A Shot in the Park
Ali Cherry
The Night of June 26th
“Now for an update on the terrorist activity in Falls Church, Virginia here's Tracy Needham.”
“Thank you, Bill. Tragedy erupted today as terrorist group opened fire in this Virginia Park. It was around 2:00 as the Militia group Purple Haze opened fire on this quiet town. Several children swung on the swings and an office gathered for a company picnic. Also found here was the Deputy communications director, his wife, the daughter of the Chief of Staff for the White House and their daughter. While officials have failed to comment. It is believed that they were the targets in this act of terrorism that left one dead and three in serious condition.
“The hero of the day seemed to be a Naval Commander from the local Jag quarters. He offered himself as a human shield for the goddaughter of the President. He was not killed but the hospital has him listed in critical condition. This is not the first act of Heroism by the young Naval officer who has been credited with the rescue of Declaration of Independence and the saving of his wingman over Bosnia five years ago, Bill.”
“Do you have any word on the Commander at this time, Tracy?”
“As I said, Bill. The Hospital has him listed as Critical.”
“How is his Family taking it?”
“His wife was admitted for observation after the incident. The doctors felt the trauma might have detrimental effects on her at this late stage in her pregnancy.”
“Well, our prayers are with the family and friends of the Commander tonight. In other news, look out for those pesky sun burns…”
Hospital- Night of June 26th
“I can't believe he did that.” Mac sat heavily in the neutral waiting room, her hand resting comfortably on her overgrown belly. This was her second child and she looked as if she was nine months along instead of six.
“Any word on Tiner?” Bud asked as he carried in two tiers of Coffee cups.
“They removed the bullet and he should be released tomorrow. It went clean through.” The admiral replied tersely.
“What about the Gunny?” Mac took the cup and tea bag that Bud handed her.
“All stitched up and ready to kick some terrorist ass, Ma'am.” The Gunny strode into the room, his head shaved to accommodate the large bandage that covered his scalp.
“It's in the FBI's hands now, Gunny.” The Admiral's face was steel, lines outlined, worried eyes looking at the gray thin carpet.
“So what do we do, Sir?” Bud asked as he sat down
“We wait for news. And we plan a funeral. Bud did you make that—“
“The Singers have been informed Admiral. They'll be in tomorrow to make arrangements for burial.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, sir.”
@@@
Mac looked around the van on the chaotic street. The unfamiliar blare of the English sirens rang in her ears and her adrenaline was pumping. From her position, she saw Harm open the door to the classic car, and pull out a crying baby. She sighed in relief, and choked as a gun clicked, just past Harm's head. He turned, the profile of his face caught in the sunlight. He held the child in his arms, his grip light yet shielding as a gun fired. Mac nearly screamed in agony, and thanked the lord as the Constable dropped to the ground, his Gun clanging harmlessly on the pavement.
@@@
“They wouldn't let me in on the investigation. Said I was too close.” Clayton scurried into the room in a full snit, awakening Mac from her memories of Ireland.
“They'll catch the guys, Webb. Have a seat, we should have news soon.” The Admiral grounded out.
“I can't believe he's such an idiot.” Webb flung himself into a chair.
@@@
“Harm!” The blonde boy called out. Harm turned and caught the movement near the door. He hid Josh's face from the intruder. Clay could see the resignation, the peace descend on Harm's face. The gunshot rang out. Clay looked at his own smoking gun. He never remembered pulling the trigger, just the calm control of Harm's face. The threat was neutralized.
@@@
“Admiral Cheggwidden?” A man in scrubs entered the waiting room, seeing the cluster of people in various couches their minds wandering.
The Admiral stood up; the other's gathered just behind him.
“Why don't we have a seat?” The Doctor motioned to the chairs. Everyone sat near the doctor and wiped sleep from their eyes.
“The Commander lost a lot of blood at the scene and there were some complications during surgery. He's very lucky.”
“What's the prognosis?”
“Good, but guarded. He crashed twice on the table and we had more repairs then we thought, but he's a fighter and I understand he has a lot to live for.” The Doctor looked pointedly at Mac and her tummy.
“His wife's in Obstetrics, they were worried. I'm just his partner.”
The doctor nodded, “Well in any case, we have high hopes for the Commander.”
The Jag staff smiled in relief.
@@@
“Harm…. I'm going to marry Mic.” Mac looked into her partner's eyes and saw nothing, she couldn't see devastation, couldn't see pain, nothing like remorse for the end of their relationship.
He nodded, slowly. “Are you leaving?”
“What would you say if I said yes?” Mac asked twisting the diamond on her finger.
“I would tell you, Sarah, to be happy, and never look back.”
Mac nodded, her lips twisting into a sad, but knowing smile.
“I'm not leaving, Harm. Mic got a job at the Australian embassy.”
Harm smiled. His number 46, small, knowing and twinged with strength.
“In that case, Colonel Sarah Mackenzie,” he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek, “be happy, and I want a dance at the wedding.”
“You got it, flyboy.”
@@@
“Happy mother's day.” The note said. Mac looked at the duck's on the packaging. She shook it and heard a distinct rattle. Sounded like Jewelry. She looked into the office of her partner and close friend. He was busy looking at something on the computer screen.
She ripped at the paper. Fumbled with the box lid and opened to see a thin but sturdy chain, separate charms on the chain. She pulled them out to examine them. They were little squares each with a sketch on one side and date on the other. One had her birth date, one Mic's, one the date of her sobriety, the day Mic joined the Navy, the day she had met Mic, the date of AJ's birth, the date of Mic's departure, the date of their engagement, the date of her announcement.
“I'm pregnant,” filled the air, clouding her eyes with tears that blurred the gold chain into a spectrum of leaves that flicked in her hand.
“Happy Mother's day Mac.” Harm said from the doorway. She looked up to see him smile.
“Thank you, Harm, but I'm not a mother yet.”
“Oh I don't know, I think you've been a mother since,” He took the chain and flicked to the right charm, “October 7.”
“Thank you, Harm.”
“Don't thank me, we all pitched in and well the dates I couldn't remember, Harriet picked Mic's brain for.”
“Thank you.”
“Have a good weekend, Mac.” Harm started to leave.
“Harm?” He stopped and turned around. “What are you doing this weekend?”
He smiled, “I'm going to visit my mom, catch up with Kate. I haven't seen her in forever and she's stationed at Pendleton for a little while.”
“Tell your mother I said hello.”
“And have her harp on the way I let you go? Never. Call her yourself, Mac. You know the number.”
“I'll do that, Flyboy. Have a good time.”
“I will.”
@@@
“Where's Harm?” Mac asked Bud as she settled into her seat.
“He took Lt. Cmdr Pike to his Mother's for her recuperation.” Bud told her as he shuffled paper work and flipped a folder to an empty page. “So how does it feel to be back from Maternity leave Ma'am?”
“I love Aimee to death, but I'm thankful I'm back to Adult speak.”
“I know what you mean Ma'am.”
@@@
“Harm?” Mac stood looking over his shoulder at a brief he was reading.
“Yeah?” He didn't look up from the pages, his full attention on the paper.
“When did you get that ring?” She pointed to the gold and platinum braided band on his left Ring finger.
Harm made a non- committal noise. Mac yanked his left hand for perusal. She started to tug on the ring. Harm's head snapped up.
“Wait no, Mac, what do you think your doing?”
“When did you get the ring?” She asked.
“When I got married!” He snapped back. “Two weeks ago.” He secured the ring on his finger, settling it into its usual spot. She stood there stunned.
“You got married?”
“Yes.” He turned back to his papers.
Mac stormed out into the bullpen. She stormed back in. “Who the hell did you marry?”
With the door open, the whole office heard and all operations ceased. Tiner dropped his load, and stooped quickly to pick up the folders. The Gunny hung up on a Captain and the Admiral who was coming out of the kitchen with hot coffee poured it accidentally on the floor.
“Kate, who do you think?”
@@@
“I told you no, Clay. You can't bother my wife with your party. She's NIS, not Party's are us.”
“Harm. Come on.” Webb followed Harm out of his office into the bullpen.
“No.”
“I want you there. It's important.” Clay whined, he actually whined like the first days before Rabb willingly followed him into the dark.
“Why is it so important?” Harm asked, his face softening slightly.
“Because there is going to be a wedding ceremony.”
“Fine, Webb. I'll come to your wedding with my Wife, but no Bunny hops.”
“Guaranteed, wear your dress whites. I'll send something over for Kate to wear.”
“You're pushing your luck, Webb.”
“Trust me, Harm.”
@@@
A priest stood on the patio, behind him a fountain gurgled and small doves nested in bushes. Ivy grew along the wall and was the perfect backdrop for a ceremony.
“As I understand it, We are gathered here to witness the holy union of a couple who eloped, so Harm and Kate, you need to take your places right here.” The priest pointed to the spot in front of him, as Kate and Harm stood stunned. They both looked down to their clothes, Kate's simple sheath dress in white, Harm's dress whites.
Clay came behind them, pushing on their backs. “You didn't think you were going to get away with a quickie did you?”
Harm growled, as the audience clapped and laughed. Kate and Harm stood before their friends, who gave witness to their love. Mac smiled and nuzzled into Mic's embrace as she watched Harm 'let go.'
@@@
“She's Pregnant!” Harm shouted to the Jag Bullpen. Everyone looked up from their tasks and smiled at his exuberance.
“Finally! I thought you were going to break the record, Rabb.” The Admiral said from the doorway to his office. “Everyone has conceived a child within the first three months of their wedding.”
The office laughed as Harriet, Bud, Mic and Mac all blushed.
“Well technically sir, this is the sixth month.”
“Your elopement doesn't count, Commander. Get that through your head.”
Harm smiled. “Yes, Sir.”
@@@~~~Day of the shooting, June 26th
“Sorry we're late. Harm couldn't find my feet.” Kate called as she waddled over to a picnic bench.
“I found your feet just fine, it was the right shoes I couldn't find. Thirty pairs and only one pair fits.”
“Quit complaining, you. You've never carried another life.” Harriet called from where she was setting out the plates.
“That's not true. He carried me back to a plane, but he certainly couldn't hack it for nine months.” Mac put in from where she was holding Aimee.
“I'm not complaining about the shoes, I'm complaining about the fact she should have bought more than one pair of the damn things so I didn't have to search the whole house for them.”
The Staff laughed.
“Oh, Harm. I forgot my hat could you go get it for me?”
“Sure thing, honey.” Harm bent down to kiss Kate.
“Bring the sun block while your there.”
“Anything else?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“I'll be right back.” Harm started across the open field to where he had parked the car. Just a few feet to his left he saw a family of three lounging on a blanket, a three year old chasing circles around her pale red headed mother and her tall dark father.
Just in front of him, walked a man, who increased his pace, just outside the trees. Harm saw the gun moving from behind the man's back.
“Gun!” Was shouted. Harm lunged covering the little girl with his body. He looked over his shoulder to see a sneer and the finger squeeze. He felt the first shock and fell but managed to keep his weight off the little girl in front of him. Another shock filled the air as he felt pain tear into his back. The rest of the commotion of automatic weapon's fire erupting couldn't be heard past the pain, of not crushing the little girls with the weight of his pain.
@@
Harm opened his eyes to white on gray. A beep beside him echoed in his ears giving him a headache.
“Hey there.” Mac leaned over him into his line of vision. “Glad to see you're awake.”
“Hi.” He croaked. He looked around as far as he could. He looked back at Mac. “Where's Kate? Is she alright?”
“Well now. That's debatable, Flyboy. She's pretty damn pissed at you right now. Since you missed the birth of your own little girl.”
“What?” Harm asked dazed.
“Well seeing as how she was nine months along, the little girl decided it was time to come out. You are a father of a two-hour-old little girl. Unnamed at this time. Twenty-two hours of labor you missed, and trust me, Harriet, the Admiral, Gunny, Tiner and I are going to collect.” She smiled at him.
“I have a little girl?” He asked.
“Yes. A little girl.”
“What about the girl at the park?”
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine. Little Alexandra Seaborn is just fine. And you have one very happy Commander and Chief.”
“You're confusing me, Mac. When can I see Kate and my little girl?”
“When the doctor says you can.” She stood up. “I've got to go, get some rest, flyboy.”
Harm closed his eyes. “A little girl.”
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