Mac stood with Abi on her hip and watched as Webb's hastily put together removal men, carried basic furnishings into the house.

"Hello." A woman came over.

"Hi." Mac replied.

"Just moving in?"

"Yes." Mac said.

"I'm Linda Barkman, I live next door."

"Mackayla Burns. But you can call me Mac and this is Abi. It's nice to meet you." Mac replied then let out a sigh.

"Move is pretty stressful."

"I'm going to have to do it again soon." Mac said. "We were supposed to be moving into a house off base, but it's apparently structurally unsound so we had to move here temporarily while we try to find something." Mac explained her cover story.

"That's unfortunate. So is your husband around?"

"No that's the other thing that makes this such a good day to move. He got called away to defend someone or other last night. He's a lawyer, he'll probably be gone for a few days."

"That's military life." Linda chuckled.

"I know."

"So he's an officer?"

"Major." Mac replied.

"Captain Burns that's it." The removal man came over. "If you just sign here."

Mac moved Abi to her other hip so she could sign.

"Thank you." Mac replied. "I'll let you know when we're moving again so we can get everything you have in storage."

"Yes ma'am." Then men went back to the van.

"Captain? You're in the Army too?" Linda questioned.

"Was, I resigned my commission."

"So you could follow your husband around?" Linda asked.

"No. You see I used to be an administrator in the legal office, that's how we met. He came to defend Cpl who got caught stealing tyres. After he left we stayed in contact and saw each other when we could. Then I got pregnant with Abi, so we got married and I got a transfer. Just before she was born I went into the reserves. I was just about go back to full duty, I found out I was pregnant with twins. So I resigned my commission. Then Matthew got transferred here."

"So do you plan on working?"

"Right now being pregnant is a job in itself." Mac said.

"I know. I've got four. Oldest is seven, youngest is fourteen months. I seem to get pregnant every time Brad gets a decent amount of leave. They are all at their grandparents for the week." Linda chuckled. "Do you want to come in and have a drink before you have to start unpacking?"

"Thank you that would be great." Mac admitted. "I just need to phone my mother-in-law to let her know we got here safely and lock the door."

"I'll leave the front door open, just let yourself in."

"Thank you."

Mac picked up the secured phone and dialled the number Webb had given her.

"Webb." He answered.

"It's Mac."

"All moved in?" Webb asked.

"Yes. They couldn't have helped unpack?" Mac questioned.

"They would have unpacked the basics and put your suitcases in your room. The big stuff just say you're leaving until your husband gets there to move it."

"Webb you can definitely tell you don't have kids, especially ones who can crawl, you don't leave big boxes on the floor."

"I'll have the General send a couple of new recruits to help." Webb offered.

"Thank you and can you let Harm know we got here safely?"

"Yes. Anything else?"

"No, I'm going have a drink at my new neighbour's house."

"Let me guess Linda Barkman." Webb said.

"How did you know?"

"Your other next door neighbours are out on exercises for the next few days. Barkman's husband is Army Intelligence."

"Okay." Mac paused. "Webb sort this out quickly, I want to go home."

"We're doing everything we can. Call me if you need anything or contact the General."

"Thanks." Mac hung up. "I guess we're staying here for a few days Abi." Mac said.

TBC