Chapter 112

"No, Silly. When I'm grown and married, I want a baby. I want to be as good a mother to mine as my mother was to me," she said with tears in her eyes.

Sarah looked up at Harm. "Her mother's dead, Mac. Drunk driver, involving her father," he whispered.

"Well, Mattie, I bet you'll make a wonderful mother. I can tell just by the way Angela has taken to you," Sarah smiled watching the teen.

"Wow, thanks!"

"You know I have a little sister named Chloe who is just about your age. Well, actually I joined the Big Sister Program and Chloe became my little sister through it. We should all get together some time! I haven't seen her in I don't know how long…Christmas was probably out last visit," smiled Sarah thinking of Chloe.

"Gee, then she hasn't seen the baby yet, has she?" asked an innocent Mattie.

"No, Mattie, I guess she hasn't. The last thing she knew was that we were expecting a baby boy. She's going to be surprised. I can't wait to tell her about Angela," laughed Sarah.

As they were all standing there chatting the Admiral came out of his office in an obvious hurry. "Coates, I have to go to the Pentagon…" and then he heard Mac laugh again.

"I take it our lunch is off, AJ?" she asked, taking Angel back from a disappointed Mattie.

"Yes, I'm afraid so, darling," he said with a frown. AJ was not one to give up without a fight so taking Angel from Mac, he kissed his daughter and then his wife, right in front of Harm. Passing the baby back to her he said, "The SECNAV just called and demanded my presence on the Hill. I'll have to cancel our plans. I'm sorry, Sarah, I'll see you at home tonight." As he headed for the elevator, he heard Rabb's ward say…

"Cool, Mac, that means you could come to lunch with me and Harm!"

'Great!' AJ thought as the doors closed. 'Not only don't I get to spend time with her, but I lose out to Rabb, once again!'

What he didn't hear was, Mac saying, "I'm sorry, Mattie, but I really am tired after my check up. I think I will just take Angel home."

"Oh," came the disappointed sigh.

"I'll tell you what, the next time I need a babysitter, I'll give you a call, okay?"

"Wow, that would be so cool!" Mattie kissed Angela on the head, and she and Harm finally left for lunch. Mac headed home. The only bright spot on the drive was when she remembered that she needed to call Chloe and tell her about Angel.

When she got home, Mac settled Angel on a blanket on the floor by the couch. She watched her lay there reaching for her toes, while she dialed Chloe's number.

"Mac! I've been calling and leaving messages on you machine for over a week! Where have you been?" came the voice of the excited and concerned teen after her grandmother got her on the phone.

Laughing, Chloe always made her do that, Mac said, "I've been right here, sweetie, there have been no messages on the machine when I've been out, not that I've been out much this week. Are you sure you were calling the right number?"

"Oh, come on, Mac! I should know your number by now, and it was your voice on the machine each time I left a message."

Knowing that it was AJ's voice on their machine, Mac frowned until it dawned on her that for some reason Chloe had been calling her old apartment! "Chloe, you were calling the apartment number, you should have been calling the house."

"House? Have you moved?"

"No, silly, the same house. Weren't you here at Christmas?"

"Mac, I was at the apartment with you at Christmas."

'Oh god, we were having trouble even then?' Mac thought, but all she said to Chloe was, "So, tell me what you've been up to."

"Well, I'm on spring break from school and I'd like to come for a visit. I mean I haven't seen you since Christmas after all."

"Oh, hun! That would be great! I would love to see you and I have a surprise for you!"

"Ooooh, I love surprises! What is it?"

"Not IT, silly. Who!" Mac grinned, as she replaced the pacifier that Angel had spit out.

"Have you moved in with someone, Mac? Oh, please tell me it's not Harm!"

To be continued….