DISCLAIMER: I do not own or have anything to do with the people who
created, produce, or write JAG. This story is STRICTLY for
entertainment purposes, and does not benefit me in any way except to
serve as an outlet of a (theoretically, at least) creative imagination.
I very much enjoy season 9 of JAG, especially the plotline with Mattie
.... I think it's a brilliant plot direction that Rabb, the "happy-go-
lucky" flyboy, now has a teenaged daughter ... I'm sure that much more
hijinks will ensue because of it! This is my take on the reactions of
the characters (including Mattie herself) when the court sends final
adoption papers.
A final note: Please, please, review and comment! I really want (and
intend) to continue this story, and I would LOVE any and all feedback!
The Papers
Jen Coates hated mornings. She was definitely the worst morning person
in the history of the world, but she also knew who would take her crown,
if she were to ever abdicate that particular throne. No question about
it .... her roommate, young Mattie Grace, wasn't what you'd call bright-
eyed and bushy-taled at that time of day, either. Jen knew this in part
because it was a battle every weekday morning to make sure Mattie was up
for school on time, while at the same time struggling to make it in to
work on time herself. Having Mattie's guardian, Commander Harmon Rabb,
just a few doors away definitely helped the situation, because HE was
definitely one of THEM - a "morning person" who insisted on cheering up
everything within ten nautical miles while normal people were fighting
the last vestiges of sleep, downing coffee to stimulate themselves
awake, and doing whatever else was necessary to wake up.
It was probably the only time or situation, Jen thought to herself as
she slowly rose from her bed and headed down the hall to knock on
Mattie's door, when she didn't appreciate being around the Commander.
People that awake that early in the morning should be punished, she
decided, wondering if there was a regulation in the UCMJ that covered
unacceptably cheerful Commanders at such ungodly hours of the day.
Reaching Mattie's door, she knocked softly, waited a few seconds, then
knocked louder ... the pattern that seemed to work best to wake Mattie
up. After the last knock, she slowly opened Mattie's door, expecting to
see her still in bed, trying to hang onto those last few precious
moments of sleep before facing a new day. She was surprised, however,
when she pushed the door open to see Mattie sitting at her desk, looking
down at an official-looking envelope in her hands with a strained,
pensive look on her face reflected in her makeup mirror.
"Mattie ...... you're up already. Did we set the alarm clocks wrong
this morning, or is this really Saturday?", Jen greeted her roommate as
she stood in the open doorway.
"Oh!" Mattie looked up suddenly, and seemed to shiver as she caught
Jen's concerned gaze in her mirrror. "No, everthing's ..... OK, I
guess. Got up earlier than usual, and decided to go ahead and get
ready. I've already had something to eat, and the coffee's on for you
in the kitchen."
"Thanks, M .....", Jen whispered, watching Mattie's face as she used her
nickname for her roommie, ..... "Are you sure you're OK? You look
spooked by something - what's in the letter?"
"Nothing, Jen .... just something from family court, that's all. And
that judge wrote me a little note with some papers to sign .... no
biggie."
"Do you want me to look at them with you?"
"No!" Mattie said, too quickly. "Sorry, I ..... um ..... just need to
think about stuff for a bit. OK?" The last word was spoken with an
edge, Jen thought, which usually meant that Mattie would pick her own
time and way to tell her what was on her mind. The young girl was still
getting used to having people in her life who genuinely cared for her,
and even though Jen knew Mattie had no doubt that Jen loved her as a
sister, she still had times when she withdrew into herself. Jen
understood, maybe better than Harm or Bud or Harriet or anyone else
apart from Mac, how an upbringing can make you retreat inside sometimes.
She sighed softly, deciding to give Mattie her space. "OK, M .....
I'll be ready in a bit, after a shower and about a gallon of coffee. Am
I taking you in to school today, or is the Commander?"
Mattie laughed, and shook her head at Jen in her mirror. "You can call
him Harm at seven in the morning, Jen .... jeeze, you military types are
so programmed! I'm gonna get the bus in, if that's OK .... you guys go
ahead and head on in to JAG." Jen chuckled, and stuck her tongue out at
her young friend. "OK, ok ..... don't make me think too much so early -
my brain can't take the pain just yet. Need some money for lunch?"
"Naaah .... I fixed something last night and frigged it. Guess Harm's
healthy eating habits are rubbing off -- I'm good."
"Okay, then ..... well, I'm off to shower. If you leave before I get
out, have a great day, and I'll see you tonight."
Mattie turned and smiled slightly at her, sliding the letter she held
into her backpack. Jen noticed that she had twisted the envelope a bit,
and wondered if it was bad news inside that seemed to worry her so. She
decided, though, not to say anything. After her too-personal probing of
the apparent problems between the Admiral and his fiance', Jen decided
that she'd try to be a little less snoopy into other people's personal
business. The admiral, she remembered, wasn't pleased with her or her
repeated attempts to find out what had happened between the engaged
couple, and their office relationship was strained because of it. Jen
was determined not to have that happen with anyone else, so she just
nodded, yawned, and turned towards the bathroom.
After her shower, she went to the kitchen and the coffee she knew was
waiting for her, sensing that Mattie had indeed already left for the
day. Funny how they always knew when the other one was home or not.
The apartment, while huge by her standards, wasn't all that big, but she
and Mattie could always tell if they were alone at home .... an ability,
Jen thought to herself, gained through their respective backgrounds.
She was sitting at the breakfast counter on a stool, drinking and
thinking about things, when she heard a certain kncok on the door. The
Commander .... he always knocked the same way, so she headed over to the
front door to let him in. She opened the door to see Commander Rabb
standing there, his trademark grin and immaculate Navy uniform in place,
and she shook her head at him in wry amusement. She could tell by the
look in his eye that he was about to tease her about not being a morning
person, she knew ..... they'd had this conversation many times since
she'd come to live with his ward.
"Morning, Jennifer! How are you today? Mattie up yet?", Harmon Rabb
asked in his too-enthusiastic-for-this-time-of-morning way. "Bastard,"
Jen thought silently as she smiled at him and opened the door wider to
let the tall officer in.
"Morning, sir. I'm still asleep, so anything I say at the moment can't
be used in court, and Mattie's already left for school. Coffee's in the
pot on the stove.", she returned, yawning again as she sipped more
coffee from the cup still in her hand. Rabb just nodded, heading to the
kitchen and giving her another grin as he passed. "You know, Jennifer,
if you ate better, you'd probably be more alert when you woke up in the
morning. I know it's helped me get my day started." Commander Rabb's
healthy eating habits grated sometimes on the women in his immediate
life ... Mattie, Mac, and Jen herself, who all shared a love of good,
hearty food - meat dishes the most. She playfully stuck her tongue out
at him, muttering just loud enough for him to hear, "no one's perfect!"
That got her a laugh, then ..... "sorry I missed Mattie - I wanted to
take her in to school today, and I thought she'd still be getting
ready."
"She was up before me this morning, if you can believe that, sir." Jen
told him. His mock look of shock earned him a mock glare in return. "I
went to wake her, and she was already dressed and ready, sitting at her
desk staring at a letter she got from Family Court."
"Family Court?!?", Harm exclaimed, looking at her in concern. "I didn't
get anything like that in the mail .... do you know what it said?"
"No, sir. It came for her yesterday, and I gave it to her when she got
home from babysitting AJ Roberts. She opened it, read it, and went to
her room. She didn't come out till I called her for dinner, and then she
went straight back to her room after helping me with the dishes. I
asked her about the letter during dinner, but she wouldn't tell me
anything. And when I saw her clutching it this morning, I didn't know
what to think. Figured you'd gotten the same letter, and if there was a
problem, you two would talk about it. Since you didn't get one, it must
be nothing, right?"
"I don't know," Harm answered, looking down at the countertop with a
puzzled look on her face. "She knew I was working late on a case, but
if there was anything she needed to talk about, she knows she can call
me anytime. I got home too late to see her before bed last night, and I
just figured I'd talk to her while taking her in to school this
morning." Jen nodded, knowing that Mattie and Harm talked by phone
several times a day, as a rule. They had quickly found that to be a
good way to tell each other about their days, and it was something they
both loved and looked forward to. It was so amazing, Jen thought not
for the first time, how close they'd grown in so short a time.
"I'm sure it's nothing, sir. She's been fine otherwise, and I know the
first time you two talk today, she'll tell you about it. Now, excuse me
... I have to finish getting ready for work."
"Thanks, Jennifer .. I'm sure you're right. We're both really lucky to
have you. I'll see you in a few, unless you want to just ride in with
me?"
She smiled at him, and Harm was reminded again how beautiful she was
when she smiled. "That's OK, sir ... I have to go shopping after work,
so I need my car with me."
"Shopping, huh? Gonna ask for my credit card again?", he winked at her,
grinning that "flyboy" grin of his, as Mac called it .... the one that
swayed many a female, Jen knew. She laughed at him over her shoulder as
she turned to her room, and said, "No, sir ... not this time. But if
you're offering????..." She turned back to him, grinning impishly. He
just smiled at her hopeful look, shook his head slowly, and started
heading for the door. "That's OK, Coates. It's still trying to heal
from the last little "shopping" trip you and Mattie took it on! I'll
see you at work - drive safely!" He passed through the front door, and
started to close it behind him as her voice carried over to him, "All
right, if you're sure, sir ....." Shutting the door behind him, he
laughed as he headed to the elevator.
created, produce, or write JAG. This story is STRICTLY for
entertainment purposes, and does not benefit me in any way except to
serve as an outlet of a (theoretically, at least) creative imagination.
I very much enjoy season 9 of JAG, especially the plotline with Mattie
.... I think it's a brilliant plot direction that Rabb, the "happy-go-
lucky" flyboy, now has a teenaged daughter ... I'm sure that much more
hijinks will ensue because of it! This is my take on the reactions of
the characters (including Mattie herself) when the court sends final
adoption papers.
A final note: Please, please, review and comment! I really want (and
intend) to continue this story, and I would LOVE any and all feedback!
The Papers
Jen Coates hated mornings. She was definitely the worst morning person
in the history of the world, but she also knew who would take her crown,
if she were to ever abdicate that particular throne. No question about
it .... her roommate, young Mattie Grace, wasn't what you'd call bright-
eyed and bushy-taled at that time of day, either. Jen knew this in part
because it was a battle every weekday morning to make sure Mattie was up
for school on time, while at the same time struggling to make it in to
work on time herself. Having Mattie's guardian, Commander Harmon Rabb,
just a few doors away definitely helped the situation, because HE was
definitely one of THEM - a "morning person" who insisted on cheering up
everything within ten nautical miles while normal people were fighting
the last vestiges of sleep, downing coffee to stimulate themselves
awake, and doing whatever else was necessary to wake up.
It was probably the only time or situation, Jen thought to herself as
she slowly rose from her bed and headed down the hall to knock on
Mattie's door, when she didn't appreciate being around the Commander.
People that awake that early in the morning should be punished, she
decided, wondering if there was a regulation in the UCMJ that covered
unacceptably cheerful Commanders at such ungodly hours of the day.
Reaching Mattie's door, she knocked softly, waited a few seconds, then
knocked louder ... the pattern that seemed to work best to wake Mattie
up. After the last knock, she slowly opened Mattie's door, expecting to
see her still in bed, trying to hang onto those last few precious
moments of sleep before facing a new day. She was surprised, however,
when she pushed the door open to see Mattie sitting at her desk, looking
down at an official-looking envelope in her hands with a strained,
pensive look on her face reflected in her makeup mirror.
"Mattie ...... you're up already. Did we set the alarm clocks wrong
this morning, or is this really Saturday?", Jen greeted her roommate as
she stood in the open doorway.
"Oh!" Mattie looked up suddenly, and seemed to shiver as she caught
Jen's concerned gaze in her mirrror. "No, everthing's ..... OK, I
guess. Got up earlier than usual, and decided to go ahead and get
ready. I've already had something to eat, and the coffee's on for you
in the kitchen."
"Thanks, M .....", Jen whispered, watching Mattie's face as she used her
nickname for her roommie, ..... "Are you sure you're OK? You look
spooked by something - what's in the letter?"
"Nothing, Jen .... just something from family court, that's all. And
that judge wrote me a little note with some papers to sign .... no
biggie."
"Do you want me to look at them with you?"
"No!" Mattie said, too quickly. "Sorry, I ..... um ..... just need to
think about stuff for a bit. OK?" The last word was spoken with an
edge, Jen thought, which usually meant that Mattie would pick her own
time and way to tell her what was on her mind. The young girl was still
getting used to having people in her life who genuinely cared for her,
and even though Jen knew Mattie had no doubt that Jen loved her as a
sister, she still had times when she withdrew into herself. Jen
understood, maybe better than Harm or Bud or Harriet or anyone else
apart from Mac, how an upbringing can make you retreat inside sometimes.
She sighed softly, deciding to give Mattie her space. "OK, M .....
I'll be ready in a bit, after a shower and about a gallon of coffee. Am
I taking you in to school today, or is the Commander?"
Mattie laughed, and shook her head at Jen in her mirror. "You can call
him Harm at seven in the morning, Jen .... jeeze, you military types are
so programmed! I'm gonna get the bus in, if that's OK .... you guys go
ahead and head on in to JAG." Jen chuckled, and stuck her tongue out at
her young friend. "OK, ok ..... don't make me think too much so early -
my brain can't take the pain just yet. Need some money for lunch?"
"Naaah .... I fixed something last night and frigged it. Guess Harm's
healthy eating habits are rubbing off -- I'm good."
"Okay, then ..... well, I'm off to shower. If you leave before I get
out, have a great day, and I'll see you tonight."
Mattie turned and smiled slightly at her, sliding the letter she held
into her backpack. Jen noticed that she had twisted the envelope a bit,
and wondered if it was bad news inside that seemed to worry her so. She
decided, though, not to say anything. After her too-personal probing of
the apparent problems between the Admiral and his fiance', Jen decided
that she'd try to be a little less snoopy into other people's personal
business. The admiral, she remembered, wasn't pleased with her or her
repeated attempts to find out what had happened between the engaged
couple, and their office relationship was strained because of it. Jen
was determined not to have that happen with anyone else, so she just
nodded, yawned, and turned towards the bathroom.
After her shower, she went to the kitchen and the coffee she knew was
waiting for her, sensing that Mattie had indeed already left for the
day. Funny how they always knew when the other one was home or not.
The apartment, while huge by her standards, wasn't all that big, but she
and Mattie could always tell if they were alone at home .... an ability,
Jen thought to herself, gained through their respective backgrounds.
She was sitting at the breakfast counter on a stool, drinking and
thinking about things, when she heard a certain kncok on the door. The
Commander .... he always knocked the same way, so she headed over to the
front door to let him in. She opened the door to see Commander Rabb
standing there, his trademark grin and immaculate Navy uniform in place,
and she shook her head at him in wry amusement. She could tell by the
look in his eye that he was about to tease her about not being a morning
person, she knew ..... they'd had this conversation many times since
she'd come to live with his ward.
"Morning, Jennifer! How are you today? Mattie up yet?", Harmon Rabb
asked in his too-enthusiastic-for-this-time-of-morning way. "Bastard,"
Jen thought silently as she smiled at him and opened the door wider to
let the tall officer in.
"Morning, sir. I'm still asleep, so anything I say at the moment can't
be used in court, and Mattie's already left for school. Coffee's in the
pot on the stove.", she returned, yawning again as she sipped more
coffee from the cup still in her hand. Rabb just nodded, heading to the
kitchen and giving her another grin as he passed. "You know, Jennifer,
if you ate better, you'd probably be more alert when you woke up in the
morning. I know it's helped me get my day started." Commander Rabb's
healthy eating habits grated sometimes on the women in his immediate
life ... Mattie, Mac, and Jen herself, who all shared a love of good,
hearty food - meat dishes the most. She playfully stuck her tongue out
at him, muttering just loud enough for him to hear, "no one's perfect!"
That got her a laugh, then ..... "sorry I missed Mattie - I wanted to
take her in to school today, and I thought she'd still be getting
ready."
"She was up before me this morning, if you can believe that, sir." Jen
told him. His mock look of shock earned him a mock glare in return. "I
went to wake her, and she was already dressed and ready, sitting at her
desk staring at a letter she got from Family Court."
"Family Court?!?", Harm exclaimed, looking at her in concern. "I didn't
get anything like that in the mail .... do you know what it said?"
"No, sir. It came for her yesterday, and I gave it to her when she got
home from babysitting AJ Roberts. She opened it, read it, and went to
her room. She didn't come out till I called her for dinner, and then she
went straight back to her room after helping me with the dishes. I
asked her about the letter during dinner, but she wouldn't tell me
anything. And when I saw her clutching it this morning, I didn't know
what to think. Figured you'd gotten the same letter, and if there was a
problem, you two would talk about it. Since you didn't get one, it must
be nothing, right?"
"I don't know," Harm answered, looking down at the countertop with a
puzzled look on her face. "She knew I was working late on a case, but
if there was anything she needed to talk about, she knows she can call
me anytime. I got home too late to see her before bed last night, and I
just figured I'd talk to her while taking her in to school this
morning." Jen nodded, knowing that Mattie and Harm talked by phone
several times a day, as a rule. They had quickly found that to be a
good way to tell each other about their days, and it was something they
both loved and looked forward to. It was so amazing, Jen thought not
for the first time, how close they'd grown in so short a time.
"I'm sure it's nothing, sir. She's been fine otherwise, and I know the
first time you two talk today, she'll tell you about it. Now, excuse me
... I have to finish getting ready for work."
"Thanks, Jennifer .. I'm sure you're right. We're both really lucky to
have you. I'll see you in a few, unless you want to just ride in with
me?"
She smiled at him, and Harm was reminded again how beautiful she was
when she smiled. "That's OK, sir ... I have to go shopping after work,
so I need my car with me."
"Shopping, huh? Gonna ask for my credit card again?", he winked at her,
grinning that "flyboy" grin of his, as Mac called it .... the one that
swayed many a female, Jen knew. She laughed at him over her shoulder as
she turned to her room, and said, "No, sir ... not this time. But if
you're offering????..." She turned back to him, grinning impishly. He
just smiled at her hopeful look, shook his head slowly, and started
heading for the door. "That's OK, Coates. It's still trying to heal
from the last little "shopping" trip you and Mattie took it on! I'll
see you at work - drive safely!" He passed through the front door, and
started to close it behind him as her voice carried over to him, "All
right, if you're sure, sir ....." Shutting the door behind him, he
laughed as he headed to the elevator.