MONDAY, 7 AUGUST
1045 ZULU
SARAH MACKENZIE'S APARTMENT
GEORGETOWN
WASHINGTON, DC

"Come on, we're going to be late," Harm called out from the kitchen as he checked Jingo's food and water dishes to make sure he had enough for the day.

"I'm moving as fast as I can," Mac complained from the bedroom. "I have to put my rank and medals on my new uniform blouse. Anyway, where do you get off complaining about me running behind, Squid?"

Smiling, Harm walked over and leaned against the open bedroom door, watching while Mac, dressed only in her new maternity uniform skirt and a bra, removed her medals, ribbons, and rank insignia off her old khaki uniform blouse to put on the new one.

"You've had most of the weekend to do that," Harm pointed out. "You got back from Quantico Saturday night."

Mac looked up at him and shot him her 'I'm a Marine; don't mess with me' look. "Come back and talk to me when you have to buy all new uniforms because none of your old ones fit," she said.

"This isn't going to be one of those 'I'm a man, so I can't possibly understand' speeches, is it?" Harm teased.

"If the shoe fits," Mac retorted as she removed the last of her insignia from the old blouse and began positioning it on the new.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Harm asked, concerned, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "This is about more than just your new uniforms, isn't it?"

"I'm fine," Mac replied sharply, then sighed. He had always been so good at reading her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. Maybe I'm just starting to feel a little overwhelmed."

"How so?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied quietly. "I've known I'm pregnant for over a month, but maybe now that I'm actually starting to show is it becoming – I don't know – even more real, I guess. I'm gaining weight, soon the baby will start moving, my moods have been all over the place and I'm wondering what kind of mother I'm going to be."

Ah, Harm thought, now we're getting to the bottom of the problem. "Come here," he encouraged, pulling her into his lap. "Just because your parents weren't the best in the world doesn't mean you're going to be as bad as they were. I can't ever imagine the Sarah Mackenzie I know and love ever abusing, belittling or willingly abandoning her own child."

"How do we know that?" she asked, tears in her eyes. "I've never been a parent before. I don't know how I'm going to react. There's so much I don't know that it scares me sometimes."

"This is new to me, too," he reminded her. "I guess all we can do is learn as we go along. And remember what Dr. Calder said about communicating? You tell me all your doubts and fears and I'll tell you mine. Deal?"

Mac smiled slightly, wondering not for the first time how she could have gotten so lucky. She had a great career, lots of shoes that were pretty comfortable for the time being, the best man in the world plus a baby on the way. How lucky could one woman be? "Deal," she replied, giving him a quick kiss before pulling out of his arms and grabbing her blouse to put on. "Now weren't you saying something about being late?"

Harm shook his head, grinning, as Mac finished getting dressed. After everything they had been through, both together and separately, everything was looking up for them.

-----

1145 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Carolyn walked into the kitchen to find Mac inside preparing her morning cup of coffee. "Alan and I spoke to our client this weekend and he doesn't want to deal, Colonel," Carolyn said. "I guess we're going to trial this morning." At the look of disbelief Mac shot her, she added, "I know, the deal is a gift, but Sergeant Johns wants to take his chances."

Mac shrugged as she turned around, coffee in hand. "Then we'll see you in court, Commander," she said. But Carolyn wasn't paying attention, instead she was staring at Mac.

"What is it, Commander? You act as if you've never seen a pregnant woman before," Harriet teased as she entered the kitchen to put away her lunch. Harriet exhibited no surprise at suddenly seeing her best friend show up at work in a maternity uniform.

"I just wasn't aware that the Colonel was," Carolyn replied. "You've been holding out on us."

"How long have you known?" Mac asked Harriet.

"I've suspected for a couple of weeks," she answered. "There is something to the idea of the 'pregnant woman glow'. I figured you would let everyone know when you were ready."

"Or we would all figure it out when it became obvious," Carolyn added, her excitement growing. "So, give us details. How far along are you? When is the baby due? What's it going to be?"

"Twelve weeks as of tomorrow," Mac answered, smiling, "20 February and we don't know yet. It's still a little too early to tell even with ultrasound."

"So, what does Harm think?" Carolyn asked.

"We're both very excited," Mac replied. "We've just bought a house that we're moving into this weekend so we'll have plenty of room for the baby."

"So Chloe finally talked you guys into house hunting?" Harriet asked. When she had been visiting, Chloe had tried to get all their friends on the house hunting bandwagon.

"Chloe, along with a little help from Harm's parents and grandmother," she answered. "They're all on cloud nine about the baby."

"So when are you two finally going to get married?" Carolyn asked.

"When we decide to," Mac responded, still smiling, "and that's all I have to say on that topic for now." Or as soon as he finally asks me, she thought.

"So what about you, Harriet?" Carolyn asked. "Any idea what you're going to have yet?"

"Bud and I found out at my appointment last week that we're having a girl this time," she replied.

"Harriet, that's wonderful," Mac exclaimed as Carolyn gave Harriet a hug. "Any ideas on names yet?"

"We have a few," she replied mysteriously. Actually, they had found the perfect name, they just wanted to wait until they could get all their friends together before they announced it.

The three women walked out of the kitchen, Harriet headed for her desk and Carolyn and Mac headed for the Admiral's weekly meeting. "Colonel, would you like to have lunch?" Harriet asked.

"I'd like that Harriet," she replied. "I've been wanting to ask you some questions."

"I'll meet you at noon in the courtyard," Harriet said.

"That'll be great. Thanks," Mac confirmed as Harriet headed for the bullpen.

"So what's this about a house?" Carolyn asked as they continued towards the conference room. "What's it like?"

"It's a very nice house," Mac told her. "Four bedrooms, an acre of land, all new appliances. It's in McLean."

"The Admiral lives in McLean," Carolyn reminded her.

"Actually, that may be the only drawback to this place," she said. "It's right across the street from the Admiral."

"Sounds like a nice place, but I can't imagine living right across the street from our CO," Carolyn said, laughing.

"Well, Chloe had seen an ad in a real estate magazine," Mac explained, "then Sydney said that she had seen the 'For Sale' sign in front of the house."

"Almost like something was telling you that this was the house to buy," Carolyn pointed out.

"Exactly," Mac confirmed as they entered the conference room to find only Alan and Loren present. "Really, despite that one tiny drawback, it is perfect."

"What's perfect?" Alan asked, smiling at them in greeting, as the women took their places at the table. Loren appeared to look disinterested, but she studied Mac out of the corner of her eye.

"The house that they just bought," Carolyn replied, nodding her head in Mac's direction.

"Buying a house now, huh?" Alan commented. "So when's the wedding?"

"As soon as we decide, we will let everyone know," Mac said firmly. That was the second time someone had asked her that question in just a few minutes. Damn, if Flyboy doesn't get moving, she thought, I may have to ask him myself.

"You mean like you let us know about your other news," Carolyn teased.

"That was a little bit different," she said.

"Only in that you can't keep that news a secret anymore," Carolyn pointed out.

"So, Colonel," Loren asked, "how is that going to affect your work? You're not going to have to cut back or anything, are you?"

"The baby?" Mac replied as Alan and Carolyn fought to keep from snickering at Loren's obviously false concern. "The doctor said that if everything continues to go well, I should have no problems at work."

"That's good to hear," Loren said, masking her disappointment. It would have been a good opportunity for her to pick up some extra work.

Fortunately for Alan and Carolyn, who had been about to laugh, the Admiral's entrance, followed closely by those of Harm, Bud and Alfred, brought all conversation in the room to a halt as the four officers already seated stood up, coming to attention.

"As you were, people," AJ insisted as everyone took their seats. "I'll try to make this brief. The Johns court-martial?"

"The defense rejected our plea offer," Mac replied, "so trial starts this morning."

"You should have accepted," Harm told Alan and Carolyn. "An offer like that doesn't come along every day."

"Well, our client decided against it," Carolyn said. "He didn't like the idea of spending the next fifteen years at Leavenworth."

"Then I guess we'll see how he feels about spending the rest of his life there," Harm pointed out.

Carolyn shrugged. The Johns case was unfortunately one of those where the client, charged with beating a man to death in an off-base brawl in a bar, was obviously guilty and she wished for not the first time that he could have afforded to retain civilian counsel. Unfortunately, she and Alan were stuck with the case and had to defend their client to the best of their abilities.

"Moving on," AJ said, looking down at his list, "the Lawson investigation."

"Marine Gunnery Sergeant Lawson was accused of sexual harassment and indecent exposure. Charge sheet has been prepared based on our investigation last week," Bud answered.

"Fine, until the Colonel is finished with the Johns court-martial, you will handle all the pretrial details alone," AJ instructed him. "Lieutenants Singer and Aldridge, you will defend."

"Yes, Sir," they both replied.

"Going back to the Johns case for a moment," AJ said. "I spoke with Captain Sebring and he said that if the Johns case went to trial, which it apparently is barring some last minute miracle, then he would be willing to recess court at fourteen hundred hours on Wednesday. Colonel, Commander, that should give you enough time to make your fifteen hundred appointment."

"Thank you, Sir," Mac replied.

"Finally, there will be a party Friday night at McMurphy's," AJ continued. "As some of you may have heard already, Petty Officer Tiner has been selected for Officers' Candidate School and then after that the Navy's Law Education Program so everyone please come out and show your support for him. That will be all, people."

As everyone got up to leave, Carolyn turned to Mac and asked, "What appointment?"

"Doctor's appointment," Mac answered with a smile.

Smiling in return, Carolyn said, "See you in court later," as she headed for her office.

Harm walked up behind Mac. "Looks like everyone is figuring it out," he commented.

"Hard to miss when I'm wearing a maternity uniform now," she pointed out, distracted.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked.

"Fine," she replied. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know. You just sound like you've got something on your mind," Harm said.

Only wondering when you're going to ask me to marry you, she thought. "Just thinking about the case," she answered.

"You're sure?"

"Positive," she replied. "I'm going to go over the witness statements one last time in my office. Join me?"

"In a minute," Harm told her. "I need to ask Harriet something first."

Mac headed to her office while Harm headed for Harriet's desk. "Lieutenant, can I see you in Bud's office for a minute?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir," Harriet replied as she followed Harm to Bud's office. He ushered her inside, closing the door behind them as Bud looked up at them in surprise. "Bud, Harriet, I need your help with something."

"What can we do for you, Sir?" Harriet asked.

"Mac and I are going to be moving into a new house this weekend," Harm explained.

"The Colonel mentioned this morning that you had bought a house," Harriet said.

"I want to have a special dinner Sunday night," Harm continued, "celebrate moving into the new house among other things. I just need you to get her out of the house for a few hours that afternoon so I can set everything up. Maybe you can invite her over for lunch and a visit with AJ."

"Or we could go shopping together," Harriet suggested, excited. "I'm sure the Colonel needs some maternity clothes. That could fill an afternoon. 'Among other things' – you're going to propose, aren't you, Sir?"

"Harriet!" Bud exclaimed. "You shouldn't ask the Commander a question like that!"

"It's okay," Harm said, laughing as he pulled out of his pants' pocket the ring he'd been carrying around since his mother had given it to him in Beallsville. He showed it to Harriet. "Do you think she'll like it?"

"It's beautiful, Sir," Harriet said as she studied the ring. "It's old, isn't it?"

"My grandfather gave it to my grandmother back in the 1930s. Then she passed it on to my father to give to my mother," Harm explained the history behind the ring. "Now my mother has given it to me to give to Sarah."

"Then she'll definitely love it, Sir," Harriet enthused.

"Bud, it may be a little early to ask," Harm said, "but once she says yes, would you do me the honor of being my best man?"

"Sir, are you sure you don't want to ask Commander Keeter?" Bud asked. Although he and Harm were good friends and Harm had been best man at his own wedding, Bud knew that Jack Keeter had been Harm's roommate at the Academy and their friendship went back nearly twenty years.

"I'm asking you, Bud," Harm said. "Although Keeter and I have been friends a long time, you and I have been closer these last four years and you've been here through my relationship with Sarah. Keeter will certainly be in the wedding if he's available, but I'd really like you to be my best man."

"Then I'd be honored, Sir," Bud replied.

"Thank you, Bud," Harm told him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to see a certain jarhead about a case we're prosecuting. Oh, and by the way, I'd appreciate it if you could keep this under your hats until after I've proposed."

"You can count on us, Sir," Harriet replied enthusiastically. "Good luck and congratulations on the baby."

"Thank you, Lieutenants," Harm said as he left the office.

"I'm so happy that everything's working out for the Commander and the Colonel," Harriet exclaimed. "They really do deserve all the happiness in the world."

-----

1600 ZULU

"Boy, am I glad this morning is over," Carolyn said wearily as she, Alan, Harm and Mac left the courtroom for lunch recess. The morning had not gone well for the defense, as Harm and Mac had called the bar owner and five patrons to the stand, all testifying to essentially the same thing. The defendant had come into the bar belligerent over not being on the latest promotion list and this was before he had gotten drunk. After a considerable number of drinks, he had then picked a fight with the first poor soul unfortunately enough to cross his path. He beat the victim without provocation, continuing to pommel the man even after he was incapable of defending himself anymore.

"This all would have been over by now if your client had just accepted our deal," Harm pointed out. "Go to Leavenworth, take a lot of anger management classes and go home in fifteen years."

"Harm, the man does not want to deal," Alan reminded him. "Unfortunately, nothing we've said has changed his mind."

"Maybe you'll have better luck convincing him in light of this morning's testimony," Mac suggested. "Right now, the only thing that might persuade the members to reduce the sentence to anything less than life in prison is the lack of premeditation."

"Please remind me again how we got stuck with this case," Carolyn said with a sigh.

"I believe the Admiral was making a point about every defendant being entitled to the best representation," Alan said.

"Anyone ever notice how the Admiral always seems to make that point whenever we come across the defendant that nobody wants to defend?" Mac asked.

"Funny, isn't it?" Carolyn responded. "Why couldn't Singer have volunteered to take this case?"

"Because defending and losing with a guilty client would not look good on her resume," Alan answered sarcastically.

"By the way, Mac," Carolyn added, "have you told Harm about her interest before this morning's meeting in how your pregnancy will affect your job performance? She's probably hoping to pick up a few extra cases when you go on leave."

"It's lunch time, guys," Mac pointed out. "Can we talk about something besides Lieutenant Singer? You don't want to ruin my appetite."

"Commanders, Colonel," Captain Sebring greeted the foursome as he walked by on his way to lunch. "We wouldn't be discussing a plea, would we?"

"There's an offer on the table, Sir," Mac replied.

"Good," he replied, "carry on."

"The judge sounds as enthusiastic as us about this case going to trial," Carolyn said once Sebring was out of earshot.

"Don't tell me the prosecution is still trying to play 'Let's Make a Deal'?" a voice called out in the hallway. All four officers turned to see Sergeant Johns being escorted out of the courtroom by two Marine guards. "You two are my defense lawyers; defend me."

"Gunnery Sergeant," Alan said, addressing the senior of the two guards, "why don't you take Sergeant Johns to get something to eat."

"Yeah, just dismiss me, push me aside," Johns said angrily, gesturing wildly as he took a step towards the officers. The guards quickly flanked him.

"Sir, if you don't calm down, we'll have to cuff you," the Gunnery Sergeant warned as he pulled a set of handcuffs off his belt.

"Gunnery Sergeant," Captain Sebring ordered as he neared the group outside the courtroom, pushing his way through the crowd that had gathered at the commotion, "why don't you get Sergeant Johns out of here. Now."

"No," Johns cried out, "I will not be dismissed." Before anyone in the hallway could register what was happening, Johns had pushed one of his guards aside and made a grab for the guard's holstered pistol. Gun in hand, he began firing indiscriminately into the crowd as the people gathered began hitting the deck or running for whatever safe haven they could find, desperately praying that this was all just a nightmare that they would wake up from.

-----

To be continued…