Part 11: A Journey of Separate Hearts – Messages
AN: Because off the time differences between Europe and the US I started a little research: EST (Eastern Standard Time: Washington D.C., Virginia, etc.) is 5 hours behind Zulu time = GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). The first destination of Harm and Mac's vacation will be Dublin and Dublin is still in the GMT-time zone. I guess many of you know that already, hopefully I didn't bore you too much. lol
A big hug and a thank you to my sis!!! Anke, love you!! Without you I wouldn't know all the places of Dublin…
And I'm sorry that it took me this long to post a new chapter...but the exams are over now and I should be able to update daily.
February 10th 2003, Monday
5 hrs later
2100 Zulu (21:00 hrs GMT)
Dublin (International) Airport
Dublin, Ireland
Harm looked at his watch. It's 4 pm sharp, but when he looked outside the airplane window it was already dark outside.
'How can this be?' wondered Harm. "Mac, what time is it?"
Without taking one look at her watch, she answered precisely, "Local it's nine o'clock in the evening, but back in Washington it's just 4 pm. Why? Do the different time zones confuse you, Harm? I thought after all our investigation in and outside the US you'd have figured that out! So I guess it's best that I'm here with you. Otherwise you would be totally lost without the correct time, huh, squid?" Mac loved teasing him and even more after their vacation had officially started 5 hours ago.
"Ha, ha, marine! I could manage it even 'without' you!" he replied and then added in a softer tone, "But I would definitely miss you, if you weren't by my side these two weeks!"
His eyes locked with hers and a soft blush crossed Mac's face when she realized what he had recently admitted.
"I would miss you, too… Anyway I think we should leave this plane, right?"
Harm nodded and rose from his seat grabbed his bag as Mac had hers, and left the plane.
They'd just gotten all their luggage and were on their way to look for a cab when Mac saw an old man, who was holding a big paper sign. On it:
Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie
&
Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr.
"Look, Harm, I think that's the driver Martha mentioned. You know, she told us that in each city we would have someone who'll drive us to our hotel and then after two days back to the airport. There he'll give us our next destination information and tickets!"
She pointed with her index finger to the man, who was still looking around for his passengers.
Harm and Mac walked to him and Mac was the first to greet him.
"Hello, my name is Sarah MacKenzie. I guess you just found who you were looking for."
"Oh, wonderful, thought I'd missed you. I take it that you are the commander?"
"Yes, that's me. But we are not on duty here. So it's only Harm."
They shook hands and the man told them his name, "I'm Evan MacKoy, but all my friends call me Gaelic. So, Miss MacKenzie, I guess you feel like coming home?"
"Mac will be fine. But how…yes, I…I feel like I am coming home. But I've never been in Dublin before. I think it's because of my Irish origin. It's strange, but it feels wonderful and I can't wait to see as much as I can of Dublin."
"Something like that, Mac. So I think we should start the first part of your Dublin visit. First of all, I'll drive you to your hotel. But you won't stay there very long, because your evening's entertainment awaits you. C'mon!"
Harm and Mac looked puzzled for a moment but followed immediately when Gaelic walked straight to the airport entrance.
They drove for quite a few minutes when Harm couldn't hold back the question he wanted to ask Gaelic since they had met him.
"Gaelic, what kind of nickname is that? Were your ancestors Gaelic?"
Gaelic looked into the rear-view mirror and smiled.
"I've been wondering when one of you finally would ask me that. Martha told me that you're lawyers for the United States."
"Yes, we are lawyers and we work for the Judge Advocate General, JAG for short. But wait a minute, you know Martha?" Mac asked curiously.
"Yes, I know her. I met her when she visited Dublin for the first time years ago. I was her driver and told her which places she needed to visit here in Dublin. I suggested that I show her everything. She only had to ask for me at the cab central office. We became friends during her vacation and stayed in contact even after she was back to the US. She called me one week ago telling me about you and asking me if I would be 'your' driver for the next nearly two days and here I am." He smiled.
"She called you 'one week' ago? How could she know that we would be the winners?" Harm asked knowing there was more behind their lucky streak at Journey Lotteries.
'Damn, they're good,' thought Gaelic but said out loud, "Anyway, to answer your first question, everyone who knows me calls me Gaelic, because I like – better, love Gaelic Football. I used to play it when I was young and now I'm the coach of a kiddies' Gaelic Football team. You know, Gaelic Football is a mix of rugby and normal soccer and it's my life besides driving people to their hotels. By the way, here we are: The Shannon's Inn. Sure, it's a small hotel, but the hosts are wonderful people and they pamper their guests. They love their hotel and the guests in it. So I'm sure you'll like it."
Harm and Mac walked to the hotel while Gaelic and a hotel boy – in fact a grandson of the hotel's owner – carried the luggage.
Sure, the hotel wasn't as big as a Hilton, but it was even more wonderful. It was a typical Georgian house with big windows and a big red front door. These doors were called 'Dublin Doors' and were a symbol for Dublin like Mac had read in the guidebook during the flight. The hotel was in a wonderfully quiet part of Dublin and nearly every part of the front side was overgrown with ivy.
Because of the streetlights, Shannon's Inn looked like a fairytale house.
"Wonderful, Harm. It's so wonderful!" Mac said breathlessly. She loved it here, although they haven't seen much yet.
An old but nice looking couple greeted them when they walked through the front door.
"Hello, Miss MacKenzie, Mr. Rabb. It's so nice to meet you, Martha told us so much about you! C'mon in. My name is Rose Shannon and that's my husband Jack Shannon," Rose greeted them– a woman with long, gray hair tied in a traditional knot. She was a few inches shorter than Mac but she looked like a typical host mom – better host grandma. Jack was two heads taller than she was; had no hair and you could see that he didn't refuse good food and beer.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Shannon. That's Harm and I'm Mac and I already love your inn!" Mac greeted back.
"I guess Mac is short for MacKenzie? You probably are used to making some explanation when people hear that name. They might think you're a man when Mr. Rabb would talk about his partner and mentions your name to others." Jack smiled knowingly.
"You're right, sometimes that happens." Mac replied grinning.
"Harm, Mac how about I show you your rooms, then you change and freshen up a little bit and come right back, cause I think Gaelic told you that there is still something on your schedule tonight."
Without waiting for any reply, Rose headed to the small elevator. Mac and Harm followed quickly. They reached the third floor and Rose opened their rooms, which were next to each other.
"C'mon in. The left room is Mac's and the other is yours, Harm. There is a white envelope on your beds. Please open it. We'll see us in 20 minutes. I know this is short, but please just do it. You'll understand later." Rose told them and left them alone.
Harm and Mac separately entered their rooms. 'Amazing!' was the first thought in both minds. The rooms weren't that big but nevertheless you could feel the love behind all the decorations and all the details in the rooms: many candles with different orange and green coloring, wonderful wallpaper, comfortable pillows. The couch, the bed – everything fit and everything was in the typical Irish colors: orange and green. Especially the bathroom caught Mac's attention: a wonderful tube was the reason behind it. She would definitely use this tub tomorrow. Now she had to change, but first she took the envelope from the bed and pulled out the card in it.
Dear Sarah,
I hope you had a relaxed flight and everything went ok.
But now it's not the time for talking. Do me a favor and change
into a nice dress. Not too overdressed, nevertheless classical.
You'll understand when Gaelic drives you to your first appointment.
Oh, and don't forget a warm coat. You'll definitely need it later.
Martha
"What is that supposed to mean, Martha?" sighed Mac and started to look for the right outfit in her suitcase.
February 10th 2003, Monday
2145 Zulu (21:45 hrs GMT)
Meanwhile in Harm's room
Shannon's Inn
Dublin, Ireland
Harm had read his notice as well and hurried from the bathroom back to his suitcase – lying on his bed – to find a new pair of socks. His room was a reflection of Mac's room. And he liked it from the start. He hurried with dressing – the words of Martha's message still in his mind:
Dear Harmon,
Hopefully you and Mac have reached Shannon's Inn safely
and in one piece. I'm sure you'll like Rose and Jack Shannon – not to
forget Gaelic. Enjoy your evening. But for tonight you have to wear a
casual nice pair of trousers – but no jeans – a shirt and a casual jacket,
but no tie. Take a warm coat with you, because it's really cold, I'm sure
about it. I know you'll find the right outfit and you'll look good in it. But
don't forget to look at your wonderful partner! You know she's not only
a marine, but also a woman, don't you?
Martha
'Why did Martha emphasize Mac's female side? I know that she's not only a marine!' wondered Harm while he put on his boots.
When he was ready, he grabbed his coat and the room key and left the hotel room.
At the same moment, Mac walked out her room and closed the door. She turned and smiled when she saw her handsome partner.
Harm had chosen black trousers, a navy blue shirt and a deep dark blue – nearly black jacket.
And again she admitted to herself that every outfit looked like haute couture when Harm wore it. But she knew better to tell him that, his ego was big enough sometimes.
Instead she said, "You look nice tonight, flyboy!"
"Thank you, Mac, but 'you' look beautiful!" he replied not mentioning what Martha had written in the message. But he couldn't deny that she was totally right: his partner was the most amazing woman he'd ever known. And tonight it was even more special, because they were far away from their normal life in Washington D.C. When they walked to the elevator, he looked at Mac one more time. She wore a long dark red skirt with a slit in the back, a black woolen shirt and a long jacket in the same red as her skirt. Her hair was brushed behind her ears so he could see some nice, white pearl earrings.
When they walked out of the elevator, Jack, Rose and Gaelic stood in the hotel hall.
"You both look wonderful and it's good you brought a winter coat with you, because it's pretty cold outside," Rose stated.
"And you're right in time! Let's go to the car!" Gaelic ordered and started to walk through the door.
"Enjoy the evening. I think you'll arrive back late. So use the second key on the bunch of keys you got from Rose together with your room key to let yourselves in." Jack told them before Mac and Harm finally left the Shannon's Inn.
February 10th 2003, Monday
2200 Zulu (22:00 hrs GMT)
Gaelic's cab
In front of the Shannon's Inn
Dublin, Ireland
Harm and Mac didn't have the slightest idea what would happen tonight or what they should expect from this evening.
But they were sure that Martha had planned something wonderful and interesting and they couldn't wait to find it out!
So they tried to hide their anxiousness and leaned back in the backseat of Gaelic's cab when he started the engine and drove them into the night of Dublin...