Title: Designated Driver

 

Author: Rising Sun

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Rated: PG-13

Summary: Mac is the DD and gets thanked.

 

Disclaimer: NONE of these characters are mine! No copyright infringement intended.  All other characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental.

 

Author’s Note: The Bailey’s designated driver Ad inspired this, while the quote is from Mac Beth by William Shakespeare.

 

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Permission to archive: Permission granted.

Story written June 16, 2002

 

1906 LOCAL

THE LEGLESS CLUB

 

There was a reason that the bar was called the Legless Cub.  One of those reasons approached Mac now.  “Mac! You came!” John Farrow shouted above the din.  He turned around.  “Hey everyone Mac’s here!”

 

She grinned to the roar of welcome.  She was glad she came.

 

When she had heard that the retirement party for her friend and former lover Colonel John Farrow was going to be at the Legless with his the men and women he had served with and not some high browed affair she had hesitated. But then it was John how could she NOT go?  So here she was. The Marines had hired the place for the night and had taken over the place with the enthusiasm of the storming of the beaches of Iwo Jima.

 

+        +        +

 

Two hours later and Mac herself was beginning to feel high from the alcohol fumes in the joint.  She stood. “Leaving?” Captain Jones slurred.

 

“Never.” She assured him.  She swiped his cap. “Keys!” She ordered.

 

“Are you saying that I can’t drive myself?” He demanded suddenly coherent.

 

“Never.” She repeated.  “Keys!  Remember the game change partner? Place your keys in the cap and later you dip and whoever you dip you go home with.”

 

He grinned. “Yeah!” He took over.  “OK people listen up! Give Mac your car keys we’re gonna play a game!”

 

“Colonel?” A young man, obviously sober “May I assist?”

 

“Yes…” She paused.

 

“Second Lieutenant Hooper.” He supplied.

 

“Hooper.  Use your cap and collect with me.”

 

“Aye ma’am.”

 

It took some time but eventually all the keys were collected.  She gave them to the bar keep with instructions that not one was to be issued without her say so.

 

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

 

0111 LOCAL

THE LEGLESS CLUB

 

“Ma’am the permit calls for a 0130 shut down.” The manager told Mac having realized that not many in the group were able to hold a clear conversation.

 

“Understood.” She replied.  “Hooper! You sober still?”

 

“Aye ma’am.” He replied to both questions.

 

“What’s the status on the transport?”

 

“Been outside for the last eleven minutes.” He reported.

 

“Get the driver and lets see if we can move these officers and gentlemen out by 0130.”  Mac ordered.

 

He grinned nodded and left to do her bidding.

 

It took some doing but with the assistance of the driver, manager, bar tender; Hooper and Mac managed to get every on onto the military transport and with the all the car keys in the safe hands of Hooper the marines were taken back to base to sleep it off.

 

What a night!!!

 

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

 

NEXT DAY

1709 LOCAL

JAG HQ

 

Admiral Chedwiggen was in the middle of a brief with Mac, Sturgis and Harm when he stopped.  “Do you hear that?”

 

They all strained to listen.

 

“I hear nothing sir.” Sturgis finally confessed.

 

“My point.  This is an office yet all seems quiet.”

 

“Sir you have thick doors and walls.”  Harm suggested.

 

AJ stood.  “Not that thick.” He headed for the door to the bullpen when his intercom buzzed.  “What!”

 

“Sir.” Tiner’s voice came though.  “Colonel Mackenzie is need out here.”

 

Mac stood, excused herself and headed for the same door that the Admiral had been about to use.  As she opened the door the silence of the bullpen hit the inner sanctum.  Mac froze.  Curiosity got the better of the others and they stood behind her watching the spectacle.

 

The three men froze as they and the rest of the bullpen watched the long line of flowers make their way to Mac’s office.

 

“They look like a line of ants.” Sturgis chuckled.

 

“As I did stand my watch and look upon the hill, I look’d toward Birnam, and anon, methought, the wood began to move.” AJ whispered.<

 

“Mac what did you say you were up to last night?”  Harm asked.

 

She didn’t answer.  She moved into her office and read the cards. They all said the same thing. “Thanks for last night.”

 

FINIS