Chapter 30
When Harm came into the office, Kellie couldn't tell whether he was currently married, he wasn't wearing any jewelry. There was no tan line of a wedding ring. However, she knew that many men didn't wear their wedding ring while they working so she didn't think any more of it.
"Mattie will give you all the information you need. I, we, really appreciate your help. I'd like to talk with you when you are done." She requested, trying to keep her tone of voice business-like. Soon Harm was in the air, dusting a nearby cotton field.
An hour later Kellie noticed a tall brunette in a Marine uniform drove up in a newer model Corvette. She sat there, in her car, waiting for the plane to land before exiting her vehicle. It was obvious to Kellie she was with Harm just by the look of love on her face when she saw who the pilot was. Even though the plane was obviously not her husband's beloved plane.
"I tried to call you and tell you I was coming, your phone is still charging, the line here was busy every time I dialed." Mac explained getting a quick hug from her husband.
"Mac, I'd like for you to meet the new owner of Pop's, Kellie Johnson, and her daughter Mattie. This is my wife, Sarah MacKenzie."
"There's something I need to discuss with you, with all of you, let's go into my office." Kellie demanded gently. This woman needed to know, if she were married to her old boyfriend.
With four people in the room, it was crowded. Kellie began. "I need to tell you both, tell you all, something. I believe no matter how much it hurts me I need to get this off my chest. Mattie is aware of only a small portion of what I'm about to say. We moved here about a year ago to help dad with the company, and as you know Harm, he died afterwards of a massive heart attack. Less than a month later, my husband and I were in a car accident. He died instantly. That was bad enough, but in the course of treating my injuries the doctors found out I have cancer, and it's terminal. This much Mattie is very much aware of, the rest of the story, only my husband Tom knew."
Mac was wondering why the woman was telling a couple of strangers her story, but seeing her husband's face she realized he'd known Kellie before today. And that they had been more than just friends.
"Between Dad and Tom's death, and my diagnosis I have to admit I haven't been the best businesswoman, Harm, Sarah, Mattie, there's no easy way to say this and I now I should've told you this years ago." Kellie steeled herself and continued.
Mattie reached for and held her mother's hand. "I married young, maybe too young. Sixteen years ago, my husband and I were legally separated. He'd been drinking too much and I couldn't handle it. To make a long story short I met a man while were separated and we hit it off. I felt this guy was safe, because I knew we couldn't get too attached because he was about to ship out. I think the thing that attracted me to him was that we both loved to fly. My guy soon left, duty called."
Mac sat there stunned, she'd figured what the other woman was about to say and to her amazement she was angry both at the woman with Harm, because she wanted to be the one to give Harm his firstborn child. However, just as soon as the anger hit it cooled, it dissipated, what was done was done; there was nothing to change the outcome.
"A week later Tom called me, and he wanted another chance, said he'd joined AA. We reconciled and a few weeks later, I realized I was pregnant. My husband and I both knew it couldn't be Tom's, in part because of the timing of the pregnancy, the other was Tom had a one-in-a-million chance he could be the father, he had an extremely low sperm count. When Mattie was born, a blood test confirmed he wasn't the father. The blood types didn't match. You are her father Harm."
Chapter 31
Mattie had come across paperwork months earlier which made her aware Tom wasn't her biological father. This was actually comforting because it explained why he'd never been close to her and why her parents seemed to fight frequently. However, her mother had refused to name her birth father so Mattie was just as stunned as Harm. Mac was stunned, but she'd had a few seconds to comprehend what was about to be said. The little time she'd spent with Harm, she felt a kinship that had never been there with Tom.
"I want Mattie with me, until I can't handle it anymore physically. You can see her all you want." Harm knew this wasn't the time or the place to argue, he needed to process the fact he had a teen-aged daughter. Harm had a deer in the headlights look.
Mac did as well, but hers lasted for just a moment, and she took control of the situation. "We need to talk about this, as adults, but this isn't the time. I need to head back to work; I know we can hammer out a visitation schedule later. If you don't have an attorney, you can use one of the attorney's at JAG. Harm, I need to talk to you, regarding a legal point, before I head back to Falls Church, walk me out to my car."
Kellie was emotionally spent; she'd kept this secret for over fifteen years. As soon as the Rabb's left the hanger, she went to the cot she left in her office and lay down. She also knew that Harm would want a paternity test run. To legally verify what she'd said. After she rested, she'd talk with Mattie's doctor and have a paternity test run on Mattie.
As she walked to her car with her husband, she explained the reason of her visit. Harm of the surprise turn of events with Imes and his need to be back to JAG. As Harm was still considered a civilian, he'd be compensated for his time in reviewing the cases. He told her he'd start the next day, no sooner. She understood, he'd just been delivered a personal bombshell. Upon her return to JAG, she told the admiral "Harm will be in the next day, he's helping out the airfield where he keeps his plane, they had an emergency develop today. The admiral didn't push it; he didn't have to order the man in, even though he could have. He noted that whatever the emergency was it had shook the colonel as well, even though she was covering it well.
That evening Harm had dinner ready when Mac got home, something she knew wouldn't last upon his return to work. She knew it was a peace offering for the upheaval in their lives with the announcement of sudden offspring. He'd cooked for them the one thing he'd eat that was not vegetarian. It was obvious that his mind wasn't entirely on cooking because he overcooked it, something he rarely did. His official return to JAG would happen quickly. She filled him in what the admiral expected him to do, and told him just how much he'd be paid. "I should stay a civilian, I like these contractor wages, it's better than military pay."
Chapter 32
Mac told him she'd been understandably hurt that Harm had a child with another woman. "I know you, Harm, if you had an inkling that Mattie was out there, you would have worked out some sort of acknowledgement of paternity." Somehow knowing that the relationship took place when she herself was in college was a balm to her soul.
Harm went to JAG the next day, feeling just a little naked wearing his suit, and not a uniform and given a temporary civilian workers badge and for the next few days settled into whatever conference room was free that day to work on the cases. The week sped by. He took Mattie to have a paternity test run on both. He believed Kellie, but he knew the court wanted certain proof. Mattie was a minor and with her mother's imminent death, the teen would have to live with a great-aunt on her father's side or foster care. Blood tests would prove if Harm had closer claim to the child.
For the time being, Harm and Mac decided to forgo flying. For one thing, there were too many Imes cases for them to look at, and now with Mattie in the equation, they knew they needed to do some house hunting. They both agreed Leesburg was a good location; it wasn't too far from JAG, but far enough. They didn't find anything the first day, but they didn't expect to. Mac suggested they try to live where Mattie wouldn't have to make all new friends, despite the fact the teen had been home schooled, she'd made some friends with several of the teens in the neighborhood. At this point, however, neither was aware she'd not attended school the previous school year. She'd enrolled in a correspondence school and had studied during lulls in the business. This narrowed where they were to live. It seemed to the newlyweds that knowing Mattie was cared for and obviously loved, gave Kellie the okay to die. As they saw her over the following days, they noticed a marked decline in her health in less than two weeks.
They hadn't said anything to anyone, including the Burnett's, until the lab contacted them with the results. To no ones surprise, there was no doubt that Mattie was a Rabb. Harm was nearly finished reviewing his Imes cases that morning.
Until he was completely reinstated by the Navy he then spent his days at the hanger, for all intents and purposes he was running the business. Mattie wanted to spend time with her mother; she knew the end was near. Mattie had expressed to him her desire to keep the business going, it had been her grandfather's livelihood for decades.
Harm knew of at least two people who'd help him run the company. Together with his now proven citizenship, along with having a job waiting for him would make it a cakewalk if Sergei and Galina were to immigrate. If that wouldn't in the short term, he had a few other people who might be interested.
The day that Harm ran into Kellie for the first time in over a decade, she made a codicil to her will. After getting it notarized she then showed Harm what was in the will, because he would be the trustee for the company until she was 21. Mattie would indeed inherit the business. Harm told his daughter, along with Kellie, "I know of a couple of people who might be interested in running the place, at the top of my list is your uncle. I'll call him tonight."
Chapter 33
One thing Harm made sure he did before his return to active duty was to drive over to Alexandria and visit The Stetson Group to thank them for help in clearing his name. When he met the bubbly Maisy, he understood why Lindsey had confessed so easily, like the admiral, he was amazed at the likeness between Maisy and the late lieutenant.
Harm also stopped by NCIS to thank them for taking the time to clear him. However, it wasn't all fun and games during his visit as he'd finally had the opportunity to read the entire transcript of his interrogation, and realized Agent Blackadder had jumped the gun in an already botched investigation. In her zeal to get on to the terrorist case, she'd arrested him when the case was still very circumstantial. He hated to effectively ruin her career; but she needed stay focused and objective if she were to remain an agent. He arranged to meeting with the director, who'd already been chewed out for the way the Rabb case had been handled and lodged a formal complaint against the agent. By August, she transferred back to the FBI by where she immediately was sent to their Nome, Alaska office. They too, had been informed of her screw-up in the Rabb investigation.
On Friday in the middle of June Harm finally received the call from Chegwidden that told him he'd been reinstated. As Mac had already acquired the forms for him to add Mattie as his dependent, they were already signed and ready to go to personnel, all they needed was the date. As Harm had to sign the paperwork, he turned the papers in at that time. He also had new ID made, as his had been voided upon his conviction. Monday morning he would be able to start work immediately.
Chapter 34
That night they picked Mattie up for dinner. The three had debated where to eat, until they made a compromise. "I couldn't wait to give this to you on Father's Day." The look on his face told both his wife and his daughter he'd forgotten the significance of the coming Sunday. The diner catered to the vegetarian and their carnivore companions. Reaching into her backpack the teen gave Harm a brightly wrapped gift box.
Harm knew Mattie would likely want to spend the day with her mother as her mother was failing rapidly, thus the reason she was having dinner with them that night.
Carefully opening the box, he could see Mattie was anxiously waiting his reaction. Inside the box was a navy blue t-shirt with NUMBER ONE DAD in large white letters. "I called Mac to find out what size to get. Do you like it?" Mattie's voice was fun of emotion.
"I love it, pumpkin. I'll wear it proudly" Harm didn't say anything else he couldn't speak. He was very moved that his teenaged daughter had accepted him so quickly. It told him what type of father Tom had been. It was quite apparent she wanted her father in her life, even at her age. He'd do his best, knew there would be many phone calls to Frank on how to be a good father. He'd finally accepted the man as his father nearly three decades later than he should.
Because Sunday was Father's Day the quarterly get-together for the JAG crew and their families was scheduled for Saturday instead of Sunday. Harm had paid scant attention to Father's Day since leaving for the Academy, and for years prior to that had done the least his mother had insisted he do for Frank, honestly, he'd had forgotten the significance of the day. This year the picnic was to be at Rock Creek Park. Mac went early to set up and inform Harriet of the addition to the Rabb family. She'd asked for Mac's help before her mission to Paraguay. Those who were married and had families tended to attend more than the singles, so Harriet thought it a way for Mac to be involved and be able to slip away when she wanted to. Of course, that was before the now known marriage.
When she arrived at the picnic site Harriet was glad to see her and had several banners on a table, and was tying the string needed to hold them up. "Colonel, thanks for agree to help me. Bud's still not comfortable climbing a ladder. My doc doesn't want me near one...or overdoing it." Harriet directed Mac and Jen Coates, another volunteer in the set up, in getting banners raised and the equipment for various races stashed near the pavilion they'd reserved. Working as a team, they were able to finish early.
"Harriet, what do you do as a mother on Father's day? I know AJ's too young, so you do most of it right?"
"Are you pregnant?!" Harriet asked in a loud whisper. Mac saw that Jen hadn't heard a thing, as she was busy flirting with a guard who'd come early to help carry things.
"No, at least I don't think I am, yet. Harriet, we found out last week Harm has a daughter and she's fifteen."
It was a good thing Harriet was already sitting on the park bench by the look on her face.
"Apparently he met the girl's mother after his first tour of duty; while he was on leave. She never told him she got pregnant and passed his daughter off as her husbands." Before Harriet could gasp she continued, "Harm can't be charged with anything, as they were legally separated when Kellie, that's her name, slept with Harm. I get the impression Tom, that's the supposed father, figured it out a few years ago, because he seemed to lose interest in his 'daughter'. They were in an accident last year, he died and Kellie found out she's dying---cancer."
Harriet sat there stunned, amazed at what she was hearing. She let Mac continue without interruption.
"Because of the cancer diagnosis Mattie may live with us very soon. She lives in Leesburg, it's the reason he's not here right now. He went to get Mattie, its short for Matilda; if they get here early, they won't have to make an entrance."
At this both women laughed. Harm had a well-deserved reputation for running just a little late to events, especially during his Renee years. They were about to continue when Mac's cellphone beeped. She answered it, knowing it was Harm's ring tone.
"Mac its Harm, Kellie was unconscious when I got here; we're waiting for the ambulance." Harm's voice cracked. "I need to be here for Mattie."
Mac knew Harm had been looking forward to the picnic, in part to mend the frayed relationships with his co-workers. She knew this was about the only thing that would prevent him from attending. Mac also knew Kellie had expressed her wish to the doctors to spend as much time as possible at home so it must be near the end for an ambulance to be summoned. Mac feared the woman would not leave the hospital alive. Harm's voice conveyed the same thing.
"You stay with her, I'll leave in a few minutes, Harriet knows that Mattie needs both of us." Mac could hear the siren get close, and understood when Harm hung up without saying goodbye. She closed her phone.
"I've never met her, but Mattie's a very lucky girl. She has a father and a stepmother who though they barely know her, are with her in her hour of need." Harriet comforted her friend. This news shook Mac more than she realized.
Bud and little AJ came; they'd been over at the swings. "Mac, (he'd finally started calling her Mac, occasionally) Go be with your husband, and Mattie. He called me, before calling you."
Harriet looked at Bud astonished. "Harriet, I couldn't say anything, attorney-client privilege. Harm asked if I'd be their attorney in this matter." He turned to Mac. "Call us, no matter the time." Mac had wondered, privately, whom Harm had asked to look over all the papers. Bud made sense.
"Okay, I'll tell everyone it's a family emergency, most will think it's Harms grandma." She stayed long enough to get the banners up, but left before anyone else arrived.
Chapter 35
The Roberts family arrived home late that afternoon. AJ fallen asleep on the way home, and went to bed, he could take a shower in the morning. After unpacking everything food related, Harriet also went to bed. Bud went downstairs to work on his computer. He'd been inspired at the picnic with a series of drabbles for his Star Trek fan fiction website and was hard at work with that when his cell chimed. He'd programmed the theme from Top Gun for Harm so he knew who was on the phone. "Kellie slipped into a coma a few hours ago; they don't think she's going to make it. I'm going to call the admiral and see about taking time off. I'll keep in touch."
On Monday morning, Bud walked into the bullpen. Mac looked like she hadn't had much sleep the past few days. "Lt. Roberts, would you please come to my office," they couldn't really talk openly as the elevator was full.
"Yes ma'am" after putting his things away he walked to her office, located next to his.
"Bud, Harm would like for you to file these ASAP" she handed him a file she'd taken from her briefcase. "The doctor's give her a day or two at most."
Bud noted that it was a petition for the custody of a teenager, Matilda Johnson. "I'll get right on it; I need to go to the courthouse anyway." This was something he didn't want to leave with one of the clerks, he had just enough time to do this himself and be back in time for court. It helped that Kellie had already amended her will, giving custody to Harm and Mac, in the event of her death. By petitioning themselves, they were covering their bases.
"The admiral is allowing Harm the time off, so it just will delay his return date." Saturday night Harm called to ask the admiral for emergency leave, especially, as he was just about to return, the ink on his reinstatement papers barely dry. To say AJ was astonished at the news was an understatement.
One he returned from the courthouse Bud felt a little weird opposing Mac, who was currently his client. He also knew it was the end of an era---as this would be Mac's last case as an attorney; she'd received official notice of her transfer to judiciary to start at the beginning of July.
He noted she was allowing her second chair, Lieutenant Castigliano, to do most of the work and he seemed to be doing a good job for someone just out of Naval Justice School. Mac hadn't had to do much more than suggest a few things to the young man. The workday passed quickly, the presiding judge had just called a recess for the day when Petty Officer Coates came in to tell Mac she had an urgent phone call.
During the day, having heard that Harm had a family emergency, everyone was asking Mac how his grandmother was doing. Mac misdirected people by telling that there was no change in the elderly lady. After all, Sarah Rabb, Senior was doing well.
Mac rushed to an available phone. "Mac, please hurry, there isn't much time and you need to be here for Mattie." Without saying it she knew he also meant I need you here. Mac quickly found Bud and told him to tell the admiral of the development and that she was securing for the day. "I'll be at Kresge if he needs me." Mac had cleared it with the admiral that she would let him know if she had to leave early, and since she was opposing Bud in court, Bud would let Chegwidden know.
Two hours later, just as Bud, Harriet and AJ were sitting down for supper the phone rang. They screened all calls during supper for a semblance of family time, and he made the exception to answer the phone. He knew what the phone call meant.
"Kellie died a few minutes ago, can you bring a copy of the paperwork. I can't fight social services on this." It was obvious that the agency had already been called.
"Will do, commander, I'll be there in less than an hour." He hung up the phone and turned to his wife, "Harriet, I need to run papers over to Kresge, you two don't wait for me to eat. I'll be back as soon as I can." Because of young AJ's presence, they couldn't say what they really wanted to. Harriet said a quick prayer for the teen she had yet to meet and who'd lost so many loved ones in so short a time.
Bud was at the hospital before the social worker arrived and was finally able deal with the officious young social worker, Coralee Chandler, who still had a lot to learn about dealing with people. Bud showed a copy of the custody agreement, the codicil of the will regarding Mattie's custody, and the DNA results. The strident woman had no choice but to back down when she saw the papers were in order. She had simply assumed she was dealing with a case of domestic violence, the reason she was usually called to the hospital. Coralee hadn't taken the time to read that the petitioner for custody was the biological father. Harm had wanted to be prepared; he'd been the go-to officer when dealing with social services because of the way he dealt with the cases regarding Annie and Dar-Lin Lewis. Chandler, the caseworker, went so far as to call her supervisor, Roy Ewing, to back her up. He arrived very quickly; and it took him only a few seconds to see the paperwork, which was in order and to realize what the situation really was.
Ewing profusely apologized to Mattie and to the Rabb's. "Commander, even if you didn't have all the paperwork, I'd have had no problem granting you custody. The world needs more people like you, people who are willing to get involved." He led his subordinate down the hall where he could find an empty room and read her the riot act. In no uncertain terms he told her "Go back to the office, and bring up the case history on Dar-Lin Lewis and her sister." He finally let her go and he went home for the evening.
(Author's note: Thankfully most people in social services are nothing like Coralee. I am proud to say that my cousin is one, and he does a good job.)
Coralee got around to reading the files by the end of the week; she wasn't impressed by what she read. In her opinion, she read that a commander had stuck his nose in where it didn't belong. Social services had done what they thought was correct, in her opinion. She ignored the advice her supervisor had tried to instill into her. Six months later, she returned a toddler to her parents, over the objection of the child's primary physician and the emergency room doctors, unfortunately, the child was dead by shaken baby syndrome within two weeks, Coralee was fired when her incompetence was brought to light. She moved west, and after tweaking her resume, was able to be hired by another state where history would repeat itself. This time she ended up serving prison time.
