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: Unfortunately this chapter just didn't want to be written and it took longer then I expected to get out, that and I had another idea from a story that just begged to be written, so I got it down on paper first. Then managed to get this one done. Sorry if it seems a little corny, writers block is a real pain in the six and I had it bad to start with. Well enough grumbling.
Winjan (I loved the painting scene myself, it was fun to write. I'm glad you enjoyed it), WFD12399 (Yes Jen is PO Coates and at the time I wrote Jen and Josh dating, he was under a different chain-of-command and still will be, so they'll be able to stay together. As for Kat and Sergei, they're both under different chains-of-command and from what I could understand of the UCMJ they're not fraternizing. If I'm wrong then please let me know, I'm afraid six months of Legal studies doesn't prepare you for deciphering the UCMJ), T (I'm happy to please, more Mattie to come and I couldn't resist having Harm, Sr. as the Guardian Angel. Any ideas as too who Mattie would want painted on her wall?)
Moving OnChapter Eighteen: Family Life
Naval Air Station
Norfolk, Virginia
31st May 2004
Captain Harmon Rabb, Junior checked his watch again; they were due back at any minute. He was proud of O'Reilly and McGregor, not only had they completed the "TOPGUN" SFTI course, they had won. O'Reilly was the first woman in the Tyco Tigers to wear a 'TOPGUN' patch, but not the only member of the squad, now there was four of them, himself included.
A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. "Yes."
Commander Hayden Braxton was standing in the doorway, he and Lt. Jessie Wills had transferred into the squadron a few weeks ago after it was announced the White Sabers were officially disbanded. "They're here, Cag."
"Thanks Hades," Harm stood and followed him out, it had been on his recommendation that the Commander and Lieutenant join the squadron. It was something neither of them knew though.
Lt. Commander O'Reilly and Lt. McGregor were being welcomed back by their fellow Tyco Tigers.
"Attention on deck!" Braxton called out and they all snapped too.
Harm chuckled. "At ease!" He ordered. "Lt. Commander O'Reilly, Lt. McGregor, welcome home."
"Thank you sir," both acknowledged.
"As you can both see we have additions to our family," the Cag continued. "Commander Braxton is the Tyco Tigers new squadron leader, which means Phantom, you're no longer pulling triple duty as Squad leader, XO, and wing legal officer any longer."
"I appreciate that sir."
"I thought you would," he mussed. "Now one more thing, the SecNav has decided since both Phantom and I are lawyers as well as Naval Aviators. He believes we should keep our legal skills as refined as out combat skills, so the two of us are ordered to spend some time at JAG. So Commander Braxton will be in Command while we're serving time at Falls Church playing lawyer," he paused as they laughed. "Since Lt. Wills is also qualified to fly a Tomcat as well as sit back seat, Piper you'll be sitting back seat for her and Mouse, you'll be back seat for Commander Braxton."
"Aye sir," both agreed smiling.
"Now, Lt. Commander O'Reilly, we're expected at JAG."
"Now sir?" Katherine asked surprised.
"Now Phantom."
Karen chuckled. "Your whites are hanging up in the locker room, your shoes, cover and handbag are in your locker."
"Thanks so much," she remarked unimpressed.
"Ten minutes, Phantom," Harm ordered.
"Yes sir," she said, and then hurried off to the locker room.
Karen followed her. "I would have thought the Gunny would have told you last night after you got home."
"We didn't talk much last night," Katherine said grinning as she removed her khaki shirt, hanging it up in her locker.
"I had a feeling communication might have been lacking," her friend said and then laughed.
Katherine finished changing out of the rest of her khaki uniform and put the summer white duty uniform on. Frowning at having to wear a skirt as she slipped her stocking feet into the white dress shoes and picked up her cover. "So do I pass?"
Looking her over, Karen straightened her wings. "Be good and play nice with the other kids," she teased playfully.
"Yes mum," the Aviator smirked, rolling her eyes. Grabbing her handbag, Katherine shoved everything she was going to need in it, then with a few minutes to spare, left the locker room with Karen.
Harm was waiting for her. "Two minutes to spare, I'm impressed Lt. Commander."
"Living with a Marine is rubbing off on me sir," she smirked.
"I'd believe that," he said, and then turned to Braxton. "Hades, take care of the squadron and don't let them run all over you."
"They'll behave themselves, Cag," Hayden reassured. "Good luck at JAG sir."
"Thank you Commander, I almost believe you meant that."
The Commander smiled. "I tried sir."
Shaking his head instead of rolling his eyes, Harm left with Katherine. "Your car or your car, Phantom?" He asked her lightheartedly.
"You didn't drive today sir?"
"No, I got a lift out this morning with 'Hades'."
"Then mine sir, I've got the Vette," she announced and throw him the keys. "I'll even let you drive."
He caught them easily. "Why thank you little sister."
"You're welcome big brother."
Climbing into the midnight blue '69' corvette, Harm started the sports car up and they drove away. "Nice," he commented as they got onto the open road.
"Uncle Jack and I rebuilt her from scratch, it took time but I wanted her to be perfect." Katherine said proudly.
"I know the feeling, I did the same with mine," he admitted. "So how was Falloon?"
"Harder then I thought, they pushed us until we were the best and then took us further."
"And you loved every minute of it," he noted.
"Yes sir, it was an experience I'm looking forward to telling my kids about," she said without thinking.
Harm caught it though. "Planning on making me an Uncle any time soon, Phantom?"
"No sir," she smiled, seeing the flyboy grin on his face. "I thought I'd make Commander first," she told him and they both laughed.
As he drove, Harm realized he knew what attracted his brother to Katherine. If he hadn't have been so in love with Sarah, it could have easily fallen for her himself, she was so full of life and kept him on his toes. Though she was also a lot like him and in the end that would have torn them apart, they could be best friends but they would never have lasted as anything else. Sergei was her sole mate, just like Sarah Mackenzie-Rabb was his.
JAG Headquarters
(A little later that morning)
The two aviators came off the elevator and walked into JAG Ops, both carrying their covers.
Lieutenant Sims saw them and smiled. "Good morning Sir, Ma'am."
"Morning Harriet," Harm greeted.
"Hello Harriet," Katherine also greeted. "How are the boys?"
"Fine thank you Ma'am."
Sergei came over to them. "Sir, Ma'am, they're waiting for you both in the conference room," he informed. "I'll take your covers and your bag, Ma'am."
"Thank you Gunny." Harm acknowledged, giving his brother a smile as he handed over his cover.
Katherine gave her fiancé her cover and bag, giving his arm a gentle squeeze as she passed him, following the Cag.
"Tease," Harm smirked, noticing his brother was blushing.
"I know," she said, and then chuckled quietly, as did Harm. They went upstairs to the conference room. "I can't believe the SecNav is making us do this."
"Just relax, Phantom, you can do it."
"I'd rather be in the cockpit of an F-14, sir," she noted. "As much as I enjoy law, I'm an aviator first."
"I know the feeling, it's been over a year since I stepped into a court room to do more then be a witness," Harm said gently, a touch hesitant himself. Both stopped outside the conference room doors. "Well this is it."
"After you sir," she insisted.
"Coward," he jeered softly and pushed open the door, walking in. Katherine followed him.
AJ Chegwidden looked up as they came in, peering over his spectacles. "Captain Rabb, Lt. Commander O'Reilly, so nice of you both to join us."
"Sorry sir, we ran into traffic." Harm apologized.
"Since Gunny is driving his car again, it's more like a couple of police officers and a speeding ticket since Katie had the Vette." Josh said lightly in a low voice to Mac, who chuckled.
"Actually it was six police officers and a three car pile up," Katherine informed and saw her half brothers surprised look. "I read lips rather well."
That made everyone else at the table laugh, including the Admiral. Who ordered: "Sit down, both of you." They did and he handed out assignments. Finally he came to the two of them. "As I'm sure the Colonel has told you, Captain. It was recently revealed Commander Imes did not pass the bar, so I want yourself and Lt. Commander O'Reilly to review her cases. I've got you set up in conference room two."
"Yes sir," both acknowledged.
"Excellent. That's it people, dismissed."
All gathered their files, standing. The Admiral gestured O'Reilly over, talking with her quietly.
Mac went over to her husband. "Did Kat say anything about her father on the ride over?"
"Only that he arrived at Falloon and talked to her," he answered. "Why?"
She guided him outside. "He waited until a half an hour before she had a hope, then spoke to her. I don't know what was said, but she stood up in the middle of the Officers Club and told him to go to hell, then walked out."
"Damn," he shook his head. "I don't know what the hell he's trying to prove."
"I guess he wants his daughter back, Harm." Mac said calmly.
"Then he should of thought about that earlier," he responded angrily. "Her life fell apart the day they told her he'd died."
"Harm," Mac put her hand on his arm. "She put her life back together, just like you did. You've got to let this go, so does Kat."
Shaking his head he sighed. "This isn't about me, Sarah or my father."
"I didn't say it was, Harm. But you were friends with Jason, you have to realize he went through hell too and he did what he thought was right."
"Abandoning your child isn't right, Sarah. No matter what," he cupped her cheek. "I would never abandon you or our child, you have my promise."
"I know," she put her hand over his. "I love you Harm."
"I love you too Sarah."
They moved apart as Katherine joined them, she grinned. "Can't keep away, Hammer?"
"Nope, as hard as I try," he jeered back and they chucked.
Mac walked with them towards conference room two, wanting to spend as much time with her husband as she could. "Are we on for lunch today."
"You bet," Harm agreed. He spotted Josh waiting for his partner by the elevators, in Mac's condition, taking the elevator was better for her. "How did the Admiral get around Josh and Jen dating, with the White Sabers being disbanded, he would have been put under the Admiral's command?"
Mac smiled. "Our Wraith is still under Admiral Williams' command, he's just attached to JAG, every month he has to make a visit to the Pentagon and sort out any legal paper work the Admiral has for him," she explained. "So he and Jen are not under the same chain of command and are free to date."
"Chegwidden's idea I take it?"
"Oh yeah," she patted his arm. "See you at lunch squid."
"Just come and get me when you're hungry, Marine."
"I will," she mused and wondered off. "Keep him busy, Kat."
"Yes Ma'am," the younger woman said grinning.
Harm groaned and ushered Katherine into the conference room, boxes of files awaited them. "Oh joy."
"Well sir, my fun meter is pegged already," she remarked sighing at the sight.
"I know the feeling, Phantom. Welcome to JAG." Harm said dryly and they got to work.
By lunchtime they'd made a descent dent in the files, Katherine sat back in her chair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. The Gunny had brought them legal pads and pens, so they could make notes. Pulling a blank page from the pad, Katherine wrote on it and then folded it expertly into a paper plane and flew it at Harm.
He picked it up and read what she had written: FEED ME, SIR. Chuckling. "Hungry Katie?"
"Yes sir," she said and they both laughed as her stomach growled.
"Okay I get the point. Come on lets go find Mac, I'm surprised she hasn't found us by now."
Just as he finished saying it, Mac breezed into the conference room. "Come on squid, your son or daughter is hungry."
Katherine laughed as she got to her feet. "She found us, sir."
"Right on time," Harm smirked standing. He went over to her. "Come on ninjagirl. Is the Gunny joining us?"
"He's waiting in the courtyard, lets move it."
"Yes Ma'am," Katherine said automatically.
That made Harm chuckle. "She's so well trained."
Mac jabbed him the ribs. "Watch it flyboy, you use to jump just as well."
"No any more, Lt. Colonel," he reminded as they left. "Now I get to see others jump."
"Well don't expect me too, Captain," she grumbled. "I can't even see my toes any more."
"Are you sure there is only one in there?" He asked and got an elbow in the ribs for it.
"Very funny squid."
Katherine held back a giggle. "Smart move sir."
"Thanks Kat." Harm muttered rubbing his sore side.
Harm and Katherine grabbed some lunch and sat with Sergei, who was waiting patiently for them, he had his and Mac's lunch.
Mac frown at the chicken salad in front of her and noticed Katherine was eating the same. "No wonder you didn't mind eating Harm's vegetarian lasagna when you had dinner at our place, your one of them too."
She arched an eyebrow, looking questioningly at Harm. "One of them?"
"Vegetarian." He answered her.
"Oh," she smiled. "I'm not a complete vegetarian, I still eat fish and chicken. But I do eat healthy; I guess it comes from having to keep my fitness levels up and body fat down. As they say Ma'am, you don't just sit in the cockpit of a fighter, you wear it."
Mac rolled her eyes. "Give me a Beltway burger any day."
Sergei smiled finding it amusing. "Sounds like you're in withdrawal, sister."
"She is," Harm jeered. "So it might be wise to warn the staff."
"I'll do that," he agreed and saw the Colonel frown, chuckling.
"Tease," Katherine accursed.
"You must be rubbing off on me," he defended.
Harm laughed. "Funny she said the same thing about you this morning, brother." He recalled and they all laughed.
Rabb's Residence
Alexandra Virginia
Harm glanced over his ward's shoulder. "That last equation is wrong."
Mattie frowned. "No it's not."
"Yes it is," he took her pen and re-worked the equation, getting a totally different answer. "See where you went wrong?"
"Yeah," she grumbled. "Smart ass."
"Mattie!"
"Sorry."
He gave her pen back. "Keep trying kiddo," he said gently, and then kissed the top of her head, leaving her to continue her homework he went from the den to the lounge.
Mattie was still grumbling through. "Easy for him, he knows how to do all this."
"I heard that!" Harm's voce carried from the lounge.
"You were supposed to, Dad!" Mattie retorted, emphasizing the last part.
In the lounge Harm froze, she'd called him 'Dad'. He grinned. Then came out of his daze as the doorbell rang. Checking the spy hole saw a teenager outside, tall, dark bond hair and familiar blue eyes, with an even more familiar grin. He opened the door. "Josh?"
The sixteen year olds grin brightened. "Hi Harm, can I come in?"
"Yeah, sure," he said still in shock. He shut the door when the teenager was inside. "How did you find me?"
"I rang JAG and spoke to Lieutenant Roberts, he gave me your address and told me you and Mac were married."
"Does your Mum know you're here?" Harm asked him as they came into the lounge.
Josh shook his head; sadness laced his eyes and face. "We had a fight, I grabbed the keys and left, I just drove, before I knew it I was here," he sat down his shoulders slumped in exhaustion. "I'm tried of fighting with her, Harm. She just doesn't want to listen."
Now Harm understood. "You want to go to the Naval Academy."
Nodding, Josh went on. "My high school guidance councilor says I've got good enough scores to earn acceptance into the Academy next year."
Mac had come down stairs over hearing her husband talking, taking a moment to realize who it was. She went into the lounge. "Josh?"
He got to his feet. "Mac," he gave her a gentle hug, then stepped back. "You look great."
"Flattery Mr. Pendry will get you far," she jeered and gestured for him to sit back down. She preached on the arm of her husband's chair, feeling his arm slip around her. "Don't you think you should ring your Mum, she's probably worried about you?"
The teenager ran his fingers through his hair, messing it a little more. "I suppose."
Mattie choose that moment to meander in. "Harm could you help me with this last problem…" She stopped in mid sentence, staring at the cute teenager.
Mac chuckled. "Josh, this is our Ward, Mattie Grace."
Josh stood and held out his hand. "Hi Mattie."
Snapping out of it, Mattie shook his hand blushing. "Hi Josh."
Harm couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Sit down you two," he ordered lightly and then suggested. "How about I give you mum a ring, Josh?"
The teenager looked relieved. "You don't mind?" He saw him shake his head, no. "Thanks Harm." He quickly gave him the number, sighing as Harm left the room to make the call. He sat next to Mattie, finding she was staring at him again, she was cute and he couldn't help but smile shyly.
Mac saw it. "Josh's father went to the Naval Academy with Harm, Mattie," she explained. "Then flight school."
"Harm investigated my dad's death," Josh added sadly. When he'd been younger he'd hoped Harm and his mum could of gotten together, but his mum hadn't been able to let go and it drove them apart.
"I'm sorry," Mattie told him. "I lost my mum, so I know what it's like."
"Thanks. So what are you having problems with, maybe I can help?"
"Umm, this," she showed him her math's homework.
He took a look. "This is easy, I'll show you," he informed and did so. "See?"
"Yeah, wow that is easy, thanks Josh."
"No problem."
Mac saw Harm come back in and went over to him, being drawn into his arms. "How did it go?" She asked quietly.
"Not to bad. Annie wasn't impressed to know he'd come here, but she was relieved to know he was all right. She agreed to let him stay the weekend, giving her and his step-father time to think."
"You're a good man Harmon Rabb."
"I know," he grinning, noting. "Mattie and Josh are getting a long well."
"She thinks he's cute," his wife mused.
"Does she now," he remarked protectively.
"Stand down Hammer," she ordered grinning. "He's helping her with her homework."
"All right," he kissed the top of her head. "Lets go break the news."
"After you flyboy."
They returned, sitting down. "Your mum was relieved to know you were fine, Josh." Harm informed.
"I suppose she's not happy about me being here," he guessed.
"She wasn't pleased but she is going to let you say the weekend, then you have to head home. It'll give you time to think and your mum and step-father time to."
"I'm sorry to be a problem, Harm," Josh apologized.
"You're not a problem, Josh. You can bunk in the den, the fold out sofa bed is comfortable enough."
"Thanks. I've got a bag in the car, I'll go get it," he said and then stood. "Thanks again Harm, Mac."
"You're welcome, Josh," both insisted.
The teenager blushed shyly and hurried out.
Mattie was grinning. "He's gorgeous," she gushed.
Mac chuckled as Harm frowned. "Go finish your homework, squirt."
"Yes Ma'am," she jeered and headed back to the den.
Harm sighed and sat back, putting his arms around his wife as she settled in his lap. He gave her swollen tummy a gentle rub. "By the time this one is a teenager, we're going to be experts."
"We certainly are," Mac smirked, and then kissed him lightly. "You're doing a good job, Harm. You're a great father."
"And you're a great mother, Sarah. I love you."
"I love you too, Harm," she said then lent in for a much longer and more passionate kiss.
Josh walked in seeing them, rolling his eyes as he headed for the den. Mattie was in there. "Are they always like that?" He asked.
"You mean kissing and being romantic?" She queried and saw him nod. "Oh yeah. The honeymoon isn't over yet for them, but don't worry you get use to it."
"I suppose," he dropped his bag on the sofa and sat down. "So how did you come to be with Harm and Mac?"
Mattie got comfortable in Harm's office chair, telling him her story. They laughed at her calling the Admiral a jackass.
"You're lucky, Mattie. Harm is a great guy," Josh told her.
"I know," she saw him arch an eyebrow. "I really do, he's the father I've always wanted."
"I can understand that," he announced.
"Your step-father can't be that bad."
"No I suppose not, he does encourage me. I just wish Mum would have some faith in me."
"She will," Mattie got up and joined him on the sofa. "Give her some time, she lost your dad. She doesn't want to lose you too."
"She want," he insisted and saw Mattie smile warmly. He drew her into his arms and hugged her she returned the gesture. "Thanks Mattie."
"No problem," she said casually, and then sat back. "Us teenagers have to stick together."
He laughed. "Yeah we do."
From where he stood in the doorway, Harm smiled, having over heard the last of their conversation. Turning he walked away, having no doubts he'd done the right thing. For both Mattie and Josh.
To be continued…