A/N: Okay, I know I promised you a chapter this weekend and as it's ... Sunday afternoon now, I figured I should update. If there are spelling/punctuation problems, don't crucify me. I was in such a rush to get this chapter out I didn't get it betad.
I also must apologize for any resemblance this chapter has to the end of the Sarah Jessica Parker movie 'Failure to Launch'. For those of you who read this the first time I posted it ... I've had this ending since when I started that story, which was before the movie came out. Though I must say, it was wicked cool to see one of my scenes across the big screen.
Too Bloody Long
To: Jason Tiner (jason(dot)tiner(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Harriet Sims (ih8barney(at)hotmail(dot)com)
Subject: Phase A
Alright, all's ready. Phase A is about to commence. I want you at your station, do you read? At your station. Is everyone at their posts? As soon as I give you the go-ahead, I want you to alert Bud as quickly as possible.
Do you read me?
Harriet
To: Harriet Sims (ih8barney(at)hotmail(dot)com)
From: Jason Tiner (jason(dot)tiner(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
Re: Phase A
I copy.
Jason
2213
Mac's Hotel Room
Mac's POV
Knock knock.
I looked over at the door, halfway through to taking my shirt off as I slipped on my pyjamas. I sighed, and pulled on my Bon Jovi sleeping shirt, and then moved for the door. It's Harm, I thought dully. It's Harm and he wants to talk. At ten thirteen the night before he has to give a huge seminar, he wants to talk.
Knock knock.
"I'm coming!" I called and pulled open the door. "Really Harm, I said I didn't want to - Oh, Harriet." I flushed pink. "I thought you were ... uh ..."
"Harm, I know," Harriet finished for me. She stepped quickly into my hotel. "Mac, I need your help."
I looked over at her, frowning in mild worry. "What's wrong? Are the kids okay?"
"Oh yeah, they're fine," Harriet said. I could hear the strain in her voice. There was something offhanded about the whole thing. She looked around the room, somewhat nervously. "Bud and I had a fight," she whispered.
I looked over at her. "Really?" I said. I mean, okay, Bud and Harriet fought. All married couples did. But they never really fought seriously. They fought over little stuff. Baby names, who's car to drive. Not anything that usually warranted my counseling. "What about?"
Harriet looked up at me. "He doesn't know if he wants another baby," she whispered.
I opened my mouth in shock. "What? But Bud was so excited about the baby!"
"I know," Harriet said depressingly. "But after tonight with Jimmy and everything ... he just really thinks four children is enough. And I know four kids are a lot to manage. I know, but ... but I'm pregnant already. I just. He wants me to get an abortion but I just ... I can't ..."
"Of course not, Harriet," I said, scandalized. I wrapped my arms around my friend. "I don't even know how Bud could consider asking you to have an abortion. I would have never expected that to come from Bud's mouth."
I felt white hot anger burn me. "You know what? I'm going to talk to him."
"Oh, Mac, you don't have to," Harriet said quickly. "I can do this myself. Just being the good friend you are is enough."
"No, it's not," I said forcefully. "Bud was really out of line with that. I'm coming down with you to help talk to him. I don't want you to have to face this alone."
I turned my back to Harriet, opening the door to the hotel. And a smirking Harriet followed.
To: Jason Tiner (jason(dot)tiner(at)theJAGoffice(dot)com)
From: Harriet Sims (ih8barney(at)hotmail(dot)com)
Subject: Go.
The hen has left the roost. I repeat.
The hen has left the roost.
Harriet
Same Time
Hotel Parking Lot
Harm's POV
"Sir!"
I turned around. "Bud," I grinned, standing in front of my car. I looked down at the man, carrying one of the twins in either arm with Bud and Jimmy at his side. "You definitely look like you have your hands full, Commander."
Bud nodded exhaustedly. "Harriet ran off with Mac to talk about something, leaving me with the kids." Bud looked up at me with pleading eyes. "Sir, if it wouldn't be too much trouble ... do you think you could help me take the kids back to the room? Jimmy's about ready to drop dead."
Just as Bud said that, Jimmy began to wobble a little, eyes drooping with fatigue. I smiled and nodded. "Sure, Bud," I said and I picked Jimmy up. "Let's go."
Same Time
Hotel Hallway
Mac's POV
"Harriet, where are we going?" I asked as Harriet plowed down the third floor hallway. "Your hotel's a floor up."
"I know, I know," Harriet said, "But Bud's waiting for me in the hotel conference room."
"Why would he be waiting for you there?"
"Because he was discussing something with the Admiral there and now he's just packing up his papers," Harriet said swiftly but she wouldn't meet my eye. I felt a prickle of suspicion rise deep within my stomach and course through my body.
"Harriet ..." I said slowly as we descended onto the main floor. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Harriet replied, voice uncharacteristically high. "Don't you trust me?"
I thought about it for a second. "Yes."
Harriet winked at me.
Pregnant women whose husbands just told them to get an abortion do not wink cheerfully. Sure, this was my first time dealing with one, but they don't. They just don't. Which could only mean one thing; there was something wrong with this situation.
Something really seriously wrong.
Same Time
Hotel Hallway
Harm's POV
"Bud ...?" I trailed questioningly. "Why are we going this way?"
Bud looked at me innocently. "Why shouldn't we go this way?"
"Because this isn't the way to your hotel room."
Bud released what I saw to be a nervous chuckle. "Oh, didn't I mention it? I have to stop by the hotel conference room and pick up some papers."
"Do you want me to just take the kids upstairs then?"
"No," Bud said quickly. "It's okay, I'll just be a second. Really."
"Are you sure, Bud? 'Cause they look pretty beat ..."
"They're fine," Bud said. His eyes refused to meet mine.
"Bud?" I said. Suspicion crept into my voice. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Really, sir." Bud's voice was almost staccato. "Why wouldn't I be? I'm fine. Really."
"Commander ..." I trailed warningly. We came to the entrance of the conference room. "What aren't you telling me?"
The calm facade that Bud had possessed up till now seemed to fade and crumble before me. He looked at me, white faced and wide eyed. "Sir, if this doesn't work out ... I want you to know, it wasn't my idea and I'm so sorry."
"Slow down, Bud. What are you talking about?"
"I just want what's best for you. We all just want what's best for you. The both of you, that is. You have to believe me. We wouldn't have done it otherwise. But you left us no other option, Sir." Bud's words were stumbling. "Don't hate us."
Same Time
Other Hotel Hallway
Mac's POV
Harriet looked at me, somewhat apprehensively. She sighed, "You just HAD to wear a baggy band t-shirt didn't you?"
I was somewhat affronted. "Well, I was getting ready for bed and ... hey, I like this shirt. Bon Jovi owns."
Harriet rolled her eyes.
"What does it matter anyway?" I said. "I'm just coming with you to talk to Bud."
I scrutinized her face as I said this. A flicker of an unnamed expression crossed her face, then just as quickly disappeared. I thought about Harriet, how awkwardly she'd acted at the hospital, and right now ... Oh god, was I caught up in another one of her plans? Again?
"Harriet," I said nervously. "What's going on? Just tell me. Please."
"Mac," Harriet whispered soothingly. "Everything's fine. Just relax, dear."
"No, where are you taking me?" I felt like hollering but couldn't muster the energy. How had this night become so crazy? "Harriet!" I repeated louder. "Where are we going?"
"Shh," Harriet hushed me. "You don't need to shout. We're going to the conference room, I told you."
"Why?"
"To meet Bud."
We approached the conference room door. "Harriet, I know there's something going on."
"Mac," Harriet said. She sighed. "Keep in mind, I'm your best friend. You're my best friend. And we'll be friends, I hope, for many years to come. So just remember that when you're in there? We love you, which is why we're doing this."
"What are you doing? Who are you talking about?" My voice is suddenly urgent. "Harriet, what is going on?"
"Promise me, you'll keep an open mind."
"What?"
"Just promise me, Mac!" Harriet exclaimed.
"Fine, okay, but –"
"We're all rooting for you."
Same Time
Hallway
Harm's POV
"Good luck, Sir," Bud said, taking Jimmy out of his hands.
"Bud ..."
"Wait," he said and thrusted a pack of Menthos in my hand. "Just ... for breath, you know."
And with that, he pushed me through the door.
Same Time
Hallway
Mac's POV
"Oh god, I'm so excited for you." Harriet's practically bursting. Her eyes shone. "This is it. The moment."
"Harriet!"
"Good luck."
And I was sent hurtling through the door.
Moment After
Hallway
No POV
On both entrances to the conference room, the doors were slammed shut, with the locks clicked in place. Almost instantly, the chorusing babble of six excited people erupted.
"They're in," Sturgis repeated, almost dumbfounded. "I can't believe they're in."
"Together," the Admiral added.
"They're in together," Bud whispered.
"I KNEW we could do it!" Harriet excitedly stressed.
"Hey guys!" Tiner called. They hastened over to where he sat in the lobby, fingers racing over the laptop. "I hacked into the hotel security," he explained in a whispered voice. "We've got them on camera."
He placed the laptop before them on the table and at once a dozen people gathered around.
"Come on, guys," The Admiral whispered. "We've waited too bloody long ..."
A/N: If you're good and review, i'll update next weekend :P