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: It was kind of fun doing the girl's day out, so I just had to give the boys their turn. Though this chapter wasn't as long, (I had to make Girl Talk into two chapters) I've tried to make it just as fun. So I hope you enjoy it.
Winjan: Since you liked Girl Talk, I hope you enjoy Boy talk. I wanted to lighten things up after so many action packed chapters. Thanks for your review.
Gold Wings and Dress Whites
Chapter Twenty-two: Boy talk
Mitchell Residence
Falls Church, Virginia
Washington, DC
Matt saw his sister's blue Shelby cobra pass his car and waited for it to pull into the driveway, his brother-in-law and nephew getting out. "You're risking life and limb driving your wife's car, buddy," he teased.
"Only if I let Corey drive." Harm taunted back.
Corey groaned the sixteen year old had only had his license for a mouth. The Admiral had finished teaching him to drive. "I'm not that bad, my jeep is still in one piece."
Matt arched an eyebrow as they went inside. "You bought him a jeep?"
"Well he needed something to drive, and we didn't buy it. It was Sera's old jeep."
"That's different then."
"Oh come on Uncle Matt, I'm not that bad." Corey grumbled good heartedly.
"No you're not," his father defended, adding lightly. "It's a good thing though you don't drive like you fly."
Matt started to laugh. "This from a man who has ejected how many times?"
Harm wiggled three fingers in the air as he sat down. "And how many times have you punched out, Cobra?" he asked using the call sign the Marine had used while flying.
"Only once, Hammer," he heard the doorbell ring. "It's not something I'd like to repeat," he remarked and opened the door. "Good morning sir."
AJ Chegwidden frowned. "Matt, it's AJ, we're not at work now."
He nodded. "Yes sir." He gestured the Admiral inside, closing the door. They joined Harm and Corey.
Harm acknowledged him. "Good morning sir."
AJ sighed. "I am going to say this only once, so pass it on. Lets drop the sir, it's AJ, we're not at work," he took a seat. "Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Matt stated.
"Very," Harm and Corey agreed.
"So Corey how's the jeep?" AJ asked the teenager.
"It's great, though dad thinks it's a good thing I don't drive like I fly."
"Your father can't talk, we'd all be in trouble if he drove like he flew?"
"Especially since he's a life member of the Martin Baker Fan Club." Matt smirked as he sat down.
"The what?"
"The Martin Baker Fan Club," his Uncle told him. "Martin Baker makes ejection seats, aviators who have ejected say they've become members of the fan club."
"I believe your mum is a member too." AJ noted.
"My mum," Corey shook his head. "My mum has never ejected."
"She has Core," Harm corrected, realizing this was something his mother had never told him. "During her second tour, she and her wingman were flying through a storm when lightening struck her Tomcat," he recalled. "She and Blades ejected and spent two hours in the water before they were rescued."
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"She probably didn't want to upset you, Core."
"But you knew."
"I was the investigating officer, Core," his father told him.
"Was she hurt?"
"Other then a few bruised ribs, no."
"If your lucky Corey, you'll never get to experience it first hand," his Uncle declared. He heard the doorbell ring again. "Excuse me." He got up to answer it.
Corey looked at his father. "What was it like, knowing it was mum who had ejected?"
"Frightening, I didn't know if she was hurt or not until after we landed on the Patrick Henry," he remembered. "Pilots don't like to eject Core, you only punch out if you have too and I knew you mum would of done everything she could first."
"I just can't believe she didn't tell me."
"She knew you would have worried," he said calmly. He didn't like to think of his wife punching out, even now.
Matt returned with Sturgis and Mic, having pre-warned them about the sir business. "Sit down, I'll get us a drink."
"So where is the guest of honor?" Mic asked.
"Late."
"Well what did you expect for a Jarhead," AJ declared dryly and they all laughed.
Matt came back in with their drinks, choosing soft drink since it was too early for alcohol. "We're not always late."
"Whatever you say Matt." Harm teased.
The doorbell rang again. "That will be him," he went over to the door, opening it.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Harrison smiled as the door opened. "Hey Cobra."
"Matrix," he gave his friend a manly hug, slapping him on the back. "It's good to see you."
"You too buddy."
"Come on in," he urged and then shut the door. "I've got some friends I want you to met."
"Great."
In the living room Matt started introducing Tom to everyone, he shook their hands, saying hello.
Lastly Matt came to Corey. "You probably don't recognize him, but this is Corey."
Tom was surprised. "You're kidding, little squirt."
"I'm not so little anymore," Corey said blushing.
"You certainly aren't," he glanced at Harm. "You're a lucky man, Harm. Corey is a great kid and Sera," he whistled. "So how is the sexiest Naval officer?"
Matt handed Tom a can of Coke and sat. "Coursing havoc on the USS Liberty Bell if I know my sister."
"You're kidding, so when did Sera get carrier duty, I though being married again would be enough adventure for her."
Matt shook his head. "When did you last talk to Sera?"
Tom shrugged. "Must have just been after Chris died. Why?"
Mic laughed. "Mate, you're behind the times."
"Sera changed designators, she's a Naval Aviator now," Harm told him. "She has been for nearly four years."
"She gave up a fine law career to be a jet jockey." AJ said bluntly.
"Wow, wait a minute. Sera is an aviator aboard the USS Liberty Bell?" he saw them nod. "Damn, we've been flying against them all week in war games. In fact the Hawks have a bounty on the Liberty Aces XO, six hundred dollars goes to the man who nails Angel's six." That really got them laughing, leaving Tom confused. "What did I say?"
"Angel is Sera, you've been flying against the distinguished Lieutenant Commander Sera Rabb all week, Matrix." Matt revealed.
"So you'd better find a charity to donate that money to." Harm suggested.
"It's a good advice." Sturgis agreed.
"Well sorry guys but I'm not going to give up," Tom told them cockily. "This just gives me more incentive to nail her six."
"Your funeral." AJ told him.
"It'll be more like mum nailing your six, then the other way round." Corey added.
"She already has, twice." Tom grumbled.
"Well she is the best."
"We'll see."
Matt shook his head. "Matrix, you're up against a Top Gun pilot with two DFC's, who's been nominated for a third. To say you're flying against the best is no exaggeration when it comes to Sera."
"Great," he grumbled again.
"It could be worse," Mic noted and jabbed his thumb at Harm. "You would be flying against him too."
"Then it would be double trouble," Sturgis remarked.
"So you're an aviator too?" Tom asked Harm.
"No I'm a lawyer,"
"A lawyer who use to be an aviator," AJ filled in. "Who went back to being an aviator, then returned to being a lawyer."
"I think I'm getting a headache." Tom groaned.
"I'm just a lawyer now." Harm told him. "I fly to keep my hours up and to stay qualified."
"Just so he can take temporary assignments like being Cag aboard the Liberty Bell," Matt told his friend.
"And that makes you good?" Tom challenged Harm with a wicked grin.
Harm just ignored him.
"Dad went to Top Gun too and he has two DFC's." Corey praised.
"Not to mention being nominated for his third also." AJ added.
The teenager's grin widened, where is Harm looked like he was ready to crawl under the coffee table.
"That still hasn't answered my question." Tom stated.
Matt patted his friend on the back. "Do you remember hearing about a Tomcat pilot that pushed his wingman out of enemy territory by using the wingman's tail hook?"
"Sure, every pilot has."
"Well Harm is that pilot."
Tom shook his head and laughed. "Well I'll be, no wonder Corey is gushing. So what did you do to get nominated for your third DFC?"
AJ crushed up his empty tin. "He landed his Tomcat on an aircraft carrier that didn't have any landing lights and the LSO was using a flashlight to bring him in," he answered for him. "Sera landed before him, which is why they're both nominated."
"Okay, then perhaps you are good." Tom decided.
"Perhaps," Harm said silently.
The phone rang and Matt jumped up to answer it. "Mitchell."
"Sir, it's Lieutenant Commander Roberts."
"What can I do for you Bud? Is Emily all right?"
"Yes sir, I was just wondering if Harriet told you what time they'd be home?"
"She didn't say Bud, why don't you just make the kids some lunch, then pack everyone up and come over and join us."
"Are you sure sir, I could just wait for Harriet, then we could bring Emily home."
"I'm sure Bud. And leave the sirs at home, there's no rank here today."
"Yes sir. I'll try."
"Okay Bud, see you after lunch."
"Goodbye sir."
"Bye Bud," Matt chuckled to himself as he hung up. It was going to be an interesting afternoon. He sat back down finding the conversation had changed; now it was about him.
"So Cobra, being the guy he is," Tom was telling them. "Marches after the Lieutenant and announces that if he was a sexist pig, he would have told her just how much she did have in common with the Duracell Bunny."
They roared laughing, except for Matt who tried unsuccessfully to no be embarrassed, but failed.
"So what did she do?" Corey inquired.
"She spun around, grabbed Cobra and pined him against the bulk head. Than told him if she wasn't a lady and his commanding officer, she'd show him just how much she did have in common with the Duracell Bunny," Tom announced grinning. "Poor Cobra just stood there stunned as she walked away."
Matt felt like disappearing, he remembered that incident and the repercussions that accrued after it. He also noted his nephew was laughing as hard as everyone else. "God Corey, don't tell me you know the joke too?"
The teenager seemed surprised by his Uncle's reaction. "It's just a joke Uncle Matt."
Harm saw Matt glaring at him. "Hey don't look at me, I didn't tell it to him."
"No," AJ said calmly. "I did."
Once the initial shock wore off they laughed even harder, after all men were just boys on the inside.
That Afternoon
Mitchell Residence
Mac, Harriet, Samantha and Sydney were surprised by one thing when they walked inside the house. It was tidy.
"Did we come to the right place?" Harriet inquired grinning.
"I'm starting to wonder." Mac declared.
They heard laugher. "Sounds like it's coming from the back yard." Samantha noted.
"Well come on ladies, lets go look." Sydney urged and they did.
Out in the back yard, the men were sprawled on the grass laughing. A garbage bin was near by with empty pizza boxes and Coke tines. Emily was sitting on Harm's lap, giggling as he trickled her. Little AJ was curled up on the Admiral's lap, asleep. To top it all off there wasn't a beer bottle in sight.
Mac cleared her throat, getting their attention.
"Hi Mum!" Emily called out.
"Hi honey."
They joined them, Matt helping his sister to sit down next to Harm and Emily.
Sydney sat beside the Admiral. "That's so sweet," she whispered and he smiled.
Harriet sat beside her husband. "Did you enjoy your day?"
"I did, how about you?"
"It was great."
Tom grinned. "Jeez Sam, you look like you've swallowed a watermelon.
"Very funny Tom, if I could get up I would thump you one," she told him playfully.
"I'm safe than."
Mac sat comfortable in Matt's arms. "So have you told enough war stories and tall tales?"
"For today," he mused.
Tom chuckled. "You have to be some kind of Marine to handle Cobra, Mac."
"Thank you Tom."
"Well anyone who can survive punching out of a MiG with Harm would have to be." AJ noted straight-faced.
Rolling his eyes, Tom smirked. "Jeez Hammer, you should stick to just being a lawyer, you're dangerous."
"He must remind you of yourself then, Matrix." Samantha teased.
"Oh that's low," he remarked as everyone laughed.
Harm glanced at his sister-in-law. "You look tired, do you want me to drive you home, Corey can follow in your car?"
She nodded. "I think it's a good idea."
Emily hoped off his lap and went over to her parents.
"We're going to head home," Harm announced as he got up, helping Samantha to her feet with Corey's help.
Bud and Harriet decided to go as well, lifting a still sleeping AJ from the Admiral's lap. He and Sydney got up too, calling it a day. As did Sturgis and Mic, the later stating his wife would kill him if he didn't get home soon.
Mac, Matt, Emily and Tom walked everyone out.
"Take it easy with my car, Corey," Samantha told the teenager as she handed him the keys.
"I will," he assured and headed for the sports car.
She smiled and got into the cobra, Harm giving her a hand. "Thank you kind sir."
"You're welcome Milady," he teased and than got in himself.
Waving goodbye, one by one they all left, promising to do it again.
Matt slipped his arm around his fiancé, as she slipped hers around him.
Tom, having carried Emily out, put her down. "I'd better head off too, we're doing a surprise attack tonight."
"Be careful," Matt urged, adding. "I don't want to have to look for another best man."
"Hey it's me."
"I know that's why I'm warning you."
Tom laughed. "Sure Cobra," he grinned. "It was nice meeting you, Mac."
"It was nice meeting you Tom, come and have dinner with us one day next week," she suggested.
"I shell," he gave Emily a cuddle. "Bye Em."
"Bye Uncle Tom."
"Bye guys," he bided, getting into his car.
They waved as he drove away, than headed inside.
"You look tired too sweetheart." Matt noted.
Mac smiled sheepishly. "I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
"Well you'd better go to bed early tonight," he suggested with a gleam in his eye.
"I think I will," she agreed, then turned her attention to the little girl. "Come on Em, let go sort out your over night bag."
"Okay,"
Matt smiled to himself as his fiancé and daughter climbed the stairs. He was a lucky man to have two such wonderful girls in his life - very lucky.
To be continued.
I know I said I was finishing the story off and I am. It's just taking me a little longer to do than I thought it would. So bare with me, I will get to the end. AS.