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Author: Ava Rating: R Disclaimer: JAG and all its characters belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and probably endless others. Summary: Just another Christmas story where AJ & Mac get together. Author's comments: Characters' speaking parts are in double quotes ("text"); characters' thoughts are in single quotes ('text'). |
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Thursday, 6 December 2001
1215 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
"Court is in recess until 1530...," said Admiral Morris.
The prosecuting attorney stood up, "Umm, your honor, if I may?"
Admiral Morris looked at her questioningly. "Yes, Colonel?" It wasn't often that Colonel Sarah MacKenzie interrupted him.
"Sir, I have a prior commitment this afternoon. Would it be possible to recess until tomorrow morning?" she requested.
"Tomorrow?" exclaimed the defense counsel, Lieutenant Lauren Singer. "Your honor, I object!" As seldom as Colonel MacKenzie interrupted him, Lieutenant Singer did interrupt.
But it was even less often that Mac requested a delay in proceedings. He raised his hand to Singer, indicating she was to be quiet. "Admiral Chegwidden gave you the time off, Colonel?"
"Yes, Sir, he did. But, of course, being in the middle of a trial, I would defer to your judgment, Admiral. My little sister is arriving this afternoon, Sir, and I have to pick her up at the airport. I can certainly request someone else to..."
"Your little sister? You mean that precocious little girl? What's her name... Clovie?"
Mac smiled. "Chloe, Sir. And yes, Sir, that's her... the precocious one. She's not so little anymore, though, Sir. But I wouldn't want her sitting alone in an airport."
"No, of course not. Fine. We're recessed until 0900 tomorrow morning," Admiral Morris ordered.
"Thank you, Sir," Mac said.
Thursday, 6 December 2001
1615 EST
Dulles International Airport
Washington, DC
Mac stood at the base of the escalator waiting for Chloe to appear. Mac and Chloe made eye contact as Chloe stepped on the escalator, and they waved to each other. Mac could hear a woman screaming upstairs. "Stop that man! He stole my purse! Stop him!!"
Just then, a large man came running down the escalator carrying a woman's purse and a shopping bag. "Chloe! Look out!!" Mac called to her, but it was too late. The man flew past Chloe and hit her with the shopping bag. The man jumped ahead and would have escaped had Mac not foreseen his intention. She had moved to the base of the escalator, and as he jumped, she grabbed him and forced him to the ground. The police were there in an instant, placing the man under arrest.
As Mac relinquished her hold on the man, she heard someone say, "Call an ambulance!" and another voice calling, "Are you getting this?"
Mac turned, and to her horror, saw her sweet, little Chloe crumpled at the bottom of the escalator. "Chloe!! Baby!!" Mac cried and ran to her. Mac gently lifted Chloe's head and cradled her, stroking her hair. "Chloe? Sweetie, can you hear me?" Mac said, her tears flowing down her face. "Chloe? Honey, please...wake up, Baby."
Mac looked up to see a man kneeling across from her. "Ma'am, please. I'm a doctor. Let me look at her. Please, Ma'am," he coerced. Mac laid her head back down.
"I shouldn't have moved her. Oh God... Chloe!" Mac cried.
The doctor worked quickly and quietly as the crowd grew. Mac could hear the sirens and knew the ambulance was almost there. "Is she your daughter, Ma'am?" the doctor asked.
"She's my little sister," Mac replied through her sobs.
Chloe moaned. "Mac?" She opened her eyes and moved her hand to her head. "Owww. What happened? Mac?" She looked around and her eyes finally focused on Mac.
"Oh, Baby...shhh, lie still now. Let the doctor check you, Honey. Don't move," Mac begged.
"I think she's going to be just fine," the doctor said. "But you definitely want to have her checked over at a hospital. They'll want to do some x-rays just to be sure there's nothing broken. Doesn't appear to be, but it's better to be sure. Also, she's going to have some nasty bruises and I'd say the cut on her forehead will need a couple of stitches."
"My forehead!?" yelled Chloe. "Mac! I'll have a scar!!"
"Chloe, a scar is the least of my worries. Baby, you could have been killed!"
The doctor tried to appease Chloe. "They may just use a couple of butterflies to close it up. Don't fret about it; it's really not that bad."
The ambulance arrived and the paramedics wheeled the gurney inside. The doctor stood up and explained to them what happened and Chloe's condition. The paramedics moved Chloe onto the gurney. As they strapped her in place, Mac thanked the doctor. "I'm so grateful. I can't begin to tell you."
"I'm glad I was here and able to help," the doctor replied.
"Excuse me, Colonel?" a policeman said. "I need to get a statement from you, please."
Mac turned to him and said, "I have to go with the ambulance. We'll be at Bethesda."
"Your name and duty station at least, Colonel?" he asked.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. JAG Corps," she said as she followed the gurney out to the waiting ambulance.
Thursday, 6 December 2001
1626 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Petty Officer Tiner knocked on the Admiral's door and walked in without waiting for a reply. As the Admiral was about to admonish his conduct, Tiner was speaking while heading directly to the television set, turning it on. "Admiral, there's something on the local news that you'll want to see, Sir."
"Tiner..."
"It's Colonel MacKenzie, Sir. And it's live."
"What!?" The Admiral stared in disbelief as he watched Mac hunched over a body at the base of an escalator.
The reporter was speaking, "... although we don't have her name yet. All we know at this point, David, is that a man stole a woman's purse and shopping bag, came barreling down this escalator, and knocked a child down. There was a Marine officer waiting for the child, and she's the one who apprehended the man. When the police took him over, she turned to find her little girl crumpled at the bottom of the moving staircase. There's a doctor checking her over now; he seems to have been a passenger, himself..."
"Oh my God. It's Chloe," whispered the Admiral. He watched as the paramedics arrived and talked to the man who had been hovering over Chloe with Mac. Then he watched as they loaded Chloe onto the gurney and the policeman approached Mac. The camera followed them out to the ambulance and then moved back to the reporter.
"... David, I've just learned that the woman involved is Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie from JAG Corps in Falls Church. The child is evidently her little sister, not her daughter. They're on their way to Bethesda Naval Hospital. And the man apprehended..."
The Admiral grabbed his cover and overcoat. "Tiner, I'm headed for Bethesda," he said unnecessarily as he headed out of his office.
"Anything I can do, Sir?" Lieutenant Bud Roberts was at his side instantly, walking with him toward the elevator. They'd all been watching the TV screen in the bullpen.
"Find Rabb. Tell him to meet me there. If Chloe's hurt badly, Mac will want him."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
Thursday, 6 December 2001
1730 EST
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland
Mac paced back and forth in the waiting room. When the ambulance arrived, the doctors whisked Chloe away so fast, Mac didn't even get to hold her hand on the way in. And no one had come out to tell her anything. Chloe had seemed well enough on the ride over; she was even laughing with Mac about the paramedic's Christmas green vinyl gloves. But now that Mac was alone and Chloe was being poked and prodded and x-rayed and who-knew-what-else, she was a nervous wreck.
"Any word yet, Mac?" AJ asked as he walked in the room. Mac lost it when she saw the Admiral. She turned and literally ran into his arms and sobbed. AJ was stunned. He never expected Mac to turn to him for comfort even if Rabb wasn't there yet. He walked her over to a chair and they sat down together. He held her in his arms and rocked her until she settled down. "Shhh, Mac. She's young and strong. She'll snap back from this."
After waiting for two hours, a man finally entered the room. "Colonel MacKenzie?" he said.
AJ nodded. "Mac? The doctor's here," he said softly. Mac looked up at him and sniffed. AJ wiped her tears from her face with this thumbs and handed her his handkerchief.
The doctor pulled a chair around to sit in front of them. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Dietrich; I'm Chloe's attending physician."
"How is she, Doctor?" asked Mac, pulling herself away from AJ.
"She's going to be just fine. Sore. But fine. No broken bones, not even anything torn or sprained. The cut on her forehead is actually the only injury I had to treat. And she was a bit concerned about having a scar on her face, so I closed it with butterflies. That'll do fine, but I don't want her to get it wet for at least 3 days. Keep soap and shampoo away from it for a week."
"Are you going to keep her overnight, Commander?" the Admiral asked.
"No, Admiral, I don't see any reason to do so. She's fine to go home and do whatever she wants. Like I said, she'll be sore, especially tomorrow and the day after. She'll have some nasty-looking bruises. Be sure her school gets a copy of the medical report so they don't turn her in as a child abuse case," the doctor suggested.
"Thank you, Doctor. Can I see her now?" Mac asked.
"Yes, of course. She's in Room #2, and I believe the nurse is helping her dress."
Mac looked at the Admiral questioningly. "Go ahead, Mac. I'll wait here." Mac turned and left to find Room #2.
"Admiral, I understand your wife apprehended the man who caused Chloe to fall down the escalator. She must really be something, Sir."
AJ looked directly at the doctor and replied, "The Colonel is something, Commander. She's one of the best lawyers I have under my command. And she loves Chloe like a daughter."
Dietrich could feel the blood rushing to his face. "I'm sorry, Admiral. I didn't mean to suggest that there was any impropriety, Sir. I just assumed..."
"In a military hospital, Commander, it is best not to assume."
"Admiral!" Commander Harmon Rabb came running into the waiting room. "What happened? Is Mac all right? Sir, where is she?"
"Calm down, Harm," AJ said as he stood and put his hand on Rabb's shoulder. "Mac is fine. She wasn't hurt. It was Chloe."
"Chloe! Oh my God..."
"She's fine now, Harm. Mac is with her; she's dressing. She doesn't even have to stay overnight," AJ said calmly.
The men heard two female voices laughing, and the two senior officers recognized the voices instantly. Harm turned and smiled. "Mac! Chloe!"
"Harm!" squealed Chloe from her wheelchair.
"When did you get here?" asked Mac at the same time.
"Just a minute ago," he answered as he drew Mac into an embrace. "Bud paged me and told me to get over here, but the thing died before he was able to give me the details. All I heard was that you were here. I thought you were hurt."
AJ watched Harm's face as he spoke to Mac. There was concern and love written all over him. He looked at Mac to see her reaction. 'Hmm, that's odd. She looks almost... passive.'
"Not me. Chloe," Mac said, turning to her little sister. "But she's just fine now. And we're going home and going to have a fantastic weekend. Aren't we, young lady?"
Chloe grinned. "You bet!"
"Any last instructions, Doctor?" asked Harm.
"I already have those, Harm. Doctor Dietrich gave them to the Admiral and me before you arrived." Mac turned to AJ. "Admiral, I must apologize, Sir. I really lost it..."
"No apologies necessary, Colonel. Chloe's like a part of you, and you were afraid for her. It's natural that you needed to cry."
"But, Sir, I..."
"Mac, it's not a problem. Don't worry about it," AJ said gently. "Come on. Let's get the two of you home."
"Admiral, I can take them, Sir," Harm offered.
"I'll follow you. Then you and I can go out to Dulles and pick up the Colonel's car," replied AJ.
Commander Dietrich just stood there watching the entire scene. He couldn't quite believe it. A two-star Admiral was going to go out of his way... well out of his way... to assist subordinates. 'Damn, I sure wish I worked for someone like him,' Dietrich mused.
Thursday, 6 December 2001
2315 EST
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC
Mac finally had Chloe settled in her bed for the night. She quietly closed the bedroom door as she went back to the living room. She heard the key in the front door and saw the door open.
"We're back. Picked up Chloe's suitcases while we were out there. Have any coffee made?" Harm asked as he and the Admiral entered her apartment, each carrying a small suitcase.
"How's Chloe?" AJ asked immediately as he shrugged his arms out of his overcoat.
'He is so thoughtful,' Mac mused as she smiled at the Admiral. "She's settled in bed... just about asleep, I think, Sir." Then she turned to Harm. "No, I didn't take the time to make coffee, Harm, but you know where the pot is. If you want some, go ahead. But don't make any for me. I'll never get to sleep if I have more caffeine now. And I have court at 0900 tomorrow."
"No, you don't, Mac," the Admiral informed her. "I'll let Morris know that I told you to take the day off. Either Harm can fill in for you or the case can wait until Monday. You need to be here with Chloe."
"But, Sir..." Mac objected.
"Admiral?" Chloe called from Mac's bedroom. "Admiral?!" AJ looked at Mac with a question in his eyes. She smiled and nodded toward her room. AJ opened the door and walked in. "Could you close the door, please?" Chloe asked. AJ reached behind him and pushed it closed. Chloe patted the bed beside her, so AJ sat down.
"What's on your mind, Chloe?" he asked quietly.
"You," she said boldly. "You and Mac." AJ quirked his eyebrow up. "Do you like Mac?"
"Of course I like her, Chloe. Mac is terrific person."
"But do you *like* her? Really like her?" Chloe pressed.
Now he knew what the child was driving at. "Chloe, Mac works for me. We're not allowed to like each other that way."
"How come?"
"Regulations. There are a lot of rules you have to obey when you join the military. That's one of them," he explained.
"Dumb rule," she said, pouting.
AJ chuckled. "Sometimes they are dumb rules, Chloe. But they're all there for a reason. And we're sworn to obey them."
"So you couldn't... like... kiss Mac goodnight or anything, then, huh?" Chloe pursued.
He shook his head. "No, Chloe, I couldn't."
"Not even if I asked you to kiss her for me?"
AJ leaned over and kissed Chloe on the forehead. "Not even then, Chloe." He stood up and opened the door.
"What about mistletoe?" she asked. AJ turned and looked down at her, smiling. But he didn't answer her. Thinking that meant a negative response, she said, again, "Dumb rule." He walked out and closed the door behind him.
"She okay?" asked Mac as the Admiral came back in the living room.
AJ grinned. "She's fine. Just had a few questions about... regulations." Mac looked a little uncomfortable. AJ couldn't help but wonder if Chloe had asked Mac the same questions earlier. "Well, I really should be going. Where's Rabb?"
"He left a couple of minutes ago, Sir. He has to be back at Annapolis tomorrow by 0730."
AJ shook his head, "I thought that was supposed to take him two days? He's been there all week!"
Mac smiled indulgently. "Well, Sir. You ought to know how it is when you're back at your alma mater... especially when it's Annapolis." AJ nodded his agreement. "I'll see you in the morning, Admiral."
"No, Mac. I think it's best if you stay home with Chloe tomorrow."
"Actually, Sir, Chloe's been looking forward to going in to the office with me tomorrow."
AJ looked at her incredulously. "Do you remember the commotion that child caused the last time you brought her there?"
"That was the first time, Sir. And she's older now."
"More dangerous..." he mumbled.
"She won't be a problem, Admiral. I promise."
"Mac, she's going to need a nap tomorrow after all this that's happened tonight."
"You're right, but she won't like it. I have a pillow and blanket in my office, Sir. I'll let her lie on the floor behind my desk. She won't bother anyone."
"The floor? Nonsense," he relented. "She can use the sofa in my office," AJ said as he pulled his coat on and headed for the door.
"Thank you, Admiral. For everything," Mac said as she reached out and gently laid her hand on his arm. "Thank you for being there. For caring."
AJ smiled warmly, nodded, and left.
Friday, 7 December 2001
0930 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Lieutenant Harriett Sims walked into Mac's office with two mugs of hot chocolate. "Hi, Chloe. Want some hot cocoa?"
"Oh, yes! Thank you, Harriett," replied Chloe, reaching over Mac's desk to take the mug from Harriett.
"What have you been doing in here all morning, anyway?" asked Harriett.
"Chatting with my friends online."
"Does the Colonel know you're using her computer?"
Chloe nodded. "I made sure it was okay before she went into court. I created a second login so I can't get to all of her stuff."
Harriett nodded. "You wouldn't want to help me a little, would you? I was going to put up some Christmas decorations around the office."
Chloe jumped up. "Yes! I'll help! I love to decorate!"
Harriett and Chloe went to the storeroom and pulled out the boxes of Christmas decorations from prior years. "I think we might need to buy a couple of things. As I recall, some of the lights burned out right there toward the end of the month last year."
"Can we go now?" Chloe asked.
"I suppose so," said Harriett. They took the boxes to the bullpen, and Harriett told Tiner where they were headed. "We won't be but 30 minutes or so. I have my cell phone if anyone is looking for me."
Harriett and Chloe walked into the Eckerd drug store and headed straight for the Christmas aisle. They found the lights they needed and a few other little things. As the cashier was ringing up their items, Chloe picked up a package and said, "What about mistletoe?"
Harriett grinned. "Mmm, I think that sounds like an interesting idea. I doubt the Admiral would approve, though."
"Sure he would! Why wouldn't he?" asked Chloe.
"Chloe, there are regulations in the service. We can't go around kissing people when we're in uniform... and hanging mistletoe at the office would seem to be encouraging that," Harriett explained.
Chloe was disappointed. She had really hoped that she could maneuver the Admiral and Mac under the mistletoe.
Harriett took the package from Chloe. "But I think I'd like some at my place!" she winked at Chloe.
When they returned to JAG, they set right to work decorating the bullpen. "Well, I think that about does it, Chloe," Harriett said just as the Admiral walked out of his office.
"Tiner, get me..." he stopped and looked around. "My God. What happened to this place?" he chuckled. "Looks like the elves have been at it, again."
Chloe ran up to him, "Harriett and I did it all. Isn't it great? Don't you just love it, Admiral?"
AJ walked out into the bullpen and looked all around. "It looks just fine, Chloe. Like a winter wonderland. But my office is going to be rather drab now for a while. You have anything left to spruce it up in there?" he smiled.
Harriett was amazed. The Admiral had never before allowed her to decorate his office for the holidays. "Actually, Sir, we do have a few things that we didn't put up. I'll go get them and you can see if you like them," Harriett offered.
AJ nodded to her, "Good." He looked around, again, and commented on several of the new decorations. He was just trying to convince Chloe that she needed to take a nap in his office after lunch when Harriett returned.
"Here we go, Sir," Harriett said as she showed him the decorations.
Chloe decided that now was her chance. "Admiral, I'll make a deal with you."
He looked down at her. "A deal? What kind of a deal?"
"I'll take a nap after lunch if you'll let me hang some mistletoe in Mac's doorway," she grinned. Harriett gasped.
AJ laughed outright. "Mistletoe? You want to hang mistletoe in Mac's doorway?"
Chloe nodded. "Uh huh. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
"Absolutely!" he agreed, nodding his head. "You take a nap after lunch, and Mac gets mistletoe." Harriett stared disbelievingly at the Admiral. "Harriett, did you happen to buy any mistletoe?"
"Yes, Sir. As a matter of fact, I did. I have some right here. I was planning on hanging it at home, but I can certainly buy some more for that." She reached into the shopping bag by her desk and pulled out the package.
AJ took it from her and opened it, pulling out the sprig of live mistletoe. "Tiner, give me a pushpin." Tiner found one right away and handed it to the Admiral. AJ walked over to Mac's office and reached up, pushing the pin into the outer doorframe. Then he wrapped the ribbon attached to the mistletoe around the pushpin. "How's that, Chloe?" he asked, stepping back.
"It's perfect, Admiral!" she giggled. "Just perfect!"
"Just remember, you have to take a nap right after lunch," AJ chuckled, shaking his head as he looked back at his handiwork. 'Can't believe I just did that.'
Friday, 7 December 2001
1300 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac came flying through the double doors into the bullpen. "Chloe! Come on, let's go get some lunch!"
"Oh, Colonel? She's not here, Ma'am," Harriett informed her.
"Not here?!" Mac exclaimed looking around. "What do you mean she's not here? Where is she?"
"She went with the Admiral to get some lunch, Ma'am."
"The Admiral?" Mac repeated. "Oh, God..."
"Oh, look! They're back," Harriett said pointing to the hallway where they could see the Admiral and Chloe exiting the elevator.
AJ pushed the door open for Chloe and she walked through as Tiner yelled, "Attention on deck!"
"As you were!" AJ barked.
"Mac! You're here!" cried Chloe. "We got lunch!" she exclaimed as she held up the bags from Beltway Burgers.
"I see that. Admiral, I'm sorry you..."
But AJ was already walking into her office. "Chloe, bring those bags in here." AJ set the tray of drinks on Mac's desk and took the bags from Chloe. He pulled out his 2 burgers and large fries, a few napkins, and a straw. Then he picked up his large Coke, and started to leave the office.
"Where are you going?" asked Chloe, as Mac walked in.
"To eat before it gets cold," he replied.
"So sit down," Chloe pointed to one of the guest chairs in Mac's office. Mac cringed at Chloe's boldness. "Or don't you want to eat with us?"
AJ turned around and looked at Chloe. "I was going to continue working while I ate, Chloe. I can't very well do that in here, now can I?" he replied.
"Admiral, you really shouldn't work while you eat. It's bad for the digestion. Sit here and eat with us. And then when you finish, you can go back to work," Chloe badgered.
"Chloe!" exclaimed Mac. "You mustn't speak to the Admiral that way."
AJ chuckled. "She's about the only one around here who can, Mac." Then he surprised both of them by sitting in the chair Chloe offered.
The threesome ate their lunch, the adults laughing at Chloe's gossip about her latest adventures. AJ finished his lunch first, but didn't let on that his soda was gone for some time. He was thoroughly enjoying this break, and he didn't want it to end so soon. But he did finally rise and walk to the door. "Chloe, don't forget. Nap. My office. As soon as you finish your lunch." He nodded to Mac, then he looked back at Chloe. "I'll be expecting you."
"Yes, Sir," Chloe agreed as she winked at him. He grinned and returned to his office.
"Chloe, I can't believe you! You had him eating out of your hand! What did you do? What did you say to him?" Mac questioned her.
"Ohh, nothing much," Chloe giggled. She really hadn't, but she had a sneaky suspicion that the reason he agreed to the mistletoe was because he wanted to catch Mac under it and kiss her. 'That has to be it!'
Friday, 7 December 2001
1600 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac walked into her office and didn't see Chloe. She went back out into the bullpen. "Harriett, have you seen Chloe?"
"No, Ma'am. I believe she's still in the Admiral's office."
"Since 1330? Oh, I hope she hasn't been talking his ear off all afternoon..." Mac mumbled as she headed for the Admiral's office. "Tiner, is Chloe still in there?"
He nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."
Mac knocked lightly on the door and opened it a crack, peeking inside. The Admiral wasn't sitting behind his desk, so she walked inside, thinking he must not be there. She softly padded over to the sofa and was surprised to see the Admiral leaning back in the corner of the sofa with Chloe in his lap, the blanket over both of them... and both of them sound asleep, she thought. Mac smiled at the sight.
AJ knew when his office door opened; he also knew it was Mac who walked inside, which was the only reason he hadn't gotten up quickly. He opened his eyes to see her smiling at them. He smiled back.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Sir," she whispered.
"What time is it?" he asked just as quietly.
"1604."
"Damn, we did sleep a long time, didn't we?" he chuckled.
"I'm sorry about this, Admiral..."
"Don't be. I enjoyed it. It's been a long time since I slept with a little girl in my arms." Mac smiled, wondering just how long it had been since he'd slept with a big girl in his arms. As though he could read her mind, he added, "Been a while since I had a big girl either." He grinned as Mac flushed.
Friday, 7 December 2001
1710 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
"You ready to go home?" Mac asked Chloe as she packed up her briefcase.
"Sure thing!" Chloe replied as she walked out of Mac's office.
Just as Mac got to her doorway, Harm walked up to her. "You're back," she said.
"Obviously. Mac, I wonder if you'd..." and he stopped as he noticed something hanging over Mac's head. He grinned. "Well, Mac. If you wanted a kiss, all you had to do was ask." Harm bent down and laid his lips over hers, kissing her soundly.
When he released her, Mac sputtered, "Harm! What do you think you're doing!?"
Harm looked confused. He pointed above her head. "Mistletoe, Mac." She looked completely shocked that it was there. "You didn't know it was there?" he asked.
"No! I didn't know it! Who put that..." she started to say, but when she looked at Chloe, she knew the answer. "Chloe! You put that there!" she accused.
"No, I didn't. Honest!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Chloe..."
"Actually, she didn't, Ma'am," said Harriett. "The Admiral did."
"What!?" both Harm and Mac replied.
"The Admiral put it there," Chloe repeated. "Of course, that's because I made a deal with him. I'd take a nap this afternoon if we could hang mistletoe in your doorway," Chloe beamed.
Harm chuckled. "Smart kid."
AJ had been in the break room pouring himself a cup of fresh coffee. As he exited the room, he saw Harm kissing Mac under the mistletoe.
"Take it down, Harm," Mac requested.
"No!" cried Chloe. "The Admiral put it up there. It should stay there!"
AJ spoke up, "I think it's served its purpose, Chloe. It can come down now if Mac doesn't want it there." AJ turned and walked to his office.
"But Admiral! No, Mac... Harm, no!" Chloe argued as Harm took the mistletoe down. It hadn't served her purpose yet at all. 'Now what?' she thought. Harm handed her the mistletoe, and Chloe gave it back to Harriett.
"I'll hang it in the doorway to the break room, Chloe. How's that?" Harriett tried to appease her.
Chloe nodded. "Better than nothing, I guess."
Friday, 7 December 2001
1945 EST
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC
Mac and Chloe sat on the floor in front of the fireplace stringing popcorn. "I can't believe you talked me into this," Mac said. It was early, but they were already in their robes and slippers.
"It's fun, Mac!" Chloe returned. "But you really need some better slippers. Those are so... dull."
"There's nothing wrong with my slippers. They're serviceable."
"They're so boring," Chloe complained. "You need some black & white cow slippers or leopard print or... I have it! Pink fuzzy bunny slippers!"
Mac shook her head. "Yea, right, Chloe. A Marine wearing pink bunny slippers. Can you just imagine? I don't think so," Mac laughed. "I'm breaking more of this popcorn than I'm stringing," she changed the subject.
"That's the fun part, according to Grandma. You get to eat the ones you break!" Chloe laughed.
"I think I've eaten 2 bags of popcorn already, Chloe," Mac said as the doorbell rang. "Who could that be?" she wondered aloud.
Chloe got up and ran to the door. She looked through the peephole, and without any hesitation, opened the door. "Admiral!" she flung herself into his arms and hugged him. "I'm glad you came!"
"Sorry I'm late. I hope I didn't hold you up, Mac." He turned to Chloe and said, "I brought us some ice cream. Hope you like... mint... chocolate... chip?" he sputtered as he realized that Mac was now standing in front of him in a chenille bathrobe. "Was it tomorrow night?" he asked.
"What? I don't know what you're..." Mac turned to Chloe. "Chloe? What is this all about?"
Chloe looked down at her feet. "I asked the Admiral to come over and keep me company tonight."
"Keep you company? And what exactly have I been doing?" Mac queried.
"I thought you were going out," AJ replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "Was I brought here until false pretenses, young lady?" he asked Chloe.
Chloe looked up at him. "I didn't think you'd come if I asked you to come and string popcorn with Mac and me. So I kind of fudged a little and..."
"And told him I wouldn't be here, so you wanted him to keep you company?" Mac asked incredulously. "Chloe Madison! I can't believe you would do such a thing!" The doorbell rang, again. "Who else did you invite?" she asked, walking to the door. "Harm?" Mac said, looking through the peephole.
"Harm?" Chloe repeated. "No! I didn't invite Harm."
Mac opened the door and Harm whistled. "Nice robe, Mac. But I was rather hoping you'd still be dressed and want to take in a movie tonight. Oh! Admiral, Sir!" he stuttered when he realized AJ was standing only 10 feet away. Harm looked back and forth between the Admiral and Mac, taking it all in.
"A movie? I'd love to!" Mac said. She turned to face AJ. "Admiral? Since you were planning to stay with Chloe for a while anyway, I'll take you up on it and go to the movie with Harm. If that's acceptable, Sir?"
AJ grinned at Mac. "Yes, Mac, that'll be just fine. But I do think you ought to put some clothes on first, don't you?"
Mac looked down at herself. "Oh! Yes, Sir. Harm, give me 3 minutes."
"Maa-ac!" cried Chloe. "You can't leave!"
"My room. Now!" Mac ordered, and Chloe followed.
As Mac slammed the bedroom door behind them, it hit with such force, it didn't stay closed. But Mac didn't realize that and she started in on Chloe as she dressed for the movie. "Chloe Madison, I am very disappointed in what you did today. This was totally uncalled for, and you put the Admiral in a very compromising position. That is completely unfair of you to do to him. And to me! He's my boss, Chloe! And in the military, you can't be best friends with your boss. It's against the rules. You were right. He wouldn't have come here tonight if you'd invited him to come and string popcorn with us."
"I'm sorry, Mac. I just wanted..." Chloe tried to interrupt.
Mac calmed down a little as she ran her comb through her hair. "I know you like him, Sweetie, but you have to understand his situation. He can't be here when it's just me. Even with you here. Now if you want him to come over sometime, tell me! I'll invite him and some other people... like Harm, Harriett, Bud. If there are others here, too, the Admiral can come over. Just not by himself. Don't put him in this kind of situation, again, Chloe. Please; it isn't fair."
"I'm sorry, Mac."
"You need to say that to the Admiral, Chloe."
"I know. I will," Chloe said sadly.
Mac and Harm left for the movie, and AJ took Mac's place in front of the fireplace. He and Chloe strung the rest of the popcorn and started on the cranberries.
"Admiral, I'm really sorry for lying to you to get you to come over here," Chloe said finally. "I just wanted the three of us to do something fun tonight. And I didn't think you'd come unless you thought Mac wasn't going to be here."
AJ looked over at the sad look on her face and smiled. He spoke gently to her. "You're right, Chloe, I wouldn't have come. Not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't. And I think you know why."
"You'd have wanted to come?" she asked hopefully.
AJ nodded. "Gets lonely at my place, Chloe. My daughter lives in Italy; I don't see her very often."
"You mean you think of Mac like your daughter?" Chloe asked, disappointed.
AJ chuckled. "Not at all. I was thinking of you, though my daughter is considerably older than you are. She's already a grown woman."
Chloe was quiet for a while. Then she said quietly, "If Mac didn't work for you, would you take her out?"
AJ had a feeling Chloe would ask something like this. "I doubt it, Chloe."
"But why? Don't you think she's pretty?"
"She's beautiful," he replied.
"Don't you think she's fun?"
"Fun? Yes, she's fun."
"Don't you like her?" Chloe asked.
"Of course I like her, Chloe."
"Then why?"
"Chloe, what makes you think Mac would want to go out with me? I'm considerably older than she is."
"Mac says that age isn't important when you love someone."
"Mac is a beautiful woman; I'm crusty, old, and bald."
"You're not crusty; you just try to make people think you are. You're a softie. We already determined that age doesn't matter. And as for being bald, Mac says bald men are sexier than other guys." AJ glanced at Chloe, trying to determine if she was telling the truth... or stretching it. "Next argument?" Chloe quipped.
"The fact remains, Chloe, that Mac does work for me."
"You could transfer her, couldn't you?"
"Why would I want to do that?" AJ asked.
"So you could take her out. Date her. Kiss her!"
"Chloe, that's not going to happen. Mac and Harm are..."
"No, they're not!" Chloe interrupted. "I asked Mac about Harm, and she said they're not dating. She said she doesn't want to date Harm... that he missed his chance. He hurt her a lot, you know. She still likes him, and he's her good friend, but she doesn't want him... you know... that way."
"And you think she'd want me... that way?" AJ asked, grinning at Chloe's choice of words.
She nodded. "Uh huh."
AJ shook his head. "I think you're wrong, Chloe. But I appreciate your trying to make Mac happy. That's important to me... her happiness. You're a very special girl, and Mac loves you very much." AJ reached out and pulled Chloe to his chest and hugged her tightly. "Very much, indeed."
Chloe hugged him back. "I liked it today when you let me sleep with you on your sofa."
"You really miss your dad, don't you, Darlin'?" Chloe nodded. "I'm sure he misses you a lot, too."
"You think so?"
AJ smiled. "I know so, Chloe. Believe me. Your dad misses you, probably more than you miss him."
"What's your daughter's name?" Chloe asked perceptively.
"Francesca. Francesca Parretti."
"Parretti? Why isn't it Chegwidden?"
"Her mother remarried after we divorced. And her husband adopted Francesca, so she took his name," AJ explained.
"Oh." Chloe leaned back against the sofa. "I'm tired of stringing. Want to watch TV?"
"Sure. There's probably a Christmas movie on; see what you can find while I get us some ice cream."
Chloe flipped through the channels until she happened upon a movie she remembered from last year. AJ returned with two bowls of ice cream, and they settled back on the floor, leaning against the sofa. They ate their ice cream and watched 'Borrowed Hearts'.
Before the movie ended, they were both sound asleep, Chloe cradled in AJ's arms for the second time that day. When Mac and Harm returned, they found them thus.
Saturday, 8 December 2001
0845 EST
Gypsy's Shiny Diner
Falls Church, Virginia
"These pancakes are wonderful. I can't believe I've never eaten here before. It's not that far from the office either," said Mac as she took another bite of her breakfast. "Thank you for suggesting it, Sir."
Chloe was delving into her French toast, "It really is great. And the bacon is just the way I like it, too. Nice and wiggly."
Harm cringed. "It's hardly cooked, Chloe. How can you eat that stuff?" He took a bite of his Belgian waffle. "This is a great waffle, though."
The Admiral smiled indulgently. "I'm glad to see you all are enjoying your breakfast. I come here a lot on my way to the office. They open at 0600, so it's convenient for me. Never been here for anything other than breakfast, though. And I'm told they have pretty decent sandwiches at noon. Supposedly their desserts are homemade and excellent."
"Desserts?" Mac perked up. "Mmm, I'll have to come back and try those," she said with her mouth full. "Ow! Chloe, stop swinging your feet. You're kicking me."
"Sorry, Mac." Chloe stilled her legs for a while and then started swinging them, again. They were sitting at a rather small booth, so Chloe and Harm were sitting on one side and Mac and AJ were on the other side. Just how Harm and the Admiral ended up opposite each other, Mac still wasn't sure. She had thought Chloe should be opposite the Admiral and Mac be opposite Harm. That way the men's legs would have more room. Now that Chloe was kicking her, she was glad Chloe was opposite her instead of the Admiral.
Harm finished his breakfast first and made his excuses. "I promised Sturgis I'd meet him at the garage by 0930. He's been a great help with building my new 'Vette. I think we might even finish it by the end of the year."
"That's wonderful, Harm. I know how much you've missed your old car," said Mac.
"Never did understand why you ended up buying a Lexus," said AJ. "Never pictured you as an SUV kind of guy," he chuckled.
"I guess I was just a fellow on the rebound, Sir. And I picked up the first pretty thing that came along," Harm said shaking his head.
"Sounds a bit like your love life, Harm," teased Mac. AJ laughed outright. Harm just grinned at her.
"Well, thanks, again, Admiral. Sorry to eat and run, but I warned you last night..."
"Go on, scram!" said Mac. "We're almost finished here, anyway. Ow! Chloe!!" Harm waved as he left. "Stop kicking me."
"Sorry, Mac." Chloe scooted over into the middle of the bench seat. "Now I won't kick you," she explained. "See? My feet go between both of you." Chloe decided to prove her point and kicked her foot hard. Only it didn't go between them. It hit Mac right in the knee.
Mac bit off her scream as tears formed in her eyes. "Chloe, if you swing your legs once more..."
"I won't, Mac. I'm sorry. Really, I'm sorry. Honest, I thought I wouldn't hit you this time," Chloe whined.
"I think maybe we should think about leaving, don't you?" asked AJ as he stood up and offered his hand to help Mac out of the small booth. As they walked to their cars, AJ noticed that Mac was limping. "Mac? Something wrong with your leg?" he asked looked down. "My God, Mac! You're bleeding!"
She knew that; she was hoping he wouldn't notice, and she could take care of it after he drove away. 'I should have known better,' she mused.
They were beside his vehicle and hers was still a distance away, so he opened the passenger door and motioned her inside. "Admiral, really, I can take of this..."
"Nonsense. Have a seat. I have a first aid kit in the back." He popped the back of his vehicle with his remote. "Chloe, get the blue box out of the back," he ordered. Chloe was quick to obey. AJ picked up Mac's leg and rested it on his thigh. "Stockings have to come off, Mac," he said as he looked at the injury.
Chloe came back around and saw her leg resting on AJ's. She smiled. Then she looked at Mac's face. "Does it hurt, Mac?"
"It's not that bad, Chloe."
"It's gonna hurt like hell when I pour this stuff on it, though," replied AJ, as he showed her the bottle of antiseptic he kept in his first aid kit.
"Chloe, I have another pair of stockings in the trunk of my car. Would you run get them for me, please?" Mac handed her the car keys and Chloe headed for the other side of the parking lot.
Mac slid her hands under her skirt, trying not to raise it, yet reach the garters to release her stocking. AJ watched in amusement. "Would you like a little help?" he finally asked with a smirk. She nodded reluctantly. AJ slid his hands under her skirt and easily released the garters on the top and outside of her leg. Then he gently lifted her leg and released the garter on the bottom. "One more, Mac," he said huskily.
Mac licked her lips unconsciously and spread her legs apart slightly as AJ reached between them to release the final garter. Mac moaned softly as AJ's hands moved on her leg. As he opened the garter, they were staring into each other's eyes... neither of them able to form a coherent thought. AJ began rolling the stocking down her thigh, then down her calf. He tore his gaze away from her face as he slipped her shoe off and then slid the stocking off of her foot.
"You always wear stockings and garters, Mac?" She shook her head. "I thought most women today wore pantyhose." She nodded. "So this is unusual for you?" She shook her head. "You wear them often... just not all the time?" She nodded. He smiled. "Glad I didn't know that before." Then he added softly, "Wish I didn't know it now..."
Chloe returned about that time with Mac's extra pair of stockings. "Just hold onto them for a minute, Chloe," AJ instructed. He ministered to Mac's leg, pouring the antiseptic over it, patting it dry, and spreading ointment on it before he bandaged it. "Okay, stockings, please," he said to Chloe. She handed him the package. He handed it to Mac. "Do you need to change both of them or just the one?"
"Just the one; they're identical," Mac replied opening the package and pulling out one stocking. AJ took it from her and rolled it down to a ball. He placed it over her toes and rolled it over her foot and ankle. Then he gently rolled it up her leg, caressing her leg as he went, and being careful as he encountered the bandaged area. When it was over her knee and ready for the garters, he stopped. He reached for the package with the remaining stocking and handed it to Chloe. "Run put this back in the car, Chloe. We're almost finished."
Chloe was no fool. She knew he was trying to get rid of her. But that was okay with her. She'd give him all the room he wanted with Mac! She took the package and slowly walked back to Mac's car.
AJ watched her until she rounded the corner, then he turned back to Mac. He'd half expected her to already have fastened the garters, but she hadn't. She was waiting for him to do it. AJ smiled and reached up under Mac's skirt to fasten the garters. Again, he did the top and outside... then the bottom. Then, before he said anything, she spread her legs apart, more so this time than before, so he could fasten the inside garter.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Believe me, it was my pleasure."
She raised her eyes to his and saw raw passion staring back at her before he blinked and pulled his emotions together.
"All finished?" Chloe asked as she walked up behind AJ. "Ready to go shopping, Mac?"
"Absolutely," Mac answered.
"You're going shopping in a dress, Mac?" AJ questioned.
"When I shop for a dress, I wear a dress. And I'm looking for a dress for the JAG Christmas party," Mac said.
AJ nodded. "I have it easy. Mess dress," he chuckled.
"Wish I could see you in that," said Chloe. "Mac says you look fantastic in your mess dress... and your dress whites."
AJ quirked his eyebrow at Mac. "You said that, hmm?"
"I think, actually, Sir, what I said was that most men look fantastic in uniform... especially in their mess dress and dress whites," Mac explained.
Chloe piped up with, "Actually, you were talking about Harm, Mac. Then I asked about the Admiral, and you went all googly eyed and said he was magnificent in his..."
"That's enough, Chloe," Mac interrupted. "If we're going shopping, we need to get going. Thank you for breakfast, Admiral. And for taking care of my leg." Mac hopped down out of AJ's vehicle and she and Chloe headed for her car.
AJ was grinning from ear to ear as he watched Mac and Chloe drive away.
Monday, 10 December 2001
0745 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac was coming out of the break room just as Commander Sturgis Turner was walking in. She had a mug full of hot coffee in one hand and a donut in the other as she nearly collided with him. "Oh!"
"My apologies, Colonel," Sturgis said. "I didn't hear you coming."
Mac looked up at him. "Not a problem, Command..." she stopped. "What is that doing there?" she said looking above them.
Sturgis followed her gaze and saw the mistletoe. "Would you look at that?" He looked back at Mac and grinned. "It's tradition, Colonel," he said as he lowered his head and kissed her lightly.
"Well, Mac, you seem to be making good use of that mistletoe," quipped the Admiral as he walked around them heading into the break room.
"Admiral, Sir... I... Uh..." Mac stuttered. 'I can't believe this...' She heard the Admiral chuckling as he poured his coffee. "Commander, if you would please take that down, I would sincerely appreciate it."
"Not a problem, Colonel." Sturgis reached up easily and pulled the pushpin out of the doorframe. He handed the sprig and pin to Mac. "Here you are, Colonel."
Mac took it from him and promptly threw it in the trash can on her way back to her office. When Bud and Harriett arrived a moment later, Bud noticed the mistletoe in the trash can and pulled it out. "Look Harriett. Mistletoe! Where should I hang it up?"
"It was over the break room door on Friday night," Harriett said. "I wonder how it got thrown away?"
"Colonel MacKenzie asked me to take it down," Sturgis said as he walked out of the break room behind the Admiral.
"After you kissed her under it," AJ added, chuckling. "Hang it over the conference room door, Lieutenant."
"Aye, aye, Sir," Bud agreed as the Admiral walked off.
Monday, 10 December 2001
1045 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
The staff meeting ended, and everyone stood to leave. "Oh, one more thing, people!" said the Admiral before everyone got away. "My daughter will be in town for Christmas, and I'm having a small dinner party while she's here. Sunday, the 23rd. 1830 for drinks; dinner at 1900. Informal civilian attire. Hope you all can make it. Dismissed."
Mac was closest to the door and as she reached for the knob, it turned and the door opened revealing Petty Officer Tiner. "Excuse me, Colonel," Tiner said standing aside.
"Oh, no, Tiner! You can't just step aside. You two were under it... come on! You know the tradition!" Harm laughed.
Mac groaned. "No... not again!" she said as she looked up and saw the mistletoe. "I don't believe this!"
Tiner flushed, "I don't think..."
"Tradition is tradition, Tiner," said the Admiral, grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat.
"Admiral!" cried Mac, just as Tiner leaned down and turned Mac's face to his. He kissed her lightly and almost ran back to his desk.
AJ laughed. "I wonder what he wanted?!" And the rest of the staff laughed with him... all except Mac, who was trying to reach the mistletoe. AJ reached up and pulled it down. "You want this, Mac? Where are you going to hang it this time? How about over the library door? You're going to be spending some time in there this afternoon, aren't you?" he chuckled as he headed back to his office.
Mac handed the offending sprig to Harriett. "Get rid of this, Harriett!"
"Yes, Ma'am," Harriett replied with a smile as Mac stormed away.
"Harriett, I believe I heard the Admiral say he wanted it hung over the library door," suggested Lieutenant Singer. She was actually hoping to get caught under it herself, so she did not want it trashed.
"Yep. I heard the same thing, Harriett," agreed Sturgis. "Here, I'll take it and make sure it gets where the Admiral suggested... after Mac is in the library, of course!"
