Chapter 73
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
1015 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
After hanging up the phone from the Admiral, Harriett did something she'd never done before. "Attention on deck! Attention on deck!" she yelled, so excited she felt she'd burst. Everyone left the offices to come to the bullpen to see what was going on with Harriett.
"What's all the commotion, Coates?" asked Harm looking up from some papers he was checking.
"Sir, Lieutenant Sims has called for Attention on Deck and everyone's come to see what she's so excited about," replied Jen.
"Harriett called WHAT?" exclaimed Harm, getting up and going outside to see if Harriett had lost her mind.
"Everyone, the Admiral just called! He and Colonel Mackenzie will be home tomorrow!" laughed Harriett.
"Wait a minute, Harriett. The Admiral called you, why you?" asked Harm confused.
"The mission they were on was a success, but…"
"I knew there would be a BUT in there somewhere if Webb was around," groaned Harm.
Glancing at Harm, Harriett continued. "They had some bad luck when the Colonel had an accident," she explained.
"Accident! Mac was in an accident. Is she all right?" asked Harm, moving closer to Harriett.
"Yes, Sir. The Admiral said she was fine after the surgery..."
"Surgery! Just wait until I get my hands on Webb! I should have been there to protect her then there
wouldn't have been an accident," said Harm shaking his head.
"Sir, she's fine, and like I said, she and the Admiral will be home tomorrow afternoon."
"Thanks, Harriett, I'll be there waiting for her with her favorite steak," smiled Harm.
"Sir, there's just one problem. The Admiral said she got a good bump on the head and now she has amnesia."
Everyone looked at the other, "Amnesia!"
"Yes, and the doctor's not sure if it's temporary or permanent. The Admiral said the Colonel remembers everything up until last year. Then she thinks she resigned her commission to marry him. They will be coming home as husband and wife with a newborn daughter," explained Harriett.
"That's impossible! What about regulations?" asked Harm. "Does the SECNAV know any of this?"
"All I know for sure, Sir, is that they are married legally and they are coming home with a baby. The doctor says not to push the Colonel or we could really do some major damage to her mentally and emotionally. So, we are all to act like the Colonel and Admiral have been married for a year, and that she just gave birth to this baby girl," said Harriett.
"I'm calling the SECNAV. Something's fishy here and I'm going to get to the bottom of it," grumbled Harm.
"Sir, the Admiral was calling him as soon as he hung up from talking with me," replied Harriett.
"Mac and the Admiral?" asked Harm shaking his head.
"Sir, the Admiral requested that I move the Colonel's things to his home and arrange things to look as though they belonged there. I also have to fix up the guest room into a nursery for the baby. This is going to take quite awhile. Could Lieutenant Roberts go with me, Sir?" asked Harriett.
"Bud, do you have anything in court for the rest of the day?" asked Harm still not believing what he'd just heard.
"No, Sir, my schedule is clear," said Bud.
"Go with Harriett then, and help her move things," replied Harm in a daze.
"Before I forget, there will be a big welcome home party tomorrow at 1500 at the Admiral's house. Can't have the happy couple bring their new baby girl home without a party, can we?" grinned Harriett. "I can count on everyone being there, I hope!" Everyone seemed to agree with Harriett, except Harm, who was very quite.
"Commander, you'll be there tomorrow, since you and the Colonel are best friends, right?" asked Harriett, keeping her fingers crossed.
"Yes, Harriett, I'll be there at 1500, I'll even bring a present for the baby," said Harm as he stood in the doorway of Mac's office while Harriett cleared it of all of her personal belongings. He felt his heart lurch when she took the last item and put it in the box on the desk. It was Mac's picture of the seal pup that had been on her wall since the day she had moved into that office. This subterfuge was going to be harder than he thought. He didn't care if it was for her health, Harm just didn't know if he could act like she was married to the Admiral when in his heart he knew that Mac should be his.
To be continued….