A/N: A great big thank you to a new reader who made my day filling my inbox with reviews! And thank you to all of the rest of my readers and reviewers as well, I'm glad that you are still enjoying this tale of my little Rabb family!
Harm found out he was going to be stuck at the Pentagon for many more hours than he intended, leaving Mac to have to pick up the kids. He was thankful that she was in court when he called, he had already dealt with enough of her wrath today. It wasn't his fault that the folks the General and him were supposed to meet with were still in a meeting at the White House. No one asked their Commander in Chief to postpone anything. This was the only chance Harm was going to have to advice Mac of the situation as he was going to be in a secure room which doesn't allow interruptions or cell phones. Hopefully by the time he gets home, she will be more like the loving woman he married instead of the alien that is currently occupying her body. However, knowing how her day started, he wasn't holding his breath. He knows her hormones go a little, strike that, a lot of out whack when she is pregnant, and with her carrying three children right now, he doesn't even want to venture how crazy she must be feeling. He still firmly believes that she was completely over-reacting to the gray hair, but he surely isn't going to bring it up again.
Jennifer happened to be right outside Mac's chambers when Harm had called and overheard the one-sided conversation, deduced the dilemma, and asked to briefly speak to the Captain. Petty Officer Mattingly hesitated for a moment before remembering how pleased the Colonel was to see the Lieutenant earlier so she handed her the phone.
Jen offered to pick up the kids, but Harm insisted that wasn't necessary. It would have taken him longer to call their daycare provider and explain who Jennifer was than to just allow Mac to get the kids. The only people other than Harm and Mac that were authorized to pick up Trisha and Matthew were Bud and Harriet and Harm's parents. Harm did, however, extend an invitation to Jennifer to her join them for dinner later that week. She laughed remarking that the Colonel had already done the same and congratulated him on the news of the triplets before handing the phone back to Mac's yeoman.
Mac is apologetic as she reaches their daycare provider rambling, "I'm so sorry I'm a little later than usual. The last witness for the day took longer than I expected, Harm got stuck at the Pentagon, and there was an accident on the way here that delayed me even further."
Mrs. Carson, the wife of a retired Marine, invites her in, leaving the kids with her husband for a moment. She brushes off Mac's apology, "Not a problem at all Mrs. Rabb. Your yeoman gave me a call to let me know that court was running late. After all the years I have been married to Jack, I know how it is when duty calls, and none of us have any control over Mother Nature. It's been storming to beat the band out there all day. Trisha and Matthew are just fine. Trisha has finished her homework, and Matthew made you a triceratops model from clay today. I didn't want to spoil their dinner, but they did have a snack of apple slices and peanut butter about an hour ago."
Mac smiles, "Thank you for being so understanding. I'm afraid I've just been a bit frazzled all day today, nothing has seemed to go right."
The woman explains, "You have your family and your health, and that is all you really need. Everything else is just an added bonus. Would you like a cup of tea to warm up a little before you guys head home?"
Mac replies, "A cup of tea actually sounds fantastic. A little relaxation before the chaos of dinner and bedtime routines might just be in order."
Mrs. Carson nods in understanding, "Go on into the living room, and I'll bring you a cup. Trisha and Matthew are in the living room being told one of Jack's old war stories. They seem to really enjoy them."
Mac agrees wholeheartedly, "Oh they love them! They always want to hear about Harm's and my adventures when we were partnered together and their Grandpa AJ offers them plenty of his own tales as well. Although I'm sure Jack has to edit out some parts, just as we do."
Mrs. Carson whispers conspiratorially, "I think Matthew's favorite part is when my husband imitates the sound of a tank."
Mac chuckles, "That sounds familiar, except in our house it's the sound of Air Rabb."
Their childcare provider merely shakes her head, "Boys will be boys and they never get too old for their toys."
Mac doesn't have a chance to answer as Trisha exclaims, "Mom!" Mrs. Carson just pats her hand, silently letting her know to go join her kids.
Mac sits down on the couch and hugs Trisha, "Hi sweetie, how was your day?" Matthew is still too enthralled with Jack's sounds to notice his mom's arrival.
Trisha replies, "It was good. Except we had to play inside for recess today so I didn't get to swing."
Mac tousles her hair, "Sorry honey, it's definitely way too damp out there today. If it lets up a little later, maybe you can sit out on the porch swing. I know its not quite the same, but it is relaxing."
Just as Mrs. Carson is walking back in with her tea, Matthew finally notices his mother's presence and hops down to go greet her. He asks, "Daddy?"
Mac lifts him up into her arms, "Daddy is still at work, so it will just be us for dinner tonight. So what do you say to Macaroni and Cheese and hot dogs?"
Trisha pumps her fist in the air as Matthew bobs his head up and down repeatedly. Mac knew they would jump at the chance to eat something that Harm rarely ever lets them have.
Mrs. Carson smiles, "Ah, the simplicity of being a child." Turning to the Rabb children she announces, "All right kids, give your mom a little space so she can enjoy her cup of tea before you leave. I'll bring you two a cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows so that you are warm for the drive home too." Her husband looks at her with a twinkle in his eyes. She winks, "Yes, honey. I will bring you a cup too."
The Rabb family sticks around for another fifteen minutes before Mac bundles up her kids and extends the umbrella so they won't get drenched on the way to the car. Unfortunately, the rain hasn't bothered to let up at all. With everyone buckled in, Mac sets for home.
She has been having a difficult time seeing even with the windshield wipers on the fastest they can go. Several streets also have very high water that she has to pass through very slowly. They are just about to turn into the neighborhood when Trisha yells, "Mom, Look out!"
Mac slams on the brakes just in time to see a brown and white dog running across the road with something in its mouth. She sighs deeply, the universe is definitely out to test every ounce of sanity she has today! When she looks to see where the dog went, she notices the dog placing the item into a cardboard box. Curiosity getting the best of her, she pulls the SUV off to the side of the road and says, "I'll be right back, kids. Stay put!"
