A:N See chap one for disclaimers.
Harm awoke the next morning to the sounds that always woke him with a smile, the sound of his two year old son jabbering, Mattie playing her music, and the sound of breakfast cooking downstairs. He awoke though, with a frown. Just where was his wife?
Concluding that she must have already gotten up with Ty, he took his time getting ready for work, thinking over the practice with the boys for tonight. He knew he was going to have to really dig in if he wanted them to start behaving. There first game against Army, was in six weeks, and Harm knew that he had to shape up those boys and fast.
Going downstairs, he was surprised when he saw Mattie feeding Ty.
"Hey Matts, where's-"
"Oh she had to go in early for some meeting and didn't want to wake you, she knew how tired you were when you got home, so I told her I would feed Ty so she could get to her meeting."
Harm smiled and ruffled Mattie's hair. "You're a good big sister you know that?"
Mattie laughed, "Yeah and I hope I get a sister soon, because let me tell you, this guy is almost as stubborn as you. I hate to see what would happen if there was another boy in this house."
Harm smiled and poured his coffee. "Another few weeks before the baby comes and then we'll know. Don't tell you're mom this, but I'm hoping for a girl too."
Mattie looked at him questioningly, "why wouldn't she want to know?"
"Her philosophy is that no matter what sex the baby is we should only want him or her to be healthy. And while I share that view, I'm still hoping for a girl, and even if she doesn't say so, I think she is too."
Mattie laughed and wiped Tyler up. "Well I gotta catch the bus, I'll see you later," she said and kissed both Rabb men goodbye.
"Well buddy, it's just you and me," Harm said.
Tyler threw his sippy cup on the ground and smiled. "Uh-oh" he said.
Harm laughed. "That's right Bud, "uh-oh" is right. Because if we don't get going soon, daddy is going to be late and the Admiral won't be very happy."
"Ama!" Tyler squealed referring to his Godfather.
"Yeah, Ama. You may have the Admiral wrapped around your little finger, but your daddy could still get transferred to Alaska if we don't get moving."
At JAG headquarters swamped with cases, Harm answered the phone, only half interested on who was on the other end until he heard a welcoming voice.
"Hey you,"
Harm smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Missed you this morning, why didn't you wake me," he asked twisting his wedding ring around.
Her laugh filled the phone. "You came in so late last night, and looked so cute this morning wrapped up in the sheets and snoring."
"I do not snore!"
She laughed again. "I was kidding Harm, just kidding. So when do you think you'll be home tonight?"
"Not sure honey, one of the kid's mom's wanted to talk to me," he said throwing another file haphazardly into his outbox.
""Well just call if you're going to be running late; and I'll save you some dinner. Mattie and I are going to rent a movie and have a girl's night in."
Harm marveled at how well she and Mattie were getting along. Mattie was an important part of his life and had adapted very well to the change in the family dynamics. "Sounds like fun," he said and rubbed his hands over his eyes feeling at that moment, very much his age.
"Don't work to hard Harm, I'll see you later."
"See you later, I love you."
"Love you to," she said and hung up.
Later on that night at practice, was where the real work began. Harm who after putting in a full days work at JAG with the Admiral saying that "even though you are doing the Navy and these boys a favor by running this program, you still have a job to do."
Harm could only stare as the Admiral put two more case on his already full docket.
He was currently having the team run sprints. They would start at the end of the gym, on his whistle command they would run to half court drop and do push-ups. And when he blew the whistle again they would run back to the hoops and drop and do more push-ups.
"There will be no slaking off in this gym," he said.
Whistle
"Angry at the world, at your parents for sending you here, well tough. If you want to vent out your frustration then that's fine. But you do it here, on this court."
Whistle
"I expect perfection. You will work hard and you will play hard. There will be no slacking off. You will work together as a team. You will learn to respect each other; you will learn to respect yourselves."
Whistle
"We are playing Army in six weeks. Now from what I have heard, their team is undefeated. The team is disciplined and works well together, now if we want to beat them in the up coming match then we have to get it together.
Whistle
"If you don't like what I am telling you, if you think you are better then the rules I have laid down, I can get in touch with your parole officer and you'll be sitting in lock-up for violating your parole agreement before the night is over."
Harm blew his whistle twice signaling the team to stop. They collapsed in the center of the court sweaty and exhausted.
"Now," he said standing over them, with his arms folded of his chest, "any questions?"
The team, for once stayed silent. Even Bull who usually had something to say remained quiet. Harm smiled. The boys were finally starting to get the message.
By the time practice was over, and his team shooting him dirty looks for working them so hard, Harm took his time in gathering up the gear while waiting for Ethan's mom to show up. Ethan and Josh were talking quietly by the doors of the gym, and as much as Harm, though not really his style, tried to eaves-drop on their conversation, couldn't hear what the boys were saying.
Linda Chambers was a petty officer third class stationed aboard the USS Sea Hawk. She came home on leave after Ethan was arrest and was being deployed at the end of the week. She asked for a meeting with Harm to discuss Ethan. And Harm, although ready and willing to hear the mother's concerns, really just wanted to talk to Josh, but the boy had been either avoiding him or ignoring him at all costs, and it was grating on Harm's nerves. He heard the doors of the gym open and watched a woman in civilian dress walk over to him.
"Commander Rabb," The petty officer said formally offering her hand to him. "Petty Officer Third Class Linda Chambers, I wanted to talk to you about Ethan."
Harm motioned her over to the bleachers while Josh and Ethan watched on crossly.
"What can I do for you petty officer?"
Linda folded her hands neatly in her lap and took a deep breath. "I'm sure you know what a troubled kid Ethan is. His father abused Ethan for three years before anyone caught on. I was away so often that-"
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she went on before Harm could say anything. "Ethan stays with my sister while I'm at sea. She and her husband have four kids of their own, and sometimes just can't handle him. When I heard he had gotten arrested I asked for leave, but it's been cut short. Commander what I came here to say is this. You have been running this program for just three weeks now, but already I have seen a change in his behavior. He doesn't cut class anymore, and makes an attempt to turn in his homework. And every night he is outside playing basketball against the house. I don't know what you have done to these kids, but whatever it is; it's working for my son. Thank you Commander. Thank you for helping my son."
Harm stared at Linda flabbergasted by what she said. Had he really made that much of a difference so soon?
By the time she and Ethan had left, Josh was long gone. Harm sighed. I guess the talk would have to wait for another time.
TBC.
I am keeping the identity of Harm's wife a mystery for now. I will say, as it was mentioned in the story, that she is pregnant and due soon. Keep you suggestions coming and whether the baby should be a boy or a girl, and suggestions for names. Oh and names for the other basket ball teams PLEASE! For the Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and special forces, something creative. My mind is just drawing a big blank.
This story is four years after Paraguay. Make of it what you will.
Please review, they make the updates come much faster. As for my other stories, I will finish them as soon as I get done. Please just hang in there.
Thanks to all who reviewed.
Scottiedog: I really wasn't going to give Josh's new dad a lot of action in this story, but I'm re-thinking that now, but there are a lot of issues between the two, I mean the guy is in the Army and Josh is a Navy brat. Can we say bad?
JH soccorchick, dawnfaer, Trey Rabb, Abigaile, gregstar, Gramrabb, DutchJAGfan, g, and Judy: don't be too heartbroken if you don't get your wish. ;)
Gregstar: Classic huh? Well we'll see, and it's Amy, a lady. LOL
Starryeyes10: Thanks for the review.
Janlaw: Thanks for the review, and how about both? Haven't really decided the direction of the entire story yet, but I'm getting there. I couldn't add a timeline until I figured out who Harm's wife was going to be. But I added one in this chap. As for an assistant, you'll just have to wait and see who I decide.
Jabberjaws: I really wasn't going to put much in about Annie's hubby except that he is in the Army and that he and Josh have some real conflicts. But I'm rethinking that position. Thanks for the kind words.
Bree: LOL, thanks for the review, and I think I'll keep's the identity of Harm's wife a mystery for awhile, but if you look at my other JAG stories, I am a HM fan. But I might just do something different with this one, you never know, maybe not. You'll just have to keep reading and see. ;)
Rabb.09: Josh's step-father's name is George, as I mention in the last chapter, we know that he is in the Army and he and Josh have a lot of problems. For the mother of Harm's children and child to be, well you'll just have to wait and see, but I'll take any and all suggestions.
Syrae: Well since I have a history for writing H/M, I might just stick with that, or I might just go with someone different. Why don't you think Mac would make him happy, knowing what happened on the last epp of JAG where she was willing to give up her carrier for him?
Lynn: Oh, yeah Josh does have a lot of issues but I know Harm is hoping to break through all of that and get the Josh back that he once knew and adored. Meg or Jen, huh? Hmm…well you'll just have to wait awhile longer and see. LOL, I'll update as soon as I can.
Thanks for all of your reviews and please keep them coming.
Amy