Second Wind Part V.a
Note to readers – we are having a great deal of difficulty posting this chapter on fanficfiction. net. We've gotten error messages indicating the file is "empty" though I know it's not – we've posted Chapter 5 successfully on the three voy boards! In case it exceeds the length limits, though we don't think it does, we have broken it into two sections.
Glossary of military and other acronyms used in Part V:
1. Short-tour. This refers to being transferred to a new duty station before your projected rotation date from your present duty station.
2. ASAP. "As soon as possible," however, it means "immediately" and is not generally considered a polite request!
3. Broken service. This refers to a service member having been released from active duty at the expiration of obligated service, resigning, retiring, etc, but later returning to active duty.
Other acronyms are defined in part III.
2100/9:00 p.m.
Rabb/MacKenzie Flat
London
13 October 2006
"I'll take her," Harm gestured to Mac to get the phone as he lifted the infant, smiling gently as her rosebud mouth pursed in the age-old way hungry babies have.
"Mmmmm…Harm's large hand gently supported the back of the little girl's head, covered with soft dark down. "Hungry, Mahara? Bottle first or a dry diaper first?"
He was so good with her. Mac's whole face smiled watching them as she absently answered the phone. "Hello?"
In Falls Church, Virginia, Major General Gordon Cresswell paused. He'd assumed Harm would answer the phone and had no idea what to call Mac. She wasn't a Colonel anymore, he had no idea if she went by "Mrs. Rabb" or "Ms. MacKenzie," both of which sounded too formal, and they'd never been on a first name basis.
"Hello?" Mac was beginning to get annoyed. If someone had hung up, the phone had woken Mahara needlessly before she and Harm were finished talking.
"This is Biff Cresswell."
"General, good evening." On active duty or not, 16 years' training in proper military decorum wasn't gone. Mac responded automatically with professional courtesy. "I'll get Harm for you."
"Thank you…uh…do you have a speaker phone? I'd like to talk to both of you." Cresswell had gathered his wits.
"Yes, but the phone woke the baby and Harm's with her. If you want to talk to me too, may we call you back in a few minutes?" Mac's tone was courteous, but as far as she was concerned, Cresswell was Harm's problem, not hers, except insofar as he upset Harm. This was her home and her family who had been disturbed on a Friday night.
"That's fine. I'm sorry to disturb you at home, but I really do need to talk with both of you." Cresswell had noted Mac's cool, albeit courteous, tone. After the initial "congratulations," his behavior at McMurphy's had verged on the unprofessional when he realized Mac really did mean to resign her commission. He'd refused to meet with her the next day and hadn't seen or spoken to her since. This would not be an easy call.
"We'll call back in about ten minutes, Sir."
Part 5B will follow immediately.