Memorial Day with the Rabb's
Saturday May 26th 2001
The Rabb Residence
Mac felt the gentle motion of the baby as she cut up veggies for the cookout planned for later on that afternoon. She laid the knife down and placed her hand on the now visible proof that she was pregnant with her and Harms first child. She smiled as she wondered how lucky she was that Harm was finally able to pull his head out of his six during the Olympics and admit that he loved her. Since then though it had been a wild ride from open emotions, their wedding and finding out that she was pregnant.
Being able to give Christmas a happier meaning for Harm when she told him she was pregnant was one of the best gifts he claimed that anyone had ever given him. She wasn’t sure who was more excited now, Harm or her? By agreement, the sex of their child was the final icing on the proverbial Christmas cake, the last present to be opened. A Rabb and an it right now as Harm called the baby one night lead to the nickname they now called the baby - Rabbit. Now it was what everyone called the poor child to be and Mac wondered what kind of mental problems a child with the nickname rabbit would have
"Rabbit awake?" Harm asked as his arms circled her expanding waist.
"Yes, just a few gentle rolls right now, he or she doesn’t really get to active till lunch time and it really depends on what I eat."
"Oh really, you haven’t told me that. What gets Rabbit really active?"
Mac couldn’t suppress the giggle, "Beltway burgers."
Harm laughed with her. "And what calms my child?"
"Salads, Rabbit likes them better." Mac scowled. "And that’s not fair."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. Really. I don't think that it is fair to be out numbered by the vegetarians in this family."
"Well, maybe the next one will enjoy dead cow, grease and ketchup."
"I can only hope our next one will enjoy a good burger every now and then. Who knows, maybe I can still corrupt this one after it gets out."
Harm leaned over and spoke directly to the mound of baby, "Rabbit this is your father speaking, do not be as assimilated by the burger people, salads are good for you and so are other fruits and vegetables. Daddy will keep you safe from them."
By the time he finished both he and Mac were laughing as she whacked him lightly across the back of the head. "We shall see, Flyboy. Now go out and see if we have enough charcoal for the grill."
"Aye aye ma'am." He gave her one last kiss as he headed towards the door, "What time is our gang of friends due over?"
"Clay said something about 1030 and the rest sometime after 11. I told Harriet that we would have some hot dogs for the kids."
"Okay."
1020
Harm walked out to help Clay carry the 2 ice chests to the back yard. "Good grief Clay, how much ice did you buy?"
"The good colonel told me to bring enough for the afternoon and to make home made ice cream and I sure as hell am not going to attempt to battle those raving lunatics at the grocery store for more ice later if we need it."
"I know that Bud and AJ are bringing some too, so you won't have to brave those raving lunatics at the store again."
Clay gave him a go-ahead smart-ass look and followed Harm to the back patio where Mac was putting finishing touches on the tables. "Morning Clay, glad you could make it."
"Morning to you too Mac, glad I could. Of course I never would want to miss a chance to aggravate my favorite JAG either."
Mac leaned her head to one side, "Please Clay, play nice with the admiral. He has been over loaded with new applicants since he transferred Singer to Guam."
"I will ask you, too, since I don’t want to rush a spook to the hospital today. Leave AJ alone."
Clay threw up his hand, "Fine. Ruin my holiday."
A gruff tone came from Mac, "Clay."
"Okay, okay Mac, I will play nice but if he starts it first then all bets are off."
"Thanks," as Mac smiled and then turned to head back in the house, "Oh Harm, did you finish making those hamburger patties?"
Clay hid his smirk as Harm looked skyward and followed Mac.
It was almost noon before the rest showed up and settled in for the afternoon. Little AJ was wound up and brought over most of his new toys that he'd gotten for his second birthday. Little Sarah was jabbering away as she was passed from one adopted aunt to another as the women messed around with things in the kitchen.
Harm, AJ, Clay and Bud watched AJ as he mowed the yard with his play mower. "When he gets older Bud, I'll hire him to come and do my yard."
"Ya right sir, once he realizes that mowing is work he'll never offer to do it."
"That’s why I am glad that I have no yard."
"Yes, it is Webb, because the grass would be dead by now as infrequently as you are home to take care of it."
"Better than the forest you have, AJ."
"I like my forest as you call it. It gives me some privacy from my neighbors plus its nice to go and sit on the deck at night and just enjoy nature."
Clay face showed a 'whatever' look as Bud piped in, "Harriet and I are looking at houses now that we have two kids. That apartment is getting small fast."
"That’s why Mac and I bought one as we got married. We both have good careers and plan on staying in the DC area. Besides we couldn’t pick one place over the other when it came time to decide where to live."
"Smart move, Harm. I can just see the arguments your marine gave you on picking her place over yours." AJ smirked. " Have you and Harriet found any possibilities Bud?"
"Not yet, either they are way out of our price range, they are too small or in the wrong area. We really have considered renting since sooner or later I will be due for an overseas assignment."
Harm cringed as Bud mentioned overseas. He knew that it would be hard for the young Lt and his family to leave the close knit group they'd formed. At least with his stint on the Henry and Mac serving two different tours overseas they weren’t due for change. Harm noticed AJ mood shift some too as he thought of losing the bright young attorney.
Attempting to change the subject, "So what do you think of the NASCAR standings Clay? How long till 24 takes the points lead?"
"Will you give it up, Rabb? Tony is the man." Clay mouthed picking up the gauntlet.
"Both of you are wrong. Sterling is going to be the one to take it in the end." Bud added to the usual argument as the men got wrapped up in the sports conversation.
Inside
"They're at it again." Sydney sighed as she returned from checking on how the grilling was going from the screen door.
"At what Sydney?" Harriet asked licking the excess chip dip off of the wooden spoon.
"NASCAR. I swear there isn’t a sport that the four of them don’t have an opinion on or a team to back." Sydney sighed as she gave a knowing grin to Mac. The on going war between Harm, Clay and AJ over sports was growing as the bond between the three grew. She also smiled a little brighter as she knew that the young blonde was oblivious to her husbands NASCAR addiction.
"The only team they all back at the same time when the Army Navy game is on. Even Clay backs the midshipmen." Mac smiled. "He knows then that he is out numbered."
"I can't believe that Clay backs the Navy in anything the way he and AJ fight all the time."
"Come on Harriet, don’t you know where the guys go on Sundays?"
"No, Bud just says that Harm called him over for something or that there is some work left at the office."
Mac and Sydney laughed. "He joins them," Mac pointed out the door to Harm, Clay and AJ, "at MacMurphy's or they call come over here."
"I can't believe that you haven’t told me before now."
"Well I didn’t know that Bud had been seduced by the roar of stock cars till a couple of weekends ago when I got home from going shopping with Sydney."
"We surprised them when we came back early because Mac's feet were swelling," Sydney added.
Mac started laughing. "You should have seen them scatter like bugs when they realized that they'd been caught.
Harriet just stared at Mac and Sydney while they laughed and then joined in as got a visual of the men stuttering trying to explain.
Later on after lunch
The group sat around the round picnic table in the shade of the patio. The topics ranged from the newest stunt by Singer to who would win the Stanley Cup. Clay kept his word for the most part but everyone could see that AJ liked trading barbs with the spook as much as Clay liked getting trounced by the ex SEAL.
Finally, unable to keep the knowledge she now had about where her husband was sneaking around to watch, Harriet asked Harm, "So Harm, where are you guys meeting for the race day marathon?"
Harm glared at Mac like she'd let out a national secret and Clay just answered because a quick scan of those at the table told him there was no secret, "Unless there is a problem, we planned on just meeting at my place for the Coca-Cola 600. The Indy 500 hasn’t been the same since the leagues split."
Seeing as how there was nothing to hide, "I agree with Clay, I liked the brickyard before the split." Bud replied back.
"I see that little AL Unser is back." Mac said.
"I have always liked him and his father. Saw them in a race back in 70 on leave one time."
"Really sir?" Bud asked as this new piece of his CO's past came to light.
"Yes, Bud. The tickets were given to those of us home on leave from Nam. I went with several buddies. It was strange being home with the rest of your unit still over there fighting."
Harm got silent as his face lost emotion as he remembered his first Memorial Day without his father and the new meaning it got that May. "Excuse me." He said leaving the table and walking to the back part of the yard.
Mac excused herself and went to join him. Bud watched as his two friends walked away. "I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories."
"You didn’t Bud, this weekend is for remembering those that gave their lives for the rest of us. Harm and Mac have been in combat. You know that I have been in combat. The difference is that you never lost anyone in combat that you were extremely close to. It doesn’t mean that you don’t respect the holiday any less it just means something a whole lot different to Harm." I had to change this because I think feelings are relative and saying that Memorial Day means more to Harm than it does to Bud seemed like AJ was making a judgement of who was more worthy to mourn the fallen. Change it back if you want to.
"I guess you're right sir. I know that my grandfather died in World War Two but my father never spoke highly of him."
"My father wrote home to my mother how hard Nam was and the sacrifices he saw in the men there." Clay stopped for a moment. "She let me read them when I was in high school."
Sydney reached over and took Clay's hand in a gesture of understanding. She remembered what AJ had told her about the last time Clays father had been seen alive in Southeast Asia.
Across the yard
"You okay, Harm?"
He smiled for her benefit. "I'm sorry, Mac. I was just caught off guard by the way I was feeling."
She put an arm around him and felt one of his go over her shoulders. "I love you flyboy and you are not alone." And then she took his other hand in hers and placed it on her belly, "Rabbit and I will always be here for you."
She felt him chuckle. "Thanks Mac, let's get back to our guests and remember the positive."
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yes Marine, I am sure that I am okay and that I will not freak out again." He leaned over and kissed her, "Just as long as you are by my side Monday morning at the wall."
"Wouldn’t be anywhere else."
They walked back over to the quiet group sitting around the picnic table. "I apologize, I didn’t mean to get emotional but this Holiday means a lot to me, so let's raise our glasses here in a toast to those loved ones who didn’t make it back."
"And to those that gave of themselves and did." Clay added as he reached across to AJ with his glass.
"Here here." AJ said with emotion caught in his throat.
The End