Chapter 11
AJ was talking with Jennifer Coates when Admiral Williams finished with the memos. She buzzed Coates.
"Petty officer?" Williams voice came over the intercom.
"Yes Ma'am?" Jen answered.
"Could you please ask Admiral Chegwidden to join me in my office," Williams requested.
"Yes Ma'am, he's right here ma'am," Jen said.
AJ nodded to her and then knocked on what had formerly been the door to his office.
"Enter," Williams' voice came from inside the office.
"You wanted to see me admiral?" AJ asked as he came into the office.
"Yes, sir I did," Williams responded, "do you mind closing the door."
AJ closed the door and then approached the desk and sat down in what he would probably always think of as Harm's chair.
"What can I do for you Admiral?" AJ asked.
"I have a few questions and concerns about the content of these memos," Williams said, holding up said memos.
"I thought you might," AJ said with a grin.
"I'm still not sure about the office being so close knit," Williams said with a frown, "I've looked over Rabb's record and you've let him get away with a lot of stuff. You can't tell me that wasn't because of how close you are."
"In most of those cases I can tell you just that," AJ said, "I let Rabb get away with his unorthodox methods because they get the job done. More likely than not in many of those cases if he hadn't done what he did the truth would never have been discovered. Rabb seeks the truth, not the win and that's why I cut him some slack, not because I think of him as a son."
"And exactly how do you know how much to give him?" Williams asked.
"I admit it's a delicate balance," AJ said, "giving him enough rope to find the truth but not enough to hang himself. If you ever have any trouble in the department ask commander Roberts, he knows how much I usually give. But Harm usually knows when he's gone to far. Anything else?"
"You're not afraid that Rabb's and Coates' unusual living arrangements might cause suspicions in the office?" Williams asked, "It wouldn't be good if an officer of Rabb caliber was suspected of having an affair with enlisted personnel."
"The members of the office understand the situation," AJ said, "most of them were here when Harm asked Jen to be Mattie's roommate. Plus everyone knows how Rabb feels about Colonel MacKenzie. Jen is more of a little sister to him."
"Lt. Simms was in her earlier." Williams said, "She invited me to her son's birthday party. Did you have anything to do with that sir?"
"I did," AJ said, "I thought it would be good for you to get to know your senior staff outside the office and for them to get to know you. The faster the staff feels that you are part of the family the easier the transition will be. I'll be there if you have anything more you need to discuss. And feel free to call me on my cell this summer if you need some help handling the staff."
"Thank you sir," Williams said, "but I think I'll be ok."
"Now if there isn't anything else, Colonel MacKenzie said she wanted to see you and wanted me to stick around." AJ said.
Williams nodded and pressed the intercom button, "Coates, could you please ask Colonel MacKenzie to join us."
"Yes ma'am," Jen replied.
A few minutes later the door opened and Mac stepped into the office.
"You wanted to see me Ma'am?" Mac said coming to attention.
"At ease," Williams ordered, "actually I was told it was you who wanted to see me."
"Yes Ma'am," Mac replied, "I'd like to request permission to secure 15 minutes early today."
"May I ask why Colonel?" Williams asked.
"I have an appointment at Bethesda Ma'am," Mac said, "I tried to get the appointment after work but that was the latest slot they had."
"I see," Williams said, "is this anything I should be concerned about?"
Both Williams and Chegwidden felt they knew the answer, if it wasn't something to be concerned about Mac wouldn't have asked AJ to stick around.
"Yes ma'am," Mac replied, "the appointment I have if with an oncologist. On Friday I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the appointment is to discuss post surgical options."
"Mac why didn't you say anything?" AJ asked.
"I didn't want to ruin your night and then I didn't want to take away from Clay's funeral." Mac said. "Ma'am I'd appreciate it if you'd keep this to yourself, not very many people know and I'd like to keep it that way for now."
Williams nodded, "just so I know, who else if privy to this information?"
"Besides the people in this room," Mac said, "Harm, I mean commander Rabb, Petty officer Coates and Mattie Grace."
"I see," Williams said.
"Ma'am," Mac said, "may I request that Commander Rabb be able to secure early as well. He wants to be there for me for moral support."
"Seeing as it's only 15 minutes," Williams began, "I think that can be arranged, barring any sort of emergency case of course."
"Thank you Ma'am," Mac said.
"Since it's clear that you're probably going to be out on sick leave quite a bit this summer," Williams began, "Id like you to find a suitable temporary replacement for yourself as well as a junior lawyer we can use temporarily until Ensign Tiner graduates from NJS."
"Yes ma'am," Mac replied, "I'll get right on that."
"Good. Dismissed." Williams said.
Mac executed a perfect about face and left the office.
"I think I'll take my leave as well admiral," AJ said, rising from his chair, "I trust I'll see you tomorrow at little AJ's birthday party?"
"Yes sir," Williams said, "and thank you again for the memos."
"Your welcome," AJ said, "take good care of my people."
With a final nod to the new JAG he left her office. Once the door was closed behind him he made a bee-line for Mac's office. He wasn't surprised at all to find Harm already in her office. He knocked on the door frame.
"May I come in?" he asked.
"Of course sir," Mac said, "Harm and I were just discussing how my meeting with Admiral Williams went."
"I wanted to speak to both of you privately," AJ said, "do you mind if I close the hatch?"
"No sir," both officers answered.
AJ closed the door and then sat down in one of the chairs.
"Let's drop the ranks," AJ said, "right now I'm AJ your friend. Not Admiral Chegwidden your former CO or AJ Chegwidden the retired admiral. Clear?"
The other two nodded.
"Mac are you ok?" AJ asked, concern etched on his face. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Harm had gotten up and closed the blinds to the office.
"Not really sir," Mac admitted, "this had been the week from hell. First your retirement, then Clay and now this, it's all a little overwhelming."
Harm moved over and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"What did the doctor say?" AJ asked, "How serious is it?"
"Right now she says that it looks like it's contained in my right ovary," Mac said, "she doesn't think it's spread. With surgery and post surgical treatments she thinks I'll make a complete recovery. She says I'll even still be able to have kids probably."
"Well that's good new at least," AJ said, "now more than ever I think you should house sit for me Harm. I promise I won't say a word if Mac is there more often than not. This isn't something she should have to go through alone."
"And I don't plan on letting her AJ," Harm said, giving Mac's shoulder another squeeze.
"Harm's already been so great," Mac said, "I don't know if I could have made it through the weekend without him, not sober at least. Sir, I mean AJ are you sure about letting us use your house."
"I would of had to get a house sitter anyways, especially since I have Dammit," AJ said, "this way I save the money and help you and Harm out at the same time. It's a win-win situation. Just promise me two things."
"What would those two things be sir, er, AJ?" Mac asked.
"One: be out of there by the time I get home in October and two: I get to walk the bride down the isle," AJ winked as he said that last part.
"I'm sure we will have found a house by then AJ," Harm said, "as for walking the bride down the isle that's a question for Mac."
"Short of my uncle Matt you'd be my first choice anyways AJ," Mac said with a smile.
"Now if you two would get out of my hair I have to find a temporary replacement for myself and a junior lawyer that we can borrow until Tiner graduates." Mac said dispersing the serious mood.
"Aye aye ma'am," Harm said jokingly as he and AJ left her office.
Later that day
Bethesda naval hospital
Oncology ward
Harm and Mac arrived for her doctor's appointment a few minutes early. They sat down in the waiting area.
"So did you figure out who you're going to get to replace you while you're out sick?" Harm asked, trying his best to make light small talk.
"Ya," Mac said, "How do you feel about working with a Commander Megan Austin for a few months?"
"You're serious?" Harm asked, "You're going to get Meg to replace you?"
"Yep," Mac said, "I figured we needed someone who knew how headquarters worked and could keep you in line. Meg Austin and Kate Pike were the only ones that came to mind. And since Kate's with naval intelligence Commander Austin's got the job if she wants it. I'm planning on calling her tomorrow."
"Mind if I sit in when you make that call?" Harm asked.
"Not at all," Mac said, "just promise me you won't fall in love with your new partner."
"Never," Harm said, "only you Mac. What about the junior lawyer? Who's filling in until Tiner graduates?"
"I was thinking of recalling Manetti from Hawaii," Mac said, "same reasons, plus now we don't have to worry about her being a spy for the SECNAV. Well unless he feels like grading the new admiral."
"Sounds good," Harm said just as a nurse came into the waiting area.
"Colonel MacKenzie?" she asked. At Mac's nod, "this way please."
The nurse led them into an office with a large oak desk and two guest chairs.
"Doctor Chen will be with you in a minute," the nurse said before closing the door.
Mac was getting nervous now that she was actually sitting in the doctor's office. She was grateful when Harm reached over and took her hand. Not long after that Dr Chen walked into the room.
"How are you feeling Colonel MacKenzie?" the doctor asked.
"My back still hurts but the medication you gave me is helping," Mac said, "Dr Chen this is Commander Harmon Rabb, my best friend."
"Good to meet you commander," the doctor stood and shook his hand.
"You too doctor Chen," Harm replied.
"Ok down to business," the doctor said, "colonel you already know that you have a malignant tumor in your right ovary. And you already know that we want to do surgery as soon as possible."
"Right," Mac said, "the 2nd of June."
"Well actually there's been a cancellation in one of the O.R.s" Chen said, "We can do your surgery on Wednesday if you like. As far as my opinion goes the sooner the better."
"Wednesday as in the day after tomorrow?" Mac asked.
"Yes," Dr Chen said, "You'd come in that morning and we'd get you prepped. The surgery would start around 1100 and probably last 3 to 4 hours."
Mac looked like a deer in headlights.
"Mac, you ok?" Harm asked, moving his hand from her hand to her upper arm.
"Just a little shocked," she replied, "I didn't expect it to be this soon. I mean I haven't even figured out how to tell everybody. I don't even know if I've really come to grips with it myself."
"Colonel the earlier you have the surgery the better," the doctor said, "I strongly recommend you have the surgery on Wednesday."
"Ok," Mac said. Then she turned to Harm, "but we're not telling anybody tomorrow. It's little AJ's birthday I don't want to ruin that."
"I promise," Harm agreed, "but we can't keep them in the dark forever."
"You can tell them Wednesday at work," Mac said.
"I won't be going into work on Wednesday," Harm said with complete confidence, "I'm going to be here, with you." He squeezed her hand.
"Harm they can't afford to have 2 senior lawyers out on the same day." Mac said. Though secretly she wanted him there, having him around made her less nervous.
"The case load is light this week," Harm said, "I'll bring some paperwork and do it in the waiting room. I wouldn't get anything done at work anyways."
"Thanks Harm," Mac said with a smile.
"Ok, now that we got that cleared up let's get down to business," doctor Chen said.
She proceeded to explain the benefits and drawbacks of each form of post surgical treatment. In the end Mac opted for a combination of chemotherapy and Gamma knife treatments, it would get her back on her feet the fastest. She'd still miss an entire month of work and then be only working part time for the next month but all in all she thought it was best. Harm agreed with her, at least he did after a short argument about how long she should stay completely off work, in the end they compromised. She stayed completely off work for the same amount of time but would work part time longer before returning full time to the work force.
TBC
AN: If you want to know what AJ's memos to Admiral Williams said read my story 'two memos'