"Nine gold rings" Ch13 – "A fairy godmother in Marine Green"
A little "what if", inspired by Season One, this AU story explores some plausible (if not-publicly-canon) moves on the "pairings" front in mid-season, beginning in the spring of 1996 then moving forward. Main disclaimers in Ch01 as usual.
A/N: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any character created by myself". See Ch01 for all the disclaimers.
A/N: From Ch12 onwards, please read "The long road to Justice" if you need the back-story on Faith Coleman and her murdered husband Cdr Alan Coleman.
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. Comments and PMs (use a PM especially if you spot a typo) and suggestions are most welcome. All mistakes are mine. Mike
Canon: Canon episodes: S07Ep15 "Head to Toe" airdate 05-FEB-2022.
Publication date: 21-OCT-2022. We now fast-forward into 2002 - in time to see the Rabb-Hawkes marriage and the continuing gestation of their baby whilst also settling Loren into her new role with Tom Boone at the Pentagon. Then Loren falls (literally) for someone at the wedding... Mike 21-10-2022
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Ch13 – "A fairy godmother in Marine Green"
Friday 4th January 2002, 14:17hrs EDT
JAG main courtroom, JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA, United States.
"OK Coates, thirty days is the best I can get you. Keep your nose clean and I'll ship you some books to read."
Faith was a little annoyed at the length of Jennifer's sentence, but she was sure that this was the point at which Jennifer Coates would start to "straighten up and fly right". Coates had been a well-behaved and pleasant house guest at Faith's over the Christmas and New Year period. This had unexpectedly allowed Faith to gain a clear view of the younger woman's capabilities – along with most of her remaining challenges. Faith was convinced that better things lay ahead for Jennifer Coates.
"I shall come and visit you at weekends, Jennifer; we really need to plan your career better than has been done so far."
"Agreed ma'am. Look, you went out on a limb for me and I am truly grateful."
She lowered her voice and moved her head closer to Faith's: "And please accept a virtual hug from this very grateful house-guest."
Faith smiled, loading papers into her briefcase as she nodded to the Marine who was about to take Jen away to commence her sentence. "Well, Jennifer, it has also been nice to have the company over the holidays."
She adopted her "serious Vulcan" face, to make a point.
"Jen, you are an intelligent young woman and I honestly believe that you can go far; think about giving the Navy an honest shot once you have this brig time behind you."
Jen nodded; Faith's words (and several weeks of advice over the Christmas break when she had, officially, been "Faith's prisoner") had made their point.
"I will, ma'am; I'll look forward to your brig visits."
"I shall be there. Good luck for now, Jennifer."
Faith Coleman's words, companionship and encouragement would bear fruit. Within a year or so, Jennifer Coates would have applied for – and won – the post of Yeoman to Admiral Chegwidden when Jason Tiner left for OCS. Faith's kindness had kept a good sailor in the Navy - and a sailor who would, later that year in Afghanistan, save Bud Roberts' life after his mis-step in a minefield.
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Wednesday 6th February 2002, 10:59hrs AST - Arabian Standard Time (GMT+3hrs, all year round)
Departing King Fahd Airbase, Saudi Arabia.
Mac wrenched the headscarf from her head and stomped it into the floor of the C-17 as the airlifter soared into the air on their way home.
"Dear God, what a stupid way to dis-enfranchise half the population" she raged.
Harm paced a steadying arm around her shoulders.
"Steady Marine; let's just be grateful for the freedoms which we have."
"Yeah; but what a travesty of natural rights."
"Mac, I agree with you, but we defended Lt Donato and I believe that the outcome was reasonable."
He sighed and relaxed into the seat: "And now - I am heading home to get married on Saturday."
"Yeah, I know fly-boy; but I still need to sort out a dress."
"Wow Mac: you'd better take a personal day on Thursday."
She smiled. "Already booked Flyboy; already booked..."
He looked at her as she smiled and placed a friendly hand on his forearm; the friendship was healing, as both friends sat quietly with their own thoughts.
Mac was content that their friendship was back on an even keel. If she played her cards right, Sarah Mackenzie would be adding "Harm's wife" to her limited circle of trusted friends.
If not, Harm would have to make a difficult choice...
The words of the marriage vows - "forsaking all others" - echoed through the back of his mind.
He truly hoped that Mac would - one day - find someone. He knew that Skates was his future, along with their unborn child.
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Saturday 9th February 2002, 10:59hrs EDT
JAG family church, Falls Church, VA, United States.
"Ladies and gentlemen; presenting – for the first time – Commander and Lieutenant Harmon and Elizabeth Rabb."
The "smack with the sword" was slightly anti-climactic, of course, because "Skates" had been "goin' Navy" throughout her career! Nevertheless, she accepted the "rite of passage" without complaint.
Harm and Bath's wedding in February 2002 had been everything that Trish Burnett had hoped for. Frank had been prepared to willingly spend a small fortune on the wedding in a swanky DC hotel – but less than he had been prepared to spend on his step-son over the years. He and Trish had always agreed that they wouldn't alert Harm to the multi-million pound education fund which Frank's judicious investments – and Trish's business acumen in the art world – had assembled. After all, they reasoned, with just one child, where else does one spend the money?
Tom had been keen to enable Loren Singer to join and mingle with the social side of work (Chegwidden's personnel file on the spiky blonde had arrived with a couple of "Post-it" sticky notes on her page two). Chegwidden's advice – that she needed "social conditioning" – had been added to Tom's "Commanding Officer to-do list". Tom had adopted the "long game" approach to Loren's social handicaps, by impressing upon her the need for good social interactions as a pre-requisite for Fleet rank. As he phrased it: "Admiral Loren Singer will need to be an accomplished communicator, as well as being shit-hot on the technicalities."
Tom had reasoned that there was no harm in playing to the ambitious blonde's hot buttons!
Loren had – slightly reluctantly it must be said – accepted his advice with good grace. She had finally found a boss - and a mentor - whom she could trust. As it would turn out, 2002 would finish, for Loren, in a way that she could never have imagined.
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As often happens at weddings, several potential new relationships were kindled amongst the congregation and the wider families which mingled for the service and the wedding breakfast afterwards. As part of the JSF programme development structure, experienced aircrew were rotated in and out. Hearing from Tom that David "Tuna" Medwick was going to be in the DC area in early February, Harm and Skates had joyfully added him to the wedding guest list. It was sad that he was arriving in "solo" status, but circumstances had a way of conspiring to change that.
Although Loren was accustomed to dancing in spike heels, a child's carelessly-discarded scarf tripped her up on the dance floor as a group of "solo" women were dancing.
Loren Singer literally landed at David Medwick's feet!
The deep-red mandarin-collared dress clung to her in all the right places and, as he automatically reached out a hand to support her as she staggered back upright, Tuna was smitten. Loren, similarly, overcame her embarrassment and accepted his help graciously. A brief introduction followed, five seconds after Harm had sprinted across the dance floor, checked that she was OK and then recommended that Tuna "take Loren for a spin" to ensure that all was in working order!
Loren was about to open her mouth with a sharp retort when Harm unleashed his megawatt pilot smile.
The former "Ice Queen of Falls Church" simply melted - and Tuna was there to reap the benefit!
Thus it was that, on the dance floor at Harm and Elizabeth's wedding, another life-long love story began!
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By early February, Lt Beth "Skates" Rabb was into her fifth month of pregnancy, so a short honeymoon in the Bahamas enabled her to get some winter sun and warmth, before her self-imposed ban on flying beyond her 28th week.
She cuddled Harm on the second Saturday night of their honeymoon, then suddenly blind-sided him as she asked a question out of the blue.
"Harm, how about Mac as one of the godparents?"
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A/N: 21-10-2022: short and sweet this month, I am afraid. Next chapter, we shall meet the Rabb-Hawkes baby…M
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End of "Nine gold rings" Ch13 – "A fairy godmother in Marine Green"