...Till Death Does Us Part Chapter III – Part 21/24
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Monday August 15
JAG
8:15 AM
Mac stepped into Harm's office. "Hey, got a minute?"
"Sure. What's up?" Harm asked.
Mac closed the door behind her. "I just got a call from Darcy Giblin," Mac paused and Harm nodded his head for her to continue. "The case will go to court this week. On Friday we can go down and sign the papers."
"Okay," Harm said, not really knowing what to say when the woman that you're in love with tells you when you can sign your divorce papers.
"I told her I would find out what time was best for you on Friday."
Harm looked at his day planner. "Afternoon, Bud and I are in court Friday morning. He should be able to handle the afternoon session by himself."
Mac shook her head. "How does one o'clock sound?"
"Fine." Harm picked up his pen and wrote it down in his planner.
Mac gave him a tight smile. "I'll call her back and make sure that time is still open. After I talk to her, we can secure the afternoon from the Admiral."
"Okay," Harm said as Mac left his office. After she was gone, he opened his desk drawer and pulled out the picture of the two of them asleep on his grandmother's couch. He ran his finger over Mac's body. "Damn it." He returned the photo back to his desk and returned to his work.
8:55 AM
Harm and Sturgis walked into the conference room where Bud, Harriet, and Mac were already waiting for the morning meeting.
"You think you can?" Sturgis asked.
Harm laughed. "Yeah, it's no problem. I'll have no trouble whipping your six tonight."
Mac looked up at them. "Just as long as you two don't use the 'no blood, no foul'-rule this time."
Harm took his seat across from her. "You know, sometimes you just knock the fun out of our games."
"Maybe she doesn't want Ty to learn that rule, Sir," Bud supplied with a grin. Everyone chuckled at Bud's statement and understood that was probably the reason. Mac just shook her head and was about to comment as AJ walked into the room.
Everyone started to rise, but he called out, "As you were." He quickly took his seat and looked at his staff, before he looked down at his papers. "Okay, let see what we have."
As usual, AJ asked his staff questions about their current cases and assigned new ones. He also, as usual, tried to encourage them to work a little faster. Towards the end of the meeting, AJ opened a new case file and read down the summary in it. "Commander Rabb."
"Yes, Sir," Harm said turning his attention to AJ.
"Do you know of a Lt. Walter Duncan aboard the Seahawk?" AJ asked.
Harm ran down a list of people he knew on the Seahawk in his head. "I don't believe so, Sir."
"Hmmm." AJ handed him the file. "The Lieutenant is being accused of sexual harassment and has requested you as counsel. You'll be leaving for the Seahawk at 0800 tomorrow."
Harm glanced across the table at Mac, a move that wasn't missed by anyone in the room. "Sir." There was a slight worried tone in Harm's voice. "Is it possible for someone else to take this case?"
AJ looked concerned at Harm. "Any reason why you can't, Commander?"
"The Brownson case, Sir," Harm offered.
AJ shook his head. "Lt. Roberts."
"Yes, Sir." Bud said having a feeling what was going to happen.
"You're co-counsel on the Brownson case. You can handle the case on your own, correct?"
"Yes, Sir," Bud responded.
"Good." AJ turned to Harm. "Problem solved, Commander."
"Actually, Sir. I might have to attend an important meeting on Friday."
"You might have an appointment Friday?" AJ said in confusion.
"Actually, Sir, the Commander does have an appointment on Friday," Mac chimed in.
"Are you the Commander's social director, Colonel?" AJ asked Mac.
Mac suppressed a comment, remembering this was her CO. "No, Sir. But both the Commander and I need to attend this appointment."
AJ crossed his hands in front of him and took a breath. "And may I ask what this appointment is about? Considering neither one of you has requested the day or any extended time off."
Harm and Mac stared at each other with mild fear and the feeling of being uncomfortable etched on their faces. Harm had no clue what to say, but luckily, Mac did. "It deals with the nullification of the problem the SECNAV presented, Sir."
AJ looked intently at Mac and then at Harm. He quickly understood. "Understood." He opened his notes and reviewed them, trying to find someone to take the case. He shook his head from side to side. "I'm sorry, Commander. You're the only one who can take this case. Plus you've been requested by Captain Johnson." AJ paused. "Try your hardest to get it wrapped up before the appointment, if not then you will need to reschedule it."
"Yes, Sir," Harm reluctantly agreed.
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
7:13 PM
Harm stood in his room, placed another uniform on his bed and laughed as Ty sat in the middle of the big bed playing with a pair of Harm's socks. Harm looked down at his son and smiled, he couldn't believe how fast Ty was growing.
He would be a year old in eleven days. He'd mastered crawling and was now climbing the couch and beds. Ty loved to move. Mac told Harm that the need to move was part of the Rabb genes. Ty was also starting to stand more often. Once he got up he was unsure what to do, but he loved holding hands and lifting his feet across the floor. He hadn't started walking on his own, yet, but Harm had a feeling that would be happening soon and he just wished that he would be home for it.
Ty's giggles snapped Harm out of his thoughts. "I know, I need to pack," Harm said to his son. He went into the closet and returned with his sea bag. He placed it at the end of the bed and started to fold his clothes into it while Ty watched his father with interest.
Harm looked at the clothing in the bag and realized he needed a t-shirt and walked back into his closet. Once Harm had the shirt, he folded it as he walked back to the bag on his bed. He looked in the bag and started to laugh. He looked towards his bedroom door and knew Mac was in the office. "Hey, Mac. You've got to come here."
Mac walked to his room. "Yeah. What is..." Mac stopped talking as she looked at Harm's bed.
Sitting in the center of Harm's bag sat Ty with a grin on his face. He picked up a pair of Harm's boxers and threw them out of the bag. He laughed and his parents joined him. Harm picked up the boxers as Mac moved to the bag.
She leaned down and picked Ty out of the bag. He gave a little cry about being moved from his spot. "I know. I know. You want to go with Daddy. But you can't little guy." Mac supported Ty on her hip. "I don't think Captain Johnson would like a little stowaway. No matter how cute you are."
Ty smiled at his mother then cuddled against her body, ducking his head into her neck. Mac chuckled. Harm watched and rubbed Ty's back. "If I could, I would take him."
"The only Navy boats he gets to play with right now are the ones in his bath," Mac informed Harm.
Harm started to repack his bag. "I know. But just you wait till his first Tiger Cruise."
Mac chuckled and sat on the bed. "I know you can't wait."
"Hey, the Captain and the CAG said Ty needs to stop by when the Henry is in port."
"He's going to have a lot of Father-Son Days, isn't he?"
Harm finished packing his bag, closed it, and placed it on the floor. He sat down beside Mac on his bed and took Ty from Mac's arms. He lay back on his back with Ty sitting on his stomach. "What do you think Ty, should we invite Mommy on our Father-Son Days?" Ty giggled and wiggled on his father. "I believe that is a yes."
Mac leaned over and kissed Ty's cheek as he rubbed his eyes. "Thanks, sweetie."
"You're welcome." Harm grinned.
Mac looked down at his smiling face and couldn't resist it. She quickly kissed his lips before she pulled back from him while Harm stared intently at her. Ty broke the silence with a little tired whine.
"I'll put him to bed," Harm offered as he stood up.
"Okay." Mac stood up and kissed Ty's cheek. "Night, sweet pea, I love you."
Ty smiled. "Mama," the baby cooed before Harm and Ty left the room.
Tuesday August 16
Andrews Air force Base
7:05 AM
Harm gave Ty one last kiss from his car seat. Mac closed the trunk of the SUV and handed Harm his bag. "I could have gotten it."
"I decided to be nice to you." Mac grinned.
"I know," Harm paused. "I'll call you as soon as I know when I'll be back. I read the file and I should be able to wrap it up by Thursday afternoon at the latest."
"Okay, but don't do anything stupid to get home. I talked to the lawyers and they said we could reschedule," Mac told him.
"Okay, I'll be home soon."
Mac softly smiled at Harm. "We'll miss you."
Harm ran his hand down Mac's arm. "I'll miss the both of you, too. Bye." He would have liked to give her one goodbye kiss. However, since she was in uniform as well, he didn't dare.
"Bye," Mac said before Harm started to walk towards the transport building.
Thursday Aug 18
JAG
3:58 PM
"Colonel, your messages." Coates smiled, giving Mac a stack of messages as she walked into the bullpen.
"Thank you, Coates," Mac said as she looked through them.
"And the Admiral would like to see you when you are available."
"How's now, Coates?"
"He just finished a call with the SECNAV, Ma'am."
Mac's faced grimaced. "That's never good."
"No, Ma'am," Coates softly responded. "I can tell him you're busy."
Mac got a twinkle in her eye. "You would lie to your CO? Coates, I'm shocked. I knew that Harm helping you with your car was a mistake."
"Yes, Ma'am. I mean no, Ma'am," Coates flustered. "I'll tell the Admiral you're available now."
Mac chuckled as she followed Coates to AJ's office. She announced her before she went in. "Have a seat, Mac," AJ said, when Coates closed the door behind her. Mac sat down and AJ leaned against his desk and looked down at her. "When does Harm get in tonight?"
"He'll be arriving in Andrews at 5:20, Sir," Mac reported.
"He's asked for a personal day tomorrow, but you'll be here in the morning. Correct?"
"Yes, Sir."
AJ got a brief concerned look on his face and sat down in the free chair next to Mac. "You two are signing the divorce papers tomorrow?"
"Yes, Sir," Mac solemnly told him.
AJ looked at her eyes and saw the sadness in them. "That should please the SECNAV."
"Yes, Sir," Mac agreed with discomfort.
AJ knew he couldn't get into this with her. He resigned the idea in his head of trying to convince her to stay married and brought up another topic. Sadly, he didn't have a plan, but he could tell that Harm and Mac deserved to be together. "Meredith wanted to know if there was anything she could bring to eat for Ty's birthday party next weekend."
Mac smiled. "No, thank you. Harm's mother and grandmother are going to be down. I'm sure they will have everything covered."
"Just wanted to offer." AJ chuckled. "Besides it's his first birthday, we don't want to spoil all of his taste buds with her food."
Mac laughed. "She's gotten better."
AJ gave her an astonished look and they both shook their heads from side to side. "No, she hasn't."
Mac was about to say something when the door opened and Coates quickly walked in. "I'm sorry to interrupted, Sir. But Colonel, your daycare is on the phone and they said it was an emergency."
Mac quickly stood up and AJ looked at his phone. "What line?"
"Three," Coates nervously said.
Mac picked up AJ's phone. "This is Colonel MacKenzie... Is he okay?... Yes, I understand... I can be there in ten minutes... bye."
AJ and Coates looked at Mac. Mac took a deep breath as she set the receiver back on the phone. "Mac, is Ty alright?"
"There was an accident at the daycare. A family decided to have a party for their child there. They rented out the area by the pool and one of the children fell into it." Mac paused as images of Ty ran through her head. She looked up at the concerned and scared faces of AJ and Coates. "It wasn't Ty, but they are calling all the parents to pick up their children."
AJ was about to respond, when Bud and Harriet walked through the doors. "Sorry, Sir, but we need to leave." Tears were rolling down Harriet's cheeks and Bud's hands were shaking. "AJ was involved in an accident at the daycare. We have to get to the hospital."
"It was AJ," Mac gasped and Harriet nodded her head.
AJ quickly took command of the situation. "Mac, take Bud and Harriet to the hospital. Bud, give Coates your van's keys." Bud handed Coates his keys. "Coates, go pick up Jimmy and Ty and take them to my house. Meredith is home and she'll watch the boys. I'll call the daycare and tell them that Coates is going to pick the boys up. Coates, if there is any trouble, have them call me, they know me."
"Thank you, Sir," Bud said, before the three parents rushed out of the office.
"Bud, get an elevator, while I get my keys," Mac told the younger man as she rushed into her office and grabbed her keys.
Within a few minutes Mac, Bud, and Harriet were on their way to the hospital, as Coates drove to the daycare.
End Part 21