Chapter Seventy Four:
Harm looked at his daughter wearing a flight suit. "It suits you Kiddo."
Mac looked at her, "Are you sure you want to do this? Flying with your dad in a tomcat is completely different than flying with him in a Steerman."
"It's okay Mom. I know you hate flying." Mattie said winking at her dad. "Are you ready to rock and roll?"
Mac walked out with them on the flight deck and met up with the NJROTC instructors who were getting the rest of the kids ready to go up in a COD. "How can you be so calm about the commander taking Mattie up?"
'Mattie flies with Harm all the time, and I know that Harm will never put Mattie in harm's way, no pun intended." She explained to them in her white flight gear. She stood next to the LSO and watched the COD take off with the cadets. She then waved to Mattie and Harm as they took off the flight deck.
The Captain made his way out to the deck. "Colonel you are taking this fairly well."
"He isn't going to do anything stupid with his daughter in the back seat. If he does he would have a really angry Marine to deal with."
"I don't doubt that. Are you ready to relive the tribunal?"
"Well, I already know the outcome of the case. Harm and I have never wanted to win a case that badly before in our entire lives."
She looked up and saw Harm's tomcat doing rolls and loops. "I swear to God if makes my baby sick, I am going to kick his sorry six."
The Captain smiled as they got on the headset and listened in on Harm and Mattie's conversation.
"This is great Dad, I mean Commander!"
"Can it Mattie, I told you I am always your Dad first, superior officer second. What do you want me to do now?"
"Can you pull a couple of G's?"
Mac got this look on her face as she watched the plane pull a G-force turn. She was rewarded by hearing Mattie squeal. She sighed.
"Something wrong Colonel?"
"Well Captain, I am pretty sure now that both my daughters will end up being Navy pilots. Harm and I will just have to try for another one so I can have my little Marine someday," she explained to him still hearing Mattie giggle.
Harm pulled the plane into position to become the guardian for the COD while the other F-14 took the other cadet for a spin.
"Dad, that was so cool!"
They let the cadets fly around for 15 more minutes before bringing them back in. Mac watched from vultures row as she watched Harm come in. She watched him help Mattie down from the plane and she automatically flung herself into his arms and he spun her around on the flight deck.
"You know Colonel, there are some things in life that you can't replace."
"Trust me Captain, that much I know."
"You know, I am amazed that Mattie isn't embarrassed by her father yet."
"I don't think that Mattie could ever be embarrassed by her father. He will always be her hero."
He looked out and he watched as Harm tickled Mattie down to the ground and she took off after him tackling him to the ground. "I see your point Colonel. I take it you have to be the enforcer of the family."
"Nope, we have great kids." She said smiling. "Are you ready to watch the recreation of the military tribunal? Mattie and Lil got prosecution and Max and another cadet got defense. It will be fun to watch Mattie go up against her boyfriend."
"I can imagine. Now I need to go claim my mentee from her father now."
"Good luck trying to break up that pair."
Captain Ingles scoffed as Mattie found him and Harm found Mac. "Mom, did you see that? I mean I know Dad flies, I mean he did work for me for awhile, but wow!"
"Commander, when did you work for your child?"
"For a couple of months a year ago. At the time she was the only woman who could keep me honest."
"Bye Dad, I'll see you for the tribunal."
"Bye Baby."
Harm linked his hand in Mac's while they watched the other F-14 land. "In case I haven't told you today yet, I love you."
"I love you too."
"I can't believe I am going to miss Mackenzie's first Thanksgiving."
"Don't think about it."
"What are you planning on doing for Thanksgiving?"
"Well Trish and Frank are flying in, Sergei is driving up to get Grams with Jen, and then I figured I would ask Harriet and Bud with their kids, Sturgis and Varese of course, and can't forget AJ Chegwidden."
"And you are going to cook?"
"No, actually Grams won't let me. She said I can only set the table."
"That sounds like Grams."
"Any word on how much longer your deployment is going to last?"
"They are bringing in my replacement in the beginning of December."
"Great."
"Don't tell the kids yet, something could go wrong and I don't want to get their hopes up yet."
She planted a kiss on him. "So you will possibly be out here for only one more month!" He swept her up into his arms and held her tight.
"I can't wait to get back home and to my girls full time."
They heard Mattie make the announcement over the loudspeaker for the cadets to go to their respective areas to get ready for their tribunal in the morning.
"What do you say me and you go get chow without having all of the cadets running around us?"
"I would say lets go now. Last one to the mess hall gets to do all the laundry for an entire month."
"You are on!"
Mac took off flying and Harm took off after her. She won and he had to get her tray for her.
The rest of the trip to Italy was spent with Harm spending time with his girls. Mattie's highlight of the trip was, of course, flying with her father in his F-14. Mackenzie's highlight of the trip was, of course, flying high on her father's shoulders while they took in the sights of Italy.
Harm and Mac made one more trip to the church were they attended a mass said for them by the priest on the last night that Harm was in port. They made their way to the side chapel and Mac lit another candle for the man.
"God, please let him make it home to his girls. We can't imagine our lives without him. Lt. Rabb, keep an eye out on your son. Please."
AN - Two more chapters left everyone - to answer some questions I read in the reviews (and yes I do read them) - I will continue to write after the demise of JAG, I have a couple of other ideas already - there is the sequel I am working on for this one, Sarah's Letters, All in the Family, maybe I will do a hot summer days series like I did the ICE series - the sequel called A Resemblence of Life will start soon and probably continue through the summer, and I may just write my own JAG series (keeping the dream alive)!- I just want to work a little ahead so I can proof it, ummm - any other questions?
