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Date Posted: 08:44:46 12/05/07 Wed
Author: .
Subject: Words of Wisdom

Title: Words of Wisdom

Prompt(s):

Bring something up from the back burner.
Fear will only hinder you.
Believe in your abilities. Confidence will lead you on.

Word Count: About 900

Category: Drama/Humor

Rating: G

Author’s Notes: When I got the prompts for the ficathon I froze. I couldn’t seem to get started. Nothing would come to me. I was so afraid that I would be letting everyone down. I stopped trying for a few days. Then the day after Thanksgiving I was with a friend and we grabbed a quick lunch at the mall. We both went for the Asian Cuisine and when I read my fortune, the idea for this story just came to me. I know I was supposed to pick one prompt but sometimes you just have to bend the rules for the sake of entertainment.

Summary: Mac is expected to prosecute a case she feels should be thrown out and Harm tries to give her words of wisdom.

Words of Wisdom

“I can’t do this Harm,” Mac insisted as she pushed away from her desk and began pacing behind his chair in the home office they shared.

“Can’t do what Mac?” Harm asked, turning to watch her as she paced the ten feet of space between their chairs.

“I cannot go into court and prosecute this woman for disorderly conduct.”

“She’s an officer Mac. She created a scene in front of her superiors and several important civilians. I’m surprised you’re having trouble with this.”

“You are kidding aren’t you?” Mac stopped to glare at her handsome husband in his well worn, faded Navy t-shirt and his equally worn and faded jeans that clung to him like a second skin.

“No Mac...I’m not kidding. You know as well as I do that in the military you have to uphold a stricter code of conduct than in civilian life. It’s a fact of life that you learn to live with when you make the military your life.”

“A life you chose for over twenty years,” Mac reminded her husband.

“Yes...but one I volunteered to give up so that you wouldn’t have to...I know how hard it is for you to adjust to sudden changes.” Harm squinted just a bit as he studied his wife. “Mac, if you can’t prosecute a case like this, perhaps its time.”

“Why doesn’t this make me feel any better?” Mac glowered as she dropped into her chair again.

“Because you don’t give up easily...I know.”

“Is this because I wouldn’t let you get away with hints and double talk two years ago?” Mac grinned.

“Not at all. I’m not going to bring something up from the back burner.”

“Right...and Singer was Admiral material,” Mac tossed over her shoulder as she turned back to her papers.

Harm watched his wife’s back for a full minute before he turned back to his papers. He was lost in thought once again within seconds.

The shuffling papers failed to penetrate his focus until the exaggerated sighs made him aware that Mac was still struggling with her case.

“Okay, Mac. Run it by me. What’s really eating at you with this case?” Harm asked turning to face her end of the specially built space in the home office they had designed together.

“Harm, Captain Mercer did create a scene while in uniform. She did scream and cry in front of a bunch of V.I.P.s; but there is no way that she should have been charged. It’s like something Loren Singer would have done!”

“That’s twice you’ve brought up Singer. What’s going on?”

“Harm, I’m telling you this case should have been thrown out right away. Captain Mercer went into labor during the ceremony and before it was over, her water broke!”

“She was pregnant?” Harm questioned while assimilating this new information she was providing him.

“Yeah...and only just starting her eighth month.”

“Now I get it,” he grinned. He eased out of his chair so he could move closer. Once there he squatted down behind her chair, reached around her to caress the bump under his tan t-shirt she wore. “You’re afraid the same thing could happen to you.”

“Am not.”

“Yes you are. Your fear will only hinder you in this case Mac.”

“GGGGGrrrrrrrrr! Don’t you get it Harm? Major Franks shouldn’t have charged her with disorderly conduct and the General shouldn’t have allowed it to move forward.

“Mac he couldn’t apply undue influence on the case...not legally.”

“I know that.”

“Then let it go to trial Mac. Believe in your abilities. Confidence will lead you on. Besides, the judge is sure to throw it out.”

“Would you stop talking like a fortune cookie?” Mac finally laughed at her husband, knowing that ranting at him would do no good.

“Now that you mention it, I wouldn’t mind taking a break. Shall we go out or order in?”

“I don’t care - as long as it doesn’t involve any food with fortune cookies in it!”

“How about I go pick up some lo mein and tell them to hold the cookies...we have enough good fortune for now.” He kissed her cheek as he stood up and started walking away.

“Harm wait....maybe you’d better get the fortune cookies...I’m going to need all the luck and advise I can get if this case goes to trial...And Harm?”

“Yea Mac?”

“If they help you find the words to express yourself, then I guess they can’t be all bad.”

“Cute Marine...just be careful or I’ll start spouting those while you’re in the delivery room!”

Mac laughed as she waved Harm out the door. The phone ringing drew her attention back to the desk.

“Colonel Mackenzie.”

“This is Major Franks, Colonel. I’ve decided to drop the charges against Captain Mercer.”

“Very well. I take it you’ve submitted the proper paperwork.”

“Yes Ma’am. I will also issue Captain Mercer my sincerest apologies and best wishes. How are they going, Ma’am?”

“I’m sure the Captain will appreciate your change of heart. She is doing well as is her son. Major, what changed your mind?”

“My sister, mother and girlfriend, Ma’am.”

“Good for them. I’ll look for the paperwork on my desk tomorrow.”

“It will be there.”

Mac hung up the phone and smiled. She reached into her brief case and took out the fortune she had been saving for months now. She looked at it again, smiling as she read, “It is a wise man that listens to his wife.”

The End

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Replies:

[> This was very good! Good Job to whoever the author is! -- Deborah Brady, 09:27:44 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Very good really enjoying the ficathon so far cannot wait for more thankyou. -- Bev uk, 09:30:06 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Brought a smile to my face. Thank you. -- BlueJay, 11:22:13 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> LOL! I love the last line! Well done! -- --, 11:33:40 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> I enjoyed it so much! Great job! -- Vixen, 12:55:40 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Thanks for the treat -- Dudlee, 14:15:20 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Touche! -- judy52sa, 15:18:36 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Love the 4th fortune and the clever, well-written story. Really enjoyed it! -- pkb, 16:01:43 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Lovely treat and wise words at the end -- Sharon, 17:19:58 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> LOL at the fourth fortune - she needs to hang on to that one! Well Done -- usmgrad, 17:24:57 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Fun and you saved the best for last -- CAZ, 19:16:06 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Very cute! Loved the end! -- JAG Junkie (Ronda), 19:48:04 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> Wonderful! -- rmhlrkr, 20:41:10 12/05/07 Wed [1]


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[> great story - loved the last fortune. -- Sunshine, 01:27:10 12/06/07 Thu [1]


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[> Cute story. Really made me smile. Loved Harm's cookie speeches, and adding the fourth one was a nice and very fitting touch. -- XmasLovr, 08:00:26 12/06/07 Thu [1]


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[> I love it and most the last sentence. We would have to ask for more cookies with that sentence. -- GRa, 14:22:36 12/06/07 Thu [1]


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[> Well Done! -- Angela -- Mommy of 2 JAGLettes, 08:18:20 12/07/07 Fri [1]


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[> Nice! Clever use of the fortune. -- DollyDoodle, 10:52:32 12/07/07 Fri [1]


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