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've taken a lot of flak on this story, some not liking it because it's not a Harm/Mac story, others just being plan picky because I'm not the greatest speller in the world. Then there was the sexist bigotry comment. Not to mention one that I printed out to show my Mum (and I removed), who also happens to be my beta reader. I write fan fiction as a way to relax and unwind, these are just stories about people I can relate to. Okay my father is still alive, and I don't have an alcoholic parent. But my night blindness is an issue I don't let get to me, nor is it at a point where I can't drive at night (thank goodness) but I have my entire house memorized so I can walk around in the dark. It's something you get use to. So I think I can relate to Harm a little. My writing also gets me through the hard times and the good times. A little part of me goes into all my characters, I may not be perfect and I sure as hell don't make my characters perfect. They cry and so do I. I'd also like to apologize to anybody I've offended since writing this story. Okay now that I've gotten that off my chest, thank you to those who did sent in reviews: Winjan (I know I can always count on you for a nice word – thank you) and Mary Kate113 (thank you too), Les (I apologize, you caught me on a bad day and thanks for saying I have guts for writing this story)
Starting OverChapter Twelve: Family
Katherine's apartment
Falls Church, Virginia
Washington DC
14th February
Katherine opened her wardrobe, gowns to wear to a ball like the Valentines Ball, wasn't high on her to buy list. Thankfully Mac had helped solved the problem, between exams she'd taken her shopping and they'd found the perfect gown, one that was going to make Harmon Rabb look twice. Taking the deep maroon evening gown from the hanger she slipped it on, it felt soft against her skin. The gown had split up the back to help her walk, the back was low and at the cuffs of each form fitting sleeve was a silky small red rose. She liked the dress, the way it wore on her, the way it emphasized all the right curves.
She removed her dog tags, leaving them by her jewelry case, instead she wore a gold chair that had a tiny pair of gold wings hanging from it, setting it all off with gold diamond studded earrings.
After quickly touching up her make up and hair, she slipped the matching maroon pumps on her stocking feet, hearing the door to her apartment open.
"Katie?" it was Harm.
"In the bedroom, won't be a minute."
"All right. How was your day?"
"It was good. Yours?"
"Boring, I missed you," he commented.
She chuckled, looking at her reflection in the mirror. After all the exams – practical and theory, going to the Valentines Ball was a welcome relief. Especially with the good news she had to tell, her meeting at the Pentagon and Admiral Donavan had gone well, very well. Leaving the bedroom she sauntered out into the living room. Harm was waiting in his galas looking very handsome. She could tell by the look on his face he liked the dress; she gave him a slow turn.
"Wow!" He exclaimed.
"I'm glad you like what you see, Captain Rabb," she teased.
"Oh I do Lt. Commander O'Reilly. Now come here so I can wish you a happy birthday properly."
"Yes sir," she smirked and crossed the distance between them, going into his arms, determined to see if the sales woman was right and the lip stick she'd brought was kiss proof by doing just that. She groaned against his mouth. Damn this man could kiss.
"How am I suppose to keep my hands off you tonight?" He moaned, caressing the soft skin exposed by her low cut gown.
"You don't have to," she announced breathless. "I'm not longer under your chain of command. As of fourteen hundred, I'm a member of the White Sabers and hold a duel designator – Naval Aviator and JAG lawyer."
"So you took the job?" he asked rhetorically.
"I took the job," she managed to say before he kissed her again.
"So I can ask you something personnel?" He stated as he released her.
"You can," her heart thumped against her chest as he took a small jewelry box from his pocket and knelt on one knee before her.
He'd planed on doing this whether she'd taken the job or not. Opening the box he removed a diamond ring, taking her hand. "Katherine Marie O'Reilly, will you do the honor of being my wife?" He asked as he slipped the engagement ring on her finger.
"Yes," she said as tears stung her eyes, tears of happiness.
He stood and drew her back into his arms, kissing her. "Happy birthday, Katie."
"Thank you Harm."
"Shell we then?"
Nodding she grabbed her coat and evening bag, following him out.
At the ball their coats and his cover was given to the clerk, Harm pocketing the ticket, taking Katherine's arm guiding her in.
"We're being watched," he whispered noticing it.
"I know," she said, smiling.
Admiral Chegwidden gestured them over when he saw them. Greeting them when they arrived at the JAG table. "Captain Rabb, Lt. Commander O'Reilly."
"Admiral," both greeted.
"You look beautiful, Katherine!" Meredith exclaimed.
"Thank you Ma'am,"
"None of the Ma'am business young lady, you can call me Meredith, after all you're joining our JAG family."
"Yes Ma'am… Meredith."
AJ Chegwidden smiled. "Your service record Lt. Commander is as bad, if not worse then Rabb's, but not as blacked out as Taylor's."
Her grinned widen in amusement. "Thank you sir, I always give a hundred percent."
"Why don't you join us?" Meredith offered.
"We'd like too, but we're expected at Captain Garrett's table," Harm explained. "Excuse us."
"Of course,"
After they'd walked away, which every male at the table watched (Katherine that is). Josh made a comment. "That was a nice rock on her finger, I guess Harm got his head out of his six and asked her."
"She didn't have it on when we went shopping for the dress," Mac noted.
"It's her birthday, today," Bud added.
"Do you think he purposed tonight?" Harriett asked excitedly.
"Knowing Rabb, I wouldn't put it past him," AJ said dryly. Along with O'Reilly's service record had been a note, just like the note he'd received with Taylor's. Now he had two of them to deal with.
Captain Ethan Garrett welcomed Rabb and O'Reilly and congratulated them both on their engagement having noticed the ring on Katherine's finger. He then introduced his wife Melissa and they sat down, chatting.
"I had a call from Admiral Donavan," the Captain announced. "Congratulations on completing your law degree and the passing the bar. Are they going to send you to Naval Justice School?"
Katherine nodded. "Yes sir, while Harm and the Tyco Tigers are being retained to fly the Super Hornet, I'll be at NJS."
"Donavan was impressed with you, Kat," he praised. "I wouldn't be surprised if they rush you through. He wants you where he can get to you in a hurry."
She felt Harm grip her hand under the table. "I got the same impression, sir. We'll just have to see."
"Yes you shell."
After chatting to Melissa about non-navy matters for a while, Katherine was asked to dance by her fiancée; she excused herself and joined him on the dance floor, being drawn into his arms.
"Don't let Donavan talk you into doing anything that'll get you killed," he whispered.
"I won't," she promised. "I have you to come back to,"
"Yes you do," he said, and they continued to dance, holding each other as close as they could.
Josh and Mac were dancing near by; he was watching the two of them. Seeing Katherine tonight stirred something inside him he didn't understand. It wasn't jealousy or anything like that, it was hard to explain. He recalled his parents talking late one night about his birth parents, of how they'd heard his birth father had gotten married, that he had a little girl. It bothered him that he remembered that. Tomorrow he was going to visit his parents; he was going to ask about his birth parents. He'd never bothered before, but now he needed to know, because he had a feeling Katherine O'Reilly was involved some how.
O'Reilly's Bar
The Next Morning
Jack O'Reilly smiled as his niece and her fiancée came into the bar, he gave her a hug. "Happy birthday for yesterday, Katie."
"Thank you Uncle Jack,"
"Now give e a look at it?" He ordered and took her left hand, seeing her amused look. "Well I am the closest person you have to a father. He had to ask someone for your hand in marriage."
Katherine glanced at Harm, who looked sheepishly. "Yes he did,"
Jack smiled. "It's a beautiful ring, Katie and I'm very happy for you."
"Thank you," she hugged him. "That means a lot to me Uncle Jack."
They went and sat down.
"Now lass, I have something I want to tell you, something I should of told you long ago," he stated.
That statement worried her. "What is it Uncle Jack?"
"It's about your dad," he revealed. "When he was in high school he had a girlfriend by the name of Gabrielle Williams, they were so in love your dad had planed on asking her to marry him."
"What happened?" Harm asked first being drawn in.
"She took off, not long after Christmas, she just left town. She left him a letter saying it was over," Jack answered, he took his niece's hand. "Your dad was devastated, he asked around, tried to find her, but finally we convinced him to let her go. He went on with is life, went to Annapolis and met your mother a few months later."
"What happened to Gabrielle Williams?" She asked him.
"She had a child, Katie. Your father's child," Jack revealed, seeing the realization sink in on her face. "She put the baby up for adoption and left for good."
"How did you find out?" She inquired in a shocked whispered.
"She told me, after the baby was born, and she had him adopted, she came and told me everything."
"Did Dad know?"
"No, Katie. He never found out."
Harm slipped his arm around Katherine. "Are you all right?"
"No," she shook her head. "Why didn't you say anything earlier, Uncle Jack; why hide it for so long?"
"I thought I was protecting your dad, I'm sorry Katie."
"Who is he, do you know?" she finally asked.
"He was adopted by a Naval officer and his wife - David and Linda Taylor. They called him Josh."
"Josh," she repeated. Now it did make sense. "Lt. Commander Josh Taylor?"
"Yes."
"Does he know?"
"Not as far as I know."
"What are you going to do?" Harm asked his fiancé, concerned by her sudden silence.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I just don't know."
Taylor Residence
Alexandria, Maryland
Linda Taylor hugged her son. "This is a surprise darling."
"I need to talk to you and dad, is he home?" Josh asked.
"Of course, sweetheart," she guided him into the living room.
David Taylor, a retired Admiral, had been a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War and after. "Josh, what are you doing here, son?" He asked cheerfully.
Josh hugged his father, and than sat on his assistance. "I need to know about my birthparents."
His mother sat down, stunned. "Why now Josh?"
"Please Mum, who were they?"
His father sighed. "Your mother was a young woman by the name of Gabrielle Williams, I served with her father in Vietnam. She had the same boyfriend all the way through high school, he was a nice young man, and he loved Gab. But when she found out she was pregnant she ran."
"Why?"
"Because she knew your birthfather was going to Annapolis, she didn't want to ruin his career. So she came to us, we'd moved here a year or so before."
"But here is so close to Annapolis."
"I know, I think that's why she did it," his mother declared sadly.
"Who was he? My birthfather?"
Seeing her husband nod, Linda got up and left the room, returning with a photo. She sat beside her son and gave it to him.
Josh stared at the brash young man in his dress whites, gold wings on his chest.
"It was the day he got his wings, his brother sent it to Gab, but she'd been gone for years by then," Linda explained.
"His name, mum, please?"
"Jason O'Reilly," David answered him.
Josh felt like crumbling the photo in his hand, but he didn't. He couldn't, he couldn't be angry at a man who'd obviously didn't know. "Did he ever try and find me?"
"He never knew, Josh," his mother slipped her arm around him. "Gab never told him she was pregnant and she made us swear never to tell him."
"He came here looking for her," his father informed. "But Gab left after you were born. He told us he'd looked for months, asked everyone he knew but no one knew where she was. I told him to move on Josh, I though it was best."
"He was killed in '91'," his son said haunted.
"I know son,"
"He has a daughter, Lt. Commander Katherine O'Reilly."
"We know that too son,"
Josh started to laugh and his father thought he'd lost it. "She's getting married, do you know that. To the Cag of the Ticonderoga, Captain Harmon Rabb, Jr. Hammer." His laughter stopped. "Oh God."
Linda held him. "Do you know them, son?"
"She's going to be serving with me at JAG, she's a member of the White Sabers and Harm use to work at JAG."
"Will you tell her?"
"I don't know," he stood. "I have to go."
"Josh?"
"Leave him, Linda," David ordered as his son left. "He has to work this out on his own."
To be continued….
(So here is the question – should Josh tell Kat they're half brother and sister or should Kat tell him? Help me out please? Who should tell whom and how should it be brought up?)
