Chapter 71

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

1000 EST

Naval Clinic

Pensacola, Florida

Things had finally settled down after the raid and the clinic had called in replacement staff that had not been involved in the ring. Commander Skaggs had been in just a short time ago and had told them that Sarah was going to be released the next day. After a call to Webb to make sure that they had a ride home in his plane, AJ had called the hotel to tell them they would be checking out the next morning. Now he stood over the bassinet in Sarah's room, looking at Angela. 'What a huge complication to be so tiny. What a wonderful, beautiful, precious complication!' he thought, watching her and grinning.

Suddenly it dawned on him, he had to warn all their friends at JAG. He also had to have everything of Sarah's moved to his home. It'll have to be our home by tomorrow! Who could he ask to do this, with enough organizational skills and knowledge of their homes, well enough to pull it off? It hit him, the perfect person...Harriett Roberts. Stepping into the hall and pulling out his cell phone, he dialed her number at JAG he waited.

"JAG headquarters, Lieutenant Sims speaking."

"Harriett, Chegwidden here."

"Admiral, it's so good to hear your voice. Will you and the Colonel be back soon?" asked Harriett, shutting a file drawer.

"Yes, Harriett, tomorrow, in fact," replied AJ sounding exhausted.

"Admiral, is everything alright?" she asked, catching the tone of his voice.

"No, Harriett. The mission was a success, but Colonel Mackenzie was involved in an accident," answered AJ.

"Accident! Is she badly injured?"

"Not physically, well, at least not after the surgery..."

"Surgery! But she's well enough to come home? Will she need someone to stay with her, Sir?" asked Harriett, biting her lip and wondering how she could rearrange her schedule.

"Harriett, she has amnesia."

"Amnesia, Sir? Does she remember anything, or anyone?"

"She remembers everything up until a year ago, then her life changed drastically. She believes she has been married to me for a year and resigned her commission to do so. We have a baby daughter and it was delivered by C-section which happened due to the accident," explained AJ.

"Sir! How? I don't understand," replied a stunned Harriett.

"Harriett, I don't have time to go into it all now. What everyone needs to know is that the amnesia may or may not be permanent. If anyone pushes Sarah to remember, it could be a detrimental to her health. I need everyone to pretend that Sarah and I have been married for a year, and that the baby we bring home, is ours. Sarah believes she carried and gave birth to her," stressed AJ.

"But, Sir! What about regulations?" Harriett was shocked and surprised by everything he was telling her.

"Sarah and I were married legally, this morning, without her knowledge. There will be a legal adoption as soon as the papers can be filled out and filed. My next call is to the SECNAV and if he can't understand the situation we've been put in, then regulations be damned. The man can have my resignation. Sarah and the baby are more important," announced AJ.

Harriett smiled, she had always known that the Admiral and Sarah were in love. The two belonged together and fate had stepped in and settled the matter. "I'll advise everyone here of the situation, Sir, and see that they understand how fragile the Colonel's health is at the moment," replied Harriett smiling.

"Harriett, I need another favor, if you don't mind," requested AJ.

"Yes, Sir, whatever I can do," replied Harriett.

"It's a large favor, but you're the only one I know capable of handling it. I need you to clean Sarah's office out. Then go to her apartment and take all of her personal items and move them to my home. Harriett, I need you to make my home, our home," requested AJ.

"Make it look like she's been living there for a year. Put her clothes in my closet, her shampoo, toothbrush and whatnots in my bathroom. Scatter our clothes around like we packed in a hurry. Get pictures, anything of the two of us and set them around. I also need you to fix up the guest bedroom as the nursery. Here is my credit card number, buy what ever you need to do the job. And Harriett, Mac thinks that we were expecting a boy, so don't go to frilly on the nursery."

To be continued….