Jet Fuel and the UCMJ

Friday 2200 HRS McMurphy's Tavern

At first, we stared at each other in utter disbelief. She was

walking out of the bar alone. Not with him and certainly not

with me. I had hoped that she would be going home with me. Bud

and I had rushed back from Pensacola hoping to take Harriet and

Mac to dinner. Oh, well so much for MY timing.

"Sir, what did she mean by that?" Bud asked. Having just

witnessed the culmination of my biggest mistake, he had

questions about a conversation that had been giving me

nightmares for months.

"What did she mean by what, Bud?" I played dumb. Brumby was still

standing there and I can only imagine he was gloating over my

crash and burn with Mac.

"Brumby, don't you need to be booking yourself a seat on the next

flight to the outback?" I don't have to be nice anymore. I

motioned to the bartender. "Call my mate here a cab. He needs

to leave."

"Hey, Rabb. I don't need you to do me any favors. I'm going after

Sarah."

"The hell you are. I got the impression the lady didn't want to

see either one of us. Besides, you're drunk and that won't

score you any points with her. Just go home."

As we walked back to the table, Harriet looked at me with that

'I'm disappointed in you' look that only mothers can perfect.

"I guess I'll go home, too. No point in sticking around now," I

said.

"Oh, no, Commander. You're going to sit right down and explain to

us what exactly the Colonel was talking about. She has never

been that angry with you. Ever." Oh, yeah, Harriet was being a

mother.

I sat down heavily and took a swig of bear. I wondered if I

wanted to get into this with them. But, they have seen enough

over the years to know something hasn't been right for a while.

"Mac and I went to dinner while we were in Sydney. We disagreed

on certain aspects of our relationship. She wanted me to forget

that we were...Well, who we are...I told her I couldn't...I

told her I couldn't let go, at least not yet." No one was

supposed to know about that conversation.

Harriet was incredulous. "Let go, Sir? Let go of what?"

I sighed. "I'm not sure anymore."

Bud was starting to sputter. He was remembering the case that

changed my world. "But, but that means she told you one night

she thinks she's in love with you and the next she took

Commander Brumby's ring? That makes no sense."

"Bud, I didn't say she said she was in love with me." God, can't

these two drop it?

"You didn't have to, Sir. Remember I was there. I saw how you

reacted to them on the beach. And I came home with a broken jaw

because of the way you and CMDR Brumby went at each other

because of her. It still doesn't explain why she wore CMDR

Brumby's ring for six months."

"Bud, have you ever been able to figure out why the woman you

love does things sometimes? Harriet, I'm sorry I don't mean to

insult you."

"That's ok, Commander, I know what you mean. But, it works both

ways. You have to stop being a jerk, too." Harriet smirked.

"Sorry, Commander. I don't mean to insult you." I didn't even

know Harriet knew how to smirk. "On that note, I'm going to let

you guys have this talk alone. The babysitter has had AJ all

day, and this pregnant woman is dead on her feet." She leaned

over and gave Bud a kiss good-bye and left. Oh great, now

Harriet's pissed at me too.

"Well, Sir, you better figure it out because that was one really

pissed off Marine. You can't just go to her now and tell her you

love her. She'll never believe you."

"What makes you think..." I started, but I didn't have the energy

to continue the lie. "I know that, but I don't know where to

begin to explain." Am I whining now? I haven't whined since I

was a kid.

"I have some idea, Sir. Remember I almost blew it a couple of

times with Harriet. By the way, I need your credit card

receipts for this week."

"Why? I can file my own expense reports. You don't need to do

that." Where was he going with this?

"Sir, Colonel Mackenzie gave your flowers to my wife and told her

they were from me."

"What? You mean I finally sent her flowers and she gave them

away? I can't win here." I'm flabbergasted, but I smile. This

is Mac we are talking about. She never does anything

predictable.

"No, Sir. I think you can try at least. You seem to keep

forgetting she's a Marine. She is going to out maneuver you,

Sir. Hearts and flowers aren't going to do you any good at this

point." When did Bud get so wise about women?

"No, Bud. I think that's part of my problem. I never let myself

forget she's a Marine. I have always backed off when she starts

'Semper Fi-ing' rather than fighting passed it with her."

"Well, are you willing to fight passed it now? Because if you

are, you are going to have to explain to her everything from

why you left JAG last year to why you said 'not yet.' You heard

her, she won't accept anything less."

"Bud, not this again? You know why I went back to flying." God,

just how big was this hole I have dug for myself?

"This didn't start in Sydney, Sir, and whether you believe it or

not; it didn't start when Commander Brumby came to JAG, either.

Yes, I know why went back to flying and she knows, too. As your

friend. But not as a woman. She was pretty lonely while you were

gone. Harriet and I got out a lot more because she was always

there to watch AJ. I couldn't figure out why until we came

home one night and we found her in his room. She was just

staring at him, whispering 'Someday, Flyboy, someday'."

"After that, Harriet tried to fix her up with some other guys.

But the only person I saw her with a lot was Mr. Webb." Bud let

the final bomb on this week drop as he took another swig of

beer.

"She worked with Webb while I was gone?!" How could he? I'll kill

him. He got her involved in his crazy schemes; how could the

Admiral allow that?

"No, I don't think it was that way. At least I don't think so. I

think she just went to a few embassy parties with him. But, he

was there when she got her promotion. And he did bring her to

her wet down afterwards."

"Why am I finding out about this now, and what aren't you telling

me, Bud?"

"Well, Sir, up until now, I didn't think you really cared about

what she did."

"Of course, I care. I may have a lot of explaining to do, but so

does she. If she thinks she can do missions for Webb without

me, she's got another thing coming." Listen to yourself, Rabb.

What are you so upset about? That she might have been in danger

or that she was with Webb?

"Slow down, Sir. I probably shouldn't have told you that, but you

have to know she was just at loose ends while you were gone."

I let my head fall into my hands. "What do I do now?"

Bud chuckled. "For one thing, you stop drinking every beer put in

front of you."

I looked up at the table and notice the vast array of empties on

it. This whole conversation had me so tied up in knots I didn't

even notice had gone past my usual limit. I laughed with him.

"Come on, Sir. Let's go home. You can't solve this tonight. And

I'm beat. I'll drop you at home and bring you your car in the

morning."

We drove to my place in silence.

"Goodnight, Sir. Don't forget the receipts on Monday."

"What? Oh, yeah. I won't. thanks for everything tonight, Bud.

Goodnight."

"One more thing, Sir. Don't blow it this time. She won't give you

another chance."

"I know, Bud. I know."

As I got upstairs and into bed, I replayed in my head the last

few months. Harriet was right. I'm a jerk. I should never have

let it go this far. I should have taken back every word I said

on the ferry and just told her the truth. Whatever would have

happened because of it would have been easier than this. I have

come so close to losing her too many times not to make this

time count. For everything. But Bud is right. I have a lot of

explaining to do before I can send her flowers again.

++2

0630 EST Saturday Harm's Apartment

I woke early the next morning to the pounding of someone at the

door. I opened it to find Harriet standing out there dangling

my car keys from her fingers. And from the look on her face,

she was still mad at me.

"Here are you keys, Sir," she said and then she turned back

toward the elevator.

"Harriet, wait," I called out to her. "You gave me an awfully

hard time last night and I want to understand why."

"Do you really, Sir?"

"Yes, come on, I'll make us some coffee and you can give me a

woman's insights into the mess I've made of this situation."

"Oh, so the Colonel's a situation now," Harriet said

sarcastically.

"Harriet," I pleaded as I made my way around the island to start

the coffee.

"Sorry, Sir. I guess I am pretty upset with you." She perched

herself on one of the bar stools on the opposite side.

"Will you tell me why?"

"Why has it taken you so long to come to the realization that you

are in love with her?" she probed.

"But, Harriet, I've always known that."

"You have? So, why haven't you told the Colonel?"

"Regs?"

"That's a really weak argument, Sir. Look at Bud and me. Find

another excuse that will at least hold this jury's attention."

"Her past?" I said sheepishly. It's a terribly judgmental reason

but it may distract Harriet enough, until I can be sure of some

of the real reasons for my reluctance to get closer to Mac.

"Past what? Men? Mistakes?"

"Well, yeah. " I chuckled. " Why is it I become so inarticulate

when I talk about this? "

"That's because they are all just excuses. Especially that last

one. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Come on, Sir.

There has never been or ever will be a woman in your life like

Colonel Mackenzie. She is a lot like you. And it's killing your

hotshot male ego that there is someone out there who is as good

as you are in just about everything."

"Harriet, you have been hanging out with lawyers too much," I

said as I shook my finger at her.

"No, Sir. I have just been on the outside looking in to long not

to finally see what's really been going on."

"And what's been going on?"

She was getting bold. "You're afraid of her."

I almost spit my coffee out. "What? No. I'm afraid for her." I

can't believe I'm having this conversation with Harriet of all

people, but she was getting way too perceptive for my comfort.

"No, Sir. OF her."

"What's the difference?"

"Well, for one thing she has bailed your six out of jam more

times than you can count. And at the same time, she doesn't

tolerate any of your jet jock ego. She didn't immediately fall

swooning at your feet mesmerized by that flashy smile of yours

and the gold wings you seem to find more precious than the

people who love you.

"You let her get to know YOU. Not the Tomcat pilot. Not the

impassioned attorney. You. Harmon Rabb, Jr. And when she did get

to know the real you, she fell in love. Then you ripped the rug

out from under her and went back to flying."

"Yeah, my timing could have been better. I could have...No, I

should have let her know what I was thinking, but I had to know

if I could fly again."

"She understood that, Sir. She knows exactly how important flying

is to you. And, she would never deny you that. She just

didn't understand the not talking to her part. You two have

shared so much and you made a huge decision without even

discussing it with your friends. Bud and I can't even pick out a

car without talking to you two."

"Well, I didn't discuss it with Jordan either."

"That's hardly the point. She deserved to know and you didn't

tell her. Now, I have to go, I get a free morning without AJ or

Bud and I have an appointment in a little while, but think

about this," Harriet stopped and seemed to consider her next

thought. "Sir, what did you think was going to happen between

you and the Colonel after you went to the Patrick Henry? If you

hadn't come back to JAG?"

"It doesn't matter now. I'm back and I don't have to do what I

should have done from 3000 miles away." Harriet brightened at

my inference. "Does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?" I

queried.

"No, Sir. I'm not mad at you. I just want you two to be happy.

And I think you both finally realized that is only going to

happen if you're together." And with that she breezed out my

door.

I sat there at the counter considering what Harriet had said. I

did try and talk to her about my eye surgery. Mac didn't say

anything when I told her I wanted to change my designator. I

thought back to that night when we sent Chloe to her room. She

didn't say anything...Or did she? She said something about

flying being more important than JAG, more important than...and

then she stopped and all but threw me out. What was she going

to say next? Damn, Harriet's right. I wasn't listening or talking

for that matter. My head was so full of jet fuel that day I

couldn't hear what Mac was trying to tell me.

Just as I poured myself a second cup of coffee, the alarm went

off. Oh, damn. I forgot. I'm Duty Officer of the Day. Get it in

gear, Rabb. You've got to get over to headquarters.

++3

1230 EST Saturday JAG OPS

This had been the longest, most boring morning I have ever spent

as DOD. Only a couple of D and D's left over from last night

and none that require a lot of attention. I finished my part of

the Pensacola report from last week. Now I have nothing but time

on my hands until I get out of here.

I unlocked my personal file drawer and pulled out the five files

that I have kept through the years hoping they would by my

vindication if I ever needed it. Flipping through the notes I

made, I felt the anger and dread welling up in my being. Webb

said I would always be looking over my shoulder because of him

and he was right. Not a single day goes by that I don't stop

myself from calling to make sure Palmer is still in Leavenworth.

That would just be too paranoid, even for me. But Leavenworth is

not an impenetrable shield between us. One day he and I are

going to meet again. Only one of will come out of that

encounter alive. I checked the sentencing and the calendar. It

may be years before that day comes as long as Leavenworth does

its job and keeps accurate tabs on him. But just to be sure, I

placed a telephone call to the commander in charge at

Leavenworth.

+++

With my mind at ease for the time being, I started to look

through the stack of files that landed on my desk while I was

away. Who knew manila file folders had the same breeding habits

as rabbits? I checked the names on the files with the court

calendar Tiner printed up and put on the top of the stack. None

of them matched. Tiner had given me the wrong stack. I grabbed

the whole mess and went in search of the right ones. After

checking Gunny and Tiner's desks, I decided to try Mac's office.

Lately, she seemed to have all the missing files.

As I placed the stack from my office on her desk and searched her

desktop for the files I needed, I accidentally knocked over one

of her many precarious piles. I smiled once again thinking

about the dichotomy between her no-nonsense Marine persona and

the absolute squalor of her office. Just how does that woman get

to court each day with the right file in her hands?

I started restacking the files and noticed some small pink cards

had slipped under her chair. I bent to retrieve them and while

I didn't mean to read them, I noticed that they were those

computer-generated greeting cards that so many florists use

these days. I sat back on my heels and laughed. So, she kept the

cards but not the flowers. Well, maybe I haven't waited too

long after all. Maybe I can get her to keep the flowers, too.

Next time.

"Just what the hell are you doing, Commander?"

I was startled at the sound of her voice and fell back right on

my six. "Well, Colonel," I chuckled, "Tiner gave me the wrong

files for next week and I came to get the right ones from your

office since I couldn't find them anywhere else." I tried to

keep my voice even and light. The fire in her eyes told me that

may not have been an adequate explanation.

"And getting those files required you to tear apart my office and

snoop through my personal correspondence?" She came around the

desk and grabbed the pink cards out of my hand.

"Will you relax, Mac? I didn't mean to make a mess, but it just

happened. I'm trying to get it picked up. I can't promise it

will all get back in the order you had it, but I'll try." I

must admit having Mac tower over me is a unique, but not entirely

unpleasant experience. Especially when she's wearing civilian

clothes. "Why don't you help me get it all put back and then

tell me why, after all these years I finally send you flowers,

you give them away?"

"Cut the prosecutor act, Harm. I'm not in the mood. And I believe

I'm the one waiting for the explanation."

"No! I want to know why you gave the flowers I sent you to

Harriet."

"Harm, I'm not going to get into this with you." She turned and

started to walk toward the door. I jumped up and ran the other

way, slamming the door shut before she got there.

"Oh, yes, you are, Mac. I'm not letting you run this time."

"If you haven't noticed, Harm, I'm not the one running. I know

how I feel. Of course, I kept the cards. What woman wouldn't

keep the cards? I don't care about the flowers. All I ever

wanted was you. But for some reason, known only to you, I can't

have that." She held up the pink cards. "And since I now have

what I came for, I'm leaving."

It felt so good to fight with her again. Not that I wanted to

fight with her, but I think if I kissed her right now, she

would deck me. So, we'll try another tactic. I smiled at her. "I

can't give you all the answers you want right now. But listen,

why don't we just get this mess cleaned up and then, I'll buy

you lunch?"

"Harm...don't give me that look." She crossed her arms

impatiently and arched her brow. "OK, but only because I don't

want to face this mess on Monday."

I got back on the floor and we began to pick up the files. We

called out the names to determine whose files were whose.

"Mitchell," Mac said. "Mine." And she set it aside and picked up

the others. "Carlson, Davis, Fenton; yours." Mac handed me the

files.

"Nestor, Vasques, and Brown. Yours," I said as I handed them to

her.

"Vickers 4/98, Twenty-Nine Palms 11/97, and Baltimore 2/99? Harm,

these aren't current case files. What are they doing out?" I

froze. Damn. I must have brought those in with the rest of the

files. She looked at me searching for an explanation.

"Uh...Uh...I pulled them myself this morning. Just to check a few

details for another case I'm working on." That sounded good. It

was the truth; it's just not a JAG case.

She sat on the edge of her desk and began thumbing through them.

"Harm, these are Clark Palmer files. They're not even case

files. There's just notes in here. All of them yours. What's

going on? Has he escaped from Leavenworth again?"

"No, not that I'm aware for. I checked this morning." I tried to

pull the files out of her hands.

"You checked this morning? I'll ask again. What is going on,

Harm?" She put them over her head, like that would stop me.

"Now, who's playing prosecutor? Just give me the files, Mac. I

need to put them away." She pushed at my chest and spun off the

desk.

"No, not until you tell me why you have private files on a

psychotic ex-DSD agent whose tried to kill you...What three

times?"

"I said I can't get into it right now. Let it go, Mac." I turned

away at my slip.

"What?? No, Harm. I'm not going to let it go. What does Clark

Palmer have to do with me? He's never come after me. He's come

after you, Webb, and...Jordan."

Uh oh, I'm in trouble now. I know that look in her eyes. You give

her one or two pieces of the puzzle and she can pull all the

others out of thin air and come up with the right picture.

Think, Rabb, think.

++4

Just then the phone rang. I picked it up.

"Rabb...Is there anything missing?...Ok, secure the area and I'll

get there when I can...No, Corporal...I can't right now...I'm

in the middle of a priority case, Corporal...give me a couple

of hours." I hung up the phone and turned back to a puzzled Mac.

"There's been a B and E at the disbursement office at the Navy

Yard," I explained. "And, no, I'm not leaving here to go deal

with it because I've decided I'm not running this time either.

"Do you want to finish this here or do you want to go eat, now?"

I asked, thinking that the office was not the ideal place for

this conversation, but what the heck, this needs to be said and

no time like the present.

"I'm not hungry," she said very matter-of-factly.

"Ok, let's do this." I took a deep breath trying to order my

thought. "Are you ready? I broke up with Renee last week."

"So. Harm, quit playing games. I have better things to do than

stand here and get stomped on again."

"I broke up with her because I know what yet means." And I held

my breath.

She gasped. "I'm listening."

"Actually, I've known for some time what it means, but I needed

to sort things out. I foolishly took for granted that you would

give me that time. Then you took that ring and time was gone."

I gave her a rueful smile. "I know I have some explaining to do.

First, I went back to flying for one reason...to know that I

could. I was being selfish and adolescent. I wasn't thinking

about anything or anyone else. And I'm sorry I never talked to

you about it. You above all people deserved to be clued in on

what I was thinking about doing."

"Thank you for that. I have always needed to hear that from

you."

"When I got back, I wanted things to be the same as they were

before I left. But they weren't. I expected everyone...mostly

you...to understand. And forgive me yet another obsession. But

it wasn't that way at all. Everyone had moved on without me,

including you. You were angry with me. And when you're angry,

it's always been easier to back off and wait until you calm

down.

"I respect you too much to force my feelings on to you or make

demands of you when I don't know if I'm going to get a green

light or a slap in the face. I have always let you control that

side of our relationship, because I know how important it is for

you to not feel pressured... to not feel closed in, or

controlled."

"I have always followed your lead in that respect, but when it

comes down to it, I am still the man. And that is how Palmer

ties into all of this. Yes, you are one of the toughest Marines

I have ever met, but you are still the woman. And you don't let

me protect you from all the nut cases out that are out there.

Because I know better than anyone else that you can take care

of yourself, I did the only other thing I could think of. I just

denied to myself and to everyone else exactly how much you

really mean to me. I figured by keeping you away he wouldn't

ever know. And then he wouldn't ever have a reason to come

after you like he did Jordan. You realize that if you and I were

together that weekend, it would have been you tied up with a gun

to your head. And that night I went after Webb, if you had come

with me, you would have been in his sights. I couldn't do that

to you. I still can't do that. He may be in prison now. But for

how long? And, what do you think he is going to do if he gets

out? He's not going to crawl under a rock and disappear. He's

going to come back for more. And I don't want you in the line of

fire. So, forgive me for wanting to protect you. All right?"

"All right."

"Really?"

"Yes, I understand. I haven't spent all this time with a

therapist not to gain some insight into where you might be

coming from, too. "

"You do? Ok, I'm confused, Mac. Why are you backing down so

easily? A year ago, I would have gotten my six kicked all the

way back to the Patrick Henry for all this stuff."

"Yes, you would have and you still might. She said with a smile.

But I'd like to think that after so many missteps and false

starts that we're both finally at a place were we don't have to

hide what we feel anymore. Do you still want to fight about it?"

"No."

"Good, then let's move on. Too much time has been wasted chasing

ghosts. Don't you see, Harm? The Palmers of the world are always

going to be there. If we put our lives on hold because of what

could happen, we let them win. Is that how you want to live the

rest of your life? I don't. Besides we have never lost a fight

when we were in it together."

No, we haven't. We are a pretty good team.

Good? We're the best.

Permission to hug the colonel

Oh Commander this colonel needs more than a hug.

With that door wide open, I reached to embrace her. Laying my

hand against her cheek, I marveled in the softness of her skin.

Our lips met tentatively at first, but I doubt either one of us

could say who took that first simple kiss and moved it beyond

anything I had ever experience with another woman. It was like

the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve all wrapped up in one. I

silently cursed myself again for waiting. I only have myself to

blame for denying us this moment for so long.

When we finally came up for air, she was biting her lip. As much

as I would like to continue this, Harm, you have a situation to

deal with at the Navy Yard so you better get over there, now.

I think 'this case' can recess until later.

Dinner, tonight?

I should hope so. 1900?

I thought for a moment. No make it 1730, I just got an idea.

OK, don't be late.

Does this mean I can call you Sarah now?

When you want to. Go on get out of here.

1745 EST

Mac's Apartment Georgetown

I'm late as always. The cashier at The Container Store was new

and had a hard time processing my credit card. I grabbed the

shopping bags and went upstairs.

I barely rang the bell, when the door opened. "Sorry," I said

shrugging my shoulders. "Here these are for you." I brushed by

her placing a light kiss on her lips.

"What's all this?" she asked.

"Go ahead open them up. Consider it the vase."

"But, Harm these are shoe bags. Why would I consider them a

vase?"

"Well, you said you didn't care about flowers. And the only

things I do know you care about are a great career, a good man

and comfortable shoes..."

"Lots and lots of them," she finished.

"Well, I think you have the first two licked now. So...before we

go to dinner, we're going shopping and I'm going to buy you a

dozen shoes instead of a dozen roses."

"Harm...Only you would come up with this," She smiled

"That's right, only me. So get a move on, Marine. The Mall

closes in three hours and we have six pairs of shoes to pick

out."

"You make it sound like we're taking the hill at Iwo Jima."

"Shoe shopping with you? You mean it's not?"

"Very funny, Sailor. Let's go. I'm in the mood for black suede

boots."

++5

Last night was great. We found the boots she wanted and I

convinced her to wear them the rest of the night. Mac was

right though. Shoe shopping with her was like taking the hill

at Iwo Jima. She's a Marine after all, and came up with a

battle plan during the fifteen minute drive to the Mall. We

only visited certain stores and only stayed if they had a

certain brand. Who the heck is Enzo Angiolini anyway? We were

done in less than two hours. During dinner, we decided not to

dwell on why it took us so long to get to this point. We

agreed it didn't matter anymore. While it will take some time

for us to learn our way around this new aspect of our

relationship, we were both where we wanted and needed to be,

with each other. On the way back to her apartment, I had to ask

her about what Bud told me. +++

2330EST Harm's SUV

"By the way, Mac, what was this I heard about you and Webb last

summer? You weren't doing missions with him, were you?"

"If I told you it was classified, would you drop it?"

"No."

"Didn't think you would? Well, no we weren't doing missions. We

just got together occasionally when we were both in Washington.

I was his date to a couple of embassy parties. And they really

were just parties, Harm. He was just being a friend. Nothing

more and nothing less."

"And your promotion? Why did I find out when you came on the

Patrick Henry?"

"Harm, are you jealous? Or just spoiling for a fight here?"

"Neither. Just trying to fill in some of the blanks. That's a

lost summer for us and I want to..."

"We can't get that time back, Harm. We have to let it go. If we

try to analyze and pick that time apart, we will drive

ourselves insane. It wasn't our time then. Now is our time.

Let that be enough."

"Ok, ok. Want to go flying tomorrow?"

"In Sarah?"

"No, a tomcat. Of course, Sarah. I have some work to do on her

and we can take her up in the afternoon."

"That works for me. I have some things planned for the morning

anyway. I'll meet you out there around 1300. I'll bring

lunch."

I kissed her goodnight at her door. I think I'm addicted to

those kisses already.

+++ Sunday 1200 EST Leesburg Va.

I looked out from behind the engine at the sound of the

approaching car. It didn't sound like a corvette, so I knew it

wasn't Mac. I was surprised to see the Admiral get out of the

SUV that came to a halt next to mine.

"Afternoon, sir. What brings you out here? I thought you were

sick."

"Cabin fever started to set in so I thought I'd go for a ride,

Commander."

"Well, Sarah's booked for this afternoon, sir. But if you like

I'll take you up another time."

"I wasn't angling for a ride in your plane, Harm. I came to talk

to you about the Colonel."

"What about Mac, sir?" I wasn't worried. Mac called me 45

minutes ago to tell me she was on her way after making a few

stops. "You know you're like a son to me, don't you?"

"I'd like to think that we are close, sir."

"And you know that try to let my people work out their personal

issues on their own." I nodded. He continued, "I heard you sent

the Colonel flowers last week."

"Yeah...," I didn't want to say more as Mac and I hadn't quite

gotten around to talking about what we would tell the Admiral

about what was happening between us.

"Let me give you some advise, son. Don't wait anymore. You

almost lost her once to Brumby. Don't let her go with the next

yahoo that comes along."

"But, sir...," I started.

The admiral continued completely ignoring my interjection. "Look

at it from her point of view. You are the one man in her whole

life who has not died on her, demeaned her or threatened her

sense of honor or integrity. You don't need to question whether

or not she loves you. How could she not love you?"

"Ahh, sir...," I tried again, but he's on a roll and pacing back

and forth in front of me.

"And she's done damn near the same for you. She let you have

your obsessions and your dreams and, as far as I know, never

asked for anything in return. She never held you back from

yourself or even for your own good. If you can't or won't love

a woman like that, I may have to order a psych eval on you.

Either that or resign my stars and...well, what I'm trying to

say here is she is an amazing woman and you could do a whole lot

worse."

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate you giving him a kick in the six.

But it's really not necessary."

We whirled around to see Mac standing behind us with a picnic

basket in one hand and a fuel line in the other. I walked over

to unburden her. "Cute, Marine. Real cute." I took the fuel

line and put it in my jacket. I bent low and whispered in her

ear. "I haven't said anything. Up to you how much to tell

him?"

"Let's tell him the truth. He sounds like he was giving you a

little bit of hell. And I think he wants this as much as we

do."

We turned and walked back toward the Admiral together.

"Your passenger this afternoon, Commander?" he smiled.

"Yes, Sir." I looked at Mac. "We have something we want to share

with you. Uh I mean sir, I have finally gotten my head out of

my six."

"Finally. And I'll warn you both right now. If I'm not invoking

Admiral's privledge in a year, I'm sending you both for psych

evals. Understood?"

"Aye, Aye, Sir."

THE END