| Subject: Worth the Wait- Ch. 14 |
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Grandma JAG
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Date Posted: 23:32:08 10/26/02 Sat
In reply to:
Grandma JAG
's message, "Worth the Wait" on 22:59:22 10/26/02 Sat
Chapter 14
25 April 2002
0930 hours
Mac couldn’t stop watching the ship as their lifeboat quickly moved away. Even when she could no longer see Harm, she continued to watch, tears streaming down her face. Only when she heard the sobbing behind her, did she snap back to reality, to realize why she was here and not with Harm.
She turned around to see a little girl, about nine years old, obviously scared and crying. Beside her, Mac assumed, was her mother, holding a baby about six months old. Mac sat down on the other side of the little girl.
Giving her a reassuring smile, Mac asked her, “What’s your name?”
“Emily,” the little girl answered, between sobs.
“That’s a beautiful name, Emily. My name is Sarah,” Mac said, soothingly. “Why are you crying, Emily?”
“Because the ship is going to sink, and my daddy’s still on it,” wailed Emily. “There aren’t enough life boats, and my daddy’s gonna die!” At that last statement, she collapsed into another fit of tears. Mac put her arm around her and held her tight.
Emily’s mother had tears in her eyes as she told Mac, “They just finished reading about the Titanic in school. It was all my husband and I could do to even get her to come on this cruise. And now this! I can’t convince her that the result won’t be the same. I guess I need some convincing myself.”
Mac smiled as she reached down to lift Emily’s face up to look at her. “Emily, the Titanic happened almost a 100 years ago. It was one of the very first cruise ships there was, and not much was known about safety on ships back then. But because of the Titanic, ships are made much safer these days. There are plenty of life boats and many more crew members than before. They will make sure that your daddy gets on one of the life boats. He’ll meet back up with us soon, I promise.”
Mac made her way over to the crew member that was steering the boat. Looking at his name tag, she said, “Hi, Eric. I’m Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie. My husband, Comm. Harmon Rabb, Jr. and I are with the JAG corps.”
Eric squinted as he recognized her as one of the passengers. “Sounds official. Why were you and your husband on board?”
“Unofficial business--- honeymoon,” Mac smiled in response. “He convinced me to come aboard this life boat while he stayed behind to help the captain in any way he could. What is the plan here, so I can reassure these women and children?” Mac asked, nodding toward the life boat passengers. There must have been about 25 of them.
“My orders are to get us far away from the ship as quickly as possible and wait for further instructions,” Eric answered officially, indicating the radio clipped to his belt.
Just then there was a huge explosion on the cruise ship. Everyone gasped as one end of the ship starting sinking, causing the other side to rise up in the air. It does look like the Titanic, thought Mac, but brushed aside any thoughts relating to that tragedy. This was nothing like the Titanic, she had told Emily. Now she just had to convince herself.
She turned to Eric and said, “We’ve been off the ship for 27 minutes and 18 seconds. Do you think they could have gotten everyone else off before that explosion?”
“They are supposed to be able to launch a life boat every three minutes, and there were about ten more life boats to go when we launched, so it’s possible. Don’t worry, ma’am, the captain will not leave until everyone is accounted for and on a life boat.”
Yes, and Harm will be with him, Mac thought. She looked across the clear, blue ocean and saw all the other life boats packed full of people. Everyone was watching the ship as it sank lower and lower into the ocean. There was nothing to do now but wait, and pray.
Just then Eric received a message from a senior officer on the radio. “He said that the Navy has been notified and that there will be a rescue ship in the area in about an hour. Lucky for us it’s a nice day, huh?”
A Navy ship, ugh, thought Mac. Not exactly the way I want to spend my honeymoon! But I would gladly kiss the deck if Harm’s on that ship, too.
“Everyone, put lots of sunscreen on and hats if you have them,” ordered Mac. “Make sure the children have lots of water. Even though it’s a nice, clear day, that sun can be brutal, and we want to stay protected as much as possible.”
Turning to Eric, she said quietly, “Any word on whether the captain got away safely?”
Eric replied, “The senior officer didn’t say.” He paused and then grinned as he said, “Why are you so worried about the captain? I would think you’d ask about your husband.”
Mac gave Eric a stern look as she responded curtly, “Because I know that my husband is wherever the captain is. He’s career Navy and thinks he has to be everybody’s hero.” Eric looked at her, surprised, so she softened as she continued, “He was right. He should have stayed behind to get what information he could about the explosions. There will be an investigation, and chances are it’ll be our office that does it. He could save us a lot of time by finding out as much as he can before the ship sinks. I just worry about him, that’s all.”
Eric smiled to himself as he thought, I hope I find a woman some day that loves me like that. Out loud he said to Mac, “Then I’m sure he knows what to do in an emergency. The captain will not let him take any chances. He’s retired Navy, and he still knows how to give an order.”
For the next hour, Mac kept herself busy attending to the women aboard, helping with babies, reassuring little girls, and even talking to a teenager who was considering joining the Navy after high school, but was now having second thoughts. Mac told her about all the career opportunities, and told her that this adventure was much more dangerous than anything she would probably experience in the Navy! “The Navy is good,” Mac went on, “but I think the Marines are even better! Let me tell you why.” She went on to describe everything that the Marines had done for her, and went away thinking that maybe she had actually convinced the girl to join the Marines! Maybe I should be a recruiter, Mac thought, laughing to herself.
Just then, the Navy ship came in sight. A big cheer erupted from all the life boats, as the crew members steered each boat closer. It took awhile to get everyone aboard. Mac introduced herself to the officer in charge and asked permission to speak to the captain. Having been granted permission, she made her way to the bridge.
“Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie, reporting, sir.” Mac started to salute, but realizing that she wasn’t in uniform, she just stood awkwardly, not sure what to do next.
“And what brings you here, Colonel, and out of uniform,” replied the captain, sternly. Mac did not recognize him as anyone she had worked with before. She took a deep breath and recounted the past week and the events that had happened since this morning. At the mention of Harm’s name, the captain perked up.
“Your husband is Harmon Rabb, Jr.?” The captain seemed surprised.
“Yes, sir, do you know him?” Mac hoped the captain would soften his demeanor a bit before he greeted his new, frightened passengers.
“Not Junior, but I flew with his father in Vietnam, and I’ve heard that Junior is every bit as tenacious as his dad. I’ve always wanted to meet him.” The captain smiled as he looked at this Marine colonel in a new light.
“Well, I hope you will be able to,” Mac replied, sadly.
“What do you mean? Isn’t he with you now?” asked the captain.
“He stayed behind to get whatever information he could about the explosions. They think that terrorists snuck aboard the ship in Belize and planted several bombs,” Mac saw that the captain didn’t seem surprised at this information. “Do you know more, sir?”
“Yes, Colonel. They apprehended several men in Belize who have ties to the Al-Qaida. Explosives were found in their apartments. They’re not talking, but we think they’re the ones responsible.” The captain suddenly got serious when Mac asked about the casualties. “There were 27 passengers and 10 crew members killed, and over 100 injured. The captain of the cruise ship reported that all were able to be taken off the ship.”
Just then, the captain was called to the radio. He turned to Mac and said, “All the life boats have been unloaded. Let’s see if we can go and find your husband.”
Mac hurried down to the main deck and walked among the passengers. She smiled as she saw families reunited. Emily ran over to her and gave her a hug and dragged her over to meet her dad, as the mom gave her a squeeze and thanked her for her help. Mac continued to walk the deck, recognizing people she had seen at the various activities on the cruise. The elderly couple that had been staying down the hall nodded to her as she walked by. She saw the young couple that had jogged with her each morning, the steward that had brought her orange juice every morning as she sunbathed, the many, many people that were on this cruise for a variety of reasons, but who all had this one tragedy in common. But where was Harm?
As she turned the corner, she realized that this was where they had brought the dead and injured. She tried not to look at the body bags as she continued along the deck, looking at the faces of the injured to see if Harm was among them. Just as she was about to panic, she saw him.
She couldn’t see his face, but she recognized the hunch of his broad shoulders, as he leaned over one of the injured. Mac hurriedly made her way to her husband, wondering who he was leaning over. As she got closer, she realized that Harm was talking to the captain.
“Harm!” she called out. Looking up, Harm dropped the captain’s hand and rushed to Mac’s side. She grabbed him around the neck and pulled him close to her. “Don’t ever do that again!” she cried out, as she struggled to keep the tears from flowing. “I have been paralyzed with fear wondering if you were going to make it out of there alive!”
“Paralyzed with fear? I think you’ve been watching too many old movies, Mac,” Harm laughed, but wouldn’t let go of her. “I promise you I will not leave you again.”
“What happened?” Mac asked, gesturing over to the captain.
Harm replied, “He’ll be okay, just superficial wounds. He’s quite a guy. You can tell he was a former SEAL.” Then Harm relayed how the captain had taken charge of the situation and had gotten everyone to safety, including the injured and the bodies of the casualties.
Mac told Harm about what the Navy captain had told her about the terrorists that were being detained in Belize. “Well, that would fit with the remnants we managed to get as evidence before the ship went down,” Harm answered.
Just then Capt. Everhart walked up and said to Mac, “So is this your husband?”
Mac introduced him to Harm by saying that he had flown with his father in Vietnam. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Harm extended his hand.
“The pleasure is mine,” Capt. Everhart replied. “I was very impressed with your father, and I can see that his qualities have rubbed off on you.”
“Well, thank you, sir,” Harm answered, humbly. “If you’ll excuse us, sir, we’re going to let your crew do its job, and I’m going to take my wife somewhere where we can be alone.”
Capt. Everhart winked as he said, “Take my quarters and make yourself at home. Dinner will be at 1700 hours. Not as good as what you had on the cruise, but we think it’s pretty good.”
“Thank you, sir. We’re pretty used to it,” Mac grinned. “I’d just like to get cleaned up.”
“The Red Cross is flying out a helicopter with a change of clothes for everybody until we’re able to get all of you to Miami. Then Continental Airlines is offering complimentary flights back to Baltimore.” The captain got right down to business. “It’s been a harrowing ordeal for all of you, and we’ll try to make you as comfortable as we can.”
Harm and Mac left him as he continued explaining everything to the rest of the passengers. Before descending down the stairs to the captain’s quarters, Harm held Mac close and gave her a long kiss. They looked out at the ocean and Mac said, “I think I’ve had enough ocean for awhile. What do you think?”
Harm laughed as he said, “I agree, Marine. Now let’s go get cleaned up and see what scrumptious food they have for us in the mess hall.”
One year later
Harm and Mac’s house
Springfield, Virginia
Mac sat on the deck, watching her guests having a good time. She lifted her swollen ankles up onto a footstool, as she took a long sip of iced tea. Bud was trying to teach little A.J. how to catch a football while Harriet was capturing it all on video. Bud and Harriet’s two-month-old baby girl slept peacefully in the bassinet under the oak tree.
Mac looked over as she heard the Admiral let out a whoop of laughter. He and their neighbor Jim, who was retired Air Force, were sharing old war stories while the Admiral was tending to the barbecue. He had steaks going on one, while Harm was in charge of the salmon and chicken breasts on the other.
Mac studied her husband as he flipped over the meat. They had celebrated his 40th birthday in October. He was still looking good, as far as she was concerned! He had been having a hard time with this milestone birthday, until Mac had told him after his party that she was pregnant. Now he walked over to his wife, and flashed his famous grin as he leaned over to pat her tummy.
“And would Mama like fish or chicken today?” he asked.
“You know better than to ask me that,” Mac laughed. “Steak, please. The biggest one you got!” Harm shook his head as he walked over to the Admiral’s barbecue with a plate.
Their other neighbor, Fran, came out from the kitchen with a big bowl of potato salad to set on the serving table.
“Can I get you some more iced tea?,” she asked Mac, in her Southern drawl.
“I feel like I should be serving you, not the other way around,” Mac looked up helplessly.
“Nonsense,” Fran laughed. “When I was eight months pregnant, it was such a relief to be able to sit down and put my feet up. “Course, I was having twins, which made it worse. You sure you’re not having twins?” Fran pulled up a chair next to Mac.
“I’m sure. The last ultrasound showed one healthy baby,” Mac said, relieved.
“And you don’t want to know if it’s a boy or girl?” Fran asked, puzzled.
“Nope-- I’m just old-fashioned, I guess. I like to be surprised,” Mac smiled as she recalled that everyone seemed to have the same reaction.
“And no names picked out, either?” Fran didn’t understand this Marine colonel. Giving up her career to stay at home with the baby? Not wanting to know the sex of the child or even have a name for him or her?
“Harm and I have some names we like. But we both agree that we want to spend some time with the baby and see what fits. All I know is, if it’s a boy, it will not be Harmon Rabb III!” Mac smiled as Harm approached with her steak. “One Harmon Rabb in my life is quite enough, thank you.”
“Hey, it took you long enough to land me, didn’t it? But wasn’t I worth the wait?” Harm leaned over to kiss his pregnant wife before handing her the biggest steak she’d ever seen.
“Yes, you were.” Mac sighed with pleasure as she looked around her yard with the deck Harm had built, the yellow rosebushes in full bloom, the vegetable garden around the corner of the house. Inside were the rooms they had refurbished with new paint and wallpaper, and upstairs was the new nursery awaiting their first child. In the basement was the office Harm had promised, complete with a computer for each of them. When Mac was ready, she was going to start her own law practice, specializing in family law. She had seen both sides of family life now, and she wanted to insure that everyone had the same opportunities that she had had, to have a loving husband and now a beautiful child.
She looked up at her wonderful husband, smiled lovingly, and said, “Yes, you were definitely worth the wait.”
THE END
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