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Date Posted: 21:00:22 01/16/13 Wed
Author: Cammy
Subject: The Consequences of Suppositions, Chapter 16

The Consequences of Suppositions, Chapter 16
By: Cammy
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rated: R (for language and sexual situations)

Author’s Notes: See Chapter 1.

2300 EDT (Local)
Wednesday evening
December 24, 2003
St. Paul’s Church
Washington, D.C.

“Through the years, we all will be together, if the Fates allow. Hang a shining star upon the highest bough. And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.” – Gavin DeGraw, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Following the service, Sturgis escorted his Father out of the Church. He had been waiting outside the Sacristy for Chaplain Turner for several minutes as the older man finished closing out for the evening.

Earlier he had offered to drive him home, so the two could enjoy a late Christmas Eve scotch nightcap before Sturgis went back to his own apartment. He’d expected they would drop off Mac in Georgetown first though, but he didn’t see any trace of his friend.

As they exited the front of the Church, he caught sight of the rest of the JAG crew – Harriet and Bud, the Admiral and Meredith – standing at the top of the Church’s stairs. They walked toward the group.

The Admiral stepped toward his Father. “Chaplain, another great service. Thanks again for your words in there.”

The older man clasped the Admiral’s outreached hand with both of his. “My pleasure, A.J. It’s always nice to be back at the pulpit on Christmas Eve. It’s a special time, especially for those of us in the service blessed to spend it with our families and friends.”

Bud, Harriet and Meredith echoed the senior officer’s compliments and thanks with handshakes all around.

While the others were talking, Sturgis took a step back, surveying the area. He wondered where Mac was. He hadn’t seen her since before the service began.

Meredith stopped his brief visual search, putting a hand on his arm. “If you’re looking for Mac, she snuck out just as the service was ending – a good 10 minutes ago.”

That concerned him. Her car was still in storage and it was getting late. He assumed she took a taxi, which was still a slight risk at this late time of night. “She didn’t mention anything about getting a cab home.”

Harriet spoke up. “She was probably just being considerate, not wanting to burden anyone for a ride. You know Mac. We should call and check on her, but I wouldn’t worry.”

Sturgis nodded in agreement, but was still a little concerned anyway.

Meredith spoke up again. “Well, I’ll say that a few months spent on Italy’s coast certainly did her well. She looks incredible.”

Harriet smiled slyly at Meredith, moving in closer for some semblance of privacy. “I was with her at Saks earlier this year when she bought that Armani dress. It’s amazing.”

The four men were sidelined from the discussion as the two women dished on their friend. “You think if I ran five miles a day like she does every morning I’d look like that,” Meredith asked.

The blonde laughed. “I could run 10 miles a morning and it wouldn’t matter. I still wouldn’t have those genes.”

Meredith paused for a moment. “Harriet, did Mac seem okay to you? She looked a little out of it when I spoke with her in the kitchen earlier tonight. Sad, almost.”

“I never know. We’ve been best friends for years and I still can’t read her.” Harriet turned to the Admiral. “Is it true, sir, that Mac is coming back to JAG soon?”

The Admiral crossed his arms, nodding. “Not to steal the Colonel’s thunder, but yes, she will be back in D.C. permanently in a couple weeks. To be honest though, I wasn’t expecting her in town until then. Thought she’d take her leave in Naples before heading back.”

Meredith turned to Sturgis inquisitively. “What did you say earlier to the Colonel tonight? Something about her dating a spy?”

Meredith’s question caught the Admiral’s attention. In turn, he glared at Sturgis, eyebrows raised. “Mac’s dating Webb? I knew he was out in Naples for his new op, but really? Webb?” The question was filled with incredulity.

Sturgis cringed at his earlier comment. He had meant it to lighten the mood at the Roberts’ house, ease some of the tension Mac was feeling from being back with her coworkers, but it had obviously backfired. “Well, sir…”

Harriet cut him off. “I asked Mac about that tonight. She told me they aren’t together.”

“Well that’s a relief. Hell, she can do a lot better than that.”

“Well, sir. From what I understand, Mr. Webb told Commander Rabb they were dating,” Harriet supplied.

The Admiral laughed, hard. It almost sounded like cackling, not that Sturgis would have ever said that aloud to his commanding officer. “I’m sure that went over well with the Commander.”

Meredith looked confused. “So Mac isn’t dating Clayton Webb, but Commander Rabb thinks she is?”

Her fiancé nodded. “That sounds about right.” He looked toward Sturgis. “Any insight, Commander? You spent more time tonight with the Colonel than any of us.”

Sturgis took in his colleagues. They were clearly caught up in the prolonged drama between his two very good friends. He was between a rock and a hard place, guessing he knew far more than any of them about lingering issues between his two friends.

Sturgis tried a safe path. “Admiral, I think the Colonel is looking forward to resuming her duties here at JAG.”

The Admiral’s cover dipped as he laughed. “Very diplomatic. Commander, I think you know more than you’re telling us.”

“Sir, a good naval officer knows when to keep his mouth shut.”

“That he does, sailor.” The Admiral looked at the rest of the group before shaking his head and rolling his eyes. “I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.”

He offered an arm to Meredith. “Ready to head home, dear?”

The elegant older woman nodded, smiling up at her companion as she took his proffered arm. “But we were just getting to the good gossip,” she teased.

The Admiral addressed the rest of the group. “Chaplain, thank you again for the wonderful service this evening.” He nodded at the rest. “Commander, Lt. Roberts, Lt. Sims, Merry Christmas. I’ll see you in the office next week.”

Sturgis watched as the Admiral and Meredith headed for the Church parking lot. His thoughts echoed the Admiral’s statement – he couldn’t wait to see how this would unfold.

Harriet nudged Bud as she bundled up her coat, clearly ready to head home and relieve Mikey of babysitting duty.

“That’s my cue.” Bud said. He shook Chaplain Turner’s hand again, and then Sturgis’. “Thank you again, sirs.”

Bud looked at Harriet and shook his head. “I don’t know what everyone is so worried about. It’s Commander Rabb. Of course, he’s going to get the girl.”

The foursome shared a big laugh before Harriet and Bud made their way to their van.

Sturgis turned to his Father. “You ready to go, Dad?”

He felt a warm hand on his shoulder. “What I’m ready for is a stiff drink, son.” Sturgis couldn’t agree more.

With one last glance at the gorgeous Church’s steeple, Sturgis said a silent prayer, a wish really, for his friends.

2315 EDT (Local)
Wednesday evening
December 24, 2003
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial
The Mall, Washington, D.C.

“Where have you been, my long lost friend? It’s good to see you again.” – Alison Krauss, Stay

Harm had been walking for more than a half hour, the cold only bothering him a little. He shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his Navy issue overcoat. He hadn’t felt like driving, choosing instead to walk the two and a half miles from Union Station to the Mall for his Christmas Eve trek. It wasn’t a bad walk and he knew the way – he had run this route a hundred times before on morning jogs.

Despite the security threat and mechanical issues that evening, Colonel Landers’ call may have been a blessing. It had been an impulsive decision to buy a ticket to Rome considering he hadn’t spoken to Mac in months. His discussion with the Admiral had given him a sense of urgency that now escaped him.

He wondered again what she was doing tonight. He also wondered when it was that his thoughts became so consumed with this woman. In eight years, she’d never been too far from his mind, but since the night she had left his apartment announcing her departure to Italy, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

As he got closer to his destination, he took in the Lincoln Memorial gleaming before him. It was a sight that always awed him – a larger than life stone monument to an extraordinary leader who was the very epitome of American greatness. He stood for a moment and just stared before taking the familiar sidewalk path down to the Wall.

He couldn’t count how many times he had visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Each time felt a little different – some visits raw; others bittersweet. His father had been gone a long time and Harm had well worn the path to the one tangible memorial to his Dad’s heroism.

Walking past panels and panels of names of those who had lost their lives in the War, he wondered how many other families had loved ones whose names were adorned with crosses on the Wall, the symbol assigned for those missing in action.

Many first-time visitors to the site question the order of the names on the black granite. He often offered the answer when he overhead those ponder it near him.

They are listed in chronological order, according to the date and time of casualty within each day. For those determined missing in action, order gives preference to the time of notification that a service member went MIA.

Taking in the smooth black surface, Harm removed a glove and ran his fingers over the cold, smooth and shiny black rock. With as many times as he visited over the years, he was surprised he hadn’t worn a groove around the imprint of his Father’s name on the granite.

He took in the Wall for several more minutes, remembering all of the times he had been there over the years – last year with Admiral Boone; the year he met Jenny Lake; the times Mac had found him there in the years they had known each other; the Christmas Webb surprised him with Sergei.

He couldn’t stop wondering what Mac was doing tonight and if she was spending the holiday with Clayton Webb. He shook his head. It was time to go; he needed a large drink, to cut through the caffeine he’d consumed over the last two days, and then his bed.

Harm walked back up the way he came, and when he reached the fork leading him out of the Memorial, turned to take a final look at the lit black wall. The area was empty except for a woman now walking in from the opposite side, moving toward the middle of the monument. He watched her from afar as she stopped before one of the panels.

Even from this distance, there was no doubt who the attractive woman in the long coat and gloves was.

For a moment he considered the possibility that the likeness may have been a figment of his imagination, just seeing what he wanted to see.

Harm walked back to the spot he had just been, the same spot she now occupied.

He stopped several yards from her, watching as Mac did exactly what he had just done – running her fingers over the inscribed name of his Father. Something tightened hard and fast in his chest.

He couldn’t believe she was here and certainly couldn’t fathom why she would visit the Wall at this hour. Maybe he could guess why, but he wouldn’t let himself hope for that. Not yet, at least.

Harm made his way to her. It was time to find out. It was time for a lot of things.

“What are you doing here, Mac?”

The woman in a winter white cream coat whipped around in surprise. “Harm.”

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Replies:

[> Oh wow another awesome chapter, thank you so much Cammy - great story! -- Ciara, 21:41:09 01/16/13 Wed [1]


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[> consequences -- Maximus, 22:20:36 01/16/13 Wed [1]

What site has the rest of your stories ???? I like your style.


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[> [> Thanks for your inquiry, Maximus! I have no idea. Wrote a couple of one chapter stories years and years ago - no idea where those are these days. -- Cammy, 23:01:20 01/16/13 Wed [1]


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[> [> If you still have them saved somewhere on a hard drive we would love to see them posted here -- usmgrad, 23:12:10 01/16/13 Wed [1]


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[> Patiently waiting for more, please and thank you. -- carramor, 22:27:18 01/16/13 Wed [1]


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[> It's not nice to tease. -- achaon, 22:48:46 01/16/13 Wed [1]


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[> I was beginning to worry when I hadn't seen anything posted. Thanks for getting us to this point, I'll try to patiently wait for the next chapter but please have mercy on us all!!! -- Shazam, 01:54:30 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> You certainly know how to write a cliffhanger! Please post again soon! (like right now!) -- yiota, 03:04:53 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> *sigh* That moment when he looks back and sees her... so romantic! Finally they are in the same place at the same time! I cannot wait for the next chapter. -- Dee, 03:14:56 01/17/13 Thu [1]

I'm sooo in love with your story, and I'm a little sad because as much as I am eagerly looking forward to the resolution (waiting with bated breath really), I will miss the story when it ends! Like others have said, your writing is great, and I would really love to read more of your work if you can find the others you've written.


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[> I'm so addicted to this story !!! I also would like to read more of your stories. -- Laurence, 05:29:41 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> Great story! I'm a lurker but had to say I enjoy your stories. Please keep them coming. Looking forward to the next chapters. Thank you!!! -- Kelsey, 07:45:37 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> Cammy, somehow I knew you would make us wait just a little longer, but anticipation has served us well.. Is it possible to post somewhere in toto, it will be a great reread! Carry on! -- JoyZ, 12:03:14 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> omg post quickly Cammy waiting anxiously to see what happens next -- Bev uk, 15:16:48 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> so glad to see you have finished this story it was a wonderful story you started yay -- roz, 19:11:26 01/17/13 Thu [1]


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[> At last in the same city -- marye904, 21:37:18 01/19/13 Sat [1]


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