Chapter 131

Thursday, May 27, 2004

0800 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

The Admiral slipped in the bullpen and over to Harriett's desk. "Harriett, I need another favor from you," he said glancing around to be sure everyone was too busy to notice him.

"Not again, Sir! The last one almost broke my heart," sighed Harriett. Then she noticed the hickey on the side of his neck. "When you left I told you to go get her, Sir, but it looks like she got you!"

"What do you mean?" he asked confused.

"The hickey on your neck, Sir," she blushed now that she had brought his attention to it.

"Yes, um…well…about the favor, I think you're going to love this one," he winked.

Perking up she leaned over, "What is it, Sir?"

"I need you to tell everyone here that Sarah and I are going to renew our vows. There's going to be a wedding," he grinned for the first time in days.

"And why choose me, Sir? Are you saying I have a big mouth? Or maybe I'm the office blabber mouth, now that Tiner's gone?" she frowned, not liking the picture this painted of her.

"No, Harriett, I asked you because I knew you'd get the job done right," he smiled softly, to let her know he meant it. "You can begin at your convenience.

"Attention on Deck! Attention on Deck!" yelled Harriett, jumping up and down.

The Admiral turned and looked back to see what was wrong with her. "As you were, everyone. Back to work," he replied turning to go to his office.

"No! Attention on Deck, everyone!" yelled Harriett, again. "Good news, no great news."

"Ah, Harriett, I meant one at a time," AJ edged back over to her, speaking softly.

"You told me to begin at my convenience. Well, now, is convenient for me," she grinned. "The Admiral and Mac are going to renew their vows! We're going to have a Wedding!" she squealed, jumping up and down.

Bud, glancing nervously at the Admiral, asked, "Ah, Harriett, don't you think you can calm down now, dear?"

"NO! I'm happy for the both of them. Go away, and don't spoil my mood," she ordered.

"Admiral, can we have a little information, please," she begged, batting her baby blue eyes up at him.

"Chaplain Turner, is going to officiate and the service will be at the Academy Chapel," he smiled down at her.

"Bet Mac loved that," she muttered.

"Everyone is invited, of course, and we hope to see you all there. It is a special day for us and we would like to share it with all of you," AJ invited everyone.

"And the honeymoon, Sir?" asked Harriett excited.

"Now, Harriett, I believe that should be between Sarah and I, don't you?" he asked while watching her face turn beet red. "However, if you and Bud will look after little Angel for us, I'll leave you my cell phone number so you can reach us if anything happens. We will probably call home every day checking on her, so you might pick up something to give you an idea where we are."

"We'd be happy to look after Angela while you and Mac are away, Sir," replied Bud, frowning at Harriett. "It's none of our business where you spend your honeymoon, right, Harriett?"

"That's right, Sir. I apologize," said Harriett, thinking she'd get it out of Mac anyway. "Angela is welcome to stay as long as you'd like. How long did you say you'd be gone?"

Laughing, he replied, "I didn't, Harriett. But if the plans go through, we should be gone three weeks."

"THREE WEEKS! Mac has agreed to be away from Angela that long?" she asked amazed.

"Harriett, it really is none of our business, dear," reminded Bud, between clenched teeth and with an embarrassed grin.

"To answer your question, Harriett, yes. She trusts you and Bud to care for Angela and we need this time alone together," grinned AJ. "Any more questions, Mrs. Curiosity?"

"Has she chosen her wedding party yet?" frowned Harriett, thinking she was, after all, Mac's best friend and she hadn't heard from her.

"You'll just have to wait and see," he gently touched the tip of her nose. "Remember curiosity killed the cat."

To be continued….