to tell you all the times we have pulled the other out of the fire. Shouldn't I have been concerned?" Mac interjected trying not to sound defensive.
"Of course you should. "
"I don't understand."
"Bud, Harriet, Chloe and even Brumby were concerned. We all wanted to see that he made it alright. You weren't Colonel Mackenzie concerned close friend and colleague, you were Sarah Mackenzie distraught fearful woman in love."
Mac was speechless. She didn't know how to respond. She got up and went over and looked out the window so the admiral couldn't see the tears welling up.
"I know you and Brumby are to get married in 2 days. I just hate to see you make a mistake."
The admiral walked up and handed her a tissue. Mac dabbed her eyes and turned to face him.
"Thank you sir I appreciate your concern for me. But I have made my decision. I am marrying Mic on Saturday."
The admiral went back to his desk and sat down. There wasn't anything else to be said.
"Well then Colonel I wish you and Brumby all the best."
"Thank you sir."
"Will we be seeing you and Brumby at Rabb's this evening?"
"Yes sir we'll be there."
"Dismissed."
"Aye, aye sir."
"Yes sir." Mac responded.
"I know that you are leaving early today. But I would like to see you in my office before you leave."
"Yes sir."
The elevator doors closed and Mac went on to her office. She knew why he wanted to see her. She hadn't been to see Harm since he was brought to Bethesda two days ago. She tried to tell herself that it was because there was much to do before Saturday. But that was a lie. In order to keep her resolution she had to keep as much space between them as possible.
As she entered her office the phone rang.
"Colonel Mackenzie."
"Sarah? It's me Trish."
She has always liked Harm's mother. "Hi. Are you doing ok?"
"I'm doing better now that I have seen my son. I was expecting to have seen you by now."
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to give you some time with him." Which wasn't entirely untrue, "I didn't want to intrude."
"I appreciate that Sarah. But you wouldn't be intruding at all. I know how close he feels to all of you at JAG."
"How is he doing?"
"He's getting his strength back. They are releasing him this afternoon."
"That is wonderful news. How is his memory coming?" Mac asked cautiously.
"He only remembers being a Navy pilot nothing about becoming a lawyer and going to JAG."
Part of Mac was relieved to hear that. It would be easier this way.
"The doctors tell me the more familiar faces and places that he is around, the better the chance he will remember."
Mac knew what was coming next.
"I am asking all of Harm's friends at JAG to drop by for a short visit tonight. I know that you're busy with the wedding and all."
"I'll be there." She said. Mac couldn't turn her down. Besides how would she explain her absence?
"Thank you. I wanted you especially to be there. The two of you have been through so much together. I am hoping that your close friendship will help bring his memory back."
'And I am hoping that it doesn't, at least not yet.' Mac thought to herself.
*******************************
Mac closed the file she had been working on and looked at the clock. It was 1400. She stood got her purse and cover, let out a deep sigh and headed toward the admiral's office.
As she approached she noticed Tiner wasn't at his desk and the door was standing open. The admiral saw her and motioned her in.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Please close the door and have a seat Colonel."
The admiral had a good idea of what was going on. He had seen these two do this little dance for a few years now. Even though he had never discussed it with the others, he was sure it was as obvious to them as well. Everyone was just standing back and waiting to see if these two knuckle heads would ever stop this ridiculous charade. When Mac had announced her engagement, he thought they had moved on with their lives. But with the recent turn of events he couldn't let this go any further.
"Right now I just want you to listen. I am not speaking to you as your CO I am speaking as a friend."
"Sir." Mac said as she started to stand.
"Please just humor me."
Mac eased back into the chair and sighed.
"I had promised myself not to get involved in this little dance you and the Commander have been doing. It is your business and I thought it would work itself out eventually. And it looked like had, you were to marry Brumby and Rabb is dating Renee. But the events of the last several days tell a different story."
"Sir the Commander has been a good friend to me over the years. I don't have to tell you all the times we have pulled the other out of the fire. Shouldn't I have been concerned?" Mac interjected trying not to sound defensive.
"Of course you should. "
"I don't understand."
"Bud, Harriet, Chloe and even Brumby were concerned. We all wanted to see that he made it alright. You weren't Colonel Mackenzie concerned close friend and colleague, you were Sarah Mackenzie distraught fearful woman in love."
Mac was speechless. She didn't know how to respond. She got up and went over and looked out the window so the admiral couldn't see the tears welling up.
"I know you and Brumby are to get married in 2 days. I just hate to see you make a mistake."
The admiral walked up and handed her a tissue. Mac dabbed her eyes and turned to face him.
"Thank you sir I appreciate your concern for me. But I have made my decision. I am marrying Mic on Saturday."
The admiral went back to his desk and sat down. There wasn't anything else to be said.
"Well then Colonel I wish you and Brumby all the best."
"Thank you sir."
"Will we be seeing you and Brumby at Rabb's this evening?"
"Yes sir we'll be there."
"Dismissed."
"Aye, aye sir."