JAG Continues Book I: Striving for Settlement
Ch. 3 - Flaws
Part A
The phone rang. It wasn’t often that Sarah MacKenzie received phone calls at 0428, but she was awake. Actually, she had never gone to sleep. She had already showered, dressed, and was finishing her last minute packing.
“MacKenzie …” Mac didn’t know why she answered the phone formally, because she was expecting that only Harm would call her at this time today. She only hoped it wasn’t to tell her that he would be late in picking her up.
[“Hello Colonel …”]
“General?” Mac responded in surprise.
[“Sorry to bother you so early, but I expect you are getting ready to head to the airport.”]
“Yes, sir. Is there a problem?”
[“No, not at all,” said General Cresswell. “I was actually thinking about your current changes, and it occurred to me that the San Diego JLS could probably afford to wait until next week to have its head officer show up and get the ball rolling. It is a new program after all, so the responsibilities haven’t really started yet.”]
“Are you sure, sir?”
[“Yes, Colonel, I think I can arrange for your new duties to be postponed until next Thursday. So if you would like to take a few days leave …”]
“… Yes, sir.”
[“Unfortunately, I can’t afford to give Commander Rabb the same luxury, because I do need him at headquarters.”]
“Understood, sir.”
[“However, I may be able to … Well, I need to speak to the Commander …”]
There was a pause until Mac realized that the General expected Harm to be with her, but was trying to avoid asking the awkward question.
“Sir, if you need to speak to the Commander soon, you can try him at his apartment or his cell phone. He should be awake, because he was to pick me up and take me to the airport.”
[“… Of course. Thank you, Colonel.”]
After discussing a few of the logistics of the delay in her transfer, Mac finished the conversation. “Thank you, General. I appreciate this, sir. … And please give my best to your wife.”
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As the General hung up, he chuckled.
“What, dear?” his wife asked.
“The Colonel sends her best wishes to you.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“I think she realized that you had something to do with convincing me to postpone the commencement of her new billet.”
“You didn’t need convincing. You just needed to have pointed out that it would be nice for the Colonel to be able to spend a few days with her fiancé before heading off across the country.”
The General groaned a response and nodded his head. “I need to call the Commander now.”
“He wasn’t with the Colonel?”
“Apparently not. … Or at least they are giving me the appearance that he did not spend the night. Let’s see if the Commander is actually at his apartment.”
Dora Cresswell snuggled up against her husband in bed, as he sat up making the phone call.
[“Good morning,” Harm said cheerfully, expecting his fiancée on the other end of the line.]
“Good morning, Commander.”
[“General! … I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything okay, sir?”]
“Yes, Commander. I just spoke with Colonel Mackenzie and informed her that I am arranging for her not to be due at the San Diego office until next week Thursday. She is free to take leave until then.”
[Harm smiled. “That’s excellent, sir. Thank you.”]
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Mac couldn’t remember the last time she felt so excited about a knock at her door. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the familiar voice, “It’s me, Mac.” She took a moment to calm herself before turning the knob.
“Hey,” she said, as she looked at his grinning face.
He quickly darted in for a kiss that was definitely longer than a good morning peck.
“Hey yourself,” he replied when he stood back up. After a moment of appreciating the way she stared back at him with that new look of happiness, he noted, “You’re in your pajamas.”
“Yeah, didn’t the General get a hold of you?”
“He did. I’m very glad he arranged for you to stay around for a while.”
“So why didn’t you just call me? You didn’t have to come over here this early,” she said with concern and sympathy.
“No, but then what would I have done with these?” Harm brought around a bag with assorted baked breakfast treats from where he had been hiding it behind his back. “I had a feeling you might be hungry.”
“You felt right.” She grabbed the bag, took it to the table, and began to open it. “Mmm, … smells good.”
He edged over to stand behind her and put his arms around her middle. “You know what else smells good?”
Mac put the bag down and leaned her head back against him. “You smell pretty good,” she observed. She had already noticed his freshly showered scent, mixed with a hint of cologne.
“And you smell very appealing yourself,” he replied in her ear, “but I was referring to this.” He removed one arm from around her waist, reached around to his back pocket, carefully fingered the stem, and brought his hand back around to present her with a single dark red rose.
“Oh, Harm.” She took it and automatically brought it to her nose. “It does smell very good. And it’s beautiful!” She turned around to face him.
“You’re beautiful,” he quickly countered, before bending over to give her a quick kiss.
“Thank you.” She stood on her tiptoes and returned another swift kiss to him. “For everything.”
----------
Finishing breakfast, Mac asked, “So what did the General want to talk to you about?” Then she stifled a yawn.
“He let me take today off.”
“Really? I thought he couldn’t afford -”
Harm interrupted, “He figured: it is Friday and my mind would probably be elsewhere today anyhow. But I do need to be back to work on Monday.”
“So we get to spend--the--day together?” she smiled, but cursed herself inwardly for yawning mid-question.
“Yes. But first, you need some sleep.”
Mac nodded her head. “It’s a good thing I didn’t have to fly out today. A night of no sleep, lots of tears, and intense emotions makes a very tired marine.” She gave in to a full-fledged yawn.
“I’m not sure other Corps members would appreciate you admitting that marines ever cry - or have emotions,” Harm joked. Mac didn’t even come back with a response beyond a small groan. Harm could see that she was fighting to keep her eyes open.
“Well, come on then,” he said. “Let’s get my marine to bed.” He lifted her up and carried her to her bedroom, letting her stand against him as he pulled the bedcovers back for her. “In you go.” Once she was lying down, he pulled the covers over her and leaned over to kiss her forehead.
She grabbed his arm just before he walked away. “Stay.”
“I am. I’ll be on the couch.”
“No, stay here. Hold me?”
He paused for a moment. “Okay.”
She smiled and let go of him. He walked around to the other side of the bed, removed his shoes, and laid himself down on top of the covers next to her. He put his arm around her, and they each snuggled comfortably in the pillows.
“Mac?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
“… mmm, love you …too.” Her reply was slightly slurred as sleep was taking her, but Harm heard it perfectly clear.
Minutes later they were both sound asleep.
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Lieutenant Gregory Vukovic came in early on Friday morning hoping to talk to Lt. Colonel MacKenzie again about taking him to San Diego. Finding her office dark and locked, he went to seek out information from Petty Officer Coates.
“Will Colonel MacKenzie be in later today?” he asked.
“Doubtful, sir.”
“She hasn’t left for San Diego already, has she?”
“She had been scheduled for a flight out this morning, but the General just informed me that I need to reschedule that flight for next week.”
“Great. So when will she be back in?”
“I don’t know that she will be,” Jen informed him. “I believe she’s on leave until she moves next week.”
“Oh …” He was clearly disappointed. After a moment he asked, “Will Commander Turner be in? I want to ask him about the Gordon case.”
“He’s on his way to London.”
That surprised the Lieutenant. “He went with Captain Rabb?”
“Not exactly. … A lot has changed since you’ve been away, sir.”
“So it would seem. Care to fill me in?” ‘Vic’ gave her a charming smile.
“Respectfully, I don’t feel it’s my place, sir.”
He pursed his lips for a moment. “… Could I speak to the General?”
“I’ll let him know you’re here.” Pushing the intercom, Jen announced, “… General, Lieutenant Vukovic would like to see you, sir.”
“Send him in,” came the reply.
Vukovic entered the JAG’s office and came to attention. “Sir.”
“At ease. What’s on your mind?”
“I’m interested in transferring to San Diego, sir.”
The General flipped through some papers on his desk, making Vukovic wait half a minute, before he finally looked poignantly at the young man. “The Colonel denied your request, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir. But I believe I can convince her that I would be an asset. If I hadn’t had to leave for this last assignment, I’m sure I would have been able to get the Colonel to alter her opinion.”
The General looked at the lieutenant skeptically. “Why do you believe that? I don’t think the Colonel is one to second-guess her instincts on personnel issues.”
Vukovic smiled slightly. “My experience is that a woman’s initial instincts may be modified … given proper persuasion to change her mind.”
General Cresswell gave the lieutenant a harsh stare. “I was referring to her instincts as a marine officer and as experienced Chief of Staff here at JAG, not based on her being a woman,” the General said sternly.
“Of course, sir.”
Cresswell leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “Lieutenant, do you always have such confidence that you have the power to change a woman’s mind?”
“Yes, sir.” At first Vic had no problem admitting this, because he viewed such confidence as a positive quality. However, a split second later, as he processed the tone the General had used and the implications, given that the question had been limited to women, he reconsidered. “… No, sir. But I can be very persuasive.”
“I see.” General Cresswell slowly nodded once in understanding. “The Colonel is not easily persuaded. She has made very clear to me that she is not interested in having you serve under her command.”
Concerned, the naval officer asked, “Did she … tell you why, sir?”
“No. Would you like to enlighten me, Lieutenant?”
“No, sir,” he responded quickly. “That is, … I don’t know why, sir.”
“Hmm.” The General sat up and picked up one of the papers on his desk, indicating that he was about to return to his work. “Well, I consider Colonel MacKenzie’s decision final regarding her staffing. You are not to bother her about reconsidering, Lieutenant.”
“Is that an order, sir?”
“Do I need to make it one?”
“… No, sir.”
“Is there anything else?”
Vukovic paused for a moment. “I was just wondering about the changes that have occurred since my absence.”
The General paused for a moment. “The only change you need to concern yourself about is that any cases you have with Commander Turner will be covered over the short-term by Rabb once he returns on Monday. Dismissed.”
“I thought Captain Rabb would be in London, sir?”
The General was getting the feeling that he should not be as indulgent with the young officer as he had previously been inclined. “Change in plans that do not concern you, Lieutenant.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
As he closed the General’s door behind him, Vukovic addressed Coates, “Jennifer?”
“Sir?”
“Do you have any lunch plans for today?” He smiled at her.
Jen was nothing, if not perceptive. “You wouldn’t be trying to get information out of me, would you, sir?”
He didn’t let her observation bother him. “… I just thought it would be nice for the two of us to get a bite to eat.”
She shyly smiled back. “I have a lot of work to do today. Maybe some other time, sir.”
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As Harm awoke, a smile spread across his face. He enjoyed the feel of the woman he loved sleeping against him, his arm still around her. He didn’t want to ever let her go. And she was so beautiful.
He was tempted to gently brush a lock of hair away from her face, but he didn’t want to wake her. So he stayed still. But despite his desire to let her sleep, she began to stir, seeming to sense his consciousness.
Mac immediately met his eyes when she opened hers. “… How long have you been awake?” she asked.
“I just woke up a minute ago. You can go back to sleep,” he tried to coax her.
“No, I’m awake,” she assured him, as she stretched a bit. “… I actually feel very rested.” She looked him in the eyes. “That was probably one of the best sleeps I’ve ever had.”
“Mine too,” he replied. “What time is it anyway?”
“1036.” It appeared her internal clock was working again.
“Well, if you’re sure you’re done sleeping, then we should get a move on,” Harm stated.
“Are you in a hurry to get somewhere?”
“We’ve got a lot of things to do today, … things I have wanted to do for a very, very long time.”
“Oh yeah?” Mac inquired.
“Mmm-hmm.”
Mac thought for a moment. “I’ve already done one thing today that I’ve wanted to do for a very long time,” she mused.
“What’s that?”
“Woke up in your arms.” Mac had a sparkle in her eyes as she said it.
“This is nice, isn’t it?” Harm asked, as if he hadn’t already been thinking it.
“Yes, it is.”
“Guess we’ll have to make this happen more often.”
“I insist that it does.”
“Insist? A little demanding, aren’t we?” he teased.
“I have a right to be, don’t I? Since it makes me feel loved by you.”
Harm realized the magnitude of what Mac just said. It was her acknowledgement of the vow he had made to her about making her feel loved and cherished. Or maybe she was just testing that he meant it. Either way, she had just told him one thing he could do to help make her feel unconditionally loved.
“Absolutely,” he said. “You have a right to be held by me any time you ask.”
Mac smiled. “Likewise. Except, of course, when we’re publicly in uniform.”
“Of course.” A moment later he asked for confirmation, “Does my holding you make you feel loved?”
“I just said it did.”
“Good.” He propped himself up and leaned over her. “Because I have so much I want to convey to you by holding and touching you.” He had slowly begun to descend toward Mac’s lips as he spoke.
Mac was grateful for his slow approach, because it gave her the opportunity to stop him while she still had control. The look in his eyes and their already close, prone position made her feel this advance would not have ended with a simple kiss.
“Red light, Commander.” She fingered him in the chest to prevent him from coming closer.
This surprised Harm and annoyed him for a second. But then he realized that he would have taken things too far, and he was ultimately glad that Mac had the foresight to stop him early. He flopped back down on his side of the bed.
“All these years, and I’m still getting a red light from you!” he exclaimed in what was mostly mock frustration.
“You’re the one who convinced me we should wait.” She rolled on her side to face him, propping her head with her elbow, and smiled.
“Sometimes I hate myself.” He lifted up one eyebrow, but smiled back.
“So what things do you want to do today, Flyboy?”
He sighed, before focusing on the matters of the day. “The first thing we have to do is go talk to Mattie.”
“Okay, I’ll go get dressed.” Mac jumped out of bed. “You should call her.”
“But I want to tell her about us in person,” he protested.
“Yes, but you don’t want to scare her by just showing up when she’s expecting you to be halfway across the world. Give her heads up that you’re still in town and that you are coming to see her.” Mac was gathering clothes to wear out of the bag that she had packed.
“How do I explain that without telling her more?” he asked.
“Just tell her the plans have been modified and you’ll explain when you see her. I don’t think she’ll really suspect much. You’re military, Harm. Things change quickly.”
“You’re right.”
“I know.” And with that, Mac shut the bathroom door.
---------
Mac came out, dressed, to find Harm still lying on the bed. “I’m ready when you are,” she said.
“Okay.” He let go of the pillow she had slept on, which he had been hugging close in her absence, and rolled over on his back.
“So what else are you planning for today?” she asked, standing over the bed.
“We need to do some shopping.”
She crossed her arms thoughtfully. “Yeah, I guess neither of us have too much food around since we were both planning on moving out today,” she agreed.
“Do you always think about food first?” he asked with a smile.
Mac looked at him quizzically.
“I wasn’t referring to grocery shopping,” he explained as he got up. “If you recall, I’d like to do some things today that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”
“You’ve been wanting to shop with me for a long time?”
“To shop for you really. I could go myself, but I thought you might like to have some input on the kind of engagement ring you get.”
Mac smiled, raised her eyebrows, and mouthed ‘ah’ as Harm walked to her. They put their arms around each other.
“So, do you want to come to the jewelry store with me?” he asked.
Mac nodded her head slightly as she slid her arms up around his neck. “I want.” And she pulled his head down to kiss him deeply. When their lips finally broke apart, she added, “I’ll need to be there, so I can negotiate,” referring to the comments they had made to the bartender the night before.
“I think you’re doing pretty well negotiating for yourself right now.” He leaned down and they slowly kissed again. This time, when they finished, Harm joked, “No red light this time, Colonel?”
She paused for a moment, and then replied, “Decidedly yellow.”
He lowered his eyebrows at that.
“Proceed with caution,” she explained.
His lips curved up. “I’ll take it.” And he kissed her again.
----------
Vukovic found the only other office off of the bullpen with a light on and knocked at the door.
“Enter,” called Bud.
“Commander, I was wondering if you had a minute.”
Bud was studying his computer screen intently. “Actually Lieutenant, if it can wait, I’d appreciate it.”
The seated attorney appeared to be slightly flustered at what he was working on. “I’m in the middle of researching something important that I need by this afternoon. I had a hard time focusing on it when I came in, but I really need to get this done now.”
“Something distracting you earlier?” Vic fished.
“I guess it was just all the excitement leftover from last night,” Bud said without paying much attention.
This definitely interested the Lieutenant. “What excitement, sir?”
“Oh … uh, with Colonel MacKenzie and Commander Rabb.” The phone rang, and Bud picked it up. “… Lieutenant Commander Roberts … Sure, just a moment.”
Bud looked up at the Lieutenant for only a moment. “I need to take this. Can you show yourself out?”
Vukovic frowned as he walked out the door.
---------
Harm glanced over at Mac in the passenger seat. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
“How lucky I am. How stupid we’ve been. How Mattie is going to react about us … about me.”
“Okay. I think, you are lucky, Mac, but you deserve it. We have been stupid, but that’s hopefully in the past. And Mattie is going to be thrilled about us. I told you she already figured out that I love you. And she likes you a lot.”
“Enough to want me as part of your family?”
“I think so.”
“I’m not so sure, Harm. She might feel like I’m intruding on your relationship with her. Or taking up your time. You know, - time that she wants from you. … Or that I’m overstepping and trying to act like an extra guardian that she doesn’t want.”
“Would you want to be her co-guardian?”
“It’s not my place, Harm. You have a relationship built with her. I want to help, – to support her and take care of her as much as she’ll let me, but it’s you who she already loves, trusts, and respects. If I tried to impose myself on her as any parent-type of figure, she’d resent me.”
“I don’t think so, Mac,” he said in a drawn out, skeptical fashion.
“Harm, don’t. I’ll just be happy if she accepts me in your lives and our new arrangement.”
“I’m sure she will.”
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Vukovic finally tracked down Lieutenant Mayfield, in another effort to find out what he had missed while he was gone. “Do you know what’s going on around here? I can’t get information out of anyone.”
“I think most people call it trying to get some work done,” she replied.
“I mean with Rabb and MacKenzie. Something changed while I was away. Commander Turner is in England. Colonel MacKenzie’s move is postponed, and Commander Roberts just referred to Rabb as ‘Commander,’ not Captain.”
“Well, it sounds like you know a lot for someone who can’t get any information.” She walked past him.
He moved to keep up with her. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t really know anything. Scuttlebutt says Rabb turned down the London assignment.”
“Why would he do that?”
She stopped. “Scuttlebutt?”
“Yes,” he answered, eagerly awaiting the gossip.
She looked him in the eye. “He chose the Colonel instead.”
Vic’s eyebrows creased. “I don’t understand,” he said, searching out what she meant by that.
“You wouldn’t.” And with that, Lieutenant Tali Mayfield walked away.
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To be continued in Flaws, Pt B