A New Life Part 25.
A retrospective look back at the pilot episode, from the prism of 25 years in the future. AU: what if the premise of Harmon Rabb jr's life was completely different before he landed on the carrier with Caitlin Pike?
A/N: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any character created by myself".
Summary: this is a fictional story, in a fictional (slightly) Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. It involves jumping off into a parallel universe before we started the pilot S01Ep01, first broadcast 25 years ago today on 23-Sep-1995.
Canon: Marking the 25th anniversary of the JAG season 01 pilot episode "A new life". Published as a planned one-shot to mark the quarter-centenary. A follow-up is possible, depending on reviews received within the first month after publication.
Timing: This AU story diverges from canon at the "get-go".
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Part One - "A New Life"
Saturday 15th July 1995, 09:10hrs ZULU
Somewhere over the Mediterranean Sea
"There she is!"
Kate pointed excitedly out through the doorway as the helo approached the carrier. A quick hop in the dawn air, following a hurried extraction from the French Ambassador's Bastille Day celebrations in Rome, had found the two JAG lieutenants crammed onto the helo, still in their dress uniforms, to investigate the sudden disappearance of Lt Angela Arutti. The F-14 RIO had been reported missing overboard the previous night, just as she had hit the headlines back home.
"First time on a carrier?" she asked Harm.
The question took him back to childhood, when his father had briefly explained the controls of the F-4 Phantom during a Tiger Day for families on the Ticonderoga.
"One day, son, a stick and throttle like that will take you all the way to the moon."
The landing and reporting was relatively trouble-free. Kate was mortified when (in contrast to Harm who carried his cover under his arm) she exited the helo and watched her cover sail across the flight desk ("FOD alert; FOD alert" she screamed to herself in her mind) until it was ruthlessly stomped into the deck and retrieved, to be handed back to her.
Harm continued soaking up the atmosphere of the carrier.
Kate knew little about her fellow JAG lieutenant. Admiral Brovo had simply detailed the two of them to high-tail it out to the carrier on a moment's notice, but Harmon Rabb jr seemed to be drawing on memories – and some familiarity – as he looked around the flight desk, where Tomcats landed and took off with regularity.
She was already wondering how long the aroma of spent jet fuel would stay in her clothes – prepping a set of Dress Whites was not a cheap exercise, although they had brought the desired effect - she had been making inroads on the French Capitan at the drinks party last night, when the summons had arrived via Teddy Lindsay.
During the first hours of the investigation, she learned a few more things about her partner.
The TV producer let slip about how a 16-year-old Harm had worked his way into Vietnam, searching for his father who was MIA. The Carrier's skipper and CAG were clearly familiar with Harm's back-story (comments about "used-car salesman" and solicitations regarding his mother's health were a bit of a give-away); however it was the throwaway comment from one of the aviators which clued Kate in to some dark secret in Harm's past.
"Come on Harm, you used to be an aviator; you know how this goes."
Eventually the mysteries were solved. Kate's IT skills enabled parts of the mystery to be dealt with, whilst Harm saved the wounded CAG and landed the damaged Tomcat onto the carrier despite his vision problems.
By the time they embarked on the COD for the hop to Italy, with Lobo and Painter on board ready for the land-based hearing, Kate was beginning to understand some of the background to Harmon Rabb jr.
Sitting alongside him in the silence before the noise of flight began, she commented quietly to him: "It was a shame, Painter and Arutti not being able to declare their marriage. It must be terrible, having to keep something like a marriage secret on board."
Harm gasped, fumbled under the collar of his uniform and pulled out his dog-tags. Detaching a slim gold band from the clip, he slid it into place – and into a slim groove in the skin – on the ring finger of his left hand.
Kate did a good imitation of her shocked expression in the CommCen when she had discovered that Harm was flying the plane with the wounded CAG on board!
"You're MARRIED?" she hissed, trying not to draw any more attention to the two of them.
He smiled, slightly guiltily, then nodded.
"Yep. Diane reserved her commission to put me back together after my ramp strike in '91; we had been together all the way throughout the Academy and I knew she was definitely 'the one' for me. She clearly thought the same way, because she said 'yes'. Before she went back to sea duty, we were married as I started at law school. Little Sarah Patricia Rabb came along after two years and Di is at home in DC at the moment, waiting for the arrival – in about three months – of our second. Her next mission is slated as crypto officer on a carrier after her Mat leave ends later this year. Mom and Frank will be relocating from La Jolla to support me with the kids next year."
Kate was intrigued. "So why choose the name of Sarah? It's a lovely name, by the way."
"We named her for my Grams in Pennsylvania – Sarah Rabb. We also named my Stearman 'Sarah' when Di and I had finished re-building her. There is a standing offer to take you flying some time when you are within flying distance of DC, Kate."
"Wow." Kate sat back in her seat and processed the sudden deluge of information. Harm being married, with a wife, daughter and airplane! Now THAT was something she would NOT have foreseen – indeed, she had been feeling a strong attraction to the tall, attractive former aviator (and now JAG lawyer) during their time together on the Arutti investigation. Clearly that attraction would not be going anywhere! Caitlin Pike loved sex and she loved the hunt, pinning down the targets of her attractions, but married men were off the list. By the same token, she knew that when she found her mate for life, that would be it – she would be faithfully monogamous until her life's end.
But until then she was a single woman and a female officer in the greatest navy in the world. There was opportunity aplenty in every port!
As the COD moved onto the cat rails and was locked down ready to launch, she looped her arm through the crook of Harm's elbow and took his left hand, caressing his wedding ring.
"Well now, Mr Rabb, you need to introduce me to this wonderful woman who has stolen your heart. As your partners (in life and in work), Di and I need to compare notes so that we can best support you."
"He raised her knuckles to his lips and caressed her hand gently. "Consider it done, partner; let's hope that Brovo extends our working together and makes us a permanent team - because I always believe that a pairing of male and female lawyers gets the best results for JAG. I know that Di would love to meet you – if only to dish the dirt on me!"
"Harm, you've got yourself a deal. Do you have a photograph of Di?"
At that moment, the COD was shot off the deck of the carrier.
All that remained was Kate Pike's excited refrain at the experience as she was slammed into her harness.
"Wow!"
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END of "A New Life – part 25" phase one. A follow-up is possible (and part-written), depending on reviews received within the first month after publication. I am, however, committed to catching up on my other stories and wishing my wonderful beta, "Syrae", a safe return from real life.
Mike, United Kingdom, 20-09-2020
