AN: Starting in this chapter there is a slight crossover with West wing, if you aren't familiar with the show don't worry, it's nothing big just some characters. So to cover my behind West Wing and it's characters don't belong to be either.

Chapter 16

Friday June 25

1742 ROMEO

Krennick's meeting with the SECNAV did not go as planned. Sheffield already knew the majority of what she had to say and was ok with it. He also suggested that it was in her best interests not to go to the media as after they heard his side of the story it would only make Harm even more of a golden boy. She grudgingly had to agree. If the navy times were anything they were thorough. They'd listen to her but they'd also ask Rabb his side. What public is going to condemn a man who adopted a teenager who was surviving on her own after losing her mother in an accident and being abandoned by her drunk father? A man who was buying a house with an apartment in the basement so he wouldn't leave his daughter's roommate out on the street? A man who took care of his best friend who was recovering from cancer and a man who was house and dog sitting for his former CO? No, going to the media would hinder her case more than help it. With no more tricks up her sleeve Krennick began to wonder what kind of plea bargain she could get. She knew there was no way she'd be found not guilty. As her lawyer said, 'this isn't going to be a case about guilt or innocence it's going to be about the sentence.'

Meanwhile as Krennick contemplated the demise of her career the subject of her loathing was on his way to Blacksburg with his family.

"I don't care Matilda," Harm was saying, "You are not painting your room black."

"But it'll be so cool," Mattie argued back, "I'm going to put glow in the dark stars on the ceiling so it looks like the night sky."

"It would look cool at night Mattie but during the day it would just be dark," Mac said, "there's not very much light in that room anyways."

"Now you guys are ganging up on me?" Mattie whined.

"Give it up Mattie," Jen said, "you aren't going to win this one."

"What if we made you some curtains out of black fabric with glow in the dark stars on them," Mac said, "I saw some in the window of the fabric store when I was at the mall the other day."

"Ya I guess that would be ok," Mattie said slumping back in her seat and pulling her headphones on.

"Thanks Mac," Harm said turning to smile at her, "I never would have thought of that."

"And that is why you need a woman in the house," Mac said with a smile. "Tell me again why we have to wait two weeks to move into our house."

"Because there's some things that need to be done," Harm said, "we need to get separate alarm systems put in for the house and Jen's apartment, we need to put in the intercom system, replace the kitchen tile, finish Mattie's room, put a fence up around the pool and paint."

"Right, I still don't see why we need half that stuff but I get it," Mac said, "mind if I take a nap?"

"Go ahead," Harm said giving her hand a squeeze.

Harm was left to drive a silent car the rest of the way to Blacksburg. Jen and Mac were sleeping and Mattie wasn't talking to him.

Harm and Mattie touched down in Gram's field an hour before Mac and Jen would arrive. Mattie climbed out of the plane without a word. When she met Grams and her dog Leroy coming out to meet them she said a terse hello before heading straight for the tire swing.

"What's wrong with Mattie?" Grams asked as she approached Harm who was securing the stearman.

"I won't let her paint her room black," Harm said, "she'll get over it."

"I'm sure she will," Gram responded with a smile, "why don't you come inside while you wait for Mac and Jen. I have a strawberry rhubarb pie that just came out of the oven."

"You know I could never resist your strawberry rhubarb pie," Harm said with a grin as he followed his grandmother into the house.

When Mac and Jen arrived 45 minutes later Mattie still hadn't come inside.

"Did you see Mattie out there on your way in?" Harm asked Mac after she and Jen had greeted Grams.

"She's sitting out on the tire swing," Mac said, "she still not talking to you?"

"Nope," Harm said, "she's even giving Leroy the cold shoulder. Hopefully she'll be over it tomorrow so she can actually enjoy this weekend."

"Would you like me to go talk to her sir?" Jen asked, "maybe you could think up a compromise while I'm out there?"

"Thanks Jen," Harm said, "I'll see what I can think up."

"Maybe you could let her paint the ceiling black," Mac suggested.

"Mac her room is the attic," Harm said, "her entire room is ceiling."

"But there's that part that's more like a ceiling than walls," Mac said, "what if we let her paint that black and get her a black bedspread and curtains."

"That could work I guess," Harm said, "but she'd have to paint the walls a lighter colour."

"Let me work on her a bit," Mac said, "I have some ideas that might help make her agree."

Mac did manage to convince Mattie to adjust the color scheme of her room and the rest of the weekend was filled with flying lessons, walks through the woods and a fishing trip to the nearby stream and plenty of Gram's cooking.

Thursday July 1

1130 ROMEO

Courtroom 1

JAG HQ

The following Thursday the court room was packed as the verdict and sentence in the Krennick case were read. The president of the members stood,

"Captain Allison Krennick we find you guilty of multiple courts of sexual harassment. We hereby sentence you to 18 months confinement, an administrative discharge and forfeiture of 15 of you pension."

"Thank you Commander, the members are dismissed with the thanks of the court. This court martial is adjourned." Admiral Morris banged his gavel to end the proceedings. People began pouring out of the court room as Krennick gave one last glare to Harm before being led away. Mac and Mattie approached Harm who had been sitting a few rows ahead of them.

"Hey," Harm said.

"Hey yourself," Mac said, "We just had to see it for ourselves. That women was a disgrace to the uniform, even if it was Navy."

"Ya from what you guys have told me she got what she deserved," Mattie added.

"Excuse me, sir Ma'am, Mattie," Petty Officer Coates interrupted, "sorry to interrupt but the Admiral asked to see the Commander and the Colonel as soon as court let out."

"Both of us Petty Officer?" Harm asked, wondering why Admiral Williams would want to see Mac.

"Yes sir," Jen replied, "she requested that both you and Colonel MacKenzie join his ASAP."

"Thanks Jen," Mac said, "we'll be right there."

Jen nodded and then returned to her desk.

"Mattie why don't you go wait in my office," Harm said, "Well go out to lunch after we see what the admiral wants."

"Can I play on the computer?" Mattie asked.

"As long as you don't do anything illegal," Harm said with a grin.

"Yes Dad," Mattie said in a patronizing tone as she rolled her eyes. She wandered off in the general direction of Harm's office.

"I wonder what this will be about," Harm said as he and Mac walked toward the admiral's office.

"I don't know," Mac said, "do you thing she knows?"

"I don't know," Harm said, "I guess we're about to find out."

"Go right on in," Jen said, "she's expecting you."

Harm and Mac entered the office and came to attention.

"Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie reporting as ordered sir." Harm said. He noticed that there was a man in the office he didn't recognize.

"At ease," Admiral Williams said, "Commander, Colonel this is Leo McGarry the Whitehouse Chief of staff. He's here to offer one of you a job."

"Ma'am?" Mac questioned.

"We knew no matter the out come today that we couldn't continue to employ Captain Krennick," Mr. McGarry explained. "we were very impressed with your defense of the Secretary of the Navy this past winter. We would like to offer one of you her position."

"Which one of us sir?" Mac asked.

"I'll leave that up to you to decide," McGarry said, "would you like a few minutes?"

"That's not necessary," Harm said, "the Colonel should take the job. I'm not cut out for that kind of work."

"Colonel?" McGarry asked.

"I accept," Mac said, "however I should inform you I'm currently undergoing chemo therapy..."

"I'm aware of your medical condition Colonel," McGarry said, "we are prepared to work around it for now. Come into work when you can. Work from home when you can't. If there's an emergency perhaps we could contact commander Rabb?"

"Yes sir," Harm agreed.

"Colonel MacKenzie, perhaps you could come by tomorrow and we'll talk some more." McGarry said, "I'll show you around and introduce you to the people you'll be working with."

"Yes sir," Mac said.

Meanwhile Williams had been filling out paperwork.

"Sorry to interrupt," the Admiral said, "Colonel if you would please sign here." She handed Mac a pen. Mac signed the transfer papers and smiled.

"I'll expect you around 1?" McGarry said.

"Yes sir," Mac replied, "I'll be there."

"If you'll all excuse me I have a meeting with the French ambassador," McGarry said. Williams nodded and McGarry left.

"I'm sure you two want to celebrate," Williams said to her two officers, "dismissed."

"Aye aye ma'am," Harm and Mac said is unison before executing perfect about faces and leaving their CO's office. They headed to Harm's office to pick up Mattie so they could go to lunch.

"So what did she want?" Mattie asked when they entered the office.

"I've agreed to take over Krennick position at the Whitehouse," Mac said.

"Wow," Mattie said, "congrats Mac. You guys know what this means don't you? You're in separate chains of command."

Twin smiles crept over Mac and Harm's faces. They didn't have to hide their relationship anymore. No more pretending they were still just friends, no more hiding the fact that Mac was spending most of her time at Harm's (aka Chegwidden's) place, no more lying.

"Seem like we have more than enough to merit a celebratory lunch," Harm said, "Il Mastrato's on me?"

The girls nodded their heads in agreement. The three left the office with huge grins on their faces and headed for the nearby Italian restaurant.

TBC