Title: Harm and Mac Songbook: Teddy Bear's Picnic

Author: Rising Sun

Rated: PG

Classification: Story

Summary: Just a day out with the Rabbs. Yeah Right!

Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental.

Performing in this saga:

Everyone's Granny sings "Teddy Bear's Picnic".

Feedback: Would be nice.

Author's note: The HMS series is written in a manner that allows for each story to be read as a self-contained story or as part of an arc.

This story is part of a potential duo:

* HMS23a: Teddy Bear's Picnic

* HMS25b: Hazard

Story Written September 2001

****************************************

0440 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE

Mac rolled over and encountered resistance. Through her sleep Mac registered the fact that there should be no resistance Harm was in LA so what...? She opened her eyes.

Curled up in a fetal position was James. She smiled. She had no idea at what time her four-year-old son had climbed into her bed. She looked around ... where was Elliott? As twins one was never far from the other. She turned... there he was behind her. They had taken up positions on either side of her.

I'm getting too content. Mac thought. I should have known the instant they walked into the room. She gently touched James and went back to sleep.

===========================================

0550 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE

"Mom?" Catherine shook Mac. "Mom?"

It's a conspiracy. "Its Sunday Cathy. What reason could you have for waking me?"

"Breakfast!" David emerged with a tray.

Mac eyed the tray and thought of the mess that was probably awaiting her in the kitchen. "What time is it?" She said as she checked her internal clock. "Six. You all are up early."

"Yeah. Food!" James spotted the tray.

"Its for mom." Cathy admonished.

"Its ok." Mac tapped the bed. "Come join me." She examined the toast at least she thought it was toast.

"You going running today?" David asked.

Mac was beginning to get suspicious. "OK cough up. What is going on!" The innocent look that masked all four faces was the confirmation. "Some one talk!" Mac ordered.

"We want a picnic!" Elliott blurted.

"A picnic?" Mac echoed. It was a simple enough request so why the bribery. "So why all this?" She waived at the tray. There was no answer. "OK we'll have a picnic." Mac said but waited for the other shoe to drop.

"Al right!"

"Yes!!"

"Way to go mom!!!"

Obviously they were happy with the answer.

===========================================

If you go down to the woods today

You're sure of a big surprise

If you go down to the woods today

You better go in disguise

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain because

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

===========================================

1331 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE

Mac knew what the piped piper felt like. Her every move was shadowed by the four. Until she reached the kitchen, she paused in horror at the sight and turned to confront... by which time she had been abandoned. All she could do was shake her head, roll up her sleeves and set to cleaning the mess.

By the time she was through they were back.

"Mum can we have a dog?" Cathy asked.

[Ah hah! The other shoe!] She thought. Mac looked at the four all trying desperately to look innocent and considered... [Cathy would be the one to ask. But...

Who would look after the mutt? - ME

Who would feed it? - ME

Who would de-worm it? - ME

Who would walk it? - Harm

Who would bath it? - Harm

Who would spoil it? - Them!

Who would it have undying allegiance to? Them!]

"We'll talk about it when your father gets home." She replied and received a collective groan.

Mac ignored it. "Showers people!"

"Ladies first." David piped taking his mother by surprise. "Oh honey!" She was impressed and ruffled his hair.

"Mom!" he protested.

Properly chastised Mac said "Sorry. OK Cathy you first while your brothers and I get the grub ready."

With Cathy taken care of under protest Mac and the boys prepared a picnic basket.

===========================================

Every teddy bear whose been good

Is sure of a treat today

There's lots of marvelous things to eat

And wonderful games to play

Beneath the trees, where nobody sees

They'll hide and seek as long as they please

'Cause that's the way the teddy bears have their picnic

At six o'clock their mommies and daddies

Will take them home to bed

Because they're tired little teddy bears

===========================================

1551 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE

Getting herself and the quartet ready for a picnic was easier said and done. As they prepared to walk out the door the resident spirit had a request. "Can I come too?"

Before Mac could think much less reply the Rabbs ganged up on her.

"Oh please!"

"Aw say she can come Mom!"

"Let Stevie come please?"

Mac surrendered "Sure why not we are only going to the edge of the property along the tree line. Can you go that far?" Mac really had no idea of the boundaries of the spirit's jurisdiction. [Only in the Rabb house hold.] She reflected [Who at JAG or anywhere for that matter would believe that her children's invisible friend wasn't that invisible!]

The afternoon passed with ridiculous jokes and riddles being told and no food being left for the ever-present picnic ants. After all these kids carried MacKenzie genes too! The four went in search of bones and dragged Stevie off with them leaving Mac to guard the "fort". She walked off in the direction of the Lilly pond when David came running up.

"Mom!" he called waiving a bone "Mom! Look a baby T-Rex bone."

Mac scrutinized the bone and made a declaration "David Harmon Matthew Rabb that is a chicken bone and you know that!" She grinned.

He grinned his father's flyboy grin shrugged "Oh well." And ran off screaming to the others "I told you! Chicken!!!"

Mac shook her head in amusement and returned to contemplating the pond.

===========================================

Picnic time for teddy bears

The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today

Watch them, catch them unawares

And see them picnic on their holiday

See them gaily gad about

They love, to play and shout, they never have any cares

===========================================

1551 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE - PROPERTY'S EDGE

Harm had managed to finish up early in Los Angeles and made a mad dash for home. He opened the door and it was obvious that no one was home.

"Stevie?" He called. When even the ghost didn't answer the place was indeed empty. Then he heard David "I told you! Chicken!!!" He followed the direction the voice was coming from and saw the eight-year-old heading for the trees and Mac at the pond.

He never got tired of just watching Mac and his favourite scenes were when she was with the kids. He stood and absorbed the sight of her.

He watched as the twins approached with what was obviously a valued find. Mac inspected spoke and off they went into the trees. What was going on a scavenger hunt? He stepped out and approached her.

===========================================

Mac instincts kicked in and she whirled round in anticipation ready for anything. She came face to face with Harm. "Easy Marine it me."

"Harm!" She flung herself into her arms.

He gave a bear hug. God she felt good. They kissed and were promptly interrupted.

This time Cathy arrived with the latest souvenir. "Daddy!" She turned to the trees and screamed "Daddy's home!" Then she got to the matter at hand.

Mac rolled her eyes. She explained to Harm. "This began as a picnic but has become a paleo hunt." She turned to her daughter " What did you find honey? "

"This." The six year old proudly showed off her display.

===========================================

If you go down in the woods today

You better not go alone

It's lovely down in the woods today

But safer to stay at home

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there together because

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

===========================================

THE NEXT DAY

1219 LOCAL

RABB RESIDENCE

Mac and Harm had bundled the children over to the day keeper and had in turn taken the day off. The police had been out in their yard all night and most of the morning. It seemed that they were finally finished with the search and all the questions.

The skull found by Cathy had been connected to a skeleton and the police had combed the area just in case there was evidence of any kind to be had.

Police Lieutenant Anderson walked over to Harm and Mac "Well sir, ma'am that seems to be it for now. There was only the one body out there."

"Any thoughts Lieutenant?" Harm asked.

"Looks like this is going to be a cold case. The ME has indicated that the bones may have been out there for some where between twenty to thirty years. Can't be sure at the moment but a closer examination may narrow the time frame. Well we won't be taking up any more of your time." With that he left.

===========================================

THREE WEEKS LATER

1319 LOCAL

JAG HEADQUARTER'S

MAC'S OFFICE

"Hello?" Mac answered the phone.

"Lieutenant Anderson here ma'am thought you'd like to know that all we were able to determine was as the ME said the out there some thirty years, it was a female, Negro and her throat was slashed." Lieutenant Anderson launched into his report.

"You're ME is efficient." Mac complimented.

"Well to hear her tell it the knife cut can still be seen to the back of the neck bone. That was one determined killer."

"So now what?" She asked.

"Well baring a fluke we are placing this among the cold case files and before you start we have enough to deal with in the present than to go looking for cases in the past. The bones will be buried and that will be that; unless as I said we get a break. Just thought you'd like to know."

"Thank you Lieutenant." She said and hung up. [And I guess that is that!] She thought [But damn unsatisfactory.]

Just another day at the Rabbs.

THE END