"The long road to justice" - Ch05 – "Communication and closeness"
AU: a speculative story, imagining the unpublished back story of Faith Coleman in the JAG supporting cast, who crossed over into the early days of NCIS. (See Ch 01 for disclaimers).
A/N: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any character created by myself".
Summary: this is a fictional story, in a fictional (slightly) Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005 and its spin-off.
Canon: Linking the story into the Season eight "death of Loren Singer" episodes, then onwards to a couple of early (S1/S2) NCIS episodes as the chapters develop. Mike
A/N published 12APR2021: because there is no "back-story" to so many of the JAG characters, I have let my imagination roam around Faith Coleman's possible back-story - and I hope you enjoy it. This will circle around into the events of my story "Red Mittens and a Rose Garden". Comments and PMs and suggestions are most welcome; I shall update periodically. Mike
A/N: Welcome back to my wonderful beta, Syrae; great to have the benefit of your input again.
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Ch05 – "Communication and closeness"
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Saturday 3rd May 2003, 18:25 hrs EST
Faith Coleman's apartment block, Chevy Chase MD, 20815
Faith and Jack had continued chatting happily after the drive back from Arlington. As Faith's car rolled precisely into her space in the underground car park, Jack had quickly stepped out from his car in the visitor space, walked around to her driver's door and then held the door open for Faith as she dismounted. She acknowledged the courtesy with a smile which, he noticed, had become less restrained as the Saturday had progressed.
This was a woman with a lovely range of smiles – not just the almost-hidden, demure, slightly-nervous face which he had seen her present to the world during the preceding month. There was a full-on, radiant, "happy-woman-comfortable-with-herself" smile; he realised that she shared the smile with only a chosen few. He felt honoured that Faith felt so confident in his presence.
"Don't screw this up, McBurney" he thought to himself as he watched Faith lock the car.
Once inside her apartment, Faith headed for the coffee-maker and set the next brew in motion, then looked at him across the breakfast bar.
"Jack, just let me get my shoes put away and then you can tell me what your plans are for this evening."
"Sure thing, Faith. Let me take charge of the coffee."
He watched as she used a duster to remove any visible marks from her footwear, then placed the shoes neatly onto the cupboard in the entrance hall. She turned to him and smiled once more, taking a stool at the breakfast bar. She noted that he was already quite at home in her kitchen, having located the fridge and also the cutlery drawer.
He handed her a coffee and they moved in unison to the sofa, where she had opened up to him, just a few hours earlier, about her history.
"I have to say, that was a first for me – my potential new girlfriend getting me checked out by her late husband."
"Well, how many widows have you dated, Jack?"
"Until today, not a one, Faith. And frankly, I'm hoping that I would never – ever – need to look for another girlfriend after today."
"Hmm, confident, cocky or just optimistic? So, counsellor, examining the previous statement of the witness: am I your potential new girlfriend?"
Her eyes were sparkling and her lips were curved in the most-beautiful smile.
He decided to take advantage of her questioning. He leaned in closer. "I am combining optimism with my experience of today, the trust which you have placed in me and an increasing feeling of comfort which has been growing these past few weeks between us."
Their foreheads rested gently together, then he gently – and oh so slowly – brought his lips against Faith's, just brushing her mouth without forcing the pace. He immediately pulled back – just ever so slightly - and pressed his forehead to hers once again. Running through his mind was the good man's mantra: "Check that she actually does consent."
"Is this OK with you?"
"Oh hell yes, Jack."
Her eyes, which had briefly closed, opened and he realised what people meant about them being a window to the soul. Faith Coleman was baring her soul to him – and only him - and she was quite content to be doing so.
He paused. "OK Faith, so that I don't make the wrong move or push too far, how would you like to proceed, my lady?"
"I think the old Navy expression 'steady as she goes' would be entirely appropriate. In brutal, practical terms for today, the clothes stay on – OK?"
"Absolutely. I fancy a slow courtship."
"Hmm, sounds interesting." She frowned. "When you say slow, what did you have in mind?"
"How about slowly over the next two months? Our postings and workloads are bound to conspire against us so I was thinking how about Friday July 4th at the JAG sports day?"
"What, you mean we come out then, in public?"
Jack wasn't sure whether Faith was merely surprised by the timing, or slightly concerned about ultimate exposure to their colleagues at JAG. He needed to be certain.
"July 4th works for me, Faith. If we can get together at weekends in the intervening months to go running somewhere – DC and Rock Creek Park by default obviously, but whenever we are in the same location – then let's see how things go. From what you have already told me – and what you haven't told me yet – I want us to move through each step in trust and with confidence as we progress. You own the ultimate timescale - OK?"
"Does this mean that you have an end-game in mind, Jack?"
He paused, momentarily uncertain. He looked at her as she pulled her head back fractionally then nodded, adding a second question.
"Go on Jack, this is your call. What do you see happening next?"
Jack suddenly realised that they were lying side-by-side on Faith's sofa, face-to-face and kneecap-to-kneecap – and it felt utterly comfortable and completely right. She brought her free hand up to brush a strand of hair from her forehead, then reached down for his free hand. Squeezing it, she rubbed her fingers over the back of his hand.
At which point his stomach rumbled once again!
He groaned, fearful that the moment had been lost. Noticing his concerned expression, she smiled, gripped his hand more firmly and then kissed him. "I am learning lessons about my Marine – regular food is clearly more important than making out."
"Oh, don't you be too sure, Lady Sailor – this Marine has bypassed Valhalla and the Halls of Montezuma today and he is thinking that he has gone straight to heaven, courtesy of the US Navy!"
She leaned her head backwards, once more gaining a little separation in order to look at him. "Then it is time that the gods shared their Ambrosia – come on, McBurney, this hungry sailor also needs satisfying." At his raised eyebrow, she snorted with laughter. "With food, you clown - *that* comes sometime later when you deserve your present."
She executed a simple back-flip to roll off the sofa then she stood up, extending a hand down to Jack in order to help him upright.
Together, they expressed their response to what had just happened.
"Wow!"
"Oh yeah, wow."
"So Jack, what's in store for an eatery?"
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Saturday 3rd May 2003, 19:04hrs EST
Faith Coleman's apartment block, Chevy Chase MD, 20815
Half an hour later Faith and Jack agreed to call for a taxi, because both were planning to drink.
"Jack, the spare room is made up; let's assume you'll be stopping over."
"Are you sure?"
"Jack, I haven't been this sure about something for about seven years. So, before we get back here, I need feeding and I know that you are in "Hungry Marine" mode. Where are you taking me?"
"I know we spoke about Salvatore's in the aftermath of the court hearing, but how would you fancy a really good steak?"
"Jack, you're speaking my language!"
"OK, I know just the place."
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Saturday 3rd May 2003, 19:50hrs EST
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, 7315 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
Faith's eyes widened as she surveyed the menu.
"Oh wow, Jack, you can bring me here again."
"Well, whilst that is reassuring for our future relationship, I am hoping to beat you in court as often as you claim victories, my dear Lady Sailor. So maybe sometimes *you* can bring *me* here."
She nodded enthusiastically. "Aye-aye, good point, Mister Marine."
"Now, they have some lovely American wines from the Niagara region – the 'Henry of Pelham' Cabernet Merlot was great the last time I came here."
"Then Henry of Pelham it shall be." The server headed off to find the wine, returning with a decanter.
Subconsciously, they both held up their glasses.
"A toast? To us, to the law and - finally - to many more opportunities to be together."
"Yes please!"
She smiled – the conversation was flowing easily and she felt utterly comfortable with the man seated opposite her.
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Saturday 3rd May 2003, 22:03hrs EST
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, 7315 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
Two hours later, after wonderful steaks, a bottle of sumptuous red wine and a New York cheesecake split between the pair of them, Faith and Jack were finishing their coffees and – reluctantly - ready to head out. The conversation had flowed all evening and Jack had brought Faith up to date regarding his elder sister (who lived and worked in Phoenix) and his parents who were enjoying their retirement in the warmth of Fort Lauderdale.
Anyone passing the table would have taken them for a long-married (or at least long-established in the absence of wedding bands) couple, rather than two attorneys on their first "date night", feeling their way around the inevitable hazards of a modern relationship.
The taxi swiftly ran them back to Faith's condominium and she headed to unlock the door as Jack paid off the taxi – fulfilling his bargain following the Singer-Rabb court case of the previous month.
After coffees on the sofa, they headed off to their respective bedrooms. Modesty was preserved for now.
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Sunday 4th May 2003, 08:13hrs EST
Faith Coleman's apartment block, Chevy Chase MD, 20815
On Sunday morning, Faith and Jack went for a quick half-hour run around the block then showered. They then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, at which point the rest of May went to hell in a hand-cart for Jack.
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An initial call from the JAG duty yeoman alerted him to a potential shooting, down at Parris Island. That took him to the heat and humidity of South Carolina for a week, after which he didn't see his apartment in Quantico until the start of June.
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From May 4th until the end of June 2003
His next JAG case took him across to Pearl Harbour to investigate a couple of injured Navy personnel who ended up in Tripler Army Medical Centre, inland from Pearl Harbour. The advantage for Jack was that he was in Pearl on the morning of Memorial Day, Monday 26th May. At the end of that day, looking out over the sun-kissed waters of the inner bay, his thoughts turned inevitably to his dark-haired USN JAG colleague. After three weeks apart, he was growing more certain than ever that Faith Coleman was steadily becoming "The One" for him. Obviously, he would need to test his hypothesis (and convince Faith of his certainty, his honesty and his desire). He knew that things were moving fairly quickly - but he also knew that this felt right.
As the long-term USMC JAG representative still on TAD to Falls Church, Jack was fairly confident of eventually returning to Falls Church. The "permanent" incumbent - Major Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie - was still away "on loan to the CIA", posing as the pregnant wife of a corrupt "diamond merchant" in an operation which rapidly headed south, in more ways than one.
The only question relating to his return was "when?"
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Faith's TAD in Falls Church had been extended. She enjoyed coming "home" to her apartment in Chevy Chase every evening (part of her clothing collection was resident in Maryland whereas most of her summer wardrobe stayed in her studio apartment in San Diego where she was nominally based). She had treated herself to a new summer whites uniform jacket and skirt, having dropped a size since re-starting her regular running sessions during her TAD to Falls Church.
Her assignment was extended to cover three further months later, when Harmon Rabb spat his dummy out and resigned. He was throwing it all away in order to be able to go to Paraguay in hopes of rescuing "Mac" when the CIA diamond op went tits-up.
She had to be honest – she gave Harm a full ten-out-of-ten for loyalty, but dumb-out-of-ten for the career management and operational preparation scores. However, she did acknowledge that it meant that she would be spending longer in Falls Church - the place where her Marine was likely to drop by. San Diego was not going to be conducive to the kind of relationship which - she was fairly certain - she wanted with "her Marine" as she automatically considered him now.
She wished Harm well, hoped he would find "Mac" and then she concentrated on keeping Falls Church stable. At least she could rely on Cmdr. Carolyn Imes and a new arrival, Cmdr. Traci Manetti. Additionally, Lt. Bud Roberts was growing in stature and confidence as his physical therapy returned him to the office. He had recovered remarkably in the year since his misstep in the Afghanistan minefield.
Watching Harriet Simms support Bud, Faith witnessed the power, love and support of a good marriage. Her thoughts began to turn to the time beyond "coffee, dinner and dates". Could Jack McBurney really be "The One" for time and all eternity in her life?
She was regularly grateful for that initial April TAD assignment to Falls Church to defend Harmon Rabb, without which she probably would never have met Jack McBurney. She still could not get her head completely around the exact reasons why she had opened up to him that day after the acquittal. However, she knew that she was truly grateful that he had – gently, politely, supportively and oh, so irresistibly – cracked open her doors and helped to lower her defences.
It was time – hell, way past time – for her to come back into the world after losing her husband: and Jack McBurney was clearly the man to help her with the process. She enjoyed any time she could spend with him, regardless of the distance and time-zones involved.
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They worked around any time-zone differences and attempted to speak at least every second weekday and always on Saturday and on Sunday. Hearing her voice cushioned his sense of distance and separation, whilst she just lay on her sofa (if the call was in the evening, Maryland time) and let his voice wash all over her like a warming blanket.
They were steadily growing together, despite the challenges of the distances involved.
Faith Coleman knew that she had a bad case of Jack – and she didn't want any treatment, because the symptoms were heavenly!
Jack was simply overjoyed to have the devoted attention of such a lively, lovely, intelligent woman – and he looked forward to assisting her with her continued healing. More than once, he nearly slipped up and let the cat out of the bag. His colleagues failed to appreciate the sub-text to his expression, during a discussion regarding confidence in court proceedings "I have Faith". He got away with that one-liner at the time, but Faith laughed when he related the story to her the next day.
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During June, they missed more than they connected, but with Faith tasked to run the softball tournament at the JAG Sports Day on July 4th, the Admiral endorsed her request for Jack to be back in Falls Church to beef up the JAGUSMC team for the three-way charity tournament against the Air Force and the Army. Since 9/11, American armed forces had raised their profiles and had worked tirelessly to set up and run charity tournaments as fund-raisers for various military charities.
Faith (aided by Harriett Simms in her USO capacity and as part of the "JAG-a-thon" team from 2001) had sought sponsorship from one of the sporting goods wholesalers in Maryland – this resulted in the JAG softball team being outfitted with matching red T-shirts, presenting a bright team image as they took to the pitch on July 4th.
The tournament on July 4th was merely the "icing on the cake", rounding out a satisfying week for Faith. Jack had returned on July 2nd and, despite being allocated a space in the VOQ in Anacostia, had rapidly accepted Faith's offer of accommodation in Chevy Chase for the rest of that week and the holiday weekend which followed.
In part-payment, he took Faith out for a meal on the Thursday evening. After all, she owed him another part of her life story.
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*FLASHBACK* Thursday 3rd July 2003, 18:50hrs EST
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, 7315 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
"Has it really been two months since we first came here? Unbelievable!"
As they settled into their seats and received the menu folders from the server, Jack had realised that their previous meal here had, indeed, been May 3rd.
"Well Jack, if you are a very good boy and play well in the tournament tomorrow, I may reward you here again, on Saturday night."
"Faith, you don't have to bring me out here to reward me…"
Jack paused, his face turning crimson with embarrassment, as Faith's initial surprise rapidly morphed – to his considerable relief – into a peal of laughter which drew attention to their table from around the room.
Jack's unprompted announcement to the surrounding tables: "It's OK, she said yes!" merely compounded Faith's laughter. Without thinking, Jack's instant response had caused smiles – and some blushes – across the table but (as Faith would remind him in the years ahead) proved to be the best ice-breaker possible.
"OK, coming back from the future; same wine as last time?"
"Yes please, with some San Pellegrino to cut the alcohol and space the drinking through the evening."
"Makes sense – steak again for the main course?"
"Oh yes please: I've been dreaming about this for a week now."
Faith reached her hand across the table to Jack. He realised that something significant was coming.
"Jack, when we get back to the apartment tonight, you are welcome to stay through until the end of the Independence Day weekend. But I think that, tonight when we get home, I want to tell you the rest of my story."
"Are you sure?"
"Because, Jack, it is time and past time. You need to know about me and I want to move forward. I choose to move forward with you – if that's is OK?"
"Heck yeah, Faith. Yes please and without hesitation." He caressed her fingers. "I reckon these past two months, separated around the world, have helped me to realise what I want in my life."
She looked at him with her trademark raised eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
"My life with you in it, Faith. My life, with you front and centre and inside it. Assuming you'll have me?"
"Oh yes indeed Jack; which makes it even more important that you know everything about me tonight, so that *you* can be sure about *me*."
"Fair enough; but I reckon I already know enough, right now, to be certain."
She took his hand, running her long fingers across his upturned palms.
"In that case, we need to speak with the Admiral before we explore this – whatever *this* is – further – agreed?"
"Hell, yeah, Faith. Hell, yeah!"
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*END FLASHBACK*
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Friday 4th July 2003, 10:29hrs EST
Home of RAdm AJ Chegwidden, McLean VA
A phone call at 09:00hrs had alerted the Admiral to the need for two of his attorneys to consult with him ahead of the Independence Day sports event. He had the coffee brewed ready to greet his guests, when his two young lawyers arrived and knocked at his front door. He opened the door to find Faith Coleman and Jack McBurney standing there, looking nervous.
"Good morning Admiral."
"Major, Commander, welcome; now, then how may I help you this fine morning…"
The Admiral paused, looking at his two younger attorneys.
"Do you two realise that you are holding hands?"
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End of "The long road to Justice" Ch05 – "Communication and closeness".
Mike, United Kingdom, 12-04-2021