After Harm, Grandma Sarah, and his parents helped the Roberts get settled in, they all sat down for dinner. After the small chit chat, Bud couldn't hold in his curiousity anymore. "Sir, why did you request me to help you on whatever it is you're doing out here? And sir, what is it you're doing out here?"

Harm chuckled to himself quietly at how he knew he was going to surprise Bud with his offer. "First off Bud, it's Harm. And second off Bud, Keeter and I are out here working on a special project for the Navy. I needed you for... some legal skills that honestly, I don't have the time nor energy for. Can we wait for Keeter to get back from his date to discuss what's going on with you and your wife Bud?"

"Yes sir." Bud just looked at him curiously and shook his head and then went back to feeding Jimmy.

"Commander Keeter sir?" said Harriet looking curiously at Harm wondering what his Academy friend was doing here.

"Yes Harriet. He's helping out on this and right now, he's out on a date with yet another air head," chuckled Harm and Bud smiled still paying attention to his sons.

Harriet just looked at Harm wondering about the comment. Trish looked at the Roberts and said, "Have you met him before?"

Bud looked up, "Yes ma'am. I met him when the Comm... er... Harm rescued him in Iran and landed the F-117 aboard the carrier."

Harriet and Trish looked curiously at Harm their eyebrows raised questioningly. Harm blushed and muttered, "Thanks Bud," while Frank sat back and laughed while watching them.

"Why haven't we heard about this Harm?"

Bud looked apologetically at Harm as Harm finally looked up his face still red, "Uh well it was no big deal. Mac and I just went in and met him while he was in the prison. Then we got him out, took off into the desert where Keeter had landed the stealth. Bartered with some beadouins for the stealth, I left him and Mac out in the desert while I landed onboard the carrier and they came back aboard a couple of days later after we paid the beadouins their finder's fee. It was no big deal mom, really," said Harm while shooting Bud a glance that said don't say another word about this.

Trish and Harriet just looked astonished at Harm waiting for more details and just as they started to question him, Keeter walked in and slumped down into a chair at the table. Harm looked gratefully at Keeter and cleared his throat and said, "Keeter, this is Lt. Harriet Sims, you know Bud and their two sons Jimmy and AJ," said Harm pointing to each as he said their name, "and Harriet, this is Commander Keeter."

Keeter grinned at Bud, "Good to see you again Bud and nice to meet you ma'am," said Keeter as he hugged Harriet and shook Bud's hand.

"Please call me Harriet sir."

"Well then, I expect you two to call me Keeter then."

Harm rolled his eyes, "Yea right Keeter, they've known me for years and refuse to call me Harm."

Keeter just grinned and looked at Harm again, "You tell them yet?"

"No, I decided to wait for you to tell them."

"Ok, sounds good. Well why don't you get the dishes done for mom and Grams and I'll go change out of this suit and we can go out on the deck to talk."

"Ok. Meet you out there."

As Keeter went upstairs to change, Grams turned to Harriet, "I'll watch the boys with Trish and Frank so they won't disturb you guys."

"Thank you Mrs. Rabb."

Grandma Sarah looked at the Roberts, "Harriet and Bud, please call me Grams or Sarah. None of my friends call me Mrs. Rabb."

"Yes ma'am," smiled the Roberts.

Harm started cleaning up as his mom and Bud helped him. "Come on boys, let's go read a book or something and leave them to it."

Harriet smiled as she watched her sons eagerly follow the elderly lady and joined everyone in the kitchen to help clean up. Afterwards, Harm, Bud and Harriet met Keeter out on the deck.

"Ok, well I think I'm just going to get it all out now, and then we'll answer your questions."

"Yes sir."

"Ok. Keeter and I are out here working on a project for the F/A-22 Raptor. We are testing the Raptor's capabilities aboard an aircraft carrier." He paused and looked at Bud as he watched surprise fill the younger man's eyes.

"But sir, I thought that's only for the Air Force?"

"It is Bud, but the Pentagon is thinking of possibly using them aboard carriers as it won't be for at least another five years until the JSF is finished. Hell Bud, they haven't even finished testing the JSF's engines out at Arnold AFB. The engine is made up of so many damn components from so many different companies, it's hard for them to accomplish anything right now. However, we're not talking about the JSF for now. SECNAV wants something new...now. The Air Force has their sexy new, stealth, supersonic fighter and he wants some too. They probably won't get many, if even enough to make a real squadron, but we have two we're testing right now. SECDEF agreed to see what we could accomplish and go from there. If we can get clearance for the Raptors aboard the carriers, then they won't have to order as many JSFs for the Navy, saving millions, if not billions of dollars from the cost difference. Hell they'll save even more by not having to retrofit that stupid little ramp the JSF would require to put it in the air when it shot off the carrier. What we're doing, is testing how the jet withstands all of the harsh weather from being out on the carrier deck or hangar instead of the hangars the Air Force uses to protect their birds. We're also testing to see well it takes to carrier landings and take-offs." Harm paused for a moment to drink some of his water.

Bud looked kind of confused before asking, "But Sir, don't you have to have gone through Pax's test flight school to qualify to do any of this type of testing? I know Keeter has, but when did you sir?"

Harm just grinned, "Remember some of that stuff I did in the 'State Department' that I couldn't talk to you about?" After Bud nodded, he continued, "Let's just say I got a crash course in test flights and considering half the stuff I've done, it equals to have gone through the school."

Bud just smiled and Keeter whispered, "Yeah and that stunt over North Korea."

Harm shot him a look hoping Bud and Harriet didn't hear but unfortunately they did. "What stunt over North Korea?" asked Harriet as Bud was too shocked to say anything.

"Uhm nothing important Harriet, ask me again later... much, much later..." said Harm. Then he cleared his throat, "Anyways, well you know what we're doing, now I guess I need to tell you what I need you to do." Harm took another sip of his water.

"Yes sir."

"Ok, well while Keeter and I are flying, we need you to be on the carrier keeping a record of everything. We've been taping our missions and then having to go back and rewrite everything back up... well anyways, we're falling behind."

"Sir, I don't mean any disrespect, but couldn't you assign that to a petty officer or something?" asked Bud while blushing.

"Yes, I could, but then you'd have to go back and read over everything, where as this way, I figured you could kill two birds with one stone." Bud just looked at him in that deer in the headlights look and Harm smiled softly, "Bud, we need you here to help write all the legal bullshit that has to go with all of this. Make sure all of our procedures we write up are legal and verified by you, an acting lawyer."

"But sir, you are a lawyer!"

"Bud, I'm not an acting lawyer. I have practiced law in about a year now. I'm rusty and the higher ups think we needed someone who's actually currently practicing law. And besides Bud, we need your judgement to make sure what we're saying is sane," grinned Harm and gave Bud and Harriet a wink while they all laughed.

Keeter leaned over and slapped an arm over Harm's shoulder and grinned while looking at the Roberts, "Cuz you know how crazy and insane Harm and I can get." They all sat there and laughed at that for a while and told some stories about each other.

"Ok well Bud, before we all can go up to bed, there's something more we still need to talk to you about."

"Ok sir."

"Bud, I've talked this over with Admiral Chegwidden and Admiral Boone and they both agree this makes sense."

"Admiral Boone, sir?"

"Yes Bud, he's overseeing this whole scheme." Bud just nodded his head and smiled. "Bud if you take what I'm about to offer you, it can be a career-maker for you. How would you llike to take this legal position on a permanent basis? It would get you out on a carrier so you can finish up your carrier duty."

"Sir? On a carrier for a full deployment?" asked Harriet while watching Bud closely knowing how hard it be on his body to be in that environment for 6 months at a time.

"No Harriet. Only for a couple weeks at a time, a month tops and very rarely."

"Where would we be stationed at sir? We just bought that house not that long ago and AJ is starting school a week after the vacation here sir."

"We're stationed out of Pax River. When we're in Washington, you would spend Monday, Tuesday and half of Wednesday at JAG headquarters. The rest of the week, you'd be out with us at Pax. So you can just keep the house and Harriet and the boys can stay where they are now and it'll be like you're just out on an investigation."

"JAG headquarters sir? Why would I be there if I'm under Admiral Boone's command?"

"Bud, even though you will be under Boone, Chegwidden said that it would be nice to still be able to have your help at headquarters. And that schedule I just told you is not set in stone, it'll just depend on what all is going on per week. Also, I agreed with the Admiral that the law takes precedence over what you'll be doing for me. You will find even when I'm out on the carriers, I still help out the JAGs aboard, just because of the caseloads of everyone. You won't be seeing the courtroom or investigating as much anymore Bud, but what I'll be having you doing will help your career. I'll need you to go to the Pentagon and when required, the Hill for meetings and conferences. You know the typical bull shit that goes along with this type of stuff, only you'll be more hands on than what you're used to, so you can start making friends there. Also Bud, as you know, to move up in the ranks, you need to take on more of a command position. I don't know if you've heard yet, but Tiner is coming back in a month and will be joining us here on our vacation. As you know, even if he went to headquarters or with us, he'd be learning about courtroom proceedings and learning how to be a proper lawyer. I'm going to be having him join us to help you and learn how to do your job and he'll be your responsibility when you're acting like a real lawyer," said Harm while throwing Bud and Harriet a wink and they all laughed some at that. "Only one small problem with all of this though Bud," said Harm quietly while looking at Bud with a kind of sad face that was scrunched up and Keeter looked away trying to not let the Roberts see his smile.

"Let me guess sir, I probably won't be cleared on the carriers because of my leg right?" said a very sad looking Bud before looking out at the ocean.

Harm looked at him for a minute before making his face straight and trying to hide his grin, "No Bud." At this Bud's head snapped back to Harm while Harriet's eyes widened in surprise. "The problem is that the post is for a lietenant commander... so you'll be getting your promotion tomorrow if you agree tonight to take the position." Both Harriet and Bud looked extremely shocked while Harm and Keeter just laughed at their faces. "Bud take the position. If you decide later on it's not for you, then you can go back to headquarters and keep the rank. Just give it a couple months." Harm watched as Harriet and Bud looked at one another. "Harriet, I've got an offer for you as well." He laughed out loud as both of the Robert's heads snapped around back to him again. "It would be the same sort of thing you did for the Admiral, just for me. All you have to do is set up travel arrangements, conferences, etc. I don't know anyone better than you to do it. It would even allow you to follow us with the boys wherever we went as long as it wasn't on a carrier." He sat back and watched them for a while as they talked quietly. "Harriet, I know AJ is starting school soon, but you can follow us when he doesn't have school and that way he can travel and be with us and have an experience not many kids get a chance to have. I also know how you wanted to cut back on your hours, so you can work whenever you want unless we have an emergency"

Harriet and Bud looked at each other and then smiled and said, "Sir, we'll take them."

Harm and Keeter grinned at them. "Ok well Harriet, there's nothing for you to do now and probably not for a while. As for you Lt. Commander," said Harm with a grin, "We have to be airborne by 0730, so I recommend we go to bed." They stood up and headed inside to go to bed. Harm pulled Harriet aside as Keeter helped Bud carry the kids upstairs to their rooms and said goodnight to Grams, Trish and Frank.

"Sir?"

Harm gave her a hug and stepped back to watch her. "Harriet, I know this may take some getting used to and everything, but we all sat down and thought this out. I'd been talking to Admiral Chegwidden about Bud's career for some time now and when we realized we needed someone for this, I thought it'd fit Bud perfectly."

"Yes sir. I know he's gonna love it."

Harm smiled at her and said, "Yeah, I knew he would and realized this would be right up his alley. Listen if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask me ok?"

"Yes sir."

Harm hugged her again. "Harriet?"

"Sir?"

"I haven't mentioned this to Bud because I didn't know how you'd take this, but you know how he is about flying everything." He waited for her to nod before continuing, "Well, we have 2-seater Raptors..." he waited for understanding to fill her eyes. "And I was wondering if it'd be ok with you if I were to take him up sometime. Before you start worrying, we've already tested everything and we're going to retest everything again this week before I'd even think of taking him up. However, next week, the Admiral is going to be joining us out on the carrier and we'll be taking him up when we go out on the bombing range to do some live fire training and dog fight training. If you'd let him, we can take him up then and let him have some fun in it. I've already checked with his doctors and the flight surgeon and he's cleared for it. But anyways, I figured it'd be a nice surprise for him."

Harriet smiled and said, "Well sir, I have no doubt what his answer is, but it's ok with him, so it's up to him."

Harm just smiled at her, "Yeah we know what his answer is. As a matter of fact, that's how we're heading out to the carrier. Think he'll enjoy his congratulations ride?" he asked while grinning more broadly.

Harriet laughed loudly, "Yes sir, I'm sure he'll love it. I don't know how you'll ever be able to get him out of it."

He laughed and took her arm and lead her towards the stairs, "Come on, I'm tired. I think it's time for bed."

She smiled back, "Yes sir."

Harm shook his head and gave her his flyboy grin, "You know, I don't think I'll ever be able to break you of the habit of calling me sir."

"No sir you won't." With that they went upstairs to thier rooms.

Later...

"Harriet?"

"Yes Bud?" asked Harriet as she came out of the bathroom naked and climbed into bed with her husband.

Bud pulled her closer to him and asked, "What did the commander want?"

Harriet smiled and said, "Oh nothing honey," and before he could ask again, she kissed him hard making all thoughts escape his mind.