Title: In A Garden

Chapter Six

By: LizD

Written: January 2004

Disclaimers: No disrespect to JAG's cast, crew or creators. With love and thanks.

In A Garden – Part 6

The day was not going as planned, but that was not necessarily a bad thing. The alarm did not go off, but Harm and the boys were up and out before Chloe woke up. Mrs. Johnson had a doctor's appointment that she had told Harm about, but he had promptly forgotten. He needed to be back to pick them up by 3PM. The car was out of gas but he made it to the gas station on fumes. The first break he got that day was that court was pushed back a couple of hours. It gave him one more shot at Gunnery Sergeant Maria Ricci.

The Gunny was a weapons and training officer based out of Camp Pendleton; one of the best in her field. She had been in the marines for twenty-six years, married to a marine and raised two sons to be marines. Sadly her husband and sons were deployed in Iraq four years prior; only her youngest son came home albeit not as whole as he left.

Harm met her through a series of coincidental events. The son was having issues with his ex-wife over visitation and the Gunny was given Harm's name. She was a crusty old bird and Harm liked her from the get go, but she was not normally the person you would think of when thinking of a maternal influence.

Harm had spoken to her about Carroll and Mike Flanders. The gunny was not impressed with their history. She had been training troubled marines all her life, and she was not looking to bring her work home with her, but she did have something to give. Harm got her to agree to meet the kids the morning of court.

The meeting took place an hour before. The three hit it off immediately. Carroll and Mike were actually very smart and interesting children. They tried to push the Gunny the way they had every other family before, but the Gunny did something that no other family had tried. She played into it. If the kids wanted to fight verbally – she corrected their debating style. If physically, then she would give them the proper forum to do that. Harm had to laugh. He left them alone for about a half and hour, when he came back the tables and chairs were all pushed to the sides and the Gunny was on the floor showing Carroll the proper technique to pin her brother.

"We have an agreement Gunny?" he called over to her.

"Do your thing, Commander." In the Gunny's eyes everyone was military or nothing.

Harm made a very cogent argument in favor of this placement. The judge was still leery. These children and their discipline problems had already taken up a great deal of the court's time. Another placement that would not work would again, take up the court's and Child Protective Services time. CPS was making a plea to have the children split up and assigned to juvenile hall until such time as a psychologist has determined that they can again be placed in foster care - separately. Harm wanted to prevent that.

"Mr. Rabb, convince me that this placement will not bring these children before my bench again."

Harm stood and thought for a moment. He looked at the kids – who I must say were looking pretty cocky and unaffected by the proceedings. He looked at the Gunny who was willing to get up and walk away – no hard feelings. Sitting two rows behind the Gunny was Chloe Madison. He was surprised to see her. He looked back at the judge.

"Your honor, I could give you a line of liberal double talk about the system and the effect that it has on the youth of today. I could play in to your humanity and the responsibility we have as a society to give every opportunity to the kids caught up in the system. I could tell you that Carroll and Mike Flanders have learned their lesson and will straighten up and fly right, in spite of the fact that they don't appear to have learned a thing. I could tell you all about the Gunny and her take-no-prisoners attitude and what a positive effect it will have on the Flanders. I could try to convince you that this is the perfect match and it would be a win-win for everyone; that the Flanders' case will never be brought before you again. But those kinds of pleas only work on TV. We are not on TV. This is the real world. I can't say that this placement will work. I can't promise you that the Flanders will not continue to be a discipline problem. The bottom line is we have two siblings who want to stay together and we have a willing adult who has agreed to take on that responsibility. Until such time that there is no adult to take these kids on, we have to keep trying. And when there isn't, then we can lock them up and throw away the key."

The judge laughed at that last line. "No one is suggesting locking them up and throwing away the key, Mr. Rabb?" she shook her head and turned her attention on the kids. "Carroll and Mike Flanders," she called. Harm had to prompt them to stand. "Is it your contention that you want to be placed together?"

"Yes." Carroll said.

Harm prompted her again.

"Your honor," she added.

"She is my sister," Mike followed. "We got to stay together."

"Have to." His sister corrected and Mike made a face at her.

The judge continued. "You know that you have tried this court's and a lot of other people's patience."

"Yes, your honor. We'll do better." Carroll said.

"Gunnery Sergeant Maria Ricci." The gunny stood up. "You have been completely informed about Carroll and Mike Flanders."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You are willing to bring these children into your home and be responsible for them?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The judge shook her head again. "So ordered," she banged the gavel. "Semper Fi, gunny," she said folding up her notes and leaving the bench.

Harm had to talk with CPS and deal with some other paper work right then. He looked back and Chloe was still waiting. Eventually the gunny took the Flanders and left. Chloe stepped up to Harm.

"Interesting argument, Harm."

"It worked."

"Do you think this time is going to be any different?"

"I don't know. The gunny is a tough nut to crack and I think those kids have met their match, but who knows," he looked down at her. "What are you doing here"

"Came to see the great Harmon Rabb in court."

He rolled his eyes and headed for the door.

She followed. "So this is what you do now?"

"You have been seeing it all summer, just catching on now?"

"Don't you miss the excitement of real court?"

He stopped and turned to her. "Real court? Doesn't get much more real than this," he started walking again.

"Aren't you hankering to try a juicy murder case?"

"Had plenty of that at JAG."

"Maybe – but custody battles, dead beat dads and wills can get old real quick especially with no paycheck at the end of the day."

"It was never about the money," he stated flatly. "And it doesn't get old for the parents or the kids involved."

"Point taken."

"Why are you really here?"

"I told you. I wanted to see what you were like in court."

"And?"

"Not bad, Rabb. Not bad at all," she clapped him on the shoulder.

He shook his head and smiled at her. She was never going to give him a break. "Come on, I'll buy you lunch."

"Anything but Sushi and it's my treat."

Harm could not prevent his smile from lighting up his face. She gave him more than a break.

"What? I can buy you lunch if I want to," Chloe protested.

"Yes you can," he wrapped his free arm around her and gave her a quick hug. She allowed it.

Harm and Chloe left the courthouse unaware that they had been captured on film by an inconspicuous man.

They had had a very nice lunch – it was quick and they talked only about work – although the weekend with Mac was like an elephant sitting at the table. He discovered that she had been spending most of her days off and many of her nights at the law library – not out with her girlfriends or boyfriends blowing her summer. This clerkship had gotten to her. She was inspired and excited about law school again. Harm was glad he was able to have given her that opportunity. He was also glad that she didn't seem to dislike him as much as she used to – rather she respected him as a lawyer, anything personal was still up in the air.

Harm picked up the boys at 3PM and took them to the park for the afternoon. He could have asked Chloe as it was her day off and technically (since it was a Thursday) she should have been there for them at five, but he told her to go enjoy the rest of the day and the weekend.

"And I don't mean at the library," he added.

"Don't worry about me, Harm. I know how to have fun."

"You are going to have the house to yourself for two days," he playfully warned. "Not too much fun."

"I should be saying that to you."

He smiled and tried to muster a 'nothing is going to happen' face but he couldn't. He had plans for that weekend.

"Go get your boys," she waved him off as she jumped into the Vette and tore out of the parking lot.

Harm really didn't have time to take off that afternoon considering he was going to be out of the office all day on Friday, but he found no greater joy in life than 'wasting' time with his sons. He always knew he would love being a father, but it surprised him how much he did not resent being a single parent. 'Back in the day' when he was thinking about marriage and kids, he always believed that he would move heaven and earth to ensure that his kids had a two-parent home. Even that silly deal with Mac about going halves on a kid, ensured that the kid would have two parents in his/her life. He never counted on loving his kids they way he did. He never counted on feeling the rearing responsibility as profoundly as he did. He never counted on someone like Linda being a co-parent. Now he was so jealous of their time and of the influence of others, he didn't want to leave them with anyone. Was he over compensating? Was he being overly protective? Or was it something else entirely?

When they arrived home at 6PM, a white Mercedes Benz SL 600 followed him into his driveway. Harm had not noticed that it was parked down the street when he drove by. He was pulling the kids out of their car seats as Walter Lawson approached.

"Rabb," he acknowledged. "Hi kids," he said in his mock grandfatherly voice. "Got presents for you in the car."

He nodded to the car and Walter's newest youngest bimbo was standing there with bags of toys for the kids. She could not have been more than twenty-one and if Harm had to bet, her bust size was larger than her IQ. David and Alexander looked up at their dad. Harm nodded and they ran to Miss Thing.

"Walter." Harm was not impressed with this show of generosity. "What can I do for you?"

"We need to finish our conversation."

"About?"

"Linda needs to be with her sons."

"And she will be. Lunch on Sunday," he relented. "As a start."

Walter didn't like that answer. "Rabb, don't make me do something that I don't want to do."

"Are you threatening me, Walter?"

"Stating a fact."

Just then Chloe came out from the back yard. She was in a bikini and nothing else. She was on her way to the car to get some books out of the trunk.

"Rabb," she called to him. "Mac called and needs you to call before you leave."

It didn't occur to Harm that she shouldn't be there or dressed like that until he saw the look on Walter's face. Walter looked shocked, then enticed and then annoyed. He had recognized her from the office.

"It is all becoming clear to me." Walter looked back at Harm with disgust. "The new coed law clerk, babysitter, housekeeper. What else does she do for you, Rabb?"

"I don't like what you are implying, Walter."

"You don't have to like it," he scowled. "But you will damn sure pay for it."

"Don't make accusations you can't prove, Lawson."

"I don't have to prove a damn thing," he got very close to Harm. "The mere hint of impropriety is enough these days. Get yourself a good lawyer, Rabb"

"I am a good lawyer, Walter."

"We'll see."

Harm was distracted by his little tête-à-tête with Linda's father during the flight and through his meetings. He thought he had put it behind him, until he found that he was panicked and worried about his sons. What exactly was Walter Lawson capable of doing? Could he choose to sue for sole custody? Did he have a chance in hell of winning? Would Harm have to live with joint custody or worse - visitation? It was all too much, too soon and spinning out of control. The plans he had for the weekend were lost in all the other drama spinning around in his head. He tried to calm down and focus. Nothing was going to happen in the next twenty-four hours. Just relax.

Harm arrived at Mac's house shortly before their appointed time. Mac was not there. He left to do all the things he wanted to do but had forgotten. He had planned on making dinner so he had shopping to do. He stopped to get her some flowers and to pick up something for Hailey – even though he would not see her this trip. He got back to her house later than he had planned.

"Hi," she had a bright smile when she opened the door. "Was just about to call you."

"Sorry I am late," he pushed the flowers toward her.

She took them and they exchanged a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," she said tentatively. She could feel that something was off. This was not the man who spoke to her just two nights ago.

"Thought we would stay in tonight and I would cook."

"Perfect. Actually, I have a little change of plans myself."

Just then Hailey came barreling around the corner, ran up and wrapped her arms around Harm's legs. "UNCLE HARM," she screamed with joy.

Harm picked her up in his free arm and let her hug him. "Hi, honey. Good to see you."

"Where is Zander?"

"Zander and David are at home."

"With Chloe?"

"Chloe is there."

Any stress that Harm was feeling was washed away with the little girl's presence.

Mac took the groceries into the kitchen and let Hailey show him around the house. Harm joined Mac in the kitchen as she was putting the flowers in a vase.

"I'm sorry," she stated.

"Why?" he leaned against the counter. "Don't be silly." If truth were told he was a little relieved.

"Alan had to go out of town on a case."

"It is fine. I like Hailey."

"She likes you," she looked at him a little sheepishly. "It is that timing thing again."

He just smiled at her.

"Are you OK?"

Harm launched into a speed session of telling her all the reasons why he was GREAT. He talked about the boys and the minor break through he had with Chloe. He talked about the Flanders kids and the gunny. The meeting he had that day was very promising. If Mac didn't know better Harm was on top of the world. But she did know better.

The three had a very nice evening. Hailey was pretty much the center of attention until it was time for her to go to bed. Mac did the bath and bedtime story thing, which allowed Harm to check in at the office and with his sons.

Mac came back to the living room after Hailey was down. "All quiet on the western front?" she asked playfully.

"For the moment," he moved over on the couch to let her join him. "So tell me about you? How was your day?"

They talked for a while. It was more superficial stuff: confirmation of flight times, what they would do the next day now that Hailey was included, etc. Mac had nixed the ride in SARAH. She did offer to leave Hailey with a sitter but Harm would not hear of it. Sitters were for work or for dinners out, not for all day on a day off. Mac agreed.

They went to bed around ten thirty when the conversation either had to take on a personal bent or they had to stop talking altogether. Neither one felt like it was the right time to do either. Harm did not get the couch; he got the guest room (aka Chloe's room).

Sometime around 0200 Mac woke, as she always did, to check on Hailey. Harm was up and sitting in the living room staring that the fire.

"Harm?"

"I'm sorry did I wake you?"

"No, not at all."

"I built a fire, I hope you don't mind."

She didn't. "What is going on?"

"Nothing, just couldn't sleep," he looked up at her quickly. "Go back to bed."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head. Clearly he did want to talk about it, but he didn't know what to say. He waved her off.

"Come on Harm," she took the chair. "We have known each other too long and too well. You can talk to me."

"Can I? Can I really?" His tone was sharp but his voice was low. "Have we really known each other too long? Do we really KNOW each other at all?"

"What are you saying?"

"What are we to each other Mac?" he leaned back to look at all of her.

"I don't know what you mean – we are friends."

"Are we? Are we friends, really?"

"I thought so."

"Then why do I feel like I do when we are together?"

"What do you feel?"

"Not friendly," he got up and moved away. "It is the same old story with you Mac. Always a reason."

"What is going on Harm?" she knew that his mood had nothing to do with her. It was hard for her to remember that under his intensity.

"There is always a reason for everything, isn't there. Always a reason not to have what you want. Not to keep what you have earned. Not to have the life that you deserve."

"Harm."

"Always a reason to sacrifice yourself for the good of the cause."

"Harm – tell me what happened."

"Nothing – that is the point. Nothing has happened, nothing will happen. Not for us."

"This has nothing to do with us," she forced herself to believe that.

"I think it does, I think it has a lot to do with us. Hell probably has everything to do with us."

"You need to tell me what is going on," she stated calmly.

"Why? What difference could it possibly make?" he was so frustrated he didn't know what to do. "I shouldn't have come here. I am just wasting my time."

He left the living room and grabbed his bag out of the guest room.

She was up and met him at the door. "Harm where are you going? It's two o'clock in the morning."

"I'm sorry Mac. I just can't go through this again, not with you," he walked out.

She watched after him. He slammed the car into reverse and screeched to a halt at the end of the driveway after nearly taking down the stone fence and mailbox.

"DAMN IT!" He slammed his open palm on the steering wheel. "DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!"

There were hot tears streaming down his face and he wanted to hit something. Hit something as hard as he could with his bare hands. He wanted to break it and smash it to smithereens.

The door opened and Mac knelt down next to him. She put her hand on his arm.

"He is trying to take my kids, Mac," he looked down into her face. "He is going to take my boys."