Getting back from the Sandra Gilbert court martial, Harmon Rabb Jr. walked into JAG headquarters for the first time in a couple of days. JAG was the same place it had largely been when he left, as he stood in the elevator his eye was caught by a pretty young Hispanic Midshipman running toward the elevator. As the doors closed, Harm reached out and held them open so that she wouldn't miss the elevator.
"Thanks." The young woman tried to catch her breath and than she looked up at him. "Do you tall, dark and handsome sailor types always try and help Midshipmen in distress?" She looked up at him with a smile on her face.
"Only the pretty ones." Harm responded.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or worried Commander." She tossed a playful wink at him.
"It's Harm, why would you be worried….?" Harm was fishing around for her name.
"Gabriella, I'm worried because I'm not sure a Midshipman should be hitting on a Lieutenant Commander, even if he is sexy." She nudged him in the arm with her elbow.
"You have no need to be worried Midshipman, I'm certainly not going to toss a 'red-light' comment your way." He gave her a trademark smile.
"Good, so you won't mind if I do this." She leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek than slipped a business card into his hand. "Call me." The elevator doors opened as they reached the JAG ops floor and the two of them stepped out.
"I'll do that." He laughed as she walked ahead of him toward the bullpen.
"Gabbs!" Mac shouted as she rushed toward Gabriella.
"Mac!" The two of them met in the middle of the bullpen in a hug. Harm's face was noticeably confused, the hamster on the wheel in his head had grinded to a halt.
"My daughter's here?" Jim's head popped out of his office to see two women hugging and one very confused Navy Lieutenant Commander with a look of fresh terror on his face. "Gabriella Maria Grant, come over here and give your old man a hug." The Marine Colonel opened the door to his office and his daughter ran over, pausing only momentarily to toss him a salute and a 'yes sir' before she threw herself into her father's arms.
"How have you been doing Daddy?" She stepped back from him and looked concerned at her father.
"Better and better everyday. Mac's been a real help with David since I got here. My CO's a damn nice guy, war-horse just like your old man. This place is also a pretty supporting atmosphere, damn easy to make friends here if you just let people in." Jim's wise grin came through as he talked to his daughter.
"Yeah well, it's nice to know that my big sister here can take care of you, old man." Gabriella laughed as she put her arm around Mac who had walked over to them.
"Oh Harm, come over here and meet my daughter Gabriella." Jim motioned for Harm to join the conversation. Harm walked over to them and a completely oblivious Jim made the unnecessary introduction. "Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb meet my daughter Midshipman Gabriella Grant." The two people extended their hands and shook trying to contain the laughter that just wanted to burst from them.
"Daddy, why don't Harm and Mac join us for that lunch I came here to take you to?" Gabriella traded a knowing smile with Harm.
"Excellent idea, what do the two of you think?" Jim looked first toward Mac and than over at Harm. The two officers nodded and than carried on a little bit of the conversation before going back to work. Mac, Harm and Jim had been called into the Admiral's office for a briefing on a successful Recon Marine extraction in Haiti. The Admiral brought them up to speed on what was going on and told Mac and Harm that they would be on their way to investigate the incident.
"I guess you're wondering why you're here Colonel?" The Admiral said as if he were finally acknowledging Jim's presence.
"To be honest sir, the thought had crossed my mind." Jim had a sarcastic smirk on his face.
"You're here because your orders to London have been rescinded in light of this event. The SECNAV thinks that having a Marine Force Judge Advocate would only cause problems in light of this action so for the time being you will be stationed here at JAG HQ, I guess this means you should be seeking more permanent accommodations." The Admiral hadn't wanted to deliver this news but it was part of the job description. "However, your promotion has come through as planned being as the O-6 board reported out late last night, the SECNAV called me personally with the news."
"Thank you sir." Jim came to attention in front of the Admiral's desk. The Admiral got up from behind his desk and replaced the leaves that were decorating Jim's shoulders with a new set of eagles.
"Congratulations Colonel." The Admiral said as the Marine fixed a salute to his superior officer. The Admiral returned the salute and shook the man's hand. "Don't let it go to your head Marine. There will be a wetting down for Colonel Grant once you two return from your investigation. Dismissed." With that the three officers came to attention in front of the Admiral's desk before leaving the office.
"The Eagles suit you better than the oak leaves did, Jim." Harm said as he gave his friend a pat on the back.
"Thanks, at least now that I know I'm going to have a permanent office here, I can order the right sign for over my door." Jim laughed as he broke ranks with Harm and Mac and headed toward his office. When Harm and Mac got to Mac's office they found Gabriella waiting for Mac.
"Mac who exactly is this Colonel Farrow and why did both you and Jim act like you were dumbstruck when you heard the name." Harm was completely oblivious to the fact that Gabbs was in the office and just proceeded with his questions.
"Harm I was his Admin Assistant in Okinawa." Mac protested but if Harm had looked at Gabbs' contained laughter he would have known that there was more to the situation than what Mac was divulging but as it was he just let the issue drop. "Gabriella I was meaning to ask you're dad is whiter than a ghost but you're Hispanic, was your mother Hispanic, I don't want to pry it was just curious." Harm was rambling by the end.
"Nikki was short for Nicoletta, my mother was Puerto Rican." Gabriella was trying to put the confused look on Harm's face to rest but she could see more questions were waiting to be asked. "My little brother takes after my father with his looks and I take after my mom, Commander."
"Oh." Harm left the office causing a round of chuckles to be shared between the two women. Not wanting to interrupt girl-talk, Harm left the office.
"So Mac, John's in trouble and you have to go find out exactly what he's done to earn it this time." Gabbs seemed to think that being an adult now gave her the right to be blunt.
"This time? Gabbs, he didn't really earn it the last time." Mac shot back.
"He had an affair with someone under his command, Mac. Being involved, I didn't think you'd forget so quickly." Gabriella wanted to remind Mac that it was Mac's influence that had brought out her own Marine toughness.
"You're almost as bad as your father, you know that." Mac chuckled sarcastically a little; the younger woman continued her inquisition.
"Yeah well if Colonel Farrow ends up on trial here at JAG I don't think he's going to enjoy my dad tearing a strip off of him, he only missed out last time because my dad was a Major." Gabriella got up from the chair.
"Yeah, now that your dad's a superior officer I imagine John's going to get an ear-full." Mac leaned back in her chair.
"Dad's only a Lieutenant Colonel, Mac, they're the same rank." Mac had forgotten that Gabriella hadn't heard the news.
"Gabbs, the O-6 board got out last night, your dad is now a full bird." Mac informed the woman she had always referred to as her 'little sister'.
"Oh, well in that case you're right. I'd be surprised if there was anything left of John when my dad got through with him. So Mac, anything going on between you and Commander Cover Model?" Gabriella sat back down in her chair.
"Who, Harm? No, we're just friends." Mac's enthusiasm seemed drained.
"Mac, I know that look, you've got a thing for Harm!" Gabriella's voice had reached a small screech by the end of that sentence. "I may just have to turn him down now if he calls me."
"You made a pass at him?" Mac's eyebrows perked in a playful way.
"I hit on him, kissed him on the cheek and gave him my number." Gabriella responded with a smile on her face.
"The ever popular direct approach." Mac responded.
"It's effective, you should try it Mac, it might just get you what you want." Gabriella tossed her friend a knowing look.
"I do not want Harm!" Mac protested.
"You're a bad liar, MacKenzie." Gabriella chuckled.
"I'm not the one who hit on him Gabbs." Mac leaned over the table.
"No, you're the one who gives him goo-goo eyes and refuses to just do what every instinct in her body has to be telling her to do." Gabbs wasn't going to be a JAG but just like her dad, it would be a hell of a fallback option.
"Oh and what would that be?" Mac was being very serious, or at least attempting to be.
"Walk into his office and plant one on him." Gabriella had a huge comical smile on her face as she reached across the desk and nudged Mac in the arm.
"You know that would be completely inappropriate in the office. Besides, I'm not sure he even thinks of me like that. All I know from talking to him is that he doesn't look at me like a sister." Mac fired back; her arguments were starting to make less and less sense to herself as she said them aloud.
"Yeah and sitting behind a desk in a stuffy little Virginia office is really going to help you find out. At least my solution would resolve something."
"In a completely inappropriate manner. You're actually more his speed, Miss Future Marine Aviator." Mac was holding back some laughter. Gabbs was more likely than any other woman on the planet to drive Harm insane. "Gabbs, I'd love to keep talking but Harm and I have to leave for this investigation so, if you don't mind." Mac subtly motioned toward the door and Gabbs took the hint.
"Alright, I'll go, but you know you want to." Gabbs left the office just as Harm was entering. The two slid passed one another in the doorway of Mac's office, exchanging a coy smile before they went their separate ways.
"What does she think you want to do Mac?" Harm had a look of inquisitive ignorance on his face as he leaned against the door in her office.
"Nothing, it was just a little girl talk. You know?" Mac was stumbling over her words but the sentence at least appeared coherent.
"Actually I don't know, why don't you fill me in?" Harm took a seat in front of Mac's desk. Mac looked like she was scrambling for something to say that would allow her to control the conversation.
"We were just talking about your encounter with her this morning. How you hit on her and she kissed you." Mac's face carried a look of mock inquisitiveness as Harm turned bright pink with a nervous smile.
"Yeah well, I mean it all kind of happened really fast. Scared the crap out of me when I found out she was Jim's daughter, I don't want to have my six in the cross-hairs of a superior officer, especially a Marine." Harm let out a nervous laugh.
"Yeah well I'd say Gabbs is more of a threat to you than Jim is. But hey you two do share one thing in common." Mac tried to look as uninterested as possible.
"What's that?" Harm looked curious, his right eyebrow peaked.
"You're both going to be aviators in a matter of years." Mac stated as though the situation was having no emotional effect on her.
"Navy?" Harm tried to show a mock hopefulness.
"Marines." Mac shot back with a smile.
"Can't win them all. Well I'm sure I could teach her a thing or two." Harm tossed Mac that smile that made her want to do exactly what Gabbs had suggested.
"I'm sure that Jim will be thrilled that you're teaching his twenty-year old daughter how to use the stick in the cockpit." Mac had crafted the sentence just so she could use that innuendo.
"Well I don't think I'd put it quite like that." Harm suddenly went back from relaxed to nervous when the thought came back that dating that certain Midshipman would mean having to put up with a Recon Marine Colonel.
"Of course you wouldn't. Okay Harm, enough of the office gossip, we have an investigation to conduct remember?" Mac got up from behind her desk.
"Right." With that the two of them left to conduct their investigation on the extraction of the Marines from Haiti days earlier.
When Harm and Mac had returned from their investigation days later they found the office much the same as it had been when they left it. With Colonel Grant operating as the Admiral's Chief of Staff the bullpen operated with efficiency only a Marine was capable of; though even Colonel Grant would admit that none of this would have been possible without Ensign Sims.
"Ensign Sims, I must really commend you on your initiative and hard work in the last few days that the office has been without the Major and the Commander, you've helped the Admiral and myself keep this place running smoothly." Jim said as he read the affidavit in front of him.
"Thank you sir." Harriet replied as the Colonel walked passed her. Mac and Harm entered the office a few moments later while Jim was at Bud's desk helping him with an argument regarding a legal precedent.
"Morning Major, Commander, I trust the investigation went well." Jim got up from the desk and walked over toward his two colleagues.
"Colonel Farrow is being brought before a court-martial sir." Harm seemed relaxed but Mac was noticeably tense about the news. Just as Jim was about add some sentiment to the news, Petty Officer Tiner appeared.
"Sirs, Ma'am, the Admiral would like to see you in his office." Tiner said and came to attention before being dismissed and returning to his desk. The three officers made their way toward the Admiral's office. Harm knocked and a gruff 'Enter!' was heard through the door. The three officers snapped to attention before their CO's desk.
"Colonel Farrow is about to go before a court-martial and the SECNAV has a bug in his craw about this case. He says we can't have officers disobeying orders from COMCARIB just because they have loyalties to their branch of the service. The SECNAV wants this trial so air-tight of mistakes that no matter the outcome it cannot be questioned. As such, Rabb and MacKenzie you'll be working the prosecution, I trust this is not a problem?"
"No sir!" The two of them were rather emphatic with their reply.
"Good because you two had better be on the top of your game, the defence council is a rather formidable opponent." The Admiral looked self-satisfied, Jim looked annoyed he felt he was getting stuck with the defence and Harm and Mac looked confused. "I will be defending Colonel Farrow. Now Colonel Grant, I realize that this probably has you wondering why you're here."
"The thought had crossed my mind, sir." Jim seemed relieved that he would not have to be defending John.
"Colonel, you've been working largely administratively since you've arrived and that's great because it's kept the office in working order. I also realize that you have something of a personal history with Colonel Farrow, a quick cross-reference of your personnel files will show that you two shared a duty station in Okinawa for some time. However, I can't keep an experienced trial lawyer and Recon Marine in the bullpen for this one, I want you to second chair."
"I'd be glad to work with you sir." Jim's tone was telling.
"I have a feeling there's a 'however' coming." The Admiral's tone was not forgiving.
"Permission to speak freely sir?" Jim inquired.
"Granted."
"Colonel Farrow and I have been at odds before over certain behaviour of his which was unbecoming of one in a position of command. I was rather vocal with my opposition to his behaviour and it nearly brought the two of us to blows on several occasions." The anger was in Jim's voice just from remembering the incidents.
"I see, do you think that this feud will prevent you from assisting me in defending the Colonel to the greatest of your abilities?" The Admiral was trying to contain the fact that he expected better from his Chief of Staff.
"No sir, I have full confidence that I will be able to assistance in his defence to the best of my abilities. My concern comes with whether or not the Colonel and I will brawl over past transgressions." Jim said with a half-sarcastic smile.
"Lock it up Marine! I couldn't honestly care less about your personal history with Colonel Farrow, I care only about whether the senior officer under my command, not to mention my Chief of Staff will be able to stop acting like a child long enough to do his job, understood?" The Admiral was annoyed so much that he had managed to get in Jim's face. The Marine Colonel merely nodded toward his Commanding Officer to show that he understood. "Good, now that we have that settled. I also understand that it's foolish for anyone, even a SEAL to get in between two Marines bent on a bar fight, so I will give you half an hour with Colonel Farrow when he gets here tomorrow, in which the two of you can work out whatever personal conflict may arise."
"Thank you sir." Jim returned to a classic stoic Marine expression.
"And Colonel, I realize those new Eagles on your shoulders are going to do a lot of screaming tomorrow but keep their talons in place would you." The Admiral's analogy was delivered with a lessening anger. "Dismissed people." After snapping to attention they all filed out of the Admiral's office. Harm, Mac and Jim walked through the bullpen toward Bud's desk when the silence between the three of them was broken.
"So Commander, my daughter informs me that you asked her out on a date when you got in last night." Jim seemed nonchalant about the fact he had just stated. Harm looked like a deer in headlights and Mac looked more than amused by the whole situation. "It's fine Commander, unlike a lot of men she could have picked you at least have a job and a sense of honour, loyalty and duty. But if what we discussed while we were working on the Hillier case, should become apparent I trust that you will handle the situation in a mature way."
"Yes sir." Harm seemed to have arrived at the same unspoken understanding that the Colonel had. "I think we may have to clarify one thing though, your daughter didn't exactly say yes, she said she'd get back to me." Harm's confused look upon saying the last sentence caused Mac and Jim to laugh.
"That sounds like Gabbs, hold tight Commander." Jim laughed as he patted the younger man on the shoulder and walked toward his office.
"What just happened here?" Harm looked at Mac like a dog at a high pitched sound.
"Either you were given the brush off by the daughter or welcomed to the family by the father. I never really could tell what Jim was thinking." Mac laughed.
"So what happened between Jim and Colonel Farrow that's going to cause some ringing ears tomorrow?" Harm changed the conversation.
"That's classified information, sailor." Mac said with a small nervous laugh.
"CIA related?" Harm looked inquisitive. He leaned over her slightly, it was then that Mac noticed exactly how easy it would be for her to do exactly what Gabbs had suggested and just 'plant one on him'.
"No, just 'need to know' Commander." Mac said coyly and tossed Harm a weak smile.
"Mac, we're prosecuting one of the people involved and the other person is his defence council, I think I need to know." There were mere inches separating them now, she could feel the heat of his breath. She was fighting what was barely a winning war for her composure.
"It's unrelated Commander, now if you'll excuse me." Mac walked back toward her office and threw herself down behind her desk. He knees had almost given in during that last exchange. Had Harm felt the electricity that had run in both directions on her spine while he was leaning over her? He had to, no one could have missed it. Harm had followed her into her office, this time to try and get a track on the prosecution that they were going to have to present.
"Mac, we're going to have to talk about how we're going to prosecute Colonel Farrow." Harm sat across from her.
"You're right." Mac seemed distanced from the conversation.
"What's up Mac, you okay?" Harm's concern was evident.
"Yeah, it's nothing really." She was covering, but she was good enough at it that he really didn't catch it. "I guess it just seems like the past keeps coming back on me lately." She sighed as she leaned back in her chair.
"Mac, we've been over this, you can't save a man who doesn't want saving." His concern rising, she seemed to be conflicted.
"Were you talking about Colonel Farrow or Grant?"
"Both I guess, it's amazing how alike the two men are. Mac, neither man is exactly clamouring for help yet you keep trying to lend it to them." Harm was trying to help.
"You two have become friends since he has been stationed here. You're trying to tell me that you wouldn't help him if you thought he needed it?" Mac was getting frustrated.
"If I thought he needed help, yes. But from his action's I can tell he's capable of handling the situation. You on the other hand seem to have taken it upon yourself to try and become everything he's missing in his life." Harm fired back, regretting the words the second he said them.
"What's that supposed to mean?" If there was a more offended look in the world than the one on Mac's face, Harm had never seen it.
"Mac you act like your David's mother and I see the way you look at Jim. You look at him like…like." His voice cut off but his inner monologue added the rest' 'Like you look at me sometimes'.
"Like what Harm?" Her eyes were a cross of inquisition and accusation. "For your information, it takes a lot of effort to raise a child, so yeah I help Jim out with it and I'm sorry if you don't like that it makes me maternal. As for how I look at him, I really don't see why that would be any of your business unless…" She looked at him and saw the look of a deer in headlights. She didn't particularly want to get into a fight with Harm so she decided to lighten the mood. "Harm, you're not jealous?"
"Me? No. I just don't want to see you get hurt." Her slight pause in the conversation had allowed him time to anticipate the question and come up with a response.
"Don't worry about me Harm it's not like that. I guess when you help someone out with their child the way I've been helping Jim, those kind of thoughts are just by-products." She smiled. It was an interesting thought, last year wasn't a record-breaker sure, but this year wasn't shaping up too badly. The two of them worked the rest of the day in the office on their prosecution while the Admiral and Colonel Grant sat across the bullpen in the Admiral's office.
At around 1730 when everyone was securing for the day Harm decided to pay Jim a visit in his office only to find the Marine buried under a mound of paperwork. "Hey buddy, you got a second?"
"Sure, just signing a bunch of waivers to get most of my stuff shipped here out of a storage depot in San Diego. What's up?" Jim looked up from his paperwork to see his friend making himself at home in his office.
"The Admiral said you should look for more permanent accommodations, you found a place yet?" Harm's way of making small talk.
"Not yet, with this frickin' Farrow case my time's been pretty occupied." Jim ran one more signature across a white piece of paper and slid it into his Out-Box.
"There's an apartment in my building that's been vacant for some time, it's right below me. The neighbourhood's not great, but hey, how often do you get to pick your neighbours?" Harm laughed slightly.
"Sounds like a plan, thanks for the inside track on this one." The two men shook hands as Harm left the office for the day and Jim picked up the phone to place a call. Harm walked down the stairs and ran into Mac in the parking lot.
"I just found myself a new neighbour." Harm smiled as the two of them walked side by side through the parking lot. Mac looked up at him, curiosity played upon her face. "Our favourite Marine colonel is checking out the apartment below mine." She smiled and gave an exaggerated nod of understanding.
"I should be worried I think. Outside of me, the two of you really don't have much in common, what exactly is it that the two of you talk about?" Mac had failed to catch him in the office earlier, she was going to take another shot at it here.
"You, music, sports and work largely." Harm smiled. "But mostly you."
"Really, what do you guys say when you talk about me?" Mac nudged him in the shoulder.
"We basically talk about how we have to stop spoiling you. You've got it too easy with guys like us in your life Mac." Harm smiled as the two of them reached his car.
"Too easy? You two make my life anything but easy." Because I have to choose, she added under her breath. "If I'm not playing mommy at my apartment, I'm at work trying to clean up some mess you've made. Between the two of you I can't get away from additional duty." Mac smiled.
"Some mess I've made? We both tend to make our fair share of messes Major." Harm laughed as opened the door to his car. "And to think, with all the extra time I figured you'd be spending over at my building, I was considering buying an air mattress."
"You were? Flyboy are you trying to get me to move in with you?" She smiled coyly at him and perked an eyebrow.
"No I just figured on long nights it might not be a bad thing to have around. It might be easier than having you drive back across Washington at 2200 all the time." Now he was scrambling with his words.
"Is that what you thought, flyboy? Or were you just hoping for a few slumber parties with your favourite Marine?" She looked over her shoulder at Harm who was leaning on his car.
"Too late to plead the fifth, Major?" He tossed her a trademark smile and Mac walked back over toward him, she stopped before getting all the way over to his car.
"Harm, you remember what I told you in Columbia about Dress Whites?" She smiled a sort of teasing smile. He nodded to signify that he knew she was talking about. "I've had time to reconsider my position."
Harm's eyes lit up as he tried to move toward her. "And?" Mac started to back away toward her car.
"I'll tell you later." She called over her shoulder as she walked toward her car. Harm smiled as he got into his own car and drove off.
The next morning was easily the most entertaining that had yet been experienced at JAG headquarters, at least as far as AJ Chegwidden was concerned. For the last year he'd always been something of a removed observer, a wiseman, an Obi-Wan to the officers under his command. John Farrow was the first person in the office after him that morning; John was followed by Harm, than finally Mac and Jim came in around the same time as had been normally for the last few weeks.
Colonel Farrow was standing in the bullpen talking with the Admiral when the pair of them saw the very angry Marine get off the elevator and dump his briefcase in his office before walking over to where the Admiral was standing. "Admiral sir, with your permission, I'd like to conference with our client for a moment."
"Agreed." The Admiral motioned toward the Colonel's office. The two Marines turned on heel and went to Colonel Grant's office. The Admiral stood in the bullpen and a crowd seemed to gather in the bullpen, the machine that was JAG ops seemed to be grinding down in pace. Mac and Harm stood on either side of the Admiral as they watched the two Marine senior officers cloister themselves off in the office.
"Come to attention, Marine!" Those were the first words out of Jim's mouth as John Farrow stood in his office. "Now, I realize that you might think that I would detest being assigned to this case. You are wrong! In your situation I would have done the same thing. Marines need to know that their lives are more important than politics; that they can trust in their officers to protect them as much as we trust in them to protect the lives and freedoms of Americans."
A smile grew on John Farrow's face as he realized that maybe his former junior officer, now his senior officer, was not going to chew him out about an incident of many years earlier. "That having been said, I'm not sure I can trust your judgement John! Not after Okinawa. My God man, what were you thinking? Part of me is glad that Cresswell and I nailed your ass to the wall on that one. We're going to put that incident aside so that we can get on with what is currently important. So John, now that I've aired my grievances is there any thing that you would like to add?"
"Sir, I think that your feelings on that particular issue were biased by your relationship to the officer in question. However I, like you, am a big enough man to set aside our differences on that case. It is nice to know, that my council, a fellow Recon Marine officer, would have supported my decision." John was the same stoic Marine. Jim stood next to him, his arms crossed and his shoulders thrusting the Eagles on his shoulders higher into the air.
"I'm not going to lie to you John, it's an uphill fight." The two men seemed to see the warrior understanding on one another's face.
"Well Colonel, when you and I were stationed in Okinawa, I looked at your service record, you were never scared of an uphill fight." John laughed.
"You're lucky you got a Recon Marine and a Navy SEAL on your defence team. Between the three of us we might just be crazy enough to get you exonerated." The two men shared a laugh. "Alright, we good?" Jim asked as John came to attention next to him.
"Better than ever, sir." John spun on heel and turned toward the door of the office.
"Alright, now let's go into that bullpen and confer with senior council so that we can make sure that a damn fine Marine doesn't end up in the brig for doing what every Marine CO in his right mind would have done." Jim patted John on the back and the two of them walked out into the bullpen.
"What in the hell is going on? I could've sworn that I was going to see blood out of the two of them this morning." AJ Chegwidden looked a little surprised by the result that was the two Marines walking out of the office even laughing at a few combat jokes.
"Yeah, I've known the two of them longer than either of you and I was sure they were coming to blows today." Mac's mouth was wide open in shock. "In fact I was willing to go 2 to 1 that one of them was going to end up in the emergency room."
"This bodes well for your defence Admiral." Harm added.
"Sure does, unfortunately, it does not bode well for the prosecution Commander." The Admiral gave a small self assured smile before joining the two Marines on the war path to his office. Jim dropped back for a moment to talk with Harm.
"I found out about that apartment last night, buddy. When I told them I was a single father and a Marine they seemed pleased but there was one thing that clinched it." He smiled as the two men talked.
"What was that?" Harm's curiosity comes out in passing.
"I used you as a reference." Jim fired back with a small chuckle.
"What'd they say to that?" Harm's curiosity was no longer confined to passing sentiment.
"When can you move in?" Jim turned away from his friend and into the Admiral's office.
"Well I guess this means I'm going to be spending a lot more time at that building of yours, flyboy." Mac smiled as she poked Harm in the ribs.
"Should I re-think the air mattress?" Harm laughed as the two of them walked toward his office.
"Maybe."
"I'll do it on one condition."
"What's that?"
"You tell me exactly what you rethought about your position on dress whites and gold wings."
"I'll think about it." And with that the door slammed to Harm's office.