The drive to Atlantic City was long; it wasn't that bad considering that the hour wasn't known for creating traffic on the interstate. Bax slept through most of Maryland until Mac shook him awake as they neared the border with Pennsylvania. "What? I was having the most pleasant dream?"
"We know, you talk in your sleep, remember?" Harm commented looking in the rear-view mirror.
"Really? Kate's never said anything." Bax muttered as he shook his head.
"That's because the things you say in your sleep would be a great ego boost for her." Mac chuckled.
"Wait, I was supposed to call her. Guess I should do that." Bax pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Bax, it's 0200." Harm stated with surprise.
"Yeah, but Kate's funny that way. She tells me to call no matter what time it is, it's weird." Bax pressed the familiar numbers into the keypad.
"Yeah, women in love, go figure." Mac stated sarcastically.
(Hello…) The sleepy voice of Kate Pike came over the receiver.
(Morning, Sunshine) Bax stated with a smile.
(Ethan, it's 0200, you picked this time to check in? You guys must have had one wild night.)
"It's not over yet, I'm on the road with Harm right now. He's getting married, tonight." Bax pulled the cellphone away from his head as Kate screamed into it. "Women; why do they always scream?"
(Is Harm there? Put him on.)
"Honey, he's driving, we're on our way to Atlantic City."
(Really? I'm on assignment at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Sandy Hook Bay; I'll come join you guys)
"You may want to ask the bride if that's okay." Bax chortled at Kate's enthusiasm
(Alright, put Mac on)
"She wants to talk to you." Bax handed Mac the phone.
"Me? Why would she want to talk to me?" Mac was noticeably taken aback.
"How the fuck should I know?" Bax watched as Mac raised the phone to her ear.
"Kate?" Mac stated uncertainly.
(Hey Mac, so I remember this Marine once telling me that there was nothing going on between her and a certain Navy Commander)
"Up until a few hours ago, I still would have been right." Mac joked.
(Ethan says you all are headed for Atlantic City, is it okay if I join you? I haven't seen him, much less been in the same state for the last month)
"Sure, Bax will tell you what hotel we'll be at when we get there. Nice talking to you again, Kate." Mac handed the phone back to Bax.
"Hi, honey." Bax sounded cheerful as he spoke into the phone.
(Ethan, do you know what happened that caused all this?)
"True to form, I was asleep the whole damn time."
(So long as you're not asleep for the important parts of our stay in Atlantic City)
"You will be the death of me, Love you Kate." Bax replied drowsily.
(Love you too, Ethan)
"Kate's ministrations too much for a SEAL?" Harm inquired with a laugh.
"Not a SEAL anymore, if I want my Captain's Eagles, I have to change streams. I start Surface Warfare School in a few days." Bax informed Harm.
"You're leaving the brotherhood? I thought they would've had to drag you out." Harm was surprised to say the least.
"Opportunities for career advancement. They're going to give me a command and a carrier, last I checked, I'd be a fool to pass that up." Bax settled back down on the backseat.
35 MINUTES EARLIER
HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
"Sir, you might want to see this." Gunny nudged Sturgis to wake him up.
"What is it, Gunny, is the apartment on fire?" Sturgis muttered as he came back to consciousness.
"It might as well be, sir." Gunny handed Sturgis the note. Sturgis blinked a few times and proceeded to read what Gunny had handed to him.
Hey Guys,
Don't worry about us. Mac and I have run off to Atlantic City to get married! We took Bax with us because Mac figures we'll need a witness. See you all tomorrow when we get back.
Harm, Mac, Bax
"Keeter, wake up!" Sturgis growled and smacked Keeter who was on the couch.
"What, what is it Sturgis?" Keeter groaned as he woke up.
"Harm and Mac have eloped." Sturgis stated as he and Gunny scrambled around for their coats.
"Well that's certainly news, hardly important enough to interrupt me and Shania Twain in a hot tub but……wait what?" Keeter sat up on the couch.
"Harm and Mac are getting married in Atlantic City; they dragged Bax along because we were all passed out." Sturgis shook Keeter vigorously.
"Holy Hell!" Keeter bounded off the couch and across the room. "I have a friend who runs a helicopter flying school out of Dulles."
"He runs a helicopter flying school out of a major international airport?" Sturgis asked with evident disbelief.
"Don't ask." Keeter replied.
"Trust me, Jack, wasn't about to." Sturgis commented.
"Anyway, he owes me one, he'll ferry us to Atlantic City." Keeter pulled his jacket on. "You coming, Gunny?"
"Are you kidding? You think I'd miss this?" Gunny joked as the three men left the apartment and caught a taxi to Dulles.
0731 ZULU
HARM'S CAR
INTERSTATE 95
"Harm, what brought all this on?" Mac questioned lightly as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Harm wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Well, what made us go from years of pent up sexual tension to driving down I-95 on our way to get married?" It was evident for Mac that cold feet was starting to settle in.
"A bunch of things. I think when Bax and I were talking about that tontine from all those years ago and I thought that back then I knew exactly where I wanted to be at forty and I'm not there. I realized that one of the reasons I wasn't there was because I didn't have you. I always figured that by forty, I'd have a wife, kids and a family as well as my Navy career and I can't think of anyone I'd love to have as my wife more than you." Harm placed a kiss on top of her head. "It's always been you."
"Now Harm, don't go trying to be all romantic and sentimental. Especially since I know darn well that there were points in your life when it was Diane." Mac was still trying to deal with the idea of going from single to Mrs. Harmon Rabb Jr. in the course of a day.
"Maybe, but my mind has been playing around with this new theory. It is true that as long as I can remember it has been someone who looked just like you but if I recall any of my little daydreams from way back when, there were certain things that just weren't in line with Diane being the woman in question. Things I didn't make anything of, until I met you." Harm was lightly stroking her hair.
"What kind of things?" Mac turned and looked up at him.
"The woman in my daydreams, her smile was more subdued, more intriguing then Diane's and of course her voice was different. It wasn't until I met you that those two factors clued into place. Of course it wasn't until I made my peace with Diane's ghost that I was willing to accept it." Harm returned his hand to the wheel of the car.
"So was it me or her that night?" Mac's self-doubt and vulnerability were beginning to show through.
"If you wouldn't have said anything, it might have been Di but the second you opened your mouth, all the fog lifted from my mind, it was you plain and simple. And if I might add, it was heaven for a few seconds." The two of them shared a few laughs at that comment and they settled back.
"Why did we wait so long?" Mac asked as she rested her hand on his thigh.
"Let's not think about that. Let's just think about the time we've got ahead of us, not the time that's behind us. We can't change it anyway, right?" Harm asked lightly.
"Right. Harm, I know that it doesn't matter now but just for the record. If we'd been communicating better on the ferry. I would've waited." Mac kissed his shoulder lightly. "You're more than worth it."
"Mac, we don't have to dwell on those things, the point is that we're doing it right now." Harm reassured her.
"Wait, is this Harmon Rabb telling me not to get lost in past battles?" Mac sat up in surprise.
"Yeah, well earlier tonight I had some sense smacked into me by a rather ornery Navy SEAL who saw fit to remind me that I'm not the only person in the world who has had unpleasant things happen in their life." Harm pointed toward Bax who was once again sleeping in the backseat.
"Are you telling me that he can actually be a good influence?" Mac's evident shock was enough to make Harm laugh.
"Bax is like Rain Man, he has these moments of completely unpredictable intellectual clarity. The rest of the time it's women, cars and SEAL. It was weird, like in literature class, Professor Holmes would push Bax and push Bax but he couldn't break him. Hell, I thought Holmes was ready to hit Bax at some points because of some of his comments." Harm laughed heartily.
"I could see him frustrating someone to that point. Then again, earlier he worked that pretty impressive snow-job on the Admiral, so I don't really know what to think." Mac sat in her chair slightly dumbfounded.
"Holmes used to go through the same thing. Bax scored perfect on every essay, every test, every assignment that Holmes through at him and I know that Bax got tougher assignments than the rest of the class because of how he used to push back when Holmes leaned on him. If it hadn't been for Bax; Keeter, Sturgis and I never would have scored above and 80 in Lit." Harm was smiling animatedly at the story.
"Sort of the Beautiful Loser type?" Mac inquired playfully.
"We just called him a brother in arms." Harm returned his gaze to the road.
0857 ZULU
DULLES AIRPORT
WASHINGTON, DC
"Jack! What was so damn important you had to pull me out of bed at 0300 to come down here and fire up one of my birds?" The man in a flight jacket walked out from under the propeller blades.
"My buddy's getting married up in Atlantic City! He cut town before we could go with him and now we need a way to get there before they conduct the ceremony." Keeter stated as they all ducked under the blades of the chopper.
"I got a buddy who runs an airfield in Atlantic City, you land there and he'll gas her up and hold on to the bird for me until I can get up there to bring it home. Give your buddy my best and do something nice for him like pay for his honeymoon suite why dontcha?" The man opened the doors to the helicopter and the three men stepped in.
"Keeter, are you sure you know how to fly one of these?" Sturgis sounded more than a little worried as he strapped himself in.
"Yeah, I had to learn for one of Webb's little ops." Keeter pulled the headset on over his ears.
"Webb had to do with you learning how to pilot a helicopter, sir?" Gunny questioned.
"Yeah." Keeter furrowed his brow.
"That's not the most confidence inspiring news I've heard today, sir." Gunny cautioned as Keeter brought the bird up off the ground and headed north toward New Jersey. "Sir, perhaps we should call Lieutenant Roberts and have a little party planned for the Colonel and the Commander when they return, seeing as Monday is Veteran's Day and all."
"Gunny, we'll be lucky if Harm and Mac are out of their hotel room by Monday." Sturgis joked.
"Hey Sturgis, you remember that time Harm put the sock on the door handle at the Academy?" Keeter questioned as he gently guided the helicopter northward.
"Didn't matter, we didn't have to worry about walking in on anything, they were so loud that we could hear them through the damn door." Sturgis concluded the story much to everyone's amusement.
"Who would have thought that sweet little Diane turned into a dirty talker when she was in flagrante delicto." Keeter raised his eyebrows, disbelieving the memory of the event.
"I know, man, some of the things I heard her say curled the hair on the back of my neck. Can you imagine what Harm must have been thinking?" Sturgis was smiling widely.
"Somehow, sir, I doubt that the Commander was concentrating on hearing at that point, sir. Especially if this Diane was anything to look at." Gunny stated somewhat lightly.
"Gunny, you don't know the story about Harm and Diane, do you?" Sturgis turned to face the gunnery sergeant.
"No, sir." Gunny stated cautiously.
"Gunny, you've noticed how attractive Colonel MacKenzie is, correct?" Keeter questioned.
"I'm not dead, blind or gay, sir." Gunny responded and his comment earned laughs.
"Well, let's just say that Colonel MacKenzie and Diane bear something of a resemblance." Sturgis continued.
"What kind of resemblance are we talking about here, sir? Slight, mild, medium?" Gunny shook his head slightly, anticipating an answer.
"They could be identical twins, right down to their cuticles." Keeter supplied as he gave the helicopter some eastward bearing.
"How the hell did the Commander get lucky enough to have two women who…" Keeter cut Gunny off mid-sentence.
"Trust me, Gunny. I spent two days in the Iranian desert asking the same question and only two words kept springing to mind."
"What were they, sir?" Gunny leaned into the front seat.
"Shit happens." Keeter joked.
"You know what, Gunny? That party idea is starting to sound better and better, give me your cellphone, I'll call Lieutenant Roberts." Sturgis reached for the Gunny's phone.
"Now, sir? It's 0400." Gunny's eyes went wide with shock.
"I know, this should be good for a few laughs. I just wish I could be there when Bud's awake enough to realize what I'm telling him." Sturgis chuckled maniacally as he dialled the numbers.
(Lieutenant Roberts…) Bud's drowsy voice picked up after the fourth ring.
"Lieutenant, Commander Turner here." Sturgis was smiling as he spoke into the phone.
(Commander, sir. Is there something wrong, sir?)
"No, Bud, quite the opposite actually. Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie are on their way to Atlantic City to get married and we would like you and Lieutenant Sims to have a party ready for them when they return on Monday." Sturgis stated coolly.
(Did Commander Keeter put you up to this joke, sir? I must say, I'm not sure I get it)
Sturgis covered the mouthpiece to the phone. "He thinks this is some practical joke you put me up to, Keeter."
"The people at JAG must have a really low opinion of me." Keeter tried to sound hurt.
"We've all heard the stories of you guys at Canoe U, sir." Gunny supplied.
"Those are vicious rumours, Gunny, at least they would be if they weren't true." Keeter joked as he lowered the altitude of the helicopter over the approaching Maryland countryside.
"Bud, are you still there?" Sturgis asked.
(Yes, sir)
"Bud, this really isn't a joke. Can't you hear the helicopter blades in the background? The two of them eloped and we're chasing after them to witness the wedding. We would really like it if you and your wife could set up this party." Sturgis got emphatic with the last sentence.
(You're serious, aren't you, sir?)
"Does a bear shit in the woods?" Sturgis replied, giving into the short fuse created by the sound of the chopper blades against his hangover.
(Sir?)
"Yes, Bud I'm very, very serious. Can you do it, Lieutenant?"
(I suppose so, sir, I….)
(Honey, who is it?) Harriet's voice joined in the conversation.
(It's Commander Turner, he just asked me to get a reception ready because Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie have eloped in Atlantic City) The next sound that immediately followed Bud's explanation was Harriet's high-pitched squeal of delight which reeked havoc with Sturgis' hangover.
"Lieutenant, tell your wife that if she does that again, I'll have her court-martialled for assaulting the ears and hangover of a superior officer." Sturgis stated very authoritatively.
(Yes, sir) You could practically hear Bud's grin.
"That will be all, Lieutenant." Sturgis stated and clicked off the phone. "If everyone stationed at JAG HQ doesn't know inside the next half hour, I'll eat my hat."
"Is that a fact?" Keeter turned his gaze toward Sturgis.
1147 ZULU
HARM'S CAR
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
"Wake up, dipshit." Harm smacked Bax on the thigh.
"Hey, I came along to be a witness, not to be insulted." Bax stated as he shook his head violently.
"Fine; please wake up, dipshit." Harm rephrased.
"That's better, now, what can I do for you?" Bax smiled weakly as he leaned into the front seat.
"Call Kate, tell her we're going to be at the Trump Taj Mahal." Harm stated simply. Bax pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and pressed the familiar buttons.
(Ethan, my hunky SEAL, where are you guys going to be?)
Bax tried not to blush openly at the comment. "We're going to be at the Trump Taj Mahal."
(I figured that's where you guys would be, I'll be out front waiting for you)
"You're amazing." Bax stated impishly.
(So are you, love you)
"Love you too, baby." Bax closed his phone. "She'll be out front waiting for us."
"Good, we won't have to wait around." Harm stated bluntly.
"You're hell bent on being married by noon, aren't you?" Bax joked.
"Listen, I've run from my future for too long. I should've been embracing it, but I kept running. Now, I'm madly in love with the right woman and I don't want to wait another moment." Harm rambled but his spirit brought a great grin to Mac's face.
"Whatever you say, Chief. I think someone spiked your water at the club." Bax joked as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Harm pulled the Lexus us to the front of the hotel and tossed his keys to the valet. Bax seemed to spring to life the second Kate Pike came into view. The two lovers rushed toward one another and she leapt into his waiting arms for a passionate kiss.
"You could almost hear the fireworks." Mac commented in a whisper to Harm.
"You want fireworks, our room, any time after the ceremony this weekend." Harm returned with a wicked version of his flyboy grin.
"Harmon Rabb, you're naughty." Mac teased.
"Boy, I hope so." Harm remarked as they walked over to where Kate and Bax had finally come up for air.
"Hey guys, nice to see you again." Kate seemed really happy, almost perky.
"Nice to see you, too." Mac replied with a genuine smile.
"Hey, I saw that gunnery sergeant that works with you guys walking around somewhere. He recognized, me and I told him that I was waiting for you guys, I didn't say why. I hope that's okay." Kate was still locked in Bax's embrace.
"Gunny's here?" Mac raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"That's impossible. In order to beat us here, they would've had to fly…." Harm started when realization hit him, Mac and Bax at the same time.
"Keeter!"