A/N: I've never been to Reagan National, so please forgive my description
of the airport if it's not entirely true-to-life. Also, for the purposes
of this story I am assuming that Mac and Trish have never met. And for
those of you wondering why Harm and Mac aren't together yet, rest assured
that I AM a shipper... and that's all I'm going to say! ;-)
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Four Weeks Later; 21:50 Zulu; Reagan National Airport; Washington D.C.
In the month since Harm and Mac had revealed their impending parenthood, they had found themselves at the center of a whirlwind of good luck over which they seemingly had no control. Those who hadn't been present at McMurphy's the night of the announcement learned about the pregnancy on Monday morning when Mac entered the office wearing a maternity uniform. The expected rumors surfaced almost immediately, but then quieted down as people realized that nothing about the attorneys' working relationship had changed. Contributing to the demise of the gossip mill's buzz were Lieutenant Sims and Petty Officer Coates, who vocally lamented that even pregnancy couldn't force Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie to admit their feelings.
Their fortune had continued when Mac stumbled across the perfect house a few days after Bud's wet down. Taking an impulsive detour through a residential neighborhood on her way home from work one afternoon, she'd seen a red "For Sale By Owner" sign on the front lawn and knew intuitively that she'd found their new home. After a perfunctory tour, Mac and Harm placed an offer with the request that they be allowed early access to the property to begin repairs. To their delight, the sellers readily agreed and accepted the offer.
Less than a week now remained before the scheduled closing as Harriet and Mac entered the baggage claim area at Washington's Reagan National Airport. As the automatic doors slid silently closed behind them, Mac paused for a moment before purposefully striding over to the arrival monitors. Her eyes scanned down the list of flights.
"Claim number three," she said to Harriet, who turned to glance up at the sign behind them.
"This way, ma'am." Falling into step beside one another, they were silent for a few moments as they made their way down the row of conveyors. Finally, Harriet asked, "Did Commander Rabb say when they'd be back?"
"When I spoke with him this afternoon, all he said was that the investigation took longer than expected and that he and Sturgis were planning to catch the first COD out in the morning."
Stopping in front of the appropriate baggage claim, Harriet looked around. "The plane landed twenty minutes ago. It shouldn't be too much longer."
"Twenty-two minutes and nineteen seconds," Mac corrected absently, her gaze fixing on the escalators on the far side of the room, oblivious to the throng of people milling about the large room. Her mind glazed over as the niggling seeds of self-doubt began to rise through her. In the handful of conversations she'd had with Harm's mother in the preceding month, Mac had always been left with the distressing feeling that Trish's happiness at becoming a grandmother was tainted by disappointment. Suddenly, she found herself overwhelmingly afraid that Trish would see through her outward confidence to the scared and insecure little girl underneath. Staring at the steel treads as they continued their tireless cycle downward, the old fears tried to push through the cracks of her heart.
Harriet stood by quietly as Mac's eyes took on the dulled look of introspection. The Colonel was lost in her own little world, struggling against inner demons that Harriet couldn't begin to fathom. She watched as Mac shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, unconsciously rubbing a hand across her growing waistline. A wave of empathy only a mother can know washed through Harriet at the sight.
"Ma'am, are you all right?"
Pulled out of her reverie back to the present, Mac's hand stilled as she turned her head, eyes focusing in on Harriet's. "I'm fine, just preoccupied is all." Smiling in an attempt to reassure her friend, the warmth couldn't quite chase the shadows from her eyes. She shifted her weight again.
"They'll probably be a few more minutes. Mind if we sit down while we wait?"
Instantly realizing just how much her legs were starting to ache, Mac looked at Harriet gratefully. Spotting a bench situated against the pane of windows a few feet away, the two women made their way over and sat down. A few moments passed before Harriet broke the silence.
"Legs feeling any better, ma'am?" she asked sympathetically.
Mac opened her mouth to reiterate that she was fine, but smiled dryly as she recognized the look of understanding in Harriet's eyes. "Did you find standing a challenge when you were pregnant?"
"All three times. There are some things even the military can't train you for."
"You can say that again." Chuckling, Mac's gaze drifted briefly back to the escalators. Her face grew serious as she turned her attention back to her friend. "Thanks for coming with me, Harriet."
"My pleasure, ma'am." Noticing the way that Mac lightly bit her lip, Harriet pressed forward. "Colonel... Mac... You seem troubled. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not really, but I appreciate the offer," Mac told her ruefully.
"Are you sure? Try me."
She hesitated. "Truthfully, I'm a little nervous about meeting Harm's mother." The words came out barely above a whisper, but at least she'd said it. The rest flowed more easily. "I'm afraid that I'll be a disappointment to her, that I won't meet her expectations."
"Oh, ma'am," Harriet said, voice filling with compassion as she reached out to take Mac's hand in a reassuring grasp. "From what I've heard, Mrs. Burnett likes you and I'm sure is thrilled about becoming a grandmother. You've got nothing to worry about."
"Tell me that when *you're* the one pregnant with her grandchild but not married to her son," Mac muttered. A minute later she blushed at the absurdity of what she'd just said.
"With all due respect ma'am," stated Harriet firmly, "she's going to see what the rest of us do: that you and the Commander are more committed to each other than most married couples. You have been for years."
Mac didn't know whether she was surprised more by the conviction of her friend's tone or the words themselves. Harriet's face turned several shades of pink at her forwardness, now not knowing quite what to say. Any response Mac might have made was pre-empted an instant later by a bell ringing nearby. Over Mac's shoulder, Harriet could see the flashing orange indicator light atop the nearby baggage claim. Simultaneously the two women turned their attention to the escalators, where they now saw clusters of people riding down from the concourses above.
"I wonder if those are passengers from her flight." As soon as Mac spoke, she recognized the figure of an elegantly dressed woman stepping off of the moving staircase. It was a likeness she'd seen captured in Harm's family photo albums. Instantly, the anxiety Mac had experienced earlier reasserted itself. Pushing it ruthlessly aside, she stood and said, "I guess this is it."
Searching the area for her son's distinctive profile, Patricia Burnett didn't realize she was being approached until the expectant Marine was an arm's length away. Mac knew the instant Harm's mother made the association.
"Mac." There was no trace of doubt in Trish's tone.
"Harm was unavoidably delayed by a carrier investigation." The apology felt lame under the circumstances. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she added, awkwardly extending a hand.
Despite her unruffled demeanor, Trish was just as unsure of what to do. After a brief hesitation, however, she gave a dismissive wave and pulled Mac into a warm hug. "It's wonderful to at last be able to congratulate you properly!"
Relieved, Mac pulled back with an elated smile, one hand remaining on Trish's arm. "This is Harriet Sims," she introduced as Harriet stepped up to join them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Burnett."
Politely shaking Harriet's hand, Trish smiled before turning to Mac. An implicit question hovered in the air between them.
"He's expected back sometime tomorrow afternoon."
Chuckling, Trish's eyes danced knowingly. "This is Harm, my dear. Things rarely work out as expected when he's involved."
"You won't hear any argument from me," grinned Mac. "Why don't we get your bags? We can stop for a bite to eat on our way back into town, or would you prefer to stop at the hotel first and freshen up?"
"There's a fabulous little café near the hotel. A decent cup of tea sounds lovely."
"Tea it is, then." Motioning for Trish to lead the way, Mac exchanged a glad look with Harriet before the three women disappeared together into the crowd swarming around the baggage claim.
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To be continued...
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Four Weeks Later; 21:50 Zulu; Reagan National Airport; Washington D.C.
In the month since Harm and Mac had revealed their impending parenthood, they had found themselves at the center of a whirlwind of good luck over which they seemingly had no control. Those who hadn't been present at McMurphy's the night of the announcement learned about the pregnancy on Monday morning when Mac entered the office wearing a maternity uniform. The expected rumors surfaced almost immediately, but then quieted down as people realized that nothing about the attorneys' working relationship had changed. Contributing to the demise of the gossip mill's buzz were Lieutenant Sims and Petty Officer Coates, who vocally lamented that even pregnancy couldn't force Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie to admit their feelings.
Their fortune had continued when Mac stumbled across the perfect house a few days after Bud's wet down. Taking an impulsive detour through a residential neighborhood on her way home from work one afternoon, she'd seen a red "For Sale By Owner" sign on the front lawn and knew intuitively that she'd found their new home. After a perfunctory tour, Mac and Harm placed an offer with the request that they be allowed early access to the property to begin repairs. To their delight, the sellers readily agreed and accepted the offer.
Less than a week now remained before the scheduled closing as Harriet and Mac entered the baggage claim area at Washington's Reagan National Airport. As the automatic doors slid silently closed behind them, Mac paused for a moment before purposefully striding over to the arrival monitors. Her eyes scanned down the list of flights.
"Claim number three," she said to Harriet, who turned to glance up at the sign behind them.
"This way, ma'am." Falling into step beside one another, they were silent for a few moments as they made their way down the row of conveyors. Finally, Harriet asked, "Did Commander Rabb say when they'd be back?"
"When I spoke with him this afternoon, all he said was that the investigation took longer than expected and that he and Sturgis were planning to catch the first COD out in the morning."
Stopping in front of the appropriate baggage claim, Harriet looked around. "The plane landed twenty minutes ago. It shouldn't be too much longer."
"Twenty-two minutes and nineteen seconds," Mac corrected absently, her gaze fixing on the escalators on the far side of the room, oblivious to the throng of people milling about the large room. Her mind glazed over as the niggling seeds of self-doubt began to rise through her. In the handful of conversations she'd had with Harm's mother in the preceding month, Mac had always been left with the distressing feeling that Trish's happiness at becoming a grandmother was tainted by disappointment. Suddenly, she found herself overwhelmingly afraid that Trish would see through her outward confidence to the scared and insecure little girl underneath. Staring at the steel treads as they continued their tireless cycle downward, the old fears tried to push through the cracks of her heart.
Harriet stood by quietly as Mac's eyes took on the dulled look of introspection. The Colonel was lost in her own little world, struggling against inner demons that Harriet couldn't begin to fathom. She watched as Mac shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, unconsciously rubbing a hand across her growing waistline. A wave of empathy only a mother can know washed through Harriet at the sight.
"Ma'am, are you all right?"
Pulled out of her reverie back to the present, Mac's hand stilled as she turned her head, eyes focusing in on Harriet's. "I'm fine, just preoccupied is all." Smiling in an attempt to reassure her friend, the warmth couldn't quite chase the shadows from her eyes. She shifted her weight again.
"They'll probably be a few more minutes. Mind if we sit down while we wait?"
Instantly realizing just how much her legs were starting to ache, Mac looked at Harriet gratefully. Spotting a bench situated against the pane of windows a few feet away, the two women made their way over and sat down. A few moments passed before Harriet broke the silence.
"Legs feeling any better, ma'am?" she asked sympathetically.
Mac opened her mouth to reiterate that she was fine, but smiled dryly as she recognized the look of understanding in Harriet's eyes. "Did you find standing a challenge when you were pregnant?"
"All three times. There are some things even the military can't train you for."
"You can say that again." Chuckling, Mac's gaze drifted briefly back to the escalators. Her face grew serious as she turned her attention back to her friend. "Thanks for coming with me, Harriet."
"My pleasure, ma'am." Noticing the way that Mac lightly bit her lip, Harriet pressed forward. "Colonel... Mac... You seem troubled. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not really, but I appreciate the offer," Mac told her ruefully.
"Are you sure? Try me."
She hesitated. "Truthfully, I'm a little nervous about meeting Harm's mother." The words came out barely above a whisper, but at least she'd said it. The rest flowed more easily. "I'm afraid that I'll be a disappointment to her, that I won't meet her expectations."
"Oh, ma'am," Harriet said, voice filling with compassion as she reached out to take Mac's hand in a reassuring grasp. "From what I've heard, Mrs. Burnett likes you and I'm sure is thrilled about becoming a grandmother. You've got nothing to worry about."
"Tell me that when *you're* the one pregnant with her grandchild but not married to her son," Mac muttered. A minute later she blushed at the absurdity of what she'd just said.
"With all due respect ma'am," stated Harriet firmly, "she's going to see what the rest of us do: that you and the Commander are more committed to each other than most married couples. You have been for years."
Mac didn't know whether she was surprised more by the conviction of her friend's tone or the words themselves. Harriet's face turned several shades of pink at her forwardness, now not knowing quite what to say. Any response Mac might have made was pre-empted an instant later by a bell ringing nearby. Over Mac's shoulder, Harriet could see the flashing orange indicator light atop the nearby baggage claim. Simultaneously the two women turned their attention to the escalators, where they now saw clusters of people riding down from the concourses above.
"I wonder if those are passengers from her flight." As soon as Mac spoke, she recognized the figure of an elegantly dressed woman stepping off of the moving staircase. It was a likeness she'd seen captured in Harm's family photo albums. Instantly, the anxiety Mac had experienced earlier reasserted itself. Pushing it ruthlessly aside, she stood and said, "I guess this is it."
Searching the area for her son's distinctive profile, Patricia Burnett didn't realize she was being approached until the expectant Marine was an arm's length away. Mac knew the instant Harm's mother made the association.
"Mac." There was no trace of doubt in Trish's tone.
"Harm was unavoidably delayed by a carrier investigation." The apology felt lame under the circumstances. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she added, awkwardly extending a hand.
Despite her unruffled demeanor, Trish was just as unsure of what to do. After a brief hesitation, however, she gave a dismissive wave and pulled Mac into a warm hug. "It's wonderful to at last be able to congratulate you properly!"
Relieved, Mac pulled back with an elated smile, one hand remaining on Trish's arm. "This is Harriet Sims," she introduced as Harriet stepped up to join them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Burnett."
Politely shaking Harriet's hand, Trish smiled before turning to Mac. An implicit question hovered in the air between them.
"He's expected back sometime tomorrow afternoon."
Chuckling, Trish's eyes danced knowingly. "This is Harm, my dear. Things rarely work out as expected when he's involved."
"You won't hear any argument from me," grinned Mac. "Why don't we get your bags? We can stop for a bite to eat on our way back into town, or would you prefer to stop at the hotel first and freshen up?"
"There's a fabulous little café near the hotel. A decent cup of tea sounds lovely."
"Tea it is, then." Motioning for Trish to lead the way, Mac exchanged a glad look with Harriet before the three women disappeared together into the crowd swarming around the baggage claim.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
To be continued...
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