Amazed - Chapter 3

hursday November 14th 2002
1021 local
JAG Headquarters

May stands in the hall, in civilian clothes, not sure of where to go. Harriet, passing by, sees her.

Harriet - Good morning! Can I help you?
May - Good morning, Ma'am. I'm looking for Commander Rabb.
Harriet - He's in his office. If you'll follow me."

Harriet knocks at Harm's door. His voice is heard from the inside.

Harm - Enter!
Harriet - Sir, you have a visitor.
Harm, smiling - Thanks Harriet. Hello, May. How are you?

May comes in and closes the door.

May - I'm fine! So what are the news?
Harm - I was waiting for you.
May - We're gonna do it together.

Harm pulls an envelope from his desk. May sits on Harm's chair's armrest. They read the papers together. And they look at each other and their faces lighten. May let a cry of joy escape and throw her arms around Harm's neck who hides his tears on his daughter's shoulder. They clutch at each other.

On the other side of the window, Mac has heard May's cry and sees them hug tenderly. Hurt, she turns and goes back to her office banging the door. Inside the office, May and Harm wipe their tears. On their faces, one can read the happiness of being together.

Harm - I want to announce it. Do you mind?
May is moved - No, not at all!
Harm - The first person I want you to meet, well... I happen to care very much for her.

With that, they go out of the office to knock on Mac's door.

Harm - Mac, you've got a minute?
Mac - I'm very busy, Harm.
Harm - I would like you to meet someone very special to me, and I want you to be the first to meet her.
Mac doesn't even look up at them - You take them in high school, now?
Harm - But what are you talking about?
Mac - I saw you kiss, minutes ago. Next time, close the blinds.
Harm - Mac, you're all wrong. I want to meet May McCall. My daughter.

Mac lifts her head, sees May standing beside Harm.

Mac - Your daughter?
Harm - We just had the confirmation that she has a father and that I have a daughter...

Mac can't say a word.

Harm goes on - May, please meet Lieutenant Colonel Sarah McKenzie. My partner and best friend. Or so I hope.

Mac is really embarrassed. She raises and holds out her hand.

Mac - I'm sorry. May, I'm pleased to meet you. I think I misinterpreted what I saw.
May smiles - It's okay. Had I been ten, you wouldn't even have a thought about it.
Harm - Mac, you can't guess what she's doing.
Mac - How is that?

Harm smiles proudly at May.

May - I'm a junior at the Air Force Academy.

Mac opens wide eyes. At that moment, Sturgis peers trough the door.

Sturgis - Looks you're having fun!

Harm turns to him.

Harm - Sturg', I'd like you to meet my daughter, Cadet May McCall. May, this is Commander Sturgis Turner, my roommate at Annapolis.

Sturgis and May shake hands.

Sturgis - Cadet. I didn't know you had a daughter, Harm.
Harm - We just found out. And guess what, she's at the Air Force Academy!
Sturgis - Hey, that's one more pilot in your family. And why didn't you chose Navy?

They all laugh. And May explains once more.

May - I get seasick in a canoe.
Sturgis - Good reason! So, you're on leave?
May - Sort of. I have a special leave of a week and I took it to meet my father.
Sturgis - That's great! What do you say about getting out tonight to celebrate?

May is embarrassed.

May - I... I'm under age..."

They look at each other, slightly embarrassed too. Mac suggests.

Mac - Well, we could meet at my place, I have some fruit juices.

Lieutenant Commander Manetti knocks on the door.

Manetti - Commander Rabb, Sir. We had a meeting with the Admiral five minutes ago. He is waiting for us.
Harm - Oh, right, I had forgotten. I'm coming. May, you come with me? I'm going to introduce you to my CO.
May - Sure. That was a pleasure to meet you all.

They leave. Mac and Sturgis look at each other.

Sturgis – Well *that* was a surprise."
Mac - Harm told me they just found out. I wonder what the whole story is.
Sturgis - Don't worry, Mac, Harm will tell us.

Tiner lets Harm and May in the admiral's office. When they enter, Tracy is seated in one of the chairs in front of the admiral's desk. And he doesn't lift his head when he hears them coming in.

AJ - Commander Rabb, you finally honor us with your presence.
Harm - I'm sorry, Sir. A very important information just reached me, and I wanted to share it with my colleagues and friends.
AJ - And you don't want to share it with me?

The admiral at last looks up, and sees May.

AJ - And who is this young lady, and what is she doing here?
Harm - That's the news I was telling everybody about. Sir, I would like you to meet my daughter, Cadet 2nd Class May McCall from AF Academy. May, this is Admiral AJ Chegwidden, the Navy JAG.

At that second, the eyes of May and AJ meet. And time stops...

May's heart skip a beat, and is carried away. AJ's palms get damp, and a his throat ties in a knot. No one speaks. They feel like an infinite time is passing while they eyes are locked.

The admiral is the first to recover his mind. He turns his eyes and avoids May's gaze.

AJ - I'm pleased to meet you, Cadet McCall. Commander, I didn't know you had a daughter.
Harm - Well, we just met. Her mother had hidden the truth to both of us and we just received the results of the DNA tests.
AJ - And you chose to be a pilot without knowing he is one himself. What a coincidence! But you didn't chose Navy. Yet they train the best pilots!

May takes a deep breath to ease her talking. Her eyes don't leave AJ.

May - I'm seasick, sir. For a sailor, it's crippling.
AJ - Too bad. If you have in your blood a single drop of what makes a wonderful pilot of your father, you would have been a good recruit for the Navy.
May - With all due respect to you and the Navy, sir, I prefer the Air Force.
AJ - Well, It was nice to meet you, Cadet, but I have a meeting with your father and Commander Manetti, and we can't delay it any further. So, if you would excuse us...
May – Of course, sir. I'm sorry I disturbed you.
May snap to attention then turns to Harm - Dad, I see you tonight?
Harm - Sure, I'll call you later.
May – Okay.
She kisses him on the cheek and turns to Tracy. - Commander."
Manetti – Cadet.

And she leaves the room. Despite himself, AJ's gaze follows her. The turmoil that invades his body surprises and frightens him. The door banging after May makes him jump.

AJ - Well, Commander, you'll tell us the whole story another day. For the moment, we have a case here.
Harm - Of course, sir.