Title: Gold Wings and Dress Whites
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: Okay obviously by now, since you've reached chapter eight, you're probably wandering about the title. Well it has to do with what was said in the pilot episode of JAG about Gold wings and Dress whites, which I made a comment about in the author's note in chapter one. I just think it would go the same with Gold wings and Dress blues, especially on Harmon Rabb, Jr.
Oh and the guest star put into chapter seven was David Smith, David James Elliot's real name (but you didn't need me to tell you that).
Gold Wings and Dress WhitesChapter Eight: Career Decisions
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Washington DC
Admiral Chegwidden sat at the back of the Courtroom as the jury read out the 'not guilty' verdict. Court was then dismissed and the Judge retired to chambers.
Lieutenant Commander Riggs was thanked by the young yeoman, as was her co-council, Lieutenant Roberts.
The prosecuting council, Commander Brumby shook their hands before leaving, nodding to the Admiral on the way out.
AJ stood and approached them the courtroom becoming empty except for them. "Well done, Commander, Lieutenant,"
"Thank you sir,"
"Come and see me in my office, I'd like a word with both of you," he ordered.
"Aye sir,"
Nodding he left.
"I wander what that was all about?" Bud asked rhetorically.
"We'll find out soon enough Bud," Sera informed, putting the last of her papers into her briefcase and closed it. "Come on, let's not keep the Admiral waiting,"
"Yes Ma'am," he picked up his briefcase and followed her out.
They returned to JAG ops and put their briefcase in their respective officers before going to see the Admiral.
He looked up as they entered. "Take a seat," he told them, and then waited until they had. "Commander I just spoke to the Captain of the USS Liberty Bell, he wanted to know if you'd consider changing your designator back early."
"The Cag said Captain Mitchell was going to ask sir and I told him I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my fiancé and son. Captain Janus agreed to pass on my message to the skipper," Sera announced.
"I understand Commander, Captain Mitchell was referring to after Christmas. The Liberty Bell will be in port three days before New Years, you'll join them before they depart New Years day."
"I'll give it some consideration, sir,"
"Good let me know," he agreed, "Mr. Roberts, the Captain also informed me the Liberty Bell will be required a Jagman. I'm offering the position to you, there is a promotion, weather you take it or not. It's a step up and a good career move,"
Bud was stunned. "When will you need to know sir?"
"The beginning of next week, both of you discuss this with your respective partners and let me know," AJ said casually.
"Aye sir,"
"Dismissed,"
Standing they came to attention, then left.
Sera patted Bud on the back as they came into ops. "Congratulations Bud,"
"Thank you Ma'am, though to be truthful I'm not sure I want to serve on a carrier," he admitted.
"Come into my office Bud," she insisted, once they were inside she closed the door. "Sit down,"
He did and sat down, waiting until she had before being. "I guess I've become comfortable here at JAG, I have so much. Good friends, my wife and son. I just never really expected to be given the chance to serve on a carrier again. I guess I like it here at JAG."
"I'm sure the Admiral knows that Bud, but he also knows it's a good career move," Sera put forth. "Talk to Harriet and see how she feels about this, overall though it is a decision that will have to be made. Do you let your career come to a stand still or does it move forward."
"What would you do Ma'am?"
"I can't tell you that, Bud. The decision is yours to make."
"But you're being deployed too, this will effect you, Commander Rabb and Corey," he stated.
"True, but Harm and I have parted ways before,"
"But this is the first time you've done it as an engaged couple," Bud acknowledged.
Sera nodded. "But I've done it as a wife and mother, Chris was deployed for most of our marriage," she announced understanding what he was trying to say. "I had family and friends to be there if I needed someone,"
"Even in emergency's?"
"Especially in emergency's," she reassured. Then explained. "In my last year of law school, I fell pregnant while Chris was home on liberty, two months after he returned to sea I suffered a miscarriage, I was four months pregnant. Harm got me to the hospital and stayed with me, he was there when they said I'd never be able to have children and after my surgery. They had to do a hysterectomy, I was devastated but Harm was there to hold me together."
"I'm sorry," he said a little shaken by her frankness.
"Thank you Bud, the point is I made it through thanks to family and friends. Chris wasn't able to come back straight away; he was given a three-day liberty a month later. By that time I'd healed, excepted what had happened and gone back to school."
"But wouldn't you have come to terms with it faster if he'd been home with you?"
"I can't answer that Bud, losing a child is devastating enough, with or without the one you love at your side," she concluded. "I knew what I was getting myself into when I married Chris. Just as Harm knew what he was getting into when he purposed to me, we love each other and time at sea won't change how we feel,"
"You're going to really miss him though, aren't you, Ma'am?"
"Yes, just as you will miss Harriet," she stated smiling warmly. "Just think of your homecoming,"
He laughed blushing at the same time. "I'll talk to Harriet about it," he managed and stood. "Thank you Commander,"
"Anytime Bud, besides you want be alone, I'll be onboard too," she smirked.
He smiled. "I'll remember that, Ma'am," he said and than left her office.
Sera waited a few minutes then got up and went to her fiancé's office, knocking she went in. "Do you have a minute?"
He looked up from the brief he was writing and put his pen down. "For you, of course,"
She shut the door and took a seat. "The Captain of the Liberty Bell wants me to join them New Years day," she revealed. "The Admiral just told me,"
"When do you have to let him know?"
"Monday,"
Harm sat forward, he hadn't expected this so soon. "Do you want to go?"
"A part of me does and a part of me wants to stick it out a bit longer, to be with you and Corey," she admitted, than added. "I suppose I'm also wondering how much longer I'm going to be able to fly,"
"Sera, you're twenty-seven, you have plenty of years a head of you," he got up and went around to her, perching on his desk. "I love you and because I do I won't hold you back,"
Standing she went into his arms. "I'd give it all up if you asked me too,"
"I'd never ask you to give up flying, never. I know what it means to you. So does Corey,"
"So what do we do?" she asked whispering.
Smiling he kissed her. "We get married before you leave,"
"We do?"
"We do," he repeated. "Unless you don't want to?"
"I will marry you anytime, any place you want,"
"How about Christmas Eve at the Navy Chapel?"
"I can be ready by Christmas Eve," she answered feeling as if a dozen butterflies had been let lose in her stomach. "Can you?"
"In a heartbeat, sweetheart,"
"Then I guess we're getting married," she started firmly but happily.
"Yes we are," he agreed grinning that flyboy grin of his before kissing her. To hell with the regulations, this warranted a kiss, a long sensuous kiss.
Admiral Ryan Mitchell's home
Wednesday, 22nd of November 2000
Thanksgiving.
Admiral AJ Chegwidden stood, glass in hand, waiting for quiet. "Firstly I'd like to thank Ryan and Tiffany for letting us join them for Thanksgiving and making us all a part of their family," he paused as they toasted the Admiral and his wife. Then AJ continued. "Secondly as you all may know by now, Sera and our newly promoted Bud Roberts will be leaving us. Sera is returning to her duties as a Naval Aviator and Bud is taking a JAG billet, both of them aboard the USS Liberty Bell. I'd like to wish them well and say it's been an honor serving with you both. To Sera and Bud,"
"To Sera and Bud," all toasted.
The Admiral sat down and Admiral Mitchell, an older and just as handsome version of his son, stood. "I would like to thank you all for joining my extended family, since Sera has been at JAG you have all become a part of her family, which makes you apart of mine. And over the years that distinguish honor has included many, the man she is marrying one of them. At least though he's a lawyer, not just a cocky, overbearing, smart ass aviator," there was chuckling around the table. "Than again," the Admiral paused, as the chuckling became laugher. "Seriously though, Tiffany and I do welcome you all and consider you a part of our family, which has grown and continues to grow," he raised his glass. "To family."
"To family,"
Ryan returned to his seat and dinner continued, light chatter among the guests. No ranks were used, all were on a first name bases. The Mitchell family split between the ends of the table, the JAG family in the center, the split was done on purpose. Since Sera's mother, civilian Judge Rebecca Ronan had joined them. It was best to keep your ex-wife and your new wife apart, safer too. Sera's older sister was also present with her husband and two sons, Shawn was a doctor a Bethesda Naval Hospital along with her husband, David Cameron. Samantha and her husband Michael Elliot; were seated near her father and stepmother.
Chloe Madison who'd been invited by Matt, had come along with him and Mac, sat next to Corey, the two teenagers chattered like old friends.
Rebecca addressed her daughter. "How are the wedding preparations coming along, Sera?"
"Well, we're almost done. Just a few lose ends to tie up,"
"So quick?"
"Harriet and the Admiral told me to look at it as a military operation, once I did that it became easy,"
AJ, who was seated to Rebecca's left, smiled. "It worked for Harriet, so I had know doubts it would work for Sera,"
"Just make sure the groom and his friends don't all end up in jail the day of the wedding, Sera," Mac advised smirking.
"I have given each and everyone firm orders concerning the bachelor party," Sera revealed, a glint in her eye. "And if they know what's good for them they'll abided by them."
"At least you'll have time to plan a good defense while she's at sea," Bud whispered to Harm.
He laughed and received a kick to the shins from his fiancée. "Ow!"
"I would have thought you'd leant by now, Harm," AJ noted.
"I have, which is why Sera is letting you organize the bachelor party," he commented.
Those overhearing it laughed at the bantering.
Mac patted Harm's hand. "And why she's letting me organizing the bachelorett party."
"Just keep her out of jail," he taunted, recalling. "The last bachelorett party she went to, I had to bail her out."
"Well they guy made a pass at me," Sera defended, "It wasn't my fault he turned out to be a cop,"
"You were lucky you weren't charged," her mother declared seriously.
Sera rolled her eyes. "Oh please Mum, I had witness' to collaborate he made a pass at me. Not to mention video evidence to back it up. He screwed the pooch and he knew it,"
"Just goes to show you can turn a lawyer into an aviator, but you can't take the lawyer out of the aviator," AJ noted.
"Or an aviator into a lawyer, but never take the aviator out of the lawyer," Matt added.
"They are a formable team," Mic praised.
"Thank you," both Harm and Sera said together.
Lisa Brumby put her and over her husbands. "Not that you'd ever consider becoming an aviator, Sera scared that motion right out of you."
"Not that it was ever there in the first place," Mic, remarked. "Doing nine G turns while going flat out like a lizard drinking, is not my idea of fun. Especially while being shoot at,"
"At least you didn't get air sick," Harm said flippantly, then received another kick to the shins, this time from Mac.
"I suggest you quit while you're ahead," AJ advised.
"Yes sir, my shines can't handle it," just as he finished saying it both Sea and Mach launched another attack, each getting a shin. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Just making sure," his smiling fiancée smirked.
"Great minds think alike," Mac quipped and everyone laughed.
After dinner they moved into the living room, the atmosphere just as causal and happy, Chloe and Corey having gone for a walk with Shawn's two boys.
"So how is the dress?" Shawn asked her sister.
"It's coming along, you'll just have to wait and see like everyone else," Sera answered.
"All I know is it's not white," Harm spoke up.
"No but it is beautiful," Mac announced.
Harriet agreed. "It's definitely Sera,"
"Now I'm worried," he commented.
"You should be," Sturgis Turner smirked, before adding. "You're lucky she's wearing a dress and not a white flight suit,"
"Now that's an idea," Sera taunted.
Harm groaned. "You had to say that, didn't you?
His friend laughed. "You should be thankful she didn't suggest getting married on an aircraft carrier,"
"At least than I could wear my flight suit," Harm joked and the laugher continued.
Not far from them, AJ glanced at Ryan; both had overheard the bantering going on. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Ryan nodded. "I believe I am. Call me tomorrow and we'll work out the details."
"Will do," AJ agreed. Now this was going to be fun.
To be continued.
Author's extra note: Okay don't flame me because Sera and Harm are getting married, it's my story and I warned everyone that this wasn't a Harm/Mac story right from the beginning. So post those reviews, just remember if you feel you need to flame don't expect an acknowledgement. A.S