1356 Zulu
Jag Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
"Commander, can we talk a moment?"
"Sure, Mattoni, come on in. What can I do for you?"
Mattoni looked ill at ease as he sat down in one of the chairs in front of Harm's desk. "Well, Commander, it's like this. The hearing to finalize Jackie and I adopting Dar'Lin is scheduled for Monday."
"I know, I've already been served to testify on your behalf. Is there a problem, Alan? I thought you and Jackie wanted this."
"Harm, no, you have this all wrong. We do want her, very much. But there seems to be a wrinkle in the proceedings."
"What do you mean? Is something wrong with Dar'Lin? Isn't she happy with you?" Mattoni shook his head in the negative to all Harm's anxious inquires. "Please don't tell me Charlie has more relatives?" Harm all but groaned as he stood to pace the space from his desk to the window facing the bullpen and back.
"It might almost be easier if that's who it was?"
"Meaning wh-"
"Meaning, me, Cammander Rabb!" Harm swung back toward the door to see Lieutenant Rivers filling his doorway. A smug look of satisfaction gracing his features.
~~*~~*~~ Staples Business Depot commercial of the father shopping with his two
children for back to school supplies
~~*~~*~~ Molson Canadian I AM CANADIAN commercial
~~*~~*~~ Yet another promo for yet another "reality" based show to begin in the fall
~~*~~*~~ Office Max million dollar back to school sweepstakes
1512 Zulu
Jag Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm is in Admiral Chegwidden's office pacing in front of his desk much the way he was behind his own a little over an hour ago.
"Sir, is there nothing we can do to prevent this?"
"I really don't see how, Commander." AJ watched Harm pace for another few seconds. "Commander, might I suggest you sit before I need to find a way to budget for new carpet," AJ dryly requested.
"Sorry, sir." Harm replied. "It's just I don't see how this could be possible."
"Commander, please don't tell me that you need me, of all people to give you a lesson in the birds and the bees." AJ's sarcasm was barely restrained. The impact of the whole situation showing in the additional creases around his eyes and on his forehead. "You are going to have to move fast with the investigation, Commander. I really can't spare, Mac during the day, but if she wants to chip in for leg work on her own time that's fine with me. I will find a way to keep Mattoni busy so you won't be tripping over him and Harriet has already volunteered her investigative services."
"She has, sir?"
"Yeah, it surprised me somewhat also considered her initial reaction to the case, but she says she wants to help." AJ had to work to keep the smile of pride off his face. "Harriet, like most of his staff was like a child to him and it always gave him an extra jolt of fatherly pride and respect when one of them, especially Harriet, went beyond the realm of their own personal threshold to be there for someone else. Dar'Lin was already considered part of the extended Jag family, much like Chloe and baby AJ. None of them was willing to let her go without a major battle.
"Sir, if it's all right with you, then, I would like to head for Maryland now. I'll check with Social Services in North Mountain, first and see if they have any information about which hospital exactly Annie and Dar'Lin were born in then I'll call Harriet to start a trace for their birth records."
"Sounds good, Commander. I'll be waiting for your preliminary report."
"Thank you, sir."
"Dismissed."
Harm gave a sharp salute, turned on his heels and exited the office. Before he could speak, Tiner handed him a hotel voucher and the keys to a naval issue blue sedan.
"Were you listening in or something Petty Officer."
"Not at all, sir," Tiner responded. "I just know what I would do and since I learned from observing you and Colonel Mackenzie and you all learned from the admiral, I guessed…"
"At ease, Tiner."
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you, Tiner. Good thinking."
"You're welcome, sir." Harm moved on shaking his head. Maybe there was hope for Tiner in the law yet. Reaching his office he found Mac sorting through the files on his desk and packing his briefcase.
"Is everyone reading my mind, this afternoon."
Mac looked up and gave him a smile that made him want to sweep the desk clear and really show her his appreciation, but they weren't ready for that yet. Instead he closed in the door and moved to stand across his desk from her.
"It wasn't hard to figure out you would be clearing out of here directly after speaking with the Admiral."
"Apparently not." He held up the hotel voucher and keys from Tiner to show her.
"Impressive," she murmured and went back to piling files on one side of his briefcase or the other, dropping in the odd thin one. "I have already reassigned most of your workload through to Monday to Mattoni, a few to Bud and I have taken the remainder. The Admiral thought and I agree the busier Alan is, the less likely he is to be trying to help."
"We can't afford even the hint of a cover up or impropriety on this."
"You don't need to tell me. Where are you headed first?"
"Social Services in North Mountain. I want to see if Mrs. Rawlings can or will help me find out as much as I can. I find it hard to believe we could have missed a connection this obvious."
"That was my initial reaction as well, but what he said is plausible, I suppose."
"Oh, come on, Mac, Rivers?!"
"I know, I know, but from what Mattoni told me his lawyers are adamant." She watched as Harm brushed off her words and dropped heavily into a chair. "It's not over yet, Harm."
"Then why does it feel like it is?"
"Fatalism from you? Snap out of it, Commander. Dar'Lin needs you at your best and Alan is depending on you. What happened to the man who was there for her when she was in the foster home form hell, last year? Where is the man who was willing to move heaven and earth to become her daddy, even on a temporary basis to protect her? I refuse to believe the man I love has turned into a wuss!"
"Mac, keep it down."
"What? Why? It's not like they don't all already know, anyway. Plus, I'm serious here, Harm. Get off your six and go and make sure that Lieutenant Rivers is indeed as full of crap as I know he is!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Much better. Now come here and give me a hug before you go."
"Here?"
"If we stand over by the filing cabinet no one will be able to see us."
"In that case…" Harm moved to stand with his back to the wall by the cabinet and waited for Mac to join him. She slipped into arms for a moment. She moved to pull away and was stopped by Harm's lips briefly brushing hers. "On your way, Commander."
"I'll call you tonight, okay?"
"Good." She patted his chest and left. Harm grabbed his briefcase and headed out.
~~*~~*~~ Little Caesar's Pizza
~~*~~*~~ Norwich Union insurance for seniors
~~*~~*~~ Yet another inane commercial for Survivor 4000 (oh, sorry 3)
~~*~~*~~ Century 21
2348 Zulu
Office of Social Services
North Mountain, Maryland
Mrs. Rawlings was sitting in her car reading through files when Harm pulled up outside the building that housed Social Services.
"We close at five, you know, Commander. I expected you far earlier than this." The wane smile on her face helped to cut through the supposed seriousness of her words.
"You know, I must really be far too predictable."
"Not really except where one particular little girl is concerned."
"So, can you help me shed some light on Lieutenant Rivers' claim?"
"Unfortunately, yes. However, if anyone questions how you came by this information…"
"I have no recollection of where I was at the time the information was gleaned."
"Excellent, Commander. Come back inside so we can talk more freely."
Harm followed her into the building. She stood at the high reception counter with two files open. Post It © flags marked what he needed to know. The father's name had been scratched out and written over as 'unknown' on both birth certificates, however there was a notation at the bottom of Annie's that made Harm's brows rise to meet his hairline. "Medical bills paid by one Lieutenant j.g. Curtis Rivers. Well, all be damned." Seeing the look on Mrs. Rawlings face, Harm stammered an apology.
"I'm not sure how we missed it either, but we did."
"It doesn't mean he has a legal claim to Dar'Lin though. It just means he knew their mother," Harm argued.
"Be sensible, Commander Rabb. Why else would he pay her bills unless he was the father?"
"Actually, he's not claiming to be their father."
"He's not?"
"No. According to him, he's their uncle."
"Say again?"
"Lieutenant Rivers informed me this morning he is the older brother of the young man who fathered Annie and Dar'Lin. One, Travis Rivers. From what he said, I gathered he was dating Marjorie, and Travis was "friends" with Wanda. When Wanda turned up pregnant it caused problems major problem for Curtis and Marjorie and they broke up. Then, Lieutenant j.g. Rivers thought it best if the two married. His brother didn't agree, ran off and joined the navy to be just like his big brother."
"So where is Travis Rivers now?" Mrs. Rawlings gathered both files up and tapped them against the palm of one hand.
"Dead. His first mission was to Cyprus as part of the peace keeping operations that are on going over there. He was shot dead trying to break up an altercation during his first tour. He was barely eighteen years old."
Harm watched as Mrs. Rawlings shook her head in apparent disbelief. She didn't look at him directly, but seemed to look off into the space over his shoulder. "When?" Came her one word question.
"Again, according to Lieutenant Rivers, he was notified of his brother's death on November 1st, 1993." Harm answered after referring to the notes he had scribbled while speaking with Rivers earlier.
"Dear heavens, that's within days of…"
"Dar'Lin and Annie's birth, yes."
"If what this Lieutenant Rivers is saying is true, where has he been the last nearly eight years?"
"Serving his country, ma'am."
"Indeed! Look, Commander, I don't think there is really anymore I can do for you tonight. If you need me to I will come down for the adoption hearing on Monday." She nodded her assent once Harm's gaze met hers. "But as far as proving or disproving this man's claim to custody of Dar'Lin, I'd have to say you have your work cut out for you."
"I'd have to agree, Mrs. Rawlings. Let me walk you out, then I need to be going."
Together they left the building and Harm waited for her to drive away before getting into the naval issue blue sedan.
~~*~~*~~ Dr. Scholl's comfort fit arch supports
~~*~~*~~ McDonald's
~~*~~*~~ Ford G series trucks – built to last
~~*~~*~~ Eckard Drugstores
1823 Zulu
Mattoni home
Warrenton, Virginia
Alan opened the front door to the house even before Harm and Mac had reached the porch. "Colonel, Commander, I'm glad you could join us."
"It's Harm and she's Mac and we wouldn't miss this, Alan, you should know that already."
"I thought I knew a lot of things before Lieutenant Rivers petitioned the court and threw a monkey wrench in it all."
Mac looked from Harm to Alan and blew out her breath in disgust. "Look at the two of you. I sure hope Jackie and Dar'Lin are staying positive or you all might as well pack her things and take her over to Rivers' hotel now!" She walked away toward the sounds of voices in the back of the house leaving the two men shame faced.
"She sure told you, huh, Harm."
"Me? As I heard it, she let us both have it and she's right."
"Yeah, she is. It's good to finally see you two together, but I must say I'm glad it didn't happen sooner or I might have been fighting both you and Rivers' for custody."
"It would never have…" The rest of his statement was cut off by Dar'Lin launching herself into his arms.
"Daddy Harm. I knew you had to be here once I saw Aunt Mac."
"Well, hello to you, too, little lady." Harm presented both cheeks for kissing which she did without question. He lowered her back to the floor and looked up at Alan a bit embarrassed. "I guess it's time to have her stop calling me that."
"No, not if she's not ready. She started calling me Daddy Alan a month or so ago at last, so I'm content with that."
"I'm still right here, Daddies. Don't talk like I ain't."
Both men chuckled and together said, "Mac." The influence of each of the adults who had cared and nurtured her over the last year was more and more evident every day.
"You're right, pumpkin and we're sorry. Aren't we, Harm."
"Of course we are, Dar'Lin. When you're ready I won't mind at all if you want to call me Uncle Harm, Mr. Harm or just Harm, okay?!"
She shrugged. "I like Daddy Harm better, but I'll see what Mommy Jackie and Aunt Mac think, too. Now come on, I'm hungry."
It took everything Harm had in him not to lose it. Could it be possible for just proximity to be enough for Dar'Lin to have picked that trait up from her Auntie Mac, as well? Shaking off the thought he hoisted her up on his shoulders and followed Alan through the kitchen and out to the back deck to enjoy the evening with family.
~~*~~*~~ Kit Kat
~~*~~*~~ Darrien Lake amusement park
~~*~~*~~ Entertainment Tonight
~~*~~*~~ Sears
0223 Zulu
Harm's apartment
North of Union Station
Harm fell back against the back of his couch, tossed the pile of papers he had been reading aside and sighed. It was Sunday, the hearing was now only hours away and he still didn't have anything. Hearing Harm's frustration and sharing it to an extent, Mac slid out of the chair she had been half lying in and walked on her knees over to him. "Talk to me, Harm."
"And say what exactly? After everything that little girl has been through, I thought we finally had a solution that would bring her the love, stability and comfort she needs so badly. Leave it to Rivers to…"
"Harmon Rabb, you are not a quitter, but for the third time this week you are sounding like a defeatist. This whole case is not up to you. What we have or have not found is not the only basis the judge will have for making a decision. And most importantly, if not the piece de resistance is the fact Rivers has zero history with Dar'Lin! So what if he paid the bills when she was born. She doesn't know him."
"All that you're saying is true, Mac, but-"
"But, what? Please Harm, the judge would have to be…unfeeling…unethical…have serious discernment issues to name a few, not to give Alan and Jackie permanent custody of Dar'Lin."
"I sure hope you're right."
"I am. Marines are rarely wrong and if we are it's because we were sandbagged." She leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss to his lips to lessen the sting of her words. Harm linked his hands under Mac's arms and raised her up and on to his lap. They embraced, kissing occasionally, but simply enjoying being together.
Mac was beginning to doze off when Harm suddenly sat up and yelled of all things, "Eureka!"
"Huh. What? Harm?"
He responded by kissing her again, a longer more meaningful one than their earlier kisses. "Everything is going to be just fine tomorrow."
"As happy as I am to hear that, Harm, care to explain how you're suddenly so certain?"
He reached out and shuffled through the papers lying on the couch beside them until he located what he had been looking for. "This." Harm handed Mac the memo on official military letterhead. She read it, crinkled her brow and read it again, then looked at him with an expression of confusion.
"I lost you."
"You better believe it."
"Read it again." She lowered her head and reread the page the whole time mouthing the words in a quiet whisper to herself. When she was finished her expression remained unchanged.
"Sorry to have to admit this, flyboy, but you are going to have to explain your navy logic to me on this one."
"Actually, Mac, I think I'm going to keep this little tidbit to myself until the hearing tomorrow. Speaking of which, it's getting late." Without further preamble he helped her to stand and walked Mac to the door before she could think to force him to explain.
"Night, Mac." He hugged her and gave her a light kiss still smiling broadly.
"Harm?" Seeing that he had no intention of saying anything more she said good night and left. Her expression now one of bewilderment.
~~*~~*~~ Kmart
~~*~~*~~ Payless Shoe Source
~~*~~*~~ Oh look, yet another ridiculous reality based show
~~*~~*~~ Promo for the coming Jag season premiere – Harm thrashing around in the
water with a picture of Mac crying superimposed over it
1350 Zulu
Jag Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
The courtroom was surprisingly full for an adoption hearing. Judge Sebring was the military judge of choice and as luck would have it Judge Sherman Ahers, who had a year earlier awarded Harm temporary custody of Dar'Lin was present also. He wasn't there in an officiating capacity, but he would take the stand, however briefly, if need be.
The hearing preceded pretty much without incident as the petition for adoption of one, Dar'Lin Lewis by Lieutenant Commander Alan Mattoni and his wife Jackie Mattoni was read and accepted by the court. Mrs. Rawlings sat in the back row beside Judge Ahers looking satisfied, if not a bit smug. Mac noticed this and wondered if maybe she knew what Harm was up to.
Captain Sebring called Lieutenant Rivers to the stand before the bench and present his arguments for sole custody of Dar'Lin.
"Judge, honourable members, ladies and gentlemen, as Dar'Lin's sole remaining relation, I feel the need to care for the child. I understand that both Commander Rabb and Lieutenant Commander Mattoni and his wife have done their best to care for her since the unfortunate deaths of her father, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt." Many in the audience cringed at the mention of the amount of death which had plagued this little girl's young life. "The North Mountain Social Services department didn't even know she existed, and once they did, they nor the military was able to prevent her being kidnapped and nearly murdered, then they added insult to injure by placing her in an unacceptable foster home environment. No offense your honour, but I think Social Services and the military have both had their three strikes and been found severely lacking. It's time for her to be given back to those who share her blood and can raise her up in a culture she will know and understand. I would ask, sir that Dar'Lin be made my child legally so I may start immediately to rectify the wrongs she has suffered."
Mac was outraged by the prejudice Rivers had so thinly veiled in his speech. She looked over to Harm to gauge his reaction and was stunned to see he was fighting not to smile. 'What had she missed?' she thought and then it hit her, the memo he had had her read the night before. Rivers' statement and plea for custody which his lawyer had drawn up and had sent to the Mattoni's via their lawyer. All the pieces began to fall into place for Mac and she was sure for many others in the courtroom. Admiral Chegwidden's demeanor clearly showed his disgust and Harriet kept glancing from Jackie Mattoni to Lieutenant Rivers and shaking her head.
One by one over the next hour Mrs. Rawlings, Judge Ahers, Mac, Harm, and at last Alan and Jackie each stood before the judge and gave their plea for the petition to be deemed permanent. By the time Judge Sebring called for a recess to go and speak in private with Dar'Lin in his chambers, everyone except Rivers was looking cautiously triumphant.
"I should never have expected for a military court to do the right thing for a black child," Rivers muttered as he paced back and forth in front of the bench. Admiral Chegwidden having heard his statement clearly moved to get in his face, but was beaten to the punch by Jackie Mattoni.
"Lieutenant Rivers, I have listened to you for the last couple of hours and my heart aches for you. You have spent the last decade or more of your life in the same military which you are now condemning, serving your country, but from what I can tell, you haven't learned anything from the experience except bitterness. You look at everyone in this courtroom as a colour. I do not. I see colleagues of Alan's, friends, acquaintances, and family. I see people with whom I share a common interest and that's the well being of Dar'Lin. I don't really care what colour her skin is any more than I care what colour Alan's is. When I fell in love with him it was for who he is inside, for better, for worse, and for always. The same thing has happened again with Dar'Lin and I want the privilege of becoming her mother and loving her as she grows up. Can you honestly say the same?"
Jackie waited and watched as did Alan, Harm, Mac, Harriet, and AJ as Rivers turned away from her and went back toward his seat. He sat down with a closed expression on his face, staring at the empty judge's bench. No one was certain what to expect next so they were all relieved to see Judge Sebring reentering the courtroom from his chambers with Dar'Lin holding his hand.
He took his time to sit then helped her to perch on the top of his bench. Everyone was surprised, but who's going to argue with a judge. Finally, he began, "Lieutenant Rivers, I have heard and carefully considered your request, however, I don't believe it would be in the best interest of the child to give you custody. As such, I am awarding custody of one, Dar'Lin Lewis to Lieutenant Commander Mattoni and his wife Jackie." He handed the gavel to Dar'Lin and had her pound it to quiet the court after a few moments of relieved excitement. "You are all dismissed." He helped Dar'Lin down and walked her over to her new parents himself.
It was several minutes later before Harriet commented that Lieutenant Rivers was gone. Dar'Lin unwound herself from between Alan and Jackie and came over to Harm. "Daddy Harm?"
"Yes, honey."
"Thank you for making the last of the bad men go away."
"Lieutenant Rivers' wasn't really a bad man, Dar'Lin."
"Maybe, but he didn't love me like you and Daddy Alan, Mommy Jackie, and Aunt Mac. I'm glad I get to stay with you all forever."
"We are, too, Dar'Lin," Harm answered as all the rest of the Jag family gathered in close to them and a camera flash went off commemorating the moment for always.
Finis.