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Date Posted: 11:37:43 12/08/13 Sun
Author: mj
Subject: Light of MY Heart, cont'd

Mac’s Apartment
Christmas Afternoon,
Saturday, 1638


‘Ok, that definitely didn’t feel like a *friendly* kiss’, Mac thought to herself as she scrunched her nose, squinted her eyes and cocked her head while paddling back to her bedroom. ‘But, that’s just the story of Harm and me! It always come down to *this* either when he or I has one foot out the door. We can’t seem to help ourselves. I won’t – I won’t --I won’t think more of it!’ she resounded in her head while, now, marching herself back to her room cupping her hands to her ears. ‘We get like this when we feel we’re at a point when we will, somehow, lose each other. He feels he’s going to lose me – lose our friendship OR it’s what we *do* when the one of us, at a *loose end moment* reaches out for a little taste of intimacy with…with…the person in front of your nose! He and I just happen to end up nose to nose TOO many times for our own good! Keep that in mind, Mackenzie -- keep cool – just go on – as normal – *quite* normal --everything’s cool’ she smoothed to herself as she made the ‘cool wave’ sign with her hands. ‘Otherwise, you *know* the drill’, she smirked and rolled her eyes, ‘you get your little hopes all up high, you start to let your mind ‘go there’, you start to wonder -- to envision what it’ll all look like and….poof….you go to the New Year’s Eve ball and there he is….all looking fine, as he, of course, looks…and he’s got some blond gazing into his eyes AND he, dazzling her with his flyboy grin, or a *couple* blonds draped all over him or even a blond and a redhead this time, or maybe, acchhh, Professor Montes and him nuzzling in a corner or sharing their own kiss or two under the mistletoe…oh…see! I got it all figured out and under control! Now, let me catch a nap, wash my hair when I wake up’, as she turned her wrist carefully to feel that it, indeed, was getting stronger and back to normal, ‘and focus on the week ahead. It’s all super cool. Yep – I’m cool!’ Mac, for the umpteenth time, tried to convince herself.


JAG HQ
Friday evening, New Year’s Eve
December 31st, 2004
1938

The rest of the week whizzed by with nary a look back to the Christmas tree nor a thought to Harm, aside from his frequent phone calls to check in with her and the brief flashes of his kindness and tender care --*and* the kiss. BUT, she kept her resolve that it was nothing, whatsoever, but friendly concern and his fear of losing her – their—friendship. ‘A friend, a friend, a friend’…. stubborn Marine!

Sturgis and Chaplain Turner picked her up on Sunday for church and spent the good part of the day with her. Sturgis worked Monday, indeed, at JAG, but only to help – she went *in*, after all!!! By Tuesday, she sent him home by noon, and took over the reigns, completely, with just she and Coates and a few other enlisted around, holding down the fort.
Everything was a nice holiday calm until Wednesday, right before she and Coates were about to secure for the evening. A half-dozen midshipmen had been accused of initiating bedlam in the form of a betting war, brawl, and food fight, at a well-known posh bar restaurant where a holiday party had been organized on Wednesday evening for officers, their families and friends, and their staff. The altercation was all over who would win the Army/Navy game and who had the cutest cheerleaders! There were drunk and disorderly, assault, and property damage charges slapped on the Academy students, as well as a huge lawsuit from the legal team representing the restaurant chain, accusing the whole Navy of disturbing the peace and defiling the upstanding reputation and operation of the fine establishment. The SecNav was furious and demanded that Mac ‘make this go away’ before the end of the year *or else*. Mac had been dealing with this ‘11th hour ‘ fiasco, since and through the wee hours on Wednesday, all day yesterday, all day today, and now this evening, she had finally returned – relieved, and successful, but exhausted. Petty Officer Coates had been her ace, steadfast assistant, throughout

Mac, with absolutely no evidence of last week’s accident apparent in any way, bulldozed toward the General’s office, after a *full* day of legal wrangling, negotiating, and pleading at Norfolk..

Mac, somewhat self-righteously and impatiently, “Well, Jen – you and I have managed to not only save the sorry sixes of those poor excuses for officer candidates in the US Navy -hah!- but, also, the reputation, not to mention the end –of-year cash surplus, of the whole cotton-pickin’ Navy itself! And, no disrespect to the Navy elite – but what were those Admirals thinking -- hosting a Fort Lee *Army* contingent to their holiday celebration – what with the upcoming game next week?!”

Jen, “That’s just it, Ma’am – they weren’t thinking about much more than just being proud and welcoming and trying to spread some ‘solidarity’ and cheer with our comrades- at -arms during the holiday season. And I’m not making excuses for the cadets, but, don’t forget, Colonel – as much as we would all like to think they’re all grown up and ready to be the gentlemen and officers they need to be, they’re still quite young and ARE still officers-in-the-making! Christmas and holiday cheer does kind of bring out the little boys and girls in all of us!”

Mac, sighing and so thankful for Coates right now – for her help all week and for the fresh, balanced perspective and for reminding her that not everyone was as jaded as herself these days, “You know, Petty Officer, you are absolutely right! I’m extremely grateful to have had *you* as my wing man this week. I would never have been able to pull off keeping these guys out of the brig and getting them off with a stiff reprimand for exactly the reasons you stated – they’re still in the *process* of becoming fine officers. And, the restaurant couldn’t believe how perfectly they cleaned and restored the dining area and the kitchen of the place – it sparkled better than ever. AND, my solution of offering the gracious services of all 12 of the young men involved – including the army cadets – to function as drivers for tonight and the rest of the holiday weekend for patrons of the restaurant and its sister establishments throughout the Washington/Virginia/Maryland area, was a hit! I called my contact at Alcoholics Anonymous, who already provide drivers for anyone who may be too inebriated to drive or even walk home safely, and he was super grateful to have a dozen more capable drivers. Thank you for getting the details and driving records of all 12 soldiers so quickly for our ‘Operation Designated Driver’ program. I would have never been able to handle all that without your help. You’ve been a gem through all this, Jen. NOW, young lady, I want you to get your things and get out of here before YOU miss *your* holiday cheer! You’ve waited long enough for me and deserve some New Year’s Eve fun, too. I’m sure you have plans with friends.”

Jen, “Yes, Ma’am, I do, but not until much later. Actually, a few friends are coming over to my place to ring in the New Year – pizza, popcorn, and watching the ball drop on TV, all tremendously exciting stuff,” she laughed, “but they won’t be coming until just after 2300. So, I’m good to still follow my *orders* from Commander Rabb to get *you* home when you’re finished here. I’m happy to wait, Colonel. Speaking of the Commander, he’s actually called three times, today The first two times, was before he left Mattie’s to remind you to meet him tonight at the Willard Hotel. He wanted to mention that he had heard from the hostess of the event, this morning, that a pre-ball dinner buffet was available for all guests and ballguests were welcome for that starting from 1900 and until 2200. He was hoping you would join him for that and *not* come at 2100, like he had originally told you. He said he left the taxi’s phone number with you and you just needed to phone the driver to come whenever it suited you best. He THEN called, kind of frantic, from a pay phone on the road from Blacksburg, to tell that he had left his cell phone at Mattie’s and thus he wouldn’t be reachable. So, he would just see you at the Willard. He said to please just look for him and he would be on the lookout for you. He actually laughed so cute, ma’am, as he said he wouldn’t be able to miss you by a mile, that he knew you’d be wearing something dazzling and dynamite, knowing you! He’s sounded SO excited, Ma’am! I haven’t heard him sounding *this* happy in a long time!! Ma’am – we’d better get a move on – it’s already just after 2000! If you want to get home, get dressed, and get there in time for dinner, we really *should* get going *soon*!”

Mac, looking down and rather demurely, “Ah, don’t worry, Jen, no rush….I already called the taxi – I’m, ah …. not going.”

Jen, wide-eyed, “Not going to the dinner – the *pre-ball thingy* that starts earlier, right?! You *are* going to the actual ball, Colonel? Right?!!”

Mac, “Ah, no, Jen – I’m not going at all.”

TBC

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Replies:

[> oh dear stubborn woman agh -- Bev uk, 13:06:04 12/08/13 Sun [1]


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[> Here comes the good part! -- carramor, 15:04:12 12/08/13 Sun [1]


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[> I don't remember exactly how it ends, but I do remember it ending well so I tried not to yell at Mac too loudly. Please post more soon. -- Shazam, 19:54:05 12/08/13 Sun [1]


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[> Stubborn, stubborn, typical Mac! -- JoyZ, 00:57:02 12/09/13 Mon [1]


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[> Pigheaded so more to the point Mac wake up. -- Beth, 06:53:23 12/09/13 Mon [1]


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