Author: Eggy Weg :)
Classification: Webb/Mac fluff
Rating: PG
Spoiler: Gypsy eyes
Summary: Playing with the triplets and meeting Webb's Brother Edward.
Archive: Sure help yourself
Feedback: Please
Disclaimer: Not mine
A/N: Big thanks to Andrea for the beta. All mistakes are hers; when I sent it to her, it was perfect, I swear. *Grin* Yeah right!.
A/N 1: I have added more since the beta, so its only really half beta'd.
~~~
Mac watched stunned as the once the stuffy CIA agent crawled around on his hands and knees chasing the triplets through the jungle gym. It hadn't taken long before he had gotten involved in their little adventure, lured by their innocent faces. It was exactly 43 seconds later that he was lying face down in the dirt as the three children climbed over him to make their way to the top of the castle. And
hence the great chase had started...
He tried to get her involved in the game a few times but she found watching was enough. Seeing him so open and loving, she knew this wasn't a site many people had the privilege of seeing, and she wanted to cherish every moment. He was great with the kids, hell half the playground were following him trying to get his attention and join in the game. He would certainly make a great father, the question was did he want to be one?
One thing she was sure of though was that she had made the right choice in admitting her feelings for him, and she knew he would never use them against her. That game of kiss and tell had been quite an eye-opener into the life of Clayton Webb; who'd have thought the upper crust of society delighted in Beltway Burgers and was addicted to Oreo's.
The shriek of a cell phone grabbed her attention and she couldn't help but laugh as Clay grumpily came down from the climbing frame, clearly disappointed at the interruption.
"Webb" He answered once his feet were on solid ground. "Yeah we are at the park no...Yeah...No it's at JAG...No Ed that's OK I'll bring them back now. No I can drop them off...Why...don't Ed... Edward" He said exasperated, and then he looked up at her in shock. "He hung up on me" Then shaking his head clear "We have to get back to JAG, Ed's coming to pick up the kids...We should hurry"
So thirty minutes and a lot of trouble later they entered the bullpen, she realized why. A man she assumed to be Edward Webb was leaning forward in a threatening pose, invading the Admiral's
personal space as a flustered Rabb stood helplessly by.
No stranger to dangerous situations, AJ stood calmly sizing the intruder up. A taller, stockier version of Clay, the man must have been in his early fifties. The slight tinge of grey in his hair gave him a sophisticated air and, even in jeans, the man oozed nobility. Yes, he was a Webb alright. There was no denying it, he had all the family traits: stubborn, arrogant, and always right; you probably couldn't beat an apology out of the guy.
Knowing most men, when threatened, either go on the defensive or offensive, AJ decided to take a different route and see what he was up against. To catch the man off guard, he would be as polite as can be.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr.… Webb?" he greeted and noticed something flicker in the other man's eyes. He'd seen that same flicker in Clayton's eyes before today. Was it respect?
"Oh, I'm sure it is, Admiral," Edward replied, moving in even closer. He had known the Admiral knew a thing or two, but to stay calm, polite even, in his position was impressive. A long time Company employee, Edward's menacing presence had shaken the most hardened of men. But here, the Admiral wasn't expecting the verbal attack and yet he had taken it in stride. Perhaps Clay was right about him after all.
"You broke my brother's nose?" he growled, staring him down. AJ started to chuckle, finally understanding what this confrontation was all about. It seems like the Webb's at least looked after their
own.
Luckily, it was at this moment that the triplets made their presence known. Their father's face and stance instantly softened as they hugged his legs hello.
Knowing this was the only chance he would get, Clay used the distraction to try and ease the situation. "Admiral, will you excuse us for a moment please?" Clay asked, respectfully address in him by rank. He grabbed...Edward by his arm, effectively dragging him away from AJ.
"Sure, I'll be in my office," AJ replied, deciding to let this one slide. As much as he hated the idea, over the years, he had come to care for Clay and was glad someone was around to watch his back.
"That's the Admiral? He doesn't look very intimidating...Why did you LET him break your nose?" Edward joked loudly, making sure AJ would hear. He had never gotten the full story from his brother, just that he deserved it and to leave it alone, but nobody touched a Webb and
got away with it.
"Why did I *let* him?!?!" Clay repeated incredulously. "I didn't really have much choice in the matter, Edward."
"You know what I mean," he replied, casting Clay an expectant glare. "What happened?"
"That's need to know," he answered, causing the JAG officers around them to begin laughing and the Admiral to snicker as he shut the office door. So it wasn't just them he used that on after all.
"Need to know? Clay, my clearance is higher than yours," Edward informed him with a grin, knowing if Clay trusted the people around him then so could he. And the way the Admiral backed off without
holding a grudge, it seemed that trust was earned.
"Yeah, but you don't *need* to know," he replied with a proud smirk which could only bore from a younger sibling who had managed to out wit an older one.
Having been beaten twice in the space of five minutes Edward decided a change of tactics was in order, so he turned to Mac and changed the subject.
"So, who is this beautiful lady, Clay?" he asked, guessing from the Marine insignia that this was the famed Colonel Mackenzie.
"Daddy, that's Auntie Sawa," Bobby happily informed him, moving from his leg to her and opening his arms for a hug. Swiftly picking him up and placing him on her hip, she held her hand out to Edward.
"Colonel Sarah Mackenzie," she introduced herself, hoping to turn the conversation.
"Auntie Sarah?" He questioned, taking her hand and looking over to Clay, who was too busy watching Sarah with child to notice.
"They was kissin' at the park," Tommy giggled, causing eyebrows to be raised all over the bullpen. He looked over to Clay, who was obviously smitten, and nodded approvingly, then kissed the back of
her hand.
"Well, Auntie Sarah, it's an honor and a privilege." A blush rose to her cheeks at the warm greeting.
Earlier, during their game of kiss and tell in the park, Clay had told her about Edward and how he had taken a protective, fatherly role once Neville died. She had expected to have to pass some serious scrutiny from him to get a welcome into this family, but it was being offered to her on a plate. She couldn't help but wonder if she would still have his blessing once he knew about her past.
"It's an honor to meet you to Mr. Webb. It's just a shame it should be under such... unruly circumstances," she smiled her warning. The Admiral was her father figure and she wouldn't allow for him to be belittled in such a manner, even if it was from the brother of the man she loved. Fortunately, Edward smiled appraisingly at her words, appreciating the nobility of standing up for ones friends. And she was thankful she had started this relationship off honestly, and that she wouldn't be expected to be all sweetness and light.
"OK, OK, I know when I'm beat!" He sighed, holding up his hands in surrender mode as he moved around them to pick up his briefcase "Keep hold of this one Clay. She's got spunk...I like that!" He grinned knowing how Clay always got embarrassed when the family gave him tips for his love life, especially in public. Well if he was going down he was going to take someone with him. "Come on
kids. It's time to pick up your mother," he shouted, taking Bobby from Mac's arms.
Kissing their uncle and new auntie on the way to the elevator, the triplets shouted their goodbyes to anyone who would listen. And as the elevator doors closed and the safety of their play family was
gone, Mac and Clay looked at each other nervously as their strange new reality came crushing down on them.
"Mr. Webb?" Harriet, saw the signs and interrupted before the fear could set in. Quickly handing Clay a brightly colored piece of paper with balloons on it, she smiled shyly at his questioning look. "It's an invitation to AJ's birthday party...Our little AJ," she corrected, pointing between herself and Bud.
"We thought you might want to bring the triplets...er, if you want... you don't have to. I mean they're not the reason I invited you" She trailed off, not wanting to embarrass herself more, or him to think that he was only invited so the triplets would be there.
He couldn't help but smile at her babbling and the very pretty shade of pink she had suddenly turned. "Thanks Harriet," he said sincerely. "If I'm still in the country, we'll be there. I'm sure Ed won't mind, and the kids will love it," he said, putting the invitation in his pocket and turning to Mac.
"You'll be there right?" She nodded happily, excited that he'd be there. His heart started to beat a little faster. "Well, I'll see you all there then." He nodded his farewell as he guided her into the elevator with him; the tightness in their stomachs had nothing to do with the sudden downward motion.
"I won't keep you long. I know you need to work, but I just wanted to make sure you are OK with this. I know I let the kids push you into it," he rushed his confession, breaking the awkward silence that had engulfed them.
"I meant what I said," she said pulling him tightly to her and resting her head on his chest. Sneakily pleased when she found out it wasn't only her heart that was beating ten times a second. "You're not backing out on me now are you Webb?"
"I'm not an easy man to get to know Mac it's not too late to back out" He informed her in all seriousness, leaning back to look into her eyes. Groaning at the break of contact she roughly pushed him into the corner of the elevator.
"Stop being a gentleman Webb, I'm a grown woman, a marine, capable of fighting my own battles. I know what I'm getting into" she growled into his ear before licking along his lightly stubbled jaw
line. "Unless of course you want out?" She asked quickly backing away, already knowing his answer.
"Never" He grinned evilly, quickly spinning her around trapping her in his place. Things were just getting interesting when the elevator rudely dinged its arrival.
"I'll call you tonight," he said, stealing a quick kiss.
"You better," she playfully warned, swatting his six as he started to walk away.
~~~TBC, I don't know when though, life's been busy~~~