Title: Flashbacks
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.
Author's Note: This Chapter takes place after Harm has changed his designator and is assigned to the USS Patrick Henry. In Gold Wings and Dress Whites it's mentioned in Chapters One and Three.
The purple Goddess: Just an update for you, these are flashbacks for Gold Wings and Dress Whites, which is not a Harm/Mac story. It's a story about Harm and old friend Sera Riggs. You might want to read it to understand these flashback stories.
Jewels4: I'm gad you feeling as if you known Harm and Sera all your life, it means I'm doing something right. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
FlashbacksChapter Three: September 1999: Reunited
USS Patrick Henry
September 1999
Captain Pike came into the Ward Room and located who he was looking for. "Commander Rabb."
Harm stood. "Sir."
"Can I have a word?"
He nodded and sat when the Captain did. "Is everything all right sir?"
Pike nodded. "We've an aviator and RIO transferring in, they'll be arriving soon. Lieutenants Sera Riggs and Mark Taylor."
Harm was a little surprised. "Angel and Blades,"
"You know them?"
"Angel I do, I helped Sera change her designator, and we went through law school together?"
"She was a member of the Sabers when they were aboard the Patrick Henry. She then went to the SeaHawk with them, taking over from the Raptors," the Cag informed, even though he knew Rabb knew it all. "She has a DFC to her name and has given the President a ride in her Tomcat. She is at the moment Navy's golden girl. Not that she'll be treated any different here,"
"Cag, I doubt Lieutenant Riggs wants to be treated different. She's never asked for special treatment, she's always been just one of the guys." Harm defended.
"I know all about the Lieutenant, Commander and her family. She's had a lot to live up to."
"I know," Harm agreed. "It hasn't been easy but she's accomplished everything she's set out to do."
Pike sat back at the moment, either he was going to have to watch these two or Harm was just being an overprotective big brother. "Keep Buxton away from her, she doesn't need his cocky attitude forced on her."
"I'll do that Cag,"
"Good. It's going to be hard enough with her looking like a model, without having my pilots acting like they're on heat."
"I'll keep an eye on Sera, Cag and make sure the boys leave her alone."
"Thank you Harm," he stood glancing at his watch. "They should be landing now. Take her under your wing Commander."
"Aye sir."
With that said, Captain Pike left.
Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawks came over to Harm and sat where the Cag had. "What was that all about?"
"Lieutenant Sera Riggs, better known as Angel."
"The same Sera Riggs who gave the President a joyride in a Tomcat?"
"The same. She's been transferred here, the Cag has just gone to meet her and her RIO,"
Elizabeth or Beth as her friends knew her was impressed. "So does that mean Harmon Rabb now has the official job of big brother?"
"It looks like it," he smirked and they laughed together.
Andrew Buxton, better known as X-Man, came into the Ward Room a few minutes later with a smug grin on his face. "You should see our new pilot. Wow!"
"She must be a beauty X-Man, you're drooling," Tuna teased him.
"Oh she is."
"Yeah he just about fell over his tongue when he saw her," Duke smirked.
Harm had heard enough, getting to his feet he went over to them. "She. Gentlemen is Lieutenant Sera Riggs, better known as Angel," he informed in a strong command tone. "She has a DFC to her name, which wasn't earned by her looks. You will all times give her the respect she deserves. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir," all said. Knowing not to mess with Harm when he spoke with that tone.
Harm moved to stand in front of both X-Man and Duke. "I suggest you two both keep your opinions to yourself, I will not be responsible to what Sera will do to you both if you don't."
"We didn't mean anything by it, Pappy," X-Man said backing down.
"Good. Because I'd hate to have to clean up after she wipes the floor with you both," Harm noted. "That beauty holds a fourth degree black belt, in more than one form of martial arts. Clear?"
"Clear Pappy," both agreed.
Harm saw he got his point across, turning he returned to his table and sat down.
"Mean Harm, but good," Beth declared grinning.
He merely smiled. He'd enjoyed that.
By the time Sera Riggs and Mark Taylor arrived, X-Man and Duke were happily discussing the day's mission. They looked as she walked past but didn't comment, especially with the look Harm was giving them.
He did smile though when they joined them, standing he gave Sera a friendly hug. "It's good to see you, Lieutenant."
"You too Commander."
Mark shook Harm's hand once he'd released Sera. "It's nice to finally meet you in person, Commander,"
"You too," Harm agreed, than introduced his RIO. "Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawks - Lieutenant's Sera Riggs and Mark Taylor. Angel, Blades, meet Skates,"
They both shook her hand and they sat down.
"So how long have you known Harm, Sera?" Beth asked her, dropping the ranks.
"Since Law School, Harm and I both went to Georgeton," Sera revealed. "A few months after we graduated he flew all the way to Hawaii to help me celebrate my twenty-first."
"He got her drunk." Mark smirked.
"I did not." Harm declared.
Sera rolled her eyes. "Yes you did, I woke up with a hangover and I had to be in court that morning."
Beth laughed. "Did you get there?"
"Just."
"Thanks to me." Harm reminded.
She grinned. "Yes thanks to you," she admitted. "Mind you I had him buying me dinner for the rest of his stay."
"Which is fitting punishment." Beth agreed smirking.
"I thought so."
Their laugher died down when X-Man, Duke, Tuna, Boomer and the other members of the squadron joined them.
Sera tuned in her seat after seeing the expression on Harm's face. The welcoming wagon, she mussed.
"We'd just like to welcome you aboard Lieutenants," X-Man stated. "If you need anything just ask,"
"Thank you," she glanced quickly at the badge on his flight suite for his name. "Lieutenant Buxton."
Mark sat back and watched he liked seeing Sera handle guys like X-Man.
"I'm sure Sera will be able to handle things X-Man," Beth declared.
"And we've been stationed aboard the Patrick Henry before," Mark added. "With the Sabers."
Tuna was impressed, the Sabers were one of the best F-14 squadron's or they had been until their conversion to F/A-18's. Obviously these two had transferred out before it was done. He nudged Buxton. "Looks like you're going to have some competition X-Man,"
"Funny Tuna," he remarked, then addressed Sera again. "So you were a member of the Sabers?" It was a rhetorical question.
She stood. "We were."
"Sera's father was one of the founding members of the Sabers, when it was a F-4 Phantom squadron." Harm told them.
"Your father?" X-Man pushed.
"My father, Admiral Ryan Mitchell," Sera answered, she moved closer to Buxton, standing eye to eye with him. "I don't know what kind of aviator you are X-Man and I won't until I see you action. I do however know what kind I am," she grinned and saw him swallow hard; knowing Harm was probably trying hard not to laugh about now. "I like competition X-Man," she emphasized his call sign. "The question is, can you handle it or will you screw the pooch?"
"I don't know the meaning of screwing up," he retorted. Damn her grin could melt the coldest of hearts. "And the X-Man is never afraid of competition."
"Neither am I," she said smoothly.
Mark now stood at her side. "Me either, but than again I fly with her."
Tuna started to laugh, as did everyone else, all except X-Man who stood their stunned.
Sera smiled. "Gotcha," she smirked.
Harm and Beth joined them. "Come on Angel, you've played enough. Lets get you settled," he jeered.
She nodded. "Later X-Man, if you're up to it."
He grinned despite his embarrassment. "Any time Angel."
Boomer patted Sera on the back as she walked past to leave with her RIO, Harm and Beth.
Buxton turned, seeing Harm whisper something to Sera before they walked out, which made her laugh.
"Looks like Angel has a big brother to look after her, X-Man. Not to mention a wicked sense of humor," Duke noted grinning.
"Yeah, looks like it," he agreed. Then smiled. Bring on round two, he thought.
September 21st 1999
USS Patrick Henry
Captain Pike finished off the briefing and announcing the assignments, before he dismissed his aviators he had one more piece of business to take care off. "Lieutenant Riggs, front and center," he ordered.
Reluctantly Sera joined the Cag, holding tight to her helmet, she had a feeling she knew what this was about.
"Some of you might be aware of what today is and some of you aren't," the Captain began. He smiled. "Today is Angel's birthday,"
The squad erupted into cheers and whistles and then a rowdy version of 'Happy Birthday' coursing Sera to blush hard. She saw Harm grinning at her and knew he was the one who had let it out of the bag.
Captain Pike patted her on the back. "Happy birthday, Lieutenant."
"Thank you sir."
"All right lets fly."
Sera joined her RIO, following the rest of the squad out. Catching up to Harm and Beth, she playfully swatted his arm. "You have not heard the last of this, Pappy."
"Promises, promises, Angel," he jeered.
They came on to the flight deck with their helmets on, walking towards their Tomcats.
A photographer's mate in a green vest approached them. "Sirs, Ma'am, I was asked to get a photo of the birthday girl."
Sera groaned, this wasn't happening.
"That would be her." Harm announced, giving Sera a nudge.
"Would you stand beside of your Tomcat Ma'am?" He asked.
"If I have to do this, then I'm not doing it alone," she announced and grabbed Mark's arm, who grabbed Harm's, who in turn grabbed Beth's.
The four of them stood beside Sera's Tomcat, her and Harm together, their RIO's either side of them. The four removing their helmets so the photo could be taken. When it was the midshipman managing to get one of Sera on her own.
"I'd like a copy of the group shot," she told him pulling her helmet back on.
"Yes Ma'am,"
"Count us in on one," the others agreed, doing the same.
He said he'd do what he could and hurried away.
"You owe me big time, Pappy." Sera warned him.
"Any time Angel, any time," he said smiling his flyboy grin. Walking off to his Tomcat with Beth.
Sera shook her head and climbed aboard her own, Mark was already seated, waiting. "Comfy Blades?"
"Yes thanks." He joked.
She chuckled and settled in, her plane captain making sure they were secure and set to go before climbing down. She closed the canopy, starting up the Tomcat.
"Clear sky's Angel," Mark bided, it was something of a tradition for them.
"Clear sky's Blades," she acknowledged.
One by one the Tomcats taxied into position and launched off the deck and into the skies.
Sera looked over to the two Tomcats to her left, flown by Harm and his wingman, Tuna. She gave Harm a thumbs up. "See you in a while Pappy."
"Take it easy Angel."
"Always," she said lightly, and then banked, heading away from them with her wingman. The patrol turned out to be routine and they returned to the Patrick Henry without incident. Sera rolled the sleeves of her flight suite up a little as they left the ready room, after they'd been dismissed. She was laughing with Beth. "I sometimes feel like a duck wearing all that gear."
"So do I," Beth jeered. "Running in it's worse."
Harm rolled his eyes, teasing. "You have a cute waddle though."
"Typical man." Sera grumbled light heartedly.
"Well it's true, Angel." Mark defended, his fellow male.
Both women groaned as they entered the wardroom, getting a coffee they sat down together, there fellow aviators were wondering in as well, chatting to themselves.
X-Man and Duke came in; since Sera had her back to them they didn't both to try and hid the cake. However as the room became unusually quiet, it made her look. Both men grinned. "Happy birthday, Angel."
"Thank you guys."
"You're welcome." X-Man said putting the cake on table.
She saw Harm and Beth smirking, as was Mark. Looking back to Buxton. "Take a seat Andy."
"Thanks Angel," he pulled a chair over and sat down, as did Duke, soon they were joined by Boomer, Tuna and PJ. All shared the birthday cake with them.
"So what did you do for your last birthday, Angel?" Boomer asked Sera.
"I got a promotion and a three day pass, so I got myself a tattoo, it was my birthday present to myself."
"And where would one find this tattoo, Angel?" Tuna asked grinning.
"Oh I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," she smirked and everyone laughed.
"So Pappy," X-Man said with a grin. "Do you know where this tattoo is?"
Harm saw Sera frown at him. "I do, but then again I was there when she got it done."
"So what are we looking for?"
"Gold wings over white Angel wings," he revealed.
"Harm." Sera exclaimed and everyone laughed.
"Well if you didn't want anyone to know, you shouldn't have taken me with you when you got it done," he surmised, adding. "Besides it's cute,"
She groaned again. "You promised not to tell."
"No I promised not to tell your father, there's a difference," he corrected.
Sera's roommate, Cassie Ross, patted her on the arm. "Don't worry, I know where it is and I'll never tell."
"Thanks PJ."
"You're welcome."
Mark lent closer to Harm, whispering. "I don't even know where this tattoo is."
"I'll tell you later," he whispered back.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome,"
Sera shook her head and stood. "That's it, I'm going."
"Me too," Cassie agreed standing.
As did Beth, joining them. "I could use a shower."
"It's a plan," Sera agreed. "Shall we ladies?"
"We shall," both agreed and they left together.
The guys sat back and laughed.
"So where is this tattoo, Pappy?" X-Man asked Harm.
"Now that X-Man is on a need to know bases and you don't need to know."
"That and he's afraid of what Angel will do to him if he tells." Mark smirked.
"Very true," Harm agreed and the bantering and good humor continued without the girls.
To be continued.
Okay, I hope there are more then just Jewel4 and The Purple Goddess reading these chapters, so review away and let me know what you think. A.S