Harm turned his eyes from the stars to the Master Sergeant standing quietly by his side.
"Thinking of her?" It was a personal question, and even though Harm wasn't sure who her was, he felt he and the Gunny were friends in this world too.
"Yes, sir. Remembering the advice you gave me that Christmas night," Gunny smiled.
Damn. Harm wished he knew what he had told Gunny.
"You said, 'when fate sees fit to give you the perfect woman, don't look for petty excuses to refuse'. Best damn advice anyone ever gave me. When I rotated stateside the following June, I knew you were right, the fates had seen fit to give me the perfect woman."
"Yeah, well, I love it when I'm right," Harm smiled impishly. No wonder this Harm was so happy, he'd learned a lesson the Harm in his world was too stubborn to accept.
"Do you know, sir, after that Christmas when I returned to this sandy paradise, Jen sent me emails every day?" Gunny shook his head. "I wanted to marry her the minute my feet hit US soil, but she deserved to be courted properly."
"I bet the Admiral made a formidable Papa Bear," Harm teased on a fishing expedition of sorts.
"That he did, sir. That he did." Gunny shivered at the memory of a very serious Admiral AJ Chegwidden, standing toe to toe with him, 'reminding' Gunny if he in anyway, did anything, to bring any harm to his yeoman... well, he never did have to finish the sentence. Gunny got the message.
Harm almost laughed out loud. How about that, Gunny and Jen. This new world was just full of surprises.
"I'm glad you found each other," Harm smiled. Although, this Gunny didn't know he risked his life to help him single handedly save Mac from a fate worse than death, Harm knew it. He just hoped Jen knew what a good man he was, but somehow, judging from the smile on Gunny's face, Harm was pretty sure she did, and then some.
"We were only married six months when I shipped out again." Gunny glanced around at their surroundings. Despite the casual conversation, he was still on duty. "But, you know that."
Now, he did. Maybe if Harm could get Gunny to keep talking he could find out a few more details of this new life.
"Time has a way of flying by. How long have you been here now?" Harm hoped he wasn't expected to remember this information.
"Seven months, one week, two days. Would you like to know how many hours?" One side of Gunny's face twisted up in momentary amusement.
"I think I get the picture," Harm chuckled.
"We didn't even know she was pregnant when I left." Gunny looked absently into the distance.
"You know, we're all keeping an eye on her." Harm had no way of knowing if this was true, other than a gut feeling.
"I know, sir. Thank you," Gunny smiled, his eyes expressing how grateful he was for old friends. "You'd better call it a night, sir. It's not a good idea to be wandering around after dark." The marine was back in place.
"Good night, Gunny." Harm had seen Bud walk passed them a while ago, it was time he hit the rack too.
"Good night, Sir."
The next few days passed quickly. More quickly than Harm had thought they would, considering how badly he missed Mac. Every morning he woke up more confused than he'd been the day before. He simply didn't understand what had happened. If it weren't for the lack of memories, he would almost believe his old life was nothing more than a horrible nightmare he'd finally woken up from.
Things weren't looking good for their client and Harm was starting to suspect they were going to be here a lot longer than either he or Bud wanted to be. He and Bud had been having lunch in what served as officer's territory, when Gunny came looking for them.
"I've been looking for you everywhere, sirs," Gunny panted, slightly out of breath.
"What is it? Jen?" Harm presumed by the anxious look on Gunny's face.
"No, sir. We've found a new witness. I was giving out chocolate bars to some of the local kids. You know my Farsi isn't that good, but I managed to make out a few interesting things one little boy was telling me. I followed him home and spoke with his aunt and uncle. They told me that the five men killed had a quarrel with a local warlord. They're willing to testify they saw his men on the other side of the square, armed, sir."
"Gunny, that's great!" Harm stood up quickly. "Were you able to verify it with anyone else?"
"Yes, sir. It seems the warlord was killed the other day in a small firefight outside of town. Almost everyone in town is willing to testify, now that the threat of reprisal is gone."
"Let's go see if we can't get these charges dismissed," Harm announced, Bud and Gunny following behind him.
With everything wrapped up, and the Marine Captain back on duty, Harm and Bud were once again airborne stateside.
"Bud?" Harm ventured tentatively.
"Yes, sir." Bud was resting comfortably in the seat, his head back and eyes closed.
"What do you remember about the day Sarah was born?" Harm had managed to make the connection with how his and Mac's getting married had made a difference with Sidney and the Admiral. Harm's catching Danny red-handed avoided the break up. He concluded that Mac's inviting Gunny to stay in their home, a home they didn't have in his world, allowed Gunny and Jen enough time for their love to bloom, so to speak. He wasn't even going to try and figure out how Renee and Tiner wound up together, but Harm didn't understand how his and Mac's marriage could have saved Sarah's life.
"Every detail. Why, sir?" Bud straightened up to look at Harm.
"No reason in particular. What do you remember most?" Harm squirmed in his chair.
"Honestly, I think it was the look of horror on your face when Lt. Aldridge interrupted court to announce he'd just received a message that an ambulance was leaving your house for Mercy Hospital," Bud smiled.
"My house?" Why his house? He thought. "Oh, yeah." He covered quickly. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.
"I guess since Harriet was supposed to be watching the Colonel after the car accident, we all just assumed something had gone wrong with the Colonel. It never occurred to any of us that Harriet was having a repeat of instant labor as she'd done with AJ." Deciding there was nothing serious in Harm's inquiries, Bud relaxed back against the chair again.
"I probably remember more about little AJ since I was there for most of it. No one could ever forget your getting stuck in the elevator," Harm chuckled.
"It's a good thing the admiral showed up for little AJ. Colonel MacKenzie was afraid she was going to have to deliver Sarah herself. The ambulance driver was surprised they made it to the hospital. He told me later, they were taking bets on whether or not the baby would be born in the ambulance." Bud shook his head.
"Harriet's never had any problems with any of the kids has she?" Harm asked.
"You and the Colonel thinking of having another?" Bud opened one eye in Harm's direction. "Didn't the Colonel have a pretty easy time with both kids? Well, I suppose as long as you don't count those three days of bed rest after that crazy old lady plowed into her. Thank God, nothing was wrong. It was just a precaution to have Harriet keeping her off her feet. Though, technically she was only off her feet for two days since she had to go with Harriet to the hospital."
"It was the thought that counted, Bud. Harriet tried," Harm smiled. In any world, Bud still had a gift for rambling.
"I guess that little moment with Sarah was the closest thing to trouble we've ever had," Bud continued.
"Little moment?"
"Yeah, I don't even remember what it was, something with the cord I think, or was it the placenta? Well, whatever, the doctor that attended at Mercy was probably just as good as Harriet's doctor at Bethesda. He caught it right away and it wasn't a problem," Bud shrugged.
Without thinking, Harm let out a slight snort. 'As good as Harriet's', if Bud only realized what a blessing it was that the ambulance was required to take Harriet to the closest hospital and not to that quack at Bethesda.
"Something wrong, sir?" Bud wasn't sure what to make of the odd sound Harm made. He seemed, annoyed.
"No, just thinking about the things we take for granted." Harm shrugged in an attempt to set the junior officer at ease. "She's a great kid."
"Who, sir?"
"Sarah." Who else have we been talking about? Harm thought.
"Oh, yes, sir. Thank you." Bud closed his eyes again. This was getting too confusing to follow.
"Bud," Harm needed to confide in someone. There was just too much he didn't know and it sure didn't look like he was going to wake up in his own world anytime soon.
"Yes, sir."
"I…I think I have a little problem you might be able to help me with." Harm prayed he was about to do the right thing.
Chapter 12"First thing, before I tell you anything, you have to promise me you won't go crazy with any Star Trek theories about space time continuum stuff." Harm looked at Bud sternly.
"That would more likely be Quantum Leap, sir," Bud corrected.
"Whatever, Bud! Just don't go all Sci Fi on me. Promise?"
"I promise, sir. What's the matter?"
As briefly as possible, Harm explained to Bud the direction he remembered his life taking after Australia. With the exception of Baby Sarah and Paraguay, Bud's face remained expressionless. When Harm got to the part about being woken up that Saturday morning by two children he didn't recognize, Bud's eyes grew visibly larger in identical increments with the large gaping hole formed by his open mouth.
"Wow, sir."
"Is that all you have to say?" Harm asked.
"The possibilities are awesome!" Bud's look of surprise changed to sheer delight in a fraction of time.
"Bud, what I need is for someone to fill in the blanks of this world, not contemplate the awesome possibilities," Harm emphasized through a forced smile.
"Yes, sir, right. But don't you want to figure out what happened?" Bud was like a six year old with a new toy at Christmas.
"Bud, please. We've only got a few hours left until we land and I have a lot of questions." Harm was thankful that at least Bud didn't think he was hitting the sauce, or worse, crazy.
"I'm sorry, sir. What do you need to know?"
"Mac is with the Department of Defense now?"
"Yes. She's a special advisor to the SECDEF. She's actually pretty important, sir. She was head honcho on that investigation into the new AA weapon's testing accident that brought down the airplane returning from a short hop to Catalina with the Ambassadors from England and Russia, and Senators Bixby and Hoffman on board."
"Does she like it?"
"From what Harriet tells me, she misses the courtroom sometimes, but yes, she's very happy." Bud was relieved to see the contented smile spread across Harm's face.
"Where does Matt go to preschool?"
"The Lamplighter School on Park and Riverdale."
"Where's Susie's daycare?"
"Hm, I think you're still using our old daycare. Kindercourt on Central and Dickson."
"You wouldn't happen to know my kids favorite foods, would you?" Harm chuckled, not expecting a response.
"Matt loves spaghetti with extra sauce, and Susie likes to gnaw on broccoli and ranch dip."
"Well, at least one of my kids eats healthy. Allergies?"
"None that I know of, sir. I also know Matt's more of a carnivore and Susie seems to like anything mushy."
"How old is Ginger?"
"I don't remember sir, maybe four. I think you got her just before or after Matt was born."
"How long have we lived in that house?"
"That's easy. You moved in Christmas of 2000, just after Sarah was born," Bud smiled.
"What did I do with my apartment?"
"It's rented. The Colonel wouldn't let you sell it, said it was almost part of you," Bud chuckled remembering Harm sanding the floors so many years ago.
"Okay, what about the office. Why didn't I see Sturgis' name on any of the files? Is he at JAG?"
"Oh, yes. Commander Turner came in the fall of…let's see…2001, right after Mattoni left." Bud counted on his fingers a moment to make sure he had that right. "He moved to the judiciary about a year later. There was a shortage of judges. You and he served on a few cases. He liked it and eventually requested a transfer."
"Is he married?"
"No, but he is dating a really nice singer named Varese Chestnutt. Ever hear of her?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, Sturgis is dating her in my world too. It looks like, except for moving to the judiciary, Sturgis' life is pretty similar."
"Why do you suppose that is?" Bud was fascinated with the entire concept of parallel universes.
"In 2002, Mac and I did temporary stints on the bench. If Mac left after we got married to work for the SECDEF, that would have made Sturgis the other senior attorney, and obvious choice for temporary judge in your 2002." Harm smiled to himself. He was amazed at all the lives affected by a few single choices in his life.
"Who replaced Turner at ops?" Harm continued.
"Commander Imes was reassigned. She'd been stationed in Europe," Bud offered, just in case things had been different in Harm's time.
"Anybody check her credentials lately?" Harm teased.
"I beg your pardon?" Bud was completely confused by that remark.
"Never mind, inside joke." Harm probably was going to have to check her records when he got back, after all…
"What do you know about Tiner and Renee?" Harm's brow contorted with curiosity.
"Not much. From what the Colonel said, right after we'd all come back from Australia, you apparently neglected to mention to Renee that you were now involved with the Colonel. While you were stuck in Iceland, Renee showed up at JAG for a previously arranged date. When Mac told her you weren't there, Renee took Tiner out instead." Bud shifted awkwardly in his seat. His legs beginning to ache from the long flight, he wished he could just remove his prosthesis.
"How did Tiner wind up a lawyer at JAG so soon?"
"So soon? I don't know what you remember, but when he and Ms. Peterson started dating, she insisted he take classes to finish his degree. As soon as he finished, he convinced the Admiral to recommend him to law school. The Navy sent him to Georgetown law full time. As soon as he finished, he and Ms. Peterson were married. He's been back at JAG for just about a year. As you probably saw, she's pregnant, twins I think." Bud rolled his eyes. "You really dated her in your world?"
"Yeah, I really did," Harm shrugged.
"She just doesn't seem your type."
"And she does seem Tiner's?" It seemed more plausible to Harm that he would have dated Renee than Tiner.
"Point taken, sir," Bud chuckled. "If it makes any difference, Jason does seem happy, sir."
"Well, I'm glad for that. Renee wasn't all that bad. Actually, if I'd been more committed, she would have probably been really great."
Harm let out a slow deep breath. "There's so much Bud. What's the General's yeoman's name?"
"That would be Petty Officer Smythe."
"Smythe?" Harm repeated.
Bud nodded his head.
"How long?"
"Since Jennifer went on maternity leave."
"I thought it was Coates married to the Gunny."
"Yes, sir. They met at our Christmas party a few years ago. I'm not sure how it worked in your world, but Jen stayed with you and the Colonel during her court case back in 2001. Since she didn't really have any family to spend the holidays with, you had invited her to spend the 25th with you again the year Gunny came."
"And since Gunny stayed with us that Christmas he was snowed in, they got… close."
"Yes, sir. The admiral barked a little, but, so long as they kept it out of the office, I think he was secretly pleased."
"In my world Gunny didn't spend Christmas in DC that I know of. Any idea how he wound up at your house?"
"It had something to do with the SECDEF's office. Gunny was either taking some reports, or making a report. That's why he stopped in DC at all before going home. Anyhow, when he bumped into the Colonel, he was planning on waiting the weather out at the airport. Colonel MacKenzie convinced him it could be a while and to join us instead. We were delighted to see him."
"What about Aldridge? He was always such a…" Harm was at a loss for words.
"He still is, sir." Bud swallowed a chuckle. "But when the Colonel left at the same time as Lt. Imes, we couldn't afford to lose him. We've just sort of been stuck with him ever since."
"Who's chief of Staff?"
"You are, sir." Bud had to stifle a laugh at the shocked look on Harm's face, or was it more panic?
"Great," Harm mumbled to himself.
"You're very good, sir." Bud wasn't sure why he felt the need to reassure him.
"Thanks," Harm replied, half-heartedly.
"Would I be correct in assuming if the Colonel was never engaged to Commander Brumby, then I never took a dip in the drink hurrying back to the wedding?"
"No. That I know of, you've never crashed in the ocean. Your RIO did, or at least your old RIO did," Bud corrected.
"What do you mean?" A sick feeling suddenly rose in the pit of Harm's stomach.
"You had a RIO who was flying home on weekend leave in a storm to see her fiancé. She and the pilot crashed in the ocean. They were never recovered."
"When was this, Bud?" Harm prayed it wasn't that same storm.
"It was the same weekend as your anniversary party at the Admiral's."
"May 25, 2001," Harm dictated from memory. He'd never forget that date. If he and Mac had been married on May 20th, the anniversary party should have been around the same time as Mac's wedding to Brumby in his world.
"Yes, sir. That sounds right." For the first time during this unusual conversation, Bud felt really badly for him. Harm's face showed true agony.
"She and I ejected on May 25th. They found her first, it took them a while to find me. When they did I was so hypothermic they almost lost me. Skates saved my life." Harm fought back the tears that filled his eyes.
"I'm sorry, sir." Bud had no idea what else to say.
Harm sat quietly for several minutes letting Bud's words sink in. So far, everything different in this world seemed to be for the better. This was the first truly sad change he'd stumbled across.
"Did you say anniversary party at the admiral's?" Once he'd regained his composure, Harm continued his quest for information.
"Yes."
"That's rather ironic." Harm shook his head again. He'd been doing that a lot on this plane ride. "A couple of weeks before the wedding, Mac and Mic had an engagement party at the admiral's. It was a very 'revealing' event."
"Well, it was just lots of fun in our world, except of course that you and the Colonel spent the better part of the evening on the admiral's front porch," Bud smiled inwardly.
"You're kidding?" A slight air of lightheartedness had returned to Harm's voice.
"No, sir. I wouldn't kid you about a thing like that, honestly."
"I guess the universe does have a sense of humor, Bud." Harm couldn't believe in either world, he and Mac spent most of the night together on the porch.
"I guess this is as a good a time as any to ask. How did Sergei wind up with Lauren?" Harm tried not to let his disappointment show.
"Ah, yes. Your favorite sister in law." Bud let out an almost sinister chuckle.
Chapter 13"Why don't you tell me about your brother in your world, and I'll just point out whatever I know to be different." Bud was more than a little curious to hear more details about the world Harm left behind.
"Fine with me." Harm hesitated before starting, "I was sent to Russia in the fall of 2000 to help evaluate and make suggestions for improving the 'new' justice system."
"Same here, except the Colonel went with you. She said it wasn't safe to set you loose alone in Russia." Bud made a small spitting sound in an attempt to not laugh.
"She eventually showed up in my world too," Harm continued, ignoring Bud's undignified response, "but it had more to do with Webb and an espionage case she was trying."
"Hm, I bet that was the case Mattoni prosecuted. He had a big treason case somewhere around that time," Bud mumbled to himself, his amusement under control.
"Anyhow, we got into lots of trouble, Sergei was framed for murder and treason, and found guilty. I lost my temper and wound up in jail as well. We eventually escaped. I tried to convince him to come to the States but he wanted to fight the war in Chechnya, to follow in our father's footsteps and all that. The next year he was captured when his helicopter crashed. He used to fly choppers."
"He still does. He flies for the local CBS news affiliate," Bud interrupted.
"Really? Is he happy?" Inwardly, Harm crossed his fingers. In his world Sergei was so...lost.
"Looks it to me," Bud smiled.
"That's really good to hear," Harm smiled in earnest. "I don't think he was ever happy here in my world. After we discovered he was being held in a Chechen prison camp, Webb pulled some strings to get him out in a trade deal and delivered him to me at the wall on Christmas Eve that year."
"Well, in our time, the three of you went through some hairy stuff and managed to escape, even though Mac was having a little trouble with morning sickness."
"Morning sickness! She came to Russia pregnant!" Harm spat.
"Sir, the original travel plans didn't include getting involved in treason, murder, attempted assassinations and winding up in jail, " Bud countered rather sarcastically. "Anyhow, it sounded to me like Mac's being pregnant was the reason Sergei agreed to come back to the states with you. He wanted to be here for the birth of his first niece or nephew."
"So he came back with us that fall?" Harm seemed really surprised.
"Yes, he stayed with you and the Colonel, and more importantly, he joined you at our house for the Christmas party."
"Why more importantly?" Harm shifted in his seat.
"Well, sir. That's when he and Lt. Singer slipped away from the party."
"And?"
"I don't know, sir. It didn't look to us like anything had come of it, but two months later we received invitations to their wedding in two weeks." Bud shrugged apologetically. "You were SO upset." Bud's humorous glint vanished at Harm's hard glare. "Looking back, I suspect you stopped trying to talk him out of it when he told you about the baby. We didn't realize it at the time, we just assumed you gave up. Of course, it wasn't long before most of us put two and two together."
"One stop shop," Harm mumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"In my timeline, Sergei and Singer hooked up before Singer deployed to replace you on the Seahawk. Sergei referred to it as a one stop shop."
"Lt. Singer never replaced me on the Seahawk. Commander Turner did at first, then Commander Manetti replaced him." Bud suddenly got a puzzled look on his face. "Did you say, one stop shop?"
"I think that was Russian for one night stand." Normally, Harm would have chuckled at that if it didn't mean Lauren was now his sister in law. "So then what?"
"It was a small ceremony followed by a reception at your house. Everyone seemed to have a good time." Bud noticed Harm rolling his eyes. "Well, it was a nice wedding, sir. And they really did seem happy. From what I've noticed through the years, Sergei seems to really… 'understand' Lauren, and she seems to… 'appreciate' that."
"What about her goal to be the first female JAG? How come she hasn't clawed her way to Chief of Staff?" Harm wasn't sure what to make of this yet.
"That's hard to do if you resign your commission," Bud shrugged.
"She resigned!" Harm hadn't meant to shout, but this surprised him more than Tiner and Rene.
"Shortly after the baby was born. I don't think she found military life conducive to raising a child in the style she wanted to." Bud hoped he hadn't overstepped his bounds.
"So where is she now?"
"She's a junior partner at Roth, Findley, and Chesterton."
Harm let out a long whistle. "Ooh, swimming with the big fish."
"Yes, sir. They have a VERY nice house not too far from you. Apparently, Lauren wanted to buy near Georgetown, but Sergei insisted on staying close enough that the boys would be in the same school."
"And Sergei won, I'm impressed." Harm was going to have to reconsider his attitude towards Sergei and Lauren.
"I mean it, sir. I think they're happy. They're… well suited to each other."
"The photos at home imply we're all close." Harm hoped it was more than just an appearance.
"You are. The boys are like two peas in a pod. They get along great and spend a good deal of time with each other. Not always at your house either. You and Sergei are very similar in that way. Very hands on kind of fathers, despite your busy schedules. And Lauren, she loves being related to the 'Chief Special Advisor to the Secretary of Defense'. She's been known to use that to her advantage a time or two." Bud had to chuckle. Mrs. Lt. Singer Zhukov Rabb had mellowed, but not all of the old Singer had faded away.
"That reminds me, Sergei goes by the name Rabb now," Bud interjected.
"He does?" Harm didn't think he could be more surprised.
"Your mother insisted," Bud shrugged.
"My mother? She wasn't too happy with the idea of Sergei in my world." Harm's eyebrows were practically touching the ceiling.
"Well, here, she was cradling your son in her arms the day he was born, when she looked up at Sergei and said, and I quote because Harriet and I were standing next to you, 'Frank has always loved Harm as his own son. His love for me never begrudged me loving another man first. I don't see any reason why this should be any different. My love for your father should never begrudge him loving another woman after me.' She handed Mac the baby, smiled, and said, 'you really should use your father's name if you're going to live in this country.' Then, calm as could be, she went downstairs and bought everyone a celebratory cappuccino."
"Wow." Harm sat back, truly impressed with his mom and the bond they'd all formed.
Bud waited to see if Harm had any more questions for him before venturing to change the subject.
"Sir, are you sure you don't want me to look into the possibilities of what's happened to you?"
"Bud, my money is still on: I'm going to wake up any minute and this will all, including this conversation, have been a wonderful dream."
"But, sir, there are so many possibilities. You could have indeed found some kind of black hole, doorway if you prefer, through the … you know what." There was no way he was actually going to say space - time continuum."
"Bud." A slightly patronizing tone was evident in his voice. Still, he couldn't help but think it would be nice to understand what happened.
"I've read of a theory that there is an infinite number of alternate realities. Some of the realities or alternate universes could be almost identical, some drastically different. That would explain why so much is the same in your two worlds and yet different. I mean, sir, do you realize you could even have been abducted by aliens! Maybe they beamed up all the Harmon Rabbs in parallel realities and accidentally switched the two from this world and yours, putting you back in the wrong bodies," Bud rambled excitedly.
"All the Harmon Rabbs? Bud…"
"You could be the final proof people have been looking for that there really is intelligent life in another galaxy somewhere!" Bud continued rambling, undeterred by Harm's lack of enthusiasm.
"How intelligent could they be if they put us in the wrong bodies?" Harm couldn't resist interjecting the obvious.
"Good point, sir. But still…"
"But still nothing, Bud. As far as I'm concerned this is all a dream and I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts. Thanks for the help." Harm took a second to make sure Bud was powering down. "Don't be surprised, though, if you get a phone call now and then asking for a little more background." This was going to be a lot easier now that he had Bud as an ally.
"Yes, sir." Bud replied, obviously deflated.
Harm sat back taking a few minutes to process the information Bud had given him, without the science fiction addendum. His mind ran through a list of all the questions he'd had the last few days. He was pretty sure he'd covered all of them when another thought popped into his head.
"What ever happened to Clayton Webb?"