Chapter 13
"NO! Oh God no! It's just that I'm sure that was meant for you," Mac gasped.
"A heart attack was 'meant' for me?" AJ questioned incredulously.
"I know how that sounds Sir, but I've had this feeling all morning that something awful was going to happen to you. When I got here and saw someone on the floor, I thought for sure it was you till I saw Harm," Mac told him.
Not liking the sound or this at all, as well as the fact that AJ hadn't even seemed to notice that she was there, Vicky came over to clutch his free arm and said, "Oh AJ, I thought it was you too at first! When that dark haired girl that went with Harm and I were talking in her office we heard the crash, I was so afraid it was you!"
Mac looked at Vicky and wondered why she had such a bad feeling about this woman. Was it just the fact that Vicky was dating the man she loved, or was it more than that? Why was she here just when a perfectly healthy forty-year-old man had a heart attack? But then how could she have had anything to do with it when she hadn't even been in the room at the time?
Vicky was also staring at Mac. She knew from the things that Mac had said, she was going to have to be on her guard around her.
Knowing that there were things that needed to be done, AJ started delegating, as any good leader would. Like military people all over the world, they got things handled first, then when the important things were done; they could deal with their emotions. "Sturgis, since you and Harm are close would you be the one to contact his mother?"
"Yes Sir, but maybe we should wait just a bit until we have word on…his condition?"
"Good thinking. Why don't you head over to Bethesda and wait for word. If it is bad news, Coates shouldn't be there to face it alone."
"I will Sir."
"Mac, since Coates is at the hospital, would you see about telling Mattie?"
"Oh God, I'd forgotten she'd need to be told. This will kill her!"
"We don't know that the worst has happened yet. It'll be best to wait until we have word on his condition, but I thought you'd be the best choice to talk to her."
"I will Sir," she replied just as Sturgis had.
"Bud, I'd like you to start clearing schedules. Cancel or postpone everything possible. Start with my meeting with the SECNAV," AJ instructed and then felt a wave of guilt. When he was on his way back to the office to check on things, he'd kept hoping that something would come up so he could get out of the afternoon's meetings. However there was no way he would have wished for some thing like this!
"AJ, I realize with all that is going on, lunch is probably the last thing on your mind. Will you come over for dinner tonight instead?" Vicky asked.
He looked down at her as if he'd forgotten she was even there. With a sad smile, he said, "I think that would be best. I'll see you this evening, but I'll need to call you later to let you know what time."
"That's fine dear," she told him and stood on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you for understanding Vicky," he responded and returned her kiss with one on her cheek as well.
After she left the JAG staff sprang into action and began the jobs the Admiral had assigned them. All were in shock at what had happened to Harm and very worried what the outcome would be.
Forty-five minutes later the phone on his desk rang and AJ picked it up. Sturgis identified himself and then with a catch in his voice, said, "After working on him for quite some time the doctor pronounced Harm dead, Sir. There will be an autopsy, but they are listing cause of death as a massive coronary. I was so very surprised at how Petty Officer Coates reacted when they gave us the news. I was expecting them to have to give her a sedative, but instead she took one deep breath and said that she would have to go and tell Mattie. It was amazing the change that came over her. It was almost as if she 'grew up' in that moment. I don't know that she won't fall apart later, but for now she is on her way to break the news to Mattie. I'm about to call his mother, but knew you were all waiting on the news too."
"Thank you Sturgis, I'll let everyone here know. Please tell his mother that if there is anything at all she needs, she has only to let us know."
"Yes Sir, I will."
"And Sturgis will you be okay?"
"Thank you Sir, yes, I'll make it."
To be continued…..