Mending Hearts - Part 2

Wednesday, 22 June 2005
0810 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

Mac walked into the boys' half of the dorm a few minutes behind the rest of her team. Chris had wanted an update on their progress, so Mac stayed behind after breakfast to explain her schedule. As she entered the room, she heard George's exclamation from the bathroom. "I only changed out one of these shower heads yesterday! How the heck did all of them get changed?"

AJ was painting the trim around the window facings.  He answered, "Mac changed them before dinner yesterday, George."

"What? Why'd she do that?" he asked. "I told her I'd do them this morning."

AJ replied, "She wanted them to be able to start on the tile first thing this morning." He added, "She did a good job; you explained it all as you did the first one, and she watched. That's all it took."

George shook his head. "She's a terrific helper. Couldn't have asked for better. Once she learned which tools I used for what yesterday, she handed them to me before I even asked."

AJ agreed, "She's pretty incredible, that's for sure. You knew she finished that wall the evening before, right?" AJ nodded toward the far wall.

"No! We couldn't figure out who did it!" one of the men exclaimed.

"I thought she was the one who couldn't 'do' anything when Chris called out all the jobs?" someone said.

AJ replied simply, "Mac is a fast learner.  She watched George... then she could do the shower heads.  She probably watched you the first day... then she knew how to smooth the wall."

"And she used to be on your staff, hmm?" asked George.

AJ nodded.  "She was my Chief of Staff.  The best they come."

One of the women asked, "Why is she so intent on getting this whole job done in a week, though? I mean, so we don't get the carpet down or something. Why is it such a big deal?"

"Like I said yesterday, Julia," offered one of the men, "she doesn't want to have to pay more for her kid's tuition."

AJ grinned. "She doesn't pay anything for tuition."

"What?" "Why not?" Several of them queried.

"Mac doesn't have any kids," AJ informed them. He wondered how much he should say, but he didn't want these people gossiping about Mac. "She has a little sister from the Big Sis/Little Sis program... actually, they haven't been in that program for a good while... but they're still very close. Her little sister is coming here to the school this summer. And she asked Mac if she'd help out this week because her father was deployed last month."

"Deployed?"

"He's in the Navy. He shipped out last month," Mac replied, bringing all attention to her. "What's going on?" she asked, wondering why people, and specifically AJ, were talking about her and Chloe.

"We were just wondering why you're so intent on getting everything finished this week, Mac.  We didn't mean to be nosey," said Julia.  "And AJ was..."

Mac interrupted, "Because I'd like it to be nice for the kids this summer, that's why. And because I don't take an assignment lightly. We have a job to do, and I intend to do my best to see that it's completed properly."  She looked down at the schedule on her clipboard.  "We need to finish this room before lunch today so we can start on the other side this afternoon."  She looked around.  They still had to finish putting the last coat of paint on the trim around the windows and lay the carpet. Then they had to move all the furniture back in place, and from the looks of it, there were still several bunks and dressers that needed mending.  "That going to be a problem?" she asked shortly.

Everyone shook their head.  "No, Mac."  "We'll get it done."  "Not to worry, Mac."

She nodded once, "Good.  If you run into a problem, be sure to call me."  She headed for the bathroom and found Jack kneeling on the floor prying up the broken tiles.  "Good morning," she smiled.

Jack looked up.  "Well, and a good morning to you, too, Miss Slave Driver," he teased.

"Is that what you think I'm..." Mac started.

"No, Mac.  I'm just kidding.  Really.  I think you're doing a great job.  And so does everyone else, truth be told.  I think some of these folks thought they were coming here for summer camp themselves!"

Mac chuckled.  "Well, I hope they don't all hate me when the week is over."

"Nah, I'm sure not," Jack told her.

"You need some help in here?  Or is it easier to do by yourself?" Mac asked him.

"Help would be great.  See if you can find me someone who can wield a crowbar... has to be strong... but gentle and exact.  Don't want to break any more tiles, just get the broken ones out."

Mac nodded as she went back into the big room.  She walked over to AJ and said quietly, "You interested in helping Jack with the tile instead of painting?"

He looked up at her from his position on the floor.  "Sure, Mac.  Whatever you need me to do is fine."  She nodded, and he stood up.  She took the paintbrush from him and he headed for the bathroom.  "What do you need me to do, Jack?" AJ asked, as he looked back and saw Mac taking his place painting the window trim.  "Pull or lay tile?"

Jack grinned.  "So you're my gentle strong man, eh?"  AJ raised his eyebrow in question.  Jack chuckled, "I told Mac I needed someone strong to wield a crowbar... but that he had to be gentle and exact, too.  She went right to you."  AJ smiled to himself; he rather liked that Mac thought of him in that way.  Jack didn't wait for AJ to reply, though.  He stood up, handed AJ the crowbar and said, "Go for it.  All the broken tiles need to come out, preferably without breaking any others."

AJ nodded and started in immediately pulling up the broken tile on the floor.  Then he remembered the shower stalls.  "Jack, wouldn't it be better to replace the tiles in the showers first?  Then do the floors?"

Jack looked surprised.  "Geez!  Yes, it would!  I can't believe I didn't even think of those damned showers.  Let's take a look."

"They're not too bad.  Only two or three broken tiles in each shower.  Except the one on the end; that one had a bunch... it's probably used the most often," AJ offered.

Jack looked in all the shower stalls.  "I'll bet you're right.  Go ahead and pull these out first, AJ.  Then while I'm replacing those, you can finish pulling the floor tiles up."  Then he asked, "You ever lay tile before?"  AJ nodded.  "Great!  We'll have this done in no time!"

By lunch time, the boys' side of the dormitory was finished, as was the boys' bathroom.  The group headed over to the cafeteria and this time, they actually arrived before the workers from the auditorium.  Mac went through the line and was about to head for a table with a couple of the women, when AJ waved to her.  "Over here, Mac!" he called.  She frowned.  'Uh oh,' he thought.  'She's angry.' 

As she sat down, he said quietly, "Mac, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to encroach on your privacy.  But I thought the others should know that you weren't doing all this work to save yourself money.  That's what someone had suggested, and it irked me.  I'm sorry if I overstepped..."

Mac shook her head.  "No, it's okay.  I'm just not used to being gossiped about anymore.  It's been a long time."

"Actually, Mac, I was trying to prevent their gossip by telling them the truth," he replied.  "I should have kept my mouth shut and let you deal with it in your own way."  He looked deep into her eyes then and laid his hand over hers, saying, "I am sorry, Mac."

She smiled slightly, "Thank you."

Chris' team of workers arrived, and the cafeteria bustled with excitement.  As Chris sat down with AJ and Mac, he said, "Auditorium is almost finished.  I can't believe how much we've gotten accomplished already this week!  It's amazing."  Mac and AJ nodded.  "How's the dorm coming?  Did you get the boys' side finished like you'd hoped?" he asked Mac.

She grinned.  "They sure did.  They got an amazing amount of work done this morning.  It was incredible."  

Chris laughed and pounded the table.  "Meredith is going to be so excited when she gets back here on Sunday!"  AJ agreed with him.

"One thing, though, Chris," Mac interrupted his jovial mood.  "The new grout in the bathroom has to have time to dry.  Jack said we shouldn't walk on the floor or use those showers until Friday. "

"That's fine.  The kids don't get back until Sunday," Jack answered.

"What about the workers, though?" Mac said.  "We're moving over to the boys' side now to sleep... but we can't move to that bathroom until Friday.  Which means we can't do the girls' bathroom until Friday.  Unless there's somewhere else...?"

Chris sighed.  "Dang, I didn't think of that."

Mac shook her head.  "I didn't either... that's why I didn't have it built into my schedule."

Chris rubbed his hands over his head.  "What are we going to do?  We have to have the girls' bathroom..."

AJ interrupted him.  "What's your proposed solution, Mac?"  AJ knew she had one.  In all the years she worked for him, she never presented a problem for which she didn't have a ready resolution.  Chris looked up, surprised.

Mac smiled as she spoke, "We continue to use the girls' bathroom through Thursday night.  We'll have to be much more careful, because we'll be walking through the girls' dorm room that will be under construction... no carpet... wet paint... that sort of thing.  Then we switch on Friday morning to the boys' bathroom.  George can still go ahead with the girls' bathroom changes now... the commodes, the fixtures... that won't be a problem.  Then on Friday morning, we mount the new shelves in the girls' bathroom before the boys' so Jack and AJ can get started on the tile.  Then it'll have until Sunday evening to dry before the kids get back."

"Sounds like a plan!" agreed Chris.  Then he turned to AJ.  "How'd you know she already had a solution?"

AJ chuckled, "She's a Marine, Chris."

Mac finished her lunch even earlier than usual, so she got up and headed back to the dormitory, with AJ following her.  When the rest of her team returned, they were surprised to find AJ moving the last of their belongings from the girls' side of the dorm to the boys' side.  And Mac had moved all the bed linens and was making the last bunk.  She looked up and saw the incredulous looks on their faces and just smiled.  "Time to start again, people!"

Wednesday, 22 June 2005
1812 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

"She's going to miss it again," Julia commented as she stuffed her dirty clothes into her laundry bag.

"She'll make it," said AJ, sitting on his bunk and tying his shoes.

"She's not in the shower, AJ.  She's still working," Julia informed him.  She grinned as she watched AJ storm out of the girls' side of the dorm and into the boys'.  

"Colonel MacKenzie!" AJ bellowed.  "Cease and desist now!  Get in here and get cleaned up!  You have 8 minutes!"

Mac dropped the block of sandpaper at his first word, turned around, and came to attention stance.  "Sir!  Yes, Sir!" she snapped.

"Move it, Colonel!" he barked.

Mac ran past him and into the boys' side, grabbed her duffle and headed back to the girls' bathroom.  AJ was still standing there, his arms crossed over his chest... watching her, just like he used to do.  When he heard the shower stall door slam, he grinned and turned back to the boys' side.  He looked up to see every person in the room staring at him.  He quipped, "Hey, when you've got it, you've got it!"

"Yeah, but even so, she only has 8 minutes to get ready.  She'll never make it," said George.  "Takes my wife 30 minutes, minimum!"

AJ chuckled.  "She'll make it.  With seconds to spare.  I'd bet my life on it."

Several minutes later, Mac returned to the large room, tossed her duffle at the foot of the bed, and grabbed her shoes.  She sat on the bed and quickly slid her feet into the shoes, tying the laces.  She stood up, smoothed the bed covers, and turned to face AJ.  At attention stance, she said crisply, "Colonel MacKenzie ready as ordered, Sir!"  Then she added with a smirk, "And with 14 seconds to spare."

The whole room erupted in laughter as AJ nodded and said, "See?  I told you!"  He and Mac joined the laughter then.  "Come on; let's go to the movies!"

Wednesday, 22 June 2005
1855 EDT
Evertt Theater
Middletown, Delaware

The small caravan of vehicles arrived at the theater and divided into groups of who wanted to see each movie.  Half a dozen people wanted to see the fourth Harry Potter film, "The Goblet of Fire".  Another seven wanted to experience "Episode 3" of the Star Wars series.  Then there were three who insisted on watching "Madagascar", two more who chose "Over the Hedge", and that left Mac being the only one who wanted to drool over Harrison Ford starring in the fourth Indiana Jones adventure.

'I can't believe no one else wants to see this,' she sighed to herself.  'Oh well.  No big deal.  It's not the first time I've sat in a theater by myself.'  Her subconscious said, 'Yeah, but the last time you did it, you were only 11 years old!'

The groups got in line based on show time to buy their tickets, so Mac hung back.  Her movie didn't start until 1930.  "Mac?" AJ approached her.  "Which one are you going to watch?"

She looked up and smiled.  "Guess," she teased, seeing his ticket for "Episode 3" in his hand.

"Over the Hedge?" he suggested.

Mac shook her head and then saw the Star Wars group heading inside.  "Your movie's about to start, AJ.  You'd better go on.  I'll see you afterward."  He nodded and followed the other six inside.  

It was finally Mac's turn to buy her ticket.  "One for Indiana Jones, please," she told the cashier.

"That's $9.25."  Mac handed the cashier her money.  "The movie is in Theater 2 and starts at 7:30."

Mac smiled.  "Thanks."  As she walked inside, the ticket taker ripped her ticket in half and handed her the smaller piece.  Mac decided to get something to eat.  As she stood in line at the refreshment stand, she noticed several of their group coming back out of their theaters to get food.  So she let them go ahead of her.  

"Mac, you don't have to..." Julia started to object.

"Not a problem, Julia.  Really.  My show doesn't start for another 23 minutes.  You're missing part of yours.  Go on," she encouraged.

Finally everyone had their food and drinks, and Mac was back at the head of the line.  "I'd like a hot dog with just ketchup, French fries, and a large Coke, please."

"No popcorn, Mac?" AJ's voice at her ear startled her and she jumped.

"Admiral!  umm... I mean... AJ," she corrected herself as he grinned at her.  "You're getting something to eat, too, hmm?"

AJ nodded.  "Can't sit through a movie without popcorn.  That hot dog sounded good, too."  He looked at the concessionaire and said, "Make that two hot dogs and two large Cokes.  And the biggest popcorn you've got."

"AJ..." Mac started to object.

"Where's your group, Mac?" he asked, suddenly realizing that she was the only other person from their group in the lobby.  She shrugged her shoulders.  "Mac?  Where's your group?"

"Right here," she quipped, pointing to herself.  

"You're alone?" he asked incredulously.  She nodded.  "What are we watching, Mac?"

Mac caught the pronoun.  "We?"

The girl laid the food and drinks on the counter.  "That's $18."

AJ pulled out his billfold and handed the girl the money.  He and Mac reached up and took their food and drinks.  "What are we watching?" he asked again.

"AJ, you're supposed to be watching 'Episode 3'," Mac informed him.

"You're not sitting in that theater alone, Mac.  There's no reason for it.  Not with this many of us here."

"AJ, it's not a big deal."

"For me either.  I don't care a bit about seeing a particular movie.  Meredith will drag me out to all of them again anyway," he sighed.  "So.  What are we seeing?"

Mac smiled.  "Harrison Ford."

"What?" AJ looked confused.  "I don't remember a movie with that name."

Mac giggled.  "No, he's the star.  It's the fourth of the 'Indiana Jones' films."

"Ooh!  Okay.  Lead the way,"

Mac and AJ headed to Theater 2 and seated themselves right in the center of the row.  "Would you prefer to sit on the end?" asked Mac.

AJ shook his head.  "Doesn't matter where I sit, Mac... long as I'm sitting next to you," he teased.

"I never knew you were such a flirt!" Mac laughed as the lights dimmed and the previews began playing.  "I wish they wouldn't show so many of these," she complained softly.

"They are a nuisance, aren't they," AJ said.

"Hey, you're hogging all the popcorn," Mac said as she reached over and dipped her hand into the enormous bucket.

The movie began playing several minutes later, and AJ whispered, "Good God, Mac!  How old is that guy?"

"Harrison Ford?" Mac questioned.

AJ nodded.  "Yeah... him," he pointed to the screen.

"He's 63.  Isn't he gorgeous?  God, he is soooo sexy!"

AJ turned surprised eyes to Mac.  "You think he's sexy?  Mac, he's older than I am!"

Mac didn't flinch.  She decided to flirt back with him, so she said very matter-of-factly, "Feeling threatened, AJ?  No need to.  You're even more sexy than Harrison Ford.  Always have been."

AJ had just tossed some popcorn into his mouth, and he started choking on it.  Mac reached her hand to his back and tapped him lightly.  "You okay?"

"Uh huh," he managed as he continued to stare at her.  Mac, however, was glued to the screen.

Several times during the movie, Mac screamed and turned to hide her face in AJ's chest.  He chuckled each time and put his arms around her.  "It's okay now, Mac.  You can look again."  The third time, when she turned back to face the screen, AJ left his arm around her shoulders.  She snuggled down into her seat and leaned closer to him.  After another startling scene where Mac turned to hide her eyes, AJ kissed the top of her head before she turned back.  She lifted her eyes to his and smiled.  When she looked back at the screen this time, she left her hand laying on his thigh.  

The movie ended all too soon for both of them.  They exited the theater to find most of their group milling around the lobby and just outside the entrance.  "AJ!" one of the men called to them. "Mac!  Over here!"

They walked over to them.  "The 'Episode 3' group won't be out for another 25 minutes.  Shame that we all have to wait for them."

"You don't," replied AJ.  "George drove his SUV and he's in that group.  And I have the Escalade.  You all go ahead.  I'll wait for them."

"Great!  Thanks, AJ."  

AJ turned to Mac as the others were heading for the cars.  "Aren't you going with them?"

She shook her head.  "I thought I'd stay and keep you company this time."

"Mac, you don't have to..."

She interrupted him, "Any more than you had to change movies for me.  I know that.  I want to."

He smiled.  "Thanks."  He noticed a lake off to the left.  "Want to take a walk over to the lake?"  She nodded.  As they walked, AJ picked up Mac's hand and squeezed it.  "So tell me, Mac.  A big, bad Marine like you... screaming and hiding your eyes during a movie?" he teased.  Mac blushed profusely.  "What was that all about?"

She almost whispered, "I'm always that way at movies, AJ.  I don't really know why.  I can charge into battle with the best of 'em... and I'm fine.  I can deal with real life danger... threats... blood, guts, and gore... but," she hesitated.  "In a movie?  I don't know... I get..."  She didn't go on.

"Scared?" he asked.

"No, not scared."

"Grossed out?" he chuckled.

"Well, yes that... but..." she sighed.  "I guess it just startles me.  And I don't like watching it."

"Then why choose that kind of movie, Mac?" he asked gently.

She looked up at him.  "Are you kidding?  I'd watch anything with Harrison Ford in it!"

AJ laughed and pulled Mac closer to him, encircling her shoulders with his arm as they continued walking.  "I really miss the times we all used to get together at the Roberts' house," AJ sighed.  "Have you heard from them?  How are they doing in Florida?"

Mac smiled.  "Actually, they're doing pretty well.  Bud finally laid down the law, and his mother-in-law isn't being such a pain anymore.  She had Harriett in tears nearly every day for the first few months."

"Shame Bud had so much trouble with his prosthesis.  He did so well that first year."

Mac nodded.  "But almost to the day a year later, he started having trouble."  AJ looked surprised.  "Oh, he hid it well, even from Harriett at first.  But finally, he couldn't stand the pain anymore."  Mac shook her head.  "I miss them.  A lot."

AJ squeezed her shoulders.  "I know you do."  

They made their way part-way around the lake and decided to turn around.  They didn't want the others to come out of the theater and not see them.  

When they reached the doors, the movie was just letting out.  "How was it?" AJ called to them.

"Fantastic!"  "Great!"  "Best one yet!"  "Not bad."  The answers came fast and furious.

"What happened to you, AJ?" George asked.  "You left to get something to eat and never came back."

"Decided to watch a different one," AJ said simply.

"Where is everyone else?" one of the women asked.

"They went on back about half an hour ago," AJ explained.  "We figured between George's and my vehicles, we wouldn't have any trouble getting everyone back to the campus."  They all headed for the parking lot and were soon on their way back to Cecilton.

Thursday, 23 June 2005
0535 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

Mac was ready a minute before AJ this morning.  She grinned when he finally joined her at the door and they went outside for their morning run.  "So, did you dream about Harrison Ford last night, Mac?" AJ teased as they began their warm-up stretches.

"Nope," she answered easily.  "Someone better," she mumbled under her breath, sure that AJ couldn't hear her.  

But, of course, he did.  "Someone better, hmm?  Now who could that be?"  Mac felt herself blushing, so she bent over and touched her toes, thereby hiding her face from view.  "Come on, Mac.  Who'd you dream about last night?" AJ pressed, sure that she meant Harm.

"What makes you think I dreamt about anyone last night?"

"Well, beside the fact that you just said 'Someone better'... you talked in your sleep quite a bit last night," AJ told her.

Mac jerked back up.  "I what?"

AJ nodded.  "Yep.  You were definitely enjoying yourself."  Mac blushed profusely.  "And from the sound of it, I'm sure he was enjoying it, too."

Mac turned and started running down the path.  "Well, you oughta know," she muttered, again sure that AJ couldn't possibly hear her.

Again, she was wrong.

Thursday, 23 June 2005
1820 EDT
Shakespearean Adventure School
Cecilton, Maryland

"Mac, come on.  We can finish that tomorrow.  You don't have to do it tonight," Julia pleaded.  "Come go with us to the street fair.  It'll be fun."

Mac took a deep breath.  She'd planned to finish painting all the trim tonight.  She really wanted to finish the dormitory before everyone left tomorrow.  But with so much left to do, it just didn't look like it was going to happen.  She sighed and resigned herself to the fact.  "Okay, Julia.  I'll just finish up this one window and..."

"I'll finish it, Mac," offered AJ, coming up behind her and slipping the paint brush out of her hand.  "You go on and get cleaned up so we can leave."

"But you're already showered.  You might get splattered!" Mac objected.

"I'll be very careful," he assured her.  "Now go!"  She hesitated.  "Do I have to make it an order, Colonel?" he teased.

Mac smiled then.  "Okay, okay."  As Mac reached her bunk, she heard her cell phone ringing.  "Damn!  I was so hoping I wouldn't get called this week," she said as she reached into the front pocket and pulled out the tiny phone.  "Colonel MacKenzie!" she said crisply.

"Hey, Sugar Lips!" Harm's voice sounded over the phone.

"Harm," she sighed, "You know I don't like that term."

"Sorry, Honey.  I forgot; I think it's cute."

"It is, for a 20-something girl," she said as she plopped down on her bunk.

"But not for a bird Colonel, eh?" Harm said.

"Not really."

"So, how are you doing?  Miss me?"

Mac smiled.  "Doing fine.  We're really keeping busy.  Extremely so."

"And do you miss me?" he repeated.

Mac giggled.  "Of course I miss you, Flyboy."  She looked up and saw almost everyone in the room staring at her.  "Hang on a minute, Harm."  She got up from her bunk and walked outside, waving to the others as she left.  "Okay, I'm back."

About 15 minutes later, the door opened and everyone filed out.  Julia called to Mac, "We're heading on over now.  AJ said he'd wait for you.  We'll see you there!"

Mac waved, "Okay!"

"What's up?" asked Harm.

"I really should go, Harm.  Everyone's spending the evening at some kind of street fair in town.  And I'm the last one to be ready.  I don't want to keep AJ waiting too long."

"AJ?  As in the Admiral?" Harm asked.

"Yeah.  He's here, too.  Meredith asked him to help."

"Tell him I said hello."

"I will.  Oh, we've been running together every morning before breakfast.  What would you think if he and I kept doing that when I get home?"

"Mac, if you want to run with someone, why not me?" Harm asked, sounding almost offended.

"Harm, you run so much faster than I do.  And I like to..."

"I don't have to, Honey.  I can slow it down to run with you."

"Okay.  Well, we'll discuss it when I get home.  I really have to go now," Mac said.

"I miss you," Harm said softly.

"I miss you, too, Harm.  Bye."

The door opened just as Mac reached it.  "You still planning to go this evening, Mac?  Or would you rather stay in?" AJ asked.

"I'd like to go, if you don't mind waiting a few minutes so I can shower and change."

"Be glad to wait, Mac," AJ smiled.  "Go ahead."

"Thanks," she walked past him and grabbed her belongings.  "Oh, and Harm says hello."  Mac was showered and dressed in 10 minutes.  "Want to take my car tonight?  We can put the top down," she offered.  "You can even drive," she added with a grin.

"Can't pass that up," AJ smirked.  Mac tossed him the keys and they climbed in her little Roadster.

"So where is this street fair, anyway?" she asked as they pulled out of the parking lot.

AJ stepped on the brake.  "You don't know where it is?"

Mac shook her head.  "No.  I figured it was in Cecilton.  Nobody said any different."

AJ sighed.  "Here we go again."

"You don't know either," Mac realized.

He shook his head.  "Well, Cecilton isn't very big.  We'll go to the main drag and see if it's there.  If not, maybe someone knows which town is hosting it," AJ suggested.

Luck was with them; as they approached the main street in Cecilton, it was obvious that they'd found the street fair.  AJ parked the car and they began walking slowly up the street, stopping at the booths they found interesting.  AJ bought each of them a Kielbasa and a Coke.  They munched as they continued up the street, stopping to watch local children play some of the games.  

Mac finished her Kielbasa just as they reached the face painting booth.  "Paint your face, Lady?" offered the teenaged boy seated behind the table.  "Anything you want, I can paint it."

Mac shook her head.  "I don't think so.  Thanks anyway."

"Oh, go ahead, Mac.  It'll be fun," urged AJ.  

"But what would I have him paint?" she asked.

AJ turned to the boy.  "You said anything?"  The boy nodded.  "Can you paint the Marine's symbol?  The eagle, globe, and anchor?"

"You have a picture?" the boy asked.

AJ looked at Mac.  "Not on me.  I'm not in uniform."

"How about just one of the three?" the boy suggested.

AJ nudged Mac forward.  "Sure, that'd be fine."

Mac laughed as she sat down.  "I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

AJ watched as the boy began painting.  'Oh, my God.  She's gonna die when she sees which one he chose!' AJ thought to himself.  When the boy finished, Mac's left cheek had an exquisite blue anchor right in the middle of it!

"Do you have a mirror?" Mac asked.  

"It's perfect, Mac.  You don't need to see it.  It's perfect.  Thank you," AJ paid the boy and tried to rush Mac away. 

She laughed.  "Wait a minute, AJ!  I want to see it!"  She turned back to the boy, who was holding the mirror for her.  She took it and looked at her face.  "Oh, my God!" she almost screamed.  "I look like I belong to the Navy!!"

The boy grabbed the mirror from Mac's hand before she threw it at him.  "Look, Lady, he said to paint any one of the three..."

AJ turned to the boy.  "It's okay, Son.  You did a great job.  That anchor is gorgeous.  She'll get used to it."  AJ took Mac's arm and steered her away.

Mac muttered again, "The Navy!  I look like I belong to the Navy!"

"Well, you do, don't you?  I mean, Harm is Navy, you know," AJ joked.

She looked up at him.  "I don't belong to Harm."

AJ chuckled.  "No, I don't suppose you'll ever belong to anyone, will you, Mac?  You are definitely your own person."

Mac swallowed hard at that statement.  She wanted to belong to someone.  She wanted to be married.  She wanted to take her husband's name as her own.  She wanted a family... a home... one home... a real home.  Maybe she should have a talk with Harm when she got back.  

"Mac?" AJ said gently.  "Mac?  Is something wrong?"  She looked up at him, a single tear welling in her eye.  AJ wiped it away with his thumb.  "Don't want to smudge the anchor, Mac," he smiled.

"Thank you," she whispered.  "AJ?  Why did you never marry again?  After Marcella left?"

AJ was taken aback at Mac's question.  He wasn't used to anyone asked such personal questions of him... no one except Meredith, that is.  "I never found anyone who'd have me, I guess," he said flippantly.

"I'm serious, AJ.  Is there something about marriage that really turns a man off?  Or what?"  She bit her upper lip.

"You want to get married and Harm doesn't, is that it?" he asked gently.

She shook her head.  "Not really."  Then she changed her mind.  "Yes, I guess so."  And again, "Oh, I don't know!"  She threw up her hands and started walking ahead of AJ.  She stopped at an art booth.  "These are beautiful," she breathed.

AJ took his place by her side and put his arm around her shoulders.  "Yes, they are, Mac."

"I especially like those two... the lighthouse and the sailboat," she pointed to the painted metal sculptures. "They look so real.  Did you make them?" she asked the vendor.

The man shook his head, "Not me.  My brother's the artist.  I just sell them for him.  That one's fashioned after one of the lighthouses in Florida."

"Pensacola," AJ offered.  Mac looked up at him.  He smiled and answered her unasked question, "It's on the Naval base, Mac."

"How much are they?" she asked the vendor.

"$135 each.  Tax is included," he told her.

She looked hesitant.  "Would this be something you'd like, AJ?"

He cocked his head.  "I'd prefer the sailboat, myself.  But Harm would probably like the lighthouse better since he flew out of Pensacola for a while," AJ told her.

Mac nodded and looked back and forth between the two sculptures.  "I'd like to think about it a little longer.  We'll come back by on our way out.  You'll still be here?" she asked.

The vendor nodded.  "We start closing up at 10:00."

AJ nodded his thanks.  "We'll be back," he assured him as they walked away.  He turned to Mac, "Have you discussed marriage with Harm?"

She shook her head, "Not in a long time.  I think if he wanted to get married, he'd have proposed by now."

"One would think," replied AJ.  

Mac opened up a little more. "I guess I've always hoped he would.  I want to be married.  I want a man to love me... for who I am.  I want a home.  A family.  It's getting a little late for that, though," she sighed.

AJ draped his arm around Mac's shoulders and pulled her closer to his side.  "It's not too late, Mac," he told her gently.  He decided to go ahead and answer her earlier question.  "Truthfully, Mac, I haven't remarried because I never found anyone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with... who wanted me in return.  I was seriously considering Laura Delaney, but..." he sighed.

Mac took his other hand and squeezed it.  "I'm so sorry, AJ."

He nodded.  "It was a long time ago, Mac."

"And no one else has interested you... before or after her?" Mac pressed, not releasing his hand.

"I didn't say that," he smirked, raising her hand and lightly touching it to his lips.

"I mean for marriage," she amended, a warm feeling flooding her inside.

"I know that.  But still... I didn't say that."  He released her hand, and they both felt the loss even though his arm was still around her..

"So there has been someone?" Mac was surprised.  "You don't mean... Sydney Walden?"

"God, no!" he jerked his head around to look at Mac, dislodging his arm from her shoulders.  "Please, Mac... don't tell me you actually thought I'd consider marrying that woman?"

Mac grinned.  "No, actually I didn't.  I was sure she was just a good... umm..."  Mac hesitated.  She could not bring herself to use that word... not with AJ.

"A good lover?" he finished for her.  Mac nodded.  "She was," he sighed.  "One of the best I've been with, in fact.  I guess being a Urologist has a few advantages for the man in her life."

Mac laughed.  "I guess that's one way to look at it."  Mac suddenly saw something up ahead and she grabbed AJ's hand and pulled him with her.  "Come on!  I see something!"  AJ laughed as he allowed her to lead him.  "Look!  It's a St. Bernard!  I've always wanted a St. Bernard!" she gushed.

AJ blinked hard.  "Mac, that's a stuffed animal.  Like, for a child.  I thought you wanted a real dog?"

"I can't have a real dog right now."  She looked at the animal longingly.

The barker grinned at Mac.  "You want that dog, little lady?  All you have to do is throw this little ball through that hole right there," he said, holding up a baseball and pointing to a hole in a clown face.

"That can't be all," Mac said warily.  "What's the catch?"

"No catch!" he said, sounding insulted.  "Lots of people win at this game."

"How many times does that little ball have to go through that hole to win that big dog?" asked AJ.

The barker turned to him and said, "Only a hundred."

"And how many misses are permitted?" AJ pressed.  He'd seen this kind of game before.  In fact, he'd played it many times in his younger days... even winning a large stuffed animal for Marcella once while they were still in Italy. Every now and then his baseball prowess came in very handy.

"No misses.  100 throws.  100 bulls eyes in a row.  The dog's yours."

"And how much per throw?"

"You get five balls for only one dollar.  Now you can't beat that!"  The barker reached up and grabbed the large dog, holding him down for Mac to see.  "He's worth a couple hundred dollars.  And you could get him for next to nothing."

"It's rigged, AJ.  It has to be.  Let's go," Mac said sadly.

AJ put his arm out and caught her hand before she walked away.  "No, Mac.  You want the dog.  And you will have the dog."  The barker grinned; he knew he had another sucker.  "And I know the game isn't rigged, because I know this gentleman wouldn't want to be sued by his government."  AJ smirked.  "Would he, Counselor?" AJ turned to Mac.

Mac chuckled.  "No, when you put it like that, I don't suppose he would."

"You're funnin' me.  She's a lawyer?" the barker looked a mite nervous now.

"That she is.  And a judge.  Damned good at both, too," AJ said.  "Of course, so am I," he almost whispered to the man.  "And I'm a whole lot... more ruthless... in the courtroom than she is."  The man gulped.  "I'll take 100 balls," said AJ.

"All at once?" Mac put her hand on AJ's arm.  "AJ, just do them 5 at a time.  Then if you miss, you won't..."

"Don't plan to miss, Darlin'.  You want the dog, don't you?" AJ asked.  Mac smiled.  "100 balls," AJ repeated as he pulled out a $20 bill.  Then he added, "Why don't you have your assistant come on out front where I can keep an eye on him."

"Assistant?" replied the barker innocently.  "I don't have an assistant.  Just me.  What you see is it."

AJ nodded.  "Uh huh."  The barker took AJ's money and lined up the first 10 balls.  AJ said, "I want one free throw to start."

"No free throws," the barker said.  

AJ pointed above the man's head.  "Sign says you give free throws."

The barker sighed.  "Okay.  One."

AJ nodded.  "That's all I need."  AJ threw the ball.  He purposely threw it down... below the target... and as hard as he could.

"OOOWWWWW!" came a yell from behind the curtain.

"Well, well.  Whom do we have back there?" AJ asked.  "Certainly not an assistant."

A teenager dressed in black jeans and t-shirt with shoes that light up came limping out from behind the curtain.  "That hurt, Mister!"

AJ apologized, "Sorry about that, Son.  Ball slipped right out of my hands.  Why don't you have a seat out here and rest up a bit before you go back to work."  

Mac giggled.  Leave it to AJ to have noticed the kid.  She hadn't.  'I'll bet he saw those shoes lighting up under the curtain,' Mac decided.

AJ said, "Okay.  Let's begin."  Mac held her breath as AJ threw the first of his 100 baseballs.  It went right through the clown's open mouth.  As did the second ball.  And the third.  And the twenty-third.  

A crowd began gathering around them by the time AJ was on his thirtieth ball.  And almost every time AJ raised his arm to throw another ball, the barker called out something to the gathering crowd, "We're going to have a winner here tonight, folks!"  "Just look at this man throw!"  "What a pitching arm for an old man!"

AJ knew he was baiting him, trying to distract him so he'd miss.  AJ just ignored him.  He concentrated on the ball and the hole.  "Sixty-two!  Sixty-three!  Sixty-four!" the crowd called out.  By now, the entire group of workers from the school were gathered around them.

Julia sidled up next to Mac.  "Why's he doing this, Mac?" she asked.

Mac shrugged, "I said I wanted the dog."

AJ heard her voice, and he lowered his arm instead of pitching.  He turned to her.  "You do still want the dog, don't you?"

Mac looked up at him.  "AJ, I never meant for you to..."

"Answer the question, Mac.  Do you want the dog?"

She nodded.  "I'd love to have him."

He smiled.  "Then you shall have him."  He turned back and threw again.  

"Seventy-nine!  Eighty!  Eighty-one!"  The number kept climbing, and soon the barker found himself calling out the numbers with the onlookers.  This was a first for him... and he realized that he really wanted this guy to win that dog!  "Ninety-seven!  Ninety-eight!  Ninety-nine!"

AJ picked up the last ball.  He grinned at the collective gasp from the people surrounding him.  He turned to Mac and grinned, "What are you going to name him, Mac?"

"Admiral," she said without hesitation.

AJ laughed, turned, and threw the final ball.  "One hundred!!"  The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, patting AJ on the back, congratulating him on such a feat.  He turned to Mac and she jumped into his embrace, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him fully on the mouth.  The cheers grew even louder then as their kiss deepened.  

As they separated, both of them blushed furiously.  "Mac, I..."  "AJ, I..." they said at the same time.

"Little lady, here's your dog!" the barker handed Mac the St. Bernard.  "Admiral, did you call him?"

She nodded.  "That's right.  Admiral."  She hugged the enormous stuffed animal.

"Well, from the look of that anchor on your cheek, I'd say that name fits him well."  The barker grinned at AJ.  "You must be an Admiral, eh?"

AJ reached out to shake the barker's hand.  "Retired, yes.  Thank you for the dog," he grinned.

"My pleasure.  Really.  I'm glad you won it."

AJ and Mac began walking back down the street toward Mac's car.  It was almost 2200, and the fair was almost over.  Mac finally relinquished the dog to AJ so she could see to walk without running into people.  They reached the metal sculpture booth, and Mac stopped.  She spoke to the vendor, "I'd like the sailboat, please."

Continue to Part 3.