Chapter 43
They both insisted that when school started up in the fall, she could work eight hours a week, he wanted to make sure her schoolwork came first. The teen found her new responsibilities were not as exciting as before, it helped her decide it was not going to be in the field of accounting. Harm and Mac found out, via Kellie, that she'd been going to school by correspondence, and insisted she go to a regular school that fall, it would be the same school her friend Betsy attended.
Even though Harm had been back to JAG as a visitor, and as a civilian contractor during the Imes debacle, he was surprised that he was apprehensive to return there in uniform. Monday morning his first occasion to return, in uniform, since his trial, he made sure he went early enough to wade through his co-workers. They were solicitous, asking their forgiveness for their seeming abandonment during the pre-trial incarceration. Others asked how his grandmother was doing, after the second person gave their condolences he'd figured out they'd assumed that was the reason for last week's absence. He told them she was better. He was telling the truth, she'd caught a summer cold and had not been able to travel to DC to see him.
With Harm's conviction and dismissal from the Navy there'd been a shuffle in the assignment of offices. Since the admiral had been in meetings most of the week before, Harm would just have to take whatever was available. As senior attorney, he'd be eligible for the first available office, with Mac was moving to the judiciary, he would take her office. Meanwhile he was stuck with Bud's old office. He'd been in that room many times before, but it was different having it for his office. After his confinement, the room seemed to be even smaller than Harm remembered it to be in fact he felt it was almost claustrophobic. He decided as it would only be a week or so, he'd keep the door open at all times, unless he needed it shut for purposes of privacy. Between the time of the shuffle of offices and Harm's return, no one had used the office, and it smelled as if something had died in the walls. This was a great excuse for Harm to keep the door to his office open and not admit the clausterphobia.
Because everyone was asking him how his grandmother was doing, Harm knew he needed to tell everyone the truth, so he asked the admiral if he could address everyone at the next staff meeting. Having heard people make the wrong assumption about Harm's delayed return Chegwidden knew it needed to be done and penciled it in for the end of the next meeting which coincidently was at 0800 the next day.
At the staff meeting, they all found out that Commander Allen Mattoni was transferring to Pearl and would take leave to get his family settled. Allen would transfer his caseload to Harm and begin leave the next day. "Before you all get back to work I think I speak for everyone on welcoming Commander Rabb back. I trust you'll stay for staff meetings." This was a gentle rebuke. Harm's abrupt departure from the last one he'd attended had been one reason he'd ended up convicted of murder.
"Yes, sir. Point taken" Harm's tone of voice was contrite.
"As most of you already know Colonel Mackenzie is transferring to the judiciary at the beginning of the month. This move came about not only because she's well qualified, but as she and the Commander are married, one needed to leave, and Mac, frankly, is better suited for the judiciary than her husband."
Mac took over, "we've decided, the commander and I, to combine the renewal of our vows so you can attend the ceremony with an open house, it'll take place in late August in Leesburg at our house."
"You bought a house!" Captain Hannah Berger blurted out. The recently transferred Marine tended to state the obvious.
"No, it was willed to me, by my daughter's mother." Harm explained. Bud and the admiral were the only ones kept up to date, and so were the only ones to not have a look of complete and utter shock. "I found out, the day Mac returned to JAG, that I have a daughter, she's fifteen years old. Long story short, my ex never told me. I wonder if she'd have ever told me, except that I ran into her. She was dying of cancer and she died the day before Father's Day."
Mac explained everything quickly; the admiral was giving a look that said 'wrap it up' and 'soon'. "The commander is now the trustee for the business. Commander Jack Keeter will help while he's on a medical leave of his own. My brother-in-law, Sergei, will arrive by the end of August to run the business."
Captain Berger spoke for everyone "What's her name?"
"Mattie, its short for Matilda, she's told me since she wants to change her last name to Rabb. She's also considering changing first name as well. Mattie was her grandmother's name, and to I quote 'That old biddy hates me, and I hate the name' she's trying to figure out what she wants to go by. You'll meet her soon." With that, everyone got back to work. Mac went over to her new office.
Chapter 44
The next several weeks sped by and things seemed to change daily, both at work and in their personal lives. They all went to see Grandma Sarah over the Fourth of July; Mattie found a kindred spirit in her great-grandmother. Harm gave Mattie a cellphone, which had GPS capabilities, so he could verify where she said she was. He also told her that if she went over the minutes that her plan allowed she was responsible for paying not only the extra but also the entire bill; if she stayed within the parameters of the plan, they'd pay the bill. It would only take her once having to pay the bill for her to keep an eagle eye on her usage when her entire paycheck had to be turned over to Harm for two weeks running to defray the cost.
As the rooms become ready, they moved their belongings to the house in Leesburg. Harm stored most of his belongings at the Johnson house once they made sure everything Tom Johnson's family wanted had been distributed. Then Harm made sure to change the locks and installed a top-notch security system with Keeter's assistance just to be safe. Sergei and Galina would have a furnished house to live in, as Harm and Mac had two of everything. In several cases, they decided to get new furniture, and in others, they decided who'd be the one to give things up.
It was easy for them to decide to get a new bedroom set, they'd put Mac's set in the guestroom. Mattie hadn't wanted many items from the Johnson house, with the exception of a few cherished items. Harm had agreed to Mattie's plan to have a bedroom in the basement. Mac had given notice to her landlord upon their return from Paraguay, so they had no choice but to move to the house the start of August. Mac knew Harm wanted to do some of the remodeling himself and resigned herself to the fact that they'd live in a state of chaos for quite awhile.
The open house was planned for the middle of August, as Mattie went to LaJolla for a week to spend time with her new grandparents, it was during the visit Mattie decided what she wanted to go by. She decided on keeping her name but she'd legally be Mattie. After long discussions with Trish and Frank, she decided on her new name. The Matilda portion of her name would be no longer, along with its negative memories. As the Burnett's had met Matilda Johnson at Kellie's funeral Trish understood why her granddaughter hated the name. Mattie easily decided to add Trish's middle name so that she'd legally be Mattie Lyn Grace Rabb.
Mac found that she enjoyed her position on the judiciary. She wanted to have children eventually, and was content knowing she wouldn't be sent on many out of town assignments. As a judge, she'd know her schedule and her hours would lessen, she wouldn't have to spend so many evenings at work preparing for court the next day. She'd have trials to prepare for but she'd have more of a family life. The only stipulation was understandable; Harm would not, could not face her in court. She asked Admiral Chegwidden if he could transfer Petty Officer Jennifer Coates to be her yeoman. She'd worked temporarily with Coates on the Seahawk when she'd taken over for Singer was found to be pregnant. The admiral reluctantly agreed to the request.
Chapter 45
By the second week of August, JAG was at full strength for the first time in nearly a year. No one on injury or maternity leave. Singer's replacement had finally arrived after an unavoidable delay. Mac's replacement arrived the same day as Mattoni's, however she was involved in a serious car accident when sent TDY to Norfolk later that week. Jason Tiner was ready to leave for OCS as he'd just passed the bar; the admiral was trying several of the junior staff to see who'd be his new yeoman. He'd decided Coates was too much like Rabb, so her transfer to the other side of the building was an easy decision.
Commander Meg Austin was assigned to Headquarters temporarily while Singer's replacement was recuperating. Mac knew Harm had only brotherly feelings towards the tall Texan beauty; plus they'd had the bond of both grown up without a father due to Vietnam. Meg's father had been killed and was buried on the family ranch. She was living in Naples, however this was the one located in Florida with her family. She'd been serving as shipboard JAG and hadn't spoken to Harm for over two years.
"Commander, congratulations" Harm saw the new stripe on her uniform, she'd gone into the reserves a eight years earlier upon the birth of twins. She'd only been a full commander a month.
She noted the wedding ring on his hand. "Thank you and congratulations on your wedding. Sir."
Harm looked confused.
"Your wedding ring Sir." Meg smirked.
"I got married in May. You're staying at the VOQ, right?" She nodded. "Why don't you come for dinner tonight," and he grabbed a pen and pad and wrote down the address for her. "I hate to run off, but I have an interview and I'm already late. See you tonight."
Meg hadn't been back to JAG headquarters for several years, partly because of the time she'd taken off while her children were young, and for whatever reason she'd never crossed paths with Mac so she was in for a shock or two that night.
Mac knew she owed Meg; if she hadn't cleared Harm of Diane's death, Mac would've never met Harm. Austin took Rabb up on the invitation, as she didn't want to eat alone and she arrived at the Rabb house as requested on time at 1845.
Harm answered the door; Meg noted he'd changed out of his uniform and into jeans and an old San Diego Chargers t-shirt. She had to laugh; she'd changed into jeans and a Dallas Cowboy's t-shirt. It had been a rivalry when they'd worked together.
"You still like your steak still mooing?" he retorted after she'd given him a quick hug.
"Yep, you got steak just for me?" She figured Harm's wife was like him, pretty much a vegetarian.
"No, my wife's worse than you when it comes to meat" Harm griped. Just then, a teen-aged girl with long reddish-brown hair came in the room.
"Be thankful she's not here, she'd kick box you into next week for that comment" the teen commented dryly.
"It's because she kickboxes, and runs several miles that she can eat the way she does. You, on the other hand...you want what?"
"Hamburger, I'm going to call Betsy let her know I can't go to the mall tomorrow." Mattie had received a call from her Aunt Esther inviting her to go to New York City for a few days; Harm had quickly ok'd the trip.
"Meg, I'd like for you to meet my daughter, Mattie. Mattie, I'd like for you to meet an old partner of mine, Commander Meg Austin, she'll be at headquarters for the time it takes Danielson to recover." It was obvious that Meg had questions for Harm but Harm continued. "My wife went to get our other guest for the evening. You've met him." Harm stroked his chin a few times, hoping Meg would catch the inference. "He's helping us out, til my brother gets here."
Just then, a car drove up into the driveway Meg saw a familiar face as well as a face she couldn't place but knew from somewhere. "Keeter, its great to see you without guards" Meg was referring to the only time she'd met Keeter; when she'd been assigned to get him released from Cuba after he'd landed an F-14 on the island.
"Meg, I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Sarah MacKenzie"
"Call me Mac, at least while we're off duty." Mac said she could see that Meg was trying to remember if they'd ever met before.
"Mac just transferred to the judiciary, you'll likely face her while you're stationed here." Harm 'warned' his former partner.
"Sorry if I'm staring, I know we've never met, but you look familiar." Meg was too curious to stay polite.
"Diane Schonke, Harm told me that you were there when he found out she'd been killed. Thanks for clearing him." Mac explained.
"All Harm told me today was that he got married in May." The four adults walked through the house to the patio.
"Yeah, how did you manage to do that?" Jack said earning a glare from both Harm and Mac "Let me rephrase that your honor." That elicited a smile, at least from Mac. "I know the regs, maybe not like you JAG's, but how did you get around the rules, or did the Admiral give you an exemption." Keeter had been busy flying missions in Afghanistan for weeks before his injuries and hadn't felt like reading a newspaper or watch TV while in the hospital.
"It was fairly easy; one of us was a civilian at the time." Harm said, matter-of-factly.
Chapter 46
Meg and Jack were flabbergasted. Gobsmacked was word Mac thought best described the officers upon hearing the news.
"I was TDY with the CIA, the mission went pear-shaped, Harm came to the rescue, we married while we were still in-country before a short honeymoon in Rio and a return to the states." It was the cliff note version, and the one they told most people.
"Why do I get the feeling we are only being told part of the story, Meggie" Jack said to his one-time cigar smoking friend.
"If Mac was TDY they weren't under the same command. But Harm you mentioned civilian?" Meg asked.
"I was out of the Navy for nearly two months." Harm stated like his being away from the military was an every day occurrence for him.
"What were you doing, besides rescuing fair-maiden here," Jack changed what he was about to say, but he still got a punch in the arm from Mac.
"I was starting to serve a twenty to thirty year sentence." Harm's tone of voice told them that he was serious.
"What sentence?" Jack and Meg said in unison.
"I was at McNeil Island. I'd been given twenty to thirty years and a less than honorable discharge, got sent to McNeil for my safety instead of Groton or Leavenworth."
"What happened?" Meg felt like she was trying to pry information out of one of her children or blood out of a turnip.
"In April the body of Lieutenant Lauren Singer was found, the problem was Harm was doing an Oscar-worthy impression of a guilty man. He was trying to protect Sergei and it backfired big-time." Mac tried to explain.
"Who's Sergei?" Meg asked, completely confused.
"My half-brother. It's a long story, I'll tell you the highlights later." Harm knew Meg wanted to know the whole story, but he wanted to give it to her one part of it at a time.
"I soon found my six in prison, I just hoped I would survive the next twenty years. Thanks to Mac, Mom and Frank's pushing to get to the truth they found the real culprit so I was released. However, my discharge had gone through, I was a civilian. After my release from prison, I tagged along with Mom and Frank, who were checking out some new artists in South America. I can't tell you some of what happened next because it's classified."
"I remember the pear-shaped CIA mission." Meg said dryly. The information on the mission had been distributed, after the fact, with many details omitted.
"Mac and I were able to complete the mission and on the way to the capital we took the time to talk a few things out. I'd done a little research while at McNeil and knew upon my return to the States I could rejoin the Navy. Iif we were already married when I 'joined' JAG, well then, we'd worked our way around the frat regs".
"So with Mom and Frank as our witnesses and only guests, we married in city hall in Asuncion Paraguay. By the way, Next weekend we're going to renew our vows, and everyone can attend." Harm changed the subject as the phone rang, and with a teen in the house, neither Harm nor Mac attempted to answer it.
"Dad, Admiral Chekwiten wants to talk to you." By this time, they'd finished eating and were out on the patio.
"Hopefully its nothing, but I'll be right back, I hope." The adults had kept their courtroom face on when Mattie mangled the admiral's name, at least she was close, they'd definitely heard it mangled much worse. Harm went inside, the other's followed him in, bringing their he knew both Jack and Meg liked beer Harm had stopped by the convenience store and picked up a six pack of beer. Harm had decided to not imbibe alcohol around his daughter for the time being, he knew Mac didn't need the temptation.
The call was indeed brief, because by the time they'd unscrewed the tops on their drinks, and Mac had a can of diet pop opened Harm was sauntering back into the kitchen. He had a grin on his face. "The admiral talked with the powers that be, as you know I missed my quals this year, so if I want to, I can do them next month. I told him I'd let him know." Because of missing his quals, Harm had left the wings off his uniform upon rejoined the Navy.
Harm knew he and Mac needed to talk, but they had a few days to make this decision. Jack wanted to be a fly on the wall for that discussion as he'd had time to get to know the real Mac when they'd been with the Bedouins years before. The look on Harm's face said what he wanted the decision to be.
Mattie was downstairs, they could tell by the volume of the music coming up the stairs. So Jack figured they could talk without anyone hearing what they were saying. "So buddy, I believe you have something to explain to the class." They had settled into the living room.
"The short version, just after my first tour of duty, I met someone. I didn't hear from her again, and frankly, I didn't think to call her. While they were working on the paperwork for my return to the navy, I went to work on Sarah. The place had new owners and I needed to talk to the new owner. Mattie told me her mom was unavailable and to come back the next day, which I did."
"What?" Jack was confused.
"Let me finish, everything will be explained young grasshopper." Harm said, he always liked it when he could bamboozle Keeter.
"I went back the next day, since I needed to do some work on the plane before taking her up. Noting someone was in the office I went in, and to my shock, I recognized the new owner. Actually, she was actually the daughter of the old owner. Kellie then surprised all of us, Mattie, Mac and I, by telling me she was my daughter. I was able to see my daughter whenever I wanted, Kellie had been diagnosed with cancer and she died a few weeks later. This house was actually her father's house; the place you're staying at was Kellie's and her husbands.
Jack had wondered what the story was but he'd spent too many years dealing with the word classified figured he didn't need to know. It explained why he recognized a few of the pieces of furniture at the house.
"We're still getting to know each other, Mattie was named after her maternal grandmother and she's a...well, let's just say I don't blame Mattie for wanting to change her name after meeting the woman at the funeral. She decided to go by Mattie instead of Matilda. We have a court date to make everything legal. She'll legally change her name to Mattie Lynn Grace Rabb. She kept her middle name, that part of her name she's always liked."
They talked for a little while longer until Meg's cell phone rang. Checking to see who was calling, she answered it. "Maria...how are my kids doing?...they are?...have Steve and Jaime call me...no I don't mind how late it is here." She then lapsed into Spanish, Usted nunca imagino que la casa en que estoy, y Jack, aquí también ... sí ..." ( "You'll never guess who's house I'm at, and Jack's here as well...yes...") Talking again in English. "I will, bye." Meg closed her phone and smiled.
Mac and Jack and Harm were looking at her curiously "that was my sister-in-law, Maria. She's watching my two kids this summer, while I'm here."
As Mac was the only one of the group listening to the conversation that was fluent in Spanish, and the only one close enough to hear the other end of the conversation she asked Meg "how does your sister-in-law know these two squids?"
"Two words."
"Segundo cruise" Meg grinned.
