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: Well here we are again, another chapter. Thanks you to everyone who reviewed. Scotty (I hope you've read up to this chapter and have enjoyed it), Ruli (Wow! I blush every time I read your review. Perhaps I can get a job as a writer for JAG? And thank you, I am feeling better), katdid13 (Thank you and welcome), DD2 (Hi, glad you liked it), Mary Kate113 (I hope you enjoy this chapter too), MsJonyReb (I'm getting to Kat and Josh, I promise all will be revealed and I'm glad you liked the camaraderie between the pilots. I felt portraying them as a family was important), CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur (I hope they were tears of happiness? Thanks for saying it was wonderful and you've been busy, I got your other reviews – Thank you for those too) Laveda (Thanks more to come.)
Moving OnChapter Ten: A Christmas At Sea
USS Ticonderoga
Somewhere in the Persian Gulf
Christmas Eve
A Christmas tree had been set up on board the Ticonderoga in the Ward Room, so had decorations. It was a way to get into the Christmas sprite, since they wouldn't be home for Christmas, not this year. Still the mood on board the carrier was cheerful enough, mail had arrived from home, which accounted for the Christmas presents placed under the tree.
Despite it being Christmas Eve life on the carrier went on as normal; duties were performed and missions were flown, hours were kept up. Which was why Captain Garrett was walking onto the flight deck in flight gear, the Cag was waiting with Lt. Commander O'Reilly and Lieutenants McGregor and Lindsay. Being an aviator, the Skipper liked to keep his hours up and he'd jumped at the chance to do this patrol. It was an early Christmas present in a way.
"Morning, Cag,"
"Morning Skipper."
"Everyone ready to go?" Garrett asked.
"Yes sir," all three acknowledged.
"Lets do it than," he insisted. "Captain Rabb, I believe you're required on the bridge."
Harm forced a smiled, he'd rather be going with them, but he had offered his bird to the Skipper. "Aye sir, take care of my bird and RIO."
"Both will be returned without a scratch, Cag, you have my word." Garrett stated.
"That's all I need sir."
Groaning, Katherine shook her head. "Men," she mumbled, knowing it was what Karen was thinking but not game enough to say it, hearing them both laughed.
Harm patted her on the back, typical response for O'Reilly. "Watch his six, Phantom."
"Aye sir."
Nodding he left.
The Skipper smiled. "Lets go flying, Phantom."
"Yes sir."
They climbed aboard their Tomcats after doing a safety check and were secured; with canopies closed they positioned their birds on the catapult. O'Reilly and McGregor prepared to launch off the deck by doing the checklist.
"Radar on standby, roll SAS off. Pitch trim set for catapult?" Scott said from behind his driver.
Katherine worked in sync with him. "Pitch trim set."
"Wing sweep auto?"
"Check."
"Engine instruments normal?"
"Check," she responded.
"List complete," he concluded.
"Then lets do it," she ordered lightly.
He grinned, calling it in. "Tyco control this is Sundance one, zero, five, up and ready."
"Rodger one, zero, five, your clear to launch,"
After giving the crewman a salute, they were catapulted off the deck seconds behind the Skipper, forming up on his wing.
"For the sake of the Cag and his attachment to his bird and RIO, lets make this patrol real boring," he ordered lightly.
"Aye sir," they all acknowledged, Karen chuckling softly.
"I heard that Skipper," the Cag's voice came over the radio.
"You were suppose to, Cag," he taunted.
"Boring is kind of, well boring Skipper," Katherine declared playful; they weren't due for any unfriendly visits today.
"What do you recommend then Phantom?" He asked, glancing her way.
"A little game of follow the leader, Skipper, if you're up to it?"
Garrett smiled to himself, as he did up his mask, noticing in the mirror Mouse was doing the same. "Just try and keep up, Phantom. This old man still has some tricks up his sleeve."
Her laugher filled his ears. "Lead on sir."
Pulling a head, he initiated a tight nine G turn and rolled down towards the sea, leveling out he skimmed the surface. Noticing out of the corner of his eye, to his right was his wingman. He pulled right back on the stick and sent the F-14 into a steep climb, gaining altitude before leaving out at angel's thirty.
"She's still with us, Skipper," Karen informed him.
The second F-14 came along side them. "Is that all you have sir?" O'Reilly asked sounding bored.
He chuckled. "Would you like to take the lead, Phantom?"
"Don't mind if I do, sir," she retorted.
He followed her through tight nine G turns, rolls and loops that would have left a rookie pilot not knowing which way was up. Let alone where the hell they were, but not O'Reilly. He realized his wingman knew where she was and just how far from the aircraft carrier they had been the whole time. She was exceptional when it came to flying, when they got back he was going to recommend her for the 'TOPGUN' SFTI course at Fallon, she deserved it.
He glanced over to O'Reilly, unclipping his mask. "Okay Phantom, we've played enough, lets get this patrol over."
"Aye sir," she agreed being her Tomcat up beside him. Glancing his way. "Not bad for an old man, sir."
"Thank you Phantom,' he said with a chuckle.
"You'd better watch it, Skipper. Compliments like that will give her a swell head," the Cag's voice remarked lightly over the radio.
"I wouldn't doubt it Cag," he jeered.
"Men," they heard O'Reilly grumble once more and they all laughed.
An hour later the patrol was over. "Time to head home, Phantom," the Skipper announced.
"Aye sir, on your wing."
Turning they headed back to the Ticonderoga, the return flight just as uneventful. The Captain landed first, O'Reilly waiting her turn.
The LSO's voice came over the radio. "Sundance one, zero, five, dirty up."
"Rodger Paddles," Katherine lowed her landing gear and tailhook on approach. "Tyco, one, zero, five Tomcat, ball 2.5."
"Tyco, one zero, five, Tomcat, Rodger Ball," the LSO acknowledged bring her in.
She landed, catching the number two wire taxiing to a halt; she opened the canopy and they climbed down.
Garrett and Lindsay came over to them; the Skipper patted his wingman on the back. "Nice flying, Phantom."
"Thank you sir,"
They left the fight deck, returning to the Ready Room, where they removed their safety gear and put it and helmets away.
Harm arrived. "How was it sir?"
"Better then I remember, Cag, must have been the company," Garrett remarked. "Walk with me Harm."
"Yes sir," he gave O'Reilly a quick 'What did you do' look, that made her roll her eyes, grinning. Following the Skipper out of the Ready Room.
"Cag, I've flown with the some of the best and I know you have too. O'Reilly's father being one of them," the Captain began.
"Jason O'Reilly was an outstanding aviator, he died before his time," Harm agreed. "He would have made a good instructor."
"Did he go through the 'TOPGUN' SFTI course?"
The Cag nodded. "We both did."
"I'd like you to recommend Phantom for the course, in fact I'd like to see her sent to Fallon when this tour is over."
They arrived at the Captain stateroom, Harm followed him in, in wasn't the first time he'd been in the Captain's quarters. He shut the hatch. "If anyone deserves it, Kat does."
Garrett turned, his arms crossed against his chest. "I agree. She's a hell'va pilot."
"Yes sir, she is."
"So you agree?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, get it done Hammer."
"Aye, aye sir," he agreed, then left the stateroom. Going to his office he put the request in. If O'Reilly and McGregor were accepted it would be a fantastic Christmas present, one they'd never forget. Finishing up he headed for his quarters to change into workout clothes, he wanted to work out for a while, and then give Mac a ring.
Harm saw O'Reilly and his brother as he walked into the gym. Katherine had ever mans attention, her workout clothes were tight black stretch shorts and a black form fitting crop top, that showed way too much of her firm, toned legs, and toned upper body.
Victor Galendez swatted the Cag on the shoulder as he walked in. "You're a married man, Hammer."
The aviator grinned sheepishly. "Married, not dead, Vic."
"You will be if your wife finds out you've been ogling at Kat that way," the Marine remarked. Since there arrival on board, the Marine's had become part of the family. Especially Galendez and Sergei Rabb, Harm's younger brother had formed a close friendship with O'Reilly in a short time.
"I am not ogling," Harm informed sitting at the bench press.
Victor spotted him as he worked out, being ready if he needed him. Not that he thought he would, Harm Rabb was in better shape then the Marine remembered. Still safety came first. "Sure you're not," he teased.
Harm chuckled. "I looked, that's all Vic. I'm betting Sergei would like to do more then look."
"Of that I have no doubt, sir." Victor agreed. His Gunnery Sergeant was holding a workout bag that O'Reilly was punching and kicking. Her form was flawless, she moved like dancer, graceful.
Ducking under the bar, Harm sat up. "Now tell me who's ogling, Vic."
"Yeah, but I'm not married, sir. I'm allowed too," he smirked.
They both saw Sergei glance their way and frown, chuckling they swapped places, continuing their workout.
Katherine pulled off her gloves, throwing them onto the matt she grabbed her towel she wiped her face and shoulders. "Relax Sergei."
"They are watching you, it is not right," he declared.
"Sergei," she hung the towel around her neck and grinned sexily. "They're men, they'd watch even if their wives were standing right next to them. It's a male thing."
"Well it's not my thing."
Sighing she picked up the gloves and throw the towel back down, pulling the gloves back on she returned to punching the bag seeing he was still frowning. "Relax, Sergei, that's an order."
"Yes Ma'am."
She groaned and playfully sent a punch his way; he grabbed her by the wrist. She went on the defensive and brought him down onto the mates, straddling him, his arms pinned to the floor behind his head. "Nice try, Marine."
"I'm not finished yet," he remarked and broke free, flipping her, so he was straddling her, holding her down.
Harm shook his head. "Marines, always want to be on top."
"Same problem with the Colonel, sir?" Victor asked him causally.
"Not any more, we take turns," he declared, and they went back to their workout chuckling softly.
Christmas Day03:00 Zulu
"You haven't gone to sleep on me have you Phantom?" The Cag's voice whispered into her cockpit.
"Not likely sir," she replied. "Piper snores."
"I do not," Scott contradicted.
"I hate to tell you this, Piper, but you do." Karen informed.
"And how would you know Mouse?" Her bunkmate asked playfully.
"Rebel told me."
"I'm going to have a word with my roommate when I get back," Scott grumbled.
"It could be worse, Piper, he could have said you talk in your sleep." Harm said, trying not to laugh, failing though and they all laughed. They'd been on Patrol for over two hours; the darkness and boredom was starting to get to them.
"Don't you lot have anything better to do?" A deeper voice then the Cag's remarked over the radio.
"What are you doing up so early, Tonka-Toy?"
"Someone had to baby sit the Wolverines while you guys were joyriding, Cag."
"So you lost, huh?" Katherine guessed.
"Yep," he groaned and they laughed along with his crew. "You owe me big time, Cag."
"I'll buy you a drink at my wetting down." Harm promised him.
"For this you'll be buying me two, Hammer."
"You've got it Tonka-Toy," he agreed. "See you on board."
"I'll have the coffee waiting."
Silence settled over them once more, only the normal noises of their Tomcats mixed with it.
"Hey Kat?"
"Yeah Cag?"
"After the Marines found us, what language did you swear in?"
"I'm betting there's a story there," Scott wagered.
"Not really," she mused. Then answered. "Gaelic. My grandfather was Gaelic, my grandmother Irish – on my father's side."
He was a little surprised. "And your mother's side?" He asked. "You spoke Russian too?"
"Russian grandma, American/Scottish grandpa."
"That's a hell'va mix, Phantom."
"Yes sir it is."
"Which explains her temper, Cag." Scott teased.
"I don't have a temper, Piper."
"Really?" He drawled.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't go there, Piper," she warned.
"Yes Ma'am."
She groaned. "Caagg."
"Piper stop picking on Phantom," he ordered lightly.
"Yes sir," he said chuckling.
By the time they made it back to the carrier it was later in the morning; they went from the ready room to the Ward Room, meeting up with Tonka-Toy.
"About time you got home," he smirked.
"Sorry dad," all four jeered.
Shaking his head he gestured for them to sit down. "Children."
Laughing they grabbed a cup of coffee and joined him.
Katherine yawned. "It wasn't how I'd like to have seen Christmas Day in."
"Me either, then again I'd taken being home with Amy and Sally," Scott said a melancholy.
She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. "You'll be home soon."
"I know," he gave her a smile. "It's just a little hard at Christmas, I haven't even had one with her yet."
"You will."
He nodded. "I suppose it's a good thing Sally is still a little too young to understand."
"You'd be surprised what a four you old understands, Piper," Mark told him. "Kris recognizes what I do and why I'm not always home and she's four. And she understands why her daddy isn't home for Christmas."
"My five year old comprehends it all too, especially around this time," Karen added. She glanced at the Cag. "Now your wife is pregnant sir, it's possible you'll miss your child's first Christmas after he or she is born."
Harm hadn't thought about it. "But at my age, Mouse, I won't always be on a carrier. You all have a lot more years ahead of you."
"What about you Kat?" Scott asked her. "When are you going to join us married folks?"
She smiled worn-out and got to her feet. "When the Cag's brother does the asking," she smirked. "I'm going to get some sleep. Night all."
"Night Kat," they all said grinning.
She patted the Cag on the shoulder and ruffled her RIO's sandy brown hair as she went past, leaving.
"So Kat is sweet on the Gunny," Scott remarked after she'd gone, running his fingers through his hair. "So Cag, could you handle having Kate for a sister-in-law?"
"Better then I could handle having you for a brother-in-law, Piper," he jeered and got to his feet. "You would drive me mad."
Karen laughed as she got up. "He dives us all mad."
"I do not," Scott defended himself as he got up.
Mark was the last to stand. "Yes you do Piper, we're all just to polite to admit it."
"Gee thanks," he said rolling his eyes.
They left the Wardroom chuckling lightly, heading for their staterooms to get some sleep.
Later that day:
Gunnery Sergeant Rabb found Lt. Commander O'Reilly alone in the chapel. He hesitated before going to sit with her. This was the first time he'd been there since his unit had arrived onboard the aircraft carrier.
"It's quiet here," she said keeping her voice down, second-guessing his thoughts. "It helps to think."
"About your mother?" He asked and saw her arch an eyebrow. "Harm told me, he thought I should know."
"He likes playing big brother," she said trying hard not to be solemn. She looked away. "Did he tell you she kicked me out of the house because I was excepted into the Naval Academy?"
"No. He just said she was dying. That you'd refused emergency leave to see her."
"I can't hate her any more Sergei, but I can't forgive her either," she told him. "I can't ever forgive the way she told me to get out and never come back. The look of disgust in her eyes when I went back after I'd received my wings, I tried to talk to her but she just wouldn't listen."
"Perhaps she was frightened of losing you as she did your father," he suggested, feeling closer to her. Like they had a connection, after all he'd known she was there.
"And perhaps she couldn't handle the fact I wasn't going to back down," she added.
"Katie," he took her hand. "You're going to have to face her, if you don't you will regret it for the rest of your life."
"I can't Sergei," she said softly, her fingers entwining with his. "I need her to need me, to be proud of me. She has to except me for who I am."
He caressed her cheek, seeing the anguish in her eyes. "I hope you both get the chance to make peace, Katie."
"So do I Sergei," she said softly, as she lent closer to him. Drawn to him by something more then just loneliness and need. His eyes were like the Cag's, whom she'd seen from the photo he'd shown her, was the image of their father. So all the Rabb men it seemed had sexy, passionate eyes. But only one of them brought out feelings in her so strong it frightened her.
His hand slipped round to the back of her neck as he drew her closer, it hadn't been his intention to kiss her, but as soon as his lips touched hers he couldn't stop himself from deepening the kiss, parting her lips and tasting her sweetness.
Katherine groaned against his mouth as she climbed onto his lap, straddling him without breaking the kiss, she ran her fingers through his hair feeling his hands on her back. Stroking and caressing, sending warmth through her body as his lips nuzzled her neck, before he grabbed hold of her hips and pushed her against the hardness of his body.
"Sergei," she groaned again, breathlessly coming to her sensors. "We shouldn't be doing this."
'You are so beautiful Katie, I couldn't not stop myself,' he said to her in Russian, feeling as flushed as she was.
'If we were anywhere else but a chapel on an aircraft carrier, I wouldn't be stopping you,' she replied also in Russian.
"Then it's a good thing my unit is leaving tomorrow morning on a mission," he announced switching back to English.
"For how long?" She inquired a little anxious.
"We'll be back before New Year, I have every intention of kissing you on the stroke of midnight," he told her. She went to move off his lap, but he held her there so she remained. "Just make sure you are there for me to kiss."
Katherine smiled, finding that amusing. "I wouldn't be anywhere else."
"Oh, give you have the chance and you'd bring the New Year in, in the cockpit of your Tomcat."
"I've done that," she revealed with a sexy purr, feeling what kind of reaction it had on him. "I'd better go, I have a patrol to fly."
"I might just stay here for a while," Sergei decided, adding. "Then go for a cold shower."
Chuckling she stood gracefully, going from the arouse woman, who'd been ready to commit number of sins to an in control Naval Officer. "They never work, Gunny, trust me. I've been having them since you came on board," she mused and walked out of chapel.
Sergei groaned and run his hands over his head, he had to clear his mind and concentrate on the up coming mission. Damn why did I kiss her? He asked himself, and then shook his head. Get a grip Rabb, you're a Marine, suck it up. Getting up he hurried out of the chapel. Perhaps a cold shower wouldn't help but it just might cool him down a little, he felt like he was burning up and not from fever. Now he understood what his brother meant when he said a woman could get into your blood, Katherine O'Reilly had gotten into his and coursed it to boil.
Four days later:
Harm came onto Vultures Row standing with Katherine. "There still hasn't been any word."
"Something is wrong, Cag," she told him bluntly. "I can feel it."
He did too, in the pit of his stomach. "They'll come back, Kat, we have to have faith."
She hugged herself. "Now I know what everyone felt when we were missing."
"They're not missing, Kat, not yet anyway," he contradicted. "They're not due to make the rendezvous point for another two hours."
Katherine looked back over the flight deck, the feel of Sergei's lips were still fresh on her mind. She wanted more, so much more.
"Kat," Harm put his hand on her shoulder. "He'll be okay."
She forced a smile. "I haven't felt this way about anyone since flight school."
"Frightens you a little doesn't it?" He asked her.
"More then a little," she admitted.
He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and then released it. "He feels the same way, Kat," he saw her surprised look. "We talked before he left. Hang in there, okay."
"Thanks Cag."
"That's what I'm here for, Phantom. Just be careful, regulations still stand." Harm warned.
"We will. I'm not going to throw my career away and neither is he," she assured.
"Have you talked to your Uncle about your mother?" He asked her changing the subject.
"Last night," she answered. "She's not getting any better, but she hasn't gotten any worse either," she noted, then added. "She also told him he wasn't to tell me she was sick."
"I'm sorry Kat."
"I know Cag, I'm sorry too. For her," she said dryly, and then went back inside.
Harm remained where he was. He was worried about Kat, about her point of view towards her mother. It was going to come to a head and he hoped she didn't come down too hard, not when there was some much a head for her. Sighing he headed for the bridge.
Captain Garrett acknowledged him. "Cag."
"Skipper."
"There still hasn't been any word Harm," he said quietly. "How is Phantom?"
Harm chuckled. "Does everyone know she has feelings for the Gunny?"
"Scuttlebutt spreads fast on a carrier Cag, you should know that," the Skipper said smiling. Then announced. "Don't worry they're two mature adults, they want do anything stupid."
"Of that Skipper, I have no doubts." Harm insisted.
"Neither do I Harm, neither do I," he said.
To be continued…