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Chapter Twenty-One

Trial TV was covering this important trial. It seemed like it was being covered in every angle. The witness list had been kept under wraps due to security reasons, and that was helping the sensationalism of the trial.

0800 EST

JAG headquarters

Falls Church, VA

Harm pulled up to the parking lot. His parents had left early yesterday and Mattie was being a big help with the baby. He wondered how much longer he had with his little girl. She was having problems sleeping last night, so he rehearsed his opening arguments in front of her.

Flashback to the night before

"As officers of the United States Military, we are all proud to serve this nation to keep it safe, to keep her citizens safe." Just then, Mackenzie started gurgling.

"You know baby girl, Daddy is having a hard time with this opening statement." He picked her up out of the playpen. She clutched his shirt and nuzzled into his chest. He sat with her in the chair from Pottery Barn that his mother had picked out.

"15 people died in an American ran prison in Iraq. . ." and the words just continued to pour out of Harmon David Rabb Jr. By the time he had completed it, Mackenzie was fast asleep in her daddy's arms.

Back to the present

"Come on little muse, I have to drop you off at daycare and get ready for a big day in court."

He reached around to the backseat and undid the carrier from the base. She looked at him with her big blue eyes. His heart melted, he knew today was going to be hard. He unlocked the doors and was immediately berated by reporters.

"Commander Rabb, can you tell us more about witnesses?"

"No comment."

"Commander Rabb, can you comment on all the charges."

"No." It was getting increasingly hard juggling the baby carrier in one hand and trying to push the reporters away with his other hand that held a briefcase. Just then a reporter was bumped, and ran into Harm with full force. Harm stumbled and dropped the carrier. Mackenzie started crying. Harm went into full father mode. "Back off, right now, or else," Mackenzie's wail got louder and Harm dropped to one knee. "Hey baby," he picked her up out of her carrier. He looked and a small bruise was forming where her body bumped against the straps of the carrier. He picked up pacifier from the diaper bag.

"Commander, who's the baby?"

"She's mine. I want you guys to leave us alone now. Answers may be given after the opening of the trial."

"Commander, are you married?"

Harm chose to ignore the rest of the questions that the reporters were asking and walked inside. Mac walked up to him and grabbed the diaper bag and carrier.

"I saw those reporters harassing you. Is Mackenzie hurt?"

"Shaken up, she has a little bruise where she hit the straps," Harm was telling her. Mac saw red.

"I'll kill them," Mac said. She saw him look at her weird. "Harm you love that little girl so much, and I hate the fact that she got hurt because of those people."

"I know Mac. Let's just get her up to the daycare now. This day is going to be hard enough on me and you."

They got up on the second floor and he introduced Mac to the manager of the daycare. He explained that Mac, Harriett, the Admiral, Bud, or Jennifer Coates would be the only people allowed to pick her up unless he was going to say otherwise. Bud was there dropping off Jimmy and AJ.

"Sir, Ma'am, good luck in court today."

"Thank you Bud."

Harm entered the court room and took his seat at the prosecution table. Harm during big trials started picking up the habit of entering the court room a couple minutes early to collect his thoughts.

"Hello there Commander," a sultry voice from the past came in from the back.

"Captain." Harm replied curtly back. She came up and sat on top of the prosecution table. "Captain, I don't believe we should be talking before a trial like this. It could be misconstrued."

Just then Sturgis walked through the door. "Well Captain, unless you are thinking of plea bargaining, I believe I have to trust my colleagues opinion." Harm threw him a look of gratefulness.

A couple minutes later, the trial started. Admiral Jonas sat in the back of the room for opening arguments with Bud. As soon as opening statements, Admiral Jonas looked at Bud and said, "So Commander, what do you think?"

"Well sir, the Captain made several points. But the Commander has always been known for be a silver tongue in the courtroom, and with the events of 9/11, the jury is going to be a little swayed no matter what."

The rest of the court day proceeded with battles being taped. The witnesses were kept in separate rooms so they couldn't see the television reports or know what was going on in the courtroom. The process was slow going, with Krennick objecting to almost everything. They barely got through half of their witnesses.

Jennifer Coates had picked up Mackenzie for Harm right at 1700, and she was waiting for them in her office. The admiral, realizing how close Harm and Mac were getting, ordered them to stay away from each other than seeing each other for professional reasons for the time being. He didn't want a mistrial happening for anything. Sturgis and Harm had decided that Harm would be the one to question Mac since she would be more comfortable with him.

"Hey Jen, thanks for picking up Mackenzie for me."

"No problem sir. I already strapped the carrier in to the Lexus and the baby bag is in there, so you should be ready to go now. Good luck with the reporters. They are at every door so there is no escaping them."

"Thanks Coates." He picked up Mackenzie and headed towards the door. The lights were blinding from the cameras, but Krennick was taking up most of the limelight. She stopped talking when she saw Harm step out with the baby. Just then the reporters zeroed in on Harm.

"Commander Rabb, how do you feel today's litigation has gone?"

"Fairly well." He said knowing to keep his answers short and sweet so he wouldn't give out any extraneous information that could be used against him in court.

"Is it true there are several more witnesses left to be called?"

"Yes that is correct."

"Commander, checking into your military records, it has shown you are not married, nor ever have been. But yet, you have two children, a teenager and a baby. How can the public trust a man that acts amorally to fight for truth and justice?"

Just then Admiral Jonas had heard it all. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, Commander Rabb will not be answering any more questions regarding his family life, unless the commander feels it be so warranted." The SecNav was standing next to Admiral Jonas and he gave his nod to Harm.

"I don't understand what type of bearing my family situation has on the case, but I have no reason to lie," he shifted Mackenzie to one hip, "I have two daughters. If the reporter who first originally asked this question would have pulled up a court case several months back, they would have discovered that I adopted a 15 year old daughter. Her mother was killed in an auto accident, and her father relinquished his parental rights to me, he left her alone for months, and Mathilda wanted to stay with me. Mackenzie and I have been victims of a theft that took place at a clinic, I am sure all of you heard that story on ZNN several weeks ago. So I am what you would call the officer and a gentleman. Don't question my morality. That is all."

Mackenzie started crying, and Harm reached into his pocket and pulled out a pacifier. He noticed a piece of lint, so instead of giving it to her, he let her gum on to his finger. She immediately calmed down.

The SecNav looked at the admiral and said, "Well, even if Rabb doesn't win this case, which is highly unlikely, the image of single fathers in the military will now have Rabb as a spokesman."

The cameras followed Harm walk out to the car. He kissed Mackenzie on the forehead, and he handed her the Marine bear that Mac had made for her. He drove away to the new house that awaited them and the teenage daughter that came running down the steps.