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Date Posted: 14:07:29 01/30/17 Mon
Author: Lace
Subject: Back in uniform part 1/2 (Nine years after series, the early years)

November 2005

The warm air hit her as she opened the door to their house. She hurried to lock the cold wind out and slipped her shoes off. She had gotten a call from General Creswell before the weekend, ordering her to lend a hand at the Force Judge Advocate’s office until a more permanent solution to the shortage of staff could be found. A high-profile case had landed on Harm’s desk, his staff mostly young and inexperienced and Creswell didn’t have the manpower to send one of his senior staff to help. Mac knew that Harm had been forced to send his XO away on an investigation, and Commander Barns, also his senior staff, had been on sick leave since his car accident two weeks ago. Mac knew that Harm had been frustrated with the situation, and he’d worked long hours himself too, as he had put it, to pick up the slack. He had been more than happy when Mac got her orders to return to active duty.
“Hi,” Mac said when she found Mattie in the kitchen making dinner. “Something smells great.”
“Just some chicken curry. I was in the mood for something spicy. Is that okay for the baby?”
“It’s fine,” Mac reassured.
“Good,” she said with a smile. “How was your day?”
“It was good. Happy that I’m past the first trimester and finally feel human again,” she said with a small laughter. “Harm had to make a few phone calls, but he’ll be home soon.” She heard the front door open and shut. “I guess it went faster than expected.”
“Hi,” he said as he joined them in the kitchen. “Damn it’s cold out there.” He kissed Mac hello.
“I made chicken curry,” Mattie said. “It’ll be ready in about thirty minutes.”
“Great Mattie. Thank you,” Harm said with a smile. “How was your day?”
“It was fine. The usual,” she said.
“I’ll go change,” Mac said.
“Me too,” Harm followed her. In their bedroom, he closed the door and wrapped her in an embrace. “I’ve wanted to do this all day,” he said before kissing her deeply.
Soon their uniforms were two piles on the floor and they were making passionately love. “It’s a good thing you didn’t do that in the office,” Mac said breathlessly as he pulled out of her and slumped down beside her.
“I’ve almost forgotten about good order and discipline several times today,” he said as he pulled her close. “I’ve had fantasies about slowly removing that uniform off you.”
“Really? For how long?” she asked teasingly as she started trailing kisses down his jaw.
“I’ll plead the fifth on that one,” he said and laughed when she tickled his sides. “We better hurry up and get dressed.”
Mac smiled as she got out of bed and found her underwear. “We have two minutes and ten second, Captain.”
Harm put on his boxers. “How do you do that?”
“That’s for me to know, and for you to wonder about,” she said teasingly.

Mattie put the food on the table just as they appeared in the kitchen.
“Just in time,” she said.
“We have thirty-five seconds,” Mac said as she sat down.
Mattie looked at her. “How do you do that?”
Mac offered a sweet smile. “This looks great Mattie. Thank you so much for making us dinner.”
“No problem,” Mattie said as she too sat down.
“How was it to be back, Mac?” Mattie asked.
“It was good. It’s a great staff, a little young and inexperienced, but definitely a lot of potential there,” Mac said and smiled. “Harm’s doing a great job.”
“Did you doubt that he would?” Mattie asked cleverly.
Mac laughed softly. “Not at all. Although, I thought he’d have more trouble delegating the good cases.”
“I must say it’s hard to watch other’s do what I love. But don’t count me out just yet. I’m still going to try cases every now and then,” Harm said.
“That sounds like a good idea. Seriously, you’re a born leader,” Mac complimented.
“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Harm smiled warmly.

Force Judge Advocate’s Office

The next day Petty Officer Larsen, Harm’s yeoman, ran into Lieutenant James Smith in the break room. He was new. She noticed that he looked a little bothered.
“Anything I can help you with, sir?” she offered.
“Actually, I could use some information,” the Lieutenant said hesitantly. “I thought Captain Rabb was married?”
“He is,” Larsen said as she sipped her coffee.
“You’ve worked with him for some time. Is he a typical womanizer?” Smith asked.
Larsen hesitated. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I accidentally walked in on him and Colonel Mackenzie in the library. They looked awfully close for two coworkers,” Smith said with a slight blush.
Larsen laughed.
“What?” Smith asked.
“It’s just that Captain Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie are married,” Larsen said and looked surprised. “You didn’t know?”
“No, I didn’t,” Smith let out a sigh.
“The Colonel usually uses both Mackenzie and Rabb as her last names, but when she’s on duty she uses her maiden name for some reason,” Larsen said and smiled.
“Well, that explains why they didn’t look like they were caught doing something wrong. It was nothing improper really, especially if they are married,” Smith said.

Larsen walked into Captain Rabb’s office with some files he had requested. “As requested, sir.”
“Thanks Larsen,” Harm said. He looked questioningly at the Petty Officer when she didn’t leave. “Anything else, Hanna?”
“Just that I saved you from a rumor as a womanizer today, sir,” Hanna said and smiled when Harm wrinkled his forehead in confusion. “Lieutenant Smith walked in on you and the Colonel in the library. He didn’t know that you and the Colonel are married.”
“Really? I guess I should watch the way I am around her. Honestly, I was just expressing concern because she looked a little pale, and I guess I stood a little close and had my hand on her belly,” Harm said and smiled sheepishly. “Nervous expectant father.”
Larsen smiled. “I love that you are expecting, sir. Fatherhood suits you.”
“Thanks Hanna,” Harm smiled as he stood. “I’ll talk to the Lieutenant. Explain the circumstances.”
“Yes, sir,” Larsen smiled as she said it. “If you need anything else, I’ll be by my desk.”

Mac caught up with Lieutenant Smith in the library where he was seated by the conference table.
“Ma’am,” he stood.
“At ease, Lieutenant. I was assigned as your second chair on the McCartney Court Martial,” Mac said as she joined him by the conference table.
“Captain Rabb told me,” Smith smiled hesitantly. “He thinks I’m too green, ma’am.”
“How many cases have you tried?” Mac asked.
“This will be my fourth. The captain said that you are the best.”
“I’ve been in the game for a while,” Mac said with a shrug.
“Until you married and followed Captain Rabb to London,” Smith stopped and hesitated. “Petty Officer Larsen said that you turned down your own command.”
“The things we do for love,” Mac said and smiled warmly. “I’m right where I want to be.”
“Captain Rabb told me about the baby. Congratulation,” Smith said sincerely.
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Mac said and opened the file Harm had handed to her earlier. “Tell me your strategy?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Smith said.

Friday night

After cleaning up the kitchen after dinner Harm found Mac on the couch half asleep. He smiled as he leaned over her and kissed her cheek.
“Tired?”
She smiled and opened her eyes. “Yeah.”
He lifted her feet and sat down, taking them into his lap. “You should take it easy this weekend.”
“I will,” she promised.
Harm smiled. “Really?”
“Yes. Why?” Mac asked.
“It’s just that you usually give me an annoyed look when I suggest that you take it easy, but ever since we found out about the baby you don’t seem to mind,” he explained.
“I like that you take care of me,” she said and took his hand.
“Good,” he stopped massaging her feet and lay down beside her, pulling her close. “You’ve been a great asset to the office this week Mac. I had forgotten how effective you are when there’s chaos.”
“It’s been fun,” Mac admitted. “I do miss it sometimes, you know.”
“I know. You would have done a great job with the Joint Legal Service,” Harm said.
Mac smiled. “Thank you. But I’m right where I want to be.”
“Me too,” he said and kissed her deeply.
They broke apart when a throat was being cleared. “We’re leaving now,” Mattie said.
Harm let Mac go. “Okay.”
“Thanks for dinner,” Anna, Mattie’s friend said.
“Have fun,” Mac said.
“You too,” Mattie said with a teasing smile, making Harm blush.
“Don’t talk to strangers, walk in bad neighborhoods or get into somebody’s car,” Harm said.
“I won’t,” Mattie said as she and Anna headed for the hallway.
“Now, where were we?” Harm asked as he lay down again. “Oh, I know.”
Mac laughed softly as he started kissing her neck. “How about if we turn in early tonight?”
“Best offer I’ve gotten all day,” he said as he stopped his assault on her neck and started to rise.

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[> Part 2/2 -- Lace, 09:10:36 02/01/17 Wed [1]

Thursday, Force Judge Advocates office

Mac knocked on Harm’s office door, after making sure with his yeoman that he wasn’t in a meeting. She waited for his; “Enter,” before she opened the door.
“Reporting as ordered, sir,” she said as she walked over to his desk and sat down.
“It’s customary to stand at attention in front of an officer of higher rank, Colonel,” he said teasingly.
“Sorry,” she said, not at all meaning it. “So, I’m back from the University, what do you need me to do?”
He smiled. “How did the lecture go?”
“Well, after answering a gazillion questions about my military career, the lecture went great. My students haven’t seen me in a uniform before, so it took a while before we actually started on today’s topic,” Mac explained with amusement.
“It’s good seeing you back in uniform,” Harm said.
“Hopefully I’ll be back to being a civilian before I have to get a maternity uniform. My skirt is feeling a little tight,” she admitted and looked curiously at the file he was holding. “Did you call me here to small talk, or do you have something for me to do?”
“I do, actually,” he put the file on top of a huge pile. “These cases are up for review.”
“No problem, I’ll get right on it,” she stood and reached for the pile.
“I can carry them for you,” he said and started to stand.
She rolled her eyes. “Spare me, I can still carry a pile of files, thank you very much.”
He sat back down, not daring to argue with her. “Yes, ma’am.”

Mac took the pile to the library and sat down by the conference table. She had to admit that she loved being back in uniform again, even if she had to review cases. General Creswell had asked her about returning to full duty, before Mac had told him about the pregnancy and said that she had other priorities at the moment. And she did. She enjoyed her work at the university, but she was happy that it was only two days a week. She was enjoying taking it a little easy, and as her Doctor had reminded her, she wasn’t a young expectant mother, and with her condition she wanted to follow her up closely, and she recommended taking it easy and avoid stress. Mac had no problem following those recommendations, willing to do whatever to make sure the pregnancy was risk free.
She was finished with the hellish first trimester, feeling energetic again. Her Doctor had been worried because she’d lost so much weight and had told her to eat healthy and make sure she considered what vitamins and minerals she needed for the baby’s sake. Not that she needed to think about it because Harm told her all the time. He was so worried about her wellbeing, and it was nice, but also a little annoying.
“Oh, sorry, ma’am, am I disturbing?” Lieutenant Smith said.
“No, come on in,” Mac reassured.
“I just started reviewing this case, ma’am,” he gave her a file. “The thing is, I’m not sure the convicted is guilty.”
Mac opened the file. “Based on?”
“Lieutenant Coffin. Convicted of killing his wife. He was stationed at RAF Mildenhall. He’s been in Leavenworth for five years now.” Lieutenant Smith sat down while Mac read the file.
“She was found in bed by the Lieutenant when he came home from work, the gun found on the floor, the Lieutenant’s and the victim’s fingerprints on it….” Mac lifted her head to look at Smith. “So far I don’t understand what’s bothering you?”
“Keep reading,” Smith said.
Mac did just that. “The Lieutenant left for work that morning, he came home later than usual, around 1900, and had been on base all day, although he left for an hour around lunch time.”
“An hour,” Smith said. “It’s a very short time for him to be able to go home, shoot his wife and then be back at work. It would take him a little less then an hour to get home and back, giving him about five minutes to kill his wife and make it look like a suicide.”
“Doesn’t mean that he didn’t,” she said with doubt.
“His friends and colleagues testified that the victim had been depressed over a long period due to miscarriages, and eventually she couldn’t have children. After that she didn’t leave the house, she stopped talking to people, all classic signs of depression. She left a suicide note,” he also pointed out.
“But they concluded with that she couldn’t have written it herself because she was dyslectic,” Mac wrinkled her forehead. “Interesting… The defense brought up that they didn’t have anything to compare the note with because she only used her computer. There was something from when she was younger, but it didn’t match. The defense argued that she wrote almost perfect on the computer, and that there was no proof that she hadn’t written the note herself.”
Smith sat up straighter. “So, you think I’m on to something?”
Mac hesitated. “The prosecution did bring up the Lieutenants temper, but the defense argued that he had never taken his frustration out on his wife. I think you should bring it to the Captain, ask if you could look into it.”
Smith stood and took the file. “Thanks Colonel.”
“Any time,” she smiled. “Let me know what the Captain said.”
“I will,” Smith said and left in a hurry.

Two weeks later, Harm and Mac’s house¨
Harm found Mac in the kitchen as he came home from work. She looked thoughtful as she steered the pasta sauce, and didn’t notice his presence. She hadn’t been in the office that day because she had tended to some personal business after her lecture and work at the university.
“Hi,” he said.
She turned and smiled. “Hey, you’re home.”
He smiled and walked over to her. “Finally,” he leaned in and kissed her softly. It was intended as a quick kiss hello, but she deepened the kiss and put her arms around his neck, he had no problem with that. “That was some greeting,” he said as the kiss ended. He rubbed his nose on hers and smiled.
She returned the smile. “I missed you today. My checkup went fine.”
“I would have wanted to be there,” he said and let out a sigh. “Damn meeting at the Embassy.”
“No problem, you’ll come next time. It was only a quick check up anyway. She just checked my blood pressure and drew some blood. I’m in great health,” she reassured.
“Was she happy with your weight gain?” he wondered.
Mac rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’ll be as big as a house soon, don’t you worry.”
“A small, very pretty house,” he said and kissed her quickly. “Where’s Mattie?”
“In her room working on an English assignment,” Mac let go of him and made sure the pasta sauce hadn’t burned. “Why don’t you go change, and let her know that dinner is served.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said and turned to leave. “By the way,” he turned back. “Lieutenant Smith proved that Lieutenant Coffin didn’t kill his wife.”
“He did?” Mac asked surprised.
“He sure did. You know that letter he got from Coffin’s wife’s sister? The analysis came through and the writing is a match,” Harm said.
“But it could be argued that Coffin could have written it for her,” Mac pointed out.
“His writing didn’t match at all. Besides, they pulled DNA from the envelope, and it belonged to Mrs. Coffin, along with fingerprints from her sister and herself. One fingerprint came back positive on a guy from the postal service, who had a water tight alibi. The convening authority ruled that it was enough evidence for a retrial, so the Lieutenant are going to D.C to argue the case in court as Lieutenant Coffin’s defense attorney.”
“That’s great,” Mac smiled sadly. “Although, it breaks my heart that she killed herself. I can understand how down she must have been after what she’d been through, knowing that she’d never have a baby, but to kill herself…”
“She’d had a period of depression in her youth, that didn’t come up at her trial. I guess the miscarriages just made the depression blossom again,” Harm said and reached for Mac’s hand. “But yeah, it’s sad.”
“I was thinking about how I reacted when the Doctor told me that I would never be able to have a baby, and it was sad, but I could never let it ruin my life. If anything happened to our baby, it would kill me, but I could never have done what she did,” Mac tugged on Harm’s hand and stepped into his embrace. “I love you.”
Harm put his arms around her. “Everything will be okay with our baby, because it’s faith. It was meant to be all along. I love you too.”

Two weeks later
Harm looked at Mac’s empty chair as he walked into the conference room, he wondered what was taking her so long.
“At ease,” he said to the rest of his staff. The door to the conference room opened.
“It’s not like the Marine’s to be late,” Harm commented before Mac could say anything.
“Sorry, sir, you squids must be rubbing off on me,” Mac responded as she walked over to her seat. “That was General Creswell on the phone by the way. Since it’s slowing down here this will be my last day.”
“That’s a shame, ma’am,” Lieutenant Smith said. “It’s been educational working with you.”
There was a round of nods and agreements around the table.
“I appreciate that, but I think you guys have everything under control. It’s been fun though,” Mac said.
“Thank you for all your help, Mac,” Harm said.
“Any time.”
They continued the morning meeting, then Harm dismissed them. Mac was the only one not to rise and he leaned back in his chair and studied her. “Looking forward to taking it easy again?”
She smiled. “It was nice wearing the uniform again.”
“It was nice seeing you in it again. And it was nice having you around,” he admitted, feeling a dread wash over him. “I find that I miss working with you.”
She nodded. “I miss working with you as well, but it’s not like you won’t see me.”
He smiled. “That’s true.”
Mac stood and came to attention. “Sir.” She smiled and turned to leave, but then she turned back to him. “And Captain, I’ll be seeing you tonight.”
“Oh, yes you will,” he said as he stood and gathered his things.

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[> What a pleasant surprise to find 2 stories tonight. I love this! -- FJN, 20:34:40 02/01/17 Wed [1]

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