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Chapter Forty-Five
Mac's Room
Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
0925 Local
AJ watched Jarvis pace back and forth anxiously. Mac had been right on the money, even if she had said it just to goad him, this guy was way out of his league. Unfortunately, that probably made the situation worse. There was no telling what he'd do in a panic. His wife stood and watched with her arms folded and an unreadable expression on her face. Chegwidden frowned slightly, he would have thought she'd be even more nervous than Jarvis. Something wasn't tracking right. He cast a surreptitious eye over at Mac. For some irrational reason, he felt if he didn't notice her, maybe the Jarvises wouldn't either. She hadn't moved from where she'd landed when Jarvis pushed her away. Curled on her right side, he couldn't tell if she was conscious or not. He looked back at Jarvis and cleared his throat, it was time to start doing his part to get out of this mess.
"It will go easier on you two if you give up now," AJ said. "They're not going to let you walk out of here with hostages."
Liz Jarvis looked at him with contempt, "Is there a hostage manual somewhere that requires you to spout that crap?" She glanced over at her husband who had finally stopped pacing. "Suck it up, Alan. We've got the Navy's Judge Advocate General and his Chief of Staff. They're going to do whatever it takes to keep the two of them safe. So long as we don't panic, we'll be fine."
Chegwidden narrowed his gaze, Mrs. Jarvis was sounding more dangerous all the time. He directed his attention towards her, "Don't think for one minute that they'll negotiate with you. Staying on this course will get you killed."
"You and the Colonel will go first," Liz said menacingly.
AJ shrugged, "When you put on the uniform, you pretty much accept that you could lose your life defending your country." Damn, what would it take to rattle this woman? He glanced over when he heard Jarvis give an incredulous snort.
"Defending your country? That's a laugh. It's all smoke and mirrors with you people. Admiral Jacobs was doing something." Jarvis glared at the Admiral and then over at Mac, "And because of that traitorous bitch, our country is still at the mercy of oil-rich psychopaths and the Admiral's dead!" He brandished the pistol angrily, "He was worth ten of her, I should just kill her now."
"Shut up, Alan," Mrs. Jarvis snapped, "Jacobs was an idiot. He could have made a fortune and all he wanted to do was get involved in that quagmire over there. Eric had the right idea."
"And now he's dead, too." AJ retorted, "Either of you notice a pattern? Keep making the same bad choices and you can follow in both their footsteps." He had a moment to prepare as Liz closed the distance between them, drew back and slugged him. He shook his head trying to clear it, that woman packed a wallop. No wonder Mac wasn't moving.
"Liz... ," Jarvis began.
"Shut up! Both of you can just shut up!" Liz growled. She grabbed the other chair and threw herself down. AJ suppressed a smile, now she was rattled.
The noise was causing her head to throb. Mac could almost make out words but it didn't seem worth the effort. It started to fade and she gratefully began to slip a little deeper into the silence. What had happened? She'd been talking to the Admiral and then... then... what? She tried to focus and winced. Wimp, she chided herself, get on with it - talked to the Admiral and then... Wiley Coyote showed up... what... ? ... oh hell, if her mind had finally decided to take a hike, it could at least do it painlessly... Wait a minute ... no, not Wiley Coyote... the Acme Assassination Gang! The jolt of that realization brought her back the rest of the way. Enough to become aware that it wasn't only her head that hurt.
Mac kept her eyes closed while she re-grouped. The pounding in her head was matched by the pounding in her shoulder. Her throat felt raw and fiery and she was pretty sure there would be an outstanding bruise where Jarvis' wife had belted her. All in all, this hospital stay had done nothing for her health. Hell, the entire trip had left her with a new empathy for all the punching bags of the world. Finally, she pried one eye open and looked at the wall of the hospital room. Damn, facing the wrong way. Okay, not hard to fix, just roll back over. Except there was no way to do it without attracting attention and she'd had enough of that already. All right , quit whining and turn over... it was easier said than done. She was lying on her right arm and it had fallen asleep. Clamping her jaws against a groan, she braced a leg and pushed. Once again on her back, Mac cautiously opened both eyes.
Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
0930 Local
Harm stepped out in the corridor to find it bustling with activity. Perez had ordered the evacuation of the areas surrounding Mac's room. Working his way against the flow, he made it back to the point where he had left Gunny Walters. He found a command post taking shape with Captain Perez at the eye of the storm. Walters was off to the side giving instructions to a private and corporal. He sent them on their way and turned around to see Harm watching him. Gunny walked over to the Commander, "Yes sir?"
Harm nodded towards the hallway to Mac's room, "Anything?"
"Not a sound, sir," Walters said worriedly. He'd grown protective of the Colonel these last few months. Maybe it was an offshoot of the empty nest syndrome, his youngest daughter was in her first year at the Naval Academy. Unbeknownst to the tall Commander, he had survived the Gunny's scrutiny, there weren't many squids who would. "We're setting up a perimeter, Captain Perez has been in contact with the local police and the Feds." He turned towards Perez, gesturing to Harm, "The Captain can update us, sir."
They walked over. Perez flashed them a brief smile as he continued his conversation on the phone. Someone had found some tables, there was a rough sketch of the hospital layout sitting on top. The two men went to look at it while they waited for Perez to hang up. A slight commotion made them look back up the hallway. They saw Ensign Tyler trying his best to get by the Marine guarding that point. Gunny raised his voice, "Let him through, Chikowski."
Contenting himself with a mild glare at the sentry, Tyler hurried over to Harm and Walters. Even though he was in civvies, he couldn't help snapping to attention. The Commander's amused look made him relax somewhat sheepishly. He looked at the two men anxiously, "I heard about the hostage situation. Is the Colonel all right? Can I help, sir?"
Harm looked at him soberly, "We don't know and I suppose that's up to Captain Perez. He's in charge of this. Were you here to see Cpl. Bell? How's he doing?"
Tyler grinned wryly, "The doctors say he'll make a full recovery. Right at this moment, he's highly ticked to be flat on his back. I'm supposed to keep him up to date on what's happening here or he says he's going to wring my skinny squid neck." At the amused snorts from Rabb and Walters, he chuckled, "I told him he'd have to get up and catch my scrawny little ass first." Harm smiled and clapped the young man on the shoulder as they turned to see if Perez was off the phone. Tyler had come into his own on this case and Harm knew Chegwidden wanted to discuss the ensign and Bell's career paths with them. He took a deep breath, if he had anything to say about it, the Admiral would have that chance.
A man in a business suit with a large tube container under his arm, diverted Harm's attention. He was followed by a workman carrying several phones. Perez walked to the table, greeted the man and looked over at Harm, "This is the hospital administrator, Ed Valencia. He's got the blueprints for this section of the hospital."
"Great," Harm replied, as he and the others gathered around. Ten minutes later, he straightened up with a frustrated sigh. There was no way to access the room without alerting the occupants. Unlike every movie he'd ever seen that involved hostages and bad guys, the ductwork here was too small to crawl through. He looked at Perez, "We're down to sharpshooters and negotiation."
Perez looked equally frustrated, "The only thing we can negotiate for is their surrender. There's no way we can let them walk out of here, with or without the hostages." His face turned grim, "Once they realize that, they'll probably start shooting. They won't have anything to lose."
Harm muttered a quiet oath while scrubbing a hand through his hair. There had to be a way to get Mac and the Admiral out in one piece. He started pacing, his mind working feverishly. The others watched in silence. Abruptly, he stopped, eyes narrowed. He stood stock still for almost a minute and then swung around to stare at Tyler. The ensign gulped nervously as Harm gestured for Perez to join him. Still staring at Tyler, he said, "Captain, I have an idea... ."
Mac's Room
Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
0930 Local
AJ saw Mac turn over and looked quickly at Jarvis and his wife. Jarvis scowled and started to move closer to the bed. Before Chegwidden could open his mouth, Liz Jarvis jumped in, "Leave her alone, Allan. We're going to need her up and walking to get out of here."
Jarvis glared at his wife, "When the hell is that going to happen?" He waved an arm, "We have no idea what they're doing out there. Why not kill her now? We've got him for a hostage." He gestured towards AJ and then flexed his fingers, looking back at Mac, "I can do it quietly, they wouldn't know."
Liz Jarvis gazed up at the ceiling and then regarded her husband impatiently, "I agreed to help you with this stupid revenge because I knew you'd act without thinking and get yourself killed. You damn near blew yourself up with that grenade. You'll get your chance and plenty of time to do it, if you'll let me handle everything now." Her smile gave AJ chills, "You know you'll enjoy it more if you don't have to rush."
Jarvis chuckled and settled at the bottom of the bed. He leered at Mac, "Yeah, it would be better taking my time."
AJ stared hard at Jarvis, he'd gladly beat the holy hell out of the man for what he was thinking. He glanced up at Mac. She was lying against the pillows with her eyes open. He couldn't tell if she was coherent enough to understand that last exchange between the Jarvises. Then she met his eyes and he knew she'd heard every word. Her lack of expression worried him, he couldn't tell if she was already retreating mentally and emotionally.
The phone rang. Liz Jarvis walked over and picked it up, "It's about time, I was becoming annoyed." She listened for a moment, "All right Captain Perez, let me tell you what's going to happen. We're walking out of this room and out of this hospital. You're going to provide us with transportation and guarantee no pursuit." She listened again, "I'm being perfectly reasonable. I'm not asking for ransom or a helicopter. If we don't get what we want, we'll start putting little holes in your Admiral and the Colonel. And if you try rushing the room, they'll both die before you get past the doorway." She hung up and turned to look at her husband, "We'll let them stew a little."
AJ cleared his throat. Liz and Jarvis looked at him. "You might have an easier time moving the Colonel if she had shoes and something less conspicuous than a hospital gown." He knew if Perez let them leave the building, it would be because he had a plan in motion. Rabb would see to that. Meanwhile, it wouldn't hurt to make it possible for Mac to move quickly. He could see Liz turning over the angles in her mind, finally she shrugged and nodded. AJ kept his satisfaction to himself, despite prior evidence, they didn't see Mac as a threat.
Once more the phone rang, Liz smiled at her husband and picked it up. "Well, Captain Perez?" She listened intently for several minutes, "No. That is unacceptable... No." She looked at the phone in exasperation and then put it back to her ear, "All right, Perez, pick one." There was a pause and then she said, "I'm going to put a hole in one of them and you get to pick which one. ... If you don't choose, I'll put a hole in both." She held the phone away from her ear and smiled smugly as Perez's frantic voice could be heard. She put the handset back to her ear, "Are you ready to be reasonable, Captain? ... Fine, I know you'll have people watching, but I don't want to see them. And no one on the roofs, either." She glanced at AJ, "Oh and I want some scrubs and shoes for Colonel MacKenzie. Put them outside the door in the next five minutes. Don't get cute." She hung up. Three minutes later, there was a single knock on the door. Liz motioned to her husband. He cautiously approached the door, opened it a crack and pulled in the bundle. Grinning at Liz, he turned and heaved the package at Mac.
She managed to knock it down before it hit her and glared at Jarvis in annoyance. AJ breathed a quiet sigh of relief, he hadn't liked the expressionless look. Mac looked at the Jarvises in exasperation, "This will go a lot faster if I can get some help." Her voice came out in a husky whisper.
They stared at her for a moment and then Liz looked at her husband and gestured towards AJ, "Untie him."
Jarvis swung around and blinked at her, "What?!"
She stared back, "We'll have to untie him at some point. He can't walk in that chair. Let him give her a hand. If they get stupid, we can always shoot them. I want out of this place, the sooner the better."
Grumbling, Jarvis walked over and cautiously untied one of the Admiral's hands. "Do the rest yourself and hurry up." He stepped back quickly and retrieved his gun from Liz.
Shaking his hand for a moment, AJ made short work of the rest of the bindings. Standing up, he glanced at their two captors and then walked to the bedside. Looking at Mac, he was surprised to see her face reddening. "I'm sorry about this, sir," she said quietly and she truly was. Being half-naked in front of her CO was high on her list of incredibly awkward moments.
Seeing the look on her face, AJ swallowed the flippant remark he'd been about to make. Mac was going to deal with this by approaching it from the military side and he'd respect that. It would definitely be better that way, he really didn't need to dwell on how attractive she was. Matching her tone, he said, "It's not your fault, Mac." He reached around and undid the ties on the gown, sliding it carefully down and then froze. Was it possible to be attracted and appalled at the same time? He took a deep breath and looked at a visibly tense Mac, "Dear lord, Colonel, you look like you've been run through a Cuisinart."
She relaxed a fraction and offered a small smile, "It was more like a cement mixer." Her throat felt like it was on fire.
He grunted thoughtfully, "I'll bet." He got her into the scrub top, taking care not to jostle her shoulder. The pants went on quickly and he was tying her shoes when he looked up at her in surprise, "They fit."
She tried to sound off-hand about it, "Harm knows what size shoe I wear." AJ raised an eyebrow and decided not to comment. Mac looked uncomfortable enough; Rabb, on the other hand, would be fair game.
Chegwidden stood up and faced the Jarvises, "Now what?"
Liz gestured with her pistol, "Now we tie your hands again. Turn around. If you try anything, I'll shoot the Colonel first."
Chegwidden glared at her and then turned around, putting his hands behind him. Jarvis came forward and tied his hands securely. Then he pulled AJ around and shoved him down in the chair, "Don't move." Turning to Mac, he pulled her hands forward, grinning as she gritted her teeth against the pain. Quickly tying her wrists, he shoved her back with a smile, "This is just the beginning."
A few minutes later, the phone rang for the third time. Liz picked up and listened. She turned to Jarvis with a smile, "We got what we want. It's time." Jarvis grinned back and then grabbed Mac by the wrists and pulled her upright. This time she was unable to stifle the cry of pain. AJ started to get to his feet, only to stop when Jarvis planted the gun barrel in his chest. Furious, he addressed Liz, "You let him keep that up and she won't make it down the corridor, much less to the street."
Liz looked at him for a moment and then over at Allan, "He's right, lay off until we're out of here." Pulling AJ upright, the four left the room.
Minutes later, they cleared the main doors of the hospital and cautiously stepped out on the main walkway. Thirty yards away at the curb, sat a government sedan with the engine running. Jarvis moved away from the building first, his fist wrapped in the back of Mac's scrub top and his pistol jammed painfully in the back of her head. Nervously, he spun around in a circle, dragging Mac around with him while scanning the rooftops for snipers. Desperately she tried to keep her feet, this was the first time she'd been upright since her lunch with that bastard Trask. The strain was beginning to tell, she felt increasingly shaky.
Satisfied that Perez had been telling the truth about snipers on the rooftops, Jarvis motioned for Liz to join him. She came out of the shelter of the building, shoving AJ along in front of her. When she reached her husband, they began the slow trek to the car. Suspicious of some kind of trap, they kept turning from one side to the other in an erratic pattern, dragging Mac or the Admiral along. AJ tried to keep an eye on Mac while scanning the surrounding area. He was growing more worried about her, She was getting paler all the time and her face glistened with a fine sheen of sweat.
They were two-thirds of the way to the car, when a battered white Toyota came roaring up to the hospital. It careened to a halt right behind the sedan, bouncing one wheel up on the curb. A frantic young man leaped out and raced around to the passenger side, yanking the door open. Oblivious to the nature of the group standing on the walkway, he yelled over his shoulder, "Get someone out here, my wife's in labor!" He carefully hauled an incredibly pregnant and obviously agitated woman out of the car. She alternated between panting and berating her husband loudly about his driving. Wrapped up in the imminent birth, they completely ignored the four people as they made their way to the hospital.
Bemused by this unexpected appearance, the Jarvises watched the couple until they passed and then turned their attention back to the car. Moments later, Jarvis and his wife were hit from behind. Before they could realize what was happening, both were facedown on the pavement while Marines closed in from all sides. They were quickly cuffed, dragged upright and hustled out of the area.
With the help of a Marine private, Mac rolled to a sitting position from where she had fallen. While he untied her hands, she looked with amazement at the exuberant faces of Tyler and Singer and started to laugh. AJ glanced over at her in surprise. He was kneeling where he had landed while another Marine worked the ropes loose from his wrists. Then he looked over his shoulder and broke out in a wide grin, "Tell me Lieutenant, when's the happy day?"
Pulling off the dark wig, Lauren smiled back and reached under the maternity top, "Today, sir. It's a bouncing, fluffy pillow." She removed it with a flourish and turned to Pick, "It looks just like you, dear." Whatever reply Pick would've made was lost as Rabb, Perez and Walters came pounding up.
Harm dropped down beside Mac, looking at her anxiously. "Are you okay?" At her nod, he looked over at the Admiral, "How about you, sir?"
"Fine now, Commander." AJ waved a hand, "This was all your idea, wasn't it?" He reached up and let Walters haul him to his feet.
"Yes sir," Harm smiled at Singer and Tyler, "but I think the Oscar goes to Lauren and Pick for their outstanding performance as the pregnant couple." He glanced down at Mac, who was leaning against him, "Think you can stand up?"
She nodded at the same time that Chegwidden said 'No.' Mac looked at him in surprise.
"You've been on your feet enough for one day, Colonel. You can ride back this time." AJ turned to a corporal and sent him back to the hospital for a wheelchair. He looked back at Mac, "We'll have the doctor check you over as well."
She nodded quietly, causing both men to look at each other in concern. At the least, they'd expected a token argument. If Mac noticed their looks, she ignored them. Instead, she smiled warmly at the assembled group. "I'd like to thank you all for rescuing us." There were answering grins and then the corporal arrived back with a wheelchair. With Harm's help, Mac settled into the wheelchair. With a small smile, she gestured wearily towards the hospital, "Home, James."
Chapter Forty-Six
Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
1105 Local
Harm took over from the corporal and leaned down by her ear, "As you wish." He began rolling her back to the hospital.
Mac's grin grew wider, 'The Princess Bride' was a movie they had both enjoyed. She leaned her head back so she could look up at him, "Does this mean you're going to start calling me Buttercup?"
Harm smiled, "As you wish." Then he chuckled and added, "Only when there are other jarheads around."
Mac arched an eyebrow, "You do and not even Miracle Max will be able to save you."
Harm affected a hurt expression, "This is the thanks I get for rescuing you from the R.O.U.S.'s?" The laugh that burst out of Mac quickly turned into a cough as her throat protested. Unable to stop, she leaned forward, her eyes tearing. Harm stopped the wheelchair and came around to kneel beside her. "Oh hell, Mac, I'm sorry," he said contritely, alternately rubbing and patting her back. She shook her head and eventually got herself back under control.
Wiping her eyes, she smiled at him, "It's okay, Harm. It was just such a perfect description. If anyone could be Rodents Of Unusual Size, it would be the Jarvises." Her voice came out in a rasping whisper.
Harm looked at her in concern and wagged a finger, "No more laughing."
Mac batted at his hand, "Stop making me laugh."
He held up three fingers, "Solemn as a judge, from here on out."
"Which judge?" Mac tried to maintain a bland expression although her eyes were sparkling with suppressed laughter.
Harm gave her an exasperated look, it had taken her - what? Seven seconds to ignore his suggestion? Then he grinned - god, he'd missed this! He was suddenly hit with the overwhelming urge to hold her. Despite the success of his ploy, he was fully aware of how quickly it could have gone downhill. Still, this was hardly the place. Harm stood up and folded his arms, "Sebring."
Mac gazed up at him, "Solemn is not the word I've used to describe him."
"Colonel, Commander?" The Admiral's voice made them both jump a trifle guiltily. He stopped alongside and raised an eyebrow, "If you've lost your way, it's that big building over there." He gestured towards the hospital twenty-five feet away.
"Yes sir," Harm hurried around to the back of the wheelchair and began heading for the main doors again. Fifteen minutes later, he and the Admiral were in the hallway outside Mac's room, having been unceremoniously ordered out by the doctor.
AJ looked at Harm, "Is this it? The Jarvises were the Acme Assassination Gang? No one else is going come up through the shower drain or pop out of a potted plant and try to kill Mac?"
"The Colonel should be safe, sir. The Plant and Plumbing Patrol have reported all clear." Harm and Chegwidden turned to see a smiling Captain Perez escorting his wife down the hallway towards them.
The Admiral and Commander smiled in return. Ellie Perez looked at them, "Do you know who's checking Sarah?"
"It was Dr. Galvin," Harm replied and then watched with a certain amount of envy when she tapped lightly on the door and disappeared inside. He dragged his attention back to the Admiral and Perez. They were watching him with thinly veiled amusement. "What?" he said defensively.
"Nothing, Commander," AJ said, raising his eyebrows innocently. "How are you feeling? You didn't exactly walk away from the militia camp unscathed."
"I'm fine, sir," Harm saw a skeptical look appear on Chegwidden's face. "Well, I don't think I want to lift anything heavy right now but the cuts are more annoying than painful."
AJ nodded his head slowly and looked over at Perez, "Have you managed to wrap everything up with this case?"
Serious now, Perez nodded, "Yes sir. We've arrested Staff Sergeant Eddings, Master Chief Wilkins and a number of enlisted in the motor pool." He glanced over at Harm, "Corporal Mario Lupo and PFC Billy Ruffin are in custody right now. Do you think you can do something for them?" He looked back at the Admiral, "They were the two drivers who helped us escape when we arrived at the militia camp. They saved our lives."
AJ grunted thoughtfully, there hadn't been time to go over everything that had happened. It would be a helluva report. "That's certainly worth some consideration." He looked over at Harm, "Check with the JAG office and see what charges are being preferred. We'll go from there."
"Yes sir," Harm said. The three men turned when the door to Mac's room opened and Dr. Galvin came out.
"How is she, Doctor?" AJ asked.
"A little worse for wear than she was yesterday, Admiral," he replied. "The bruising around her throat will make it difficult to talk for the next couple of days, but fortunately there was no serious damage. I'd like to keep her another day to give her a chance to recover from today's stress. After that, she can go home. She'll need to take it easy and rest for about a week and then she can return to light duty."
"Can we see her now?" Harm asked, carefully not looking at the Admiral or Perez.
The doctor shrugged, "I don't see why not." He glanced at Perez, "Ellie's not there in a professional capacity. Just try to keep Colonel MacKenzie from talking too much."
"Thank you, Doctor," AJ said, watching as Harm headed immediately for the door. He and Perez followed a little more slowly. Chegwidden looked over at the young captain, "You've done an outstanding job through all of this, Captain, and I'll see to it that a commendation to that effect is placed in your jacket." He paused for a moment and then said, "The promotion board is meeting next month. I'll be in attendance and recommending promotions for both you and Ensign Tyler. I can't promise anything but I'll make sure they give it serious consideration."
AJ smiled at Perez's pleased surprise, "You both deserve it." He gestured towards Mac's room - Harm had already disappeared inside. "I don't know if either of them would have survived without your help and for that, I'm grateful." He grinned suddenly, "Those two can be annoying as hell, but I'd have a tough time replacing them."
Perez smiled, "Thank you, Admiral, but I think it was a group effort that got us out of that mess. I hate to think what might have happened if it hadn't been for Corporal Bell and Ensign Tyler."
"I agree," AJ replied. "Which is why I'd like to talk to Bell and Tyler before I leave." He looked at Perez, "Why is Bell a corporal? I would have thought he'd be an officer."
"I've thought so too, sir. When I've talked to him about applying for OCS during his fit reps, he keeps saying he's not smart enough."
AJ raised his eyebrows, "Whatever gave him that idea?"
"He's dsylexic, sir. He wasn't actually diagnosed until he went to college. He's such a big guy, everyone just assumed he was dumb. You know, all brawn and no brains," Perez shook his head. "Now he knows why he was having so much trouble but it's hard to shake thirteen years of feeling stupid."
"Isn't there some sort of training available to help dsylexics?" Chegwidden asked.
"I believe so, sir, although I think it's geared towards kids," Perez replied, thoughtfully. "I'll check with Ellie and see if she knows someone who can help out. Maybe we can arrange one on one tutoring."
"Do that, because judging from what I've seen and heard, he's a natural leader. We need people of his caliber and I intend to make him aware of that fact," AJ said with a sharp nod and then he and Perez walked into Mac's room. Harm glanced over his shoulder and started to rise from his seat on the bed when he saw the Admiral enter the room. Chegwidden waved him back down and smiled at Ellie before folding his arms and looking sternly at Mac. "So Colonel, are you finished disrupting this base?"
Mac eyed him for a moment before shrugging one shoulder. "Almost, sir," she whispered with a slight grimace.
AJ raised both eyebrows, "Almost?"
"Lunch is about to be served, sir," Harm offered with a grin.
Next Day
Memphis International Airport
Memphis, Tennessee
0930 Local
The announcement that their flight was boarding came over the loudspeaker. AJ glanced over his shoulder at the gate and turned back to the group. "Time to go, people," he said. Gunny Walters and Lt. Singer said their goodbyes and headed towards the gate. Chegwidden shook hands with Perez, Ellie and Ensign Tyler who had come to see them off. They had all stopped by to see Corporal Bell before they left the hospital. He looked over at Harm and Mac, "Try not to miss the plane, please."
Harm grinned at his CO, "No chance of that, sir." He gestured towards Perez, "I think the Captain is here so he provide Commander Mathes with an eyewitness account of our departure."
The Admiral snorted with amusement while Mac lightly slapped Harm's forearm. She looked at Ellie and Perez, "You'll have to excuse him, he gets giddy whenever there's aviation fuel around." Her voice, although better than the day before, was still husky. AJ shook his head, turned and walked to the gate while Harm tried to look indignant.
"Give it up, Commander," Ellie laughed, stepping forward to give Mac a hug. She looked at Mac, "I want you to keep in touch and if there's anything you need, even if it's just an ear, don't hesitate to call."
Mac smiled in return, "Yes, ma'am." She looked at Perez and Tyler, "Thank you doesn't seem enough for everything you two have done." Perez grinned while Tyler looked at the ground and blushed. Mac looked at the young ensign for a moment and said, "You were wrong, you know." Tyler's head came up in surprise. Mac regarded him with a hint of devilment, "You are 'enthusiastic' enough to be a Marine."
Tyler smiled and ran a hand through his hair, "There were times when I'd have to agree, ma'am, but I understand there's a cure."
Mac laughed and impulsively gave him a quick hug. She grinned at the look on his face and wagged a finger at him, "If you ever need anything, just give me call."
"Hey, what about me?" Perez complained good-naturedly.
Harm rolled his eyes, "Fine, if you insist." He opened his arms and advanced on the Captain. Perez slid behind his wife and tried to look demure, "Mama always said it was better to play hard to get."
Ellie folded her arms and eyed the two of them before looking over at Mac, "I think you better get the Commander on the plane before they get any worse."
"I think you're right," Mac said. She tucked a hand around Harm's elbow, pulling him towards the gate, "C'mon, Rabb, wave goodbye and tell the love of your life you have to go back to DC."
Harm let her lead him on to the skyramp before covering her hand with his own. He leaned towards her and said softly, "I have to go back to DC."
One Week Later
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0900 Local
Mac glanced over at Harm as he maneuvered his SUV into a parking space. One thing she hadn't considered was how difficult it would be to drive a stickshift. Although she still had the brace on, she had managed to dispense with the sling. The doctors were encouraging her to start moving the arm around again. So long as she didn't overdo, it wasn't too painful. With a little luck, in another week she would be able to handle driving. In the meantime, Harm had made himself available for whatever errands she had, as well as chauffeuring her to work and back. She smiled to herself, remembering what he had said on the ramp. If he had announced his candidacy for President, she couldn't have been more shocked. It was all she could do to keep moving and he'd had the termerity to look smug.
There hadn't been enough privacy on the plane to discuss anything and by the time they had reached her apartment, she'd been too exhausted. She'd slept most of the afternoon and had awakened to find Harm puttering around her kitchen. He'd been doing his best to make the incredibly bland meal into something remotely desirable. By the time they sat down to eat, she'd halfway convinced herself that she had once more misunderstood him. After dinner, they had collapsed on the couch and to her infinite surprise, Harm had brought it up again. He must have been rehearsing what he would say, which had been just as well - she had been rendered speechless. Towards the end of his speech, he'd gotten more and more nervous at her continued silence. When he ground to a halt, she could see the fear in his eyes and so she did what any self respecting, kick-ass female Marine would do. She kissed the stuffing out of him. Then it had been her turn to look smug.
They had decided on a courtship. Harm had declared that she deserved it and it would give them and the people around them a chance to adjust. Mac's smile grew wider as she contemplated the 'adjusting'. Hearing Harm clear his throat broke her out of her reverie. She looked over to see him grinning, "It's showtime, Colonel."
She arched an eyebrow before matching his grin, "So it is, Commander." She watched as he got out of the SUV and hurried around to open her door. Adjusting her cover one-handed was a challenge, then she accepted her briefcase from Harm and together they headed into JAG. They walked into the bullpen amid multiple variations of 'welcome back, ma'am'. Mac smilingly acknowledged the greetings until she managed to gain her office. Putting down the briefcase, she carefully lowered herself into her chair with a sigh.
Harm looked at with concern, "Are you okay?"
"Fine," she smiled up at him and leaned back. "I felt a little self-conscious about all the attention. I'd just like things to get back to normal."
He snorted, "Normal is a relative term around here."
"Speak for yourself, Commander," said a deep voice from the doorway. Harm turned to see Sturgis standing there. The former submariner smiled and raised his coffee mug towards Mac, "It's good to have you home, Colonel."
Harm eyed the coffee cup and said in a stage whisper, "You might want to lose the mug. One of us isn't allowed to drink coffee yet and she's been pretty cranky about it. I couldn't guarantee your safety."
"Shut up Rabb," Mac rolled her eyes and smiled at Sturgis, "It's good to be back, even if it is just light duty."
PO Tiner appeared in doorway. He nodded to the two commanders, "Sirs." Looking at Mac, he smiled, "Glad you're back, ma'am, and the Admiral asked to see you as soon as you got in."
"Thanks, Tiner." She looked at the two men as she rose from her seat, "Excuse me, gentlemen."
Harm watched her disappear towards the Admiral's office with a proprietory smile. He turned back to see Sturgis eyeing him curiously, "Things are different between you two, aren't they?" Harm gave him a grin and sauntered to his office.
Admiral Chegwidden's Office
JAG Headquarters
0910 Local
Mac knocked on the door and waited until she heard 'Enter'. She marched in and came to attention in front of the Admiral's desk.
"As you were, Colonel," Chegwidden said and waved a hand at a chair, "Have a seat." He waited until she had settled, folding his hands on the desk. "How are you feeling, Mac?"
"Much better now that I'm back, sir." She hesitated a moment, "I'd like to thank you again, sir, for everything you did for me out in Memphis."
AJ waved a hand, "You're welcome, Colonel. I'm just glad to have you back where you belong." He leaned back in his chair, "I don't want you to overdo it now that you're back. No twelve hour days - at least for now." He waited for her nod of acceptance, "I will have an assignment for you at the beginning of next week. Nothing strenuous, and a little out of the ordinary - hopefully, you'll enjoy it."
Mac waited expectantly, her curiousity piqued. Chegwidden smiled, "Have you ever heard of Bacovia?" She shook her head. AJ continued, "It's a tiny little country nestled in the Balkans, about half the size of Rhode Island. It's ruled by a constitutional monarchy and its chief export is rulite or titanium. Bacovia was absorbed into the Soviet Union and the royal family went into exile. Now they're back and the State Department wants to maintain a cordial relationship."
Mac looked confused, "What does that have to do with JAG, sir?"
AJ steepled his fingers, "The royal family went into exile here in the States. Twenty-one years ago, the then Crown Prince married an American. They now have four children, ranging in age from eighteen down to twelve. All of them have dual citizenships. The oldest children are identical twin girls. The oldest twin will inherit the throne, the youngest wishes to join the military."
Mac shook her head, "I'm sorry, sir. I still don't see where this is going."
AJ smiled slightly, "The youngest twin wants to join OUR military." He watched Mac's eyes widen in surprise, "Specifically, she wishes to attend the Naval Academy. Her family, while not particularly pleased, would like someone knowledgeable about life in the military to escort her and answer her questions - truthfully. They seem to think the State Department might see this as an opportunity and sugarcoat things." He grinned, "So Colonel, how would you feel about babysitting a teenager for a week or so?"
Mac sat for a moment in thought and then smiled, "Will I be eligible for hazard pay?"
Chegwidden smiled in return, "I'll see what I can do, Colonel."
He watched as she rose gracefully to her feet, "Will that be all, sir?" AJ nodded and dismissed her, waiting until she had left the room to chuckle to himself and then dive back into his never-ending paperwork. The royal family wouldn't know what hit them.
Harm watched Mac return to her office and gave her a minute before poking his head in her door, "Everything okay, Mac?"
She looked up at him and grinned, "Depends, I guess. How do you feel about kids?"
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Finis (Continued in Pas De Deux)
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