"Wild Horses n' Aviators"
Author: Haruo Chikamori
E-mail: hhchikamori
Rating: T
Classification: Meg/Animal
Spoilers: Sequel to Beyond The Call of Duty
Summary: "Come with me to Texas" – 5 meaningful words lead to a whole lot more.
DISCLAIMER: The characters Harm Rabb, Jr., Meg Austin, Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie, Meg Austin, AJ Chegwidden, Bud Roberts, Harriet Sims-Roberts et al. belong (in concept if not name) to CBS/Bellisarius. Animal and all OC characters are the property of Heather and Hugo Chikamori. No profit is being made from this story, nor is any infringement intended.
Author's Note:
Chapter One
The Golden Horseshoe Ranch, Sherman, TX,
Lieutenant junior grade Megan Austin looked over at Commander Toshio "Animal" Nakamura as the car she drove drew ever closer to the ranch. Looking over at her slumbering aviator, he was passed out like a shut-off light, she grinned. Now where had that possessive thought come from? "Come with me to Texas" she had said on the dock of the Naval Station San Diego pier. Animal had acquiesced when she had come with him to get his recovering shoulder checked out at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Animal was rather nervous to go meet her folks as a formal relationship hadn't even been declared. But Meg was pleased to see that Animal was amenable to meeting her mother.
They were both dressed in civilian clothes. Animal had on a blue t-shirt and jeans while Meg was dressed in jeans and a frilly white blouse. Meg was tall, taller than Animal by about 3 inches.
Sherman was home to Meg. Her ancestors had started a ranch many years ago; the Golden Horseshoe was in their family for over six generations. From 1860 before the Civil War between the Yankees and the South, the ranch had been in the business of raising and tending horses. But when the call came out, the army and the navy had profited from many generations of Austins serving their country. Her service was only the latest of many who had come before her.
As she pulled up to the driveway, a pack of barking dogs heralded their arrival and her brother came out to investigate the brou-haha - the noise having awakened the slumbering aviator in the right hand passenger seat and he eased himself up, wincing slightly as the injured shoulder bound making movement difficult.
By this time, Meg had wrapped her arms around her much taller brother while Animal's eyebrows raised questioningly. Meg turned around to motion to Animal to come forward. "Tosh, this is my older brother, Joseph Austin." Since they were out of uniform, they dropped all rank. The skyscraper gave him an assessing look as if to say who's this eyeing my beloved lil'sister!?. "Joe, be nice! He's a Medal nominee and a good friend." Animal was wondering if he was going to get a permanent crick in his neck peering up at a man who would be at least 6'5" or more. Joe noticed Animal's glance of curiosity
…and replied. "I'm 6'4" affirming Animal's unspoken question…and grinned. "Welcome to the ranch. You're probably the first one that Meg's brought home to visit." He grinned then winced as Meg gave him a shot to the arm with clenched fist. "So, he's the one that you were mentioning that you did the investigation for?" Joe grinned at his sister ignoring his throbbing arm. Meg didn't hit like a girl.
Meg blushed and nodded. "Yep, he's the one." Animal opted to remain silent.
"Joe…who is it?" a female voice came from the main building's front door; and Animal knew that it was Meg's mother when Meg ran to her and embraced her. "Meg?" her mother said. "We were so worried when the Navy department contacted us and said you were in a coma and that you'd been shot. Because of the horses we couldn't drop it all and come up and see you. But we should have…my baby girl."
"It's all right, Mama. I'm fine." Meg reassured her; both her mother's eyes and hers were overflowing with tears.
"Who did you bring home with you?" Meg gestured to Animal who tentatively came forward.
"This is Toshio Nakamura. He's a United States Naval Aviator" Meg introduced Animal to her mother.
"You mean much like Harmon Rabb, that guy that you told me about?" Meg's mother's eyebrows were raised assessing the man who was with her daughter. "The guy you work with?"
"Mama, Tosh is actually an active-duty naval aviator. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor." Meg's mother's eyebrows shot skyward.
"Really?" she asked.
"Really, Mama. He was nominated for the Medal because he saved the lives of the men that he was with when they went on a rescue mission to retrieve an aircrewman who was shot down in enemy territory." Meg continued. Animal was rather embarrassed at this big deal being made of him. "Mama, he took on an entire brigade of North Korean troops armed with only an M4 carbine." Meg said as she wrapped her arm around Animal's.
After the introductions, Animal and their luggage were brought into the house. Another surprise awaited Meg when Uncle Ollie ventured out of the living room. Another hug from Meg's Uncle Ollie and Meg felt like she was welcomed thoroughly home. "I knew you were there even when I was in a coma, Uncle Ollie." Meg murmured softly as she nestled in Ollie's embrace. "I don't know how, but I could sense your presence."
"I know, Meg. I see you brought your commander home." Uncle Ollie looked over at Animal. "Commander, it's good to see you. A fine thing you did for your men."
"Sir." Animal said, extending his own hand to grasp Ollie's proffered hand.
"Tosh, make yourself at home." Meg said, as she guided him to a comfy chair. "You need to rest that shoulder of yours."
"Meg…" Ollie said. "Can we go for a walk?" Animal looked up with a rather lost expression. "Don't worry, Commander, I won't keep Meg for long."
As Ollie walked out of the house with Meg, she and Ollie knew that they had a lot to talk about. When they had gone a distance far enough that their conversation couldn't be heard back at the house, he looked at her. "You love him, don't you? It's different than what you share with Harm. I could sense that. The looks you throw at Tosh when you think he isn't looking. Or the looks that he throws back at you." Ollie grinned at his god-daughter.
"Yes, Tosh is more open. He doesn't have anything to hide." Meg said. "It isn't the same with Harm. With Harm there's always secrets and his Dad. The fact that in Hong Kong, there was an incident with the Chinese where they tried to use the memory of his dad against him. I think Harm's a great guy…"
"…but he's not the one." Ollie finished for her.
Meg nodded, but said. "I mean, Harm's a great friend and all…"
"But you want someone that you can relate to…" Ollie grinned. "…despite the fact that he's a hero." He teased her.
"Well…Uncle Ollie, he's human. He's got his own foibles."
"It's not going to be easy. Meg. His duties take him away from you. As an active duty aviator he's going to be deployed most of the time." Uncle Ollie kicked at clump of dirt which raised a small dust cloud. "Go slow, Meg. See how you two get along first and see how your relationship progresses."
"So how was it for you and Auntie, when you were deployed with the Marines?" Meg asked him.
"We worked at the relationship. Meg. I loved your Auntie and we did our best to keep our relationship going. And we succeeded. If it wasn't for the cancer..." Ollie looked out into the distance. "We had a happy relationship." Meg knew that. Ollie was by her aunt's side at the chemo treatments and at bedside as the disease claimed her life. "You know if Commander Nakamura wants a relationship?" Ollie turned to ask her.
"He does, he admitted as much to me in Yokosuka." Meg said. "And again in San Diego. But he has a career. All I can say is that I want to spend what time I have with him while he figures out what he wants and is assigned in his career." She paused for a moment looking out at the horizon. "Do you think he's right for me?" she asked her uncle.
"Meg, darling, only you know that answer." Ollie turned to head back to the house; pausing as he passed by, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You'll know if he's the right one. Just ask yourself." He took his hand off and rested it against his chest over his heart. "This will tell you, little one."