USS Seahawk
100 miles off the Virginia coast 2:30 EST, The day of . . .
"Colonel, it's been a pleasure serving with you," Petty Officer Jennifer Coates said with a little sigh, "I just wish it could've been for longer than 2 weeks. I've learned a lot, both from you and Lieutenant Roberts."
Mac turned from the small bag she was packing to the young brunette, her face clear of any expression. "Didn't you leave someone out, Petty Officer?"
The young woman regarded her superior officer with a small frown, "Ma'am?"
With a struggle the Marine colonel kept herself from smiling, "I'm sure you learned a great deal from Lieutenant Singer, too, right?"
Jennifer tried to swallow the lump that immediately formed in her throat. She had meant to sincerely express her appreciation for working under a good lawyer and an even better officer and somehow she had ended up insulting one of the Colonel's colleagues. She hadn't thought the Colonel was especially fond of the prickly and ambitious blond, but there was that whole military protocol thing that Jennifer still had to struggle with from time to time.
"Uh, yes, Ma'am, absolutely, Ma'am," came the embarrassed reply. "It's just that, uh, she was here for so short a period of time. I didn't mean, uh, to ignore--"
Mac continued to hide a grin, "At ease, Petty Officer." It was a little unfair to be teasing Coates like this. "I have no doubt that Lt. Singer had her own lessons to teach; I just wouldn't advise putting any of them into practice."
The young naval officer and the Marine looked at each other solemnly for a moment, and then both burst into laughter.
"I think, Ma'am," Jennifer said, "I would rather follow your example than hers." She watched in surprise as a light flush stained the Colonel's face.
"Thank you, Coates," was the only response Mac gave. Compliments always unnerved her, but she knew the young woman only meant to say something nice. Time to change the subject!
Even though Mac had intended to wait a little longer, now seemed as good a time as any to share her news with Coates.
"Petty Officer, due to the very good work you have done as Legalman on board the Seahawk, I have asked Admiral Chegwidden to consider requesting that you serve at JAG for your next assignment." "JAG, Ma'am?" the naval officer's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Mac assured her. "With Gunny still in Afghanistan, we could really use another officer with a good head on his - or in this case, her - shoulders."
Jennifer stared at the floor before asking her next question. An assignment at JAG would be a wonderful opportunity, but how realistic was such a chance?
"Colonel," she asked softly, "Do you really think the Admiral would want me there? I mean after all that happened that Christmas?"
Mac understood the question as well as the emotion behind it. She had heard from Harm that Jennifer Coates' upbringing had been less than ideal. Here, too, was another woman who was trying to be better than her past told her she had a right to be.
"Jennifer," she said, walking over to the young woman and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, "We can all see how far you've come since that time, the Admiral included. You have nothing to be ashamed of or worried about. I wouldn't recommend you for the posting if I didn't think you could handle it; and as the Admiral's Chief of Staff, he takes my recommendations seriously."
Jennifer raised her eyes to look at Mac directly, "Thank you, Colonel MacKenzie, I won't let you down."
"You better not, Petty Officer, or I'll make sure you spend most of your time supporting Lt. Singer!"
Again, the two laughed together, then turned their attention to finish packing up their belongings. The crew would be assembling shortly up on deck for the momentous sailing into the port at Norfolk. Neither was expecting anyone to be waiting for them, but it was good for the heart and soul to witness the joyful emotions that came with the many reunions of their shipmates. Such reunions never got old and were never the same, no matter how many times those in the Navy experienced them.
This return to port would be remembered by all the crew of the Seahawk, their families, and all of the United States of America forever after.
TBC
100 miles off the Virginia coast 2:30 EST, The day of . . .
"Colonel, it's been a pleasure serving with you," Petty Officer Jennifer Coates said with a little sigh, "I just wish it could've been for longer than 2 weeks. I've learned a lot, both from you and Lieutenant Roberts."
Mac turned from the small bag she was packing to the young brunette, her face clear of any expression. "Didn't you leave someone out, Petty Officer?"
The young woman regarded her superior officer with a small frown, "Ma'am?"
With a struggle the Marine colonel kept herself from smiling, "I'm sure you learned a great deal from Lieutenant Singer, too, right?"
Jennifer tried to swallow the lump that immediately formed in her throat. She had meant to sincerely express her appreciation for working under a good lawyer and an even better officer and somehow she had ended up insulting one of the Colonel's colleagues. She hadn't thought the Colonel was especially fond of the prickly and ambitious blond, but there was that whole military protocol thing that Jennifer still had to struggle with from time to time.
"Uh, yes, Ma'am, absolutely, Ma'am," came the embarrassed reply. "It's just that, uh, she was here for so short a period of time. I didn't mean, uh, to ignore--"
Mac continued to hide a grin, "At ease, Petty Officer." It was a little unfair to be teasing Coates like this. "I have no doubt that Lt. Singer had her own lessons to teach; I just wouldn't advise putting any of them into practice."
The young naval officer and the Marine looked at each other solemnly for a moment, and then both burst into laughter.
"I think, Ma'am," Jennifer said, "I would rather follow your example than hers." She watched in surprise as a light flush stained the Colonel's face.
"Thank you, Coates," was the only response Mac gave. Compliments always unnerved her, but she knew the young woman only meant to say something nice. Time to change the subject!
Even though Mac had intended to wait a little longer, now seemed as good a time as any to share her news with Coates.
"Petty Officer, due to the very good work you have done as Legalman on board the Seahawk, I have asked Admiral Chegwidden to consider requesting that you serve at JAG for your next assignment." "JAG, Ma'am?" the naval officer's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Mac assured her. "With Gunny still in Afghanistan, we could really use another officer with a good head on his - or in this case, her - shoulders."
Jennifer stared at the floor before asking her next question. An assignment at JAG would be a wonderful opportunity, but how realistic was such a chance?
"Colonel," she asked softly, "Do you really think the Admiral would want me there? I mean after all that happened that Christmas?"
Mac understood the question as well as the emotion behind it. She had heard from Harm that Jennifer Coates' upbringing had been less than ideal. Here, too, was another woman who was trying to be better than her past told her she had a right to be.
"Jennifer," she said, walking over to the young woman and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, "We can all see how far you've come since that time, the Admiral included. You have nothing to be ashamed of or worried about. I wouldn't recommend you for the posting if I didn't think you could handle it; and as the Admiral's Chief of Staff, he takes my recommendations seriously."
Jennifer raised her eyes to look at Mac directly, "Thank you, Colonel MacKenzie, I won't let you down."
"You better not, Petty Officer, or I'll make sure you spend most of your time supporting Lt. Singer!"
Again, the two laughed together, then turned their attention to finish packing up their belongings. The crew would be assembling shortly up on deck for the momentous sailing into the port at Norfolk. Neither was expecting anyone to be waiting for them, but it was good for the heart and soul to witness the joyful emotions that came with the many reunions of their shipmates. Such reunions never got old and were never the same, no matter how many times those in the Navy experienced them.
This return to port would be remembered by all the crew of the Seahawk, their families, and all of the United States of America forever after.
TBC