A Happily Ever After

Disclaimer: Not mine...never will be, but I wish I owned DJE. The doctor at Bethesda is MINE. :)

AN: It is scorching hot in SoCal. I'm glad I have this hobby to keep me cool on days like this. I seem to have jumped around. I guess some heat is getting to me. Impossible for it not to, right? Enjoy the chapter! As always, sorry for any mistakes.

Robert's Residence

1600 Local Time

6 Months In

Balloons were hanging everywhere, baby designs were cut out and strung from the ceiling, and the food was all laid out and ready to be eaten. Harriet was so excited about having this baby shower for Mac. It had not been easy trying to convince Mac about it, but after some pleading Harriet had managed to con her into it. `Yup, still got it', Harriet thought to herself. Harm and Bud had gone out with Sturgis and had agreed to meet at the Robert's after the shower to help clean up.

The guests arrived and had taken comfort in the fun atmosphere. They all ate and soon started to play a game where each person takes a turn trying to guess how many squares of toilet paper could go around Mac's belly. It was silly, but it was fun. The winner, Coats, had won and had received a little gift from Harriet.

After a few hours of laughter, joking and eating, everyone gathered around Mac as she sat on one of the smaller couches to open the gifts. One by one the wrapping was removed and the presents inside were revealed. After countless of packages and styles of wrapping paper, the gifts had finished.

"Thank you guys for everything. The gifts are beautiful." Mac announced to the audience present in Harriet's living room.

Robert's Residence

2000 Local Time

"Harriet, thank you so much for all of this. You have no idea how much this means to me." Tears where threatening to fall as she hugged her friend.

"You're welcome, Mac. I was glad to do this, it was fun."

"Yeah, it was."

Just then the men came through the door laughing and talking. "Harriet, we're home."

"Hey honey. I'm glad you're here because you guys have tons of wrapping paper, paper cups, and plates waiting for you." Harriet lightly kissed her husband as he made a face.

"Yup. And we also have some gifts to put away in the SUV honey." Mac told Harm.

"Ok, but do I have to clean, too?" He was now using his sad puppy dog face to his advantage, but little did he know it wasn't all that good.

"Yup. You don't expect me to do it. And these guys don't have enough hands." She headed toward him and kissed him.

"Wait, I just used my puppy face on you."

"And?"

"It didn't work."

"Nope."

"Hmm. Maybe I need a new face." He grinned.

"Whatever flyboy. Go help." She gave him one last kiss.

Rabb Residence

Tyson's Corner, Virginia

2230

They had arrived home and had managed to put all of the gifts in the living room. After finishing with their task, they had gone up stairs for some much needed rest.

Mac was lying down with her back to Harm's chest. His head resting on the top of her head and his left hand gently rubbing her pregnant belly. She placed her left hand on top of his and laced her fingers with his, relaxed by the gentle soothing of Harm's touch.

Breaking the comfortable silence that danced around them Mac spoke. "Can you believe all of the stuff they gave us? I don't think we need anything else for when the baby arrives."

"We have at least one of everything. We have all of the important things and a lot of the not so important. I say we have it made baby." Harm finished with a sexy Elvis Presley tone. Mac laughed quietly.

Bethesda Naval Hospital

7 Months In

They walked into the hospital with big smiles and their fingers entwined. There seemed to be an extra bounce to both of their steps. People would turn their heads to eye the couple. They would smile just to see how happy they appeared to be. It was nice to know that not everybody was having the worst day of their life, that somewhere out there was someone having a happy day. One person in particular smiled at them and gave them a nod. Their child would be born in a time when the country was desperately fighting against terrorism and the many evils of the world, but she knew that those people would make sure that that child had the happiest and most secure life possible.

"Hello Dr. Hanson." Mac said as Harm shook hands with him.

"Hey. How are our mother and child feeling?"

"Good, as usual."

"Great. We are just going to do an ultrasound and see how the little guy is doing."

"Ok."

"Do you guys have a name for him yet?" The doctor asked as he placed some gel on Mac's belly.

"No, not yet." They both answered in unison.

"So, there's not going to be a Jr.?"

"No. I think my dad would agree it's time for something new." Harm replied.

"Ok, here's your little one. He seems to be pretty comfortable sucking on his hand. Everything appears to be going great, he has a good strong heart beat and I see ten fingers and ten toes."

"Good." Mac smiled at the screen and then at her husband.

"Ok, Colonel. Everything's good. Just make sure that you get plenty of milk and make sure you have some short walks. It's always good to exercise and eat right."

"I'll make sure she does Dr. Thank you."

"Ok, I'll see you in two months."

Park

1800 Local Time

The night was cool and the sky was clear as Harm and Mac made their way down the concrete walkway. They had been walking for half an hour now and they felt completely at ease. It was a good idea to walk and relax because it was doing wonders to them as they both talked about everything and nothing at all.

"How was work today, honey?"

"Fine I guess. A Lieutenant Commander was accused of smuggling twenty pounds of crack cocaine and I have to prosecute."

"So why are you so upset by it?"

"I am not." Harm denied it.

"Harm, I know you. The way you said `fine I guess' pretty much tells me that it isn't going as smooth as you want me to think it is."

Busted. "I don't know Mac, but something tells me that he didn't do it."

"What does the evidence point to?"

"Most of the evidence points to him, but there are holes in this case that I seem to keep falling into."

"What does your gut tell you?"

"Mac, you and I both know that the evidence, if not closely inspected, can lead to one thing when it really is another."

"Don't make this a personal case Harm."

"What are you talking about?"

"Singer." Mac said as she stopped both of them in there tracks and turned to face him.

"Mac, all of the evidence was against me until holes added up and it was discovered that I was framed."

"So you think that could be the case here?"

"Maybe. I don't know, but I will not convict the wrong man, Mac. I know how it feels."

"Just do what you do best." Mac lifted herself on her toes and kissed his lips.

JAG Headquarters

Washington, D.C.

One Week Later

Harm was still working on the Lt. Commander's case. He had been constantly trying to find things that might get the man off, but that wasn't his job. He knew what he had to do, even if he didn't like it. But still a part of him, the stubborn all-noble Naval Commander part of him, wasn't about to let him put away a man for something he didn't do. He knew what he had to do.

"Petty Officer, is the boss in?"

"Yes, sir. I will check to see if he can see you." `He's just like Tiner', Harm thought.

"Thank you."

He entered with a strong step, but inside he was nervous for some reason.

"Commander Rabb, sit please." He did just that.

"Thank you, sir."

"What can I do to help you?"

"Well, sir, it's about the case on Lt. Commander Beason. I just think that some things don't add up."

"What do you mean Commander?"

"Well, I think that we are missing something here. I-I don't believe the Commander is guilty."

"Commander, your job is to prosecute not defend. You are the lawyer here; even if you don't think he is guilty...you are not the jury."

He knew it would come to this. "Yes, sir, but I just don't think that I can help to wrongfully convict an innocent man."

"What are you asking of me Commander Rabb?" He sounded irritated.

"I'm requesting permission to head up to the Henry to conduct a thorough investigation."

"Denied."

"But, sir..."

"Denied. Stand down Commander. The investigation has been done, he was accused and now it is your duty to prosecute this case."

"Sir..."

"Very well Commander, if it means getting you out of my hair. You have three days..."

"Sir it will..."

"Three days! Dismissed Commander."

"Aye, aye, sir."

Three days weren't enough, but he was lucky to have even that. He would have to work with that time. Now how would he tell Mac? He knew that she would understand, but he didn't want to leave her by herself right now.

One day later

USS Patrick Henry

Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean

It was a fortunate thing that he had an understanding wife. Too understanding he thought. She had insisted that he not worry about her, but it was natural for him to be concerned about leaving her. She was eight months pregnant and he didn't want her to do anything around the house or be alone for three days.

He arrived and immediately went to work. He had very quickly come across some interesting news that could possibly be of help to the Commander.

"So Ensign Smith, tell me how you know Lt. Commander Beason."

"I work with the cargo, as he does. We met back at the beginning and we have been friends since then."

"So you work the cargo with him?"

"Yes, sir."

"When the drugs were found, did you see anything suspicious on his part?"

"No, sir. Actually I wasn't working that shift. I had been in my quarters while Beason unloaded the cargo. I met up with him a few hours after, but before he was accused."

"Why were you in your quarters that day?" Something just didn't sound right.

"I was on the computer, sir."

"Doing what?"

"Exchanging emails with Marissa, sir."

"Who?"

"Marissa, sir. She was Beason's girlfriend and we have always been friends. She has had a few problems and she came to me."

"Why not Beason?"

"Would you go to your ex and ask for help, sir?"

"Point taken. Ok, Ensign Smith, I will call you if I need any more information."

"Yes, sir."

Next Day

Rabb Residence

Tyson's Corner, Virginia

She felt like a blimp with an overactive bladder. Her feet were swollen and her back was killing her. So this was how Harriet felt.

Harm had been on board the Henry for two days now and he had called each one of those days to check up on her. She was expecting his call three hours ago, but assumed he'd been wrapped up in the case.

She was sitting down on the couch flipping through the channels and drinking a glass of milk when she felt it. Something was wrong and she knew it. Nothing in eight months of being pregnant felt this bad. It was a sharp pain that tore at her insides. `This isn't supposed to happen', she thought.

The pain only got worse as she sat there applying pressure to her belly, praying that somehow that would ease the pain. After a few minutes of struggling with the twinge, she walked to the phone and dialed a number.

"Hello?"

"Harriet...I...need...help!" Mac screamed the last part as a particular shot of pain hit her.

"Mac? I'm coming over."

"Hurry…Harriet."

"I'll be right there." Harriet hung up her phone and rushed for her keys.

TBC

AN: I know you guys did not want drama when it came to the pregnancy, but trust me, it's not that bad. Do NOT tar and feather me, please. ;-D