J*A*G
"A Time for Everything"
Summary: Two tragic deaths, two grief-stricken kids, and two hearts longing to be one…can one event push the course of Fate to where it needs to be?
Author's Note(s): (1) Takes place in season six.
(2) Mac hasn't moved the ring yet.
(3) For the purpose of this story, Sergei is just sixteen.
(4) In this AU,Chloe's grandparents aren't living.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just wrote this story for fun.
…
Chapter 4: A Time to Travel
1000 Zulu
Pennsylvania Highway
"Ouch! You're stepping on my foot!"
"It's not my fault you have big feet!"
"Well, if you'd keep your feet on your side of the car!"
"I'm not on your side, this is the middle!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Not."
"Too."
"Harm!"
"Mac!"
The aforementioned military lawyers glanced at each other from where they sat in the front seat of the Commander's SUV.
They had been on the road for four hours now, traveling to Sarah Rabb's farm in Beallsville, Pennsylvania.
The first two hours of the trip had been very quiet.
Josh and Chloe had both just wanted to sleep after having been awoken at the 'crack of dawn' as they both put it.
The third hour, after they had finally woken up fully, was just as quiet.
Chloe read a book she had brought while Josh played his Game Boy.
Unfortunately, for the last hour all they seemed able to do was gripe, complain, and argue with each other.
The volume in the car had risen quite a bit.
Harm sighed, feeling his temper rise.
"All right, you two," he called back over his shoulder, "don't make me have to pull this car over."
A snort from Mac had him looking at her with a questioning stare.
"What?" he asked, puzzled.
"I can't believe you just said that," she said, grinning at him.
He looked sheepish. "It always worked when Mom said it."
"I bet she had to say it a lot," she told him, teasing.
He just grunted back at her.
Turning around in her seat to stare at the two sullen kids glaring at each other, she sighed wearily.
"Why don't you two get out those CD players you brought," she suggested, "and then just watch the scenery for a little bit while you listen."
"We'll be there in a little while," Harm promised, "and then we can get out."
"Fine," the two kids huffed, pointedly refusing to look at the other.
They each took out the portable music players they'd brought from their backpacks.
Silence reigned once more after that, and Mac turned back to the front with a pleased smile on her face.
"Uh huh," Harm said, out of the corner of his mouth. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Mac just chuckled.
"Just keep driving, Sailor," she told him. "The sooner we get there, the sooner we both stay sane."
"You got it," he said, and deliberately stepped harder on the gas pedal.
"Just remember," Mac warned him, smirking, "if you get a ticket you're paying for it and you're the one that's going to have to explain it to your grandmother."
He eased up off the gas.
"Marines," he muttered, sourly.
Mac just smiled at him. She glanced out her window.
She hadn't felt so relaxed in quite a while.
They had spent the three days moving the kids' things from their homes to their apartments…and arranging for Annie's and Kyle's things to be sold off.
Chloe and Josh would get any money made from the auctions.
They'd also made arrangements at work for their cases to be distributed between their co-workers (Lt. Singer had been very pleased, or so they'd heard).
The Admiral had given each of them three weeks leave, and told them "Don't come back 'til those two kids are smiling again."
The kids may not have been smiling yet, but they certainly were feeling a little bit better.
The shadow of grief was still in their eyes at times, but they had slowly begun to act more like their old selves.
"Hey!" Chloe exclaimed, shrilly. "You pinched me!"
"Well, you wouldn't look at me." Josh accused, sullenly.
"What do you want?" Chloe asked him, glaring.
"What are you listening to?" Josh asked, curiously.
"What's it to you?" Chloe asked, snorting.
"I was just curious," Josh told her, sullenly. "You don't have to bite my head off, you know!"
"Fine," Chloe huffed. "It's She-Daisy."
"You listen to Country?" Josh asked, laughing. "What a geek!"
"I am not a geek!" Chloe yelled. "You're a jerk!"
"That's better than being a geek!" Josh told her, smirking.
"Only a jerk would think that," Chloe told him, angrily.
"Geek!"
"Jerk!"
"Geek!"
"Jer—Hey!"
Harm sighed, slamming his foot on the breaks and pulling off the road.
The arguing stopped as both kids looked at him like he was crazy.
Mac was also looking at him wide-eyed.
He turned around in his seat.
"I think it's time for a bathroom break," he told them, seriously. "Either of you have to go?"
Chloe looked out her window. "I don't see anywhere to use the bathroom…"
Josh snorted. "That's what's the trees are for, dummy," he told her, smirking.
"I am not using the bathroom behind a tree," the girl exclaimed, adamantly. "And I am not a dummy!"
"It may be a while," Harm warned her. "We've still got an hour before we reach the farm."
He glanced at Mac, hoping for some support.
"I'm with Chloe on this one," she told him, smiling. "We can wait."
Harm shrugged. "C'mon, pal," he told Josh, smirking. "I really gotta go!"
Mac and Chloe watched as they hurried behind a pair of trees.
Once they were back in the car, Harm turned to the two kids.
"All right," he said, firmly, "I know it's been a long trip, and I know you're probably bored and hungry, but could you please stop the bickering?"
From the tone of his voice, they could tell that really wasn't a request.
"He started it," Chloe accused.
"Nuh uh, Harm," Josh exclaimed. "She did!"
They glared daggers at each other.
Harm looked at Mac for back-up.
"I think it's a safe bet to say you've both been responsible," she said, calmly, "but please just cool it for a little while, okay?"
Despite her even tone, there was a look in her eyes that brooked no argument from either one of them.
The kids sighed. "All right," they agreed, somewhat reluctantly.
Chloe got her book back out and started reading again.
Josh got out his Game Boy and started playing.
Both pointedly ignored the other.
Once again, there was peace and quiet in the car.
Harm and Mac exchanged relieved glances.
Even though the bickering gave them both a headache, it was a positive sign that the two kids were on the road to recovery.
Harm got them on their way again, and it wasn't long before they were all in a better traveling mood.
...
1100 Zulu
Sarah Rabb's Farm
Beallsville, PA
Harm turned the SUV down his grandmother's driveway and pulled up to the old farm house.
He smiled at the sight of his grandmother waiting on the front porch for them.
"All right, everybody," he said, "let's pile out."
"Thank God," the two kids exclaimed, seemingly in a race to be the first out of the car.
Harm and Mac exchanged glances.
"I hear that," they said at the same time, getting out of the car also.
"Well, Harmon," Sarah Rabb exclaimed to her grandson, "what are you waiting for?"
She held her arms out.
Harm smiled, embracing her.
He loved his grandmother with all his heart.
"Hey, Gram," he greeted her, warmly. "We made it."
Sarah chuckled.
"So, I see," she told him, wryly. "Now, how about introducing me to these three behind you?"
Mac stepped forward.
"I'm Mac," she said, holding out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you finally, Mrs. Rabb."
Sarah put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at her.
"First, dear," she said, "it's Gram and second come here."
She then wrapped her arms around the beautiful Marine and squeezed.
Mac was a bit surprised at first, but retuned the hug.
She saw right away she was going to like this woman a lot.
"Here, Gram," Harm said, placing an arm around each of the kid's shoulders.
"This is Chloe Anderson and Josh Pendry."
Sarah hugged both children affectionately.
"I've heard a great deal about you both," she said, smiling at them. "I bet you're both hungry after such a long car trip, huh?"
"I sure am," Josh spoke up.
"Yeah," Chloe agreed, "me, too."
Sarah smiled.
"I thought as much," she said, winking at Harm and Mac. "That's why I have a hot plate of homemade cookies and a jug of ice cold milk all waiting for you in the kitchen…"
"Cool," Josh and Chloe exclaimed at the same time, earning a smile from all three adults.
Sarah then looked at Harm. "I have a surprise for you," she told him, smiling.
Harm looked confused. "What is it, Gram?" he asked.
Sarah looked toward the porch and called out, "Come on out here and say hello!"
From the inside of the house stepped a tall teenager with dark hair and piercing sea-color eyes—the Rabb eyes.
Harm and Mac both stared at him in complete surprise.
"Hello, brother," Sergei greeted his older brother. "You are very surprised, I take it?"
TBC...