Title: Starting Over

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: I have to admit I wrote this story as a one chapter only story. I was never going to write any more. I'd had a bad week and was rather ticked off at everyone and chapter one just followed out. I was so overwhelmed by the amount of review's I got that I just had to write a second chapter, then a third, fourth, fifth and now a sixth. I did truly believe I needed a break, so I could recharge and continue, but your reviews asking me to continue has lead me to write this chapter. I may still take a longer break, once again thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and continues to do so. It's because of you that I keep going. Thank you.

Winjan: I knew you'd like chapter 5, and the comments, more to come.

Hopechest6: Stay faithful my friend, but don't give up on me yet.

Angela B: Oh please, Kat is going to rock his world I promise. And yes Kat is a Tomcat pilot, she was just joyriding with the Marines, forgive her she was just being. Dare I say it? Harmful!!!! Take a re-read of the last chapter; it'll solve your confusion.

Maria: Finally someone who appreciates Harm dating someone other than Mac. Thank you thank you. Stay turned more to come.

Nikki: Harm is a dedicated officer, which is why he and Kat haven't done anything major so far. And it's only a story.

Kiwi: Sorry, we all need to recharge now and then. Just think of this as season final. 'Last time on JAG….'

Trsrjs: Thanks some much for you comment I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

DD2: Now, now, Mac's a big girl; she'll survive Harm being lost for a while with a beautiful Naval Aviator, all alone together.

Lisa Brown: Well I can't comment on the commitment side of Harm and Kat yet, I haven't decided myself what's going to happen. I'm writing chapter to chapter, so stay turned, all will be revealed.

Jeffrey D Ayes: Thanks Jeffrey, relationships and careers will develop as the story goes on.

Catasa: I can't be angry with you; you're beginning to like Harm being with Kat. I like people who read with an open mind. Thanks.

Marie-Helene: I'm happy you're hooked and thanks for liking Kat, I actually based her on Harm, as silly as that seems. I just thought it would be fun to have a female character that was so much like him. Thank you for sticking with it.

Thanks also to the following who reviewed: Heart of the South, T, T, KMK, and Ashley. I appreciate your liking my story.

Starting Over

Chapter Six: Moments in time.

USS Ticonderoga

Somewhere in the Persian Gulf

Lieutenants Lindsay and McGregor, despite still looking green, were on the bridge waiting with everyone else for news of the Cag and Lieutenant O'Reilly. Lieutenants Michaels and Williams, who had flown wing for Rabb and O'Reilly, were also present.

Captain Garret came over to Michaels. "Son, go and get some rest."

"I can't sir, not until I know the Cag and Phantom are all right," he protested.

"Lieutenant," Marine Captain Mark Leslie clamped a large hand on the younger man's shoulder. "You want do them any good collapsing on the bridge from exhaustion. You'll be told if word comes through, I promise."

Defeated he agreed. "Yes sir."

"Good man," he removed his hand and glanced at the other three. "Mouse, Piper, Wylie, you three as well. Get going."

Reluctantly they agreed and left the bridge with a nod from the Captain, Michaels following.

"Well done, Tonka-Toy." Garret stated.

"Thank you sir and I apologize if I over stepped my position."

"You did what was needed, Captain, lets leave it at that."

"Yes sir,"

Garret chuckled a little. "Look at it this way, they took orders from you and by grade your all the same rank."

"I'm a Marine sir, we have command presence," Mark said lightly.

The Skipper laughed, than patted him on the back. "Thanks Tonka-Toy."

"You're welcome sir," he said with a cheesy grin, even thought he was just as worried about their missing aviators.

"Now go take your own advice and get some rest," Garret ordered, he saw the Marine going to protest. "It's not a suggestion, Captain, it's an order."

"Yes sir," he came to attention and then left. Going to the Ward Room, where he found the four Lieutenants. "I thought you four were ordered to rest."

"We are sir," Karen defended. "We're sitting down."

Mark took a seat himself, chuckling. "Mouse, even though I'm a Captain, by grade we're the same rank. You don't have to call me sir."

She blushed a little. "Force of habit."

"Well lets try Mark or Tonka-Toy," he suggested and saw them agree. "Now does anyone want coffee?"

Karen and Scott passed but Brain Michaels and Jeff Williams did, the got this own as did Mark, sitting down again.

"Do you think they're all right?" Scott asked the Marine. "I know Biff and Wylie saw chutes, but will they be all right on the ground?"

"They've both been trained to survive in these types of situations and I'm sure if it wasn't for the sandstorm that's raging where they are, they'd be sitting back here with us now," Mark informed. "We're still getting their signals, the storm is the only thing holding up their rescue."

Jeff took a sip of his coffee, than played with the cup. "Do you think it's true, the scuttlebutt about them?"

"Kat's never said anything to me and she's my roommate," Karen stated. "Still, she does get a certain look on her face at times, and the Cag, I've seen him watching her with the same look."

"I've seem him look lovingly at this ride, but I haven't heard scuttlebutt about him and his F-14," Mark retorted, he knew Kat had feelings for the Cag, but it wasn't for him to judge them. "Besides its just scuttlebutt."

Scott sat back in his chair. "I've known Phantom since she joined the squadron, we've flown together the whole time and I'm ashamed to say I don't know much about her life before she joined the Navy."

"I only know bits and pieces," Karen admitted. "I know mother kicked her out when she said she was going to the Academy and her dad being killed."

"We know her dad was killed in '91'," Jeff added. "The Cag and the Skipper told us his Tomcat was hit by enemy fire, he and his RIO never had time to eject."

"We don't even know much about the Cag," Brain admitted. "A couple of the Wolverines said he use to be a spook, but before that he was a JAG lawyer."

"And before that a Naval Aviator," Mark filled in the obvious.

"Kat knows," Karen spoke up. "Apparently they've talked about their pasts to each other quiet a bit."

"Well he was obviously kept flight qualified even after becoming a lawyer," Scott theorized.

"We're speculating and going on rumors here guys," Mark concluded. "The sad thing is, it's all we have to go on."

"When they come back, we should sit down and talk, find about who they are," the Lieutenant decided. "We consider both of them our friends and part of our family, but we don't know anything about them."

They all agreed, falling silent for the moment.

"So do you think when we get back to port the Captain will be having a 'wetting down'?" Brain inquired with a grin, feeling it was best to stay positive.

"He'd better after all he's been through, he deserves one," Mark smirked. "I mean spending the night alone with Phantom, I call that tough duty."

They all laughed, but deep down they were also praying Rabb and O'Reilly would be coming home.

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church Virginia

Washington DC

Admiral Chegwidden glanced over at the Marine Lieutenant Colonel; Mac sat patiently in one of the large leather chairs deep in thought. In her hands was a photo Bud had printed off the computer for her, taken Christmas Day – it was of the now Captain Harmon Rabb and DFC awarded Lieutenant Katherine O'Reilly.

"I'm sure he was going to tell you."

She managed a smile. "I got an email from him, I found it this morning. He wrote it just before he and Phantom went on the mission."

AJ sat down across from her. "Phantom?"

"Lieutenant Katherine O'Reilly," she showed him the photo. "She was awarded her DFC the same day as he was promoted."

Looking at the photo, AJ saw Harm looked happy, so did the Lieutenant with him. "I thought her call sign was Banshee?"

"It was the squadron gave her, her fathers call sign," she explained.

Tom Boone was nearby looking out the windows. "She's a lot like her father, not to mention she's a damn good aviator."

"She reminded me of Harm," Mac said seriously. "Of what he was like when we first meet."

The retired Admiral snorted. "Well Harm is like his father and Hammer and Phantom would have gotten on well together. Which is probably why Harm and Kat get along – Hammer and Phantom are flying again."

"She's hard to hate," Mac muttered aimlessly.

AJ arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me Colonel?"

She than realized what she'd said. "I'm sorry Admiral, I didn't realize I said that out loud."

"Perhaps you can explain yourself?"

Tom turned chuckling. "You thought when you went out to the Ticonderoga you'd find Harm missing JAG, instead you found he'd moved on and made a close friend in Kat."

"Yes sir, Harm treats Kat with as much respect as he did me," Mac admitted. "I wanted to hate her because she'd taken my place as his best friend, but I couldn't. I found myself liking her and seeing Harm in a different light. He's at home on the Ticonderoga. He's the Cag. "

AJ gave the photo back to her. "He's also your friend, Mac."

"I know, but we've both changed. Our friendship has changed," she said with a calm conviction. "He knows it and so do I, we can be friends, but we'll never have the friendship we did. He's moved on."

"And so have you Colonel." Tom noted bluntly, seeing it in her eyes.

She nodded. "Yes sir I have."

300km West/South West

Of Baghdad

Katherine finished putting the last butterfly clip on the Cag's forehead; he'd been hit by a piece of shrapnel from their exploding Tomcat. She herself had a few cuts and bruises. Outside their makeshift tent the wind howled as a major sandstorm brewed. They'd used the parachutes to make the tent, which they'd fixed partly to a burnt out hummer.

"How's that feel?" She asked him.

"Good. Your turn, I want to look at your shoulder," Harm ordered gently.

She reluctantly scooted around a little and let him look. Her flight suite was torn, so was the dark blue t-shirt she wore under it.

Harm parted the material to take a look; it was a decent cut, but thankfully not deep. "This is going to hurt, Phantom."

"I'm a big girl Cag, I can handle it," she reassured, but grit her teeth together when she felt him cleaning the wound.

"Sorry," he apologized.

She merely nodded her head, biting her bottom lip. Her eyes watered from the pain that run down her back and arm.

Quickly finishing, Harm managed to get a dressing over it without ripping her flight suite too much. She was going to need it to stay warm. "All done."

"Thanks."

Once the first aid kit was put away, he drew her into his arms. "The temperature is dropping outside. We need to use body heat to stay warm," he stated rhetorically.

She relaxed in his arms. "You'd do anything to get me in your arms Hammer."

Harm held her gentle against him, laughing lightly. The Skippers words echoed though his mind though. He didn't want a one-night stand, nor would he take advantage of her while they were waiting to be rescued. And they would be rescued; he had no doubts about that. He just hopped it was before any extremist found them. Getting shot down was bad enough, but being held captive would be worse. He didn't want his mother going through it again, not with him. Not like she had with his father.

Katherine rested her head against his chest, their body heat was going to keep them warm, and she knew that. Closing her eyes she sighed, she could smell his aftershave, the deodorant he wore. It was intoxicating. If only they were anywhere but in the desert, preferably alone somewhere where they could just be Harm and Kat. Not Cag and Phantom.

"So where are we going for dinner and dancing?" He asked her, rubbing her arms to keep her warm.

"How about Jollies, we could fly to La Jolla, spend the weekend. You could introduce me to your mum," she suggested. "I'd like to thank her for having such a great son."

He chuckled. "My mum is going to love you," he agreed. "And a weekend in La Jolla sounds good."

"It does doesn't it," she murmured sleepily. "Just you and I."

"Just you and I," he repeated as he closed his own eyes, leaning against the destroyed hummer. They just had to get out of this desert and back to their ship, than home. Bring on the Marines, he thought sleepily. They'd seen a unit of Marines when they'd flown over; he was guessing they would be the ones looking for them. Now all they had to do was wait.

To be continued… 

(Will the Marines find them in time? The answer to come… So review away)