| Subject: 'Dissonance' - Part Ten |
Author:
Daenar
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Date Posted: 15:28:47 07/24/02 Wed
In reply to:
Daenar
's message, "'Dissonance' - Part Nine" on 15:21:22 07/24/02 Wed
'Dissonance' - Part Ten
Author: Daenar
Disclaimer: See Part One
Closing her eyes, Mac felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over her in an instant. Her first thought was: ‘Run and hide!’ But then a second thought made its way to her conscious, filling her with sudden warmth. Unbeknownst to her, a smile began to slowly spread over her face as she let Claire’s words sink in. ‘This is it,’ she realized with wonder. ‘Right here, under your very heart, you carry Harm’s child. A child of your love.’
She looked up at Claire whose smile had brightened at her reaction. “I don’t really know what I should feel right now,” Mac confessed in a low, confused voice that yet carried audible traces of her smile. “You know, Claire, I was so sure it couldn’t happen. I’m on the pill. But I think I forgot that I’d been sick due to the concussion I suffered when I fell during my first band rehearsal and hit my head on my drum. Throwing up must have lessened the effect of the hormones.”
Claire decided she’d take the plunge. “It’s Harm’s, isn’t it?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah,” Mac said with a far-away smile on her face as she remembered the night the child must have been conceived. Or the following day, for that matter...
“How do you think he’ll take it?” the younger woman ventured carefully.
Mac let out a low chuckle, studying her hands and fighting with her emotions. “I guess ‘shock’ wouldn’t quite describe it. But I’m rather sure that once he’s gotten used to the idea he’ll be on cloud nine. After all, we did have that deal...”
“What deal?” Claire’s voice showed traces of curiosity as she sat down on the couch beside her friend.
Mac hesitated for a moment, but then thought she might as well tell her. “Don’t laugh, okay?”
Claire gave her a puzzled smirk. “Okay...”
“Well, when Bud and Harriet’s son AJ, our godson, was born four years ago,” Mac again smiled at the recollection, “Harriet didn’t make it to the hospital in time and actually gave birth in Chegwidden’s office, the admiral playing the best midwife I’ve ever seen.”
“No!” Claire gasped in amazement, making Mac chuckle.
“Yes, believe me. Anyway, when we’d finally gotten her and Bud in an ambulance together with their son, Harm and I watched them leave and I started musing about my biological clock. That’s when he offered that we’d go on halves on a kid in five years if neither of us were in a serious relationship. I accepted. That’s it.” Mac looked at her friend to see her stare at her in utmost bewilderment.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“But you’ve been together for quite some time, then?”
“Nope.” Mac’s grin was steadily growing.
Claire shook herself from her shock. “Okay, now we’re going to straighten out some details!” she said in a tone that would have made a drill sergeant proud. “Just what’s going on between the two of you?”
By now Mac was openly laughing. “It’s been a little more than three months, to be exact. It took me almost marrying someone else I didn’t love and him almost dying in a plane crash at sea plus another two years to get back to our friendship before we finally had the guts to face our seven years of history and get it right.”
Claire silently counted backwards. “Venice...” she finally said.
“Yep.”
“Does anyone know yet?”
“You do now. And Harm’s parents. And Jeannine. She put two and two together when she saw that I carry a picture of Harm in my wallet.”
“Fred’s been suspecting something ever since his first day at JAG,” Claire admitted with a grin. “He said you were kind of emanating an aura.”
Mac laughed at her statement. “Well, if he can keep secrets you might let slip that he was right. I guess, things being as they are, it won’t stay a secret for too long anyway. We’ll have to come up with some solution quickly, concerning the regs,” she added with a frown.
“Mac,” Claire said soothingly, taking her hand as she sensed her friend’s discomfort, “Don’t try to create the world in one day when even God needed six to do it. First get used to the idea that you and Harm will have a family. That’s a wonderful thing. Then break the news to the future daddy. Then wrap up this case as quickly as possible. And then I’ll allow you to think about regulations, okay? I’m your obstetrician, I’m in the position to order you now, Colonel. That is... if you’d like me to do the job,” she added, a little unsure.
Mac’s smile was one of genuine gratefulness. “I’d love that, Claire,” she said, squeezing the younger woman’s hand.
Walking over to her quarters, Mac decided she wouldn’t need Pat O’Hara anymore. Her dress whites were stained anyway. How on earth did Harm and the other squids succeed to keep them white whatever they did? Not that it concerned her now. She’d told Harriet to bring her dress blues, just in case. So tonight she’d step onto that stage in the uniform she was proud of.
Uniform. Mac gasped when a picture invaded her mind, a picture of herself in a maternity uniform. ‘How will Harm take it?’ she asked herself, feeling a little frightened. Rationally she was sure he would be rapturous. But emotionally she still had difficulties to fully trust her luck. What if he backed away? Not from his responsibility. He’d never let her down. But emotionally, if he didn’t feel up to the task... ‘Oh God, please, don’t let that happen!’ she silently prayed.
She knew he’d immediately ask her to marry him. But initially he had begged her to be patient for a little while until he felt he could ask her properly. She didn’t want him to rush it now because he considered it a question of honor. She wanted him to ask of his own free will. But that wouldn’t be an option anymore, once he learnt of her state. Why hadn’t she just been more careful?
Mac was so lost in thoughts when she entered her apartment that at first she didn’t notice the person that was quietly sitting on the couch. Only as he rose Mac jumped and froze, instantly switching to Marine-mode.
“Pablo, what are you doing here? How did you get into my room?”
Pablo, with the hint of a thin smile, approached her. “I have my ways, sweetheart.”
Mac decided she didn’t like the sound of his voice and prepared for a possible attack. But Pablo just stopped in front of her. “You wanted war, Colonel Mackenzie, you got it,” he stated simply. “You know, I did care for you. As did Maribel for your commander. But I guess that’s our problem now. Your problem is gonna be a little different: facing our revenge.”
With that he quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket and lunged at Mac. She was quick to parry his blow, but not quick enough. She felt a stinging pain in her side, and only moments later started to feel dizzy. She swayed, lost her footing and fell to the ground, hitting her temple hard at the edge of the coffee table.
Pablo, with a sad smile, held up a syringe. “Insulin,” he said quietly. “Overdose. All I gotta do now is prevent you from getting to your sweets as long as you’d still be able to eat. Shouldn’t be too long now.” He grabbed Mac and dragged her onto the couch, applying an amazing amount of strength to the Marine that already wasn’t quite able to defend herself anymore.
“You were the one who killed Meryl, weren’t you?” she managed to ask in a hoarse voice while her vision began to swim. ‘Harm!’ she silently, desperately called out, knowing he’d never make it in time. How would he know she needed him? And Jeannine, the only one who was likely to come to the apartment, would be being questioned right now and not likely to show up. ‘Harm, I need your help!’
“Good thinking, Colonel,” Pablo replied coldly. “The family couldn’t let Meryl run around and ruin our business. Whereas with you... consider it my personal revenge for betraying me the way you did, Patricia. I couldn’t believe it when Maribel told me this morning.”
But his last remark already went unnoticed by Mac who’d by now lost consciousness. Pablo just sat by and watched, smiling his thin, sad smile.
Same time
Outside House Mistral
Dwayne Myers Naval College
Long Island, N.Y.
Once Harm had written down her testimony, Jeannine had been dismissed to prepare herself for the concert. Relieved that the horror she was going through might shortly come to an end, she had immediately set off for her apartment, hoping she might be able to even take a little nap before having to prepare for leaving.
When she arrived at her dorm, she was astonished to find Maribel Gonzalez standing in front of the entrance, obviously waiting for her. Jeannine chose to ignore her and tried to get past her to reach the door. But Maribel stepped in the way, glaring at the petite blonde in front of her.
“No way you’re going in there right now, Cadet.”
Jeannine had a feeling of alarm. “What’s up?” She stared back.
“My brother needs to finish something.”
Hearing that remark, Jeannine inwardly snapped to red alert. “Let me through!” she yelled, trying to push the tall woman away. She had to get to Mac!
Maribel only laughed, standing her ground. “I told you, no way you’re going in there right now.”
‘Damn sure I am,’ Jeannine thought grimly and, thinking of how Mac would probably handle this, she decided she’d either do it or die trying. Tightly clenching her fist, never breaking the eye contact with Maribel, Jeannine said, deadly calm: “Let – me – pass.”
“Go to hell.”
“Go yourself.” With that, a quick, well-aimed right cross hit Maribel to the classic knockout point under her chin. The tall woman went down without so much as an ‘ouch’.
Jeannine sped up the stairs, found her door half open and froze at the sight of Pablo sitting calmly beside an obviously unconscious Mac. ‘God, don’t let it happen again!’ Jeannine prayed as she, trembling, sneaked into her room, unseen by Pablo, and instantly dialed Harm’s cell-phone number on her telephone.
“Rabb?”
“Commander, it’s Jeannine,” she whispered agitatedly.
Harm had immediately detected the fear in her voice. “What’s up, Cadet?”
“Pablo’s trying to kill Mac!”
She heard Harm gasp. “Where are you?”
“Our apartment.”
Harm didn’t even acknowledge her response. Jeannine just heard the line go dead and prayed that Mac would hang on until he arrived. In the meantime, she desperately thought about a plan to save her friend without being taken down by Pablo first. Not that she feared the situation – but attempts at heroism wouldn’t be of any help right now. And she knew she didn’t have the hint of a chance against the broad-shouldered Columbian.
But a loud noise of wood cracking and splintering saved her from further actions. Jeannine just watched as Harm, closely followed by Fred, entered the apartment, having forced the door. Both officers were tightly clutching their guns, instantly pointing them at Pablo whose expression conveyed utmost shock. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
As Harm saw his Marine lying motionless on the couch, he lost it completely. He ran over and, in no time, had a dumbfounded Pablo pinned beneath him. He could see the utmost fear in the young man’s eyes as he put his gun to Pablo’s temple.
“You bastard!” Harm shouted, his voice shaking. “What did you do to her?”
Pablo didn’t respond but just stared back at the tall commander who right now held Pablo’s life in his hands.
“Answer me!” Harm cried, forcefully nudging the weapon against the Columbian’s head.
Fred thought it wise to intervene. Otherwise Harm might do something that he might regret for the rest of his life. Quickly joining him, he knelt down and, meeting Harm’s wild glare, said as calmly as he could: “I’ll take care of him now, sir. You get the Colonel to the infirmary, I really suggest you do, sir!”
Harm emerged from his daze, instantly got a clear picture of the situation and cast Fred a quick grateful look.
Meanwhile Jeannine had noticed a small object that must have rolled under the coffee-table more or less from where Mac was lying. She instantly ran over, picked it up and recognized it as an empty insulin pen. “Oh God, sir,” she blurted out, startling the officers, “She’s had an insulin overdose. Hurry!”
“Oh God...” Harm let Fred take the job of exercising a precise blow on Pablo’s head to take him out and let Jeannine bind him like she had the kidnappers. He himself effortlessly lifted Mac to his arms and, running for his – her – life, carried her to the infirmary.
“She’s had an insulin overdose, get a glucose IV ready, ASAP!” he shouted to the first nurse they came across. Seeing the haunted look on Harm’s ashen face, the woman didn’t even think about arguing. She started to run down the corridor, in no time came back with a doctor and soon Mac had highly concentrated sugar trickling into her vein.
Harm sat down beside Mac’s bed, firmly holding on to her hand, not caring that the nurse shot him an odd look, thinking that this professor cared far too much about his student.
Fred stood by quietly, his hand on Harm’s shoulder, worried for both his friends who, in the short time he had known them, had already grown very close to him and Claire. And he was thanking God that it wasn’t Claire lying there. He could only imagine what the commander had to be going through right now.
Clearing her throat, the nurse stepped up to the bed, puzzled that the commander didn’t seem to care that she saw him fraternize with one of his students. “Uhm... sir, I need the cadet’s name and a few other things for the register.”
Harm’s eyes were blank when he looked up at her, never releasing Mac’s hand. The nurse, against her better judgment, began to feel pity for him. “Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, United States Marine Corps, Chief of Staff to the U.S. Navy’s JAG,” Harm said tonelessly and instantly turned his focus back to Mac who still didn’t show any sign of awakening yet.
The nurse all but dropped her pad. “Excuse me, sir?” she asked hoarsely.
Fred sensed that Harm needed to be with Mac, entirely. So he gently took the woman’s arm and led her to the other end of the room.
“Uhm, Ensign.... Carter,” he read her name tag, “You heard the commander right. The colonel’s been conducting an undercover investigation in the college. You might find her in your students list as Cadet Second Year Patricia O’Hara. She’s been the commander’s working partner for more than seven years now. That’s why they’re so close.”
Ensign Carter gulped down her astonishment and, instead of asking for details, interviewed Fred about the necessary data she needed. The task finished, she looked at the couple. “I guess we might let them have some privacy then, sir,” she said softly. “If everything goes well she should wake up soon.”
Fred gave her a small grateful smile and led her outside.
Harm was sitting motionless at Mac’s side, silently praying. He couldn’t lose her now. What would his life be without her? The same void it had been until Venice. And an eternal torment, knowing they could have been together, had she lived. ‘God, no, please, don’t do this to me!’ he pleaded frantically.
He jumped when he suddenly felt her hand slightly return his squeeze.
“Mac?”
“Harm... what...” her strained voice trailed off.
Fighting down his tears of relief, Harm bent over her, softly kissing her forehead. “Hang on, Marine,” he whispered, not trusting his voice.
Mac, through her slowly fading daze, forced her eyes to focus on the face above her.
“Harm...”
“I’m here, honey, I’m right here,” he said soothingly, stroking her head.
“What happened? Pablo...”
Harm swallowed at the thought of what might have happened, hadn’t Jeannine been quick enough to get to him. Both of them now owed their lives to that incredibly brave girl, he realized.
“Jeannine was the one to save you. Again,” he softly told her. “She returned in time to find Pablo at your apartment and called me on my cell-phone.”
Mac felt him shudder briefly. With the glucose IV nearing its end, her world quickly came into focus again. ‘Thank God hypoglycemia has no further lasting effects,’ she thought. Still feeling a little groggy, she nevertheless managed to slowly sit up and hug him tightly.
Harm held on to her as if his life depended on it. “My Marine, so near to losing you once again...” Was that a sob? She wondered.
“It’s over now, flyboy,” she whispered soothingly, “I’m with you. But you could do me a favor...”
He pulled back and, for the first time, allowed himself a slight smile. “Anything, Sarah.”
She smiled back, quickly coming back to her normal self now as the glucose began to work in her body. “Give me something else to think about, something totally unrelated to this damn case and something that’ll make me happy. Can you come up with something of the sort?”
She looked at him challengingly.
Harm decided that, although he had planned everything a little differently, this would nevertheless be the right moment to get his plan to work. He’d come too close to losing her once again. Gently lowering her to her pillow, he reached into the inside pocket of his dress whites and, with an enigmatical smile, handed her an official-looking envelope.
“I think I might just be up to the task. You able to read, Marine?” he only asked.
Quizzically raising her eyebrows at him, she only nodded and unfolded the letter.
Subject: Regarding Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, both assigned to the Judge Advocate General Corps
Answering to a special request ventured by Undersecretary of State Clayton Webb, referring to a wish expressed by the USN Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden, I declare that the senior lawyer team assigned to JAG Headquarters, Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr., USN, and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, USMC, receive the guarantee not to be obliged to change designator, regardless of whatever facts might suggest the necessity.
Any event or situation whatsoever that is connected to Cmdr. Rabb and Lt. Col. Mackenzie and might cause conflict with chain-of-command regulations is to be considered of minor importance. In the interest of achieving continuity, regarding thoroughly conducted investigations and carefully researched and successfully argued court-martials, JAG Headquarters must not be deprived of its most efficient and successful personnel who set an example of excellent work to the entire JAG staff.
Signed,
Secretary of the Navy Nelson,
Department of Defense
Mac had to read the letter twice before the full meaning of the words hit her. Unable to utter a syllable, she stared at the sheet, her hands starting to tremble. “Clay...” she finally managed to say, still not looking up.
“Yeah...” she heard her partner acknowledge softly.
Mac swallowed and turned her head in Harm’s direction – and her heart skipped several beats.
Harm was holding his hand out to her, palm up, and on it lay a simple, stunningly beautiful diamond solitaire. Mac’s eyes switched back and forth between the ring and Harm’s face, needing a few moments to put two and two together. As she noticed that her partner’s expression was getting increasingly frightened the longer she was hesitating, she finally allowed herself to let out the breath that had caught in her throat. Tears were starting to form in her eyes but she didn’t mind. A radiant smile broke through her puzzled frown.
“Harm... do you... I mean...”
Having already seen his dreams dissolve at her hesitation, Harm now dared to hope. He cleared his throat and in a very low voice said: “I told you I’d ask properly, didn’t I? So here goes: Sarah, will you marry me?”
A sob prevented her from answering immediately, but she gulped it down and, slowly extending her left hand in his direction, palm down, replied in a shaky voice: “With all my heart, Harm.”
As he gently took her hand in his, Mac could feel that he was trembling. Seemingly in awe about what they had just agreed upon, he slowly slid the ring on her finger. Then he looked up at her again, not knowing what to say.
“It’s beautiful, Harm,” Mac whispered, studying the ring.
“It’s Grandma Sarah’s,” he replied. “She told me long ago to ask for it, should I ever find a woman I could love as much as she loved my granddad. Mom would always keep it for me ‘cause Gram said it could be sent quicker from where they live than from where she does, in case it had to be a quick delivery. There isn’t any UPS office or something in Bealsville and Gram doesn’t trust Postal services in the rural area she lives in. Anyway, when I told my mom to send the ring over, she gave a scream that half of La Jolla must have heard.” He chuckled slightly, avoiding her eyes and studying their entwined hands instead.
Mac felt overwhelming relief flood through her veins. All her fears that his commitment would be one of responsibility, not of love, had vanished in an instant. Now she couldn’t wait to give him the news of their baby... Oh God. With all that had happened, the knowledge of her pregnancy had completely slipped from her mind. Nothing too surprising, given the fact that she’d only learned about it ten minutes prior to Pablo’s assault. But what if anything had happened to their child?
Harm looked up sharply as, all of a sudden, he felt her fingers clench around his. All color had drained from her face.
“Mac! What’s up?” Adrenaline instantly shot up high in his body.
“Harm! Get me Claire, please, I need her right now!” Mac’s voice was shaking.
Not taking the time to ask, he jumped to his feet and hurried out of the room, fate being kind to him, as he saw Fred and his fiancée walk up the corridor just as he wanted to start running to their quarters.
“Claire! Come in quickly,” he shouted, “Mac needs you!”
Claire instantly sped to Mac’s bedside, Fred close in her tracks.
Mac looked up to her with an expression of utmost dread. “Claire,” she whispered, “Can insulin do any harm? Please, say it won’t,” she begged.
Harm only looked frantically from one to the other, exchanging helpless looks with an equally clueless Fred. Harm felt he wanted to shake either of the women, to make them tell him what he obviously wasn’t supposed to know. Was there a further threat that his Marine was hiding from him?
Claire soothingly put one hand on Mac’s head while she studied the data on the pad Ensign Carter had left at her bedside. Fred could tell his fiancé was inwardly tense, but eventually she seemed to relax. And even Harm managed to calm down as he finally saw a small smile appear on the young woman’s face.
“I don’t think you need to worry, Mac,” she said gently. “You’ve been enormously lucky, sure, but you know, when a person loses consciousness, that means that the body tries to focus on keeping the essential parts alive. And growing life is as essential as anything. At least to nature. Everything should be fine. We’ll do some tests tomorrow, if you like. But I want you to relax, okay?”
Mac only swallowed and nodded, her face by now mirroring Claire’s smile.
Harm sat thunderstruck. “Did you...” his voice caught in his throat. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Claire, did you just say what I think you said or does what I think you just said mean what I think it does or...” he stopped, lost.
At that, Mac burst out laughing, Fred and Claire immediately joining in. Harm’s expression was hilarious.
“Hey, tell me!” he protested.
Claire managed to get a grip. “You heard me right, Harm,” she said with a slight chuckle. “In a little less than nine months you’re gonna be a daddy.”
Harm looked at Mac, dumbfounded. “But didn’t you say...”
She smiled back, just a little unsure about how to interpret his reaction. “I... well, I forgot that I had been sick when I had that concussion, remember? The first band rehearsal...”
For a few more moments Harm just stared. Fear was beginning to rise in Mac’s eyes. But then, all of a sudden, Harm jumped to his feet, grabbed his cover, tossed it in the air and, catching it, shouted: “I’m gonna be a dad!!!”
His reaction caused new, relieved fits of laughter. Harm, cheeks flushed with excitement, beaming radiantly, sat down again at Mac’s bedside, taking her hand. “Thanks, Mac,” he said, overwhelmed. He looked at his fiancée, whose cheeks were rosy with excitement as well and whose dark eyes were sparkling. He just couldn’t get over how lucky he was.
Her glance was one of pure joy. “Thanks to you, flyboy,” she softly answered, “For keeping your promise.”
“It hasn’t been five years, yet,” he reminded her with a smirk, “But I think we make it count. What do you say, Colonel?”
“Absolutely.” With that she let herself be drawn into a tight embrace.
Suddenly she heard Claire gasp sharply. They broke apart and looked up, curious.
“Mac! Is that an engagement ring you’re wearing?” Claire asked, incredulous.
“Yup!” Mac answered gleefully.
“Congratulations, sir!” Fred patted Harm on the back, grinning widely, determining not to wonder about anything those two superiors of his would come up with. Later would be enough time to clear the details.
“Thanks, Fred,” Harm said with a heartfelt sigh. “Took me long enough. Speaking of long enough,” he added, glancing at his watch, “We have to get ready. In half an hour we have to leave on our bus trip to Carnegie hall. I’ve got a concert to conduct, remember?”
“Claire,” Mac’s voice had a decidedly begging tone. “This will most probably be the one and only occasion in my life that I get to play on stage at Carnegie Hall. Can I go, please?”
“I’d never thought you’d even be as wise as to ask,” Claire stated, caught off guard. Harm and Fred just stared at the suddenly all too reasonable colonel. Claire went on: “From what I heard you do what you want, anyway. But as you did ask and if you promise to be a good girl and take it easy: yes, Colonel, you may go.”
“Then let’s not keep them waiting,” Mac replied with a huge grin as she allowed Harm to support her while she climbed out of bed, utterly surprising him for the second time in one minute with this new, docile attitude of hers.
‘Obviously motherhood works miracles...’ Fred thought by himself, hiding his knowing grin.
2148 ZULU
Harm’s apartment
Dwayne Myers Naval College
Long Island, N.Y.
“Ma’am, sir, I’m so happy for you, so happy!” Harriet’s cheeks were flushed with excitement as she tightly hugged Mac.
“But, excuse me, sir,” Bud carefully asked Harm, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy for you and the colonel, but what about the regs? What if Singer...”
“Don’t worry, Bud. All settled. Read this.” Harm good-naturedly handed him the Secnav’s letter and watched his junior officer’s eyes go wide as he read.
“Wow... sir, this is... how did you... I mean...” he stopped, lost.
Harm chuckled. “Webb,” he said simply. At that, a grin slowly spread over Bud’s face.
Harriet stepped up to her husband and peeped over his shoulder. “Oh my God!!!” she only exclaimed and motioned Fred and Claire to come and read as well.
“Ma’am, sir, I don’t know Agent Webb too well, but from what you told me about how he normally acts... well, I guess he felt he really did owe you this time,” Fred stated with a smile.
“Seems so,” Mac answered, smirking. “But now we’ve got a mere ten minutes left to get ready and get to the plaza. What did the MPs do about Pablo? And, God, Harm, did you contact Cadet First Year Hannah Brown? We’ll need her clarinet! Pablo’s not gonna play.”
“I’m beginning to get sick of clarinets,” Harm murmured as he instantly rushed over to the telephone. “Cadet Stiller? Can you give me the number of Cadet First Year Hannah Brown? I need to... oh, you already called her... you, what?”
Grinning, Harm covered the receiver and hissed to his friends: “Listen to this: when tied up Pablo and called the MPs, the first thing she did was ask for access to his apartment to retrieve his Goodman scores and then call Cadet Brown!” He tried to swallow his astonished laughter and turned back to the telephone.
“Yes, Cadet?... She’s up to it? Great... good work, Cadet! See you in ten... yes, she’s fine... yes, she’s gonna play, hypoglycemia doesn’t last long if you get enough sugar back into the system... yeah... I see... I’ll do that. Mac sends you her love. Bye, Cadet Stiller.” Harm put the receiver down and grinned contently. “Everything’s under control.”
Mac turned to Harriet. “Harriet, I’m feeling okay, but just in case, I... uhm... I might need you while I take a little express shower. I have to, ran too much to get back and get help. Just be present in the bathroom, just in case I get dizzy, okay?”
“Sure, ma’am,” Harriet complied. “I’ve got your dress blues ready. Got them from the car and brought them here while you were out of it.”
“Thanks, Harriet.” Then Mac turned to the rest of the assembly. “I’m sure Harm’s got a good clothes brush. See that you get your dress whites in order, people. I still don’t get it how you manage to keep them clean when you’re wearing them, especially with today’s events. I had mine covered with something the minute I put them on.”
Harm grinned a little nastily. “It’s a navy thing, Mac.”
“Jerk!” With a laugh she vanished into the bathroom while Harm, Fred, Bud and Jeannine busied themselves to brush the traces of the day’s events off their clothes. Harm had a stain of dried blood on the collar from his initial injury. But with a little cold water from the sink, Claire managed to clean it off almost completely. Bud’s uniform trousers were a little stained where the kidnappers had previously kicked his stump. But in this particular case it was even lucky that the trousers hung loosely around his prosthesis. The dirt could pass for a shadow of a fold if you didn’t look too closely. A button was missing from Fred’s uniform jacket but as the Italian dress whites had the front buttons covered anyway, it wouldn’t be noticed. Fred readjusted his royal blue sash so that it passed right over the missing button, thus keeping the jacket closed firmly. Only Claire had to replace her skirt with matching trousers as her climbing onto the boathouse roof had caused stains that wouldn’t come out by simply brushing them. Fred quickly supplied the needed item from his quarters where she had left her luggage.
Just then, Mac reemerged from the bathroom, clad in her usual dress blues, all herself again – finally! She approached Harm with her make-up case. “Flyboy... would you please see to my forehead?”
Two minutes later, the six of them hurried to meet the rest of the band on the main plaza. Just before turning around the last corner, Harm gallantly held his arm out to Mac. “Ready for the show?” he asked her with a dashing flyboy-grin.
“Let’s go, sailor!” she only shot back, grinning, taking his arm. The other four, curious how everyone would react, let the couple walk in front.
Cassandra was the first to see them. “Holy shit!!!” was all she exclaimed before staring with her mouth wide open.
Instantly, the murmurs stopped and everyone turned in their direction. A faint ‘thud’ told of a bag that had just dropped to the floor somewhere. Harm and Mac smiled easily at the group as they approached.
“Att... attention on deck!” Danny shouted half-heartedly. Everyone woke from their shock and snapped to attention. Harm thought the plaza had never been this quiet.
“At ease. Cadets, I’m sorry we’re a little late but, uh, something’s come up that had to be taken care of first. I’m sorry, too, for the little game of hide-and-seek we had to play but my partner here...” he cast a brilliant smile at an equally smiling Mac, “Had to do a little research from the insiders’ prospective. Nothing worth talking about, actually, you could call it routine in the end.”
At this, Jeannine started to desperately bite her lower lip, trying to stifle her laughter. She didn’t know why Harm didn’t tell the truth but he must have had a good reason for wanting to keep the Gonzalez affair quiet. And she agreed that the others didn’t need to know about the nature of Meryl’s death. She’d ask Mac for details after the concert, she decided.
“Anyway,” Harm went on, “As we’re now finished with the investigation, I might as well present my partner to you. Cadets, I’d like you to meet Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, United States Marine Corps, Chief of Staff to the United States Navy’s Judge Advocate General. And my fiancée,” he added with a smile after a short pause.
A sharp gasp, both from Cassandra and Dorothy, was the immediate answer.
Harm went on: “I also want to welcome Cadet Brown as a regular member of the band now. You’ve done some of the rehearsals as have the other substitutes, but as Pablo Gonzalez asks you all to excuse him as he’s suddenly ill...” Harm managed to look slightly grave for a moment, “You’re the lucky one to step in, Cadet Brown. You feel up to the task?”
“Yes, sir!” came the answer, along with a radiant beam, from the excited young girl.
“Good. So I suggest we get on the bus and move. Is the colonel’s drum already stored?”
The students exchanged astonished glances at the prospect that the Chief of Staff at JAG would actually take her place in their band’s back row.
“I’ve seen to it, sir,” Jeannine said immediately.
“Thank you, Cadet Stiller. So, Cadets, this is it. How do you feel?” Harm asked cheerfully.
No one dared to answer. He frowned. “It’s not that I’ve grown a second head or something, is it? Just accept that Cadet O’Hara’s wearing blue today, okay?”
Slowly, the tension began to dissipate. Harm decided to try again and get his band into concert mood. “So, you up to the challenge, Cadets?“
“Yes, sir!” all shouted in unison as they came to attention again, many of them hiding grins. ‘Cute couple, Rabb and O’Hara...’
To be continued...
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