Title: Hammer and Hoots
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email:
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.
Author's Note: Hi, thanks for the reviews. Winjan (I just couldn't resist making Cam a Predator, it just seemed right), r (I like Coates, she is a great character and don't worry Pike is going to get hers), SiberianRavyn (more Sergei, I think I can do that. Thanks.)
Hammer and Hoots
Chapter Six: Putting the pieces together
JAG Headquarters: Falls Church, Virginia, Washington DC (December 2001)Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie saw them walked into JAG ops as she came out of her partner's office, four Predators and one NCIS agent. She had known they were coming, her husband had pre-warned her, as had Bud, Lt. Roberts. Right after he had her sign affidavit swearing her to secrecy, she was a Predators' wife now and with that came responsibility.
However this was the first time she'd seen Harm in his standard dress blues since he'd left JAG, it was an inspiring sight. They all were, each of the Predators had impressive fitness levels and looked good in their uniforms. And each of them was highly decorated.
Jason came up beside her as they approached. "They know how to work a room," he said quietly.
"Don't they," she agreed.
Captain McKinley gestured her over to them. "Colonel Mackenzie, if you'll come with us."
"Yes sir," she said and fell into step with them, leaving her partner staring.
Petty Officer Tiner jumped to his feet when they approached his desk. "Sir, Ma'am."
"Petty Officer inform Admiral Chegwidden, Captain McKinley would like to see him," Sarah ordered gently.
"Yes Ma'am," he said nervously and rang it through, getting an answer. "The Admiral said to go right in, Ma'am."
"Thank you, Tiner."
In his office Admiral AJ Chegwidden stood by the windows, his hands behind his back. He turned when the door opened, the Captain entered with Mackenzie, Roberts, Rabb, an unknown Lt. Commander and a NCIS Special Agent. His focus through fell on Rabb, the last time the Commander had been in his office was the day he'd left. He'd said things to Harm that over time he'd regretted, and by the looked in the man's eyes, he hadn't forgotten.
AJ turned his attention to McKinley. "What can I do for you, Captain?" He asked coming straight to the point.
Lt. Roberts opened the folder he'd been carrying and handed Jack the first of the legal documents he had Jack handed it to the Admiral. "It's a restraining order, Commander Caitlin Pike is not to come within one hundred meters of any member of the Predators Squadron or any person within the Predator community. That includes Lt. Colonel Mackenzie."
AJ looked quickly from the document to his officer. "Colonel?"
"My husband has excepted a position with the Predators sir," she explained.
"The Colonel signed an affidavit swearing her to secrecy on matters concerning the Predators," Bud revealed to his former CO.
AJ handed the document back to McKinley, who passed it to Agent Gibbs. "Anything else, Captain?"
Jack was handed a second document, he passed it onto AJ to look at. "It's a search warrant allowing the search of the Commanders office and personal residence to remove any documents concerning an illegal investigation with regards to the Predators."
After looking it over, the Admiral passed on to Gibbs, directly. "I take it that's why your here, Agent Gibbs?"
"Yes sir."
"Carry on then."
He nodded and left the office, on the phone to his team before he was out the door.
AJ rubbed his temples. "If there's something more, Captain, I suggest you all take a seat." They did and he returned to sit behind his desk once more. "Now tell me, Captain, how I'm supposed to have Commander Pike and Colonel Mackenzie work in the same office?"
"With all due respect sir, that's not my problem," Jack said bluntly. "Colonel Mackenzie and her husband have been moved to base housing at NAS Oceana," he took the chit Roberts handed to him and gave it to the Admiral. "Her change of address."
"And the reason for this?"
"As a Predators' wife, she is exposed to information and events that are classified, therefore her safety and that of her unborn are foremost in our minds. Having her with the other Predators families is a matter of security," Jack answered. "We're a close knit family, Admiral. If you attack one member of our family, your attack us all."
"I suppose your problem with Commander Pike, has to do with Commander Rabb?" AJ remarked, knowing it was all combined.
"Admiral, for the record, I ordered Lt. Roberts to proceed with the restraining order and the search warrant, until we were to come here, neither Commander Rabb or Lt. Commander Gibson knew anything about them."
AJ bristled a little. "Then why are they here, Captain?" He asked a little forcefully then he would have liked.
"Because Admiral," Jack concluded. "They accompanied myself and Lt. Roberts due to the fact we're due at the White House at eleven hundred, as are all the Predators. It seems the President wants to give us medals. Again."
Sarah hid a smile, biting her lip. "Again?"
"The Predators have been to the White House more times then any of them will admit to, Colonel," the Captain remarked grinning. "It's our Hero complex, we've all developed it, it comes with be a Predator."
AJ was not impressed. "If that is all, Captain?"
"It is Admiral," he stood along with the rest of his officers, helping Sarah to her feet. "Excuse us."
"Colonel remain," AJ ordered.
"Aye sir."
"We'll see you tonight, Colonel." Jack said pleasantly.
"I'm looking forward to it, sir," she acknowledged with a smile.
He nodded and along with Rabb, Gibson and Roberts, left the office.
Sarah sat back down on the Admiral's insistence. "The Captain is a good man, sir and he had good reason for doing what he did."
"Which is?"
"Commander Pike's actions are unbecoming an officer and it's lucky the Captain isn't bring chargers against her," she answered him.
"Colonel," AJ sat forward. "The truth, it has to do with Rabb, doesn't it?" He saw her debating telling him, her hesitation said all she didn't. That was answer enough. "All right, Colonel, dismissed."
Sarah stood slowly and left the office, sighing a little.
"Ma'am," Jason Tiner got her attention.
"Yes Petty Officer."
"The Commander Ma'am, is he happy with the Predators?"
"Yes Jason, he is," she answered, smiling a little sadly she headed for her office. At least with being moved to Oceana and housed with the other Predator families, she was going to be close to Harriet and her godson.
"Hey partner," Commander Jason Ryan said cheerfully. He wanted to know what had happened. "So?"
"So Kate has gotten what she deserved," she answered as he followed her into her office. She sat down, popping her feet up on the small stool under her desk.
Jason sat down too. "What did they do?"
"Restraining order and a search warrant."
He was surprised. "Jeez she really did tick them off didn't she?"
"Oh yeah," she sat back in the chair. "To top it all off, the restraining order includes me, now that Cam is a Predator."
Her partner started to laugh. "Oh this day gets getter," he chuckled.
In his office, Admiral Chegwidden was fuming, he hated being handled and that's what had happened. And to top it all off, he had to do something about Pike; he couldn't keep her at JAG, not now. "Tiner!" He yelled and the young man appeared at the door. "Get me Captain Krennick at Pearl."
"Aye sir."
Sitting back AJ rubbed his temples; this was going to be a very long day. His intercom buzzed after a few minutes, he pushed the talk button. "Yes Tiner?"
"Captain Krennick is on line two, sir."
"Thank you Tiner," picking up the receiver he took the call. "Captain Krennick how is Pearl Harbor?"
"Fine, Admiral, but you didn't call me to ask me that," she responded quickly.
"No I didn't, one of my officers has got into some trouble and needs to get out of town, I'd like to send them to you for a while."
"Really, wouldn't be Harmon Rabb by any chance?"
AJ smiled and lent back in his chair. "Captain, Commander Rabb isn't at JAG anymore and hasn't been for two years."
"Really?" She was honestly surprised. "What's he doing then?"
"He went back to fly, he's the XO of the Predators."
"Well I'll be, so who do you want to send to me?"
"Commander Caitlin Pike."
"All right, when should I expect her?"
"The end of the week."
"Very well Admiral, I make arrangements."
"Excellent, thank you Captain."
"Goodbye Admiral."
He hung up. "Tiner!"
The Petty Officer was quickly at the doorway. "Yes sir."
"I need orders written up for Commander Pike to transfer to Pearl Harbor, reporting there by the end of the week."
"Aye sir," Jason Tiner acknowledged and hurried out.
Two hours later the Admiral had the orders on his desk and Special Agent Gibbs in his office. The NCIS agent handed over the evidence found. "It was found in the Commander's house."
AJ took the folder and looked through it, disgusted at what he saw. There were surveillance photos, detailed reports on the Predators daily activates while at Pensacola. "Damn it!" He closed the folder and hit the intercom button. "Tiner get me Commander Pike, now! I don't care if you have to drag her out of court to do it!"
"Aye sir."
He glared at the NCIA agent. "Was there anything else found?"
"Nothing he can give you, AJ," Clayton Webb announced as he breezed into the office.
"Webb," the Admiral growled.
Clay smiled politely at the NCIA agent. "Gibbs."
"Webb," he greeted. Then turned to the Admiral. "If that's all, Admiral?"
AJ nodded. "Thank you for assistance Agent Gibbs."
"No problem, Admiral," he said, then left.
The Admiral's anger settled on Webb. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Your officer is in a lot of trouble AJ," Clay informed taking a seat without being asked. "Commander Pike contacted a Petty Officer on the Constellation and wired money into his account, paying the Petty Officer to assault Lt. Commander Gibson. He did and the result was the Lt. Commander flew a mission with a fractured wrist, because he chose to do it when she was on her way to the flight deck."
AJ recalled the cast on the Aviator's wrist. "Her commanding officer let her fly with a fractured wrist."
"No, he didn't find out until after she landed her damaged Tomcat on the deck," Clay revealed. "The point is AJ, if Pike had of left it alone, Gibson wouldn't have a fractured wrist, of course Rabb wouldn't had found out he had a daughter either."
"What?" The Admiral demanded only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. "Enter!"
Commander Pike came in. "You wanted to see me sir."
"Yes, come in and shut the hatch," he ordered. She did and stood at attention before his desk. He ignored her for the moment. "Now what is this about Rabb's daughter?" He didn't dismiss the look of surprise on Kate's face.
Clay hid the smirk that threatened to slip onto his lips. "Carly Michelle Rabb was born on the 20th of July 1996, and put into foster care when all rights were given up by the mother. We found the child and confirmed she was Rabb's daughter. They were united and he has sole custody of his daughter," he informed. "Which brings us to Commander Pike."
"Go on," AJ insisted. "This I have to hear."
"Commander Pike is Carly's mother. She transferred when she found out she was pregnant. After giving up the child, she went from one assignment to another. Including a brief stint as legal advisor for the Predators, she even dated Captain McKinley, but because he wouldn't bring her fully into the loop she transferred out. Asking to be assigned here, thinking she could blackmail Rabb with the knowledge of his daughter. However he was gone by the time she got here. When she found out he was a Predator, she decided to started devising a way to get back at them all. It was made easy by the fact they didn't remember her, well all except Captain McKinley. Which is why he contacted me."
AJ was livered; he got to his feet, addressing Pike. "All of this happened because you were vindictive," he spate at her, walking around his desk he stood directly in front of her, invading her personnel space. "You coursed this office to be in dishevel and the lives of officers in the Predators to be put into danger. You paid money to have a member of the Predators assaulted and started an illegal investigation. You have disgraced that uniform and your position. You Commander Pike, will have chargers brought up against you; they will be forward to your new CO. Pack up your belongings and get out of my sight," he reached back and grabbed her orders, thrusting them into her hands. "Dismissed!"
She took the orders and left as fast as she could.
AJ perched on his desk, wearily rubbing his temples. "How much of this does Rabb know?"
"As much as he needs to know," Clay answered him. He stood and handed the Admiral a folded piece of paper.
"What's this?" He asked taking it.
"Rabb's address. Just incase you want to talk to him. Just be prepared to find Lt. Commander Gibson there as well."
"Any particular reason why I would?" The Admiral asked him.
"Because they live in the same house, AJ," Clay informed, and then walked out.
AJ stared at the closed door; Rabb and Gibson lived in the same house. Shaving the paper into his pocket he walked out of his office, crossing the bullpen he walked into the Colonel's. Both she and Ryan got to their feet. "Sit down Colonel. Commander Ryan's you're dismissed," he ordered.
"Aye sir, "Jason said quickly as Sarah returned to her seat, he gave her a smile of encouragement and left.
Shutting the door AJ took a seat. "Colonel, who is Gibson to Rabb?"
Sarah didn't fully understand the reasoning behind the question, but answered. "Lt. Commander Andrea Gibson is his wingman sir."
"Anything else?"
"Her father flew with Commander Rabb's during the Vietnam War, he was rescued, Lt. Rabb wasn't."
AJ was surprised by that piece of information. "Are they close?"
"Very sir, but all Predators are close. They consider each other family," Sarah said carefully, before asking. "Sir what is this all about?"
"Rabb and Gibson sharing a house," the Admiral answered.
"They do sir. Just as Captain McKinley shares a house with Lt. Commander Hawks."
"And you don't find this a little unusual, Colonel?"
"Sir, when Commander Rabb was at JAG, we shared quarters while on assignments. This is no different. The men in the squadron are protective of those women who serve with them."
"Including your husband's RIO?"
"Yes sir and when deployed, my husband shares a stateroom with Lt. Read. Just as McKinley shares one with Hawks and the Commander does with Lt. Commander Gibson," Sarah explained it to him, as it had been explained to her. "Sir, this has been approved by the secNav and the CNO."
"I see."
"Sir, Commander Rabb and Lt. Commander Gibson are a good team, they're legendary at Pensacola. Everyone spoke highly of Hammer and Hoots. They're the best sir, they watch each others back both in the air and on the ground."
AJ nodded and stood, but before he left he asked the one question that was playing on his mind. "Is he sleeping with her?"
"With all due respect sir, I believe that's non of our business."
"So that's a yes?"
"Admiral," Sarah realized she'd dug a deep hole that if not careful would engulf them all. "I'm saying sir, neither Commander Rabb or Lt. Commander Gibson have let their personnel lives interfere with their careers."
He knew what she met and what she wasn't saying. "Thank you Colonel," he said, then left the office, perhaps he would make an unannounced visit to Rabb and Gibson and see for himself. He returned to his office, getting on with the day, at fifteen hundred though he was walking out the door, having told Tiner he was securing early for the day. That he could be contacted on his cell phone if it was an emergency, other then that, Lt. Colonel Mackenzie was in command.
He drove to NAS Oceana; pulling the address from his pocket he followed the direction given by the Marine on the gate. Pulling up outside the house on the address. Getting out he pocketed his keys and walked up to the front door, pressing the doorbell.
The door was opened by Trish Burnett, who was a little surprised by the visit. "Admiral Chegwidden?"
"Yes Ma'am, I was wondering if your son was home?" He asked her.
She nodded. "Come in, Admiral," when he was she shut the door. "Can I take your coat and cover?" He gave her both and she hung them up. "This way, Admiral." She showed him into the living room. "Harm, you've a visitor."
Harm Rabb was seated on the floor, his legs stretched out in front of him, his daughter asleep on the floor, her head in his lap. A Disney Christmas special was playing on the television. "Admiral, come in, please excuse me if I don't get up."
AJ smiled warmly. "I understand, Commander," he walked around the sofa, seeing Lt. Commander Gibson curled up asleep on it. "Must be the whether," he commented and took a seat.
Harm merely smiled, turning off the television. "Andy doesn't sleep well after coming back from carrier duty, it takes her a while to settle in. So when she does sleep, I let her," he pushed the hair back from his daughter's closed eyes, she had her thumb in her mouth and she looked so cute. "Carly just wore herself out."
"It seems to me like you take good care of both of them."
"I try, sir."
"Would you like some coffee, Admiral or tea, I was just going to make some?" Trish asked him.
"Either would be fine, Mrs. Burnett."
She nodded and walked out, a little hesitant to leave the Admiral alone with her son, Harm had told her the meeting this morning had been tense.
"We didn't get to talk this morning," AJ began. "You've done well since leaving JAG."
"Surprises you, doesn't it, sir," Harm stated the obvious. "You expected me to come back to JAG."
"I did, I thought you'd get flying out of your system and come back to where you belong. I was wrong."
"Yes sir, you were," the younger man said, not pulling any punches. "I found a place where I belong, with a family who cares for me and I'm doing what I love."
"I thought you loved the law?" The Admiral questioned.
"I do sir, and I'm still involved in the squadron's legal matters. I help Lt. Roberts as much as I can and a lot of the squad comes to me if they have legal problems while we're deployed," he answered matter-of-factly. "However being an Aviator is what I am, Admiral. You don't know how hard it was when I was at JAG, going aboard carriers and having Skippers and Cag's look me up and down, see the wings and think I didn't have the right to wear them or that I wasn't as good as my father. Going back to active flight status meant starting at the bottom and fighting hard to make my way to the level the other pilots were at, but I did it and I earned their respect."
Frank came in carrying a tray. "Good afternoon Admiral," he greeted.
"Afternoon, Mr. Burnett."
Frank put the tray on the coffee table; on it were two mugs of coffee. "How about I take Carly up stairs, Harm."
"Thanks Frank."
"No problem, your legs must be going to sleep about now," he mused and gently lifted the little girl up in his arms and carried her out, she didn't stir.
Harm moved his legs to get feeling back in them, eventually crossing them as he took his coffee and handed the Admiral his. "You expected me to come back whipped, Admiral and I didn't."
AJ was a little stunned; the Harm Rabb he knew would never have spoken to him in this matter. "Your bordering on insubordination, Commander."
"This is my home, Admiral. You were invited in, you can leave at any time." Harm said honestly. "And you're not my commanding officer any more. That privilege belongs to another."
"You've changed, Harm," the Admiral said softly, then sipped his coffee.
"I went on with my life, Admiral," Harm told him. "I moved on, just as life at JAG did."
"Are you happy though?"
"Yes I am."
Andrea had woken and lay there with her eyes closed listening to their conversation, finally she opened them.
Harm knew she was awake. "Hey sleepyhead."
She smiled warmly and sat up. "Sorry for falling asleep on you Hammer."
"No problem, Hoots."
She nodded to the Admiral. "Hello sir."
"Lt. Commander," he greeted. Noticing the cast was gone from her arm, replaced by a bandage. "How's the arm?"
"Fine sir, I'm glad to have it out of the cast though."
"You won't have to worry about Commander Pike any more, she's been transferred to Pearl Harbor and chargers will be brought against her," he reported.
"The Predators will be glad to hear that sir." Harm told him, it was a relief to him too. He was going to say more when he heard his daughter calling out for him.
"Daddy…. daddy?"
"Excuse me Admiral," he put his coffee down and got up, hurrying out of the room.
"You can't hurt him any more, Admiral," Andrea said bluntly.
"I beg your pardon?"
"When Harm was leaving JAG to return to flying, he tried to tell you he was honored to have served under your command and you cut him off," she reminded him. "That hurt Harm and he's never forgotten it or the manner which you dismissed him. With the Predators he's finally found a place where he belongs. Where he's challenged both in and out of the air. He's more then just our XO, he's our friend and a mentor."
AJ saw this young woman meant every word she said. "I'm sorry I hurt him, Lt. Commander, I never meant to."
"I'm not the one you have to tell, Admiral," she stated and rose from the sofa fluent. "Excuse me," she said and left the room.
Getting up, AJ put the cup on the coffee table and walked over to the fire mental, on it were framed photos. One of the squadron Harm had served with while on the Patrick Henry, one of the Predators. There's was one of Harm and Andrea in their Dress Whites standing with the President of the United States at the White House and one of the two of them and their RIO's in full flight gear, helmet in their hands on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, a Tomcat behind them.
Hearing Harm and Andrea's voices in the hallway, he turned and saw the young woman take Harm's daughter from his arms. The little girl grinned happily and wrapped her arms around Andrea Gibson's neck, letting the Aviator carry her down the hallway. Harm came back into the living room. "Everything all right?" AJ asked him.
"Yes sir."
There was one thing AJ did know now, after talking with both of them; Harm had some deep feeling for Andrea, and visa versa. Whether it meant they were in love with each other was another matter all together. "I should be going I've imposed enough."
Harm nodded and showed him to the door, handing him back his cover and coat. He had a feeling Andrea had said something to the Admiral when he'd been out of the room and what ever it was, it had rattled him. He opened the door. "Drive carefully sir."
"I will Commander," he slipped his coat and cover on, stepping outside; he turned a little, needing to say what he did. "Harm, I owe you an apology. I said some things when you were leaving that I didn't need to. I'm proud of you son and if you ever need an advocate in your corner, don't hesitate to call. It was a privilege having you under my command."
"Thank you sir," Harm said sincerely, he hadn't expected that. "It was a honor to have served with you."
"Merry Christmas, son," AJ said, then walked back to his car, getting in he drove away.
Andrea came up behind Harm as he shut the door; she slipped her arms around his waist. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," he turned, taking her in his arms. "He just surprised me."
She rose up on her toes and kissed him, seductively sucking on his bottom lip. "You surprise me all the time."
He smiled. "I do my best," he walked her backwards towards the stairs. "Is Carly with mom and Frank?"
"She is," she answered with a grin. "What did you have in mind, Hammer?"
"I thought we could engage in some combat maneuvers, Hoots," he said playfully, then kissed her, long and deep.
She melted in his arms, feeling the hardness of his body against hers. "I think they can do without us for a little while."
"So do I," he remarked and swung her up into his arms, carrying her up the stairs.
Trish saw them go, chuckling to herself, nothing her son did surprised her anymore. When she heard the doorbell ring she hurried to answer it, finding Sergei Zhukov and Jennifer Coates outside. The initial meeting she'd had with Sergei had been difficult, she'd been angry to find out her dead husband hand fathered a child before he'd been killed, and angry that Harm hadn't told her. Then she'd settled down and realized why her son hadn't said anything to her. She couldn't hate the young man; he was too much like his father.
She smiled. "Afternoon, Sergei, Jen."
"Afternoon Ma'am, is the Commander home?" Sergei greeted.
Trish chuckled as they came in. "I'm sure Sergei you can call your brother by his first name when visiting," she mussed. "And he and Andrea, are a little 'engaged' at the moment upstairs."
Jen blushed, realizing what that meant. "We should come back then," she stuttered.
"Nonsense," Trish told her. "Come in and have some hot chocolate, I insist."
"Yes, Ma'am."
She shut the door and took their coats, handing them up. They followed her into the kitchen. Carly reached out for Sergei. "Uncle Sergei."
"Hello little one," he took her in his arms, hugging her. Sitting with her in his arms.
Jen sat beside him, she loved watching both Rabb men with Carly; they both fawned over her. "Hello Carly."
"Hi Jen," she greeted happily, and then spoke to her Uncle. "Uncle Sergei, I fell asleep on the floor."
"Did you?"
"Uh huh, daddy, and mommy Andy and me were watching Disney."
"Were you, you are lucky."
"Mommy Andy fell asleep on the sofa," the little girl giggled. "And I fell asleep, I had my head on daddy's legs."
Frank smiled; Carly had fallen instantly in love with her Uncle, which had made things a little easier for Trish to deal with it all. "Did you receive your orders for OCS?" He asked them
"Yes sir," Sergei announced. "Jen and I leave on the fifth and start on the sixth of January."
"You'll be back in no time, Sergei," Trish assured him, putting a cup of hot chocolate in front of both of them.
"Thank you Ma'am."
She frowned. "Sergei, I'm going to break you of that. We told you it's Trish and Frank, you too Jen."
"Yes…" she was going to say Ma'am, but stopped before she did. "Trish."
"Good, now drink up."
Frank chuckled. "Sometimes it's easy to forget she was once a Navy wife," he remarked. "But not that often."
Sergei and Jen laughed as Trish frowned at her husband, but smiled at Carly who just looked at her curiously, before starting to giggle at the silly thing her grandpa had said.
The Vietnam Memorial Wall – Christmas Eve 2001Three Naval Officers stood at the wall before one name, all three wearing heavy coats against the cold. There were others at the wall, all paying their respects to a loved one, friend, someone who hadn't made it back.
Commander Harmon Rabb stood with his brother and the woman he loved. He ran his fingers over the gold letters that made up his father's name. There was so much he wanted to say to him, he just needed to find the words.
Next to him, Lt Commander Andrea Gibson could see the hesitation in her lover's eyes. She put her hand onto the wall. "Merry Christmas Lt. Rabb," she whispered and then removed it giving Harm a smile. "I'll give you a few minutes alone."
"Thanks Andy."
"No problem," she said and walked away from the wall, standing in the shadow of a large statue.
Ensign Sergei Zhukov; still coming to terms with being asked to join his brother and Andrea, put his hand on the gold letters too. "Merry Christmas, dad," he whispered. "Thank you for giving me the courage to find my brother." He pulled his hand back and patted his brother on the back, then walked over to Andrea, leaving Harm alone.
Harm moved his hand, hugging into his coat. "I don't know where to start, dad," he whispered. "So much has happened, I finally admitted my feelings to Andy. I love her so much dad and I know she loves me. I don't want her to give up her commission because of me, nor do I want her to leave the Predators. It sounds silly dad, but I feel safe knowing she's with me on my wing, looking after my six." He paused. "I wish you were here to give me some advice, dad. I could really some about now. I don't know what to do, I want to marry Andy, I want to have children with her, but I don't want to lose her from the squadron either."
"You don't have too many choices, son," a soft voice said beside him.
Startled Harm turned seeing the one person he hadn't expected to. "Admiral Boone."
"Sorry Harm, I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he apologized.
"It's all right sir." Harm assured.
Tom Boone looked over at the young man and woman waiting for Harm. "Andy is a remarkable woman."
"She's one of the best Admiral and I don't want to lose her, not from the squadron and not from my life."
"Then I might be able to help," he announced. "Harm, they're going to give Captain McKinley his stars and a position at the Pentagon, you're going to get your 'eagles' and the squadron. If Andy were under McKinley's command, but on permit lone to the Predators and as long as you kept your personal life at home, I don't think the Navy would question her being there."
Harm glanced back to Andrea. "The lines get blurred concerning the Predators now, I don't know if they'd go for it."
"They'll go for it," Tom told him. "Harm, the Predators are invaluable to the President at the moment, with all that's going on over in Iran and what he's planning. It's no time to break up the squadron."
"Then why not keep Jack with us?"
"Because the President knows you can handle the Predators," Tom informed him. "Son, you can do this. He knows you can do it."
Harm took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, nodding. "Your right."
"Damn right I am," he said giving him a smile. He then turned to the wall and touched the letters. "Merry Christmas Hammer, keep them safe."
Andrea and Sergei watched the conversation between the two officers. "Who is Harm talking too?" He asked her.
"Admiral Thomas Boone, he was your dad's wingman and his best friend," she explained. "I'll introduce you."
He nodded and followed her back to his brother and the Admiral.
"Admiral Boone, sir," Andrea said addressing him. She stood at attention, saluting him.
Tom smiled; he saluted her, and then drew her into his arms. "Hi Andy."
"It's good to see you sir," she said then stepped back. Gesturing to the young man next to her. "Admiral, this is Ensign Sergei Zhukov, Harm's brother."
"Brother?" He looked from the young man to Harm.
"Half brother," Harm informed. "Sergei was conceived before dad was killed, he never knew he was going to be a father."
Tom held his hand out to the young man. "It's nice to meet you, Sergei."
"And you sir," he acknowledged shaking his hand. "You were a friend of my father's, and you are a friend to my brother, correct?"
"That's correct son. Your brother saved my life, but that's a story for another time," he remarked, then announced. "I have family to get home too."
"Thank you for coming, sir," Harm said.
He nodded. "He was family, Harm," he said bluntly.
Harm knew what he meant. "Thank you for your advice, Admiral."
"Any time, son." He turned to the wall, saluted, then turned and walked away.
Harm, Andrea and Sergei turned to the wall and saluted, then turned on their heals and walked away, the tinkling of bells in their ears.
They dropped Sergei off, and then headed home, it was late when they arrived, a single light on inside the house as they walked in. Trish, Frank and Carly had long gone to bed.
Harm helped Andrea off with her coat, handing it and her cover up, then removed his own, hanging them up too. He then drew her into his arms. "I love you, Andy."
"I love you too, Harm," taking his hand, she flicked the light off and led him up to his room. "I'll be back in a moment."
"I'll be waiting," he mused switching on the bed light.
She smiled and hurried out of the room. He changed out of his uniform, handing it up. With the house central heated, he still wore only boxers to bed, if that when Andrea slept with him. More so though since his daughter's arrival, Carly had made her early morning visits a common occurrence. He turned down the bed, looking to see Andrea in the doorway. She looked fantastic in a silky white negligee and matching robe that she'd left open, she closed the door and walked towards him "Merry Christmas, Harm."
"Are you my present?" He asked, managing to find his voice.
"Mmm, as well as this," she took his hand and put a small neatly wrapped box into it.
Sitting with her on the bed, Harm opened it, finding a velvet box; slowly he opened it, inside was a gold dress ring with gold wings in the center and the words Naval above them and Aviator below them. He was stunned. "Andy…it's..."
She smiled. "I wanted to give you something special, something that said I love you."
"Thank you Andy," he leant forward and kissed her lightly on the lips, finding it hard to stop, but he wanted to give her something too. Firstly though, he took the ring from the box and slipped it on the little finger of his right hand. "My turn," he got up and took a black velvet bag from his draw, sitting back down again. "When my dad purposed to my mom, he gave her a ring that had been handed down to him. When mom remarried, she kept the ring for me, so I could give it to the woman I wanted to make my wife," he opened the bag and took the ring from it, putting the bag on the side table he took her left hand and slowly slipped the ring on her finger. "I want you to be my wife, Andy."
She looked down at the diamond ring it was beautiful. She looked back up. "Harm, we can't, the regulations."
"Trust me, sweetheart, you might not be able to wear it all the time yet, but there are going to be changers. I can wait, if you can. I want to marry you, Andy, I want that more then anything." Harm said sincerely. "Wear it while we're at home and on your dog tags any other time or put it back in the bag, but tell me you'll be my wife, the mother of my children."
Tears slid down her checks, tears of happiness. "Yes," she told him. "Yes I'll be your wife."
He smiled, cupping her face in his hands he kissed her, a slow passionate kiss, pushing her back against the bed, letting her draw him down to her. Clothing came off slowly and they made love with a tenderness and compassion neither had until then experience, it shocked them to their core. He was truly hers and she was truly his. They fell asleep exhausted in each others arms, remembering to dress first, since they had no doubts they would have an early morning visitor – their daughter.
Christmas Day – 2001As Harm watched his daughter sitting on the floor in front of the Christmas tree opening her presents, he thanked God for letting her be there with him. There was so many this year that were missing a love one, due to service or the horror of terrorism that had rocked their country. He also thanked God for the beautiful woman that had agreed to be his wife, for his mother who had squealed happily when she'd found out this morning and his step-father, who he'd given hell as he grown up, but had hugged him this morning after finding out the news. And for the half brother who sat on the floor with the young Petty Officer who had come to be an extended part of the family when she'd joined their community.
"Harm," Frank got his attention. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," he nodded smiling warmly. "Frank, I owe you an apology."
"What for son?"
"For that," he answered and saw the confused look on his face. "I was a bastard of a step-son to you and you never once held it against me. In fact you did everything you could for me," he saw Frank going to interrupt and stopped him. "I was too obsessed with my father to give you a chance. He was my dad, but you were a father to me too. You were there when he wasn't, you taught me so much and I don't just mean how to drive." He lent over and gave the man a hug. "Thank you dad."
"You're welcome son," Frank said with tears in his eyes, he'd waited so long for acceptance from Harm. "I love you son."
"I love you too, dad. I'm sorry I haven't said that to you."
"It's okay," he pulled back and wiped his eyes. "You said it now, that's what matters."
Trish lent over and kissed her son's cheek. "Thank you Harm."
He hugged her too. "I love you mom."
"I love you too, son," she whispered and straightened.
Carly came over to her dad and sat on his lap, her new doll in her arms. "Thank you daddy."
"You're very welcome, honey."
Trish stood and knelt down near the tree. "Frank and I have a present for you Sergei and one for you, Jen."
"You didn't have to do that," the young woman protested.
"Of course we did, we brought Andrea something, why shouldn't we buy you two something."
"But Andrea is nearly family." Sergei stated
Trish snorted. "And so are you two," she handed them their presents. "Merry Christmas."
"Thank you," both said excepting them.
Trish sat next to Andrea, who slipped her arm around the older woman. "There is something else, Frank and I would like to talk to you about, Sergei."
He looked up from the wrapping paper. "There is something wrong?"
"No," she assured. "Frank and I have come to consider you a part of our family, especially now you're so far away from your own mother. I don't want to replace your mother, nor would I ever dare, but we'd like you to know we'll be here for you, if you ever need us."
He was overwhelmed. This woman was going to consider him a son, even though she didn't have any need to. He got up, leaving the half wrapped painting; he went over and helped her up, hugging her. "Thank you."
"Thank you Sergei, for so much," she said with tears in her eyes. "Your mother gave Harm, Sr. a chance to love again, I'm just sorry he never go to see you grow into such a handsome young man."
He didn't release her, holding her close. Right now, even with his mother so far away, he was home. "Thank you…Mom," he saw the surprised look in her eyes. "I can call you that? Please?"
"Yes of course you can," she said happily.
Andrea went and sat with Harm, who slipped his arm around her, drawing her close as Frank joined his wife and Sergei. "Welcome to the family, Sergei." Frank said.
"Thank you… Dad."
Smiling; Frank drew them both into his arms and then surprising Jen; held out his hand to her and pulled her gently into their embrace. Letting her know they considered her included. Her childhood hadn't been one of the best, but this Christmas had become perfect for them, in a world that had experience so much sadness. This Christmas they were a family.
To be continued….
(Can anyone suggest what position Jack would hold at the Pentagon once he is promoted? I'm a little stumped. Thanks – AS)