Chapter Thirty Nine
Monday
0800 EST
JAG Headquarters
Harm and Mac walked into the office together. She was planning on going back to her apartment, but figured that she should spend time with Harm's parents before they left for California again. They walked into the bullpen and headed their separate ways to their offices.
Coates stuck her head in Harm's office.
"Sir, Admiral Jonas would like to see you and Colonel Mackenzie now."
"Thank you Coates."
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, I would like to come by tonight to prepare dinner for the family. It would be a nice way for me to say thank you to Gramps for the new car."
"Jen, I believe we have plans to go out to eat, but we would be delighted if you were to join us."
"Thank you sir, I will take you up on the offer."
"Mattie was no problem for you yesterday? If she begins to pester you, let me know."
"Sir, in all honesty, I love hanging out with Mattie, you guys are the family I have always wanted."
They chatted their way across the bullpen and told Mac about their meeting. They knocked and waited for the admiral to give his crisp greeting.
"Enter."
They walked in a saluted both the SecNav and the Admiral. "Have a seat you too." The SecNav said. "Rabb, I am sorry I had to disapprove your request to give up your flight status. With the country at war, we can not allow our fighting forces to give up any man power."
"I understand sir."
"You leave on in two weeks for the Patrick Henry. Colonel Mackenzie, here is a case we need you on. Translation for the CIA."
"Sir, with all due respect, I will not work for the CIA anymore. I have daughters to think about."
"I didn't realize. However this is perfectly safe. You will be aboard the Patrick Henry working on the translation with another officer. The transcript is just too large for him to do all by himself." The SecNav paused, "Colonel Mackenzie, I just realized you said you had children."
"Yes sir, well an infant daughter, Commander Rabb's daughter actually. I was found to be his daughter's biological mother."
"Twist of fate. Anyway, I noticed the engagement ring. Congratulations are in order than for you two. We will figure out a way to keep you two together. The press would have a field day if they found out that the Navy was breaking up the dream team of lawyers. I have a meeting in an hour." The SecNav left.
The Admiral broke in, "There is also a case I need you two to investigate out there. It is a sexual harassment suite, per se, Lt. Commander Emily Graves against the someone on the ship, specifically due to being stalked on the ship. She doesn't know who is stalking her."
"Admiral, I request to have Colonel Mackenzie taken off of the case, there is too much history here."
"Commander, I can take care of myself, I'm a . . ."
"Marine, yes I know this. But, it doesn't stop me from worrying."
"Harm," she began.
"Enough you two. I am sure the colonel knows what she can handle. Besides, you will be there watching her six."
"Coates has your travel arrangements." The two officers gave a crisp salute and executed an about face.
"Harm, who is going to watch the children?"
"Well Coates can until her night classes, and then we will have to hire a sitter."
"Or I can help her out," a familiar voice from the past said.
"Sergei!" Mac cried out and started speaking fast Russian to him.
The Admiral was getting ready to leave for his lunch break when he saw the Colonel talking to a man in Russian. "Coates, who is that man?"
"I believe he is Sergei Zhukov, Commander Rabb's younger brother."
Harm went up and embraced his younger brother. "I have been looking for you for months. I kept trying to call, I wrote, I had no clue where you were. Are you okay?"
Sergei got this sad look on his face. "My mother was killed by rebel forces, Galina was also killed several months ago. They captured me, and when I was rescued, I left immediately for the only family I knew. You." Harm embraced his younger brother. "Why would they kill your mom and Galina?"
"I was working along side many Americans to help capture several key terrorist. Many had Russian ties, so that is where I got called in. Being the alleged son of a Vietnamese POW and the brother of an American Navy officer, I was heavily recruited. We found secrets of stockpiled biological weapons. They unleashed a deadly virus on the village." He said quietly. "They didn't have a chance. Everyone in the village died."
Clayton Webb came in beside him. "It was Ebola. I found Sergei after he was captured and decided enough was enough. His father was an American service man, his brother is a decorated hero also. We got him out on the fourth of July. Sorry I missed the carnival."
"Webb, this is the second time you rescued my brother. I know we have always been at odds, but thank you just doesn't seem enough."
The Admiral came up behind Rabb. "Rabb, did you set up a sitter for the children?"
"I think we have it covered now."
"Take the day off, and take Coates and Mac with you, I know there won't be any work done while you are gone anyway. Enjoy the rest of the day with your family. Sergei welcome."
The Admiral made his way toward Capitol Hill to pull some strings. He heard Sergei's story and decided it was time that he became an American citizen if it is what he wanted. Sergei wondered outside to sit on a park bench and to wait for his brother.
"Coates?"
"Yes sir?"
"I am going to take Mackenzie shoe shopping, she has already out grown her shoes. While me and Mac are getting things for her, will you escort Sergei around the mall and help him pick out some new things? I will call my mother and Frank to let them know to bring Mattie to meet us. Sergei knows about Mattie, but he doesn't know about Mackenzie."
"Okay."
"Thanks Jen."
Harm talked to his brother and explained that him and Mac would have to get ready for their trip to the Pat, but it would only take them an hour and that Jen would take him to the mall. He walked over to the ATM to withdraw money.
"Brother, I do not want your money."
"Do you have a job?"
"Not yet."
"Do you have a place to sleep?"
"Not yet."
"Do you have anything other than the clothes on your back?"
"No. I will figure out a way to repay you."
"You are my brother, and you are helping me out with Mattie while I am gone. That is enough." He handed his brother some money. "I am just glad you are safe. We are meeting my mother and her husband for lunch." His brother got a startled look on his face. "Don't worry. It is about time Mom meets my little brother."
"If this is what you want Harm."
"Of course." He led his little brother to Jen's car where she was waiting in her civvies.
"Ready to go when you are Sergei."
"Thank you Jen."
"No problem."
Harm waved goodbye to his brother and Jen then trotted into the building where he found Mac and Mackenzie waiting for him. "My girls ready to go?"
"Sure we are Daddy. I changed her diaper and she is all ready to go."
"Come here Angel. You are meeting your Uncle Sergei today." He held his little girl. She looked up at him with her big blue eyes and giggled at him.
"DADADA" she babbled.
"You know Harm, I think she likes you best."
"It's because she is a daddy's girl." He did his routine that he always did when putting her in the car seat. He was more careful than her than he was doing a pre-flight check Mac always joked with him.
He called his parents on his cell to explain the events of the morning. His mother took the news of his brother being in town better than what Harm expected. She knew how important family was to him, and Sergei was after all family.
They met up with Harm's parents and Mattie. Jen and Sergei had secured them a table at the local 50's diner. Harm came walking in with Mac and Mackenzie. Sergei was puzzled.
"Did you find a baby at the mall?"
"Funny Sergei, she is mine and Mac's daughter." Harm told him the brief version of how Mackenzie came into his possession when his parents and Mattie walked in.
"Dad, Mac, Jen, Uncle Sergei!" squealed Mattie.
"How is the bump on the head Kiddo?" Harm asked.
"Fine. Dad, you didn't tell me that Uncle Sergei was coming." She sat next to her Uncle. "Can you teach me some Russian?"
"Anything you want." He replied.
"Sergei, I want you to meet my mother Trish, and my stepfather, Frank."
He stood up and greeted the people. "Mr. and Mrs. Burnett."
"You have his eyes. Please call me Trish and you can call him Frank."
"Trish, my mother told me he spoke of his beautiful wife back home. He was right, you are very beautiful. He always dreamed of coming back home to you and my brother."
"Thank you Sergei. I am grateful your mother could bring him comfort. Harm told me what happened." Surprisingly she hugged the young man. "If you need anything while you are here, let me help you. Think of me as your stepmother, technically, that is what I am. Only I won't be the evil stepmother."
He looked somewhat confused. Mac broke in and translated in Russian. Sergei looked at Trish, and spoke to her, "Thank you Trish."
Mackenzie started laughing at that moment because Mattie was tickling her feet. Harm looked at her. "Mats, you get her to spit up, and you will be cleaning it up."
"Dad, yuck."
"Which reminds me, Mac and I have to go away for a couple of days in a couple of weeks, I have to do my quals, Mac is going to investigate a case as soon as her caseload lightens. Your grandparents are only a phone call away. Jen and Sergei will be staying at the house to keep an eye on you guys. Your Uncle AJ is going to stop by, and Uncle Bud and Aunt Harriet will probably check in. But I need you to help out with Mackenzie a lot."
"Geez Dad. You think you would call in an entire fleet to take care of me."
"I tried." He ruffled her hair and kissed the top of her head. "I just worry."
"Dad, promise me when you are in the air you are going to fly smart and not do anything crazy."
"I won't do anything out of the ordinary for me. I promise."
"Like that makes me feel any better." She muttered underneath her breath causing Mac to laugh while drinking her coke.
"You know, she has you there flyboy." She kissed his cheek and everyone laughed. He sighed. 'Oh yes,' he thought, 'I need to have another child to be on my side.'
