A New Life Part 25: Ch04 – "Skeleton Crew"
A retrospective story looking back to start with the original 1995 pilot episode, from the prism of 25 years in the future (2020). 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 on 23-Sep-1995.
Canon: Marking the 25th anniversary of the JAG season 01 pilot episode "A new life". Originally published as a planned one-shot to mark the quarter-centenary but now extended following positive reader feedback and moving into an AU treatment of the "JAG" canon storyline. Once more, I have only the vaguest idea of where we shall be going on this story – but welcome along; glad to have you with me for the ride! Mike
Timing: This AU story diverged from canon at the "get-go". We give a nod to the Season One finale (but unfinished) two-parter, "Skeleton Crew" and its cliff-hanger, stuck forever in 1996.
A/N published 06MAR2021: because this is an AU, I do not feel constrained by the inexplicable "gap" in canon, between the as-filmed NBC ending of S01Ep22 "Skeleton Crew" and the CBS Season-Two opening S02Ep01 "We the people". In this chapter and Ch05, I intent to cover both these episodes. We know, of course, that NBC dumped the series and that original cast members left, so the concept of "Skeleton Crew part two" (as possibly scripted) was impossible to resurrect, achieve and film when DPB sealed the new deal with CBS.. But now, on with the body-bag on the quayside.
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Ch04 – "Skeleton Crew"
Tuesday June 4th 1996, 10:05hrs EST
Norfolk Naval Base, VA - Alongside the berth of USS Seahawk
Diane Rabb had already cabled Harm, the previous week, to let him know that she would be staying on-board the Seahawk for a couple of days, to resolve what she described as "a rather sensitive issue". She hoped to be coming ashore on the Saturday, June 8th.
At that point, several things changed massively.
First, Agent Turque announced the name of the murder victim in the body-bag, lying on the gurney in front of Harm…
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Before Meg Austin could put away her notebook and restrain him, Harm had unzipped the body-bag – just as Agent Turque announced the name of the victim.
"Crypto Officer Lt Sarah Williams". Harm noticed that Sarah looked peaceful; her hair had returned (or been dyed back) to its natural black, from the bright blond in the Italian postcard with Di. Only the two gaping bloody holes above her medal ribbons marred the impression of a sleeping woman – yet she was most emphatically dead.
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Harm stepped away from the gurney towards the less-crowded edge of the dock, where he stood for a moment drawing in deep lungfuls of crisp sea air. Meg gave him a moment, then closed up alongside him and took his arm gently, out of sight of the NCIS crew. He looked at her and nodded appreciatively.
"Thanks Meg; I just needed a moment; I thought..."
She looked him straight in the eye. "Harm, you thought it was Diane on that gurney, didn't you?"
"Oh god yes – for that brief moment before Turque announced her name."
He swallowed. "Poor, poor Sarah – that's no way to die, on US soil at the end of a cruise into danger. I know that Di had said that Sarah was going to get together with her fella, up at her parents' cabin in the Appalachians, to talk out their plans for the future... Meg, I want this case for JAG and I want this bastard nailed."
Meg did her trademark turtle-tuck and looked at him, coolly and thoughtfully.
"Well, your wife may be involved on the periphery but that's not unreasonable – she is part of the crew and a close colleague of the:" she paused before continuing: "I mean, of Sarah. Dragon Lady may want to butt in – and if so, Harm, then I suggest you give in with good grace and let her run with this."
Harm nodded; "Yeah Meg, you are right. Thanks partner. Bringing Alison in would give some distance and I can still dig into the case."
"De nada, Rabb; always here. Do you want to go find Diane, because I believe she needs to be interviewed as a witness, being Sarah's bunk-mate?"
"Yeah; let's check in with Turque; I don't want NCIS getting annoyed until we need to annoy them."
Harm flashed his trademark aviator grin; Meg Austin felt her knees buckle slightly; damn, she was *so* glad that her partner was married. Kate Pike had been right – this guy could charm the birds down from the trees – not to mention charming a few other things down with little effort" At least he was honest and always wore his wedding band, thereby avoiding complications. She also remembered Kate Pike's advice (possibly borne out of making a mistake in her relationships): "don't go fishing off the company pier - and pack spare panties when you're around Harm".
Just then, Harm heard a welcome voice calling his name from the direction of the great grey flat-top alongside the quay.
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Meg placed a hand on his arm. "Harm, go see your wife; we'll meet up at 1400 in the diner by the dock gate."
"Thanks Meg – I owe you."
She smiled conspiratorially. "Yes partner, you do; now git along thar, pardner!"
Harm just loved it when Megan Austin returned to her Texas roots.
He strode quickly across to the gangplank and - noting that no-one was disembarking at that moment – he sprinted up it, two ribs at a time, to greet the brunette whom he had missed dearly during six long months of separation.
He saluted the flag, identified himself to the OotW and signed in, completing the formalities just a second before Di dragged him into the ship and pinned him against the wall of a stores cupboard, to show him just how affectionately she regarded his presence.
A few minutes passed before they came up for air – to find a bemused Ensign Bud Roberts eyeing them up with concern. "Lt and LtCdr Rabb, I presume?"
Harm and Di chuckled and responded together – "Yes, Ensign?"
"The XO presents his compliments and would request the presence of both of you in his day cabin."
"OK Ensign Roberts, we are on our way."
Harm stroked Diane's hair back behind her ears – it had grown during the deployment and he enjoyed the sensation of running his fingers through her hair once more. She shivered, pressing her body against him once more.
"Come on, Mrs Rabb, there will be plenty of time for that in Annandale at the weekend. I'm scheduled to meet Meg on the Diner at 1400hrs."
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Tuesday June 4th 1996, 11:44hrs EST
Norfolk Naval Base, VA - Aboard USS Seahawk
Diane Rabb stepped away into the Crypto bunker to collect a file, leaving Harm to hover in the companionway for 30 seconds before she re-appeared and resumed their walk to the bridge.
As senior officer, Harm took charge of the reporting-in. The XO, a Cdr Holbarth, greeted them warmly and gestured them to seats around the table, where three mugs of coffee were steaming gently.
"So, Mister Rabb, a bad business. Lt Rabb, as Lt Williams was your bunk-mate, my condolences. I called you here in case you can shed any light on any problems which Williams was having."
Harm began to open his mouth, but Diane's long legs had reached sideways and she pressed her foot silently over his, as she replied to Holbarth.
"Well XO, I think that something was beginning to cause her either annoyance of slight concern; it had started about six weeks ago, towards the end of April. I called her out on it in mid-May, but she said that she would deal with it in her own way for the time being. She never imparted any more intel after that." Di shrugged, tapping Harm's foot a second time.
Harm stayed quiet; clearly Diane knew more but didn't trust Holbarth – or she wanted Harm's advice first before proceeding.
Holbarth scheduled a follow-up for the evening, then turned back to respond to a seaman who arrived with a stores requisition. Harm and Di took this as a dismissal.
"Di, I'd like to see your cabin."
She blushed. "Ooh Sailor, I never thought.."
His laughter cut her short; smiling, Mrs and Mrs Rabb headed for the Rabb/Williams cabin, where Harm began his investigation. It was clear that Turque and NCIS had been through the cabin since Di had left to start her morning watch at 0400hrs – around the time that Sarah had fatefully signed out and gone to collect her car.
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Tuesday June 4th 1996, 13:58hrs EST
"The Home Port" Diner, entrance to Norfolk Naval Base, VA
Diane Rabb had, perforce, remained behind on board, as the only surviving crypto officer, when Harm wrapped up his investigation and headed shore-side to meet up with Meg.
He briefly regretted leaving the keys for the motor pool car with Meg, but sighed and settled down to a healthy and invigorating walk across the base to the Diner, for his 1400hrs RV with his JAG partner.
Meg handed him a mug of coffee and the menu, then got the meeting off to a flying stop with her next piece of news.
"Dragon lady is on the way down: she's convinced the Admiral to let her take over and provide 'distance' between you and the case."
"Huh? Does she know we're married?"
"Oh yes – and as you know, that consideration has barely restrained her from eyeing you up whilst Di was afloat."
"God, what if we were investigating the death of my sister?"
Meg snorted on her coffee, just barely restraining a deep laugh. Mopping up with a tissue and checking her Peanut Butters to confirm no splashback, she looked at Harm.
"Harm, I suspect the Admiral would have been EVEN more worried if this case involved your sister!"
"Yeah, well at least let's have an enjoyable lunch before Alison arrives. Hey Meg, do you know the cruising speed of a broomstick?"
Meg slapped his arm, smiling. "Harm, you know, surely, that dragons don't need broomsticks!"
Chuckling, the two JAG partners concentrated on choosing from the menu. After all, breakfast had been a *long* time ago.
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End of "A New Life – part 25" Ch04 – "Skeleton Crew".
Mike, United Kingdom, 06-03-2021
