JAG Continues Book II: Volatile Matters
Ch. 4 - Visions of the Dynamic Duo
Part E
[Hello?]
“Hi Chloe!”
[“Mac!”]
“Yeah, how are you?”
[“I’m great. Oh Mac, I’m so happy to hear from you. How are you?”]
As Chloe spoke, Harm was losing his battle resisting Mac’s aroma. It seemed to be drawing him in.
“I am …” Mac searched for the right word. Her cheerful mood evident, she settled on, “- wonderful!”
[“Mac, I got your message last week and your e-mail. And Grandma said you called yesterday. But I’ve been so busy. Are you in San Diego now?”]
“No. Actually, my move has been postponed until later this week, so I’m still in D.C.”
Harm was now nuzzling his nose in the soft hair hanging down by Mac’s neck.
[“You sound … like … distant. Is the phone connection okay?”]
“Oh, I have it on speaker phone. Is that okay?” Mac asked. Harm was now kissing Mac’s neck, which action she was finding quite distracting.
“My hands are kind of full right now,” Mac offered as an explanation. It was the truth; she used both hands to gently push Harm’s head back away from her. Looking at him, Mac mouthed, ‘Stop that!’
[“It’s fine,” said Chloe. “I’m sure you have a ton of things to do. I can’t believe they didn’t give you more time to get ready for this move.”]
“Yeah, well, that’s military life.”
[“Mac, are you okay? I have to admit, after hearing the phone message you left me, I was worried about you.”]
That got Harm’s attention. For the rest of the phone call he listened carefully.
“Oh, Chloe. I’m fine,” Mac reassured her in a sympathetic voice. “Why?”
[“Well, you didn’t sound very happy on the message you left me.”]
“I am, Chloe. Really, I am.”
[“You do sound a lot better today. But are you just pretending, Mac? Come on, you can tell me.”]
“Chloe, I just got a major career advancement – I’m going to be a commanding officer in charge of a whole office. It’s a great opportunity. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
[“I wondered that, but then I got your e-mail with the details. And now I understand why you sounded upset. I mean, I know this is good for your job and all, but …”]
“But?”
[“But … they’re sending you to San Diego, Mac! And they’re sending Harm to London! That’s like … across the planet! How can they do that?”]
“Orders, Chloe. But listen …”
[“Screw orders, Mac!”]
“Chloe!”
[“You won’t be happy that far away from Harm.”]
“How do you know that?”
[“I just do. I know you’ve been denying it forever Mac, but you two love each other. If you end up that far apart …” She couldn’t finish that sentence. “You just can’t let that happen!”]
Mac didn’t respond. Harm looked at her, astonished by what Chloe had said, but also wondering why Mac wasn’t replying.
[“Mac? Are you there?” asked Chloe.]
“Yeah. I … guess I was just waiting to see where you are headed with this.”
[“You know where I’m headed with this! If you’re separated, then how are the two of you ever going to make things right?”]
“Make what things right?”
[“God, Mac. Sometimes you are so difficult!”]
“What exactly would you suggest I do?” Mac wasn’t sure she should torture Chloe this way, but she was interested in finding out what the teenager would say.
[“I don’t know! Tell Harm, and get him to stay. He can’t go to London!”]
“Uh, … I did mention that the billet in London for Harm would mean a promotion to Captain, and make him practically a shoe-in to become the next JAG of the entire Navy, didn’t I? Why would he pass that up?”
[“Maybe if he knew how you felt, he’d stay in D.C.”]
“But I still have orders to go to San Diego.”
[“You shouldn’t go either. You won’t be happy in San Diego.”]
Mac paused before responding, “Actually, I honestly believe I am going to be very, very happy in San Diego.” She was ready to come clean.
[Chloe sighed in despair. “I’m wasting my breath, aren’t I?”]
“Yes. But -”
[“You really believe you’ll be happy?”]
“Chloe, for the first time in my life, – yes, I do.”
[“You sound like you mean that. What aren’t you telling me?”]
“Well, I was trying to get to that. I need to talk to you about a few things.”
[“I’m listening. What kind of things?”]
“… Relationships.”
[“Yours?”]
“Yes. One, in particular.”
[“Oh, Mac. Tell me that spy guy isn’t back in the picture.”]
“Uh … Actually, he has resurfaced,” Mac reluctantly admitted.
[“He still wants to be more than your friend?”]
“I guess he does. But listen, do you remember you once asked me if your best friend could also be your boyfriend?”
[“Yeah. You said he could be if you’re lucky. But that didn’t work out so well for me. I found out he didn’t really want to go out with me. We’re not even friends anymore. Rick turned out to be a real jerk.”]
“I know,” Mac said sympathetically. “We aren’t always that lucky. But, um, … well, my luck has just changed … for the better.”
[“Your luck with a relationship?”]
“Yes.”
[“With your best friend?” Chloe asked in confusion.]
“Yes.”
[“But Harm is your best friend, not that spy,” she protested.]
“Exactly.”
[“ … Oh my God!! Mac, are you telling me Harm is your boyfriend?!?”]
Mac laughed. “Well, considering Harm and I finally …”
[“You finally slept together!?! No wonder you’re in such a good mood!”]
Harm’s eyebrows shot up. Mac’s mouth stayed open for a second before she responded. “… I was going to say we admitted how we feel about each other. … And no, we have not slept together … like that.”
[“Why not?”]
“Chloe!”
[“You at least kissed him, didn’t you?”]
“… Yes.”
[Chloe giggled. “Oh my God – This is sooo great!!!”]
Chloe’s scream of happiness that followed caused Harm to grimace.
[“So what now? What are you and Harm going to do?”]
“Oh, I thought you’d be able to figure that out,” Mac said, giving her a hard time. “You know - along the lines of that stupid song you used to tease me with.”
[“What song?”]
“Well, let’s just say Harm and I were sitting in a tree earlier today … or, technically on one, – since it had fallen over.”
[“Sitting in a tree?” After a moment of puzzlement, Chloe suddenly realized what Mac was referring to and her excitement grew in crescendo. “And you just said there’s been kissing …”]
“And we admitted we’re in love …”
[“You’re getting married!!!!!”]
“Yes, we are!!”
Chloe’s squeal of joy this time made Mac’s face contort, as well as Harm’s.
[“That is so awesome!!! … But, I thought you said you’re still going to San Diego?”]
“I am.”
[“So how are you two going to get married if you’re going to be so far apart?”]
Mac took a second and looked at Harm. “You know Chloe, I’m at Harm’s apartment right now, and since I’ve had this on speaker phone, he’s up to speed on this conversation, … so I think I’ll let him fill you in on this one. … Harm?”
“Hi Chloe,” he said.
[“Harm, you’ve been listening this whole time?!?”]
“That would be my fault, Chloe,” insisted Mac. “It was my idea to put it on speaker phone and have him listen.”
[“That wasn’t nice, Mac!” Chloe huffed, but then remembered her question. “So, Harm are you really gonna marry Mac?”]
“I am.”
[“But you’re gonna be in London.”]
“Well, you told Mac a minute ago that if she told me how she felt about me, I might not go. Not bad advice. I decided I don’t need to be the Navy Captain in charge of Force Judge Advocate, Europe, as long as Mac is willing to be my wife.”
[“That is soooo romantic!”]
“But for the record,” Harm quickly added, “we flipped for it. Mac was willing to give up San Diego and the Marine Corp entirely to marry me.”
[“Oh, wow, Mac! I knew you two were so in love. See, you’d do anything for each other!”]
“Yeah, we would,” answered Mac, looking in Harm’s eyes.
[“So when’s the wedding? Do I get to be in it?”]
“We’re hoping to have it within the next two months somewhere in the D.C. area, but nothing’s settled yet,” said Mac. “I know you dreamed of being flower girl at Harm’s and my wedding a long time ago, but I think you’re a little old for that now.”
[Chloe laughed. “I know, Mac. The two of you should have done this years ago! You should have listened to me. I told you that you two should get married, but no – you had to fight me on it.”]
“Okay, okay,” Mac begged for her to stop. “I know. And you’re never going to let me forget that you told me so, are you?”
[“Not a chance!”]
“Hey Chloe,” started Harm, “How did you know Mac and I are in love? And how long have you known?”
[“Geez, I’ve known since the beginning. How could anybody not know? Just the way you two looked at each other and talked about each other. And you’re so cute together! I mean, Mac, you are so beautiful, and Harm, you are just handsome. And the two of you have always had such chemistry!”]
“I can’t believe you didn’t listen to her, Mac!” Harm chastised. “You knew she was envisioning our wedding and you couldn’t even tell me you were interested in me?”
“Whoa, cowboy,” objected Mac. “I don’t recall you ever telling me you were interested either! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! You were worse than I was!”
“Yeah, but I didn’t have Chloe giving me her insight into our relationship for years …”
[“Stop it you two! I swear you’re worse than children.”]
“Sorry,” said Harm, a little ashamed at being rebuked by a teenager.
[“You should be. Just be happy you’re together now!”]
Harm started, “We are, but …”
[“Harm!” Chloe interrupted. “Mac’s right; you obviously didn’t do your part to make this relationship happen when it should have either. So, while I can give Mac a hard time about this, you can’t.”]
Mac gazed at the handsome man who held her and commented, “I’m glad you’re better at handling Mattie than this, Harm.”
“Who says I am? If you recall, she scolds me too.”
[“… Mattie. - She’s that girl who lives with you, Harm?” Chloe asked for confirmation.]
“Yeah, I’m her guardian, - or I’m about to be again. Did Mac tell you about Mattie’s accident?”
[“She mentioned something in an e-mail. Is Mattie okay?”]
“She will be,” answered Harm. “She’s got a long road to recovery. Thanks for asking. … She’s about your age, you know.”
[“Oh. … So, um, she’s gonna keep living with you?”]
Mac answered, “She’s going to be in physical rehab for a while, but as soon as she’s ready, yes, she’s going to live with us.”
Mac suspected that even though Chloe had grown up so much since when they first met, she was still a little jealous that someone else was taking her place with Mac – Someone was even getting Mac as a ‘mom’ the way Chloe had wanted years ago.
Mac added, “Mattie doesn’t have anyone else to depend on right now.”
[“Nobody?”]
“Well, like you, she doesn’t have a mother anymore,” Mac explained. “And her dad can’t take care of her – but in her case it’s not that he’s away on duty, but because he can’t stop drinking. And she’s not lucky to have a grandmother to take care of her like you do. But she does have Harm. And now she has me.”
[“Oh.”]
“With any luck,” said Mac, “she’ll be well enough so that you can meet her at the wedding.”
[“Right, the wedding.” Getting excited again, Chloe added, “Hey, you didn’t tell me – do I get to be in it?”]
Mac laughed. “Angling to be a bridesmaid?”
[“Can I?”]
“You know, … I’d like that, Chloe. I would say that since you knew this day was coming before we did, you should be a part of it.”
[“Yes!!”]
“But, it’s just going to be a small ceremony,” Mac clarified, “so don’t get your hopes up for anything grandiose.”
[“Okay. So now tell me, how did you two finally get engaged? No, before that, - who admitted their feelings first?”]
“Uh … I guess Harm did,” Mac answered.
[“You’re kidding!?! Mac!!!” Chloe clearly didn’t approve of her big sister’s lack of initiative. “You let him beat you to it?”]
“Well, in all fairness,” Harm defended, “Mac was the one who was brave enough to come over to my place to bring up the topic. If she hadn’t, I’d probably be in London right now cursing myself.”
“Yeah, apparently mister bodacious needed a deadline,” Mac said.
“Mr. Bodacious?” Harm asked.
“It’s how Chloe refers to you,” Mac explained.
[“I never called him mister bodacious. … And you’re not supposed to tell him things like that, Mac.”]
“Oh, is that embarrassing for you?” Mac teased, clearly interested in using this as payback.
[“No,” Chloe quickly shot back. “I only call him that because you’re the one thinking it.”]
Mac made a face, which made Harm laugh. “That backfired on you, didn’t it, Mac?”
She shot him a nasty look, but really she was thinking that she would like to kiss that damned smirk off his face. “Fine, Harm, how about you tell Chloe how we worked it out?”
“Me?”
[“No, Mac,” objected Chloe. “You need to tell me. Guys aren’t good at telling this stuff, and I want details. Harm, let Mac pick the phone up; I want to talk to just her now for real.”]
“Okay. That’s fine with me,” Harm agreed. “Mac, why don’t you pick up the cordless over by the couch and I’ll hang this one up?” Mac got up and went for the other phone.
[“Hey, Harm …” Chloe addressed him in the meantime.]
“Yeah, Chloe?”
[“You’re going to be my big brother-in-law.”]
He laughed. “Yes, I suppose I am. Is that okay with you?”
[“Yeah. Is it okay with you?”]
“Absolutely. I’ve never had a little sister before. Does this mean I get to pull your pigtails?”
[Chloe giggled. “Harm, I don’t have pigtails.”]
------
“Bye, Chloe. Love you.” Mac disconnected the phone call after having a long discussion, much of which involved giving as vague answers as possible to Chloe’s infinite questions.
Harm lifted up Mac’s feet and slid under them onto the couch. “So, I’m Mr. Bodacious, huh?”
“It was Chloe’s term, not mine,” she stressed. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I don’t know, I kind of like it. Sounds like a superhero name – you know, like Mr. Fantastic. … Hey, this could solve our Batman and Robin problem.”
“What?”
“Well, if I’m Mr. Bodacious, then that will soon make you Mrs. Bodacious. … Don’t you see? Partners – not hero and sidekick.”
“So you’re envisioning us as something like the Incredibles?”
“The what?”
“Never mind. Harm, we’re not superheroes. I don’t need you with the image in your head that you’re any more invincible than you already assume you are. We don’t have superpowers.”
He thought about that for a moment. “Well, maybe I don’t. – I make do on my superior ability of real-person skills, … but you do have superpowers.”
Mac looked at Harm as if he were crazy.
“Come on, Mac. You inherently know exactly what time it is without looking at a clock. You have visions that can lead you to missing people. Those are gifts beyond the scope of what people are naturally capable of doing. Unless you can explain to me how you do those things, I’d say they classify as superpowers.”
“Why are we even having this discussion?”
“Because you have super powers, I’m Mr. Bodacious, -”
“- You have a super ego,” Mac surreptitiously added.
Harm chose to ignore her remark. “- and we are a dynamic duo, but you suddenly have issues being associated with Robin.” He added, “… And you’re right. You shouldn’t be Robin.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, if I’m Batman, then Mattie would have to be Robin.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s my ward, just like Robin’s alter ego was the ward of Bruce Wayne. But I don’t want Mattie to be Robin, because that would mean she’d get into dangerous situations with me, and I don’t want her to do that.”
“Oh, but you don’t mind getting me into dangerous situations with you?”
“I don’t like it, but you follow me into trouble anyhow.”
“Maybe you need to stop getting yourself into trouble in the first place, and then none of us have to be in dangerous situations.”
“Oh, and I’m the only one in this pair who gets into dangerous situations?” he asked with sarcasm.
Mac pursed her lips in defeat. “I’ll give you that. But now, no more talk about us being superheroes, especially in front of people who work for the CIA. Some of their missions practically require superpowers, and we don’t need to be any more sought after as recruits for the CIA than we already seem to be.”
“Hey, don’t worry. I know for a fact that the heroes the Deputy Director thinks of us as do not have superpowers. After what we did in Paraguay, he compared you and me to the Lone Ranger and Tonto.”
“I assume I’m supposed to be Tonto?” she asked with a somewhat sour tone.
“You are part Indian,” he insisted, before giving way to a full grin.
Mac rolled her eyes. “I’m done with this conversation.”
“Okay. … You know what?”
“Hmm?”
“I figured out the real reason you had me listen in while you told Chloe about us.”
“Oh?”
“Yep. Evidence that you love me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Without tipping off Chloe that we got together or that I was listening in, I got to hear her honest conclusions about you and me. … Pretty credible testimony.”
“Hmm. I hadn’t thought about it, but maybe that is what I was doing,” she admitted. “Did it convince you?”
“I’m already convinced, but it was certainly strong proof if I had been in doubt. Maybe not accurate, but credible.”
“Not accurate?”
“Well, those are just the beliefs of a teenager, – who made most of those observations as a little girl. It’s credible, but not necessarily on the mark. The only way to be sure it’s accurate is to get verification from you.”
“Oh. And … what would I have to do to verify it?” she asked.
“… I already told you I believe the advice of that old song,” he said. “So all you have to do is -”
Mac knew, and despite her earlier reservations, she had already flipped herself around on the couch so that she could claim his lips with hers. She was in the process of verifying just how she felt when they heard a knock at the door.
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To be continued in Ch. 5, Diplomacy