Red Mittens and a Rose Garden – the Trisha Pike Chronicles,
Ch23 – "New parents and sleepless nights"
A/N: AU. What if there was a long-term consequence to the weekend romp between Lt Caitlin Pike and Lt Harmon Rabb Jr at that motel back in the summer of 1996? What is the responsible way to deal with an unexpected aftermath?
A/N – link to Canon Episodes: A "post-canon" timeline puts this into "JAG Season 24…" (solely for those who want to count! "Season 24" would start around 20-Sep-2018).
A/N: Publication date: 01-06-2020:
Notes: Mike, UK, 01-Jun-2020 – msg... Just a little homecoming! Happy new month to all my readers.
Characters from FFNET – C Pike, H Rabb jr, Faith McBurney-Coleman plus OC
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Ch23 – "New parents and sleepless nights"
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Friday 2nd November 2018 – 19:39hrs EST
Superintendent's Apartment, The Buchanan House, US Naval Academy, Annapolis MD:
Harm unlocked the front door and began the task of offloading his car into the foyer of The Residence. He knew that, over the coming weekends, he and Caitlin would be moving their possessions out from the penthouse in Falls Church and into here. As he grounded the first bags and turned around to return to the car, Caitlin waddled slowly into the lounge – giving a passable impression of John Wayne after he had dismounted from a large horse at the end of a journey across Montana, Missouri or New Mexico. She looked sore and was walking gingerly at the end of her second day after giving birth to Samuel.
Harm would not wish his wife's discomfort on anyone; he would be pleased to do anything within his power to take away the pain and discomfort that she was experiencing.
He realised that he may very well need to seek his daughter's assistance – and he reminded himself to ask her when she popped round - *if* she came around visiting, he corrected himself. He knew that Trisha Pike, USNA, had her own life, activities and circle of friends.
As he was taking the third load of items into the Residence, a sound of light footsteps closed in across the gravel parking circle.
"Good evening Harm; I wondered whether you might make it home tonight."
"Faith, good evening and thanks for all your help this week."
"Ah, de nada, Harm – glad to help a friend. I saw your car arriving from across the site. The reason for my visit is that I have an hour spare now – may I offer another pair of hands to assist you?"
Faith was still in uniform and the late hour of her arrival gave an indication of the workload which his staff and colleagues were sharing – uncomplainingly – between themselves during his absence.
"I am sure that the answer is yes, but kindly refer your wonderful offer to the lady in charge – first room on the right through there, I think." replied Harm pointing a leg at the lounge door within the Residence. "I'm certainly taking these suitcases upstairs; back shortly."
"On the case, Boss-man" smiled Faith with a faux-salute as she headed further into the Residence. As a thought occurred to her and she stopped, spinning around on her heel to address Harm.
"Oh Harm, with Thanksgiving coming up (three weeks from yesterday on the 22nd) – Jack and I have made an executive decision that you guys are coming to us. No arguments, just think of the sleepless nights ahead."
She flashed him her lopsided "Vulcan smile" and, yet again, Harm was heartily glad of Faith's compassion and generosity.
"Thanks Faith – invitation accepted. Please let 'Domestic Goddess' know as well."
"Sure thing Harm; on my way there now."
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Ten minutes later, the car was offloaded and Faith was sipping tea with Caitlin in the main lounge, reminiscing about her first few nights as a new mom to Loren and Maria, over a decade previously.
"I know that they say we women are biologically programmed to forget the pain of childbirth, but they are right", she admitted. "How else do we explain the fact that, having gone through the squeezing and the straining and the pain once, we do it again some time later?" She shook her head. "Plus I take my hat off to you, Caitlin (I wasn't going to say this before) undertaking this once again after more than two decades of getting fit, getting back to work and enjoying the company of your young adult."
Cait looked at her over the rim of her teacup. "But Faith, I don't think you have ever been exposed to the full-on, 100-watt, Harmon Rabb "melt your resistance and open you up" smile.
Faith smiled and leaned forward, whispering a secret to Cait. "But his reputation *had* preceded him here – Jack jokingly offered me a padlock for my pants on the first day!"
"No! Surely the calm Vulcan would resist his charms?"
"Well remember Caitlin, I *am" half Romulan! We do have our secret desires and passions on the twin planets, you know!"
"Yeah right – but that *was* one heck of a costume for Hallowe'en."
The two women laughed in pleasant companionship – just as Trisha strode through the door.
"Hello the house – oh hello Captain… - er, Faith. Hey Mom, how can I help?"
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Saturday 3rd November 2018 – 03:56hrs EST
Superintendent's Apartment, The Buchanan House, US Naval Academy, Annapolis MD:
Harm arose, woken by his new-born son's gurgling. A quick "whiff test" confirmed a full diaper, so he set about the routine cleaning and re-clothing routine in the ensuite bathroom, having closed the door in the hopes that Caitlin would not be awoken. She was clearly still sleep-deprived (as was he) from the interruption of their son's arrival early two days before. After cleaning Samuel, Harm took the new-born down to the kitchen, where he warmed up some milk which Caitlin had expressed earlier after the final feed of the evening.
Idly thinking about life in general as Samuel fed from the bottle, Harm realised that he still felt slightly deprived that Caitlin had never told him about Trisha's conception and – even more importantly – her birth all those years ago.
However, he had to admit it. His now-wife had done a superb job of bringing up their daughter all those years ago and he was truly honoured that she had agreed to go through the disruption, inconvenience and pain of a middle-age pregnancy to give him the son who now lay peacefully in his arms.
Returning upstairs, Harm unlocked the bedroom door and placed Samuel back into his crib.
Ten minutes later, with near-synchronised breathing patterns, the three Rabbs slumbered peacefully towards the dawn.
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End Ch23 – "New parents and sleepless nights"
Notes: Mike, UK, 01-Jun-2020 – msg...