Summary: An interpretation of what might happen with
the baby deal and Singer and Sergei.
Note: This story begins at the end of Standards of Conduct. This is my
prediction of what could happen with the current story line of Singer’s
pregnancy and who the father is and ties in Harm and Mac’s baby deal. Because I
am trying to be as realistic as possible, realize it will to term this as
erotica, but it will make shippers happy.
Jag Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
1556 ET Wednesday
“You’re funny.”
Harm smiled at Mac. “Remember that in fifty years.”
“Think we will still be here in fifty years, Flyboy?”
“Uh….” Harm shrugged and walked out of Mac’s office before he incriminated
himself further. He turned the corner and entered his office just as the phone
rang. “Rabb.”
“Is that any way to talk to your baby brother?”
“Sergei! How are you? It is good to hear your voice.”
“I am good, Harm. I just wanted to call and check on you. I know you have a hard
time staying out of trouble.”
Harm rolled his eyes. “You sound like Mac. I am just fine.”
Sergei chuckled at the mention of Mac’s name. “And how is Mac?”
“Now you sound like my mother. She is just fine. Have you spoken to Loren
recently?” Harm was not sure what he wanted the answer to that question to be.
“How do you discreetly ask your brother if he knows he knocked up a Navy
lieutenant who intends to give up the baby up for adoption,” Harm thought
bitterly to himself.
“No. I did not give her a way to contact me. She did not seem interested in
continuing the relationship.”
“I see.” That was not what Harm wanted to hear. He spoke to Sergei for another
few minutes before hanging up, saying that he had an appointment. In actuality,
Harm had made a decision while on the phone with his brother. He exited his
office and made his way toward Admiral Chegwidden’s office. “Tiner, would you
see if the Admiral has a moment for me?”
“Certainly. Admiral, Commander Rabb would like to speak to you. Also, I have
Lieutenant Singer’s phone number in San Diego.” Tiner ripped a sheet of paper
off his notepad.
“Bring it here and send him in.” As Harm walked by Tiner’s desk, he grabbed a
sheet of paper of the same notepad and went through the Admiral’s door. “How can
I help you, Commander?”
“Sir, I just concluded the work with the Colonel on the Duncan court martial and
I was wondering if I could have a few days to visit my mother in California this
week.”
“Is anything wrong?”
“Not really. I want to talk to her about some issues that have been pending. It
has been awhile since I have seen her.”
“I really am short staffed with Bud not able to do field investigations and
Singer on maternity leave.”
“Just a day or two, Sir.”
“I suppose. Give any major cases to the Colonel.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”
“And Commander, please do not decide to run off to Russia with the Colonel when
you come back.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Harm gathered two files from his desk and walked into Mac’s office. “I am going
to see my mother and Frank. I will be back on Monday. You shouldn’t need to do
anything with these.”
As he turned to go, Mac stood up. “Harm, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just need a break. Thought the San Diego sun would do me some good.
See you Monday.”
“Sure. Be careful.” Harm smiled his flyboy smile at her and he was gone. Coates
was standing just outside Mac’s door, trying not to listen and failing
miserably.
Frank and Trish Burnett’s Home
La Jolla, California
0801 PT Thursday
“Harm! It is so surprising to see you. Are you on a case? Where’s Mac?”
“Mom! I am not on a case. I just came to visit you. And Mac….”
“And Mac is?”
“In Virginia.”
“Oh.”
“Let it go, Mom.”
“Can’t a mother dream?”
“No. I came here to talk to you about something. Maybe something that will take
this fixation off Mac.”
“Really? You don’t have another blond bimbo girlfriend do you?”
“Mom!”
“Sorry. Mac doesn’t have another boyfriend?”
“Mom, stop.”
“Okay, what is it you want dear?”
“Its about Sergei.” Harm could already see his mother squirming. “Now before you
dismiss this discussion, hear me out. I really need your advice. I want you to
tell me what you think Dad would want for his son.”
“Okay.”
“Before Sergei returned to Russia he had a short term relationship with a
lieutenant in JAG. About a month ago, I came to find out that she was pregnant.
She claims Sergei is not the father, but I can tell she is lying. Sergei knows
nothing. Anyway, she was going to have an abortion. Through the grace of God, or
Harriet, she is not, but she wants to put the baby up for adoption. I do not
think one more Rabb should grow up without a father. I want to adopt her baby.
But I have to convince her of that. How do I do that? And how do I tell Sergei?
Do I tell Sergei? When do I tell Sergei?”
Trish stared at her son as if she had just met him for the first time. “First of
all, what if this woman did tell you the truth and the baby is not Sergei’s?
Second of all, HARMON RABB, ARE YOU NUTS? You are not prepared to raise a child
and even if you were, there is no way a family court judge is going to give a
39-year old bachelor, who just earned a Navy silver star for playing chicken
with a dirty nuclear warhead, a baby.”
Harm stared at his mother. He really hadn’t considered that a court would not
give the uncle of the baby custody if the mother did not want the baby and the
father was not available. “I can read people, Mom. I know the baby is Sergei’s”
“Harm, you cannot make up for the past. It is honorable that you want to, but
you can’t.”
“I just want to protect Sergei’s interests. I have tried to get Loren to call
him and she won’t.”
“Unfortunately, Son, it is her body and she can do as she pleases.”
Harm sighed. “I guess. I am going for a walk on the beach.”
Pacific Coast
La Jolla, CA
1723 PT Friday
Harm tucked the slip of paper in his pocket. After much work, he had managed to
decipher the phone number that Loren had given the Admiral. Slowly he dialed it
on his cell phone.
“Ring, Ring”
Parking Lot Outside Walmart
San Diego, CA
2259 PT Saturday
“Where is he? He went to all this trouble to find me and now he is late?
Figures.” Loren shifted uncomfortably in the seat of her small rental car. Just
then she saw the tall figure, she had been waiting for, approach her.
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0758 ET Monday
Harm walked briskly into the bullpen. In the end, his trip to California had
turned out poorly. All he wanted to do was hide in his office. “Commander Rabb,
the Admiral would like to see you ASAP. The Colonel is already in there.”
“Thank you, Tiner.” Harm handed his briefcase and cover to Tiner and headed into
his CO’s office. “Commander Rabb reporting as ordered, Sir.”
“At ease. Have a seat, Commander. How was your trip to California?”
“Tiring, Sir.”
“I would imagine. Care to tell me now what you were doing there?”
Harm looked at his CO confusedly. “Visiting my mother, Sir.”
The Admiral really wanted to believe Harm. “I have asked the Colonel to be
present here. Normally, I would discuss this in private with you at first,
Commander, but the Colonel always knows what you are doing before anyone else,
so I suspect she already knows about what you were doing in California.”
Now it was Mac who looked confused. “Sir, I was under the impression that the
Commander was visiting his mother and step-father.”
“Mmm. Lieutenant Singer was accosted in a parking lot in San Diego Saturday
evening.”
“Is she okay, Sir?” Mac slid to the edge of her chair.
“How is the baby?”
The Admiral visibly slumped at Harm’s mention of the baby. “She is in a coma.
The baby is fine. Eyewitnesses at the crime scene saw a tall man in a US Navy
uniform fleeing the area.”
“Are you sending one of us to investigate?”
“No, Colonel, the office in San Diego will take care of it. Commander, can you
confirm your whereabouts around 2200 Pacific time Saturday evening?”
“I beg your pardon, Sir? You do not think that I am some how involved?”
“Sir, Commander Rabb went to La Jolla to see his mother.”
“Why would I assault Lieutenant Singer?”
“I don’t know. Until twenty minutes ago, I would not have had a thought about
it.”
“But?”
“But, Colonel, the Lieutenant’s cell phone records show a series of short phone
calls from Commander Rabb’s cell phone on Friday and Saturday. One, lasting five
minutes, just thirty minutes before the assault.”
“Sir, I believe that the baby that Lieutenant Singer is carrying is my
brother’s. I have been trying to convince her to not give the baby up for
adoption.”
“And how did you get her unlisted cell phone number?”
“Tiner left it lay on his desk.”
“And you stole it!” Mac was looking at her partner like he was crazy.
“And your suspicions about the parentage of Singer’s baby. Is that why you
assaulted Singer a few weeks ago in Benzinger’s Bar?”
“I beg your pardon, Sir?”
“I received an anonymous e-mail a few minutes ago reporting an incident where
you verbally and physically abused Singer just before she left on maternity
leave.”
Mac was about ready to walk out. “Sir, I just cannot imagine the Commander doing
that.” Years of her own abuse got the best of her, however. “You didn’t, did
you?”
Harm’s heart almost broke in half as he looked at his partner. “No. I was a
little irritated with her over her lack of caring about herself and her baby. I
may have raised my voice. I grabbed her arm when she tried to leave, but I did
not physically or verbally abuse her.”
The Admiral stared at the two senior officers across the desk. “I want to
believe that. But, until the investigation is over, Harm, you are relieved of
duty. Mac, you will oversee the San Diego office’s investigation from here.”
Both officers jumped to attention, snapped off a salute and exited the office.
Harm made a beeline to his office. He wanted to get out before too many people
stared at him. Imagine people thinking he was a women-beater. What was worse was
that Mac, no matter how briefly, had also thought it. “Harm?” Slowly, Harm
looked up from his desk at his partner. “We need to talk about this.”
“I didn’t do it, Sarah.”
Mac paused for a moment at the use of her first name. “I know. I am sorry I
questioned you. Please come to dinner at my apartment tonight. 1800?”
“Sure.”
Mac’s Apartment
Georgetown
1751 ET Monday
Mac was shocked at the knock on the door. Could her Flyboy possibly be early for
something? “Harm!”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“No. Just you, later.”
“I was going stir crazy. And this is just day one.”
“Harm, why didn’t you tell me what was going on with Singer?”
“Nothing is going on.”
“I mean about the baby.”
“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to drag you down in another one of my
obsessions.”
“Harm, we are best friends. That is what I am here for, to follow you into your
obsessions.”
Harm smiled at Mac and sighed. “I didn’t realize it was an obsession until this
afternoon. That incident in the bar? The one thing I clearly remember telling
her was that I would not let another Rabb grow up without a father. My mother
said that I am compensating for my own childhood.”
Mac stared at him. “So that is what you went to California for, to talk to your
mom about Sergei?”
“Yeah. She thinks I am crazy.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to adopt Singer’s baby.”
“What? Harm, less than a week ago, you were worried about the possibility that I
might want to up the timetable on the baby deal. Now you want to adopt a
newborn?”
“I wasn’t worried about it. It was just something added to an already crowded
plate.”
“Right. Harm, have you thought this plan through? What family court is going to
give you a baby? You are a 39-year old bachelor who cannot decide on a career,
never mind the fact that the potential choices of a career are all equally
dangerous.”
“I know. My mother pointed that out to me. Thank you.”
“Harm, I think your mom is right. You are trying to compensate for your
childhood, for your father’s childhood.”
“Is that so wrong? I think Sergei has a right to know he has a child.”
“What does that have to do with you adopting this child?”
“Well, I can’t very well call him up and say ‘Hey, Brother you have an
illegitimate child in California.’ I am trying to respect Singer, but I do not
want Sergei to never have the chance to know his child and that will happen if
the child is shipped into the adoption system. I do not want to never have a
chance to know my niece or nephew.” The last statement was uttered so quietly,
Mac hardly heard him.
Mac sighed and stared at Harm. She did not know how to fix this. All she knew
was she had to stand by his side. It was crazy, but she knew she needed to
protect him from his obsessions. This time it seemed that the only way to
protect him was to indulge him. “Okay. Well, let’s see where this goes.”
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
1326 ET Wednesday
Harm walked through the doors of the bullpen with a sense of dread. He really
was not supposed to be there, but the Admiral was allowing him some
administrative duties. He wanted to be cleared of suspicion so that he could
travel to San Diego to see Loren. She was still in a coma. He was worried about
the baby. He hated to admit it, but in a small way, he was worried about Loren.
Just as he sat down in his office Mac came around the corner. “Harm, the Admiral
wants to see both of us in his office.”
“Sure.” Harm and Mac made the way into their CO’s office. “Commander Rabb and
Colonel Mackenzie reporting as ordered, Sir.”
“Have a seat. Commander, the convening authority in San Diego is charging you
with aggravated assault on Lieutenant Singer.”
“But, Sir, I ….”
“I believe you Harm, but we are going to have to do this by the book. Colonel,
you will represent Harm at an Article 32 hearing next week.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Harm, cooperate with the Colonel. Do not give her a hard time.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Dismissed.”
Harm and Mac walked out of the Admiral’s office and into Harm’s office. “I am
going home, Mac.”
“Harm, I need you to help me with your defense.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“I know that. So how are we going to prove it?”
“We can’t. I left my Mom’s house at about 2100 and went for a run. I ran until
close to 2400. No one saw me and when I returned home Mom and Frank were
asleep.”
“Did your Mom see you leave the house?”
“Yeah.”
“And you weren’t in uniform?”
“No.”
“Well the man who assaulted Singer was in uniform.”
“So? I could have changed. My mother is not a credible witness anyway. She is
biased as my mother.”
“Harm, do you want to be cleared of these charges or not? You have no chance of
helping Loren’s baby if you are in Leavenworth.”
Harm stared at his partner and sighed. “I guess.”
“Then think. There has to be something. You really ran three hours? What about
the call to Loren’s phone at 2130?”
“I started out walking on the beach. At 2130 I called Loren. We fought about the
baby. She said it was not Sergei’s. I told her it did not matter, that I still
want to adopt the baby. She said that she would never give up her baby to a
self-righteous aviator and she hung up. After that, I started running. I ran
from Mom’s house about five miles to her gallery and back. By then, it was about
2330. I walked on the beach again for about an hour and then came in the house.”
Mac stared at Harm. “How far are you from San Diego? Could you have gotten to
the parking lot if you did not leave La Jolla until 2100? Can’t your mother
confirm that your car was in the driveway the whole evening?”
“It would be close, but yes I could have been in San Diego. I doubt my mother
looked in the driveway that evening.”
“But we could ask.” Mac picked up the phone and started dialing Trish’s number.
“You have Mom’s number memorized?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Flyboy. It is in this file.”
“Oh.”
“It’s ringing.”
“You talk to her.”
“She’s your mother, Harm. She… Oh Mrs. Burnett? This is Lieutenant Colonel Sarah
Mackenzie of the JAG Corps.” As Mac began to speak to Harm’s mother she put her
on speakerphone.
“Mac, don’t be so formal with me. With everything that my son has told me about
you, I feel like we are family. Call me Trish, or maybe mom.”
“Mom! You are on speakerphone.”
“Oh. Hello, Harmon.”
Harm cringed at the use of his full name. “Hello, Mom.”
“Trish, Harm has been charged with aggravated assault on another officer.”
“Oh my God. What happened? It wasn’t that Australian officer you were engaged to
was it?”
“Mom! I did not assault her. It is a set up or a misunderstanding or something.”
“Her? Are we talking about that woman that Sergei was involved with?”
“Unfortunately, Trish, yes.”
“Is she okay?”
“She is in a coma, but the baby is fine.”
“Well, I will help in anyway I can.”
“Thanks, Trish.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I will be on the next flight to DC. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Harm, we are going to get through this.”
“I know. You haven’t let me down yet.”
Harm smiled at Mac and she smiled back. “Back at you, Flyboy. Now what about the
anonymous e-mail? The Admiral got it before anyone knew about the case except
the JAG office in San Diego. No one there could have seen you in Benzinger’s.”
“No. It almost would have to have been someone in this office.”
“But who knows about the investigations before us besides the Admiral?”
Harm stared at Mac. “Tiner.” Harm and Mac made their way from his office to
Tiner’s desk. “Tiner, did you take the wire traffic on the assault of Lieutenant
Singer to the Admiral on Monday?”
Tiner looked up at the two officers. “I guess so. No, wait. My sister called to
tell me that she was pregnant. Petty Officer Coates got the traffic for me and
gave it to the Admiral.”
Mac looked at Harm and turned on her heel. “Thank you, Tiner.”
“Mac, slow down. I saved her from court martial. I don’t think she would do
this.”
“She is young, Harm. She probably thinks she was protecting Singer. Petty
Officer Coates, can Commander Rabb and I see you in his office?”
“Yes, Ma’am?”
“Petty Officer, did you send an anonymous e-mail to the Admiral regarding an
incident you witnessed in Benzinger’s Bar before Lieutenant Singer went on
maternity leave?” Harm stood stark still, choosing to stay out of this line of
questioning.
“Maybe.”
“Petty Officer, could you have misunderstood the situation?”
“Ma’am, I feel that I am being coerced.”
“It is not coercion. It is a question. Could what you witnessed have been a
heated argument and not an assault?”
“I suppose.”
“Thank you, Petty Officer.”
JAG Courtroom
Falls Church, VA
0942 ET Monday
“Commander Turner, do you have any other evidence to present on behalf of the
government?”
“No, Sir.”
“Colonel Mackenzie, would you like to begin your defense?”
“Yes, Sir. Before I begin my defense, I wish to make a motion to dismiss the
charges against Commander Rabb due to a lack of evidence. Commander Turner has
failed to produce any evidence that links Commander Rabb with the crime.”
“Sir, we would like to see the defense try to prove that the Commander was not
there.”
“Colonel, I agree with Commander Turner. Let’s hear your evidence before we make
any decisions. Since Lieutenant Singer cannot testify on her own behalf, we must
make every effort to see that justice is served.”
“Yes, Sir. The defense calls Patricia Burnett to the stand.”
Mac’s Apartment
Georgetown
1821 ET Monday
“Harm, you have to be confident. Mac did a good job with your defense.”
Harm was sitting on Mac’s couch staring at his mother and best friend. “I know.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“I am worried about Loren’s baby.”
Trish and Mac stared at each other. Neither one could fathom that Harm, who has
always feared commitment so, was so committed to this baby. “Harm, the doctor
said everything was fine.”
“I know, Mac, but I did not assault her, so who did?”
“Once we clear you of these charges, we will figure that out.”
Harm sighed and nodded.
JAG Courtroom
Falls Church, VA
1348 ET Tuesday
“After much thought and deliberation, it is my professional opinion that there
is not enough evidence to send Commander Rabb’s case to court martial. I will
forward my decision to San Diego for dismissal of the charges.”
Harm let go of the breath he was unconsciously holding. He felt Mac’s hand brush
his own. “Thank you, Mac.”
“Your welcome, Flyboy. Let’s go talk to the Admiral about heading to San Diego.”
“I’ll go. You finish the paperwork.”
“I should make you do your own paperwork.”
“You should, but you won’t.”
“Confident, huh?”
“Always.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
1407 PT Wednesday
“So Mac is going to kill me,” Harm thought. “I need to do this alone.” He stood
outside Loren’s hospital room and watched her. She looked so peaceful, almost
beautiful in her pregnant state. Harm paused momentarily to imagine what Mac
would look like pregnant with his child. “Easy, Boy,” he thought.
“Excuse me, Sir. Are you family?” A very petite nurse approached him.
“No, Ma’am. I am a friend. I am trying to find out who assaulted her.”
“I hope you do, Sir.”
“I hope so, too.”
JAG Ops
San Diego, CA
1600 PT Wednesday
“I am Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. and I am taking over the Singer investigation.”
“But you were implicated in the crime.”
“And cleared. I have orders from the JAG, if you would like to call him.”
“No, Sir.”
“I want Lieutenant Singer’s phone records, credit card statements, whatever you
can get.”
“Yes, Sir.”
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0803 ET Wednesday
“He’s WHERE?”
“Ma’am, the Commander is on his way to San Diego on the Admiral’s orders.”
“ALONE?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“I want to speak to the Admiral, now.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Just then the Admiral exited his office, hearing his Chief of Staff’s yelling.
“Colonel, in my office now.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Commander Rabb came to me yesterday afternoon and asked to be placed in charge
of the continuing investigation of Lieutenant Singer’s assault. He seemed set,
so I agreed.”
“But, Sir! I do not think you should have sent him alone.”
“Neither do I, but he insisted on it.”
“Sir, this is just like all the trips to Russia. It is an obsession. He needs
backup.”
“He was very specific, Colonel. But if I were to give you leave, starting on
Friday, I could not control what you did with that time.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
0926 PT Thursday
“Doctor, can I ask you a question?”
“Certainly, Commander, but if it is about when the Lieutenant might wake up, I
can’t answer that.”
“No, this is more of a genetics question, regarding the paternity of the
Lieutenant’s baby.”
“Yes.”
“Is it possible to determine with some degree of certainty the paternity of a
baby by comparing the blood of the baby and the brother of the father of the
baby?.”
“I suppose.”
“Even if the brothers only share one parent.”
“Maybe. Why? You know that no paternity test can be done without the
Lieutenant’s permission.”
“Or a court order. Thank you.”
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
1325 ET Thursday
“How exactly am I supposed to get a court order for that, Commander?”
“If Sergei is not the father, then we need to be looking at other possible
fathers as suspects.”
“It’s a stretch.”
“Thank you, Admiral.”
JAG Ops
San Diego, CA
1015 PT Thursday
“Sir, we have detected a pattern of unanswered calls on the Lieutenant’s cell
phone from a Navy Petty Officer named Malcolm Teller.”
“Somebody go pick him up for questioning. Somebody else get me his service
record.”
“Aye, Sir.”
“Sir, you have a fax from Admiral Chegwidden.”
“I will be back in an hour. Keep Teller here.”
“Aye, Sir.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
1103 PT Thursday
“Doctor, I have a court order demanding the testing of the paternity of
Lieutenant Singer’s baby.”
“And I suppose you are the brother whose blood we are comparing with.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Whatever. The nurse will take a sample. We will not have results until
tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
JAG Ops
San Diego, CA
1209 PT Thursday
“Petty Officer Teller is in the conference room, Sir.”
“Thank you, Ensign. Did someone get his service record?”
“Right here, Sir.”
“Thank you.” Harm sat down to read the service record. It was pretty boring. A
mention here and there of problems with women, but nothing suspicious. Then Harm
found it, a letter of reprimand for assaulting his wife in a bar in Sacramento.
He flipped to the Petty Officer’s personal information and the pieces all fell
together. Teller had one marriage, ended in divorce after an assault charge.
Teller’s wife was also in the Navy, one Loren Singer. He dashed off to the
conference room. “Petty Officer Teller, can you account for your whereabouts two
Saturdays ago at about 2200 hours?”
“Um….”
“What is your relationship to Lieutenant Loren Singer?”
“She is my ex-wife.”
“Did you assault her several years ago?”
“I grabbed her a little roughly in a bar. A Commander sitting nearby didn’t take
too kindly to it.”
“Is that why she divorced you?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you assaulted her again two weeks ago?”
“I didn’t!”
“We have phone records, witnesses, come on Petty Officer.”
“Okay. I had been calling her for days and she would not answer. Finally she did
and I got her to agree to meet me to talk. I wanted to apologize to her. See,
the source of our arguments was our future. I wanted kids, she didn’t. She told
me she couldn’t have any. I wanted to adopt. She said no. Imagine my surprise
after all these years when I encountered a very pregnant Loren Singer.”
“So you beat her within an inch of her life?”
“I didn’t mean to. She just pissed me off.”
Harm shook his head. “You are under arrest for aggravated assault of a Naval
Officer.”
Harm’s Hotel Room
San Diego, CA
0204 PT Friday
“Why the hell is the phone ringing,” he thought. “Rabb.”
“Commander Rabb, this is San Diego Memorial Hospital. Lieutenant Singer is
beginning to wake up.”
Harm sat straight up in bed. “I will be right there.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
0235 PT Friday
“How is she, Doctor?”
“Disoriented. Give her a little time to come around.”
US Airways Flight 502
Somewhere over the Midwest
0705 ET Friday
“Marriot, San Diego.”
“Please connect me with Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr.’s room.”
“The Commander left for the hospital about forty minutes ago.”
“Thank you.”
Mac sighed. “I do not want to play cat and mouse with him today.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
0429 PT Friday
“Commander, she is sleeping, but you may sit with her if you like.”
“Did you get the results of the blood tests?”
“I will call and see.”
“Thank you.” Harm went in to sit with Loren. He took her hand and smiled at her.
“Loren, we caught the man who did this to you. We care about you, Loren. We want
to help you and this baby. Loren, I don’t want to pressure you, but I come from
a family where sons grow up without their fathers. I don’t want that to happen
to your baby. If Sergei is the father of the baby, you need to tell him.”
“Commander Rabb? I have the test results.”
Harm stepped outside with the doctor. “Well?”
“You know that without your brother’s blood, I cannot prove this one hundred
percent, but there are common DNA markers in your blood and that of the baby
that Lieutenant Singer is carrying. It is likely that your brother is the
father.”
“Thank you.” Harm went back into Singer’s room. He was quiet for a while and
then he started to speak. “Loren, you need to tell Sergei. He deserves to know.”
“He… he is not interested.”
“Loren!”
“After I got here I thought about what you said about another Rabb growing up
without his father. I called Sergei. I tried to let him know, but he was telling
me how great his life was, that he was going into the Russian Army again. He has
no more room in his life for a baby than I do. Why are you here?”
“Then let me raise your baby Loren. It is my niece or nephew.”
“Why are you here?”
“I came to investigate your beating.”
“My ex-husband did it.”
“I know. We have him in custody. But not until I went through an Article 32
hearing.”
“Why you?”
“Tall naval officer beats you, all those calls I made to you, I was running in
La Jolla alone when it happened, someone saw us in Benzinger’s last month.”
“Oh.”
“Commander, I appreciate your offer to raise my baby, but I think it would be
easier if I just put him up for adoption out here where I do not have to see him
again.”
“Him?”
“Yeah, him.”
“Loren, what if the Admiral could get you orders out of the country.”
“But I would always know where my son was.”
“And maybe someday you would want to see him again.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please, Loren.”
“Let me think about it.”
“I will be back.”
San Diego International Airport
San Diego, CA
0558 PT Friday
“Can you tell me if US Navy Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. is there with a patient
of yours named Lieutenant Loren Singer?”
“I will transfer you to that floor.”
“Fourth floor.”
“Can you tell me if US Navy Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. is there with a patient
of yours named Loren Singer?”
“There is a tall Naval officer here with Ms. Singer.”
“Thank you.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
0639 PT Friday
“Commander?”
“Loren, please call me Harm.”
“Harm, will you promise me to take good care of my son?”
“Of course.”
“I really think that it would be best if Sergei could one day have access to his
son. You promise not to follow the path of the Rabbs and leave him an orphan?”
“I promise. I will love him and take care of him as if he were my own son.”
“He really should grow up in a household with two parents.”
“He will be surrounded by all the JAG Family. The Admiral, Bud, Harriet, Mac….”
“Yeah, I guess. Draw up the paperwork.”
“Thank you, Loren.”
“Yeah.”
Harm walked out into the hallway. He glanced at his watch. It was twenty minutes
to eleven in DC. He dialed a familiar number. “Tiner, can I speak to the
Colonel?”
“She is on leave for the weekend, Sir.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Harm disconnected the phone call and dialed another number.
“Wade Associates.”
“This Commander Harmon Rabb. May I speak to Allen Wade?”
“Allen Wade.”
“Allen, its Harm.”
“Harm! How are you? Haven’t spoken to you since the Wetzel case.”
“It’s been a long time. I need some advice about an adoption matter.”
“Sure.”
“What are the chances of a family court judge giving a 39-year old bachelor who
is a decorated officer in the US Navy custody of a baby? He has an apartment
that he has owned for nine years, has been in the same job for about the same
amount of time, despite a short stint on carrier duty, and has a stable support
system around him. The mother of the baby has agreed to the adoption and the
officer is the biological uncle of the baby.”
“Harm, since when do you have a sibling whose baby you could adopt?”
“It’s a long story. What are the chances?”
“Harm, you are not exactly the typical lawyer. I cannot imagine a family court
giving a man who just played tag with a forty million dollar aircraft and a
nuclear warhead a newborn baby.”
“What if I resigned my commission? Took a job in civil law?”
“You are still a 39-year old man on his own.”
“What if I got married?”
“To who? It doesn’t matter. A quickie wedding will not be looked on favorably.”
“What if the person adopting the baby was a 34-year old single female who is a
Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps? She is a recovering alcoholic, but has
be sober for 15-years, except for one slip. She is a JAG lawyer. She has lived
in the same apartment for seven years and has been with JAG for eleven years.
She is the Chief of Staff to the Judge Advocate General of the United States
Navy.”
“Are we talking about your partner?”
“Yeah.”
“A single female has more of a chance than a single man. What kind of support
system would she have?”
“Same as I. The JAG Family.”
“And you?”
“Of course me. I am the baby’s uncle.”
“If the mother of the baby agrees, it would be likely that you could get that
adoption approved.”
“Thanks, Allen.”
“Sure Harm. Good luck.”
“Anybody interesting on the phone, Flyboy?”
“Mac! What are you doing here? I told the Admiral I wanted to do this alone.”
“And I went on leave and ended up in San Diego. What a coincidence.”
“I told you that I didn’t want to drag you into my obsessions.”
“And I told you that I was going to help you, Harm.”
“I found the man that assaulted Loren.”
“I know, I saw the wire traffic late yesterday.”
“Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“That’s why I am here.”
Mercer’s Grill
San Diego, CA
0731 PT Friday
“Two coffees please. Mac, I have been talking to Loren.”
“How did the blood test turn out?”
“You know about that?”
“Never underestimate the power of a Marine.”
“Who is the Admiral’s Chief of Staff?”
“It helped a little.”
“The doctors are ninety-nine percent sure the baby is Sergei’s. Loren confirmed
it.”
“Harm, you need to let her be.”
“I know.”
Mac reached her had across the table and rubbed the back of Harm’s hand.
“Someone will love that baby.”
“I know. Mac….”
“Can we let the obsession go for a little while?”
“What do you suggest?”
“That you go change and we visit your mom.”
“You are a masochist.”
“I know.”
Frank and Trish Burnett’s Home
La Jolla, CA
0926 PT Friday
“Mom is at the gallery and Frank is at work. They will be home this afternoon.”
“That’s okay. I just wanted to go somewhere where I thought you would relax.”
“Want to walk on the beach?”
“Sure.” Harm and Mac walked in companionable silence down to the beach. “Penny
for your thoughts, Sailor.”
“I wasn’t really thinking about anything. Just enjoying the company.” They
continued walking and Mac’s hand slipped into Harm’s. Neither was sure how it
happened, but it felt right. “Mac, can I ask you something?”
“How long have we been friends? You know you can ask me anything, Harm.”
“Well this is a little different than ‘do you want to work on a case together.’”
“Try me. You might be surprised at the answer, Flyboy.”
Harm stopped walking and turned to look at Mac. He held both her hands in his
and smiled at her. “What I want to ask you is…. Well, would you consider upping
the timetable on our deal?”
Mac stared at Harm, in shock. “Harm, I don’t think it is fair to our children to
use them as compensation for what you cannot fix with Loren.”
Harm was staring at Mac. “Our children? Did Mac just say ‘our children,’
plural?” Harm’s mind was reeling. “That wasn’t what I had in mind.”
“Then what? Why else would you suddenly want children?”
Harm was still starting at her. “Maybe because I love you,” he thought. “Where
the hell did that come from?”
“Hmm?”
“Sorry. Talking to myself. Actually, what I had in mind was a little different
from the original deal. We can work on the original deal in another year.”
“Harm, what are you babbling about?”
“Sarah, what I am asking you is…. Will you adopt my nephew?”
“Excuse me?”
“Will you adopt Singer’s baby, my nephew?”
“Are you nuts? What happened to you adopting him?”
“Come on, Mac. No one is going to give me a newborn. You, they might.”
“Harm, I am a recovering alcoholic.”
“Who has been sober for fifteen years.”
“Except for that slip when Dalton died.”
“Which you bounced back from. You have faced a lot worse since then and have
stayed sober. You are wonderful with Chloe. The only real question is if you are
willing to do this for me?”
“Harm…. I don’t know if I can handle a newborn alone.”
“You won’t be alone. I will be there. I just can’t adopt him.”
“Sure, I bet the Admiral would be thrilled with that. ‘Hey, guess what, Sir? We
just picked up a baby. Your two senior officers are going to play house.’ That
will go over real big.”
“I think he would understand.”
“And how long are you going to be there to help me, until another blond bimbo
strolls into your life? This can’t be me being evil mom who is there everyday
and you being fun dad that comes over on weekends.”
“Mac, I will be there whenever you need me. I will be bad cop whenever you want
me to be. What do you want, a marriage proposal? The lawyer I spoke to thought
that a family court would be suspicious of that.”
Mac stared at Harm. She didn’t know if she should smack him or hug him. She
could not believe that he had looked at this from so many angles. Her face
softened “You really care about this baby, don’t you?”
Harm sighed. “Yes, Mac. I do. I know it sounds like an obsession, but I do not
want another Rabb boy to grow up without a father. My father did, I did, and
Sergei did. It should not happen again.”
Mac put her arms around Harm. “Harm, we will do whatever it takes to make sure
Singer’s baby is taken care of.”
“I got her to agree to let me adopt him.”
“How?”
“She said that she realized that another Rabb should not grow up without a
father, but Sergei was not ready for a son. She wants me to take care of him. I
need you to help me with that, Sarah.”
Mac stared at Harm. She wasn’t sure how this would ever work out, but she knew
she had to help him. Slowly she felt herself being pulled into his obsession,
but she could not resist. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Let’s go talk to Loren.”
“Okay.”
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
1326 PT Friday
Harm and Mac stepped out of the elevator on the fourth floor and walked briskly
to Loren’s room. “I can’t believe I agreed to adopt the spawn of the she-devil.”
“Hey! That’s my nephew you are talking about!”
“Great so this baby is the mix of Loren’s bitch genes and Rabb crazy genes.”
“Mac….”
“Sorry.”
“Commander, Colonel.”
“Hello, Loren.”
“Good afternoon, Lieutenant.”
“I did not know you were in San Diego, Colonel.”
“I just arrived this morning.”
“Oh. Did you draw up the papers, Commander?”
“Did I not tell you to call me Harm? I did draw up the papers, but I wanted to
talk to you about something.”
“What? Did you change your mind?” Loren looked shattered and Harm couldn’t help
but wonder how she could run so hot and cold.
“Well, I didn’t exactly change my mind, I amended the plan. How would you feel
about the Colonel adopting your son?”
“Oh. I… I don’t know.”
“Loren, the thing is that while I intend to shape up, I have not been exactly a
stable influence over the years. It is more likely that a family court would
agree to Mac as a suitable parent. I will still be there. We are going to raise
this child together, but I think it would be the best situation for all if Mac
adopts the baby.”
“I guess. Colonel, you will take care of my son?”
“Yes, Loren. We both will love him as if he were our own son.” Mac glanced at
Harm. “Our own son,” she thought. “I hope someday he will still make good on
that deal, too.”
Harm was watching Mac. Silently he thought, “This doesn’t change anything. We
will have our own son, too.”
“Well, then I will sign the papers.” Harm pulled the documents from his
briefcase and handed them to Loren. She read them over and signed at the bottom.
“Congratulations, Sir, Ma’am. It’s a boy.”
Harm glanced at Mac. He thought he saw tears in her eyes and hoped they were
happy tears. “Loren, thank you. You are doing the right thing. Good luck with
the rest of your pregnancy. Here is my business card and Mac’s. Call one of us
as soon as you are ready for us. We can take leave and come before your due date
or after you deliver, whichever you prefer.”
“Thank you, Harm.”
Frank and Trish Burnett’s Home
La Jolla, CA
1559 PT Friday
Harm and Mac were sitting on the deck soaking up the sun when Trish and Frank
came home. “Harm, is that your rental car out front?”
“Yeah, Mom. We are out here on the deck.”
“We? Who is…? Oh, hello Mac.
“Hello, Trish.” Mac stood up as Frank walked out onto the deck. “You must be Mr.
Burnett.”
“Please, Mac, call me Frank. I feel like we are family.”
“Actually, that is why Mac and I are here.”
Trish’s eyes beamed. “You two are getting married?”
Mac almost choked on her iced tea. That was the second time today that someone
had so casually suggested that. Harm rubbed her back gently as he stared at his
mother. “No.”
“Oh. You’re dating?” Trish seemed so hopeful.
Harm swallowed hard. He hoped that they might start dating, but with a baby on
the way, that might be impossible. “Not right now.”
Mac was staring at Harm intently. “What does that mean,” she wondered.
“Well what then?”
“We are going to have a baby.”
Mac choked again, almost spitting the iced tea across the deck. She and Harm had
talked about how they were going to tell people and that was not it.
“HARMON THEODORE RABB, JR.! ARE YOU INSANE?”
“No.”
“You two aren’t dating and aren’t getting married, but you are going to have a
baby? I raised you better than that Harmon Rabb, Jr.!”
“Now’s not a good time to tell her about Mac and my deal to go halves on a kid,”
Harm thought. “Mom, you misunderstand.”
“What is to misunderstand? I can’t believe that Mac is going to let you get away
with this. I may kick your ass for her.”
“Mom!”
Mac was trying not to laugh. “Trish, I am not pregnant. We are going to adopt a
baby. Or more precisely, I am. Harm is going to help me raise him.”
Trish narrowed her eyes at the two in front of her. “This baby in question,
Harmon, would not happen to be your half niece or nephew would it?
“Actually, yes.”
Trish rolled her eyes. “I knew my son was crazy, but I did not think that you
were as well, Mac.”
Mac tried to smile calmingly at Trish. “Can I talk to you in private for a
moment, Trish?”
“I suppose.”
“Trish, I know this seems crazy to you. Believe me, it seems crazy to me, too,
but if you had heard Harm when he asked me, I could not say no. He loves that
baby and he does not even know him. He would do anything for his nephew. I am
going into this with my eyes wide open. I know this is an obsession, but I think
this might be a healthy obsession. By the time Loren signed the papers today, I
was in love with that baby, too. It is Harm’s nephew, so I could do nothing less
than love him.”
“When you say him, do you mean the baby, or my son?”
Mac stared at Trish and knew she had to tell the woman the truth. “Both.”
“Mac, Harm is going to hurt you. You are going to get stuck with this baby,
while he runs around.”
“I thought that, too. But, I think he is going to be different now. Trish, he
offered to marry me if that was what I wanted. I know that sounds like
entrapment, but I know deep in my heart that he loves me and over time all the
wrinkles will work out.”
Trish sighed. She was sure that Mac was being slightly naïve about Harm, but she
also knew that the Marine was as hardheaded as her son. “Promise me you will let
me know if you or that baby ever need anything?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, you better start calling me Mom.”
Mac smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, Mom.”
“HARMON RABB, GET YOUR SIX IN HERE. Mac, I need to talk to my son. Don’t worry,
I will keep your secret.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Harm stopped in his tracks as he heard Mac call Trish mom. He smiled at the two
most important women in his life, disregarding Grandma Rabb for the moment.
“Yes, Mom?”
“Don’t ‘yes, mom’ me. Sit.” Harm sat down heavily. “Do you love her?”
“Mom?”
“Just tell me.”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you asked her to adopt your nephew?”
“Partly, but also because I know she will be a good mother and take care of
him.”
“And besides that, she will put up with you.”
“I guess so.”
“Harm, don’t hurt her.”
“I would never hurt Mac, Mom.”
“Not intentionally, but you need to be careful.”
“Mom.”
“Harm, listen, this is going to be hard. You can’t just play house a few hours a
day with Mac. There is another person to consider now. You have to be there
whenever she needs you. You aren’t going to live the bachelor lifestyle
anymore.”
“I know that, Mom. This is what I want. I offered to marry her.”
“I know. She told me. Kind of callous, don’t you think?”
“I guess it probably seemed like a part of the negotiations.”
“Someday rethink that question and ask her right, Son. You two love each other
and belong together. And I want to see that grandson of mine!”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Know go take her out to dinner.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0847 ET Monday
“You are adopting whose baby?”
“Lieutenant Singer’s, Sir.”
“Why?”
“Because she agreed to allow Harm to raise his nephew, but a family court judge
will never give him custody.”
“Agreed.”
Harm scowled. “Thank you, Sir.”
“Anyway. Harm and I feel this is the best way to do this.”
“I don’t know what fraternization rules say about my two senior officers raising
a child together.”
“Sir, if we need to change things, I will transfer to the Hill.”
“I am sure that Congresswoman Latham would be glad to have you, Commander. Are
there other personal issues involved that I should be aware of?”
Harm and Mac looked at each other and spoke at the same time. “Not at this time,
Sir.”
“Are you two going to be living together?”
“We haven’t discussed it.”
“Well, Commander, I think you better take the Colonel and discuss things like
that. I also suggest that you two make a trip downstairs to speak to a JAGman
with family court experience. If only Mac adopts the baby and you two do not
marry, I am not sure what kind of benefits the baby can get from you,
Commander.”
“Understood, Sir.”
“Dismissed.”
“Aye-aye, Sir.”
Harm and Mac walked into Mac’s office. “Well Dad, we have a lot of decisions to
make.”
“Yes, Momma, we do.”
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
1206 ET Monday
“Mac, I have read all this stuff the lieutenant downstairs gave us. As far as I
can tell, it is my right to make anyone I wish the benefactor to my insurance
policies and pension. Therefore, all I have to do is rewrite my will to leave
everything to our son, with you as the trustee.”
“Harm, can I ask you something?”
“I guess.”
“How can you go from having such an undying fear of commitment to walking around
here calling Singer’s baby ‘our son’ in such a short period of time?”
Harm narrowed his eyes. “Because he is going to be our son. At least I thought
that was what you wanted. We can’t go around calling him Singer’s son while we
are raising him, but if you want me to call him ‘your son’ that is fine.”
Mac could see Harm’s heart break at the mention of ‘your son.’ “I just asked. If
you are going to help me raise him, then he is just as much your son as mine. I
actually wanted to ask you about that, too.”
“I told you I would be there whenever you need me. What are your thoughts on
Chegwidden’s suggestion that we move in together? It seems that it would be
easier.”
Mac shook her head at Harm. “For whom? Harm, neither one of our apartments is
big enough to accommodate both of us and the baby.”
“So we look for another place.”
Mac could not believe that her commitment-freak partner was so easily suggesting
this. “Let’s just see what happens. For now, I will keep the baby in my
apartment and you can come by whenever you want.”
“Mac, that burdens you with all the late night feedings and changings. What
about when he is sick?”
“Then I will call your ass up and get you over to my apartment to help.”
“Okay. Well, as for the health insurance, as far as I can tell, if I am not the
adoptive father, I will have to pay an additional premium to have him covered,
but I can do that since he is my nephew.”
“He is your son.”
“Not to the Navy.”
“We have the same health insurance anyway. What difference does it make which
policy he is covered under?”
“He would be better covered if he has both parent’s policies to fall back on.
What if, God forbid, something traumatic would happen to him? When he hit the
cap on catastrophic claims on my policy, he would revert to yours.”
“I guess. Harm…?”
“Yes, Dear.” Harm silently chided himself, “I didn’t mean to say that.”
Mac stared at him. “I should drop him on his six, but damn him, I like it,” she
thought. “We are going to need to talk to the Admiral about working
arrangements. We can’t go on investigations together anymore. Whenever one of us
is away, the other needs to be able to stay in DC.”
“That is why I wanted to transfer to Bobbi’s office. I would be in Washington
all the time, but when Congress was in recess, I could always assist at JAG. And
if….”
Mac was already cringing at the idea of Harm leaving JAG. “And if what?”
“Nothing.” Harm silently thought to himself, “No need to tell her that working
on the Hill allows her and I so many more options in our personal life.”
“Harm, I cannot ask you to leave JAG.”
“Why? It was my idea to adopt the baby. I should be the one to leave JAG.”
Mac just nodded her head. “I guess if he is on the Hill, it makes it easier for
us if playing house turns into more than playing,” she thought.
“Besides that, when you become the JAG, it will show Loren that she could have
raised a baby and stayed successful.”
“Maybe not on her own. I have you to support me.”
“Always.” Harm chose to break the moment before it could turn into anything
more. “Anything else we need to discuss right now?”
Mac mentally ran down the list of thoughts in her mind. She paused on the
subject she tried to broach earlier. “Harm, what are your thoughts on this
baby’s name?”
“I hadn’t thought about it. What about Matthew, for your Uncle Matt?”
“Or Peter for our grandfathers?”
“Matthew Peter?”
“I tend to prefer Peter Matthew.”
“I guess that settles it. Peter Matthew Mackenzie.”
Mac narrowed her eyes. She swallowed hard and wondered if she had presumed too
much. “I really was thinking about Peter Matthew Rabb.”
Harm looked at Mac with elation and fear. He had hoped, but knew that he could
not presume that Mac would give the baby his name. “Really?”
Mac giggled at Harm. “You’re funny. He is your nephew, your son. Of course he
should have your name.” Mac paused. “Harm, when… how are you going to tell
Sergei?”
“Out of respect to Loren, I cannot tell him until after we have custody of the
baby. It will not be easy. He already thought that I was trying to run his life.
Am I doing the wrong thing, Mac?”
Mac sighed. Here came the ethical questions. She had already played with them in
her mind on the flight home. In her mind she knew that Loren did not want the
baby because it would slow down her Naval career. Sergei is only twenty-two
years old. He was in no way prepared to take care of a baby. But was that a
reason to not tell him? Mac reached for Harm’s hand and squeezed it. “What we
are doing, it is the best for Peter. It may not be the best for Sergei, but
someday he will understand why we did it.”
Harm smiled at Mac. “That is why you are going to be such a good mom.” Harm
kissed her forehead and got up. “You hungry?”
“Always.” Even as she answered, Harm was dialing for pizza.”
“Can I have a large half veggie lovers, half meat lovers deep dish? Yes,
Commander Rabb. Thank you.”
“We know each other too well.”
“That’s why we are going to make good parents.”
Mac smiled at Harm. In her heart of hearts, she knew this would work out. “So
when are you taking me shopping, Flyboy?”
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0912 ET Tuesday
“Commander, Colonel. The Admiral would like to see you.”
“Thank you, Tiner.” Harm and Mac walked to their CO’s office. After the pizza
yesterday, they had decided to tell the Admiral that it was best for all
involved if Harm left JAG. It was killing both of them a little, though they
knew in the end, it would work out better. “Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie
reporting as ordered, Sir.”
“Have a seat. I talked with some experts on the UCMJ. There seems to be no
regulations against two officers in the same chain of command raising an adopted
child together.”
Mac glanced at Harm. “Oh.”
“Sir, the Colonel and I have actually decided that it might be in Peter’s best
interest for me to transfer to Congresswoman Latham’s office.”
“Peter?”
“Our son, Sir.” Mac almost smiled as she said the words.
“Peter Matthew Rabb, Sir.”
“Oh. Are you sure about a transfer out of JAG, Commander?”
“No, but we feel it is in the best interest of Peter that I am always in
Washington.”
“What if I told you that I had already worked out transfers for you two that
kept you in JAG and in Washington?”
Mac looked shocked. “How, Sir?”
“Effective immediately, you are both transferred to the bench here at JAG
Headquarters. Captain Sebring is retiring to spend more time with his wife and
son. Captain Morris is being promoted to the federal bench here in Virginia. I
have recommended both of you for the vacant positions and you have been
accepted. It keeps you together in this office, which I think is probably better
for your son. Plus, the two of you will not sit on any cases together, so if at
some point….” The Admiral trailed off and let the two senior officers fill in
the blanks. “It will be Admiral’s privilege to keep you both here.”
Mac’s mouth was still hanging open. Harm desperately wanted to laugh at her.
“Thank you, Sir.”
“It is my pleasure, Harm. Let me know as soon as you know when you two need
leave to go to San Diego.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.” Harm gently touched Mac’s arm to get her to stand.
“And Colonel, if you need some extra leave time to get used to having a baby
around, let me know.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Oh, and Lieutenant Simms has been working to establish a daycare here. It
should be ready by the time Peter arrives.”
Harm glanced at Mac. He knew that she was too overwhelmed to speak. “Thank you,
Sir.”
The Admiral nodded and watched his two senior officers walk out.
3 months later
San Diego Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
2149 PT Saturday
“Harm, I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t know if I am ready to be a
mom.”
Harm stared at Mac. For three months they had been preparing for this moment and
now she was balking? “It’s a little late for that, Marine. You signed the
papers. In a little while, Peter is going to be here.”
Trish walked up behind the pair. “You two ready to be parents?”
Mac stared at Trish with mixed emotions. “I don’t know if I can be a good mom.”
Trish chuckled. “I said the same thing when I had Harm.”
Mac looked at Trish incredulously. “You, Mom?”
Harm smiled. “Yeah, her, Momma Mackenzie. You are going to be wonderful. I have
seen you with Chloe.”
“That is different than a newborn. I could really screw up a baby. I did not
grow up with a good influence.”
“But Harm did, Dear. That is why you two are in this together.” Trish smiled at
her son and the woman he knew would someday be her daughter-in-law.
“Mac, we are going to make it. We can do this.” Harm squeezed Mac’s hand.
She covered his hand with hers and smiled at him. “I know.”
“Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie?”
“Yes.”
“Are you ready to see your son?”
Mac swallowed and felt Harm squeeze her hand again. “Yes. Ma’am.”
“Right this way.”
“We will be here when you are ready to introduce us to our grandson, Harm.”
Trish and Frank smiled at them and Harm nodded.
The nurse led the pair down the hall to the nursery. She pointed to a rocking
chair, where Mac sat. Harm stood behind her as another nurse brought a tiny blue
bundle and handed it to Mac. There, cradled in her arms, was the most precious
little boy. He had dark brown hair, not quite as dark as Harm’s but darker than
Mac’s. Mac counted all his fingers and toes carefully. “He is beautiful, Harm.”
“Handsome. Perfect.” Just then, Peter stretched his arms up in a tiny baby yawn
and opened his eyes.
Mac gasped. “Harm, he has your eyes!” Piercing blue eyes with green flecks
stared curiously at the two adults above him.
“Well, I believe they are Sergei’s genes, but I guess that is what everyone will
think.” Just then Peter reached up toward Harm. Harm stretched out his hand and
Peter latched onto one finger. “Hi, Peter. How are you? We have been waiting a
long time to meet you. I’m you Daddy and this is your Momma.”
Mac felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was so incredibly happy. She could
not even imagine the moment she would have said no to the amazing man behind
her. She reached up with her free hand and stroked Harm’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“For what? It is me that should be thanking you.”
“For asking me to be the mother of your children.”
Harm looked at her and smiled. In all the euphoria, his mouth got away from him.
“This is just the beginning, Darling.”
Mac stared at him for a second and was about to respond when she heard Trish’s
voice coming down the hall. “Want to hold your son, Flyboy?”
Mac gently handed Peter to Harm just as Trish and Frank came into the nursery.
“Mom, Frank. Sarah and I would like to introduce you to your grandson, Peter
Matthew Rabb.”
“Oh, Harm, Mac. He is so beautiful. He has the Rabb eyes.” Trish peered at the
baby in her son’s arms.
“He is handsome, Harm, Mac.”
Mac smiled at Frank. “Thank you. Would you like to hold him, Mom?”
Trish beamed as she took her grandson into her arms.
Mac pulled Harm aside. “We should go see Loren.”
A nurse passing by glanced at Harm and Mac. “Ms. Singer asked me to give you the
adoption papers. She wishes to not see you. She said thank you for everything.”
Harm and Mac looked at each other and nodded. Neither one was sure if Loren had
done this because she loved Peter so much, or was afraid she might find out that
she loved him.
Two weeks later
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0826 ET Tuesday
“I had a great time last night, Sir. Thanks for inviting me along.”
“Sure, Bud.”
Mac scowled at Harm and Bud and stormed into her office. “Great time, indeed,”
she fumed.
“And how is my favorite Marine this morning? Is everything okay with Peter? He
looks a little sick this morning.”
“He is sick. While you were out having such a great time with Bud last night, I
was at home with your son, who was running a fever, and was almost as fussy as
his father.”
“Hey now, Mac. You could have called me.”
“Why should I have to call you to take care of your son?”
“Because you were the one who decided to live in separate apartments.”
“So?”
“So how do you expect me to help you take care of our son if I am across town?”
“Nobody told you not to visit.”
“Right because that is conducive to a good parental relationship. I come over
and visit.”
“Well, that wasn’t exactly what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean? Do you think I wanted to be out in a bar last night? I
would much rather spend every night helping you raise our son, but you have not
offered me that option, Sarah. I don’t know what more I can do for you, short of
demanding a custody arrangement or knocking down your door to get to Peter. The
idea of this was for us to raise him, but you have shut me out.”
Mac was staring at Harm blankly. In reality, she had shut him out. The first
days after they brought Peter home, he was attentive to her every need and had
offered to stay every night. Mac had always turned him down, fearing that she
might not be able to control herself around Harm when he was being so paternal.
After a week of asking to stay every night and her saying no, he just stopped
asking. “That was not my intention, Harm.”
Harm was furious, he wanted more than anything to help raise this child and she
would not let him. “Then what was your intention, Sarah?”
Mac walked around him and pushed the door shut. All of JAG did not need to hear
this conversation. “I don’t know. There are just a lot of changes for both of
us. Neither one of us is very good at change. Maybe it was easier to shut you
out then to have you stop caring all on your own.”
Harm stared at Mac for a second. “I told you I would not abandon you, Sarah.”
“Stop calling me Sarah!”
“Why?”
“Because before Peter, you never did.”
“So?”
“So, it implies something has changed.”
“Something has changed, Sarah. We have a son. You need to let me help you raise
him. I did not ask you to adopt him so that you raised him on your own. I love
Peter. I want to be involved in his life in every way possible. I am his father,
damnit!”
Mac sat down at her desk. “I’m sorry, Harm. I guess I am trying to protect
myself.”
“Protect yourself from what? We have been friends for like seven years. We have
covered each other’s six more times then I can count. And now you decide to
protect yourself? Sarah, I am not going to leave you or Peter.”
“How do I know that?”
Harm sat down heavily. He could not believe Mac had just said that to him. “When
have I ever let you down before? I love Peter and….”
Mac stared at Harm across her desk. She was afraid to ask him to finish that
sentence. “And what, Harm?”
Harm let out an exasperated sigh. How could they have gotten this far and she
not know what he was going to say.”
“And you, Sarah. And I love you.”
“Really? Like best friend love?”
Harm sighed again. If he was going to say it, he might as well go for broke.
“Like mother of my child love. Do you really think I was going to go through
with our baby deal if I did not love you?”
A tear came to Mac’s eye. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I did. On the Admiral’s porch.”
“No, you said that I would have someone who always loved me.”
Harm reached his hand across the desk to Mac. “Sarah, how could you not know
that I love you?”
“I think I always did, but it is nice to hear.”
Harm smiled at Mac and sighed. “I suppose it is.”
Mac smiled at Harm, catching his subtle meaning. She squeezed his hand and got
up to walk around the desk. She whispered into his ear, “I love you, too. Like
father of my children love.”
Harm looked up at her. “I know. And if you talk about our children, plural, one
more time, I am going to jump your bones right here, Marine.”
“Is that a threat, Squid?”
Harm stood and kissed her forehead. “More like a promise. So did you call a
doctor about Peter?”
“Yeah, she said lots of fluids, some children’s Tylenol, and if he is not better
tomorrow, call back.”
“Want some help tonight?”
“Yeah, and Harm, bring a sea bag. I might just let you stay.”
“Aye, Ma’am.”
Mac’s Apartment
Georgetown
1629 ET Tuesday
Mac opened the door to Harm. “I think we can skip with the formalities, Harm.
Your son lives here, you could just walk in.”
“I don’t want to startle you.” Harm kissed Mac gently on the lips and smiled.
Mac gasped slightly. “Don’t wan to startle me, huh?”
“Well, maybe a little. How’s Peter?”
“Asleep. He seems better. What did you bring for dinner?”
“I thought I would make soup. Then you would have leftovers for a few days.”
Harm carried the grocery bags to the kitchen and began to unpack them with Mac’s
assistance. “What’s this, Flyboy?”
“Those are the real estate listings from the Post. I still think that maybe we
should consider a bigger apartment that we can both live in.”
Mac threw the paper down and smiled at him. “I actually had some thoughts on
that, too. We will talk about it later.” She kissed Harm on the cheek and sat at
the counter watching him cook. “I could get used to this.”
“Having me cook you dinner?”
She got up and wrapped her arms around his waist “Having you around.”
“I never wanted to be anyplace else.”
After dinner, Harm went to check on Peter, sleeping in a basinet in Mac’s
bedroom. As he returned, he saw Mac throw down the classified ads on the coffee
table. “You know, even if you do not want to live together, we should still look
for a bigger place for you. Peter can’t sleep in you bedroom forever.”
Mac giggled at Harm. “Come here.” She patted the couch alongside her. “Did I say
that I was against us living together? I really do think it would create a lot
less tension if we were both there for Peter all the time.”
“So then what is the problem with the classifieds?”
Mac climbed into Harm’s lap and gently kissed him. It was not long before the
gentle kiss turned passionate and insistent. Years of pent up desire came to the
surface quickly. “I just don’t see why one of us has to give up his apartment.”
“Because both apartments only have one bedroom.”
Mac giggled again as she ran her hands down Harm’s chest and brushed her hand
gently against the arousal that was pushing against her thigh. “So?”
Harm raised his eyebrows to Mac. That really wasn’t an acceptable answer, but he
also was not a stupid man and he was not going to turn down Mac’s affections
right now to hash out minor details. He swept his partner into his arms and
started to carry her to the bedroom. Remembering that their son was sleeping in
there, he pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and laid it down on the
floor near the fireplace and placed her on it. “See, we need a bigger
apartment.”
Mac chuckled at Harm and then pulled him down to lie beside her on the blanket.
“Shut up and make love to me, Flyboy.”
“Aye, Ma’am.”
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
0749 ET Wednesday
Harm walked through the door of JAG with Mac just behind him. He carried Peter
bundled in his arms and Mac carried a small diaper bag. “I am so glad that
Harriet had this daycare put in. That way I can keep an eye on Peter during the
day.”
“Mac, he seems a lot better today.”
As the pair stepped into the elevator to go to the daycare Mac smiled at him.
“Maybe that is because both his Momma and Daddy slept so near to him last
night.” She kissed Harm tenderly on his lips and smiled again. “By the way, his
Momma feels a lot better today, too.”
Harm’s ego swelled for a second and then he smiled. “Well Daddy feels better,
too. Maybe we should make it a regular occurrence. However, I would prefer to
make love to you somewhere besides the floor.”
Mac smiled again at Harm. “Let’s have lunch and discuss that possibility.”
Harm kissed Mac’s forehead as the elevator opened. “I love you, Sarah.”
“I love you, Harm.”
“Good morning, Sir, Ma’am. Good morning, Peter.” Bud glanced at the two senior
officers who looked like they had been caught with their hands in the cookie
jar. Actually it occurred to him that it was strange for both of them to bring
Peter to daycare, with coats and covers still on no less. “I will see you in
court today, Sir.”
Harm breathed a sigh of relief. If Bud had heard them, he was not letting on.
“Okay, Bud.”
Bud walked away and Mac smiled. “Ashamed of me, Commander?”
“What? No! I just think we should tell the Admiral first. I know he said it was
okay, but….”
“Shut up. I was kidding.”
Hanson’s Deli
Falls Church, VA
1237 ET Wednesday
“So what is churning in that devious mind of yours, Mac?”
“Me? Innocent me?”
“You weren’t so innocent last night when you were riding me to ecstasy.”
“That street goes two ways, Commander.”
“Amen to that.”
Mac smiled at Harm. Sometimes she hated that his arrogance was such a turn on.
“I was thinking that Peter and I might have a little sleepover tonight.”
“We did that last night. And I have rug burns to prove it.”
“I meant at your place.”
“Oh. I guess we could try that. It is just that my apartment is so cold. I don’t
want Peter to get more sick.”
“It is cold in your apartment because you keep the thermostat turned down to
zero.”
“Just 65.”
“Right, so turn it up. We are coming over. Anyway, it is June.”
“With you there, I do not need to turn the thermostat up. And even in June it is
cold in there when we are having a cold June.”
“Excuses. You could sleep alone tonight.”
“No!”
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
1756 ET Wednesday
Mac kicked Harm’s door open and stepped inside. “Harm?”
Harm walked out from his bedroom and stared at Mac. “Did it ever occur to you to
call me when you got in the parking lot?”
“Oh don’t worry, Flyboy. There is another load of stuff in the car.”
Harm glanced at the pile she was carrying. “Is my son under there somewhere? And
how could you get all that crap in your ‘vette?”
“Mother’s secret and yes Peter is right here.”
“Hey, kid! How’s my boy?” Harm handed the baby back to Mac and went down to get
whatever else was in her car. Upon his return, Mac was laying on the couch with
Peter on her stomach.
“So is this floor still vacant other than you?”
“Yeah, why? Planning on having wild sex that will disrupt the neighbors?”
Mac tickled Peter’s belly and smiled. “Maybe after you feed me. Actually, I was
thinking that I could take the money that I pay in rent every month and put it
toward us buying the rest of the floor. We could knock out a wall.” Mac got up
and started walking about the apartment, Peter balanced on a hip, waving her
arms. “Archway here. Put a nursery and a few other bedrooms in the other flat.
Maybe a dining room in there, too. Close in the walls around our bedroom.”
“Whoa, stop there Christopher Lowell.”
“What?” Mac turned and stuck out a pouting lip at Harm.
“Sarah….”
“What? I thought you wanted a bigger place.”
“But not here.”
“Why? Ghosts of too many girlfriends?”
“Mac, do you vaguely remember something about this being a bad neighborhood?”
“I am not planning on leaving Peter out on the street in a basket.”
“Yeah, but he can’t exactly grow up inside a box either. Where will he play?”
“We take him to the park, to Bud and Harriet’s. This isn’t permanent. Maybe
someday we will buy a house in Arlington with a big yard. And if you had let me
finish, my little plan included a playroom. Maybe even with F-14 wallpaper.”
“Really?”
“Did you hear anything besides F-14 wallpaper?”
Harm walked over and wrapped his arms around Mac and Peter. “Yeah. I heard our
bedroom and few other bedrooms, which I assume to be for our children.”
Mac turned in his embrace. “Hmm. Maybe. If you feed me.”
“Hey, dinner is ready. You are the one who is remodeling the whole apartment.”
“What are we having?”
“Lasagna.”
“My favorite. Is it being served with aviator for dessert?”
“Of course.”
After dinner, Mac changed Peter and Harm laid him down for bed in a portable
crib in the living room. Then Mac went to take a shower. When she returned, Harm
was sitting at the counter staring at a piece of paper. “I thought you would
join me.”
Harm looked up at Mac dressed in shorts and a USMC t-shirt. “I did not want to
leave Peter alone until I was sure he was asleep.”
Mac smiled at Harm. Sometimes she was amazed at how easily being a father had
come to him. “Whatcha doing?”
“Just a little sketch. What do you think?” Harm held up the sketch and Mac
stared at it intently. “I thought it would make more sense to move the living
room into the new part and put the dining room here.”
“Harm, I don’t want to disrupt your whole apartment.”
Harm pulled Mac against him and smiled. “Our apartment. Do you want to have to
carry food from the kitchen for a half mile to the dining room when we have a
dinner party?”
“I guess not. So what is the plan?”
“Bedroom and master bath stay where they are, perhaps with a few walls and a
door. Kitchen stays where it is. Living room becomes a dining area. The front
door gets moved closer to the window over here, where there will be a sort of
foyer and coatroom and a dividing wall between the dining room and foyer. There
will be an archway that will cut through into the neighboring flat. To the right
there will be a living room. To the left, there will be a playroom for our
children. Beyond that a nursery, bathroom and two small bedrooms. What do you
think?”
“Could you get our bedroom any further from our children?”
“That is a matter of logistics. We could put the playroom where our bedroom is
now. And move our bedroom down there. It will be smaller and we will have to
share a bathroom with the kids.”
“Never mind.”
“I thought you would see it my way.”
Three months later
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
1146 ET Monday
Mac got out of her chair and glanced into Harm’s office. He had a trial this
morning and then she was on small claims that afternoon. She stretched her arms
and walked to the elevator. She descended to her and Harm’s old floor. “Harriet!
How are you?”
“Colonel! It is so good to see you. What brings you down here to us lawyers?”
“I thought maybe you would like to go to lunch.”
“No lunch date with the Commander?”
“He is in court. And anyway, I see him everyday. I don’t get to see you very
often, Harriet.”
“That is very true, Ma’am. Let’s go.”
JAG Headquarters Sun Porch
Falls Church, VA
1239 ET Monday
“Harriet, I am so sorry. If I had known that Peter would fuss so much, I
wouldn’t have stopped to visit him.”
“It’s okay, Ma’am. I do not mind sharing lunch with a handsome young man. I
cannot believe how much he looks like the Commander.”
“Especially since Sergei and Harm share little resemblance other than eyes and
smile.”
“Have you and the Commander told Sergei yet?”
“He is under deep cover with the Russian Army. He is expected to emerge next
month. Webb has been trying to find him, but no luck yet.”
“How are the renovations coming?”
“Better now that Harm gave into some help from a contractor.”
“How did you get him to agree to that?”
“He came home last week and decided he was going to sheetrock the walls in the
bedroom. At midnight he still had stuff spread all over and I refused to sleep
amongst that mess.”
“You withheld until he hired a contractor?”
“Basically.”
“Colonel!”
“Well really, I wouldn’t have held out too long, but he doesn’t need to know
that.” Mac smiled as she tickled Peter’s stomach. “Right Peter? Your Daddy
doesn’t need to know that.”
“Know what?”
“Hello, Commander.”
“Hi, Harm.”
“What don’t I need to know?”
Harriet giggled and Harm looked at Peter. “Nothing.”
Harm looked at Mac with an amount of curiosity and shrugged. “How many cases are
on your docket this afternoon?”
“About ten. Why?”
“I am done for the day. I am going to go home and finish the painting in the new
part. Want me to take Peter home with me?”
“Why don’t you leave him here so he does not inhale all those fumes?”
“Okay. I will pick you up at 1700?”
“Sure, Flyboy.”
Harm kissed Peter on the top of the head and glanced around the sun porch.
Seeing no one who would give him a hard time, he quickly kissed Mac on the lips.
“Love ya.”
“I love you, too.”
Harriet just smiled at them both.
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
1658 ET Wednesday
Harm parked the SUV and walked into JAG. He stepped into the elevator and
ascended to the daycare floor. Stepping out, he encountered a very harried
Lieutenant Simms. “Good evening, Harriet. Can I help you?”
“What? Oh no, Sir. I just am in a hurry to get home with little AJ before the
babysitter gets there.”
“Big night out with Bud?”
“Um… kind of. We are going to talk to a lawyer about our will.”
“You work with lawyers everyday and you are spending a night out with another
lawyer?”
“It has to be done.”
“I suppose.”
“Good night, Sir.”
“Good night, Harriet.” Harm walked into the daycare and smiled at the ensign
watching the children. “Is Peter still here?”
“Yes, Commander. The Colonel just called. She will be down in a moment.”
Harm smiled at her and walked over to the crib where his fifteen-week old son
slept quietly. “Hey, Son.”
“Hey, Dad. Finish painting my nursery yet?”
Harm smiled at Mac. “As a matter of fact I did.”
Mac picked up Peter and slipped a light summer jacket on him. “Well then let’s
get out of here.”
Once Harm and Mac got into the parking lot, he took her in his arms and kissed
her passionately. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too.” Harm opened the door of the SUV and took Peter from her, placing him
in his car seat. Mac carefully checked Harm’s work as Harm rolled his eyes at
her and opened her door. As she got in the front seat she smiled. “Never can be
too careful.”
Harm shook his head. “So, I saw Harriet this afternoon on her way out. She and
Bud have a big date with an attorney tonight.”
“She and Bud? Don’t they spend enough time with lawyers?”
“They are working on their will.”
“Oh.”
“Mac, I was thinking about this last night.”
“Bud and Harriet’s will?”
“No ours. Well yours and mine, individually.”
“Harm, do you always have these morbid thoughts while you are laying alongside
me?”
“No, most of the time I have lewd thoughts. But, when you adopted Peter, I know
I changed things in my will to provide for Peter, but I really don’t know what
you did.”
“You want to compare wills?”
“I….”
“Harm!!” Just then the car in front of them swerved across the lane in front of
a tractor-trailer, which locked up its breaks and slid across into Harm’s
pathway. Harm swerved his SUV away from the truck and bounced off the guardrail
and landed in the grassy median of the Beltway.
“Mac? Mac, are you okay?”
“Yeah. You?”
“I think so, other than my blood pressure being through the roof. Mac, you’re
bleeding!”
“It’s just a knick from the shattered glass.”
“Where did the glass come from?”
“The back window.”
“Oh. The back window!?”
Harm and Mac both tried to crawl over the seat to get Peter. “Oh God! Harm, he
is covered with glass.”
Just then the ambulance pulled up. Harm jumped from the SUV to flag the
ambulance as Mac climbed across the seat to get out. “Help us. Our son was in
the back seat where the window shattered.” The EMTs quickly assessed Peter’s
condition and loaded him in the ambulance. Harm helped Mac in and ordered them
to Bethesda. “I will follow you in the SUV.”
“Harm, I need you.”
“I will be there when you get there. I will call the Admiral and Bud and
Harriet. It is going to be okay.” He smiled at her and shut the ambulance door.
Just then a tow truck pulled up and a police officer approached him.
“If you could just sign here, Sir, we will take your vehicle to the body shop
you select and send you a copy of the accident report. The driver in front of
you was intoxicated. He is responsible for the accident.”
“I need my vehicle. My son was just taken to Bethesda.”
“We will take you. Just sign here, Commander.”
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, MD
1825 ET Wednesday
Mac paced the waiting room of the ER, growing more and more impatient waiting
for Harm. She glanced up at the door to see Harm running in with the Admiral
fast on his heels. She catapulted herself into Harm’s arms, knowing that her CO
probably would not appreciate it, but she did not care. She needed Harm. “Where
have you been?”
“The police gave me a ride. They took the SUV to a body shop. I had to sign an
accident report so we get a settlement from the driver of the other car. He was
drunk.”
Admiral Chegwidden cleared his throat, not so much to get them to split apart,
which they did, but to alert them to his presence. “How are you two?”
Harm looked at him appreciatively. “I am fine. Mac has some cuts….”
“Which they cleaned up in the ambulance, thank you.”
Harm glanced at her to confirm that. “How’s Peter?”
Mac broke down in tears, which she had been holding in for awhile. “They won’t
tell me anything until they look him over. They said thirty minutes. That was
thirty-two minutes ago.”
Relax, Mac. If anything was wrong, they would have come out sooner.”
The Admiral and Harm sat on either side of Mac and tried to be a comforting
presence. Just then a nurse emerged. “Colonel Rabb? Can you follow me?”
Harm looked confusedly at Mac as they followed the nurse to a cubicle. “It was
easier then trying to explain it to her.”
Harm squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. I kinda like it.”
Mac shook her head at Harm as they got their first glimpse at their son. Mac
gasped as the nurse turned and looked at the handsome pair of officers glaring
at her.
“It is not as bad as it looks. We have him wrapped in bandages to keep him from
causing irritation as he rolls around in his crib. He will be fine. Change the
dressings everyday and treat the cuts with this salve. He didn’t need any
stitches. You are all very lucky.”
Harm took the salve from the nurse. “We know. Thank you.” As Mac lifted up
Peter, Harm smiled at her. “Let’s go home.”
Bud and Harriet’s Minivan
On the Beltway
2039 ET Wednesday
“I really appreciate this Bud. It never even occurred to me to grab the car seat
when they took the SUV.”
“It is no trouble, Commander.”
“Besides, Commander, the car seat was too full of glass for you to use anyway.”
“True, Harriet.”
“Besides, Bud and I want to see this new and improved apartment.”
“Oh Harriet, I haven’t really had a chance to clean up yet. The furniture just
came yesterday. I haven’t put it where I want it yet.”
“Mac, relax. They won’t tell the world that you are not a squared away Marine
all the time.”
Everyone in the minivan laughed. It felt good to let go of a little tension for
a while.
Harm and Mac’s Apartment
North of Union Station
2104 ET Wednesday
“Sir, Ma’am, it is so beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as your home, Harriet. And will you drop this Sir and Ma’am
crap already. This is our home.”
“Spoken like a true Marine.” Harm rocked Peter gently in his arms. “Hey little
man. Want to go see your new room?”
Everyone followed Harm down the hall. Even Mac hadn’t seen it yet. As Harm
flipped on the switch, she gasped. “Darling, it is beautiful.” The nursery was
decorated in blue with white furniture. Above the crib there was a mobile with
Stearmans and clouds. On the far wall, there was a beautiful mural of an F-14
taking off from the deck of the Seahawk. As the fighter tuned off into the
sunset, the ocean blended into the mountains and there was Sarah rolling through
the skies. And lest Mac think that her son might grow up without her influence,
the mountains blended into the rock formations of Red Rock Mesa complete with
dinosaur tracks. “Who painted the mural, Harm? It is the most beautiful thing I
have ever seen.”
“Is this what Mikey was helping you with?”
Harm nodded at Bud and wrapped his arms around Mac, handing her Peter, but
basically cradling him from behind Mac. “Happy?”
“Incessantly.”
“Then let’s take our guests into the living room.”
Bud and Harriet followed the happy couple, who just put their son to sleep in
his new nursery.
“Oh. The living room is so beautiful, too.” Harriet was slightly jealous.
Mac was in awe. She really had not been in the new part of the apartment. She
had been very busy with raising a baby and trying to establish a meaningful
relationship with Harm. This living room was something right out of a fantasy
she had once told Harm about. Harm caught her eye as she scanned the room. He
knew he would get repaid later for his thoughtfulness. Mac stared at the room.
It was painted in off-white with a light beige carpet, softer than the softest
silk. She would make sure he had scotchgarded it later. “God, I am really
starting to become a mom,” she thought. There were overstuffed chairs and a
couch. A heavy oak coffee table with matching end tables completed the
compliment of furniture. There was a huge fireplace with an oak mantle. On the
mantle, there were pictures of Harm and her, Peter, and all three of them
together. The room was basked in soft light from a number of lamps. “You did
good, Flyboy.”
Harm smiled. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” chorused through the room.
An hour later, everyone sat on the couch. Mac was exhausted from the anxiety of
the accident. She looked at Bud and Harriet sitting across from her and Harm.
She smiled at them gently. “I hope we did not interrupt your evening with the
attorney.”
“Actually, we wanted to talk to you about that.”
Harriet glanced at Bud, willing him to continue for her. “When Harriet and I
first drew up our will, we had given Harriet’s parents custody of AJ if
something should happen to us. But, considering where Harriet’s support came
from after my accident, Harriet and I feel that, well if something should happen
to us, we were wondering if you would be willing….”
Mac squeezed Harm’s arm and feeling him nod against her arm, where his head was
resting, she smiled. “Yes, we will take care of little AJ.”
Harriet absolutely glowed and she hugged Mac and Harm. “Thank you.”
Bud shook the Commander’s hand and hugged Mac. “We should be going. You two must
be exhausted.”
Mac nodded slightly as she ushered her friends out. As Harm went about shutting
the lights out as Mac went to check on their son. He looked so peaceful despite
his traumatic evening. She brushed back his hair as Harm wrapped his arms around
her. “I can’t believe we almost lost him tonight.”
“I could have lost you, too. I love you, Sarah.”
“I love you, Harm.”
“Come to bed with me.”
Mac paused momentarily, looking at Peter. Harm reached around and handed her the
baby monitor. He flipped the switch to turn on Peter’s side and walked to their
bedroom, giving Mac his best come hither look.
Harm and Mac’s Apartment
North of Union Station
0209 ET Thursday
Harm spooned himself behind Mac as she slept after their lovemaking. He watched
her sleep, trying not to focus on all the things that had happened that night.
He sighed as he felt make stir. “Hey, Marine.”
“Hey. You can’t sleep either?”
“No, still a little wired.”
“I think we should seek joint adoption of Peter.”
“Are you proposing to me, Marine?”
“Maybe later. I was thinking more like making you legally his father. I think we
can do that now. You haven’t done anything crazy in six months.”
“What a ringing endorsement. Mac?”
“Yeah, Love?”
“What would have happened to Peter tonight if we had been killed.”
“Harm, I don’t want to think about it.”
“Mac, I have to know.”
Mac swallowed and turned her back to Harm. She was so ashamed that she had
dropped the ball on this one. “If only I had been killed, you would have been
given guardianship because that is what the adoption papers said. If both of us
had been killed, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“Mac?”
“I’m sorry. I just never got around to it. I will do it tomorrow.”
Harm turned Mac to look at him. “It’s okay. I asked because I did the same
thing. If we had died tonight, Peter would have been an orphan.”
Mac chuckled at Harm as he wiped her tears. “Good set of parents we are. We are
even lousy judges.”
Harm chuckled a little and tucked her head under his chin. “We will fix it
tomorrow.”
Two months later
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
1549 ET Friday
“Could that family court judge have been a little more nosey?”
“Harm, relax. It is over. You are officially, in writing, Peter’s father.”
“But, all those questions. ‘Isn’t it against the UCMJ for two officers to
fraternize? So you received a favor from your CO to accommodate this? Does the
father of the baby know? The father of this baby is in the Russian army? And he
is your brother, Mr. Rabb?’ Anything else he could have asked?”
Mac pulled Harm into her office and closed the door. She kissed Harm
passionately and smiled. “You know when he asked if it was against the UCMJ for
us to fraternize, I wanted to tell him that it was against the UCMJ to have sex
on the bench, too, but we had done that.”
Harm stared at her with eyes dark with desire, then he shook his head to clear
his brain. “But it is all over now. Our apartment is finished and the adoption
certificate officially says that Peter Matthew Rabb’s parents are Sarah
Alexandria Mackenzie and Harmon Theodore Rabb, Jr., forever.”
“Forever. I like how that sounds. How did you know my middle name? It isn’t on
the adoption papers.”
“I am your partner, right? I know everything.”
Mac sat herself in Harm’s lap and smiled. “I still have a few things to show
you, Flyboy.”
Harm kissed her gently and smiled back at her. “Victoria doesn’t have too many
secrets anymore.”
Sarah giggled and kissed him again. Just then there was a knock at the door. Mac
jumped off Harm’s laugh and straightened her uniform. “Enter.”
“Colonel Mackenzie? Have you seen…. Oh, Commander Rabb. There is a phone call on
line 3 for you.”
“Thank you, Petty Officer. I will take it in here. This is Commander Rabb.”
“Big brother! What’s the idea of becoming a judge without at least writing me?”
Harm’s eyes flashed panic as he looked at Mac. “Sergei! I thought you were under
deep cover.”
“I just completed my mission. How is everything there?”
“Good, good. How are you?”
“Good. How is the beautiful Colonel?”
Harm chuckled at his brother. He could just imagine what Sergei would have
thought if he had called them at home and got the answering machine, which said,
“You have reached Harm and Sarah’s,” in Mac’s most sexy voice. “Mac is fine. She
is right here. Would you like to talk to her?”
Mac’s eyes bolted open wide, thinking Harm was going to dump this on her. “I
would love to, but I have to go. I am catching a flight to DC.”
Harm swallowed hard. “DC? You are coming to DC?”
“Yeah. I will be at Dulles at 0700 tomorrow.”
“One of us will come pick you up.”
“Us, huh? Are you holding out on me brother?”
“Well let’s just say we have a lot to talk about.”
“And we will. How is Lieutenant Singer?”
Harm sighed heavily. “She is stationed in New Zealand, heading JAG Ops there.”
“Big promotion.”
“Yes, it is. We will talk about it tomorrow morning. Good bye.”
“Bye, Harm.”
Harm hung up the phone and looked at Mac. “We have like fourteen hours to figure
out how to explain this to Sergei.”
Mac smiled at Harm. “We will do it.”
Dulles International Airport
Washington DC
0658 ET Saturday
“It was nice of Harriet and Bud to agree to watch Peter for awhile this
morning.”
Harm glanced at Mac. “Yes. It was. Are you ready to do this?”
“Harm, there was no other way to do this. He has been under deep cover since
before Peter was born.”
“I know, but we really didn’t try.”
“Harm, he is twenty-two years old. We are in our thirties. We were much more
prepared to raise Peter.”
“You were more prepared to raise Peter. I was clueless. And lest you forget, I
am going to be forty next week.”
Mac wrapped her arms around Harm’s waist and squeezed him tightly. Then she
reached up and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. “But you act like a
twenty-year old in the sac, Sailor.” She slapped him on the ass and smiled
seductively.
“I guess we do need to talk about what you were holding out on me, Big Brother.”
Harm turned, shocked to hear Sergei’s voice. At first, his instinct was to play
off his relationship with Mac, but then he thought better of it. “She would kick
my six if I tried that,” he thought. He wrapped his arms around Mac’s waist and
smiled. “Come on. Let’s go home. We will tell you on the way.”
Harm and Mac’s Apartment
North of Union Station
0857 ET Saturday
Harm and Mac quietly walked up the steps to their apartment with Sergei close
behind. The ride from Dulles had been filled with stories from Russia and only a
brief mention that Harm and Mac were dating. It had not escaped Sergei’s notice
as he walked into the building that the mailbox to Harm’s apartment said
Mackenzie-Rabb on it. “Here we are.” Harm swung open the door to the apartment.
“Sergei, let me take your coat.” Mac hung his coat in the new coat closet.
“Harm, your apartment is different.”
“Bigger. I broke through the wall into the flat next door. Let me take you back
to the guest room.” Harm was grateful that Mac had talked him into making on of
the spare bedrooms into a guest room for the time being. As he walked down the
hall, he stealthily pulled the door to the nursery shut, as Mac scooped up
Peter’s bear that was laying in the living room.
“No why would a bachelor need all these spare rooms? Mac, you are not going to
let him establish a harem are you?”
Mac laughed at him as the phone rang. “I’ll get it. Oh, Harriet. Hello. Sure, an
hour.” Mac hung up the phone and walked down the hall to Harm and Sergei.
“Harriet will be here in an hour.”
Harm nodded. “Sergei, we have to talk.” He led them to the dining room where Mac
was getting them water.
“You want to start by telling me the truth about you and Mac. Are you two
married?”
Mac choked on the water she had just swallowed. Harm rubbed her back gently.
“Good to know where you are on the subject, Dear.” Harm smiled at her and looked
at Sergei. “No, we aren’t married and judging by that reaction, we are not
getting engaged anytime soon. We are living together, though. We have been for
about five months now. That is why we were both appointed to the bench.
Admiral’s privilege allowed us to both stay in JAG despite living together.”
Sergei picked up the rattle lying under the dining room table and held it out to
them. “Despite having a baby out of wedlock?”
Harm looked at Mac with a look that clearly said, “I thought you were going to
pick up the toys.” “Uhm…. I guess you caught us. But it isn’t what you think.”
“Harm and I adopted a baby. Well actually, I adopted the baby and then he
adopted him later.”
Sergei stared at the pair in front of him. “And why Colonel did you adopt a
baby?”
Harm swallowed hard. “Because I asked her to.”
Now Sergei was very confused. “Why?”
“Because we felt that a family court judge was not going to give me custody of a
newborn. It was a struggle to get them to allow me to adopt him this week, even
after Mac and I have been raising Peter together since his birth.”
“But where did this baby come from? Why would a commitment-aholic like you,
Harm, want to raise a baby?”
“Because I did not want the baby to grow up without a father who loved him. To
never know his real father was not something I could accept for Peter.”
Mac stroked Harm’s arm as she sat close to him. “Harm has loved Peter since
before he was born. He loved him like Peter was his own son.” Mac paused for a
moment and leveled her eyes to Sergei. “He loves Peter more than any uncle has
ever loved his nephew before.”
Sergei looked at Mac and Harm. “Uncle? Nephew? The baby is Loren’s isn’t it?”
Harm looked intently at Sergei, trying to read his expression. Then he slowly
nodded. “Yours and Loren’s. Look Sergei we were going to tell you sooner, but
you were under deep cover …..”
“I am a father?”
Mac looked at Sergei. “Yes, as much as you want to be. That was why we adopted
him. We wanted you to be able to get to know him.”
Sergei looked at Mac. “I am not ready to be a father. I came here to tell you
that I am being sent to Afghanistan on a dangerous surveillance mission. I may
not survive.”
Harm gasped at Sergei’s revelation. “When?”
“Next week.”
Mac looked at Harm and then at Sergei. “Sergei, Harm and I knew that you were
not ready to have a baby. That is why we adopted Peter. We wanted him to be
surrounded by people who loved him. It will be your decision if you tell him
someday that you are really his father. For now though, Harm is his father.”
Sergei was staring at Mac, trying to absorb what she had just said. “I need to
think. Where is he?”
Harm stood with Sergei. “Harriet is bringing him over in about thirty minutes.”
“I will return.” With that, Sergei walked out the door.
Mac wrapped her arms around Harm. “We are doing the right thing, Harm. We are
the best parents Peter could have.”
“I am worried about Sergei.”
“It’s his life.”
Harm turned and looked at Mac. “He really does not even seem to care that he has
a son. Who sleeps with someone without at least recognizing the possible
consequences? He has to own up to this. Peter is his son. I will not let Sergei
hurt Peter.”
“Harm, he is young. He does not have a concept of what he did. Peter is our son.
If you do not want Sergei to hurt Peter then maybe we need to consider having
Sergei relinquish his parental rights.”
“I did not want to do that, but if he makes no motion to show love to Peter when
Harriet comes, I may have to consider that. It is not fair to Peter to have his
real father out there somewhere playing spy.”
Mac turned Harm so she could look into his tormented eyes. “Harm, listen to me.
Sergei is Peter’s biological father. It takes a lot more than some sperm to be
someone’s real father. You take care of Peter everyday. You get up with me at
night to feed him and change him. You have given that boy more than your name.
You have given him your love, your heart, and your soul. Peter is a very lucky
boy to have a father like you.”
“And Peter is lucky to have a mother like you.” Harm kissed Mac gently as Sergei
walked back in the door.
“Harm, Mac. I must apologize to you. You have tried to do right by my son, a son
no one told me about, and I have been rude to you.”
Mac walked up to Sergei. “We know you are overwhelmed right now. We understand.”
Sergei looked at Harm. “I know you think I am a bad man for not owning up this
responsibility, but Loren told me she was on the Pill. I trusted her.”
Mac looked at him “And she probably was telling you the truth, but accidents
happen. Nothing is one hundred percent.” She looked at Harm as she said that,
trying to gauge his reaction.
“Is that my fault?”
Something finally snapped in Harm. “No, but it is your responsibility. Loren
chose a good life for your son. You have not even met him yet and you have
already passed judgment on him. I guess it was too much for us to expect you to
step up a little here.”
Sergei stared at Harm. “So instead you stepped up and took my son?”
Now Mac was furious. “Do you want him? Would you know what to do with him if he
cried all night? Could you change a diaper? Would you drive him around town at
two am to get him to sleep? Because your brother would and your brother has. I
will not stand for this anymore. I am sorry Loren did not tell you, but you have
demonstrated that you are not ready to have a son. You are more than welcome to
stay here as long as you like, but Harm and I will draw up papers tomorrow that
relinquish all your rights as Peter’s biological father. We ask you to sign them
voluntarily because otherwise, we will sue you for legal separation.”
Sergei stared at Mac. He had never seen her so angry. Harm was also watching
her. He could see her maternal claws coming out. “Sergei, I am sorry it has come
to this, but I have to agree with Mac here. As far as we are concerned you will
never be more than Peter’s uncle. We cannot trust you not to hurt our son.”
Sergei nodded as there was a knock on the door. Harm opened the door and took
Peter from Harriet. Mac took the diaper bag. “Harriet, this is not a good time.
Harm and I will call you later to tell you what’s going on.”
Harriet nodded and turned to go. She had feared this would not go well. She most
certainly hoped that Sergei did not try to take Peter from Harm and Mac. They
were such good parents to the little boy.
Mac carried Peter’s bag down the hall to the nursery, Harm following as he
unwrapped Peter from various blankets and buntings. “How’s my little man? Did
you have fun with Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bud?
As he laid the baby boy into the crib, Mac brushed back his hair. She reached up
and turned on his mobile. Come Fly With Me filled the room. “Go to sleep little
man.”
Mac and Harm turned to see Sergei standing in the doorway. He was staring in awe
at the room. “I will not fight you. I will sign whatever you need me to. You two
belong with him. You love him more than I could ever even imagine loving another
human being.”
Harm pitied him a little. Everything had been dumped on him so young. But
fatherhood was an intense responsibility and Harm had to protect his son. “Would
you like to meet him?”
Sergei nodded and walked over to the crib. Mac pulled the blanket back slightly
and took Harm’s hand. “Peter, this is your uncle, Sergei.”
Harm squeezed Mac’s hand. “Sergei, this is Peter Matthew Rabb.”
Sergei looked at Peter and then at Harm and Mac. “He has your eyes, my Brother.”
He turned then and walked out of the nursery. He did not feel a paternal love
toward the baby. That was probably for the best. He was doing the best thing for
his son by walking away.
Harm and Mac’s Apartment
North of Union Station
0104 ET Sunday
Mac idly made circles on Harm’s back. “We are doing the right thing.”
“I don’t doubt that, Sarah. I know he is young, but he will never love Peter the
way we do.”
“Then what are you worried about? Peter?”
Harm rolled over and looked at Mac. “No more than usual. I know we are doing the
right thing for everybody. If we had let Sergei hang out as Peter’s father,
there would always a potential of Peter getting hurt, of him becoming another
Rabb son without a father.”
“Does that mean you are going to stop doing crazy things?”
“How much trouble can I get into as a judge.”
“You never know when some hotheaded lawyer is going to fire a machine gun in
your courtroom.”
Harm shook his head at Mac and sighed. “Sometimes I miss the excitement of being
in the field, of investigating a case with you, but I do not regret giving it
all up for this.” He kissed Mac gently and ran his hands down her back. “When
Sergei thought we were married today, Sarah, you seemed a little put off by it.”
Mac smiled at Harm. “I was shocked that he thought that. How could I be put off
by the idea? Seven more years and we will be married by common law.”
“I was thinking of something a little sooner than that. I am worried that you
aren’t ready for that though.”
“Harm, for god sakes, I am raising your son, living with you. I even ate
meatless meatloaf the other night. How much closer could I get to being married
to you?”
“Saying I do.” Harm reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out a small
velvet box.
Mac gasped. She had never expected this from Harm. She expected to be a live-in
girlfriend forever. “Oh, Harm.”
As Harm opened the box to reveal his Grandma Sarah’s engagement ring he
swallowed, ready to make the final leap. “Sarah Mackenzie, will you marry me?”
A sob escaped Mac as she nodded. “Oh yes, Harm. I have something to ask you,
too.”
Harm slipped the ring on Mac’s finger and kissed her passionately. “Can it
wait?”
As much as Mac wanted to make love to her fiancé, she knew she had to tell him
this first. “No. I think what I have to ask you will only add to the
celebration.”
“Really?” Harm was kissing Mac’s neck and shoulders.
“Harm, Harm!”
“Yeah?”
“Listen!”
“I am.”
“Stop listening to my breasts and listen to me.”
Harm sat up and looked at his new fiancée. “I am.”
“Remember when I said to Sergei tonight that sometimes accidents happen even
when a woman is on the Pill.”
“Yeah? What about it?”
“Well sometimes it even happens to Marines.”
“Yeah. The Pill is only like ninety-nine percent effective. I imagine it could
happen to any women. Even a Marine.”
Mac shook her head at Harm. Sometimes he was so dense. “Even your Marine.”
Harm looked at Mac for a second. “Really?”
“I just found out this morning. I had a blood test done at my physical on
Thursday and I got the results this morning.”
Harm wrapped his arms around Mac and kissed her. “We are going to have our own
baby?”
“Yep. About the middle of June.”
“That’s amazing. You’re amazing. I love you.”
“I love you. So tell me, Flyboy, when are we getting married?”
“As soon as possible.”
“How ‘bout Monday? We file the parental separation papers from Sergei and we get
a license?”
“By the weekend we will be Commander and Colonel Rabb.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Epilogue
Eight months later
Harm and Mac’s Apartment
1026 ET Tuesday
“We’re home, little one.” Sarah stepped through the door of their apartment as
Harm carried in the bags and Peter, who had just celebrated his first birthday.
“What do you think, Peter? Want to show your new brother his room?” Harm sat
Peter down and he perilously teetered down the hallway, passed the nursery. “No,
Teddy’s room, Peter.”
Sarah laughed as she opened the door to the nursery. “What if would have had a
girl?”
“We would have remodeled. Although, Mrs. Rabb, women fly just as well as men.”
“How true.” Sarah laid Harmon Theodore Rabb III down in his crib. “He looks just
like his Daddy.”
“Oh, but there will be little girls with your looks and my brains.”
“That there will be, Mr. Rabb.” Mac kissed Harm gently and then gave into the
passion for a second, only to hear Peter giggle.
Harm pulled Mac into an embrace and looked over her head at their son and
smiled. All had worked out fine. Loren had met Peter once just before she was
killed in an Embassy bombing in New Zealand. Harm and Mac had gotten married
shortly after Sergei went off to Afghanistan on assignment. He had contacted
Harm a few times after that, but never came any closer to Peter than an uncle.
Trish and Frank were excellent grandparents to not only Peter, but also the
newborn Harmon III, known as Teddy and later to Catherine Alexandria, who had
her mother’s looks and father’s brains. All worked out because Harm and Mac had
recognized that family matters. |