Chapter Thirty Six

1900 EST

Harm’s House

Fourth of July Carnival

Harm and Mac went over to where his parents were sitting in the tent where the dance floor was. 

“We just sent out the order for everyone who purchased raffle tickets to come to the tent to see who won.  Also, we are going to do the customary sponsors of the carnival spiel,” Harm told them.

The Emcee made the announcement for the rides and merriment to cease for a couple of moments as AJ, Admiral Jonas, and the SecNav took their places at the podium.

People gathered around the tent, and Harm, Mac, Mackenzie, Jen, and Mattie all sat together as a family.

“First off, we want to say thank you for everyone who has come out to make this fourth of July carnival a huge success.  The total money raised for the Toys for Tots campaign will go to buying Christmas presents for those children who are not as fortunate as our own.  We want to thank the Rabb family for allowing us to use the property after the event was supposed to not occur.”  There was a round of applause.

“We also want to extend a warm thank you to Burnett Industries and Galleries for their corporate sponsorship.  Without their help, we would not have been able to hold this event.”  There was another round of applause.

“We want to announce the winners of the dance contest, who will be giving repeat performances during dinner tonight.  The winners of the cha cha are:  Diana Weston and PO Les Lyles.  The winners of the mambo are PO Jennifer Coates and Ensign Jason Tiner.  The winners of the tango are Commander Harmon Rabb and Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie.”

The winners went up to receive their prizes:  three day cruises around the Eastern Caribbean. 

“Now I would like to call up the JAG officers, Commander Rabb and his family, and his parents to draw for the various raffles.”  Everyone made their way to the stage. 

Mackenzie started giggling with delight.  Harm’s parents were told to draw for the winner of the baskets that held different prizes.  Mattie and Jen were told to draw for the winner of riding lessons.  Harm and Mac drew for winners of spa days, Harriet and Bud drew for winner of a free month of childcare, and the Admirals drew for the winner of the Jeep Liberty.

The winner of the Liberty was Mattie’s friend from camp, Max, who was surprised that a five dollar raffle ticket won him a new car.

After dinner was served, the crowds sat and watched the dance winners perform one more time.  Harm and Mac were as sensational as the first time they performed.  Harm’s parents told them that they would watch the baby for them so they could have a couple of hours alone.

Harm walked up to the first booth of games which were pop the balloons with a dart.  Harm and Mac each took turns seeing who could pop the most balloons.  They saw a child standing by watching them in awe.  They combined their prizes and gave the stunned child a huge bear dressed up in fatigues.

Harm saw the cotton candy machine and got this goofy grin on his face like a kid waiting to open their gifts on Christmas.  “Hey Mac, can you get in line for the jump castle, I’m gonna go relieve my parents of Mackenzie.”

“Okay babe, I will see you in a little bit.”

“Okay honey.”  He left her standing at the end of the line and found his parents holding her in the picnic area.  “Hey, I’m hear to claim squirt from you.”  He picked her up and held her close to him.  “Are you ready to fly with Daddy?”  He walked over to the cotton candy stand and picked up some for Mac.  He had this big goofy grin on his face when he caught up with her.  She was the only person standing at the jump castle.

He walked up behind her and held and with one hand he presented the blue fuzzy substance to her.  “Hello there.”  He kissed her on the cheek and took a little bit of the cotton candy.  “I’m think I am going to expose Mackenzie to the jump castle.”  He slipped off his flip flops and stepped inside.  The marine who was taking tickets greeted him.  “Commander, we have cleared the jump castle for you.”

“Thank you sergeant.”

He nimbly got into the jump castle.  “Are you coming Mac?”

She got into the castle after him.  Securely holding Mackenzie, he started jumping a little and then jumped even higher.  Mackenzie was letting out high pitched giggling as she grabbed on to her dad’s dog tags.  Mac was sitting in the jump castle.  Harm settled down and put Mackenzie on the floor of air.  She tried sitting up and squealed when she couldn’t.  Harm picked her up and sat her on his lap.

“Oh, I love all of my girls.”

“Harmon David Rabb!”  He heard his mother.  “What on earth are you doing with her?”

“I’m giving my baby a taste of flying.”

“That’s exactly what I am afraid of.”

“Oh Mom, Dad did this with me when I was younger.”

“Yeah honey I know.”  Mackenzie reached for her mom.  Mac laughed and got her from Harm’s arms.  She tickled Mackenzie feet and danced with her in the air castle.

Mackenzie started to get a little fussy and Harm’s mother offered to take her in and give her a bottle.  Trish and Frank wanted to fix some tea and get ready to watch the fireworks from the deck of the house.

Harm took Mac by the hand, and they walked around the carnival.  They saw several of their friends working the game booths. 

“Hey Rabb, whose stronger you or Mac?” Sturgis yelled at them.  Harm walked over to the test your strength booth. 

“I am,” they both yelled at the same time.

“Mac, you may be able to kick someone’s butt, but there are several scientific studies showing that men have more upper body strength.” Harm explained.

“Well old man,” Sturgis started out, “Come on up and prove your point. Win her something.”

“Sturgis old man, I bet you couldn’t even win anything for Varese doing these games.”

“I don’t see Mac carrying around anything.”

“We gave it away to another little child.”  Mac explained.

“Well, step up and test your strength Rabb.”  Harm picked up the rubber mallet and hit the target.   The metal piece slid up and hit the bell.  Sturgis smiled and gave Mac a stuffed F-14.

“Great another F-14 for Mackenzie.  If we aren’t careful our gorgeous little girl’s first word will be Tomcat.”

“Naw, it is Dad.  She says it all ready.”  Harm said smiling like only a proud father could.

They walked further down and saw Bud working a ring toss.  “Ma’am, Sir, try you hand/eye coordination.  Bud deftly threw a ring around the neck of the bottle.  “Its really easy.”

Harm handed Bud a ticket.  “Okay, if I get this Mac, what would you like?”

She pointed to a heart that had the design of the American flag on it.  He looked at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  Harriet started squealing.  Harm got the ring around the neck of the bottle and Harriet gave her what she wanted.

“Where to next?”

They played several more games.   “Step up and go fishing,” Jen and Mattie yelled from their station.

Mac smiled at Harm.  “I think this is one where I can win you something!” 

“Mac, you don’t have to win me anything.  Besides you won Mattie a charm for her bracelet at the shooting game.”

“Well I want to.”  Mac walked over to Jen and Mattie.  “Okay girls, give me the fishing pole.”  Mattie handed Mac a pole.  The girls took their positions behind the wall, and Mac threw her line over the edge.  Mac waited patiently for the girls to tug at the string, while waiting Harm looped his arms around her waist.  The girls tugged at the string, and Mac reeled in her prize.

Chapter Thirty Seven

Mac stared at the prize at the end of her pole.  Harm with his hand still wrapped around her waist, drew her closer, and whispered in her ear.  “I love you Sarah.  I want to wake up every morning with my arm numb because you are sleeping on it.  I want you to be the last person I see before I go to sleep every night, I want to breathe in the scent that is only you.  I want you to borrow my toothbrush, I want to kiss you every morning with toothpaste in your mouth, I want watch you smile in your sleep, I want to wipe away your tears always.  I want to be your partner for life, and if I don’t ask you this, I would be making the biggest mistake of my life.  Marry me?”

She turned around to face him and buried her head in his shirt.  She looked up at him with tears started flowing down her face, and he thumbed away her tears.  He reached for the ring hanging on the hook of her fishing pole still.  He tilted her head up and kissed her.

She looked at him, and memorized the features of his face, the dazzling smile, the way his eyes delved into hers.  “Yes” she whispered back.  He slipped the ring on her finger, and she threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him.  He picked her up and swung her around in circles.

“SHE SAID YES!” He yelled.  He kissed her again.  He set her back down on the ground and brushed her hair out her face.  He slipped the ring on to her finger.

For the first time Mac looked at the ring.  It was beautiful.  It was around a carat, cut in a pear shape.  It was set in platinum with two side trillion diamonds framing the larger diamond.  “Harm, the ring is beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” 

Mattie hobbled out to her dad.  “Dad, I heard the verdict.  Congratulations Dad, Mom.”

“Thank you Mattie.”  Mac told her.  “I want you and Jen to be my bridesmaids.”

“How cool.”  Mattie said.  She hugged Mac.  “If I can’t have my real mom, I am glad I have you as a step-mom.  And that is the next best thing.  I love you Mom.”

Jen called out from behind the booth.  “Sir, Ma’am, Mattie is dizzy and getting a headache.”

“Thank you Jen for alerting us.”  Harm looked over to Mattie.

“Dad, I hate having a concussion.  I feel sick, like I want to throw up.  If I ever want to have children, I want to be reminded of this experience.”

“Sweetie, I hope you don’t want to have children for a long time.  Why don’t you and your friends go up to the master bedroom and watch the fireworks from there?”

“Are you sure Dad?”

“Are there going to be boys?” Jen asked, “If there is, I will chaperone with Tiner.”

“Thank you Jen.”

“Mattie be mindful of your grandparents.  They will probably be on the covered deck watching fireworks.”

“Where will Mackenzie be?”

“They will probably keep her.”

“Okay Dad.”

“Jen take care of her,” Mac ordered.

“I will Colonel.  By the way, congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you Jennifer.”

Harm and Mac watched Mattie and Jen walk off together.  They stood in line for the Ferris Wheel.  He bought her another cotton candy.  They got to the top of the wheel, when the ride jerked to a stop.

“Are you folks okay?” The ride operator yelled up to them.

“Yeah,” Harm yelled down.  “How much longer will we be up here?”

“Well, the gear shaft is stuck.   Probably about 15 to 30 minutes.”

They were the only people on the ride.  People were getting ready for the fireworks.  Harm yelled down to the guy, “If you can wait to fix that, we can watch the firework from up here.”  Harm swiped a piece of Mac’s cotton candy. 

“Hey!”

He took the cotton candy from her and tilted her chin up.  He brought his lips down to hers, and lightly placed a kiss there.  The DJ started playing music to get everyone geared up for the fireworks, “Thank You for Loving Me” by Bon Jovi came on, telling everyone to grab their loved ones and to find a place to watch the fireworks.

“I love this song,” Mac murmured and Harm brought his arms around her.

“I love this song too.”  Harm started singing along with the lyrics, “Thank you for loving me, when I couldn’t fly you gave me wings.”

Mac brought her lips to his.  “Thank you for loving me Harm.  I know I’m not perfect.”

“I meant it Mac.  You give  me wings, you make my heart soar.  I love you so much.” Harm responded, and they got comfortable from the top of the Ferris wheel in each other arms to watch the fireworks.

People watched the fireworks boom all around them as “Proud to be an American” started playing over the loudspeakers.  Mac started shaking in her seat high on the Ferris wheel.

Flashback

The guns were erupting all around her, and she stood there bravely like any marine would.

“You whore!  American women think they can have it all!  Well you can’t.”  Corporal Jenkins tied a piece of rope around her neck and tugged it until the momentum made her drop to her knees.  Dust flew around her as she hit the desert floor.

“Stand down Marine – That’s an order!” Mac demanded in her best drill sergeant voice.

“I don’t take orders from women!” He kicked her back down as she was getting up.

End Flashback

Harm held her tight as she was shaking, he knew another flashback had claimed Mac’s mind. 

“I said stand down.” She whispered, Harm held her.

“Mac, it will be okay.  We will deal with this together, I promise.  There is nothing our love can’t overcome.”

“I know, just hold me for right now.” She whispered as the flashback subsided.  “I feel safe in your arms.”

He held her close and placed several kisses on her head.  “I would protect you forever if you let me.”  She turned around and kissed him.

The Ferris wheel started whirling and the man let them down right after the finale.  There was an announcement over the loud speaker for the beginning of the square dance.

“It wasn’t really stuck, now was it?” Harm asked the ride operator.

“No, I just figured you guys deserved the best seat in the house, considering it is your house and all.”

“Thank you,” Mac said to the man.

Harm picked his bride to be up, and swung her over his shoulders.  “Harm put me down.”

“No can do, we have to go square dance.”  They went out to the dance floor and found his parents swinging around Mackenzie.  Harm took her and danced to Cotton-Eye Joe with her.  At the end of the song, he told his parents that he was going to take her up to the nursery.  He kissed his parents good night and took Mackenzie upstairs with Mac.

The marine guard recognized them, and let them in the house.  He heard Mattie giggling away with Jen, and he heard the boys in the kitchen bringing them popcorn for a movie.

“Mattie honey, we are back.  We’ll keep Mackenzie in our room so you can be really loud.” He said walking into her room.

“Thanks Dad, we will try to wrap it up soon.  Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!”

“You too.”

He got back to his room to find Mac fast asleep wearing her clothes.  He changed the baby into her sleeper, and changed into his boxers.  He woke Mac up, and she changed into one of Harm’s shirts.  He dropped a quick kiss on her head and curled up next to the love of his life.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Mac woke up the next morning securely in Harm’s arms, she was lying on one of his arms, and the other one was wrapped around her midsection. 

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” she heard him whisper.

“We could if we just didn’t let them think that we were awake.” She answered him back.

He caught her staring at the ring he gave her last night.  “Do you like it?” he asked nervously.

“I love it.  It came from you, and from your heart.”

“It was the diamond that my dad gave my mom.  I had it reset.  The two diamonds on the side represent our two wonderful daughters.”

“You are a romantic man deep down inside Harmon Rabb.”

“Don’t let it get out.  Before you get all mad at me, I have to go for my quals in a couple of weeks.  I have been trying to drop my active flight status but was told with the country at war, I was not allowed to.”

“Harm, flying is a part of who you are.  I won’t ask you to give it up ever.”  She had flipped over on her side and he nipped at her ear.

Mackenzie started crying in the bassinet.  He picked her up.  “Good morning to you too baby.  What, you want mommy to change you?”

“Harm!”  She picked up her baby and walked into the nursery.

He walked down the stairs and found his family communing over a cup of coffee.

“You know Harm, we thought you and Mac would sleep all day!” his mother exclaimed.

“Sorry, we were taking care of Mackenzie.” Mac said bounding down the stairs.  “How would everyone feel about breakfast out today to celebrate a successful carnival and our engagement?”

Harriet started squealing and Trish was beaming.  “Sarah, so how did he ask you?” Trish asked full of curiosity.

“I won it as a prize.  It’s a beautiful story.  I’m sure Jen and Mattie were in on it.”

“That we were ma’am.” Jen replied.  “But it was all Harm’s idea.”

“Well, I say in light of my son’s engagement, we are all going out for breakfast,” Frank said.  “Son, you did good.  Congratulations.”

“Thanks Frank.  Okay, let’s all get ready.”

Admiral Jonas had come by earlier in the morning to assist with the clean up of what was needed.  The community had done a good job of helping clean after the equipment was taken down.  The two admirals hung behind in the kitchen.

“Okay AJ you were right.  I guess I owe you the next couple of games of golf.”

“Jett, when you know these people as well as I do, it is easy to guess all of their moves.”

They piled up into the cars and set out for a nice leisurely breakfast at IHOP – The International House of Pancakes.  They walked into the restaurant and the waiter immediately saw who they were.

“You are the JAG crew and Burnett Industries that ran the carnival yesterday.  My children thought it was wonderful.”

“Thank you.” Admiral Jonas said.

They sat down at the table, and they ran an impromptu meeting talking about the success of the carnival.  Overall the carnival raised $37,000 for the campaign of Toys for Tots.  They talked about the next fundraiser and how it would be more low key than the carnival.  Just then, Mackenzie started coughing again.  She reached for her daddy in misery.  He excused himself from the table and held her close and rocked her on the rocking chair outside.  Mac came out with the baby bag and handed him the thermometer.

“Harm, how is she doing?”

“It’s just her allergies again I suspect.”  He gave Mackenzie a kiss on the forehead now that she was lulled into sleep.  “She has no temperature.”

“Good.”  They walked back together into the restaurant and told the story of their engagement.  About an hour later, Mattie begged her dad to let her and Jen spend the day together, and he agreed.  He packed up Mackenzie and strapped her in her car seat inside the escalade and went back to his house with his parents.  Mac took the car because she needed to go into the office to finish up a case she was working on, she went in to her office in her civvies, and just figured she would sign in and grab a pass.

His parents walked on up to the guest room to straighten things up, and he headed up to the nursery to straighten it up.  He put Mackenzie in her crib and started singing a soft lullaby to her as he picked up her newly acquire F-14.  He caught her watching him.

“Do you like it when Daddy sings to his baby?” He picked her up and wiped her nose.  She turned her head away and frowned.  “Miss Priss is learning what she doesn’t like.”  He finished straightening up the nursery and took her downstairs to his office so he could finish up a brief. 

Same day

1400 EST
JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA

Mac was sitting at her desk working trying to work, but her eyes kept catching sight of the ring that was nestled on her fourth finger.  She couldn’t remember a time that she felt happier.

The marine sergeant who was also serving the duty with Mac came in to check on her.  “Ma’am, just checking to see if you are alright.”

“Everything is just fine Sergeant, dismissed.”

He executed an about face and Mac went to check her email.   She found an email from Harm and smiled.  He had sent her a picture of Mackenzie playing on the mat in the home office.  She smiled as she looked at her baby. 

She stifled out a yawn.  The late nights were beginning to catch up with her.  She decided to take a small nap in the office.  She decided to lay down on the couch and close her eyes.

2000 EST

JAG Headquarters

Harm was working himself into a frenzy when he realized that Mac wasn’t home, so he had his parents watch Mackenzie as he ran into HQ to see if she was there.  To his relief, he saw his car still sitting the parking lot, but knowing that she could still be hurt, he ran up the stairs to her office. 

He looked around and found sleeping on her couch.  He was relieved.   He started to shake her to rouse her.

She was in the midst of a nightmare again.  The nightmare that had plagued her most nights.  She was back in Iraq in the interrogation room that had become her torture chamber.  The cold metal against her cheek was so real to her again.  The wayward Marines were shaking her trying to get her to cooperate.  She looked up and saw that Harm was getting ready to be beheaded.

“Please don’t hurt him, I’ll do what you want.” She whispered.  She repeated it again and again.  Mac woke up with a start and her eyes were moist.  She looked at him in a daze.

“Sarah, its Harm.” He pushed the strand of her hair out of her beautiful face.  “Look in my eyes baby.”  He put her hand to his heart.  “Feel this, and know that it is real.”  Mac fell into his arms, and he held her on the floor of her office.

“Harm, why can’t I get past this, I’m a Marine.  I should be able to handle this.”

He held her close,  “I don’t know, but we will get through this together, Butch and Sundance, Batman and Robin, Husband and Wife.  All of them pairs, inseparable.  I will help you through your nightmare.”

“Thank you for being Harm.”

“Thank you for letting me be Harm.”  He smiled at her and helped her get up.  “You are beautiful with runny mascara.”  He kissed both her cheeks and whipped away the black smudges for her.   He placed a kiss on the palm of her hand.  “We are meeting my parents and our daughters for dinner.  I need to feed my Marine.”

“Yes you do.”  She laughed as he led her by the hand out to his car.

Chapter Thirty Nine

Monday

0800 EST

JAG Headquarters

Harm and Mac walked into the office together.  She was planning on going back to her apartment, but figured that she should spend time with Harm’s parents before they left for California again.  They walked into the bullpen and headed their separate ways to their offices.

Coates stuck her head in Harm’s office.

“Sir, Admiral Jonas would like to see you and Colonel Mackenzie now.”

“Thank you Coates.”

“Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, I would like to come by tonight to prepare dinner for the family.  It would be a nice way for me to say thank you to Gramps for the new car.”

“Jen, I believe we have plans to go out to eat, but we would be delighted if you were to join us.”

“Thank you sir, I will take you up on the offer.”

“Mattie was no problem for you yesterday?  If she begins to pester you, let me know.”

“Sir, in all honesty, I love hanging out with Mattie, you guys are the family I have always wanted.”

They chatted their way across the bullpen and told Mac about their meeting.  They knocked and waited for the admiral to give his crisp greeting.

“Enter.”

They walked in a saluted both the SecNav and the Admiral.  “Have a seat you too.”  The SecNav said.  “Rabb, I am sorry I had to disapprove your request to give up your flight status.  With the country at war, we can not allow our fighting forces to give up any man power.”

“I understand sir.”

“You leave on in two weeks for the Patrick Henry.  Colonel Mackenzie, here is a case we need you on.  Translation for the CIA.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I will not work for the CIA anymore.  I have daughters to think about.”

“I didn’t realize.  However this is perfectly safe.  You will be aboard the Patrick Henry working on the translation with another officer.  The transcript is just too large for him to do all by himself.”  The SecNav paused, “Colonel Mackenzie, I just realized you said you had children.”

“Yes sir, well an infant daughter, Commander Rabb’s daughter actually.  I was found to be his daughter’s biological mother.”

“Twist of fate.  Anyway, I noticed the engagement ring.  Congratulations are in order than for you two.  We will figure out a way to keep you two together.  The press would have a field day if they found out that the Navy was breaking up the dream team of lawyers.  I have a meeting in an hour.”  The SecNav left.

The Admiral broke in, “There is also a case I need you two to investigate out there.  It is a sexual harassment suite, per se, Lt. Commander Emily Graves against someone on the ship, specifically due to being stalked on the ship.  She doesn’t know who is stalking her.”

“Admiral, I request to have Colonel Mackenzie taken off of the case, there is too much history here.”

“Commander, I can take care of myself, I’m a . . .”

“Marine, yes I know this.  But, it doesn’t stop me from worrying.”

“Harm,” she began.

“Enough you two.  I am sure the colonel knows what she can handle.  Besides, you will be there watching her six.”

“Coates has your travel arrangements.”  The two officers gave a crisp salute and executed an about face.

“Harm, who is going to watch the children?”

“Well Coates can until her night classes, and then we will have to hire a sitter.”

“Or I can help her out,” a familiar voice from the past said.

“Sergei!”  Mac cried out and started speaking fast Russian to him.

The Admiral was getting ready to leave for his lunch break when he saw the Colonel talking to a man in Russian.  “Coates, who is that man?”

“I believe he is Sergei Zhukov, Commander Rabb’s younger brother.”

Harm went up and embraced his younger brother.  “I have been looking for you for months.  I kept trying to call, I wrote, I had no clue where you were.   Are you okay?”

Sergei got this sad look on his face.  “My mother was killed by rebel forces, Galina was also killed several months ago.  They captured me, and when I was rescued, I left immediately for the only family I knew.  You.”  Harm embraced his younger brother.  “Why would they kill your mom and Galina?”

“I was working along side many Americans to help capture several key terrorist.  Many had Russian ties, so that is where I got called in.  Being the alleged son of a Vietnamese POW and the brother of an American Navy officer, I was heavily recruited.  We found secrets of stockpiled biological weapons.  They unleashed a deadly virus on the village.” He said quietly.  “They didn’t have a chance.  Everyone in the village died.”

Clayton Webb came in beside him.  “It was Ebola.  I found Sergei after he was captured and decided enough was enough.  His father was an American service man, his brother is a decorated hero also.  We got him out on the fourth of July.  Sorry I missed the carnival.”

“Webb, this is the second time you rescued my brother.  I know we have always been at odds, but thank you just doesn’t seem enough.”

The Admiral came up behind Rabb.  “Rabb, did you set up a sitter for the children?”

“I think we have it covered now.”

“Take the day off, and take Coates and Mac with you, I know there won’t be any work done while you are gone anyway.  Enjoy the rest of the day with your family.  Sergei welcome.” 

The Admiral made his way toward Capitol Hill to pull some strings.  He heard Sergei’s story and decided it was time that he became an American citizen if it is what he wanted.  Sergei wondered outside to sit on a park bench and to wait for his brother.

“Coates?” 

“Yes sir?”

“I am going to take Mackenzie shoe shopping, she has already out grown her shoes.  While me and Mac are getting things for her, will you escort Sergei around the mall and help him pick out some new things?  I will call my mother and Frank to let them know to bring Mattie to meet us.  Sergei knows about Mattie, but he doesn’t know about Mackenzie.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks Jen.”

Harm talked to his brother and explained that him and Mac would have to get ready for their trip to the Pat, but it would only take them an hour and that Jen would take him to the mall.  He walked over to the ATM to withdraw money.

“Brother, I do not want your money.”

“Do you have a job?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you have a place to sleep?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you have anything other than the clothes on your back?”

“No.   I will figure out a way to repay you.”

“You are my brother, and you are helping me out with Mattie while I am gone.  That is enough.”  He handed his brother some money.  “I am just glad you are safe.  We are meeting my mother and her husband for lunch.”  His brother got a startled look on his face.  “Don’t worry.  It is about time Mom meets my little brother.”

“If this is what you want Harm.”

“Of course.”  He led his little brother to Jen’s car where she was waiting in her civvies.

“Ready to go when you are Sergei.”

“Thank you Jen.”

“No problem.”

Harm waved goodbye to his brother and Jen then trotted into the building where he found Mac and Mackenzie waiting for him.   “My girls ready to go?”

“Sure we are Daddy.  I changed her diaper and she is all ready to go.”

“Come here Angel.  You are meeting your Uncle Sergei today.”  He held his little girl.  She looked up at him with her big blue eyes and giggled at him. 

“DADADA” she babbled.

“You know Harm, I think she likes you best.”

“It’s because she is a daddy’s girl.”  He did his routine that he always did when putting her in the car seat.  He was more careful than her than he was doing a pre-flight check Mac always joked with him.

He called his parents on his cell to explain the events of the morning.  His mother took the news of his brother being in town better than what Harm expected.  She knew how important family was to him, and Sergei was after all family. 

They met up with Harm’s parents and Mattie.  Jen and Sergei had secured them a table at the local 50’s diner.  Harm came walking in with Mac and Mackenzie.  Sergei was puzzled.

“Did you find a baby at the mall?”

“Funny Sergei, she is mine and Mac’s daughter.”  Harm told him the brief version of how Mackenzie came into his possession when his parents and Mattie walked in. 

“Dad, Mac, Jen, Uncle Sergei!” squealed Mattie. 

“How is the bump on the head Kiddo?”  Harm asked.

“Fine.  Dad, you didn’t tell me that Uncle Sergei was coming.”  She sat next to her Uncle.  “Can you teach me some Russian?”

“Anything you want.”  He replied.

“Sergei, I want you to meet my mother Trish, and my stepfather, Frank.”

He stood up and greeted the people.   “Mr. and Mrs. Burnett.”

“You have his eyes.  Please call me Trish and you can call him Frank.”

“Trish, my mother told me he spoke of his beautiful wife back home.  He was right, you are very beautiful.  He always dreamed of coming back home to you and my brother.”

“Thank you Sergei.  I am grateful your mother could bring him comfort.  Harm told me what happened.”  Surprisingly she hugged the young man.  “If you need anything while you are here, let me help you.  Think of me as your stepmother, technically, that is what I am.  Only I won’t be the evil stepmother.”

He looked somewhat confused.  Mac broke in and translated in Russian.  Sergei looked at Trish, and spoke to her, “Thank you Trish.”

Mackenzie started laughing at that moment because Mattie was tickling her feet.  Harm looked at her.  “Mats, you get her to spit up, and you will be cleaning it up.”

“Dad, yuck.”

“Which reminds me, Mac and I have to go away for a couple of days in a couple of weeks, I have to do my quals, Mac is going to investigate a case as soon as her caseload lightens.  Your grandparents are only a phone call away.  Jen and Sergei will be staying at the house to keep an eye on you guys.  Your Uncle AJ is going to stop by, and Uncle Bud and Aunt Harriet will probably check in.  But I need you to help out with Mackenzie a lot.”

“Geez Dad.  You think you would call in an entire fleet to take care of me.”

“I tried.”  He ruffled her hair and kissed the top of her head.  “I just worry.”

“Dad, promise me when you are in the air you are going to fly smart and not do anything crazy.”

“I won’t do anything out of the ordinary for me.  I promise.”

“Like that makes me feel any better.” She muttered underneath her breath causing Mac to laugh while drinking her coke.

“You know, she has you there flyboy.”  She kissed his cheek and everyone laughed.  He sighed.  ‘Oh yes,’ he thought, ‘I need to have another child to be on my side.’

Chapter Forty

Same Time

Local 50’s Diner

“What did you just say?” Mac asked him.

“Did say that out loud?” Harm asked, mentally slapping himself on the forehead for saying he wanted another child.

“You sure did.” Mattie piped up.  “You want to have more kids!”

“Well, yeah, I guess so.  But let’s not push it.  Mackenzie is still only a baby, and we should get married first before we have anymore children.”

The waitress arrived with their food and the family ate in companionable silence.  After dropping his parents off at the airport, they headed back to the house.  Jen drove Sergei in their car.  They decided that since they were going to have to, for the most part, live together, that they should get to know each other.

“Jennifer, you must have the wrong house, my brother does not live here.”

“Yeah, he does live here.  It seems like we beat them home, do you want a two cent tour of the house?”

“Two cent?”

“Do you want me to show you around the house real quick?”

“Sure, I would like that.”

Jen started off upstairs.  “This is Mattie’s room.  She enjoys her privacy.”  She picked up a picture, “These are Mattie’s biological parents.  Her mother died in a car accident.  She still has nightmares, but she won’t admit it.”

“I know the feeling,” Sergei admitted softly.

They walked down the hall and Jen pointed out the guestroom and the master bedroom.  “This is Mackenzie’s room.  Trish and Mac designed this nursery.” 

“Where is everything kept?”

“The diapers are in the closet in the pink lined wicker basket, her blankets are normally kept folded underneath the changing table, her bottles are in the kitchen, and her pacifiers are kept normally in Harm’s pocket.”

“This is a beautiful nursery.  I had hoped that me and Galina would have children, but the rebels took that all away from me.  Now all I have is Harm.”

“I know the feeling Sergei.  My life hasn’t been the best, my mother died when I was young, my father didn’t want me.  I got into a lot of trouble, and your brother straightened me out.  He was all I had.  But now we both have Mattie and Mackenzie.  His parents are great.  This family is made up of people who had no family, who now have each other.”

“Do we have each other?”

“We sure do.”

“Thank you for making me feel welcomed here Jennifer.”

“Sergei, you are very much welcomed.  I will be here for you.  Whenever you need to talk about Galina or your mother, I will be here to listen.”

“Thank you.”

“Sergei! Jennifer!  We are home.”

“We are upstairs.”  Jennifer called back.  They walked down the stairs.  “What took you guys so long?”

“We had to stop by the hardware store to make Sergei a key for the house and we had to stop by the feed store to pick up some food for the horses.”

“You have horses brother?”

“Sure do.  Do you ride?”

“Yes.”

“Well, why don’t you and Jennifer take the horses out?  I would, but I am going to take the girls out for ice cream and then finish up some of the administrative cases I have.”

“I would love to do that.”

“Thank you for helping out Sergei.”

“Well, we are after all brothers.”

“Which reminds me, there are a couple of rooms you can have for a temporary room until you get set up.  There is the guest room down stairs, there is the FROG, or you can have the pool house.”

“FROG?”

“Furnished room above the garage.  It isn’t quite finished yet, but it is going to be an apartment since it has a separate entrance.”

“Jennifer, where will you be staying?” Sergei asked.

“I’ll take one of the guestrooms.”

“Harm, I will set up in the guestroom downstairs so I can help with the girls while you are gone.”

“Okay Sergei.  We will go out tomorrow and pick out your own choice of bedding so it feels like your own room.  I have to talk to Mattie about giving up her cool place to entertain her friends, but when I get back I am going to finish the FROG if you want.  So you can have some independence.”

“Thank you.  I believe Jennifer and I will take out the horses now if that is okay with her.”

“That works just fine for me Sergei.”

Sergei and Jen drove down to the stables taking down the feed.  Sergei had this far off look on his face.  “You miss them don’t you?”

“It has happened months ago.  Galina was beautiful, but she was not what you would call my one and only.”

“Then why were you married to her?”

“She gave me comfort when I needed it the most.”

“How did you know she wasn’t your one and only?”

“It may sound funny, but I always dreamt of a lovely woman, long brown hair, soft gentle brown eyes.  A smile that would bring me to my knees.”

“Galina was none of these?”

“She loved me, but she never smiled, she was always sad, always in mourning for her brother that died when they were young.  I thought I could save her.  I thought I loved her, but I grieved the loss of my mother harder.”

“You are like your brother.  Both of you think that you can save your women.  You are destined to marry a strong woman who can help you through everything.”  She flashed him a smile.  “Your brother is getting married to a Marine Colonel, certainly not a woman who is fragile.  They lean on each other, and that is what makes them strong.”

“Can I lean on you?”

“Yes you can Sergei.” Jen smiled at him and engulfed him in a hug.  “You are going to be fine.”  She held him as all the tears came flowing out.  She suspected he was overwhelmed by his past and everything that happened in the past couple of months.

Meanwhile back at the house:

Harm and Mac went upstairs.  “Is it true that you want more children Flyboy?”

“Yeah.  I love Mattie and Mackenzie, but I feel like I have so much more love out there for more children.  Think about everything we missed with Mackenzie, her birth, her first breath.  I missed watching my wife growing big with a living symbol of our love.”  Mac reached up and silenced him.

“That had to have been the most beautiful words I have heard.”

“Well, my mother raised a romantic son.  So what do you think, should we allow Mattie and Mackenzie to keep running our lives, or should we work on having another baby?”

“We will definitely try to have another baby as soon as we are married.  I want to be the mother of your children.”

“You already are.”  He kissed her with his tongue sweeping inside her mouth.  He deepened the kiss, and swallowed Mac’s moan.  “I love you.” He sighed carrying her upstairs.  He figured that they would make the most of the week and a half they had until they went out to the carrier and couldn’t sleep in each other’s arms.