Everything in Time
Chapter 3
AN: This chapter starts the adventure inspired and contributed by Batty 02 as it merges into a crossover with "Airwolf".
Friday, September 23, 2005
1230 Local Time
Rabb Home
Ashby Place
Fairfax, VA
Harm pulled the Lexus into the garage. When he got out, he opened the back door for Mattie to step out.
It had been ten weeks since the accident. Mattie was without the halo, but still wore a neck brace. After an initial two weeks stay in the hospital after the surgery, she was transferred to the Prince Edward Medical Center Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center next door to the hospital where she endured the long rehabilitation. The halo had come off after six weeks when the cervical bone had knitted properly. She still wore the brace to help strengthen her neck muscles. She was a good patient as she met all her rehab goals.
In the meantime, Harm & Diane had installed ADA certified devices in the house, which included ramps at the front and back doors, a hand rail in the walk-in shower in the kid's bathroom as well as handrails along the bedroom hallway.
Mattie held onto Harm's arm as they stepped up the two steps from the garage into the house. She made her way through the kitchen to the living area and collapsed onto the sofa.
"If you need anything, let me know. I'll be in my office with the door open," Harm told her.
"Okay Dad. I'll let you know." Mattie replied as she picked up the remote and turned on the TV. She lay back and sighed, extremely happy to be home.
A little after 1500 hours Les, Samantha, Trey and Natalie came home from school and daycare. They all rushed to see their sister, yelling, "Mattie!"
Mattie turned and opened her arms. Natalie ran and hopped onto the sofa and snuggled into her big sister. The other three bent and gave her the usual hugs and kisses.
"You made it home in time for my birthday party," Natalie said.
"Well I couldn't miss that. It's nice that mom wants to hold yours and Sarah's at the same time, your birthdays being so close to each other."
At that point Diane came in followed by Harm after storing the daily groceries. Diane went behind the couch and wrapped her arms around her daughter from behind and gave her a kiss.
"I'm so glad you're home sweetie?"
"Yeah Mom, me to. They gave me such good care, but I was itching to get home and sleep in my own bed; without the handicapped stuff attached."
"Well the only stairs you have to deal with go down to the basement where your father set up the gym. We got you a treadmill, stair master and weights. You can do some weight training when you're ready."
"Sounds good. We can do that starting tomorrow after a good night's sleep."
'That's fine, you can go at your own pace."
Mattie nodded at her mother as the family settled down for the rest of the day, happy knowing that they were now sleeping once again under the same roof
Saturday, October 1, 2005
1100 Local Time
Haverhill Winter Series Equestrian Competition
Haverhill Farms
Ashland, VA
The Rabb and Marshall families where at Haverhill Farms in Ashland to see Chloe and the Naval Academy Equestrian Team compete at Winter Series Equestrian Competition. The families met up in the picnic table area set up for the spectators around the competition course. All the Marshalls gave Mattie their hugs and well wishes. After Harm & John took the young kids to see the horses, Sarah, Diane and Mattie sat together at the picnic table.
How are you feeling Mattie?" Sarah asked after greeting her.
"I'm good. I don't have any more pain, though I get tired quicker. Although being home a week has let me build up my stamina"
"Kind of like what your Uncle John had to go through."
"Yes, he was saying that when he visited me in rehab."
As the family spoke, Margaret (Maggie)Magnum came over to join them.
After she greeted everyone, Maggie asked, "Mattie, I'm so glad to see you up and walking."
"Thanks Mrs. Magnum."
"Are you still going to take flying lessons?"
"Yes, sir I am. That was a freak tornado that caused the plane to flip and crash while we were on the ground. That's not any reason to give up on flying."
"What about college?"
"Mom, Dad and I worked it out with the admissions people at Virginia Tech and I'll start next September. That way I can use the whole Winter into Spring & Summer to get better and build myself back to normal."
"Good to hear
At that point Harm & John came back with the kids as well as Tom Magnum with the Magnum twins Trip (Thomas) & Patricia in tow.
After greeting the rest of the Magnums, Sarah asked Maggie, "How's Lilly doing on the George Washington?"
"She loves it. She's training in cryptology. She got bitten by that bug when she talked with you Diane when she did her summer internship at NCIS."
"Well, I saw that she has a talent for it," Diane replied modestly.
The families talked about many things as they waited for Chloe to take her ride. When they heard her being announced along with her horse Aberdeen, they stopped to pay attention.
As the family watched Chloe and Aberdeen go through the course, they didn't pay attention to a gentleman wearing all white with a white fedora paying close attention to them. He was paying the closest attention to Margaret Magnum.
After Chloe rode the course, she did the usual after ride chores of getting Aberdeen settled, watered and fed. After Aberdeen was secured in the trailer for the ride back to the Naval Academy stables, Chloe went to visit with her family.
Everyone went up to greet her and congratulate her on her, so far, best in show time on the course.
"You were wonderful!" exclaimed her mother as she pulled Chloe into a tight hug. Chloe greeted Mattie warmly, happy to see her up and about.
"So how are you doing at the academy?" Tom Magnum asked.
"I'm doing great admiral. I've studying pre-law and flight engineering. I really like the helicopters."
That pricked the ears of the gentleman in white, but he didn't let it show.
"What got you interested in flying helicopters?" Harm asked.
"When Mrs. Magnum gave Mattie and I Airwolf patches for the CAP flight jackets you gave us for Christmas last year," Chloe explained and went further. I loved the stories of the times she flew Airwolf."
"Yeah, they were something," Maggie said wistfully.
Maggie hadn't told the girls all the stories from her two-year, (1984-1986) hiatus from NIS as they were classified. Only Thomas knew all of them. She had disclosed the stories when they got married shortly after Thomas rejoined the Navy and Maggie reunited him with Lilli Catherine.
As Mattie and Chloe were speaking, the gentleman in white got up and turned to the family and friends at the next table.
Maggie saw him immediately and her face turned ashen. Thomas was looking at her as she spoke and he became instantly concerned, as did all their friends.
They all turned to the source when the gentleman in white greeted them with, "Good afternoon everyone, my name is Michael Coldsmith Briggs. It's nice to see you again Caitlin."
Maggie had regained enough of her senses to utter "Archangel, I thought you died in the explosion."