Chapter 22

"My ex wife, Shannon, knew she would likely die, and she wanted to make things easier, legally, for me and Andy after her death. When she asked me I was shocked, I said yes, we were married in a brief ceremony just before her surgery. She initially survived the surgery, but she succumbed to her injuries."

The admiral thought about what he'd heard in the break room. "Andy, your son's name is Andy, short for Andrew I take it." Harm nodded.

"We decided early on he wouldn't be Harmon Rabb the third. Andy's full name is Andrew John Rabb." He gave the admiral a quick grin knowing what the admiral was thinking when he heard the name.

"So you have your own AJ?" AJ Chegwidden couldn't help but grin in return.

Harm knew exactly what his son's initials were; Andy had been named after his maternal grandfathers. When Bud and Harriet had named their son after the admiral, albeit just his initials, Harm had been ecstatic, he'd get to know at least one young AJ, even if wasn't his own son.

"Yes sir, I do."

"Commander, you're dismissed." Harm left before the admiral could change his mind.

Chapter 23

Harm left the admiral's office feeling a great sense of relief. He sauntered to his office where Petty Officer Coates had just placed three large stacks of files. His good mood dipped when he saw them. The stacks, combined with the size of his 'new' office made the room even smaller.

"Somebody looks like they're going to be busy." Mac quipped a few minutes later from the doorway of his office. "I don't think I'll be seeing you any evening this week by the look of those stacks."

"I think I'll be busy 'til Andy leaves for college. The admiral wants me taking these files along with whatever else he assigns me. When Major Cueva joins us next month--- I know Major means Marine."

Mac just smiled, she'd been very glad to hear from the admiral she would no longer be the only Marine officer on their floor.

"I'm to show her the ropes. I think the admiral would have had you show her the ropes, her being a Marine, but I think it's punishment for me because he wants me to do everything she would have for the next couple of weeks. As long as I keep my six out of too much trouble, I might be out of the admiral's doghouse by this summer. By the way, how did the Santos case go I forgot to ask before I left for Tasmania?"

"Acquittal, your hunch about Santos's Chief Warrant Officer was what clinched it; the CWO was the guilty party. I'll admit I wouldn't have made the connection quite so easily. We ended up not having to go through with the court-martial." Changing the topic, "So Andy is coming here after school?"

"Not today, he's going to see what after school activities he's interested in. I'll pick him up after work. It will mean taking work home but I need to get out of here on time until we work out a schedule or a ride for him. He wants to get his license, the only problem, and it's a big one, is he has experience driving." Harm had a slight shudder when he said driving.

Mac looked oddly at Harm until comprehension dawned. "Australians drive on the other side of the road. We're going to Gram's for Easter; there are plenty of roads to practice on which don't have much traffic." Harm continued. "Andy really wants to go to Beltway Burger, he's already complaining about my meatless meals. The last few days in Burnie many of the neighbors brought meals in so I didn't have to cook. How one strict vegetarian and one almost vegetarian managed to have a dead cow lover is beyond me."

"Hey, at least one Rabb that knows a good thing when he sees it" she chuckled as she turned to go back to her office.

Chapter 24

It took Harm and Andy just days to realize the apartment was no longer the best place to live. The main reason things had worked with Sergei living there was that Sergei had only brought himself. Andy had several boxes that would be arriving shortly. Harm realized it was now time to look for a larger apartment if not a house. He knew there were always fixer uppers that went for more reasonable prices than houses that didn't need work. He decided to table any get-togethers until he had a larger residence. Besides, if he had anything to say about it there would be a third person to consider.

Beltway Burger

Falls Church VA

1830 local Thursday

"Mac, these are much better than Dad described". Mac met Andy at school and had taken him out for supper.

"What did you expect; your dad hasn't ever eaten a hamburger from here. In fact, I don't think, in the time I've known him, he's only had 'dead cow' twice. Both of those times he literally had no choice in the matter."

Harm had been forced stay late, taking a teleconference call from overseas; it was the only time the witness was able to teleconference. Since it was still his first week Andy didn't have a large group of friends yet and gladly accepted Mac's invitation to dinner. Mac reminded Harm that Andy was sixteen, not six, and needed some space. Mac offered to take him back to the apartment after dinner, when Andy was arrived he was to call Harm or Harm would call him. Mac asked Andy how things were going at a new school.

He told her about the differences from his school in Burnie. He was used to wearing a uniform so he liked the idea of wearing what he wanted on Fridays. There weren't many Australians at the school; he quickly had made friends with a brother and sister from Melbourne. Stacey and Steve Douglas, their father was legal attaché for the Australian Embassy. Andy had been invited to their house that weekend to watch rugby on cable. The one major flaw staying with Harm, as far as Andy was concerned, was the severe lack of cable. Mac told him he was lucky to have a TV in the apartment. A friend had given Harm the TV only recently. Andy was amazed his father did not own a television for years.

Chapter 25

Friday

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA

1442 local

The weekly staff meeting was over and they were all heading towards their respective offices, when Harm spied a now familiar face. "Lydia, what are you doing here?" He gave the stranger a hug, to the astonishment of most of the staff. Mac had seen pictures of Mic and Lydia in Andy's wallet. Therefore, she was aware of the woman's identity. She was however, wondering why Lydia was here in the states.

"There's a conference in New York, for your information "Lydia hit Harm softly in the arm. "It was scheduled months ago, my boss was scheduled to go she had a family emergency. I was asked to go in his place. I decided to come to here to DC first; I came with Andy's things. I have two suitcases in the car. This must be Mac?" she asked seeing the Navy and Marine personnel in the bullpen..

"Yes. I'm Sarah Mackenzie. And you are?"

"Lydia Metcalf, I go by Metcalf professionally, it's Lydia Brumby otherwise."

Sturgis, Bud and Harriet were standing there wondering how and why Mac was on such friendly terms with her former fiancé's apparent wife. Also why Harm was acquainted with Mrs. Michael Brumby. They were dying of curiosity, but didn't ask.

Mac introduced Lydia to the small group that had gathered. They were naturally curious why she was here to see Harm. Lydia turned to Harm, "I stopped by for three reasons; foremost, I wanted to see how Andrew is doing in his new school. However, the main reason I'm here is I need to fulfill my job as executor of Shannon's estate. Harm, you need to sign several papers. Could you be notary Sarah?"

"Yes I can. Let's go to my office." Harm and Lydia followed.. Mac stopped and turned, "I don't have a notary seal with me."

"You said three things, what's the third?" Sturgis asked.

"Family Law does." Harm said to Mac trying to get the conversation headed into a different direction.

They turned and headed towards the elevators. Lydia stopped and told the others the third reason was she had several suitcases with Andy's things for Harm.

"Let's go up there, I told Mattoni I'd explain why I'd need his services a couple of weeks ago."

To his obviously curious colleagues Harm just said. "I'll tell you all about it after work; pizza my place."

Harriet and Bud knew it must be big news since Harm would not say anything about it at work. Sturgis was adding things and coming up with five. After all, he'd seen Shannon and Andy twice before, once years ago, at Pearl, and again a couple of weeks ago.