A little FYI, the memory that Mac shares with Harm below is actually one of MY earliest memories of living in Yuma when I was little. Except for the Marine Corp Hymn part.
Chapter 4
Same Night an Hour Later
Harm, Bud and the boys just beat the downpour as they piled in the back door to the kitchen. The thunderstorm was completely unexpected, but not unusual for springtime. Besides, rain suddenly appearing from nowhere was nothing new to Harm after over a year in London.
Help yourself to leftovers Harm," Bud spoke as he started taking off muddy shoes and damp jackets from the boys. "I'm going to get these two upstairs and help Harriet get them cleaned-up." Ignoring the moans and groans coming from his sons, he ushered them out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
Harm began wandering the house in search of Mac. Turning the corner into the living room, he found her standing in the dark at the window, looking out into the storm. Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Then, just because he wanted to hear her laugh, he blew a light raspberry where her shoulder and neck met. It immediately won him the response he was hoping for.
"Hey mister," she smacked one of the arms holding her tightly, "I think you've been spending too much time with AJ and Jimmy."
"Hmm, I think you're right," he nuzzled her hair with his nose, relishing the smell he'd been missing. "I'd much rather be spending some quality time with their godmother."
They stood together quietly, watching the rain and listening to the mundane family noises coming from the Roberts' bathroom upstairs. Harm began swaying back and forth to music only he could hear, holding Mac as close as possible.
"Have you ever seen a thunderstorm in the desert?" Mac asked in a hushed voice so as not the ruin the peaceful atmosphere.
"They have thunderstorms in the desert?" Harm chuckled, finding the idea comical.
"Yes Harm," Mac replied with exaggerated exasperation, "they have thunderstorms in the desert. Not many, but it does happen." She was silent for a moment before continuing.
"One of my earliest memories is of one like this. I was about four-years old I guess. I remember that I was scared to death when it started so suddenly. It was unnaturally loud to me; Yuma nights were normally so quiet. So I waited until it seemed to let up a little and the first chance I got, I jumped out of bed and ran as fast as I could on my slippered feet to my parents room." Harm had to chuckle at the picture of a tiny Sarah MacKenzie, clad in footie pajamas, hightailing it to mom and dad's room for protection from a little thunder. Knowing Mac's family history, though, he prepared himself for anything, hugging her a bit closer just in case. He felt her run her fingers tips along his knuckles as she continued.
"When I got to the door I peeked around the frame. My mom was dead to the world, but Dad was up watching out the window. When he saw me, he motioned me over to him and lifted me up. He walked me back to my room and sat down on my bed and asked if the storm had woken me. I nodded, fighting tears, so he held me close and leaned back against the wall, and opened the curtains next to my bed. Then he told me that God was putting on a magic show just for us and that I shouldn't be scared because it would make Him sad." She laughed before continuing, "Then he started humming the Marine Corp Hymn, which I'm pretty sure is the only song my dad knew that was appropriate for a four-year old.
"I remember sitting there in his lap, feeling his chest vibrate against my cheek, and I started to calm down and really watch the storm." Harm felt her sigh and he smiled against the top of her head, so grateful that this was a good memory for her. "It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. In the desert, there's nothing to obstruct your view of the lightning so it's more than just a flash of light; you actually see every bolt that rips across the sky. And it's not like the lightening here. It was like...dozens of rainbows flashing and dancing around in the dark. Sometimes they were purple, or blue, sometimes pink or orange or yellow. For a four year old, it was like something out of a fairytale. It was amazing. I found myself less and less scared of the thunder because it only meant that the show wasn't over yet. I really believed that night that God was making magic, just for me and my dad."
She finally turned to face Harm. He was half expecting tears in her eyes, but all he saw was nostalgia accompanied by a bittersweet smile. "That's my favorite memory of my father. Before the drinking and the fighting started. We were just a normal family." She sighed wistfully and Harm didn't bother resisting the urge to lean down and kiss her.
"It's a beautiful memory, Sarah," he said quietly when their lips parted. He hugged her close. "Thank you for sharing it with me."
"I should thank you," she replied pulling back to give him one more peck on the lips.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. I had totally forgotten about that night, about any good times with my father...until you made me go see him one last time. It was right after I came home from his memorial service that we had a bad storm in DC and that memory just kind of popped up out of my subconscious. Explained why I've always loved storms so much."
Smiling down at her, he held both her hands in his, "Well, technically I didn't make you do anything. I strongly suggested. You just happen to know smart advice when you hear it," grinning cheekily, he pulled her hands until her arms were wrapped around his waist, then he kissed her forehead.
The sudden thundering of little footsteps on stairs temporarily drowned out the real thing outside. Seconds later, "Eew! Mo-om, Uncle Harm and Aunt Mac are getting all kissy face in the living room!"
Laughing embarrassedly, Mac rushed to hide her face in Harm's broad shoulder. He could feel the heat of her blush through his shirt as he turned, taking her with him, to face AJ. He was standing at the foot of the stairs in his Spiderman pajamas with his arms crossed, looking a bit disappointed in his aunt and uncle. Apparently he was under the impression that godparents were above such public displays of affection. Harm chuckled at the thought. "Look here buddy," Harm started in a pseudo stern voice, shaking his finger at AJ, "…it's not nice to spy."
"It's not spying if you're in the middle of the living room," the boy replied in his best 'duh' voice.
"He's got a point, Sailor," Mac's muffled voice came from his shirtfront.
Harm was saved from having to defend his stance on eavesdropping further when the doorbell rang.
"I got it!" Mac literally leaped from Harm's embrace and sprinted out of the room to the front door.
Harm's eyes followed Mac out of sight before turning back to his godson. "You know," he began casually, "someday you're going to be the one sneaking kisses from a girl," he pointed his finger at AJ to head off the denial he knew was coming, "…and you better believe, buster, that I'm going to be there to embarrass the heck out of you."
With that, he lunged at the boy and swung AJ up over his shoulder, something that was getting more and more difficult to do; he really was growing up. Flipping on the light as he passed the far wall, he faux body slammed AJ onto the couch then followed the boy down, tickling him. AJ was laughing hysterically, managing to getting out, "Stop Uncle Harm, pleeaaassse," in between spurts of giggles.
Feeling secure that he had the upper hand, Harm moved to roll them onto the floor before Harriet caught them rough housing on her furniture. Unfortunately, that ended up being a tactical error on Harm's part. Suddenly he found himself on all fours with an extremely wiry seven-year old wrapped around his back.
Trying to figure the best way out of his current predicament without hurting himself or AJ, he wasn't prepared for the next instant when Jimmy came barreling down the stairs yelling, "I wanna hewp!!!" and jumped right across Harm's upper back.
With a loud 'umph' Harm was immediately pressed flat on his stomach with both kids flung on top of him. As luck…well, his luck at least…would have it, it was while in that very undignified position that he realized he and the boys were no longer alone in the room.
"Heh-em." Yup, that was definitely Mac. And those were her tennis-shoes he was looking at. The high heel clad feet next to hers were a mystery though. He couldn't lift his head high enough to see past ankle height with a three-year old lying across his shoulders. This was bad.
"Boys!"
Oh thank God for Harriet. AJ and Jimmy scrambled off of Harm, who rolled off his stomach and into a sitting position; still not the best position to be when being introduced to someone, but at least he could see faces now. Mac was standing a couple of feet in front of him with her arms crossed and an entirely too amused for his liking look on her face. Harriet was at the foot of the stairs trying really hard not to laugh at Harm while scolding her children about playing too rough. A tall blonde woman wearing an expensive looking black suit jacket paired with a short, just this side of appropriate, skirt had moved off to the side, undoubtedly waiting out of the way until good order and discipline had been restored.
Uncrossing her arms, Mac held out a hand to help Harm off the floor. Once on two feet again, she proceeded to make a show of dusting him off and smoothing out his cloths, smirking as she did so. "Harm, this is Marcia Crosby. Ms. Crosby, Captain Harmon Rabb."
"Marcia, please. Nice to meet you, Captain," she smiled, stepping just a hair too close in order to shake his hand and holding it just a little longer than necessary. "I'm sorry I interrupted your...wrestling match?" Harm knew flirting when he saw it. Better nip that in the bud if he wanted his first night with Mac, in over a month, to end with them in the same hotel room.
"We don't get to see our godsons too often anymore, so they get a little excitable sometimes." As he spoke, he pulled his hand away and moved next to Mac, placing it at the small of her back. There was no question as to whom the 'we' was that Harm was referring to.
Seeming to get the picture, Marcia backed up a step as well and smiled in understanding, although whether it was in response to his spoken or unspoken statement, Harm wasn't sure. Turning to Harriet, who had left it to Bud to settle the boys down with a movie in the rec room, Marcia introduced herself.
"Subtle, Flyboy," Mac leaned in to whisper in his ear.
Shrugging casually, Harm gave her a cocky grin. "Worked didn't it." He leaned down and kissed her quickly before following Marcia and Harriet into the study.
Bud joined them a few minutes later, and after the last of the introductions was made, Marcia pulled some papers out of her leather shoulder bag. Most of what she had to say was nothing they weren't expecting to hear. Being lawyers meant that little about the proceedings would surprise them. Almost everything would eventually be sold at an estate sale. Bud and Harriet were extremely humbled to learn that AJ had set up trust funds for all four of their children. His will stated that he wanted to makes sure that, "The sky's the limit, whether they choose to go to Annapolis, a university, or join the Peace Corp."
Marcia quickly explained that AJ had been living with his daughter in Italy. Since Francesca's lawyers were dealing with her affairs, and there was nothing of her father's there but some personal effects…clothes, books, etcetera…it wasn't really necessary for them to bother with anything overseas. "Now, as for the house in McLean," Marcia pulled another stack of papers up onto her lap. "It was stated in his will that Mr. Chegwidden had left instructions for his daughter to empty it out as she would know what he would want done with most of his things. However, there was a stipulation that if, for whatever reason, Ms. Peretti was unable to make the trip to the states to take care of this, he would like Mr. and Mrs. Roberts to do so."
Harm noticed Harriet dab at her eyes and nose with a tissue that looked like it had seen better days. "Mac and I can help with that." He knew that it was probably unspoken that they would be helping with everything from here on out, but he felt like he needed them to be sure. Mac nodded her agreement and dabbed her nose with her own abused tissue.
Marcia continued when she was sure no one else needed to add anything. "We'd like to put the house up for sale as soon as possible, but that probably won't be for at least a couple of weeks. Since its contents were left in your care, you are of course welcome to save anything that might be of personal importance. Anything else we can sell along with the house."
Shuffling some more paper around, she continued reading from the notes in her lap. "Mr. Chegwidden's dog is currently with the housekeeper at Ms. Peretti's; however, she has said that when she leaves, she will have to give her up."
"Oh, Damnit!" This time Harriet did let a few tears fall. Bud reached over to take her hand.
"Pardon?" Marcia raised her eyes up to Harriet, her head still bent down towards her notes.
"That, um, that's the dog's name. Damnit," Bud tried to explain, shrugging his shoulders in a silent apology for any offense taken.
"Charming," the lawyer replied dryly.
"Actually," Harm interrupted, "I might know someone who could take her. Can I get back with you tomorrow evening?"
"Yes, of course," Marcia replied, "but you understand that you will have to pay to have the dog shipped back over here…plus immunizations."
"She saved the admiral's life once," Harm stated. "The least we can do is find her a new home."
"Perfect. I'm sure that will be a weight off of Albina's mind. I know that between the baby and the dog, that poor woman is feeling a load of guilt. She's just not financially stable enough for either." Looking back up from making the note about the dog, she noticed four blank stares. Misunderstanding their confusion, she clarified, "Albina, the housekeeper. Apparently she was hired by Ms. Peretti to help out once the baby was born. She's been taking care of the dog and the little girl since the accident. However, the apartment is going up for sale at the end of next week and Albina is planning on moving out of the city and back with her family. The baby will be turned over to the proper authorities while the dog was probably going to be put down. She is quite old."
Nothing.
Just as the silence was starting to get uncomfortable, Harm found his voice enough to ask, "Baby? What baby?"
Raising her eyebrows, Marcia began shuffling papers around again, just to make sure she wasn't mixing up cases. "Right here…Sophia Rachele Peretti…born April 8, 2006 to Francesca Peretti. Here's a photo of the child with Mr. Chegwidden," she passed the picture to Harm. "I'm sorry, I just assumed you knew about her. Her father, Paul Jordan, an American reporter, was also killed in the explosion that night. In fact," more paper shuffling, "…yes, it was from his car that the blast originated."
So that was the mysterious third person. Wait a minute... "I was under the impression that the admiral was in no way connected with the bombing…that he and Francesca just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." Harm looked back down at the picture. It was taken in a hospital room. Admiral Chegwidden was wearing green scrubs and holding a tiny pink bundle of a baby girl, with just a tad more hair than her grandpa. She also seemed to be letting loose a scream that probably would have put the retired seal's 'dressing-down' voice to shame. The smile on AJ's face was priceless. Turning his attention back to Marcia, he passed the picture to Harriet as he waited for an answer.
Marcia gave him an apologetic look. "I really don't know much about the investigation."
"What's going to happen to her?" Harriet looked up from the picture in her hand, no longer trying to stop the tears. Seeing the admiral with his baby granddaughter just weeks ago was absolutely heartbreaking.
"As I understand it, there are no living relatives," Marcia smoothly shifted from one subject to another as only a lawyer could, "so she'll be transferred to a home, temporarily I'm sure. There shouldn't be a problem finding a place for her. She's very young, and in perfect health. She should be adopted out pretty quickly."
"She's a child, not a stray cat," snapped Mac, surprising Harm. She'd been so quiet that he had almost forgot she was there. She immediately looked contrite and apologized before looking down then away to hide the tears in her eyes. Harm didn't miss them though. He moved his hand to the back of her neck squeezing softly, then just resting it there, hoping she took some comfort in his touch. He just wanted to take her back to the hotel. They were both exhausted.
"I understand," Marcia accepted Mac's apology gracefully. "This has probably been a long day for all of you. And I am very sorry I didn't mention the little girl earlier. I thought you were aware of her situation." Reaching down into her bag, she retrieved an envelope. "There was one more thing, then I'll let you get back to your evening. Mr. Chegwidden left this with his personal papers. There was another addressed to his daughter, but obviously...well, this one's addressed to all four of you."
Harm swallowed and reached out for the letter. He held it up, silently asking if anyone else wanted to volunteer to read. Taking their silence as a go-ahead, he broke the seal and pulled out two pages of stationary paper. Clearing his throat, he began:
"To Harm, Mac, Bud and Harriet,
I'm addressing you by name and not rank because I want to make sure you understand that this is a letter to and from friends. Not CO to officers. I'm not going to drag this out. I wrote one letter to you all for a reason; I didn't feel like writing four letters saying the same thing. I'm not a pomp and circumstance sort of man. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. But if I'm gone, I just want you to know, for the record, that you've been a wonderful family to me. I want to thank you for that. The four of you gave me a second chance at something I thought I'd lost, and along the way, taught me to how to be a family for my daughter as well. You have gone above and beyond to earn my gratitude and respect, and I hope I earned yours as well. We were strange and often dysfunctional," Harm snorted a little at that and he could feel the teary smiles without looking up, "…but a family none the less. My ten years at JAG were the most fulfilling of my life, because of the people I with whom I was surrounded. I am a better man for knowing not only you, but your colleagues as well. So thank you for sharing with me your Christmases and Thanksgivings, birthdays and weddings and births. Never doubt your ability to make others' lives richer by being in them. You certainly did mine. Bud and Harriet, I'm sorry I won't be around to see your children grow up. Tell them their Uncle AJ misses them, and that I'll always be watching out for them. And Mac, please forgive me. I won't be able to walk you down the isle on your wedding day. But please don't let that stop you from finally making an honest man out of Harm, as I have not doubt that it will be he that you meet at the alter. Take good care of her, Captain…and for God sakes Son, let yourself be happy. Hoo-Rah and Semper Fi.
Albert Jethro Chegwidden."
TBC