Hello to all.
I clearly cried all the tears of my body when one learns that Claudia Joy dies in the first episode of season 7.
I loved this character (probably because I love Kim Delaney) and the couple Holden.
I could not let go of this important character in the show.
So I rewrote season 7 leaving Claudia close to Michael (well, maybe not so much). I really enjoyed writing these scenes (while keeping those already existing for the other characters).
I hope you enjoy reading all this.
Leave your comments to tell me what you think.
Happy reading.
(There are 13 chapters, they will arrive little by little).
Little information before reading: all the scenes from the real season 7 are in parentheses.
End of season 6:
M: General Holden?
M: What?
M: Oh my God! Oh my God !)
Season 7
(Michael went straight to Denise's house after this call.)
D: What's going on? Something happened to Franck? Michael?
M: We have a problem Denise.
D: Michael, tell me what's going on.
M: I received a phone call, they lost the signal of the plane that was leaving for Afghanistan.
Denise is stunned, shocked. She brings in Michael and they settle on the couch.
M: I do not understand what happened. The plane was over the Atlantic, you know it had to go through Germany and the soldiers had to change planes to go to their destination.
D: Yes but ... if the signal is lost, it means that ...
M: Very sincerely Denise, I think of all the eventualities. A simple electronic problem, if they went through a violent storm with storm and lightning impact, it does not take more. You know that the soldiers are protected inside the plane so they do not risk anything. This can be an unintentional act of the driver by pressing the button that activates the signal or not. If the dashboard is down, there is the same result.
D: Michael we know very well that maybe the worst ...
M: I'm not going to hide it, I thought about it the second I got the news. I was shocked, but then my sense of organization took over and I did not make a hasty conclusion.
D: Michael, this plane may be at the bottom of the ocean ... Franck, Joan ...
M: I know Denise, I know. I am not reassured me either. You are the first to know that the findings are often wrong at first. We must not lose hope ... and I have a presentiment that the pilot had to manage this problem.
D: I trust you but I can only be panicked. Hmm ... you have to call Jackie, tomorrow she will warn the families of the soldiers.
Michael put a hand on Denise's. He nodded Michael phoned Jackie. He put a hand on his forehead.
M: Good evening Jackie. I'm sorry to call you at this time but ... yes there is a problem.
He explained the situation to Jackie and asked him to take over the families of the soldiers. He thanked her and explained exactly what he had himself as an explanation on the phone. Michael gave him directions if she ran into trouble and he hung up. He stayed with Denise to reassure her and explained the steps he will take tomorrow. He then explained to Denise that it would be wiser to cancel the surprise for Claudia. But Denise knew that Claudia was returning one day before what she had said to Michael. She could not go back. She explained to Michael that the surprise would occur, she would talk to others and they would take the time to have a real answer and that Claudia had the right to be received as it should for his return. Michael thanked her, and he left Denise's home and went home.
The next day Denise will warn Roland.
R: I can not believe it. How it is possible ?
D: I know, me neither. And despite everything I have the impression that it does not matter.
R: Denise, the plane where Franck, Joan, Hector is, is lost ...
D: I know Roland but I try to reassure myself.
They then took each other in their arms to reassure each other.
D: Sa will, we will face as we have always done. Michael is confident, according to him nothing is dramatic.
R: Maybe but the worry is going to be there.
D: I know. I told him that despite everything, the surprise for Claudia would take place.
R: Yes, Claudia has nothing to do with it, she deserves a happy return.
D: That's what I thought. You know she's going home tomorrow, Saturday instead of Sunday.
R: Yes, I have not forgotten it. Do you need help to put everything in place?
D: Look, I got Roxy and Pamela, they'll be able to come. Pamela is arriving tonight.
R: That's a nice news. Claudia will be so happy.
D: Yes. Besides, Emmalin arrives this afternoon. Michael does not know. However, given the situation, I do not know if we inform Emmalin. I have to pick her up at the airport.
R: I will go there. I talk to her about it, and we'll see what she wants to do. If she wants to surprise her parents completely or if she will join Michael and surprise Claudia tomorrow.
D: Okay. Thank you Roland. Speaking of that, so I asked people to come home tomorrow at the beginning of the afternoon. We prepare the table in the garden and I go to get Claudia. You know that Michael is not very fond of this kind of private reception with so many people. So I thought I'd bring Claudia home and explain to the others that they would have to excuse an excuse to leave. Once everyone is gone, I send a text message to Michael explaining that there is only us and we are waiting for it as planned.
R: As his reunion will be in a certain intimacy anyway. And for Claudia, are not you afraid she wants to see Michael?
D: I'll tell him he's in an important meeting and that he's going out at the end of the afternoon, as there's no chance they'll meet. Claudia is used to Michael working on the weekend so ...
SE: Dad, I'm thirsty.
Roland had a blank when his daughter arrived. He thought about his wife, who was on a plane for the time being missing. How would he explain it to his daughter if everything became dramatic? He drove it out of his mind.
R: Come on darling, we'll find you her.
SE: And I miss mom ...
R: I know my heart, I miss it too.
Roland took his daughter to the kitchen to make her drink. Roland started the conversation again.
R: I see you have everything under control.
D: Almost. I do not know if Emmalin will come with her father or if she will be at home.
R: We will have the answer this afternoon.
Denise nodded. She stayed for lunch at Roland's. They both stood company. In the early afternoon, Roland went to get Emmalin at the airport. He explained the situation to her and she was sorry for Roland and Denise. She felt uncomfortable coming in at that moment. Roland told him that it was not his fault and that there was no problem. It had to do with. Emmalin nevertheless decided to go to her father's house so as not to disturb Denise. Roland made a detour through Denise all the same so that Emmalin warned her. It was then agreed that Emmalin would be in cahoots with Denise by doing everything so that his father would come to a so-called small reception with friends in the garden of Denise, he would then come face to face with Claudia. Emmalin then explained to Denise that she would excuse an oversight at home so that her father and mother would find nothing but both of them. She would then appear. Michael was on the phone and he could not imagine that his daughter was a few blocks away. He was trying to understand and especially to know where this plane was. He telephoned the control tower at Fort Marshall.
M: Hello, General Holden. I call you following the problem with the C17 that took off this afternoon from the base.
Control Tower: Yes Sir, we were waiting for your call.
M: What happened?
Control Tower: Sir, the plane was still in the area of the country, the signal went out all of a sudden yesterday before we called you.
M: Do you try to reach the pilot?
Control Tower: Affirmative. We had a connection for two seconds with one voice, but apparently we were not heard. Then nothing.
M: Did you check the weather in the flight zone of the plane?
Control tower: Sir, the plane was entering a zone of very violent storms for at least several kilometers. A helicopter has gone to locate this area in case ...
M: All right, thank you Major. You keep me informed if you know more.
Michael hung up. With these elements he continued to think that not the plane had not lost in the ocean but that a problem with this consequence. Still, he did not know how the pilot had managed, if he had been able to land in another country. He must have more elements. But it was postponed until the door opened on his daughter. He was destabilized to see her here.
M: Emmalin?
E: Dad!
Michael got up from his desk and rushed on his daughter to take her in his arms.
M: Oh Emmalin! What are you doing here ?
E: I canceled the party I had this weekend and my game tomorrow was postponed so ... I came to surprise mom.
M: Your mother will be so happy to see you. You do not know how much you missed him. And to me too.
They pulled away from her daughter and looked at her from every angle.
M: You are beautiful honey.
E: Daddy ...
M: Give me your things, I help you to ride them.
Emmalin deposited with his father, Roland joined Jackie and Gloria at Denise's.
D: Roland, we were waiting for you. Emmalin has arrived?
R: Yes, I just dropped it off before coming back quickly.
G: I can not believe their plane is ...
J: Gloria, no conclusion. Michael told me he would keep me informed so as long as we do not have the bad news so much dreaded everything is possible.
Jackie's phone rang, it was Michael. When she hung up, she could reassure the others.
J: It was Michael. After an interview with the control tower, he was able to make sure that the plane was not damaged at sea.
R: How could he have that certainty?
J: Apparently a few seconds contact was established after the loss of the aircraft signal. But Michael told me that when a plane breaks down at sea it takes two, at most three, seconds to get into the water. Except that the contact was established five minutes after the loss of the signal. So …
D: So the plane is still flying ...
J: Yes for Michael it's this explanation. However, he does not know any more. He has to call Germany, Kuwait and Afghanistan for information. He is also going to call Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to find out if an American plane has not been spotted in their control of French air traffic.
R: Which is a pretty good sign even if we still do not know where our soldiers are.
G: What do we do then?
J: Nothing, I will continue to warn families. I will come back and help you to prepare the surprise for Claudia.
Jackie left, leaving Denise, Roland and Gloria the opportunity to start preparing for the reception the next afternoon by putting in the stove especially, cleaning plates, glasses, so that everything is clean for the next day. Finally, in the afternoon, Denise joined Michael as planned to set up the surprise of Claudia, without the latter does not doubt that it will take place the next day at Denise and not Sunday at Michael. When she arrived, she saw Emmalin.
D: Hey beautiful, well arrived?
E: Yes, I can not wait for mom to come back now.
M: But ... wait, Denise, how do you know that Emmalin is here?
Denise and Emmalin looked at each other with knowing eyes.
D: I told Emmalin about Claudia's return and she wanted to surprise you and her mother.
M: Okay, you got me once again.
All laughed, then they went to settle on the sofa. Denise knew that this conversation would be useless but it was necessary that Michael remains persuaded of the return of Claudia the next day.
M: Well tell me what's left to do for Sunday that I help you to finish preparing.
D: Each person who has been invited answers present, I called the caterer and he will arrive in the early afternoon at your place to set up.
M: I'll put the tables in the garden behind and I'll have prepared plates, glasses, everything you need.
E: I'll help you dad.
M: Thank you honey. I'm really looking forward to it now.
D: I'll go get the flowers and bring the whole thing with the decorations.
M: Thank you very much for your help, Denise.
Denise's phone rang.
D: When we talk about the wolf. It's Claudia.
M: Go to the kitchen, Michael told him.
Denise went to the kitchen.
D: Hello?
C: Hey Denise.
D: Claudia, how are you?
C: Tired. I'm in Washington as you know, and I've had a lot of interviews with the First Lady, telephone interview, and I have a conference tonight.
D: Long day hum?
C: Oh yes. I can not wait to go back. It's hard to tell me that I'm just flying from Michael, all of you.
D: I know. Speaking of that, Michael still thinks you're coming back on Sunday.
C: All the better. He will have the surprise of his life.
D: It will be such a beautiful day tomorrow ...
C: How are you doing?
D: I do not know, I trust what Michael told us but, I'm afraid Claudia.
C: That's normal Denise. But if Michael says there were no disasters, there were no disasters. How are the others ?
D: Jackie is good, for all the other spouses, Roland too, Gloria has a little more trouble, but we support each other.
C: I hope that by tomorrow everything will have been solved. Anyway I think of you.
D: Thank you. Well I have to leave you, Michael is going to wonder what I'm plotting.
C: It's true that you had to finish preparing for my return from Sunday.
D: And yes. Besides, we still have so much to do ...
They laughed. Then they hung up. For his part, Michael received a phone call from the control tower of the base.
M: General Holden ...
Control tower: Sir, we have something new.
M: I'm listening to you.
Control Tower: Following the report of the helicopter flight, there is no debris in sight and nothing has been found that can prove that the aircraft crashed at sea.
M: So nothing happened. Something else ?
Control tower: We contacted Charles de Gaulle airport in France, sir. They did not see any aircraft entering their flight area, nothing abnormal, no warning or rescue message.
M: Where is this plane if it is not in the water? He must be somewhere.
Control Tower: Have you contacted Kuwait or Afghanistan?
M: There is about 48 hours of beating between takeoff here and the passage through Kuwait and Afghanistan. So for the moment I can not have more information.
Control tower: Good sir.
M: Thank you for your work. Do not hesitate to contact me if necessary.
Michael hung up. Jackie arrived at Michael's house a few minutes later.
J: So?
M: Then nothing confirms that the plane is in the water. They did not find, nor saw any debris.
D: What? But ...
J: So the plane is still flying?
M: That's my conclusion. Simply, no passage in France, nothing was seen or heard. We thought of a possible radio message, but nothing at all.
D: In this case, where is it?
M: That's the question I'm asking myself.
J: And we can not join other airports?
M: You know that the plane arrives normally 48 hours after takeoff here in Charleston at its point of arrival. So I will not have any information.
J: And in Germany?
M: Normally the plane should have landed for a few hours. We would have had information since the soldiers were changing aircraft.
They spent a long time discussing contingencies and asked themselves a lot of questions. Michael told them he was doing everything possible to find the plane and the soldiers. Jackie returned to the support group to send the information. Denise, then decided to try to convince Michael to come the next day at this so-called reception with friends in the afternoon.
D: By the way, do not forget tomorrow afternoon, everyone will be there.
M: Denise, I do not know if I would come. When Claudia comes I come, but there alone, it's different.
D: You're not alone, there's Emmalin.
M: I doubt that she wants to come.
E: But if daddy go ...
D: There will be Jackie and Kevin, Roland with the kids and then normally you know that Pamela and Roxy have to come because they will surprise Claudia on Sunday.
M: I have to continue my investigation concerning the Denise plane.
D: I know. But just a few moments late afternoon then?
E: Yes, we'll come in the late afternoon when daddy comes out of the office since I suppose you're going to work tomorrow?
M: Yes tomorrow morning sure, for tomorrow afternoon we'll see, maybe we'll spend a little Denise.
D: Okay. In any case I'm counting on you Emmalin to decide.
E: No problem.
Denise kissed Michael and Emmalin, she went home to prepare Molly's room to receive Roxy and Pamela. She moved Molly's bed to her room and installed two inflatable mattresses instead. Michael, meanwhile, returned to the office for a few hours to reread the reports, to sign them and to see with the other officers where they were and if there had been any news. Emmalin left to help Denise. They put one final point in the surprise of the next day.
E: Are you going to get mom at the airport?
D: Yes, that's it. There will be everyone here, other female soldiers too, especially those who help us in the support group.
E: Okay. So these people will excuse a family excuse to leave before dad's arrival?
D: That's what is planned. I'm going to get your mother at 2 pm and we come here directly, so she'll be surprised to see everyone. Then we will stay with Roland, Pamela and Roxy.
E: This is where I intervene?
D: Yes, pretext revisions, a duty to return, the time I send you a message. Then you can come with your father.
E: I think it's going to be great.
D: Especially since your mother will not expect to see him either, because according to my information, your father will be in a meeting until late in the evening.
E: You thought of everything.
D: It was hard to keep your father out of this and not show the shake-up for tomorrow. Once you are at home, we will make sure to come back inside, except your mother. I'll see with the others, we'll find something, Molly who may have a problem, fill the carafes with fruit juice, bring another cake ...
E: I stay behind, because Roland will ask me how the college is going.
D: Right, I'm taking your father out and normally the rest will go by himself.
E: I'll wait before going to see them, the time they realize what's going on.
D: I think I will prepare the tissue boxes, because there is a lot of emotions.
E: I think ... a year that I did not see mom, do you realize? It had been said that with dad we will go for Christmas where it would be, my partial dates having changed and dad having a requirement, it was impossible for us to go.
D: Fortunately you could come with your father here. And your mother had spent Christmas with the families whose soldiers were on mission where she was.
E: I know, and she loved it.
D: Hmm ... you know, you missed him a lot. She never said anything and said as little as possible to your father but she regretted having made this trip some days.
E: I am so appreciative of their life you know. They love each other so much, it's impossible to describe, even me following their daughter.
D: They were at the right time when they needed it the most. They grew up together, became adults together, and built everything together. And their love grows at the same time.
E: I still apprehend a little for tomorrow.
D: Yes, too, I hope everything will be fine and that they will not want us ...
E: It will surprise me, I'm just afraid of being put aside this weekend. You know how they are when they find themselves after months of absence.
D: It's different this time, because your mother is gone, and she's the one who had to accept not being at home, not seeing you, for a year.
E: You're probably right.
D: It's getting late. You should go home. I'm going to get Pamela at the airport.
E: It's great that everyone can come.
D: It will be even better if your father shows up.
Emmalin laughed.
E: To make the surprise, it would be nice. But do not worry, I'll take care of it.
D: Thank you, my dear. See you tomorrow.
Emmalin went home. Michael was on the phone. Emmalin did not disturb him and went up to his room. Denise returned an hour later to her house with Pamela. Roland was not slow in joining them.
R: Pamela!
P: Hey Roland!
D: So tell, how are you going since time?
R: Very good. The kids got acclimatized and I quickly got used to having my husband every night and every day at home.
D: You're lucky.
P: I learned about Franck and Joan's plane. News ?
R: According to Michael, he would have gone elsewhere. We talked about it with Jackie too and we are reassured on this point. We just wait to know where he really is so we know where our spouses are.
R: Why not cancel the surprise for Claudia tomorrow?
D: Michael wanted to cancel it, knowing that he still thinks it's Sunday. But I told him that we kept it.
R: Yes Claudia has nothing to do with it, she deserves a return as it should.
P: I see. Roxy back on base then?
D: Yes, tomorrow. The poor she will barely have time to rest, she takes the wheel.
P: Oh, does she come by car?
D: Yes, she can not leave the twins to Trévor. For the moment, they do not know anyone on the base. The children go to school and to the youth center the evening when Trevor goes to get them because he has fixed hours for the moment. But for the twins, she prefers to take them away.
P: We'll all be together, as in the good old days! It's awesome !
D: I missed it so much. Do you think we'll have time to have a drink at Hump?
R: Sa can be negotiated.
All laughed. They spent the end of the evening together, then Roland went home. Pamela thanked Denise for hosting her for the weekend. They went then to sleep. Michael was also getting ready to go to bed. He said goodnight to his daughter.
M: Hey Em', still standing?
E: I was just re-reading my duty that I have to return on Monday.
M: Are you leaving directly on Sunday night then?
E: I am obliged yes ...
M: You will not have spent much time with your mother ...
E: I know. But I come back next weekend and I have a match in three weeks, you can come to see me I got tickets.
M: Yes I had noted, we will come. I missed you so much Emmalin. I'm really happy to have you nothing but months for a few more hours.
Emmalin smiled.
E: I miss you with mom when I'm at university. Let's say it's normal for more than a year now. I got used to. How are you ?
M: I do with ...
E: Dad, I know this link that connects you with mom ...
M: It was not easy every day. This time it's your mother who's gone abroad, not me. I had a little trouble.
E: You should be happy for her and she had to learn to see so many things.
M: I'm very proud of everything your mother did. Simply, we built ourselves with each other, never one without the other. And ... she missed me a lot, that's all.
E: I hope everything will not be spoiled by bad news about Franck and Joan among others.
M: I'll take care of everything tomorrow. I want an answer and an explanation for Sunday to be a nice day.
Emmalin who knew that his mother was returning the next day and not Sunday understood that his father might not be too available in the afternoon. She had to find a way to get him to Denise.
E: Promise me that you will not work all day.
M: I get up early tomorrow to be able to do as much as possible and be there tomorrow afternoon, at least to go to Denise, even if the desire is far from present.
E: But if it's going to be cool ...
Michael had a doubt. Everyone put a lot of energy into bringing him to Denise's house. Of course he did not imagine anything about the surprise that would await him tomorrow but asked questions.
M: Why do you want me to be here tomorrow? You hide something from me!
E: Ok, we're grilled. It's just that Denise wanted us to spend a nice afternoon with everyone, and especially because ...
Emmalin hesitated to say what she had in mind. It could completely ruin the surprise but at the same time it was necessary for her father to come tomorrow.
M: Because ...?
E: Well ... because Mom had to make a Skype call to Denise tomorrow afternoon and we wanted to surprise her with everyone.
M: That's right?
E: Hum hum ...
M: I understand better. Your mother must call me tomorrow night to tell me the exact time of her arrival because she does not know what plane she will take.
E: It will make us spend time, because now I am very impatient to see mom, really, I can not wait.
M: Me too. You know what, tomorrow noon we have lunch here and then I'll work from my office. You'll tell me when it's time to go.
E: His grave well because I have to finish my duty to return Monday. So when it's done, we go.
M: Contract concluded. Go good night honey.
E: Good night dad, see you tomorrow.
Emmalin blew inside. She was looking forward to being the next day and seeing her parents meet. While everything seemed to be in place, all the surprise almost missed.