Chapter Ten: Eagles in Flight
Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. It was a perfect day for flying. A breeze off the ocean, only a few miles away, kept the day comfortable rather than hot. The crowd started arriving at seven o'clock, three hours before the scheduled start time. Although the show itself was free, there was a requested donation of $10.00 per person or $15.00 per family. Most people were happy to donate. Three bands, a rock band, a country band, and a pop band, had volunteered their time and talents, playing for free in exchange for the publicity.
The crowd was in a good mood. It was a beautiful day and the breeze was wafting the delightful smells from the various food vendors over the seating area. Food and drink vendors weren't the only kind there. There were toys for the kids, T-shirts, hats, souvenirs, books, videos and just about anything aviation related, including rides on the B-17 and B-25.
A huge Diamondvision screen had been set up, and the crowd quieted as it lit up with the announcer's face. "Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of the colors and the National Anthem, which will be sung by the star of stage and screen, Shannon Delaney. The colors will be presented by the United States Marine composite color guard."
The colors presented and the National Anthem was sung, and after the color guard retired, the announcer stepped up again. "Ladies and gentlemen, to begin the show I would like to present to you the man behind Wings of Fury, and star of the show, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Rogers."
Rick stepped up. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming, and thank you for your generous donations. To correct our announcer, I am not the star of the show. There is no one star. My fellow pilots are the stars. The combat aircraft you will see today are the stars, but most of all the real stars of this show are the ghosts of men who fought so gallantly and are no longer with us, physically. But they will always be with us if we remember, if we teach our children to remember, and if they teach theirs. Now some of you why I have included aircraft in the show that were once flown by enemies. We should all remember that just because a man is an enemy doesn't mean that he isn't a brave man. He probably loves his country just as much as we love ours. He may believe that his ideology is the right one and he may fight just as hard to defend it. Thank you. Now, let the show begin!"
The crowd reacted to a roar as the Blue Angels thundered overhead in the diamond-four formation.
New York City, eight days earlier
An exhausted Kate Beckett flopped down on her couch. The case they had just finished had been horrible. The murder of twin girls and their mother by a crazy ex-boyfriend had taken so much out of her that she had barely eaten or slept. She hadn't talked to Alexis in five days. Her phone rang then. Her eyes lit up when it said it was Alexis. She answered it.
"Kate, this is Alexis. Can you come over to the loft? I really need to talk to you!"
Kate sighed and rolled her eyes. "What has your father done now?"
"I really don't want to talk about it over the phone."
Kate sighed again. "Okay, give me an hour to take a bath then I'll pick up a pizza and be over."
With Martha's approval, Alexis had a key to the loft made and gave it to Kate. She walked into the loft with the pizza and a large bottle of diet cola. Alexis and Martha were waiting for her. "Let's eat first and then we can talk," Kate said. Alexis exchanged a glance with her grandmother, but agreed. They ate the pizza and Martha poured glasses of wine for Kate and herself.
Kate settled on the couch and said, "Okay, Alexis, what has he done now to upset you? And maybe me.
Alexis rolled her eyes, a copy of Kate's mannerism, and said, "He's done something really stupid this time, or rather let it be done to him. It wasn't his idea. He's been recalled into the Marine Corps." Kate almost dropped her glass, her voice raised sharply in surprise.
"He's done what? Isn't he a bit old for a captain?"
"He's not a captain, they recalled him as a lieutenant colonel as a special assignment officer. The general told me that he won't see any hazardous duty."
Kate shook her head and almost growled, "Just how long do you think that will last? You know your father, if there's a way to finagle something he'll find it and if there's a way to get in trouble, he'll surely find it! I'll bet a hundred bucks that they used that 'Once a Marine always a Marine' on him. He's a pilot, Alexis; he's going to want to fly. Oh, God help us."
Of all the things that Rick might have done, this one never crossed her mind. It was just so bizarre. She didn't know if she could handle it. What could the Marines ask of him? She had no clue. Would it take him away where she couldn't reach him? She didn't know. Could they all lose him to the fog of war? It just wasn't right. Hadn't he done enough? Apparently neither he nor the Marines thought so. God, she wanted to scream in frustration, yet she couldn't break down in front of Alexis.
She decided to spend the night in the loft as she was just too tired to drive home. Maybe things would look better in the morning. She had the day off so she and Alexis spent the day shopping. Alexis wanted a few things for school and Kate needed the distraction. They stopped for lunch and were about half way through when Kate's phone rang. It was Lanie.
Kate answered with a short tone. "What do you want, Lanie? I'm trying to finish my lunch. I'm with Alexis."
"Tone down, girl. This is important. Have you seen the paper? Especially page six? If you haven't, you'd better finish your lunch, pronto, and get over here. Bring Alexis with you. We've got some planning to do."
They arrived at Lanie's apartment only minutes after her call, both very worried about what they might find out about the unpredictable Rick Castle. (Kate still couldn't think of him as Rogers) Lanie opened the door and practically dragged Kate inside. Kate couldn't always reconcile the calm personality and professional demeanor of Dr. Parish the pathologist with the excitable Lanie Parish her best female friend.
"Girl, you gotta to do something big, right now, or there's gonna be a disaster. Look at this!"
Lanie had a couple of newspapers spread out on her coffee table. One was the infamous, almost a tabloid, paper with the gossip trending on page six, and the other the society page of the more responsible major New York newspaper. Apparently Kristina Cottera hadn't completely learned her lesson, because while toned down somewhat, there was still an edge of snark in her writing.
Wings of Fury to wings of love? Apparently, dear readers, those naval aviator's wings on our dear Ricky's chest enabled him to fly right into the arms of Venus. Who is the beautiful lady dancing with the Marine Corps' newest lieutenant colonel? Doesn't she look happy, doesn't he? Has inter-service rivalry turned into inter-service revelry? I hear that service slang for jet fighters is fast movers…does that apply to their pilots as well?
The society page article was much more measured. A celebrity's generosity and courage. San Diego California. Our West Coast reporter managed to catch these images of one of New York's favorite sons and popular bachelors at a charity ball at San Diego's famous Hotel Del Coronado. The celebrity author Rick Castle, now going by his birth name of Richard Rogers, has returned to the service as a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. A highly decorated combat veteran, Colonel Rogers has revealed a softer, generous side. Our sources tell us that due to a combination of his bids to the ball and the donation of two complete sets of his books to the silent auction. $11,000 was his contribution to a worthy cause. It appears that not only the charity has gained, perhaps so have Colonel Rogers and the lovely Navy commander he's dancing with. Is there romance in the air?
Kate's anger finally kicked in. Mostly angry at herself for all that she had done over the years to deny her feeling and push Rick away, but also angry at Rick for just shutting her out. She understood why he did it and even sympathized, but whether or not it was justified, it hurt and that made her angry. Also justified or not, she viewed Rick as hers, HER man, and no one took what was hers.
"Oh, hell no! This is not going to happen!" Kate seethed. "Damn it, Rick is supposed to be mine and he's damn well going to be. No hot lady sailor is going to steal him from me! I'm going out there. I can't believe that I was so foolish about distracting him. If she's going to distract him, I can do a better job. Alexis, do you and Martha still want to go along?"
Alexis grinned from ear to ear. "You bet we do, Kate. I'll call Grams."
Alexis' grin was no wider than the one that Lanie was sporting. With laugher in her voice, she said, "You go girl. It's about time that you got your head out of your ass."
Kate sighed, a little frustrated. "We can't leave till Monday. I've got to clear it with Gates. I'm going to take two weeks of vacation and then request more if I need it. I have so much vacation time banked up that she can't deny it, but I still have to clear it with her."
Alexis had a quick conversation with Martha. "Okay, Grams is all for it but she can't leave until Monday either. She needs to arrange things with her acting school."
Lanie grinned so wide that someone might think that she was related to a shark. "Well, since we can't do much more today, let's go shopping, Kate, and we'll get you a couple of outfits that will knock writer-boy's socks off. Or even better, his pants off."
Alexis made a show of covering her ears. "Eww, Lanie that's my dad you're talking about."
Lanie just grinned again. "Don't be silly girl, how do you think you got here?"
Kate's phone rang again. This time it was Esposito. "Hey, Beckett, why didn't you tell us about Castle's latest escapade? I don't mean the dance, I mean his going back into the Marines? I'd sure like to know what that's all about, that's definitely not one of his stunts. The Corps would never go along with it."
Sadly, Kate said, "No, it's not. Alexis talked directly to a general. It's the real thing. I don't understand why he did it. At least he won't be doing anything dangerous."
Esposito snorted. "Does Alexis have that in writing? If not you'd better realize that the Corps will do what it wants to. Or Castle talks them into. I was Army Special Forces and I know for a fact that there are two kinds of Marines that are just plain bug house crazy. Recon Marines and fighter pilots."
Kate managed to repress the stab of worry that followed Esposito's statement. "Alexis told me that all he will be doing is articles and appearances for the recruiting command and public relations but he has to attend some kind of refresher course."
Esposito thought for a minute and said, "Where at?"
"Alexis said Quantico," Kate replied.
Esposito said, "Well that's good then, Marine Schools are at Quantico. Be thankful she didn't say Pensacola."
"Why, what's at Pensacola?"
"Naval flight school."
Kate was still worried after talking with Esposito, but tried to hold it down while she went shopping with Alexis and Lanie. Lanie talked Kate into buying three new outfits and a trip to Victoria's Secret. They returned to Kate's apartment and packed her bags. Alexis had talked her to staying in the loft until they left for California. As much as Alexis and Martha tried to distract and amuse her, Kate was tense all weekend.
Despite her best efforts, there was so much red tape involved with taking two weeks off at such short notice and a screw up by the airlines that it was late Monday afternoon before they were able to leave New York. They got into San Diego after eight o'clock and by the time they rented a car, had a quick dinner at a MacDonald's and checked into their hotel, it was almost ten. The tired women simply went to bed.
Due to the tiring day they'd had and the emotional stress, Kate slept for twelve hours straight. She finally woke up when Alexis passed a coffee cup under her nose. She groaned and sat up, gratefully accepting the coffee. She took a deep draught of the coffee before looking at her watch. She almost spilled the coffee when she yelped. "Oh, crap, it's almost ten o'clock!"
She almost burned her throat as she gulped the rest of the cup then shed clothes as she ran for the shower. Even taking a quick shower, by the time she was dressed, applied her make-up, and they'd all had breakfast it was 11:30. She called Rick but it went directly to voice mail.
"You have reached the phone of Richard Rogers. I am unable to answer your call at this time. Please leave a message or contact my office at…
Kate wasn't about to leave a message. She knew how that would go. She'd picked up a flyer for the airshow which gave a contact number. To her surprise she got an actual human being. "Wings of Fury, this is Sylvia, may I help you?"
Kate smiled. Finally. "Hi, my name is Katherine Beckett I am an old friend of Richard Rogers. May I speak with him?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Beckett, but Colonel Rogers is operating solely from the air base. You will have to speak someone from his base office."
Kate tried the number that the operator had given her.
"Project Wings of Fury Sergeant Gleason speaking."
"Sergeant Gleason, my name is Katherine Beckett, I would like to speak to Colonel Rogers please."
"Colonel Rogers' office, Lieutenant Velazquez speaking."
"Lieutenant Velazquez, my name is Katherine Beckett, and I would like to speak to Colonel Rogers."
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but Colonel Rogers is out of the office at the moment. I am his administrative assistant. May I help you or take a message?"
"Can you tell me when he will be back?"
"No, Ma'am, I can't. The Colonel is on the flight line and will probably be flying all afternoon."
Kate hung up, thoroughly frustrated. On the base, Samantha hung up thinking, "I don't know who you are but there's something in your voice... who are you really to Ricky?"
Samantha hadn't lied. Rick was indeed on the flight line. Since he was once an F-18 pilot he'd convinced the brass to give him a couple of hours with an instructor then a check ride in an F-18. He'd fly a short segment in the show using an older F-18 nearing the end of its service life. They'd do a temporary paint job in 315's colors with the legend Lt. Col. Rogers beneath the canopy rail.
Kate, Alexis and Martha went to lunch and decided on a strategy. It was obvious that Rick was going to be very difficult to get hold of while preparing for the show, and Kate needed some alone time with him. The show would wrap Sunday afternoon.
After the show there would be a luau and beach party for the pilots, the aircrews, the ground crews and their families, followed by a fireworks show. There was a ten dollar charge per person for the adults, children and teens under fourteen were free. Any enlisted Marines who had worked on the show were allowed in without charge. Their plan was to attend the luau. Rick would have to be polite to Kate in public and she could pull him away for the talk. She hoped that a romantic walk on the beach would soften him up.
In the end they had to limit the number of people who could attend to no more than five hundred people. They pretty much had to invite the base senior officers, and when Sergeant Jenkins starting talking about Lieutenant Rogers the party animal, everyone in VFMA 315 wanted to attend. Samantha was licking her lips in anticipation.
Martha decided that she would call Rick that afternoon and tell him that she and Alexis had come out for the show and ask him if they could have dinner with him tomorrow night. She didn't tell him that Kate came with them. Kate had decided that despite her need to see him it was still best to wait until Sunday. Rick didn't need the stress when he had to fly and there were no social activities before Sunday evening anyway.
When Martha managed to reach Rick that afternoon, he was overjoyed to hear from her and happy that the hatchet appeared to be buried. He invited them out to the officer's club for dinner. He wanted them to meet some of his brother officers and their wives.
Kate thought that since she'd taken vacation days to do this, why not turn it into just that? Take some time to enjoy the beauty of San Diego, lie on the beach, do some shopping and spend quality time with Alexis and Martha. The world-famous San Diego Zoo was especially attractive to Alexis, and Martha wanted to see a play in Balboa Park's replica of Shakespeare's Old Globe Theater.
Wednesday evening Martha and Alexis arrived at the gate of MCAS Miramar. Rick had left their names on the list, and after checking their names against the list and verifying their ID's, the person at the gate gave them directions to the officer's club. Both Martha and Alexis wore simple but elegant dresses for the evening. Rick met them at the door to the club, resplendent in his dress blues.
After both women exchanged hugs with Rick, Martha said, "Richard, I had hoped to never see you in that uniform again, but since I can't do anything about it, I must say you look splendid in it, very handsome and very martial."
Alexis chimed in. "Yeah, Dad, you look great. I don't like it but you look great." She could help sneaking a snarky remark in. "Break any new hearts yet?"
He wasn't at all fazed by it. "Not yet but I'm working on it."
Martha glared at both of them, her anger evident.
"Knock it off, both of you. I won't stand for it. I'm here to enjoy an evening with my son. Neither one of you is going to ruin it." Rick had the grace to look chagrinned, Alexis still looked rebellious. "I mean it, Alexis, behave, or you can turn around and go home right now!"
Alexis settled down, so Rick escorted them over to a large table. Several people were waiting. Rick said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to my mother, Martha Rogers, and my daughter Alexis. Mother, Alexis, I would like to introduce the base commander Colonel Paul Hardesty, his wife Helen, the squadron commander of VFMA315 Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Lawrence, his wife Britta, and my administrative assistant Lieutenant Samantha Velazquez."
After they had all shaken hands, Colonel Hardesty said, "Ms. Rogers, I know that you would probably prefer to spend time alone with your son and granddaughter, but we would appreciate it if you would grace our table this evening. I think that you will find it rewarding."
Martha beamed. "How could I possibly refuse such a gracious invitation? We would be delighted to join you." It will help keep Alexis' smart mouth in check.
They all sat and ordered their favorite aperitifs while perusing the menu. Alexis took an instant dislike to Samantha. She definitely didn't like the coy glances Samantha was giving her father. At least he's not returning them, thank goodness for that much. You're much too young for my father and could cause a huge amount of trouble for him. Besides, there is one woman who is right for him. You're not getting in the way.
Colonel Hardesty looked right at Martha and smiled gently. "Ms. Rogers, I am quite certain that you are not pleased that your son is back in uniform, I can sympathize with that. However, the country needs him. No, not as a combat officer but something quite more difficult to obtain.
"He's a genuine hero who does not flaunt his status, a man of the people as it were. A man to inspire others. Other young men will say, 'I started out like him, I can finish like him.' I doubt, Ms. Rogers, if you know how brave your son really is."
He laughed at the look on Rick's face. "Don't look so embarrassed, Colonel, it's all true. You should be used to the spotlight by now. There are not many men who can win three of our nation's highest awards for valor in so short a time."
"Three awards for valor?" Martha asked her eyes wide in shock. Alexis' mouth hung open. "Yes, Ms. Rogers," the colonel replied. "The Navy Cross, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross with v device for valor. Also the Purple Heart for wounded in action."
"He never told us any of this," Martha said, eyeing her son.
Rather desperately, Rick said, "Can we just get past all this and get to enjoying our dinner?"
After that the conversation turned to lighter things. The food arrived and both Martha and Alexis realized that they were having a great time, their pre-conceived ideas of what professional officers were like went right out the window. Alexis was enjoying herself but she kept a wary eye on Samantha. The woman's eyes were shining as she looked at Rick. Alexis feared she might have to take direct action.
The evening passed quickly without anything happening that shouldn't have. Martha and Alexis returned to their hotel. Thursday and Friday passed with Rick busy with the airshow and the three women enjoying a mini-vacation. Only one incident marred their vacation. While Kate and Alexis were enjoying the beach, a young surfer tried to hit on Alexis rather aggressively. He reached out to grab her arm and found himself face down in the sand with his arm jerked painfully behind his back and a very angry female saying, "Try to hit on my daughter again and I'll break it."
The surfer ran off. Kate and Alexis staring at each other in shock at what Kate had just said. Suddenly Alexis started laughing and said, "It will be 'Mom,' I promise it will be."