December 6, 2003

County Jail – Montgomery County, Virginia

1304 Eastern

Mr. Peabody sat waiting in the meeting room along with Tom Johnson's attorney, Mr. Stone. The two men exchanged small talk as they waited, being acquainted with one another through their years as lawyers in a relatively small town. Their specialties meant that they'd rarely faced each other in the courtroom, with Mr. Stone being predominantly a criminal attorney while Mr. Peabody had been more involved with family and property law.

When the door opened and the deputy escorted Tom Johnson into the room, Mr. Peabody cast a long, harsh look at the man. His utter contempt for the man wasn't shown on his face, concealed behind a mask perfected by years of experience. Besides, he was here with a goal in mind and wasn't about to let his personal feelings distract him from that. So, he waited until Tom Johnson had taken a seat next to his lawyer, opening the folder that sat before him.

"Mr. Peabody, you requested this meeting with myself and my client, so please begin, Sir," Mr. Stone said.

"Thank you, Sir. Yes, I needed to speak with your client on behalf of my clients, Commander Harmon Rabb Jr and Matilda Grace Johnson. As you both have been informed, following the discovery of your client's abandonment of his daughter, Commander Rabb petitioned for emergency guardianship of Matilda," Mr. Peabody said, only to be interrupted by Tom.

"Damn man, trying to steal my daughter. And the business too, from what I've been told," Tom said. "That's my daughter and he can't have her."

Mr. Peabody just coldly stared at Tom for a long moment before speaking again. "Mr. Johnson, I understand a certain level of frustration with the current situation, but I would kindly ask that you allow me to speak without interruption. When I am finished, you and your attorney are more than welcome to ask any questions you may wish or make any statement."

Mr. Stone laid a hand on Tom Johnson's arm as it looked like he was going to go off again. After a brief pause, he indicated that Mr. Peabody could begin again.

"Commander Rabb made that petition rather than see Matilda taken by Children's Services and placed into the system. In the relatively short time that they have known each other, both Commander Rabb and Matilda have come to love one another. The emergency guardianship was granted and a further hearing was scheduled for permanent guardianship, giving the courts time to find you. Now that they have and you have petitioned for Matilda's return to your custody, that hearing will happen on Wednesday. And at that hearing, you will lose. The only question is how badly."

"I find that difficult to believe, Mr. Peabody," Mr. Stone said. "Yes, my client does have problems and we will freely admit them, but he is still the biological father and that does carry some weight with the courts."

"Indeed it does, Sir," Mr. Peabody intoned, as he removed the first set of papers from his folder. "The problem for your client is that single point is your only point. He has no means to support his daughter at this time, nor a place in which they can live. Commander Rabb has the means to support Matilda, he has a good home in which she may live and a willingness to help her achieve any goal she might set for herself."

"So what, I've done that for her too," Mr. Johnson claimed, earning another look.

"But that is somewhat beside the point, Mr. Stone, in light of other problems facing you client," Mr. Peabody went on, ignoring Tom's outburst. He took a second set of papers from his folder and slid them across the table to the other attorney, before sitting back and waiting for a few moments while the contents were read.

"I take it that there is evidence to support these claims," Mr. Stone said, watching Mr. Peabody lift another set of papers from the folder to give him.

"Yes, there are. So, you see, your client has no chance of winning custody. The only thing that might be attained at the guardianship hearing would be to deny Commander Rabb from being appointed Matilda's permanent guardian. Another option would be for your client to allow Commander Rabb to adopt Matilda," Mr. Peabody said, at which point Tom jumped up from the table.

"Give up my daughter? Are you out of your mind, old man? She's my daughter and nobody is going to take her away from me," Tom screamed.

"Yes, they are. Because I promise you, Sir, if your signature isn't on the adoption papers before I leave today, my first stop Monday morning will be to see the deputy United States Attorney. I will turn over the evidence of your fraud, meaning you won't be at the hearing on Wednesday because you'll be in a federal lockup, held as a flight risk, pending indictment on those charges. You can ask Mr. Stone for confirmation, if you wish, but the maximum penalty for loan fraud is 30 years."

"That's blackmail!"

"No, Mr. Johnson, it's simply quid pro quo. Meaning you have something my client wants and we have something we think you want. A fair exchange, you get out of Matilda's life and we forget all about how you almost took her inheritance from her. I'll step outside so you might have some time to talk with your attorney."

Mr. Peabody got up from the table and walked to the door. Knocking, the deputy opened it and allowed him to step outside. At moments like this, he wished for a smoke. Instead, he walked over to the little break room and snuck a cup of coffee, nodding at the notary who was waiting to witness the signatures if necessary. It was ten minutes before a deputy came to find him, saying that he was wanted. Nodding, he motioned for the notary to follow him but had him wait outside the room.

"My client will agree to your terms," Mr. Stone said when Mr. Peabody came back into the room. For his part, Tom Johnson simply sat quietly, the sullen expression on his face being almost laughable.

With that statement, the notary was brought into the room and the papers were quickly signed by both Mr. Stone and Mr. Johnson. Before leaving Falls Church that morning, Mr. Peabody had taken Harm to find a notary and had his part of the papers done. Come Monday morning, the paperwork would be submitted to the court and, on Wednesday, Mattie would have a new father.

Sycamore Street – Falls Church, Virginia

1642 Eastern

Harm hung up the phone with a smile, before looking at the two women sitting at the kitchen table. Beth had driven down from Annapolis to spend the weekend with them and her first suggestion when she'd arrived at just before noon had been to take Mattie shopping. The look on Harm's face had been well worth it, in Beth's mind, especially when she'd held out her hand to request Harm's credit card.

However, there had been a method to Beth's madness. Namely, she was positive that Mattie didn't have anything entirely appropriate to wear for the guardianship hearing. Oh, she knew the teen had a couple of dress from Thanksgiving and they were very nice, but it had been obvious that Mattie hadn't really wanted to wear either of them. And Mattie being upset about her outfit at the hearing wouldn't convey the image Harm was hoping for. So, they would go and find something that was nice, but also that suited Mattie's style.

After two hours of walking through the mall, they'd visited three different stores and ended up getting several outfits. Knowing that Mattie was most comfortable in jeans, Beth decided to skip the dresses and look for pant suits and slacks for the teen, along with blouses and capris. Even Harm had heartily approved of the selections, although he did playfully grimace at the cost of them. What mattered most, however, was that Mattie also liked them and that fact made them worth their weight in gold.

The final stop was one where Harm stubbornly refused to follow. So, while the two women went into Victoria's Secret, Harm trudged to a nearby bench and settled in. Beth helped Mattie pick a pair of bras, along with some panties, two pajama sets and a robe. Beth found herself enjoying shopping with the teen and blushed slightly when one of the salesladies commented on how nice her daughter was. Thankfully, Mattie didn't hear the comment. Beth wasn't sure what her reaction would have been and how it might have reopened recent wounds.

With the shopping concluded, the trio headed for home so that Harm could start working on dinner. He was planning on a vegetable stir fry with rice, making for lots of prep work slicing the various vegetables to be included. Beth and Mattie had elected to sit at the table and watch after they had put the new clothes away. That was when the telephone had rung. Since Mattie was closest to the receiver, she was the one who'd answered before handing it over to Harm.

The women could only hear Harm's side of the conversation, but the growing smile on his face told them as much as the words did. That and the fact that it was Mr. Peabody perked Mattie's interest up, which also added to Beth's. A few moments later, he hung up the telephone and turned.

"Well?" both Beth and Mattie demanded.

"Mr. Johnson signed the papers," was all Harm managed to say before Mattie erupted from her seat and launched herself at Harm.

"Then, we've won," she said, silently thankful that she wouldn't be responsible for her father's going to prison.

"Well, this round we have. Mattie, remember, we still have to go through the meeting with the guardian ad litem as well as the home inspection. Then, there's the hearing on Wednesday with Judge Morten and she has to approve the petition for adoption."

"That time is the hearing on Wednesday?" Beth asked.

"0900."

"What time do we need to leave to be there?"

"Actually, Mattie and I are leaving Tuesday evening and spending the night down there," Harm told Beth.

"Well, make sure there's room for the three of us wherever you're planning to stay," Beth said.

"Beth…."

"Don't even think of saying no, Harmon Rabb. How could you even think I wouldn't be there for this? That I wouldn't want to be there for Mattie on such an important day. Beside, someone needs to make sure you're on time, Pappy," Beth told him, using a teasing tone at the end to lighten the tone, knowing that her message had been heard, loud and clear.

"If I'm Pappy, I guess that makes you Mommy," Harm shot back before catching the look of horror that crossed Beth's face as her eyes shot towards Mattie. Then he realized the implications of his words and turned towards the teen, only to see her back as she raced from the kitchen and then up the stairs. Harm began to follow her before Beth laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, drawing him to a stop.

"I'll go talk with her, while you get dinner finished," Beth said before slowly following the teen.

She wasn't surprised to find the door locked when she got to Mattie's bedroom. So, she stopped to listen for a moment before gently knocking. At first there was no response, so she knocked a little harder.

"Go away," Mattie shouted through the closed door, her voice leaving Beth in no doubt that the teenager had been crying.

"Mattie, please let me in," Beth said. "I really need to talk to you."

Beth waited, straining to hear any sound. After what felt like an eternity, finally the door was unlocked. Beth stepped into the room and closed the door after her, relocking it. Mattie was now sitting on the edge of the bed, not looking up as she examined her shoes with interest.

"Mattie, sweetheart, look at me," Beth said softly. When Mattie did look up, her eyes were red and damp with unshed tears. Beth felt an aching desire to hug the young lady and never let go, but knew that this wasn't the right moment. First, she need to talk to her, after that would be the time.

"Mattie, Harm and I were just teasing each other and I know he didn't realize that his calling me Mommy would hurt you so much, because I know he would never intentionally hurt you. And I know, deep down inside, that you know that too. Just like I know that I could never replace your mother and the love you have for her and I'm not trying to."

"I know, it just hurts so much some times, how much I'm missing her," Mattie said, fresh tears sliding down her cheeks. "I love you and Harm a lot, but I'm not your guys' daughter and you're not my parents."

"News flash, sweetie, but if things go as planned on Wednesday, you will legally be Harm's daughter," Beth replied with an impish smile, which served to draw one from Mattie as well. "And then, when Harm and I do get married, that would legally make me your mother or stepmother or adoptive mother or, I don't know, but it makes me something."

That final tumble of words achieved its desired effect, which was to get Mattie laughing as the absurdity of the situation finally became clear.

"But those words are just titles for other people, Mattie. What matters is that Harm and I love you very much, whether you call us Harm and Beth or Hammer and Skates or Dad and Mom. And part of our loving you means we want you to remember your mother and the love she had for you and you have for her," Beth told Mattie before finally opening her arms for the teen, who readily stepped into them.

Harm's call for dinner eventually broke the two women apart and Beth guided Mattie to the restroom, helping the teen to erase some of the signs that she'd been crying. Beth also cleaned her own face as well before leading Mattie downstairs.

Andrews Air Force Base – Camp Springs, Maryland

2218 Eastern

An unmarked hanger at the far end of the base was one of several used by the CIA, where planes and their cargos could be kept from prying eyes. Tonight, it was serving to shelter a C-17 which had brought the wounded and dead back from the mission to capture Fahd. The agency didn't want to broadcast the heavy toll that single mission had exacted, as there were four hearses awaiting the deceased.

Among those watching events were Mac and Mrs. Webb. Clay's mother seemed to have aged several years over the last two days and looked extremely frail to Mac's eyes. Losing her only son seemed to have taken something vital from Mrs. Webb. For her part, Mac had slowly come to terms with the loss. Last night, she'd been up for a long time reflecting on her relationship with Clay and that reflection brought with it some bitter truths.

Mac had come to realize that she was in love with the idea of being loved, of that one man who would love her. She had been starved of love for too many years while growing up, making her ready to accept the words of love without ever witnessing those words in action. Dalton, Mic and Webb had all said what she needed to hear, yet none had ever really shown her them. Mic had probably come closest, resigning his commission and moving halfway around the world to be with her. Yet, it had also come with a price, with Mic constantly pushing her for a decision.

Clay, on the other hand, hadn't really pushed for anything. He'd been seemingly content to take what she was willing to give. Yet, the one thing that she would have wanted most was the one thing she was certain he wouldn't give. The secrets, the things hidden, were the things that would inevitably have gotten between them. For their relationship to have worked, he would have needed to leave the CIA.

Now, that decision was taken from them, just as he had been taken from her. And the one person she used to talk to in times like this was the one person she refused to go to now. The walls between them were simply too high to climb and too thick to breach, a small voice in her head rehearing Harm's stinging words about the men in her life being either dead or wishing they were. How true those words were, she thought, as she realized only Harm seemed to have escaped the curse that was her life.

The sound of a car door closing brought her back to the moment, as the last hearse was loaded. The hanger door was opened enough for them to drive through, along with letting those assembled depart. Mrs. Webb stood next to Mac for a moment before walking off to her chauffeured car, leaving Mac as the last to leave. A cold, wet rain had begun while she had been inside and the weather now perfectly matched her mood. Getting behind the wheel of her Corvette, she plan to drive home and make the decision on her next posting so that she could submit it first thing Monday morning.