Title: A Night To Remember Everywhere I Go
Author: CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur
Disclaimers: I don't own JAG unfortunately! I wish I did, then I would see both of my favorite characters together as they should be. JAG and all recognizable characters belong to Bellasarius Productions.
Spoilers: none really, this is pure speculation and more than likely a definite AU!
Author's Note: I hope you really enjoy this story as much as I have while writing it so far. Just a couple of clarifications first. 1. if it is in italics its one of four things, a diary entry, a phone conversation, a song title/lyrics, or a letter. 2. I am working on the assumption that they are in the Persian Gulf and since ZULU time is also GMT I am assuming that their position is either 4 or 5 hours ahead of GMT just to give you guys a little help with the time frame (that means if its 12 noon in Chicago it's 6pm in GMT and it would be either 10 or 11pm where they are at). 3. If anyone spots the cameo appearance by a character that is not JAG, and can tell me who it is, gets a gold star.
I am going to try something new with this story. I am asking for at least five reviews before I will post the next chapter, and keep in mind I already have up to chapter 3 written.
I also would like to take a minute to thank my wonderful beta reader on this project, Browneyeez, I don't think this would even be half as good as it is if she hadn't been there correcting my many mistakes, and there were a lot in this first chapter. Again, I hope y'all enjoy this, and don't forget to R&R.
Author's UPDATE: Due to recent events on the show I have changed this first chapter ever so slightly. The role of Lieutenant Singer is NOW being played by Petty Officer Jennifer Coates. Thank you for your understanding. If this flies, I will leave it as is now. If not, and y'all don't like it, let me know, and I will change it back. Although it is kind of a mute point now that Singer is deceased.
Sincerely,
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur
1130 ZULU
December 18, 2003
Somewhere in the Persian Gulf
I could hardly believe what happened just three short months ago. I was sitting at my desk, in my office at JAG HQ when the Admiral called me into his office and advised me that my skills as a combat pilot were needed in the Persian Gulf. To say I was disturbed was an understatement, but I was also worried. Worried about what I would tell my Mother, my Grandmother, and most of all what I would tell Mac. We had finally gotten our friendship back on track, and now I was about to have to tell her that it would be on hold again while I went flying. The worst part was that the Admiral finally told me that I didn't even have time to tell anyone, even Mac where I was going. The helo was leaving for Norfolk within 20 minutes, and as soon as it got there I would be boarding the ship that would take me to the forefront of the war. The last three months have passed in a haze for me. I was enjoying the combat flying, but little else. Most of my fellow pilots are far younger than I, and actually being an officer has kept a lot of them from getting too close. I know now why I was brought to this place in the middle of the war. I am here because the Government wanted to tout a "poster boy "hero" at the UN in hopes of gaining support. I know it sounds cynical, but that is what it seems like. For some reason I haven't heard from Mac since I've been here. I don't know what it all means, and I hope she's okay. I still wish I could have told her I was leaving, but the Admiral said he would make sure she understood that this time I had no choice in going.
With that last sentence I saved the entry on my laptop, and started looking back through the entries I had made since I came out here three months ago. Most of them referred to how I hadn't heard from Mac at all during that whole time. I was really starting to get worried. Not that she would hate me, but that maybe she was hurt somehow, and no one wanted to tell me.
Knock...knock
"Enter." I said.
"Commander, the Captain is requesting your presence on the bridge, sir." The P.O. stated.
"Thank you Petty Officer Reynolds." I said as I got up and turned my laptop off.
I followed the Petty Officer most of the way to the bridge, but I stopped when he turned to me and said "Permission to speak freely sir?"
"Granted," I replied just a little bit intrigued as to why he would ask.
"Sir, when the Captain asked me to come and get you I was on my way to the payphone to call home, it's my Mom's birthday. And I..."
I cut him off by telling him "Dismissed Petty Officer. If I had a chance to call my Mom on her Birthday I would want to call her too."
I finished the rest of the walk to the bridge by myself. "Commander Rabb reporting as ordered Captain." I declared.
"At ease Rabb, I wanted you here when I told the rest of my command crew the news, and because I felt I owed it to you since it was me that specifically asked for you to be brought into this mess we've been in lately." Captain Mitchell continued. "Many of you may have already heard the rumors; I want to confirm them now. As of 0830 ZULU today, the war is over."
The bridge erupted into a cacophony of noises and cheers. The Captain just stood there for the longest time and let everyone get it out of their systems. He finally interjected when he felt the noise die down to a dull roar, "In celebration, I have been informed, that the USO will be performing for the Navy and Marines on board the ships in the area. As our ship is the largest, the show will be performed here. Now does anyone have any questions?"
A rather young Ensign replied, "Sir, if I may ask, who will be performing with the USO, sir?"
Chuckles were heard around the bridge before Captain Mitchell answered "That's a very good question Ensign. They didn't have a definite final lineup, but they were sure on a few of the performers." Not wanting to admit we were all as eager as the young Ensign we just leaned forward as if we could catch what the Captain was saying before anyone else. Captain Mitchell continued, "As of now the lineup includes Bette Midler, the Nelson Twins, Jennifer Lopez, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Scott Bakula, Nicole Kidman, and Ewan McGregor. They said that it was a definite possibility that Jenny Lake would also perform." At the mention of the last name my head snapped up causing the Captain to notice "Something wrong Commander?"
"The Jenny Lake sir? The Jenny Lake that performed with the USO aboard the Ticonderoga on Christmas Eve 1969?"
"Yes, Rabb why?"
"She knew my father sir." With that simple statement he realized what I meant, and I knew that he knew the whole story as well.
"Everyone that is not on duty is dismissed. Everyone else, Get back to work." Captain Mitchell pulled me aside just before I had left the Bridge. "Do you know her?"
"I met her a few years ago at the Wall on a cold Christmas Eve, and she told me the story. I am just nervous about seeing her again. Especially given the time of year, and I don't want to cause her to have any bad memories again." I explained.
"I am sure you won't." Captain Mitchell said. "Rabb go find a phone and call home. Maybe that will help ease your mind." I nodded my ascent. "Well then, dismissed Commander." I turned and left the bridge.
Later I did finally manage to call home. My Mother was more thrilled. Although the idea of possibly meeting Scott Bakula and Ewan McGregor thrilled her more than the fact that the war was over. Frank was the same way, except he was more thrilled that I was going to be meeting Bette Midler, Jennifer Lopez and most especially Jenny Lake. Who, as it turns out, my Step-dad had a huge crush on when he was growing up. It was the next evening before I finally managed to get a hold of anyone at JAG HQ, and then it was only Petty Officer Coates.
Commander it's good to hear from you sir. She happily said into the phone.
"It's good to hear a familiar voice Coates. Is the Admiral or Mac there?" I asked.
I am sorry sir, the Admiral just left about ten minutes ago, and the Colonel is out on an assignment for Mr. Webb I believe, sir. Do you want me to tell the Admiral you called sir? She asked politely.
"Yes, and tell him I will be back at JAG soon. And thank you Coates." With that I hung up the phone and sighed.
I made it back to my stateroom just as the mail call began. Surprisingly I received a small package. I looked at the return address, and I realized it came from Mac. But I also knew that she wasn't the one who had addressed it to me. She had written her name and address and my name all right, but it was someone else that wrote my address on the package. It was then I remembered what Coates had said about Mac being on an assignment for Webb. It was Webb's handwriting. No wonder it seems to have gotten here without being opened and checked out. I opened the package and inside was a letter and a cd. I put the cd in my laptop and listened as I read her letter.
Harm,
Hey flyboy! Just to start off, I am sorry I haven't written this entire time, but with you and Sturgis gone for the time being my case load has been really heavy. I know that is absolutely no excuse for not writing, but that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking of you. Clayton promised me that this letter would get to you unopened or messed with in any way. I don't know how he plans to do it, but if it is ruined in any way let me know, so I can kick his six from here to eternity. This place doesn't seem to be the same without you. The Admiral told me all about why you left, so this time I know you didn't have a choice, and didn't have anytime to say goodbye, but as the old song by Bon Jovi goes...Never say goodbye...At any rate Harm, I made this cd for you from a list of songs I have been listening to since you have left. They make it seem like the time hasn't been that long. I hope you enjoy the music, and I hope to see you again real soon. I miss you.
Always your Ninjagirl,
Sarah
I looked at the song index, and realized that most were pretty depressing songs to listen to if you were by yourself. I was glad I had the stateroom to myself tonight since most of the guys would be down in the galley celebrating. Realizing what songs were on the cd I pulled out my photo album, opened it, and hit play.
Songs for My Squid
A Night To Remember (Joe Diffie)
That Road Not Taken (Joe Diffie)
Love Me Today (Nelson)
Always On My Mind (Elvis Presley)
As Long As I Have You (Elvis Presley)
Crying In The Rain (A-Ha)
Didn't We Almost Have It All (Whitney Houston)
Dreaming Of You (Selena)
Everything I Do (I Do It For You) (Bryan Adams)
Can't Lose What You Never Had (Westlife)
Flying Without Wings (Westlife)
I Don't Wanna Fight (Westlife)
Fool Again (Westlife)
If I Let You Go (Westlife)
Open Your Heart (Westlife)
Nature Boy (Nat King Cole)
By the time I realized the cd was finished, I had fallen into a wonderful dream that had Mac on this ship, in my stateroom, and we were just talking. That was it, just like old times we were talking, and I loved it. Unfortunately, my roommate came in making a little too much noise, and woke me from this dream.
"Harm you look like hell. Why have you been crying?"
"Huh?" I mumble, barely awake.
"The war's over you should be excited! We are going to even get a great sendoff before we go home from the USO show that is going to be here. You did know about that one right?"
"Tuna, can you PLEASE bring it down a notch? I did know about the show, and as for me crying...I wasn't. My eyes were just watering." I utter.
"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, and maybe someday I'll believe you." Tuna jabbed back. "At any rate, I will let you get back to sleep since that is where I was headed anyway. By the way, you might want to turn your laptop off before you go back to sleep."
"Thanks." I mumbled, sitting up and turning off my laptop.
The next few days were a dizzy blur of preparations for bugging out and going home. Also preparations were being made for the USO show in a couple of days that now included Billy Crystal who would co-host the show with Bette Midler.