Chapter 19

Just before midnight, Shannon's condition changed and one of her, doctors came into the waiting room." Harm's stomach again felt like someone had just punched him; the look on the doctor's faces was not encouraging. He felt somewhat as he had when he and Mac waited during Bud's surgery nearly two years ago. "I'm sorry, Shannon died five minutes ago, without regaining consciousness." Harm was understandably upset at the news, but others in the room who had known her in recent years were devastated. Harm comforted his son, letting him cry and express his grief in a way Harm had not been in 1969. Harm was the one who was strong; he'd had the least emotional contact with Shannon recently and therefore he comforted not only his son but the other friends of his wife.

Harm cried as well, for the missed years with his son and the tragic death of a woman he had once loved . Harm knew that with the time difference he should catch Mac in her office getting ready for the workday. He called her direct line. "Mac, Shannon died a few minutes ago, I don't know if I'll be back on Monday or not, I need to check with the admiral, but I'll do it in awhile. I'm still here at the hospital. Call me, on my cell when you have time to talk. I miss you."

Mac told Harm she was sorry Shannon had died, she told Harm to give her condolences to Andy and the rest of his family, including the Brumby, she had to keep the call short because she was due in court shortly.

Harm was all too aware he had a week left on his suspension and irrationally didn't want to call the admiral. He really didn't feel the admiral would give him the extra time, even though as spouse he was entitled. It seemed to Harm that since his arrest the closeness between the two men was missing

Mic and his wife Lydia arrived early Thursday morning from Sydney. They'd been planning to take the early morning flight and informed of Shannon's death soon after those in Burnie. To those who were unaware of the strained history between Mic and Harm they wouldn't have been aware of it by their greeting as the two former colleagues- and at times adversaries -greeted each other with a comforting hug. Mic was Shannon's solicitor of record; he quickly stated the remarriage made things much easier for all concerned. Lydia was named executor of the estate, as a tax attorney with an accounting degree she was the obvious choice to handle her 'sister'-in-law's estate—everything would go to Andy.

Most of Shannon's considerable estate would go into trust for Andy; he wouldn't full access to it until after he was finished with his schooling. If he didn't attend beyond a bachelor's degree, Andy would have access to the estate w the age of 25. Shannon's will stipulate tuition, room and board and books would come out of the estate. As Harm was Andy's biological father, together with Andy's age custody was a moot point which made Andy leaving with Harm much easier than it would have been otherwise. Harm needed to stay in Tasmania for the funeral, Lydia set in motion the closing the house and dealing with Shannon's belongings. When Harm was told how long he needed to stay he told Mic he needed to be back in DC by Wednesday or be AWOL. The police chief took over. "I'll call your c.o. and let him know you're needed here for a few days longer."

Harm hesitated for a second. "The admiral doesn't know I'm here in Tasmania."

"I'll tell him you are needed here on a legal matter and you will discuss the matter when you return."

"If he agrees to that, I'll stay; otherwise I have no choice but to leave by Monday. Andy can come later."

Moments later

JAG headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

"Admiral, I have a Chief Walter Petrie of the Burnie Police Department on the line." Jennifer Coates told the admiral who was just come back from meetings on the Hill and in a bad mood.

"Admiral Chegwidden, I'm sorry to bother you, I am Chief Walter Petrie and I'm the Chief of Police here in Burnie and I need you to grant emergency leave for one of your officers. I need him to stay here for a week. The officer is Commander Rabb."

"You have my attention, may I ask why you need Commander Rabb." Chegwidden said tersely. His mood had deteriorated, what had "Harmful Rabb" as SecNav Nelson called him done now.

"There was a murder here, the victim was my secretary, Rabb has been very valuable in helping us, My secretary had a son. I would like for Harm to stay until the boy can go to live with his father; Rabb should be back in DC by next Wednesday." Petrie was well aware Rabb had not yet told his commanding officer of the actual family connection.

"I can do that, I'll give him the rest of that week, but he will be AWOL if he does not report that following Monday morning."

"That should work, and Admiral thanks for your help."

Chapter 20

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Monday

0755 local

Harm was 'early' and already hard at work at his desk. He'd arrived well before the starting time. This was not his normal schedule. Most of the staff figured that he wanted to try to get back into the admiral's good graces. They didn't realize he'd met the headmaster of Shaw Academy at 0700. Shannon and Harm had met with Mr. Perkins before leaving for Tasmania, getting everything squared away for Andy's enrollment. He'd be there for the remainder of the school year, before a decision for his senior year.

The school had an interesting uniform policy. Most of week the students were required to wear pants and a dress shirt and tie, except on specifically designated days; Fridays they could wear "street" clothing. Andy was used to this; the school he attended in Burnie had uniforms, so this was a more relaxed atmosphere for him. Harm realized he had missed many first days for Andy, with an early arrival had persuaded his son to pose for a picture. The bane of all first day of school pictures all kids face. Harm was just doing this a decade later than he would've liked to. Harm decided to get a cup of coffee before the day officially started and he left his small office for the break room.

"The traveler returns.' A tired Mac teased Harm as she reached for her coffee mug. They were in the break room. "Harriet said you went to Australia? Then you're gone an extra week? Did you have another run in with Mic?" she asked impishly. She actually knew the reason he'd gone to Tasmania and knew he didn't want the rest to know just yet. She'd gone up to Vermont for the weekend to see Chloe and she had not gotten back into DC until late Sunday night. She had a message to call Harm, no matter what time she got in. They talked for over an hour, Harm told her in detail what all had transpired while he was in Tasmania. He apologized repeatedly to Mac for his marriage, albeit only a few hours long, he told her he understood now, completely, why she kissed Clay while in Paraguay. Mac told him she was hurt, but she understood he was honoring a dying woman's request.

"We got back Saturday. We spent yesterday getting the apartment arranged so Andy and I don't kill each other. This morning I took Andy to Shaw. Man that was rough."

"Andy? You have a roommate?" Harm stopped stirring his coffee and gulped because the question came from the admiral.

"I was just telling Mac, while I was suspended; I went Down Under, Tasmania actually. I ran into Brumby while I was there."

"You went to Tasmania, why there?" This question again from the admiral who seemed to be seconds from ordering him to his office. "And why would you purposely see Brumby of all people?" The admiral wondered if he finally needed to write up transfer papers for his 'problem child' or maybe commitment papers.

"I went to help Andy get his things. I saw Mic while I was there—he's Shannon's cousin. It's going be a tight fit in the apartment, Sergei and I made it work. We'll have to move, but I should wait until the estate is through probate. Andy goes off to college in less than a year and a half. Shannon agreed Andy could be with me if he attended Shaw. She didn't want him going to a public school here in DC. She said she would pay the tuition."

"Commander, just who is Andy and what does Mic Brumby have to with this."

Chegwidden was teetering on signing transfer order forms as soon as he was back in his office. Rabb managed to get involved in a murder while he was on suspension and he'd gone so far away during the suspension.

"Admiral, Andy is my son, and Mic Brumby, he's technically he's Andy's cousin once removed, when Shannon's parents died Mic's parents raised her. Andy considers Mic his uncle." Rabb explained. Harm's responses seemed to both surprise and calm the admiral.

"You said you dropped him off at Shaw? That's the private high school near here, correct?" the admiral queried. When Harm nodded affirmatively, he asked a final question. What year?"

"He's a junior; he's sixteen and will turn seventeen in a few months." I have my digital camera in my office. I have several pictures of him from the past few weeks. I can show you several pictures."

"You keep mentioning Shannon, Commander. Who exactly is she?"

"Shannon was Andy's mother, and my ex-wife. my wife"

Chapter 21

This news came out of left field for the admiral; to cover his shock he filled his coffee cup and then ordered Harm to follow him.

"Commander we need finish this conversation in my office."

Harm had seen during the visit a few weeks earlier, that Andy and Frank were kindred spirits he was not about to crush that. He realized Frank was the only grandfather in Andy's life. He did not want to damage that. He had just over a year before his son would be in college, or university as Shannon and Andy put it. Harm spent his time in Tasmania and the return trip coaching his son on the differences in English between the two countries. Certain expressions could get you into trouble with the wrong person. Harm told his son about a visit in Australia shortly after their marriage when a family friend had asked Harm if he wanted a fag—which meant a cigarette. The man realized Harm was an American by the look of shock on his face and Harm had sputtered out an emphatic red faced "no thanks" before the guy handed Harm a pack of cigarettes." Harm also told Andy when he went somewhere that served cotton candy, not to call it fairy floss, what were called icy poles in Australia were called popsicles in the states. The food differences of calling fries, chips and ketchup, tomato sauce weren't as embarrassing, but Andy should be prepared with the obvious differences. (A.N. Thank all of you who gave me Australian terms, it helped. :)

Harm followed the admiral into his office and shut the door. The admiral didn't sit down nor did he ask Harm to sit. Not a good sign Harm thought. He came nose to nose with the junior officer. "I do hope you took time to consider your future while you were off Commander. I suppose now that you have the responsibilities of a parent you'll be more focused on your job. I expect your performance to improve. Work piled up in your absence; especially since you were gone longer than your suspension, we are still short-handed. I expect the new junior officer to be here in a week, she's been on maternity leave. Until then I'll have you covering her cases."

"When Major Cueva arrives, I expect you to show her the ropes, you cannot pawn her off to Bud, he's on leave next week, you will cover for him. I will try not to send you on many out of town cases for a while. You need to spend time with your son while he is still growing up. Commander, tell me why you got involved in a case in Burnie, Tasmania of all places when you were on suspension?"

"Admiral, my ex wife was shot and killed. She was the primary witness in a major case and after her death I stay for my wife's funeral and to be there for Andy."

"You said ex wife and wife, which one is she Commander?" The astonished admiral was back in Harm's face.