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: Thanks to everyone who's continuing to read and those who are reviewing. I have my very own fan fiction greenie board and so far Gold Wings and Dress Whites is in the lead. I love getting reviews, I get a kick out of knowing someone out there is reading my work. Once again thank you to everyone who reviews – A.S
Winjan: Sorry I left you in a spin, I promise answers will be given in this chapter. Lets just say I was a little 'harmful' on my explanations in the last chapter.
Jewels4: Thanks for the kind words, I hope you enjoy this chapter too and continue to review.
Sann3187: Hey I'm writing as fast as I can. But thanks for the review.
Gold Wings and Dress Whites
Chapter Fifteen: Theories
USS Liberty Bell
Persian Gulf.
Captain Joseph Janus walked causally into the ready room, his aviators were chatting among themselves and they had one extra among them and in the flight suit he looked like he belonged.
Suddenly Lieutenant Jordan Powell spotted him. "Attention on deck!"
They jumped to their feet, standing at attention.
The Cag smiled to himself as he moved to stand before them. "At ease people,"
"It's good to have you back sir," Sera Rabb said cheerfully.
"It's good to be back Angel," he insisted. "Sit down," he ordered. "I have a few messages from your loves ones, well for those of you who have loved ones." He paused as they laughed, removing the folded paper form his pants pocket and unfolded it, reading. "Ice, your fiancé wants his favorite shirt and you back in one piece," there were a lot of awe's and aha's. "Zapper, your wife said if you die before she has this baby, she'd kill you,"
David rolled his eyes, and then laughed with them.
The Cag continued, reading out more and getting plenty of laughs. Coming to the last two. "Angel, your son says to take care and make sure Dad doesn't crash any Tomcats," they all chuckled at Harm's expense. "Oh and Hammer – the Admiral said to tell you. 'No you cannot change your designator again. Stop enjoying yourself. Finish the investigation and come home.' Unquote." Laugher filled the ready room as they took humor in that. Since his arrival Harmon Rabb had been adopted into the squad, he was one of them. No questions asked and it wasn't because he was Angel's husband.
"All right settle down," the Captain ordered as he folded the paper up. "The fun and games are over ladies and Gentlemen, so suite up we're going flying,"
All jumped to their feet. "Aye, aye sir," they chorused, then rushed to get ready, returning to their seats when they had.
"All right people, despite what everyone thinks we're not returning state side just yet. Any repairs that need doing at this point will continue to be done while we're at sea," he informed. He paused as a woman entered the ready room, carrying a yellow helmet, wearing a fully equip flight suite. "Yes,"
"Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawks, sir, from the Patrick Henry. Captain Mitchell mentioned to Captain Ingles he required an extra RIO, so I volunteered."
He remembered the Skipper mentioning it. "Excellent. Skates isn't it?"
"Yes sir."
He gave her a smile. "Take you seat Skates. Hammer your RIO is here,"
They all laughed as Hawks went and sat with Harm, who gave her a smile.
The Cag continued briefing them on the information the Captain had given him. "We're to continue to monitor the no-fly zone," he announced and then issued assignments to them and than a warning. "Keep your eyes open, I don't want any surprises. All right people, lets fly."
All stood coming to attention before leaving the ready room.
"It's good to see you again Skates," Sera greeted.
"You too Angel," she said; giving the younger woman a hug, which wasn't ease because of the gear they both wore. "So how's married life?"
"Not bad, the fringe benefits are excellent," she smirked grinning.
"Thank you sweetheart," Harm purred in her ear.
"You're very welcome."
Beth laughed. "You guy's never change."
"So you've flown with these two before?" David asked her, and then introduced himself. "Lieutenant David Smith, Zapper, Angel's RIO."
She nodded. "When they were both assigned to the Patrick Henry, they were always together, so much it had the Cag worried,"
"Nothing went on," Harm defended himself and his wife. "Angel needed advice on her book, which I was glad to help her finish."
"I got more writing done in those months Harm was with us than I'd ever done," Sera praised. "I just needed my muse to give me a kick start."
"Which he gladly did, within regs," Becca smirked guessing. "Lieutenant Becca Summers, Ice, I fly Angel's wing," she told Beth. Then grinned. "I bet he'd would have gone over the regs given the chance."
"Like you wouldn't believe, the sexual tension was so thick at times you could have cut it with a knife," Beth teased.
Sera groaned. "Thanks so much."
The Cag caught up with them before Harm could say anything. "Commander Rabb, I'd like a word," he announced.
"Yes sir."
The others went on a head.
The Cag kept his voice down as he continued with Harm. "I spoke with the Admiral before I left. He's authorized your TDY to the Liberty Bell for the next two months; he feels once the heat dies down you may get somewhere. So you'll remain on board as the JAG billet. Roberts will remain as XO. The Captain and I both agreed you would continue to fly with the Ace's while you're onboard."
"There's a catch, I know it," Harm stated. "Even on TDY I can't serve on the same Carrier as my wife."
"Well let's just say the Admiral called in a few favors and the SecNav wants whoever is responsible found ASAP. Even if it means having two Rabb's on one carrier."
"Yes sir,"
The Cag patted him on the back. "Don't sweat it Harm, you get this guy and the SecNav will be owing you a favor."
"That I'm counting on." Harm remarked.
Putting their helmets on they went out onto the flight deck and to their respective Tomcats.
Harm followed Beth up into the cockpit of their Tomcat. "Just like old times huh Skates?"
"Yeah well just don't dump us in the ocean," she smirked, settling in.
"Not this time," he announced as he did the same.
Sera's Tomcat catapulted off the deck, her wingman's seconds behind her.
"She's still good, Hammer." Beth praised.
"Yeah she is Skates," he agreed. "Then again she always was."
"So are you."
He smiled. "Thanks Skates."
"Lets move Hammer."
"On it," he ignited the engines after he lowered the canopy, sealing the cockpit. After catapulting off the deck they formed up with their wingman, than with Sera and hers. He glanced over at this wife's Tomcat. "See you when we get back Angel."
"Clear skies Hammer," she bided and banked her Tomcat away, followed closely by Becca's.
Harm went on with the patrol. "So how long will you be with us, Skates?"
"For as long as you need a RIO, sir," she answered. "The Skipper told Captain Mitchell you needed someone to keep you in line, other then your wife."
He chuckled softly. "And you volunteered?"
"What can I say, I missed flying with you," she said with a grin.
"Thanks Skates."
"You're welcome sir,"
By the time they returned to the carrier Sera and her division were already back. "Jeez guys we were starting to think we'd have to send out a search party," she smirked.
"Well you know men, they never want to stop to ask directions," Lieutenant Michelle Venus Cater smirked, she was Tyler Rattles McGregor's RIO. They'd flown wing for Harm and Beth.
Everyone laughed; removing their safety gear they joined them, taking their seats.
The Cag settled them down and they went through the mission debriefing before being dismissed.
Harm held his wife back; he needed to talk to her alone. "Walk with me Angel."
She knew that tone. "Yes sir,"
He said nothing until after they entered one of the small conference rooms. He closed the hatch and repeated what the Cag had told him and his conversation with the Admiral.
"The attack on the Bell and the Patrick Henry was well timed, by the book," she informed. "From the moment we launched they were on us."
"When did the peeping Tom make his move?" Harm asked.
"After the flight deck was hit on the Bell, he broke configuration and headed for the Henry. Which was also when the bridge was hit on the Bell."
"So they knocked out the bridge so communications between the ships was impossible," he theorized.
"Except we warned the Raptor's, who in turn warned the Henry," she enlightened. "Harm that Leah Jet was packed with explosives, it was a suicide mission from the start. The thing is, whoever was controlling the detonation screwed up, that Jet exploded prematurely."
"It doesn't make sense,"
There was a knock on the door. "Enter!" Harm barked.
The door opened, two people he didn't expect entered with the Skipper, the Cag and XO – Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie and Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galendez. The Gunny carried a backpack and a high-powered rifle.
Both Harm and Sera snapped to attention.
"At ease," Captain Mitchell insisted. He nodded to Mac. "Go a head Colonel."
"Yes sir," she acknowledged. "We've received word this morning Clark Palmer escaped from Leavenworth. According to Webb he's onboard the Liberty Bell."
"Mr. Palmer also left a message for you both," the Gunny informed and handed Harm the folded note.
Taking it, Harm read it out loud. "One Rabb will die, guess which one. Both fly but only one dies."
Gunny then opened the pack and removed two bulletproof vests. "From Mr. Webb."
"Until we find this lunatic, you'll both be under twenty-four hour guard," the Skipper announced. "Gunny Sergeant Galendez will be sticking to Angel's six. Corporal Rylands outside will stick to yours, Hammer. No ifs or buts, you do as you're told. Including wearing those vests."
Sera took the one the Gunny handed her. "They don't look like they'd stop anything," she remarked, noting the thinness.
"They're new, Webb said they will," Mac reassured.
"Put it on, that's an order," the Skipper told them.
"Aye sir," both responded and did as they were told, wearing them under their flight suites.
"How did Palmer get on board?" Harm asked out loud.
"It seems he'd been on for about a month," Bud revealed and handed Harm a print out. "He came in with a rotation,"
Both Rabb's looked at the print out. Palmer hadn't disguised himself at all; the print out showed him smiling at the security cameras.
"So why wait until now to make a move?" Sera asked out loud, than answered her question. "Unless he organized the whole think. Knowing that the Navy would send JAG to investigate."
"And if it were big enough, the Admiral would send Harm since your onboard," Mac theorized.
Sera nodded, concluding. "Which means Harm isn't the target, I am,"
That brought silence to the room. She lent against the table. "From what I've been told of Palmer, he wants Harm to suffer."
Despite who was in the room with him, Harm drew his wife into his arms. "I won't let him hurt you,"
"Neither will I Ma'am," Gunny declared bluntly.
She glanced over to him. "Thank you Gunny."
The Cag had heard enough. "I think it's time we went looking for this Palmer,"
Mac agreed. "The sooner the better," she, like the other's were armed.
"All right," Captain Mitchell agreed. "Lets take a look," he jabbed a finger at the two Rabb's. "Stay here until one of us gives the word."
"Yes sir," both answered moving apart. Sitting back and letting others be in the thick of it, wasn't easy for either of them.
"Gunny give them a moment," Mac suggested as she left with the Captain's and Roberts.
"Yes Ma'am," he acknowledged, handing Harm his sidearm before leaving.
Harm put the pistol on the conference table and perched near it, drawing his wife back into his arms. "We'll get through this, sweetheart. I promise."
She rested her forehead against his. "I don't like this Harm."
"Neither do I," he agreed.
Both heard the distinctive sounds of bodies hitting the deck outside, Harm grabbed the pistol and cocked it, Sera moved as he pointed it at the door, which slowly opened.
Clark Palmer came in grinning, behind him both the Gunny and the Corporal were down. "Well, well isn't this just sweet." He pointed his pistol at Sera. "Now the thing is, Harm. If you shot me and I'll shot your wife."
"You'll do that anyway, isn't that why you're on board, Palmer?" he asked him.
"It is indeed," Palmer smirked.
Outside the door, Gunny slowly reached for the Corporal's sidearm, grabbing it. He knew Harm had his full attention on Palmer, Sera though was watching him. Painfully he lifted the pistol, and slowly squeezed the trigger.
To be continued.
Okay there you go, another cliffhanger. The question is. Does Palmer shot Sera or not? The answer? Well post a review and I'll let you know in chapter 16 - A.S.