Married into the Navy
Chapter 8-3 years later
As her mother predicted, it was becoming increasingly harder for them to keep Kaitlyn and Hannah at the farm. Hannah wanted to venture out and find her father, and Kaitlyn just wanted to get away from the farm and constant work. To add to Christine's stressors, Nancy had had some sort of stroke a year before. She could still get around and was tough as nails, but Christine lived in constant fear that she'd have another one.
Christine did venture into town a bit more often, to sell firewood, eggs, vegetables, meat; and whatever she could find. She had even began building furniture to sell. She also had a cellphone that had reception if she stood on her tiptoes.
Her mom listened to the radio almost constantly, and so they had heard about the attack in Mayport, and the ensuing war, and they knew Mike was involved. Part of Christine wanted to find a vehicle and head to Florida to find Mike, but she also knew, Mike was in the thick of the fight. He wouldn't be in Florida.
So, she worked. She built furniture and her neighbor helped her sell it. She tended the animals, grew a garden and helped her mom can the vegetables, tried to raise and keep her daughters close, and just kept going. She hadn't tried to call the Navy since that day three years before. She wouldn't be shocked if Mike had found a new girlfriend or even a wife. They had all but been divorced anyway.
She kept a low profile in the community. The librarian, sheriff, pastor and bank knew where to find her. If Mike came to McGregor, he would go to the sheriff. Most of her neighbors and the townspeople thought she was reclusive, and barely knew about Nancy, Hannah or Kaitlyn.
One day, she was building a dining room table for the bank owner when she heard a vehicle pull up. Figuring it was the bank owner's wife hassling her about when the table would be finished, she walked out to greet her, only to see an old and very dear friend get out of the vehicle. Immediately, her mind went to worst place. Mike was dead. That was the only explanation.
"Russ?" Christine asked as she came forward and gave Russ a stiff hug.
"Christine, you have no idea how good it is to see you. No idea." Russ said.
"Is Mike…?" Christine asked as her voice broke.
"No, no. Is there somewhere we can sit down? Admiral Slattery is alright, I promise." Russ told her as he guided her into her workshop.
"Here?" Christine said as she pulled two chairs out and they both sat down.
"First of all, it was quite the task to find you. You hid well. I was in St. Louis two days ago. One of the secretaries had been fired and she had a notebook in her desk. When her supervisor found your name, and McGregor, Missouri written down, they called me. Mike is still in the Gulf, dealing with the Nathan James wreckage and I was unable to get him on a secure line. I came here as quickly as possible, spoke with the Sheriff and got directions out here." Russ explained.
"I…really have no business asking, since we were still so close to divorce before he left, but has he…uh…" Christine started, but didn't know how to ask.
"No. He hasn't gotten involved with anyone. He always had hope that he would find you and the girls." Russ answered.
"We have a radio and kept track of you all, somewhat. He's been through a lot?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. He's been shot, stabbed, beaten, been a POW and most of all, just missed you all. He will be thrilled, and when he can get here, he will be. I just wanted to see for myself that you all were okay, to offer any help, and to assure you, you don't have much longer here, if you don't want to be here." Russ told her.
"For the time being, yes. I do need you to explain to the girls that their dad will be here. Kaitlyn has no great affection for him, and Hannah wants to find him. They will leave soon, if he doesn't show up." Christine asked.
"I can do that. He will want them to stay put. His relationship with Kaitlyn has troubled him a lot, but I will assure her that he has missed her a lot, and he loves her." Russ said as they stood up and began walking towards the house.
"She might not believe you." Christine warned.
"Maybe her defensive nature has more to do with missing her father, and less to do with being mad at him." Russ suggested.
"Probably. I do think it is a coping mechanism. I just pray she stays until he gets here and gives him a chance to sort things out with her." Christine said.
"I'll talk to her. I am pretty persuasive." Russ remarked as they reached Christine's front door. The girls were sitting at the dining room table with Nancy, and both girls looked at Russ like he was an alien.
"Girls, I hope you remember Russ Jeter? He serves with your father." Christine said.
"Where's Daddy?" Hannah asked, completely forgetting her manners. Thankfully, Russ didn't take offense.
"At the moment, in the Gulf of Mexico. He has missed you both so very much and he will be thrilled when I have the opportunity to tell him…" Russ started.
"Yeah, right." Kaitlyn said with a huff. She started to get out of her chair, when Nancy pulled her back down.
"Kaitlyn, I know you think you are all grown up, but don't think you are old enough or big enough for me not to put you over my knee and teach you who the boss is. You WILL give your father a chance to get here, and you WILL listen once he does. I promise, there is no man on this earth who loves you as much as he does." Nancy said strongly. Christine had to smile behind her hand. Despite her limitations since her stroke, she was still a force of nature. It was from her mother that Christine drew her strength.
"Oh, all right!" Kaitlyn responded with another huff and crossed her arms over her chest. Christine gestured at Russ to have a seat and went to get him a cup of lemonade.
"Kaitlyn, your grandmother is right. This past few years have been hellish for your father. He has lived in a perpetual nightmare. I know what it is to lose a child, and I could help him with Lucas' death, but the unknown that he has encountered with you and Hannah, it has chipped away at his heart and soul. He copes, he works, and he is a hero in every sense, but he had no one to go home to. He truly believes that he is going to die a lonely, old man. In some ways, I think he's had a bit of a death wish because of it." Russ explained.
"I hate that he's been that sad." Hannah spoke up. At almost fourteen, she was very tenderhearted and a little naïve.
"He's focused on his career, but he has missed you all, more than you could ever fathom." Russ told her as he squeezed her hand.
"The question is, will we be enough for him not to focus on his career? We weren't before." Kaitlyn argued. Most people would her verbiage and think she was serious, but Christine knew better. Yes, Kaitlyn was serious, but there was a crack in her façade, something only a mother would recognize.
"Kaitlyn, your father and I didn't separate because of his career. I knew when I married him that I would be sharing him with his community. First, he was a cop, then he joined the Navy. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make because I knew that serving was in your father's blood. He wouldn't be the man we all knew and loved if I made him choose us or his career. And as the time has gone by, I am seeing less reason for a divorce, but that is something him and I have to figure out. He will love you and Hannah regardless." Christine told Kaitlyn.
"But we never made that choice. We were always just expected to accept that our dad would be gone nine months out of the year. How do you think we felt when he wasn't there for recitals, plays, birthdays, and holidays?" Kaitlyn complained.
"I would think the sense of pride would overtake a sense of sacrifice. No, you didn't choose it, but I promise, there are kids, then and now that were in far worse situations. You are lucky to have the father you have, and besides, I think your father will be making some changes now that he'll have you and Hannah back. He is not going to want to miss anymore time with you." Nancy spoke up.
"I agree. I think he would give up his career to be with you and Hannah. And, I am saying this from experience, as hard as it was on you to have your dad miss those days, I promise; it was a lot harder on him." Russ told Kaitlyn. Christine could see Kaitlyn's defenses slowly being torn down, but she was stubborn. The walls would go back up.
"I just want to see him again. I don't expect him to give up his career, and I would never make him choose." Hannah said.
"I promise, as soon as I can get through to him, he will be figuring out a way here. This is what he has dreamed about for years." Russ told Hannah.
"I hope its soon." Hannah remarked. She desperately missed Mike and still had dreams of a fairy tale ending for her parents. She hadn't lost that little girl's dream.
"When I get back to St. Louis, I will begin trying to get ahold of him. We have to have a secure line, and I really should arrange for protection for you all. Unless, of course, you come to St. Louis." Russ explained.
"No. I can't. I honestly have to finish a dining room table, and don't have a way there once I finish it, and we do have the animals." Christine said. It actually bothered her that she couldn't just pack up and go. She wanted to see Mike and see if there was any chance of her marriage working out.
"If he has to swim back, he'll be here soon." Russ said as he stood up. It was time for him to leave, and for Christine, Nancy and the girls to wait. Hopefully, they wouldn't have too long to wait.
I know I am jumping a lot in this story, but it makes no sense to draw it and have nothing to really write. This is loosely based on the timeline the show set and with some artistic license used. Thanks to all readers and those that review! I encourage every to review!