Authors: Rising Sun [jagrslc@yahoo.com] and Pat (SSbpMN@aol.com)
FF of Rising Sun is archived at: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc
FF of Pat is archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
For updates on FF by Rising Sun join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jagrslc
Join the Fan Fiction Challenge at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ffchallange/
Rated: PG-13 (NC-17 available)
Classification: JAG Story/Adventure/Romance: Harm/Mac
Summary:
Harm and Mac no longer work together can the relationship stand the separation?
Spoilers:
Tribunal, In Country, Enemy Below
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.
Permission to archive: Permission Granted
Feedback: Yes please
Permission to archive: Permission granted.
Story Written May to ??? 2002
0807 LOCAL
JAG HQ
Harm popped his head through the door to Admiral AJ Chedwiggen’s office. “You sent for us sir?”
AJ waived him in. “Commander! Enter.” Harm walked in followed by Mac. “At ease have a seat.” He instructed. As the two sat he continued talking. “Well people I see that my advice was not taken.”
“Sir?” Mac asked.
“I seem to recall warning you two. Don't get too close. You'll be working together.” He replied, “Ring a bell?” when he saw that it did he continued. “And now here we are. “ He took a deep breath and Mac and Harm waited.
“Don’t ask me how.” He stated, “I have managed for both of you to remain at JAG. With some fancy maneuvering you just missed being court-martialed for fraternization as you are of equal rank and chain of command barely applies.”
The couple heaved a collective sigh.
“Not so soon folks.” The tension rose again. “There is a price. The partnership will be dissolved. It will take the rare case for you to work together. Understood?”
“Aye sir!” they accepted.
“That being said you are not returning to Cuba.” He passed Harm a file. “Murder at Quantico. Mac…”
“Yes sir.”
“You are returning to Afghanistan.” AJ announced.
“Sir!” She was surprised.
“We have collateral damage caused by an error in targeting. I want to know why.”
“Yes sir. Any causalities?” she asked.
“A family.” He looked grim.
“Do we know who confirmed the target?” Harm inquired.
AJ’s face got harder as he said “Gunnery Sergeant Galandez.”
Mac almost dropped the file.
“Any thing else?”
“No sir!” She replied.
“Dismissed.”
+ + +
Outside of the Admiral’s office Harm turned to Mac as she walked towards him having conferred with Petty Officer Tiner. “Well?”
“Tonight at 2300.” She informed.
“I’ll cook.” He said.
“You always cook.” They walked into the bullpen.
“True.” He walked her to her office and stopped at the door. “Guess it’s a small price to pay to stay at JAG.”
“Indeed.” She agreed.
===============================
MARINE COMMAND BUNKER
DESERT, NEAR KABUL
AFGHANISTAN
Mac was on familiar territory and the sense of the familiar was intensified if not bitter sweet as Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez approached her.
Holding on to his firearm he greeted her. “Welcome back ma’am.” He fell into stride with her.
“Back?” She quizzed him.
“Yes ma’am you’re a legend here. I know you served here before me. The way you got Lt. Roberts back and the took down Colonel Lawson is the stuff Marines tell at campfires.”
She was embarrassed. “I hardly think legend is the term. Gunny.”
“Yes ma’am.” He replied but Mac knew that she had not made one dent in his opinion of her. She got down to business “Gunny we need to talk.”
“Yes ma’am that we do.”
“But first I need to report to the base commander.”
“Yes ma’am.” Galindez led her to the General’s Office and waited for her return. Ten minutes later she was out and they found a relatively quiet spot to talk.
“I assume that the Admiral sent out his best JAG to investigate me ma’am?” He launched into the reason she was there.
“The Admiral wants to know what happened Gunny and Marines take care of their own.” She assured him. “Tell me what happened.”
“You already know ma’am. An enemy target was incorrectly identified and civilians died.” He was in earnest “No excuse ma’am.”
“Did you know there were civilians in the area?” She pressed.
“They were told to stay inside.” He answered.
“By whom?”
“A local.” He seemed reluctant with the turn of questions.
“A local?” Mac was struggling to get a complete picture. “What local? How did he know of the mission?”
“Not HE ma’am SHE. Theresa a researcher in the area, she’s Afghani and we used her to tell the villagers to stay indoors that night.”
Mac’s antenna went up. “Well obviously something went wrong. How trust worthy is she Gunny?”
“I’d trust her with my life ma’am.” Gunny came to the absent woman’s defense. “Although Mr. Webb thinks she’s a spy, a double agent. BUT SHE’S NOT!”
“Webb he’s still here?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Mac did not like the picture that was emerging. As she prepared to really grill the Sergeant a Master Chief came running. “Ma’am!”
“Easy Chief. What is it?” Mac addressed the man.
“Gunny they found her!” Victor jumped up as if stung.
“Where!” He demanded he needed details.
“Report Master Chief!” Mac took control even as she observed Victor’s agitated state.
“A team came across some hostiles and there was an exchange of fire. When it was all done we got them but we have one dead and three sounded. Theresa is among the dead.”
It seemed to Mac that the Gunny had shrunk at the news. “Did she speak before she… she… “ He could say it.
Another voice joined the conversation. “She told us that she had warned the village but that at the first house she had been caught. She never had a chance to tell the others.”
“Webb.” Mac acknowledged. He nodded back.
Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez man of action slowly dropped to his knees. It looked like a slow motion clip from a movie. He buried his face in his hands.
“He's in love with her.” Mac observed “... or was.”
Webb whispered “Nuestro amor es el hijo de un padre cruel.”
“What?” She was distraught for her friend.
“Our love is the child of a cruel father.” He translated
“Uh huh.” Mac agreed.
===============================
SOMEWHERE IN AFGHANISTAN
The chopper dropped Bud off with Petty Officer Coats who were off to visit the village. “Nice of them to invite us to the ground breaking ceremony sir.”
“Well we did give the money for the new school.” Bud replied.
“Which WE blew up!” The young woman pointed out.
“Accidentally.” Bud justified that’s when he spotted the young boy. “Oh my God! Are there mine mines out there?” He wasn’t sure.
The legal-man wasn’t sure either. “Maybe they’ve cleared them sir.” God she hoped so.
Bud instructed her. “Go get someone from the village.” With that Coates was off and running.
Bud turned his full attention to the young boy; he couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old. The more frantic Bud became the more playful the child turned out to be. Suddenly the boy threw a stone at him. “No! Don’t more!” Bud screamed.
Bud’s excitement caused the boy to begin to move more as the **game** intensified. In his concern Bud stepped forward. The click of the mine and the boom of the explosion were virtually simultaneous. Bud was sent spinning in the air and when the dust settled he was left bleeding on the ground with a badly injured right leg.
===============================
SIX HOURS LATER
JAG HQ
AJ Chedwiggen’s face looked grim as he placed the telephone receiver back into its cradle. Lousy timing that is all there was too it… damn lousy timing. Ideally he would have preferred to have at least five minutes to compose himself. As it were Harriett was sitting right before him when the call came through. SEAL training was not for designed with this situation in mind but it came in handy today anyway. He mentally braced himself.
“That was Colonel Mackenzie.” He started.
Harriett’s face lit up. “How is she sir?”
This was harder than he thought possible “She’s fine. She called about Bud.”
“Bud sir?” Her instincts kicked in. “Is he all right sir!”
Time to bite the bullet. “While trying to save a child Lt. Roberts… Bud. Stepped on a land mine…”
“Oh God!” She interrupted him.
“He’s alive!” He hastened to tell her. “Injured but alive.”
She zoomed in on a word. “Injured! How! Where!… Sorry sir.”
He waived the apology aside but skirted the issue. “He’s arriving at Bethesda this time tomorrow.”
“Is that why Gunny is coming Stateside?” She’d been sitting right there she couldn’t help but hear.
“Yes. The Colonel made the recommendation that he escort him back. Gunny is familiar to Bud and he needs that right now.” AJ felt awful. “Go home Lieutenant. Go home to your son and I’ll be at Bethesda with you when your husband the hero gets home.”
She’d been about to object but when he put it like that she agreed. “Thank you sir.”
He nodded. “Dismissed.”
===============================
0900 LOCAL
JAG HQ
“You going somewhere?” Sturgis stood in the doorway watching Harm rearrange his papers.
“Yep Tel Aviv.”
“As in Israel?” He stepped into the office.
“The one and only.” Harm confirmed. “I am to be the legal advisor to …” He looked at the file “… to Ambassador François Hunter: Senior Fellow at the Middle East Council of Foreign Relations and US Envoy to Israel.”
“Quite a mouth full.” Sturgis remained leaning on the doorframe. “It’s almost as if there is an exodus.”
“Come again?”
“Mac, Bud and now you. You’re all leaving me with Singer!” Sturgis wailed.
Harm paused long enough to grin at his friend. “It’s all in the line of duty.”
“Ha ha funny.” Sturgis was not a happy man.
===============================
MARINE COMMAND BUNKER
DESERT, NEAR KABUL
AFGHANISTAN
Mac put down the satellite phone. It had been her second phone call for the day. Now that Gunny had been cleared and headed home albeit with a badly injured Bud, all she had wanted to do was get back to Harm. But now the Admiral had ordered her to stay on Webb’s six. The second call had been Harm telling her that he was TAD to an Ambassador in Israel.
So much for married life!
She stepped out of the comms room and went in search of Webb. She found him poring over maps. “See anything?” She asked. “Stars.” He stood and rubbed his eyes. “Funny Webb.” She was not in a mood for light banter not after those calls! “What now?” He focused on her. “You on my case now?” She stared at him for her answer. He shrugged and spoke. “My only lead so far is and ISI agent called Omar Akhim.” “Pakistan Intelligence?” Mac replied. “Double Agent. He works for both Pakistan and Iran.” Webb enlightened her. “The man have a death wish?” she breathed. “So where does he fit in this war?” “He authorized the transfer of the two hundred and fifty million dollars to Russia. The trail for Atif is cold so I follow him.” She noticed the map for the first time. She focused on it. “This is a map of Israel. Why do you need that? They aren’t players…” Her voice trailed off. “Or are they?” He went silent. “Webb.” Her voice got hard. “Akhim is on his way there now.” He finally spoke. “With us on the plane that follows.” She deadpanned. He nodded grimly.
===============================
2300 LOCAL - HOTEL TEL AVIV
HARM’S ROOM
The briefing before this trip had been intense. The Aide had droned, “Personal security measures: When on foot, be observant especially in malls, shops, and near salons; Carry a laminated sheet with emergency phone numbers; Don't flash cash in public or wear gold chains, other distinctive jewelry, or Rolex or similar watches…” And on and on it went. Was he some damn rookie out on his first deployment! Being away from Mac made him irritable and short tempered.
As the thoughts of his wife crossed his mind he remember their last phone call. It had been short and sweet and entirely unsatisfactory. Now here he was alone, far from home and even further from loved ones in a far away country. He grimaced – he was feeling sorry for himself.
It was late but the noise under his window bore testimony to the life in the street. It was Saturday night and the young folk were being young. He considered going out into the street but postponed the thought. He was scheduled to meet the liaison for Sunday Brunch and he needed to review his file one more time before he **mingled**
He opened the file and looked at the photo of the distinguished looking man. Ambassador François Hunter, fifty and was a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Council of Foreign Relations. He had held that post for the past five years. He’d advised both President Clinton and now President Bush on the Middle East. He was a visiting lecturer at Harvard and Duke University on what else? The Middle East.
On a personal side he was a widower with one daughter a member of Microsoft’s think tank. Harm closed the file. He already knew the bio but he felt the needed to scan it one more time. He stood stretched and …
BOOM!!!
He was flung across the room. There was glass everywhere. He managed to dust himself off and finally stand. The night breeze creased his face as the noise of screams, shouts and sirens pierced the night.
His attaché suddenly appeared before him. “Sir! Are you all right?”
“I think so.” Harm’s voice was wobbly. “What happened?”
“Suicide bomber.” The aide stated matter of factly. “We must get you out of here.”
Harm nodded. He bent to pick up the now empty file, the contents strewn everywhere.
“Leave it sir. I’ll have your items brought to you.”
Harm nodded and moved to the aide’s side. “Lead on Lieutenant.” As he walked away from yet another near death encounter he thought of Mac, and he thought she was in a danger zone!
===============================
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
PHYSICAL THERAPY ROOM
Bud was not in a cooperative mood. Here he was peg leg Roberts!
With his wife hovering all over him; God he prayed, give me
strength!!! He glared at the woman
before him. “And you are…?"
“Commander Baptist.” She was all sunshine. "And you are Lieutenant Roberts.” She consulted her file. "I am the Physical Therapist."
"I’m Lieutenant Sims, his wife. What will we be doing? I mean the kind
of exercises and stuff like that." Harriett asked.
"Luckily the Lieutenant didn’t loose his knee. So the artificial limb
we’re using will be like new.” She
began.
“It will NOT be like new.” Bud pronounced.
“True but flex foot is the next best thing. I know of marathon runners equipped with this new technology. We will provide heat treatment, but the main work will of course be focused on walking." Baptist explained.
"How many months?" Harriett asked but Bud 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."
She squeezed her husband’s shoulder. "We can do this."
Bud refused to answer and continued to sulk.
The Commander returned and directed the assistant to place Bud on the treatment table as she commenced her assessment. She gagged both his physical and emotional situation. "Have no fear, we are here to put you back in the saddle."
Still he sulked.
Once done she had him moved to the exercise room where Bud was placed 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?"
When Bud refused to reply Harriett spoke. "I think so.
He’s supposed to grab on to those bars for support as he works on his walk.
"
"Just so. Come on." She reached over and put a two inch wide webbed belt around his waist. "It’s called a gait belt. She explained as she continued her ministrations on Bud as Harriett 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."
Bud was not cooperating and Baptist let him know. “Lieutenant! Work with me!” He complied slightly.
Bud started to move ever so slowly with everyone keeping the
pace that he set. Baptist spoke up "Bud, try not to drag." Having
taken about four to six steps at a time his gait was wobbly but he was walking.
"You're doing fine." Harriett encouraged.
"What do you know about it?" He snarled; this was the hardest work he had ever tackled. Finally he walked the length of the course.
"Well, that is it for today, see you tomorrow same time same place." The Physical Therapist scribbled into the chart. "You did good. I see no reason why you shouldn’t have a full recovery. Tomorrow we will repeat the whole process and with every session you will find that the movement becomes more natural.”
Bud remained silent and from behind him his wife rolled her eyes.
===============================
SHALOM HOTEL
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
Mac had informed Webb in no uncertain terms that she was taking time off to deal with important matters that had nothing to do with him. She’d called Harm and made arrangements.
And now here she was.
With a long sigh Mac looked around the room. It seemed
to be perfect, considering it was a hotel room in a not so nice part of town thousands
of miles from home. Candles in place, soft music playing, and she herself
dressed in a cream colored teddy which she wore beneath a matching thigh length
chiffon robe. It was tied with ribbons, as was the teddy, and she paused
for a moment, picturing Harm pulling each one. It had been a long time.
She paced the floor for twenty minutes that seemed like two hours until she
heard his soft voice outside the door. "Mac it's me."
"Jim thank goodness," she teased, pulling the door back.
"Who the hell is. . ." he began, before he realized he had been
baited. A second later he caught the full impact of her standing before
him and he gasped, his hand to his mouth. "Oh my god you are so
beautiful."
"So are you Sailor, but you look tired. Long trip?"
"Yeah, but so well worth it.”
"I'm all yours," she whispered.
"Five minutes to wash this grossness off me," he replied, brushing
her lips with his as he ran for the shower.
For a moment she thought of joining him, but there would be time enough for that
this weekend. For now she languished on the bed awaiting his return.
When he emerged, his hair was damp and sticking up, and he was wearing only a
clean pair of boxers. "I've been in the same underwear for three
days," he declared, dropping onto the bed beside her. "My God
how I've missed you."
"I want to know all that's been happening to you," she whispered,
reaching up to touch his face, "but first I have a much more urgent need
for you to attend to."
Without further talk, his lips descended on hers. "I have missed you
so very much, and I love you so much. So very much," he sighed,
starting another long ending kiss.
===============================
SOMEWHERE NEAR THE CHURCH FOR THE NATIVITY
The visits with Harm had been intense but oh so short. Before she knew it Mac was back on duty with Webb. “You sure you understood the instructions?” Mac challenged.
“Yes.” Webb replied simply. His cell phone rang. “Sexy beast.”
Now Mac knew she had heard correct the first time. SEXY BEAST? Who came up with these codes! Webb had instinctively turned away from her and as such she could not follow the conversation. She used the time to continue to scan the area. Finally he was done.
“This way.” He said and moved off she followed.
They made two lefts and a right and came to a narrow street. There stood a street person who said, “That some sexy beast you have with you.”
Webb countered with “With that big a mouth I’m sure you have a deep throat.”
Mac stifled a groan.
Deep Throat reported, “The man you seek Omar Akhim is a busy man. You say he is ISI working for the Iranians. If that is true then the Palestinians will kill him.”
“Why?” Mac demanded. He back was too them, she was too good an officer not to be wary.
“Because beautiful Colonel, Omar Akhim is in the pay of the PLO.” The term remained Mac of another dangerous mission she’d been on that had involved Webb too.
Webb reacted as if stung. “You telling me that the Palestinian Liberation Organization has this man on their pay role?”
“How many people does he work for?” Mac speculated.
“You want this month’s salary slip?” The man asked sarcastically. “If you want him he is with Arafat now, for how long I do not know. He will not stay long for his other masters will become suspicious.” With that the man walked away.
Webb and Mac looked at each other for a second as they absorbed the information. “Let’s get out of here.” He suggested.
“Your first sane idea during this whole mission.” She fell into step with him. Then heard the engine and looked up. “Incoming!” She shouted as the first bomb exploded.
===============================
NEGOTIATING ROOM
SOMEWHERE IN TEL AVIV
“Isaac!” François Hunter appealed. “This will bring us to the brink of war!”
Isaac Meier the counterpart to the US Envoy replied “As long as these suicide bombings continue Israel has no choice but to defend itself against these terrorists! Is this not the position of America where Bin Ladin is concerned?”
François tried again. “He is the legitimate leader of a recognized State. He is trapped in his compound. Surely there is an alternative?”
“Will you negotiate with Ossama Bin Ladin?”
“No … but.”
“There can be no buts! The Palestinians are waging a guerilla war against the people of Israel and it WILL stop!” Isaac stood to leave.
François sighed. “I thank you for your time. Will you meet with me again tomorrow?”
It was Isaac’s turn to sigh. “If you so desire but the situation tomorrow will be the same as today my friend.”
François shrugged. “That my be so. But I must have faith. Go with God.”
“Shalom.” Isaac replied and left.
“Well Commander?” The envoy spoke to Harm who had remained silent during the whole exchange.
“Sir I think you need to tell the President that the talks are stalled.”
François stood and looked out the window. “You may be right.”
===============================
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
WEST BANK
“In here!” Webb shouted as he and Mac sort cover from the aerial assault.
They barreled through the church doors and as their eyes became accustomed to the dim light they realized they were not alone. “Hello.” Mac said.
No one answered. They all stared.
Webb grabbed her by the sleeve of her shirt and they headed for a corner of the Church. With Webb watching the crowd Mac tried her phone. “Damn it!” She said then quickly apologized “Sorry.” After all she was in a church!
“Accepted.” A woman said.
“Sister?” Mac recognized the habit of a nun.
“I’m Sister Claire. You must excuse us but we have been here for days and your sudden arrival is a shock to say the least. You are American’s yes?”
“Yes.” Webb answered.
“Ah.” The nun sighed. “Then the siege will end soon.”
“Don’t bet on it.” Webb was grim.
“My phone just went dead.” Mac explained.
“No one knows we’re here.” Webb added.
The horror on the nun’s face was a prelude of the things to come.
===============================
1405 LOCAL
JAG HQ
Harriett looked up from her desk to find Singer standing with arms crossed and staring at her. What now she thought. “May I help you Lieutenant?”
“Shouldn’t you be at home with your invalid husband?” Singer asked sweetly.
“He is not an invalid and I am where I am needed at the moment.” Harriett snapped. “For your information MY HUSBAND is in good hands at then moment.”
“Just the little martyr aren’t you?”
Enough was enough. “Care to forget the Lieutenant bars for five minutes?”
“Meaning?” Singer sneered.
Harriett stood and walked into Mac’s empty office. Singer followed. As she stepped through the door Harriett closed the door after her, turned, clenched her fist and threw a right punch that connected with deadly accuracy. There was the satisfying sound of shock from Singer and of bone on bone.
Harriett walked out of the office and almost collided with Petty Officer Tiner. “Every thing alright ma’am?”
She glowed as Singer emerged behind her glowering. “Oh yes. Nothing a little exercise couldn’t take care of.”
The three separated and returned to duty.
===============================
TWO WEEKS LATER
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
WEST BANK
The atmosphere toward the new arrivals had thawed. The group consisted of twenty-six persons with Mac and Webb making twenty-eight. There were ten nuns; three police officers, a doctor and the rest were families of varying numbers.
Despite the best efforts of Webb his cell phone could not pick up a signal and finally it too died.
Until needed Mac had decided to make the best of a bad situation and toured the Church, they were in the Church of the Nativity, which faced Manger Square. This was the oldest church in Israel, originally built in 326 AD over the spot believed by millions of Christians to be the birth of Christ. Two hundred years after it was built the Roman Emperor Justinian rebuilt the church.
So much for history and religion, she reflected as one bomb dropped very near the shelter.
Aaron, the doctor shouted, “Fire! We have a fire!”
Sure enough there were flames to be seen at the back of the church. With nothing to fight it the group could only watch the magnificent organ succumb to the flames.
===============================
The Ambassador had taken Harm’s recommendation and informed the President that the talks were stalled. Harm now found himself assigned to the West Bank town of Jericho, to the U.S. and British security team as the experts toured the local prison in an attempt by the US to back a deal designed to release Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from months of Israeli confinement that had intensified recently.
Harm was worried. He had not heard from Mac in two weeks, but on the mission she was on he really didn’t expect to hear from her. He just hoped that wherever she was that she was safe.
+ + +
Harm lay back on his hotel bed having finally returned from the trip to Jericho. He had the TV on to an English speaking news channel and was dozing off when a news item penetrated his brain.
“Just to repeat that
twenty-six Palestinian civilians, together with police and two Americans
surfaced today from the Church of the Nativity. The group had been pinned in
the Church for over a month and survived on meager rations stored in the
presbytery. The Church is considered
one of Christianity's holiest shrines…”
Harm stopped listening as he spotted Webb and then Mac on the screen. The emotions he felt threatened to overwhelm him.
He picked the hotel phone. Envoy or no François was going to get him to his wife!
===============================
SHALOM HOTEL
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
Harm emerged from the bathroom. “Who was that?”
“The Admiral. Didn’t sound surprised to hear me answer your phone.”
“Wonder why.” He joined her on the bed and kissed her.
She chuckled and then got sober. I’m being recalled to JAG while your orders remain.
He rolled away from her “Damn it! When he said we wouldn’t work together I thought we’d at least be in the same office! We’re not even on the same continent!”
She touched his shoulder lightly. “I know. I know”
+ + +
All Mac got was a message on Harm’s voice mail from Webb thanking her and informing her that he was still on the trail of his quarry.
Charming. She thought.
===============================
THREE DAYS LATER
0755 LOCAL
JAG HQ
As usual Mac was in office early. There was nothing to keep her at home. Her husband was TAD in Israel and the house was too empty to remain there. She needed human company. So she was back at JAG ASAP. She emerged from the kitchenette with a cup of coffee and was headed to her office when she spied Harriett. She honed in on her. “Harriett! Shouldn’t you home with Bud?”
The blonde looked up. “Colonel! Welcome back!”
Mac grinned her acknowledgement. “Don’t change the subject Lieutenant.”
Her shoulders slumped slightly but Mac spotted it. “Harriett?”
“He doesn’t want me around ma’am…”
Mac stopped her. “My office now.”
+ + +
In the privacy of the office Harriett poured out the whole story and ended by saying “The doctor says that it’s a normal reaction but it’s hard! I want to help, I don’t know how and he won’t let me!”
Mac didn’t know what to say or do. She passed her a tissue.
“Thank you. Oh look at me so unmilitary.” Harriett cried.
“Harriett you are under pressure, you have an injured husband and a young son the uniform is made to fit the person… what?” She asked as the other woman smiled.
“The Admiral said that to me once.”
“There you go.” Mac said. “Lieutenant this is a direct order. Go home. Your husband needs you whether he knows it or not.”
“Aye ma’am!” Harriett rose to leave and Mac walked her to the door. The two walked out and came face to face with Lieutenant Singer.
“Lieutenant!” Mac ordered.
Both Singer and Harriett froze in place. “Yes ma’am?”
“What the hell happened to you?” Mac couldn’t believe her eyes; Singer was sporting a black eye or maybe it was black and blue.
“Walked into a door ma’am.” She glanced at her fellow Lieutenant. Mac caught the eye movement and looked at Harriett who had turned to stone and was staring forward. She turned back to Singer. “Care to report Lieutenant?”
“Nothing I won’t take care of ma’am.”
Mac wanted to pursue the topic but the Lieutenants seemed **ignorant** of anything untoward so she let the matter drop. “Dismissed.”
“Aye ma’am!” The two said and bolted in opposite directions.
Mac returned to her office with the intension of being reunited with her coffee, but t’was a dream. The Admiral poked his head into the bullpen and bellowed. “Mackenzie! My office NOW!” She scrambled to obey the order. Yep she missed Harm but it was great to be back!
~*~ FINIS ~*~