Title: Moving On
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for his or her information on Mattie, I hope I've done her justice. She will appear more as the story continues. What happened though to Grace Aviation after she goes to live with Harm? Can someone explain that and tell me a little about the Court case where Harm petitioned to be her guardian, please? All information is so gratefully received. Thanks. Winjan (It was a twist I just ran with, glad you liked it), TomcatGM (To be quite honest I'm not sure how this is all going to come together, but it will. Thanks, more on Grace Aviation to come), William (Thank you, thank), Mary Kate113 (The title came to me after I'd written the chapter, it just seemed right. Thanks for the info on Mattie), T (Thanks, TJ/Jason's return wasn't an easy one to write but I wanted to include it. Thanks for your info on Mattie too, it all helps) ashlynn (welcome along on the journey, thanks for your review), EyeCandy (I'm not revealing whether Mac and Harm's baby is going to be a boy or a girl yet, I thought I'd keep you all guessing. Oh please continue to gush, I don't mind. Honest. And welcome aboard), AgtDanaM (Hi, welcome. I have seen 'You've got mail' and do remember her, but I never saw her in ER. What I'm looking for is information on Mattie so I can get the character right, but thanks anyway), starryeyes10 (Thanks, I'm glad you like it), MsJonReb (I have to admit that last line was a last minute add on, but it is a good one. And TJ will have to fight hard to get hid daughter back.)
Moving OnChapter Seventeen: Small Steps
Rabb's Residence
Alexandra, Virginia
"Got something on your mind Marine?" Harm asked her, they were seated on the couch, her feet in his lap, as he rubbed them gently he could see she had something on her mind.
"Mmm, you let Katherine believe you didn't know Pop's had sold out to Grace Aviation," she stated feeling relaxed. "You fibbed Hammer."
"Actually I didn't," he announced, as he continued rubbing her feet. "We both did."
"You both did?" She was confused.
"Kat knew Pop's had sold out, she was playing along."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope," he grinned. "I told her about Mattie early in the cruise, then when she went on emergency leave I asked her to drop in and see her."
"Mattie never said anything."
"That doesn't surprise me, give her time Sarah, she's still leaning to trust people." Harm dismissed lightly.
"She trusts you."
"I know."
"So why didn't Kat say anything about knowing Mattie?" She asked rhetorically, and then answered her own question. "She didn't want to put Mattie in any danger."
Harm nodded. "It was safer for Mattie."
Mac smiled and sat in her husband's arms. "You're pretty smart there Cag."
"I know," he said smiling that flyboy grin of his. He popped his feet up on the coffee table and wigged down so they could snuggle closer. "I don't like the thought of Mattie being out there alone."
"Neither do I," Mac said feeling sleepily. She closed her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder.
"It wouldn't be for much longer," he said confidently.
"She has to agree first Harm."
"I know, but she will."
His wife chuckled. "I hope so too, flyboy."
"So do I ninjagirl," he noticed her eyes closed. "Want to head up stairs for a nap?"
"Mmm sounds good."
Harm stood with her in his arms and carried her up the stairs and into the main bedroom, laying her down on their large bed. He stretched out beside her. "Better?"
"Much," she mussed, spooned against him. "Tell me about Jason O'Reilly?"
"He was a good friend, he kept the squadron together, treated everyone with equal respect."
"So you were friends?"
"We were. He use to talked a lot about Katie."
"Did you realize who she was when you first arrived on the Tyco?"
"No it didn't click until later," he answered. He rested his hand on her belly, gentle stroking with his thumb, it still bothered him. Finding out Jason was alive. TJ. Now that was a laugh. TJ – Thomas Jason. So much for hiding, he'd just shortened his full name down to the initials and taken a new last name.
"Harm," Mac was concerned by his sudden quietness. "Are you all right?"
"I want to hate him, Sarah. For hiding, for hurting Katie, for miss leading his family," his voice faded. "I can't though, but I can also understand how Katie must be feeling. I saw the relief in her eyes and the anger."
"You understand because she got her father back and you know you never can." Mac said lovingly.
"It's more then that, I just can't explain it," he dismissed.
"Will she be all right, do you think?"
"I don't know Sarah, I hope so," he said hurt, pushing it to the back of his mind, but not out of it. He couldn't let it go entirely, not yet. But he could leave it for the moment. "Do you think this little one will be proud to know his dad is a fighter jock?"
"I think she will be," she whispered and put her hand over his. "Have you thought about names?"
"No, we should I suppose."
"Harm," she hesitated and then pushed on. "I won't mind if the baby is a boy and you want to call him Harmon."
He smiled and kissed the back of her head. "Thanks babe, but to be truthful I haven't thought about it," he admitted. "And if he is a she?"
"What about Ashley?"
"I like that."
"Really?"
"Really," he agreed, adding. "Ashley Catherine Rabb."
Mac smiled. "That's beautiful, Harm."
"It is, isn't it?" He felt a kick under his hand. "I think she approves."
"Well at least this way if it's a boy we can call him Ashley Harmon Rabb."
"We could, but I have a feeling this little one is a girl."
"Oh?" She rolled over. "Is that a fact?"
"It is," Harm smirked, his lips brushed over hers. "Daddy's little girl."
"Mmm, I could see her being daddy's little girl," Mac purred, closing her eyes. "I can see you holding her in your arms, telling her of how we meet, how we were married on board the Tyco."
"How she was conceived on the Tyco because her mother just had to 'hot bunk' it with her daddy," Harm teased.
With a sleepy chuckle his wife continued. "Or how her daddy spent time in Baghdad with his gorgeous wingman and found her Uncle Sergei."
This time it was Harm who chuckled softly. "His gorgeous wingman that was also his best man."
"Mmm, her Aunt Kat," Mac said so quietly it was barely audible.
Seeing she'd fallen asleep, Harm continued lying there holding his lovely wife. He never wanted to lose Mac; he didn't want her to have to bring up their child alone either. Not like his mother had too, not like Maggie O'Reilly-Foster had. He could only speculate what Jack O'Reilly was feeling at this moment. He was sure Katherine had told her Uncle about his brother being alive and living under a different name. He had no idea what Josh must have been feeling however.
A small kick under his hand had him wondering if he could of done it, walked away from a wife and daughter. His only answer was NO. There was no way he could have done that. Walk away from a family who loved him, from his friends. He remembered the visit from Jason after his ramp strike; he'd been supportive and reassuring. Thinking back on it, Harm began to wonder if Jason O'Reilly had known his time was growing short even then.
Hearing the doorbell ring, he slipped carefully off the bed and hurried down the stairs, answering the door.
Katherine O'Reilly stood outside, she looked tired and in need of a friend. "Cag, can we talk sir?"
"Sure, Phantom, come in," he insisted and shut the door when he had. "Mac is having a nap."
She nodded aimlessly. "I slipped away from Sergei, I just needed to talk to someone."
"It's okay Kat, I understand," he said, seeing the mix of emotions in her eyes.
"I'm going crazy in the apartment, Cag," she admitted. "With the trail and then finding out about dad."
"I understand, Kat," Harm told her again, he put a hand on her shoulder. He understood because he felt just as betrayed. Which lead him to a thought. "Do you paint as well as you sketch?" He asked recalling her sketching while on ship.
"I'm no Picasso but I'm not bad."
"Then I have just the therapy for you, Phantom. The nursery needs painting and I was thinking of an aviation theme."
Her mood improved a little. "Count me in, sir."
"Fine on the condition you stop calling me sir."
"Got it," she agreed.
"Lets go then," he showed her to the nursery and gave her a run down of what he wanted. "So what do you think?"
"That I need a pencil, an eraser and a beer, in any order of course," Katherine smirked removing her flight jacket.
Harm chuckled. "Pencils are near the paint tins, so is an eraser. I'll go get a few beer while you get started."
"Okay," she agreed and set to work.
By the time Harm returned with a small cooler filled with beers, Katherine had started sketching the main moral, an aircraft carrier. He opened the beer and handed it to her.
"Thanks Cag," she saw him frown. "What? I didn't call you sir."
"Ha, ha," he grumbled and popped the lid on his own beer. "Get back to work."
"On it."
"So what do you want to talk about, Katie?"
"I told Uncle Jack about dad," she said quietly, and then took a swig of beer. "He and Aunt Maria can't believe it."
"What about Tom Boone?" Harm inquired, knowing the retired Admiral was the closes thing to a father she'd had over the last twelve years and he was her Godfather.
"That's the shittiest thing, Hammer," Katherine stated turning away from the wall. "He knew. All this time, he knew and never said anything."
He saw the anger in her eyes, feeling well in his own, right down to the pit of his stomach. "I'm sorry Katie."
She nodded, taking another swig of her beer before setting the bottle down and going back to the sketching. "A part of me is angry for knowing he was alive all this time and didn't contact us and a part of me is relieved he is alive."
Harm sighed. "I know it probably doesn't help but I know what your feeling."
"I know," she said quietly. "Of all the people I know you empathize." She didn't flinch when she felt his hand on her shoulder.
"Give it time, Katie," he advised.
She nodded. "I'll try."
"Good girl. Now what do you want me to do?"
Smiling Katherine set him to work covering everything that needed it so paint wouldn't get on anything thing. Then once that was done she had him open a window and got him painting the other walls. They were all ready a very pal blue, so she had him painting clouds on the ceiling, showing him how to do it with a seaweed sponge.
"So how did you start painting?" Harm finally asked her as they took a break from clouds.
She'd rung Sergei and asked him to bring over her airbrush equipment, which they waited for. "My therapist suggested I find a creative way to express my feelings, so I started sketching. One day I tried painting and it just went from there. Now sketching and painting are my ways of relaxing, other then flying. Much like the way you play the guitar."
He heard the doorbell. "That'll be Sergei, hang on."
"Hanging," she smirked.
Chuckling he hurried out, he'd let his brother know Mac was sleeping and to only ring the bell once. Answering the door he found not only Sergei but Josh too. "Found a stray, little brother?" He asked grinning.
"At least he helps."
"Very funny, get in here the two of you and keep it quiet, Sarah's asleep."
"Anything wrong?" Josh asked worriedly.
"No," Harm was touched by his concern, but the man was his wife's partner. "She's just tired. Come on Kat is up in the nursery waiting for all of this."
Josh followed the Gunny in, shutting the door for Harm, who'd given his brother a hand to carry some of the airbrush equipment as well.
"One last thing," Harm said, addressing both his brother and his wife's partner. "The first person who calls me sir, this afternoon is going to get his six kicked. This is my home, so we're all on a first name bases."
"Got it," both said together.
"Good, lets go then." Harm insisted, he'd found even his own brother called him sir more then anything else, he'd been trying to break that, they were family after all.
In the nursery Katherine set up the airbrush, having decided it would look the best and she loved using it.
Josh watched her as he played with the label on his beer bottle. After she'd walked out of the Admiral's office yesterday, Chegwidden had told Mac he was giving her, Sergei and himself a few days off to come to terms with all of this. He'd gone to see his parents, telling them what he could. Mostly about Gabriel and TJ Williams.
Harm saw him and the look on his face; he patted him on the back. "Let it go, Josh, if you don't it'll eat you alive."
He nodded. "I'm trying."
"Okay, come on you can help me paint clouds."
"Rather fly through them then paint them," Josh remarked.
"Me too, but we can do that later." Harm jeered and they all laughed.
Mac woke to laughter, taking a moment to wake up fully she got out of bed. Visiting the bathroom before following the sound of laugher to the nursery, going in. She was amazed by what she saw. The room had been transformed, fluffy white clouds were on the ceiling and some parts of the walls, a aircraft carrier took up most of one wall, Tomcats launching from it's decks. On the opposite wall were two nearly finished larger Tomcats'. Her husband, brother-in-law, his fiancée and her brother were sprawled on the floor, taking a break. Beer bottles were stacked neatly near the cooler. "Having a party without me," she mused.
"Nope, just a therapy session," Harm jeered and reached his hand out to her.
She took his hand and sat down on the floor between his legs, leaning against him. "Therapy session?"
"The Cag's family therapy," Katherine smirked happily and they all started giggling.
Mac rolled her eyes. "How many beers have you lot had?"
"Not that many." Josh told her.
"We've been very good." Sergei defended.
She looked around the room. "This is amazing."
"The moral's are Kat's work, the Sergei and Josh just helped me with the clouds, the beach and all the small paintings." Harm praised.
"They are really good, Kat you're wonderful," Mac gushed. "Is there anything you can't do?"
"Play the piano," Katherine told her. "Though I gave it a go once." Her remarked coursed everyone to bust out laughing. "I wasn't really any good at it."
"You play a mean guitar." Harm boasted.
"Thank you Hammer."
"You're welcome Phantom."
Mac shook her head. "You guys need coffee and something to eat."
Josh looked at his watch and groaned. "I need to get home or Jen will have my hide."
Sergei glanced at his brother. "Whipped."
"Whipped." Harm agreed and got thumbed from his wife.
Katherine chuckled; she was comfortable in her fiancé's arms, the effects of the alcohol making her feel relaxed. "You should ask Jen to move in with you, she spends most her time there anyway, bro."
"How do you know that, sis?"
"Jen, we talked the night of the Wetting down."
"Well I just might, she hates living where she is," he stood. "So I'm going to take my whipped six home to my lovely girlfriend."
"Arrww," they all chimed together.
"Ha, ha," he grumbled, seeing Mac was going to get up. "Stay where you are, Mac, I'll see myself out."
"Are you right to drive?" She queried.
"Yeah, unlike these guys, I only had two beers," he reassured.
"All right."
"Take it easy anyway Wraith." Harm advised.
"I will Hammer," he nodded to his sister and her fiancé. "Phantom, Gunny, it's been fun. See you later."
"Dinner tomorrow night," Katherine reminded. "Don't be late."
"Me?"
"You," she teased.
"Okay," he yielded. "Bye all."
"Bye," all bided.
He left with a wave of his hand.
Mac glanced over at Katherine and Sergei, who looked comfortable. "You two better stay for dinner, neither of you are ready to drive home."
"Yes Ma'am," both said grinning.
Harm chuckled. "Now that's a smart move."
"I was once told never to argue with a pregnant Marine," Katherine said straight faced.
"Oh and who told you that?" Mac inquired.
"A Naval Aviator who's married to one."
"Well he sounds like a smart man."
Both Sergei and Harm chuckled. "Come on little brother, you can give me a hand with dinner," the older insisted.
The two Rabb men left the women in the nursery.
Katherine stood and went back over to the unfinished mural of the Tomcat, she thought for a moment then turned back. "Mac, does the Cag have a clear photo of his father?"
"I think so," Mac announced as she got up.
"Do you think he'd mind if I put his father in the mural?"
The pregnant Marine felt tears well in her eyes. "I think he'd love it, Kat."
"And you wouldn't mind?"
"No, I'll go get you a photo."
"Okay."
Downstairs, Harm had his brother chopping up vegetables; he'd gone to answer the front door, surprised by who he saw through the spy hole. Quickly opening the door. "Mattie."
The teenager smiled nervously. "Hi Harm, can I come in?"
"Sure," he insisted and gestured her in, shutting the door when she was. "How did you get here?" He asked, noticing she carried an over night bag.
"I had Joe, the Cessna owner drop me off," she explained. "I was wondering if I could stay with you and Mac for a while."
"Of course you can, honey," Harm said, he took her bag, leaving it by the stairs. "What's up?"
"I just didn't want to be out there alone," she sat down and looked around. "This place is great, so where's Mac?"
"Upstairs in the nursery with Kat, she and Sergei came over to help with the painting," Harm told her. "Run up and take a look, you'll love it."
Mattie hesitated, which was a little unusual for the teenager. "Mac won't mind me staying will she?"
"No, Mattie, Sarah thinks a lot of you."
"All right," she got up. "I'll go take a look then."
"Take your bag, your room is the last one on the left."
"Thanks Harm."
"No problem, kiddo," he assured and wandered just what had happened to bring Mattie too them. Knowing she would tell him in her own time, he returned to the kitchen.
Upstairs Mattie put her bag in her room and went to the nursery, amazed by what she saw. "Wow."
Mac and Katherine turned around. "Mattie."
Mac gave the teenager a hug. "Hi Mattie, what are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd visit for a while," she dismissed and went over to have a closer look at the wall Katherine was working on. "This is great."
"Thanks."
Mac could see there was something bothering the teenager. "I'll go and keep Harm down there while you work on the mural."
Katherine heard the hidden meaning. "I'll do as much as I can, but we might have to keep him out for a few days."
"Just do your best, Kat."
"Yes Ma'am."
Chuckling Mac hurried out.
Mattie watched the young aviator work, she liked Katherine, she had from the moment she'd meet her. "So have you meet Admiral Jackass?"
Katherine laughed. "You mean Admiral Chegwidden?"
"Yes. At least Harm is doing what he enjoys now."
"Admiral Chegwidden helped the Cag get his billet on the Ticonderoga," the aviator reminded.
"I know, it doesn't mean I have to fall at his feet."
"No but you could be a little more respectful."
Mattie shrugged. "I suppose," she sat down on the floor. "So how was the trail?"
"Interesting," Katherine stepped back, inspecting the finished Tomcat. "So what do you think?"
"It's fantastic, you can almost believe it's real."
Sitting down beside her, the naval aviator had to agree. She showed her the photo Mac had given her. "I'm going to add Lt. Harmon Rabb, Sr. to the painting."
"Like a ghost?"
"Yeah, I suppose so, what do you think?"
"I can't wait to see it finished."
Smiling Katherine got back up and to work. "So how long are you visiting for?"
"A few days,"
"Problems at the air field?"
"No, I just didn't want to be out there alone."
"How come?"
"You ask a lot of questions Phantom," she remarked sarcastically.
Katherine grinned. "So I've been told," she smirked and continued with the sketch she was going to use as a base for the painting. "So are you going to answer the question?"
"My dad came back, drunk, he… Well he made a lot of noise, and then he stormed off again. I don't know where but I just didn't want to be there."
"You did the right thing,"
"You think so?"
"I do," Katherine told her, adding. "Harm thinks of you like a daughter."
"I'd like that," Mattie said quietly. "Being Harm and Mac's daughter, it would be better then having no one."
"They'll do all they can for you, Mattie."
"I know," she got up. "I think I'll go down and see if I can help out, that way I'll be out of your way and you can work faster."
Laughing the aviator agreed. "Thanks Mattie."
"No problem," she said, then wandered back downstairs.
Harm was talking to Mac in the living room when she came in; Sergei had made himself busy in the kitchen. "Hey kiddo, come sit down a minute," Harm insisted.
She did. "What's up?"
"Harm and I were talking," Mac began. "We want to help you and we'd like to know if you'd like to live with us. We want to petition the court to be your guardians."
"We'd be a family?"
"We will," Harm, answered her. "I told you before I left I'd do everything I could to look after you, I meant it. We want you to live with us, be a part of our family."
"I could be your daughter?" The teenager asked a little chocked up.
He smiled warmly. "Yes. If you'll have us for parents and eventually we could see if the court would let us adopt you."
"You would do that for me?" She asked and saw them nod. Squealing she jumped up and hugged them both. "Thank you Harm, Mac."
"You're welcome kiddo." Harm said tenderly. He felt strongly that what he was doing was right, for him and Mac and for Mattie. Now if he could just find away to help Katherine deal with having her father back, then everything would be fine.
Mattie pulled back. "This is so cool," she exclaimed sitting back down.
"While you're with us though, you have to go to school." Mac told her.
Even though she wrinkled her nose, Mattie agreed. "All right."
"And follow a few house rules."
She rolled her eyes. "Okay."
Harm chuckled. "You'll be fine, Mattie."
"I know," she mused and they all laughed.
Mattie agreed with every rule Harm and Mac set down and willing went to the high school they enrolled her in. They even had a court date to arrange guardianship; the whole of JAG was supporting them on this.
Now two days later, it was time to reveal their secret to Harm.
Katherine and Sergei waited either side of the wall as Mattie and Mac brought Harm into the Nursery, blindfolded. Josh and Jen followed them in, wanting to be there when it was unveiled.
"What's going on?" Harm asked finding it amusing.
Mac undid his blindfold. "Surprise."
He blinked and stared at the airbrushed painting, a portrait of his father was airbrushed into a one of the clouds near the Tomcat. He went closer, it was incredible, words failed to come to mind. He just didn't know what to day.
Katherine moved to stand at his side. "Is it all right, Cag?"
"It's… I'm stunned Kat," he turned and hugged her. "Thank you."
She hugged him back. "You're welcome," she whispered and then stepped back. "I couldn't have baby Rabb growing up without a guardian angle, now he or she has one."
"Not to mention a extraordinary Aunt."
Blushing, Katherine smiled. "Thanks Cag."
Mattie came and stood between the two. "Now that my baby sister or brother has a guardian angle painted on his or her wall. Can Kat paint one on mine?"
"That depends on what you want painted," Mac noted sternly.
She chuckled. "What if I run it by you guys first?"
The two glanced at each other, not needing to converse to make a decision. "All right," Harm agreed. "But Sarah and I have the finial say."
"Yes," the teenager exclaimed.
Katherine laughed. "Whipped, Hammer, by a fifteen year old."
"Oh very funny Phantom."
"I know," she smirked and they all laughed as Mac wrapped her arms around her husband, Mattie quickly joining in, hugging them both.
To be continued…
(I've been working on my web page, which I'm putting my stories on. So far there is only the first few chapters of Gold Wings and Dress Whites, which I've gone through and revamped to include its prequel. So if you're interested in taking a look, then the site's address is listed in my profile – AS)