JAG Headquarters
Falls Church Va
Mac continued to read over the file, it was pretty clear that Lt Buxton had disobeyed direct orders in regards to the Rules of Engagement. She leaned back into her chair dreading the next few days, yet looking forward to them. At least she'd get to see her husband.
She stood up, gathered her files placing them in her case, she glanced up when she heard a knock on her door. She smiled and motioned Harriet to come in.
"I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am, I just wanted to send these with you, for Commander Rabb."
Mac took the photos from Harriet, she glanced at them. "He'll love them. Close the door."
"Okay." Harriet turned around and closed Mac's door.
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Harm wants us to start trying for a baby."
Harriet gasped, "Oh ma'am that's the best news ever. You both will make fantastic parents."
"I hope so, I want this."
Mac signed, looking down at her desk. "Ma'am is something wrong?"
"I don't know how I feel about having to go to The Patrick Henry, I knew one day I might have to. I just hate this. I hate having to investigate one of the men in Harm's airwing group he's part of."
"Ma'am I can't begin to understand what you must be feeling right now, I don't know how I would feel in your shoes right now."
Both ladies looked up when they heard knocking on the door. Mac grimaced when she saw Cmder Brumby standing there. Harriet picked up on Mac's sudden change in mood. "Ma'am I know it's not my place, but does the Cmder bother you?"
"He just doesn't take no for an answer, that's all."
"Maybe you should tell him in a not-so-subtle way, that you're off the market. Get my drift?"
"I highly doubt that will work; just don't go anywhere, "Mac motioned Brumby in.
"Oh, I'm sorry Col, didn't mean to bother ya."
"It's fine Cmder, I was giving these cases to Lt Sims to hand out to the attorneys I'm re-assigning them to. What might I do for you?"
"It's personal, Lt do ya mind?"
Harriett gave Mac a "are you sure look" Mac nodded her head, so she walked out, making sure to leave the door open. Mac went on packing up her case.
"Col, would ya allow me to buy ya dinner tonight?"
"Not tonight, I have to leave to leave this afternoon for The Patrick Henry on a JAGMan investigation."
"Oh, I hadn't heard about it? Isn't that the ship that Rabb is on?"
"Yes, that's Cmder Rabb's ship."
Brumby chuckled, "Did he crash another F14?"
"Cmder how dare you imply that, especially given that you know nothing but scuttlebutt about his ramp strike."
"Sorry Col didn't mean imply"
"This investigation is classified for right now, and has nothing to do with Cmder Rabb, so I make myself clear Cmder?"
"Perfectly Col."
"Please leave, I have a lot to do before I have to leave."Mic gave her one last look before leaving her office.
He walked into the bullpen and bumped into Lt Singer. "Pardon me asking Cmder, is everything okay with The Col?"
"Ya, Lt couldn't be better, she's just a little on edge about being sent to The Patrick Henry."
"Oh, I want aware that she's going anywhere."
"JAGMan investigation, don't know much about it."
As Mac closed and locked her office door, she caught sight of Mic and Lt Singer. She motioned Harriet over, "I know you're not here, every day, but when you are keep an eye on those two."
"Yes ma'am." With that Mac headed out and home to pack so she could make it to Andrews in time to catch her COD.
24 Hours Later
Flight Deck
USS Patrick Henry
Harm walked through the hatch onto the flight deck, he smiled as he watched the COD coming in for a landing, knowing who was about to step off. Part of him wanted to take her into his arms and ravish her right there on the deck, protocol be damned.
Instead, he just stood there and waited, until he saw her disembark, that's when he went to her, taking her into his full embrace, he just didn't care who saw him. She just briefly pulled back looking deep into his soulful eyes.
"Hey, stranger. It's good to see ya."
"How was the flight over?"
"Bumpy."
He was trying to resist the urge to take his wife by the hand. Upon reaching the hatch, He opened it allowing Mac to enter ahead of him. Not thinking Mac unfastened her flight vest, exposing the silver oak leaves on her lapels. When Harm turned back around he quickly snapped to attention ( just in case anyone was watching them )
"Lieutenant Colonel, Ma'am"
"Well, you know this jus happened."
"My heartiest, congratulations, ma'am."
"Thank you, Commander, At ease. Can we get to work now? I could really use your help on this investigation. You know, the Russians are screaming bloody murder, the Pentagon doesn't know whether to go to war or dig a hole in the sand."
"Well, I'm no longer with, the JAG Corps, ma'am. I'm an aviator."
"Oh! So you're not one of us? You're one of them"
Harm gave his wife a smirk; "I will, of course, obey any lawful orders that you give me, ma'am."
Playing along with him, "Well then, I will try and make all of them lawful Commander."
"Aye; Aye; Ma'am."
Mac rolled her eyes as she made her way up to the bridge. Harm watched her walk away, trying not to give in to the growing hardness in his pants.
In the meantime he made his way to the pilots' ready room, hoping to escape the wondering eyes that had seen him and Mac before. Luck just wasn't on his side today, when he heard Lt Buxton.
"Sir I need to speak with you."
"Now Lt?
"Yes Sir, it's about Colonel MacKenzie Sir, she spoke with my RIO."
"She's only doing her job Lt."
"She talked to my plane crew, she talked to the damn Russian admiral...I can get to some people before she does. Right Sir?"
"Don't do it, Buxton, They could pile on obstructing justice, too."
"Those Washington Junkies aren't going to be happy until The X-Man's six is polishing a bunk in Leavenworth."
"Look, I know the Colonel. I guarantee you, she's fair."
"But does she understand? You're up there with me. You know what it's like. Come on, sir. You would've taken the shot, wouldn't you?"
"I don't know that?"
"But you know how it felt, Pappy? Like a tool in a groove. Like... like a hand in a glove. I mean, how many times have we practiced strafing? I could train for 20 years...My entire life...To fight in an aircraft and then retire without ever doing it. And what would that make me?"
"Lucky"
"Oh, come on. You just want to bore holes in the sky your whole time in the Navy, or do you want to do what you were built to do?"
"Look, if I saw those trucks doing whatever it is you thought they were doing..."
"Driving."
"Driving; They were Yugoslavian and they were just... driving."
"They were in the wrong place when I was in the right place. That's what I thought."
"You shouldn't be telling me this." Harm turned around and walked out of the ready room, and headed to the mess hall. He needed to clear his head.
After having spoken with Admiral Chegwidden, and the SecNav, Mac knew she was now about to become the most hated person on this boat, from the scuttlebutt she'd heard, Lt Buxton was the Tom Cruise of this bunch of aviators, this made her feel horrible for her husband, Harm's lifelong dream had been to be just like his father. Not be second to a hot head like Buxton. Deciding she was in need of food, she left and headed to the mess hall.
After walking in she picked up a tray and casually made her way through the line. Taking some meatloaf and mashed potatoes. As she turned around she faced the mess hall full of other sailors, they all just stared at her, never before had she felt so out of place. Finally, her eyes found Harm. She'd seek refuge with him. She started towards him, only stopping when she heard the voice of the Russian admiral.
"Bravo! Bravo! Colonel, I thank you...for seeking justice for our murdered colleagues. You like to sit with me?"
"No, I'm sorry. I promised to sit with Commander Rabb." She continued to make her way over to Harm's table. Sitting down across from him.
"Uh, why don't you give me the bubonic plague, too, while you're at it?"
"You want me to eat in my stateroom so the other boys don't get mad at you?"
"No of course not, I want you to stay. You know that. I miss you I honestly do. It's just you being here is hard on me, I can't hold you like I want to, can't talk to you like I want to. I feel like everyone is watching us."
Mac tilted her head, "I know what you mean, it's hard on me as well, I know there are a few people on here that know about us, I just can't help but think they are waiting for me to slip up."
"Well, I think we should keep our conversations, more professional, at least in public. Oh and stay clear of that meatloaf."
"Really? Is it worse than Harm's meatless meatloaf.?"
Before Harm could respond, Lt Buxton walked up. "Colonel MacKenzie...may I have a word with you? Manslaughter, ma'am? It isn't right."
A court-martial will decide what's right, Lieutenant."
"I was doing what was supposed to do. What I was trained to do."
"This is not the time or the place. Ask the Commander. He'll tell you, ma'am."
Mac gave her husband a look; "Tell me what?"
"Why I did what I did. He understands. I told him what happened."
Still looking at Harm, who was now squirming in his seat; "You told him everything?"
"Yes, ma'am; I sure did."
"Well, then you just put him, on my witness list, Lieutenant."
Harm tried to intervene; "Wait a Minute here."
"Ma'am you can't do that."
"Actually I can."
"Yes she can Lt, but she really doesn't want to." Harm was trying to give her his best puppy dog look.
"No, you can't Ma'am cause Cmder Rabb is my lawyer."
Mac shot Harm a look. "I thought you quit JAG."
"I did quit JAG, look I can't be your lawyer."
"You already are Sir, I told ya things, and you gave me legal advice."
Mac shot Harm a look; "He did? You did?"
Now Harm was attempting to look innocent. "Well, maybe jus, a little."
Buxton was now smirking like an idiot, "You're my man Pappy."
Feeling mad, Frustrated, and just downright pissed off at her husband, Mac stood up at the table tossing her napkin onto her unfinished food. "Well, "Pappy," I'll be seeing you in court."
Harm jumped up running after his wife, he caught her just as she was about to climb the stairs. "Mac please hear me out."
"Give me one good reason."
"I thought I could get through to him. I see that was a waste of my time."
"Really what was your first clue? When he played you like a fiddle? Or after that?"
"Sarah, I don't want to fight with you?"
"Well Cmder, maybe you should just avoid me for the rest of my time on here." With that Mac turned away and continued walking to her stateroom.
Part 2 coming soon...
