ADMIRAL CHEGGWIDDEN'S OFFICE

15 MINUTES LATER

It was obvious that the Admiral was VERY angry. He had them standing at attention for the last 10 minutes while he was glowering at them, circling like an agitated tiger, ready to pounce on it's helpless prey.

This silent treatment, erm... torture, was designed to make them nervous and eventually crack under the pressure.

But, since neither was alone in this, they drew strength from each other, helping each other get through it. Harm's interrogation resistence training in flight school and later his torture and interrogation experience at the hand of the Chinese, and of other 'nice' people that held him in 'custody', helped him immensely.

With that background and Jen's comforting and supportive presence, Harm knew that he could outlast the Admiral at this game. And he would make absolutely sure that Jen would last just as long as he. He would not leave her behind.

Finally the Admiral stopped prowling his office and stood by his desk, off which he took a newspaper.

Shoving it in their direction, he demanded.

"Would you two like to explain to me why I've just read in a paper that you two got married while you were supposed to be on an assignment?" His tone was raising during his speech until he was yelling at the end.

Harm opened his mouth to explain the situation, but the agitated Admiral cut him off.

"And it has to be a damn good explanation to prevent me from sending you both to Leavenworth without a trial and then throw away the key."

'Oh, god. This is bad.' thought Harm and Jen.

Harm swallowed nervously and started to explain, but this time he was cut off by the phone.

The Admiral raised his hand, signaling that they were to be quiet, took a seat behind his desk and picked up the phone.

Harm and Jen glanced at each other, wondering who was calling the Admiral's direct line, having a good clue and also glad that they had a small reprieve from the onslaught.

Their suspicions were confirmed when Cheggwidden greeted the caller with "Good Morning, Mr. Secretary."

After a few seconds of silence he continued.

"Yes, I have just seen it in the papers, sir and am in the process of finding out what they were thinking. Formal charges will be placed immediately and the Article32 hearing will take place as soon as I can set it up." Harm and Jen exhanged very worried looks. They could just see their careers going down the drain and for something they didn't do intentionally. It's not like they intended to get married!

But the Admiral's next words drew their attention again.

"Excuse me, you want me to do what, sir?... They're what?... Uh-huh...Yes, sir... No, sir... Not a problem, sir... I will let them know, sir... Yes, sir, goodbye sir!"

This strange conversation gave Harm and Jen some hope that they weren't going to be hung on the nearest yardarm just yet. But you never know with the Navy...

The Admiral hung up the phone, took off his glasses and put his face in his hands. Sighing deeply, he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to avert the emerging headache. He just knew that partnering Rabb and Coates together would prove to be a bad thing. But when did he last listen to his inner voice?

The two unwilling trouble-makers in question were strung tighter than a drum from what they've just heard of the conversation and the Admiral not alleviating their concerns didn't help one bit.

Finally Cheggwidden looked up at them, made a decision and ordered.

"At ease and take a seat."

Hearing the much calmer tone of their CO's voice Harm and Jen were somewhat comforted by the fact that he didn't look like he was about to rip them another one.

Cheggwidden sighed again and commanded.

"Tell me what happened."

Since Harm was the superior officer he told about them walking into the wrong room, what happened there and what they saw, with Jen occasionally adding her comments and views.

By the end of the report Cheggwidden was feeling a little more sympathetic towards his two wayward subordinates. It was obvious to him that they didn't do it on purpose, how much it was affecting them and that they were concerned what this might mean for their careers, or even their freedom. Unlike other branches of the US military, like the Air Force, the Navy is very strict and without mercy when it comes to fraternization. This was one time in his life that Harm regretted not becoming a Zoomie instead of a Squid.

------------------

When they finished with their report Cheggwidden asked them to show him what they received in the mail.

After inspecting everything he finally spoke.

"It seems that everything really is official and legal, with all the necessary stamps. According to these documents you two are now married. You just need your signature and that of 2 witnesses on your marriage license. There is already one witness signature there and from what you've told me, it's probably from that guy who asked to see your IDs while you were in the room. That leaves only one witness left."

With that he signed his name as the other witness and passed the license to his dumbfounded subordinates, ordering them to sign it.

'What the hell is going on here?' were Jen and Harm asking themselves as they put their signatures on the paper and thus sealing their fate.

When the license was completely filled out he took up the thread again.

"From the fact that I've just signed as your witness you can safely assume that you won't be prosecuted for fraternization. As you've probably heard, that was the SecNav on the horn. He had also read the paper and saw you two in the picture. Not only that, but his phone had been ringing off the hook for the last couple of days by reporters wanting to know what will happen to you two. It seems that your old friend Mr. Rabb, one Chuck De Palma, somehow found out about your marriage and took it upon himself to garner support for you two. As we have all been out of town for the past few days we have not known about it, but it seems the public loves you two and there is a big pressure from it not to punish you for 'giving in to your love' as it was put."

Jen and Harm's eyes kept getting wider as the Admiral explained to them what's been happening and how much support their 'love' had garnered them in the last few days amongst the public.

Something that's been a puzzle to him, explained itself to Harm.

"Well, that explains the phone call, then." he mumbled quietly to himself. But not quiet enough for Cheggwidden and Jen not to hear.

"What was that, Commander?" asked Cheggwidden while Jen just sent him a curious glance.

Harm cleared his throat and explained.

"Well, sir, when I came home from Vegas, I've found a VERY weird message on my answering machine. But I was too tired to care and decided to just deal with it today. But what we learned today explains that phone call."

"Well?" demanded the Admiral with an impatient growl. Jen's deep brown eyes just probed his, encouraging him to get to the point.

"It was from my mother, sir. It was completely confusing. I just remember that she was very angry at me for not telling her about 'it' and for not having introduced 'her' to her and Frank. Until now I didn't know what she was talking about. I guess it's all clear now." he concluded.

The Admiral considered this tid-bit of information for a while and then decreed.

"After we're finished here, you two will take the day off and you will call your mother, Commander, and explain to her everything that's happened."

Harm responded with a quiet, resigned "I know, sir."

The Admiral then turned to Jen "And you, Petty Officer, as the Commander's wife and the new Mrs. Rabb, will go and make that call with him, providing moral support and strength to your husband."

'Wow' thought Harm 'Mrs. Rabb. That is really weird to hear. I never would've thought we would get to this point.'

Jen sneaked a quick look towards Harm, remembering all that she knew about him and with a smile decided that she would definitely enjoy being Mrs. Rabb. But something occured to her.

"Sir, I assume that something else must have influenced the decision of not prosecuting us for fraternization, right?" spoke Jen.

The Admiral looked proudly at his yeoman, once again confirming how intelligent she really was.

"Quite right, Petty Officer. Somehow Mr. De Palma had managed to dig out the Johnson case."

-------------------