Mending Hearts - Part 1

Thursday, 7 April 2005
1945 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Colonel Sarah MacKenzie answered the ringing telephone, "Hello?"

"Hi, Mac!  It's me, Chloe," came the voice of her 'little sister' from years ago.  

Mac smiled, hearing her voice.  "Chloe!  Good to hear from you.  How've you been?" she asked.

"Just great!  How about you?" Chloe returned.

"Not too bad," Mac answered.

"You and Harm still living together?" 

"Not always," Mac sighed.  "I'm at his place about half the time, I guess.  I still like having my own apartment to come home to."

"Do you think you two will ever get married so I can be a bridesmaid?" Chloe teased.

Mac laughed, "I doubt it, Chlo.  I think if Harm were ever going to propose, he'd have done it by now, don't you?"

This time, Chloe sighed.  "Yeah, I guess you're right.  You've been 'an item' for over two years now."

"And we've known each other for a lot longer than that."

"Six or seven years, isn't it?" Chloe asked.

"Try eight," Mac countered.

"I really wish you'd have taken my suggestion last year and proposed to him.  After all, isn't that why we have leap year?  So a girl can propose to a guy?" 

Mac laughed at Chloe's absurd statement.  "I don't think that's exactly the reason, Chloe."

"Well, Harm may be gorgeous to look at and even better in bed, but I think he's got a screw loose!" Chloe said indignantly.

"Chloe!" Mac exclaimed.  

"Well, it's true, Mac.  It took him almost six years to get his head out of his butt and ask you for a date!  And now it's been over two years, and he can't get up the nerve to propose!"

"Chloe, was there a reason you called tonight?  Or was it just to harp on Harm?" Mac said, a little annoyed... but knowing that she felt exactly the same way as Chloe. She really wished Harm would propose. She'd thought long and hard about just breaking down and asking him herself. But she decided against it. If he wanted to get married, he'd ask.

"I'm sorry, Mac. Yes, actually, I have a favor to ask."  She snorted.  "That was really smart, wasn't it?  Harp on your boyfriend and then ask for a favor.  God, you'd think I was blonde!  What a dope."

Mac couldn't help but laugh.  "Blonde?"

"Yeah.  Hey, you want to hear a great joke?"

Mac groaned.  "Another blonde joke?"  Chloe was full of blonde jokes... ever since Mac and Harm started dating, she never missed the opportunity to tell one.  Chloe especially liked to tease Harm with blonde jokes, knowing that he'd always preferred dating blondes... until Mac, that is. 

"Yeah.  Why does the blonde nurse carry a red magic marker in her pocket?" Chloe asked.

Mac pondered the question for a moment, and then she replied, "I have no idea.  Why?"

"She never knows when she might have to draw blood!" Chloe supplied the punch line.

That was one Mac hadn't heard before, and she roared in laughter.  "Now that one is funny, Chlo! I'll have to share that one with Harm tomorrow."

Mac was still laughing as Chloe began to explain the real purpose of her call.  "You remember that summer Shakespeare class I took a few years ago?"

"The one with Meredith teaching?  Sure, I remember," Mac replied.

"Well, I couldn't do it the last couple of years, but I'm signed up again for this summer."

"That's wonderful, Chloe!" Mac gushed.

"But it's a little different now," Chloe continued.

"Yeah, I know.  Meredith told me about it.  They have their own campus now... their own buildings and dorms.  It's not even associated with the University anymore.  And didn't she say it was in Maryland?"

"Right, it's in Cecilton, Maryland.  Across the bay from Baltimore," Chloe added.

"And the program lasts all summer, not just a couple of weeks," inserted Mac.

"Right."

"I guess your dad is deployed again, hmm?" Mac surmised.  She knew Chloe didn't like to be away from home when her dad was there.  But when he was at sea, she conned her grandmother into letting her travel all over the country.

"Yeah, he leaves again in May," Chloe said sadly.  

"So, your summer school starts in June?" Mac asked.

"Uh huh.  June 20.  It's a Monday.  Gramps and Gram will drive me down on Saturday if you'll be in town.  They'll just drop me off, though.  They're going to drive on down to see Gramps' brother in North Carolina."

"As far as I know, I'll be here, Chloe.  I'll put it on the calendar."

"Great!"  Chloe paused.  "Now for the favor," she whispered.

"Yes?"

"Did Ms. Cavanaugh happen to mention that some of the buildings they bought... umm... need some work?" Chloe asked.

Mac thought for a minute.  "No, I don't believe she did, Chloe.  But we didn't have a lot of time to talk.  I happened to see her at the mall a few months ago... and we were both late meeting our men folk."

"Is she still dating the Admiral?" Chloe asked.

"She was then," Mac replied.  "I assume they're still together."

"I'm surprised he didn't ask you out when he retired, Mac," offered Chloe.

"Chloe, the Admiral was never interested in me.  I was his subordinate."

"Yeah, but you're not anymore."

"No, I'm not.  But I'm with Harm, and the Admiral is with Meredith.  And we're all happy."  She thought to herself, 'Well, sort of...'

Chloe sighed.  "Anyway, I got a letter yesterday from the school.  They're asking that any parents who can, donate some time that first week.  I guess the buildings aren't the greatest, and they need some repair."

Mac was surprised.  "You mean the first week, you're going to be mending the buildings?  And not spend it on Shakespeare?  That's awful!"

"No, Mac.  Actually, the students and the teachers are going to Williamsburg for the first week.  Something about having us 'live in a period close to Shakespeare's time'.  The parents are staying at the school to fix the buildings," Chloe explained.

"Shakespeare lived and wrote in the 1500s.  Williamsburg wasn't settled until the 1700s," Mac countered.

"I know, but I guess things like no electricity, horse carriages, and that kind of stuff was all the same," Chloe offered.

"Yeah.  Well, it'll give a little bit of an idea, I guess," Mac agreed.  "So, what's the favor?  You want me to go with you?  Or work on the buildings?"

Chloe almost whispered, "Work on the buildings?"  Before Mac said anything, she rushed on, her voice a little stronger now.  "Daddy would do it, but like I said, he leaves in May.  And Gramps is really not able to do that kind of work anymore... not since his surgery last year.  And Gram..."

Mac interrupted her, "It's okay, Chloe.  Really.  I don't mind at all.  My calendar is clear then.  Let me check the office calendar tomorrow, and assuming it's also clear, I'll put in for leave that week."

"Thanks, Mac!  You're great!"

"Cecilton is quite a distance.  I wonder if they'd let..."

"Oh, I forgot!" Chloe interrupted her.  "The letter says for you to just plan on staying at the school that week to save your having to drive back and forth."

"Works for me," quipped Mac.

Monday, 20 June 2005
0800 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

"Good morning, everyone!  My name is Chris Lynch, and I'd like to thank you all very much for donating your time this week to the repair of our school buildings."  The man speaking was an average height and build; he was dressed in overalls that didn't look like they'd ever seen a day's work.  "I know it's a lot to ask of you, but believe me... your helping us with this is saving you a lot of money in the long run!  What you do this week, we don't have to hire outsiders to do... which means we don't have to increase tuition or room & board for your kids."  

The adults present laughed, including Mac.  She heard several parents whisper, "Good thing, too.  This school is already costing us a fortune!"

Chris continued, "We're going to concentrate our efforts this week on mending two buildings:  this one, which is our auditorium and partitions off to be classrooms, and our dormitory.  As you know, we have just one dormitory with two large rooms... one for the boys and one for the girls.  We'll work on the boys' side first, and those of you who are staying here at night will all bunk down on the girls' side.  Then when we finish the boys' part, we'll swap... and work on the girls' side, sleep on the boys'.  Now, what I'd like to do first is find out if anyone here is experienced in certain areas.  As I call out a specialty, if you're trained in that... or if you've done it before, head on over to the spot I indicate."

The adults murmured among themselves.  "Gosh, I hope there are experienced people here."  "Surely they're not expecting that we all know about construction!"  "No, I'm sure not."

"Okay, if anyone here knows about dry walling, gather over here to my left!" called Chris.  Two men stood up and moved to the indicated spot.  "Wonderful!" Chris said.  "Now, how about plumbing?  Do we have a plumber here?"  This time, only one man stood up.  "Ideal!  Right over here to my left, again, please."  The man walked over and stood with the dry wallers.  

"Hey, Chris!  What if we're familiar with more than one area?" a deep voice called out.

'That sounded like the Admiral,' Mac realized.  'Could he be here?'  She looked around, trying to find him, but couldn't see him.  And she didn't want to be obvious by standing up and looking around.

"Good question!" Chris replied.  "If you know more than area, just sit tight.  We'll put you where we need you the most."  Chris looked at his clipboard.  "Carpentry?  Wood working?  Anyone know these?"  Four men and one woman stood this time.  "Fantastic!!" Chris gushed.  "Over here to my right, please."  The five moved to stand on his right.  "Flooring... tile or carpeting?" Three men stood up. "How about you stand right over there," Chris pointed to an empty spot. "Painters?"

One woman called out, "Do you mean professional painters?  Or just if we've painted rooms in the house before?"

"The latter!  If you know how to hold a paint brush or use a paint roller, step over here behind me, please," Chris answered.  A whole host of people moved to the spot behind him that he indicated. He paused and looked at his clipboard again.  "Okay, electricians?  Do we have any licensed electricians?" One woman stood up.  "This is wonderful!  Just wonderful!" Chris said.  "If you'd come right over here to my left, please."  She joined the dry wallers and the plumber.  "Okay, what about handyman kinds of stuff? Hanging doors, laying tracks, mounting window hardware?"

"Now you're talking my game," quipped one of the men who was left. He and six other men and two women stood up. "Where to?" Chris pointed to another empty spot in the room.

Chris looked back at the people still seated. "Now, those of you who are left, if you know more than one area I mentioned, if you'd come stand right in front of me, please."  Three men and one woman stood and moved in front of him.  

Mac saw him then... just as he turned around and looked right at her.  She smiled, and the Admiral's face broke into a broad grin.  He nodded to her as she lifted her hand and gave a little wave.

Only four people were still seated now, all women, Mac included.  Chris spoke again.  "Now for the most important group.  Who can cook?"  The three other women stood up.  "Perfect!  We have our cooks for the week."  Then Chris looked at Mac.  

She felt completely alone now... and totally embarrassed.  Just as Chris was about to speak, the Admiral called out, "And you have your task master, too, Chris!  That's Colonel Sarah MacKenzie you have left there.  You give her anything, and she can do it!  Including running this whole show!"  Mac flushed with pride at the Admiral's words.

Chris turned back to Mac, "You're Colonel MacKenzie?"  Mac nodded and rose to her feet.  "I've heard a lot about you from Meredith... and from AJ," he nodded toward the retired Admiral.  "How about if you be the supervisor for the dormitory repairs and I take this building?  That way I won't have to go back and forth between the two.  That would be a real time saver, I do believe."

Mac nodded, "That will be just fine, Sir."

Chris chuckled, "It's just Chris, Colonel."

"Mac," she replied with a smile.

Monday, 20 June 2005
1145 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

Chris had explained to Mac what needed to be done in the dormitory. When she shared that information with her initial team of workers, no one believed they'd actually complete the entire project in the short week they had. No one, that is, except for Mac.

"I don't see why we can't finish it," she said to her group of workers as they all headed for the cafeteria. "Yes, there's a lot to be done, but if we all work hard the whole time we're here and we follow the schedule I..."

One of the men interrupted her, "But Mac, we're going to tear off all the wallpaper in the dormitory, sand the walls, and paint over them. Then we replace the carpet... and update the bathrooms? Get real!"

"I agree with Tom, Mac," said one of the women. "As much as I'd like to see us get all this finished this week, I don't see its happening."

"I tell you what," suggested Mac. "Let's work and think like we're going to get it all finished. Think positively. If we don't finish, we don't finish. But I still believe it's possible."

"How many hours are we supposed to work, anyway?" asked another of her group.

Mac replied quickly, "From 8 am until 6 pm... taking 30 minutes for lunch."

"Only 30 minutes for lunch?" asked the first man, Tom.

"That's right," said Mac. "30 minutes. So, let's get a move on!"

They all hurried into the cafeteria and went through the line quickly to secure their trays of food. As Mac picked up her tray and started for a table, AJ caught her eye and waved to her. She walked over to him. "Hello, Mac," he smiled.

"Good morning, Admiral," Mac said.

"Good to see you."

"And you, Sir. I was surprised to see you here... then, I suppose I shouldn't be..." Mac stumbled.

"Meredith asked if I'd help out this week. I couldn't very well turn her down, now could I?" he joked. "I guess you're here as a favor to her, too? I'm surprised she didn't mention that she'd asked you..."

Mac interrupted him. "Oh, no, Sir. Meredith didn't mention it. Chloe... you remember, my little sister from years ago...?"

AJ chuckled, "How could I forget her?"

Mac grinned, "True. Well, she's attending the summer session again this year, and she called me in April to ask if I'd help out this week. Her father left for sea duty last month, and her grandparents really aren't able to do a lot of this type of work anymore. So she called me."

"Good of you to agree to help, Mac." AJ looked at her tray in her hands. "You going to sit down and eat? Or are you going to stand there and absorb your food through osmosis?" he teased.

Mac smiled. "The latter would save time; we'd get more accomplished." She set her tray on the table and sat next to AJ.

"Chris and Meredith really set some lofty goals for this week," quipped AJ, glancing up at Chris, who was sitting opposite him at the table. "We're all going to have to work hard to get it all done."

"Do you think we can, Sir?"

AJ chuckled. "The name is AJ, Mac." Mac smiled and nodded as he continued. "If everyone has the kind of work ethic you and I have, then yes. Otherwise, probably not."

Mac sighed. "How bad is the auditorium?" she asked AJ. He had been assigned there, while Mac was in the dormitory.

"Not really as bad as all that," he told her. "They want to repaint the whole inside, and there are lots of chairs and tables that need to be repaired. They also want a bunch of cabinets built behind the stage area for props and such. And they have some new folding partitions to divide the building into rooms. The current ones only go up half way... and they fall over easily. The new ones are actually on tracks and fold back into a wall... very much like they have in hotel ballrooms," AJ explained. "Oh, and they want a few new spotlights installed, too."

"Wow, that's a lot," Mac replied.

"Sounds like it, but it's not when you break it down."

"AJ is right, Mac. We have lots of people who can paint. Five people who can build cabinets... between them, they'll have the cabinets almost finished today. They can stain them tomorrow morning and then move over to the dorm. And we've got five people to do the repairs on the tables and chairs, not to mention taking out the old partitions."

"And installing the new ones," Mac reminded him.

"No, actually, installation was included in the price of the new partitions," Chris countered. "The installers will be here on Friday. We just have to be ready for them."

"How many spotlights?" asked Mac. "How long will you need the electrician in your building, in other words?"

"Only half a day, I'm sure," replied Chris. "There are only six new spotlights and they're on a track, so it's not like installing six individual lights. It mounts as one big thing."

"What about your building, Mac?" asked AJ.

"Well, the dormitory is in pretty sad shape. As Chris said, there are just two big rooms... and then the bathrooms. And the walls are covered in pretty nasty wallpaper. All of that has to come down. And in so doing, some of the walls are crumbling a bit."

"Which is where the dry wallers come in?" asked AJ.

Chris nodded. "Not all of the walls are a problem. But some of them were damaged some years back and never replaced. So we're doing that now."

"You're replacing the carpeting, too, yes?" AJ asked.

Mac nodded. "Yes, and repairing the tile in the bathroom. We're going to replace the old commodes with new low-flush ones. Oh, and replace all the shower heads and sink faucets. Most of those are all corroded and look really bad. And we're going to add some built-in bookcases, too. And some shelves in the bathrooms. And they're replacing all of the light fixtures and switches."

"Damn, Chris! This isn't a one-week project... it's a whole summer's worth of work!" exclaimed another man who was sitting next to Chris.

AJ and Mac said at the same time, "We can do it."

When they finished eating, Mac excused herself to return to the dormitory. "Time to get back to work," she quipped.

"Actually, Mac, you have another 10 minutes of your lunch break," Chris told her.

She ignored him and waved at her team to join her as she left the cafeteria. Most of them were already finished eating, so they got up and followed her out.

"We'd better get back to it, too, Chris," AJ said. "She and her people did get here after we did, you know," AJ reminded him.

"You said she was a task master, AJ. I guess you meant it!" Chris reminded him.

"That I did," AJ agreed. "And I meant it when I said you give her anything, and she'd get it done. You watch. She will."

Monday, 20 June 2005
1855 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

AJ walked into the dormitory and found Mac hard at work sanding a wall that was now void of wallpaper. "Mac?" he said as he walked up behind her. "The end of the work day was supposed to be 1800."

"We didn't get started with the work until almost 1000 this morning, Admiral," she told him.

"That's true, but you really need to break and have something to eat for dinner. Everyone's heading out for Chinese now."

"I'll eat as soon as I finish this wall, Sir," Mac told him.

"The wall can't wait until morning?"

Mac shook her head. "Then we'll be behind schedule."

"You've already got it all planned out, haven't you?" he asked.

She nodded. "Only way to get it all done, Sir."

"AJ," he corrected her.

She smiled. "Sorry. That's hard to get used to."

AJ decided he wasn't going to convince Mac to quit for the night until the wall was finished. So he picked up a block of sandpaper and started sanding a few feet further down the wall. "You still enjoying being a judge, Mac?"

She nodded. "It's so different from litigating, but I do enjoy it. Sometimes it's a problem when a new officer comes in and assigns me to a case of Harm's, though. I have to have them switch the schedule around. Even though I'm sure I could judge a case fairly..."

AJ finished her thought, "It's best not to leave any room for supposed collusion or bias." Mac nodded. "So, how are you and Harm doing these days?" he asked.

"We're fine, I guess," she replied. "Same old, same old."

"You two have been living together for almost two years now, haven't you?" he asked.

"We're not really living together. Well, not always. I stay over at his place about half the time. But I still have my own apartment, too."

"He still hasn't popped the question?" AJ probed.

Mac shook her head. "Probably won't at this point. And I guess that's okay. I rather like being able to go back to my place and be alone sometimes."

AJ nodded. "I know the feeling, Mac. That's the way it is with me and Meredith. I enjoy our time together, but I'm glad for the days that I go back to my own house by myself."

"So you don't think you two will get married?" Mac asked boldly.

He chuckled. "Not in this lifetime." Mac looked up at him. "No, Mac, I guess I'm old fashioned. I think if two people get married, they should be completely in love. And Meredith and I aren't that... certainly I'm not."

Almost an hour later, they had finished sanding the wall. "There! Now we're still on schedule!" Mac announced. She looked up at AJ, "Thanks for helping me, Sir."

"If you'll call me AJ, I'll take you out for a nice big steak!" he bribed her.

"I think I can handle that, AJ!" she laughed.

"Good!  Come on, let's go get cleaned up some and get that steak."

As they walked outside, Mac asked, "Are you planning to stay here all the time, AJ?  Or are you driving back and forth every day?"

"Figured I'd just stay here.  You?"

"Definitely staying," she said.  "It's a little farther than I care to drive twice a day... even just for a week."

AJ nodded his agreement as they reached Mac's new car.  "Gee, Mac.  Bird Colonel's pay must agree with you," he teased as she claimed her duffle from the back of the BMW Roadster.  He was parked two spots away, so he continued toward his old cherished Escalade.  

She blushed slightly, "I decided to treat myself."

"I thought that's what you did when you bought the Corvette?"

"Well, yes, I did. But when I had to replace that, I decided..."

AJ interrupted, "You had to replace it? Why, Mac? It was only a few years old."

"You do know about the accident, right?"

AJ retrieved his duffle from the back seat of his vehicle and turned back to Mac.  "Accident?  What accident?"

Mac took a deep breath and said, "It was last November, during that really nasty blizzard we had.  You remember?"

AJ walked back to Mac and they headed back inside.  "Sure do.  It was the week of Thanksgiving.  Prevented Meredith and my going to Bermuda for the holiday.  All the airports were closed; we couldn't get out."

"That's the one," Mac sighed.  "I was on my way home from the office... well, I was going to Harm's place... and he was following me.  Good thing, too."

"Why?  What happened?" AJ prompted as he opened the door and they walked inside.

"I was crossing an intersection, and a car going the other direction lost control and went into a skid.  I was able to avoid him, but..." she sighed again.  "In so doing, I ran my car right under a parked semi.  I saw it coming and I ducked..."  AJ gasped.  "If I hadn't, well..."

"My God, Mac.  I didn't know.  Were you hurt?" he asked as they reached the part of the dormitory where they'd all sleep that night.  AJ dropped his duffle on the first bunk.

Mac followed suit and set her bag on the next bunk.  "Just my pride.  And my car.  It was totaled... the whole top was ripped right off... even the headrests on the seatbacks.  It wasn't pretty.  My poor little 'Vette."  

AJ grimaced as she told him about the headrests.  That could have included her head.  He pulled her into his arms then and hugged her.  "Thank God you ducked.  Damn, Mac; we could have lost you so easily," he breathed into her hair.

She tried to laugh it off and pull away, but he held her tightly and didn't release her.  "Harm was there in an instant... really gave him a fright.  He hadn't seen me duck."

"I can just imagine..." AJ choked, running his hand up and down her back.

"He was able to pry my door open and drag me out from beneath the airbag before the explosion."

"Explosion!?!" AJ roared, pulling back from Mac and staring at her incredulously.  "My God, Mac!  Why am I only just now hearing about this?!?"

"I was fine, AJ.  Really."  She reached up and laid her hands on his chest.  "Not even a scratch... surprising with those airbags inflating like they did... and me in the wrong place for them.  Harm carted me off to Bethesda to be sure, but they agreed.  I was perfectly fine."

AJ shook his head.  "Mac, promise me something.  If anything like that happens again... to any of you... please be sure I'm told."

Mac smiled slightly.  "I will.  I'm sorry, AJ; I should have called you."  Mac tried to lighten the mood.  "Anyway, I decided to treat myself... again. So this time I went to the BMW dealer and decided on the Roadster convertible!" she quipped, unzipping her duffle.

AJ also unzipped his duffle and pulled out some clean clothes and his shower bag.  "I wish you'd gotten a hard top, Mac," he commented.

"Oh, I couldn't!  Not after the 'Vette.  I love to go topless... it's in my blood now," she answered.

"And just how often do you go topless, Mac?" he decided to tease her a bit.

"Every chance I get!" she replied, not yet realizing that he didn't mean the car.

"Next time, be sure to invite me along.  Seeing you topless is an unfulfilled dream of mine," he grinned evilly as he grabbed his towel, snapped it at her backside, and headed for the showers.  

Mac sputtered and blushed profusely, though no one was there to see or hear her.  But she could hear AJ in the bathroom, laughing.  "Men!"  Mac grabbed her towel and shower bag and followed him to the bathroom.  She decided to call out to him as she entered, "Don't forget this is a co-ed bathroom this week!"

"We could make this a co-ed shower if you'd like, Mac!" he laughed.

"Wouldn't you be surprised if I accepted that invitation?" she bantered back.

AJ swallowed hard.  "Yep.  I sure would!" He finished his shower, dried off, and returned to the bunks.  He pulled his shorts on and then a clean pair of jeans.  He slid his feet into his shoes. Before he donned his shirt, though, Mac finished her shower and was walking back in the room, wrapped in a towel.  "I'm just about finished here, Mac.  Then I'll let you have the room to yourself," AJ offered.  

"Thanks," she smiled.

AJ grabbed his shirt and headed for the door.  Just before he opened it to leave, however, he remembered his wallet and keys were in his other jeans.  He turned around to claim them... just as Mac lowered her towel and secured it around her waist, leaving her breasts exposed.

AJ's jaw dropped open as he caught a glimpse of her.  "Oh... God, Mac... I... I'm..." he sputtered as he spun around on his heel to face the other direction.

Mac was surprised and she grabbed her shirt and held it in front of her.  Then she laughed, "Well, you did say you wanted to see me topless, AJ."

"Mac, I was teasing you.  I never meant... I would never have..." he stammered.  "Mac, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it.  It's no big deal."

"Maybe not for you..." he said under his breath. 

"Did you forget something?" she asked as she quickly hooked her bra and slid her shirt over her head.

"Uhhh... yes! My keys and wallet."

"You can turn around now, AJ. I'm covered."

AJ slowly turned back to face Mac. "Mac, I really do apologize..."

"Please, AJ, it's not necessary. Don't think another thing about it."

"Yeah, right. Don't think about seeing you topless," he muttered. Mac giggled. "Stop that!" he admonished.

"Stop what?" she laughed aloud. When he just glared at her, she laughed even harder. "Go on! Get out of here so I can get my pants on and we can go get that steak you promised me!"

Monday, 20 June 2005
2325 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

AJ pulled his vehicle into the parking space and turned off the engine. "I didn't realize it was so late, Mac."

"That's okay, AJ. I enjoyed our talk. I just wish I'd realized sooner we were so close to the beach. We could have gone for a walk. I love a moonlight stroll on the beach. Any beach!" she sighed.

"We'll do that another night this week then, Mac." AJ unfastened his seatbelt and opened his door. "That is, if you want to."

"Definitely," she said immediately. AJ made his way around the Escalade and opened Mac's door, offering his hand to help her down. "Thanks."

As they walked into the dormitory, they found most everyone already in bed. There were a few who were sitting up reading, and a quartet of men playing poker. "Well, you two decided to come back, eh?" joked one of the men.

"Where'd you two disappear to, anyway?" another asked.

"We missed you at dinner," one of the women who was reading spoke up.

Mac smiled. "I was busy and missed the call to leave for dinner... so the Admiral bought me a steak."

"A steak!?" one of the men repeated. "I would have loved a steak. I'm not really much for Chinese."

"The Admiral?!" growled AJ. "Mac, the deal was I bought you a steak if you'd quit calling me that!"

Mac giggled. "Yes, it was, wasn't it... Sir!"

"Colonel..." AJ growled again.

"Okay, okay... AJ," she retorted, causing the others to laugh.

Mac rummaged through her duffle bag and found her nightgown, robe, and slippers. She headed for the bathroom and changed in one of the stalls. When she reached her bunk, it was already turned down and her duffle was on the ground at the foot of her bed. She glanced at AJ, already lying in his bunk. She said a quiet, "Thank you, AJ."

He smiled, "You're welcome, Mac."

Tuesday, 21 June 2005
0530 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

Mac awoke at 0530, just as always. She quietly crawled out of bed and reached in the side pocket of her duffle, pulling out a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of socks. She grabbed her running shoes and headed for the bathroom. Not two minutes later, as she was dressing in the stall, she heard someone enter the bathroom.

"Mac, is that you?" AJ asked.

She smiled to herself. 'I should have known he'd wake up.' "Yes, Sir. I'm going running. Sorry if I disturbed you."

AJ replied, "You didn't. I get up at 0530 for my run, too."

"You still run every day, AJ?" she asked.

"Not every day, but often enough." When Mac opened the door of the stall, there stood AJ, dressed in his own shorts and t-shirt, waiting for her. "You ready?" he asked. She nodded in reply. "Let's go."

When they returned to the dormitory at 0645, almost everyone was up and getting ready for another day of work. "Where've you two been this time?" asked one of the men.

"Running," replied AJ.

"Running? At this hour?" cried one of the women.

Mac nodded as she pulled out her clothes for the day. "I run every morning at 0530. Great way to start the day." She headed for the bathroom and took her shower.

"Do you run every day, too, AJ?" the woman asked.

He shook his head. "Not since I retired last year. I only run 4 days a week now." AJ found his clothes for the day and followed Mac into the bathroom.

One of the guys from the poker game the night before chuckled, "I wonder if they were really running this morning? I mean they were out together awfully late last night... and they do seem awfully chummy."

"Oh, I'm sure they were," commented one of the women. "He's involved with Meredith Cavanaugh, you know."

"Meredith from here at the school?" asked another.

AJ walked back into the room before the question was answered. He put all of his belongings back into his duffle and zipped it shut, placing it at foot of his bunk. Then he made quick work of his bunk as Mac returned. She saw his bunk and laughed. "Is that how the Navy does it, AJ? Sloppy. Very sloppy," she teased.

"I'd like to see you do better!" he quipped.

"Oh you will, you will," Mac retorted. She repacked her duffle, set it at the foot of her bunk, and proceeded to make her bed. "And that, Admiral, is a well-made bunk."

"I don't see any difference," commented one of the women. "They're both as neat as a pin."

"But can you bounce a quarter on them?" teased one of the men.

Mac nodded, "On mine you can.  As for Navy's?  Ha!  Feel free to try. I, however, am going for breakfast."

"You haven't changed, Mac. Still thinking with your stomach," teased AJ as he opened the door for her and they headed for the cafeteria.  

When they'd all eaten their fill, AJ headed for the auditorium, while Mac headed back to the dormitory.  As she walked inside the boys' side, she heard some of the workers talking.  "I know this wall wasn't finished when we called it quits last night, Dave."

"He's right," agreed one of the women.  "We were only about a third of the way through sanding that wall."

"Well, how'd it get finished then?"

Mac interrupted them.  "We made some good progress yesterday; let's see if we can get even more accomplished today. I want to finish this room by noon tomorrow so we can start on the girls' side tomorrow after lunch. We'll mount the shelves and bookcases on Friday in both rooms."

"But Mac, this wall..."

Hearing a loud crash, Mac turned and headed for the boys' bathroom.  As she entered the room, a voice said sheepishly from inside a stall, "Nothing to worry about, Mac.  I dropped my toolbox and everything fell out."

Mac chuckled, "Okay, George.  As long as you're not hurt?"

"No... just embarrassed is all.  What kind of plumber drops his toolbox?" 

"They seem to have everything under control out there.  You need a hand in here?" she asked him.  

"Yeah, that'd be great.  There's a wrench on the floor just to your left.  Grab that for me, will you?"  Mac found it, and then found herself helping George for the rest of the day.  They removed the remaining old commodes and installed the new ones.  She couldn't imagine how he'd done all he had yesterday by himself.  She was more of a 'gopher' than anything else, but Mac didn't mind.  She knew that she saved him lots of time by being there to hand him the tools he needed.

At 1145, Mac and her team of workers entered the cafeteria.  The group from the auditorium was already there, seated and eating.  "Hey!  Don't you people ever work?" quipped Mac as she set her tray next to AJ and sat down.

He grinned.  "Yeah, but I warned them that we had to get in here to eat before you or there wouldn't be anything left!"  Mac gasped and slapped AJ on the arm as the others at the table laughed.

"I'll get you for that," she warned.

"And just how do you plan..." AJ started.

Chris interrupted.  "Better watch it, AJ," he advised.  "Remember, I'm moving you over to the dormitory tomorrow morning.  She'll be your task master for the rest of the week!"

Mac finished eating early, and she got up to head back to the dormitory.  Her group of workers all got up and followed her, sighing, "She never even takes a break, have you noticed?"

"Doesn't take her whole lunch break either."

"Yeah, which means we don't get one!"

"We could stay, you know.  We don't have to leave when she does."

"She's really determined to get all this finished this week."

"I guess she doesn't want to have to pay extra for her kid's classes."

Tuesday, 21 June 2005
1825 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

AJ walked into the dormitory and found everyone cleaning up, getting ready to go out for dinner.  "We're going for pizza tonight," one of them commented.  "Leaving in 10 minutes."

'Where's Mac?' AJ asked himself.  He checked the bathroom, and she wasn't there either.  'I'll bet she's still at work.'  He walked into the boys' side of the building, and called, "Mac?"

"In the bathroom!" she called back.  

AJ walked through the room and into the bathroom.  "What are you doing in here?" he asked.

"Only have a couple more of these to switch," she said as she reached up and applied the Teflon tape to the shower pipe.  "Can you hand me that shower head, please?"

AJ shook his head as he picked up the fitting and handed it to her.  "And I guess if these aren't finished today, you're behind schedule?" he teased.

"You got it," she retorted.  "George ran into a few problems with one of the commodes this afternoon, so he didn't get but one of these shower heads changed out before 1800.  Jack starts on the tile tomorrow morning, so this all has to be finished."

"The commodes and sinks look really good, Mac," AJ observed.

"Yeah, they do.  George did a great job," she agreed.

"I didn't know you knew how to change a shower head," he commented.

"I didn't until this afternoon.  I watched George do the first one, and he explained what he was doing all the way through.  Not hard at all," she quipped.  "I've already done one... make that two," she said as she lowered her arms, another installation complete.  "And there's just one more to go."

"We're going to miss the group dinner again," he commented as he reached up and unscrewed the last old shower head.

"Where are they going?  Maybe we can join them there?" she suggested.

"Pizza.  Which means Milano's.  It's the only pizza place in Cecilton."

However, when AJ and Mac arrived at Milano's 45 minutes later, their group was no where around.  AJ asked the hostess if there was another pizza place in Cecilton now, and she assured him that there wasn't.  So, AJ and Mac were seated at a booth and shared a large pie with everything on it.

"How about that walk on the beach this evening, Mac?" AJ suggested after he paid their bill.

Mac smiled, "I'd love it!"

Tuesday, 21 June 2005
2235 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

AJ and Mac entered the dormitory laughing.  "I'm just really glad you talked Meredith out of those flying lessons, Mac," AJ said.

Mac giggled.  "I think telling her about my first time up with Harm cinched it."

"Yeah.  Of course, then she wanted me to teach her how to shoot.  'Just in case,' she said," AJ laughed as he sat on his bunk.  "God, can you imagine Meredith with a gun?"

Mac blanched as she sat next to him.  "Oh, please, AJ... never give Meredith a gun."

"Not to worry.  I told her if she didn't feel safe at home when I wasn't there, I'd buy her a guard dog."

Mac smiled.  "One of these days I'm going to have to get another dog.  I miss old Jingo."

"How does Harm feel about dogs?"

She shook her head.  "Doesn't matter.  We can't have one in his apartment building.  So unless he moves into my place, I guess I won't be getting one.  Not with my spending half my time over there."

AJ shook his head, "Shame."

One of the others piped up, "So, where'd you two disappear to tonight?"

AJ looked over at Pete... the one who'd said they were going for pizza.  "I thought you were going for pizza," he retorted.  "So that's where Mac and I went... to Milano's to meet up with everyone."

"Milano's?"

AJ nodded, "Yeah.  The only pizza place in Cecilton."

Pete looked a mite chagrinned.  "Oh.  Well, we drove over to Middletown... to Pizza Hut.  I didn't know about that other place."

"But if you two went to a place here in town, why are you so late getting back?" one of the women asked.

"We took a walk on the beach," Mac replied.  "I love to walk on the beach at night."

"Oh, and tonight was so clear!  I'll bet it was just beautiful."

Mac smiled, "It was.  Gorgeous."

Another women spoke up, "Well, tomorrow night we've decided to go to the movies.  We passed a theater tonight, and there's a bunch of great movies playing.  So we're going to head over there to catch the shows that start around 7:00... and just grab something to eat at the theater."

Mac relied, "Sounds great."  

AJ agreed, and then leaned over and whispered in Mac's ear, "Think you can quit on time tomorrow, Mac?"

Wednesday, 22 June 2005
0535 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

Mac stepped out of the bathroom stall and walked back through the dorm room.  AJ grinned at her from the doorway.  He whispered, "You ready?"

She nodded. As they walked outside into the fresh morning air, Mac said, "I thought you didn't run every morning anymore?"

"I don't, as a rule. But when I have a running partner, that's different. I'll run three times a day if I have someone to run with me," he answered, beginning his warm-up stretches.

Mac smiled as she bent over and stretched, too. "It is a lot nicer to have someone to run with. I really enjoyed those few months when we ran together in the mornings."

AJ turned a surprised glance to Mac, "You did?"

She nodded. "Why do you look so surprised?"

AJ sighed, "I guess I thought you felt you had to agree to run with me then. I was your CO, and I was the one who suggested we train together for the JAGathon."

"Is that why we quit afterwards?" she asked, "because you thought I felt pressured?"

AJ nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. I realized after I suggested it that I probably shouldn't have."

"Shame," offered Mac. "I really missed it."

Neither said another word as they took to the trail and ran for an hour. As they took their cool-down walk around the parking lot, AJ proposed, "You know, Mac, we could start running together again when we get home, if you'd like."

Mac cocked her head to one side. "You don't think Meredith would mind?"

"Why would she mind?" he asked. "She knows I run four mornings a week anyway. And you and I used to only run together three mornings a week."

"Sounds great to me, AJ."

"Do you think Harm would mind?" AJ asked.

"I don't know.  I guess I'd have to ask him."

"I'm surprised you two don't run together," commented AJ.

"Harm runs too fast. If I'm going to run with someone, I prefer that we keep pace with each other."

AJ chuckled. "Well, you and I seem to run at a pretty equal pace. Just like we did... God, was it really four years ago?"

"Fall of 2001," Mac agreed.

"Doesn't seem like that long ago," AJ sighed.

Continue to Part 2.