BEGINNING

Chapter 2

USS Seahawk

Persian Gulf

1430 Zulu

"Captain Ross gave up his commission one year short of thirty years. Tendered his resignation on Friday, was a civilian by Monday." Lieutenant Bud Roberts informed the group as they were descending from the bridge after talking with the Skipper.

"I heard he'd been selected for Rear Admiral." Harley and Harm said at the same time.

Harm shot the Lieutenant a warning look. Harley just shrugged him off. "Scuttle butt, sir." She murmured as an explanation.

"If he stayed in the service a little while longer, he could've been a battle group commander by now." Bud interjected, completely oblivious to their tense interaction.

"So why'd he get out so suddenly?" Mac asked, eyebrows raised.

"Personal reasons, wanted more time at home." Bud shrugged. "I know how he feels." The three other officers shared a look.

"Listen, Mac." Harm stopped walking and pointed down a passageway. "Why don't you go talk to the Air Boss. Bud and I will check personnel files." He suggested, avoiding looking at Lieutenant Steele.

"I'll take Bud." Mac insisted. "You take Harley." She leaned in closer to the Commander. "Don't want the Admiral finding out that you're ignoring her, do we?" She leaned away, turning towards the passageway. "C'mon Bud."

"Colonel." Harley stepped forward in front of Bud. "It's fine." She glanced at the Commander and he was studying her carefully. "I'll take you to see the Air Boss." She squeezed through the two senior officers and started down the passageway.

"You sure you know the way, ma'am?" Bud asked in his endearingly helpful way. He didn't know she had just spent six months aboard this very vessel.

Harley pursed her lips and tried to play dumb. "Uh, yeah." She smiled nervously before telling Bud, "We're on the 0-2 level now, so we need to go to the ladder well, take that up to the flight deck control area and talk with the flight deck control officer and see if the Air Boss is up in prime flight or down in the hangar."

The Commander smirked. He'd set up the whole exchange as a test. He wanted to see if Lieutenant Steele had an ego and if she knew how to check it at the door. The fact that she was kind to Bud, who was completely clueless to her career, really impressed him. Most officers would've loved the chance to gloat.

"Yeah," Bud nodded. "Very good ma'am!" He praised.

Harley gave him a quick nod and a smile before spinning on her heel and proceeding on their route, Mac close to her heels. She purposefully didn't give the Commander the satisfaction of looking his way again.

"I think you just passed the Commander's ego test." Mac murmured as they climbed up to the flight deck.

"I certainly hope so, ma'am." Harley answered. "The Commander is a hard nut to crack."

"Yeah, he is." She laughed softly. Harley had no idea. She was definitely in for it. Harm had a special set of standards when he found someone threatening. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Mac knew he found the Lieutenant to be a reflection of himself.

The next few hours were taken up with interviews of both Master Chief Sullivan and Petty Officer Flannery Douglas. The last heilo of the night was full, so they'd been assigned quarters for the night.

After they'd finished, Harley stood at the service bar in the officer's lounge on 0-3, the same level as their staterooms, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "You didn't tell me you were stationed aboard the Seahawk, ma'am." Bud said, reaching for his own cup.

"Ah. I'm sorry, sir. Commander Rabb was testing me." Harley explained. "Plus, you served aboard her too, Lieutenant."

"Bud." He corrected her. "Please." He smiled and gave her a nod. "I did, before transferring to JAG and starting law school."

"You ever miss it, Bud?" Harley asked, catching eyes with the Commander who'd just entered the lounge. He nodded to her before busying himself with getting his own cup of coffee.

"Ah," Bud thought for a moment. "Not really, ma'am." He shook his head a little. "Now that I have Harriet and AJ, I'm pretty content." He shrugged, "Plus we get to visit so many different places on all our cases, it keeps life pretty interesting."

"Yeah, I can imagine." She smiled, taking a sip from her cup. "Commander Rabb." She addressed Harm as he took a sip of his coffee, coming over to the table. "They're getting ready for flight ops." She smiled, clicking her pen shut. "I was heading out to watch for a bit, if that's alright with you, sir." She took another sip of coffee.

"You get your report done on Petty Officer Douglas?" He asked, settling in the chair opposite of her. Bud was working on the initial report for Master Chief Sullivan.

Harley produced her leather bound book. "Yes, sir." She handed it over to him after unzipping it. "Managed to interview a few of her closest compartment mates as well."

Harm turned it to face the right way for him to read and sipped his coffee. Harley sat back and tried to enjoy her cup of coffee while the Commander inspected her report. Harm turned the page after a moment, and then slid the book back to the Lieutenant. "Looks good." He nodded, "Take it to Colonel Mackenzie so she can submit it." He ordered.

"Aye, aye sir." Harley answered, polishing off her cup of coffee.

"Second balcony off of the flag bridge, port side?" The Commander suggested, setting his empty cup down. It was the smaller of the two observation balconies and used less by personnel since it was so close to the action.

Harley tried to contain her smile of anticipation. She loved spending time on the balconies during flight ops when she wasn't participating in them. It was her favorite spot on the ship. "Yes, sir." Harley confirmed, taking her cup up to the return tray. She stopped at the table and waited for the Commander to relieve her of duty.

"Alright." The Commander nodded and turned away to discuss something related to the case with Bud. "You're dismissed, Lieutenant."

"Aye, aye, sir!" Harley hit attention and spun on her heel.

Harley practically skipped down the passageway to the stateroom she was sharing with the Lieutenant Colonel. She shut the hatch and handed in her report before standing in front of the mirror for a moment. The Colonel was at the computer, probably typing her own report.

"Got a hot date?" Mac asked, watching Harley check her eye makeup up in the mirror and dab on some chapstick.

Harley's cheeks turned a little pink. "Not exactly." She tucked the chapstick back in her pocket. "Going to watch flight ops."

"You tell Commander Rabb that's where you're going?" Mac asked, twisting in her chair a little so they were more comfortably face to face.

"Of course." Harley answered, not quite comfortable with what the Colonel's tone was implying. She pretended to be oblivious. "He's with Bud in the officers lounge, wrapping up his report." She handed her report over to Mac.

"Ah." Mac sighed, turning back to her computer screen. "Well, be careful."

"Yes ma'am." She nodded, sliding on her leather flight jacket. She took a detour to the head before climbing to the flight deck. She stood for a moment in the doorway out onto the deck to take in the bustling scene before proceeding up one level to the flag bridge. Instead of climbing the last ladder up to the bridge she leaned on a door at the landing and stepped out onto her own personal slice of paradise.

The smell of jet fuel, the spray of the sea, and the feeling of being a small cog in a much larger and very powerful machine threatened to overwhelm her as she gripped the railing. The first jets were just lining up to take off. Harley didn't hear the hatch open because the first jet revved up his engine for take off. She blinked and the jet shot off the deck and up into the darkening sky.

Admiral Thomas Boone, CAG of the USS Seahawk battle group stepped onto the second observation balcony. "Good to see you, Blue Bird." He shouted over the jet engines.

Harley whirled around and hit attention, giving the Admiral a formal salute. There was so much she owed this man. He'd become more of a father to her than her father ever was. Her grandfather may have been a successful naval aviator, but his son was a very abusive drunk.

The CAG returned her salute. "At ease, Lieutenant." When she'd relaxed, he stepped forward and hugged her fiercely. He released her after a moment so they could stand at the railing to watch the jets take off together.

"How's Rebel Rabb treating my favorite pilot?" The CAG asked with a smirk, slinging his arm over her shoulders, lips pressed to her ear so she could hear him. He pulled back a little to see her reaction.

"He's probably on his way here." Harley warned, feeling her cheeks heat a little.

The CAG's brows raised. "You told him about coming to watch flight ops?!" He scoffed.

"Yes, sir." Harley's chin lifted a little, "He is the officer in charge."

The CAG barked a laugh. "You really think he'll come here?" He asked, as much as he wanted to spend time with her, he knew he should give her a chance to also spend time with Rabb. The Commander had no idea he had quite the little fan. She was the first one to suggest to him that she go spend time at JAG until she could get back in the air. He'd confirmed the idea, agreeing with her logic. Plus, her admiration wasn't unfounded. Rabb was a remarkable pilot and an accomplished litigator. If she still wanted to have a career in the Navy if she was permanently grounded, JAG was a great option. "Are you wearing heels?" The CAG scoffed, realizing she was taller than usual.

"Yes, sir." Harley laughed, showing him the brown pump she wore by pulling up her khaki pant leg a little. "At least the Admiral heeded my request to wear pants. Told me I couldn't wear my boots though. We compromised." She laughed, releasing her pant leg. "Most of the women wear skirts and pantyhose, sir." She explained, making a face.

Commander Rabb argued with himself the whole time he walked towards the observation balcony for flight ops. He knew the Lieutenant would be on that balcony. He also knew he should just leave her the hell alone, but something about her kept drawing him in. He needed to figure out what it was so he could get over it and move on.

Harm stepped out onto the balcony just as the first jets were staging for take off. There were six fighters going up tonight. The Lieutenant stood facing away from him, gripping the railing. He knew she would've given anything to be in one of those cockpits right now. To his surprise, The CAG stood with her, arm slung casually around her shoulders. Apparently, he wasn't on the dockit for the mission tonight.

"Commander!" Harley exclaimed, sensing his presence, She stepped out of the CAG's arm over her shoulders to make room for him at the railing, squeezing into the corner a little further.

Harm's lips twitched. He didn't peg the CAG for looking the other way when it came to fraternization, besides he had a wife and three kids at home. He also reasoned they could have more of a father/daughter relationship. From what he'd read in Harley's file this morning, she didn't have much of a father growing up.

He took the CAG's extended hand and leaned into the railing next to Harley. The second jet roared, then was launched off the deck.

"It's good to see you Commander." The CAG shouted over the jet engines. "Come by and see me before you leave in the morning. I've got a hop at 0800. I'll be out of flight prep at 0730, right before you take off." He released the Commander's hand, and turned to his Lieutenant. "Go easy on him, Harley." He murmured in her ear, hand on her shoulder. Then he left the balcony, closing the hatch behind him.

Harley tried in vain to relax now that she was alone with the Commander and hugged herself against the wind. It was always ice cold on the flight deck while at sea, especially at night. She chanced a glance over at him, only to find him staring down at her, a crease of unease between his brows.

Harm swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. He should just follow after the CAG and then return to his quarters for the night. Instead he continued to lean on the railing and look down at the Lieutenant. "So," Harm shouted over the jet engines, "You and the CAG?" He smirked, definitely implying there might be some fraternization going on.

"He's like a father to me, Commander." Harley shouted back, but her words were lost as the third jet took off.

"What?!" Harm shouted, leaning towards her.

Before she thought her actions all the way through, Harley slid into Harm's side, stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his ear. "He's like a father to me, Commander." She repeated before rocking back on her heels, staying close by his side, his arm instinctively wrapped around her back and hand rested on her hip.

Harm shivered a little as she pressed her lips to his ear so he could hear above the flight deck hustle and bustle. She moved away again, his hand falling from her hip before he had time to register that she'd practically been in his arms.

"Are you cold?" Harm asked, watching as the Lieutenant hugged herself against the relentless wind.

Harley shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to be any closer to him, not quite trusting herself to keep her hands away from him.

"Here," Harm held his arm out, offering for her to come into his side so he could shield her from the wind.

Harley bit her lip. He was offering to shield her from the wind, he wasn't expecting her to then spread her legs for him. That was one of the many things she admired about the Commander. Sure, he'd had flings, even a few semi-serious relationships, but scuttle butt was he was a little prudish, nay, a little more traditional when it came to the opposite sex. She wasn't a prude, but she appreciated an officer actually being a gentleman for once. Plus, she had a thing for older men.

Instead of refusing his offer, Harley stepped sideways, letting him wrap his arm around her, his palm resting on the railing next to her hip. "Better?" He asked, leaning down to speak into her ear like the CAG had.

She didn't trust herself to speak, so she just nodded. Harm straightened away from her ear and she tried to focus on the remaining planes taking off instead of how well she fit against his side. She found it comforting that for once, a man she was interested in wasn't trying to show off how much he knew or what a great pilot he was. The Commander had a quiet confidence that drew her in, made her pay attention.

Harm was suddenly too aware of the woman next to him, pressed up against his side for warmth. Even in heels, her head barely came to his shoulder. He found it dangerously attractive that she was so put together for being so young. He'd found out from the Colonel that she was 28, almost 29, which made more sense when he considered her service record. For the last two days he'd tried in vain to convince himself to keep their relationship strictly professional. The way she felt next to him was rapidly dissolving his resolve. He liked showing off to a woman, like any man did. Standing on the balcony now with Harley, he didn't feel the need to flex for her. It was a welcomed change that she knew just as much as he did, if not more since she'd flown with this very crew just last week.

"Last set!" Harley shouted, leaning up on her toes again to shout at the Commander, nodding to the flight deck. After this, they'd probably head back inside. "They're out for a four hour mission, should probably grab some rack time after this."

Harm bent his head to hear her better. Her lips brushed his jawline and his grip on the railing tightened. He nodded that he understood, and pointed to the last two jets.

Harley rocked back on her heels, lips burning from brushing his 5 o'clock shadow. She tried to swallow the feelings swirling in her chest. From the first toothy grin he'd given her in the parking lot at JAG, she'd been a goner. It was hard to explain without sounding cliche and creepy as hell. Something about the Commander was irresistible to her. From the way he'd stiffened next to her, he wasn't immune to the deepening connection either.

The two jets catapulted off the deck and Harley moved away from the Commander towards the hatch. "Hey," he reached out for her, catching the edge of her jacket. "Hold on a sec." He insisted, motioning for her to join him back at the railing.

Against her better judgement, Harley joined him back at the railing. The noise had died down, so they only had to sort of shout to hear each other, not get super close again. "What's on your mind, Commander?" Harley asked, crossing her arms against the wind.

"Why not just take another assignment on the ship, or be medically discharged?" Harm asked, mirroring her posture.

"Let me answer your real question, Commander." Harley sighed, "Yes."

"Yes?" Harm repeated, pretending he didn't understand what she was getting at. Apparently this man wasn't used to women shooting straight.

"Yes, I admire you." Harley explained, trying to contain her goofy grin. This wasn't how she pictured telling the Commander she was interested in him more than simply from a professional perspective.

"Admire me?" Harm scoffed, squinting a little. He wasn't quite getting what she was trying to communicate.

Harley laughed softly. "Is that so hard to believe Commander?" She quipped, "You are exactly what it looks like to be a successful naval aviator if you're taken out of the sky." She pursed her lips. "You've taken your tenacity from the air to the courtroom and become very notorious for not pulling punches and doing whatever it takes to see justice brought to light."

Harm's lips twitched. "You make me sound like a comic book hero."

Harley shrugged, "You kind of are." She took a quick breath, "And yet, here you stand with me." She winked.

"You're one to talk." Harm scoffed, leaning on the railing.

Harley followed suit, and bumped shoulders with him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're the freaking comic book hero." Harm scoffed, turning towards her, palming his jaw. "Young, attractive female pilot, grandfather flew in 'Nam and became a three star Admiral before retiring. Spotless service record. Pulls a few strings and cashes in a favor and ends up the apple of another Admiral's eye at JAG while some doctors figure out how to get her back in the air."

Harley shrugged. "Don't leave out my drunken, abusive father that resulted in my terrible taste in men." She rolled her eyes good naturedly.

Harm pursed his lips. "I'm sorry about your father." He murmured, eyes deepening with something she thought might actually be empathy.

"I guess we both have daddy issues, eh?" Harley quipped, breaking eye contact with him. "So," She took a quick breath, "You think you can work with a comic book hero?" She bit her lip.

Harm shook his head a little. She was feisty, and he usually didn't like that in the women he pursued, not that he'd be pursuing Harley Steele. A relationship with her was definitely blurry within Navy regs. He vaguely wondered if they would be considered partners, and that the Admiral would be her superior, not him. Maybe that was a way he could justify things if their friendship developed into more than just hanging out together for flight ops. "Partners?" Harm offered and smiled his signature toothy grin, watching as a soft blush crept over her cheeks. Yeah, he definitely wanted to get to know her, even if everything in his training told him to run the other direction. He'd talked with a few of her comrades and they all said the same thing. Harley Steele was a force to be reckoned with.

Harley's face lit up at his offer. She might be assigned to be his aide, but for him to consider her to be on the same footing as him, that was going to make their relationship for the next six to twelve months a hell of a lot easier. "Absolutely." She murmured, taking his extended hand.

Dearest Readers,

For the purpose of this work, fraternization is definitely blurry when between two officers. I've thrown out the "junior" VS "senior" officer distinction so the deepening relationship between Harm and Harley is a little less against regulation. Don't get me wrong, they're in the same chain of command, so it's definitely up for interpretation.

That's what's wonderful about fanfiction, right? I don't always have to play by the rules anyway! It's nice when it's believable and I work hard to research and make sure that the military jargon used, locations, and scenarios all make sense and could happen in real life. I hope you'll forgive me for the oversight of their relationship being against regulation….

Anyway, we're on our way to trial and hopefully some late night thai, or maybe an early morning trail run….

xoxo

Lumora The White