Woah, I am still reeling over the Nip/Tuck season finale! Another show to wait for until it's back up, makes me wanna sob. Anyway. . .I love the title of this one, for some reason, it amuses me. Maybe, it's because I am easily amused. ;)
Thank you for the feedback guys you guys rock!
Jackie
Part 5 – Quals and Squalls
1330 Zulu
US Patrick Henry
Virginia Capes Operating Area
The F-14 sat on the tarmac waiting for the crew around it to ready the steam powered catapult which would sent it air bound. Inside, it's pilot sat checking the instrument panels all the while wondering what the hell was up the LSO's six. Pilots were supposed to take care of their own, not treat them inferior. With Commander Loftness, it was almost as if Harm was fresh out of flight school and still on his way to earning his wings. Damnit, what did the man want? Wasn't having the ribbons on his chest of all the campaigns he helped with enough? Harm had to prove himself all over again, which was fine, he was up to the challenge and had, what he thought, was the best RIO in the squadron. He just wished that people would stop questioning his commitment to flying.
Then , there was something that Loftness said that had caught his attention for an unforeseeable reason. 'The water's cold out there.' Harm couldn't put a finger on it, but that comment had given him a momentary chill down his spine and a funky feeling that he couldn't quite shake. 'Of course the water is cold,' He thought to himself before adding mentally, 'It's always friggin cold up in these parts of the Atlantic.'
After running off his checklist with Skates and being given the 'all clear,' Harm saluted the crew member and was catapulted off of the carrier. Immediately he fell into the old rhythm of being a pilot, forgetting Mac, Loftness, Mic, Renee and the world in DC. All he concentrated on was his plane, his RIO and the picture perfect day as he made turn out and around the carrier. His approach, Harm would argue, was perfect, but, as a pilot, you must do as told by the LSO, who seemed to think differently. Harm adjusted the airplane, preparing himself for trap number one when Loftness came on the airwaves telling him to abort.
Due to his position and that of the carrier, Harm had no choice but to gun the engines and take off again. He was pleased by his decision, it was one that he knew many rookies would not make. Problems with approaches could cause a fatal ramp strike, something he vowed never to let happen again. It was as he circled the carrier when Loftness came over the airwaves again with a somber message. "I'm taking you out of the air."
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Though she still had to present her findings to the Captain, she was happy with the promptness of the investigation. "Guess I'll make it back in time after all." Mac said with a satisfied smile as she watched the same plane circle the Henry for the second time. There must have been some problems with the flight, she concluded, as it seemed like the plane was waved off. She wondered where Harm was and when he would go up. Though the thought of him flying terrified her, she had to admit, there was a deep sense of pride at knowing that her closest friend was one of the elite. She felt a slight sense of adrenaline as the plane came for it's approach and landed, catching the wire. Another pilot made it to the island safely.
Squinting her eyes, she noted that the pilot was Harm. She couldn't hear what was being said from her vantage point, but she could tell that the argument was slightly heated. Commander Loftness, whom she was introduced to by Captain Ingles, seemed to have some problem with Harm. She smiled when she saw Skates step up and defend her flying partner and was surprised to see Loftness seem to soften and point at the plane that Harm had just landed. She could just imagine that flyboy smile in place as he ran his way back to the plane and got in.
Mac remained on vulture's row, watching with amusement at what qualls entailed. Though circling a carrier seemed easy enough, landing was far from that, especially when you are landing a plane consecutively, on a moving, rocking carrier in the middle of nowhere. Each trap had to be as picture perfect as possible. She stood out there, silently routing Harm on as he made four perfect traps. "Colonel."
"Skipper." Mac acknowledge Captain Ingles as he made his way out to where she was standing. "I've concluded the investigation, sir."
With a smile, the Captain nodded at Mac. "When will you be able to make a formal report?"
Mac extended her hand to hold out a manila folder with the JAG insignia on the outside. "Already done, sir."
"Perfect." Ingles said, grabbing the folder and tucking it under his arm. "I just had a pow-wow with the Airboss, COD should be here at 2110."
Mac's smiled widened, apparently someone in heaven listened after all. "Thank you sir, and if there is anything I can do for you. . ."
"Slice of wedding cake?" He suggests, sharing a laugh with Mac.
"I'll have it on the COD for you on Sunday morning, Sir."
"Congratulations, Colonel." He said, shaking her hand before he made it back inside and towards the bridge.
Despite herself, Mac felt another pang of uncertainty. Mic had given up his commission for her, would she be willing to give up her career for him? Truth was, she wasn't sure. She gave it all up once for Dalton and a fancy law firm and she really wasn't willing to go through all of that again. With a sigh, Mac headed inside and towards the mess.
Harm sat with Skates at a table in the center of the room, as they had their lunch. What was it about all of the women in his life? They all seemed to either be getting married or want to get married. He figured he'd be offered some reprieve on the ship. Nope! Skates too was considering giving it all up for a man that she loved and had asked for her hand in marriage. 'What the hell is going on with these women?' He thought to himself as Skates rattled on about her fiancé, the Washington public affairs officer. 'Hopefully it isn't catching, else, next thing I know, Renee will be trying to twist my arm into marrying her.' He caught sight of Mac as she entered the mess and resisted the urge to run the hell away from her. He needed his head in the game, not out chasing some impossible dream.
"Colonel." Skates said with a smile as she offered Mac a place to sit at their table. "Commander's told me the good news, congratulations."
Mac shyly smiled at the Lieutenant before glancing over at Harm who gave her a fake smile. "Yea, COD's arriving around 2110 tonight, I'll head out then." She was tempted to ask Harm if he was coming along, but she knew better than to taunt the flames of anger that had risen between them, especially in front of several crew members.
"Hopefully we'll have the night traps finished by then." Skates grinned over at Harm who instantly knew where she was taking the conversation. "That way the Commander can head out with you."
Harm groaned inwardly as he thought about their COD ride to the Henry. The whole time he was huddled up in his corner, praying to God that they would arrive already. The flight was tense, uncomfortable and painful. Each time their arms would brush or their shoulder's would touch, he felt a zing of electricity, which, he figured, from her lack of movement, Mac didn't feel. With a sigh, he drowned out the conversation about 'marriage' that Mac and Skates involuntarily threw him into. It was going to end up being a long day.
0130 Zulu
US Patrick Henry
Virginia Capes Operating Area
Harm's traps were over and done with, he'd proved himself to his squadron and most important, to Commander Loftness who seemed to retract all of the ill harbored feelings for the flying, Washington weenie. Slipping on his bomber jacket, Harm stepped out onto vulture's row, enjoying the weather, despite the slight chill in the air. He sighed as thought about leaving, part of him belonged on a carrier, the other. . . Well, he wasn't too sure where it belonged sometimes.
His thoughts somehow drifted over to Mac and how her investigation went. Harm wanted to go and find out, but he knew she was gone, the COD was scheduled to leave at 2110 and that was 20 minutes ago. Loftness and Ingles had offered to extend his stay so that he could log some more flight time, but Harm wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Though he knew that things with Mac and him would definitely change once she married Brumby, he didn't want her to be angry with him for missing the biggest day of her life. Damnit, he was a better friend than that and considering everything she'd done for him in the past, he owed her that much despite the fact that he was dying inside over the notion of her in another man's arms. Just as he was going to make his way towards the bridge, he heard Mac's familiar voice as the hatch opened.
"So, the COD left early?" Mac asked in an incredulous tone. She was never late for anything, especially anything important. But, given the chance to relax and take a nap, she'd overslept, the COD had indeed left early and, by the fact that she was still on the Henry, she missed her flight.
Captain Ingles walked out ahead of Mac along with Commander Loftness. "Afraid so, Colonel. . . We're working on another way to get you out of here, but the Airboss may shut down flight ops due to incoming weather."
"Skipper, Commander, Colonel." Harm greeted them as she turned around and leaned against the railing. Mac, he noted, looked. . . confused? Relieved, maybe?
Loftness nodded at Harm and smiled. "Commander, you finished up just in time. That storm's supposed to pick up, we're shutting down flight ops until we get some clear weather."
"I think you and the Colonel are going to be stuck here for a while." The Captain said with a frown as he looked between the two friends. "Although. . ." Trailing off, he looked pensive for a moment, before a smirk appeared on his face. "I'll talk to the CAG. If Data can find better weather, I'll make sure you're the first plane out."
Mac appeared grateful at the possible good news. "Another COD coming in, sir?"
Shaking his head, the Captain pointed at Harm and then grinned. "Nope, but we do need to deliver a Tomcat to Andrews and I am sure the Commander here, wouldn't mind you playing RIO for the night. . . Rumor has it you've been his backseater before."
Her mouth opened and closed a few times as Mac tried to formulate some sort of response. She turned to find Harm grinning from ear to ear. "Yes, she has. . . Should we go and get suited up, sir?"
"I believe, so Commander. . . if there is some clear weather, you'll want to take advantage of it ASAP."
Harm grinned again. "Thank you, Sir."
Mac still had nothing left to say. Noting Harm's appearance she couldn't help but feel even angrier at him. She glared at him, wishing she could slap him around a bit for being so damn confusing. Did he want her to marry Mic or not? Or was it that the jet fuel had fried his brains?
"What is it?" Harm asked, in wonder of why she was giving him some odd looks.
Mac attempted to dismiss him, but he just ended up following her inside. "I don't get you! One moment you don't want to be at my wedding, now it seems like you'd be willing to risk life and limb to make sure I make it."
"I just want you to be happy, Mac." Sincerity was something that was difficult for him when it came to Mac. Though he wasn't the type to lie, he wasn't exactly forthcoming with her about his feelings recently. He sighed as she gave him a 'Whatever' before turning down a flight of stairs in search of her stateroom. The trip home, although in a supersonic jet, was going to be a long one.
Side note: Did anyone get the inside joke? With Captain Ingles and the rumor that Mac was a backseater before? For those that didn't get it. In the Season 3 episode "Blind Side", which is the first time Mac goes on an F-14 with Harm, Captain Hochausen (Harm's mentor) is played by the same Actor –Sandy Edgerton- that plays Captain Ingles.