Title : All that matters…
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.
Rating : T (In line with new ratings.)
Spoilers : None specific, but set in current series, and covering previous events.
Okay, so the reviews I got gave me the incentive to post this fourth chapter! This one is from the point of view of Harriet, after Jennifer Coates rings her for advice.
To all who reviewed the previous chapters, thank you.
Thanks in particular to Manda, froggy0319, jtbwriter, Lisa, JAGfanatic, Bite Beccy, Beach chickJASSNL, cbw, JAGJenni, starryeyes10, snugglebug, Princess-RainbowRose, LiseGirardi, Beach chickJASSNL, XblueShadowX, aserene, AliciaJAG, alix33, Lurkz and Dessler
So, they're doing it again. Standing close together when they talk. Working together after hours. Reminiscent of years before…
Jennifer had to hang up. Obviously the General was there, and I know I shouldn't have encouraged her to stay on the line, but it was about Harm and Mac and despite my extended family, I still have the strongest maternal urge to ensure that my two dearest friends find each other and – well, simply put – get it on! I've waited years for them to do just that, and from what Jennifer intimated before she so rudely cut me off (don't worry, I forgive her! I hope the General does, too!) it sounds like that is just what is happening! I'm so excited I can't contain myself, and I'm sure I'll just burst if I don't do something! Maybe I can call in on Bud at the office. With four children in tow, that's not such a great idea, but then I remember that AJ and Jimmy have fun-club at our local park, and I can happily leave them with the carers for an hour at least. Mac will be ecstatic to see the twins, as will Harm – he's such a darling at taking care of the pair of them! Other than Bud, I've never known another male so competent at baby-related tasks, especially when he has no children of his own! Maybe that's why the sudden flurry of activity on the Harm and Mac radar? But that would mean they've been together a lot longer than Jennifer presumes, and doing a lot more than anyone would ever imagine! Those sneaky, low-down, conniving…but I still love them. They're my dearest friends, after all, and despite their own ups and downs, they've always been around for Bud and I, and our family. If it wasn't for Harm and Mac, Bud and I would probably have never gotten together in the first place! Now, where did I put my shoes?
Maybe I should call Bud first, just in case either Mac or Harm has gone out of the office. But then, that would be a good thing. At least I can home in on one of them without the other being suspicious. They get that way sometimes, when I talk to one without the other present. I mean, really, suspicious of me! If only they knew the techniques I employ to get information out of Bud…
I carry on looking for my shoes, even as I hear the telephone ring again. I call out to AJ that I'll answer it this time, and I can hear him as he goes back into his room to find his own shoes, and his brother's.
"Roberts' resi…" I begin, but I'm interrupted by Jennifer's breathless voice.
"I have to make this quick," she says, and I can picture her, hand over the mouthpiece, talking fast.
"What's going on?"
"I'm not sure. The General just left his office with Harm and Mac. I think he's going to make an announcement. But Harriet, he's smiling!" Jennifer sounds frantic.
"Stall them, Jen! I'm on my way! Whatever you do, don't let them go until I get there!"
"How?" wails Jennifer, and I pull on my Naval training to give her my best office manager's voice.
"Petty Officer!"
"Yes, ma'am." Jennifer calms down a little, and seems to forget that I'm no longer an active officer. I grin as I find first one pump, and then the other, hidden in Jimmy's toy box of all places! The boy is going through a phase of 'hunt the thimble', except the 'thimble' can be anything from the back door keys to my shoes, and many other things too numerous to mention! Both Bud and I hope he'll grow out of this phase – soon!
"Jen, go stall the proceedings. I'm practically out the door!" I shout frantically down the mouthpiece, and I hear Jennifer's response.
"Yes, ma'am." The line closes and I go back to sorting out my children, giving a vague thought to how Jennifer might actually delay any announcements. A quick call to the carers foils my plan to have only the twins with me. Another child has arrived with chicken-pox, and the group has been cancelled until further notice. This means a slight reshuffle, but the twins are ready to go – I had been planning an outing anyway, and both boys are coming down the stairs, albeit Jimmy on his bottom! I replace the telephone handset and go help my toddler down the remainder of the stairs while his older brother sits down to put on his shoes. I take Jimmy's shoes from AJ and thank him for being such a good boy, and then once the task of having all my children present and correct and inspected is over I open the front door and head down to the family vehicle parked on the driveway. Putting Jimmy in first, I let AJ clamber up next to him and fasten both their seat belts while I instal the twins in their carriers. When everyone is belted in, I set off on my quest to find out just what is going on at JAG!
I check my watch and groan. So, I exaggerated a little when I told Jennifer that I was 'out the door' – but I'd like to see any one of the JAG staff gather four kids, all under the age of six, including newborn twins, make sure they're suitably washed, dressed, fed and watered in the time it took me! Hey, that's not a bad idea! Maybe I could use it as a fund-raising theme? Timed trials on how to Ready the Roberts Kids for Travel!
I digress…
I make it across town and into the JAG parking lot in record time, with a wave from the gate guard who recognizes me as an authorized permit holder, able to use the facility of the secure lot as opposed to the unsecured visitors area. Gathering the babies, I'm approached by an Ensign who has just walked across the parking lot from a fleet vehicle. As she nears me, she recognizes me despite my lack of uniform, and instantly stops to salute.
"Lieutenant Sims, ma'am!"
"Stand down, Ensign. I'm on inactive reserve right now, so no need to salute."
"Can I help at all, ma'am…I mean, Mrs Roberts?"
I smile at that. I feel more like a wife and mother when I'm addressed as such. I nod my head, and smile.
"Thank you. That would be great. I was hoping that the older two could go to a park play group today, but it's been cancelled, so they're with me. Would you help me up to the JAG Ops floor?"
"Of course! I'm on call for driving the fleet car today, so if my beeper goes, so do I, but until then…"
"I understand." I hand over the diaper bag to the Ensign, and then take out the twins, placing them in the double buggy. With AJ and Jimmy waiting as patiently as possible, I lock my vehicle and set off across the parking lot to the main entrance.
With the Ensign's help we make it to JAG Ops, and as she insists on pushing the buggy through for me, I take a hand each of AJ and Jimmy and enter the bullpen ahead of the younger woman, just in time to see Harm kiss Mac's fingers on her left hand. As he lowers her hand from his lips, I see the ring on her hand, and attempt to stifle the squeal of delight. Any noise I've made though is drowned out by AJ calling to Harm, and Jimmy calling to Bud. Both of them look toward me and smile, but my attention is momentarily diverted to the Lieutenant stood to one side of the bullpen, his gaze solely fixed on Mac.
Interesting! I wonder if Mac is aware of that intense stare? I look to my right quickly. Nope. I didn't think so. Right now she's far more aware of another man standing very close to her, and his gaze is far more intense, and far more welcome as it rests once more on her face. I am aware of my name being called by the General, and I drop my inspection of the rather moody-looking officer in favor of crossing the bullpen and shaking hands with Gordon Cresswell. Besides, Bud can fill me in later on 'Mr Moody'.
"Mrs Roberts, it's a pleasant surprise! Are you here for a visit?"
"Just passing through, General. I have some…thing I need to talk to Colonel Mackenzie about." I hedge, and he smiles. We both know why I'm there, and it has 'something' to do with his Yeoman. However, he seems in a jovial mood, and lets my presence – and that of my children – pass for now. I nod at Bud to relieve the Ensign of his youngest children, which he does without a word. Bless the man! I, on the other hand, make my way across to Harm and Mac to offer my warmest congratulations, and to chastise them on not letting me know earlier about their change in personal status. If Bud knew about this before I did, he's in big trouble!
To be continued - I have the final chapter!
A/N – About the 'inactive reserve' status, I'm not sure if active / inactive officers are still required to salute one another. If they are, I apologize in advance!
