"I'll See You in My Dreams: By Myself" part 6
By Rita Widmer
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Spoilers: JINX!
Pairings: Mac/Other, Harm/Mac
Feedback: Please, I have barely received any on the last two parts, and it makes it hard to want to write. Good or bad, I like to know either way. Thank you to all those that have sent feedback. I would love your opinion especially on the letter at the end. Thanks to Mac for betaing!
~~ = flashback
** = letter
*************************************************************************************
"By Myself" by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Sung by Fred Astaire in "The Band Wagon."
The party's over, the game is ended, the dreams I dreamed went up in smoke. They didn't pan out as I had intended; I should know how to take a joke.
I'll go my way by myself, this is the end of romance. I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance. I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing. I'll go my way by myself like a bird on the wing, I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own; No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone. I'll go my way by myself, here's how the comedy ends. I'll have to deny myself love and laughter and friends. Grey clouds in sky above have put a blot on my fun. I'll try to fly high above for a place in the sun. I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own; No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
******************************************************************************
Dante's Pizza
Miramar, CA
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah Mackenzie watched the man sitting across from her. Harm has teased her about how she could gulp down food, but she had nothing on this man. She couldn't help, but let out the slight giggle from her mouth.
"What's so funny?" Mike Connelly mocking anger, he asked her with his mouth full of food.
"You. I must have gotten my eating skills from watching you. Harm should be here to watch you then he would never tease me again."
"It's good pizza! I can't have it getting cold, because I took my time eating it."
"Excuses, excuses!" Mac went back to eating. It was a working dinner of sorts tonight, but Mike couldn't let work get in his way of his favorite pizza.
They took their time finishing eating, but once they were done Mac got straight to the point. She had called her old friend Mike before leaving Washington D.C. If anyone could get her the information needed on the mishap that killed Tess McGee, it was Mike. He had worked on and off with the flying group since before Desert Storm. She had met him not long after Peter and her had started dating.
Mike and her went over the details of the Tess's accident. "Do you really think this is all a jinx over the crew?" asked Mac.
"I never believed in jinxes, but nothing seems right about how many pilots we have lost since Desert Storm. Losing half the crew in the modern world of technology and science is way too many. We can't do anything to bring them back to life, but we need to figure out how to stop others from being killed."
She took hold of his hand as they remembered their friends and Peter. Silence reigned over the table as their minds left the present.
"Their is a theory that this has something to do with the bombing of a Muslim temple during Desert Storm. They have another holiday coming up, and some are even afraid to fly," said Mike.
"Just because some have died on Muslim holidays, there are some that haven't. Peter didn't die on a holiday. It seems to me people are overreacting about that. Hopefully nothing will happen this holiday, and people will disclaim the theory."
"Does the Commander believe in the curse? What does he know about Peter?"
"I really don't how he feels about the curse theory. He hardly has opened up to me about it, though he might have talked to Annie about it. I can't find the courage to talk to him about Peter even if it might bringer us closer together. Its a connection between our pasts and now our present. For now there is no need for him to know, and I'm going to put all my energy into solving this case."
"You're still in love with Peter?"
"Very much so, and I doubt I will ever stop. Maybe one day I will find a man that I can love even half as much, and that I can spend my life with him. For now, I just live for my work and live a life alone."
"Its not so bad of a way to live sometimes, but don't forget you do have people here who care about you. I bet the Commander does care too. I know very few men who would risk their jobs to help a woman who's uncle stole the Declaration of Independence after meeting her only hours before."
"He does if he keeps seeing you as his dead love. I still wonder if he sees me as her only, and not who I really am."
"She can't be that much like you."
"From what I know, I look a lot like her, but we have different personalities."
"Does it bother you?"
"No, not really, most of the time. I think one day he'll get past it, and we can become closer friends."
A clearing of the throat startled them from their conversation. Mac looked up into Harm's weary eyes.
"Hi Harm, I would like you to meet Commander Mike Connelly, and Mike this is Commander Harmon Rabb." The men greeted each other cordially. "How did your interview go?" Mac asked Harm.
"It went all right. I can't seem to get much out of the pilots. I can see yours was going well."
"Mike's an old friend from when we were stationed together. I had called him to warn him about our coming to investigate, and he was nice enough to look some stuff up for us," said Mac.
"I don't think I found anything useful. Only connecting factor is the Muslim holidays, but even that is not true of all the deaths in the squadron. It seems the best thing for this squadron would be to prove the jinx is false. With the holiday coming up there might be a chance for solving that problem," said Mike.
Mac looked up at Harm, and saw the determination in his face to beat the jinx hanging like a noose over the squadron. She mentally grabbed hold of the ring that hung from her neck as she felt fear soaring through her for Harm's safety.
************************************
Harm and Peter's Airplane
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was no one more determined than Peter Davis to get rid of the feeling of Jinx hanging over his old squadron. Through the help of Harmon Rabb, Jr., he would make it happen. To him there was no other alternative choice for him to do. Not only had he to save the squadron, but to save Harm. He had a destiny to fulfill, and without his help he wasn't quite so sure Harm would survive.
'Tomcats weren't made for three men," Peter thought as he rode out the unusually quiet ride. 'I can't even sit on the outside.'
He watched as the canopy was broken from the impact, and the shout from the Lt. to eject startled him into action. There couldn't be an ejection tonight.
Leaning over he used his best command voice to talk into Harm's ear. "Keep awake! This is no time to sleep on the job! You're not going to wimp out on this one!"
He watched as Harm gained some control back to tell the Lt. not to eject. Harm's vision was impaired as he tried to read the controls in front of him to help him land the airplane. Peter started reading out loud all Harm needed to know.
Peter could hear the thoughts in Harm's head as he tried to land the airplane.
'This airplane is not going down! I will not have another crash landing!' His mind bringing images of that night that wasn't even 5 years ago now. He could almost feel the fire burning him once again as he tried to listen to the Lt.'s readings on his landing position.
Before any realized it they had hit the deck. Not safe and sound but alive. Peter stood by as Harm was treated for the head injury.
"It was not good luck, Mr. Rabb," said Peter to no one in particular.
*************************************
Mac's Room, BOQ
That evening
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Dear Mr. and Mrs. Davis,
That sounds so formal, but after all its been a very long time since we last talked to each other. I'm not even quite sure why I'm writing to you. You may have heard about the recent deaths of Peter's old squadron. My new partner, and I were on that case trying to solve why so many have died. There is no real answer but what fate had dealt us.
I've only got to look at Harm, my partner who's an ex-fighter pilot, and realize all the consequences that these deaths have caused. He was best friends with Luke Pendry, and he knows his wife and son too.
It might have been Harm's spending time with the Pendry family that made me realize just how important our family is to us. Over the years that I knew Peter before his death, you had allowed me into your lives as well. You welcomed me with open arms.
Now I find myself on a new course in life. I'm still getting used to working with an ex-Seal, an ex-fighter pilot, and a mumbling hope to be lawyer. Already I have been accepted into the JAG family at Headquarters.
I have gotten use to being a loner in the world. I've allowed myself to live through the memories of the times I spent with Peter instead of looking toward the future. One day I may find a real family, but for now I find myself with a different kind of family, a work family.
I don't know how long I will be at JAG Headquarters, but I may come to cherish the time I've spent here.
You are always in prayers each night.
Love,
Sarah **
TBC...
By Rita Widmer
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Spoilers: JINX!
Pairings: Mac/Other, Harm/Mac
Feedback: Please, I have barely received any on the last two parts, and it makes it hard to want to write. Good or bad, I like to know either way. Thank you to all those that have sent feedback. I would love your opinion especially on the letter at the end. Thanks to Mac for betaing!
~~ = flashback
** = letter
*************************************************************************************
"By Myself" by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Sung by Fred Astaire in "The Band Wagon."
The party's over, the game is ended, the dreams I dreamed went up in smoke. They didn't pan out as I had intended; I should know how to take a joke.
I'll go my way by myself, this is the end of romance. I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance. I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing. I'll go my way by myself like a bird on the wing, I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own; No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone. I'll go my way by myself, here's how the comedy ends. I'll have to deny myself love and laughter and friends. Grey clouds in sky above have put a blot on my fun. I'll try to fly high above for a place in the sun. I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own; No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
******************************************************************************
Dante's Pizza
Miramar, CA
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah Mackenzie watched the man sitting across from her. Harm has teased her about how she could gulp down food, but she had nothing on this man. She couldn't help, but let out the slight giggle from her mouth.
"What's so funny?" Mike Connelly mocking anger, he asked her with his mouth full of food.
"You. I must have gotten my eating skills from watching you. Harm should be here to watch you then he would never tease me again."
"It's good pizza! I can't have it getting cold, because I took my time eating it."
"Excuses, excuses!" Mac went back to eating. It was a working dinner of sorts tonight, but Mike couldn't let work get in his way of his favorite pizza.
They took their time finishing eating, but once they were done Mac got straight to the point. She had called her old friend Mike before leaving Washington D.C. If anyone could get her the information needed on the mishap that killed Tess McGee, it was Mike. He had worked on and off with the flying group since before Desert Storm. She had met him not long after Peter and her had started dating.
Mike and her went over the details of the Tess's accident. "Do you really think this is all a jinx over the crew?" asked Mac.
"I never believed in jinxes, but nothing seems right about how many pilots we have lost since Desert Storm. Losing half the crew in the modern world of technology and science is way too many. We can't do anything to bring them back to life, but we need to figure out how to stop others from being killed."
She took hold of his hand as they remembered their friends and Peter. Silence reigned over the table as their minds left the present.
"Their is a theory that this has something to do with the bombing of a Muslim temple during Desert Storm. They have another holiday coming up, and some are even afraid to fly," said Mike.
"Just because some have died on Muslim holidays, there are some that haven't. Peter didn't die on a holiday. It seems to me people are overreacting about that. Hopefully nothing will happen this holiday, and people will disclaim the theory."
"Does the Commander believe in the curse? What does he know about Peter?"
"I really don't how he feels about the curse theory. He hardly has opened up to me about it, though he might have talked to Annie about it. I can't find the courage to talk to him about Peter even if it might bringer us closer together. Its a connection between our pasts and now our present. For now there is no need for him to know, and I'm going to put all my energy into solving this case."
"You're still in love with Peter?"
"Very much so, and I doubt I will ever stop. Maybe one day I will find a man that I can love even half as much, and that I can spend my life with him. For now, I just live for my work and live a life alone."
"Its not so bad of a way to live sometimes, but don't forget you do have people here who care about you. I bet the Commander does care too. I know very few men who would risk their jobs to help a woman who's uncle stole the Declaration of Independence after meeting her only hours before."
"He does if he keeps seeing you as his dead love. I still wonder if he sees me as her only, and not who I really am."
"She can't be that much like you."
"From what I know, I look a lot like her, but we have different personalities."
"Does it bother you?"
"No, not really, most of the time. I think one day he'll get past it, and we can become closer friends."
A clearing of the throat startled them from their conversation. Mac looked up into Harm's weary eyes.
"Hi Harm, I would like you to meet Commander Mike Connelly, and Mike this is Commander Harmon Rabb." The men greeted each other cordially. "How did your interview go?" Mac asked Harm.
"It went all right. I can't seem to get much out of the pilots. I can see yours was going well."
"Mike's an old friend from when we were stationed together. I had called him to warn him about our coming to investigate, and he was nice enough to look some stuff up for us," said Mac.
"I don't think I found anything useful. Only connecting factor is the Muslim holidays, but even that is not true of all the deaths in the squadron. It seems the best thing for this squadron would be to prove the jinx is false. With the holiday coming up there might be a chance for solving that problem," said Mike.
Mac looked up at Harm, and saw the determination in his face to beat the jinx hanging like a noose over the squadron. She mentally grabbed hold of the ring that hung from her neck as she felt fear soaring through her for Harm's safety.
************************************
Harm and Peter's Airplane
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was no one more determined than Peter Davis to get rid of the feeling of Jinx hanging over his old squadron. Through the help of Harmon Rabb, Jr., he would make it happen. To him there was no other alternative choice for him to do. Not only had he to save the squadron, but to save Harm. He had a destiny to fulfill, and without his help he wasn't quite so sure Harm would survive.
'Tomcats weren't made for three men," Peter thought as he rode out the unusually quiet ride. 'I can't even sit on the outside.'
He watched as the canopy was broken from the impact, and the shout from the Lt. to eject startled him into action. There couldn't be an ejection tonight.
Leaning over he used his best command voice to talk into Harm's ear. "Keep awake! This is no time to sleep on the job! You're not going to wimp out on this one!"
He watched as Harm gained some control back to tell the Lt. not to eject. Harm's vision was impaired as he tried to read the controls in front of him to help him land the airplane. Peter started reading out loud all Harm needed to know.
Peter could hear the thoughts in Harm's head as he tried to land the airplane.
'This airplane is not going down! I will not have another crash landing!' His mind bringing images of that night that wasn't even 5 years ago now. He could almost feel the fire burning him once again as he tried to listen to the Lt.'s readings on his landing position.
Before any realized it they had hit the deck. Not safe and sound but alive. Peter stood by as Harm was treated for the head injury.
"It was not good luck, Mr. Rabb," said Peter to no one in particular.
*************************************
Mac's Room, BOQ
That evening
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Dear Mr. and Mrs. Davis,
That sounds so formal, but after all its been a very long time since we last talked to each other. I'm not even quite sure why I'm writing to you. You may have heard about the recent deaths of Peter's old squadron. My new partner, and I were on that case trying to solve why so many have died. There is no real answer but what fate had dealt us.
I've only got to look at Harm, my partner who's an ex-fighter pilot, and realize all the consequences that these deaths have caused. He was best friends with Luke Pendry, and he knows his wife and son too.
It might have been Harm's spending time with the Pendry family that made me realize just how important our family is to us. Over the years that I knew Peter before his death, you had allowed me into your lives as well. You welcomed me with open arms.
Now I find myself on a new course in life. I'm still getting used to working with an ex-Seal, an ex-fighter pilot, and a mumbling hope to be lawyer. Already I have been accepted into the JAG family at Headquarters.
I have gotten use to being a loner in the world. I've allowed myself to live through the memories of the times I spent with Peter instead of looking toward the future. One day I may find a real family, but for now I find myself with a different kind of family, a work family.
I don't know how long I will be at JAG Headquarters, but I may come to cherish the time I've spent here.
You are always in prayers each night.
Love,
Sarah **
TBC...