September 2008
1300 EST
Rabb Residence
Mac lay back on the bed and tried to drift off to sleep. The boys were down for their afternoon nap, Trey and Jessica were at school, Harm was at work and Kelly had finally moved back to the base with Molly. A few minutes of silence and she couldn’t stand it. She knew that marrying Harm and settling down for the life she always dreamed was going to be a challenge but she wasn’t a prepared as she thought. I know understand my mother so much better, it is just a shame she didn’t have a man like Harm around to smooth the waters for her.
The whole last year seemed like a dream and even though she had lived with Harm and the kids before they were married, they had been dealing with Jonas, a distraction that had kept the fairytale world of being home from becoming real. And the real world scared her like she never had feared before.
Harm had been supportive and understanding, he personally chalked up what Mac was feeling to post partum blues and, as much as she hated to admit he was right, age. They weren't getting any younger and with two new babies in the house life had been thrown off kilter. Harm loved every minute of it.
After staring at the ceiling for 20 minutes she finally got up and decided to see what there was to cook for dinner. She rummaged through the cabinets and finally decided to get a bag of stir fry veggies out of the freezer and cook them along with some chicken.
Well that didn’t take long. She pondered over that next week at this time she would be back to work and the boys would be at a sitter that Harriet had helped them find. As much as she was ready to get back to work, she wasn’t ready to leave the boys. She smiled as she remembered the conversation at the hospital the night they were born.
7 weeks before
" Harm what is on your mind? You look like you are trying to solve a mystery." She asked him as he sat staring over Matt and TJ.
" Well, I have always called Trey and Jess the twins, now with 2 sets, that isnt going to work anymore."
" Well calling them by name works you know?"
" Funny marine, funny. I guess I can stick with the twins for the older two and just call these the boys." He said as he ran his finger along TJ's cheek.
" What about our older son , he is one of the boys?"
" I don’t plan on going around in public and saying that, just between us and Kelly." Harm chuckled getting another stare from Mac, " Kelly, the twins and the boys. Sounds like a country song."
Mac even chuckled at that. " Well I will call them the boys and Trey and Jessica the twins when we are discussing them at home, in public, they have names. We spent time picking them out, so lets us them."
" Aye, aye ma'am." Harm said with a half salute. He got up and came over to her bed, " May I join you Colonel Mom?"
" Yes you may, just easy does it sailor."
She made alittle space as he gently sat on the bed, he took her hadn in his and squeezed it and then kissed her. " I love you Sarah Rabb, I have loved you for years and plan on loving you for a long time to come. But today, I love you more than I ever thought I could, and those two young lads love their mommy too."
Harm held her as she hugged him with tears in her eyes over what he had said. " I didn't know that I could love you this much either Harm."
Back to 2008
She sat wiping the tears away as she heard the phone ring, " Hello."
" How is my favorite Marine Mom doing?"
" Fine, and your boys are asleep at the moment."
" Mac, are you sure you are okay? Sound like tears falling?" He said with concern as listened to her tone.
" Just remembering one of your Hallmark moments."
" Okay, I was just calling you to let you know that I will be late. There was a crash today, it was Sherry Peterson off of the Kennedy. They want me to look over the tapes before I send Bud and Kate out there."
" Wasn’t she the CAG?"
" Yes, she was and the Captain Kelly doesn’t think that it was accidental or pilot error."
" You want to go out there don’t you?"
" Yes I do but I have a family that is more important, I have junior officers to the dirty work. Besides, I need to give Harriet a reason to complain for a few days at me."
She knew how much he really wanted to go, she could hear it in his voice, but she was happy that he was putting them first. She also knew how hard it was for him. " Thanks dear. I'll leave some dinner warming for you and the boys will be up I'm sure."
" Well give all of our bunch a kiss for me and I'll see you later. Love ya."
" Love you too, flyboy."
Pentagon
Staff meeting room
1358 EST
Mac wiped her brow, traffic had been heavy and she almost didn’t make it back in time, what a way to impress your new CO. She found the spot that had been saved for her and sat down. I need to start working out again she thought to her self as she finally caught her breath.
The meeting started at 1435 and 45 minutes later and bored out of her mind as she thought about what Harm had said at lunch about finding another post. Her thoughts were quickly brought back to the meeting as she started hearing her new boss complain about the JAG.
" I know that they are supposed to be fair but I have had dealing with them and they seem to draw their own conclusions. That is why I am sending our own team to investigate the crash down in Florida. The Navy claims that it wasn’t their fault, I think that it is and I want answers. The JAG and I have already discussed this and he insisted that we stay out of it. Well we wont."
Mac could already hear Harm when they got home about this one if his arguing with Harm was the reason he was late. Mac continued to listen to him elaborate on the finding so far and about his feelings for JAG and its commanding Officer. She cringed when she heard from him that the JAG was personally going. Now she knew that Harm would really be a bear. He hated going out of town now that Matt and TJ had been born.
" Where is Lt Colonel Mackenzie?"
Oh Great, " Here sir." She standing up.
" You and whoever you chose are to leave tonight and investigate this matter."
Mac was about to say something when General Wyatt stood up. " Uh, sir, Colonel Mackenzie is on desk duty for the next 2 months. I can sent Major Potter."
" Why is the Colonel on desk duty?"
" I have two newborns at home sir, I just came back off maternity leave this week." Mac answered knowing that she was done for now.
" Well you are married aren't you Colonel?"
" Yes sir, I am."
" Then he can stay home with the baby and you can go, the main investigation can be handled from the office there."
" I still can't go sir, my husband will be out of town."
" Just where will he be?"
" Down in Florida investigating the crash sir."
" So he is with the JAG Corp?"
She knew that this was the final nail and with all of her co workers eyes on her, " No sir, my husband is Admiral Harmon Rabb, the CO of JAG."
The General coughed and then asked Wyatt whom he wanted to send.
The meeting was quickly adjourned and as she hit the doorway, " Colonel Mackenzie, my office now."
Though she hadn't put much though into them, the reserves were looking mighty nice right now.
Falls Church
JAG HQ
1530 EST
Harm sat stewing in his office with his sons sleeping soundly beside him. BUD being the great friend that he was had them brought up after Harm exploded after hanging up with General Grey. It had calmed Harm down some but his fuse was still lit after ha explained to Bud and Victor why he was sending them to Florida and why he was joining them. Mac is going to love this when I get home if she hasn’t by now. Of course the idiot was her new CO. so he couldn’t wait to hear what he had said.
Harm looked at his desk and knew that he wasn’t going to get anymore done today and there was nothing that couldn’t wait till next week anyway.
" Martin, I am going home to pack and tell my family where I will be this weekend. If that General calls me again, tell him that I will see him next week at the earlist."
" Aye. Aye sir." PO Kurt Martin said.
The Pentagon
Same time
Mac stood at attention while her now CO read through her file in front of her. This is just what I need, I wonder who is more pissed right now, me or Harm. She felt her pager going off and prayed that it was just Harm and not the school about the twins.
" You should change your name Colonel. It isn't nice to be surprised like I was."
" Sorry sir. I like having a professional last name and private last name. Especially when your husband outranks you."
It says here that you have 4 children, but were just married last year. Did it take you that long to finally get Rabb to come to his senses."
Mac got mad, " I am sorry sir but that is personal and I refuse to answer. My life outside this office is not for you or anyone else to debate, sir."
" Well colonel, I can talk about Admiral Rabb anyway I want to, he is my cousin. His mother was my father's sister. I had to grow up listening about how he helped his mom when uncle Harm got killed. SO how I discuss him is my business. I can tell that he never mentioned me. My mother left my dad when I was 10 and I haven't seen anyone on my dads side of my family since."
" Permission to speak openly?"
" Granted."
" I may kill my career here but oh well. I will not tolerate my husband being put down and I will report it to a higher command if I have to. Work is work and it stays here. I do my work well and I expect to be treated well. I will also not tolerate being put down. I have worked to hard to get where I am minus the 7 years working undercover. If there is going to be a problem, I want to know now sir so I can transfer."
He looked over her file again leaving Mac to suffer for a few more minutes. " There won't be anymore problems Colonel. You have an outstanding record with a few black marks that were saved by Harm. You have my word that as long as we are here, I wont say anything about him, but outside these walls are a different thing. Check your beeper." He said as he heard it go off again.
Mac did and sighed in relief, Harm was just letting her know that he was headed home. " That is fine sir as long as the principle goes both ways."
" Agreed, and one more thing. Find a babysitter, as soon as you do, you will join us in Florida."
" Excuse me sir, I am under doctors orders."
" It doesn’t exclude walking and traveling Colonel. It says no heavy lifting or exercise for 3 months. So sitting on an airplane and behind a desk interviewing people down there shouldn’t put you out any."
Mac wanted to say no but knew there was no way out. " Fine sir." She spat out.
"Never Mind Rabb. Just be ready to travel when you are released. Dismissed.”
Mac walked out and did her best not to let the post partum blues hit her as she walked back to her office.
Rabb residence
1700 EST
Harm had blown another fuse and had left the house to rake leaves in the back yard before he exploded at the wrong person after Mac had told him the abridged edition of her meeting with Cal.
Mac couldn't remember a time he had been so mad. She understood and felt the same and after changing clothes and making sure that the Rabb kids were okay went outside to cool Harm off. " Harm?"
" Right here." He said as raked the ground so hard he was nearly pulling grass with at the same time.
" Are you going to be okay?"
" Give me another 10 minutes to get my blood pressure down and I will." He said as he attacked the yard. " I can't believe that Cal said that to you."
" Are you really going tonite like he said?" she asked with her eyes looking away from him.
He looked over at her and knew that she thought he had forgot, " Nope, I have an appointment with my wife and sons at 10 am, I have an afternoon flight leaving from the base. They need a tomcat flown down there this weekend and I happen to be going that way. " He told her smiling for the first time since she came home.
Mac looked at him and smiled back. She wasn't real happy with his choice of transportation but understood that it was the only chance he got to fly every now and then.
" I'll be fine. Besides the flight docs wouldn't let me up if I wasn't okay and when the time comes I will hang up my Tomcat wings. I know you hate it when I go out and keep up my hours." He added when he read the unhappiness in her eyes about his flying.
" I know how good you are sailor. I just want to keep you around for a while and I'm really glad that you will be with us in the morning."
" They are my sons too Sarah and I want to be there. Want to make sure those future sailors are okay."
She punched him playfully in the arm, " Marines, Flyboy, they will be Marines."
Harm grabbed her and pulled her into a hug as he dropped the rake. Into her ear, " We'll see. I love you."
" I love you too. Feeling better?" She asked as she pulled away and led him to the swing that they had in the back.
" As long as I have you in my arms I'm fine. And I am sorry about not knowing who your new CO was. I did a quick check to see but didn't recognize the name. And you know how busy we have been lately." He went on, " When Aunt Sue remarried Cal took on his stepfathers last name. Hell I didn't know that he had even joined the military till he called me this afternoon. I won't bore you with our exchange but it wasn't very friendly."
" What was he like as a child?"
" Very unhappy. My uncle didn't live up to Sue's or Cal's dreams like my dad did. My Uncle was just a simple garage mechanic that drank himself to death after Sue left him and took Cal with her. I was 8 when she left town. My mom tried to keep up with her but after awhile gave up."
" Life sure is going to be fun at the office now." Mac said with a frown. " I wonder what Harriet has heard about him?"
" I am sure that grapevine central will be able to tell you everything you want to know this weekend while you ladies look at dress for Kelly."
" Harm, be nice." She said giggling as she slapped him on the shoulder.
" I am. How do you think that I get most of my information about what is going on? Harriet has been my faithful mole for years. And how do you think I get the inside scoop on what the kids are doing in class? She tells me what AJ and Patrick tells her and vice versa."
" I know all about that. How do you think I keep up with your antics at JAG? Hmm."
" Great, I know now that if I want to keep a secret from you, I must not tell Bud. What time is it?"
" Where is your watch?"
" Just tell me Mrs. Timex."
" 17:20, why?"
" Well since I didn't need a ticket and I knew that Cal and Potter would be on the same flight. I upgraded Bud and Victor's tickets to 1st class."
Dulles Airport
1720 EST
He boarded looking around for Harm. I just hope that Harm enjoys the family reunion like me, he thought to himself. He was surprised to see the JAG staff in first class.
Bud saw the General coming and poked Victor in the ribs.
" Where is the Admiral sitting?" He asked as he saw that the rest of 1st class was full.
" The Admiral is coming down tomorrow sir."
"Oh really, he couldn't get a seat so he just decides to come tomorrow?"
" No sir. He hates commercial flights so he his flying…"
" On a military transport plane?"
Bud smiled, " in a way sir, F-14."
Cal lost his sense of humor and went to find his seat.
Bud and Victor settled back for take off with Bud going over what Harm had told him about the General. This should be a fun trip.
09:30 am EST
Bethesda Clinic
Mac and Harm walked out of the clinic hand in hand carrying the boys with their other. They had just been told that Matt and Thomas were doing fine and growing as they should. Mac had had her 2-month appointment and had been cleared too, with a few exceptions at work.
As much as he was happy, he was also pissed because he had to be out of town this weekend. He hoped that Bud would have the prelims done by the time he got down there so he could be back by tomorrow night.
“ I know what your thinking flyboy.”
“ Oh you do do ya?”
“ Yes and I hate the fact that you will be out of town tonight to. I have kinda missed ya.” She said as she lets her fingers stoke his leg as it brushed by.
“ This coming from the woman who told me in the delivery room that I could never touch her again.” As the gleam in his eyes showed her how much he loved her.
“ Okay, I was a little stressed then, I take it back. I need you to touch me every now and then.” Waving off the comment made midway through labor.
Harm looked at her and then at his watch. “ Damn.”
“ Don’t even think about it Admiral. You have a flight to make and I want more than what you have in mind.” They both laughed and loaded up the explorer and headed to the base.
45 minutes later
Mac whistled as Harm came out to say goodbye in his flight suit. He just smiled at her and came over and gave her hug. “ I’ll call as soon as I’m on the ground.”
“ I know you will. Fly smart and have fun.”
“ Oh I will. I got Skates to be my RIO. It will be like old times. We haven’t flown together in sometime.”
“ I didn’t know she was still in?”
“ She is an instructor at Pax River.” He said as he walked over to where the boy’s carriers were and kissed his sons. “ Now you two behave and make sure older siblings do the same. Daddy loves you.” Taking Mac back into his arms he kissed her too, “ I love you Jarhead.”
“ I love you too sailor. See you in a few.”
He squeezed her hand and headed over to the flight line. Mac loaded the twins back up and headed over to an observation point to watch Harm take off. After seeing his fighter lift off and disappear into the sun, she headed for home.
1400 EST
Pensacola Fl.
Harm stretched as he climbed out of the cockpit and waited for Skates to climb down. Skates laughed at him as he groaned to pick up his bags. “ Well well admiral, age catching up with you?”
Just grinning, “ Like you fly all the time too. I know that you haven’t been in the air since our last flight last year when we requalified. Besides I am your senior by a few years Captain.”
She came to attention and snapped a half assed salute before they both gave into the laughter.
The crew that was servicing the plane just stared at them and shook their heads, officers was all one PO could mumble.
Harm and Skates made their way over to the flight office before they headed to the locker rooms to change.
Before entering, Harm pulled out his cell phone and called home, getting the answering machine, he left a message to tell Mac he was okay and that he would call as soon as he got to the hotel.
1800 EST
Mac came home and saw the blinking light from the answering machine; seeing that it was Harm’s cell phone she relaxed and went about feeding the boys. The twins were staying over at Harriet’s. She was doing it as a favor to Mac so that he first time alone with the boys wouldn’t be overwhelmed with the older twins.
1930 EST
She finally got them down and collapsed into bed. It was way to quite she thought as she rolled over and took Harm’s pillow in her arms. She awoke to the sound of the ringing telephone 2 hours later.
“ Hello dear, did I wake you up?”
“ Yes, I fell asleep waiting for your call.”
“ Everything alright Mac?”
“ Yes, just this week catching up with me. I am still getting back into my top marine shape. Just taking longer than I thought it would.”
“ Well I will take you in any shape.”
“ Is that some snide remark sailor about my weight?”
“ Well I did tell you one time that you ate to many beltway burgers.”
She smiled as she recalled the 1st time that he had said that remark, “ I hope you know that we have plenty of cold water here at home and that the couch can be made up for husbands that don’t compliment their wives appropriately.”
Chuckling, “ That’s okay, I know the gorgeous Marine Colonel who buys sexy lingerie, and she really had this silky piece I saw when we were in Russia. Of course she looks even better now.”
“ Better Sailor, how goes the investigation?”
“ Cal is backing down. Bud and Vic have proven that the navy is free and clear so that leaves the crew of the helo at fault. It still doesn’t help that all of the data concerning the events is missing. I hope that I will be able to fly back tomorrow and leave my guys here to finish this. I have a meeting tomorrow morning to go what facts we do have with your boss’s team. I feel sorry for Potter. Cal is treating him like a personal assistant instead of an officer in charge of an investigation.”
“ Jack is like that. That is why he is still a major.”
“ He better get some backbone if he plans on staying with your office.”
“ He told me last week that he is considering retiring in the next couple of months. How did Cal take the navy being cleared?”
“ From what I understand, because I missed that meeting, that he blew a fuse and let Bud have it. Vic said Bud didn’t back down and in a very correct manner reminded Cal that he was the JAG in charge of the investigation and that he better watch his tongue before he ended up on charges too.”
Laughing, “ Go Bud.”
“ Vic told me later that Cal came up to him and challenged him to. Vic reminded him that he was a member of the JAG team and whoever is at fault will just have to face it.”
“ Sounds like the current CO of JAG have the same respect of the one he took over for.”
“ You get what you give. Just a minute,” Mac heard Harm talking with someone, “ Honey I need to go, Bud just told me that they found the data recorder from the helo. Give our kids a kiss and a hug for me and tell them daddy loves them.”
“ I will, I love you too.”
“ I love you. Bye.”
Mac hung up and went to check on Matt and Thomas.
She let out a sigh as she lovingly caressed Thomas’s cheek. Life couldn’t get any better.
TBC
