JAG Continues Book II: Volatile Matters
Ch. 3 - Visiting Gale
Part B
“So how long have you two been engaged?” asked Catherine.
“Since Thursday night,” said Mac. / “Since last night,” said Harm at the same time.
Catherine folded her arms and looked between them. “Well, I guess as long as you both agree that you are engaged, it doesn’t really matter.”
“We agreed on Thursday to get married,” explained Mac.
“But I really proposed and gave her the ring last night,” clarified Harm.
“You proposed Thursday,” Mac pointed out. “Just not as well as you did last night.”
“My proposal Thursday wasn’t really official.”
“You prefaced it with the sentence, ‘I’m proposing.’ And we told a room full of people, including our C.O., on Thursday night that we were getting married. How much more official can you get?”
Catherine shook her head at the both of them. “And to think I was about to ask how long you’ve officially been together as a couple.”
“Actually, I think we can agree on that one,” suggested Harm. “… At least as far as when the two of us finally got on the same page.”
Harm and Mac looked at each other before both responding, “Since Thursday night.”
“Two days ago? The same night you agreed to get married?”
“Yep,” confirmed Harm.
“You two had gone out at some point before though, right?”
“No, we’ve never been romantically involved before now,” Harm answered.
“Wow,” remarked Catherine.
“But considering that we know each other better than anyone else,” added Mac, “and that we’ve both been … in mutually unrequited love with each other for years, … our agreeing to get married as soon as we admitted we wanted each other is not as absurd as it sounds.”
“Nooo, it’s just the ‘mutually unrequited love for each other’ that went on for years that is a little absurd,” commented Catherine with some disbelief.
Harm looked at Mac and crossed his arms. “It is kind of absurd. Isn’t ‘mutually unrequited’ a paradox - or an oxymoron?”
“Probably, but it seems appropriate,” said Mac. “Actually, if you combine those terms, they are very fitting to describe our past relationship, because regarding this issue, the two of us have been a pair-a-morons.”
Harm laughed. “No argument there.”
“As entertaining as I’m finding this, I think we should probably get back to why you are here,” suggested Catherine.
“Right,” agreed Mac, suddenly getting very serious. “There are a few things that concern me about what Clay told us.”
“Namely that his visit occurred right after the two of you got engaged?” Catherine guessed.
“That’s definitely part of it,” admitted Mac. “He … wasn’t very happy for us.”
“No, I imagine not,” said Catherine with certainty. Mac wasn’t sure how the CIA attorney knew so much about Webb’s feelings for her, but figured it didn’t matter.
“Anything else out of the ordinary?” asked Catherine.
“Too many blanks, even for Webb,” said Harm.
Mac nodded. “I agree. One thing that bothered me was that he didn’t bring a copy of the photo. Whenever Webb had a shred of tangible evidence like this that he could share with us, he would typically bring it to make a point of the proof he did have. This photo is the crux of his assertion, and he didn’t even try to explain why he didn’t have a copy.”
“And then there’s the fact that he didn’t ask us for any help at all,” added Harm. “Not even for me to report any odd occurrences.”
Mac continued, “He wouldn’t give us specifics about how Spinnaker was killed, and nothing at all about the person suspected of killing Spinnaker, or how that person died.”
Catherine inquired, “If Clay wasn’t asking for your help, why did he bother you at all? Just a warning?”
“Yeah, a courtesy call on Mac’s behalf,” said Harm. “He didn’t seem to care so much if I died, considering he didn’t even give me a suggestion as to what to watch out for.”
“In other words,” said Mac, “his aim seemed to be to convince Harm to protect me, by insisting I keep my distance from him.”
“That could make married life a little hard,” Catherine observed.
“Yeah, which I think might be the point,” said Mac. “For whatever purpose, Clay seemed resigned to let Harm die without a reason. His only admitted motive for telling us anything was for my safety. Maybe he was honestly just warning Harm, and throwing in comments about me in bitterness. But I suspect it’s a way to keep me separated from Harm one way or another.”
“That’s pretty drastic,” said Catherine.
“I know. It sounds like I’m being paranoid about Webb’s motives and that I’m inflating my significance to him. Maybe I am,” Mac admitted. “But, Catherine, I never thought Clay could be so ambivalent toward Harm’s life, which kind of makes me wonder about the veracity of the threat.
“Clay has plenty of motives to be mad at Harm. Anything from the fallout of the Angel Shark incident, which landed Webb in South America in the first place, to what he views as losing me to Harm. … But he also owes Harm his life five times over.
“And I don’t care what bad feelings Webb has against me or against Harm - his apparent confidence that Harm is going to be killed, without giving us a trace of hope or a comment on how we can try to stop this, is more than a little disturbing.”
“It doesn’t sound like Clay to be so heartless unless there is national security at stake,” commented Catherine.
“Yeah, except that Clay wasn’t acting like himself last night anyhow, so I’m really not sure what to make of it,” said Mac. “Which is why we need to find out what’s really going on.”
Catherine looked at them in understanding. “I’ll have to go into the office.”
“It’s Saturday, dear.” Catherine’s mother walked into the living room dressed in her robe. “You shouldn’t go anywhere near work today.”
“Good morning,” said Catherine to her mom.
“Why, … is that Harmon Rabb here?” asked the senior woman.
Harm smiled at the older lady and stood to greet her. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I almost didn’t recognize you out of uniform,” Mrs. Gale said, as she came over and gave Harm a hug. “How are you, Commander?”
“I’m fine. How are you doing?”
“Doing better than the doctors ever dreamed, so I can’t complain.”
“Nana,” called Emma from her play area.
“And blessed to be spending time with my granddaughter,” continued Mrs. Gale. “Good morning, Emma.”
“Glad to hear you’re doing well,” said Harm. “Mrs. Gale, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie.”
“Mac!” called out Emma.
Mac laughed. “That’s right, please call me Mac. It’s nice to meet you.” Mac, who had also stood when the grandmother came in the room, now shook the woman’s hand.
“Mac,” said Harm, “I’m sure you’ve figured out already that this is Catherine’s mother.”
“I did, thanks.” Mac smiled at Harm with an expression that sarcastically said, ‘thanks for realizing I’m not a complete idiot.’ Harm returned a smile to Mac that communicated a lot more, including his appreciation of her.
“And Mom,” said Catherine, “in case you haven’t figured it out, Mac is - ”
“- the woman who’s had Harm’s heart this whole time,” surmised Mrs. Gale.
Both Mac’s and Harm’s expressions became stunned. But Harm confirmed, “… That would be correct.”
“Oh, don’t look so surprised. It’s written all over your face that you love this woman.”
“They’ve just gotten engaged,” informed Catherine.
“Congratulations!” Mrs. Gale turned to Mac. “I believe you are a very fortunate woman. I’m happy to hear that such good husband material isn’t going to be wasted.”
“I am more fortunate than you know.” Mac breathed deeply. “And I certainly hope that Harm never feels he’s wasting himself or his good husband potential on me,” she said quite seriously, looking at Harm.
“Oh, don’t doubt yourself,” admonished Mrs. Gale. “After all, the Commander passed up my daughter to be with you, which means that you’ve got to be pretty special.”
Mac didn’t know what to say to that, but she was saved by Harm’s cell phone ring.
“Rabb … Hello? … Beth? … Hello?” Harm looked at his phone. “I lost her.”
“Oh, cell phones don’t work well in here,” said Catherine. “You can get better signal outside.” She switched her focus. “Mom, would you mind watching Emma? Harm and Mac need a favor, and I need to go into the office. It shouldn’t take too long.”
“Of course, dear. Let me go shower and get dressed.”
“… I’m going to go outside and try to reconnect,” said Harm. “I’ll be right back,” he told Mac, who nodded in reply.
Harm headed in the same direction as Mrs. Gale, who was on her way to her room. She started to make conversation with him as they walked. “What was that title you said Mac has?” she asked.
“Her rank is Lieutenant Colonel.”
“She’s also in the Navy then?”
Harm laughed and, halting his walk, he glanced back to see if Mac had heard the question. She had, and was shaking her head with a smirk.
Still smiling, Harm replied, “No, she’s a proud officer of the Marine Corps.” He leaned over closer to Mrs. Gale, “And I believe you have just inadvertently insulted her by suggesting that she could be mistaken for a member of any other military branch.”
Mrs. Gale seemed confused, but looked back at Mac apologetically.
“It’s okay,” Mac said to the older woman. “I don’t find that nearly as insulting now as I once would have.” Then looking at Harm, she added, “Obviously, I’ve drastically lowered my standards, since I’ve actually agreed to marry Navy.” She used her perfected ‘what was I thinking?’ look and then laughed.
“Ouch.” Harm feigned a pained look and motioned being stabbed in the heart. Then he smiled back at Mac, and pointing at her, said, “You’ll pay for that when I get back, jarhead.”
“Bring it on, squid!” she called back, as Harm and Mrs. Gale both walked out of sight.
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To be continued in Visiting Gale, Pt C