Sarah's Rainbow - Part 4

Friday, 20 June 2003
1150 EDT
Dulles International Airport
Washington, DC

Mac paced back and forth at the base of the escalators waiting for a glimpse of Tom and Joel.  Tom had flown to Egypt to bring Joel home.  Mac argued that she should also go, but Tom finally convinced her to stay home and redecorate one of the guest rooms for Joel.  She had called Harm and Sturgis and convinced them to spend 2 of their evenings this week hanging wallpaper.  She had called Harriett and convinced her to take a day off and go shopping for clothes, toys, and furniture.  

And she had called AJ and convinced him to handle the adoption proceedings personally.  She knew any one of the lawyers at JAG could do it, but she wanted the best.  She didn't want anything to go wrong.  And she also knew the judge might be just a little intimidated by 2 Admirals sitting at the table.  Her fear was the cancer.  The judge may not think it best for Joel to be adopted by a woman who might die from cancer in a year.  He'd already lost 2 women in his life.  Mac voiced her concerns to AJ, and he agreed with her.  They decided to wait until she had her 1-year test before they filed for adoption.  They'd just go for temporary custody now. 

Mac remembered their conversation vividly.  And she remembered the sleepless night she had after their talk.  'What if it does come back?  What if they didn't get it all?'  

Mac grunted.  "Oooof!"  She looked down to see what hit her.  "Joel!!" she squealed, bending over and hugging him tightly.

"Hi, Aunt Sarah!" he giggled.  "I surprised you, huh?"

"You sure did!  I didn't see you come down the escalator," Mac replied.

"That's 'cause we took the elevator!" he giggled again.  "We wanted to surprise you!"

"Well, it worked!" Mac laughed.  "I was surprised."  Mac stood up and Tom hugged her.  "Welcome home, Honey.  Was the flight okay?"

Tom nodded.  "Joel here flirted with all the flight attendants, so I got anything I wanted," he teased.

"I did not!" Joel insisted.  

"Let's go claim your bags and get something to eat!" Tom said to Joel, directing them toward the baggage claim area.  "Where's the car, Sweetheart?"

Mac grinned.  "At home."

"At home?" asked Joel.  "We're gonna take a cab?"

"No, Sweetie, not a cab," Mac said.

"Who'd you con into picking us up, Sarah?  Harm?"  Mac shook her head.  "Harriett?"  She continued shaking her head.  "I give up.  Who?"

Mac looked a little sheepish.  "Patty."

"Patty?  Who's Pat... My yeoman?!  Patty Krauss??" he bellowed, causing everyone in baggage claim to turn and stare at them.  Mac nodded.  "Who's minding my office?"

"She said not to worry about it, that she had it covered.  So don't worry about it," Mac told him insistently.  "Patty called me on Wednesday after you left to see if there was anything she could do to help.  She really wanted to do something, Tom.  And this was the one thing I hadn't asked anyone for yet."

"The one thing?" Tom repeated.  "Uh oh..."

Mac laughed.  "You'll be surprised!"

"Uncle CAG!  Uncle CAG!  Look!  There's one of my bags!" cried Joel, running around the carousel to reach his duffle.  "And look!  Here come the other ones!"

Tom pulled all Joel's bags off the carousel and then his own duffle.  "I think this is it," he said.  They made their way out to the curb and waited for a couple of minutes.  Mac saw Patty's Blazer and waved her over.  As Patty climbed out, she came to attention stance in front of Tom.  "As you were, Patty.  And thank you for doing this."

She smiled.  "I'm happy to be able to help in some small way, Admiral.  You and Mrs. Boone are very special to me," she said quietly.  Then she looked down at Joel.  "Hello there, Joel."

"Hi!" he said.  "You were at Uncle CAG's and Aunt Sarah's wedding, weren't you?"  Patty nodded.  "I remember you."

Patty smiled.  "I remember you, too.  You were the ring bearer.  And such a handsome ring bearer, too."  Joel blushed and ran around to help Tom load the bags in the back.  "He's so cute," Patty said to Mac.

"Isn't he?" Mac agreed.

"He's going to love his new room, Mrs. Boone.  You did an amazing job in just a few days."

"Patty, please.  Call me Sarah."

Patty shook her head.  "I'm sorry, Ma'am.  No can do."

They all climbed in the vehicle, and Patty headed for Laurel.  When they got everything unloaded, Patty said goodbye and started to leave.  "Patty!" called Tom.

"Sir?"

"Thank you.  For caring."

Patty smiled all the way back to Washington.  She really liked her boss now.  'Amazing what love can do to a person,' she thought.  'Wonder if I've finally found someone to love me like that?'

Friday, 4 July 2003
2135 EDT
Roberts Residence
Vienna, Virginia

Joel and little AJ were having a wonderful time playing together.  Even though Joel was a few years older than little AJ, he didn't mind playing the games the younger boy enjoyed.  And now they were outside holding sparklers!  "Wow!" Joel exclaimed.  "I can't believe Aunt Sarah's letting me do this."

"Why do you call her Aunt Sarah?" asked little AJ as his sparkler fizzled out.  "Her name is Auntie Mac."

"She told me to call her Aunt Sarah," Joel replied, watching his die out also.

"I call her Auntie Mac."  Mac and Harriett smiled at each other, hearing the boys' conversation.  They were only standing a few yards away.

"Can you keep a secret?" Joel whispered loudly.  AJ nodded his head.  "I'm gonna get adopted! And when I do, I'm gonna ask Aunt Sarah if I can call her Mama."  Mac almost gasped at his words.  She looked at Harriett and grabbed her hand to steady herself.

"Where is your Mommy?" little AJ asked.

"My Mommy died.  So did my Daddy.  And my Aunt Alicia.  So Uncle CAG said that I'm gonna live with him and Aunt Sarah now until I'm grown up. And they're gonna be my new parents."

"Wo-oow," little AJ said, mimicking his father.  

"Uncle CAG is an Admiral, you know," Joel said proudly.

"He is not!" 

"Is so!"

"Is not!"

"Is so!"

"Boys!  What are you arguing about?" called Bud from the patio.

Little AJ ran over to big AJ and climbed up in his lap.  "Joel says that Uncle CAG is an Admiral.  And I said he's not.  You're the Admiral, Adm'l AJ!"

Joel sat on Tom's lap and said, "He is, too, an Admiral!" 

"Is not!"

"Is so!"

"Boys, that's enough," said big AJ.  "Yes, AJ," he addressed his young namesake, "Uncle CAG is an Admiral.  I'm not the only Admiral.  I'm the only Admiral AJ that I know of, but not the only Admiral."

"Oh," said little AJ.  "Okay."  He jumped down and ran off to the swing set.  "Come on, Joel!"

The adults laughed as the boys ran off to play.  "Friends again," laughed Bobbie.  

"Look!  The fireworks are starting!" Sturgis said as he saw the sky behind them light up with color. 

Mac called, "Boys!  Come, let's watch the fireworks!"

The boys came running back to the patio and laid down on the blanket Harriett spread.  Tom sat down on the blanket and Mac scooted in between his legs, leaning back against his chest.  "Mmm, I like this," he whispered in her ear.

Sturgis and Bobbie stayed in the lounge chair they were sharing, and Harriett settled herself in Bud's lap.

"Mind if we join you?" asked AJ of Tom and Mac.  He sat in the same position as Tom and pulled Meredith into his embrace.  "So, Mac.  When are you coming back to JAG?  Your medical leave is just about up," AJ reminded her.

"That will depend on whether we get to keep Joel, Sir," she replied quietly.

"How's that?" asked Sturgis.  "Lots of mothers work."

Mac smiled.  "True.  But I want to be a stay-at-home mom.  I want to be there when Joel comes home from school.  I don't want him in after-school care."

Meredith nodded.  "I agree whole-heartedly, Sarah.  AJ can just find himself a new lawyer!" she giggled as he put his arms around her waist and tickled her.  

Mac suddenly looked up.  "Hey!  What happened to Harm?  He never showed."

Tom nuzzled her neck.  "And that's a problem because...?" he teased.

Mac giggled.  "It's not a problem, Honey... I just wonder where he is."

"Or who he's with?" joked AJ.

"Poor Harm.  He does suffer the brunt of your jokes," said Meredith.

"Deserves 'em," quipped Bobbie.

"One of these days, you're going to have to tell me about your relationship with him," Sturgis grinned.

"I don't think so," Bobbie teased.

"That sounds like it's not something I'd want to hear anyway," he moaned as the other adults laughed.

"SHHHH!" came from the far end of the blanket.  "We can't hear the fireworks!" complained Joel, causing the adults to laugh even more as the air was filled with the loud booms.

"Harriett, did you know the golf course did a fireworks show when you picked this house?" asked Mac.

She grinned.  "No, and it sure was a surprise last year when they started going off!"

Thursday, 14 August 2003
1545 EDT
The Pentagon
Washington, DC

Patty knocked on Tom's door.  "Enter!" he barked.

"Sir, you're going to be late," she said.  "You wanted to leave by 1530, and it's already 1545."

"Damn!  Why didn't you tell me?" he groused.

Patty sighed to herself.  She'd already come in here 3 times trying to get him to leave.  "Isn't that something I can do for you, Admiral?"

"No, damn it.  You know what?" he looked up and threw his pen down.  "The hell with this!  This is not anything of importance!  And my wife is!  If the SecNav calls looking for this damned report, you tell him that I'll have it for him tomorrow by noon," Tom rattled off as he grabbed his cover. 

"Your briefcase, Sir?" Patty asked.

"Nope.  No work tonight," he grinned as he headed for the door.

"Happy anniversary, Admiral," she said before he left.

Tom turned back to face Patty and smiled.  "Thank you, Patty."

Tom walked quickly through building and out to the parking lot... then he ran to his vehicle and headed for home.  He really hoped that nothing had happened to change their plans for the night.  Joel was supposed to be sleeping at a friend's house.  And he was taking Mac to Shady Side for dinner.  As run-down as the place was, Mac considered the Shell Shack "their" restaurant.  So that's where he was taking her for their 6-month anniversary.  Nothing else would do.

He pulled into the driveway and noticed that all the curtains were drawn... and the blinds were closed. The last time the house was so closed up was when she was in pain after her chemo treatments. "Oh, God!" Tom worried, hurrying up to the house. He unlocked the front door and walked inside, being as quiet as he could. If Mac was in pain, he didn't want to startle her or make noise that would bother her.

He immediately went to their bedroom. Not finding her there or in the bathroom, he moved to the other bedrooms. She was nowhere to be found. "Where are you, Sarah?" he mumbled.

"In the living room, Handsome," he heard her sultry voice call to him. "Come and find me." Tom grinned as he relaxed. She wasn't in pain. She was playing with him. "And when you do find me, I hope you have as few clothes on as I do."

Tom headed back toward the living room, shedding his uniform all the way. When he found Mac, she was lying on the sofa, scantilly clad in just her bra and panties. "Happy anniversary, Darling," she purred.

"Ooooh, Sarah," Tom groaned.

"Come to Mama," she teased.

Tom almost tripped as he hurriedly finished undressing. "So much for Shady Side, hmm?"

"Oh, we're still going to Shady Side, Husband. We're just going to make whoopee before we go!" she giggled. Tom ran his fingers through Mac's hair. "I love it when you do that," she purred. "I missed my hair."

He smiled. "I know. That's why I do it. You have beautiful hair," he grinned.

"Not much of it yet, though."

"It's growing, Baby. It's growing."

Mac giggled. "Sure is. You're so good to me, Tom. What did I ever do to deserve you?" she whispered.

"Must have been something pretty awful," he teased in return.

"Wish I'd done it years ago if I could've had you then," she rasped.

Fifteen minutes later, Tom quipped, "And was it good for you?"

Mac laughed. "You know it was!"

"Joel is staying overnight at Pete's, right?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah. We get to do this again when we get back from dinner."

Tom grinned. "Good." They got up and he decided he should call Maggie and let her know they'd be a little later than he expected. The line rang busy. 'Damn.' They took a quick shower together and got dressed. Tom tried the restaurant again. Still busy. He decided to call his yeoman. She always wanted to do something for him and Mac. So he'd let her call.

"Admiral Boone's office; Petty Officer Krauss," her happy voice came over the line.

"Patty, it's me," he said. "Would you mind calling the Shell Shack and let them know that we're going to be late? We're just leaving the house now. I've called a couple of times, and the line's busy. Keep trying them until you reach them."

She didn't answer quickly. There was almost a hesitation in her voice. But she said, "Of course, Admiral."

"Everything okay?" he asked, not sure he really heard the hesitation.

"Everything's fine, Sir. I'll call the restaurant and let them know you'll be late, Admiral."

Tom heard another voice in the background over the phone and then Patty's again. "Late, huh? He and the Colonel must have gone at it before dinner."

"Shhh! He'll hear you."

"Have a good evening, Patty," Tom grinned as he hung up the phone. "Sounds like Patty's got a new boyfriend!" Tom said to Mac as she walked into the living room with her purse on her arm. He had the vague notion that he should recognize the man's voice. But when he saw his wife dressed in a sexy dress, cut to show off her ample bosom, all other thoughts left him.

Thursday, 28 August 2003
1335 EDT
Boone Residence
Laurel, Maryland

"Uncle CAG is home!" yelled Joel as he burst through the front door, dragging Tom behind him. "Aunt Sarah!!"

"Joel, you're inside the house now," Tom reminded him. "Use your 'inside voice', please."

"Sorry, Uncle CAG," Joel lowered his voice a couple of notches. "Aunt Sarah! Uncle CAG is home!" he called again, running through the house, trying to find her

Mac came out of the laundry room. "What are you doing home at this hour, Honey?" she asked a bit warily. The last time he'd come home this early was when he told her about Alicia.

Tom took her in his arms and kissed her. "I thought you might want to take a vacation over the holiday weekend. What do you say?" he asked.

"Oh boy! Oh boy! Where are we gonna go?" Joel jumped up and down in his excitement.

"Where would you like to go?" he asked the boy.

"I want to go see the planes!" Joel replied immediately. He loved visiting the Naval yard where the F14s were serviced.

"Honey, we can't go anywhere this weekend. We have the picnic over here on Monday, remember? Everyone's coming here."

"Oh, that's right," Tom said. "Well, we can still go see the planes, can't we?" he teased.

Mac laughed. "Of course we can." Joel was thrilled. He jumped up and down and begged to go tell his friend next door. When he left, Mac said, "Okay, now why are you really home early?" 

Tom smiled and took her in his arms.  "Dr. Jamaleddeen called with the results of your last test."

"He called you?" Mac was surprised.

"Yeah.  I asked him to," Tom said.  "I told him I wanted to be the one to tell you the good news."

"Is it, Tom?" she whispered. "Is it good news?"

He nodded.  "Yeah, it is, Sarah.  There's still no trace of cancer, Sweetheart.  It's been a year.  He says you can go to 6-month visits now."

Mac was ecstatic.  She threw her arms around Tom's neck and kissed him all over his face and head and neck... she couldn't get enough of him.  "Oh, Tom!  I'm well!  I'm well!"  She ran to the phone and picked it up.  "I have to call Harriett!  And the Admiral!  We can start the adoption process now!!"

"You still want to go through with the adoption?" Tom asked carefully.

Mac set the phone down and looked up at him, remembering Joel's words from July. "Definitely," she said emphatically. "I'm going to be his Mama."

Tom pulled her back in his arms and kissed her soundly. "I love you, Sarah."

Monday, 13 October 2003
1940 EDT
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, Virginia

The party celebrating the anniversary of the Navy's establishment in 1775 was in full swing when Tiner pulled up 40 minutes late.  He climbed out of his car and opened the door for his date.  "We don't have to go in if you'd rather not.  We are awfully late, and they probably won't believe the story about a flat tire," he told her.  He'd never brought a date to the Admiral's house before.  But she'd insisted.

"Are you kidding?  Look at you!  I think it's rather obvious that you've been changing a tire.  You're a mess!" she teased.

"Gee, thanks," Tiner quipped as he tried to brush off more of the dirt and grime.

"Come on, lover boy.  Let's go in.  I want to see the look on my boss' face when he sees us together.  He thinks I'm a nun," she giggled.

Tiner groaned.  "He's gonna kill me."  They made their way to the front door and Tiner pressed the bell.  "Are you sure?"

The front door swung open before she answered.  "Tiner!  You made it!" greeted Harriett.  "Come on in.  Oh my!  What happened to you?" she asked, taking in his appearance.

"Flat tire, Ma'am," he grumbled. 

Harriett laughed.  "Tiner, that's supposed to be the excuse after the party, not before."  Then she turned and looked at his date.  "Don't I know you?" Harriett said, a bit puzzled.  'Incredible!  She looks just like...'

"Shh!  My boss doesn't know yet!"

The women giggled and Tiner groaned again.  "He's gonna kill me.  I know it."

"Oh, stop that!" she slapped his arm.  "You go get cleaned up a bit like you said you wanted to... and I'll mingle a while.  When you come back out, we'll go say hello to the Admiral."

"Admirals.  Plural," Tiner replied.  "They're both gonna kill me."

"Don't be silly, Jason.  There's no reason in the world why we shouldn't be going out together."

Just as Tiner finished up in the guest bathroom and made his way back to the living room, Tom & Mac and AJ & Meredith came in from the back yard. "It's getting a mite chilly out there," said Meredith, rubbing her bare arms.

"Patty!" said Tom.  "What brings you all the way out here?  Something..." he paused, taking in her appearance.  She wasn't in uniform.  She was in a dress.  A party dress.  A sexy party dress.  "Patty?" he said in bewilderment.

"Good evening, Admiral.  Mrs. Boone.  Nice to see you again, Ma'am."  She turned to AJ.  "Good evening, Admiral Chegwidden," she said politely.

"Hello, Patty," Mac smiled as Tiner walked up next to Patty and slipped his hand in hers.

"Good evening, Sirs," Tiner said nervously.  He faced AJ and continued, "I'm sorry we're late, Admiral.  I had a flat tire and I had to..."

"Not a problem, Tiner.  Glad you came on anyway," AJ said graciously.  He looked at Patty and smiled.  "Patty.  Welcome to my home."

"Thank you, Sir."  Tiner moved his hand around her waist.  Tom noticed immediately. 

"When did all this start?" he barked.

Tiner dropped his arm to his side quickly and gulped, "At your wedding, actually, Admiral."

"What?" he bellowed.

"Tom, be civil," reprimanded Mac.  "Tiner is a fine young man."

"He certainly is, Boone!" AJ said loudly.  "And just what is wrong with my yeoman dating your yeoman, anyway?" he asked, getting right in Tom's face.  

Tom backed down... a bit.  He looked at Tiner.  "Nothing, I guess.  Better than Rabb dating her," he quipped, to which everyone laughed... everyone, that is, except Harm. 

Thursday, 6 November 2003
0930 EST
Prince George's County Courthouse
Upper Marlboro, Maryland

The day dawned wet and dreary.  At least it wasn't snowing... or sleeting, that would be worse.  But why did it have to rain today?  Mac wasn't really superstitious, but if she was... what an omen of doom.  She was so nervous. She knew that AJ had filed all the necessary documents and that nothing was going to fall through the cracks on that end. But she had still quizzed him when they arrived at the Courthouse. Tom tried to calm her nerves. "Sweetheart, AJ knows what he's doing. That's why you asked him to handle this for us, remember? Because you wanted the best. Now stop annoying him and let him do his job."

Mac looked up at Tom sharply. But AJ diffused the situation quickly. "You're not annoying me, Mac. I know you're nervous. It's okay. I'd have to say it's normal."  He decided to try and get her mind off the hearing.  "So, Mac.  Have you talked to Patty or Tiner?  How are they getting along?"

Mac smiled.  "They're doing great.  I wouldn't be surprised if those two get married next spring."

"Married?" bellowed Tom.  "They can't get married!  She's just a baby!"

Mac and AJ laughed.  "She's 23 years old, Tom.  She's not a baby," Mac said.

"Aunt Sarah?" Joel said, pulling on her hand to get her attention.

"What is it, Sweetie?"

"Is the judge gonna be nice?" he asked innocently.  Mac inhaled sharply, and Tom saw her eyes well with tears.

"Honey, why don't you take Joel downstairs and get something to eat?" he suggested. "There's that coffee shop on the second floor..."

"I'm not going anywhere," Mac stated flatly.  "The judge specifically requested that Joel and I be present," she reminded him.

"Yeah, that bothers me," said AJ quietly.  "Having the child there... most unusual."

The door to the courtroom opened and a guard propped the doors open. "You can go in now," he said.

Mac pulled Joel to her side and took his hand in hers as they walked in the room. She didn't even stop to think what she was doing, she just headed straight for the front. "Mac? Were you going to do this yourself?" teased AJ as she and Joel took seats at the table.

Mac looked up, surprised. "Oh!" She blushed slightly, took Joel's hand, and moved behind the railing.

AJ and Tom grinned. "Relax, Honey," Tom whispered as he kissed her lightly, just as a clap of thunder shook the floor.

The judge walked in the room and took his seat behind the large desk. "I understand we have an adoption hearing this morning?" he said, more to himself than the others. So no one answered him. He looked up to see the 2 Admirals standing behind the defense table and a woman and child standing behind the railing. "No one's here to dispute this?" he asked, looking over to the other side of the room and seeing no one. "Odd," he mumbled. The judge moved his papers around on his desk some and finally acknowledged the Admirals.

"Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Judge Markort, and I'll be reviewing your petition for adoption. Have a seat." They all sat down and waited for the judge to continue. "Admiral Chegwidden?"

AJ responded. "That would be me, your Honor. AJ Chegwidden."

The judge nodded. "You're the Judge Advocate General, aren't you?" he asked.

AJ replied, "Yes, Sir, that's correct."

"And you're handling this case yourself?"

AJ smiled inwardly; he knew the judge would ask this. "The couple are friends of mine, Sir. And Mrs. Boone is one of my lawyers at JAG."

"Currently on medical leave, I understand?"

"That is correct, your Honor."

"Cancer. Hmm. Tell me, Admiral. Why should I remand custody of a small boy who has already lost both his parents and his aunt to a woman who could die within the year?" the judge asked bluntly.

Mac stiffened in her seat and tears welled up in her eyes. She put her arm around Joel and pulled him close against her breast. Joel slipped his small hand inside of Mac's and squeezed it.

Tom wanted to turn around right then and take Mac out of the room, but he knew better. AJ had already warned him not to react if this subject came up. And they all knew it would. It was bound to. AJ was surprised, though, that the judge was so callous about it.

"Actually, your Honor, you could remand the boy's custody to a perfectly healthy woman today and she die in an accident tomorrow." Before the judge spoke again, AJ continued. "However, I do fully understand your concern for Joel, as do the Boones. Joel has, indeed, experienced more than his share of tragedy in his young life. That's the primary reason the Boones waited on the adoption until Mrs. Boone's 1-year tests returned."

"Oh?" asked the judge. "Do you have those results now?"

AJ moved out from behind the table and walked to the Judge's desk. "Yes, I do, your Honor. Mrs. Boone's 1-year test results came back completely clear. There is no sign of any cancer cells remaining in her body."

The judge actually smiled. "Good, good." He reviewed the medical report AJ had given him as AJ returned to his seat.

When all had been quiet in the courtroom for almost 5 minutes, save the rain pelting against the windows, Joel whispered loudly to Mac, "Aunt Sarah, did the judge fall asleep?"

She heard the judge chuckle under his breath.  "No, Sweetie. He's reading the papers Uncle AJ gave him," Mac replied, kissing Joel on the forehead softly.

"I read faster than him," Joel observed.  "When is he going to say you and Uncle CAG are my new parents?"

"Shh, Sweetie.  The judge has a very important job to do," Mac tried to speak quietly so as not to disturb the judge, but the room was so still, her words carried to him.  "We must be quiet while he studies the case."  Joel frowned; he was scared, too, and Mac knew it.  "It's okay, Joel.  Whatever happens today, it'll be okay," she sniffed and put her arm around him.

He reached up and stroked her short hair.  "Mommy had blonde hair.  Uncle CAG used to call her his blonde KitKat," he giggled.

The judge visibly stiffened at the boy's words.  "Admiral Boone.  You, I believe, were the one who knew the boy's parents?"

Tom looked up.  "Yes, Sir."

"How well did you know them?"

"I knew his mother extremely well, your Honor.  I met his father several times."

"What do you mean by 'extremely well'?" the judge asked as another clap of thunder shook the room.  Mac was getting more and more anxious.

Tom knew now what the judge was driving at.  He was jumping to conclusions because of Joel's comment about his mother.  "Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Andrews was a pilot under my command.  I knew all of my pilots very well in my capacity as the carrier air group commander."

"You have pet names for all of them, too, Admiral?" the judge smirked.

"Every pilot has a call sign.  Andrews' call sign was KitKat."

Joel piped up before Mac realized he was going to say anything.  "That's 'cause she loved KitKat candy bars!  She ate them all the time!"

"Shh, Joel.  Honey, we're not supposed to talk to the judge right now," Mac whispered urgently.

"Oh.  I'm sorry, Aunt Sarah.  I forgot."  He leaned over and laid his head against her breast.

Tom continued where Joel left off.  "The boy is right.  She ate every KitKat bar she could get her hands on."

"And you, Admiral.  Did you ever get your hands on the KitKat?" the judge asked pointedly.

"Only times I ever touched KitKat, you Honor, was when I walked her down the aisle at her wedding and gave her away," Tom said emphatically.  "And then I hugged her goodbye when she left the carrier because she was carrying Joel."

The judge raised his eyebrow in surprise... as did AJ... and Mac.  Tom turned around slightly to see Mac's expression.  She was surprised, but pleased.  He smiled at her and mouthed, "I love you."

"Didn't you know that, Aunt Sarah?" asked Joel quietly.  Mac shook her head.  "I did," he smiled.  "Aunt Alicia told me."

"This boy has no more living relatives?" asked the judge, flipping through the papers on his desk.

AJ spoke.  "No, your Honor.  His aunt died in June.  Her husband, Mahshid Abdun, is on an extended assignment in Egypt and wishes the Boones to have full and permanent custody of Joel."

"He doesn't want the boy?" the judge asked.

"He wants what's best for the boy, your Honor," AJ corrected.  "Mr. Abdun loves Joel very much, and Joel loves his uncle.  But Mr. Abdun believes that Joel would be better off here in the US and living with Tom and Sarah Boone as his new parents.  His affidavit is there in the file, Sir."

The judge found the paper and read through it, as though for the first time.  AJ knew better.  He knew this guy had already read the entire file, probably several times.  And he never complained when Joel spoke.  'That's what he's doing.  He's listening to the boy,' AJ realized.  And indeed, that's exactly what he was doing.  The judge grunted as he read, then he shook his head, hoping it would stir some more conversation between the boy and Mac.

Mac's eyes welled with tears when she saw him shake his head.  They were going to lose.  She could feel it.  He didn't like what he was reading.  And it was probably all because of her.  Her past.  Her cancer.  Joel saw a tear streak down Mac's face and he put his hands on her cheeks.  "Don't cry, Aunt Sarah.  I love you," he whispered in his loud, little boy way, and hugged her close. 

Mac smiled.  "I'm fine, Sweetie.  I just got something in my eye," she lied, but moved her fingers to rub her eyes to prove the point.

"Aunt Sarah?"

"Hmm?"

"What will happen if the judge says you can't be my parents?"

Mac inhaled sharply and bit her lips together.  "Let's not think about that, okay?" she tried to smile.

"I wish it would stop being so loud outside.  I don't like thunder," Joel said.

"I don't either, Sweetie.  But if it didn't rain, we wouldn't have rainbows," she tried to reason.  She didn't want him to be afraid of thunderstorms the way she had been as a child. "I love rainbows. Don't you?"

He nodded. "Can I ask you something, Aunt Sarah?"

"Of course you can, Baby.  Quietly, though.  Whisper."

He nodded and continued to speak in his whisper voice.  "If the judge says yes, I don't want to call you Aunt Sarah and Uncle CAG anymore."  Mac looked down at him, love shining in her eyes such as the judge had rarely seen.  "I want to call you Mama and Daddy."  Mac sniffed.  "Is that okay?"

Mac hugged him tightly.  "Let's wait and see what the judge says, okay?"

"But is that okay?"

Mac nodded.  "It's more than okay, Sweetie."

"I love you, Aunt Sarah."

"I love you, too, Joel."

The judge had heard and read enough.  He was convinced.  He looked up and said gently, "Joel, would you come up here for just a minute, please?"

Joel looked at Mac in confusion.  "It's okay, Sweetie.  Go ahead," Mac encouraged him.

Joel stepped out and walked up to the judge's desk.  "Come around here and sit on my lap for a minute," the judge said.  Joel did as he was told.  "You understand what happened to your parents, Joel?"

"They died.  They're heroes," he said proudly.

The judge smiled.  "Yes, they are.  And you understand what happened to your Aunt Alicia?"

"She died, too.  She didn't want to hit the little girl who ran in front of her car.  She's a hero, too," he told the judge.

"Joel, have you liked living with Uncle Tom and Aunt Sarah?"

"You mean Uncle CAG?" Joel corrected.  The judge nodded.  "Uh huh.  A lot.  They take me places and do fun things."

"Do you have rules at home?"

"Yes, Sir.  Lots of rules.  Uncle CAG is an Admiral, you know," he whispered as though that explained everything.

The judge chuckled.  "Do you like Uncle CAG and Aunt Sarah a lot?"

Joel nodded.  "I love them a lot, too."  Joel looked deep into the judge's eyes.  "Are you going to let them be my new parents?" he asked sweetly.  Then he begged, "Pleeease?"

The judge whispered in Joel's ear and Joel smiled brightly.  Then the judge opened his desk drawer and Joel reached inside of it and pulled something out.  The next thing they knew, he was running back to Mac.  She stood up as she saw him coming, and he hugged her legs.  "I have a flower for you, Mama," Joel said brightly as he held a brilliant white rose out to her.

"Thank you, Sweetie..." Mac smiled, taking the flower from his hand. Then she looked shocked. "Mama?  You called me Mama!" she almost squealed.

She looked up at the judge, as did AJ and Tom.  He nodded.  "Adoption approved.  Congratulations on your new son, Admiral and Mrs. Boone."  He slammed his gavel on the desk and said, "Case closed!"

"Oh, my God!" Mac exclaimed.  "Tom!"  Mac's tears burst forth as she cried in delight. 

Tom quickly stepped over the railing and picked Joel up in his arms and hugged him.  "Hello, Son!"

"Hello, Daddy!" Joel giggled.  Then they both reached out and brought Mac into their hug.

AJ smiled at the happy family.  'Damn.  I guess this means Mac won't be coming back to JAG.'

As they walked outside the courthouse they found that the rain had stopped. Joel looked up.  "Look, Mama!  A rainbow, just for you!"

The end.