“She’s been very quiet today.” said the Lieutenant to Petty Office Jorgansen, the CO’s personal yeoman. The Lieutenant had transferred to JAG Headquarters just last week. She stood in front of his desk awaiting an answer.

The Petty Officer sighed. “She always gets this way around Christmas Eve.” He replied evenly as both cut their eyes toward the door marked ‘Private’

As the door started to open, the Lieutenant quickly walked back to her desk.

The Marine Major General walked out and looked over at her yeoman. Her winter uniform carried a vast array of various awards, commendations and ribbons. Including ribbons for combat service in Southwest Asia, Southern Russia, Korea. She smiled slightly at him.

“I’m headed home Jorgansen,” she said simply, “Have a good Christmas.” The General started out through the bullpen.

“Ma’am?” She stopped and slowly turned back to the Petty Officer.

“Yes Jorgansen?”

“Some of us are having a small party later this evening. You’re welcome to come if you like--”

She smiled at the gesture. “Thank you Jorgansen, I appreciate the offer. I’ll give it some serious thought.” The smile was prettiest she had given in days. “Good night, Petty Officer.”

He knew what this response meant, because it was the exact one she had given last year. And the year before that, and the year before that. Oh well, he had to give it a try. “Good night, Ma’am.”

*~*

The General walked out the front door of the building and over to her sedan. The doors automatically unlocked, as she got close. She took off her cover and put her briefcase in when the door opened.

As she got in and looked at the instrument panel, the door closed and locked. “Arlington National Cemetery,” she intoned. The sedan started and moved toward the front gate. The Sergeant on duty smiled as she pulled up.

"Calling it an early night, General?"

“Going to get some last minute Christmas shopping done, Sergeant.” She smiled. It was lie, but an acceptable one for this time of year.

He also knew it was a lie. The Sergeant looked at his computer notepad and confirmed her scan. It wasn’t his place to question her. Besides, he had been here long enough to know what she really going to do, and he couldn’t say that he really blamed her. It was her friend and she had a right to do it this way if she wanted to. It was really nobody’s business and he certainly wasn’t going to stop her.

“Have a good one, General.” He smiled and saluted her. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you too.” She pulled through the gate and headed out into traffic.

2250 Zulu
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia

The Marine General stood at the tombstone.

“Well, I’m here. Just like I promised.”

She looked down at the grave. Just below the grave marker was an urn for flowers. She had just placed roses in it. The General had had them in the car since she bought them at lunchtime. It was a regular routine. She never let her yeoman or anyone else buy the roses. This was something she had to do herself.

The late afternoon sky was overcast and gray. The clouds seemed to be lowering, and there would probably be a cold rain or wet heavy snow for Christmas. It had taken her a full ten minutes to reach the site. When she arrived, she turned and looked down the hill at the hundreds of markers that wound their way down to the road below. She sighed and took off her cover, standing with her back to the grave.

Despite her years, her short brunette hair still only had traces of iron gray in it. Her face, though older, did not look haggard or aged. There was a hint of sadness though.

She turned and looked back at the grave.

When you’re done Semper fieing…

I’m always nice to you.

You know you save a person’s life that makes you responsible for them.

Saved your little green marine butt that day.

I see a desirable woman.

What I want Mac is to never lose you

Her mind replayed the crash as it had so many times before. The shuddering and jarring followed by deafening silence. It was only when she felt herself being tugged that she came to. There he was, dragging her out. He had to make sure she was okay and away from that wreck. That’s when she saw his injuries. He knew he was dying, but true to form, he was trying to get her out of danger.

Major General Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie hugged herself against the cold and let a single tear trail down her face.

“Oh God Flyboy…how I miss you….”

She put her hand on the cold tombstone. Another tear escaped her eyes.

Her voice was thick with emotion. “Thank you Harm. I’ll never forget what you did for me that day….”

She wiped her face with the back of her hand and sniffed to pull back the remaining tears. She put her cover back on and smiled sadly.

“I’m headed over to the Wall in a few minutes,” she said quietly, the words being a source of comfort. “I haven’t forgotten Harm.” She saluted the tombstone. The sad smile returned.

As she stood there, Mac thought about her yeoman’s invitation. Maybe it time. Her Flyboy would have wanted her to do this. He would have insisted upon it if he could have, a long time ago. But she was stubborn; determined to honor and remember her friend as she had promised in that steamy tropical jungle oh so many years ago. Could she do this? Was it dishonoring him or would he understand? As if in answer to her unspoken question, a soft breeze rustled through her hair and caressed her face. She smiled.

“You know Harm, I think I’ll take up Jorgansen this year on his invitation, but you know where I have to go first.”

As she turned and began walking down toward her sedan, a soft cold drizzle began to fall.

--Fini

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