Chapter 26

The years had been kind to Adele DeLong. She was still thin, with skin healthier than most twenty-somethings and her graying hair was kept short, covered by her signature platinum blond tint.

Her reputation of being a no nonsense, my 'way or the highway' kind of dignitary made her the top candidate for such a prestigious position but it certainly didn't make her any humbler. Few dared to challenge her authority and those that tried were dealt with swiftly.

And then there was Vukovic, the only son of her closest friend, a woman that was more of a sister. He was the child she never had, the boy she swore to watch over as Margret Vukovic lay on her deathbed when Vic was only ten years old.

Vukovic's father was a former sailor who had a woman in every port, constantly cheated on Margret and believed being a father meant sending ridiculously expensive presents from exotic ports of call. The months that Douglas Vukovic was home he could barely spend quality time with his son and Adele was left to try and pick up the pieces.

DeLong attempted to steer her godson away from the Navy, the military and their little boys club, but when he turned eighteen, Vic enlisted anyway. He was a lousy sailor, unfit for the structure of military life and just when he was ready to get out he crossed paths with a JAG officer. His future, one that was now secured by his godmother, was set.

OCS was difficult but law school was where he cultivated his penchant for manipulating the truth.

He was smart, witty and handsome. Women came to him like flies on honey but there was one that became kryptonite to his charm and wit, the only woman that dared embarrass him so badly it destroyed him - Tally Mayfield.

He met her in law school in their early twenties, courted for three months and Vic was sure he'd met his future wife. The wedding plans began after a short engagement - a church wedding because his beloved godmother was a staunch Catholic.

There were tours of banquet halls, days of sampling cakes and fine dining menus. Mayfield's dress was worth a small fortune and Vic had sunk his father's life insurance benefits on a posh winter honeymoon. And then came Jane, Tally's best friend, her maid of honor and the woman Vukovic would sleep with "only until wedding day."

In retrospect, it was his fault that Jane had a crisis of conscience when a night of passion brought about that little monster in him. She consented, it wasn't rape but seeing his perverse appetites sent Jane running to Tally hours before the wedding.

Subsequently Vukovic was left at the altar with a church packed to the gills, an embarrassment for him and his godmother. Adele could no longer deny that her godson was odd, nor could she blame his indifference for the fairer sex. He'd picked up the worst trait from his father and with it would come a few incidents that had to be swept under the rug. Money had a way of keeping most people quiet and DeLong had plenty of it.

"Aunt Addie."

Seeing Vukovic standing at the entrance to her office made her sigh deeply. He was silenced immediately by one of DeLong's slender fingers pointing straight up. She was on a call and an important one Vic discerned from the tone of her voice.

Adele hated having to pacify the British government when an American stepped out of line. They loved to remind her that she was a glorified visitor and she enjoyed her rebuttal. "Well I wouldn't have to be here if you weren't so accommodating with our common enemies. I'll speak to the DOD director about this little blip. It will be handled. Oh, if a word of this shows up on the evening news the consequences…That's not a threat."

She exchanged the usual pleasantries, fake as they were and then settled her eyes on Vukovic. "I told you never to call me that. Within these walls it's Ambassador DeLong…are we-" She paused and scanned an emergent bruise under his eye. It was beging to show the most spectacular colors not unlike the beating Captain Rabb had given him over a month ago. "What the hell happened now?"

"She's as insane as he is!" He entered the office and flopped onto a sofa at the rear wall. His arm dramatically draped across his forehead as he let out the most insufferable sigh.

"She? She who?"

"Mac…Colonel MacKenzie."

Adele's hands slammed atop her desk, the sound echoing between the four walls. She would scream if it wasn't so undignified. "For fuck's sakes, Gregory! I told you to keep your distance from the two of them. Why can't you listen for once?"

He couldn't. He wouldn't. Having Mac so close to him was making his head spin and he wouldn't stop until he had her. "She won't prosecute Rabb."

"Captain Harmon Rabb." She visibly twitched upon hearing the name. The man was a thorn in her side and had been since she set foot on a carrier years prior determined to crush the antiquated gentleman's club that was the Navy. She didn't really give a rat's ass about Tailhook or women's rights although she pretended to. What she saw was a chance to level up in congress on a platform that needed a strong advocate.

Yes, Vukovic's plan to have the pair pitted against one another was juvenile but Adele rather liked the concept. To her, MacKenzie was just as bad of an apple and a disgrace to the uniform given her own legal bumps. "I spoke to the SECNAV and explained that Colonel MacKenzie was the best fit to rid ourselves of that naissance given their former working relationship."

"They're married now."

"Excuse me? Who's married?"

"Harm and Mac."

She'd clearly heard wrong because the universe wouldn't be that cruel. "What?"

Vic sat up with a groan and ambled his way to a large, ornate globe that housed various bottles of alcohol. He opted for the whiskey, poured two fingers worth and downed it in one gulp. "They're married. They got married over the weekend."

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know how. It's not like that bitch and that asshole are gonna sit me down and show off their wedding album. I wasn't even invited." Vic sure as hell didn't want details of their honeymoon. He cringed at the thought of Harm inside Mac, his hands all over her body, his mouth tasting her skin. The bastard was probably too cheap for anything fancy and opted to enjoy the post wedding festivities in some crappy hotel.

What that woman saw in a ridiculous old jet jock was confusing. Maybe this was a ruse and he was being played for a fool. Yes, he'd ask to see the marriage certificate and force them to prove- "What?"

"I said, I can try to force the issue."

Vic shook his head. "General Cresswell was there, Admiral Hollings was too. You can't go that route." He winced when Adele took a napkin, dabbed it in water and began to cleanse the cut on his cheek.

"Cresswell is here? In London?" She said cooly, the wheels in her mind already beginning to churn.

"He wants to oversee the trial so that it's handled with civility. The Navy can't handle any more bad press."

Adele grinned, she had a little free time in the late morning, maybe it was time she visited with the General. She ran a hand through his hair and smiled. "Don't worry, I think I'll pay Cresswell a visit tomorrow. I also need to remind Hollings that I must be kept abreast of everything relating to JAG, especially the Captain's trial."

Vic pushed her hand away, she was treating him like a little boy and he hated the codling "Don't. Everyone already thinks I'm a pussy. The staff, they talk shit about me at every turn. One of them told me to man up and let that asshole get away with beating me."

"Oh Vic." She had no children of her own and thankfully so, Gregory could be charming and just as quickly turn into a brat. With a little force, her hand connected with the side of Vic's face, a slap that stung like hell but would not leave a mark.

"Stop sniveling."

"Oww, jeez! I'm not sniveling! Today has been a royal pain in the ass, thank you very much! The bottom line, Ambassador is that old sea dog attacking me - unprovoked. If we were civilians, Harmon Rabb would have gone to jail, but because he walks on water the Navy looks away."

"Gregory, you're sniveling again. Let me handle this. And stay away from Colonel MacKenzie, she isn't worth your time or efforts." Days such as these Adele was happy she never had children.

Harm took his six mile route and kept his pace faster than usual. He wanted to get back before Mac woke and hopefully have breakfast before she left for work.

As he ran his mind was focused on one thing - Gregory Vukovic and it annoyed him to no end that it wasn't on a lovelier subject like the woman occupying his bed. Getting married was one thing, staying married was another and Harm knew he needed to decide his future sooner or later.

God, why wouldn't Jess come forward? He promised her some discretion although couldn't honor keeping her husband out of the loop. Scuttlebutt had a way of reaching the most distant ear and despite his need to bust Vukovic, he knew Jess had suffered enough.

Before bed he'd read an email from Lt. Graves asking him to stop the investigation. His reply was a simple "I can't" along with the promise to not hound Jess anymore.

There was still Lt. Mayfield to consider but, she was either avoiding him or on a classified assignment that made her impossible to reach. In the past he would have contacted Webb for answers but that bridge was blown up, burnt to a crisp and swept away with the tides. "Good riddance."

Clayton Webb - That's another man he'd happily eviscerate even if it meant the death sentence. Between Paraguay and that stupid scheme to catch Simon Tanveer that almost got Mac killed; Clay was as good as dead.

He turned towards his neighborhood chuckling over his newfound homicidal thoughts. Hell, he'd always been defensive of Mac and now he had more of a right to be. They were married. She was his wife and that gave him a right to protect her at all costs.

….

Harm unlocked the door to a quiet apartment and upon a quick look at his watch he had a good hour and a half before Mac left. When he walked into the bathroom he found her in the shower. "Hey Marine."

"Hey yourself, sailor."

"Mind if I join?"

There was a bit of hesitation on her part but eventually the shower door cracked open enough so that Mac could peek outside. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I am. Unless you want some private time." He stood barefoot with his t-shirt hanging awkwardly off one shoulder. Sweat clung to every inch of skin and his hair stuck up in a wet mess.

"Okay then."

"Good morning." Upon stepping into the stall, he kissed her but it wasn't reciprocated. The two word, monotone answers, the questioning look in her eyes, the way she didn't kiss him began to allude to some problem. His mind raced to find answers but there was nothing out of place other than his morning run. "What's wrong?"

Mac's doe eyes stared up at him and her mouth opened and closed but no words came out. She shook her head and then reached around him to grab the poof which hung from her body wash. "Nothing…It's nevermind."

"It's something." Like the trial that still hung over him or the replacement chosen by Cresswell who was an outstanding prosecutor. "I spoke to the General after you left for staff meeting, he strongly believes that no matter what tricks Vukovic has up his sleeve, Admiral Morris will agree to an Admiral's Mast and reduction in pay."

No matter the reason, he assaulted a junior officer and consequences needed to be paid. "Promotions won't come easy and even if I retire as an O-6, I've had one helluva career that I'm proud of."

Her eyes had closed as the warm water rained down her back. Yes, Harm's trial was a concern but, this morning she'd woken up with a different worry on her mind. "We didn't make love last night or the night before that."

Why did that sound so trivial and needy? The latter a description she never wanted as a wife.

He snorted, "And they say guys have a one-track mind."

"That's not funny…we're newlyweds." Actually, they were more like newly-everything. Newly living together (for now). Newly sleeping in the same bed. Newly dating - although they hadn't exactly gone on a real date, had they? Newly sharing showers.

Mac rested her head against his chest and sighed. "I'm sorry, that was stupid and I'm just overwhelmed."

His arms wrapped around her as he kissed the top of her head. "I understand. Night before last I know you needed to rest and last night - shit, Mac. I want to pretend that none of this bothers me but it does. This wasn't the way I wanted to leave the Navy." It was all a little unfair given his accuser.

"You're not gone yet."

"I know Vukovic's done bad things and I want to nail him to the wall but I don't know how. Being in court is not going to help me find those girls."

What he wanted most was for the prick to be as far away from Mac as possible. Harm didn't trust that he wouldn't hurt her. He'd seen the look in his eyes and the vile words spoken during a drunken night at a bar. Married or not, he needed to protect her.

"What about Kate?"

"That's a bust. Lieutenant Nicholson refuses to budge and unless Vukovic has a little black book we could steal, I'm out of options."

Mac grabbed a bar of soap and rubbed it in her hands to create a lather that she used to wash his chest. "She could be ordered to comply. It's in poor taste but-"

"She'll resign." Harm interrupted. "Kate tried and Jess threatened to leave the Navy. The poor girl is terrified her husband will see her as damaged goods and leave."

"If he treats her like that then maybe Jess shouldn't be married to him." She stopped her hands from moving along his torso and brought them up to Harm's chest. Beneath her fingers Mac could feel his strong heartbeat. She loved this new found closeness, the intimacy of simply being a couple.

It all made her wonder how his feelings would change if…if. Her eyes closed tightly as a gross image crossed through her mind - a waking nightmare of Vukovic tying her onto a four poster bed and…and… "Would you still be with me if *I* was damaged goods?"

Harm's hands thar were using a poof to apply bodywash to Mac's back, stopped suddenly. Lord, he couldn't imagine it - her pain, the guilt most victims felt. Recovery was a long process and not one he ever wanted someone he loved to endure. "Please don't think about that."

"Would you leave me?"

"Would I what?"

"Leave me…if Vic-"

"Of course not! Why would you ask that? Don't you know me by now?" Harm was actually offended.

"I've upset you."

"Of course I'm upset." He rinsed the soap off his body and stepped out. Mac would find him some twenty minutes later cutting tomatoes for an omelet. "Our first fight."

"That wasn't a fight."

"Disagreement?"

Mac stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle. "Neither, it was a misunderstanding. My shrink says I self-sabotage my own happiness and I hadn't really understood that until now."

"Stop doing that and start trusting me a little."

"I'll try."

Harm placed the knife down and turned in her arms. "Try harder because I'm not going anywhere, Sarah. I know this marriage thing is absolutely crazy but, I'm in it with you. This is it. You're it for me. I love you, Mac."

"I love you too…I just." She sighed and dropped her head on his chest. "This. You and me, it feels too good to be true."

"I know. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop." He glanced down and noticed she was wearing only half her uniform. Skirt, blouse and pair of pink slippers that were definitely not regulation. For years he'd wanted to slip those Marine greens off and feel the soft feminine skin below.

On a whim, amnogst giggles and a protest he raised Mac up and sat her on the kitchen island. He stepped between her open thighs and held her hips as they kissed.

"I don't want a quickie." Mac said against his lips. His fingers had begun to pop the buttons of her blouse and a warm hand slipped up her spine.

She was right. "I don't like them either. I like taking my time, making you putty in my hands."

She slapped away the hand that released another button. "I am not putty in your hands. But you might be putty in mine." Mac stretched across the island and took hold of the cordless at the end.

"Who you calling?"

She dialed the now familiar number and smiled when Petty Officer Marion, Harm's yeoman, answered. "Hello Petty Officer, this is Colonel MacKenzie. Can you please call Charlie and let him know he won't be needed today. I woke up feeling a little under the weather and if anything, Captain Rabb can drive me himself. Thank you." She ended the call and place the phone back on the counter.

"You're not sick."

"Nope, just spending a little quality time with my husband." Mac's arms looped around his neck as she inched in to drop a kiss on his lips.

"Mmm, now I realize why they don't want couples working together." Had this been back in Washington, they wouldn't have made it into work early a single day.

"Take me to bed."

"Or lose you forever?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Harm raised her up and walked his way towards the bedroom with Mac wrapped around him. "I'm definitely gonna love being married to you."