Title : Where The Sea Meets The Sky
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (Here's the disclaimer for NCIS, as above...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda, rinkrat, bard2003, laura carr, tj, sahc, kstorm, arian04, deb, lisa brown, smithknk, cmaf, cj, manda may, dd2, firedevil, youngest knight, soleil2 and guitarvixen for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jtbwriter Hiya! The admiral's always had a soft-spot for Mac and Harm, we know, so it's not out of place for him to care so much. Especially as he's going to be heavily involved in the lives of the Rabb kids for 'years' to come! (I can dream, can't I?) I'm starting to see the light at the end of the proverbial chapter tunnel - it has to end sometime, and it's coming sooner rather than later! The court date seems to have proved to be my 'rounding up' of loose ends and characters. Webb just popped into my head last week again, and then I read somewhere a spoiler for season 10! Talk about psychic! As for the appearance of Mac's (and our) hero - there is the uniform, the flyboy grin, and of course the 'dazzle' factor! Tom Johnson doesn't stand a chance! Sue and Jack are still around, of course, and will be back in before the end. Thanks as always, and luck too!
alicia5 Ooh - chocolate! I'm a sucker for chocolate... okay, I'm sending Webb back to Langley for TPTB to deal with...will that do? Thank you very much for your info on continuances in family court, and your news that you're a special ed teacher. My daughter has special needs, and I have every admiration for you and your colleagues who give your time, patience and love. It means a lot! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
dd2 I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter - hope I can keep you enthralled with this and the coming chapters too! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
soleil2 Hello and welcome to the story! I'm glad you're enjoying my work, and thank you so much for your info on the legal stuff! Much appreciated, and will be retained for future use! Thanks also for your support, and please keep reading!
arian04 I have to keep my readers/reviewers on their toes, and I'm glad to see it seems to be working! As mentioned, the admiral has a soft spot for H & M, and it seems to work in the story. I'm working on the family court scene, and I hope I haven't spoiled it. It will be along soon! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
anna7 Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
skyefire I know the 'totm' feeling - got it now! Don't worry about Webb, he can't spoil life for our favorites! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
guitarvixen Hello and welcome to the story! I'm glad you're enjoying reading it, Jackie, and thanks for your review and support. Please keep reading!
lisa brown Glad to know you're enjoying the story. No worries about H & M - nothing so drastic this time round! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
abigaile Happy to know you've caught up on the chapters. I really hate to say this, but I'll leave the 'killing' to TPTB! (I just can't do it myself!). Hey, Harm's the hero! I'll say no more now, you'll have to read more! For Harm and Mac, stay tuned! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOQ QUARTERS
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
SAME TIME
Captain Johnson sighed. He knew he was going to regret asking this, but...
"What kind of a favor?"
"I need that F-14 again, sir."
"I knew I was going to regret this. Very well, what are you planning on doing with my F-14, and when do you want it?"
"I need you to delay the helo, sir. Tell them we have a foul deck and can't land anything just yet. It will give the two of us time to catch up on a few hours sleep, and then we can set off."
"You're going to go back to Bahrain as the helo comes here? What will that achieve?"
"I'm not sure, sir. But it will put Dunstan out of Webb's reach for a while longer."
Johnson stood silently for a few minutes, and then he spoke, and Harm had the grace to look surprised when he heard what the man was saying.
"Under the circumstances, I don't see you have any alternative but to get Mr Dunstan as far away from the Gulf as possible. Ferrying him back and forth from the ship to keep him out of sight will only work for so long. If I get canned for what I'm about to let you do, Captain, trust me that I 'will' include you in my statement."
"Yes, sir," Harm responded, wondering what was coming next. He didn't have long to wait.
"All right. You have your time, and your Tomcat. I'll hold off the helo until later this afternoon. You can rendezvous with in-flight tankers until you're sure you're out of Webb's clutches and then you must touch down, bunk down, and then continue to the states. If I need you to come back here, you can return the jet the same way. If not, I'll organize some way to ship it back."
"I... Thank you, sir." Harm shook hands, and at Johnson's sudden smile, he couldn't help the grin that lit his face too. Even Dunstan grinned, despite his doubts about climbing into the back seat of Harm's jet again. Johnson looked between Harm and Dunstan and shook his head.
"God help us all," he muttered as he left the cabin, closing the door behind him.
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH
VIRGINIA
WEDNESDAY MORNING
"Colonel Mackenzie, my office, now!" Mac looked up in surprise from where she was busy sending a fax regarding Carson's case. Handing off her work to Harriet she shook her head in response to the look on her friend's face.
Mac entered the office and closed the door behind her, without being requested, as Jennifer wasn't at her desk in the outer office.
"Sir, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes. Colonel...Mac...oh, hell, this isn't going to be easy at any time..." The admiral had begun to speak, but was finding it hard to put the words together that would leave Mac feeling deserted at a time she needed Harm the most.
"Is Harm...is he hurt, sir?" Mac found it hard to speak, the lump in her throat threatening to cut off her air supply as she fought to quell the morning sickness that only seemed to attack her system when she was upset which, given the separation from Harm, had been an almost daily occurrence.
"What? Oh...oh, no, Mac...Harm's fine. There's just been a slight hitch. He's got to keep Dunstan out of the clutches of any and all agencies for a while until they get back stateside."
"He's not going to be back in time for the court hearing, is he, sir?"
"It looks doubtful, Mac. I wasn't able to talk to him directly, but Captain Johnson did say he would try to get him back here for Monday."
"But Monday isn't Friday, Admiral..." Mac glanced up as Chegwidden cleared his throat, and she managed a faint smile at his expression. "AJ, I'm just afraid that with Harm absent, and Tom Johnson present, the judge is going to award Mattie's custody back to him, regardless of the achievements of the past six months, and because of Harm's apparent lack of interest compounded by his absence."
"Maybe you do need to have that talk with the judge prior to Friday, just to make her aware of your current situation with regard to Harm."
"You mean tell her everything?" Mac looked astounded, but then suddenly she nodded her head. "It could work. I have the emancipation request to show her. It won't take long to tell her the rest."
"You're not detracting from the hearing, and knowing that you and Harm have the start of a wonderful family in your near future, it may play the trump card for you."
"Yes," Mac nodded, and then grinned. "May I ask Harriet and Bud to come in for a moment, sir? I have something to tell the three of you, and I don't think there would be a better time."
"Of course, but if this is to do with your baby, don't you think you should be telling Harm first?"
"Ordinarily, yes, but I can't reach him right now, and I know he'll understand..." Mac murmured, cryptically. Chegwidden nodded, and Mac walked out to ask Harriet, Bud and Jennifer to join her. As they filed into the room, unsure of the nature of the request, Mac closed the door behind her and faced all four of them.
"You all know Harm and I are expecting, and that alone is something we both wanted to share with you all. I went for a scan yesterday, and I have some other news...that I want to share with you, too."
"Mac, is there a problem?"
"Is everything all right, ma'am?"
Both Harriet and Jennifer spoke at the same time, and Mac smiled at them, shaking her head, which didn't really help clear up the confusion, as for Harriet it meant there was no problem, but for Jennifer it signified that things were not all right.
"I'm expecting twins! There are two babies..." Mac's voice wavered, even as she was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. The more she mentioned the word 'twins', the more the impact of the impending arrivals hit her.
"Oh, that's fantastic!" Harriet was the first to recover from the news, and she hugged Mac closely, followed by Bud, Jennifer, and then Chegwidden himself. In the ensuing congratulations from the others, Sturgis' knock on the admiral's door had gone unheeded, so he had opened the door slightly to check the muffled voices, not sure if he had misheard any call to 'enter'.
Stepping fully into the room to the sight of Mac being hugged by Chegwidden, he suddenly stepped back pulling the door with him.
"Sorry...sir, I'll...I'll wait outside..."
"Turner, get back in here!" Chegwidden's voice boomed, and Harriet pulled the door wide, so Sturgis could see that Mac and the admiral weren't actually alone together. His expression was sheepish, and Mac went over to hug him, drawing him further into the room with her.
"What's going on?" he asked, pleased to see Mac smiling, but unsure as to why everyone around her was beaming too.
"You were the first, Sturgis!"
"Excuse me?" Sturgis looked comically at Mac, his mouth opening and closing like a stranded fish.
"I mean, you guessed first! Sturgis, I'm expecting twins! Remember, you asked me a while back if there was a possibility?"
"Oh, Mac, that's wonderful news! I'm happy for you both, for you all. Does Mattie know?"
"Yes, I told her yesterday when I got back to the apartment." Mac turned to look at Jennifer. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you yesterday, Jen. Mattie fell asleep before you got in, and she didn't want to leave just a note, so I said I'd find a way to let you know today."
Jennifer waved off Mac's apology, grinning widely. "I would just love to see the Captain's face when you tell him, ma'am. I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that one!"
Mac grinned in response, and then her expression turned serious for a moment.
"There is something else you need to know, for those of you who don't already. Mattie's father has pressed charges of fraternization, which will be dealt with later, but the immediate concern is that he also contacted the Family Court and the hearing date has been brought forward to this Friday. I don't know if Harm will make it back in time, and that could cause problems for him wanting custody of Mattie. My intention is to visit the judge with Mattie's emancipation order beforehand, but as the admiral has given permission for you to support me in court, cases permitting, I would just like to say thank you in advance of your being there. With my hormones on the fritz right now I'm just as likely to burst into tears in the courtroom, and I'd hate to think I'd forgotten to thank you then."
"Don't even think about it, Colonel. We're family..." Chegwidden spoke up at that moment, and his words served as the conclusion to the impromptu meeting. "Right, back to work, people. Dismissed!"
"Yes, sir." Mac's acknowledgement served them all, and the five officers left the admiral to the privacy of his office again.
Mac returned to her office to find that Harriet had completed faxing the document she had started to send, and the file sat on her blotter. Taking her seat, Mac stared blankly at the manila folder, her thoughts a few thousand miles away.
FLIGHT DECK
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Captain Johnson was standing on the flight deck watching as an incoming helo positioned itself above the deck to touch down. On board, he knew, was one highly-incensed CIA agent. Clayton Webb. While the helo was being secured to the deck, Johnson turned his attention to another aircraft waiting to take off. As the F-14 was readied, he caught the eye of the pilot and raised a hand in acknowledgement. Harm grinned in response, and gave a 'thumbs up' sign before advising Dunstan to hang on tight prior to the thrust of the engines when they would be leaving the deck.
ON BOARD THE F-14
"Remember what I said, Stuart. This take-off is going to be different to that of a runway. You'll need to brace harder. The g-forces are stronger in this environment."
"Thanks for the pep-talk," Dunstan responded, and Harm looked in his mirrors at the man behind him.
"Cheer up! At mach-two we should be back stateside in no time."
FLIGHT DECK
"Captain Johnson! I don't appreciate being told to sit on my backside back in Bahrain! I trust that your flight deck is back in business now and I haven't caused any further problems by arriving earlier?" Webb sounded as ticked off as he felt, and Johnson stood, hands on hips, looking at the man in front of him. With the safety helmet and goggles in place, it was hard to picture the usually-dapper Webb as anything but comical.
"Not a problem, Mr Webb! Just an inconvenience!" Johnson turned on his heel and walked back towards the flight deck hatch, leaving Webb to follow in his wake if he wanted to talk to the ship's master. Before he stepped over the knee knocker and into the ship's interior, Johnson turned again to face Webb, who had to stop suddenly and back up a little, or be directly in the face of the equally ticked-off captain.
"Why are you here, Mr Webb?"
"I need to speak with Captain Rabb!" The request was shouted over the noise of the deck, and Johnson allowed himself a small grin.
"Captain Johnson, is Rabb on board?"
Johnson shook his head, and pointed to the departing F-14. As the jet began it's journey off the deck of the carrier, Webb groaned. Somehow he knew the jet wasn't coming back to land on the deck, and he had a lot of explaining to do as to why he hadn't been able to debrief Stuart Dunstan himself.
"You didn't tell him I needed to talk to him?" It was a rhetorical question, and one that Johnson didn't even try to answer.
"I should consider bringing you up on report, Captain Johnson."
"Do that, Mr Webb, and you will be spending time in the ship's brig."
"I won't be here that long!" Webb's retort was thrown over his shoulder as he made his way back to the helo.
"Going somewhere, Mr Webb?" Johnson's casual enquiry halted Webb in his steps, but he did not turn back to face the older man.
"I shall be returning to Bahrain."
"Not tonight you won't, Mr Webb. We have a storm coming in, and the last flight just left here."
"Last flight?"
"Captain Rabb's jet was the last for tonight."
"You have 'got' to be kidding me!" Webb's words were whipped away by the wind on the flight deck, but Johnson heard them first, and his smile was genuine as he turned back to the hatch and entered the ship's interior.
"Make your way to the bridge, Mr Webb, and I will organize an ensign to show you to the VOQ cabin. As Captain Rabb and Mr Dunstan are no longer with us, you can have their cabin."
Webb knew he was beaten - again. By the time he even contacted anyone, Harm would be thousands of miles away, and Dunstan with him. All he could do was wait out the night on board the Sea Hawk, and take the helo back to Bahrain in the morning. He was not a happy man. As he made his way to the bridge, Webb allowed one other thought into his head. Along with Rabb came the other name he had on his mind. Sarah.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To be continued
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (Here's the disclaimer for NCIS, as above...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda, rinkrat, bard2003, laura carr, tj, sahc, kstorm, arian04, deb, lisa brown, smithknk, cmaf, cj, manda may, dd2, firedevil, youngest knight, soleil2 and guitarvixen for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jtbwriter Hiya! The admiral's always had a soft-spot for Mac and Harm, we know, so it's not out of place for him to care so much. Especially as he's going to be heavily involved in the lives of the Rabb kids for 'years' to come! (I can dream, can't I?) I'm starting to see the light at the end of the proverbial chapter tunnel - it has to end sometime, and it's coming sooner rather than later! The court date seems to have proved to be my 'rounding up' of loose ends and characters. Webb just popped into my head last week again, and then I read somewhere a spoiler for season 10! Talk about psychic! As for the appearance of Mac's (and our) hero - there is the uniform, the flyboy grin, and of course the 'dazzle' factor! Tom Johnson doesn't stand a chance! Sue and Jack are still around, of course, and will be back in before the end. Thanks as always, and luck too!
alicia5 Ooh - chocolate! I'm a sucker for chocolate... okay, I'm sending Webb back to Langley for TPTB to deal with...will that do? Thank you very much for your info on continuances in family court, and your news that you're a special ed teacher. My daughter has special needs, and I have every admiration for you and your colleagues who give your time, patience and love. It means a lot! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
dd2 I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter - hope I can keep you enthralled with this and the coming chapters too! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
soleil2 Hello and welcome to the story! I'm glad you're enjoying my work, and thank you so much for your info on the legal stuff! Much appreciated, and will be retained for future use! Thanks also for your support, and please keep reading!
arian04 I have to keep my readers/reviewers on their toes, and I'm glad to see it seems to be working! As mentioned, the admiral has a soft spot for H & M, and it seems to work in the story. I'm working on the family court scene, and I hope I haven't spoiled it. It will be along soon! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
anna7 Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
skyefire I know the 'totm' feeling - got it now! Don't worry about Webb, he can't spoil life for our favorites! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
guitarvixen Hello and welcome to the story! I'm glad you're enjoying reading it, Jackie, and thanks for your review and support. Please keep reading!
lisa brown Glad to know you're enjoying the story. No worries about H & M - nothing so drastic this time round! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
abigaile Happy to know you've caught up on the chapters. I really hate to say this, but I'll leave the 'killing' to TPTB! (I just can't do it myself!). Hey, Harm's the hero! I'll say no more now, you'll have to read more! For Harm and Mac, stay tuned! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOQ QUARTERS
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
SAME TIME
Captain Johnson sighed. He knew he was going to regret asking this, but...
"What kind of a favor?"
"I need that F-14 again, sir."
"I knew I was going to regret this. Very well, what are you planning on doing with my F-14, and when do you want it?"
"I need you to delay the helo, sir. Tell them we have a foul deck and can't land anything just yet. It will give the two of us time to catch up on a few hours sleep, and then we can set off."
"You're going to go back to Bahrain as the helo comes here? What will that achieve?"
"I'm not sure, sir. But it will put Dunstan out of Webb's reach for a while longer."
Johnson stood silently for a few minutes, and then he spoke, and Harm had the grace to look surprised when he heard what the man was saying.
"Under the circumstances, I don't see you have any alternative but to get Mr Dunstan as far away from the Gulf as possible. Ferrying him back and forth from the ship to keep him out of sight will only work for so long. If I get canned for what I'm about to let you do, Captain, trust me that I 'will' include you in my statement."
"Yes, sir," Harm responded, wondering what was coming next. He didn't have long to wait.
"All right. You have your time, and your Tomcat. I'll hold off the helo until later this afternoon. You can rendezvous with in-flight tankers until you're sure you're out of Webb's clutches and then you must touch down, bunk down, and then continue to the states. If I need you to come back here, you can return the jet the same way. If not, I'll organize some way to ship it back."
"I... Thank you, sir." Harm shook hands, and at Johnson's sudden smile, he couldn't help the grin that lit his face too. Even Dunstan grinned, despite his doubts about climbing into the back seat of Harm's jet again. Johnson looked between Harm and Dunstan and shook his head.
"God help us all," he muttered as he left the cabin, closing the door behind him.
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH
VIRGINIA
WEDNESDAY MORNING
"Colonel Mackenzie, my office, now!" Mac looked up in surprise from where she was busy sending a fax regarding Carson's case. Handing off her work to Harriet she shook her head in response to the look on her friend's face.
Mac entered the office and closed the door behind her, without being requested, as Jennifer wasn't at her desk in the outer office.
"Sir, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes. Colonel...Mac...oh, hell, this isn't going to be easy at any time..." The admiral had begun to speak, but was finding it hard to put the words together that would leave Mac feeling deserted at a time she needed Harm the most.
"Is Harm...is he hurt, sir?" Mac found it hard to speak, the lump in her throat threatening to cut off her air supply as she fought to quell the morning sickness that only seemed to attack her system when she was upset which, given the separation from Harm, had been an almost daily occurrence.
"What? Oh...oh, no, Mac...Harm's fine. There's just been a slight hitch. He's got to keep Dunstan out of the clutches of any and all agencies for a while until they get back stateside."
"He's not going to be back in time for the court hearing, is he, sir?"
"It looks doubtful, Mac. I wasn't able to talk to him directly, but Captain Johnson did say he would try to get him back here for Monday."
"But Monday isn't Friday, Admiral..." Mac glanced up as Chegwidden cleared his throat, and she managed a faint smile at his expression. "AJ, I'm just afraid that with Harm absent, and Tom Johnson present, the judge is going to award Mattie's custody back to him, regardless of the achievements of the past six months, and because of Harm's apparent lack of interest compounded by his absence."
"Maybe you do need to have that talk with the judge prior to Friday, just to make her aware of your current situation with regard to Harm."
"You mean tell her everything?" Mac looked astounded, but then suddenly she nodded her head. "It could work. I have the emancipation request to show her. It won't take long to tell her the rest."
"You're not detracting from the hearing, and knowing that you and Harm have the start of a wonderful family in your near future, it may play the trump card for you."
"Yes," Mac nodded, and then grinned. "May I ask Harriet and Bud to come in for a moment, sir? I have something to tell the three of you, and I don't think there would be a better time."
"Of course, but if this is to do with your baby, don't you think you should be telling Harm first?"
"Ordinarily, yes, but I can't reach him right now, and I know he'll understand..." Mac murmured, cryptically. Chegwidden nodded, and Mac walked out to ask Harriet, Bud and Jennifer to join her. As they filed into the room, unsure of the nature of the request, Mac closed the door behind her and faced all four of them.
"You all know Harm and I are expecting, and that alone is something we both wanted to share with you all. I went for a scan yesterday, and I have some other news...that I want to share with you, too."
"Mac, is there a problem?"
"Is everything all right, ma'am?"
Both Harriet and Jennifer spoke at the same time, and Mac smiled at them, shaking her head, which didn't really help clear up the confusion, as for Harriet it meant there was no problem, but for Jennifer it signified that things were not all right.
"I'm expecting twins! There are two babies..." Mac's voice wavered, even as she was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. The more she mentioned the word 'twins', the more the impact of the impending arrivals hit her.
"Oh, that's fantastic!" Harriet was the first to recover from the news, and she hugged Mac closely, followed by Bud, Jennifer, and then Chegwidden himself. In the ensuing congratulations from the others, Sturgis' knock on the admiral's door had gone unheeded, so he had opened the door slightly to check the muffled voices, not sure if he had misheard any call to 'enter'.
Stepping fully into the room to the sight of Mac being hugged by Chegwidden, he suddenly stepped back pulling the door with him.
"Sorry...sir, I'll...I'll wait outside..."
"Turner, get back in here!" Chegwidden's voice boomed, and Harriet pulled the door wide, so Sturgis could see that Mac and the admiral weren't actually alone together. His expression was sheepish, and Mac went over to hug him, drawing him further into the room with her.
"What's going on?" he asked, pleased to see Mac smiling, but unsure as to why everyone around her was beaming too.
"You were the first, Sturgis!"
"Excuse me?" Sturgis looked comically at Mac, his mouth opening and closing like a stranded fish.
"I mean, you guessed first! Sturgis, I'm expecting twins! Remember, you asked me a while back if there was a possibility?"
"Oh, Mac, that's wonderful news! I'm happy for you both, for you all. Does Mattie know?"
"Yes, I told her yesterday when I got back to the apartment." Mac turned to look at Jennifer. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you yesterday, Jen. Mattie fell asleep before you got in, and she didn't want to leave just a note, so I said I'd find a way to let you know today."
Jennifer waved off Mac's apology, grinning widely. "I would just love to see the Captain's face when you tell him, ma'am. I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that one!"
Mac grinned in response, and then her expression turned serious for a moment.
"There is something else you need to know, for those of you who don't already. Mattie's father has pressed charges of fraternization, which will be dealt with later, but the immediate concern is that he also contacted the Family Court and the hearing date has been brought forward to this Friday. I don't know if Harm will make it back in time, and that could cause problems for him wanting custody of Mattie. My intention is to visit the judge with Mattie's emancipation order beforehand, but as the admiral has given permission for you to support me in court, cases permitting, I would just like to say thank you in advance of your being there. With my hormones on the fritz right now I'm just as likely to burst into tears in the courtroom, and I'd hate to think I'd forgotten to thank you then."
"Don't even think about it, Colonel. We're family..." Chegwidden spoke up at that moment, and his words served as the conclusion to the impromptu meeting. "Right, back to work, people. Dismissed!"
"Yes, sir." Mac's acknowledgement served them all, and the five officers left the admiral to the privacy of his office again.
Mac returned to her office to find that Harriet had completed faxing the document she had started to send, and the file sat on her blotter. Taking her seat, Mac stared blankly at the manila folder, her thoughts a few thousand miles away.
FLIGHT DECK
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Captain Johnson was standing on the flight deck watching as an incoming helo positioned itself above the deck to touch down. On board, he knew, was one highly-incensed CIA agent. Clayton Webb. While the helo was being secured to the deck, Johnson turned his attention to another aircraft waiting to take off. As the F-14 was readied, he caught the eye of the pilot and raised a hand in acknowledgement. Harm grinned in response, and gave a 'thumbs up' sign before advising Dunstan to hang on tight prior to the thrust of the engines when they would be leaving the deck.
ON BOARD THE F-14
"Remember what I said, Stuart. This take-off is going to be different to that of a runway. You'll need to brace harder. The g-forces are stronger in this environment."
"Thanks for the pep-talk," Dunstan responded, and Harm looked in his mirrors at the man behind him.
"Cheer up! At mach-two we should be back stateside in no time."
FLIGHT DECK
"Captain Johnson! I don't appreciate being told to sit on my backside back in Bahrain! I trust that your flight deck is back in business now and I haven't caused any further problems by arriving earlier?" Webb sounded as ticked off as he felt, and Johnson stood, hands on hips, looking at the man in front of him. With the safety helmet and goggles in place, it was hard to picture the usually-dapper Webb as anything but comical.
"Not a problem, Mr Webb! Just an inconvenience!" Johnson turned on his heel and walked back towards the flight deck hatch, leaving Webb to follow in his wake if he wanted to talk to the ship's master. Before he stepped over the knee knocker and into the ship's interior, Johnson turned again to face Webb, who had to stop suddenly and back up a little, or be directly in the face of the equally ticked-off captain.
"Why are you here, Mr Webb?"
"I need to speak with Captain Rabb!" The request was shouted over the noise of the deck, and Johnson allowed himself a small grin.
"Captain Johnson, is Rabb on board?"
Johnson shook his head, and pointed to the departing F-14. As the jet began it's journey off the deck of the carrier, Webb groaned. Somehow he knew the jet wasn't coming back to land on the deck, and he had a lot of explaining to do as to why he hadn't been able to debrief Stuart Dunstan himself.
"You didn't tell him I needed to talk to him?" It was a rhetorical question, and one that Johnson didn't even try to answer.
"I should consider bringing you up on report, Captain Johnson."
"Do that, Mr Webb, and you will be spending time in the ship's brig."
"I won't be here that long!" Webb's retort was thrown over his shoulder as he made his way back to the helo.
"Going somewhere, Mr Webb?" Johnson's casual enquiry halted Webb in his steps, but he did not turn back to face the older man.
"I shall be returning to Bahrain."
"Not tonight you won't, Mr Webb. We have a storm coming in, and the last flight just left here."
"Last flight?"
"Captain Rabb's jet was the last for tonight."
"You have 'got' to be kidding me!" Webb's words were whipped away by the wind on the flight deck, but Johnson heard them first, and his smile was genuine as he turned back to the hatch and entered the ship's interior.
"Make your way to the bridge, Mr Webb, and I will organize an ensign to show you to the VOQ cabin. As Captain Rabb and Mr Dunstan are no longer with us, you can have their cabin."
Webb knew he was beaten - again. By the time he even contacted anyone, Harm would be thousands of miles away, and Dunstan with him. All he could do was wait out the night on board the Sea Hawk, and take the helo back to Bahrain in the morning. He was not a happy man. As he made his way to the bridge, Webb allowed one other thought into his head. Along with Rabb came the other name he had on his mind. Sarah.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To be continued