Chapter 2:
When Jack pulled up 45 minutes later he saw that his aide and best friend Gunnery Sergeant Victor Gallindez was waiting for him, as soon as he put Claudia down she took off running and jumped into Gunny's arms screaming, "Uncle Vic, Uncle Vic."
He held Claudia with one arm as he saluted Jack and said, "We're ready sir."
Jack returned the salute as he smiled thinly and said, "Saddle up you two."
And with that he hefted both their bags and followed as Gunny carried Claudia with one arm and his sea bag with the other into the Cesna Citation X. Once they were onboard a pretty female Air Force Staff Sergeant stowed their bags and made sure they were comfortable.
Once the plane was at it cruising altitude Claudia looked over at Jack and asked, "Daddy can I talk to Mommy?"
He grinned as he pulled out his phone and said as he made the call, "Sure darlin."
Once the other line was picked up he said, "COL I have someone here who really wants to talk to her mommy."
Mac said as her eyes got misty, "Thank you Jack."
He replied before he handed his daughter the phone, "Yer welcome Cher."
After he handed Claudia the phone he grabbed his briefcase and went over and sat by Gunny as he said, "I guess we need ta get some prep work done fore I testify."
Gunny replied as he pulled out a DELL Notebook, "I agree sir. I don't know what they're going to ask you but if I know Senator Reston; she'll want to hammer you on the failed raid to rescue the hostage in Yemen that AQAP was holding. Not too mention the hostages that ISIS has beheaded."
Jack nodded as he asked, "That's what I though too. Got any suggestions on how to head er off?"
Gunny replied as he powered up his laptop, "Yes sir I was thinking you could preempt her by telling the committee how you, CPT Rabb and his wife LTCMDR Rabb helped the COL me and Webb stop Sadik from exporting Stinger missiles into the US."
Jack grunted as his mind drifted back to that long and dangerous mission.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He had been sitting in his office in the pentagon when his wife walked in. He looked up from his computer. He looked up as she flopped down in the chair in front of his desk and asked, "What's wrong Cher?"
She told him that Webb had said she was going to be going on a mission with him. The first thing he felt was outrage; how could Webb ask her to be a part of a CIA Charlie Foxtort. He was about to voice that that very thought but one look into Mac's smoldering brown eyes and all he told her was to be careful. Then two weeks later he got a call to come to JAG. When he got there he met Harm and his wife LTCMDR Caitlin "Kate" Rabb. Harm had told him that Mac and Webb had been captured and that his old friend Victor Gallindez; who had been on loan to the CIA from his staff was on the run and nobody had heard from any of them. Jack wasted little time marching into Chegwidden's office and told him he was taking Harm and Kate to the Chaco Boreal. Chegwidden had just nodded and replied Yes sir. Then they had driven to Langley where he had ordered Deputy Director Kershaw to tell him what the mission was. Kershaw refused at first but Jack being the persuasive person he was "convinced" the DDCI to read them in on the mission. After that they went down to Paraguay and quickly freed Mac and a badly tortured Webb. Jack then ordered Harm and Kate to get Webb back to the States while he Gunny and Mac wiped out Sadik and his entire operation. After another week and countless number of dead bodies and very brutal interrogations they finally found Sadik. Jack beat him severely then kneecapped him and shot him in both elbows before slicing his throat. He was snapped out of his reverie as Gunny said, "I know I've said it before but thank you for coming after us sir?"
Jack replied, "Don mention it pard. We never leave a man behind ya know that."
Gunny nodded as he said, "I never knew LTCMDR Rabb could shoot like that. I mean when I knew her at JAG she was shark in the courtroom just like the CPT but she's a helluva shot."
Jack smirked as he said, "After her and Harm met Mac she asked me if I could teach her to shoot like I did. Well ya saw the end result."
Gunny nodded as he asked, "How long have her and the CPT been married?"
Jack fixed him with a steely eyed look as he growled, "Why?"
Gunny knew that look. He replied, "I was just curious. I've met their kids. Trey is a good kid. I hear he's going into the Academy in the fall; he wants to be an aviator just like the CPT And Meg is doing good in law school."
Jack replied, "They've been married 18 years. Now can we get back to the Senate hearing?"
Gunny replied, "Aye, aye sir. I think you talking about Paraguay would be a great opener. You should run it by the admiral and see what he thinks."
Jack replied as he he looked lovingly at his daughter curled on the seat talking to Mac, "I would but someone's using my phone."
Gunny smirked as he handed Jack his phone and said, "Here use mine sir."
Jack took the phone as he said, "Thanks Vic."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
RADM AJ Chegwidden was sitting in his office when his intercom buzzed and CPO Jennifer Coates said, "Admiral GEN Boudreaux is on line three."
AJ replied, "Thank you Coates."
Then he picked up the receiver and hit line three and said, "Jack how the hell are you? You prepped for this afternoon?"
Jack replied, "Me and Vic are prepping now. Hey I want to run a possible opening salvo by ya."
AJ said, "Alright go ahead."
He told him about wanting to preempt Senator Reston's verbal assault with the tale about Paraguay. AJ said when he was finished, "I like that. Show the committee that you are very dedicated to defending America at any cost. It could work."
They continued talking strategy for a few more minutes then Jack said, "I'm bringing a very special guest with me."
AJ instantly knew who he was talking about. He asked, "How is my goddaughter?"
Jack replied, "She misses her mommy so I thought I'd bring her her with me."
AJ gave a hearty laugh as he asked, Did Mac suggest it?"
Jack chuckled as he said, "Yep. Look AJ I gotta go. More prep ta do an a sleepin 4 year old who has my phone."
AJ said before terminated the connection, "I'll have a car waiting for you."
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
He gave Gunny back the phone and they went back to work. They worked for another 90 minutes then they decided to call it quits and rest. Jack dropped into a seat beside his sleeping 4 year old and pulled her into his arms. He gestured for the Staff Sergeant. When she came over he asked her for a blanket.
She whispered as she retrieved a thick woolen blanket, "Here you go GEN."
He thanked her as he covered Claudia then he reclined the seat and fell into a light sleep. He had been a SPEC-OPS warrior for his entire military career and lived by the old adage sleep when you can because you never know when you might get another chance.
Hope y'all like this chapter. I gave more background on what happen in the Chaco Boreal. I also told how long Harm and Kate had been married. Any suggestions on what the terror attack is or the terrorists nationalities