Will You Always Be There?
Chapter 55
Disclaimers: I don't own any of these JAG characters. They belong to Belasarius Productions. I don't own any product of label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
Spoilers: Anything up to and including 4 Solution and any spoilers posted on the JAG spoiler boards.
A/N: Definitions: IDLH: Imminent Danger to Life and Health---- EOW: Engineering Officer of the Watch---IG: Inspector General
A/N: We will be fleshing out the secondary characters in these chapters but Harm and Mac are still the focus of this story. Thanks to all of you who are reading and reviewing.
1000
Tuesday
January 25
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Commander Coleman sat with her client as Major McBurney continued to argue his case against him.
Major McBurney walked toward the witness stand. "Lieutenant Perry, you have been engineering officer aboard the Coral Sea for two years?"
The lieutenant sat forward a bit in his seat and answered, "Yes, sir."
"Was Chief Thompson qualified to stand engineering officer of the watch?"
"Yes sir."
"Do you know if this was his first EOW qualification?"
"No, sir, it wasn't."
Major McBurney returned to his seat beside his second chair, Lieutenant Vukovic.
He thought he had reasonably knocked plenty of holes in her theory that the chief was not qualified properly to stand his watch.
Commander Coleman stood and approached the witness. "Lieutenant Perry, the chief qualified pretty quickly, didn't he?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Is that unusual?"
"Not really, ma'am. He has qualified on a number of ships. He has had a long career in the Navy."
"Just answer the question, Lieutenant."
"No, ma'am."
"Chief Thompson had not qualified on a ship like this one; is that not true?"
"'Objection, Your Honor – counsel is leading the witness." Mc Burney couldn't believe she was doing this. She was sharper than that.
"Sustained." Mac looked at Coleman directly and she returned her look.
"Very well, I'll rephrase. Had Chief Thompson ever qualified on this type of ship?"
"Not exactly."
"Answer yes or no, Lieutenant."
"No, ma'am, but he had qualified on a number of ships that were steam driven."
Coleman looked at Mac. "Your Honor, please instruct the witness to confine his answers to the questions asked."
McBurney looked at the commander. She had her arms behind her with her hands clasped. He noticed she tapped her thumb with her forefinger quickly. The move was not obvious. If she had not been standing directly in front of him he wouldn't have seen it.
It was difficult to keep the smug smile from his face. She was losing and she knew it. If he hadn't disliked the chief so much he might have felt bad about it. As it was, though…
Mac directed the lieutenant as Coleman had requested.
"Lieutenant Perry, how many fossil fueled, steam driven ships are in the fleet now?"
"Two, ma'am."
She looked at Mac. "No further questions, Your Honor."
"Re-direct your honor?'
Mac nodded the affirmative; her hands folded in front of her.
"Lieutenant Perry, you stated earlier that the chief has had a long career in the Navy. How long would that be?"
"16 years, sir."
"Are you aware of how many ships he served aboard?"
"Four sir, including the Coral Sea."
"How many of those ships were steam driven?"
"Two."
Major McBurney walked back toward his desk. Lieutenant Vukovic handed him what looked like a thick record book. He walked toward the bench. "I would like to enter this as the prosecution's exhibit A, Your Honor."
Mac looked at Commander Coleman. "Approach." She waited until both officers were within earshot to continue. "Were you aware of this, Commander?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'll allow it." Mac motioned for the attorneys to step back. Major McBurney took the book with him to the witness stand. He opened it and laid it so that the witness could read it. "Do you recognize this book, Lieutenant?"
"Yes sir, it's a personal qualification book for engineering officer of the watch."
Mc Burney pointed to a signature on what appeared to be a sign off sheet. "Is that your signature?"
"Yes, sir."
"How many other signatures are on this sign off sheet?'
"Three."
McBurney walked toward the members. 'The captain, the main propulsion assistant, the Engine room supervisor and your own signature."
"Your Honor, is counsel asking a question?" Commander Coleman knew where he was going.
"Wrap it up, Major," Mac instructed.
McBurney turned back toward the witness and the bench. "Yes, Your Honor. Lieutenant, was Chief Thompson qualified to stand EOW on the night of January 9th 2005?"
"Yes, sir."
"No more questions for this witness." McBurney couldn't resist the smile he gave Coleman as he passed her to sit down. The chief had begun to sweat and only more so when he heard Petty Officer Tim Jackson being called to the stand. He was the petty officer he had ordered to remove the repair tags from boiler three. This day was just getting worse and worse for the chief.
1230
Tuesday
January 25
Chegwidden residence
Meredith Point Creek, Maryland
Marcella Chegwidden greeted her husband's guest as he entered the foyer. "Hello…Jack, is it not?" Marcella Chegwidden offered her hand. She had such an elegant air that Jack felt as though he should bow and kiss her hand.
"Yes, ma'am. Your husband is expecting me."
"He is in his study. Come with me." She was dressed in black from head to toe. Her clothing was loose and flowing. Her beautiful black hair was pulled back in a chignon, only adding to her elegance and accentuating her beautiful and dark features.
She opened the door and AJ looked up at her. "Hello." He had only seen her so far. "I thought you were getting ready to meet your friends for lunch." His look was warm and welcoming.
"I brought your guest." She stepped aside and his expression changed from one of affection to his usual tough exterior.
Jack stepped into the room after witnessing the exchange unobserved. He thought, 'Ain't love grand?' He would have to try it sometime, when he got around to it.
Marcella smiled warmly at her husband and he returned it without a word. She closed the door behind Jack.
AJ stood and walked toward Jack. "So, what do you know?"
"Well, I'm fine, AJ, and how are you?" Jack loved to mess with AJ. He liked and respected him but he was not intimidated by him at all.
"Spill it, Jack." AJ's brows were knitted together.
"Alright, I spoke with Blaisdell. He basically confirmed what I thought he would. They have the man they believe is responsible for the bombing at Trafalgar, but they aren't picking him up yet. There was something else going on. Something he still won't discuss – and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I want to know. They want to use him to get a much more important target. From what I could gather from listening to the exchange between him and his contact in London, this guy has some connections to someone wanted by the US and Britain."
"Have you discussed any of this with Rabb?" AJ hadn't heard anything and was hoping no news was good news. So far Rabb had left this to the professionals. Between the wedding, honeymoon and new boss, Rabb appeared to have his hands full.
"No, I haven't had the chance. He did call me before he left the country."
"Please tell me that it's JAG business." Harm had a way of getting in the middle of a mess before you even knew what was happening. AJ knew from experience.
"Yeah, he and the Gunny are in Baghdad. Something about helping the Iraqis set up their own UCMJ."
"An advisor/ observer role. The general must have confidence in him if he's sending him on that mission. I hope the general knows that Rabb is capable of getting sidetracked during a mission."
"I don't think he and the general are close." Jack chuckled to himself. "The general seems to be keeping him off balance most of the time. I don't think I've ever heard Harm sound so unsure of a superior officer before."
"That's good. Maybe Rabb can keep his nose clean."
"I think he will. He's got too much to lose now."
"You're probably right. I don't think Mac will put up with 'the Adventures of Harmon Rabb'anymore."
"It's not only that." Jack said with a knowing smile.
"What, then – he's not already in trouble with his CO, is he?"
"No, this is kind of personal. I guess since you gave Mac away, I can tell you."
"What is it?" AJ was thinking the worst.
"Mac is pregnant."
AJ knew about how sick Mac had been and about their need to wait a year. He and Harm had discussed it. "How is she?"
"Great, but you know Harm. His 'protect Mac' mode is in overdrive. To tell the truth, he didn't seem very happy about it at all. He sounded like he couldn't believe it. They had just found out when he was ordered to Baghdad."
AJ nodded. It was time that he paid Mac a visit. "Any idea about how long he'll be away?"
"He said about a month, maybe two. He called me because he wanted me to look in on her. She wants to stay where she is. It's a tough neighborhood, as you know."
"She'll be fine, Jack, she's a tough Marine." He smiled remembering what he knew of Mac..
Jack looked at AJ. "You're going to check on her too, aren't you?"
AJ looked back and promptly changed the subject. "Drink, Jack?'
"Sure." Jack gave him a wry smile, accepting the offer.
"Have you spoken to Tom Boone about this?"
"Not yet."
"Maybe I'll pay him a visit. He may have something to contribute. What about Nelson?"
"Yeah, I saw him yesterday."
"Any idea about what his goals are, as far as his involvement in this matter?"
"Not really. I know he is still feeling pretty bitter about the way he lost his job to Sheffield. I have the feeling he thinks Sheffield was knee deep in the reasons the hearing took place."
AJ raised his brows as he poured Jack's drink. "He certainly had a lot to gain."
"It's something else too, though. Something so deep in the Company that I don't think either of us will ever know. And once again, I don't want to know. I just want to help Harm get closure on this and leave it behind me."
"Leave it behind you? You're not flying for the Company, Jack?"
"I never said I was." Jack turned away from AJ.
"You said you had friends in low places…Blaisdell has taken you into his confidence….I just assumed." AJ handed him his drink.
Jack turned back to look at him. "I have lots of friends, AJ. So do you." He knocked back his drink in one swallow.
"Keeter, you're gonna kill yourself with that stuff someday."
1245
JAG Headquarters
Commander Coleman's office
Falls Church, Virginia
Faith Coleman sat at her desk. She had finished lunch and was preparing to return to court. It was time for her defense of her client. She had a good witness list. She felt confident that she could beat the involuntary manslaughter charge, though she wasn't sure about the dereliction charge. She would give it her best, but the major had made a great case.
The testimony of the victim's father had been the last nail in the coffin. Her client had sat next to her, showing no remorse or emotion. She understood keeping emotions in check, but the victim's father had nearly moved her to tears. She was riveted by the pain he was in and the obvious love he had for his son. It was a situation in which you wanted to turn away because it was so painful but could not because it was so profound. It reminded her of her task to take a WWII veteran who had confessed to a murder into custody recently. He had broken down while being questioned. He had broken her heart. Thank God the matter was resolved, with the help of Special Agent Gibbs. He was a good man, even if he acted like a bastard sometimes.
When McBurney turned away from his witness to return to his seat, Coleman knew he had seen the tears in her eyes. She had willed them not to fall and they obeyed due to years of discipline.
Commander Thomas Wright, XO of the Coral Sea, sat in the witness chair as Commander Coleman approached. "Commander Wright, could you explain to the court the requirements for setting IDLH conditions?"
"Yes, ma'am. This requires posting two attendants at the entrance of a workspace and also a mutual response team in close proximity."
"Where these conditions met on the night of January 9th?"
"No, ma'am."
"Who is usually responsible for making sure those measures are in place?"
"The damage control assistant, ma'am."
Commander Coleman returned to her table. "No more questions."
Mac looked at McBurney. "No questions at this time, Your Honor."
1330 (eastern)
2230(Baghdad time)
The Green zone
January 25th
Harm was stretched out on his bed in his quarters. It had been a long couple of days. He had miles to go before he was finished. He had only had time for a quick e mail to Mac yesterday. They had been married one month ago yesterday. He would have liked to have heard her voice. It was not as easy as it had been before. His access to a phone had been difficult the past few days. Hell, having the time to call when it wasn't the middle of the night for her had been impossible.
Harm was startled out of his thoughts by a knock at his door. "Sir, I think you need to see this." Gunny stood in his doorway.
"Give me a minute, Gunny." Harm dressed quickly and followed Gunny down the hall.
They had set up a makeshift office with a room for interviews across the hall. Gunny opened the door to the interview room. Harm was startled to find a man in an Iraqi military uniform that appeared to have been beaten severely.
"What the hell?" Harm looked at Gunny, questioning.
"I thought you should see this, sir. This is Private Salem. He was disrespectful to his superior."
"His superiors did this?" Harm was incredulous.
"Well sir, not exactly. It appears the officer in question has his own security guards, who carried this out for him." Gunny smirked and folded his arms across his chest.
"Did he tell you who ordered this?"
"Not yet." Gunny turned to the soldier and asked him in his broken Farsi.
The soldier appeared to be afraid and only shook his head.
Gunny tried to again to get him to answer the question and the soldier began to get agitated.
"Just let him go, Gunny. We have his name. We can follow up on this later."
Gunny did as he was instructed and the soldier left the room.
Harm leaned against the table and shook his head. "I knew this was going to be difficult culturally, but I was thinking more in terms of case law, since there is none to speak of. We are building from the ground up."
Gunny spoke up. "Respectfully, sir, I think the problem is that culturally, punishmentup to this point has beenphysical. The challenge will be getting soldiers to respect commanders who don't have the power to harm them physically or hurt their families."
"Yeah, it was true for so long under Hussein that it will probably take a while to change the way they think about it."
"Yes, sir." Gunny nodded.
"It seems thatI've got another item to put on our agenda in our joint meeting with the Marine JAG liaison and the Iraqi representative." Harm started across the hall toward their office.
"Are you going to work on that now, sir?" Gunny followed him out of the interview room.
"Yeah, while I still have things fresh in my mind."
Gunny started down the hallway. In the distance they heard a rumbling sound. Each man looked at the other. That was no storm. The insurgency was alive and well, if outnumbered. The election was five days away. This was going to get worse before it got better.
1535
January 25
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac sat listening to Commander Coleman finish her closing statement. This case had been difficult for both attorneys. She had also had a difficult time hearing this. This death had been so unnecessary. So preventable.
"….this case does not rise to the charge of manslaughter. Testimony has proven that a number of factors contributed to the death of Petty Officer White. With regard to the charge of dereliction, my client was again a link in a very long chain of events that let to this tragic result. I ask that the members return a verdict of not guilty on both counts."
1700
Major McBurney's office
JAG Headquarters
Commander Coleman knocked on McBurney's office door.
"Enter." McBurney did not look away from his computer screen.
"The general wants to see us, ASAP." She was the one trying to read his expression this time. The members had found her client guilty of the dereliction charge but not on the involuntary manslaughter charge. She thought the verdict was fair, but it was clear that McBurney did not.
He looked at her, still revealing nothing. He buzzed Lieutenant Vukovic's office and instructed him to meet him in front of the general's office. He turned his computer screen off and stood to follow her out of his office.
Petty Officer Coates buzzed the general to let him know they were waiting and they were sent in immediately. They were surprised to see Colonel Rabb sitting in one of the chairs in front of the general's desk. They came to attention. "Sir."
"At ease and be seated."
They all looked to toward the colonel, trying to keep the questioning look from their faces. 'What is she doing here?' Lieutenant Vukovic was sweating a little more than the other two officers.
The general answered for them. "I have been discussing the Thompson case with Colonel Rabb. I received a call from the IG's office today, and they have been instructed to look into this incident and others that have occurred over the last few years on the Coral Sea. I would like you to cooperate in any way that is requested with the IG's staff. After sentencing tomorrow you should receive notification of their intentions in writing. Any questions?"
"No, sir." They all answered in unison.
"You are dismissed."
They all left quickly with the lieutenant leaving more quickly than the other two. He was grateful that he had escaped largely without notice from the general or the colonel. At least he hoped he had. He decided to stay off of everyone's radar screen for the time being. He had gotten off to a rough start.
Coleman followed behind McBurney a bit slowly. By the time she reached his office door he was already seated at his desk. She stood in his doorway.
"So, where do you want to go to dinner?" She wasn't smiling; it was more of a questioning look. She seemed to be asking if they were still friends. She wasn't sure that was what they were yet, but she was sure she didn't want to take a step backward either.
"Since I'm buying."
He looked up at her. "I didn't win." He sat back in his chair, tipping it slightly.
"I won one and you won the other."
He folded his arms, considering. "Tell you what – I'll buy yours and you can buy mine."
She raised an eyebrow. "Sounds fair."
"It's not going to be fair if Thompson walks away with nothing, Commander." McBurney was suddenly serious.
"We've got sentencing tomorrow and the IG's investigation isn't going to leave anyone unscathed, Michael." She had not realized she used his first name.
A slow smile spread across his face. "That's true…Faith…..How do you feel about Prime Rib?"
"You would think of the most expensive thing…." She realized then what she had done. She blushed slightly. "We'll work out the particulars later. Is Friday okay? I know it's a date night for a lot of people." God, was she ever going to stop putting her foot in her mouth today? She thought she sounded like a school girl. McBurney would never let her live this down.
"I don't have a date, Faith." His look softened a bit and it made her extremely uncomfortable. Mike was having a good time with this. He had the upper hand here, anyway.
"I didn't mean to imply that this was a date…" Faith was backpedaling as quickly as she could.
"I know." He stood and started to walk toward her.
Faith turned and started to walk away. He was enjoying this way too much. She should just cancel, but that would make her look like a coward and she could not tolerate that.
She would just have to do it. She looked over her shoulder when she got to her office.
Michael was standing there watching her. She thought that the way he looked at her told her it -was- a date. She stepped in quickly and closed the blinds.
0300 Baghdad time
Green zone
Harm's office
Baghdad, Iraq
Harm rubbed his eyes and clicked his mouse to save his report. He was tired and he knew he could have done this in the morning. The report was completed then because he knew he wouldn't sleep anyway. He heard his computer chime in, notifying him of an e mail. Opening it quickly he saw that it was from Mac. It had to be after 1730 there. On impulse he picked up the phone without reading her message and called her office using his phone card. It was worth a try and he needed to hear her voice.
"Colonel Rabb," she answered.
"Hello, Colonel Rabb."
"Harm?" She was hoping she would hear from him. His e mail had been entirely too short.
"I was up late and saw your e mail and thought I'd try and catch you before you left the office."
"You sound tired, honey; it has to be after 0300 there." God, it was great to hear his voice. "What are you up to, Harmon Rabb?"
"Don't worry, I'm behaving myself. I just decided to get a little more done tonight. I couldn't sleep anyway. I miss you….you know."
"I miss you too." She had missed him terribly. The apartment seemed huge and empty without him. She hadn't had trouble sleeping, though. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out. She told him this and added,
"Maybe it's because I'm pregnant, I don't know."
"Could be." He didn't want to talk about that now or he would never sleep. "How are you, anyway? Are you feeling alright?" He worried about her all the time.
"Harm, I'm fine. I feel better than I have in months, over a year really. Don't worry about me, sailor, I'm keeping my promise."
"So how does it feel to be an old married lady, Colonel Rabb?" She could hear the smile in his sleepy voice.
"I think I'm adjusting well, Commander. To tell you the truth, Colonel Mackenzie almost sounds foreign to me now. Although I don't think being married for one month makes me an 'old married lady.'"
"It should…you're all mine now, Mac…" It had really only been five days, but he ached to hold her. He had already become an 'old married man.' He loved opening the apartment door to find her there, or to hear her keys in the door when he got home first. He loved the idea of Mac coming home to him.
"Yes I am. Don't you forget it."
"Not likely, Marine." Harm yawned.
"Hey sailor, you better hit the rack. You'll be useless tomorrow."
"Yeah, I better go, but I'll be wide awake tomorrow. Things move pretty fast around here, Mac. And it is anything but quiet."
"I'm sure. I wish I were there so I could watch your six." She was glad Gunny was there, but no one could look out for Harm better than she could. No one loved him more or knew him better.
"I wish you were here too……so I could watch yours." He laughed into the phone. He almost sounded punchy.
"Okay, sailor, that's it. Go to bed."
"I love you, Mac."
"I love you."
Chapter 56
Disclaimers: I don't own any of these JAG characters. I don't own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
1930
Friday
January 28
McMurphy's Bar and Grill
Georgetown
Mike McBurney and Faith Coleman sat across from each other at a table in the soft light of the bar. McMurphy's was trying to give the larger chains some competition so they'd tried to give the place more of a sports bar atmosphere. They had the best steaks in town, as far as Mike was concerned. Faith had let him choose, so he decided to be honest and go where he really wanted to go. He didn't think the place suited Faith's personality, but maybe it was time she loosened up anyway. He was determined to make her laugh out loud tonight. Looking at her now, he wondered if he had taken on more than he should have. Mike was ordering his steak.
"How would you like that, sir?" the waiter asked.
"Medium rare." Mike waited for Faith to disapprove.
"And for you, ma'am?" The waiter turned to Faith.
"I would like the same, but no dressing on the salad."
Mike was surprised. He never figured her to be a meat eater, let alone someone that would eat a rare steak. He had been ready for the lecture. The waiter left them...
"Is there a problem?" Faith frowned at him.
"No, I'm just surprised, that's all."
She surprised him from the moment she had walked into the bar. She looked so different out of uniform. She wore her dark chestnut hair down around her shoulders. She had worn jeans that fit her beautifully. She had chosen a soft sweater that looked like cashmere; caramel in color, which made all of her sharp edges smoother and turned her into someone else entirely, in his eyes.
"I can't remember when I didn't like my steaks rare." Faith was lost in thought.
Mike was still thinking about how beautiful she looked. He decided not to tell her. She was so full of surprises tonight that she might decide she was uncomfortable and leave. Or worse yet, she might move closer to him, and he wasn't sure he was ready for that either. "Yeah, my Dad always liked his steaks that way. I guess that's why I do."
"My Dad always hated it that I ate my steaks that way. I never saw very much of him, though. I think I decided to like it because he hated it." She smiled without humor. "Sorry, I sound like a very unpleasant child, don't I?"
"Not really, but it sounds like there is a lot more to the story." He wanted to know her better. He wanted to know why someone like her would isolate herself from everyone as she had.
"It's a long boring story. I'll tell you about it sometime. Let's talk about you." She didn't really want to go there tonight. She hadn't been out like this in years. Suddenly she wanted desperately to have a good time. She wasn't looking for anything that would change her life. Just something different from work and that apartment. She liked Michael; she knew that he liked her. She could also sense that he didn't want more than that. She had to begin somewhere. The part of her that wanted to retreat from the world had nagged at her the whole time she was getting ready. The part of her that couldn't stand another minute of isolation had won the battle, though. Michael had slowly brought her out of herself over the past couple of months. She was going to let him be her friend. She wasn't sure why he bothered. She didn't feel like a very interesting person, but she wasn't going to analyze that now. It didn't matter. What mattered was that she was not alone.
"Tell me about your family," she asked.
"I'm sure you heard most of them at Christmas when we came by." He knew she must have heard them laughing. Everyone could identify his mom and sisters by their laughter.
"I have five sisters, and my mom, of course. My dad passed away about six years ago."
"I'm sorry." If he had any sadness in his life, it had never been apparent.
"It's okay. He was a good guy. I never had much a chance to know him as well as I would like. He was a Marine too. I know he was proud that I got my scholarship to the Academy." His mother had told him she was proud of him but his father had not. He had already begun to show symptoms of his illness by then. An illness that was taking him away from them, they just didn't know it.
"The sister that I met: was her name… Kim?"" She thought she might steer him from that particular part of the story. He'd gotten serious all of a sudden.
McBurney smiled immediately. "Yes, that was Kim."
"She makes you a bit uncomfortable, doesn't she?" Faith seemed to like that.
He leaned forward and looked at his folded hands on the table. "Yes... she does. You kind of remind me of her in that regard. I think you both like to watch me squirm." He chuckled, remembering. "I never know what she is going to say."
Faith arched a brow. "I don't know what you mean," she commented, a small smile forming on her lips.
The waiter arrived with their dinner and the subject changed for the time being.
2130
Friday
January 28
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania
Mac, Mattie and Mrs. Rabb sat at her kitchen table. Mac and Mrs. Rabb had their decaf while Mattie finished her hot chocolate. The drive had been surprisingly good, weather-wise. Mac and Mattie had had a chance to catch up. Grace Aviation was in the early stages of getting back on its feet, thanks in great part to Harm. Mac wondered if Harm would ever know the difference he had made in so many lives. She touched her abdomen where their baby now grew. There was one life in particular that she was thinking of right now. She smiled softly to herself.
"What are you thinking about, Mac?" Mattie asked, ever curious.
Mac thought this was as good a time as any to tell them. "Harm and I are going to have a baby. We found out last week."
Mattie squealed and threw her arms around Mac, nearly knocking her off of the chair.
"I'm going to be an aunt?" She was thrilled at the prospect.
"Yes, I suppose you are….Aunt Mattie." Mac laughed in spite of herself. Circumstance had made it hard to celebrate like any other couple. Mattie's enthusiasm was contagious, though; she had forgotten how much she had lit up their world. Tom Johnson was a lucky man.
"Mac, are you feeling alright?" Mrs. Rabb's brow was creased with concern, but she was still smiling broadly.
"I feel great, really. I haven't even had morning sickness." Mac silently hoped she wouldn't bring up any more details until Mattie went to bed. She hadn't realized how much she just wanted to be happy about this. She didn't want to think of the negative possibilities; she just wanted to look forward to seeing their baby, hers and Harm's.
0600 (Baghdad time)
Saturday
January 29
Green zone
Baghdad, Iraq
Gunny sat on his rack tying his workout shoes. He and the commander were going to work out this morning and then go ahead with their regular work day. Saturdays were workdays for them, but they had a more flexible schedule. Maybe a hard workout would help them sleep tonight. Then, when he thought about it, he realized that tonight of all nights would be a long one for every coalition soldier on the ground.
He was ready for coffee. He didn't care what it tasted like. He hadn't slept worth a damn last night. It had been a 'noisy' night on 'IED Boulevard'. The area had been given this name because of the gas cans that had been left on the side of the road by Iraqi independent 'businessmen.' There weren't many gas stations in Baghdad, to speak of. So a man with a gas can would stand on the side of the road. When a car pulled over; he got his tank filled, paid the man and drove off again. When the gas cans were empty they were left behind on the side of the road. The cans were later used by insurgents to make roadside bombs. Some were wired where they lay to blow when they were picked up by an unsuspecting soldier or civilian.
He went into the makeshift office he and the commander had set up. He started the coffee and began to remember his last day at home. He and Jen had gone to lunch. They'd decided to pick up some coffee at Starbucks on their way back to the office. Gunny had driven his vehicle so they went through the drive-through.
"I don't see what the deal is, coffee is coffee….Why can't I just say 'Coffee black'?"
Coates looked at him as if he were from another planet. "I'll order."
When they had pulled up in front of the speaker and menu, Gunny rolled his window down and Jen leaned across the console and across his chest. She had leaned slightly into him so that her cheek was just a couple of inches from his lips. She was totally unaware of how close she was to him. She smelled of soap and shampoo and another scent sharp and clean that he could not name. It was if he was breathing her in, seeing her up close for the first time.
"Hey, Gunny, you ready?" Harm stood in the doorway of their office.
Gunny was startled and sloshed his coffee on his t shirt. "Damn….oh, sorry, sir."
"A million miles away, Gunny?"
"Not quite a million, sir. Give me a minute to change this stupid shirt, excuse me, sir."
Gunny stepped around Harm and headed for his quarters down the hall. Harm's gaze followed him curiously down the hallway.
When Harm and Gunny walked into the gym, the music was already on and deafening as far as Harm was concerned. Where was Stevie Ray when you needed him? "What is that, anyway" he asked Gunny.
"Beats me, sir." Gunny shrugged.
A young man passing them tossed over his shoulder, "Seether."
Harm and Gunny looked back at him and then at each other. "Seether?"
"We're getting old, Gunny."
Gunny was spotting and Harm was on the bench. He was surprised that after a while the music did make him push harder into his workout. He sat up on the bench while Gunny went to get additional weights. The music changed …he heard the words:
I wanted you to know, I love the way you laugh
I want to hold you high and steal your pain, away
I keep your photograph, and I know it serves me well
I want to hold you high and steal your pain.
The song continued and it seemed to cast a pall over the whole gym. It was full; everyone kept working out the same as before. But it was as though everyone felt the song, the words taking different people different places. Harm placed his hand on his chest over the St. Christopher medal under his shirt for a moment: his Christmas gift from Mac.
2145
January 28
Mc.Murphy's Bar and Grill
Georgetown
The music was having the same effect in another place and time zone.
Faith and Mike had been talking mostly about Mike's family for the past hour or so. Time had gotten away from them. They had decided to have coffee at his apartment. She hadn't liked the idea of having anyone at her apartment. No one had been inside her apartment but her since she moved there. She wanted things to be different, but she wasn't ready to go that far.
Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
Mike McBurney had stood and was putting his coat on when the song began. Faith was reaching for her coat when the words seemed to reverberate in the room. Faith felt as though it were screaming out loud the feelings she had in her heart. She had never let anyone close but the words seemed to amplify her loneliness. She was so tired of it and she wanted a whole life. Damn it, why did she feel so out of control and exposed all of a sudden?
"I'll be back in a moment." She excused herself.
Mike had felt her mood shift. He hoped she would not retreat back into herself again. He didn't know why it was so important to him that she not do that. Any other time he would have cared less. She needed a friend, and he wanted to be that to her.
She returned a few moments later, composed but not distant.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes, are you?" She had put her coat on and she followed him to the door.
Faith followed Mike to his apartment. He lived just a short distance from the bar, in a nice brownstone building. She was surprised when she saw how nice Michael's apartment was. It was neat and clean. It was masculine, of course. There was a lot of gray and black, but everything was in its place. She was relieved.
"This is nice, Michael."
Mike turned to look at her quickly. She liked calling him 'Michael,' he thought. He usually didn't like that. Mike was what he preferred his friends call him. Maybe it was a way to keep him at a distance, a little more formal, for Faith's comfort level. He didn't mind. He was just glad they were becoming better friends.
"Yeah, I like it."
"I have to say I'm surprised about how neat this is. I don't know what I expected."
"I think I do: gym socks, empty beer cans….pizza boxes?" He chuckled.
She blushed slightly. "Yes, I suppose I did."
"I am a Marine, Faith." He frowned slightly; he was as squared away as anyone else.
Faith deadpanned him and said, "Yes…I know."
"Oh are we trying to be funny here, Faith?"
She smiled, saying nothing.
He was looking at her, walking toward his kitchen. He didn't see that he was walking into a chair that had been pulled out slightly from his dining room table. He hit the leg of the chair with his foot and proceeded to fall flat on his face.
"Michael! Are you alright?" Faith started toward him.
Mike was up almost as fast as he had fallen, totally mortified. He straightened his clothes and looked back at Faith. She had covered her mouth with her hand in shock and now she was hiding a smile.
"Don't fight it, Faith…You know you think it's funny."
"I wasn't laughing." She was trying unsuccessfully to keep the mirth from her voice.
"Yeah, right."
Mike was talking and backing away at the same time. He backed into the door frame to his kitchen. The sound of his head hitting the frame made a loud crack.
"Ow!" He frowned.
Faith really did laugh then, out loud until she was wiping tears from her eyes. Mike had gotten his wish. He had made her laugh, just not the way he had intended.
0655
Baghdad time
Green zone
Baghdad, Iraq
Gunny and Harm had finished their workout. They were taking a quick break before hitting the showers and starting their work day. The elections would be underway in 24 hours. A distant rumbling could be heard from outside. Harm remembered his first visit to Iraq. If someone had told him back then that this day would come, he probably wouldn't have believed them.
"Sir?" Gunny questioned.
"Sorry, Gunny, just remembering something, or someone I should say."
"Oh…" Gunny wasn't sure he should ask.
"The first time I came here, it was to defend a Marine. Corporal David Anderson.
I was to make contact with a person with the code name 'Scimitar'. Being the open-minded person that I am, I assumed that 'Scimitar' was a man. It turned out that Lieutenant Dumai, a woman, was my contact."
"Wondering if she is still alive, sir?"
"Yeah….I hope she made it. She wanted so much for her country. She was a brave woman." Harm shook his head slightly. "It seems to be a requirement in this part of the world."
"Yes, sir." Gunny knew that was true. Fareeza Tarik was someone he would never forget.
Harm looked at him and remembered Afghanistan. "Sorry, Gunny."
"It's alright, sir. I was privileged to have known her. To tell you the truth, I couldn't believe she even gave me a second thought, even as a friend. She was beautiful and brilliant and was willing to give everything she had to move her country forward. I'm just sorry she didn't live to see it."
It had been so unfair, and far too common in those days.
"So many Afghanis willingly laid their lives down for the beginnings of freedom, with no guarantee that it could actually be accomplished. The hope of freedom was all they had and they gave their lives anyway. How many people would do that?"
They both heard the distant sound of gunfire outside.
"There are plenty of people here who are willing to do the same. For the hope of freedom, Gunny. I just hope they have their chance."
2300
Friday night
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania
Mac and Mattie were in the living room in front of the fire. Mac had a book in her lap and sat in the wing chair by the fireplace. Mrs. Rabb walked into the room and saw Mattie stretched out on the couch sleeping, her mouth open and her arms above her head. Mrs. Rabb's box of pictures was sitting open on the coffee table. Mattie had decided she wanted to have a look into their history tonight. It was a good night for it. Mrs. Rabb walked to her front room window. There was a light snow falling, and it was about 20 degrees outdoors. There was a full moon which came from behind the clouds from time to time to illuminate the yard and the rest of the farm beyond. She loved having them here. She was sorry she didn't get to see Harm, but she had his Mac and his Mattie.
She walked into the kitchen to start a fresh pot of coffee – decaf, of course. While it brewed she looked out of the window. A feeling of true contentment settled over her. She was worried about Harm being away in Iraq, but for some unexplainable reason she knew he would be alright. She knew that he would come home safe.
She thought of her David. 'We will have a great-grandchild my darling.' She spoke to him in her heart. A part of her husband would live on through the child that was on its way. It was hard to believe that all this had come from their brief time together. She had loved him a long time before he knew about it or even before she would admit it. Harmon and his son were here because she loved him and they believed in their future, Though it was cut short, their lives had made a difference in the world; she believed that with all her heart. She may not have all the answers, but this was something she knew. Harmon and Mac would begin their lives and keep what they had begun over 60 years ago alive too.
"Sarah?" Mac stood in the doorway of the dark kitchen.
"Oh, you scared me." Mrs. Rabb held her hand over her heart.
"I'm sorry. What are you doing in here in the dark?" She walked toward her.
Mrs. Rabb rested her arm around her shoulder and hugged her a bit. "Just looking out at the moonlight and watching it snow. If I turn on the light all I will get is a reflection of an old lady looking out the window." She chuckled and Mac laughed with her. "I'm so happy about the baby, Mac."
"Thank you. It is good to see how happy you are about it." Mac hadn't meant to put it quite that way.
"What do you mean, Mac?"
"Nothing, really – it's just that the doctors wanted us to wait a year. We really had not planned to even try for a year. I got pregnant in spite of birth control and my illness."
Mac shrugged her shoulders.
'Then it must have been meant to be, Mac."
She smiled at her and gave her shoulder another squeeze. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to be standing side by side with Mac, hugging her close, like her own child. There was something else, though, something she wasn't saying. She hoped that she would be alright and the baby would be too. No one deserved happiness more than Harmon and Mac, and as far as she was concerned they were long overdue.
2200
Baghdad time
Saturday
29 January
Green zone
Baghdad, Iraq
Harm lay on his rack in his quarters. This had been a long day. He ached all over, he needed to sleep, and he needed Mac. He turned over onto his stomach and felt the frame of the rack poking through the mattress into his stomach. His legs were too long for the bed so he hung one foot off of the side. He thought of his comfortable bed at home and he remembered the great massage Mac had given him; the feeling of sinking down into a mattress in a bed that fit his body. He thought of Mac sitting on his six and working all the kinks out of his back….among other things. He had been gone nearly ten days. It was way too soon to start counting days, but he couldn't help it. One day down was another day closer to home, to her.
TBC
A/N: Forgot to acknowledge the song 'Broken' from the soundtrack "The Punisher". Recorded by the group Seether.
I stole my sons CD and sent him a new one. What can I say…I'm going through my second childhood…LOL