Chapter 24

The staff meeting that morning was uncomfortable to say the least. All Harm would do is glare at her and snarl at anyone, except Creswell, that dared to talk to him. After they were dismissed, people gathered around Mac since it was clear that Harm was in no mood to talk. It seemed that Jen had spread the news of the broken engagement. All the questions were about that. Mac was surprised that no one asked about her and AJ. Then it occurred to her, they didn't know! Either Jen had left that part out or for some reason, Harm hadn't told her! Mac could only assume the latter was true because surely if Jen had known that information it would have been shared with the news of the breakup.

Glad that Harm had an early court case, Mac waited until he had left the bullpen and then called everyone together to make her announcement. "I know you are all dying of curiosity as to what happened over the weekend, so here is the story…Harm and I were two friends planning to build a life together, but I was in love with someone else. This someone I thought was out of reach. On Saturday I found he wasn't and told Harm I had to call off the wedding. However, as it turns out, I will still be getting married on Saturday and you're all still invited. Harm is upset with me, but understands. He has even said he and Mattie will be there to support me."

"Is it Mr. Webb?" Jen wanted to know.

"No, but I'm not saying any more. My fiancé will be here at noon to pick me up for lunch and you can all meet him them." After that, she beat a hasty retreat to her office; she needed to go over the San Diego information so she and AJ could discuss it over lunch.

AJ stepped off the elevator five minutes early. It felt odd to be there in civilian clothes, and even odder still to have a 'visitors' badge clipped to his shirt.

Jen was just coming out of the break room with a fresh cup of coffee for General Creswell; she was the first one to spot Admiral Chegwidden. Without conscious thought she called out, "Attention on deck!" and came to attention herself.

Grinning at her he said, "Coates, you don't have to do that any more, but it did have a nice feel to it. Thank you."

"Admiral, I didn't know you were coming in today! The General is completely booked up this afternoon. I don't know how I can get you in to see him!"

"Well then, it's a good thing that I'm not here to see him."

"Then who are you here to see, Sir?"

Before AJ had a chance to reply, Mac came out of her office right on the dot of 1200 hours. "How did I know you would already be here, darling?" she asked going up to him and placing a kiss on his cheek.

AJ's arm came up around her waist as mouths fell open in shock around the room. "Do you think I would dare to keep you waiting for food, my love?"

"Oh my God! You're engaged to the Admiral?!" Jen questioned loudly.

Harm, who had heard Mac's fiancé was coming to take her to lunch, had holed himself up in his office with the door and blinds closed. But even so, he knew who had arrived by that loud question.

"Yes," Mac replied. "And we would like you all to be at the wedding on Saturday," she added.

"Shall we go, Sarah? I wanted to make a stop on the way to the restaurant and I know you have to be in court at 1400 hours."

"I'm ready," she told him and they headed to the elevator.

As soon as they were gone, Jen knocked on Harm's office door, forgetting that the General was waiting for his coffee.

To be continued….