HBX Challenge October 2006
Title: Carnivals, kids and puppy love
Disclaimer: JAG and its characters are the property of Donald P. Bellisario and Paramount Studios.
Rating: G, sorry don’t know how to write anything else
Author: usmgrad

A/N I've got to say these lines where hard to work with thsi month. Given the month was October I wanted to do something with Halloween. I tried to figure out a way to get Harm at a costume party dressed as a bilge pump but couldn't make it work - so instead you get a Halloween Carnival. I really enjoy this challenge every month, both writing and reading. Thanks Cece

They had been gone from Washington D.C. for 18 months. Each had returned separately for meetings or a conference but this was the first time they were in the city together. Mac had finished her meetings earlier in the afternoon and was now on vacation. Harm still had meetings Monday and Tuesday before his vacation could begin. But for the weekend they both agreed to be tourists. Tomorrow they were going to the Smithsonian and later tomorrow night they were joining Sturgis and Varese for dinner and dancing. Sunday they planned to visit Arlington National Cemetery and The Mall. But tonight, they were spending time with their godsons.

Bud and Harriett suggested a Halloween carnival at the community gym. Everywhere there were pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. Outside there was an old fashion hayride and a corn maze. Inside there were game booths – fishing pond, bean bag toss, ring toss, cake walk, plus there was face painting and later in the evening there was to be a costume contest. A haunted house, kid’s version, was set up in one of the gym’s dressing rooms. One corner of the gym had all the food booths along with tables and chairs looking out over the rest of the gym floor. Parents could sit and relax and keep an eye on the kids as they went from booth to booth playing the games. This is where Harm and Mac were, taking a break, watching as AJ and Jimmy played the games.

“So remind me again why we’re here?” Harm asked looking around at all the kids.

“Because we wanted to spend time with our godsons.” Mac replied giving him her ‘you know why’ expression.

“Right and where exactly are our godsons?” Harm questioned.

Pointing then out as she spoke, “Seaman AJ is at the fishing pond, and Sheriff Jimmy’s at the ring toss.” Then turning toward Harm and looking him straight in the eye “And don’t say anything smart about them not being here spending time with us, they’re having a good time, I’m having a good time and so are you.”

“Who me, say something?” Harm answered sporting his best innocent look. Then sitting back in his chair and relaxing continued, “I’m just thankful for a break from going through the haunted house.”

“I thought you enjoyed sticking your hand in a bowl of peeled grapes and crawling through dangling cooked spaghetti in a dark room with spooky sounds.” Mac asked with laughter in her eyes but ever so thankful AJ asked Harm to take him instead of her.

“When I was a kid, you couldn’t keep me away. But keep in mind this carnival is for children, so everything is set up for those under 4’ tall, not over 6’ tall. It was bad enough to have to scrunch down to walk through the house but AJ nearly broke my hand he was holding it so tight.” Massaging his hand, Harm tried to get sympathy from Mac.

“Then why did you go through it 3 times?” Mac asked already knowing the answer and ignoring the plea for sympathy.

Harm answered as he looked out into the gym floor just in time to see the boys jumping up and down like they just won the lottery, “Because AJ was having a good time.” Turning to Mac and looking at her with a come hither look, “besides I know where I can get a back rub later this evening if I’m very good boy.”

“Dream on sailor.” Mac said with a firm resolve, but the twinkle in her eye gave her away.

“Count on it marine” God he loved this woman.

They sat there quietly watching their godsons go from booth to booth laughing and having a good time, sometimes winning a prize, sometimes not. The past 18 months had at times been difficult. A marriage between two very independent people with their own way of doing things had been trying. Add to that a move, a new house and two demanding careers and it had made for, lets just say, interesting challenges. However every challenge that popped up had been met head on and was successfully mastered. Except for one, they had been unable, so far, to conceive a very wanted child. They knew it was going to be difficult and both were willing to try almost anything. Neither was ready to give up. While they were in Washington they agreed not to dwell on it. They wanted to enjoy being with their friends and relax – it was a well deserved vacation. A honeymoon really since they didn’t have one when they got married. After Harm finished Tuesday they were off to a cabin in the woods for four uninterrupted days of peace and quiet. But tonight, Harm observed, they were surrounded by children of all ages, someone else’s children and wished for a time when it would be with their child.

“Aunt Mac, look what I won.” Sheriff Jimmy exclaimed all excited as he ran up to the table.

“Well, isn’t that pretty.” Looking at the small stuffed animal in Jimmy’s hand.

“I’m going to give it to Nicki; I think she’ll like it.”

“I think she will too Jimmy. Why don’t you sit and rest for a minute before you go back to play? We were just talking about getting something to drink” Mac squeezed Harm’s hand realizing he hadn’t heard a thing that was being said.

“Ok” Jimmy said while taking a seat next to his Aunt Mac, who he thought was the prettiest girl in the room.

“What?” Harm asked being brought back to reality.

“You were going to get us something to drink.” Mac said wondering what had Harm preoccupied.

Shaking his head as if to clear it of all its previous thoughts, “I was?”

“Yes Harm you were, I’m thirsty, Jimmy’s thirsty and I’m sure AJ will be as soon as he finishes with the game he is playing.”

“I’m hungry too” Jimmy added while showing his Aunt Mac the prizes he had won so far.

“OK, be right back”

A few minutes later, after the snacks had been eaten. Jimmy got curious, “Uncle Harm”

“Yes Jimmy.”

“Why aren’t you wearing a costume like Aunt Mac?”

“Yah Uncle Harm, why aren’t you wearing a costume?” Mac asked mimicking Jimmy knowing full well his costume was still at the hotel. They were going to be Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but Harm’s day didn’t finish until it was time to pick the boys up so he didn’t have time to go to the hotel to change. Mac really felt sorry for Harm not only did his day run late, the meetings weren’t going very well and now he was at a Halloween carnival with two rambunctious boys. She almost suggested they call Harriett and tell her they couldn’t make it. But she knew Harm would insist that he was fine and he wanted to go and have a good time with their godsons.

“I am in costume – I’m a naval captain aviator lawyer. A very unique one of a kind costume.”

“You’re funny Uncle Harm” Jimmy said laughing at the silly expression on Harm’s face.

“Well I’ve always thought so.” Mac said reaching out to give Harm it a gently kiss.

Finishing his snack Jimmy got down from his chair and began to pull on Mac’s hand. “Come on Aunt Mac let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” Mac asked as she was being pulled out of her chair.

“To the cake walk, I got to win my Mom a cake.”

“Why do I have to go?”

Jimmy stood in front of Mac, hands on hips and explained “You need to carry the cake for me so I don’t drop it.”

“Well it looks like we are going to the cake walk Uncle Harm” Mac said as she was being lead toward the musical circle.

“Have fun” Harm said as he smiled and waved goodbye. Turning back to the other booths Harm looked to see what his other godson was up to. At that moment AJ Roberts walked up, dumped his prizes on the table and announced “Uncle Harm, I’m thirsty can I have something to drink?”

“You have a drink and snack right here.” Harm replied pointing to the food and drink on the table.

Sitting down AJ ate his snack and drank his drink.

BURRRRP

“AJ, you were unbelievably rude with that burp.”

“I was rude? But my Grandpa Bud says all good Navy sailors can burp really loud and I want to be a good sailor. Can you burp Uncle Harm?”

Ok careful here Rabb, don’t want to upset the relationship between Master Chief Roberts and his grandson. This is where hopefully being a skilled lawyer will come in handy. “AJ, it’s not polite to burp in public like that. Not every one … appreciates a good burp like your Grandpa Bud. Why don’t you save the burps for when you’re spending time with him?”

“You know that‘s what my mom says too. Can I go to the fishing pond now?” AJ hopped down and headed once again to the fishing pond.

“Again?”

“Please?”

“Ok, but it will be time to go soon so don’t wander off.” Harm called as he watched AJ go to the other side of the gym. Harm sat and looked around the room at the kids having a good time and the parents looking frazzled. Just as his mind began to wander into what might not ever be he heard a joyful yell from the stage. Jimmy was jumping up and down excited; he had just won a cake for his Mom. But the look that took Harm’s breath away was Mac; she was beaming just like a proud mother, happy, full of love for her child. It was what Harm wanted so desperately for Mac to be able to have.

Coming back to the table after only afew moments, AJ looked like he had lost his best friend. “Uncle Harm, can we go home now.”

“I thought you were going to the fishing pond?

“No, I changed my mind. I just want to go home.”

“Sure we can go as soon as Jimmy and Aunt Mac get back for the cake walk.” Pausing for a moment Harm realized something was wrong, took a breath and dove in, “So buddy what’s going on?”

AJ looked at the fishing pond booth and then his Uncle Harm. “Uncle Harm, what’s a navy brat?”

Taken by surprise, Harm realized he needed to tread carefully, “A child that has a parent in the navy is sometimes called a navy brat, why?”

“Were you ever called that?”

“When I was your age, yah I got called that.”

“Does Aunt Mac call you a navy brat?”

Looking around for Mac as backup, but coming up empty Harm answered, “No she sometimes calls me flyboy or squid” and under his breath, “she compared me to a bilge pump once.”

“It was bilge switch and you deserved it.” Mac was suddenly behind him and whispering in his ear. “What’s going on?”

“Look what I won” Jimmy said very proudly, pointing to the cake Mac was carrying.

Mac realized she and Jimmy had walked up on a problem and Harm hadn’t had time to figure out what to do about it. “Jimmy let’s let Uncle Harm and AJ watch the cake and we can go get your face painted. How about a sheriff’s star on your cheek?” Looking at Harm the entire time she’s talking his look tells her, give me a few minutes to figure this out and than it will be time to go.

“Ok Aunt Mac” Jimmy agrees but then adds looking at Harm and AJ and shaking his finger “don’t touch the cake, it’s for Mom!”

Patting Jimmy on the head Harm assures him “We won’t buddy, go get your star and then we will head home.” Turning back toward his upset godson, “AJ did someone call you a navy brat?”

“Yah, I don’t like being called a navy brat, I’m not a brat.”

“No you’re not AJ. … Maybe the person that said it doesn’t know you very well and called you a navy brat because you are in a navy costume.” AJ continued to look toward the fishing booth and not his uncle, so Harm also looked to see if he could figure out what was going on. Taking a stab at what he thinks he sees Harm continued “You know AJ, sometimes boys and girls use names to get each others attention. It could be that it was a way of saying I like you without saying I like you.”

“You mean if a girl said it, it could mean she really likes me?” AJ looked up with a smile starting to form on his face.

Bingo, I think we have a winner here, “its possible AJ. Sometimes even boys do the same thing, but remember if you can’t say something nice…”

“I know don’t say anything at all. Mom says that all the time too.” AJ interrupted Harm and then all of a sudden was very anxious to go somewhere.

Mac had been watching the conversation between Harm and AJ and it appeared to have come to a happy conclusion so she and Jimmy walked back to the table. “Well Sheriff Jimmy and Seaman Roberts are we ready to go home?” Mac asked.

“In a minute, I have to tell somebody something.” AJ said as he jumped from the chair and headed toward the fishing pond, but turned around to tell Harm “Thanks for bring us here tonight Uncle Harm, I had a really good time.”

“You’re welcome AJ. … Wait a minute; is this about what we were just talking about?” Harm asked.

“Yah, I need to go tell a witch goodbye.” AJ replied matter of factly.

“AJ! What did we just say about if you can’t say something nice…?” Harm warns him with a stern voice.

“But she’s wearing a witches costume and I really like her.” AJ said as he headed to the fishing pond with a full blown smile on his face. Sitting quietly at the table, Sheriff Jimmy also has a smile and a star on his face.

“Aunt Mac”

Sitting down in the chair next to Jimmy, “Yes Jimmy”

“I had a good time tonight too, thank you.” Jimmy placed a kiss on Mac’s cheek.

“Your welcome Jimmy, I had a good time too”

Looking up at Harm, Mac smiled, “Way to go flyboy”

“Right back at you ninja girl.”