Ch06 of "Bringing up babies with Harm": "Helping Mac"
A/N: AU. This is a fictional story, in a fictional Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. Mike. Characters borrowed with love and appreciation for the great team who brought us "JAG"; may your following careers blossom.
A/N: AU: "they aren't mine: I'm just playing with them - apart from any fictional character created by myself". See Ch01 of this story for the whole disclaimer A/N. Feel free to PM me if you spot any typos - my goal is 100% error-free. Feedback and comments are also welcome. Your opinions, critiques (and requests as PMs) are always helpful - and will be considered.
A/N: Publication date: 21-NOV-2022: summary: Harm and Carolyn extend helping hands to Mac, after her 17 messages. Happy Thanksgiving for later this week. Mike, UK, 21-11-2022.
A/N – link to Canon Episodes: S08Ep10: "The Killer" airdate 26-NOV-2002.
Characters from FFNET – H Rabb; Carolyn Imes-Rabb: Jen Coates; RAdm AJ Chegwidden: plus others, TBD as my storyline grows.
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Monday 17th November 2003, 19:58hrs EDT
Apartment of Sarah Mackenzie, Georgetown, Washington DC
Carolyn had hugged him as he left their apartment, encouraging him to "help our Marine". She had formed her own opinion about Mac's problem – and she was brutally honest that *she* would not want to have faced what Mac had obviously been confronted with, down in the jungle.
Harm had decided to play it cool and quiet, responding to Mac but letting his Marine friend and colleague lead the subject matter and set the pace.
Mac had greeted him with a warm hug, which was *just* a little on the far side of effusive. She had prepared a pot of coffee, which she placed on the table in front of the settee in her lounge.
He simply let her talk. Jack Keeter had given him the bare bones of the case over the phone (he had already taken Victor Galindez out to Benzinger's for a quiet beer), but it was also quite clear to Harm that Mac was still walking on eggshells.
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- Three hours later (around 23:00hrs or so…):
Harm had reached his limit on coffee consumption, so he untangled himself from the comfortable embrace which Mac had formed around him on the settee. He knew that this was a comfortable way for Mac to stay relaxed – he had seen her stretch out on the settee on a few previous occasions, but this was the first time that he had been with her on the couch. She obviously needed physical contact but he knew that she had formed an attachment to Clayton Webb. Plus, he had to let her know about the baby and his engagement to Carolyn.
Desperate to "keep his mind on the job", he managed to prevent his body from betraying him. Nevertheless, having a beautiful Marine officer stretched out alongside him, clearly looking for comfort, meant that he was potentially heading into a compromising situation – which he did *NOT* want.
After three hours of listening and discussing Mac's recent experiences, he knew that it was time to "bring up Baby Rabb."
He raised himself up onto one elbow and looked down at her.
"Mac, there is something else that you need to know."
He hesitated, then decided "ah, screw it" and ploughed onwards.
"I'm getting married."
Mac dropped her coffee mug; fortunately the empty mug bounced on the carpet and rolled to a halt.
"Ma..; …married?" She eventually stammered.
Harm's response was just a huge, beaming, proud grin.
"Yep, married."
She managed to assemble a smile, which suddenly grew warmer as she rolled herself across the settee at Harm and hugged him enthusiastically.
"Well Harm, at least one of us will be finishing this shitty year on a high note."
She eased back slightly and looked up into his eyes. For the first time in a few months, she actually looked closely at Harm (she had been wrapped up in her own sets of problems and had paid scant attention to what might be on Harm's mind during their discussions).
She saw a genuine look of contentment – and even happiness – and despite everything going on in her life, Sarah Catherine Mackenzie was genuinely happy for her long-term JAG partner. She had no choice now - she would *have* to repair their relationship after the summer of 2003.
"So, who's the lucky girl and how did you meet?"
His smile grew broader. "Well, Mac: I didn't have to go far."
"So…?" Mac raised a curious eyebrow, her mind racing around the possibilities. "If he's gone fishing off the Company pier, then that's a small pond…"
"Not that pneumatic barmaid in Benzingers?"
They both laughed and he shook his head.
"No, it's a work colleague."
"Well, you did look rather close and comfortable when you and Tracey came back from that Italian investigation late last year. Heck, you kept that quiet."
"Nope."
He sighed: "Look Mac, let me put you out of your misery. She is equivalent in rank (yeah, OK, so is Tracey but it isn't her). I'm going to be marrying Carolyn."
Mac managed a genuinely-pleased smile for "her" Flyboy.
"Well done Harm; she's a good woman."
Then she frowned: "Isn't it a little soon after she lost her Marine?"
"Well maybe, but she is pregnant and we announced our engagement quickly so that there isn't any potential bounce-back on the baby."
The news about Carolyn's baby closed down Mac's "objections": she knew how Harm was obsessively driven by family concerns. She was proud to have supported him during his "quest" to track down Harm Senior.
So she hugged him, wishing that the circumstances had been different. Why, oh *why* had she never snuggled up to Harm on this sofa before? Now, it was too late.
But the fact that Harm had obviously found happiness - and had built a (presumably) loving relationship with Carolyn whilst she and Clayton were being tortured in that South American hell-hole – actually gave her hope for the future.
She suddenly cheered up, looked into Harm's surprised eyes and smiled, before she rolled backwards off the settee and made to stand up.
"Harm, I am truly pleased for you both. I'm due to report back for duty in Falls Church on Monday. I wonder: could we meet up - the three of us – between now and then please?"
He smiled and nodded, as he moved to a sitting position on the Settee. "Yes of course, Mac; Carolyn is itching to get to know you better. Obviously the first floor team have their own social arrangements, but she specifically told me to offer once I had told you about us. We're using my apartment as the main Imes-Rabb base until we sort out a family home."
"As I said Harm, she is a good woman. I am truly pleased for you, partner."
She held out her arms: "Hug, friend?"
He stood up and stepped forward: "always, my favourite Marine."
They stood, hugging in the middle of Mac's main lounge, for a good few minutes before parting.
"Well, Thursday is Thanksgiving. How does Wednesday or Saturday sound, so you can use Friday in case anyone has a bright idea?"
"That works, Harm. Thank you."
"Any time, Mac."
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Monday 24th November 2003, 08:15hrs EDT
Office of Adm. AJ Chegwidden, Main office floor, JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA United States
Mac returned, from her long-term treatment, at the start of the Thanksgiving week.
She was visibly subdued as she reported in to Chegwidden's office at the appointed time for her re-entry interview.
Chegwidden had read the therapists' reports over the weekend and had re-acquainted himself with them since arriving at 06:25hrs that morning. Placing the report on his blotter, he looked at the Marine standing in front of him at "parade rest".
"Welcome back, Colonel. Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable, Mac."
The next 15 minutes would, she later acknowledged, be the most uncomfortable quarter-hour of Sarah Mackenzie's life.
She was placed on Limited Duties, initially until Christmas. Chegwidden was very clear – and very sympathetic - in re-assuring her that no-one thought she was unstable. However, he added, it *was* evident (to the Bethesda professionals assigned to her case) that Mac would need time and support – maybe over a prolonged period.
He also pointed out that she was alive - and that the overall mission (especially the location and destruction of 100 Stinger missiles) was deemed a major operational success. He added that medals were working their way through the chains of command.
"Mac, if you are free on Thursday, I am hosting a Thanksgiving party at my home. Francesca will be there and I'm sure that she would welcome your company. The main message Mac is – don't be alone."
Sarah Mackenzie (the woman) almost wept; it was only the US Marine Corps programming that kept her composed.
"With this JAG family around me, I might just get through this."
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End of Chapter 6 of "Bringing up babies with Harm": "Helping Mac"
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Mike: UK, 21-11-2022
