Title: Moving On
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: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I always look forward to getting reviews. Even if they're just two words or one, it doesn't both me. It just encourages me to write more. So thank you to: Mary Kate113 (If I follow the original story they'll make it out no problems, but I'm not quiet sure I want to sick with the original, so stay tuned.) BrightFeather (Welcome aboard, I love cliffhangers, so I just couldn't resist.), Cred (Welcome Caroline, and thanks for your kind words), traumalize45 (I'm sorry I bummed you out, I hope this makes up for it, oh and welcome too), Winjan (I know you love weddings and I have a thing for weddings on aircraft carriers, so I couldn't resist doing another one. Oh and you'll have to say tuned, everything might not work out like the original story???) Deb (I couldn't keep you hanging any longer), Ruli (please ask for more, I love it and thank you so much for liking my work) Lisa (Thank you so much), Lisa Brown (I hope your shipper heart can take it, more to come), MsJonyReb (Josh and Kat's relationship and how they are related will come up, I promise)
Moving OnChapter Eight: Moments in time come only once.
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. They'd been flying cover for search and rescue, the Captain having ordered them to land when they'd flown over their hours. Neither wanted to give up.
Captain Garrett came over to Michaels; he knew the officer was exhausted. "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, he felt the same way. He'd known O'Reilly longer then any of them. "You won't 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." Garrett 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,"
Garrett chuckled a little. "Look at it this way, they took orders from you and by grade you're 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," Garrett ordered, he saw the Marine going to protest. "It's not a suggestion, Captain, it's an order."
"Yes sir," he came to attention, but before he left he asked. "Sir was the Lieutenant's family notified?"
"They were, Captain."
"Thank you sir." Turning he left the bridge 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, shrugging. "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 quickly, but Brain Michaels and Jeff Williams agreed, they got their own as did Mark sitting back 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. "I wonder how the Cag's wife is holding up?"
"I know how I'd feel if I was informed my husband had been shot down," Karen stated, her voice laced with worry. O'Reilly was her bunkmate and friend. "I would be worried sick."
"So would my wife," Scott declared. "It still worries Amy, more then the fact my driver is an attractive woman."
"Janet worries too," Mark announced. "She has done since flight school, she says she's learnt to live with it, but I know it's always there in the back of her mind. So I'd say it's no different for the Cag's wife, even if she is a Marine."
"It's funny but we really don't know that much about the Cag or Phantom, either of them." Brain stated bluntly.
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 her mother kicked her out when she said she was going to the Academy and her dad being killed."
"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."
"A couple of the Wolverines said the Cag use to be a spook, and before that he was a JAG lawyer." Brain revealed.
"And before that a Naval Aviator." Mark filled in the obvious.
"Kat knows," Karen noted. "Apparently they've talked quiet a bit about their pasts. He's really become a big brother to her."
"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, he wasn't going to tell them anything about his friend without her permission. "The sad thing is, it's all we have to go on."
"When they come back, we should sit down and talk, find out 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. "After spending the night alone with Phantom, I call that tough duty. Especially having a Marine Lieutenant Colonel for a wife, I mean I wouldn't want to get on her bad side."
They all laughed, but deep down they were also praying Rabb and O'Reilly would be coming back to them safe.
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 taken on her wedding day, e-mailed to her from the Ticonderoga – it showed the promoted Captain Harmon Rabb and herself and his best man or woman, Lieutenant Katherine O'Reilly, standing with them. Bud had printed it off the computer using photographic paper and placed it in a frame for her.
"Harm never did things the easy way or conventional." AJ noted staying cheerful.
She managed a smile. "I got an email from him, I found it this morning. He wanted to make sure everything was going all right with the house. 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. You spoke to her on the phone the day of the wedding."
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 reminds 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, he understood. "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. Then when you and Harm got your head out of your six's, Kat was there to make sure everything ran smoothly for the two of you."
"Yes sir, to Harm, Kat is like a little sister," 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. I suppose that's when I realized I still loved him and needed him, even if he was going to be a sea six months of the year. Kat saw it, and she gave me the kick in the six that I needed."
AJ gave the photo back to her. "They'll look after each other, Mac. You've got to believe that Harm will be coming home, he wouldn't miss seeing his child born."
"I know sir," she said solemnly. She didn't want to think about the possibility of raising a child without Harm, without his love.
Seeing the tears, AJ knelt in front of her. She's only told him about the baby that morning, and the fact Harm didn't even know. "Sarah, you've got to believe Harm is coming back. If anyone can survive this he can."
"But what if he dies trying to protect Kat? I know he'll do everything in his power to protect her, he loves her, she's the sister he's never had," she stated, wiping the tears from her cheeks, trying to stay strong.
"Colonel," Tom addressed her as he knelt beside her chair. "My goddaughter has taken to thinking of Harm as the brother she's never had and she knows how much you love him. She'll make sure he gets back."
"Thank you sir."
"You're welcome," he patted her hand and stood. "Now stop worrying, this is 'Superman' we're talking about here."
Mac chuckled at the silly name Harm had been labeled with after the incident with the nuclear missile.
"Much better, Colonel. Now I'll get Commander Taylor to drive you home." AJ stated.
"With all due respect sir, I'd rather stay. I've got work to do and it'll take my mind off what's happening."
"Very well Colonel, if you need to go home, then Taylor is taking you," he ordered as he stood.
"Yes sir," she agreed. Standing with the photo clutched against her chest, she smiled and left the office.
Tom sighed. "Damn fine woman, Harm has there."
AJ nodded. "I can't argue with that," he agreed. "So Tom sticking around?"
"No, I thought I'd go see Jack and Maria, see how young Jason is doing," the retired Admiral answered. "I just wish I had news to give them."
"So do I, Tom," AJ said. "So do I."
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 after coming too, which they'd fixed partly to a burnt out hummer. She remembered regaining consciousness and seeing him laying there not far from her, her heart had gone to her throat right up until she'd crawled over and cheeked his pulse. Then and only then did she start breathing again, god she didn't want to think about trying to survive without him, or having to face Mac if he didn't? They would survive, she made a promise to herself, and she would get him home to his wife.
"How's that feel?" She asked.
"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, trusting him even though she teased. "Just remember you're a married man, Hammer."
Harm held her gentle against him, laughing lightly. Trust Katherine to be able to joke around 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. And he didn't want Mac going through it either, the last thing his wife needed was to be told her husband was a POW.
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. For a brief moment she envied Sarah Mackenzie-Rabb, she wanted to have the kind of love they did.
"So where are we going for dinner and dancing?" He asked her, rubbing her arms to keep her warm.
"You'd better ask your wife that question, Hammer?" She messed about sleepily.
"I have, who do you think is chaperoning us," he smirked and they laughed quietly.
"You're lucky, Harm," she whispered, half asleep.
"I know," he told her as he closed his own eyes, leaning against the destroyed hummer. Now they just had to get out of this desert and back to their ship, than home - home to Sarah. Bring on the Marines, he thought sleepily. A unit of Marines had been in the area when they'd flown over; he was guessing they would be the ones looking for them. Now all they had to do was wait.
Harm woke sometime later to the tell tale whistle of an incoming missile, he pushed his sleeping companion to the ground and covered her body with his own. The impact was close by, shaking the ground they were laying on. Now awake, Katherine scrambled around to grab their survival gear, as was Harm.
"Get your helmet on!" He yelled, slipping his own on as another missile hit near them.
She did so, scrambling out of the makeshift tent behind him. They were imminently showered in dirt from another exploding missile. Harm grabbed Katherine's hand and pulled her alone with him as they ran from the explosions in the darkness with only the flashes from the impacts to prove light, coursing them to stumble quite a few times.
Another missile hit the ground near them and exploded, throwing them both into the air. They both hit with a thud, rolling to a halt.
Harm scrambled over to Katherine and once more covered her upper body with his own as missiles exploded around them. She grabbed tightly to his hand, her heart pounding as loud as those missiles. Finally he got up and pulled her to her feet, making her run, practically pulling her along next to him. Katherine was fit, she kept up with the Cag easily enough, but after ejecting and taking shrapnel wounds, even she was starting to feel the effects.
"Come on Kat, keep up with me!" He yelled to her.
"I'm trying!"
"Don't try Lieutenant, just do it!"
They slowed however when the shelling stopped, turning they stared into the darkness. Neither hearing the combatants coming up behind them until hands clamped over their mouths and they pulled physically down into a foxhole.
"Stay still," a voice hissed.
Harm recognized that voice, he couldn't say anything though because of the hand clamped over his mouth. The voice though was unmistakable.
Second later they heard the high pitch of turbines as a squadron of F/A-18's went over. The flash of impacts lit up the night as their targets were hit, the extremist had been practically on top of them.
"Damn that was close," a deep voice announced to Harm's left; the hand was removed from his face.
"To close," the familiar voice declared.
"Gunny?"
A soft chuckle sounded around him. "Lieutenant actually, Captain," Victor Galendez corrected lightly.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant."
Katherine rolled her eyes; trust the Cag to find a friend in the desert. She pulled at the hand that covered her mouth; it relaxed and released her so she could take a less stifling breath. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," a voice whispered in her ear.
The accent surprised her; it was Russian, a soft sexy Russian voice. 'A Russian Marine, I'm impressed,' she remarked quietly in his own language.
'You speak Russian well.'
'Russian grandmother,' she revealed.
"Kat?"
She turned towards Harm's voice. "Sir?"
"Are you all right?"
"Yes sir."
"I'll take good care of her brother," another familiar voice said gently.
Harm couldn't believe it. "Sergei?"
"Yes brother."
"Oh my god,"
The two brothers scrabbled toward each other, embracing. Katherine smiled in the darkness; she's heard so much about Sergei.
A man dropped down beside Sergei. "All secured Gunny."
"Good work," he replied. "We're right to go Lieutenant."
"Gunny?" Harm questioned.
"In time brother, have patients." Sergei promised.
"Lets move on out," Victor ordered.
Harm found night goggles shoved into his hands, he put them on stretching them to fit over his helmet. At least he could see now, even if everything did have a green tinge to it. He saw his brother helping Katherine get hers own; this was one story he was looking forward to hearing. Since now he could see his brother was wearing BDU's with Marine insignia and patches.
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church Virginia
Washington DC
Lt. Commander Josh Taylor looked at the photo in his hands; he usually kept this one hidden in his draw. It was taken after a Black Ops mission he'd flown; he was standing next to a Hornet with his arm slung casually over the shoulders of his wingman that was actually a woman. Both had silly grins on their faces, their helmets in their hands. This same office was now missing out in the desert near Baghdad, she wasn't alone but he worried even so.
A knock on the door made him look up, he saw Lieutenant Sims standing in the doorway.
"Are you all right, sir?" She asked concerned.
"Yes, thank you, Harriet."
She hesitated. "Are you sure sir?"
He forced a smile putting the photo down. "Yes Harriet."
She saw it. "I didn't realize you know Lieutenant O'Reilly sir?"
Josh didn't realize she knew Katherine either; he shoved the photo back in his desk draw. "We flew Black Ops together," he revealed. "How do you know Kat?"
"Bud and I have talked to her on the net when we've been talking with Captain Rabb and I've seen the Colonel's wedding photo."
He nodded. "I'd better get back to work."
"Yes sir," Harriet had a feeling there was more to it then Josh Taylor was letting on. Leaving him to his own thoughts she left the office. As she walked back to her desk she noticed Colonel Rabb staring at the wedding photo on her desk. She walked over to her office and knocked before going in. "Ma'am, can I get you anything?"
Mac looked up. "No thank you, Harriet," she said with a forced smile.
"Our hopes and preys are with them both Ma'am."
"I know, Harriet."
Josh walked in, standing next to the Lieutenant, his cover in his hand. "Hey Mac, are you up to playing hooky for the rest of the afternoon?"
"I don't think so, Josh."
He crossed his arms against his chest, putting on his best flyboy smile. "I'll buy you ice cream and I've never known a pregnant woman to say no to ice cream."
She chuckled; his stance reminded her of her husband, but his smile, that reminded her of Katherine O'Reilly. Now she knew who he'd been remaining her off, there was a mystery to this. Seeing the look on Harriett's face though made her yielded. The mystery could wait. "All right, lets do it," she gathered what she needed. "I have my cell phone if you need to contact me."
"I'll let the Admiral know you're going, Ma'am."
"Thanks Harriet."
As they left, Harriet gave the Lt. Commanders arm a gentle squeeze. "Thank you sir," she whispered.
"No problem Harriet, I want them safe too," he stated and left with Mac.
Watching them leave, Harriet was now very sure there was something between Josh Taylor and Katherine O'Reilly. Something special.
To be continued…