Title: Old Friends, New Relationships
Chapter Fourteen
By: LizD
Written: Late Summer/Fall 2004
Disclaimers: No disrespect to JAG's cast, crew or creators. With love and thanks.
Old Friends, New RelationshipsChapter Fourteen - But You Egress
0821 EST
SecNav's Office
Pentagon, Washington
Harm waited impatiently in the SecNav's office. He had refused the offered coffee four times, water, juice or croissant twice and accepted the secretary's assistant's apology once every ten minutes since his arrival promptly at 0745 – the scheduled time for his command performance.
Secretary Sheffield finally breezed into the room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Commander. My breakfast meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld went long." Name dropper.
Harm stood at immediate attention. "Yes, sir."
"As you were, commander. Would you like some coffee? Water? Juice or a croissant?"
"Nothing, thank you, sir."
"Please, please … sit down."
He sat back down waiting to hear why he was summoned at midnight to be at the SecNav's office less than eight hours later.
Sheffield thumbed through the stack of phone messages he had been handed on his way in, ignoring Harm for the moment. He finally dropped the stack on his desk, clearly nothing vital. "So commander."
"Yes sir." Harm sat up in his chair.
"Tell me just what the hell is going on at JAG." He demanded.
Harm was the proverbial deer caught in headlights.
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X
0821 EST
JAG Headquarters
Fall Church, VA
Gates had just dropped Mac off from their weekly – well what was becoming weekly – breakfast. She was just about to pull out of the parking lot when she saw Admiral Schnarr driving up. Gates double parked her car and approached the admiral.
"Janet." Gates called to her.
The admiral's countenance didn't change upon seeing her old rival. "Dr. Madden."
"Back to formalities Janet?" Gates asked with a bright smile.
"What brings you to JAG?"
Gates glanced over to where Mac had entered the building. "May I speak with you?"
"Do we have anything to speak about?"
"We do."
The admiral nodded to the empty tables. In moments they were seated and the admiral was waiting for Gates to say her peace.
"How are you Janet?" Gates asked.
"Dr. Madden, I don't need a session."
"Do you need a friend?" Gates offered.
"Excuse me?"
"Janet, I think you and I could have been friends … if things were different with us."
"Who are you trying to kid, Gates?"
Gates laughed. "Apparently not you. … How are you Janet? Seriously."
Janet looked away acknowledging some people in her command arriving for duty.
"The last time we talked you suggested that you thought you could not lead this group." Gates said. "I am glad to see that you are still here. That you have found a way."
"Nothing has changed. I am waiting for my orders to come through."
"I am sorry to hear that."
"Why?" She looked back to the building. "Is the colonel counting the days until I am gone?"
"Don't be so paranoid, Janet." Gates made grandiose looks over her shoulder and then hunched down as if she were going to whisper a secret. "I have heard nothing about you … from …" She looked around again. "… from THEM." She grinned at the ridiculousness of it.
Janet was mildly amused – mostly by Gates' antics. "What puts you in such a good mood Gates?"
"Why not? It is fall. I love autumn in the east … the air is crisp, the leaves are changing, we are getting ready to recharge our batteries … it is so invigorating … I feel so alive … out west the only way you knew the seasons were changing was when the license plates changed color."
The admiral stood up. "I have work to do."
"Let me buy you a cup of coffee, Janet … come on old times sake."
The admiral was finally done playing the game. "If you want to know about Glenn, call his doctor."
"I don't. I want to know about you."
"Why?"
"Call it sisterhood … call it survivor bonding … call it whatever you want … I want you to know that you are not alone."
"You know nothing about me."
"Hence the reason for the question."
"Gates." She shook her head. This woman was exasperating. "Go away."
"Have I ever told you that I was a psychiatrist? … That people actually talk to me about all kinds of stuff. … I will be taking their secrets to the grave. … I am not a gossip. … I have more integrity than any six people you know?"
Janet finally smiled. Gates had gotten through. "That is quite a claim, doc."
"Needed to reel you in some how." Gates got serious. "Janet, I don't think you should leave JAG. I think dealing with real people and real issues is good for you … don't lock yourself away in books and case studies, theories and students. Students are only motivated by the grade. You deserve to live your life. These people … this job … can help you do that. It is time for you to get dirty, girl. Mix it up in the real would with the rest of us."
Janet was not moved. "Thank you for your opinion."
"It is not just an opinion, Janet … you have a chance to make a better life for yourself. Don't go backward … never go backward."
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-XSecNav's Office
"I asked you a question." The SecNav pressed.
Harm shook off the shock. "I don't know what you mean, sir?"
"Commander, I have known you for years and known about you for longer than that – your reputation is infamous. So don't play dumb with me."
"I am sorry sir, to what are you referring?"
"Am I misreading the signs? It has been quiet, all too quiet from that office recently. I thought that was a good thing." Sheffield moved around his desk to pick up some binders. "The reports that I am getting are well written, well organized." He handed them to Harm. "Everything seems to be working like clockwork at JAG HQ – I's are dotted, T's are crossed, coming in on time and under budget too. Hell, I haven't seen ZNN mention JAG on a news report since AJ left. … It's amazing … So tell me commander, just what in God's name is going on over there?
"I am sorry, sir, but it all sounds like things are going along smoothly."
"Then why is Admiral Schnarr requesting a transfer back to the academy? Why has she requested it every week for the past six weeks?"
"I was unaware that she had, sir." Harm was truly surprised.
"What is the explanation?"
"I am sure you have asked her that, sir."
"I have … oh yes I have … I don't like her answer."
"I have nothing to add to that then, sir."
"The work is good and there have been no incidents. Is it the personnel?"
"Not that I am aware of sir."
Sheffield got a nasty grin on his face. "Why have I not heard about some damn fool stunt you have pulled? There has been nothing since … July? … Yes, yes, yes, it was July … Afghanistan in July when you had your last near death experience … CIA sponsored no less. Of course you saved the world for democracy once again … but the last four months have been quiet. Is the admiral covering up for you?"
"No, sir"
"Because it would be very hard for me to believe that you have reformed under Admiral Schnarr's command."
Harm said nothing.
Sheffield nodded and went back behind his desk. He needed to make a big play and needed the power of his position to do it. He fixed Harm with a look to intimidate. "Does this have something to do with the Glenn Schnarr shooting incident?"
Harm did not react – externally.
"I understand there were a number of JAG personnel, alumni and friends involved in that event."
"Yes, sir."
"And you played a pretty important role." He pressed.
"I was assisting Dr. Madden's counsel until the case was dropped." Harm's answer needed to be short and sweet.
"Is this … Dr. Madden … is she in the Navy, commander?"
"No, sir."
"Are you thinking of opening a private practice?"
"No, sir."
"In the future it would be wise to handle the cases you are assigned and don't go looking for freelance work."
"Yes, sir."
Sheffield was not getting what he wanted. "Your opinion of Admiral Schnarr, commander."
"A fine officer, fair, balanced, impartial, knowledgeable and open minded. Willing to try new things and able to admit when a strategy is not working … a good leader."
"She is no AJ Cheggwidden." Sheffield taunted.
"I would not like to see them go toe-to-toe on a point of law, sir."
"Schnarr is exacting and precise."
"Yes, sir."
Sheffield had one more tactic to try. "JAG is a pretty tight group … how is she fitting in?"
"Fitting in, sir? Admiral Schnarr is our commanding officer … it is our responsibility to fit in with her."
"Is that your opinion commander or is that the general consensus of the staff?"
"Navy Regs, sir."
"Yes, yes they are … so you can think of no reason why the admiral would prefer the academy to JAG HQ?"
"No, sir."
Sheffield was again annoyed at Rabb and his loyalties. It was impossible to know who he was protecting or why, but the SecNav didn't get what he was looking for. "Thank you for coming in, commander."
Harm came to an immediate attention. "Sir."
"Dismissed."
"Aye Aye, sir."
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X0945 EST
MacKenzie Office
JAG HQ
Harm sat on Mac's desk, closer to her than a co-worker should sit.
"So he just wanted to know about the admiral?" Mac asked leafing through a file as if that were the subject of their discussion.
"That's it. I guess she has requested a transfer back to the academy."
"Why?" Mac looked out into the bullpen to be sure that no one was watching them. "The shooting?"
"My guess."
"Interesting."
Harm smiled and lowered his voice. He was done talking about the SecNav and Schnarr. "Actually what I find interesting colonel, is the perfume you are wearing." He took her hand in his and ran his fingers over her wrist and subtly brought them to his nose. "I can't place it."
"Can't you?" She pulled her hand away but briefly waved her wrist near his nose.
"Hmm … it is not the one I got you."
She shook her head.
"Something new?"
"And very expensive." She smiled. "So you like?"
"Oh yeah … not that you need perfume to attract me … you know that I am already hooked."
"Never hurts to set the hook well."
"Until you get that piece of paper in your hot little hand?" He asked playfully. He liked that she wanted to marry him; it boosted his ego.
"A piece of paper won't hold us for life." She again stole a glance out to the bullpen. She lowed her voice to a seductive whisper. "That takes work."
"Work, eh?" He grinned. "Never one to shirk my duty." He leaned in and lowered his voice to match hers. "How about we go home for lunch, let me see if I can name that scent?"
Mac blushed and was about to lean into him and whisper a challenge back.
"Excuse me, Colonel." Admiral Schnarr was standing in the doorway.
Both Harm and Mac came to immediate attention.
"As you were. Commander, may I speak with you?" The admiral asked. "When you are through conferring with the colonel."
"We are done here, are we not Colonel?" Harm said failing miserably to pretend like nothing was going on.
"Yes, commander." She could not say anything else. They were caught; there was no reason to pretend. Maybe it would just go away.
"Good." The admiral said. "Commander, five minutes, my office."
"Yes ma'am."
The admiral left. Harm eased back down onto the desk, slightly away from Mac. "I just screwed up didn't I?" He asked softly.
"Yep." She nodded.
"You helped." He was slightly affronted that she let him take all the blame.
"You started it."
"You put that perfume on this morning."
"That's what you get for leaving me at 0500."
He gave he one of those trademark looks that said 'duty called.' He got up and moved toward the door. There was only one way to deal with the direct questions about to be asked of him. It was something that he was prepared to deal with for a long time. Sadly he had hoped that it would have been on his terms – but oh well. He looked back over his shoulder. "So does that mean lunch is off?"
"Get through the next fifteen minutes, and we will talk about lunch."
"If I get through the next fifteen minutes, we will do very little talking at or about lunch." He grinned and left.
Mac shook her head. It was nice. His playful sexy side was nice – different, a little arrogant and sometimes off putting, but definitely something that she would enjoy – hopefully for a long time to come.
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-XAdmiral Schnarr's Office
Harm knocked. The admiral waved him in. "Close the door." She ordered.
He did and came to attention in front of her desk.
"At ease, commander."
Harm did as he was ordered.
"I understand you were summoned to Secretary Scheffeid's office this morning."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I see." She paused before she asked the next question. "Were you discussing that meeting with the colonel?"
"I mentioned that I had gone and the subject of the meeting, not what was discussed."
"You know my position on gossip."
"Yes ma'am." He said quickly. "I don't believe our conversation would have been considered gossip, ma'am."
"No, what I witnessed was fodder for gossip not gossip itself."
Harm did not avert his eyes, but did not respond.
She nodded slowly accepting his silence as her answer. "The scuttlebutt around the office is hard to ignore, commander." She looked away, "Not that I have heard it, but when you have been around as long as I have you pick up on certain signs."
"Yes ma'am."
"You understand to what I am referring?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You know the Navy's policy on such an affiliation."
"Yes, ma'am."
"And I am sure I don't have to explain mine."
"No, ma'am."
"To that end …" She left it open for Harm to fill in.
"To that end you will have my resignation on your desk by end of day."
She nodded sadly. "It has gone that far?"
"Yes, ma'am." Harm said confidently. "But let me assure you there has been no impropriety."
"Other than that scene I just witnessed in the colonel's office."
Harm glanced down before responding. "Yes, ma'am. I am sorry for that. It won't happen again."
She studied him for a moment and saw real remorse in his words. "I believe you, commander." She helped him. "You are both fine officers, outstanding lawyers and investigators and you make a very good team."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Apparently a good team in more ways than one."
"Yes, ma'am."
"May I ask why you will be requesting separation?"
"The colonel's record is …"
"Unblemished?" The admiral offered though she didn't agree. "Well, you both have a little bit of a spotted past, but I see your point."
"Yes, ma'am."
"My question was more about you, commander. Don't you want to stay in the Navy?"
"Yes, ma'am. However I need to stay in Washington more. My daughter … my ward has been through enough in the past couple of years, I would prefer not uprooting her at this time."
"I am sure you have other reasons for wanting to remain in Washington."
"Yes, ma'am."
"As does the colonel." She added.
"Yes, ma'am."
"You know that there are many duty assignments in Washington that could use someone with your … background."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"I can't promise you anything, commander, but I will make a few phone calls on your behalf."
Harm was surprised by her generosity. "Thank you, ma'am."
"Don't resign, commander. The Navy can't afford to lose even one good officer."
"Again, thank you, ma'am."
"I will expect your request for reassignment by end of day, and until the transfer has been arranged I expect you and the colonel to continue to show me and this office the utmost respect and decorum."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you. Dismissed."
Harm remained.
"Is there something else commander?"
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am."
She leaned back on her heels. "You know that is not generally something I do."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Go ahead."
Harm took his eyes off the point on the wall and looked right at her. "Ma'am, I think if you were to leave JAG, the effect would devastating. Under your leadership, this office has pulled together as a team, something that was sorely lacking in the past year. Please don't assume that I am saying that Admiral Chegwidden was in anyway a poor commander. Rather – well, events that were beyond anyone's control came very much to center stage. It affected the entire office. I regret the part I played."
Schnarr made no reply. She knew all about the Singer murder investigation, Paraguay, and Rabb's resignation and his reinstatement. At least now it made more sense why Rabb went and why things got so bad after they came back.
"In any event, I am sorry that I will not be serving with you. It has been and honor and a privilege." He came to full attention.
She paused for a moment to really hear his words. "Thank you, commander." She smiled. "I still can't let both of you stay nor can I assure you a position in Washington." The admiral didn't take compliments well.
Harm looked back at her. He was about to clarify his position, when he realized she was kidding. Was that the first time the admiral has shown any kind of personality? Must have been. "Yes, ma'am." He smiled back at her.
"Dismissed."
"Aye, Aye." Harm did an about face and left.
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X
NOONER Noonish EST
MacKenzie Residence
"Harm?" Mac called from the doorway.
Harm's shoes and other articles of clothing made a path to the nearly closed door of the bedroom – where his jacket was hung.
"Harm?" She called again as she eased open the bedroom door.
On the bed was a little picnic from her favorite lunch place, Harm was lying on his side covered with a sheet and her tray of fragrances sat in front of him. He was sorting through them.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Well I have ruled out these." He pointed to the group of bottles pushed off to the left. "And I think I have narrowed it down to these four." He picked up another bottle. "Well five."
"Screw the perfume, Harm."
"Not quite what I was thinking." He said sniffing another bottle. "This isn't it." He added it to the group on the left.
"Harm, what happened with Schnarr?"
"Come here." He waved her over to him and then noticed that she was still in uniform. "You are over dressed, colonel." He turned his attention back to the tray as he reached his hand out to her. "Come here … I need another whiff of the original again."
She sat down on the bed away from him and started unbuttoning her jacket. "Harm --- what happened?"
"Nothing … well nothing unexpected." He reached behind him and handed her the letter he had written. When she took it, he captured her arm and pulled her wrist to his to inhale the fragrance. "Hmm … I don't think it is the perfume at all, I think it is you. Your own natural scent …kind of musky, kind of wild … sexy." He kissed her wrist. "I know which one." He said giving his attention back to the tray.
She slipped her arm away as he was diverted. "What is this?" She opened the letter and read. "She is making you quit." She looked back over at him.
He showed her the bottle he had chosen.
She shook her head not really paying attention to his choice.
He put the bottle on the left side and continued to sort through the remaining three. "I offered."
She continued to read. "Reassignment? A transfer?"
"I offered to resign, she suggested that there might be another position in Washington."
"And if there isn't?"
"I'll quit."
Mac started to get up from the bed, but he stopped her. "Mac, we don't have all day … I have a deposition at 1330."
She shook her head. "This is all very nice … this little seduction scene you have created, but I am not in the mood."
"I can fix that." He pulled her palm to his lips and then started working up her arm. "I've got it." He turned back to the tray and picked up one of the bottles. "This one?"
She shrugged and nodded. At that point she had forgotten what she put on that morning - agreeing with him was the easiest way to get him to move off that topic. "Yeah, sure fine … I don't like this at all Harm. We need to talk about it."
"Baby, we have talked about it until we are blue in the face."
"Don't call me 'baby.'"
"Mac we agreed that that one of us would have to go and that one should be me … for very practical rational reasons." He moved the tray to the nightstand.
"I can't think of one." She got up and took off her jacket and hung it on the back of the door.
"You have more room for advancement there, your record is clean … very nearly clean … you are already senior counsel … and when … when you need to take time off … it would be less stressful if you were to leave and go back to a place you know and are comfortable with."
"Why don't you just say it?" She snapped at him. She started unbuttoning her blouse.
"Fine … it will be easier for you to go through a pregnancy and a maternity leave from a place that you have seniority than any new duty station you are assigned to."
"What if I can't … we can't?" The blouse was also hung on the back of the door. She was wearing a lace camisole that he loved.
"That is not an option, honey."
"Stop with the 'honey' and 'baby'." She smiled quickly. "And if you even dare to call me 'lamb chop' and I will toss you through the window."
"Mac? Sarah? Or should I just call you Colonel?"
"I think that it is unfair to you to give up your career at JAG for something that we are not sure of." She kicked off her shoes.
"I am not leaving to be a short order cook, Mac." He picked up a cherry tomato from the salad. "Though I would make a damn fine one."
"I am sure you would." She agreed. "But that is not the point."
"So what is the point?"
"The point? The point is …" She turned to him pulling her hair free and shaking it loose.
Harm had been watching every absentminded seductive move she made. She had no idea how much she was turning him on – undressing while in a heated discussion … oh God this was so much better than court. That last move with the hair nearly did him in.
"The point is that I don't want to be there without you." She unzipped her skirt and slipped it off and laid it neatly on the chair.
That took Harm by surprise – she was so casual – so unembarrassed. Not that she should be embarrassed – she had NOTHING to be embarrassed about. But this was probably the first time she just simply undressed in front of him. It all of a sudden didn't feel sexy it … it felt … comfortable, normal, common. She was undressing in front of him with the intention of 'doing the deed' yet she was taking like they were in a normal – albeit impassioned – discussion and taking the time to make sure that her uniform would be wearable.
Mac went on. "Harm we have worked together for nearly nine years … at times it can be exasperating, at times it can be frustrating, at times it can be better than sex."
That flattened Harm's already deflated balloon particularly because she didn't realize what a slam that was to him – well, them.
"I don't want to lose that … it is who we are." She continued pulling her slip over her head. "It is how we met and how we relate to each other." She sat down on the edge of the bed to roll down her panty hose.
The scene all of a sudden took on a very surreal quality to Harm. He sat up and pulled the sheets more tightly around him.
"I don't want to turn into the dual career couple … dual career family. You have TADs, I have TAD's … we see each other less than once a week. You going your way and me going mine …"
Mac kept talking unchecked. Harm's life flashed before his eyes … not his past, but the future she was painting. The late nights at work with one at home waiting for the other, the missed dinners, the constant apologizing for being late or having to cancel until the apologizes would be understood and taken for granted. The recounting of each other's day, the new co-workers, who goes first, who had a worse day, until finally it would be too much effort to explain what happened at work – something that had been a shared experience would now be two separate worlds. If they had kids – if they were lucky enough to have kids – there would midnight feedings, the sick watch, or afternoons racing to soccer practice, dance class, whatever. What does that mean? It means that there will be a division of labor. They would take shifts with the kids. Then there would be even less time for the two of them. All he saw was that for the next eighteen years they would both be like two exhausted ships passing in the night. Too exhausted to focus on each other. Lovemaking would be limited to holidays and special occasions or worse still become sex – just sex, to fill a need not a desire – Saturday nights after the news when the kids were in bed. Or worse still, it could become a chore. If she weren't able to get pregnant right away, it wouldn't be about romance, sweet romantic rendezvous (planned or spontaneous), fulfilling a desire or passion or even the romantic notion that their love was so strong it could create a life. It would be about checking cycles, temperatures and concentrating on conception – where the end became more important than the means.
"Harm?" Mac called for the third time.
He was pulled back to reality, the current reality not the future reality. She was standing at the edge of the bed in her bra and underwear. God she was beautiful. Would she always be beautiful to him? When her hair started graying and the lines in her face became more pronounced? Would she still find him attractive as he aged? That had already started – the graying, the lines, the aging (mostly on his part) – they were not spring chickens anymore, not like they were ten years ago. Harm thought to promise him self that no matter what happened in their future, he would always remember to treat her like a lady, like a woman, like his lover. He would not take her for granted or to treat her casually. 'Gates!' He flashed on Gates. She had warned him about that months ago. He thought again to make the promise when he realized how impossible that was to promise. No one knows what the future holds. He closed his eyes anyway, and told himself to remember what he was feeling at that moment. It was the dread of losing the fire - not just physically or sexually but also intellectually – that they could lose the fire in their relationship if they took it for granted. He told himself to remember that fear and keep it alive in his mind and to act everyday to not let that fearful future become a reality.
"I am just saying that I don't want us to become ordinary … you know … pedestrian." She waited for him to respond. Nothing from him. "Harm, are you listening to me?" She asked.
He stood up to face her. He studied her face, her hair, her eyes. He let his fingers explore the contours around each feature and comb through her long hair (he loved the long hair). "Honey, baby, lamb chop." He smiled at her. "I may not have been listening but I was hearing you." At that he pulled her mouth to his and kissed her. He kissed her deeply and with the passion of a man in love – now and for the future. He was sealing his promise.
Mac went weak kneed. He held her up. "Is that supposed to be an answer?" She asked.
"Mac … Sarah … my beautiful Sarah … the fact that we are both worried about becoming … pedestrian – you called it pedestrian?"
Mac nodded.
"Ok pedestrian … means that we have better than even odds." He kissed her again. "I like those odds." He released her and walked around the bed looking for his boxers.
"Harm, where are you going?"
"We have to go back to work."
"Work?" She was shocked.
"Yeah, that thing that is better than sex?" He pulled his pants on.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I understand and you know … you're right." He shrugged. "Well not wrong, anyway."
"Harm? What about … lunch?" She waved to the food on the bed.
"We'll take it with us."
"Harm?" She opened her arms wide to point out that she was standing there next to naked – at his request.
"What? You want a five minute roll in the hay?" He smiled and ducked into the bathroom with his shirt and tie.
"RABB!"
"Thought you wanted more than that." He called back. "Come on, get dressed … I have some reservations to make."
"Reservations?"
He came back out and opened her closet. "Yeah … was thinking … water, ocean, sunset …maybe a sunrise." He pulled out that green dress. "Make sure you pack this and the stilts that go with it?"
"Pack?" She asked. "What am I packing for?"
"Well if I tell you that … it won't be a surprise." He kissed her quickly and slapped her on the behind. "I gotta go." With that he grinned and left.
Mac stood there for a moment dumbfounded. After she was sure he was gone, she looked around the empty room and smiled. "I don't know what the hell I am worried about … the last thing the two of us are going to get is pedestrian."
Harm's phone rang. He forgot it on the nightstand. She picked it up to check the caller ID. It was a 249 area code … Maryland. Whoever it was, he wasn't in Harm's phone book. He can leave a voice-mail, Mac would take the phone to him and she smiled to herself thinking about the ransom she would demand.
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X1616 EST
Outside The Rabb/Johnson/Coates Residence
Mattie got out of Mrs. Smithfield's car and waved them away. There was a young man sitting next to the door with a backpack and a duffle. He stood up at her approach. He was – in Mattie's mind – quite possibly the best looking person she had ever seen in real life. He was tall, blond, blue eyed and he took her breath away.
"Hi." He said trying to get her attention – well trying to get her to speak to him, it was clear that he had her attention.
Mattie took a moment to find her voice. "Hi."
"Do you live here?"
"Yes." She was chiding herself for not being able to form complete sentences.
"Does Harmon Rabb … Commander Harmon Rabb still live here?"
"Yes … he is my father."
"Your father?"
"Well my guardian." She corrected.
"Harm is your guardian?"
"Who are you?"
"Josh, Josh Pendry." He stuck his hand out to her. She took it reluctantly afraid of what the physical contact would do to her. "Harm was my father's best friend. They were in the same squadron."
"Your father is a pilot?" Mattie asked.
"He was killed in an accident ten years ago."
"Oh." Mattie didn't feel comfortable bonding with this gorgeous hunk of boy over the death of her father. That would come later.
"What is all this?" She pointed to the duffle bag.
"Oh, I ran away from home. I am hoping that Harm can help me get into the Navy and into flight school early. I am going to be a pilot like my father."
Mattie nodded. She may have heard every fourth word. He was just so cute she couldn't concentrate.
X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X X-X1745 EST
Rabb Office
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Harm never made it back to JAG after his deposition. He had to run down some leads and interview a few more people. He had no idea where his phone was which made it very difficult to stay in contact.
"Hey." Mac called to him when he walked into the bullpen. "Where have you been?"
"Running around like a chicken with my head cut off." He lowered his voice. "Did you find my phone at your apartment?"
She grinned. "What would your phone be doing at my apartment, commander?"
"Give it up, colonel."
"I have every intention of surrendering your phone."
"But?"
"But there will be a price … I just don't know what it will be."
"The sky is the limit."
She liked his answer and pulled out his phone.
"Commander?" Coates stepped up to them. "Sir, Mattie has been calling for you and the admiral is waiting to see you."
"Thanks, Jennifer." He saw the admiral come out of her office with some files.
"I will see you now, commander." She said to him.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Harm." A frantic voice called from the door of the bullpen.
Everyone there turned to see a disheveled woman who clearly had been crying.
"HARM!" She threw herself at him forcing him to put his arms out and then around her. "He's gone, Harm. He is gone. Have you seen him? He said he was coming to you." The woman broke down in sobs the likes of which were rarely seen in a JAG office.
Harm looked back at Mac. She shook her head and crossed her arms. He had no idea what she was thinking.
"Who is that?" Jennifer whispered to Mac.
"That is Annie Pendry." Mac stated mater-of-factly. "Harm's old girlfriend."
Jennifer looked surprised. "Really?" She was not impressed with this out of control woman.
"Commander." That Admiral called to him. "First thing in the morning." She was not pleased; she wanted that woman and her hysterics out of her office.
"Yes, ma'am." He said quickly. "Thank you, ma'am. Annie, Annie, calm down. Let's go to my office."
Annie allowed her self to settle enough for Harm to lead her out of the bullpen. He looked back at Mac with a pleading look that unmistakably said 'Help me.' Mac put up her hands and shrugged. This first part was for Harm to deal with but she would be there for the rest. Make no mistake, Mrs. Annie Pendry … Lt. Col. Sarah "Lamp Chop" MacKenzie would not be far.
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