The life and loves of Carolyn Imes, Chapter 2 - "A new beginning"
A/N: AU. As I wrote the body of my 2018 story "Resurrection 2013 - the return of Loren Singer"(see that first chapter for all the disclaimers), the realisation grew that there was further mileage in expanding upon the back-story of Commander Carolyn Imes. My grateful thanks to "Syrae" as my helpful beta-reader. They are not mine; I am merely taking them out of the DPB box, playing with them and putting them away again. This is a fictional story, in a fictional Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. Mike
Characters borrowed with love and appreciation for the great team who brought us "JAG"; may your following careers blossom.
Final A/N 01-06-2019: AU. Stand-alone multi-chapter story, linking into the events of my 'Resurrection 2013 – the return of Loren Singer' alternate universe.
Final A/N 31-05-2019: Pete and Carolyn get to know each other then move in together, Carolyn meets Pete's mom; Pete meets up with Harm, then Carolyn supports Lorna after her birth in mid-May whilst Loren continues in her coma. Mike: England, 01-Jun-2019
Characters from FFNET - C Imes; Manetti; L Singer
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Ch 2 – A new beginning.
Wednesday 8th January 2003 – 12:07hrs EST
Café Europa, 7820 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda MD
Pete had arrived slightly early to secure a table at the well-known café where they had agreed to meet. He had left his uniform jacket and cover behind, slipping on a hoodie sweatshirt.
Carolyn arrived slightly late and limped in, clearly in some discomfort. She had, likewise, left her cover and uniform jacket in Falls Church before leaving, donning a soft black civilian leather jacket as she signed out for a longer-than-usual personal lunch. She patted a stray hair into place as she swapped her handbag into her left hand and grimaced in pain as a prelude to greeting him.
"Hi Pete, please forgive my lateness. Loren's (I mean, Lt Singer's) medical team telephoned me with a question just as I was leaving the office and then I pulled a muscle running over here from the car park to make up time".
"Ouch – you have my sympathy. Well, if you would allow me (and I am painfully conscious that we've not long met!), I have a pretty good touch when it comes to massaging pulled muscles. My Marines have a habit of pulling muscles on exercise runs when the corpsman is at the other end of the formation. But we Marines don't have to contend with running in heels – I always admire the way that you women can move gracefully at speed." He smiled to welcome her.
She relaxed, unzipping her jacket and settling into the booth. "Well, I can report that running in heels is definitely an acquired skill and one of our feminine secrets! Wow, it sounds like I am going to be very glad to have met you – and once more, yes please".
She opened the wings of her jacket. "I guess we are OK because we are technically not in uniform?" she mused.
Pete smiled as he worked on his reply. "Yes, we are definitely OK Carolyn, because even if anyone were to think of the fraternisation regulations, this is safely covered under 'aid and care for an injury' – which obviously happened at Falls Church or Bethesda, yes?" He smiled to emphasise his point.
She slid around the booth to sit closer alongside Pete and placed her handbag on the banquette alongside her. While she was looking at the table and the handbag, this gave him the first opportunity to examine her up close since their meeting in the low light levels of the hospital and her rushed "oh, yes please" response on the preceding evening.
"OK, assuming that you trust me, please slide your shoe off and let me support your leg while I feel for the offending muscle. I will need to move your leg slightly, to get at the muscle, OK? I reckon we can ask the waitress to hold back for five minutes on delivering the food order, especially if we start with the coffee order now, can't we?" He looked at the waitress, pointed to his watch and held up his hand with all five digits splayed. The waitress nodded and returned the sign.
Reassured, Carolyn merely nodded then slid off her shoe and stretched her affected leg up and across Pete's knees. With her nodded consent, he grasped the knee and slid her leg closer to him. He felt her other foot touch his, following her afflicted leg as he parted her thighs by pulling the leg within range.
"Thank heavens no-one is looking" they both thought at the same moment.
"OK for me to start - still feeling comfortable and secure?" he asked quietly.
She nodded, hiking her skirt around an inch to ease the constriction across her thighs.
"And now, madam, please sit back and enjoy the benefits."
Obediently, Carolyn relaxed and watched him through half-closed eyes. She felt a bond of trust was establishing itself far faster than she would have expected – but this felt just right.
"I trust this man, who dived into the river to rescue a stranger. I have to believe that he is a good man."
Similarly, as he worked out the muscle tones in her calf and watched her face for any signs of discomfort, he liked what he saw. A clear complexion with a crop of freckles to reflect her natural colouring, neat hair in a military style with a gorgeous warm colour, friendly eyes surrounded by the beginnings of crows' feet and laughter lines, along with bare hands apart from an Academy ring on her right hand.
He had checked her out as she limped into the restaurant. She filled out her soft leather jacket nicely and he noticed that, once more, she had arrived in a uniform skirt which displayed an attractive set of legs, ending in uniform courts which he had noticed were neatly polished. One of the legs was the one which he was now getting to grips with under the table.
Pete Andersen liked what he was seeing of Carolyn Imes.
"I like this woman. She is open - and trusting - and a lawyer! A lawyer who trusts me with her body! I want to know more. Don't screw this up, Marine."
By the same token, Carolyn's earlier examination of the Marine in front of her was reaching a similar conclusion, reinforced by his blissful massage on her lower leg. She loved what he was doing to her.
He could feel the little knot of disturbed muscle yielding to his ministrations, so decided to open up the conversation.
"Well, after the rush yesterday and having handed over the Lieutenant's cover, I suggested lunch because I would like to know more about this lady who is keeping watch over her comatose friend and appears to have the time to do so. So what's the story, Carolyn – no cat or family at home waiting for Mommy to come and feed them?"
Carolyn smiled demurely. "No, no pet waiting at home and definitely not a family – I hope one day to accomplish that, but only inside a marriage – and so far the right candidate for the position hasn't thrown his hat into the ring. Oh yes, just there!" Momentarily, she instinctively tried to close her thighs but realised just in time that she had to maintain position. Her calf muscle was responding to his touch - and so were several other parts of Carolyn! She was glad that she had kept her jacket on.
She looked across at Pete. "Plus my Dad came home from Vietnam under a flag just before I was born and my Mom passed away just after I graduated from the Academy: so there is no parental pressure to make a commitment. So, by return of question, how come there is no Mrs. Andersen and a posse of little Andersens?"
Peter blushed. "There is of course a Mrs. Andersen – my mom, Elizabeth, back in Helena Montana. As to wife or wives – well, no, not yet. I came close around ten years ago, but then her parents decided that they didn't like their little Georgette running off with some Jarhead. It wasn't long after the Gulf War, so part of the country was still uncomfortable with us going in to liberate Kuwait – although I am darn certain that we *did* do the right thing over there."
He laughed bitterly. "I later found out that 'Daddy' spent the early 1970s up north in Canada – it was a mistake dating a Californian! So I cut my losses and I am still looking. I decided that I would keep looking, even though I'm 38 now."
"Well, you don't look almost 38." Carolyn decided to take the plunge and vouchsafe a little personal information. "I presume that you have no problems with enjoying the attractions of a slightly older woman?"
"No, I love experience over fumbling every time."
There was a slight intake of breath across the table. Pete thought back over his statement and was about to apologise when Carolyn started giggling.
It was the most wonderful sound - warm, full-hearted and not at all spiteful - and her face grew a lovely shade of pink. Her leg was also shaking on his thighs as he continued to massage Carolyn's leg – a combination which was causing him some significant arousal. He patted her knee and released his firm grip on her leg. Reaching down to locate her shoe, he placed her leg gently back onto the floor and then went to wash up. It wasn't long before he was resuming the conversation just as a pair of club sandwiches arrived on the table.
"OK Carolyn, that should enable you to get back to your car or office, maybe also back to the ward in Bethesda. I would love to offer a further treatment, this evening or whenever."
"Thanks Pete, and oh yes please; that would be most helpful. How does 1915 sound?"
"Very well indeed ma'am, I exist to obey; shall I bring takeaway or what are your favourites?"
"Please surprise me, but I am a genuine omnivore. Then next time, I'll arrange the food and drink. In the spirit of fairness, this lunch today is on me." She scribbled her home address and phone number on a card and handed it to him.
The rest of the lunch meeting had rapidly moved into the "first date" category. All too soon they had to head back to their duties – but not before the exchange of business cards and the promise of catching up later in the week. Their lunchtime conversation had flowed easily, as they continued a very companionable conversation. Eventually they had to break – duty called.
Carolyn smiled as she stood up, tested her newly-massaged leg, nodded in satisfaction and then shook Pete's hand before she headed for the door, zipping up her jacket. As she reached the door, she looked back over her shoulder and tossed him a mock salute.
Pete fell in love at that moment; hook, line, sinker and marksman badges. All of a sudden, in the space of 24hours, he had gone from being happily single and focussed on preparing for deployment to realising what generations of Marines had experienced in the past: it was nice to think about the possibility of having someone to come home to when battle was done.
That afternoon, as she prepared a court submission in her office, Carolyn found her concentration waning occasionally as she replayed the lunchtime conversations. Leaning sideways, her hand played over the muscles of her calf, remembering his gentle yet effective pressure on her leg as his magical fingers kneaded away the pain. She was *so* pleased that she had made the split-second decision to head out to lunch with a civilian jacket on. Had she turned up at the café in uniform, they would have simply been obliged to keep a distance - and she would have been prohibited from enjoying his touch and getting her leg fixed into the bargain. As a JAG, she was painfully aware of the need to follow "the rules" to the nth degree. It must have been fate!
This man presented possibilities – possibilities she was determined to explore.
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Wednesday 8th January 2003 – 19:15hrs EST
Home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
Pete arrived on time with a lovely spread of Chinese food and a bottle each of red and white wine.
"I forgot to ask your preference, Carolyn, so brought a bottle of each."
"Why Mister Andersen, I do declare that you may be trying to get me drunk."
He smiled and fluttered his eyelashes. "Err, guilty – maybe!"
She laughed at his facial expressions. "No problem; I am sure that we shall do both of them justice over time, because I don't expect tonight to be a one-off. The kitchen is down the hallway to the left. Please come in – and thanks again for the leg massage at lunchtime. I've spent the past six hours waiting for your next touch."
She gasped and paused, blushing furiously as the implications of what she had said set in.
Pete took her (Freudian?) slip of the tongue in good humour and smiled. Placing the food containers into the kitchen he turned, splaying his fingers wide and waving his hands. "I await your body madam, but should we not eat first, whilst the food is hot?"
That now-familiar phrase tumbled from her lips again – this time spoken with a low, sultry emphasis on the possibilities which lay ahead.
"Oh, yes – please".
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Saturday 18th January 2003 – 11:15hrs EST
Rock Creek Park main running trail, Washington DC
By the second Saturday of their friendship, Pete and Carolyn were meeting up to run or cycle the paths and trails before what was becoming a routine "post-cycle massage" at Carolyn's house. This had been agreed at the end of their cinema trip on the preceding Wednesday evening.
As her masseur, Pete was becoming increasingly familiar with the nuances of Carolyn's body. She was, in turn, expanding her culinary repertoire, moving from a long-standing "meals for one" cookbook into a "meals for two" as a centrepiece of their Saturday evenings. She had even resurrected a couple of her Spanish favourites from her time in Rota.
Pete did not yet appear comfortable with the idea of staying over. Carolyn appreciated his politeness, but she had a plan for the upcoming Valentine's night which might offer him a way past his "politeness".
She also hoped to move things forward between them at a pace which she wanted. She was becoming acutely aware that her body was craving his touch - and more.
What she didn't yet know was that Pete was feeling exactly the same way about the feel of his flame-haired lawyer's body in his hands!
For now, she was glad to have an exercise buddy who was outside her circle of friends within the closely-knit JAG corps.
He was just happy to help.
At work, her normal caseload was compounded and complicated by the extra work which she was undertaking, along with Tracy Manetti, to secure a safe haven for Loren Singer's expected baby. The baby was still on track (according to all the medics involved) for a birth before the middle of May.
She had asked herself why she had volunteered to take on the extra workload when – in all honesty – she had not been on the closest of terms with the spiky, shrewish Lieutenant when Loren had been fully "alive and kicking".
She rationalised that, as a human being, this was part of her duty to society. She smiled to herself as she realised that, in meeting Pete during Loren's rescue, her volunteering might just have brought her the best reward in her life so far.
Life was good.
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Saturday 1st February 2003 – 07:55hrs EST
Milepost 5, W&OD Trail, Falls Church VA
"I decided to blow some different cobwebs away today, hence my suggestion that we use the long trail westwards."
Carolyn had previously introduced Pete to the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, a 100-foot-wide park ("the narrowest park in the USA" according to its supporters) which provided 45 miles of safe graded pathways, up and down several gradients.
Their ride the previous weekend had headed east along the five miles down to the eastern trailhead in the City of Alexandria for a leisurely lunch. Today, a far more-adventurous challenge lay before them – the western 40.
Pete was ready to ride and ready for exercise. "OK squid, lead on – and thanks for this idea, because I've been stuck inside an office every day this week on scenario planning. I feel the need for air!"
She nodded and smiled warmly as she lifted her gloves out of her backpack. He reached across to help her zip up the backpack and load it into the pannier on her MTB.
He took her hand after she had finished tightening the Velcro bindings on her cycling gloves. "Carolyn, seriously - thanks for involving me in this; I know that we only met three weeks ago but, after that cinema trip on the 14th, I have found it hard not to think about you".
She buckled her cycling helmet under her chin and looked up into his eyes. "Well, Pete, that feeling is mutual. Look, we know from last weekend that the eastern five miles are pretty uninspiring, so I planned to head west today for the 40-mile run to Purcellville, have lunch in the Monk's Grill and then head on back to here. If that works out for us today, we can relax with pizza and a drink back at home later – OK?"
"Oh yes ma'am – lead on!" He hadn't missed her reference to "home" – and that opened up a number of possibilities!
For the first mile or so as they rode along a fairly-congested stretch of the pathway, Pete stayed behind Carolyn, admiring the movement of her lycra-clad buttocks and the rippling of her muscles. Her legs were trim and he was mesmerised by the motion. After a few miles, the riders and walkers on the trail thinned out, so he moved up alongside her.
The two cycled onwards in companionable silence, pausing for a coffee at Mile 15 - where they both realised that a trip north would bring them to Great Falls and the site of Loren's miraculous rescue the previous month. They paused again at Milepost 20 for Herndon Station to look around the Herndon Depot Museum, before pushing onwards to cover the next 25 miles westwards.
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Saturday 1st February 2003 – 12:16hrs EST
Monk's Grill, 251 N 21st St, Purcellville, VA 20132-3027
Near Milepost 45, W&OD Trail
They reached Purcellville warm, slightly breathless and ready for lunch. Handing Pete her bike, Carolyn excused herself and headed for the ladies' restroom, emerging some minutes later with an expression of relief.
"Right, that takes care of the 'coffee out'; now to get started on the 'coffee in'.
Securing their bikes, they headed into the Monk's Grill. Their post-lunch return journey eastwards would be a far more leisurely affair.
Later that afternoon on arriving back at Carolyn's, Pete loaded his bike into his Jeep while Carolyn opened up the house. Some considerable time later, following an almost customary massage followed by a quiet meal of pizza and cola, he bade her a fond farewell and then headed back towards his BOQ.
Carolyn, lying in a sumptuous bubble bath which she frequently topped up with warm water, lay totally relaxed. That night, her thoughts and dreams were filled with the vision of "her" Marine.
She pondered: could she have become so possessive so quickly? She determined to continue her research during the coming week.
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Friday 7th February 2003 – 19:30hrs EST
Home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
"Carolyn; thank you for a great meal; more wine?"
"Oh, yes please".
"Would you mind telling me – please – what has been distracting you this evening? I know that this is only our fifth date, but even I can sense that something is eating away at you. Come on, tell 'Uncle Peter' and let him help."
"Well, I have decided to prepare and to progress the paperwork for guardianship (and possible eventual adoption) of Loren's baby. This enables us to be ready as a precaution in case Loren is still away in the Land of the Faeries when her baby appears".
Carolyn's face grew serious and Pete realised that she was facing the very real possibility that Loren might never wake up.
She continued: "I obviously hope that she *does* wake up, otherwise I could be spending the next 20 years bringing up an infant as I have volunteered to be the primary guardian".
Pete raised an eyebrow. "But surely that wouldn't be too big a challenge for you? I am certain, from the limited time that we have been together, that you are a very capable woman."
"Well, I wasn't sure that children featured in my life-plan." She sipped her wine and frowned as she marshalled her thoughts for the next sentence. "I don't mean a definite no-no, but I'll be 40 in August and I'm not certain that time is on my side." Her frown was replaced with a bright smile. "Hey, if I adopt Loren's baby, it saves me the stretchmarks!"
Pete appreciated being taken into Carolyn's confidence; he was pleased to have guessed her age to within one year (but he had over-estimated – not that he would admit that!). He liked the way that she was including him in her thoughts regarding a fairly personal subject for any woman. He decided to go with honest charm.
"Well, I reaffirm my belief that you would make a great mother – in my unbiased opinion, of course".
"Stick around, Marine, and we may find out when Loren's daughter appears sometime (we reckon) in May".
"Carolyn, I would very much like to stick around; the MEU deploys in Friday August 1st, on current schedule."
"Then I guess we had better get busy". Carolyn was keen to deepen the involvement.
That weekend saw a further cycling expedition (this time, exploring the Mount Vernon Trail) and a quiet, platonic meal at Carolyn's home on the Saturday evening, before Pete headed back to his BOQ once more.
Resting her back against the door as she heard his Jeep drive away, Carolyn resolved that she would take things further on Valentine's night. A shopping expedition with Tracy Manetti beckoned…
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Friday 14th February 2003 – 18:55hrs EST
Home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
"I decided to go for a fish theme this evening – starting with smoked salmon for our first official Valentine's night." Carolyn welcomed Pete to her home.
"That will be lovely – and it matches the wine". Pete put two bottles of pre-chilled Chablis into Carolyn's fridge and turned to admire his new – what was the word? He mentally juggled through girlfriend? Significant other? Certainly "the woman who has captured this Marine's heart in the past six weeks". It was a nice problem to be struggling with, he realised as she walked towards him.
She stood before him, looking up into his eyes eagerly in her LBD with the halter top, the hem just above her knees and a pair of dangerously-high black patent-leather spikes on her feet. He gathered her gently into his arms, realising as he hugged her that he was touching nothing but bare skin a long way down her naked back. As his realisation flashed on his face, she smiled knowingly and stretched her arms around his back, pulling herself closer to his chest.
She had her Marine exactly where she wanted him. The dress had been chosen on a shopping trip a few days earlier, when Tracy had decided to buy a matching midnight-blue dress for her Valentine's date with Mike. She shivered as he leaned in and complimented her.
"Wow, you look good enough to eat – but what may I do to help prepare the meal?"
"Nothing beyond opening the first bottle. The glasses are on the table and the mineral water is in the fridge in the utility room. I've used a shop-bought seafood sauce alongside the salmon and prawns, but the cod loins for the main course are just steaming in parsley and lemon butter and the potatoes and vegetables are steamed, so the tastes will be simple. This wine should be a perfect match Pete, so thank you and welcome".
She relaxed, adjusting herself closer into Pete's embrace; through his shirt, he began to sense her twin peaks of excitement; this woman *was* making him feel very welcome tonight! The conversation continued as they remained in each other's arms, touching on the event which had first brought them together – Loren Singer's rescue back in January.
"I am so pleased that we met that night, Carolyn; it's a crying shame that Loren isn't showing any signs of improvement."
"Well, on the positive side, she isn't getting any worse, so let us "look on the bright side of life". I reckon that we'll definitely be looking for guardianship of her baby when she is born around three months from now. The problem is that no-one knows the precise conception date because Loren was very secretive, but common consensus amongst the medics continues to forecast a birth in May. The obstetricians are hoping to learn some lessons if she remains unconscious at the point where 'baby Singer' is ready to put in an appearance."
Breathing hard and concentrating on the subject (rather than the woman) in hand, Pete addressed one item which he had thought about recently.
"So, how do military lawyers get involved in childcare?"
"They don't, at least not very often. My colleague Harm got himself involved in the Annie Lewis murder and adoption case back in '98 and I know that he cares about kids. I guess that maybe it's just something in our belief system as lawyers, about defending the weak. However – and fortunately for me - I will have my twenty in by the summer of 2007, so I'm considering moving into child advocacy *if* I decide to leave the Navy and head for Civvy Street. At least it gives me another string to my bow, so this Singer guardianship/adoption case will be good practice. Plus, Tracy Manetti is a keen supporter of this case and we reckon we'll make a strong double act in family court."
She looked up, impishly, into his eyes once more and, with a raised eyebrow to seek her permission (triggering an almost-imperceptible nod from the flame-haired woman in his arms), Pete leaned in further.
Their lips touched and he had a strong feeling of homecoming as the warm female form wrapped herself around him.
He was glad that Carolyn had worn her high heels, because it meant that he could slide his hands lower down her back. He paused, checking her eyes.
Another nod. She was very comfortable with what he was doing.
His hands drifted lower, caressing the smooth skin of her lower back until he found the seam of her dress.
Her eyes were almost closed and she murmured "don't stop, Marine."
"Yes ma'am." There was only one possible answer. Pete was in heaven.
Carolyn sighed, leaning her head onto his chest, just tucking under his chin. She hadn't felt this good – or relaxed – in anyone's arms since Giovanni, who had understood her body and her needs very well, even though they had both known that it wasn't a long-term deal. But this Marine just seemed to understand her body perfectly. The background music moved onto the 1966 Percy Sledge track "When a man loves a woman" and she lifted her head to gaze into his eyes.
"Well, the music is right, we're both here and the food will wait. I like this very much Pete."
"I like this very much too, Carolyn. This is just perfect, in fact. But may I just check that this isn't too fast for you and that you're comfortable with everything?"
She smiled, relaxed and secure, comforted by him asking for consent at every stage: "Pete, if I didn't feel confident about this evening and inviting you around to my home, I wouldn't be wearing what I am under this dress."
"I'm beginning to wonder what you wear beneath that demure, all-concealing uniform when you're in JAG HQ".
She smiled ruefully. "Well, that's for me to know and you to dream about on your deployment! You could always buy me something to wear! But sadly I have to admit that I am nearly 40 rather than 20; trust me, outside of a very carefully designed and sculpted dress like this, some parts of me *do* now need support in the daytime."
He nodded appreciatively, then his hands probed a little further down her back, still encountering nothing but naked skin. His hands continued moving south and his body responded as he realised what she wasn't wearing beneath her dress. His arousal grew.
She returned from her own private piece of heaven, opened her eyes, looked up into his eyes once more and smiled knowingly.
"Happy Valentines, my marine."
"Happy Valentines, my squid."
It would be some time before two hungry lovers devoured the evening meal. The following morning, they would awake and talk through how they were going to move the relationship onwards into the spring of 2003.
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Saturday 15th February 2003 – 07:23hrs EST
Bedroom, home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
Carolyn had never fallen for someone so quickly in all her 39 years, yet she felt that this was just right. She also knew that, with Pete scheduled to deploy with his MEU by late summer, time was not on their side. By the time that she reached her 40th birthday on August 1st, she wanted to be completely sure that this wonderful man holding her so gently yet embracing her so completely, was "The One". She was old enough to realise that "perfection" might take a lifetime of work, growing closer over the years. The true joy was in the journey, as well as the destination.
She decided that further research (and plenty of it!) was clearly indicated, but the omens were very good on this lovely post-Valentines morning.
Carolyn rolled over and reached across, determined to welcome Pete to a Saturday morning in Falls Church. His wakening body quickly responded to her touch. Smiling to herself in the darkened bedroom, she realised that she liked having power over this man's body.
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Saturday 15th March 2003 – 19:59hrs EST
Falls Church Tavern, Broad Street, Falls Church VA
"Good evening and welcome to the Tavern at Falls Church; do you have a reservation?"
Carolyn smiled at the young greeter, squeezed Pete's hand and replied: "Carolyn Andersen, table of two for 8pm".
Pete remained speechless with surprise until well after they had been seated. "Are you trying to tell me something, Miz Carolyn?"
She smiled warmly: "Well, I just wanted to try out the idea and see how it sounded."
He raised an eyebrow: "And the result is…?"
"Not too bad at all; it saves complications if someone comes to the door." She smiled impishly: "Then again, 'Peter Imes' has a certain ring to it as well, in these days of equality. Oh by the way, you can open your card now."
Pete carefully slit open the envelope, revealing a nice birthday card and a further envelope. He looked at Carolyn, who merely smiled and said: "Open carefully and treasure".
He obeyed, revealing a red garter, from which dangled a house key. He looked at Carolyn once more. She leaned across, grasped his hand and kissed his knuckles.
"I couldn't think of a better way to say that you have the key to my heart - and that is the only copy in case you were wondering. What you do with the garter is something that you can think about over dinner, before the taxi-ride home where you will christen your key."
"Yes ma'am". This was shaping up to be a very good birthday indeed. He was already forming ideas for the garter on the taxi ride home.
As they opened their menus simultaneously to choose their meals, Carolyn's leg was already active under the table, distracting Pete's concentration.
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Saturday 5th April 2003 – 13:03MDT
Andersen family homestead, south of Lake Helena, NE from Helena, MT
"Welcome to the Queen Capital of the Mountains". Elizabeth Andersen hugged Carolyn as she emerged from the passenger seat of the rental which Pete had signed out at Helena regional airport after their landing. Pete headed to the trunk to retrieve their light overnight luggage before he hugged his mom, leaving the two women to their greeting.
"Well, Mrs Andersen…."
"Oh no, I'm Elizabeth; any woman who can break sense into my son definitely deserves to call me Elizabeth".
"Well, in that case, hello Elizabeth, I'm Carolyn and it is lovely to be here to meet you. I can see where Pete got his lovely eyes from."
"Actually, Carolyn, he got those from his father but we were very close in eye colour I must admit. So how did my Marine son drag a Navy lawyer out to the middle of the continent without protest?"
"He promised me that there was open country and that the sky at night is fantastic plus, if I needed water, there is a lake to the north." Carolyn smiled easily – this woman was making her feel very welcome and she could understand how Pete's approach to life was so settled and positive.
Three large hounds (of mixed genetic parentage) made Carolyn doubly welcome. It would be these hounds which would accompany Pete, Elizabeth and Carolyn on a horse ride after lunch, out to the boundaries of the homestead.
Carolyn hadn't ridden for some time, but with a loaned pair of jodhpurs from Elizabeth and extra socks to fill out the riding boots which came from the same source, she was soon mounted up and enjoying the sense of one-horsepower travel across the range. Although they were 100 miles north of the famed "Big Sky" recreation area, she was impressed with the view from horizon to horizon - which had probably inspired the naming of the resort.
Carolyn and Pete brought Elizabeth up to speed on their recent experiences and future plans as they bracketed the older woman along a wide track across the open landscape.
Upon reaching the Andersen family cemetery, all three dismounted to pay their respects at the tombstone for Pete's late father and the 200-plus years of ancestors. Looking at the older headstones, Carolyn was trying to remember her US history when Pete came to the rescue.
"There has been an Andersen presence here since before the Louisiana Purchase from the French in 1803. We provided horses to Lewis & Clark, so we have a history that leads all the way to statehood in 1889 and on to today. The family also did quite well out of the Montana gold mines."
Elizabeth took off her glove and showed her wedding ring - a very simple, unadorned gold band. "Genuine Montana gold, part of the family heirloom collection." She looked at Carolyn's hands and smiled: "We still have a few spare nuggets in the family vault."
Just at that moment, wandering amongst the tombstones, a name leapt out at Carolyn:
CAROLYN ANDERSEN, Beloved wife and mother,
August 1st 1836 – November 28th 1862
"Oh my lord- look at her birthdate! And she was only 26 when she passed away." She shivered involuntarily; Pete rapidly put his arm around her. "Old history darling, but an important piece of my family's history nonetheless. Yes, life was short in those days - but I'm sure it was also rich and fulfilling."
Elizabeth leaned across, looking at Carolyn affectionately. "And we are counting on young Pete to continue that family line when he is ready and finds the right woman."
Carolyn looked her levelly in the eyes: "Well, he is making a very impressive and persuasive case at the moment, but we have a few things to iron out *and* he will be deploying on August 1st. We only met at the start of January so I won't make promises, but the omens are pretty good." She reached out for Pete's hand and ran her thumb affectionately across the back of his hand.
He leaned in and whispered in her ear: "I can't wait to get you out of those jodhpurs later.. I didn't tell you at the restaurant last month, but I liked hearing you use the Andersen name."
A lesser woman might have felt pressurised. Not Carolyn Imes, because this all felt just so right. She rolled her head under his chin and looked up once more. "Well, Marine, you should know that patience will be rewarded – but remember we need to ride back first." Carolyn's thighs were beginning to register their objection to the unfamiliar task of controlling a lively stallion. She was somewhat out of practice on a horse but looked forward to getting "back into the saddle" more regularly. She had a sense of peace and fulfilment and – above all – homecoming as they rode back across the open landscape.
Somehow, "Carolyn Andersen" was becoming a stronger possibility. Bringing up the rear on the horse-ride back to the homestead, Elizabeth wasn't worried about the two love-birds "taking it slow". Barely three months after their first meeting in the hospital, she recognised the look of true love in their eyes. She rejoiced in the realisation that her son had, perhaps, finally met "the one" after the humiliation of 'California Georgette' (aka 'that dumb draft-dodging moron's daughter') more than a decade previously. The Andersen family had a long and honourable tradition of military service across the generations. She was certain that the omens looked good.
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Sunday 6th April 2003 – 21:20hrs EST
Home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
Relaxing after bidding Pete a fond farewell and thanking him for a lovely weekend in Montana, Carolyn found herself sitting at her desk in the spare bedroom which she had set up as an office for when she was working at home. Her thoughts drifted back - once more - to the tombstone out on the Andersen homestead.
Carolyn Andersen
Carolyn R Andersen
C. Rebecca Andersen, Attorney at Law (no, that won't work, because "Imes" is my professional name and my reputation is built on that")
Carolyn Imes-Andersen ("nope, that doesn't scan")
C. R. Andersen-Imes ("hmm, slightly better")
What is it about this man, after all these years? Why am I having these thoughts? What is different? Is this "The One"? Certainly looks that way - his touch is electrifying, he is a true gentleman. Is three months too short a time? Come on girl, you've always gone for what you want before!
Girl? Woman! When did you ever seriously talk about raising children?
Maybe this Loren Singer case is pushing buttons you've kept buried for 20 years.
Yes, but this is different; special; you've done the "Meet the Parents" routine in less than three months! Elizabeth seemed wonderful and I can see how Pete's lovely, gentle, respectful, fun-loving character was formed.
This might just work!
Half an hour later, Carolyn was tucked up in her bed, drifting off into a night of *very* pleasant dreams.
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Friday 23rd May 2003 – 18:27hrs EST
Home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
Meeting up after work had secured for the Memorial Day weekend, Pete and Carolyn were redecorating her back bedroom in preparation for service as a nursery for Lorna (the name chosen by Loren's small support group around the hospital and JAG when the baby had been born) when she was released from the hospital.
They did not regard the room redecoration as presumptuous, because it was just one more task to be delivered on the project plan leading to Pete's deployment to August 1st. The planning assumption, based on nearly four months of evidence, was that Loren would remain in her coma for some time to come. She had not awoken during (nor after) the Caesarean birth of her daughter on May 13th.
Carolyn completed her painting as evening approached then paused, paintbrush in hand, and looked across at Pete who was just putting the final brush strokes to his section of woodwork.
"Pete, how do you feel about children?"
He looked up at her, analysing her question and composing an answer as he put the brush into a jar of cleaner, before smiling as he answered.
"I would hope one day to become a dad – what's brought this on?"
"Well, we have been together for over four months now. Seeing Lorna's delivery the other week, I realised that as well as looking after her, I believe that I have room in my heart for my own child. So I want to explore the possibilities – and your opinions – with you during this weekend. It would be nice to have some form of a plan before you deploy. Oh, plus your mom dropped a huge hint last month in Montana, so there's 'no pressure' on either of us, is there?"
He put down his paintbrush and walked across the room, wrapping his arms around her more tightly, then kissed the crown of her head. "Wow, that's a bit sudden, but very welcome. Are you worried about the prerequisites? I can't just tilt you off me and go down on one knee just now, because I haven't selected an engagement ring."
Carolyn hadn't wanted Pete to get the wrong idea. She smacked his shoulder gently as she laughed. "Oh no Pete, that's not what I meant. I'm just saying that, with Lorna in her second week of life, I believe that a little 'sister' to keep her company sometime in the coming year might make sense. I have a fund from a bequest which will give me a financial cushion if I need to take an extended maternity break to cope with both Lorna and the little Andersen."
She sighed. "I just have this sneaking suspicion that Loren is going to take years to come back to us and I'm not getting any younger."
He kissed her. "I agree wholeheartedly; so I guess this means that we are 'going steady', Miss Imes?"
"You had better believe it, Mister Andersen. Come on, my exclusive Marine, let's get ourselves upstairs. Oh, and you can leave the condoms behind."
"As you wish, Commander".
Carolyn had but one answer to that supportive response.
"Oh yes please!"
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Saturday 24th May 2003
Falls Church public park – JAG Memorial Day sports day
By now, Pete was a permanent public fixture in Carolyn's life – and she was happy. Several friends and colleagues had observed – and commented favourably upon – the warmer-than-usual smile with which she arrived at work most mornings.
Pete was very content with the developments as he finally put "California Georgette" behind him for good. He had realised that he had been pining for too long (Carolyn had informed him that, in that respect, he reminded her of a colleague of hers at JAG! Today, he would guess who she had meant).
After she had given him a key to her front door with his birthday card on March 15th, later that month he had given up his BOQ accommodation and had moved in - at her invitation - before they had flown out to Helena to meet his mom. "Pete and Carolyn" were a regular fixture at the Marine social events based around Eighth & I. She had kept him "under wraps" a little longer around JAG. Tracy Manetti had merely observed the widening smile on Carolyn's face, but knowing the source of Carolyn's happiness she kept quiet.
On a practical note, Pete had also updated his will ahead of the upcoming deployment. He and Carolyn had also rejoiced at the enthusiasm with which Elizabeth Andersen had welcomed Carolyn into "the family" and made her most welcome as an "honorary Andersen". Pete had, of course, shared the "Carolyn Andersen" birthday restaurant joke with his mom after their flying visit.
The JAG sports day was a perfect opportunity for Carolyn to introduce Pete to her JAG colleagues.
Pete gained the "Harmon Rabb seal of approval" when he met the tall ex-aviator who counted himself as one part of the "Carolyn Imes support group". Carolyn's inner circle of friends had been very pleased to hear strong rumours that Carolyn was, at last, "involved" again after an involuntary dry spell dating from before her latest posting had brought her to Falls Church.
After meeting Pete, talking with him and getting the measure of the man during two innings on the baseball park, Harm quietly strolled up to Carolyn, then hugged her and whispered in her ear: "You are a good judge of character, Miss Imes".
Carolyn simply smiled and nodded, then giggled and replied "Oh yeah, baby – everyone should have a Marine at their side!"
She looked provocatively at Harm, who realised that she might be tweaking his tail – ever so gently – about his seven-year celibate stand-off with Sarah Mackenzie!
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Saturday 24th May 2003 – 19:57hrs EST
Home of Carolyn Imes, Falls Church, VA
That evening, as she and Pete lay spooned on the sofa in her lounge as they recovered from the exertions of the sports day, she kissed him and then thought through the decision which they had made the previous evening.
24 hours on, that decision still felt right.
Her nagging sense of broodiness had obviously been triggered by the birth of Lorna Singer, with all the associated interactions with the hospital, DCFS and Tracy. Loren's relocation to a longer-term care facility was being arranged by the Navy. This would involve JAG and Carolyn, who had volunteered to be Medical Proxy for Loren, holding a Power of Attorney. Initial custody and guardianship proceedings had gone well, with support from JAG colleagues, a letter of commendation from the Admiral and – icing on the cake – full support from DCFS who recognised the quite-rare circumstances of the case. All of the home visits, interviews and vetting had been successfully completed, signed off and lodged into the Court.
Lorna had been kept in the neonatal unit as she stabilised, but was now thriving on a mixture of donated breast-milk (the case had engendered sympathetic responses from around the area) along with some formula. Loren's unconscious body had produced milk for a week until the hormone levels fell away after the Caesarean.
Lorna's pattern of weight gain was in line with expectations. By agreement, she would remain in the hospital until the care arrangements were agreed and signed off.
Tracy had managed to track down Loren's possessions. They had made it as far as Coronado (where Loren had leased an apartment which she was destined never to occupy). Tracy had ensured that everything was brought back east and safely stored in a facility in Falls Church. A Naval benevolent fund was picking up the costs and Tracy's work on Loren's finances would enable a long-term source of funding to be secured.
Thanks to the diligence of NCIS, evidence had emerged which ensured the conviction of Teddy Lindsey in late April. This had also fed into a civil court case which generated funding by way of a compensation award. Once his wife had initiated divorce proceedings, Ensign Lindsey was not in a strong position to negotiate from the military penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. An award of funding was placed in trust for Lorna, accessible on her 18th birthday or earlier "if required and agreed by the Court at that time". Lorna would have a college fund (and a down-payment on a home) waiting for her in the distant year of 2021.
Carolyn was certain that she had room in her heart for another child. The transformation in her circumstances since the start of the year sometimes made her catch her breath.
But this felt right. Right time; right place; right man. She snuggled back into Pete's arms as a stray thought flashed through her mind just as she dozed off.
"I don't need a ring when I have him".
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**End of CH2 of "The life and loves of Carolyn Imes"
Ch 2 - "A new beginning"**
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