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Pre Bowl
Summary: The gang and this year's super bowl
Mac walked into the house and hear arguing going on from the den, she couldn’t help but shake her head as she heard her husband and Clay fighting over who was going to win the super bowl. This wasn’t the first time she had listened to the two of them and was elated that after tonight the bickering would be over. Till the next major sporting event.
AJ, Sydney and Harriet would be over later, and hopefully Bud. She smiled as she felt sorry for the young Lt who won the drawing of what staff officer would be OOD. Since there were more than the average fights this day, including the now mild one in her den, the Admiral wanted someone with experience and since this was considered a holiday among the male staff, Mac decided to hold a drawing. Putting everyone who was eligible in a hat she let AJ draw. Bud won. It was one of the few times she could remember Bud talking to himself about why did he become a lawyer.
She knew from her beeper that there had been 4 arrests so far and that was just the beginning.
In the den
"I can't believe that you think that the Ravens are going to win."
"Come off it Rabb, the Giant's don’t have the offense needed to beat the Ravens and you know it."
"They beat Minnesota pretty good with that offense."
"Luck, it was pure luck."
"We'll see, we'll see."
"Well at least my teams have one super bowls." Harm said poking at Clay's shirt.
"Oh that was intelligent."
"So how much have you two bet on this game?" Mac asked as she brought in a tray of snacks to be set up in the dinning room.
Both men glared at each other and then Clay responded, "Not enough I think since he is going for the wrong team." As he hid his beer behind him.
She shook her head again as she passed on through to the dinning room, Harm was dressed up in a 49's jersey and Clay in a Bills's one. Of course she had on her Raiders shirt even though they lost two weeks ago and she was silently cheering for the Giants too. "It's okay Clay," she said nodding her head towards his beer, "today is one of the few days that beer is allowed in. I bought a another 6 pack for you guys so you better make it last."
Harm responded to Clay's unsaid question about alcohol. "It’s my house too, I just normally don’t drink here. It is just an understood thing when we are having people over for a get together like this and it doesn’t bother her."
"You are a lucky man, till you lose later, and how much are you going to lose? Hmm?"
"Not as much as you are."
"Guys cut it out and Harm if our children sound like you two then there will be only one."
"Sorry Mac." Came mumbled out from the two guys.
"Is the grill ready to go?"
"I set up the Foreman grill instead of the outdoor grill because of the weather. And yes it is ready to go."
"Good, I'll get the fixings for the burgers made while you can finish setting up the table."
Harm and Clay followed her into the kitchen and then carried their loads to the dinning room table to put out the finishing touches. Clay was smirking as he tried to keep from laughing.
"What is so funny?"
"You Rabb, she is only two months along now, I can't wait to see you asking her how high to jump when she gets farther along."
Harm stopped and smiled too, "Well lets try not to get her into full marine mode today, so hand me those napkins and get this finished."
They made it back to the kitchen as AJ and Sydney came in. Sydney finally bowed down and bought a Redskins jersey since AJ was showing up in his Dolphins. "Hello AJ, friend or foe?"
"Excuse me Webb?"
"He wants to know what team you are cheering for today sir, and I request you remain silent since 2 on 1 isn't pretty." Mac said as she finished cutting tomatoes.
"Well we are divided there Mac, my wife here thinks that the Ravens are going to win and I like the Giants. She says she likes them because they have never won a super bowl." AJ said as he got elbowed in the ribs.
"Hah." Harm almost shouted in Clays face as he found an alley in browbeating the agent in AJ.
"Great." Clay said as Mac pointed a knife at Harm, "Enough."
The whole group started laughing as they pitched into getting the prelims done for dinner before the game.
It was nearly an hour later before Harriet and the kids showed up, of course without Bud. Harm and AJ finished doing the burgers while Clay cooked the French fries. As a pre-game truce with the women, no sports were mentioned again till game time.
The women sat watching Up Close and Personal on the TV in the den while AJ played with the toys his God parents kept for him and Sarah slept peacefully in her namesakes lap.
Bowl Time First Half
1st quarter
Game time found the den rearranged and tray tables set around for drinks and food. Baby Sarah was sound asleep in the master bedroom and the baby com was by Harriet and Mac on the couch.
Harm, Clay and AJ pulled seats from the table so that they could pull closer to the set and Sydney took over Harms recliner.
The ladies were drinking virgin daiquiris and the guys were on the last of the beer.
The slash talk picked big time as the game started and the guys smash mouthed each other.
The ladies just sat back and laughed till they got serious in the game.
Sydney found herself siding with Clay and they both high fived as the Ravens scored first.
AJ shot her a look and then she pointed out that they had 7 and 0 on the hospital football board so he shut up. Of course that sent Mac scambling for the JAG office board and a sling of curses with Singers name in the 7-0 box for the 2 dollar board but then a quick glance at Harriet who had a smug smile on her face as she showed Mac the 5 dollar board with Little AJ's name there.
The talk turned to other stuff off and on till the end of the first quarter and AJ and Sydney gave each other a kiss and wonder what they would do with the five hundred she just won,
Harm gathered a round of trash, "You need anything Marine while I'm up?"
"Yes I could use a refill and so could Harriet."
"I can get my own, plus I need to check up on the baby." Harriet said as she attempted to get up.
"Stop," Harm said nearly pushing her back down, "Clay can get the refills while I check up on Sarah."
Harriet turned and gave Mac a questioning look, "If you want to Harm."
With his best flyboy smile, "I would love to."
Clay gave a grunt as he got up and grabbed cups Harm offered him. "So what does the loser do later?"
Harm stopped at the door, "Carry out the trash so he can leave." Then he was down the hall to check on the baby.
"So AJ, how many bags can you carry?"
AJ just leered back at Clay as he left for the kitchen.
Minutes later found them all back ready for the second quarter
They laughed at the commercials and Harriet even teased Mac about separating Harm and Clay after the Giants interception to a touchdown was called back and the Raven continued on down the field.
AJ was the one who finally had enough and moved in between them and threatened Clay to make another remark.
Then came the Ravens field goal towards the end of the quarter that ended most of the talk till the over aggressive face mask that had the guys shouting once again.
"Guys the baby!" Mac finally got across with a whistle.
"Sorry," the three men said as the Giants threw an interception.
With that Harm got up and grabbed his drink and headed for the kitchen.
"There is still time on the clock Rabb."
"And there are two more quarters for them to come back in so I'll just wait till then to watch more."
"Honey why don’t you help Harm with the dishes so that after the game Mac and he won't have that much to clean up." And before Clay could snicker out loud, "And why don’t you help him Clay."
"Up and at'em Webb."
"Grab the stuff from the living room guys." Harm leaned back in and said as he winked at Mac.
"Thanks Honey."
Within minutes the slurs were coming from the kitchen and the women grabbed the seats to watch the half time show.
"Mac you are so lucky, I would have had to beat Bud over the head to get him to clean up."
"He has always been like that, taking care of me and doing chores for me. That all picked up a few weeks ago when we found out we were pregnant."
"So when are you due?"
"Sometime around Aug 20th. So I get do endure the long summer as a whale."
"It won't be that bad Mac, I had my son in September and trust me, as long as you stay indoors you will be fine, and if you need any help with AJ let me know." Sydney said as she gave Mac's hand a squeeze.
Then the band came on and they were quite and after a marine yell to the kitchen, it was quite too.
Bowl Time Second Half
After half time Harriet gathered the children since Bud called saying that he might be home soon and was sorry about not making the party but he was just ready for a quite time at home.
They all said good bye and Harm and Mac helped Harriet get the baby loaded, taking a few notes themselves.
Waving as the minivan left, "No minivan Colonel, a bigger SUV maybe but no minivan."
"Why the cocky pilot can't handle the thought of driving a minivan?"
"Well how about you mrs gung ho marine? Can you see yourself behind the wheel of a box on wheels?"
Slapping him on the arm as they climbed the stairs, "No I cant see me driving a minivan, a ford explorer yes."
"Well I guess we trade in the Lexus then. I mean we need to keep the vet so we can take turns looking cool."
"You mean so you can still look cool at the hill."
Harm shrugged as patted her on the butt as she walked on by.
3rd quarter
This time Sydney joined Mac on the couch as Harm took over his recliner.
The room was a little quieter as the teams passed the ball back and forth until the Ravens intercepted and ran it back for a touch down.
Clay jumped up and into Harm's face. "Ha ha ha."
"Webb sit down." AJ bellowed as inside he laughed at the antic of the pumped up spy.
"What ever AJ." Clay spat back as he retook his seat.
It wasn't a minute later Harm and AJ was slapping hands as the Giants run the kickoff back for a touchdown and they were almost immediately quieted as the Ravens did the same.
Clay just smugly checked his football boards as the quarter came to a close with the Ravens winning 24 to 7.
Harm won on the one from the hill and Mac won again with Harm's name on the office pool.
"Next time Mac, just one name and they have to work there." AJ spoke as he saw that he had the reverse score.
"Well sir he does still work at JAG occasionally even though he spends most of his time at the Hill fighting off mad congress women who want him for his body."
"You miss me around the office and you know it marine."
"Ya right."
"You just don't want me back because with me gone you win more cases."
"Enough you two, if you are going to have a marital spat take it outside. My team is kicking your teams six and I want to enjoy this."
"Shut up Clay." Mac said as she hurled a pillow at him.
4th quarter
Even though they didn't want to, the military folks knew defeat was headed their was and started cleaning up the rest of the stuff littered around the house. Stopping only for commercials that seemed funny.
Hormones caught Mac as she couldn't stop laughing at the Bud commercial with the Executive getting the pencil in the six.
The game slowly wound down with the score 34 to 7 and the gang hoping that the score didn't move so they could make a little more off the game.
Clay was laughing inside as he watched AJ take out several bags of trash with Harm's help.
"Well I am glad to see that they aren't sore losers."
"No they aren't sore losers Clay, they just plan to get revenge on you soon or later and I would be careful with a pissed of SEAL and pilot after you. Oh and this Marine isn’t happy either."
"Remind me when the Stanley Cup finals are being played to stay away from you guys."
"You know that you will be over here or at AJ's with the rest of us. You can't live without us Clay."
"And just think, you wouldn't be here without my help."
She smiled at him. "Thanks Clay, but just don’t get any ideas of us naming our child after you."
They all took their seats as the game ended and the trophy was handed out.
"Well we need to get going so the doctor here can get her beauty sleep."
"Right AJ, you just want to go and watch Survivor two in private. He set the VCR before we left."
Mac tried to contain another round of laughing as AJ glared at them to even attempt to laugh.
"Good night Sir and I will be at JAG in the morning."
"Night Colonel, Commander, Webb."
"I am out of here too. Its been fun Harm and I will be by to collect later."
"Bye Clay."
Harm and Mac stood in the door as their guest left.
Post Game
Harm wiped the final spots from the counter and turned off the kitchen lights as he joined Mac in the den.
They all had had a good time with the others watching the game and now he was ready for some quiet time with his wife.
"That was fun but remind me the next time to let the Admiral and Sydney host the party." She said stifling off a yawn.
"Check, how are you? I know that you must be worn out."
"Yes, junior here is wearing me out but it is a good feeling instead of a stressed out kind."
Harm rubbed her stomach where their child, nicknamed Junior because they wanted to be surprised and didn't just want to call the baby it either. "Well lets get you and junior to bed then."
"No Harm, Survivor is coming on and I want to see who at least starts out."
"I saw that they have a Ft Hood soldier on there this time, wonder how he'll do? I mean Rudy made it till the final four."
"I wonder when they'll have a marine on there."
"I know you want to go and be on the show but we need you here." He said rubbing her stomach, "Besides you have survived far worse just traveling around with me."
"You've got that right. Just didn't win as much."
"Auh, I'm hurt. Win as much, look at the great life you got." Harm leaned back acting as if he was wounded.
"Get off yourself flyboy. I won so much more than they will ever get."
"Speaking of winnings, how much did we take in off the game?"
"Does it matter? It all goes to the nursery no matter what."
"No it doesn't matter, but I was just curious because of this crib I saw the other day at lunch and wanted to see if you were free tomorrow and if we might have the money to get it if you like it as much as I do. But of you don't want to tell me then."
Mac looked at him and wondered why she put up with him sometimes. "I guess I can be free for lunch and see what kind of taste you have."
He took her hand, "I love you Sarah."
"I love you too Harm and now shut up and lets watch Survivor."
McLean Va.
AJ hurriedly tossed his keys on the table and grabbed the remote.
"See I told we would make it home in time to watch the show."
"Well I just wanted to watch it from the beginning."
"Whatever dear, I am going on up to bed. I'll be waiting on you when your show is over."
AJ just waved as the show came on.
Back to the Rabb's an hour and half later
Harm pulled back the covers while Mac changed for bed. "I still can't believe they kicked her off first."
Harm shook his head; all through her and his showers he had listened to her go over who should have been kicked out and why. Hell he could even remember all of their names yet but he did have to agree with her.
"I agree Mac but can we table this till tomorrow. I just want to get some sleep so I can best Bud in court tomorrow."
Mac came out and waved her toothbrush at him, "I can see that I am going to be alone on Thursday nights watching this show."
"Well I will always be by your side on Tuesday nights."
"You better be, you better be."
The end