| Subject: Part 1B...Title..Tough Year. |
Author:
Maximus
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Date Posted: 17:05:28 09/06/06 Wed
In reply to:
Maximus
's message, "London Series" on 13:06:25 09/06/06 Wed
London Series: Part 1B of 18
Author: Maximus
Part 1 Title: Tough Year
(cont’d from Part 1A)
Harm had prepared his mess dress uniform and shined his shoes again. After showering and getting dressed, he took great care in making sure that everything was perfect before taking off for SECNAV’s office. He called Mac’s cell phone and let her know he was on his way.
Upon his arrival he found that he was the last to arrive even though he was 5 minutes early. He greeted Mac with a special kiss, his mother with a kiss on the cheek, and shook hands with SECNAV Sheffield, Admirals’ Chegwidden and Boone, General Cresswell and his stepfather, Frank. After the formal presentation in which he was promoted to Captain, He received everyone’s congratulations again. The Shoulder board ceremony was conducted by Trish removing and replacing his left board and Mac doing the same for his right. Trich gave him a peck on the cheek and Mac kissed him squarely on the mouth making sure it was better than the last kiss she gave him at the presentation of his second DFC. He had kidded her about that kiss being inadequate in the past. The presentation was complete after a toast was made to Harm’s future.
As every one was milling around, General Cresswell received a cell phone call and quickly left. After Cresswell left, Harm and Mac got everyone’s attention and announced that their marriage was to be at 20:00 hours and that the stretch Limo outside was to take everyone to Maggiano‘s Little Italy for dinner and then have them at the wedding site on time.
Mac approached Admiral Chegwidden and requested a hug which he happily complied with. As she backed away from him she held out her right hand palm down. He was surprised but held his hand under hers at which time a gold wedding band fell into his hand. “When rings are requested, will you bring this to us?”
He hugged her again and said, “Since there is not an aisle to walk you down, this is certainly the next best thing. Thank you for letting me do this.” Mac replied “Thank you for being like a Father to both of us.”
Mac hugged both Frank and Trish and asked that they have the Limo stop by Harm’s apartment about 19:40 to pick up Mac and Harriet. They were going there to change but Harm was not to know about it.
Harm and Mac said their “Thank You’s” and quickly headed to McMurphy’s to get there before Cresswell.
McMurphy’s
18:30 hrs
Friday
(from episode script
(Harm walks up to the bar in his Mess dress uniform)
Bartender: What can I do for you?
Harm: Draft beer.
Bartender: What put that smile on your face?
Harm: Well, I just got engaged; at least I think I did.
Bartender: Don’t you think you ought to find out?
Harm: Kind of why I’m here now.
(enter Mac, and Harm looks at her and smiles)
Mac: Hey (they kiss)
Bartender: Figures a guy like him would be with a girl like you.
Mac: Well, we’re still working on that.
Bartender: Oh, so that makes you the almost fiance’.
Mac: That’s the part we’re working on.
Bartender: I don’t see a ring.
Mac: We’re negotiating that.
Bartender: Lucky you.
Mac: Yeah, lucky me.
(Bud and Harriet enter the bar)
Bud: Captain, Colonel.
Harriet: Oh my gosh.
Bud: Hey, congratulations. (shakes Harm’s hand) It’s turning into quite a special night.
Harm: Thanks for coming on such short notice.
Harriet: Oh, you’re kidding! We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. (kisses Harm) Oh my gosh!
Mac: (to Bud) Give me a hug.
Harriet: (to Mac): Wow.
Bud: (kisses and hugs Mac) Congratulations.
Mac: Thank you.
Harm: Drinks?
Bud: Yes.
Harriet: Please.
Mac(in the background): You going to help me pick out a dress?
(Coates and Sturges enter the bar)
Coates: (to Sturges) They said it’s a surprise.
Mac: Hey, the gang’s all here.
Harriet: Hi you guys.
Sturgis: Hi there.
Harm: Hey guys, what are you drinking, it’s on me.
Coates: Bloody Mary.
Sturgis: Martini.
Harm: Joanna, a Bloody Mary and a Martini please.
Bartender: You got it.
(Cresswell enters the bar)
Cresswell: (to Coates) Got your message. I thought you said you had a flat tire and no spare.
Coates: Uh, Captain Rabb ordered me to get you here sir. Any way I could, so I lied. I knew you wouldn’t come otherwise, and this might be a surprise to you – it wouldn’t be the same without you, sir.
Harm: What are you drinking, General?
Cresswell: Martini – dry, thanks. (to Mac) Colonel, I understand you’re taking my Petty Officer to San Diego.
Coates: Uh, I haven’t found the right moment to ask the Colonel, sir.
Mac: I would love to take her sir, with your blessing.
Harm: Well, that’s if the Colonel is actually going to San Diego.
Cresswell: You’re not thinking of turning down the assignment?
Harm: (stands to address the crowd and he and Mac embrace) Mac and I have an announcement to make. We’re getting married.
Cresswell: Outstanding. I knew you’d come around to the Marines.
Mac: In either London or San Diego.
Harm: And for this marriage to be successful, one of us has to resign our commission.
Mac: And it’s no surprise that we couldn’t decide which one.
Harm: So we’re going to let fate decide. Bud.
Bud: When Admiral Chegwidden retired he gave me his JAG coin and I thought that this would be the perfect moment to use it. (holds up the coin to show everyone) Here is the side with heads, and this is the side with tails. The bride-to-be will call it.
Mac: Tails.
Bud: I always wanted to do this at the Super Bowl.(laughs) Here goes.
Bud flips the coin up into the air and everyone looks up, the camera pans the crowd. Then down on Harm and Mac from above, as they look up at the coin.
(end of episode script)
The coin reaches its maximum height and then came back to earth. The group stepped back, the coin landed with a plink and began to roll. Seven pairs of eyes followed its track as it wound in a tight circle and stopped, still spinning by her pretty silver shoes. Mac stepped on it, flattening it, and bent down and picked it up.
“Hey, you cheated.” Harm swatted her lightly on the backside.
She straightened and clutched the coin in her hand. Her breath rushed out in a small sigh and she held the coin tightly to her chest.” It doesn’t matter” she said. “you won.”
“But, Colonel, you didn’t even look” Bud objected.
She uncurled her fingers and let the coin drop into Bud’s palm. “Sure I did.”
‘Maaaac.” Harm began and she loved the way he drew her name out, low and long. She eased a hip on to the bar stool and raised an elbow at him. He sighed and turned to Bud. “We should do it over again.” He turned and looked at Mac, who smiled sweetly back to him. “This time without interference.”
“Best two out of three, Sir? Jen asked. She held her hands behind her back and crossed her fingers. She didn’t want the Captain to lose, but, now that she had made up her mind to go to San Diego, she could almost feel the sand between her toes and the sun on her face.
“That’s a good idea, Petty Officer.” General Cresswell toasted her with his martini glass. Five pairs of eyes locked on Bud, so no one saw Mac’s elbow slide along the bar until it jostled Harriet’s arm. Harriet glanced at her and saw Mac nod her head slightly in Bud’s direction. Harriet nodded once and stood.
“This time you should call it, Harm,” Mac told him, standing once again to kiss his cheek lightly. She brushed a thumb over his cheekbone and wiped away a smudge of lip-gloss.
“That seems fair,” Harriet chimed. “Sir,” she added quickly when he looked at her.
Bud tossed the coin in the air and Harriet scooted closer to Mac. Light caught on the silver edges and the coin winked as it spun in the air. “Heads,” Harm said. Mac’s fingers tightened on his lapel . Her foot slid forward slightly and he pushed against her thigh until she stepped back against the bar. She glanced up at him and he mouthed “Cheater.”
She shrugged a little, her bare shoulder grazing over his shirt buttons and medals. His stomach muscles contracted and tensed beneath her arm. She smiled up at him and he forgot to watch the coin. It hit the floor with a light thud, landed flat on its side, and by her foot again.
Harriet pounced on it before anyone else could see it. “Heads again”, she announced, stuffing the coin in her husbands hand. “So sir, it looks like London after all.”
Mac shook the hair back from her face and looked up at him. “How’s that feel, Captain?” She ran her fingers on his shoulder boards and smiled. “Do you know how much I love you?” He grinned back at her, a real smile with teeth and his whole face, not the half smile, half-smirk she’d gotten used to seeing until tonight. She tried not to think about her resignation, the promotion she would never get and the command she would never assume. Instead, she concentrated on his smile and the way his arm enveloped her waist. She thought about the wall of his chest behind her and the way his voice rumbled through it, vibrating against her back as they accepted their congratulations. They both had gotten what they really wanted.
After shaking everyone’s hand, Mac took Harriet by the arm and left so she could get ready for the wedding.
Not long after that Mrs. Cresswell arrived to join her husband. Everyone was telling stories and seemed comfortable waiting for the time to pass so they could go on over to the wedding site. Jennifer sat quietly and silently said good-bye to the beach and the sun.
Chaplain Turner stood at the head of the crowd ready to join two special people in holy matrimony.
At about 19:58 hours, a Lexus with Harm and Bud, an Escalade with General and Mrs. Cresswell, and a stretch Limo bearing SECNAV Sheffield, Mac, Harriet, Frank, Trish, and Admirals Chegwidden and Boone arrived. Harm and Bud made their way quickly through to the front of the crowd. The occupants of the limo gathered around Mac and slowly made their way through the crowd. As Harm finally spotted his bride to be, he was amazed. Wow, no red dress.
Mac was dressed in a simple sleeveless sheath gown with tiny pearls sewn around the scalloped neckline and at the hem. It was white but had a pale metallic gold hue to it. The veil, with its gold tint was short and attached to a crown of roses, pearls and cherry blossoms. She wore a simple pearl drop necklace on a gold chain at her throat. She had bought this during January after Harm and her had professed their undying love to each other. She just knew they would be together. Harm now understood why she had to leave after their time at McMurphy’s.
Chaplain Turner welcomed everyone and then instructed them to remain stationary. He then invited SECNAV Sheffield, Frank, Trish, both Admirals, and General and Mrs. Cresswell to join Harm and Mac and follow him. He led them the 86 feet to where the name of Harmon Rabb, Sr.’s name appeared on the Vietnam Memorial. As they gathered around him, he said a dedicated prayer which spoke of a mother and son’s love for his father and about new beginnings for Mac and Harm. Both Harm and Mac ran their hands over the engraved name of his father and Harm placed a set of his gold wings on the ground below his name. Mac took a Marine Corps emblem which had earlier been on her cover and laid it beside Harm’s wings. Everyone else took a minute of reverence at the wall. After all tears were attended to, Chaplain Turner then turned and brought them back to their friends over under the big tree.
Chaplain Turner explained that Sarah and Harmon had asked to exchange vows that they had prepared for each other. He indicated for Harm to begin.
“Sarah, when you came into my life I felt an immediate connection to you. I learned to respect you and trust you. We were able to laugh together and cry together. I could talk to you about anything …except us. I was afraid that if I tried to take the best friendship of my life and tried to change it, I would ruin it. I wanted you to be happy and safe and I could put aside my feelings and desires if I knew that was what you had…but so many things kept bringing us to a point where I thought maybe we needed to deal with us. I was so afraid of losing you that I became tongue tied or said the wrong thing. Once again our friendship was tested and once again we found our way back to each other. It was then that I knew that loving you wouldn’t destroy us, but ignoring that love could. There is nothing that we cannot get through together. Today, before God and these witnesses I vow that I will love, trust and respect you as a friend, a partner and a lover for the rest of my life.”
Chaplain Turner nodded to Mac then.
“Harm, I think I fell in love with you the very first time we met. I tried to convince myself that it was just friendship. I tried to convince myself that your friendship was all I needed. But I knew I wanted a commitment and it didn’t look like you were interested in me that way. I tried to find it with others but even they knew that we were destined to be together. When I dismissed us as something that could never happen I almost destroyed our friendship for good…but again we were there for each other when we were needed.
The most beautiful words I ever heard was not “I love you,” although they were beautiful and very special, but instead when I heard you say that you wanted me to be your best friend for life. I knew you were making a commitment to us. Harm, today, before God and these witnesses I vow that I will love, trust and respect you as a friend, a partner and lover for the rest of my life.”
“We have heard Harm and Sarah exchange their own vows. Harmon, do you take Sarah as your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
Sarah, do you take Harmon as you lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, for as long as you both shall live?’
“I do.”
“May I have the rings please?” requested Chaplain Turner. Trish approached carrying the golden band with roses engraved around it that had originally been given to Grandma Sarah and then to herself by Harm Senior and was now being given by Harm to Mac. Admiral Chegwidden approached next bearing the ring that was being given from Mac to Harm.
“Harm and Sarah, please join hands. These rings are an outward symbol of the never-ending love and devotion that you have pledged to each other here today. Again, Harmon and Sarah have prepared their own declaration for this ceremony.
Harm…
Harm held Mac’s hand and slid the Rabb family wedding band onto her ring finger. “Like this never ending circle, my love and devotion for you will go on for eternity.” As he slid the ring into place, he rubbed his finger across it as if to polish it.
Then it was her turn. Sarah slid the gold band onto Harm’s left hand and smiled at him as she declared, “Like this never ending circle, my love and devotion for you will go on for eternity.”
“Harmon and Sarah have declared their intent and made their vows to each other before God and us today. With the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
Harm bent his head down and placed a kiss on Mac’s lips that looked innocent to the onlookers, but made her go weak in the knees. Harm’s hands on her waist were the only thing keeping her upright as he raised his head and smiled. Quietly he whispered, you are the third Rabb wife to wear that ring.
Mac smiled and shook her head yes just before Chaplain Turner turned them to the guests and presented Captain and Mrs. Harmon Rabb Junior for the very first time.
They were greeted with loud greetings and a lot of happy conversation. They went through the crowd and stood thanking everyone as the guest left going to their cars.
Everyone had been invited to Benzingers for drinks afterwards.
After all of their guests left, they joined them at Benzingers for the festivities. When things slowed down, Harm and Mac thanked Frank and his mom for all the special help and thanked SECNAV Sheffield, the Admirals and General and Mrs. Cresswell for everything they had done.
Harm and Mac, still dressed, left the party for the hospital to see Mattie. She was waiting on them and greeted them with a big “Mom and Dad” when they arrived. After hugs and kisses around, they explained that they were going ahead to London but would call everyday until the court ruled on her case. As soon as allowed they would return to help move her to London with them. Mattie was pleased and asked that they call often. After good night kisses were exchanged, they left the hospital.
Harm and Mac went back to their cars to meet at Mac’s place first and then Harms. Harm was very surprised when he found that all of Mac’s boxes were already labeled for shipment to London. Mac changed clothes, with the help of Harm’s hugs and kisses, and carefully packed her wedding gown and silver shoes into the last open box with London written on the side. She put on a smart looking business suit which she would travel in. She had 4 suitcases of clothing for the time until the boxes arrived over seas.
Both drove their cars over to Harms apartment and finished packing the final uniforms and clothing to be taken with them. The final thing was to take the cars and house keys over to JAG HQ so the shipping could be handled from there. They left a “Thank You” note for Jennifer for all of her help. Harm had written in red ink “Would you consider being my Petty Officer in London? Call me.”on the note. They called a cab to pick them up at JAG HQ and take them to their room at the airport Holiday Inn where they could be ready for the early flight to the new life they would begin tomorrow. They both agreed that they could find a special way to spend the 5 hours before their flight boarded. Look out London………..
The Beginning.
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