TITLE: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Chapter 5 AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY: Summer 2003. Harm embarks on a new sideline and invites Mac to join him. NOTE: Story is played out without regard to Singer-Sergei-NCIS, or Paraguay storylines. CLASSIFICATION/RATING: J/S/R/A PG for language and some violence. SPOILERS: In any of our work, any JAG episode may be referred to. FEEDBACK: If you're so moved but never expected nor begged for. Addy is ssbpmn@aol.com. Please however, we request you respect the work, and the effort that goes into writing it. NOTE: All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there is no R nor NC17 content there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} +++++++++++++++++++++++ From the conclusion of Chapter 4--- "Yes sir. I can't believe you want me." "You're a good kid Toby. And I know things have been rough for you in the past. But it's going to get better from here on out." "Will I ever see Dad again?" Toby asked suddenly. "I don't know. Hopefully they'll find him and at some point you may have to go to court and tell a judge what happened. Not just to you but to your Mom." "Will you be there?" "You got it buddy" Harm said seriously. "I'm going to take care of you Toby. I promise." ***************** "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Chapter 5--- "Break time girls" Mac sighed as she led them to the food court of the mall. "The old lady is tired." "You're not old" Alex giggled. "Compared to you I am" Mac smiled. "Okay what do you girls want?" They settled on burgers and fries and a few minutes later were happily munching away. "Do we get to stay up all night tonight?" Alex asked. "I don't think so" Mac laughed. "Your Mom won't be too happy if I take you back half asleep." "She won't care" Sam smirked. "All she cares about now is Eddie." "Is he always at your house?" "All the time now that Daddy's gone" Alex answered. "He spends every night with Mommy." "I see" Mac said slowly. "I wish he'd go away" Sam said quietly. "I hate him. He ruined everything. If it weren't for him, Mommy and Daddy would still be together." "Honey sometimes things just don't work out between two people" Mac said gently. "No. He ruined it. I hate him and I wish he'd go away and never come back." Tears slid down the young girls face and Mac reached for her, hugging her as she started to sob. "It's okay sweetie" she soothed. "I promise it's going to be okay." "It'll never be okay" Sam sobbed. "Never." Alex shrugged at Mac's questioning glance and Mac let out a long sigh. There was more going on here and she was determined to find out what it was. Her cell phone rang while she was holding Sam and she reached for it, smiling slightly as she saw Harm's number. "Hey where are you?" she asked. "Just leaving Toby's room. Where are you?" "At the food court having lunch." Sam sniffled slightly and moved away and Mac gave her hair a gentle stroke. "How's it going there?" "No sign of the Major. And I'm going to be taking care of Toby." "You wouldn't be the Harmon Rabb I fell in love with if you weren't signed on for that," she laughed. "Then you're OK with it? I know I probably should have talked it over with you first but Ms. Doherty said juvie shelter and the next words out of my mouth were where's the papers I should be filling out so you don't have to do that." "I'm sure," Mac smiled. "Just remember you committed both of us." "I don't have any right to ask you." "No, you have the right to expect your fiancee to be part of the deal." "Thanks Mac. I love you so much." She had to take a breath before she could reply. Such emotion coming from him so easily still caught her off guard. "I love you too Coach. Give Toby a hug for me. Will I see you later?" "Oh yeah. We have a sleepover planned don't we?" "Yes we most certainly do." "Can't wait. How are you holding up?" "Well I won't mind some TLC tonight if you've got it to give." "In spades. See you at your place later then. Please promise me you're taking it easy. Make the girls go easy on you." "Oh yeah I am," she laughed. "We've got a couple more places to see and then we're gone. Love you." "Love you better," he laughed as well and broke the connection. "Coach Harm is in love with you isn't he?" Sam asked softly. "That's why you're getting married." "Yes that's right," she nodded. "We've loved each other for a long time in fact. Like your mom and dad did once you know?" "Before Eddie came." "Well like I told you, sometimes things between a man and a woman are wrong all of their own. It doesn't always mean someone else has messed things up. Is your dad happier now?" Sam only sniffled. It was Alex who spoke up. "Yeah he is. He tells us that it's better for all of us that he and Mom don't fight like they were doing." "Well I grew up in a house like that and I was sad when my mom left, but at least the yelling was over," she told them softly. "When you and Harm have your babies you won't yell at them. Or each other," Alex giggled. "Yeah and they won't let somebody like Eddie do whatever he wants," Sam sighed and shook her head. "I don't want to talk about him any more. This is our time you said right Mac. So what I want to do is go get our nails done like we looked at before." "YES please," Alex shrieked. Mac nodded absently, still focused on Sam's words. So Eddie did whatever he wanted. At least according to the child. She could not help but wonder if anything Eddie was doing could get him twenty years hard time. *************** "Hey there Marine" Harm said as she and the girls walked into her apartment. "I was beginning to think you'd bought the mall." "Not quite" Mac smiled. "But we did get new nails." "Nice" Harm laughed as she held them up for him to see. "You guys hungry?" "Starving" Alex and Sam said at the same time. "Good. How about I make us a pizza while Mac takes a long soak in the bathtub." "Harm I'm okay" she protested. "Honest." "Yeah and that's why you're grimacing when you walk. You go relax and the girls and I will work on dinner." "I like to cook" Alex said enthusiastically. "Me too" Sam added. "See you heard them. They'll be fine helping me while you soak. Now move that cute little six of yours into the shower." "Six?" Sam frowned. "What's a six?" "My rear end" Mac laughed. "All right. I'll go. If you need anything holler." "We won't" Harm smiled. "Now go." "Mac says you and her are going to get married" Alex announced while they were making the pizza. "Yes we are" Harm nodded. "And everyone is going to be invited to the wedding." "Including us?" "Of course. The whole team will be there. We might even get married at home plate." "That would be silly" Alex giggled. "Mac would look pretty funny in a wedding dress standing on home plate." "Maybe" Harm smiled. "But it doesn't really matter where we get married. I just want Mac to be my wife." "Are you gonna have kids one day?" Sam asked. "I sure hope so. Mac would make a wonderful Mom don't you think?" "Oh yeah" Alex agreed. "She's so cool. And you're pretty cool too." The pizza was just coming out of the oven when Mac emerged from the bathtub. "Smells wonderful" she smiled. "You keeping these two out of trouble?" "Always" Harm laughed as he dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. "You hungry?" When they were filled upon pizza they retired to the living room where Harm set up the girls' sleeping bags on the floor so they could crash whenever they were ready. "Movie time" Alex announced. "I am never going to be able to stay awake" Mac murmured as she and Harm snuggled together on the sofa. "So go to sleep" he urged. "I'll keep an eye on them." "Have I thanked you for this" she said softly. "You don't have to. I love you remember. Now get some sleep." He kissed her forehead and she dropped her head against his chest. He waited until the girls were asleep before turning off the TV and gently prodding Mac to her feet so he could maneuver her to bed. "In you go" he whispered as he helped her into bed. He slid in beside her after stripping down to his boxers and Mac curled next to him. It was the middle of the night when he heard one someone get up. Deciding he should make sure they were okay, he pushed himself from the bed and headed out to the living room. The bathroom door opened as he walked past and Sam let out a small gasp. "Everything okay?" he asked. "I'm fine. I just needed to use the bathroom." As she spoke she shrank back away from him, her little face suddenly very scared. "Sam what's wrong?" he asked. "Don't hurt me" she whispered. "Please don't hurt me." "No honey of course not," Harm gasped, wiping sleep from his face. "No one is going to hurt you. Not here. Not anywhere if I can help it." "He always hears me go to the bathroom," she whispered. "Eddie?" "Yes." Harm held his breath and squatted down in front of her, careful to keep his distance. "Go on honey." She shuddered and shrugged. "We're not allowed to close the door all the way because it sticks and in the middle of the night someone screaming to get out would wake up the whole building." "OK that makes sense, sort of," he nodded, thinking he could fix a problem like that with a planer in ten minutes. "And I get up to go because I drink a lot of juice Mom says is why. And Eddie hears me and he comes to the door." "OK. And?" "He watches." Harm felt a shudder of anger go through him, though he managed to keep his face impassive. "Is that all he does?" Sam did not reply at once and Harm waited patiently. "Sam you can talk to me. Or Mac." "Yeah that's all he does," she whispered and looked away. Harm knew at once there was more, but he also knew he was not going to get more truth from her right then. It had cost her a good deal to admit that much. "OK baby, it's OK," he said softly. "Can I walk you back to bed?" "Yeah. Hold my hand." "I'd be honored." He helped her back into bed, noting Alex had not moved. "Doesn't she wake up in the night?" "No. Never. That's why he can. . ." "Sam?" He could see the small face closing off to him and he simply smiled. "In the morning we're going for breakfast and then stop and see Toby. OK?" "Yeah. I love eating breakfast out. Not McDonalds OK?" "Never. Good night." He started to go when he felt her reach for his hand. "I wish it was you my mom liked instead of Eddie." "Thanks honey. Good night." It was a troubled Naval Officer who crawled back in to bed, lying flat on his back, his hands beneath his head. Beside him the woman who would soon place her future with his stirred and sensed his wakefulness. "Hey you. Head call?" "Sort of. Sam's. I got up to be sure she was OK. She uh . . .seems like she's used to company if she gets up to use it at night." "Eddie?" "Yeah the bastard." "Harm what do we do?" she whispered, her eyes troubled. "How do we help these girls? How do we find out the extent of what's happening. I mean watching a little girl use the bathroom is disgusting, but it's not like he's actually assaulting her." "I know," he murmured. "And I also know that it was a lot for her to tell me what she did so far. If we press her, she's going to clam up. And Alex won't talk at all I'm afraid, though it won't hurt to broach Eddie to her." She nodded, resting her head on his chest. "I want to pick up the phone and call 911." "Me too." He leaned his head forward to kiss the top of her head. "Sleep. This is going to take some figuring out." ******************* "IHOP" Alex smiled. "I want to go to IHOP." "IHOP or Waffle House?" Harm asked Sam. "IHOP" the young girl nodded. "They've got the best pancakes." "You heard them," Harm said to Mac. "IHOP it is. And then a stop to see Toby." "Okay that's the agenda" Mac smiled. "You two go get dressed while Harm and I find the coffee." "Didn't you sleep last night?" Alex asked. "I just had a lot on my mind sweetie. How'd you sleep?" "Good" Alex nodded. "How about you Sam?" Mac asked. "I like it here" Sam said softly. "I wish I could stay here every night." "Well your Mom and Daddy would miss you" Mac said gently. "They love you a lot you know." "Yeah I guess." "Well if we're going to hit IHOP before the crowds we'd better get going" Harm said as he looked at his watch. An hour later they were in a booth at the nearby IHOP enjoying their pancakes. "You are not going to eat all those" Harm smiled as he looked at the chocolate chip pancakes Alex had ordered. "Oh yeah I am" Alex giggled. "And you thought I ate a lot" Mac teased. "I think she's got me beat." "Come on Sam" Harm urged as she pushed her food around the plate. "You haven't eaten much of those pancakes." "I guess I'm not as hungry" she sighed. "You feeling okay?" Mac frowned. "You're not sick to your stomach are you?" Sam shook her head. "No ma'am. Just not hungry." "She's upset cause we have to go back to Mom's today" Alex chimed in. "Honey you know we'll do this again" Mac soothed. "This doesn't have to be a one time thing. We'd love to have you two over again." "I don't want to go back there" Sam sniffled before suddenly running from the booth to the bathroom. "I'll go check on her" Mac said and quickly hurried off after her. "Your sister doesn't like Eddie much does he?" Harm said to Alex. "No she doesn't." "Do you know why that is?" Alex shrugged her shoulders. "No idea." "Do you like Eddie?" Harm asked. "I'd better go check on Sam" Alex said as she pushed herself out of the booth and towards the bathroom. Harm let out a long sigh as he watched her go. Somehow they would have to find out what was going on with Eddie. Before anything else happened. ******************** "Hi Toby" Alex and Sam chimed as they walked into his room. The episode at the restaurant had quickly been forgotten and they talked happily with their teammate. "Hey what are you guys doing here?" Toby smiled. "Harm said you were hurt and we wanted to bring you these" Alex said as she thrust a bag at him. "What's that?" Harm asked Mac. "The girls got him some books and little games to play with while he's laid up" Mac smiled. "It was their idea." "Thanks guys. You guys are great," Toby grinned. "Are you ready to be out of here?" Alex asked softly. "Yeah but I don't know where I'm going," he replied. "I mean Harm said I was coming with him but I'm kind of afraid to hope that." "Oh hey if this guy said he'd make it happen, you need to believe him," Mac spoke up. "You're going to be seeing a lot of him, and me, over the next weeks." "Lucky," Sam murmured and turned to Alex. "Why didn't Momma meet someone like Coach Harm instead of Eddie." Over her head Mac sent a long look to Harm who gave her a bare nod. There was a serious problem there, and he was on it with her. She felt his reassurance and relaxed some. "Harm I had therapy before and it hurt, but it was still cool. I did exercises and then sat in a hot whirlpool tub but it was cool. They show videos on the wall while you're doing all this stuff. So it was pretty cool. I'm going to have to do it every day for a while though even when I'm not staying here though. Harm don't you have a job. How can I do that?" His young face turned troubled and Harm at once reached a hand out to rest on his forehead. "Look when you get me, you also get Mac here. And with us comes friends who will help. You need to let me take some of that worrying from you guy. I've got it covered." "You see why I love him," Mac giggled, wrapping her hands around his arm. "Thanks," Toby sniffled slightly and then slid over on the bed. "Sam, Alex, sit down. See with this we can put on a video game. Maybe Harm and Mac would get us some juice from the fridge where the nurses are." "I think we've been dismissed Flyboy," Mac smiled. "Come on--buy a Marine a grape juice will ya?" "You got it. Be right back." Harm nodded to the three kids, their heads happily bent over Mario Brothers. "Harm he's a great kid," Mac smiled, tugging his arm as they walked out. "Just please. Please. Please be careful not to get too involved or attached or overwrought. Or whatever it is you do that sends you off the deep end." "Oh please. When was the last time I went off the deep end," he laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I can take it. I am concerned with dragging you with me." She shook her head, suddenly serious. "I love you remember. In all things and all ways." ================ "Did you thank Harm and Mac?" Diane questioned when they brought the girls to their door. "Lots of times," Sam told her. "And they promised we could have another time." "How nice. I'm sure you've got unpacking to do." "Yeah we need to show you the neat things we got too," Alex smiled reaching up to give Mac a hug. "Bye Mac thank you." Sam flung herself against Harm, her small body quivering in her desire for a last hug. He lifted her in his arms and stepped away from Diane. "What did we say? Tell me," he whispered to her. "That I could tell you and Mac anything," she whispered back. "And I have your phone number and I can call you or her any time." "Bingo. OK I'll see you for practice tomorrow night. And we're going to beat the Reds on Tuesday." Sam giggled and he set her on the step where she hugged Mac goodbye as well. Diane ushered them inside and up the stairs just as Eddie came to the door. "Good. I was wondering when my girls were coming home," he announced, surveying Harm and Mac on the steps. Harm merely nodded, his eyes narrowed. It was Mac who took the initiative. She stepped up to the man and being the same height her eyes met his. With as much Marine presence as she could muster not in uniform, she gave him a deadly glare. "I'm going to bring you down" she hissed. "Is that a threat lady?" Before she could answer, Harm took a giant step to be by her side, his arm going protectively over her shoulders and he tapped Eddie's shoulder, nodding slowly. "Be afraid. Be very afraid." "You two don't scare me" Eddie grinned. "Besides you have nothing." "We will have something" Harm countered. "We're going to be watching your every move. And like the lady said, we're going to bring you down." Eddie's response was to slam the door and Mac let out a long sigh. "I hate that man. I swear if it's the last thing I do, I'm making good on my promise." "Oh no" Harm said as he followed her to the car. "No way. You are out of this. If anyone is going to bring down Eddie, it's me. I don't want him near you." "Harm we're in this together remember. I am not backing down from this loser. I am not afraid of him." "You may not be but I am afraid for you" Harm sighed. "Mac at the least he's a child molester. What if he's done worse? Like rape other women." "We have got to get those girls out of there" Mac said softly as she looked up at the bedroom window. "This shouldn't happen to them." "What do you want to do counselor?" Harm asked. "I don't know that we have enough to go to the authorities." "I can't believe Gary doesn't know this is going on." "I think we should call him and talk to him. We can find out what he knows about this." "You think he's just in denial?" Mac asked. "Like he doesn't want to deal with the fact that it might be happening." "I don't know. But if those were my daughters and there was any indication whatsoever that someone was doing that to them, I would be all over that person." "I know you would. And that's why when we have our own children, they'll never go through what Sam and Alex and Toby have gone through." "No way" Harm promised. "No one would ever touch you or our child and live." ******************* JAG HQ's Monday Morning "That's quite a big responsibility Commander" AJ said after Harm explained his desire to be Toby's guardian. "I know sir. But I've got the Colonel to help" Harm smiled as he reached for Mac's hand. "And I want to do this. Toby needs a stable home." "Yes he does" AJ nodded. "Sounds like he's been through a lot in his young life." "Yes sir he has. And I want to find out more about the investigation into his mother's death. I think Ft. Bragg security let that one go by too quickly." "You think the Major could be responsible for that as well?" AJ frowned. "Yes sir. And I think Toby can tell us more when he's ready to talk. I think the abuse has been going on for years." "Colonel you agree with this?" "Yes sir. And that's not the only little problem we have." "I didn't know being coaches of a little league team was going to be this involved" AJ sighed. "Now what?" "You know the twins, Sam and Alex. We have reason to believe they may be being abused by the mother's boyfriend." "Physically?" "No sir. Sexually." "That's quite a claim Colonel" AJ said quietly. "Yes sir. But after having the girls over for a sleep over, we're more than sure that's the case." "Have you spoken to the mother?" "No sir. Nor the father. But we're planning to do that before we contact anyone." AJ pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. "I take it you two are prepared to see this through to the end, no matter what? You know these things can get awfully ugly." "Yes sir, fully aware," Harm spoke up. "Now sir I'll give you a thousand bucks to send the Colonel here someplace before this one does." "Rabb have you been drinking heavily this morning?" "I was about to ask him the same thing sir," Mac groaned. "Sir he's got it into his head that Eddie could be violent or go to extreme measures if he's backed into a corner." "I agree," AJ nodded, much to her surprise. "Thank you sir," Harm gasped, surprised as well. "Sir no," Mac exploded and AJ held up his hand. "I said I agreed he could become bad news, not that I agreed you should be removed." He turned to Harm with a tolerant smile. "Harm, you said once your chances for success were better with Mac with you. I agreed then, and I agree now. Plus, when it became obvious that things between you two were finally turning in the right direction, I confirmed to myself a decision I made years ago--that I thought you two could handle a personal as well as a working relationship. Don't give me reason to question my judgment." "Yes sir. . .uh no sir," Harm sighed. "Sir, the man scares me." "All the more reason we need to find out if we're just being paranoid," Mac smiled, reaching for his hand. For a long moment he held his breath, keeping his eyes locked with hers. "Oh good lord, kiss the woman and then get out of here," AJ groaned. "I have work to do even if you don't." =============== ENROUTE TO LITTLE LEAGUE GAME That Evening "How's the line up looking there Coach Mac?" Harm asked, giving her a sidelong glance as she stared at her clipboard. "Nanny-cams." "Have you been sniffing the rosin bag? What the hell are you talking about?" "Nanny-cams. They're those little cameras hidden inside stuffed animals or made to look like a book or something," she explained slowly. "If we could get a couple of those inside the girls' bedrooms." "OK I'm with you right up to that point," he scoffed. "Excuse me Diane we want to put these cameras cleverly disguised as stuffed bears by the girls' beds so that when that bastard molests them we get it on tape." "Well that's the basic idea," she sighed. "It just needs a little finessing that's all. I bet I could wangle an invitation to their rooms, and I'm also betting they're full of that sort of thing A new member of the menagerie might not be noticed. Then the next day I go back and collect." "Right. And Eddie finds out what you've done and slits your throat." He meant to be sarcastic, coming off more fearful than anything. "Eddie doesn't have to know until the Crimes against Children detective is snapping cuffs on him. Of course if you've got a better idea I'm open. Harm I'm afraid if we leave those kids there much longer something really bad could happen to them. We can't be sure how far the abuse has gone, and we can't be sure either of them will open up any time soon. Let's at least go look at the possibilities." "And where would we do this?" "Bud says there's a place in Arlington called I Spy." "Bud huh. I am so not surprised he'd know that. Did you tell him why?" "Yeah. Told him I was bugging your bedroom to catch you cheating on me." "Excuse me?" "Just kidding sailor" Mac smiled. "I didn't tell him why I was asking. Figured I let him come up with his own ideas." "That's scary. I can just imagine what the talk of the office will be tomorrow." "Anyway, back to the point at hand. Getting these cameras into the girls room so we can find out what's going on." "You don't think he's going to be the least bit suspicious?" Harm frowned. "Especially after we made it clear we were onto him." "I'm sure he's not there all the time. And I really think this is our best chance to get him. And if it's on tape, we might be able to spare Sam and Alex having to go through testifying." "All right. We'll stop tomorrow and get one of these cameras. And then we'll figure out a way to get it into their room." "I'll try and make some kind of plans with the girls tonight. And we'll go from there." When the game was over, Mac looked for Sam and Alex's ride. She was pleased when she saw Diane and quickly made her way over. "Hi Diane" she smiled. "Mac." "I was wondering if you'd mind me and girls hanging out again. Not for the night but just for like an afternoon." "Can you do it tomorrow?" Diane asked. "Eddie and I are going to a campus lecture and I was going to call a babysitter for the girls. But if you can do it, then I don't have to waste the money." "Yeah sure" Mac said as she mentally checked her calendar at work. She didn't think the Admiral would have a problem with her taking the day off. She could get the cameras in the morning and then easily get them into the girl's room. The problem would be getting them back. "Great. Come over around 1:00." Sam and Alex came running from the dug out and Diane frowned as she always did when she saw how dirty they were. "Do you have to get so muddy" she sighed. "Sorry Mom" Alex answered. "We'll try not to make a mess in the car." "Please do. Oh and girls, Mac is going to watch you tomorrow afternoon. Eddie and I have something to go to on campus." "Great" Alex smiled. "Can she take us to the pool?" "I think I can do that" Mac smiled. "I'll see you two tomorrow afternoon." Harm waited until Diane was gone before wandering over to Mac. "So how did it go?" he asked. "I'm watching the girls tomorrow while Diane and Eddie go to some lecture. So it'll be real easy to get the camera in." "What about getting it out?" "Already thought of that" Mac smiled. "I purposely leave something behind in the girls room. And then I have to come back and get it." "Not bad Marine" Harm nodded. "I'm impressed. But when you go back to get whatever you left behind, I'm coming with you." "Harm" Mac sighed. "I mean it Mac. I'm not letting you go in there alone." "Well the last thing we want is for him to take out anger at us on the girls," she fretted. "You know what I really want to do is go blasting in there with a Special Ops team." "Ever the Marine," he grinned. "You'd use a Stinger Missile on a wasp nest." "Whatever it took," she grinned back. "We'll figure something out. I just need to get the time excused so I can pick these things up and then get over there." "I don't like it." "Oh you don't like it when I take a shower." "Well no," he laughed, letting himself relax some. "I mean the shower is a deathtrap. Scalding water, slipping and falling." "And on another subject entirely, our guys played a good game," she smiled. "But I'm going to have an ulcer if these things go to the bottom of the ninth too often this summer." "Yeah we hung right in there, but I was already rehearsing my 'great try guys we just fell a little short' talk," he replied. "If their third baseman hadn't dropped the ball, that's the speech I would have been giving." "We miss Toby out there." "Yeah," he agreed quietly. "And I'm not sure if he'll be back on the field or not. Depends on what the doctor says." "Are you ready to be a foster dad?" she asked with a quick smile. "Yeah I am. I'm not abandoning him to the system that's for sure. Now if they can come up with something better, and he's willing, then fine. But a juvie shelter no." "Hey you don't have to convince me," she smiled. "Like I told you, if you'd opted out I would have been surprised. This is so you." ============ JAG HQ FOLLOWING DAY "How many years can you get for killing a civilian lawyer," Harm muttered, dropping heavily beside Mac's desk at the end of his morning in court. "Would this be the same sweet thing you were drooling over last week when you walked out of client meeting with her?" Mac smiled. "She's no sweet thing in court," he retorted. "She swishes that blonde hair around like a weapon. In fact earlier she was even crying a little while she was editorializing. I of course got up to object and I didn't get three words out before Adm. Morris gave me one of those looks. I swear you fire one gun in one courtroom one time and suddenly you're branded an idiot for life." "Right. See this sympathetic face," she giggled. "You should have asked Ms. Sweet Cheeks to lunch." "I'd sooner have a root canal." "Well I have time to grab a bite with you before I have to leave to the girls'," she smiled. "Oh god I'd forgotten all about that. Mac this is not a good idea." "It's a great idea. You're just upset you didn't think of it," she countered. "No I'm upset because I'm afraid what lengths Eddie might go to keep whatever he's doing undetected," he replied darkly. "If he's convicted he's going to be sent to the big house for a long time. He could be violent." "Or he could be a sniveling little coward who preys on young girls," she replied. "I just don't know how much Diane knows about what goes on. My impression is that she thinks the girls' reaction to him is just normal dislike and she won't look any further." "Possibly she loves the guy." "Yeah well there's no accounting for taste I guess," she sighed and then giggled when he raised an eyebrow. "Why do I think Mic Brumby is in your head right now?" "Guilty. And I'm trying to keep Ms. Sweet Cheeks out. That woman is totally infuriating. And she's got Adm. Morris's lips glued to her butt." "Sounds like you're dead meat. Shall we eat? Might be your last meal." "Yeah I guess" he sighed. "Maybe I can talk you out of this craziness while we're at lunch." "Sorry but that isn't going to happen. This is the only way we're going to get anything on this slimeball and I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity." "Just promise me you'll be careful," Harm said seriously. "If you think at all he has clue what you're up to, don't do it." "Harm we have to find out what's going on there. You know that. And this will save the girls from having to explain every horrid detail." "Well for that it's worth it" he sighed. "They shouldn't have to go through all that after what they've already been through." "Exactly why I need to do this." She dropped Harm back at JAG an hour later after they're lunch and proceeded to the store in Alexandria where Bud had told her she could get the mini cameras. Armed with two teddy bears, an hour later she went to Diane's. "Sorry I'm late," Mac said as she hurried to the door where Diane and Eddie were waiting. "Traffic was miserable." "Well you're here and that's all that matters. Come on Eddie." Eddie gave Mac a long glare as he walked past but said nothing as he followed Diane to her car. "Hi Mac" Alex smiled as she and Sam ran to the front door. "Are you going to take us swimming?" "Sure am" Mac smiled. "But first I got a little present for each of you. But I don't want you to tell your Mom or Eddie about them." As she spoke she pulled out the bears and handed them to the girls. "I want you to put them in your room near your bed. And they'll keep you safe at night." "Why don't you want us to tell Mommy?" Sam frowned. "Well I don't know if she'd like me giving you presents. So why don't we just keep this between us." "Okay" Alex shrugged. "We'll take them up now so Mom doesn't see them." Mac watched as the girls placed the bears near the bed with the other dolls and teddy bears, satisfied this would yield them what they needed. "Okay who's ready to go swimming?" she asked once they'd changed. The afternoon was spent at the pool before they finally headed back to the house. Eddie was inside the house when they walked in and Mac didn't miss how he looked up and down at the girls in their bathing suits. "Girls why don't we go up and get changed" she said to them. "I'll be up in a minute." They hurried upstairs and Mac looked over at Eddie. "Where's Diane?" "She had to run some errands. But you don't have to stay. I can take care of the girls." "I think I'll just hang out here and wait for Diane anyway," Mac said slowly. "I wanted to talk to her about something." "So call her later. You don't need to stay." As he spoke he stood up and walked towards her. "I think I do" Mac said calmly. Before he could answer, Mac's cell phone rang and she quickly pulled it from her purse. "Hey where are you?" Harm asked. "I'm still with the girls. Eddie's here but Diane isn't. So I'm going to stay a little longer." "You're alone with him?" Harm demanded. "Mac are you crazy?" "No of course not," she said quietly. "I'm having a good time with the girls. How was court?" "That woman better be writing her will," he muttered, "but that's not important right now. What is, is what you're doing." "What I came for," she replied, feeling Eddie's eyes bore into the back of her head . She turned and gave the man the sweetest smile she could muster before she spoke into the phone again. "Harm I'm going up to change. I'll call you later." "You better," Harm growled and slammed down the phone. "Eddie I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying standing here talking to you," Mac told him. "But I really do want to get out of this damp suit so if you'll excuse me, I'll join the girls." ============= Harm was still scowling a few minutes later when Sturgis stopped by his office. "Hey you want to get brew? Looks like you're at the moment alone and I heard about your afternoon." "Yeah I don't know who I want to pulverize more. That woman lawyer or Eddie." "Ms. Christensen is pretty. Eddie isn't." "Mac is with the girls, Sam and Alex. And Eddie," he sighed. "Still trying to figure that out are you?" Sturgis shook his head in sympathy. "If the man is guilty of what you think he's pond scum. It's too bad you can't get the girls to tell you." "Even if they did admit it to me or to Mac, I'm not sure once they got before Child Protective Services and the detectives from Crimes Against Children they'd be able to articulate. Mac has a good rapport with them and they won't open up with her. I'm just afraid she's going to put herself at risk to help them." "She wouldn't be Sarah Mackenzie if she didn't," his friend replied mildly. "But then the man she's in love with is pretty much the same way. When he gets caught up in something he can't let it go. Remember I know all about Dar-Lyn, Roscoe, your dad of course." "Thanks. So I'm an obsessive personality type." "Well apparently Mac is convinced she can help these kids. Harm let me also remind you of something. You two are walking a real thin line here. When you signed on, you took on the responsibility to report abuse." "Abuse beyond a reasonable doubt yeah I did," Harm agreed. "This is just suspicion. It could also be a couple of sweet little girls who don't want another guy instead of their dad." "And you've been there." "In full living color. In fact if the climate had been different back then, I might have claimed abuse just to be rid of him." "He was that bad?" Sturgis frowned. "No of course not. Don't you see--that's the point. He was great. Still is. Good to me, and of course wonderful for my mother. I was just too focused on my dad to appreciate any of that. And there was a time when I would have done just about anything to prevent him from taking my dad's place in her life. And mine." "Well excuse me, but these are two little girls. Not quite the same as Harmon Rabb, boy trouble maker. You know what you did in chem lab in second year is still legend." He allowed himself a slow smile. "Diane was so pissed." "She didn't speak to you for two weeks. And barely to me, and I was being adorable at the time." "Well before we waltz any further down memory lane, I'm going to drive over there," Harm announced with sudden decision. "I don't suppose you'd want to. . ." "Join you? Sure why not. Especially if it will keep you from going in there like you're one of the Untouchables looking for bathtub gin." =============== "Excuse me" Mac said when she saw Eddie outside the door. "What do you think you're doing?" "Look I don't know what you're up to," Eddie said as he walked into the room. "But whatever it is, I want you to butt out of our lives." "I don't think I can do that," Mac said slowly. "Because obviously there's a problem here." "There's no problem is there girls," Eddie said as he looked at Sam and Alex. "No" Alex said quickly. "See. So stick your nose somewhere else will you. And I'm going to tell Diane I think the girls should be removed from the team. You're nothing but trouble." "No" Sam wailed. "You can't do that." "I can do anything I want" Eddie sneered at the young girl. "You know that. Now why don't you two go downstairs while I have a little chat with Coach Mac." Alex started towards the door but Sam stood firm. "I'm not leaving." "I said go downstairs" Eddie snapped. "Now. Or you'll be sorry later." "Do not talk to her that way," Mac said seriously. "She is not your daughter and you do not have the right to treat her that way." "You are really starting to annoy me Coach. Sam, Alex get out of here now." "NO" Sam whispered. "You're not going to hurt her like you hurt Alex." "Get out of here" Eddie roared. "I'll deal with you later." "No" Sam screamed. "You can't hurt us anymore." Eddie's hand swung out towards Sam and Mac quickly intercepted, taking the brunt of his hand on her arm. "Sam, Alex get out of here" Mac ordered. "Now." "You little bitch" Eddie shouted. "I knew you were trouble from the moment I saw you. You're going to learn not to stick your nose in other peoples business." He came at Mac and Sam screamed as Eddie knocked her to the floor of the bedroom. "Leave her alone" Sam cried as she hit Eddie from behind. He turned around and slapped the young girl, knocking her back against the dresser. Her screams echoed through the room and Mac at once moved to protect the child from Eddie. "You monster" Mac shouted as she tried to make her way over to Sam. "Get away from her." ****************** "Okay so are we busting in or what?" Sturgis asked as they reached the house. "Not yet" Harm said as he climbed out. "We'll see what's going on first." They got as far as the front door when they heard the girls' screams. "Call the police" Harm ordered before bursting inside the house. By the time he was inside, there was silence. The screams had stopped. The house gave no clue as to what had happened. He opened his mouth to shout for Mac and the girls, stopping at the first utterance. Something was telling him not to announce his presence. He looked at the staircase and then to one side, the area of the living room and kitchen, and it was in that direction he started off. ================ Mac was crouched on the floor, keeping herself between Sam and Eddie while Alex hovered at the door, trembling hard. After their first screams, both had fallen silent in shock over what happened "I won't let you hurt her," Mac hissed, getting her legs under her. If he approached Sam, she was prepared to attack. "I'm a Marine mister. And don't let the fact that I have a desk job fool you. I can take you out." "I'm real worried about that," Eddie sneered. "I want you out of this house. I want you out of our lives. We never had any problem here until you came along. I love these two kids. Me and them understand each other don't we girls?" Neither made a sound until Alex whimpered softly and he turned around to her. "You just keep your trap shut now. I'm going to fix all this. " "You can't fix abuse Eddie," Mac told him calmly. "You can't undo the damage you've done. Now what's going to happen is that I'm going to take these two out of here. If you're smart you won't try to stop me." "Yeah even if you get past me, once you get them to some fat-ass social worker, they're not going to tell her anything. They know better." "Have you threatened them or what?" Eddie did another of his infuriating smiles. "Let's just say they do what I want." "We don't want Mommy to be hurt." Sam's voice was so quiet Mac was not sure at first she had even spoken. "So that's how you control them," Mac sighed. "I should have known. One of the oldest methods abusers use. 'You tell and I'll hurt the person you love most'. "Mommy wants him here too." This from Alex, much to Mac's total surprise. "Mommy likes him. He makes her happy." "I see," Mac nodded, beginning to get the total picture. "He can go right on making your mom happy any way he wants, but he can't hurt you two. And he's not going to. Not any more. She pushed herself to her feet, turning around and pulling Sam up. "Alex get out of here. Turn around and get out that door and get downstairs," she ordered, keeping a close eye on Eddie. "Child don't you move," Eddie ordered, not looking back at her. "Alex do as I say," Mac ordered in her best Marine voice and it worked. The child turned and ran just ahead of Eddie's turning around to reach for her. Mac took advantage of his distraction, grabbing Sam's arm. "Let's get out of here," she hissed to the frightened child. Mac lunged for the door, pulling Sam along, hoping she could simply force her way past Eddie. At the same time Alex pounded down the steps, spotting Harm about to come up. "Alex honey where's Mac?" Harm demanded. "Where is Mac and Sam and Eddie?" "Upstairs." She had barely gotten the word out when there was a piercing scream and then a shot. "Eddie has a gun," Alex whispered to an in-shock Harm. THE End Chapter 6 to follow beginning Mon 4 Aug 03