TITLE: Saints Preserve Us!
AUTHOR: Clairisant
CLASSIFICATION: AJ/Mac
FEEDBACK: Would love to hear both good and bad feedback, but please try to be kind and constructive.
CREDITS: A special thank you to my beta readers Qupeydoll and Unicorn.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is in answer to Unicorn's challenge that she put up about the joke that I had sent her. When will I ever learn?
Friday, 8 January 2010
1015 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Chapter 1
It was a very auspicious day at JAG HQ in Falls Church, Virginia. An award ceremony for four promotions was about to take place. Local dignitaries had been invited, one of which was retired Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden, former Judge Advocate General. Captain Harmon Rabb had also been invited because of his position and the fact that he was a personal friend of three of the people receiving promotions. He had declined the invitation however, because his ward Mattie Grace was getting married the next day and he didn't want to take the chance of not getting back to London in time.
The promotions would be done in order of importance. While it was common to do the lesser ones first, saving the best for last, as in the case of awards shows, in the military it had to be done in the opposite order. The highest promotion must be done first, since the second promoted would be filling those shoes. If done from the lowest first, there would be two people occupying the same position. Even if it were only for a short time that was simply not how the military worked.
Major General Gordon Creswell was receiving another star, which would make him a Lieutenant General. He was vacating the position of JAG to become the Commander of the Marine Corps. Edward Sheffield the SECNAV was there to perform the promotion.
When the speeches and applause were finished Creswell turned to Sarah Mackenzie. Upon her transfer to San Diego, Mac had been promoted to full Colonel. Then during the last four years in which she had been serving as JAG of the Pacific in Hawaii she had become a Brigadier General. This new promotion was truly like coming home for her! Major General Sarah Mackenzie was now going to be The Judge Advocate General.
Creswell performed the ceremony and it was then Sarah's turn to say a few words. She acknowledged several people in her short speech, two of which were General Creswell, whom she thanked for her transfer to San Diego and support when she was up for JAG of the Pacific. The other was Admiral Chegwidden, for having the confidence and faith in her to make her his Chief of Staff, thereby starting her on this prestigious path.
Mac, in turn, had the pleasure and privilege to promote Captain Sturgis Turner to Admiral. He had been serving as General Creswell's Chief of Staff since Mac had been transferred and would now be taking over her place as JAG of the Pacific.
Sturgis thanked the military personnel that had helped him get to where he was now, and then he spoke of his debt of gratitude to his family. His wife of four years, Varese, was there with their two children, three year old Aretha, who was named after her mother's favorite singer, and two month old William, who was named for his grandfather. Chaplain Turner had passed away a week before his namesake was born.
Then there was one promotion left. Admiral Turner had the honor of presenting Bud Roberts with his Commander's bars, while his wife Harriett and their four children looked on, it was announced that he would be General Mackenzie's new Chief of Staff. Harriet was shedding tears of pride and joy, ten year old AJ and seven year old James stood tall and proud at the honor given to their father, but the five year old twins squirmed and wiggled as Harriet tried to keep a tight hold on their hands.
The cake made especially for the event was brought out and everyone had a good laugh over it. Half of it was decorated for the two Marines being honored and the other half was in a Navy design. Of course each of them wanted a piece from their side of the cake.
As they broke into smaller groups, people stood around eating and chatting. It was inevitable that some of the conversations turned to sports. Mac was quietly snitching her second piece of 'Marine' cake when she heard the SECNAV say something about the New Orleans Saints playing in the Super Bowl. She wandered closer to hear more, when Admiral Chegwidden commented, "It's amazing they've gotten that far, as badly as they play. I think the most often thing I've heard said about it, is that if the Saints were to win the Super Bowl, Hell would freeze over!"
Sturgis, with a reminiscent grin, said, "You know, if my father were still here, he would assure you that miracles do happen."
There were several agreeing nods around the circle as Mac spoke without thinking, "Oh come on you guys! You have to know that the chances of that happening are about the same as Admiral Chegwidden and I getting married!"
To be continued…