Chapter 75

The next morning Harm was not surprised to see Bud Roberts in his office, they had enough time before the workday started to chitchat. "I understand that you and I, and our families, are going to be transferred to Pearl." Bud stated. He'd been surprised when the General gave him the orders yesterday, just before he secured for the day.

He'd been sure that he'd finish his time in the Navy at headquarters. Until the truth came out, he'd been in trouble with Creswell for his confrontation with an anti-war protester in of all places the shoe department of a store. The jerk hadn't even apologized when it became obvious Bud had an artificial leg. Thankfully, but too late for Bud not to get into trouble with the General, there was a witness, another customer, who found out about Bud's troubles, and went to JAG headquarters with a full head of steam and confronted the General and made it clear that the jerk inciting the incident, had been overly aggressive, and in her opinion, "had brought all that happened on himself. If Mr. Roberts, I couldn't tell you his rank, hadn't stopped the guy I would have, he was WAY out of line. He wouldn't listen to anybody but his own voice."

"Harriet was just as surprised as I was. Frankly, she's glad she has some time to get used to the idea, I know that we normally don't have a three month window before our orders are to be carried out" Bud admitted.

"Mac found out she'll be working with COMSUBPAC for a few months, until an opening comes up in judiciary. Even if the baby comes early, we won't be separated for more than a week. I'm supposed to be there…" Harm looked at his orders again…"by October 10th."

"Same here, you know we should try to get on the same flight when we go, between the two of us we have six kids under the age of six. For the sake of the other passengers." Bud's kids tended to behave, but as long as the flight from DC to Hawaii would be, even the best-behaved kids would have a meltdown eventually.

"Frank offered to fly the family over, from San Diego, when we go. You're welcome to join us, and that way we can take some of the stuff with us we'd end up shipping." Harm and Mac had been touched by the offer and was weighing the option. With the Roberts family joining them, it would make for an easier flight, not having to worry about other passengers.

"I'll talk with Harriet, but I'm sure she will agree that sounds like a good idea. I think both of us were dreading that long of a flight with four kids."

"I just thought of someone who might want to help us both, and if you and Harriet, Mac and I split the airfare to and from San Diego, I think we will be able to persuade her to help."

"Who, Mattie can't get off for that? Can she?" Mattie would make the most sense, but this was not a real emergency, so Bud was trying to figure out just whom Harm was thinking of asking.

"I'll let you know, I'll need to talk with her. I'll call Mac right now, and let you know."

"I'll see you in court, Captain," With that Bud left his office, still wondering who it was Harm was considering as a babysitter, was he thinking his grandmother, or Galina, his sister-in-law, who was no longer a flight attendant and working with Sergei at the hangar. He'd find out from Harm soon enough and he needed to keep his mind on track, he wanted to prove that Harm's client was guilty, and Harm was being his usual self, in other words, so far he was proving his case. Something Harm had said while they were talking bout their upcoming move gave him an idea, call it an intuitive leap, but he had an idea that just might poke a large hole in Harm's defense.

An hour and a half later, Corporal Marquez handed him a piece of paper, upon reading it, he knew the phone call he'd made paid off. He took a different tack with the witness on the stand, with the proof he now had. "Captain Baker, you stated earlier, that you arrived at the Hiller residence at 1930 and found the body of Captain Susan Rossi. You have also stated that you signed out after work on the day in question at 1600, and then went home to change before driving to DC. It takes about an hour, on a normal day not counting what traffic is like during rush hour to get from the base to Georgetown, would you change your story, if I told you I have proof you were stopped for speeding at 1623 by a Maryland State Trooper on I-195 just outside Fort Meade. You do own a 1969 Corvette convertible, canary yellow, am I right."

Captain Baker sat there, and it was obvious to all that he was trying to come up with something to say. "Yes, I do own a corvette; I'm not the only one." This was a jab at his fellow Captain and the attorney for the accused. "So I was speeding, it's not that much of a crime."

"No, it isn't" Bud said, circling in for the kill, so to speak. "but it does help place you at the apartment of Captain Rossi, by the time of death."

"You weren't having the best day weren't you, Captain. I have here, a copy of a parking ticket, it was given a timestamp of 1735, and this ticket was written just two blocks away from the apartment where the murder took place. I think you will notice that both tickets are for the same vehicle."

Harm looked at his client, he'd tried to persuade him not to take the stand but the Captain had not listened. He'd asked Baker if there was any proof that he didn't do it, and he'd said there was nothing that could pin him to the area. "Good job", Bud, he said to himself. If the guy was dumb enough to park two blocks away, in his own car, at the time of the murder, then he'd do his best to get him off. That was all he could do.

The bravado seemed to melt as he realized there was proof he was in the area.

Inwardly, Harm was glad the evidence was found, Harm knew Baker was guilty, but it was his job to do his best for his client. He could hate his client with all his heart, but he'd rather resign his commission than not do his best job even when he hated the outcome. "Your honor, may I request a brief recess to talk with my client."

"Court is recessed for fifteen minutes" Captain Helfman said after Harm nodded that would be sufficient.

Twenty minutes later Baker was led away in restraints, having changed his plea to guilty.

"Bud, good job there, I'm going to miss going against you, when we go to Pearl, at least you'll still be in the courtroom. By the way, what we were talking about before court." Bud nodded. "Mac loved the idea, and was kicking herself for not thinking of it herself. She's calling Chloe, probably still on the phone if I know those two. I should have an answer by lunchtime."

So it was Chloe Madison that Harm had in mind to help with the kids during the long flight. It made sense to Bud, as the teen already knew AJ, and had been good with him, when she'd been in town to visit Mac schedules had not cooperated for her to meet the rest of the Roberts brood. Depending on when Mac had the baby, having another 'adult' along would make things a bit easier. He hoped that it would work out. He'd much prefer Chloe going with them than his mother-in-law, who would jump at the chance to fly with Harmon Rabb, a man she still intimated to her daughter was much better marriage material, even after all their years of marriage. Roland, his father-in-law, he could tolerate, as long as his wife Lydia, was not with him.

Harriet, occasionally came to have lunch with her husband and it happened to be that day. Harm joined them for lunch, it was a comfortable day to sit outside, the humidity amazingly low for notoriously humid DC. "Harriet, I don't know if Bud had a chance to talk to you, but Frank, my stepfather, has offered to fly all of us from San Diego, when we move to Hawaii. With a newborn in the mix, I thought, and Mac completely agrees, we need someone to come along and help with the kids, its going to be a long flight, no matter how we travel. Mac called Chloe Madison this morning, and she's agreed to help us, all we need to do split the airfare between Montpelier and San Diego."

Harriet looked thoughtfully; having another person along would make the trip easier. Traveling by private jet would be easier on those who would have to put up with one newborn, two about to turn one, and three others under the age of six. She decided to arrange a red-eye flight to San Diego, the kids were good travelers, but that seemed to work only if they flew at night, and she'd learned a few other tricks during the flights to Naples, Florida over the years that seemed to make for happy passengers, with her both young and old.

Both families prepared for the upcoming move, packing what they could in advance, deciding what they would put into storage or sell. When Traci Manetti, who'd been stationed in London for the past few years, was in town for a conference she and Bud talked, it turned out she would be Harm's replacement, and she expressed interest in renting their house. "I'm tired of living in apartments, but I'm not ready to buy a home, with just me, this would be a win-win situation for everyone, this way you know your renter, and I will see if I am truly ready for my own home." Bud agreed to it, without asking Harriet, and she didn't have much room to argue, as she'd bought the place without him while he was on sea duty before the mission that cost him most of his leg. He knew Traci would take care of it, and if she found herself needing help with anything, her family didn't live too far away. After Harriet calmed down, they made a list of various people and business she might need, like electricians and plumbers. Harriet realized that having Traci as a renter was a godsend, as they didn't want to take the piano her parents had bought them to Hawaii. Traci confessed to Harriet that she'd been forced by her mother to take piano lessons for eight years, but had missed it while living in England. Bud and Harriet drew up a lease agreement, and after making a few changes that they both agreed upon, Traci signed it. If she'd be posted elsewhere she would let them know, in time to get other renters. I

For Mac it seemed like time stood still, each week brought her closer to her delivery date, and each week the doctor said, "Let's give this little one another week, if baby cooperates." August flew by in comparison to the middle of September. Finally, her doctor told her that if the little one didn't decide to come by the 21st, she would induce labor. Late in the evening of the twentieth, when Mac was listening to late-night radio, she'd fought insomnia the past few days, the soon to be born Rabb decided to begin the process of birth. (Take a wild guess why I chose that particular date).

She waited, not wanting to wake Harm up if it was a false alarm, but twenty-four minutes and five seconds later, a second, stronger contraction hit. She leaned over and shook her husband. "Harm, I think it's time."

"Huh," was the response she got. She waited a few seconds for the words to register. Harm sat up quickly. "How long?"

"This last one was twenty-four minutes and five seconds later than the first one, but it was the strongest contraction I've had with this one. The doc said she'd induce no matter what this morning, so we'll go a few hours earlier than planned. You get dressed, I'll call Galina, and we'll take Valerie over there on the way to the hospital." Mac ordered her husband who was quickly looking quite wide-awake with the implications of what was about to happen finally getting through his sleep fogged brain. She heard the shower running and figured he was taking a quick shower to help wake. While she heard the water run she called Galina, apologizing for the lateness of the hour. We'll be there, in about ten minutes" she said just before disconnecting the phone and made sure that it was put into the charging unit.

She had her bag ready for the trip to the hospital, having re-packed it for the umpteenth time earlier that evening. Harm came out of the bathroom, dressed in jeans and a scruffy paisley shirt that he liked, even if she didn't. After putting his shoes on, he came to take her hand and help her into her robe. "It doesn't make sense for you to take the time to dress; you'll just have to change when you get to the hospital." Mac looked at him, he'd have to change into scrubs, eventually, but she knew he was right, the robe would give her some warmth, despite the warm night. She figured it was mostly because she had on a sheer nightgown. Harm guided her toward the door and almost forgot to pick up her suitcase.

He guided her downstairs and to the car, then went back to get Valerie. With the lateness of the hour, there was very little traffic on the roads and fifteen minutes later they were headed toward Bethesda, having dropped Valerie off to sleep the rest of the night away with her uncle and family.

One advantage to a pregnancy, she was pre-admitted, so all they had to say was her name, and it was obvious she was in labor as a contraction hit just as soon as they reached the admitting desk.

"Colonel Mackenzie-Rabb, and I think it's obvious I'm here to deliver." Mac said gritting through the pain.

After Harm gave the clerk both their ID's she motioned for a wheelchair. "Trevor, I think there must me something in the water; I have another one for you to take up to Labor and Delivery."

Harm looked at her. "You're the third since I came on duty at 2300" was all the explanation he received.

The doctor on call checked Mac as soon as she'd put the hospital gown on, dismissing Harm from the room for a moment. "I think it will be a few hours still, but I'll let your regular doctor know. Do you want an epidural, or…?" The look Mac gave him shut him up. "Nurse Jensen, would you please get the kit."

Within a few minutes, the epidural was doing its thing and Mac was able to doze off for a few minutes, actually three minutes, as another contraction hit. "The last one was down in admitting, seventeen minutes and forty two seconds ago."

The doctor looked amazed, "She's always been like that, since I've known her, why she wears a watch is beyond me," Harm said as he came back in, having heard Mac when the nurse opened the door.

The next few hours went by quickly for Harm, and slowly for Mac, who was already tired from not sleeping the past few nights. Their doctor showed up at 0530. Finally, about 0945, the doctor gave Mac the order to push.

At 0947, the doctor gave them the news they'd been waiting to hear. "Your baby is here," before she could finish, they heard the cry of a newborn. "It's a boy."

The doctor gave them a few minutes to be with the little one before finishing the tests that hospital did for each newborn. "We'll take him for a little bit, while you get settled in your room. Have you two decided on a name."

Mac looked at Harm, "We've been trying to decide between Alexander David Harmon and William Harmon David, I think he looks more like an Alec than a Will, don't you, Harm?

"Hey Alec, what to you think?" Harm said to his son, no response, a good sign. He'd been adamant that if they had a son that Harmon would not be the first name.

He wasn't sure that his son would like having two middle names, but Mac had been quite vocal that she wanted at least one of their fathers acknowledged with their son's name and it would not be Joe Mackenzie. Harm had tried to remind her that giving the middle name of Harmon was doing just that. "Harmon is your name, so the David part can be from his grandfather." Mac brooked no argument on this. If they had another girl, they had finally agreed on Jena Sarah.

The nurse took Alexander Rabb, who would go by Alec, (pronounced Aleck) to finish the tests, and to clean him up. "I'll call Mom, and the others," Harm said as he gave his wife a kiss.

"I'll call Uncle Matt when we get settled; I'm glad that he's getting out soon, do you know why I was pushing for the name Alexander."

"I know that it's been nearly nine year since we met, and you've had hundreds of cases since then."

"Thousands" he countered.

"Uncle's Matt's middle name is Alexander." With a Mattie in the family already they had quickly dismissed the name Matt, despite the love Mac had for the uncle who'd more of a father to her than her own had.

"I forgot about that until you were so insistent about the name Alexander," he confessed.

Harm left the hospital so he could use his cell phone and he made the calls, and he wasn't surprised when he did not wake his mother up, as she'd always been an early riser. Everyone gave their congratulations, and those that lived in the area said they would be by later in the day. He was able to talk with Mattie, one advantage to being an Academy graduate himself, he told her "Alexander Harmon David Rabb was born at 0947" He also told her that they would arrange it so that she could see her brother for the first time before the family moved to Hawaii.

The first visitors were Sergei and Galina who brought Valerie to see her parents and meet her little brother. Thankfully, most of the people from JAG were busy at work so until evening hours the only visitor was AJ Chegwidden who was enjoying retirement, and had made it to each major league park that summer.

After Mac had lunch, she made the call to Leavenworth, and was able to get through to her uncle. "Sarah, I'm honored that you named him Alexander. I don't have long, but I have news for you. They are moving up my release date to the beginning of the year, providing I don't get into trouble before that."

"That's great; Harm and I have talked about this, and are in complete agreement. We want you to stay with us in Hawaii."

"Sarah, I couldn't impose," he countered; he knew what base housing was like.

"Uncle Matt, we'll be staying at his cousins place, actually it's his mother's cousin. You remember the author Robin Masters?"

"I do, he died a year or two ago, quite old if I remember, his estate went to a former employee."

"That's right, Admiral Magnum used to work for Robin Masters, and he was just as surprised as we were to find that he was the sole beneficiary. The admiral had put in for retirement just before he found out about his old boss."

"Thomas Magnum, with Naval Intelligence? If it's the same guy, he was about the only one in Intelligence that seemed to not be a walking rule book."

Mac kept the snicker to herself, as this was coming from the guy who'd stolen the Declaration of Independence. "He spent several years as a private investigator in Hawaii before re-enlisting, that's likely why."

"You're probably right, Sarah, honey, I'm getting the signal that I need to wrap things up, send your new address as soon as you get it, and I'll work out the arrangements to get to Hawaii when I've been released."

She knew that Uncle Matt would eventually return to Arizona, but a couple of months, or who knew maybe a couple of years in Hawaii would give both her and Harm a chance to get to know the man who'd brought them together by pulling off a daring heist.

Harm had not had court scheduled the day of the birth, but was sitting second chair for one of the up and coming Lieutenants the next day so he grudgingly went to work. The doctors had insisted on keeping both Mac and Alec an extra day to make sure that everything was okay since it had been a high-risk pregnancy. Mac rested as much as she could that day, knowing that when she got home she'd be dealing with a newborn and a toddler.

The Lieutenant was doing a good job, and she'd make a fine litigator once she had a few more trials under her belt, and Harm would write his report to the General that way. He was on the way to his office when for lunch when he heard an unexpected voice.

"Harmon Rabb, I didn't think you'd still be here."

What was she doing here? Doing another recruiting commercial?

"That didn't come out the way that I wanted it to. I'm here with Cyrus, his cousin, or is his second cousin is testifying in court this afternoon, and the family wanted us here for morale support. I thought I'd see if I recognized any familiar faces; maybe invite a familiar face to lunch." Renee had put on quite a few pounds since he'd seen her last, but he wasn't about to say anything.

Harm was surprised that Renee would invite him to have lunch with her husband and maybe this other relative. Thankfully, he'd made a lunch, when he'd gone home to get his uniform the night before. He planned to spend the lunch hour with his wife, even if it was on the phone. "Sorry, I have plans, thanks anyway."

"With Mac?" There was more than a hint of jealousy in her voice, despite the fact she'd dumped him before he could say the relationship was over in 2001.

"Actually yes."

"So you two finally got together, how long after I left?" Renee was curious to the answer he'd give.

"We married in June of "03. We have three children, Mattie; she's at the Academy, she's my daughter from a relationship shortly after the Academy. Valerie is a little over a year old, and Alec is our youngest."

Renee was not surprised to hear that Harm and Mac had kids, what she was surprised to hear was the fact Harm had a kid old enough to be in college. She was actually glad that they broke up, she wasn't sure she wanted to have had a stepchild that old.

Harm could read her emotions, and he was glad things had ended between them before he found out about Mattie; she would not have needed a hostile stepmother after what she'd been through with Tom Johnson.

"I should go find Cyrus and Holly or Molly; I can't remember what her name is." Renee flounced her way out of the room, in many respects she hadn't changed one bit in the intervening years. With the name, Holly Hansen mentioned Harm knew he'd see Renee and her husband one more time, as Seaman Hansen was due to testify that afternoon.

Mac was surprised to hear of Renee's visit, but when she heard of the bottled blonde's extra weight, she thought to herself that it couldn't happen to a better person. The Marine Corps wanted her within a certain weight parameter so she'd been diligent after Valerie's birth to take the weight off. She would do the same with Alec.

Harm made sure that he was busy talking with the Lieutenant or other officers and did not give Renee a chance to speak with him.

The congratulations he was getting from some of the other officers and enlisted informed Harm's former girlfriend of just how young Harm's son was.

The next few weeks passed quickly as they got used to having another child in the house and the packing for the move to Hawaii. On the appointed day, Harm and family flew to San Diego, and at first it seemed that Alec did not have the love of flying, but it was soon apparent that it was just a dirty diaper that was causing the reaction and discomfort. The Roberts would meet them at the Burnett home as they had taken a few days leave.

The flight across the Pacific went smoothly, and Chloe Madison had an easy time watching over the kids. She was considering becoming an early education major so this was a good test for her.

Because of the difference in the hours, the arrival on Oahu meant that Valerie was fussy; Alec had his days and nights mixed-up, already so it didn't really faze him. With the impending move they hadn't tried hard to get him acclimated until after the move. The time zone difference had been the main reason Bud and Harriet had decided on taking a few days, besides, they had promised AJ that when he turned six he could go to either Disney World or Disneyland. He'd been to Disneyworld as a little kid with his grandparents so he gladly chose Disneyland.

Harm had seen pictures of the estate, but they didn't do it justice, it was gorgeous, and the rent they were paying was a steal. Bud and Harriet, who'd stay with them until their place was ready, were also amazed and honored to find out that they could bring the kids over at any time.

The first evening Harm and Mac took advantage of Chloe being there to baby-sit and took a walk along the water. "When I saw Renee a few weeks ago, I realized that I was just settling, when I couldn't have the woman I really wanted. I wouldn't have been truly happy with her. Despite what we had to go through, except for what Sadik almost did to you, I know we needed to travel that rough road. You and I, we don't seem to want to do things the easy way."

Mac was about to say something, but Harm held his index finger to her mouth. "Let me finish, you could have said it was too much too soon when we found out about Mattie. I think I loved you even more than the day I married you when you accepted her from the start. I am looking forward to getting to know Uncle Matt, he was a special man in your life, and I only got a glimpse of that when I defended him."

With that he kissed her, they couldn't go much further than that without clearance from the doctor and that was a few weeks away.

"I have to admit, I've wondered what my life would have been if I hadn't been brought in on Uncle Matt's case, but I'm glad that was not the road my life was to take." She kissed him with equal ardor and they returned to the house where their children were sleeping.