Chapter 71

The two followed her into the office, and Mac noted that the office seemed as sterile in personality as the doctor herself. Mac's regular doctor had made her office seem comfortable and inviting. Mac sat down with more than a little bit of trepidation. Harm could feel the nervousness in Mac's hand when he sat down beside her and took her hand in his. He was just about as nervous as she was, but neither of them showed it. Military discipline and over two decades in the courtroom enabled both of them to shield their true emotions.

"I see that your husband is here, Colonel," the doctor said coolly.

"This doctor could really take a refresher course in bedside manner' Harm thought.

"I looked at your results, and at your medical history, and in my opinion, if you want to deliver a healthy baby I would advise that you go on bed-rest immediately."

Mac was actually relieved, she was sure that the doctor was going to tell her that she'd miscarried. "I will write orders so that your commanding officer will know you will be away for the next several months."

"Doctor Acosta said that I would have to go on bed-rest at seven months, so I am looking at close to seven months of bed rest." Mac questioned the doctor.

"If you want to carry to full term yes it means that you are on bed rest until the baby comes. It is possible that Doctor Acosta will modify your bed-rest; or she may hospitalize you, it all depends on how things go. I suggest that you see Doctor Acosta in a week. Until then, I have a list of things that I don't want you to do," she handed a piece of paper that had the same things she'd had with Valerie's pregnancy. She couldn't lift over a certain weight, (that would make life interesting, as Valerie was around this time, with these restrictions, she couldn't keep her at home with her during the day) she was to stay in bed except for meals, etc. "Here are the orders for your CO."

They knew the doctor was competent, and was hoping that she was just having an off day, and wasn't as normally so curt with her patients. What they didn't know was she'd just had to inform a Marine captain's wife that she had miscarried quadruplets. It had seemed that she'd given bad news to women all day long. She was used to dealing with regular, if there were such a thing, pregnancies. She'd be quite glad to see Doctor Rachel Acosta back at her post, dealing with the high-risk pregnancies.

Mac and Harm went home, picking up Valerie on the way, as Mattie had track practice. The mood that night was subdued, and Mattie quickly noticed it. When she heard the doctor's orders of rest, she volunteered to give up her track season, but Mac told her no. "I don't want you to regret giving it up, besides, the Academy hasn't reported yet, if you're in next year, you need track on your resume if you are going to Virginia Tech or the University of Virginia." They would know in a matter of days where Mattie would go to school. She'd applied to go to Annapolis, it wasn't a shoe-in she'd be admitted. The fact her father and grandfather had attended would help. They were waiting for that phone call, or that letter to arrive that would let her know where she was going or not going to go to school.

Valerie sensed the mood in the house, and she wanted only Mac to hold her, which Harm agreed to, only if Mac were laying down. That seemed to calm the toddler, and then Harm began the process of getting her to bed, a routine he and Mattie would share over the coming months, unless Dr. Acosta changed the rules regarding how long Mac could be up during the day.

Before going to bed Harm had Mac call Trish, to let her know of the development. "I'm likely here for the duration, until the doc changes her mind, or I go into the hospital. I want this little one to make it, so I'm going to do everything they ask, even if it drives me up the wall," she admitted.

Trish told her that she understood more than she realized, "I was only able to carry Harm's younger sibling for five months, I know complete bed rest might have helped me carry her until she was big enough to make it on the outside, but I had a toddler in the house and a husband that was out to sea. My doctor was good, but things are different than they were forty years ago when I was carrying our little Patricia. Call me any time, day or night even if you just want to vent." She went on to tell Mac that if she wanted to learn about art during this time of enforced bed rest, then she would recommend classes she could take online.

General Creswell had to make changes in the roster with Mac's extended maternity leave. At Mac's next appointment, Dr. Acosta said that her fellow doctor had made the right call, and it would be a week-to-week call whether or not bed rest would be mandatory for the remainder of the pregnancy.

At the end of March, Mattie got the letters she was expecting from the Naval Academy, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia. They had all sent letters of acceptance so she had to decide which school to attend.

Chapter 72

Mattie's preference was the Naval Academy, so despite very good financial aid packages she'd been offered from the other schools; she chose to go to Annapolis. She decided to be on the safe side, in case for some odd reason she didn't make it through the summer, to reserve a spot at Virginia Tech. However, by August 1, she knew she'd make it through and informed the school and possibly give someone else a chance to go to the university.

Mac was soon bored with nothing to do, and called General Creswell to see if she could possibly do freedom of information requests, anything to keep her mind occupied. He agreed to the request, even if she were limited to 20 hours of work a week, it helped the lawyers in that section with their caseload.

Mattie did what she could around the house to help despite the fact she was busy with track season, and it was the last semester of her senior year and all that entailed. Harm was kept extremely busy between work and his family for the next few months. Thankfully, with the exception of a trip to Okalahoma that was work-related, the General did his best to keep him closer to home, sending him no further than Norfolk.

Harm was given the opportunity to mentor Lt. Gregory Vukovich, who was not making his life any easier. The young lieutenant had the natural ability to be a good litigator, Harm could see, but he could also see that the younger man had the tendency to cut corners and the younger man was headed for major trouble if that trend continued. When Harm found out that a witness that Vukovich had managed to find was an actor, and not actually, who he said he was, he lowered the boom on both men. Thankfully, he'd unintentionally overheard the conversation between the two men in the courtroom corridor, which confirmed his growing suspicions that something was not quite right with the witness, he'd seemed too good to be true. Harm had just called Mac to see how she was doing, while court was on a break, and had no only heard the conversation he'd seen money change hands. The arrogant Lieutenant had not taken the precautions to make sure they would not be overheard. He called the two over to him and asked if both would step into Mac's empty office. Neither man realized what was about to happen.

"I don't want to make a scene, so I called you into this office," Harm said, using his height to his advantage. "I'd like for both of you to take a seat" the two men did as requested. Harm shut the door behind him, but not before signaling for a member of the military police, that was standing nearby to come with him. "I overheard your conversation, and I am placing both of you under arrest. The sergeant will take both of you into custody." To the youthful looking sergeant Harm told him what the charges were.

"I heard enough of the conversation myself, Commander, that you can call me as a witness" the youthful sergeant said as he called for backup using his walkie-talkie.

Vukovich looked stunned; he thought he could get away with this, as he had in the past. The guilt was written on his face, in Harm's opinion. The arrest of the arrogant attorney caused a bit of an uproar, and put the proceedings on hold for a few days, to make sure of the credibility of any of the witnesses the now disgraced lieutenant had used in court up to that point in the court-martial.

Creswell had been hesitant, at first, to hear the news about the man who'd seemed like such a promising litigator. When the sergeant confirmed what Harm heard, he realized that he'd been hoodwinked. When he called the SecNav, with the information that Harm had uncovered, he was not surprised by what the SecNav had to say.

"I think it's time that Rabb have his own command. If I remember his record correctly, he's close to a promotion to Captain."

Creswell admitted that Harm was on the list for a possible promotion, despite his months in prison. "As you know, Captain Hastings has put in for retirement. That will leave a position open at Pearl. I know that a newly frocked captain doesn't always get that sort of command, but in my opinion, he's ready for it. The only problem I foresee is that his wife is on medical leave currently, she's on a mandatory bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy, but since Hastings is not due to retire until the middle of October that works out fine. I'll let the promotions board know, as they meet next week, that both you and I would like him to take that position. It's time he left headquarters any way; he's been there for close to a decade. In addition, I think that Roberts should go with him, the two men work well together, and there are not many places Lt. Commander Roberts can be sent, due to his injury. I don't want to lose a fine litigator like Roberts, just because he lost a portion of his leg in service to his country."

The two talked awhile longer, doing business that needed to be finished, but didn't need a face-to-face meeting.

Chapter 73

Mac was surprised to hear about the events of the day when Harm finally got home that evening, she'd only just met the brash lieutenant, but he reminded her of a young Mic, and was glad that she didn't have to deal with him on a daily basis.

The next few weeks passed quickly for Mac, the Freedom of Information paperwork keeping her mind occupied. The doctor was pleased with the results at every appointment but insisted that Mac stay on bed rest. As Valerie was early, the doctor was sure this young Rabb would be as well, and they wanted to make sure he or she, Harm and Mac decided not to find out the sex of the baby, was as healthy as could be before birth.

Young Valerie was just young enough that she didn't really understand why Mommy was always in bed, and could only hold her if sitting or in bed, but thankfully she took what hugs she could, and was happy with that. Mattie and Harm did what they could to compensate.

Mac wanted to attend several of the functions that Mattie was involved with the last weeks of high school, but the doctor told her she was limited to graduation, even then, she was to take it very easy. He told her she could go, if she went in a wheelchair, which Mac did reluctantly. She wasn't about to miss this.

Mattie was one of the salutatorians of her class, so she was among the first graduates to get her diploma that night. Soon after she received her diploma, Harm wheeled Mac out of the auditorium. He'd noticed that there was a room set aside for nursing mothers and infants, where a person could watch the proceedings and there was a cot there for her to lie on. This way Mac could be there, and not put herself or the baby in undue risk.

When the ceremony was over, Harm carried a sleeping Valerie, and first went to get Mac before searching through the crowd for his daughter. Sergei and his family had already found the graduate and were taking a picture of the cousins. Andrei was trying to get the cap from her head, but she'd pinned it to keep it from slipping. It made for a very interesting picture as the tow-headed tyke was determined to get it, and his older cousin just as determined it would stay on her head.

Various family pictures were taken then since Trish and Frank had not been able to get there until just before the ceremony, and hadn't had the chance to congratulate their eldest grandchild on being one of the top five in her class.

"I am so proud of you honey, you showed a great deal of maturity when you were running your Mom's business and maintaining an A average on the classes you were taking. Your grades didn't dip when you went back to school. Your dad has told me how much help you have been these past few months since with Mac out of commission," Trish said as she gave her a hug. Three years earlier, she had despaired ever having a grandchild, and now she had four, with one on the way.

Sergei had asked her, in private, "Could Andrei and any future children we might have could call you Nana. His mother had died suddenly shortly after he'd returned to the U.S. Trish Burnett was the closest thing to a grandmother the Zhukov –Rabb children would ever know. It was hard at first to hear, but the unconditional love she received from the boy made it a joy for hear to hear the word.

The day grew close for Mattie to leave for the Academy. Harm was glad that she wasn't going to be too far away, so when the chance to get away for a weekend arose, she could come home. He realized that going across the country for school had only widened the gap between his mother and himself. He didn't want the same thing to happen with Mattie, he'd been with her for such a short portion of her growing years.

He had received his captain's bars in early May but had not been given a new assignment, as Sturgis and a few others who had graduated from the academy with him, had. He was sure this was because of the time he'd been out of the Navy. With a baby on the way, this was not the time for him to put in for retirement, but when a few weeks went by, he and Mac talked about what they should do and they agreed that nothing would be done about his future until the baby was born.

The day that Mattie left for the Academy Harm had almost called in and taken a personal day, but he they knew their babysitter preferred that she have at least a day's notice of non-illness absences. With that, he knew it was easier for him to be at work, and busy than at home and brooding. It was a good thing he went in because the General called him in to his office when he arrived.

"I know that your daughter left for the Academy today, and since Cammy is there, I have an idea of what you are going through today." Creswell could sense that the younger father would be a little off today because of Mattie's departure. "That was not the reason I called you into my office."

Harm was puzzled, and figured that he was about to be sent out on a TAD assignment. The General had been quite generous in not giving him a lot of assignments out of town. Maybe he was going to Iraq, to deal with some of the issues that had recently arisen with the troops. He didn't expect to hear what Creswell had to say.

"As you may have heard, Captain Ryan Hastings has put in for retirement. He's due to retire the middle of October. Congratulations, Captain Rabb, you have been chosen to replace him as the CO of legal services at Pearl."

Chapter 74

Harm just stood there stunned. He would not have expected to be given such a plum assignment with some of the black marks on his record.

Creswell continued, "Roberts will be sent with you, you work well as a team, and with limitations his leg has on his career, this is about a plum an assignment that he can expect, unless you would prefer someone else as your chief of staff."

"No, we work well as a team." Harm answered honestly.

The only problem Harm could see with the transfer was what Mac was going to do. She could conceivably be placed somewhere else than JAG, at Pearl, it all depended on what was available but Creswell answered his question before it was asked.

"If the Colonel weren't on restricted duty because of her pregnancy we might have had issues trying to find a position at Pearl. However, there is a TDY in Pearl that will utilize her skills, and then she'll take an opening in the judiciary after the first of the year. Unless she is going inactive?" It was always a possibility when an officer took a maternity leave. The General would not have been surprised either way.

"We discussed that, but Mac wants to get her twenty in before she goes on inactive status, or she may retire then. She hasn't decided yet." Harm admitted. "She has nothing going on this afternoon, as she works on the FOI requests in the morning."

"I should be able to go by your house this evening, and discuss this with her, would that work, Captain."

"Yes, we would appreciate the visit tonight, we're missing Mattie already." He admitted. "I just realized, with the transfer, she's not going to be able to come home her few free weekends."

"This posting to JAG had an upside; we're not that far from Annapolis. Not that Cammy comes home every chance she gets" the General admitted ruefully.

"Captain, do not discuss this with Roberts until I let you know, you are dismissed,"

With that, Harm went back to his office. He couldn't have told anyone whom he saw on the way, he was in a daze, he was finally getting his own command. That was big enough news, but the surprise was what and where the job was, he would be the JAG for the Pacific, located in Honolulu, Hawaii.

A few minutes later, Mac called him to say that Creswell was stopping by that evening and had something to discuss with her. "I have an idea what it's about, but am not at liberty to say at this time."

"Harm, will you let me know tonight," Mac asked, knowing that he would not discuss this on the phone.

"Yes, that I can confirm." Harm said. "I have news of my own, I got my orders today." Bud knocked at his office door. He was due back in court, "Mac, gotta go, court in five minutes." He hung the office phone up on Mac who stared at her cordless phone miles away at home. How could he say something like that and go?

With that tantalizing bit of news, Mac had to wait until Harm arrived home, with a fussy Valerie. Mac held her daughter while Harm made supper. Valerie fell asleep in her mothe's arms. Harm went to get her nightclothes and Mac changed her and after Harm carried her to her room, Mac put her to bed, then they went to eat supper.

As soon as they started eating, Harm told her his news. "I finally got my orders, it means a move. However, it won't be until after the baby is born so we won't have to be apart."

"Where?" Mac asked a bit impatiently. She was surprised that his stay at headquarters had been this long. If he was given transfer orders, she knew hers would not be long in coming, hopefully in the same vicinity.

"Pearl, I would be the new C.O." Harm said with a straight face, but couldn't help the grin come out after the news sunk in.

"That's great; you deserve your own command. That's probably what Creswell wants to talk to me about, what I'll be doing in Hawaii." Mac admitted. She wondered if she was leaving JAG with Harm's promotion.

"He said there were a few possibilities, but that's between the two of you." Harm admitted, he had no idea what Mac's duties would be in Hawaii. "What time did he say he was coming by?"

"1900 hours" was her reply.

"He should be here soon then." They continued to eat, talking about the impending move and all that it would entail. They considered, but needed to talk with Mattie about it, renting out this house to a military family that would be transferring to the DC area. With a sleeping Valerie, Harm kept an eye and ear out for their visitor so that he could prevent the doorbell from waking the toddler. Valerie was a sweet child, but interrupt her naps and she became the poster child for grumpiness. They'd learned, the hard way, to let her wake up on her own, and to anticipate when someone would be at the door. Harm had gone so far as to disconnect the ringer on the doorbell.

It seemed that just as soon as they were finished eating, the General made his appearance. Harm opened the door before he could ring the doorbell, which was currently inoperable. "Valerie was fussy, so she's already asleep" he explained as he opened the door before Creswell could knock.

"Good strategy, wish we'd thought to do that." Creswell thought back to when his children were young enough to nap or go to bed early. "Colonel, you are looking good. I hope that I'm keeping you busy enough with the requests."

"Thank you. They keep me from going crazy, sir."

Harm directed them to the living room. The general refused anything when they asked if he wanted anything to drink. "As your husband may have told you, he's been transferred to Pearl, effective October one. There currently are no openings at JAG for you, but COMSUBPAC could use someone of your skills, temporarily, until an opening in the judiciary arises early next year. One of the judges is planning to retire in early February."

"General, I may still be on maternity leave until November." She needed to remind her C.O.

"They are aware of this, Colonel. I have your orders here, effective when you return to duty." He reached into his uniform jacket, took out an envelope, and then handed it to her. "I must be going; Dora will only leave supper out for so long before I have to reheat it. Captain, I will see you tomorrow. Colonel, I will see you soon." With that, the General left the house.

Sure enough, her orders were to report to duty on November 1. Mac was looking forward to the challenge of working outside of JAG, for a short while. With the date set for her return, she would have at least six weeks of maternity leave, more if the little one decided to come early. She would have to email Sturgis, now in Sydney, to discuss the particulars working with the

With the time zone difference, Harm called his mother, Trish Burnett, to let her know of their impending transfer. She'd told him months earlier, after his promotion to Captain. "Let me know, when you get your new posting." After giving her congratulations, and a "It's about time they gave you your own command" she reminded him that her cousin Tom had recently retired and lived in Hawaii, once again, after several years away from the islands while his daughter was growing up. He'd felt for her safety, she have the anonymity given the dependent of someone in Naval Intelligence, "His former boss, when he was a civilian, which was when you were in the Academy, apparently willed most of his estate to him, so I know there is more than enough room there for your family as well as him. He said he only needs the cottage for himself." She gave Harm the phone number to contact her cousin. If nothing else, they would have a place to stay until they found housing.

It was a few days before they were able to contact Tom, the time zone difference made it hard to get both he and Harm home at the same time. After getting down to business Tom said, "Like I told your mom, I don't need much, Lily is going to graduate school at UCLA, she's has a bedroom in the main house for her use since I got her, but other than her room and my office, the house is free for you to use."

"We'll let you know, Tom" The retired Admiral, Naval Intelligence, would email pictures of the place to help them make up their mind. They didn't have to get back to him immediately, which helped. However, when they saw the place they fell in love with it, immediately, but they were concerned about the safety of Valerie and the baby, and knew that swimming lessons would be of utmost importance as there was beach access.

After much discussion over the next few days, they agreed to stay at the famous estate, after haggling with his mother's cousin, agreed to pay him what they would have paid to rent. He muttered, "That's what I get with lawyers in the family, can't win that argument" when he agreed to the arrangement.

Mattie was both excited and disappointed when she heard that the family would be moving soon after the birth of the baby. She put a positive spin on the move, "At least, this way I can visit Hawaii. I've always wanted to go there. And best of all, it will be over the Christmas break. My roommates will be so jealous." When she thought about it a little more she realized the move came at a good time, she would be leaving home for college, home would now be hours away. Thankfully, she still had family in the area. Her uncle Sergei and family lived in Leesburg, she would have a familiar place to go when she wanted to get away from school, when she could get away on leave.

"That's what I love about you, Mattie, thinking positively, I remember thinking that about San Diego, that it was home despite how I felt about Frank at the time. I'll talk soon, take care." The phone call was brief, but it was as much contact as they could have without writing a letter, certain information was better received when it was heard than read in a letter. She was right, because when she returned to her room to tell her roommates what the phone call was about, when her roommates at the academy heard where her family was soon to be posted, they were envious, especially Kristel, who was from Minnesota. Mattie knew only homesickness prevented her from accepting an invitation to the islands over the holidays.

tbc

(I am left with only the final chapter and the epilogue to write.) Any suggestions as to what baby Rabb should be called will be considered and maybe even chosen. Email me, if so interested.