Making a continued commitment

by fictionalmike

In 2018 I discovered the 2009 Harm-Meg story "Making a Commitment" by the excellent author VisualIDentificationZeta. It struck me that this story had further potential, but in the 14th and final chapter of the original, Vidz confessed a lack of ideas to take the story forward. I offered to take on this task in due course: I am delighted and honoured to have been entrusted by Vidz.

9. Chapter 9 - Thanksgiving 2001

Ch09: of "Making a Continued Commitment": Thanksgiving 2001:

A/N: AU. 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.

A/N: AU: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any fictional character created by myself". See Phase One of this story for the whole disclaimer A/N. Feel free to PM me if you spot any typos - my goal is 100% error-free. Feedback and comments are also welcome; I see plenty of followers and visitors to this story. Your opinions, critiques (and requests as PMs) are always helpful - and welcomed. I pay tribute to my wonderful beta-reader and muse, Syrae. Welcome back.

A/N: Originally inspired by the original story "Making a Commitment" by the excellent author VisualIdentificationZeta (summarised in Chapter One of this story). So, we now continue the further adventures of Harm and Meg, post-9/11, as they share married life with their little daughter Amanda.

A/N: Publication date: 25-Nov-2020: A happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, to all our American friends in the USA and around the world..

A/N – link to Canon Episodes: "People v Rabb" (S03Ep10) first broadcast 25-Nov-1997; "Redemption" (S07Ep06), first broadcast 30-Oct-2001; "Answered Prayers (S07Ep11) first broadcast 11-Dec-2001); also RL.

Characters from FFNET – H Rabb; Megan Austin-Rabb and OC.

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Monday 29th October 2001, 06:55hrs EDT

78xx rebel Drive, Annandale, VA 22003

"Right, we are all packed. Daddy, say goodbye to Amanda-baby."

"Sure thing, Mrs Rabb. Hey, do you realise that she'll be into the 'Terrible Twos' after Christmas?"

"Yes Harm, but so far she's been very good; she loves the day-care at NCIS and she has some play-friends there whose parents are in the building long-term."

Megan's reply reminded Harm that, at some point, it was possible that his wife would be returning to the Pentagon once the rebuild under Project Phoenix had completed. However, he realised that completion was almost a year away - and simply wasn't worth worrying about. He hugged his baby daughter and kissed his wife as she gathered everything for the short walk out onto the driveway where her Mustang sat ready for the drive to NCIS. The Mustang's roof was up, reflecting the falling temperatures in the DC area as November loomed on the horizon.

His eyes lingered on the rear view of his wife. He admired the lines of her trim civilian pant-suit which was the "rig of the day" in NCIS offices (the armed forces were still adopting a lower-visibility set of uniform wearing, as the "War on Terror" was swinging into full-scale action around the world).

Megan had invited Mac, a few weekends back, to accompany and advise her, giving a second opinion as to Meg's new work outfits. It was part of the way in which Megan Rabb was determined to ensure that Sarah Mackenzie remained in the Rabb circle of friends without any feelings of awkwardness. On the shopping expeditions, Sarah had also bought a couple of formal suits: "just in case I need to show up in civilian life again" as she explained, after revealing that she could still fit into the suits which she had acquired with her first pay-check from Dalton's law firm some four years previously. The two women had spent an enjoyable day (and a significant amount of money) and Meg's mission was accomplished: the wardrobes in the dressing room of Rebel Drive were filled with her outfits.

Yes, Harm mused to himself, his wife always showed off her clothes to good effect. He could always admire the view, as she walked towards him or headed away from him. He was one lucky man!

He waited in the doorway until Meg had pulled away down the driveway, then closed up and headed back inside where he policed the kitchen area, finished his coffee and set the dishwasher running.

The morning routine in the Rabb household was running smoothly, at the end of the family's first full month in their new home. They had been pleased to hear that Mrs Brovo had settled into her new home in Florida. Being closer to her family and grandchildren was evidently healing the gap in her life caused by Admiral Brovo's untimely demise.

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Tuesday 30th October 2001, 08:59hrs EDT

Conference Room, JAG contingency HQ, old office site, Falls Church VA

Harm strode down the corridor towards the conference room with coffee and papers in hand. He had barely settled when the Admiral strode in. Once everyone was seated, Harm was Chegwidden's first order of business.

"Morning, Commander Rabb. I hope that you have your sea-bag packed."

"Yes, Admiral" (the "of course" was unspoken). The Admiral was sure that Meg would have straightened Harm out – Harm had been seriously infamous for being unprepared and chaotic when it came to his seabag! Definitely score one to Mrs Rabb, mused the Admiral.

Very quickly, the Admiral handed him a case – improper fraternisation against his old friend Scott Webster. A trip to Pax River beckoned. He called Meg to alert her to his likely absence but had to leave her a voicemail. The "leave her a voicemail" routine (rather than being able to locate her by phone) was becoming usual as Meg slid steadily deeper into the "Secret Squirrel" duties in the post-9/11 world in which US authorities found themselves operating.

By the time he had returned, the mysterious and usually-reserved Lt Loren Singer would – entirely out-of-character – have assisted Lt Isabel Maat by spiriting her and her daughter away, whilst Mac would find herself taking the father to the deck when he became abusive and violent in the middle of the bull-pen.

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Friday 2nd November 2001, 17:55hrs EDT

NCIS Cyber Operations, Navy Yard, Washington DC

Meg unclipped the vibrating cell-phone from her leather belt. At this time of day, dollars to doughnuts it was her husband, checking up on her. Earlier in the year, she would probably have regarded this as slightly spooky, but since her near-miss on 9/11 she was glad to know that Harm was watching over her and Amanda.

She answered the call with a cheerful laugh in her voice.

"Hey darling, just heading for the door; Amanda has been well-behaved and I am really looking forward to us all being together for the weekend."

"Same here, Mrs Rabb. We need to get the guest suite prepped, with Mom and Frank coming back across on the 17th ahead of Thanksgiving. I presume that you're not engaging in retail therapy again this weekend?"

"No Harm, I'll be at home with my lovely husband, our child and our list of decorating chores. Now don't worry - both Mac and I have the wardrobe spaces all taken up for now."

"OK, safe journey then, Megan; I love you."

"I love you too, Harm – see you at home."

An hour later, Harm finalised his last report, spell-checked it and sent it to the printer. Signing the resulting papers, he placed everything into a document file and walked them through to the ante-room which housed the Admiral's yeoman. Tiner was just starting to close up.

"Two more for the Admiral when he has space – just closure reports, all done with nothing outstanding, Tiner."

"Understood, Commander. So, a weekend at home with the family, Commander?"

"Yes, I hope so Tiner. I am not on call and I understand that the other Commander Rabb is also stood down from NCIS this weekend. So we have time to prep our new home for Thanksgiving and spend time with our lovely daughter."

"That sounds idyllic, Commander; I shall see you on Monday. Goodnight."

At that moment, Chegwidden's head appeared through the door to his room. He picked up a pile of files from Tiner's desk and nodded to Harm as he turned to head back into his office.

"Don't let me delay you, Commander. Go and enjoy your family life. I trust that the other Commander Rabb is settled into the new NCIS workspace?"

"Indeed she is, Admiral and thank you for asking. Will that be all, sir?"

"Yes Commander, dismissed."

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Sunday 4th November 2001, 07:03hrs EDT

78xx Rebel Drive, Annandale, VA 22003

"OK, little Miss Amanda, let's see if this sippy cup will keep you quiet for a while." As a backup, Harm also had a stack of play blocks and other toys to play with, to keep Amanda quiet.

Harm's ploy worked. Amanda settled back down – giving her parents a precious half-hour to rekindle their relationship. A little later, both hot and sweaty, Harm and Megan shared the large shower stall in their en-suite bathroom.

As their bodies cooled down on the bed, Harm looked proudly across Megan's smooth stomach profile. He was very proud – and impressed – by how quickly and completely she had regained her trim figure after the birth.

A slender hand, wedding band in place, descended gently and ruffled his hair.

"Like what you see, Sailor?"

"Oh yes ma'am" he replied, then proceeded to lay a trail of kissed up the line of Megan's body, from the line of her panties, through the valley between her breasts until they were engaged in a short bout of husband-and-wife tonsil hockey.

At which point the telephone rang!

"Aw heck, who's calling at 08:15 on a Sunday?"

"Hey kiddies, we have another foal in Texas." Hazel Austin's excited voice carried over the wires from Texas.

Both Harm and Meg had forgotten that her mom had been up most of the night in the stables, where one of the old brood mares had been suffering some complications in the birth of one of the new foals.

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After the update from Texas, Harm and Meg got themselves dressed and then prepared the breakfast table before Meg went to get Amanda.

The whole family enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before they set about preparing the next room on the list, ahead of Thanksgiving.

Megan installed the final touch as they completed the setup just after 1245hrs on the Sunday lunchtime. She unveiled and paced an embroidered sign which, apart from bearing the Texas flag and the great bear of California state flag, also bore a simple but very important message:

Home Sweet Home.

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The upcoming Thanksgiving would be very special in this disrupted year of 2001.

End of Chapter 09 of "Making a continued commitment";

Mike: England, 25-11-2020