"Grave of The Witch": Chapter 01 - Commemoration.
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 welcomed.
A/N: Publication date: 21-Nov-2020: This is an experiment; it's probably start of another saga in the longer term, but definitely a little bit of scene-setting for audience feedback. I am unlikely to progress before Spring of 2021, so be patient but do - PLEASE – let me have your feedback?
Characters from FFNET – Mattie, Jennifer, AJ, Galindez
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Summer 2015
Arlington Military Cemetery, Washington DC
The broad-leafed trees provided shelter from the summer heat as the ginger-haired woman led the two children along the path between the rows of neatly-tended headstones which stretched almost to the horizon. Her hair was neatly gathered at the nape of her neck. Years of military service had enabled her to control the tresses whilst working, but she – and her husband – enjoyed the days when she could go for full-on "big hair" days. Also, the pony-tail allowed a little of a cooling breeze to circulate around the back of her neck.
She had put off bringing the twins until this year when they were eight years old. Previously, she and Danny had visited alone, observing the sad anniversary which had deprived her of her second father and his wife, whilst simultaneously thrusting her without warning into an unexpected career of motherhood. Fortunately, with her Navy family connections (and a few unexpected friends who emerged from "the woodwork" to ease the problems of her circumstances) she had been able to reserve her commission for a while, before resuming as a Growler driver.
The two adjacent markers seemed to appear a little quicker every year as she walked along the path. In her pocket, she carried two stones from the family farm in Belleville PA, ready to place on each headstone in the Jewish tradition of marking a visit to a grave.
The farm had, fortunately, been a place of healing, which she and Danny had turned into their home once the spate of family deaths had finished. The tranquillity of that country home contrasted with the hustle and bustle of their Washington apartment. The twins were equally at home and, being part of a fifth-generation Navy family, were already accustomed to disturbance, postings, sea-bags and duty.
She checked her watch; 1356hrs EST – 15 minutes before the time of the crash all those years ago. The truck driver responsible was due for his first parole hearing three years hence, on the tenth anniversary of the deaths which he had caused in his drunken stupor behind the wheel of the 18-wheeled rig.
Once more she read the inscriptions: the military protocol had dictated the content, but she always wanted to add "husband, father, friend" and "Wife, mother, friend" to the inscriptions.
The catastrophic year of 2008 had been the third year of their all-too-brief marriage. They had danced around their obvious mutual love from early 1997 when they had first been posted together and had finally tossed a coin ("how bizarre is that?", she had often wondered to herself) in April of 2005 to settle the argument of "who gives up their commission and who takes the posting".
They had only been back on US soil, with their year-old UK-born twins, for just a few weeks when the accident had taken them.
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She had died instantly, whilst he had hung on in a coma for ten days before finally succumbing to the massive and catastrophic injuries which are near-inevitable in the "car-versus-semi" engagement.
The wider family and friends had rallied round. She and Danny had brought forward their wedding (without interrupting her progression through Annapolis) and his mother had petitioned the courts for custody, supported by Grams before her death. Having the former USN JAG as your father-in-law was a definite advantage and the courts rapidly approved an initial fostering placement followed by full adoption two years later in 2010. The assistance, guidance, experience and support of the Roberts family had been invaluable. Harriet had been a tower of strength and advice when – almost inevitably – she had suffered a crisis of confidence soon after having motherhood thrust upon her so suddenly and in such a shocking circumstance.
Their estate and Wills had all been in place, so she and Danny had no financial worries and – assisted by his mom and her husband – the young couple had set up home to support the twins. By the time that they had turned two, the twins were using "Mom" and "Dad" automatically as the new Rabb family (well, technically "Walden-Rabb", she had thought, caressing the rings on her left hand) had formed, thrived and begun to move on from the tragedy.
Footsteps approached behind them came to a halt. The confident cadence of the steps gave away the presence of her mother-in-law; Sydney still wore high heels when she was out in public with her tall husband.
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Danny initiated the greetings:
"Hey Mom, thanks for coming."
"No problem, Danny; AJ and I would not miss this. We are here for you, Mattie, David and Patricia."
"I'm just sorry that Trish and Frank still cannot bring themselves to visit the graves."
"Well, in fairness, Frank isn't in the best of health and, as she explained it to me, Trish has "seen enough military graves to serve a lifetime". So I guess we can justify cutting them some slack."
"Yeah, I guess so; anyways, we'll be heading out to see them around Thanksgiving when Mattie gets ready to deploy again."
A few minutes later, their reflections were interrupted once more by another arrival. A tall woman with waist-length dark-brown hair, accompanied by a tall olive-skinned man of obvious military bearing, arrived holding the hand of what looked to be a five-year-old girl – who clearly shared her parents' hair colour and evidently had her father's eyes.
Mattie and AJ made the connection at the same time, reaching back into their memories from almost a decade previously.
"Jennifer Coates. Hello former yeoman" exclaimed the Admiral, just as Mattie released the hands of her twins to embrace the young woman, who smiled at her "Jennifer Coates: hello former neighbour and flat-mate" address, hugged her and then responded.
"Actually Admiral, it's Jennifer Galindez now." She reached out a hand to the man at her side, who politely nodded and addressed "AJ" with a respectful military decorum..
"Good afternoon Admiral."
"Good heavens, hello Gunny."
"Well, technically it is just Victor these days, but any form of address works for me, Admiral."
"Yes, by the same token it's usually just 'AJ' in these days of retirement and grandparent duties. So, what brings the Galindez tribe here from – where is it that you guys have settled these days?"
"Actually AJ, we're very comfortably settled in New Mexico. We live in the town of Clayton in Union County up in the north-eastern corner, not far from the border with Oklahoma and Texas."
AJ nodded. "So, what brought you here this year?"
Jennifer Galindez replied. "Well AJ, it was time and past time, plus I made a promise years ago to visit Loren's grave."
"Loren? Oh, yes of course, our unlucky Lt Singer." AJ nodded. "I believe that she is in this area of the cemetery."
"Yes she is and we have a map and a plot reference; Twelve years is long enough to set up a visit. It always seemed a shame that the headstone could not be amended to include baby Singer; they died together in that river and they are buried together after all."
"Yes Jennifer, but those were the rules back in 2003 when we lost her."
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After observing the time and anniversary of Harm and Mac's passing, the gathering split up. Jennifer, Victor and Rosalee walked steadily across towards the section of the cemetery where they would locate Loren's headstone. Jennifer marked off the rows as they moved steadily towards their target.
On arrival, they were surprised to find that several "visitor" stones adorned the top of Loren's headstone. Even more surprising – and intriguing – was the inscription on the card attached to a fresh bouquet of flowers which, supplied with water in a small disposable plastic pot, adorned the front of Loren's grave.
Releasing Rosalee's hand, Jennifer Galindez squatted down, to read the card.
"To my darling Loren and our lovely baby, taken too soon.
5th January 2003
From your loving Husband,
CW"
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End of Ch01 of "Grave of the Witch";
Mike: England, 21-11-2020
