Chapter 14

The rest of the Thursday and Friday at work followed without incident. Harm received a call from Meg informing him that she would be arriving that Sunday at 1025 hours. Harm told her that he should be able to pick her up.

Friday May 28

1703 ROMEO

JAG HQ

Falls Church VA

Harm was about to head out of the office at the end of the day when Admiral Williams stopped him.

"Commander," she said, "I hear the Colonel is having visitors today."

"Yes ma'am," Harm said, "she is."

"Please let her know that I'll be stopping by later," Williams said.

"Yes Ma'am I will," Harm said.

"Carry on Commander," the admiral said.

"Thank you ma'am," Harm said as he tucked his cover under his arm and headed out of the bullpen. He had gotten as far as the elevators when he ran into Bud and Sturgis.

"Hey buddy," Sturgis said, "is Mac up for visitors? I thought I might stop by before I head to the airport."

"Sure Sturgis," Harm said, "I'm sure she must be going stir crazy by now with no one to talk to."

"Would it be alright if Harriet and I brought the boys by sir?" Bud asked, "AJ's been asking about his Aunty Mac."

"Sure come on by whenever," Harm said, "visiting hours don't end until 9."

"Tell her we'll be there as soon as we pick the boys up," Bud said.

"I will," Harm said as the elevator doors opened. He and Sturgis got in while Bud returned to his office.

"So where's Varese this weekend?" Harm asked. Sturgis usually took any free weekends to fly out to wherever Varese was performing.

"Chicago," Sturgis replied, "the big easy. My flight's at 1930, should be able to make her second set."

"It's good to see you so happy Sturg," Harm said.

"It's good to feel so happy," Sturgis replied with a smile. The elevator doors opened then, the men headed to their respective cars.

"Tell Mac I'll see her in a little while," Sturgis called before getting into his car.

"Will do," Harm replied as he climbed into his SUV.

Half an hour later Harm was knocking on Mac's hospital room door.

"Hey Marine," He said as he stuck his head in the door, "how you feeling today?"

"Better now that you're here," Mac replied, "the admiral left at 1300 and I've been going stir crazy since."

"How'd your talk with your uncle Matt go?" Harm asked as he perched himself on the edge of her bed.

"Ok," Mac said, "he was pretty understanding. He's glad we finally admitted our feelings. He was a little worried that it came so closed after Clay's death but other than that."

"Good," Harm said squeezing her hand, "you up for some visitors? There's some people who are pretty anxious to see you."

"I'm up for it," Mac said, "who?"

"Sturgis said he'd stop by on the way to the airport," Harm said, "the Roberts are going to come once they pick up the boys. I guess AJ's getting pretty worried about his aunty Mac. Jen's going to bring Mattie by after volleyball practice. Oh and Admiral Williams said she'd stop by."

"How were they today?" Mac inquired about her friends.

"Better," Harm replied, "I'm going down to the caf to get some coffee you want anything?"

"Some orange juice and a cranberry muffin would be great," Mac said.

"One orange juice and cranberry muffin coming right up," Harm said, "anything else."

"One other thing," Mac said, "and it's very important that you don't forget this one."

"Anything," Harm said.

"Kisses from the man I love," Mac said.

"Well I can give you those right now," Harm said leaning over her bed and kissing her passionately. When he pulled away he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you Sarah," he said the emotion evident in his voice.

"I love you too, flyboy," Mac replied, "Now go get my food."

"Yes ma'am," Harm said with a smile. As he approached the door he didn't see the form of Admiral Jackie Williams sneak back to the waiting room. She had overheard everything. Now she had to figure out a way to fulfill her promise to AJ. Admiral Williams was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Commander Sturgis Turner pass by her and enter Mac's room.

"Hey Mac," Sturgis said poking his head in the door, "how are you?"

"I'm a little sore and I'm going stir crazy but other than that..." Mac trailed off.

"Well you'll be out of here soon, right?" Sturgis said.

"Not soon enough," Mac said, "I can't wait to get out of here. Where you off to this weekend?"

"Varese is singing in Chicago," Sturgis said, "My flight's in a few hours. Speaking of which I'd better get going."

"I'll see you later Sturgis," Mac said, "have a good time."

"I will," Sturgis said with a smile before slipping out the door.

A minute or so later Harm came into the room.

"Here's your orange juice and a raspberry muffin, sorry they were out of cranberry," he said handing her the food.

"Thanks," Mac said with a smile.

"There's a pretty anxious little boy out there wanting to see his aunty Mac," Harm said, "should I let him in?"

"Of course," Mac said.

Harm opened the door and in walked the Roberts family. AJ cautiously approached Mac's bed.

"Hi aunty Mac," the boy said quietly.

"Hi AJ," Mac said, "I hear you've been worried about me."

"Mommy said you have a big owie," AJ said, "She said it was so big that the doctors had to 'perate to take it out."

"That's right AJ they did," Mac said.

"Are you going to be all better now?" AJ asked.

"Eventually buddy," Mac said, "but not right away. Get uncle Harm to lift you up onto the bed and I'll try to explain it."

Harm hoisted the boy up to sit on Mac's bed.

"Why won't you get better soon aunty Mac?" AJ asked.

"You know when sometimes you're really sick mommy gives you medicine?" Mac asked. The boy nodded.

"And sometimes the medicine makes you feel yucky but then after a little while you aren't sick anymore?"

Another nod.

"Well that's kind of like what's going to happen to me," Mac explained, "The owie I have was so big that they have to give me medicine to make sure it's gone. The medicine's going to make me feel yucky but it will get rid of the owie. Do you understand?"

"I think so," the boy said, "how long do you have to take the medicine?"

"For a few months," Mac said, "probably until you go back to school in the fall."

"Oh," AJ said, "can I do anything to make you better aunty Mac?"

"You can do something to make me feel better," Mac told her godson. "I'm going to be spending a lot of time at home so you can draw me a whole bunch of pictures so I have something pretty to look at. Do you think you could do that?"

"Mmhm," the boy said nodding his head.

The Roberts and Harm just stood back watching the exchange. Harm was impressed with how well Mac had explained her situation so AJ could understand.

"How are you feeling ma'am?" Bud asked.

"Besides being ready to strangle the next person who asks me that I'm just a little sore," Mac said, "how's the office adjusting to Admiral Williams? I'd ask Harm but he's so preoccupied with how I'm doing he doesn't really notice anything else."

Harm smirked at Mac.

"They seem to be doing ok," Bud said, "of course they're worried about you."

"And I wonder how they found out about that?" Mac said jokingly as both she and Harm looked to Harriet.

"Me Ma'am?" Harriet asked, "I would never..."

"Give it up Harriet," Harm said, "You're busted."

"In the lieutenant's defense, she isn't the only one responsible," came a voice from the doorway.

"Jen, Mattie, come on in," Mac said.

"I figured you might have had something to do with it Petty officer," Harm said.

"Daddy I'm hungry," AJ said from Mac's bed. Mac noticed that Jimmy had started to squirm in Harriet's arms as well.

"Why don't you come here and give your aunty Mac a hug and then Mommy and Daddy can take you home and get you something to eat?" Mac said opening her arms.

AJ Reached over and gave his godmother a gentle hug before motioning for Harm to lift him down to the floor.

"See you later buddy," Harm said ruffling his hair.

"Bye uncle Harm," the boy said waving, "bye aunty Mac, bye Mattie, bye Jen."

The visit with Admiral Williams was short and awkward. They didn't know each other very well plus Williams was trying to conceal she knew they had confessed their feelings. She had come to the conclusion that she'd just have to wait for the opportunity to present itself. After all she had 3 or 4 months before the Colonel was back full time. Little did she know that said opportunity would arise just a few weeks later.

TBC