A Lieutenant J.G. walks up to Petty Officer Mattingly, "I'd like to see Colonel MacKenzie if she is available."
The yeoman looks down at the Colonel's calendar, and replies, "She is currently in court, but she should be taking a recess soon if you would like to wait."
The Lieutenant replies, "That would be fine."
Mattingly asks, "May I have your name Ma'am?"
Jennifer replies, "Lt. JG Coates. I'm an old friend." Jen takes a seat across from the yeoman's desk.
Mac flies out of her chambers in a whirlwind with a grimace on her face. She doesn't even notice the woman sitting in a visitor's chair, calling to her yeoman as she goes, "I'll be back in just a second, Lisa. Please separate out any messages that need my immediate attention and I'll expect an explanation for the tape in my office when I get back!"
As Mac turns the corner towards the hallway bathroom, Jennifer chuckles, "I'm not used to seeing the Colonel in such a rush."
Her yeoman laughs, "Well, she has been in court all morning and she probably wasn't too happy to find her personal bathroom closed off. Unfortunately, a pipe burst in the bathroom above hers and part of her ceiling is now laying on the floor!"
Jen gasps, "I can only image."
Mac gets the door latched and hikes up her robe and her skirt just in the nick of time. It's a damn good thing that she wears thigh high pantyhose or she would have embarrassed herself by leaving a puddle on the floor! As she is relieving herself, she has images of the Geico pig ziplining screaming "Weeeeee!" Wouldn't Harm gets a kick of that one? Pigs can fly after all!
She washes her hands, and makes herself look presentable to travel back towards her chambers. PO Mattingly hands Mac her messages while explaining, "I've already placed a service call to Commander Naval Installations Command (CNIC). They came out to take a cursory look, and blocked off the hazard, but they aren't sure how quickly they will be able to get it fixed."
Knowing that the last time CNIC was called for a building issue, it took them a week to even come out and survey it, Mac groans, at least the fact that they blocked it off was a step up. She tells her yeoman, "Can you leave a message for Harm? I know he had to run over to the Pentagon, but see if he has time to look at it this afternoon. It wouldn't be the first time he has dealt with a broken water pipe. And he probably knows plenty about the layout of the building from the time part of his pay had to fix some drywall."
Mattingly laughs, "Really, you'll have to tell me that story."
Lieutenant JG Coates makes her presence known at that point, "Tends to happen when you shoot off an automatic weapon in open court."
Mac's yeoman gasps, "I've heard that a lawyer did that, but had no idea that it was Captain Rabb."
Mac laughs, "Yeah he wasn't always a Boy Scout. He was quite 'trigger happy' before this Marine domesticated him some!"
Mac turns around to address her visitor smiling brightly as she recognizes the voice, "Jennifer! When did you get into town?" Mac would love to give one of her oldest friends a hug, but with both of them in uniform that will have to wait for later.
Coates returns the warm welcome, "This morning Ma'am. I finished up OCS and will be starting my law classes at Georgetown in a couple of weeks."
Mac, please at her progress, gushes, "That's fantastic! I'm glad that the General agreed with Admiral Chegwidden's recommendation. You will make a fine officer, Jen. Come on it and we can catch up."
As Mac shuts the door to her chambers, offering them some privacy, Jen shyly asks, "Even for someone with my past Ma'am?"
Mac gives her a warm hug, "Jen, as I told you years before, we all didn't grow up with the white picket fence and two loving parents. You've come a long way since those days. And no one will ever be able to thank you enough for saving Bud's life. Have a seat, get comfortable, and you can tell me all about OCS."
Jen sits down in the seat in front of Mac's desk that she gestures to. Jen blushes, "Well there was this cute guy there that I ran into at the Navy Exchange, but he was a full Lieutenant."
Mac chastises as she slumps back in her chair, "Don't start your career off on the wrong foot, Jen. Now is not the time for cute guys to be catching your eye. Get through law school and Naval Justice School, and then you can have all the dates you want."
Jen notices that Mac seems a little off, "If you don't mind my saying so, Colonel, you look exhausted.""
Mac chuckles dryly, "That I am. But it's been quite busy both here and at the house. With a full duty schedule and two kids, it doesn't leave much time to relax."
Taking her robe off, Jen notices her protruding belly, "Congratulations, Ma'am. How far along are you?"
Mac sits down and rubs her hands over her stomach, "Fifteen weeks."
Jen's eyes go wide, "My apologies, but you look a lot further along than that."
Mac comments, "I'm sure I do, but I'm carrying triplets this time."
Jen exclaims, "Triplets!"
Mac answers, "Yep. I'm surprised you didn't see the big shit eating grin that Harm can't seem to wipe off of his face since we found out."
Jen smiles, "I haven't seen the Captain yet."
Mac answers, "Ah. You can try stopping by a little later, I'm not sure when he is getting back from the Pentagon."
Jen nods, "I will. I'll also not so gently mention that it looks like you could use a night out with said Captain. Spelling things out usually works best for him from my past encounters with him."
Mac can't help but grin, Jennifer definitely has Harm's number. Come to think of it, she usually knew how to handle the Admiral as well. Mac sighs, "Gosh, it's been forever since we had a date night. We rarely leave the kids with anyone besides Bud and Harriet or Harm's parents. And since Harm has had Bud running crazy the last few weeks on a case that finally finished yesterday, I know that they could use a break as much as we could. I can't possibly ask them to watch two more children right now so that we could go out."
Jen offers, "I'll baby-sit if you don't mind leaving them with me. It's been so long since I saw them." Glancing over at a picture on Mac's desk she announces, "Miss Trisha is turning into a beautiful young lady. She's going to be a heart breaker when she gets older."
Mac laughs wholeheartedly, "Don't let Harm hear you say that or he will never let her out of the house!"
Jen chuckles with her, "True. He is a little over-protective of any female that he cares about. I know that from personal experience. He wanted to cross-examine any guy I went out with and I was only a surrogate daughter! I can't even imagine how he would be with his own flesh and blood."
Mac laughs, "It's going to be a very interesting experience indeed. I may have to hide all the guns before Trisha even mentions a date. Although the impression any said suitor makes on Harm is only half the problem. That have to get on my good side too and I'm tougher!"
Jen laughs, "Well, I'm sure if will all work out. You two can discuss what night you would like to go out, and just give me a call."
Mac scoffs, "On a day that he isn't irritating me!"
Jen stifles her laughter, "I thought that was everyday!"
Mac giggles, "It usually is when I'm pregnant, the slightest things set me off and he is the first visible target to take it out on. Even outside of that, that man has always known how to push my buttons which is both a blessing and a curse. But I'll mention you offer to him and see what he thinks. I'm almost over the gray hair issue, the dog issue is still totally open for discussion. Once we get those resolved we should be back to just the normal banter."
Jen grins, "This office wouldn't be the same without a daily dose of Harm/Mac bantering."
Mac coyly smiles, "That it wouldn't. It's too quiet when we aren't arguing with each other. Would you like to order some lunch before I have to get back in court?
Jen shrugs her shoulder, "Chinese would be good. "
Mac presses her intercom button, "Lisa, could you please order my usual from Ho's? Jen would like to add Kung Pao Chicken and two spring rolls, and you can order whatever you would like to. Thanks!"
