A/N: Sorry for the stalling updates. Won't happen again. Or well, it probably will, but I'll try my best not to let it happen. Four more chapters to go . . .
Sexy as Sin
To: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Daniel Wallace (daniel(dot)wallace(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Mel Gibson (mel(dot)gibson(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Linda straugh (linda(dot)straugh(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Kyle Millek (kyle(dot)millek(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Your Systems Administrator (your(dot)systems(dot)administrator(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Subject: The JAG Partnership Building Program
Please note that the following is an automated message:
Dear Leaders of the annual JAG Partnership Building Program,
We at the System's Administration are pleased to inform you that the first round of Partnership Building Competitions will begin on Saturday at exactly 1400. Teams are expected to have even amounts of students for two person pairings, and also being able to retain personal knowledge about each other.
Note: if you feel that this message was mistakenly sent to your address, please e-mail us at (your(dot)systems(dot)administrative(dot)error(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
If for some reason your team will be unable to attend please contact us at (your(dot)systems(dot)administrative(dot)scheduling(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
If you have any questions concerning the tournament please contact us at (your(dot)systems(dot)administrative(dot)questions(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Your Systems Administrator,
Patricia Hennerly
To: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com),
From: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Subject: Tonight
Hey,
Okay, first round starts on Saturday so I think we should really start shaping up our team. What do you say . . . this afternoon? My place? We can work out our activities . . .
Harm
To: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Tonight
Sure, I've just got to have dinner with Harriet and then I'll come over to your place, okay? She said something this morning about asking me for a favor or something like that . . . I don't know.
Oh, okay, the Admiral's staring at us . . . gonna stop typing now . . .
Mac
P.S: that Patricia Hennerly sounds like a wart.
To: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com),
From: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Tonight
Yeah, Bud needs to speak to me too . . . you think we're having dinner together? Like, the four of us?
Harm
P.S: You've never even met Patricia Hennerly.
To: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Tonight
I've heard about her. She's JAG's version of Satan.
Mac
P.S: I swear the Admiral's looking this way. We're supposed to be LISTENING to this seminar. Quit typing!
To: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: AJ Chegwidden (aj(dot)chegwidden(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Subject: Harm and Mac
Do you want to chew them out or should I?
AJ
To: AJ Chegwidden (aj(dot)chegwidden(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Harm and Mac
I don't know . . . who did it last time?
Gordon
To: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com),
From: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Tonight
How very hypocritical of you. You tell me to quit typing and yet you type this! And I'm sure Patricia Hennerly's a very nice woman. I mean, she's a JAG.
Harm
To: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Tonight
That theory means squat. Singer was a JAG.
Mac
To: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Subject: Filing
Well, seeing as you two fine officers' knowledge seem to go above and beyond that which is being expressed in this seminar, care to tell me the solution to mixed mass file managing?
General Cresswell
To: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Filing
Harriet?
To: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Filing
Harriet?
To: Harmon Rabb (harmon(dot)rabb(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com), Sarah Mackenzie (sarah(dot)mackenzie(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Filing
Pay attention! Honestly, two-year olds probably have a wider attention-span than the two of you! And I look forward to seeing the team you two have put together on Saturday.
Gordon Cresswell
To: Bud Roberts (bud(dot)roberts(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Harriet Sims (ih8barney(at)hotmail(dot)com)
Subject: chewed out
Awwwww, Harm and Mac just got chewed out by the General! THAT'S SO CUTE.
Harriet
To: Harriet Sims (ih8barney(at)hotmail(dot)com)
From: Bud Roberts (bud(dot)roberts(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: chewed out
And we'll be chewed out too if you don't stop typ –
To: Bud Roberts (bud(dot)roberts(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Gordon Cresswell (gordon(dot)cresswell(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Subject: ATTENTION
What do I have to do to get RESPECT around here? We've got an informal seminar on mixed file managing going on here and the only one that seems to be paying attention around here is your wife, and she's not even A SENIOR OFFICER!
General Cresswell
To: Harriet Sims (ih8barney(at)hotmail(dot)com)
From: Bud Roberts (bud(dot)roberts(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Subject: Quit it
Quit smiling . . . and stop reading my email over my shoulder!
Later that night
Courtroom 4
Harm's POV
"Forward, forward, just forward a little more . . . no Zach stop! Stop mov– !"
CRASH!
Zach ripped the blindfold off of his eyes. "What the hell, Connors?"
"Keep your voice down, Taron," Mac admonished as one by one the other students began to pull off their blindfolds to see what Zach and Terry were doing now. I contained a grin. In a matter of two classes, the team of Taron and Connors were already the stars, and not in a good way.
"Hey, here's a novel idea, Zach!" Terry crows. "When I say stop, you ACTUALLY STOP."
This is the third activity of the night was one which consisted of scattering random objects across the floor, and then blindfolding one partner while the other lead the blindfolded across the room with their voice. If the blindfolded partner touched one of the objects, it was the equivalent of touching a landmine and exploding.
"Alright, you two, there will be other exercises," I said, smirking at Mac who rolled her eyes exhaustedly. I bet she's wishing she never took on Zach and Terry.
"But not tonight," Mac finished. Her eyes meet mine and she mouths 'dinner', and I nod. "Navy wins again. Now, you guys can gather up your things and class is again, tomorrow."
"Don't forget, Saturday's our first competitive round!" I called as everyone began to pick up their book bags. "Zach, Terry, can you stay behind for a few minutes?" I asked.
Obligingly they hung back. I stared at them, a smile tugging at my lips. Terry looked surprisingly apprehensive, and even Zach's calm exterior was wearing down. I bit back a smile, "We want you to do the course again."
Terry sighed exasperatedly. "But, Captain, we never get it RIGHT!"
"Gee, I wonder why?" Zach snarled sarcastically.
"Okay, okay, you've proved your profound hatred for each other," Mac said, rolling her eyes. "But that doesn't stop you from trusting one another. Look at H – the Captain and I. Partnership exercises like these have saved our lives many times."
Terry looked up at Mac, her bright blue eyes shining quizzically. "You have to do these in JAG?"
Mac falters slightly. "Well . . . I mean, no, but if we hadn't learned to trust each other, we might not even be here today. Exercises like these are meant to challenge you to be able to form a trustable bond, a bond you can depend on."
"I don't want any kind of bond with HER," Zach sneered.
"Shut up, Taron," I said, saving Mac and Terry the trouble. Zach glared at me, but said nothing.
"How many times do we have to do this?" Terry asked.
My eyes connected with Mac's as a wicked smile appears on her lips. "However many times it takes you to beat us," Mac grinned.
To say I'm windblown is an understatement.
"What?" Zach voices my thoughts.
"YOU," Mac narrated, gesturing at him and Terry, "have to beat US." She pointed at me and her. "Okay?"
Zach grins. "Piece of cake."
"Shut up, Taron," Terry muttered, passing him the blindfold.
"We'll pound you to the ground, Zach," I smirked at the boy.
"Shut up, Harm," Mac rolled her eyes, throwing me the blindfold. "You can go first."
"Why?" I find myself whining as Zach asks the exact same thing. We're both rewarded with a punch to our shoulders. God, Mac and Terry are so much alike . . .
Same Time
Same Place
Mac's POV
God, Harm and Zach are so much alike . . . I find myself grinning as Harm slips the blindfold over his eyes. I can tell Terry's thinking the same time because this very wild smile has come over her as she watches Zach do the same thing, and I wonder what she REALLY thought of Zach. Because I knew that as many times as I pretended to hate Harm, I didn't really, but then again Terry gave a VERY realistic impression of anger, so maybe she really did hate Zach. Or maybe she'll come around.
"Okay, you ready, Harm?" I asked, turning Harm around to face "the minefield".
"Ready as ever," Harm said with what I can imagine was a grin. He rolls his shoulders as Zach swings his arms back and forth as he "loosens his joints". Terry rolls her eyes.
"Alright . . ." I trailed, staring at my watch, "Go!"
Harm immediately begins to move forward as does Zach. "Uh . . . stop, Harm, stop!" Harm pauses in mid-step. "Okay, um, turn to your left . . . yeah, that's it . . . keep walking . . ." I trailed, standing behind Harm as I maneuvered myself over the objects, my eyes never leaving Harm's path. "Stop! Stop! Stop! Okay, yeah, uh . . . good, just, turn to your right . . . that's it . . ."
Meanwhile Terry's issuing similar instructions to Zach. And it's kind of funny. In front of the class, Zach and Terry looked like disasters but Zach's actually AHEAD of Harm in the minefield so that could only really mean two things . . . either they work together better after class, or Harm and I just plain stink.
"That's right, Harm, just keep going . . . yeah, no – turn to the right . . . keep going . . ." I trail and then –
"Uh, ma'am?"
I whirl around. "Vukovic?"
"What?" Harm cries from behind me, spinning around, the blindfold still secure over his eyes. "Vuko –"
From beside me I hear a sharp intake of breath as Terry sets her eyes on Vukovic, Zach momentarily forgotten. "Damn, he's sexy as sin . . ."
"What?" comes a startled comment from Zach, turning around so fast he and Harm collided.
CRASH!
Vukovic, Terry, and I all simultaneously whirl around to see Harm and Zach on the floor, struggling to get up but slipping on the objects strewn on the floor.
"Sir . . .?" Vukovic trails, walking forward with his arm out to pull Harm up.
"Wait, watch ou – !" I begin but –
Vukovic's foot hits the book that Harm had put in the center of the room and trips over it. His arm lunges out to grab anything or anyone to hold onto. That anyone or anything is me. He pulls me crashing down on top of him, who's on top of Zach, who ultimately is on top of Harm.
"What the hell?" Harm calls pitifully from the bottom of the pile. I keep forgetting he's blindfolded.
"Excuse me?"
My eyes leap up to see the General and the Admiral standing in the doorway, their arms crossed over each other, traces of amusement burying themselves in their cross frowns. "What's going on here?"
Vukovic and I leap off of Harm and Zach as though electrocute. "Sir?" I began but the General crosses me.
"Captain, get off the floor!"
"Yes, sir!" Harm barks, scrambling up but only tripping on a rubber ducky we'd borrowed from Jimmy and falling back down to the floor again and landing on Zach once more. Terry's covering her mouth with her hand in attempts to stifle her giggling. It's not working for her.
Rolling his eyes, the Admiral pulls both Zach and Harm up by the ties. "Of for God's sake, take off the damned blindfolds!"
"Yes, sir!" Harm and Zach both chorus, pulling them off at the same time, their hair ruffled beyond any form of combing recognition.
The Admiral stares amusedly at the two of them. He points at Zach, "I take it you're a student?" Zach nods and the Admiral smiles even more wickedly. "Where are the rest of them?"
"They were already dismissed," I said quickly, hoping to end this awkward moment as swiftly as possible.
"Yet these to remain . . .?" the General quizzed and then suddenly smirked. "Your star team, huh? In for a little extra training? Well then," he said, "I'll enjoy seeing you two in the Champions round on Saturday."
"Oh no," Harm begins but the Admiral cuts him off.
"Oh yes, you two look like the makings of a winning team," the Admiral beams. "First place, I can imagine."
"You don't understand, sir," I try and explain but the General just simply grins.
"Yes, well, we just wanted to check in with you," the General said. "I'll see you two tomorrow," he said to Harm and I, "and I'll be seeing you two in the winner's circle," he grinned at Terry and Zach. "Have a good night."
Same Time
Same Place
No POV
Admiral AJ Chegwidden chortled goodnaturedly. "They must be goddamn terrible if Harm and Mac are making them stay after class."
General Gordon Cresswell grinned from beside him, "Undoubtedly the worst."
AJ sighed, "And considering it's Harm and Mac that feel that way, it's definitely something."
Cresswell paused in mid-step. "Did you notice how much alike those two were to the Captain and the Colonel?"
AJ smiled wickedly. "I've been waiting for the day when Harm and Mac would come up against what I had to deal with."
"And what I deal with now," the General finished, as evil laughter resounded through the JAG Courthouse halls.
20 Minutes Later
China Garden Restaurant
Harm's POV
"So what's this about, Harriet?" I asked good-naturedly from across the table as we put down our menus, having already decided on what to order. "What's with all the secrecy?"
Harriet shifted in her seat. "Well, Harm, we were sort of wondering . . . um, considering the fact that we're pregnant," she turned swiftly to look at Bud, "again, we thought we might need a little time . . . um, just to ourselves, and we can't really have that with the kids so . . . uh . . ."
"We were sort of wondering if you and the Colonel could tag team and baby sit the kids for the weekend," Bud finished. "I mean, it's only two days . . ."
A/N: Seriously, guys. 3 more chapters to post and i get to start writing again. yeyah.