Title: Second Chances

Author: Rising Sun

Author E-mail: jag@lucianstuff.every1.net

FF Updates: jagrslc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

FF URL: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc

Able Assistants: MCPA, PDD and Karen for her assistance with the medical babble and beta read. Donald P. Bellisario wrote Boomerang II while the synopsis of the JAG episodes is from CBS.

Rated: PG-13 (NC-17 version available)

Summary: Its twenty years later.  It’s too late. Or is it?

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.

 

Spoilers: Trinity, Full Engagement, The Black Jet, The Colonel’s Wife, Gypsy Eyes, Legacy 1, The Bridge At Kang So Ri

Performing in order of appearance:
** "Love Don't Love Me" is sung by Eric Benet off the CD The Brothers and is copyrighted to Warner Brothers
** "I’m Gonna Make It" is sung by Robbie off the CD Best of Lucian Soca 2001 and is copyrighted to New Wave Entertainment Group

** "You're Making Me High" is sung by Toni Braxton off the CD Secrets and is copyrighted to La Face Records.

Feedback: Would be nice.

 

Author’s Note: Believe it or not this is my first fan fic it was written before any of the HMS parts but it was being beta read.

Story Written August thru October 2001

 

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

 

JUNE 2020
SUNDAY
TIME: 2000 LOCAL

ADMIRAL (RET) CHEDWIGGEN’S RESIDENCE

Someone teach my heart to fall in love again
That all I have to fear is fear itself
I know that I was born to love one woman
But why must I keep runnin’ through the race, oh...

Harm heard the music before the door swung open and sighed. He walked into the house and thought to himself, "I really should not have come.  After twenty years Harriet is still planning and scheming gatherings."

"Evening Rabb!" Admiral Chedwiggen greeted Harm at the door.

"Evening, sir" He replied.

"Harm - I am retired and no longer your CO. Hell, I’m no one’s CO! Call me AJ" He grinned as he pumped Harm’s hand with an enthusiastic handshake. "Come in, come in - we don’t bite here any more."

"Harm!" He heard Harriet say as he started working the room.

He grinned at her - he was scoping the room. "Harriet, glad to see that you finally got to call me by name out of uniform."

"Practice sir, practice."

He chuckled at the lapse - he was still scoping the room.

"She’s out on the balcony", Harriet whispered.

"Thanks" He replied, not even pretending at whom they were talking about.

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

JUNE 2020
SUNDAY - 2010 LOCAL
ADMIRAL (RET) CHEDWIGGEN’S BALCONY

"Mac?" He was almost afraid to say the name.

"Over here." Even after all these years he would have known that voice anywhere.  He walked over and there she was.  Still the consummate Marine and even more beautiful than he remembered.  It seemed to him that time had had no effect on her.

 

"You look well, Harm." She said.

 

"You look incredible!" He gushed, then blushed.  He scanned the balcony in slight embarrassment.

 

"Thank you.  My rule of thumb is to have men a generation younger than me still turn when I go by." She grinned.  She still had a wicked sense of humor.  As she watched him scope the area she said, "I know." She usually knew what he was thinking, that had not changed.  "The last time we were out here was my engagement party.  Damn! That was a life time ago." She finished.

"So!" he said not answering her statement "What have you been up to? I didn’t know you were back. How are the twins?"

"They signed up with the US Marine Corps and are now Lieutenants.  I thought they would have followed Mic into the RAN but they followed me instead.  I swear that it has always been such a competition between those two.  Being of different gender didn’t make it any easier." She gushed with the pride of a mother, and then sobered.  "After Mic died about two years ago there was really nothing to keep me in Oz. The twins had signed up, so I came back. They are stationed in Australia at the moment."

He chose not to comment on the fact that she had never looked him up. "They are in the US forces aren’t they Australian?" Harm asked.

"Dual citizenship accounts for many wonders." She replied.  "You never married." It was not a question but a statement of fact. Even after twenty years she still knew Harmon Rabb Jr.

"Couldn’t" he replied and continued when all she did was raise an eyebrow. "Mac - I have tried to live my life on the philosophy of have no regrets when the time comes to reflect." He sat on the ledge of the balcony next to her. "Twenty-five years ago that hope went to the dogs when we met in the Rose Garden. Fifteen years ago I finally moved out of that bachelor pad and bought a house complete with balcony and rocking chair. And every night for the last fifteen years I watch the sun set and regret my biggest mistake."

"Mistake?" she repeated.

"Yeah, one mistake repeated twice." He explained.

"Harm, you’re a lawyer, make some sense." She demanded.

He heaved a deep sign and plunged. "My mistake was not letting you know how I feel ... felt … feel about you, Sarah. Sorry I’m all confused. “There, he said it. He could die in peace now. He probably would be dead by the time Mac was done with him. He rushed on "From that first day at the Rose Garden to the fiasco on the Ferry in Sydney to the night of your engagement party right here on this very balcony.  I messed up badly.  I loved you. Correction, I love you.  You are my soul Mac and I can be with no other.  So how can there be a Mrs. Rabb if its not you."

Mac was so angry.  She pressed her hand to her head as she felt a sharp throbbing pain and her vision began to gray out.

She collapsed unconscious.

"Mac!" Harm screamed.

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

JUNE 2020
SUNDAY - 2200 LOCAL
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
BETHESDA, MD

The waiting room was a who’s who of ex-JAG personnel. The entire party had relocated to the hospital and what stared out as a fete now looked like a wake.  

Harm paced.

Finally a doctor materialized. "Doctor!" AJ got to her first. "How is she?"

"Are you her next of kin?" She asked.

"No, her children are in the US Marine Corp on duty in Australia." The Admiral explained.  "We," he glanced round "We, are the nearest she has to family."

The Doctor sighed "OK. I am Dr. Goldberg and we need to get her family members here as soon as possible. "We believe", the Colonel has had a stroke."

"Oh God" Harm groaned. He had really done it. "How bad?"

"We will know later, but she is partially paralyzed on her right side."

"Can she talk?" Bud asked.

"Yes." Dr. Goldberg replied. "And before you ask - no. No visitors for the next 24 hours."

Harm was about to object but the Doctor threw him a glance that stopped that thought in its tracks.

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

JUNE 2020
MONDAY - 1900 LOCAL
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

"Harmon Rabb?" Dr. Goldberg stood in the waiting room.

"Yes ma’am." Harm leaped up like a young recruit.

"The Colonel is calling for you and to avoid complications I’ll allow a short visit - NO EXCITEMENT!"

"Yes ma’am. How is she?" He was almost afraid to ask.

"Looks like a mild case.  It was a sudden surge of blood pressure and minimum damage was done.  With some therapy she will be good to go." The Doctor explained.

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

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

MACS ROOM

Harm would admit it to himself only.  He was scared.  Scared of Mac’s medical state.   Scared of her reaction to him.  He was scared of what might happen next. He was terrified.   He heaved a deep breath and pushed the door open. "Mac?" he said hesitantly.

 

"Come in." She beckoned.

 

He ran to her and genuflected "Oh Mac I - AM - SO - SORRY!"

 

"Calm yourself, Harm" She said. "Getting agitated was what got me here in the first place."

He gulped and brushed his tears like a child. "Oh Mac"

"Harm, I need to say something. Oh, for heaven’’ sake, sit down!" She ordered.  "I was shocked when you made that revelation, was it last night?" she waved her normal hand. "Anyway" she continued, "my blood began to boil.    Just who do you think you are?"

 

"Mac?" Harm started.

 

"Shut up" she snapped. "Do I look like a confused thirty something?  You broke my heart in Sydney and shattered the rest on my engagement night.  Ever hear the saying ***marry the one who loves you not the one you love?***  Mic loved me.  I had twenty great years with him and two kids to show for it. I meet you again after all this time and what do I get for it? A stroke!"

 

"Mother!" A female voice sliced the tirade.

 

Harm looked up to see a female Marine Lieutenant walk into the room.  She was so familiar.  A male Marine Lieutenant followed her in and Harm was the one who almost had the stroke.  He whirled to look at Mac. If Harmon David Rabb Jr. was a carbon copy of his father, then Michael Brumby Jr. was the clone of Harm.

 

The mirror images stared at each other.

 

Now Harm knew why the female looked familiar.  There was some of Mac in her but the younger woman reminded him of his mother. The young woman although in the uniform of the USMC had the style and grace similar to that of her mother and grandmother.  It triggered the primal paternal instinct. She moved with Mac’s feline grace and Trish’s sophistication.  Harm knew first hand the effects that Mac had had unconsciously on the men around her. Add Trish’s sophistication to that package and this woman who was obviously his daughter was a walking heartache.

His daughter in turn eyed him right back.  [So this is the one.] She thought. [I always knew Mom had impeccable taste. But the poor man looks like he’s been run over by a truck.  Well he has some penance yet to perform.]  She exchanged looks with her twin brother.

Harm’s look alike son stared at the man in front of him.  There was no denying the fact that this man was his biological father.  What he wanted to know was what his mother thought would come of all this?  This man was a walking pain and he Mic was the cure. He returned his sister’s look with a glare.

Mac caught the look and braced herself. She knew these two and the next few moments were going call on all her military training.

"Mac!" Harm wailed. "Why!"

"Why?"

"Why didn’t you say something?  My God!"

She glared at him. "Just what clause under the UCMJ did you qualify for that information?"

"Mom?" Mic asked

"I’m ok, son." She focused to Harm " And so I married the one who loved me and not the one I loved.  That was you, but you could not get your ass in gear." Harm was about to argue the point when she interrupted and said. "I need to be alone."

 

"Mac" Harm started.

 

"Get out and take M squared with you. Come back later." She commanded.  She watched as the three of them struggled with her request.   The twins had been born with the stubborn streak of both Rabb and MacKenzie genes and being raised by Mic Brumby had consolidated that streak.   Finally the three conceded.

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

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

OUTSIDE MACS ROOM

 

As Harm turned to face his look- a- like son his head rocked back and he hit the floor.  Mic Jr. had punched him.  He picked himself up gingerly.  "What the hell was that for!"

"Mister" Mic said, "Listen" They could all hear Mac crying.

"That is our mother crying." Mac said.

"Caused by you." Mic completed.

"I’m your father" Harm stated.

"More of the sperm donor." Mac said

"No doubt." Mic agreed.

Harm looked from one to another and it finally dawned on him what he had missed out on by not confronting his feelings for Mac. The twins were an obvious cross of Rabb and MacKenzie.  This was the family he had ached for all his life and had never had the guts to reach for. Whoever had said it was right "Faint Heart Never Won a Fair Hand"

 

His daughter stepped to him. She was tall - they both were. Took his height.  "You come any where near our mother"

"Over our dead body." Mic finished.

"Oh yeah, they are twins all right" he thought. "What if she asks for me?" He queried.

"You’ll be the first to know." Mic stated through clenched teeth.

"You heard our mother." Mac said "Now git."

Left with no choice Harm walked away.  What he felt like was a loser crawling away.  What a mess.  Failed relationships. Lost love, lost family and all alone to regret.  This had to be hell.  He turned at the elevator and saw the twins seated on either side of the door to Mac’s room. He had no doubt that only a summons from Mac would get him access to that room or Mac.  What a mess!

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

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

MACS ROOM

Mac cried. She cried for assholes on Sydney Ferries, for lost loves, soul mates never to be. She cried for herself, for her dead husband who never had all of her as that part belonged to Harm.  She cried for the twins who had obviously started on the wrong foot with Harm.  She cried, for she had the right to cry.

 

Twenty-five years of control finally released.  She managed to control herself.  Thirty minutes, she smiled. No matter what, that damned internal clock kept a ticking.  She knew they were out there.  If she knew any one, it was her children. There was a time she would have put Harm in that category too, but too much time had passed.  They were virtually strangers now. "Mac!" She called. The door flew open instantly and Mic almost ran in.  

 

His sister sighed.  "Did you hear Mic?  I distinctly heard Mac." He only glared at his sister and then turned to his mother.  

 

"Now what?"

 

"It was a mild stroke and so I should be back to myself soon.  Soon meaning a couple of months."  Mac explained.

"So that’s him" Her daughter observed "Cute"

"He’s what? Fifty something?" Mic sneered.

"So am I" Mac pointed out.

"Touché" her son conceded "…and all the guys think you are hot."

"Cause I am" Mac teased.

Mac echoed her brother "Now what? And I don’t mean medically."  The two locked eyes.  "You still love him."  A statement from daughter to mother, not a question.

 

"Yes." The simple answer. Mic stared.    

"Explain to him, Mac," she requested.

"He’s a man, he won’t understand."

"What’s to understand? He’s the Sperm Donor and no more."

"You call him the Sperm Donor?" Mac was amazed.  When neither twin replied she continued the story. "For twenty-five years, Harm and I have been in this twilight zone.  As my kids you must be the first to understand.  I loved your father, but not like I loved Harm.  After twenty-five years, there seems to be a chance and I must take it.  Make him shit first, but I want to try."

Silence

"M Squared?" she called at both.

"I don’t like this." Mic stated.

"I don’t know how much of this is Brumby or just alpha male responding to alpha male, but I am not asking for your blessing on this." Mac snapped. "Live with this, Mic…you don’t have to like my decision but you do have to respect my right to make it and I expect you to treat me and Harm with deference regardless of your personal feelings on the matter.

 

"Mic, we have no choice.  We carry the man’s genes.  Mom loves him. We have to deal." His sister pleaded.

"You agree with this sis?" He was shocked.

"No. But I’ll live with it. For mom’s sake" she replied.  She turned to her mother. "Do this.  It is a biological instinct that you cannot fight.  No disrespect mom, but so help me if he hurts you one more time.  I don’t care how accidental or intentional…” she stopped abruptly as Mic interrupted.

"We will kill him" Mic finished.

"Of that you can be assured." Mac concurred.

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

"Them’s fighting words, son" a voice came from the door.

"Admiral!" Mac said.  "Come in, come in" The twins exchanged a quick glance and then snapped to. "SIR!" the chorused.

 

"As you were." AJ said automatically.

 

"Sir.  These are my kids.  Lieutenant Michael David Brumby and Lieutenant Michaela Catherine Brumby of the US Marine Corps." She introduced them. "Also known as Mic and Mac."

 

"You are kidding me." AJ responded.

 

"I kid you not, sir" She smiled. "On the rare occasions that Mic and I were in the U.S. and visited JAG, somehow you were never in office."

 

"Mac.  It’s AJ now." He said "Lieutenants." He acknowledged.  "

 

Well, with you no longer at JAG there was no one to keep Rabb’s six out of the trouble he seems so talented at finding. So! What did the Doc have to say for herself?"

"Therapy." She replied.

"Eh hem" Mic coughed "mom if you and the Admiral will excuse us."

"We’ll go over to your place, take care of Jingo and be back soon." Mac finished.

"Make sure he doesn’t eat my shoes!"

"Jingo?" AJ inquired.  "Nah, it can’t be that mangy mutt."

"My mutt was not mangy, sir… AJ." Mac defended the DEA dog.

"Every dog we ever owned has been called Jingo, Sir." Mic explained.

"Ah."

"Kay, mom?" Mac asked.

"Go ahead, Mac.  I’ll see you all later." She said as they kissed her on each cheek.

"They look like good kids." AJ observed as the door shut behind them.

"They are a handful - always have been, always will be." She said.

"Rabb’s" It was a statement, not a question. "Does he know?"

"Yes and yes" she replied.

"That explains a lot."

"Explains what AJ"

"The man looks like something not even the cat would drag in.  I thought that it was the guilt of triggering the stroke or even of you leaving JAG for Australia.  After that move he didn’t seem to care if he lived or died worst kind of soldier to have. Hence my absence during your visits - he was always in deep shit.  But looking at those two... seems he has other things on his mind.  My God Mac, there is no mistaking the heritage! Those two are Rabbs!"

 

"I know and so did Mic." "S

 

orry, none of my business, I just came to visit.  But be warned, those two are going to turn heads and tongues WILL wag."

 

"I know." She said. "You said you saw Harm?  When?"

 

"A couple of minutes ago. He looked like hell.  Are the two of you EVER going to get this …this… thing between you right?  May be even before I die?" AJ suddenly spouted.

 

Mac sighed "Twenty-five years, AJ. Twenty-five years and we are still at odds.  I figure we’ll get there.  But before you die?  You are mortal sir?" She teased. He smiled at the quip.  

 

"About the therapy."

 

"It will be hard." "Let Harm help.  It will heal both of you in more ways than one." He advised. She looked at him.  "Maybe."

 

"Huh.  That MacKenzie pride.  Don’t maybe me, do it Marine!"  AJ ordered.

 

She stole a glance at him, breathed deeply and whispered, "OK"

 

AJ smiled and crossed his arms in satisfaction at another mission completed.

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

JULY 2020

ONE WEEK LATER - 0900 LOCAL

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

Harm stepped out of the elevator with a spring in his step.  She had sent for him!  When AJ had called him and said that Mac wanted to see him he nearly fainted from relief. She sent for him!  He felt like a fifteen year old.  At age fifty-seven though, he was determined not to make the mistakes of his middle years.  That ferry in Sydney had defined the rest of his life.  What was he thinking!  He was like a recurring decimal. Seeing her last week had only caused her more pain.  What kind of love is this that only seemed to bring pain in its wake?  Yet, she had sent for him!

"Lord help me." He prayed and pushed the door to Mac’s room open.

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

 

0910 LOCAL

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

MACs ROOM

 

The door swung open, Harm walked in and resisted the urge to run out.  It did not seem that God was on his side. There she was in all her beauty with the twins next to her.  Mic sprang up and headed for Harm but was cut off in mid stride by his mother.  "Amen for Marine training." Harm said silently upward.

 

"Mic! Stand down!" his mother commanded.

 

"But mom!" He turned on his heel but maintained his spot.

 

"I said stand down!" Mac repeated the command to her protective son. Harm stood rock still until Mac waved him in. "Come in, Harm."

 

Her daughter just watched and said nothing, while her twin returned to his position.  The four just looked at each other for what felt to Harm like eternity.  That word!  But it was only really ten seconds. "You sent for me?" He queried.

 

"You sent for him?" Mic queried.

 

"I did." She replied to both.   "Just give me a moment, Harm." She turned to her son.  "Does that cover
everything?"

"Yes mom." he said eyeing Harm.

"OK then, give me some time with Harm. I’ll see you both this afternoon."

"OK" Mic conceded. The twins executed their ritual of the double kiss, saluted Harm and left. Mac’s daughter had not spoken for the entire time that Harm had been in the room. He didn’t know if that was good or bad.  He released the breath that he had been holding and watched Mac. She too sighed.

 

"Harm. The last time you were here I really laid into you.   Where as I don’t regret what I said for it needed saying I do, however, regret the manner in which I said it.  We’ve been friends for too long for all this aggravation."

"Mac" he breathed "All I ever wanted was the best for you.  But all I seem to bring is the worst.  I want to help in any way I can but I don’t dare" he paused. "Your kids."

She didn’t correct him on the genealogy "I would like to have your help and my kids don’t dictate my life." She smiled "besides they are military and are to return to duty soon.  Were you serious about helping me?"

"Deadly."

"It will be hard on me and I’ll probably vent my frustrations and pain on to you." She warned. "I need you to stick to my six."

He smirked, "I can’t think of a better place to be stuck." He sobered "Mac, I’ll do what it takes. Have no fears."

"I know you will."

First he licked his suddenly dry lips then began to nibble the bottom lip and finally "Mac can we talk?"  She nodded knowing exactly the subject matter to be placed on the table.

But she didn’t.

"Mac - why didn’t you tell me about the twins?"

She was taken aback, she thought …anyway. "Tell you what?"

"About them…their existence… that I was their father." He began to count off reasons.

 

"What was there to tell? We had one night. I married Mic. Eight moths later - there they were.  End of story."

 

Harm had problems with the edited version.

 

"Mic, how did he take it? Did you tell them about me? Why the animosity from them?" He began listing again.

 

"Abbastanza!  Enough! I have said all that I will on the matter." She halted him.

 

Harm took a deep breath and focused on the now and hoped to later talk about it.  Way way later by the look Mac was giving him. Suddenly he blurted "Do I have a chance with you?" no flyboy grin, this was serious business.

She didn’t answer but it seemed to Harm she was fidgeting. "Mac?" he whispered. Then he saw something in her hand. "What’s that?"

She looked down. "The physical therapy exercise ball to work the muscles in my hand and arm."

He moved to her side.

"Mic was helping me when you arrived."

"I’ll take over." He offered and commenced the massage ritual after she showed what was needed.

"Mac" he was about to begin again.

"I heard you the first time.  We were friends, very good friends, who were lovers for one moment in time.  Why should I go back?" She asked softly.

 

"I love you."

 

"I repeat Why should I go back?" She was NOT making this easy.

 

Harm concentrated, both on the physical work and the mental/emotional challenge.  "I’ve had twenty years to look back at my life, my mistake and to revel in the stupidity of my youth. Simply put - I loved you. I thought that over time with you married I would get over all that.  Then I saw you at the Admiral’s place and knew I had been only fooling myself. You were and are my world my soul mate - my other half. Why bother fight it?  I did that twenty years ago and look what it got me - nothing.   When I die it can be only one of two ways - with a complete soul or a shade of one. The only way to heal the breach is to have you in my life. When you married Bugme … sorry Brumby I didn’t even die - that would have been too easy.  I went on autopilot and awoke last week at AJ’s house when I saw you. I don’t seek your pity - I seek your love.  I am a lonely man, Mac - a lonely shell of a man without you. There that’s the most I have said outside of the Courtroom in the twenty years.  Mac, please give us a try - give me a try."    That was it. There was nothing more to add - Judgment loomed.

She gave a twitch of a smile. "I don’t know which is more pathetic, having you finally say it all or waiting twenty-five years to hear you say it all." He was about to speak but she said "Harm we are no longer hot shots.  Hell, I’m a disaster right now.  No more mind games. I really can’t stay mad at you.  I love you too much for that.  Even after all this time I do love you - so I suppose the answer is yes. Let’s give ourselves a chance at last."

Now the flyboy smile appeared as he leaned over to kiss her.  Even after all this time the touch of her was so familiar as he kissed and felt the memorable moisture of her mouth. Instinctively she parted her lips and twenty-five years of pent up frustration and love flowed.  With her left hand Mac ran her fingers through his graying hair as he clung to her as if his soul depended on it. Finally they came up for air and a new light was reflected in their eyes. "I look forward to consummating that promise, flyboy."  She grinned, "Ah there it is again." Mac smiled. "What?" "The flyboy grin.  Mic has it too." She stated.

Harm’s grin got deeper. "Now we have a goal to work towards in physical therapy and I look forward to keeping that promise.  Have they given you the schedule for the sessions?"

 

"This afternoon."

 

"You will stay with me." Harm stated.  She was about to object. "Save it, jarhead. No argument will suffice.  YOU - ARE - STAYING - WITH - ME. Now, when do they release you?"

"The Doctors won’t let me go home yet, I have to stay for about a week to be monitored for complications and to start work on the therapy.  We were discussing plans when you walked in.  I suppose they are out the window."

 

"Uh huh."

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

NEXT DAY 1300 LOCAL

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL

PHYSICAL THERAPY ROOM

 

Harm and Mac entered the room to the background sound of music.  "Catchy that." Mc observed. "Calypso?"

 

A young woman approached Harm and Mac as he wheeled her into the room. "Hello" she said. "

 

You're not American." Mac observed. The young woman saluted Mac and replied, "Born in Texas raised in Saint Lucia - Helen of the West Indies, ma'am." She grinned and showed a perfect set of teeth against her chocolate skin.  "You must be Colonel Mackenzie." She said consulting her chart. "Impressive, a full Colonel. I don't usually have the honor of meeting many full blooded female Colonels ma'am."

 

"Retired, but yes, I am she." Mac responded. Harm read the nametag.

 

"Are you the physical therapist Commander Gaillard?"

 

"And you are?" She asked.

 

"Captain Harmon Rabb." He replied.

 

"Sir!" She snapped to.

 

"As you were, Commander." He replied. "I too am retired."

 

"Ahhh. Well, to answer you, nooo" She drawled.   "I am the Physical Therapist and it's pronounced Guy-ya." Gina corrected slowly.  "Saint Lucia, though English speaking, is strongly French influenced and that includes names. Just call me Gina or Commander, but personally I prefer Gina as we will be working closely for a while and the rank gets cumbersome."

 

"Ok Gina - call me Mac.  Is that calypso playing?"

 

"Yes.  Most of the guys who work here hear the word calypso and think Belefonte.  So I keep the CD changer packed with all classes of calypso including Belefonte."  She grinned. "And I find that the jumpy beat, in no time, gets the patients tapping toes and snapping fingers that were supposedly dormant."

 

"Ahhh" Mac gave a smile to Gina.

 

"What will we be doing?  I mean the kind of exercises and stuff like that." Harm asked.  "I don’t know any thing about this. Our area is law, so we are in your hands."

"Well, Mac had a mild stroke, her speech is not impaired and she only has partial paralysis of her right side. So - we will go for one and a half hour sessions." Gina drew their attention to Mac’s limbs. "We will provide heat treatment, but the main work will be focused on the walking.  You were given the exercise ball and I expect you to work that on your own, as it is a relatively simple task to squeeze it continually.  We will monitor that progress daily when you come in for the sessions."

 

"How many months?" Mac was almost afraid of the answer.

 

"It depends." Gina was cautious.  "We've just met, so the answer to that is really up to you. I have seen some patients take twelve weeks and others take twelve months.   Most of physical therapy is attitude and determination.  Please excuse me - I need an assistant."

 

Harm squeezed Mac's shoulder. "Harm, a favor" Mac whispered.  "Keep M Squared away from here."

 

"Who?"

 

"Mic and Mac = M squared. My kids.  I don't want them near this place as I do this."

 

"That will NOT be easy."

 

"Then pull rank. DO what you have to do. But keep them away." He shrugged and wondered how that would be possible but said "OK."

 

Gina returned and directed the assistant to place Mac on the treatment table as she commenced her assessment.  "So Captain - are you here to give moral support or to work up a sweat?"  She inquired.

 

"Work up a sweat." Was the instinctive reply,  "Mac and I used to jog together on mornings and sometimes work out with weights. Even kick box, but that was many years ago."

 

"Not so long ago." Gina observed. "You are extremely fit Mac, despite being in retirement."

 

"My rule of thumb is to have men a generation younger than me still turn when I go by." She grinned as she repeated the devilish statement of a few weeks ago. Gina chuckled.  

 

"Have no fear, we are here to put you back in the saddle. So, let 's get this show on the road." She began to explain what she was about to do. "First, I’m going to place some cream on your arm and using this instrument which applies the heat I am going to rub the cream in.  It doesn’t hurt - on the contrary, it can be quite soothing. Once that is done I will compliment the heat treatment with a massage.  I will repeat the process on your other muscles.  Think of it as the warm up session before getting down to the nitty-gritty of the actual exercise."  

 

Gina proceed to do as described and the whole process took about half and hour, with the three of them making small talk.   Then Gina had Mac moved to the exercise room. She placed Mac at the end of what looked like a set of gymnastic parallel bars but set to just above waist height.  "You think you know what is next?"

 

"I think so. I'm supposed to grab on to those bars for support as I try to get my sexy sashay back. "

 

"Amen for that sexy sashay.' Harm quipped.

 

"Harm.  In these early sessions Mac will experience difficultly maintaining her balance, until of course she gets stronger. So I want you to shadow her to provide that little extra moral support if needed as we spend the rest of this session working on that sexy sashay."

 

"OK" Harm whispered.

 

"Come on Mac." Gina reached over and put a two inch wide webbed belt around her waist. "It’s called a gait belt.  She explained as she continued her ministrations on Mac as Harm watched like a mother hen.  "It gives me something to hang on to while helping you and is used as safety equipment for you and for me."

"I’m going to put the brakes of your wheelchair on, and you scoot your butt to the edge of the chair." This done Gina positioned Mac’s legs with the paralyzed one slightly forward with the foot pointing straight ahead and the unaffected one back and under the chair to push up with. She then had Mac to place the paralyzed arm/hand in her lap and had her to lean slightly forward then grab the parallel bar with her good hand.  The assistants, in a smooth motion born of well-known work, grasped the belt on each side slightly toward the back and Gina placed her foot in front of Mac’s paralyzed one to block it from moving.   She then grabbed the belt in the front.  "Slightly rock forward three times and on the third time push up with
your leg and pull up with your arm." Gina asked "ready?"

Mac nodded.

Gina counted "One… two… three."

The rocking provided the momentum and made it easier for Mac to rise to a stand.  She ginned from ear to ear at Harm.  "I’m standing!"

He gave her his best flyboy grin.

She wobbled.

"Whoa" Gina chuckled "Remember because of the stroke you will probably have a hard time with balance so the assistants here will use the belt to help keep you upright while I will work with you on balancing yourself and on your strengthening to keep yourself up.   I will also guide your paralyzed leg forward as you use your hip muscles to swing it forward on each step."

 

Mac nodded and looked at the frame as if it were her nemesis.  As she began to regulate her breathing as part of her mental preparation a calypso floated over the sound system.

 

Cause I know

There will be mountains to climb

There will be rivers to cross - I know

But I'm gonna make it through

I know there will be fire and rain

Bitterness and pain

But I'm gonna make it through

 

Gina explained to Mac and Harm  "We have set the bars are wide enough apart for Mac’s wheelchair to go down the length between them.  This is for safety, in case she gets tired and needs to sit and rest. Of course Harm, if she gets too complacent - you know what to do in the morale department." She grinned. "I in the mean time will be sitting on this rolling stool in front of you to better allow me to help with lifting and positioning your leg on the affected side with each step.  My two assistants will be on either side spotting."

Mac looked at Gina "You get to sit and I get to walk?"

"Ain’t life grand?"  Gina replied.

 

Mac finally nodded and started to move ever so slowly with everyone keeping the pace that she set. Gina spoke up "Mac, try not to drag." Having taken about four to six steps at a time and then sitting for a minute, Mac was now only about quarter way and was sweating but managed to nod in acknowledgement. "That's better." Gina encouraged. At the midpoint she lost her balance and almost collapsed but the assistants were ready and grabbed her in time.

 

"You're doing fine, Marine." Harm encouraged as each step she took gave him hope.

 

"What do you know about it?" She snarled; this was the hardest work she had ever tackled.

 

"Suck it up Marine." Harm ignored her comment. He knew it was the exertion and she would regret the whole scene as soon as she settled down

 

"Don't stop Mac." Gina called. "Focus - we are past the midpoint. Focus" Mac gritted her teeth and pressed on.  Finally she reached the end and thankfully collapsed into the wheel char with Gina's assistance.   Her heavy breathing dominated the room. Finally she said "Sorry, Harm."  He shrugged it off without a comment. Gina instructed one of the assistants to bring in an arm brace.

Mac’s eyes opened wide.

"Relax, Mac. All this is to get you up and running."  Gina soothed her.

 

"Mac, trust Gina. This will help get you better." Harm added.

 

"Actually, the function of the brace is not to help people get better, the intension is to minimize the damage done.  It's not uncommon for stroke patients to use braces on their hands and forearms to stretch out the muscles and tendons and prevent them from curling up into a fist." Gina locked eyes with Mac.

She took the half sleeve of hard plastic from the assistant and positioned it under Mac’s forearm, Velcro straps held it on an upside down Y piece over the wrist with thin rubber straps holding the fingers and thumb hyper-extended back toward the top of the forearm. As she continued to work Gina explained "Mac, you will need to have this on for about 3-5 hours a day in three divided sessions.  In between that time I want you to use the squeeze ball.     This also will help strengthen your grip, so eventually you can grab those parallel bars while practicing walking."

She turned to Harm "If you want, I could teach you how to get her into and out of the brace. She really can’t do it herself - later as she gets stronger but not right now."

"Just direct me and it shall be done." He replied. "That’s why I’m here."

"Great, I’m also going to provide you with a little extra instruction, for some massaging will be needed together with heat. Since they tend to cause pretty bad muscle spasms and pain."  He grinned. He knew he should not, but the thought of giving Mac a massage of any kind always brought a smile to his face.  

 

Gina and Mac just stared at his reaction. "Sorry"

 

"Well, that is it for today, see you tomorrow same time same place." Gina scribbled into the chart.  "You did good Mac.  I see no reason why you should not have a full recovery.  Tomorrow we will repeat the whole process and with every session you will find that the stops for rest will not be as many nor as long.  We’ll get that sashay back yet." Gina smiled then warned.  "Mac, you are a Colonel, albeit retired - you did not achieve that rank by lack of action.  I feel I need to ask you not to over do it.  We made real progress
here today, but let the body heal in it's own good time and don’t go home and over do any physical activity."

This became Mac and Harm's world: the day in and day out routines of the massaging and the walking to laughter, tears, cursing, finger pointing and depression - all to a calypso beat.

Never once did they miss a physical therapy session.

 

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

 

AUGUST 2020
2200 LOCAL

HARM’S HOUSE
318 6TH ST. NE.
WASHINGTON DC

"Harm, that was truly a wonderful evening." Mac said. "In fact, the whole date thing was rather cute."

"You’re welcome." he said. "Mac you are fifty five..."

"Fifty four." she corrected.

"Fifty four." he corrected "And as fit as ever and sexy as hell, yet you still eat like an active Marine.  How you manage to eat all that dead animal and look the way you do with 36-24-36 on that 5'-8" frame and stay at 130 pounds"

 

Mac coughed and interrupted with "120 thank you very much" He looked at her. "Ok 140." She conceded.

 

"…I will never fathom." He finished

 

"Good. A girl has to have some secrets after all." She grinned.  "I see you still are eating that rabbit food so why should I stop a lifetime pleasure?"

He shrugged "Hey if it ain’t broke don’t fix it."

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

AUGUST 2020
NEXT DAY
1400 LOCAL

ADMIRAL (RET) CHEDWIGGEN’S RESIDENCE

"So Mac, how is the therapy going?" AJ inquired as he placed the tonic water with lime on the table next to her.

"Fine sir." She replied.

AJ sighed, "Mac, it’s AJ please."

She smiled.  "For five years Harm and I tried, in vain I may add, to get Bud and Harriet to call us by our first names when we were   off duty and here I am falling into the same trap."

"With all due respect, the Admiral will always be sir." Bud said.

Harm snorted. "Fine sir", He mimicked "she says, oh so innocently - she’s a Marine sir.  Retired or no all they know is how to give hell."

 

"Amen to that!" She agreed. AJ smiled.  It seemed that Harm and Mac were well on their way to happily ever after and none too soon for him.  These folk were as near to family he had and he felt content to have them near.

"Seriously Sir … I mean AJ, it is a long, hard and painful road, but I’m getting there."

"Anyone seen the next generation?  Harriet asked.

"Outside" Harm said.

"They return to duty in Australia day don’t they? You will miss them, I’m sure." Harriet supposed to Mac.

 

"For sure." "Any of those four interested in law?" AJ posed.

 

"Not mine." Mac answered back.

 

"Nor mine" Harriet echoed.

 

"Two Marines, a SEAL, and a Naval Aviator and not one JAG in the bunch." Bud snorted.

 

"Give them time" AJ admonished, "Except for you, Bud none of us came to law early; even Harriet joined up later."

 

"Can you just see it? An AJ, Mic, Mac and Sarah all at JAG!" Harriet gushed. "The poor Judge Advocate
General" AJ could just see it.    

"Have you noticed my son…" Mac started

"With my daughter?" Harriet finished, grinning

"Harriet, stop scheming." Bud admonished.

"Keep noticing" Harm said, "it works both ways. Look at her AJ and your Mac"

"Lord, have mercy," AJ groaned as they all laughed.

"Share the joke?" Sarah Roberts asked as the quartet walked in.

"I can’t believe you still used my name." Mac whispered to Harriet who just shrugged in reply.

"Nothing, pumpkin" Bud answered.

The twins walked in; ignored Harm and planted a kiss on either cheek of their mother.

"What are ya’ll drinking."  AJ Chedwiggen offered.

"Tonic with lime" the twins chanted.

"Your mother’s drink." AJ Chedwiggen observed.

"Rum and coke" Sarah said

"Whiskey and water." AJ Roberts answered.   As AJ Chedwiggen headed to the kitchen to mix the drinks, Harm turned to the twins. "How was the game?"

 

"The Braves won." Sarah said when the silence stretched for too long.

 

"Again!" Bud wailed, "They must be leading the division now."

 

"They are" His son confirmed.

 

Mac had had it. Enough was enough and this war that was being waged between her children and Harm was wearing thin.  She loved them all dearly but there was only so much a woman could take!  Some one had to be the adult in this situation and as usual it was the Marines to the rescue.  She stood up and caused every one to jump as she began.  "God damn it. Michael and Michaela Brumby! I have raised you better than this.  And if I didn’t the Marine Corps sure as hell did!"

"What the hell is going on!?" The voice of authority boomed from the kitchen.

"Moma Bear at work sir." Harm whispered. He had seen Mac in her dress down mode before and had always been thankful that he had never been on the receiving end.  After all this time she apparently had lost none of her fire.

 

"You are no longer five years old, but you are begging for a butt kicking. Now what the hell is going on!?" She was in full Marine Corps flight and was brokering no nonsense.

"Nothing" Mic cringed he hated being at the brunt of his mother’s wrath but it seemed he usually was.

"Don’t give me that!"

The daughter looked round the room.  "Sorry.  We don’t usually have such displays in public" Mac looked at her mother.  "But it’s been as stressful time for all."

Mic stated flatly to Harm. "My mother loves you."

"So all you have to do is take care of her." Mac cautioned.

"In the mean time we ship out in six hours ten seconds" Mic informed his mother as he and his sister both stood up. " And we have to make a move."

"But" their mother stuttered.

"Mother … you need him." Mic kissed her right cheek.

"It just so happens that we don’t" Mac kissed the other cheek.

Bud stopped them at the door.  "You are making your mother choose!"

 

"Never, Uncle Bud." Mac assured him. "But what she needs now is the love of her man, not her children." Mic explained.

 

Mac was horrified.  It was now obvious that this rift ran deeper than she had ever imagined.  "Harm!" Mac pleaded.  

 

The twins bristled.

 

Harm sighed what could he do? His offspring wanted nothing to do with him. What had Brumby fed those two in the veggie mite anyway?  "Mac, what can I do? They are adults.  If you need them they will be there. As I will.  Let them go."

 

"But" Mac said. Harm sighed.  This is the woman he loved and even when he was not a participant he still managed to hurt her.  But this was the woman he would die for and he hated to see her in pain.  He stood and walked over to the twins.  "Outside" he said as he walked by.  They did not follow. "Lieutenants! That is an order!"  This time they followed.    He didn’t stop walking till they got to the end of the driveway.

"We have one thing in common," He began "the love for one Sarah MacKenzie-Brumby."

Mic snorted.

"What?" Harm asked.

"She never signed Brumby."

"Oh" was all he said. "What is it going to take to give her peace, love and harmony and don’t give me any snide remark" Harm opened negotiations.    "Well!" he demanded to the silence.  "What could I have done that she can forgive that you can’t!?"

"You hurt her." Mic said coldly.

"More than once." Mac pointed out.

"I know," He said "But we are hurting her now with all this bickering."

"Who’s bickering?" Mac asked, "We don’t even talk."

"Ah, but the atmosphere." Harm explained.

Mac heaved a sigh.  "Ok, say we need to give mom some of that peace, love and harmony you are babbling about.  What do you suggest?"

 

"A truce."

 

"Explain" Mic demanded. "Brumby was your dad and will always be.  I on the other hand I am your biological father. Now, we didn’t start out on the right foot and we may never get that straight.  What I propose is a cease-fire. I propose just being polite.  We don’t have to like each other, just ‘yes sir, no sir, three bags full, sir‘. For your mother’s sake."

"We need to talk." Mac said to Mic.  They walked away and left Harm biting his lower lip.  They leaned against a tree. "Mic. Mom really loves him."

"I know." "I suppose we are adding to her pain."

"I know."

"God Mic, you’re the man’s mirror image!"

"I know."

Mac turned to look at her brother. "Mic, talk to me and stop this "I know" stuff."

Mic shifted his gaze to Harm in the distance and sighed, "The thing is, sis.    The three of us are really alike. We would die for mom.  Look at him. Trying to negotiate a peace with the Brumby brats."

 

"We ship out in five hours fifteen minutes. We need to wrap this up."

 

Mic smiled. "I know."

 

She rolled her eyes. "So?"

 

"What does your gut say?" he asked.

 

"When we walked in on mom laying into him at the hospital I fed off that."

 

"And now we seem to be feeding off other emotions. Love to be exact." Mic finished.

 

"Mic. Mom really loves him." Mac repeated. "A Second Chance?"

 

Mic chewed his lower lip unconsciously imitating Harm. He began to stride toward his father.  "A Second Chance" he concurred.

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

Harm watched the twins lean against the tree and he prayed.  He prayed like he only did when Mac was in danger or need. Suddenly he saw them walking towards him, but he couldn’t gage the mood.

"What do we call you?" Mac launched into him.

"Harm." He replied promptly with hope.

"Well Harm." Mic said, "We may have your DNA and Brumby may have raised us, but Mac is our mom and any and everything we do is for her."

"As a result of which she has had some hair raising times with us." Mac chuckled.

"I love your mother. I’d die for her." Harm assured them.

"We know" Mac said gently.

"So we propose a second chance. We start over." Mic said.

Harm almost collapsed. Mc grabbed him. "Harm?"

"I’m ok," He said; "thank you."

"Don’t thank us." Mic hissed, "Just take care of her."

"Deal" Harm held out his hand.

Mic looked at it then finally took the hand and they shook to seal the deal.   "We have decided to request a transfer to be near Mom.  See you when we get back?"

"I would like that." Harm replied.

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

Mac had moved to the balcony.  It seemed that one too many cross roads in her life had occurred on this self same balcony. She stood there and watched the three people she loved the most in the world decide her life without her. She almost cried when she saw the handshake.    

She was back in control by the time the trio reached her.

"Hurry." She said, "You have …"

"Four hours forty five minutes left." They all spoke in one voice.

Harm groaned. "Mac, don’t tell me they track time too!"

"Uh huh" she grinned with pleasure.

"Remember, our grandmother was Swiss" Mac echoed in paraphrase of her mother.

"Mom, Harm we have to go." Mic said.

"All is well?" AJ Chedwiggen asked.

"Yes sir!" the twins replied.

"Son, go get the car, times a wasting" Bud said.

The good byes were said as the next generation left.

"Thank you, Harm." Mac said, "I don’t know what was said and I don’t want to know, but thank you."

"You’re welcome, darling." Harm whispered in her ear as she leaned up against him and he resisted the urge to slip his hand down her pants.

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

1900 LOCAL
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The four stood just outside the departure lounge and suddenly every one was feeling awkward.

"Well." AJ started "Have a safe flight Mic." As they shook hands.

"Thanks for everything AJ" Mic replied.

"Anything for Aunty Mac." AJ assured him.  "And don’t worry, we’ll keep and eye on them"

"Oh now you remember me that’s nice." Sarah remarked.

Mac only watched.

Mic and AJ coughed.

"We are requesting transfers to the States to be with Mom." Mac finally spoke.

AJ and Sarah grinned from ear to ear.  "Really?" Sarah directed the question to Mic, who nodded, suddenly lost for words. Mac watched her twin, amused.   Mic tongue-tied this was too good to be true.   So intent was she on Mic that she did not notice AJ focused on her.

 

"Umm, Sarah." He moved her aside from their siblings. "Sarah.  As Mac has said we’ll be back soon.  Umm, … I really enjoyed our time here... with you and umm I was wondering if you would
be interested umm, in going out with me when I get back?"   

 

"Yes" she said simply.

 

"Yes?" he echoed.

 

"Yes" this was amusing.  The man was an Officer in the USMC and it seemed attracted to her yet was shy.

 

Mic turned to Mac and noted in passing how close she was standing to AJ.   "Mac, she said yes!" he grinned. He suddenly picked up Sarah and twirled her. Mac grinned at the scene turned to AJ to make a smart remark and found herself face to face with him.    

AJ Roberts had had the smarts while in his mother’s womb to grab the DNA of his paternal grandfather.  As a result, he was tall.  As was his sister.   They were tall enough to rival the Rabbs.  Try as he may, he could not think of them as Brumby’s  - look at them for heaven’s sake. The Rabb genes just screamed at you.

His eyes locked with Mac’s he could not resist and by unspoken consent they kissed.   Mic put Sarah down and they turned in time to see their siblings in a passionate embrace.  The kiss ended as the four regrouped. She whispered as Mic approached. "We WILL continue this."

"Damn straight." AJ whispered back.

"And the yes was to what, little sister?" AJ raised an eyebrow.

"Wait and see, big brother."

The announcer stated that the flight was ready.

"I’ll be back" Mac promised AJ and hugged Sarah as the guys shook hands again.

With the goodbyes said, the Brumbys and the Roberts separated company.

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

SEPTEMBER 2020

HARM’S HOUSE
318 6TH ST. NE.
WASHINGTON DC

"Harm!" Mac called.

"At the back!" came the reply.

She made her way to the back of the house.  "Honey, the annual fund raiser for the Marine Toys for Tots is this Saturday - would you go with me?"

Harm looked horrified. "Let me see if I understand this you want me, a Navy man, to walk into a room of Marines?"

"Scared?"

"Hell no, just checking out the enemy’s strong hold. Seriously - Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, it would be my pleasure to escort you to the fundraiser. What is the format this year?"

"A dinner.  Civilian dress," She replied consulting the invitation in her hand, "at 2000"

"We’ll be there."

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

SATURDAY
1915
HARM’S HOUSE

Mac looked spectacular as usual in a long, but free flowing skirt and a loose top and Harm told her so. "Thank you." She blushed as she stepped into the car.

Being so close to Mac had Harm on a high.  He breathed heavy and lost all logic.

"Harm?" Mac’s voice penetrated his fog. "You ok?"

"Yeah." He breathed.

 

"Down boy." Mac instructed, as she was about to exit the car.  "Leave all promises for later."

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

SATURDAY 2000 LOCAL

MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FUNDRAISER

The evening passed pleasantly enough with the group reminiscing over old times at JAG and feigning horror at some of the action lawyers could get up to.

Bud was teased mercilessly on his still high interest in the paranormal.  As he informed them that the new Star Wars movie was out.

 

"Another one?" AJ said, "That makes how many?"

 

"Fifth of a nine part series." Mikey replied.

 

"I remember seeing part one." Harm sighed, "I was fifteen and at fifty seven the franchise is alive and well."

 

"Long live Hollywood." Harriet toasted. The band struck a lively tune as the dance floor was opened up to the patrons.

 

"Colonel? May I have this dance?" Harm held out his hand. She held his elbow as he led them to the dance floor.  She moved into his embrace and they fit like hand in glove.  She smiled to herself. "Share the moment? Sarah?" He asked softly. As always when he used her first name it always gave her a tingly feeling.   "I was remembering another time we were dancing and I mentioned that even if it felt like you were dancing with your sister you could pretend to enjoy the dance."

"If memory serves … I told you that I didn’t see you as a sister.  I was so scared that that intuition of yours would have caught on to me that night. I was already falling for you and was enjoying that dance a bit too much."

 

"I may just have if we were not so intent on getting Bud and Harriet together."   She defended.

 

"Funny how we got them straightened out right quick and it took us a little longer." She arched an eyebrow "A little longer - you say." "uh huh" and Harm swirled her around. The rest of the evening moved swiftly along.

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

SATURDAY 2200
MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FUNDRAISER

Once the evening was over Mac unconsciously braced herself.  After the initial grope Harm had calmed down considerably, but in calming down he seem to have switched off as he suggested they go off to the movies to see that “Star Wars movie" as he put it.   She had no objections; it had been a while since she had gone to the cinema. Usually there was nothing that interested her.

 

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

SATURDAY 2245

CINEMA 2000

Mac sighed in resignation. She should have known.  "I’m getting old.  Correction, I am old - how else do I explain me figuring Harm’s moves on me tonight had ceased and desisted?" She thought as she prepared to enjoy the session. "God, when last had she necked at the movies!"

They commandeered the back double love seat. She cuddled up to Harm who put his arm around her.  The movie began but Mac didn’t register one scene and if asked would have drawn a blank on the name of the feature, despite knowing it earlier.  Because of their closeness he whispered sweet nothings to her.  Great minds think alike and they both reached the same conclusion forgot the film and left.

 

Harm broke all speed limits.     

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

OCTOBER 2020
SUNDAY
1300 LOCAL

MIC’S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
WASHINGTON DC

"Sis, the place is great. AJ found it for me. The quintessential bachelor pad."

"Mom and Harm seen it yet?"

"Harm said he’d come over today.  Mom said maybe. Here we are." He said as they stepped out of the elevator.  He unlocked the door. "Cute." Mac scanned the joint. "Really nice. I managed to get mom to let me have her old place."      

Mic gave the Rabb flyboy grin to his sister in understanding.

"Oh, my Lord" a male voice came through.

"Hi Harm." Mac said.

"What’s wrong with it." Mic demanded instantly on the defensive. It wasn’t always easy dealing with an older version of one’s self.

"Nothing. Only that this was my place up to about fifteen years ago." Harm explained as he took off his coat. "So, where do we start? I figure that the invite included manual labor."  He grinned his trademark flyboy grin. Mac stared. "What?" Harm asked "Spinach in my teeth?" "No.  It’s only I’ve never seen the smile on any one else."  She explained.

"Mom says that we had the smile but we’ve never had evidence of it."  Mic confirmed. "You knew of me before?" Harm was shocked as he walked across the room to the kitchen counter. The place hand not changed. "Oh yeah.  I mean look at us.  Brumby’s we ain’t.  So as soon as we could understand Mom and Dad explained that we had another father out there." Mac said.

"What else did she tell you?" Harm was curious.

"Nada." Mic said.

"Not even how she met the other dad?" Harm prompted.

"No. But now that you raise it - how did you meet?" Mac asked.

"Well" Harm started. "I was getting a medal from the President and afterwards the Admiral began to brief me on a new case. That is when Bud joined JAG by the way and … What?" He stopped as the twins stared.

"In the Rose Garden?" Mac asked

"When Matt O’Hara stole the Declaration of Independence?" Mic stated.

"Yes and Yes.  What!"

"Oh yeah, she told us how you met." Mic stated sarcastically

"The adventures of C and C" Mac intoned with a TV Voice.

"C and C?" Harm asked.

"The Colonel and the Commander" Mic translated.

"You lost me." Harm said.

"Mom told us that story as part of a series of bed time stories." Mic explained.

"They were so fantastic that we just KNEW that they had to be made up." Mac told him.

"Well first of all it is not fantasy. Matt O’Hara was your mother’s Uncle but he’s dead now. I’m surprised she didn’t at least tell you about him. Did she tell you about Ireland?"

"She was a Major at the time and the team was drawn into a game of revenge when they're sent to Belfast, Ireland, to represent the legal interests of a Navy Lieutenant whose infant son had seemingly been abducted by the child's father, a known IRA terrorist. A vengeful officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary had, in fact, engineered the kidnapping and was using the baby, and the team as pawns in his attempt to capture his elusive nemesis. In the end they uncovered the deception and rescued the child.." Mic answered.

"Did she tell you about Russia?"

"Part One" Mac jumped in "That when the MiG was stolen, they survived the plane crash and decided to continue their search for the Commander's MIA father, the mission that brought them to Russia in the first place. With the help of a Russian brother and sister, they eluded capture by KGB search parties and he finally learned what happened to his father after so many years."

"Part two" Mic added "The Colonel was on the verge of making a deal with the traitorous Naval officer when he and his lawyer were murdered. It’s then discovered that the traitor was linked to a Russian assassination plot. But her attempts to alert her partner fail.  So she follows him in a taxi to Chechnya and foils the assignation of the Russian President."

 

Harm began to list the adventures, "Panama"

 

"C and C are sent to Panama to investigate the wife of a Marine officer, suspected of smuggling drugs into the U.S. She was the Commanding Officer on this mission and they caught a drug baron." Mic said.

 

"In fact, she killed the Baron" Mac corrected.

 

"Appalachian Mountains" Harm said.

 

"Got shot by poachers." They chorused.

"Actually we played a deadly game of hide-and-seek in the Appalachian Mountains when backwoodsmen poachers who had just killed a game warden started tracking us." Harm elaborated. "And yep she got shot. Korea"

 

"C and C were assigned to investigate charges that American GIs shot and killed civilians during the Korean War. They boarded a plane for Korea, along with a veteran who claimed to have participated in the shootings. Korean terrorists took over the plane and insisted on punishing those responsible for the alleged war crime."

"Last one - Iran."

 

"The original mission was to represent a Navy flier whose Stealth jet is thought to have crashed in Iran due to a mechanical failure. But they found out that the $80 million plane didn't crash and was hidden, the assignment became: get the pilot -- and the costly aircraft -- back to the U.S. without letting the Iranians know that the plane was intact. ." Mac said

 

They all just stared at each other.  "You are telling us that all that is fact and not fiction?" Mic could not believe it.

 

"I was there son. It happened."

 

"Hot damn!" Mac squealed in delight.  "Hot damn!"

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

There was something familiar about the address Mic’ had given her.  It wasn’t until she got there did she realize that it was Harm’s old place.   The fates were at work.  She paid the taxi and slowly moved into the building. The door was ajar and she opened the door in time to hear Mac squealing in delight.  

 

"Hot damn!"

 

"Hot damn?" She repeated.

 

"Mom" they said, and in regular fashion planted kisses on either of her cheeks.

 

"Hi hon." Harm walked over with the intension of a platonic kiss on the lips.  Mac, of course, always had other plans and the kiss turned steamy.  Harm finally came up for air.

 

"Mac, the kids."

 

The *kids* looked round the room.  

 

"See any kids?" Mac the daughter asked.

 

"Nope you?" Mic countered

 

"Hell, no." She echoed. Mac groaned inwardly.  She had given up trying to clean up the vocabulary of her children.  Any progress she had ever imagined she had made had gone up in smoke when they signed up. She emerged from the lapse in focus to hear her son.

"Nice to know one’s parents are in love." Mic smirked.

"Despite being slugged by your offspring." Mac revealed. She suddenly found herself in the spotlight of three sets of Rabb eyes.

"You know?" her daughter breathed.

"Yes."

"Oh GOD" Mic groaned and turned to Harm.  "Sir - I am so sorry.  Hindsight is twenty/twenty vision.  I had no right to hit you that way…" Mic began to ramble.

Harm raised his had to stop him. "Hold it right there.  What you did you perceived to be in defense of your mother.  As far as I’m concerned you did the right thing.  NEVER - I repeat NEVER let me hear you apologize for defending any female member of your family.  Are we clear on that sir!"

 

"As crystal." Mic replied with the flyboy grin.

 

"You see it Harm?"  Mac whispered.

"Now I do." He replied "you and your flyboy grins."

"That smile is a lethal weapon you and your sister have." Mac said in mock seriousness "Use it wisely."

"Yes ma’am " They replied matching her tone and then spoiled it by giggling.

"Let’s go eat." Mic said.

 

"Yeah" Mac agreed.

 

"Now, that is the MacKenzie genes right there." Harm chuckled. He felt whole.  Life may yet unfold in his favour after all.  Wife, kids, family - the cure to a lonely life. "Oh God," he prayed “let it be. “

 

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

 

SEPTEMBER 2021

 

If there had been gossip when the Rabb twins had shown up in DC signing Brumby it was nothing compared to what happened when the triple wedding took place.  When Harmon Rabb Jr., Michael Brumby Jr. and Michaela Brumby married Sarah Mackenzie, Sarah Roberts and AJ Roberts.

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

 

SEPTEMBER 2021

1430 SHERATON ON THE PARK

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

IN THE ELEVATOR

 

Mac and Harm stepped into the elevator they had been out shopping and intended to drop off the parcels take a quick shower and maybe quickie then head off to meet the kids.  Harm pressed the button for their floor and what began as a smooth ride ended in hell. It turned out that that was a good place to be. The cage suddenly jerked, lunged and stopped propelling Mac unceremoniously into Harm.   As the elevator settled they finally managed to disentangle themselves off each other.

 

"What the hell happened!" Harm demanded. Mac reached for the emergency phone.

 

"This is Sarah Rabb, I just got caught in elevator number two.  How long will it take to get me out?"

Harm watched and popped a stick of gum into his mouth as she nodded.

"Uh huh… uh huh… you sure? No sooner? OK Thanks" She hung up and turned to Harm.  "Stuck here for a minimum of one hour."

 

"Damn!" He breathed.  "What are we supposed to do now?"

 

Mac raised an eyebrow at Harm.  Suddenly there was a click in her head and a countdown began.  She had always been able to keep track of time but for the first time she knew she could count down too and was about to do just that.   With fifty-nine minutes thirty four seconds before the techs got the doors opened she was about to use this gift of time to the best.  

 

"Harm" she breathed. "Surely we can think of something?"  She began to move up to him with the controlled movement of a Lioness on the hunt.

 

"Maaac" Harm drawled.  They were in total sync. "Do we have time?"

 

"Fifty-seven minutes twenty two seconds and wasting." She replied.

 

"How do you DO that time thing!" He demanded in frustration knowing that there would be no straight answer.

 

"If I have told you once I have told you a dozen times - my mother was Swiss!" She grinned, then reached for him and growled. "Come here sailor." The truth be told she had not a clue of how she did track time and had no desire to find out how just incase she lost the skill in the search.

 

He held up his left index finger to her signaling a halt.  He turned reached up and placed the wad of gum he had been chewing over the lens of the Closed Circuit TV in the elevator. "You were saying?"

She repeated the growl.

"Yes ma’am" He grinned.  "What is your pleasure?"

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

15 MINUTES LATER
IN THE ELEVATOR

"Mac, we’ve been here over an hour, no?"  Harm asked. Mac looked up impressed.  "You track time now?" She smiled.

"No, but listen" he said. "Isn’t that the song that was playing when we got stuck?

Sure enough there it was again…

"Yeah" Mac breathed, "You are right, that is the song and we have been here over an hour."

Harm began a visual search of the elevator.

"Recon? Sailor?" Mac quipped.

"Bit late, I know, but there were extenuating circumstances, your honor."   He grinned.  "There." He pointed upward.  "There is a hatch to this thing.   We could always climb out if needed."

"A la Matrix style" She concluded "Fit we may be, but to go climbing?"

"Contingency only." He assured her.

The next song started.

Mmmmm
I'll always think of you
Inside of my private thoughts
I can imagine you
Touching my private parts
And just the thought of you
I can't help but touch myself
That's why I want you so bad

"These folks like oldie goldies" Harm observed.

"My kind of song" Mac commented.

Harm raised an eyebrow "explain"

"You don’t remember the lyrics? I know it was twenty years ago but … anyway never mind.  Listen."  She instructed as she sang along so that he could follow the lyrics.

Can't get my mind off you
I think I might be obsessed
The very thought of you
Makes me want to get undressed
I want to be with you
In spite of what my heart says
I guess I want you too bad

"Suggestive, no?" She asked as she began to move into his personal space.

"Mac…" Harm sighed.

Suddenly the elevator lurched and the two were sent reeling.  Just as suddenly it stopped and the doors to the elevator swung open to reveal the two techs.

"About time" Mac stated in her best Marine Colonel voice as she straightened up from the floor.

"Sorry" one of the techs said as she breezed by.

"Don’t look at me." Harm said to the duo as he waltzed by in his wife’s wake.  "I just follow instructions from that lady."

 

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

 

HALLWAY ON THE WAY TO THEIR SUITE

 

"Mac, did I hear you speak some foreign language in there?" He said softly as other persons passed them in the aisle.  "I wasn’t really sure - blood rushing in the ears and all."

"It happens when I get excited." She explained.

"I didn’t know that you spoke Spanish." He propped.

"If you know all about me now, what do you leave for the next twenty years?" She teased.  As they walked down the hall she continued to sing the song from the elevator under her breath.

 

"Speak up, Marine." Harm joked or keep silent."

 

"This is my favourite part." She explained.

 

"It would be" Harm observed after she had sung the stanza.

 

"You know that TWOFT thing back there is a good one.  Bud said that?" She asked. "Now had that been Gunny I would understand but Bud?  I’m shocked."

 "Well, here we are at last. Your palace ma'am." He bowed as he opened the door and she sashayed before him into the room.

"OK, give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be ready." She called back as she headed for the bathroom.  Upon her return, Harm was lounging on the bed watching a formula one-car race.  She stood in front of him. All he could do was ogle her for as usual she was dazzling. His wife was one beautiful woman.  He didn’t think it possible but the fifty something year old oozed more sex appeal than the thirty year old he knew at JAG and Lord knew it seeped from her back then.  He tried to reach for her.

 

"Trying to cop a sample, sailor?"

 

"Hey a guy should be able to reach for his wife now and then." He salivated.  "Wife.  Have I told you how much I adore the sound of that word?"

 

"Not recently."  She crawled onto the bed next to him.  She laughed as Harm reached for her. "Harm…" she feigned coyness "… the kids! We’ll be late!"

"Mac.  We’re in walking distance of the Harbor … we’ll make it."

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

1930
SHERATON ON THE PARK
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA
THE RABBS’ SUITE

Mac finally stirred and groaned as her internal clock instantly kicked in.   "Harm - Harm honey, move it.  We have half an hour to get to the Ferry."

 

Harm groaned and rolled over.

 

"Move it, you worthless piece of protoplasm.  What GOD has messed up, make no mistake I WILL correct!" Mac imitated a Drill Sergeant and even after all these years Harm rolled out of bed and snapped to.

"Thank you." She said calmly "We are going to be late for the Ferry of we don’t move it."

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

SEPTEMBER 2021
1955 LOCAL
SYDNEY HARBOUR FERRY

It was the last night Down Under and the three couples had managed to tear themselves away from indoor activity to meet for dinner.  They were to meet on the Ferry crossing Sydney Harbor.

"There they are at last." Mic said, as he saw his parents approach the Ferry.

"Where could they have been? It’s not like mom to be running late." Mac observed.

"Yes.  But very much like Uncle Harm." AJ said. "Where are they going?" Mac said as Harm and her mother took off to another section of the Ferry. "Did your folks ever tell you of the time Uncle Harm and Aunty Mac were here with our dads?" Sarah asked.  "I think this is THE Ferry."

"Oh no." Mic groaned.

We’ll just wait here." AJ instructed.

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

2005 LOCAL
SYDNEY HARBOUR FERRY

Mac looked round, "It was here … what twenty two years ago? That without realizing it, the rest of our lives were defined.  Remember?"

"How could I forget?  There we were on the Ferry and that’s when you decide to get serious."

She began to perform the conversation of all those years ago.  Harm answered her in the recital.  "You thought I was topless?"

"You weren’t?" He asked as the whole scene of heartache past was replayed.

"Harmon Rabb you are a prude!"

"You never went topless for me."

"Is that a request?" Mac said seriously. And then as now Harm changed the subject to New Years Eve celebrations.

"I heard that during the Millennium celebration this bridge was completely covered in Roman Candles with the word Eternity."

"Is that how long we are going to wait?"

"Mac?"

"We are not in Washington. We’re not even on the same continent."

"Location does not change who we are."

"Most men would disagree with you."

"I know. I disagree with myself sometimes too."

"You just can’t let go, can you?"

"Not yet."

Mac searched his eyes. "You’re just this way with me, aren’t you?"

"Yeah. Only with you."

"I supposed I should be flattered."

"You should … Sarah." Here he changed the script "Cause I love you with all my heart and soul.  And I am NOT playing the fool a second time."

"If you felt that way … why didn’t you stop the wedding?"

"You wanted that?"

"I didn’t know WHAT I wanted."  They stared at each other until Mac broke the moment.  "Remind me one day to tell you of the nights I cried myself to sleep listening for your footsteps."

"Even if you were married to Brumby?" Harm could not believe what he was hearing.

"Even if I were married to Brumby." She confirmed.

"Uh hum" AJ’s cough brought them back to the present.   

Mac remained in her husband’s arms "Yes AJ?"

"Hi Aunty Mac." He said." Sorry to interrupt but we are almost there.

"So we are AJ so we are."  But she was too content to break the embrace with Harm so all she did was turn in his arms to face their Godson.

 

"So! Harmon David Rabb Jr. Where are you taking me to dinner?"

 

He chuckled.  "You said that last time too."

 

"Mmm, and it better not be a hot dog covered with murder reenactments."

 

"Never." And with AJ standing right there he turned Mac held her close and kissed her with such passion that she felt branded.  With that kiss, the breach that had been created on the infamous Ferry was finally sealed.

 

The others joined them and Mac said to her brother softly "They were really meant to be."

 

"I know, even after twenty-five years." Mic replied.

 

"What are you two up to?" Sarah whispered, "In fact, why are we whispering?"

 

"Now sis?"

"As good a time as any."

 

Mic stepped forward.  "Sir.  Umm Harm." Mac and Harm looked at their son and realized that things had got sober all of a sudden.  

 

Sarah moved in closer to AJ, This was a family moment and all they could do was witness.

 

"Yeess." Harm drawled warily.

 

"Mic Brumby will always be my … our dad.  He raised me and my sis like his own even in the face (excuse the pun) of overwhelming evidence to the contrary … and he loved mom." He paused to breath deeply. "Over the past year I ... um… we can see that you love our mom too.  Um… our first meeting was not the best, but despite that you are then one who gave us life… and ... um…" he looked helplessly at his sister for assistance.

She stepped forward squeezed her brother’s shoulder and said simply "Will pop do?"

"Oh sweet Jesus." Her mother sighed.

Harm was stunned.  "What?"

 

"You have known us for a year.  Never in that time have you ever questioned the accuracy of either of us finishing a thought process or statement for the other and tonight you do?" his daughter retorted.

 

"Yes" he replied just as simply as his offspring.  "Yes pop will be fine. It is more than I expected. Thank you."

 

And for the first time the twins stepped forward to perform the ritual usually reserved for Mac.  Mic kissed his father on the left cheek as his sister kissed the right.

 

"Hi pop." They chorused.

 

 The End