Never Say Never

by jpstar57

From when they met in the White House Rose Garden, Mac and Harm were more than colleagues as they understood their attraction to each other. As a result, certain events didn't happen. Mac did not say "Never" in Paraguay. She said something else. AJ is not happy with their choices. They pretty much defy his order of, "Don't get comfortable." Co-Authored with csijagfan & dnieder.

11. Chapter 11

Never Say Never

Chapter 11

Tuesday, July 31, 2001

1000 Hours Local Time

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church VA

AJ was working at his desk. He was enjoying the quietude of his office. He didn't have to deal with anyone shooting holes in the ceiling or any sexual tension. He rarely dealt with Sarah Rabb as she kept to herself. She kept a circle of close friends, Harriet Roberts, Tracy Marshall, and Carolyn Imes around her. Carolyn was the only lady of the four not with a child.

The quietude of his day was interrupted as Tiner buzzed in. AJ hit the speaker button on his phone to answer, "Yes Tiner?"

"Admiral, Mr. Webb is here."

AJ muttered a silent curse before he replied, "Send him in."

Clayton Webb came in and without ceremony sat in one of the high-backed guest chairs in front of the desk.

"What do you want Webb? You can't have Sarah Rabb because she's gonna give birth any second and you got your wish to have her husband out of town."

"Yeah, I know that AJ. Someone at the Inspector General's Office is sniffing around Project Phoenix again. The fact that Tom Boone was acquitted of participating in a massacre in Vietnam prompted someone to look closer into that project."

"So, what? They uncovered a lot about that project in the trial. What are you worried about."

"It seems that Matthew O'Hara, who's now living in DC, is working with the VA to throw light on the number of Vietnam vets coming home hooked on heroin. It seems that after they won their court case involving the aftereffects of Agent Orange on in-country veterans, they're focusing on the heroin trade in the Golden Triangle during the war. Some things are bound to come out."

"It's old news. I have nothing to worry about. Your father was the one run out of Vietnam when his dealing with the heroin dealers became known."

"Well, you should be worried. You were getting your information from those same dealers after my father gave their names to you."

You forget, I never asked who those guys were, and your father never told me. They just gave me information on Charlie and his NVA friends."

"It's always about perception. There are enough people out there asking questions, most especially O'Hara. Remember that's how he got his MOH. Don't be surprised if he uses his niece to get to you."

"What do you propose I do about that?" AJ asked sarcastically.

"O'Hara needs to be neutralized. His acquittal in his trial threw a wrench in my plans to put him away in Leavenworth. With Rabb out of town, we can set him up to take a fall."

"I can't condone violence on a US citizen. Especially one whose niece works for me. You better hope whatever you have planned doesn't lead back to me."

"I'll do my best," Webb said as he got up to leave.

AJ sat back and blew out a breath. He muttered, "I hope Webb has a fatal heart attack."

Monday, August 13, 2001

1545 Local Time

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church VA

In the two weeks Harm was gone, Mac and he corresponded via emails. She had been working exclusively at headquarters since she was pregnant. Mac didn't go out into the field to do interviews. Mac sent her yeoman, PO1/paralegal Emma Gardiner out on interviews for her cases.

Right now, she was sitting at the prosecution's side of the courtroom. She just finished a trial where Bud was defending a lance corporal who was arrested for DUI. When he did the breathalyzer evaluation of his alcohol level was well beyond any state's legal limit and on top of that he ran over several street signs and wrecked more than a few parked cars in his wild drunken ride through the Quantico Marine Housing Section.

The trial lasted the whole of two days. The panel deliberated for two hours and came back with a guilty verdict. Commander Amy Helfman announced that sentencing would be on Monday. She banged her gavel and called the court to adjourn. The lance corporal was handcuffed and led off to confinement. Bud was putting his case paperwork away and he turned to leave. Mac also put her paperwork away and she stopped Bud before he left.

"Bud, I'm sorry for your defendant," she told him.

"Thank you, ma'am, he didn't give me a lot to work with. Breaking up with your girlfriend was no excuse for his behavior" Would you like to strike a sentencing deal, ma'am?" Bud asked.

"Not right now Bud. But there is one thing you can do for me," Mac asked almost embarrassed.

"What's that ma'am?" Bud asked.

Mac reached out both her hands to him and said, "Help me up."

Bud had to smile as he took her hands and gently eased her out of her chair. "No problem, ma'am."

"And walk slowly," Mac said as she hooked her hand on his bent elbow as they walked out of the courtroom. Halfway to the elevator Mac had to stop and take a good breath. Bud felt her grip on his elbow tighten. He knowingly asked, "Are you having contractions now ma'am?"

Mac smiled as she replied, "Yes Bud I am. I've been having them for the last 25 minutes and 30 seconds. They are about eight minutes apart and this was the third one. Get me to my office and we'll call Loren from there. Don't panic they aren't that strong now."

"No problem, ma'am," Bud said.

When Mac arrived at her office, she called Loren's office at Naval Intelligence in the Pentagon to tell her, "Loren it's time. Meet me in Bethesda."

At that point, Bud stepped outside to tell Harriet, "I'm taking Colonel Rabb to Bethesda in our car. We'll leave her Cherokee here. There's no sense in her paying for parking at the hospital."

With that Mac came out of her office. She and Bud walked out to the parking lot to his family car for the ride to Bethesda.

About 1 hour later

Carrier Patrick Henry

Atlantic Ocean off Virginia Capes

Harm was very pissed off. All he did in the two weeks on the carrier was hold the hands of the Fleet JAG and Naval Intelligence officer as they interrogated the al-Qaeda operative. All the operative kept saying was his willingness to perform in his jihad to bring the infidel United States empire down.

He was in his quarters preparing his latest, useless report to NI and the White House Situation Room when there was a knock on his door. He called out "Enter!"

The female PO1 named Joanne Lang, who worked as a legal man for Fleet JAG officer, Lt. Aldrich, came in to say, "Commander Rabb, you have a call in CIC from President Bartlett."

Harm got up so quickly that he knocked his desk chair over. He was courteous enough to say, "Thank you, Joanne." He went through the ship to CIC as fast as he could. When he got to CIC, Aldrich handed him the phone and gave him space.

Harm took a breath to calm himself and said, "Cmdr. Rabb here Mr. President."

"Commander, get on a plane and come home. I've been reading your reports. You've been as needed out there as tits on a bull. I shouldn't have let Nelson and Chegwidden send you out there."

Harm had to chuckle as he readily agreed, "I concur sir."

"I already told Capt. Ingles to lend you a Tomcat. So have a safe flight."

"Thank you, sir. I'll make the arrangements."

"Oh, and Harm, Sarah went into labor earlier today. She's at Bethesda with Loren acting as birth coach. So, proceed straight to Bethesda immediately upon landing. Goodbye, Harm, and congratulations."

"Aye, aye sir, and thank you, Mr. President."

They both ended the call. Harm practically broke the door down on his way to the pilots' locker room to get into his flight gear. Lt. Elizabeth "Skates" Hawkes, his RIO from his stint flying off the "Henry" in the Mediterranean, came as he was putting the compression gear on over his flight suit.

"Hey Harm. I'm gonna be your RIO for the ride home," Skates said as she began to put her compression gear on

"Excellent. I promise we won't have to push anyone this time."

"Good to hear. There is one thing you should know though."

"What's that?"

There's a massive storm over the DC Area. So, Pax River and Andrews are socked in. We have to fly to McGuire-Lakehurst in New Jersey or Willow Grove in Pennsylvania."

Suits me. Let's make the choice when we see the air boss. We can borrow a Humvee from the motor pool. To get to DC."

When they got to the Air Control level of the tower, the XO, and the air boss both told them, "McGuire-Lakehurst and Willow Grove are both out. The storm over DC is big enough to cover them. You'll do better to go to Oceana. It's well south of the storm."

"So, Oceana it is," Harm said. He went back to CIC to place a call to his office. When the call connected, he got his yeoman, PO1 Carolyn Turner. He said to her, "Carolyn, we have to fly into Oceana because the weather over DC into Pennsylvania and New Jersey is totally covered by a storm."

"Okay, boss I'll get the Secret Service to meet you there for a ride."

"Any word on Sarah?"

"Lt. Singer called here to keep us abreast of her progress and told us her labor is proceeding normally."

"Well, that's good. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Boss, Colonel Rabb did say, and I quote, "Don't take any unnecessary chances to get to her. She's fine and got Loren and your parents with her. Even President Bartlett passed that message along. So, I'm telling you, boss, BE CAREFUL!"

Harm chuckled at her near insubordination as he replied, "Message received Carolyn. I'll be careful. See you later."

When he ended the call, Harm and Skates went out to their plane. After they performed the pre-flight inspection, they climbed aboard. As he stood to climb into the cockpit, he looked in the direction of Vultures Row and saw the XO, Cmdr. Loftness looking down on him. He saluted him to which Loftness stood at attention and returned Harm's rendering with a parade ground quality salute.

Harm climbed in and started the power-up process. Eventually, they reached the catapult. Harm saluted the CAT Officer, and they were launched.

1 Hour Later

National Naval Medical Center

Bethesda, MD

Mac was in the labor bed with Loren holding her left hand and Trish holding her right. Loren and Trish looked at each other over Mac's head as she bore down on another contraction and squeezed their hands. Just as the contraction passed, Mac's doctor, Colonel Eve Baldwin came in and said, "How're we doing Sarah?" she bent to examine Mac.

"What's this we shit doctor. I'm the one having the baby," Mac panted. "I gotta be dilated enough, it's been five hours."

Eve smiled at Mac's complaint. She'd heard it more times than she could count. She replied, "Yes, you're right. You're starting to crown. Let's get you moving to delivery. I'll see you in there. I'm going to get scrubbed and masked."

On her way to get scrubbed, Eve called in the nurses to have Mac's bed moved to delivery. Loren and Trish went with a nurse to get gowned and masked up to join Mac in the delivery room. Once in the room Mac was transferred to the birthing table. Eve came in and set herself up on the stool in front of Mac. Trish and Loren came in gowned and masked to take Mac's hands.

"Okay, our little one's head is halfway out. Okay Sarah, take a deep breath, bear down, and push. You two count to ten."

Mac took a breath and started to push. She felt as the head moved through the birth canal.

"Okay stop. Its head slipped out a bit."

"A bit?! It feels like it's stuck." Mac whined.

"Don't worry everything is all right. One more push and it'll be out. Now, take a breath and push."

Mac took a breath, bore down, and pushed. As she felt the head slide out completely, her pain magically ceased. Eve called, "Okay the head is out. Give me suction." When she used the bulb suction at the nose and mouth, Mac heard the most beautiful sound in the world as the baby took its first breath and let out a small bleat then a whine.

"Okay one more push and we'll know the gender. Okay Sarah, push."

Mac pushed again and felt the rest of the baby slide out. When it cleared, Eve called out, "We have a girl! Time of birth 2050 hours."

As Eve went about bringing the afterbirth Mac put her hands on each side of her head and started crying.

Loren and Trish were bending over to examine the squirming bundle. Eve clamped the umbilical cord and asked, "Who's cutting the cord?"

Loren spoke up and said, "Aunt Trish should cut it. She's finally a Nana."

Trish smiled took the scissors and cut the cord where Eve indicated. Once that was done, the nurses took the baby to the warming lamp to clean her up. While she was receiving her care, the baby made quite the indignant racket. Once they cleaned and swaddled her, the nurses brought her over to nestle her in Mac's arms.

"Do we have a name for this beauty?" Eve asked.

"If this baby was a girl, Harm and I wanted to name her, Patricia Catherine Rabb after Trish and my maternal grandmother," Mac answered.

Trish was so overjoyed she couldn't get the words out. She went over to embrace Mac and the baby.

"Speaking of Harm, do we have any ETA on him?" Loren asked.

2200 Hours

Angels 20

Over the Virginia Capes

Approaching Oceana Naval Air Station

"What's Oceana saying about their weather condition Skates?"

"Looking good Hammer. Winds blowing from the southwest, about fifteen knots, high ceiling. We are cleared to land."

"Got that, I'm lining up our approach."

Harm turned the plane to port and saw the Oceana runway lights just below the horizon. He settled onto the glide slope and began his landing.

"Gear down." Harm called.

He flew so that he touched down at the end of the runway and rolled to a smooth slow down at the other end. He got behind the "Follow Me" truck to a secure hangar. He saw that the "Marine One" helicopter was waiting outside the hangar. He stopped inside the hangar and shut the engines down. When he got down to the deck, his Secret Service agent Bob Campbell was waiting for him as he climbed down. They shook hands.

"Bob, I see I have a ride home."

"Yep, President Bartlett sent it. Though as of about an hour ago, there's no rush. Sarah gave birth to a baby girl." Smiling, he took a cigar and handed it to Harm.

Skates came over, wrapped his arms around him, and gave Harm a loud wet kiss on his cheek. When she pulled back, she said, "Congratulations Harm."

"Thanks, Elizabeth. Listen do you need a ride?"

No, I'm fine. I have quarters here and my car is parked in the lot at our squadron hangar across the field. Give Mac and your daughter a kiss for me. Do you have her name yet?"

"No Colonel Rabb ordered me to keep it a surprise until you get to the hospital," Campbell replied. He added, "So commander if you want to find out, let's get going. You can change into your tans on the copter."

"I'm right behind you Bob," Harm said.

Harm went over to the plane and retrieved his seabag from the plane's luggage compartment. He and Agent Campbell went over and boarded the copter. Harm changed into his uniform in flight. After he changed, he asked, "Are we going directly to the hospital?"

"No, we're going to the White House first. We're going to Bethesda with the Boss. He and Dr. Bartlett want to meet your new daughter; after you meet her first of course."

"Of course," Harm said with a smile.

When the copter landed on the Lawn, President Bartlett and Dr. Abby Bartlett came out to meet Harm. After they shook hands and offered their congratulations, they went over to where "The Beast" was parked in the motorcade ready to leave the White House grounds. As soon as they were closed in, they set out for Bethesda.

When they arrived at the front entrance, the President let Harm get out first and rush in. The Bartletts followed more sedately.

Harm went up to the reception desk, showed his identification, and asked, "Mrs. Sarah Rabb's room please."

The receptionist gave him the room number and directions. When Harm got to the room, he paused to catch his breath and opened the door. He called softly, "Mac?"

"Harm come in and meet your daughter," Mac replied from behind the privacy curtain.

Harm went into step behind the curtain and beheld an exceptionally beautiful site; Mac holding their daughter to the breast in her feeding.

All of Harm's dreams came true at that moment.