Title: Rock a bye babies
Chapter 13
London Headquarters
December 28th
1130 hours
Beth dropped another completed file into the box on the floor. Bending over carefully, she marked the name of the last case and placed the lid tightly on the box.
“Hi Beth. Are Mattie and Mrs. Rabb here yet?”
“No. I didn’t know the Captain was expecting them.”
“Mattie had a doctor’s appointment this morning and we agreed to meet here at 1130 for lunch.”
“She’s okay, isn’t she?” Beth’s voice was heavy with alarm.
“Oh yeah. It’s one of those quarterly check-ups. She must have the only doctor in the western world who doesn’t take off for the holiday season.”
“Sounds like it,” Beth smiled.
“Is it a problem if I have a seat and wait?”
“I can tell Captain Rabb you’re here.” Beth reached for the phone.
“No, thanks. I’ll just wait for Mac and Mattie, if that’s okay?”
“Sure. There’s a great selection of tea in the break room if you’d like to help yourself.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.” Jen took a seat along the wall.
Taking a small pile of files from one side of her desk, Beth stood up and started for the filing cabinet, walking right into the box she’d left on the floor. “Damn!” She wasn’t sure what to reach for first, the pain in her shin, or the one now shooting up her side after stumbling to catch her balance.
“You okay?” Jen jumped up to help steady the angry Petty Officer.
“I forgot the stupid box was there.” Beth practically threw the files on her desk, sitting back down to rub her throbbing leg. “I should have called Blair to move the damn thing as soon as I put the cover on it.”
“Here, let me.” Jen reached over to pick up the box.
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll call Petty Officer Blair now. He moves all those heavy things for me.”
“I don’t mind, really. I have to do this all the time at my job. We’re always short on brawn.” Chuckling softly, Jen added, “Which is a little odd when you think there are more Marines than sailors where I work.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty much not supposed to lift anything heavier than a teacup.” Beth let out a frustrating sigh, and pointed to the opposite corner of the small room.
“Back injury?” Jen dropped the box on a stack of similar boxes.
“Strained ligament,” Beth replied, obviously uneasy.
“How’d you hurt it?” Jen sat back down.
“Trying to get a woman eight months pregnant out of the way of a stoned thief.” Beth rolled her eyes as if to say she wasn’t sure she even believed the story.
Jen’s eyes went wide. “What?”
“Gunny and I stumbled onto a man attacking a pregnant woman in the subway on Thanksgiving. While Gunny tried to overpower the lunatic, I tried to move her out of the line of fire. I guess I tried too hard.”
“Yeah, if you’re not used to lifting, it’s really easy to damage your back.”
“It’s not my back.” Beth paused, she wasn’t used to saying this yet, but she might as well. “It’s a cervical ligament. I’m pregnant.”
“Oh! Congratulations!” Jen beamed. “Are you okay? Should I get you something? Call someone?”
Beth couldn’t help laughing at Jen’s sudden conversion to mother hen. “No, thanks. I’m fine.” She really was too. Jen’s joyful reaction was a pleasant surprise. It honestly hadn’t occurred to Beth that most people would see this as good news.
“How far along are you?”
“Almost sixteen weeks.” It felt odd for Beth, saying that out loud.
“Wow. You look great. I wouldn’t have known. I used to work with a woman who always looked like she was carrying around an oversized beach ball every time she got pregnant.”
Beth chuckled again, “That wouldn’t happen to be the same one who throws the holiday parties?”
“As a matter of fact, it is. How’d you know?” Jen’s face was contorted in confusion.
“Gunny mentioned something about a fertile Lieutenant.”
“Oh, yeah! That’s the one,” Jen laughed with Beth, “But she’s one of the nicest ladies you’ll ever meet.”
“I bet she is. Probably a lot like the Captain and Mrs. Rabb.”
“Some of the best officers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with...” Jen was interrupted by the sound of Beth’s phone.
“Yes, ma’am. She’s right here. No problem, ma’am, I’ll let her know.”
Hanging up, Beth turned towards Jen, “Mattie’s doctor had some emergency this morning so he was running a little late with his appointments and then some woman had a heart attack in the waiting room so the doctor got even further behind. She and Mattie just got out of his office. She says it’ll take about half an hour to get here.”
“That’s fine,” Jen nodded.
“I brought my lunch. If you want to have that cup of tea with me they’ve got a really nice sun room.”
“Sun room?”
“The Brits call it a conservatory. It’s just a glassed-in patio so they can enjoy the outdoors all year. It’s really quite nice for having lunch. Beats the cafeterias at any of the bases I’ve been stationed at.”
Jen followed her to the break room, making a cup of tea while Beth retrieved her lunch from the fridge. Across the hall was the doorway to the large conservatory.
Giggling, Jen took a seat at the table. “You know, I have this overwhelming urge to call out: Colonel Mustard did it with the rope in the conservatory.”
“I know what you mean. I used to think the same thing too.” Beth and Jen laughed together loudly.
“So where are you stationed?” Beth asked once her amusement was under control.
“San Diego.”
“Must be nice.”
“I like it. I would have liked it better if the Colonel, I mean Mrs. Rabb, were my CO.”
“What do you mean?”
“Originally she was assigned to be the head of the Joint Forces. She gave it up to marry the Captain.”
“You’re kidding?” Beth’s jaw practically hit the floor.
“They tossed a coin. Whoever lost would resign and follow the other.” Jen nodded sharply.
“Oh, my God.” Beth was totally amazed. “Do you think the Captain would have really given this billet up for her?”
“Oh sure. Two years ago he resigned his commission to go rescue her from an undercover mission that went sour.”
“Really?” Beth’s mouth was open wide again. “Wow, no wonder Gunny has so much respect for them.” He hadn’t mentioned it, but Beth supposed that if Mrs. Rabb had gone undercover and the Captain had resigned to go after her, it must have been some awful mess.
“We all do. And we’re all so happy they’re finally together.”
“They’re so perfect together. I just assumed they’d been married for years. It was only recently that Gunny told me they’d only just got married.”
“Surprised the hell out of the rest of us, too. In a good way, though.”
“I bet. At least it makes sense why they don’t have any more kids. I mean, I had wondered why such a great couple only had the one. Then I realized she wasn’t really his daughter, only his ward. But I guess it won’t be long now before they start a family. Once the honeymoon is over that is.” Beth hesitated a moment. “Or do you think they don’t want children? You know some people are just happy with each other.”
“No man who does what the Captain did for Mattie doesn’t want children. When she was in her accident, he was at her bedside every day without fail. No matter how late he got out of work, he did the long drive and sat by her side, praying for her to open her eyes. Her own father abandoned her again. That’s why he and the Colonel have permanent custody.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“The Colonel used to be a big sister. Apparently she straightened out a pretty obnoxious kid, but the thing is, even after the little girl left to live with her dad, Mac still kept in touch, and had her come for visits and things. She even still refers to her as her little sister. I doubt seriously they don’t want children.” Jen didn’t realize she’d let out a small sigh.
“What’s the sigh for?”
“What? Oh, nothing, really.” Jen hesitated about whether or not she should say anything. “It’s just the Colonel seems a little sensitive right now whenever children are mentioned and I’m thinking they may be trying but not having any luck. I’ve heard it’s not that easy to get pregnant when you’re over 35 and well, a few other things too.”
Beth stared at Jen as though she were holding the Holy Grail.
“Okay, your turn. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“The day I told the Captain I was pregnant, Mrs. Rabb was in the room. She didn’t react then, but when she left his office, Gunny and I thought she was crying.”
“Really?” Jen pressed her lips tightly together. Blast, she’d hoped she was wrong.
Beth merely nodded her head. It didn’t seem fair. Captain and Mrs. Rabb wanting to have children and unable, and here she was pregnant without trying. It just wasn’t fair.
Chapter 14
Penway’s Fish and Chips
Next day
Ever since her conversation with Jen over lunch, Beth couldn’t stop thinking about Mrs. Rabb. Could it be true she was trying to get pregnant and couldn’t? Gunny had been chatting away about the big wedding on New Year’s Eve. That mousy legal attaché to the Embassy had thought since most of her friends and family couldn’t come to her wedding, she’d just invite every American she’d ever met or worked with. Beth couldn’t understand why the woman felt the need to have as many people on her side of the church as on her English fiancé’s side. Couldn’t they just split the guests down the middle? Of course, this was going to be the first New Year’s Eve that she actually had someplace to go and someone to go with. Even if Gunny was just a friend, and she didn’t like the legal weenie bride.
“Yo.” Gunny waved his hand in Beth’s face. “You’ve been somewhere else all evening. What’s up?”
“Tired, long day, thinking about what’s-her-name’s wedding.”
“What is so hard to remember about Mary?” Gunny snickered softly, wondering what it was about Mary that Beth disliked so.
Shrugging her shoulders she let out a humming sound that bore a slight resemblance to ‘I don’t know.’ “Gunny?” she finally ventured.
“Yes?”
“How many years exactly have you known the Captain and Mrs. Rabb?”
“Let me think.” Gunny scrunched one eye in thought, silently counting. “I met the Colonel first, a little over five years ago. The Captain, a Lt. Commander at the time, came back from flying about a month later.”
“Were they already dating then?”
“No. As a matter of fact, there was an Australian officer pursuing the Colonel back then."
“What happened to him?”
“He went back to Australia when the Colonel postponed the wedding.” Gunny wondered what prompted this sudden curiosity about the Rabbs’ personal life. He wasn’t comfortable discussing superior officers.
“She was going to marry someone else?” Beth looked really surprised.
“Until Commander Rabb crashed his tomcat in the ocean during a storm while trying to get back in time for the wedding.”
Beth’s entire face curled into a nearly horrified grimace. Closing her mouth and swallowing hard, she took a deep breath, processed all the information Gunny had provided, and asked her next question.
“Is that when they finally got together?”
It was painfully clear to Gunny that he was going to need to either tell Beth it was none of her business, or tell her everything. The rest of dinner was spent with Gunny rehashing as much as he knew about the Colonel and Commander’s history.
“And now you know as much as I do.” Gunny set his fork down on his empty plate and sat back.
“Actually, I know more.”
“You do?”
“Yup. They flipped a coin to see who was going to resign their commission to get married.”
“Really?” One side of Gunny’s mouth curled up in a sweet smile that lit up his eyes.
“Yeah.” Beth nodded, momentarily lost in the romance of it all.
“Tell me, why the sudden curiosity in the Rabbs’ relationship?”
“Nothing really.” Beth mulled over all the stories Gunny had told her about Captain and Mrs. Rabb. She was more convinced than ever that they were meant to be together, and were very likely the happiest couple she’d ever met. “Do you think they’ll have children?”
“Don’t know. Never gave it any thought.” Thinking about it for a second, Gunny continued. “They’re godparents to the Roberts’ oldest son, and they seemed to take that seriously. I mean, it wasn’t unusual to find something like an oversized bear in the Commander’s office just before little AJ’s birthday.” Gunny smiled at the memory of the time he’d walked into Commander Rabb’s office the day before AJ’s first birthday. The stuffed bear was bigger than the poor kid and the Commander had flushed all different shades of red explaining why the bear was in his office at all, never mind in the desk chair.
Baileys Millennium Hotel
Kensington
Dec 31, 2005
“What a cool way to remember your anniversary.” Mattie grinned at no one in particular.
“I don’t know. I would think the celebration of your anniversary would get lost in the New Year stuff. Don’t you think?” Jen directed at Harm or Mac.
“Couldn’t tell you. This is our first official New Year together, and we haven’t had an anniversary yet,” Mac shrugged.
“Which reminds me, if you will excuse us, they’re playing our song.” Harm stood up, bowed gently from the waist, and led his wife out to the dance floor.
“And exactly what is ‘our’ song?” Mac snuggled comfortably against her husband.
“Anything that brings you into my arms.” Harm gently kissed her temple, spun them around, and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Mrs. Rabb.”
It had been a while since Harm and Mac had been able to enjoy dancing together. They had danced some at their wedding, but too often they’d been interrupted by clanking spoons, or guests wanting a turn with the bride or groom. It was nice not being the center of attention and simply swaying to the music in each other’s arms.
“I reserved a room for us here at the hotel. Actually two, one for the girls and one for you and me. Might as well bring the New Year in with style.”
“Think anyone would notice if we slipped away early?” Mac nestled her cheek in the crook of his neck.
“We can always give it a try, but we’ll probably have to at least wait till the fireworks at midnight.”
“I think I can wait till then.” Mac gently kissed the spot on his neck that had been calling to her since she curled into his arms.
Sighing heavily at the feathery feel of her lips on his skin, he murmured, “If you keep that up, I won’t last long.” Recognizing the tune playing, Harm sang softly in Mac’s ear. “I love the look of you.... the lure of you... I’d love to make.... a tour of you.”
Mac couldn’t resist a small giggle. “Tour of me, huh?”
Nodding his head, Harm continued singing, “The east, west, north and the south of you.” Mentally he was mapping out every inch of her he planned on exploring when they reached their room tonight.
“Let me guess, Fred Astaire?”
Harm nodded and smiled, “Who else could sing Cole Porter like that and get away with it?"
“They have been playing quite a lot of the older tunes, haven’t they?” Mac leaned a little more into Harm’s embrace.
“I think someone said Mary is an old musical fan. So far they’ve played mostly Cole Porter and a little Gershwin.”
Mac had to admit, there was something very romantic about some of the old show tunes. The band had done a lovely job of blending from one song to the next. “Did Cole Porter write this too?” Mac tilted her head back slightly to look at Harm as the melody of ‘Cheek to Cheek’ grew stronger.
“No. I think this is Irving Berlin,” Harm smiled, before singing, “Heaven, I’m in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak...”
“Is there a more romantic looking couple in the room?” Jen practically sighed, her eyes closely following Harm and Mac as they moved around the dance floor. “I can’t believe it took them SO long to finally get together.”
“You can’t?” Gunny smiled. “I was there when she almost married the wrong guy.”
“They really do look happy, don’t they?” Beth had been watching them as intently as Jen had. It was hard not to. Something about them just oozed all the hope and romance that every girl dreamed of on New Year’s Eve.
“It really says something when the guests grab more attention than the bride and groom.” Mattie had to admit, even she couldn’t argue that Harm and Mac looked spectacularly in love.
Beth chuckled quietly, “You know I hadn’t thought of that. Where is the happy couple?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been watching these two all night.” Jen pointed vaguely in Harm and Mac’s direction.
“Do you think they’ll ever get tired of each other?” Beth hadn’t stopped watching them dance. Her stomach filled with butterflies every time the couple gently kissed, or when Mac’s cheek would rest softly against Harm.
“You know, I really doubt it. It took them too long to get here.” Jen, like Beth, had her eyes glued to the romantic couple.
“Ladies, I don’t want to be the pin to burst your bubble, but you do realize you’re talking about a superior officer?”
Beth and Jen turned to Gunny with the same heated glare.
“Just pointing out a technicality here.” Gunny raised his hands defensively.
“Well don’t,” three voices volunteered simultaneously, before bursting into a fit of laughter.
The time had come and gone for the cake to be cut, the garter and bouquet to be thrown, and now everyone was clamored around the wall of windows counting down the last few seconds of 2005.
Traci Manetti had chosen to spend the break with some relatives in Italy. Ensign Barnes had left early to ring in the New Year with his girlfriend’s family. Petty Officer Blair and a handful of other staff from London Headquarters were scattered around the room, oblivious to their boss or his family. Gunny and Beth stood not far from Jen and Mattie.
Cheers of ‘Five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year!’ filled the room. Right on cue, the sky filled with bursts of bright lights. The colorful display easily rivaled the best shows on the fourth of July.
Somehow the sound of fireworks exploding outdoors seemed fitting to the fire burning within as Harm and Mac fell into their first ever New Year’s embrace. Completely indifferent to the crowd around them, Harm and Mac kissed as though they were the only two people in the room. All their hopes, dreams, and desires for the year to come were flowing passionately in the representation of one searing kiss.
Gunny leaned over to hug Beth for the New Year, suddenly overcome with awkwardness when his lips fell smack dab on hers. Pulling back quickly to hug Jen and Mattie with New Year’s greetings, he shook a few hands around him, and hugged a few more of the ladies, almost ashamed to look Beth in the face again. He hadn’t meant to kiss her on the mouth. It just happened without thinking, but what worried him more was how right it felt, and how much he wanted to do it again.
Chapter 15
Rabb Flat
Five days later
0700
Harm stood at the counter pouring another cup of coffee. It had been a long night. He’d come home after working late to find Mac curled up in bed crying. He hadn’t needed to ask why. He knew what time of the month it was, and what the only thing was that could break his wife’s spirit so intensely.
He’d never said a word to her. Kicking off his shoes, he’d crawled under the covers next to her and held her in his arms until she’d cried herself to sleep. Then quietly, he’d stripped out of his uniform, slipped back under the covers, and lay awake, holding his wife, wondering if he could ever make her truly happy if he couldn’t give her the one thing she seemed to want so badly. The one thing they both wanted so badly.
Not having heard Mac walk into the kitchen, Harm literally jumped when she came up behind him and kissed his shoulder.
“Morning. Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Mac opened a cabinet in search of a mug.
“I should have been paying more attention.” Harm grabbed the sponge in the sink and wiped up the mess he’d just made spilling his coffee, then tossed it back where he’d found it.
“I’m sorry I was so upset last night.” Mac was trying desperately to put on a brave face. To pretend that she was fine, that this was just another morning and not another day where her hopes and dreams seemed to be slipping further and further away.
“Oh, Mac.” Harm reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t you ever apologize for letting your feelings show. I don’t ever want you to hide anything from me, ever. Deal?”
“Deal,” she smiled into his shoulder. “I know this could take time. That I have to be patient, but it just hurts so damn much.” Mac bit her lower lip, not wanting to start crying again. She hated it when she carried on like a blubbering idiot.
“I know it does, but we’ve barely started trying. We just have to be a little more patient than most people, but it will happen, I just know it will.” Harm rubbed her back in small soothing circles, silently praying he was right.
London Headquarters
0815
Beth knocked lightly on her CO’s door. “I’ve got your coffee, sir. They delivered cinnamon rolls this morning so I saved you one.”
“Thank you, Petty Officer.” Harm wished he could clone Beth for every CO. He never had to tell her if he wanted tea or coffee, she just always knew, and she hadn’t made a bad choice in donuts yet either. “If you have a minute, I’d like the number for a local florist.”
“Yes, sir.” Beth leaned forward and placed a piece of paper on Harm’s desk. “They do lovely arrangements. I’m sure Mrs. Rabb will be very pleased.”
Harm looked up at Beth. How the hell did she do that? He seriously doubted that she walked around every day with a florist’s phone number in her hand just in case he was inspired to send his wife flowers. “Thank you, Beth.” Harm nodded his dismissal.
Beth stepped back into her outer office to find Gunny standing by her desk.
“Morning,” she smiled. She’d sensed an odd sort of distance in Gunny the last few days. She hadn’t seen him the rest of the weekend after the wedding, and since they’d come back to work two days ago, he would only join her for lunch. He’d made some excuse or other to avoid having dinner with her and she was starting to worry. She hadn’t realized how attached she’d grown to having his company.
“Morning. Is the Captain very busy?” Gunny asked casually, no hint of any discomfort.
“I’ll check.” Beth had sensed the minute the Captain walked in the door that things weren’t going well. He had two distinct looks about him when there was trouble. One was a half-hearted scowl that appeared whenever something work related had him upset or annoyed, like when Mary was killed. The other was when that same distressed expression held a glimpse of pain in his eyes. Then Beth knew it was something involving Mrs. Rabb. She hadn’t seen it often, but this morning the pain was almost shouting at her.
As Beth was about to buzz her boss, her phone sounded. “Petty Officer James... Oh... okay... yeah, he’s right here. Send her up.”
Beth turned to Gunny. “That was Corporal Rutkins. Mrs. Baugh is here to see us.”
Gunny looked at Beth wondering why this name sounded so familiar when it suddenly hit him. “I hope nothing is wrong.”
Tapping lightly on the door, the timid voice asked, “Am I coming at a bad time?”
“No, not at all.” Gunny directed the woman from the subway attack to have a seat in the nearest chair.
“You’re a hard man to find, Sergeant. Apparently your military doesn’t take too kindly to strangers inquiring about where their soldiers are posted.”
“Sorry, ma’am,” Gunny smiled apologetically. “ What can I do for you?”
“Oh, heavens. I think you’ve done enough.” The tiny woman laughed, reaching into the baby buggy at her side. “I wanted to introduce you to someone.”
Gunny looked at the buggy for the first time.
“This is Victoria Elizabeth Baugh.” Without any hesitation, Melody Baugh handed the young infant over to Gunny.
“Well, hello there young lady.” Gunny immediately curled the tiny baby into his arms, careful to keep the small bundle away from his sharp medals.
“You must have children. It’s obvious you’re a pro.”
“No, ma’am,” Gunny blushed, “but I do have four sisters, so I’ve definitely had practice.”
The woman smiled, watching her rescuer coo at his namesake. “It was the only proper way I could think of to thank you both, but by the time things settled down enough to talk to you, you’d been discharged and no one would tell me how to find you.”
Beth stepped around her desk to look at the baby.
“Would you like to hold her?” Melody asked.
“I’m not very good with babies.” Beth shook her head nervously, still watching Gunny intently.
Gunny looked up at Beth for the first time since Melody had come in with the baby. Could that be it? Was Beth so unfamiliar with children that she could be frightened into giving away her own baby?
“I think you’d better start learning.” Not giving her the chance to say no, Gunny reached over and practically dropped the baby girl in Beth’s arms.
Relieved the sweet girl hadn’t chosen that moment to scream her head off, a broad smile slowly spread across Beth’s face.
“Beth,” Harm opened the door and stepped into his outer office not expecting to find such a crowd. He wasn’t normally as perceptive as Mac, but even he could see the way Gunny was watching Beth with the baby. He’d had that same exact look on his face when he talked about Faresa back in Afghanistan.
“Yes, sir?” Beth looked up, completely forgetting she was holding a baby.
“I need you to make copies of this for me in triplicate. Admiral Ulrich will have my head if it’s not on his and the SecNav’s desks by morning.” Inching his way towards the small group, Harm’s face broke out in a huge grin. “Who have we here?”
“This is Victoria Baugh. Would you like to hold her?”
Harm’s expression changed instantly to one of sheer panic. “No, that’s fine, Petty Officer. Carry on.” Harm dropped the file on Beth’s desk and practically flew back to his room.
Beth studied the closed door a few minutes. The Captain seemed genuinely pleased to see the baby, but did a complete about face when asked to hold her. Was he just an inexperienced man or did he not really like babies? Beth sighed softly to herself. She was never going to figure out what to do.
Chapter 16
Gunny and Beth waved as Melody and the baby headed back out the door.
“I’d better check if the Captain can see you now.” Beth scurried around her desk and informed her CO that the Gunny needed to speak with him. She hadn’t told Gunny that she’d taken his advice and bought a maternity girdle. She was really happy she had, it made moving around quickly so much easier. Waving Gunny onto the office, Beth grabbed the files from her desk and hurried off to make the requested copies.
“What can I do for you today?” Harm was shuffling papers around on his desk, undoubtedly something else to do with the Admiral and the SecNav.
“Well, sir, I’ve been working with Commander Manetti on the Russell assault case. As you know, she’s not expected back until Monday and I didn’t think this information should wait.” Gunny handed over a thin file.
Harm leaned back and opened the folder. “Right. A British citizen accused Petty Officer Russell of assault. The Petty Officer denied being anywhere near the victim, but a witness said he saw the entire thing and positively identified Russell.”
“Yes, sir. That’s the one.”
“What have you got that can’t wait until Monday?” Harm flipped a page in the file.
“It just didn’t sound right, sir. Too pat, too easy, so I did a little digging. It seems the Petty Officer has a new girlfriend.”
Harm put the file down to listen to what the Gunny had to say. One of the reasons Harm had been so pleased to have Gunny join his team was due to his impeccable instincts when it came to detective work.
“A local girl, sir. She and the victim, Mr. Hughes, have known each other a long time. According to the pubkeeper, everyone knows he’s very fond of the young lady.”
“Your point, Gunny?”
“It’s a lie, sir. Mr. Hughes and his friend concocted the plan to keep Russell away from the girl.”
Harm raised one eyebrow at him. “You have proof?”
“Yes, sir. Last two pages. The pubkeeper, when asked the right questions, told me he overheard the two discussing it over a couple of pints a few nights before the alleged incident. When I confronted the witness with the information, he finally caved and confessed the whole thing. I’ve been unable to locate the ‘gentleman’ who was paid to ‘make it look good’.”
Harm looked over the last two signed statements.
“I didn’t think it was right to leave Russell in the brig any longer, sir,” Gunny added.
“Agreed.” Harm picked up a pen and put his name to the order for release. “Make sure Scotland Yard gets a copy. It’ll be up to them if they want to press charges.”
“Yes, sir.” Gunny waited for the Captain to finish attaching his John Hancock to all the required pages, a little surprised when Harm sat back and gestured towards the chairs.
"Gunny, have a seat for a moment."
"Sir?" Gunny asked warily.
"Relax, Victor," Harm smiled, observing the guilty look that flashed through Gunny's eyes. "You know I don't like to pry into people’s private lives. What my staff does outside this office is none of my business."
"Yes sir," he agreed blandly.
Standing up, Harm paused to look out his window at the gray London day. Gathering his thoughts, he turned around and continued, "Gunny, you and I, we’re not the kind of men who beat around the bush so I'm going to come right out and ask. What exactly is going on with you and Petty Officer James?”
Gunny stared at his CO for a moment. He hadn’t been expecting the captain to be this direct, and he honestly didn’t know how to answer.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Gunny, I’m not blind or stupid. Petty Officer James sits at a desk right outside my door. I know you two have been spending a great deal of time together, both in and out of the office. Need I remind you that on more than one occasion I have witnessed some sort of commotion between you and the Petty Officer?"
“No, sir. I regret any inappropriate behavior, sir. It won’t happen again.” Gunny stiffened, his mind flashing back to when the Colonel had thought he’d been making unwanted advances toward Beth. That wasn’t the first time their personal lives had crossed over into the office.
“Stand down, Marine,” Harm couldn’t hold back a short chuckle at Gunny’s bristled response. “I’m not questioning your behavior, Gunny. Though, I would prefer it if my yeoman weren’t reduced to tears on a daily basis. I'm asking because I can see the way you look at each other.”
“I’m sure you’re mistaken, sir. The Petty Officer looks at me the same way she does every other person in this office.”
“And you? Gunny, there's a look in your eyes I haven't seen in a long time."
Gunny paled suddenly. Was it that obvious to everyone around him?
"It's...complicated sir," Gunny answered in a low voice.
Unable to hold back the laugh at Gunny's words, Harm held up his hand to forestall any response Gunny might make. "Come on, Victor, you know I wrote that book. I'm not here as your CO, but as a friend. Talk to me."
It was a full minute before Gunny answered. "Doesn’t matter, sir. It’s a one way street again. Besides, I know the regs, sir. I know better than to get involved with someone I work with, in any line of work."
Harm watched impassively as Gunny shifted anxiously in his seat. There was a sudden glint in his eye, like the one Harm had seen in Afghanistan.
“Sir, it’s just... she’s so amazing. She’s smart, funny, and brave. Stronger than any woman I've ever met, except for the Colonel."
Shrugging one shoulder, Harm smiled. "As much as I appreciate your respect for my wife Gunny, I don’t recommend you phrase any compliments to James quite like that."
The corner of Gunny’s mouth twitched in a half-hearted smile. “Understood, sir, but as I said before. It doesn’t matter. She’s got other priorities right now. She just needs a friend, sir.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you’ve misread the situation.”
“No, sir. We’re just friends.”
“Gunny, I’m not trying to advocate intra-office relationships, far from it. But, if you really care for this woman, don’t let misplaced loyalties to your job, or what you think she might or might not be feeling, stop you from exploring the possibilities.”
“Like you and the Colonel?” Gunny realized he might have just stepped out of bounds.
“Like me and the Colonel. If I hadn’t been so worried about our careers and the consequences of having a relationship with someone I worked with, even if she was my best friend, Mac and I would have gotten together years ago in Australia. The whole Brumby fiasco wouldn’t even be a faded memory, and Mac and I would probably have two or three kids to bounce on our knees.”
“You and the Colonel want children, sir?” Gunny was really pressing his luck now.
Harm glanced out the window a moment then back at the Gunny, “Very much. How do you feel about Beth’s baby?” Harm was pretty sure he knew the answer, it would have been much how he’d felt about Josh, or Mattie. He knew Gunny was an honorable man.
“I haven’t given it much thought, sir. I mean, it’s not my place. It’s not what she wants.”
“Is it what you want?”
“I...I don’t know, sir.” Gunny honestly didn’t know. He knew he didn’t care he wasn’t the father, but he simply didn’t dare allow himself to even consider that Beth would want him that way.
“Gunny, if the Navy hadn’t seen fit to assign Mac and me to opposite ends of the world, we’d probably still be dancing around our feelings, afraid of damaging our friendship. I can’t say how Beth feels, and I certainly am not condoning office liaisons, but make sure you’re not letting something good slip away out of fear.” Harm nodded knowingly at Gunny, stood up, and moved back around to his desk.
“Very well, Gunny. Dismissed.” Harm really was going to need to have a long talk with Chegwidden. He and Mac had put the Admiral through hell. For now, he just hoped Gunny didn’t lose a good woman to a misplaced sense of duty. Look where that idea had gotten him and Mac all these years.
“Aye, aye, sir.” Gunny turned on his heel and took a deep silent breath as he stepped out of the office. He was almost relieved to see that Beth hadn’t returned to her desk yet. He knew the moment he’d kissed her on New Year’s Eve that there was more in his heart than just friendship, but he didn’t want to take advantage of Beth’s vulnerability. He didn’t want her confusing gratitude for his friendship with romantic interest. No, no matter what the Captain said, what Beth needed now from him was his friendship, nothing more. She didn’t need him to add to the complications in her life.
Beth was just coming around the corner at the same time as Gunny. With a rather ungraceful thud, the two collided, strewing her folders all over the floor.
“Are you okay?” Gunny questioned immediately, grabbing her arm to help steady her.
“Yeah, my center of gravity seems to be shifting,” she laughed. “I need to be more careful rounding those corners.”
“Let me get those.” Gunny bent down to gather up the papers. “Do you need some help sorting them out?”
“No, I’ll figure it out,” she smiled sweetly. She was in a good mood this morning despite Gunny’s odd behavior of late. The previously frequent pain in her side was nearly gone, and holding the Baugh baby had been much more appealing than she would have thought.
“You’re sure I can’t make it up to you?”
“Well, if you’re trying to make up for almost knocking my lights out, I’ll take dinner at
Clachan’s.” Beth bit her lower lip. She’d been missing having dinners with Gunny and she hoped he wouldn’t back out. “I’ll even pick up the tab,” she added hastily, afraid he was going to say no.
Slowly, a broad smile spread across the Gunny’s face. “That sounds like I’m the one getting the better end of the deal. 1700?”
“1700,” she nodded happily.
Gunny quietly watched Beth return to her desk. Okay, so maybe he’d need to think a little more about what the Captain said. At least, some of it.
Chapter 17
Two weeks later
Rabb Flat
1230
Harm pulled Mac tightly against him. His favorite part about this time of the month was being able to spend his lunchtime in bed with his wife. He’d read all the material he could find on infertility issues and how one of the hardest traps to avoid was not letting sex become a chore during ovulation. Harm couldn’t help smiling to himself. How could this ever be considered a chore?
“What’s so funny?” Mac shifted her weight a little more heavily onto Harm, running her finger along his jaw line and settling it on his cute lips.
“Nothing really. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy coming home for ‘lunch’?”
Mac could feel the rumble in his chest as he tried not to laugh again. “Maybe,” she grinned, tossing her leg fully over his, she crawled into a straddling position, her lips now only inches away from Harm’s. “Can I interest you in dessert?”
The growl that rumbled deep in Harm’s chest had nothing to do with an urge to laugh. Flipping Mac over onto her back, his lips came painfully close to hers.
“Always,” he breathed, his mouth descending the final distance, melding smoothly with hers. Being with Mac made Harm feel eighteen all over again. No matter how often they made love, it was never enough.
He’d barely had a chance to begin to savor the taste of his lovely bride, when his cell phone chirped annoyingly at the bedside.
Mac shot her arm out, groping blindly along the nightstand for the intrusive apparatus.
Refusing to cease his endeavors, Harm trailed a path of deliciously moist kisses along her cheek, stopping momentarily at the base of her ear. “Ignore it.”
Her head lolling back in delight, Mac wrapped her fingers around the still sounding phone. “It’s not like Beth to disturb your ‘lunch’ Maybe the White House DID explode.”
“You’d better be right.” Reluctantly, Harm rolled to the side. Sitting up, he answered the phone. “Rabb.”
“Sorry to disturb you, sir.” Beth had debated with herself for almost ten minutes whether or not to call the Captain at home. She really hadn’t wanted to interrupt him. After Gunny had mentioned that the Captain and Mrs. Rabb wanted children very much, she was pretty sure that Jen and her conclusions were correct and these lunches had nothing to do with food.
“What is it, James?”
“Sir, you got a phone call from the Embassy. Something about notification from the Queen and needing to speak to you right away. I’m sorry, sir, but I thought the Queen might rank up there with the White House, sir.”
“Who made the call?”
“The Ambassador himself, sir.”
“I see, very well. I’ll call him back from here. Thank you, Beth.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
“What’s wrong?” Mac asked, watching Harm scroll through his directory.
“Nothing, I hope. Ambassador Wilkes called. Something about notification from the Queen.”
“Oh.” Mac sat up, patiently listening to the one-sided conversation. After the first few times Harm said, “I see,” “Yes, I agree,” and “Understood,” she rolled out of bed and reached for her robe. Whatever this was, it sounded like the rest of their ‘lunch’ would have to be postponed.
“Well isn’t that something?” Harm flipped his phone shut and walked over to where Mac was standing at the foot of the bed.
“What?”
Dropping his hands loosely around his wife’s waist, he moved to kiss her neck.“It seems our Gunny has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.”
“Wow. What for?”
“Technically, for stopping the subway attacker.”
“Technically?”
“Apparently it was brought to the attention of the House of Lords that not only did Gunny save a pregnant woman and prevent any further attacks on the subway from a man who was on a rampage, but it was also pointed out that Gunny was instrumental in gaining access to information that thwarted the subway bombings last month.”
“Wow,” Mac repeated.
“Yeah. The official ceremony will be held two weeks from now.”
Chlachan’s Pub
Later that night
“I can’t believe you asked the Captain to let me attend,” Beth rubbed her hands together, chasing away the winter chill.
“Well, you’re the closest thing to family I have here. You don’t mind do you? I mean, if you’d rather not...” Gunny figured since the Captain already knew how he felt about Beth, he wouldn’t need to explain why he wanted to include her.
“Are you kidding? I’m honored. I just wish I didn’t look so fat.” Beth had finally had to give up on the rubber bands and start wearing maternity uniforms.
“You’re not fat, you’re pregnant. Besides, I think you look beautiful.” Gunny stiffened awkwardly. He hadn’t meant to let that slip.
“Liar, but thank you.” Beth couldn’t imagine how she’d make it through this pregnancy if not for Gunny’s never-ending support.
Gunny debated what to say next. He almost told her the story about the time Tiner had told Harriet he thought pregnant women looked sexy, but decided that was more of a Pandora’s box than having told her she was beautiful.
“Is something wrong?” Beth noticed Gunny looking unusually pensive.
“I just think the whole thing is a waste of time. People do brave things every day and getting into a fight with a druggie shouldn’t be considered one of them.”
“That’s not the point and you know it. That lunatic had hit on three other people before Melody, and the last one was in intensive care for a week. If you hadn’t shown up, he could have killed Melody and the baby. Even worse, he could have gone on attacking more unsuspecting people, putting heaven only knows how many others in the hospital. You did a good thing Gunny, and I’m proud of you.” Beth rolled her eyes, before shutting them tightly. Her blasted water faucet was about to start again.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Gunny hated it when he did that. He couldn’t help but think of what the Captain had told him about not bringing Beth to tears on a daily basis.
“You didn’t. These are happy tears, not the same as crying.” Grabbing the napkin off the table, Beth tried to dry her eyes as inconspicuously as possible.
United States Embassy
London England
Two weeks later
Beth shifted uncomfortably in her seat. When Gunny had first told her he’d requested she be allowed to attend the ceremony, she had been thrilled. When she found out the commendation would be presented by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, it was all she could do to keep from throwing up.
“Is everything okay?” Mac questioned. She’d been concerned for the young petty officer ever since she arrived. Mac couldn’t remember ever actually seeing anyone turn green before.
“Fine, thank you.” She was lying through her teeth. “I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I absolutely love the way that suit looks on you, ma’am.” Beth was bound and determined to pull this off if it killed her. After all, it wasn’t the Queen herself who was going to be there, and it wasn’t like she was the one getting the commendation.
“Thank you,” Mac smiled. Leaning into Harm’s side, she turned to whisper in his ear. “I hope Beth makes it through this. I know we’re all proud of Gunny, but she looks so nervous, you’d think she was the one being honored.”
“It’s probably just hormonal,” Harm shrugged lightly. Truth be told, he was a little nervous himself and glad that Gunny had requested Mac be added to the guest list. Things always went much smoother with her at his side.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Mac asked a little louder than she’d intended, a few heads in the room turning in her direction. “Are you implying being pregnant makes women nervous?” she repeated very quietly.
“No. I’m saying pregnant women are more emotional, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s expected.” Lightly tapping her leg, he lowered his voice. “Shh, it’s starting.”
Everyone rose as the Duke began his speech. Gunny stood stiffly, ever the proud Marine. The entire American delegation was beaming. Harm and Mac looked prouder than any parents could. The smiles on their faces putting the Cheshire cat to shame.
As the official ceremony came to an end, the Duke and Gunny saluted, shook hands, and with little pomp or circumstance, the gathering began to disperse.
Mac stepped away from the crowd. The photographers were snapping photographs and a few miscellaneous reporters were rapidly scribbling down names and asking the Gunny for his side of the story. She was touched when she saw Gunny reach out and request Beth join him for the remainder of the photos. They made a nice looking family. Mac couldn’t help but wonder if it was going to take them as many years to recognize what they had as it did she and Harm. Though, technically, she and Harm were merely a couple. They weren’t a family yet. Clutching her purse tightly to her side, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. Before meeting Harm at the embassy she’d stopped at a nearby drugstore. Maybe today would be different then the last few times, maybe today would be a special day for everyone.
The end for now.
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