Chapter 20
Wednesday Sept 1
1000 ROMEO
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
The senior staff was just coming out of the senior staff meeting when Mac entered the bull pen.
"Colonel," A now 5 month pregnant Harriet exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
"I have to talk to Commander Rabb," Mac replied before approaching her boyfriend.
Admiral Williams saw that Mac had arrived stood tall and cried,
"Attention to orders!"
Everyone present snapped to attention.
"Rabb, front and centre," Williams called.
Harm approached the admiral and came to attention in front of her. It was then that he noticed retired Admiral AJ Chegwidden standing outside the admiral's office. He approached his former senior attorney and current friend.
"I hoped to be able to do this before I left but the paperwork hit a snag," Chegwidden said. "It was a privilege, albeit some times a headache, to have you serve under me for the past 9 years. And now I have the honor of see that you receive what you most certainly deserve. You are an excellent lawyer and a fine man. It is my honour to announce your promotion to captain. Repeat after me..."
Harm repeated the oath and waited for the admiral to change his shoulder board. Instead the admiral looked to the side of the room.
"Colonel would you like the honour?" Chegwidden asked.
"Yes sir," Mac said as she approached and took the shoulder boards from her former CO and secured them to her boyfriend's shoulders.
"Congratulations Captain," Chegwidden said shaking his hand.
"Thank you sir," Harm said with a smile.
"As you were," Admiral Williams called and people began approaching to congratulate the new captain.
"There will be a wetting down at Mc Murphy's tonight at 1900," Chegwidden said, "You of course are all invited to attend."
After everybody had congratulated Harm he and Mac headed toward his office.
"How long have you known about this?" Harm asked.
"The admiral called me on Monday so I could be here," Mac said, "When she called Chegwidden to let him know he insisted on being here. It's a shame Mattie's at volleyball camp she would have loved to be here."
"We have that thing at Mc Murphy's tonight but what do you say tomorrow night we go out just the two of us and celebrate?" Harm said pulling her into his arms.
"I'd love to Harm," Mac said returning his hug, "but I have to stay late tomorrow if we still want to go to Grams' for the weekend."
"Ok," Harm said, "then we'll celebrate at Grams'"
"I've got to get back to work," Mac said, she leaned up and kissed him gently, "I'll see you at McMurphy's."
"Ok," Harm said, "I love you."
"Love you too," Mac replied as she slipped out the door.
McMurphy's 1923
Harm, Jen and Michael sat in a booth chatting,
"So commander," Jen said, "when are you going to ask her?"
"Ask who what?" Harm said feigning ignorance.
"Ask the colonel to marry you," Jen said, "and don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. Mattie saw the ring in your drawer when you sent her looking for your watch the other day."
"This weekend at Grams," Harm answered in hushed tones, "and you two are sworn to secrecy, understood?"
"Yes sir," Jen replied.
"Sure Harm," Michael said.
Jen noticed Mac approaching the table, still in uniform,
"I was just going to get a refill," jen said, "would you like me to get you something ma'am?"
"Thanks Jen," Mac said with a smile, "I'll have a tonic water with a twist of lime."
"Sure Ma'am," Jen said before making her way toward the bar.
"You come straight from work?" Harm asked as Mac slid into the booth next to him.
"Ya and I've got to get back there in a little while," Mac said, "we're having a bit of a crisis."
"How big of a crisis?" Harm asked, "can you still go to Grams this weekend?"
"It should be over and done with by Friday," Mac said, "if not then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"They're really running you ragged eh ma'am?" Michael said.
"Michael, Jen may have to call me ma'am while I'm in uniform but you're not in the service you can call me Mac," Mac said in a tone that indicated how often she'd said it before.
"Right, sorry Mac," Michael said sheepishly.
Just then Bette Midler's 'wind beneath my wings' came on the jukebox.
"Dance with me Marine?" Harm asked.
"Of course sailor," Mac said sliding out of the booth. Harm led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. Mac rested her head on his shoulder and simply swayed to the beat.
"Tired?" Harm whispered in her ear.
"a little," Mac admitted.
"Maybe you shouldn't have gone back to work so soon," Harm said.
"No," Mac said, "I needed to. I'm just not used to these 12 hour work days anymore."
"You'll get the hang of it," Harm said, "and if you really get tired there's that couch in your office."
"Harm..." mac began to protest.
"I mean it Mac," Harm said, "don't over work yourself. If you need to, take half an hour and lay down. Promise me."
"I promise," Mac said before putting her head back on Harm's chest and closing her eyes. For what seemed like hours they just stood there and swayed enjoying the feeling of the other's arms. The spell was broken when Mac's pager went off.
Mac checked the message, "I've got to get back," Mac said, "congratulations again Harm. I'm proud of you." She leaned up and kissed him, "don't wait up."
Before he could answer her she had slipped away and out the door. Harm watched her go, in just about 72 hours he was going to ask that woman to marry him. He smiled at the thought and headed back to the table where Jen and Michael were waiting.