Admiration and Love – 8/11
For disclaimer and all other important comments see part one.
Friday May 22
6:15 PM
Mac and Chloe's House
Harriet, Chloe, and Hannah were in the kitchen double-checking everything when Mac walked into the house. "I'm home."
Harriet walked out of the kitchen. "Hi, Ma'am."
"Hi Harriet. How's it going?"
"The girls are double-checking everything."
Mac smiled at the hard work that Chloe had put into the project and the screening. Chloe walked into the front hall and proclaimed, "It's about time you got here."
"Hello to you too, Sunshine," Mac said to Chloe and Hannah, who walked out of the kitchen. "Hi, Hannah."
"Hi. Chloe, I think everything is fine on the kitchen front," Hannah informed her friend.
"Good. Now, Mom you need to change and relax. Everything is under control."
Mac shot Harriet a concerned look. "Okay. I'll go change and help with any last minute things."
7:00 PM
Everyone sat in the living room, waiting for the show to start. Bud, Harriet, and Little AJ sat on the floor leaning against the chair Hannah was sitting in. Tiner sat in another chair. AJ and Meredith sat on the love seat, while Mac was one end of the couch with Harm at the other end. Chloe had laid out seat cards for everyone. Chloe stood in front of the TV and smiled at everyone.
"Can I have your attention please?" Chloe said to the group. "Tonight we gather here to watch a sneak preview of my very first video presentation. All of you have had a part in developing this project. Before I show it, I would like to thank you for putting up with my video camera and me for the past three weeks. I've enjoyed making this and I hope everyone enjoys it. Thank you."
Everyone applauded as Chloe took a bow. She placed the burned DVD into the DVD player and jumped on the couch between Harm and Mac. She smiled at Mac, then pressed play on the DVD remote.
The video started up with an outside shot of JAG, and Chloe's voice could be heard in the voice-over. "This is JAG Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. JAG stands for the Judge Advocate General, and in this building are the Navy's finest lawyers, fighting for truth and justice. But not all the people who work here are in the Navy. This is Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. She's a Marine, a lawyer, a coworker, a friend, a godmother, and my mom." The video showed different pictures of Mac that Chloe had acquired from different sources.
The film showed Chloe standing in a court room at JAG. "But above all she's the person I most admire in the world. In this video, we are going to explore each of these uniquely different aspects of my Mom and why I admire her so much… starting with her as a Marine."
The TV showed video footage provided by Harriet. It was Mac kick-boxing as Harm's voice came over. "She's a Marine who has been trained to defend her country and herself with her bare hands. I've seen her in fights, and there is no other person I would want on my side."
Tiner appeared on screen. "She's tough. We had a 10K race for charity she tied for second."
"She has this ability to go into Marine mode, as we call it, and you do not want to be around when she does that," Bud said in his cheerful voice.
Harm was then answering questions from Chloe. "So has Mac ever gone into Marine mode with you?"
Harm smiled. "At least three to four times a day. When she does, you know she is going to win."
"If you two got into a boxing ring, who would win?" Chloe asked.
"Mac," Harm said quickly.
The screen moved to Chloe talking to Webb. "So Mr. Webb, you've actually worked with Mac in the field?"
"I've seen her fight off five armed men who were trying to kill her. She's strong, tough, and smart. I don't think anything scares her."
The view went back to Chloe. "So that's my Mom, the Marine. She's a little intimidating. But now on to the lawyer in her."
Harriet was then shown talking. "Colonel MacKenzie is a great lawyer. She has a great win record. She fights for all her clients, even if she knows they're guilty."
The footage featured Bud next. "Colonel MacKenzie is a great lawyer. She's very interesting to work with. I respect her a lot."
Sturgis appeared on the screen. "When I first met Mac, she was not what expected from all the stories I was hearing. But she still surprised me with the passion she has for each case. We were working on a case together and she was driving me crazy with her tactics. They were different, but she solved the case."
AJ was next. "Colonel MacKenzie has become a great lawyer. She teaches the newer lawyers little things to help them. She is a great mentor. Definitely one of the best and brightest I have on my staff."
"She's one of the reasons why I'm going to law school at night," Tiner said with a huge smile.
Captain Sebring was shown in his office. "Colonel MacKenzie is an interesting lawyer. She was the prosecution in a case against me. If I didn't know I was innocent, I would have thought I was guilty. When she is in my court, she is in charge. It's great to see someone with that much passion working in a job they love."
Chloe's voice could be heard as footage of Harm from his lunch with Chloe was showing. "My first question is: what kind of lawyer is my mom?"
Harm thought for a second. "Mac is a great lawyer. She fights for the truth of the matter and is strong in her defense. I love fighting against her in court."
"Why?"
"She has a passion for it that makes others want to be better lawyers," Harm said with a gleam in his eye.
"Who's better: you or Mac?"
Harm chuckled. "I'm pleading the fifth."
The camera showed Chloe in Mac's office. "So, she's a Marine lawyer. But how is she as a coworker?"
Bud was up first. "I wouldn't be here today of it wasn't for the Colonel. She helped me a lot when I was learning the ropes. Even now, she still helps me on cases, whether it's finding an angle to argue from or just to give me pointers on my opening or closing statements."
AJ's voice came on as it showed he and Mac working on something. "She is organized and has this tendency to know some things before they happen."
"I don't know how many cases we've worked together or against each other, but she'll help out on cases when I'm stuck. It comes in handy to have someone look over your work to make sure you're on track," Harm said as footage of he and Mac working on a case in the den played.
Harriet came on screen. "I'm not a lawyer, but the Colonel still helps me with things. She understands how things work and will take care of simple requests that some people give me that I don't know how to do."
Chloe now stood in the Roberts backyard. "So that's my mom, the professional. I admire her because she is able to do all that. She's got a great job and I'm proud of her for all of her accomplishments. It's not easy to be a woman in the United States Marine Corps, let alone a lawyer in a male dominated field. She has won several awards and commendations for things that she has done. She's been all over the world doing her job. She's even worked on cases that have set precedence for other cases. But now, we're moving on to the more personal side of my mom. Let's start as the friend in her."
The presentation moved to show a bar-b-que at the Roberts' house. It showed Mac helping Harriet with the decorations. Harriet's voice came over the footage. "Last summer my husband was involved in a serious accident while he was stationed aboard the Seahawk. He lost his lower right leg. It was a very tough time for all of us. Bud was very depressed about it and he wasn't trying to heal. That is, until the colonel had a talk with him. She reminded him of everything that was important. This is a bar-b-que she organized to welcome Bud back to JAG." Harriet wiped a tear from her eye when the footage ended.
"How did Mac help you at your wedding?" Chloe asked.
There was laughter from Bud and Harriet. "Before or after she bailed me out of jail?"
"She stood by me during the whole thing. She was there helping me deal with my mother, the flowers, and even my apprehension about getting married," Harriet said.
Bud took Harriet's hand. "She helped us even before we got married. She helped me learn how to dance and even pushed us together." Bud and Harriet kissed.
The film went back to Harm and Chloe. "What do you think about Mac as a person?" Chloe could be heard asking her.
"She is my best friend. She's gone further with me then any other person I know. She's the first to defend my six when I do something stupid and she's the first in line to kick it, also. When she loves something, she has this all-consuming passion for it. She never ceases to amaze me everyday." Harm smiled as he thought about his partner.
Tiner appeared on the screen. "She's helped me study for some of my tests. Trust me, you listen more when there's a Marine ordering you to pay attention."
Chloe's voice could be heard as pictures of Mac and Chloe appeared on the screen. "Mac's not my real mom. She started out as my friend in the Big Sisters Program. I told people that she was my sister or my mom. She met me and wouldn't take any of my crud. I respected her for that. Over the years, I've learned what being a real friend means. It means to be loyal, kind, sensitive, and loving to those who mean a lot to you." As Chloe said those words, a picture of Mac, Harm, Chloe, little AJ, Bud, Harriet, and AJ flashed on the screen.
"She's also a godmother to this little guy," Chloe said as AJ came on the screen. "This is AJ Roberts."
"AJ, tell me about Aunt Mac."
AJ's little face lit up. "She loves me very much. She's Mommy's and Daddy's friend. She takes care of me. She's the bestest in the whole wide world."
"How much do you love her?" Chloe asked him.
AJ spread his arms as wide as he could. "More than this."
The screen went back to Harm. "Mac is great with kids. When she and little AJ are together, it's wonderful to watch. You see this tough-as-nails Marine just melt away, and it's replaced with a caring, wonderful woman who will do anything to protect him."
Bud gave the camera a huge, genuine smile. "Colonel MacKenzie is the godmother to my son AJ. She was there when he was born."
"She was calming me down and saying everything was going to be all right during the delivery," Harriet said with a laugh.
The screen went back to Harm. "She's a great mother."
Chloe sat in her bedroom. "This is the part of her I love and admire the most. Not a lot of people know the story on how Mac got me. You've learned we met through Big Sisters. But here's the whole story." Chloe took a deep breath and started to tell the story. As spoke, pictures came on the screen, then the camera alternated between the pictures and footage of Chloe telling the story.
"When I was a baby, my parents broke up. My real mom remarried, but died of cancer. She had told my step-dad that my dad was killed while he was stationed aboard a battleship. My step-dad started dating, and one of his girlfriends was hurting me. This is when I met Mac. One Christmas, I ran-away from home and went to JAG. Mac took me in as she tried to work things out with my step-dad. Well, Bud heard my story and he got a little curious. He and Mac found out that my dad was still alive. I met him on Christmas Eve. Six months later, I met him in person, and I went to live with my grandparents in Vermont."
Chloe paused. "When I had to leave for Vermont, it was very hard to say goodbye to Mac. But we wrote, talked, and visited while I was in Vermont. One time I was even lost in the woods for two days, and Mac found me."
"Last summer, I was in a car accident with my grandparents. I was hurt and they died. Mac was next to my bed when I woke up. I came to live with her in DC until my dad could get stationed in Norfolk. The day before he was to come to Norfolk, he was involved in an accident aboard ship. He died." Chloe wiped her eyes.
"I lost my whole family in two months. I was so scared of what would happen to me. Every night during that time, Mac would tuck me in bed and we would talk. She told me the truth, no matter what my question was."
"There was one night when I was really scared. Mom had to go investigate a case in the Persian Gulf. It was her first case away since everything had happened, and I was staying with Bud and Harriet. From the time she first told me about the case, I was worried she wasn't going to come home. At ten, Harriet told me it was bedtime and I went to the guest bedroom as the phone rang. Harriet picked it up and started talking on the phone. I got into bed and Harriet knocked on the door to tell me I have a phone call. It was Mom calling from the Persian Gulf to tuck me in bed."
Chloe smiled at the memory. "She does it every night that she's away. Even if she's working late at JAG, she'll call. And once she gets home late at night, she'll check on me."
Footage from a party at Harriet's came on the screen. "My birthday was the day my grandparents died. I never got a birthday last year, so Mom and Harriet decided to throw me a new birthday party in November. There I am feeling sad for myself because Mom was in Maryland stuck in traffic." The video showed Chloe as she sat in the kitchen table looking miserable. "Everyone tried to cheer me up."
"Heck, Harm said he would kiss Mac when she came in if I would smile." The screen showed Harm talking to Chloe. "I really tried to smile, but it didn't work."
"Mom called and said she'd be in traffic for at least another hour and is apologizing for it. She told us to go on with the party without her, and she'll watch the video tape with me later. So AJ ordered us to open the gifts."
Chloe was shown opening the gifts, but not enjoying it. "I thought I had opened all my gifts when Harm hands me this one. I'll stop talking so you can hear everything."
"Chloe, Mac said this one should be last." Harm handed her a bag.
"I wonder what it is." Chloe pulled a framed piece of paper out.
"Read it, Chloe," Hannah said from off screen.
"It says, 'Certificate of Adoption.' This hereby certifies and announces that Chloe Anne Madison is officially adopted by Sarah MacKenzie on this day of November 11. By order of the state of Virginia." Chloe looked up with tears in her eyes.
"I hope you like it," Mac said as she walked into the house from the back porch.
Chloe ran to Mac. "You're here."
"I've been next door for the last hour," Mac admitted.
"You lied."
"Sorry. You like your gift?"
Chloe wiped her eyes. "I've got the best gift in the world. My own mother."
"Well, it's not official." Mac said as she took the paper out of the frame. "We need to sign it."
"Someone give me a pen!" Chloe yelled, causing Mac and everyone else to laugh.
Mac signed the paper, then Chloe, and finally the judge, who just happened to be Bud and Harriet's neighbor.
Chloe was in her bedroom again. "I keep it framed next to my bed, so I know someone loves me. She gave me herself as a gift. She's made all of my dreams come true. Well, almost all of them. I'm trying to convince her of another one, but it might take awhile."
The outside of JAG was shown again. "I asked everyone the same question, 'What do you think about when someone says Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie or Mac'?'"
"The fact that she is so much to so many people." Tiner grinned thoughtfully.
"How loving she is to her friends and family," Harriet said.
"She's a perfect definition of a complex woman and one heck of a Marine," AJ said with a smile.
"Someone who could and would hurt me for hurting one of her friends. Then when she was done, she would visit me in the hospital to make sure I was all right," Webb informed the camera with his usual grin.
"She is a person who loves herself, her family, her friends, and her country," Bud beamed.
"A person I could spend a lifetime trying to get to know and still not know everything, like that time thing," Harm said with a mild faraway look in his eyes.
Little AJ simply stated the truth, "I love her."
"My final question for everyone was, 'If you could have a wish granted for her what would it be?'" Chloe said to the camera.
"I want her to be as happy as I am with my family," Bud stated.
Harriet thought for a second before answering. "To know she is loved by many people, and to find that love I hope she will have someday."
AJ smiled. "For her to find that time in her life when everything fits and is perfect."
Sturgis took a deep breath. "For secrets to be revealed, and for them to be reciprocated."
"For her to be the first female JAG. She'd be great at it," Tiner said, shaking his head.
Harm thought for a second. "That's a hard question. But I'll go with her knowing how much of an effect she has had on my life, and how I can't imagine it without her in it."
Chloe appeared on the screen. "I would wish for her to have everything that they've said, and then some." Then she smiled. "I asked her that question, and this is what she had to say."
Mac appeared on the screen, sitting under a tree in the backyard of the house. "One wish. I can't answer that."
"You have to," Chloe said from behind the camera.
"For you to be happy," Mac stated.
"Mom, you're not getting this, are you? It's a wish for you, not me." Chloe groaned with irritation.
"That is my wish, if I can look at you when you're my age and you're happy. Then I know something went right in your life," Mac explained.
Chloe sat under that same tree in the backyard. "That's my mom. I admire her because she gives so much for me and everyone she knows. She gives her all, and she's happy. I love her for everything, but right under the love I have, I respect her."
The backdoor of the house opened and the camera turned to show Mac walking into the backyard in her uniform. "Chloe, I'm home."
Chloe could be seen running to Mac and grabbed her in a big hug. Mac just laughed and hugged her daughter back. The camera froze on the faces of Mac and Chloe smiling and laughing. Chloe's voice came over, "She may be a lot of things, but to me, she's the world." Then the words THE END appeared on the screen.
Hannah got up and pressed stop on the DVD. She carefully looked at the people in the room as she wiped her own eyes. Bud was holding Harriet who had tears running down her face. Bud even had a few tearstains. Little AJ was just sitting there with a smile on his face. Tiner had a smile on his face. AJ had his arms wrapped around Meredith, both of whom had soft tears in their eyes. She then saw Harm, who was staring at Mac with tears and love in his eyes. Hannah then followed Harm's eyes and looked at her friend and Mac.
Halfway through the video, Chloe found herself in Mac's arms as she held her. Chloe slowly turned around and looked at Mac. Mac was trying to hold back the tears in her eyes, but it wasn't working. Mac looked at her daughter and smiled. Chloe smiled at her mom and wrapped her in a big hug.
Everyone in the room just watched as the mother and daughter held each other and softly cried. Then they finally loosened their grip. "Did you like it?" Chloe asked.
Mac then wiped a tear from Chloe's face. "I love it," she softly said.
"Good," Chloe said as Mac kissed her on the cheek. "I love you, Mom."
"I love you," Mac said as the two of them smiled at each other.
AJ cleared his throat. "That was wonderful, Chloe."
"Thank you," Chloe said as Hannah handed her a box of Kleenex.
"It was really great, Chloe," Hannah said, giving her friend a hug.
Everyone started congratulating Chloe. Harm reached his arm across the couch and gently touched Mac's shoulder. She looked at him and smiled. He softly asked her, "You okay?" Mac smiled at him in reply, and everyone started talking about the video.
Mac took a deep breath to get her emotions under control as everyone was talking all at once about Chloe's project. "I do believe that there is cake in the kitchen," Mac announced, getting everyone's attention.
"Oh, yeah," Hannah and Chloe said at the same time. "We'll get it set up." Then the two girls ran into the kitchen to get the cake ready.
Harriet then looked at Mac. "Did you have any idea about the topic?"
"No. But I have a feeling that all of you did," Mac said with a smile as the group sheepishly shook their heads. "Thank you."
Mac just smiled as Hannah came into the living room. "Cake, coffee, and milk will be served in the dining room."
Everyone got up and started to walk into the dining room. Mac remained on the couch for a second and Harm looked at her. "You sure you'll all right?"
"I think I'm still in shock that she did this," Mac said to him.
Harm held out his hand and Mac took it. He helped her off the couch and pulled her into a hug. "She loves you very much."
"I know, but I never thought she would do this," Mac softly said into his shoulder.
"What did you expect?" He asked with a smile as he released her.
"I don't know… a card," Mac said back to him as they walked into the dining room and had the cake.
End Part 8/11