AN ANGEL GETS THEIR WINGS
0930 Zulu
January 10, 2004
NAS Fallon, Nevada, USA
Commander Harmon Rabb Jr tried to contain his smile while he watched Lieutenant Harley Steele take off from the deck of the USS Seahawk. Aircraft Carriers were only 500 ft long, so if you didn't get airborne in that amount of runway, you were soaked. Literally. She took off expertly, getting the bird into the air off the short runway without any trouble. The real test would be getting the plane down and stopped in that 500 ft allotment. The flight crew worked quickly to lay out trap lines and make the area ready for her return.
They'd just spent the last three days of the year with his parents. His mom beamed the whole time, saying how it was incredibly sweet of him to allow Harley to pursue her dreams of being a Naval Aviator. The whole sentiment struck him as odd, why was that sweet? Wasn't that what you did when you loved someone? Love. The word alone made his head spin. Is that what he felt for Harley?
Recently, he'd been distracted with his deepening friendship with Mac. With Harley's surgery, he'd had Mac as a partner for a few cases. Things had heated up between them again, leaving him more confused than anything. Now with Harley leaving for combat duty, he wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't told Harley of his misgivings. That wasn't fair to her, she deserved someone who could be all in for her. He honestly, just wasn't sure about the distance. He didn't want to look like a chicken but at the same time it was probably time to man up and let her fly, alone. If fate brought them together again, so be it, but at this point, he probably needed to let her go.
Lieutenant Harley Steele could hardly believe her luck. Since her surgery, she'd had a single, short bout of vertigo. Since then, she'd been completely stable. The ringing in her left ear, coincidently the side they took the most tissue from, had ceased as well. She always thought the tinnitus was just a part of being a fighter pilot.
She flew in a holding pattern, her RIO spouting off directives, until the grounds crew had the trap set up for them. Taking flight was always the easy part. Now came the real challenge; getting her Super Hornet to come to a stop within the 500 ft runway. She glanced down at the carrier. She knew Harm was standing there, watching her practice before returning to DC. He'd flown with her and taken some personal days to go with her up to NAS Fallon. Said he wanted to see her CO, Admiral Thomas Boone. Apparently he had flown under the CAG when he'd returned to active flight duty a few years ago after corrective surgery for a retinal injury, aka night blindness. He'd ridden second seat in the F 14 Tomcat that they were returning to the USS Seahawk. They were to exchange it with another Tomcat and take that back to NAS Fallon in the morning. Harley had been cleared for active flight duty after two intensive flight sessions from the base each day for the last week. Now she was to make five traps on the aircraft carrier to further prove her combat readiness.
"She's a natural." Admiral Thomas Boone observed, nodding to the plane on approach. "Hasn't been in a Tomcat for 16 months, takes off and lands like she's been doing it for a six month tour."
Harm nodded, exchanging a look with the CAG. He knew that Harley was talented, it was practically unheard of for a pilot to get a second invite to Top Gun. Granted, these were special circumstances. The United States was still technically at war, and pilots were a hot commodity, especially ace fighter pilots like her.
"She's a damn good pilot." Harm agreed, "Make a damn good lawyer too." He added with a chuckle.
The CAG's lips twitched. "Hell, I think she might even be a better pilot than you." He chuckled.
"She ever see combat?" Harm asked as Harley brought the plane down.
"Yeah." the Admiral answered. "Just one three year tour before the vertigo got to her."
Harm nodded, watching as Harley caught the tag line and brought the Super Hornet to a grinding halt. She flashed the two men a bright grin and gave them a salute. The CAG signaled for the plane to go again. Harley was supposed to make five traps for today's exercise. If she was successful, she'd be shipped out next week to join an active flight squadron. Most likely, she'd come right back here and join the CAG and the Howlers on the USS Seahawk.
Harley felt like a million butterflies left her stomach after that first trap. After getting a feel for the reaction time, it felt like putting on an old hat. The next three traps were easy as pie. The last trap seemed to just not want to happen. She was waved off twice for being too low. There was a storm coming in and she was flying directly into the wind, causing her to miss the glide path. The CAG strode over to the radio controller and patched himself through to her.
"Blue Bird." He rasped, Harley had earned the nickname due to her striking bright blue eyes. "Come in higher than you think, you have to account for the head wind pushing your nose down." He glanced sideways at Rabb. He had binoculars to his eyes, watching Harley's approach. "Show the Commander here, what an ace you are, kid." He encouraged with a smirk.
Harm glanced sharply at the CAG. Did he know there was something between Harley and himself? Was it that obvious? Who was he kidding, it was probably like a neon sign. "What do you mean by show me, CAG?" Harm asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You're the one bedding her, ain't ya?" The CAG quipped, taking the binoculars Harm offered him.
Harm's eyes widened, "Sir-"
"Save it Commander." Admiral Boone shook his head. "As long as you don't violate fraternization rules, which by my current calculations, she's an officer and you're an officer, so you're not," He smirked, "I don't give a flying fuck what you two kids do behind closed doors." He chuckled. "I'm happy for ya, Harm. He shook his head a little, putting the binoculars to his eyes. "She's one hell of a woman."
Harley's Tomcat squealed on the pavement as she made her fourth and final trap. She heaved a sigh of relief, glancing over at the assembled crew. Harm was smiling, even the CAG looked pleased. She piloted the plane back to the flight elevator and exited the cockpit.
"Great job keeping focus, Lieutenant." Admiral Boone praised. "Just remember to trust your gut. I had them wave you off the second time so you'd trust yourself more. You had it right that time, I just wanted you to find it again."
"Muscle memory shit." Harley smirked. "Yes, sir." She nodded, turning to the Commander. "Supposed to do a hop this evening." She bit her lip, "You up for a little dogfight?"
Harm's brows rose. "Uh, really?" He scoffed, "I mean, if the CAG needs a RIO, I'm more than happy to oblige." He looked between the CAG and the Lieutenant.
"You'll actually be my RIO." Harley divulged, "Think you can handle taking a back seat?"
Harm pursed his lips. He did need flying hours to keep up his credentials. "Count me in." He smiled that infamous panty dropping grin.
"1800." The CAG instructed with a nod. "We'll meet in pre-op to brief before we do the hop."
Harley and Harm hit attention. "Aye, aye, Sir!" They exclaimed.
The CAG left the deck to go prepare for his own flying mission. Harm followed Harley back to the locker room. He lingered by the door while she changed out of her flight suit.
"Wanna get a workout in?" Harley asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Jesus, Lee." Harm swore. The woman was insatiable.
"I thought you liked that the Navy allowed women on carriers." Harley pursed her lips to hide her smile of amusement, shutting her locker.
"Who told you that?" Harm asked, letting her get up in his space after glancing around.
"Commander Pike." Harley smirked, "You're OG Navy flame."
"Kate?" Harm scoffed. "She would tell you that." He laughed.
"Yeah," Harley agreed, "Seeing as she was one of the reasons you enjoyed having women around." She chuckled, glancing around making sure they were still alone before kissing him quickly. "You go up one deck, and I'll go down one." She patted his chest. "I'll leave the door unlocked."
Harm nodded and watched her leave, enjoying the way her butters hugged her well defined ass. God, he was going to miss her. Being out at sea with her, even for just this short jaunt had him completely spun out. He briefly wondered if he should put in for active flight duty again. He was pretty sure the CAG would welcome him into the Howlers. Then Mac's face materialized in his mind. He was so fucked.
Harm did as instructed and arrived at Harley's quarters to find the door unlocked as planned. He eased the door open to find Harley moving a mattress from the rack to the floor. There was definitely not enough room between the rack and the ceiling for both of them. He locked the door and started unbuttoning his uniform shirt.
"Let me do that," Harley insisted, coming over to him. "It might be the last time I get to, for a while." She murmured, throat closing up.
"Harley," Harm warned. He'd told her that he didn't really want to say goodbye. It was more of a 'see you later' than goodbye.
"I know," Harley breathed, locking eyes with him, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Know what?" Harm scoffed, flashing her a nervous smile, letting his uniform shirt fall off his shoulders, catching it before it hit the floor.
"That you can't do the distance, the uncertainty." Harley murmured, then she continued before Harm could protest. "I'm not happy about it," She sighed, "But, I understand." Harm opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Harley softly pressing her lips to his. "I've really enjoyed getting to know you this past year, Harmon Rabb Jr." Harley purred, "I guess this is it, then?" Her voice broke.
"Harley," Harm soothed, hanging up his uniform. "I don't want it to be this way, but-"
"I'm a pilot, and you're a JAG lawyer." Harley finished for him.
"To be fair," Harm shook his head a little, "I am still a pilot."
"And a very fine one at that." Harley gushed, kissing him again.
"We're both duty first, self second." Harm reminded her, "You're also 13 years my junior."
"Aye, aye, sir." Harley confirmed, sitting down on the mattress. She took a deep breath, "It really bother you that I'm 13 years younger than you?" she asked, tossing her pants at the back of the desk chair.
Harm sighed, "It did at first." He smirked. "Now, I'm just one lucky bastard."
"Damn right you are, Commander." Harley quipped, shucking off her tank top.
Harm shed the rest of his uniform, careful to not just toss it away. They had to still look like they gave a damn about something besides each other. He settled down on the mattress and kissed her hungrily, trying to shove their inevitable hiatus out of his mind.
"When you return to carrier duty, I expect to get that call." Harley murmured as Harm lowered her to the mattress. They'd made a pact that if and when he became an XO for a ship and was selecting flight squadrons that he'd request her as second in command for a tour.
"You can count on it." Harm smirked, looming above her. "Now, are you going to let me give you a proper goodbye or not, Lieutenant?" He teased, pulling her to him.
Harley shrugged, "I don't see why not, flyboy." She grinned, letting herself enjoy the moment instead of dwelling on the end of their time together.
Harley reached for the thin Navy issued blanket and pulled it over them.
"Get some sleep, Lee." Harm murmured, kissing her temple softly, his arm securely around her.
"Harm?" She asked, looking up to lock eyes with him. "I need to say something, but you don't have to repeat it."
Harm's stomach dropped. He could tell by the look in her eyes what she was about to say.
Harley swallowed thickly. "Before you tell me its because we just had sex, or some heat of the moment bullshit, I'm telling you that you're wrong." She sighed and bit her lip. "I love you, Harm."
Harm's eyes pricked with unwanted tears. He'd only ever said those words to his parents, never another woman, let alone have her say them to him. He opened his mouth to say something back, but Harley stopped him.
"Please," Harley shook her head a little. "Don't."
Harm knew if he said those words back, he'd be putting in for a transfer to active flight duty before the week was out and there was a very slim chance they'd end up on the same carrier. If he stayed at JAG, at least he'd be able to see her when she had shore leave in between tours.
"I-I just needed you to know that I didn't consider our time together to be just a trivial fling." Harley murmured, settling down against his chest.
Harm hummed deep in his throat. "I don't think I can deny that we've got more than just physical attraction between us, Lee." He smoothed her hair away from her face, "You're special to me, Lee." He sighed, "Just know that I care for you, more than I've ever cared for another woman in my life."
Harley smiled into his chest. So he did love her, but wasn't willing to admit or face it just yet. Definitely good to know. "I think I'll sleep for an hour or so, then get an actual workout in at the hanger."
"Sounds like a plan," He murmured as sleep began to overcome him.
The dogfight went off without a hitch. Harm proved to be a little rusty at RIO navigation, but they were flying in pretty much open space out over the gulf, so there was a little more forgiveness in the numbers. Harley showed supreme skill with catching up to the CAG and getting weapons lock on him.
"He's coming around!" Harm exclaimed, whirling around to see the CAG's plane coming up behind them.
"I know, Commander." Harley smirked, checking her gauges. If everything went according to plan, the CAG wasn't going to be able to get missile lock because she was going to break hard right once he got in range for her own missiles. "Hold on to your lunch." As soon as the CAG was within range, she broke hard right, swooping around and diving down towards the hard deck. The change in direction allowed her to mask the fact that she'd slowed down, literally causing the CAG to blow right by her.
"Nice move." Harm murmured, watching the CAG fly by.
Harley smirked. "Getting weapons lock." She announced, engaging her guns. Within seconds radar was locked and the CAG was "dead."
"Looking good, Blue Bird." The CAG praised over the radio. "Let's get back on deck, got something I need to give you."
"Lieutenant Steele," The CAG called out, "Front and center." He ordered.
Harley glanced sharply at Harm before doing as ordered and presenting herself to the CAG. Usually promotions were a grand affair. Apparently the CAG was selfish and wanted to do this right here and now. She'd recently earned the rank of Lieutenant Commander, but had yet to be publicly decorated and recognized.
"You're going to need new bars on that uniform, Lieutenant Commander." The CAG smirked, catching eyes with Commander Rabb over Harley's shoulder. "You are also being commissioned for the remaining four months of the USS Seahawk's six month deployment and the remaining year thereafter. You are to report to pre-op, Monday morning, 0800." He pinned the correct flash to her uniform. He reached beside him for a flight jacket. It was obviously a woman's by its size alone. The back had the Howler Logo emblazoned across it, and the name "Blue Bird" embroidered below it. He handed her the jacket and an envelope including her orders.
Harley took it in her left hand and hit attention, hitting a formal salute with her right. "Aye, aye, sir!" She exclaimed.
"Welcome back to combat duty, Blue Bird." The CAG extended his hand. "Congratulations."
Harley took his hand and shook it, "Thank you, sir."
"Welcome to the Howlers." The squadron leader, Captain Jordan Harris stepped forward. "I hear you're returning my plane to NAS Fallon."
Harley cocked an eyebrow. "Yes, sir." She confirmed, shaking his extended hand.
He pulled in a little closer to murmur in her ear, "Plenty more rides on my equipment to be had, at your pleasure, ma'am."
Harley's breath caught. As attractive as Captain Harris was, he didn't hold a candle to her flyboy. "I'll keep that in mind, sir." She murmured back, flashing him a small smile.
Once she'd cycled through exchanging pleasantries with her new squad, Harley headed to the locker room. Harm cornered her before she could get there.
"What'd he say to you?" Harm demanded, pressing them into a shadowed corner.
"Who, Harm?" Harley tried to play it off innocently.
"C'mon Lee," Harm scoffed, "Captain Harris."
"Oh, he just told me about his plane." Harley shrugged him off, "Not a big deal."
"Lee," Harm insisted. "I can file sexual harassment charges, just say the word."
"And end my Naval career?" Harley exclaimed, "No, I can handle myself just fine, Commander."
Harm placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you can, Lee." He glanced around. "It's the other men I'm worried about."
Harley smirked. "I thought we were parting ways, sir."
Harm's eyes widened. "Uh, well…." He snorted softly. "Hell, Lee." He shook his head. "I don't know what we're doing."
"Don't give me hope, Rabb." Harley warned, crossing her arms, "Hope is cruel."
Harm pursed his lips. She was right. "Okay." He sighed, "Let's leave it up to fate then."
Harm and Harley returned Captain Harris' decommissioned F 14 Tomcat to NAS Fallon Saturday morning. Both sailors had to report to their posts at 0800 Monday morning.
"You alright, Lee?" Harm asked into the darkness. Harley stood by the window, bathed in moonlight. The clock read 0215 Monday morning. Harley was flying supersonic to the Gulf of Mexico and had to report to the hangar at 0530 to take off at 0600. Harm was scheduled to take off just after her to make it back to NAS Oceana and get to the office for his first meeting at 1000.
Harley turned at the sound of his voice, and tried to swallow her tears. "Not really." She whispered. "Am I crazy?" She asked, turning back to face the window.
Harm climbed from the bed and joined her at the window. He gently wrapped his arms around her, drawing her back into his chest. "No," He murmured, "You're a fighter pilot, Lee." He sighed. "One of the things I love about you."
Harley's breath caught and she whirled to face him. "Harm, you can't say that to m-me!" She exclaimed in a whisper.
Harm's eyes widened. He'd thought she'd want to know how he really felt about her. "Why not?" He scoffed, giving her an unsure smile.
"I-I can't handle it," She confessed, "That's why, Harm." She sighed, "I'm not strong enough."
Harm snorted. "Sure you are." He grinned, "Toughest chick I know."
"Just because I survived a week at Marine boot camp." She grinned back, letting Harm pull her closer.
"Ooorah." Harm quipped, earning a soft smack from the woman in his arms. "Seriously, Lee." He sighed, "I love you." He kissed her temple. "Its' why I have to let you go."
Harley wasn't able to stop the flood of tears from streaming down her face. "Okay." She whispered.
Harm gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. "Come back to bed, Lee." He glanced at the clock, "We've got a couple more hours."
Harley let Harm pull her back to the bed. She sat down on the edge of it and slowly laid back as Harm laid next to her and settled the covers over them. He pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I feel like I'm being ripped in two." Harley whispered, eyes welling up again. "I belong on a carrier, but-" Her voice broke. "I also belong here." She placed a hand over his heart.
Harm covered that hand with his own and threaded his fingers with hers. "I'm sorry, Lee." He whispered. Short of one of them resigning their commission, there was nothing that could be done. He shifted a little so he could kiss her mouth, soft and sweet, brushing away a few tears. "I love you."
Harley whimpered and breathed him in, fingers sliding into his hair. "Show me, Harmon." She murmured against his lips, fingernails against his scalp.
Show her he did. He took complete control, throwing her over the edge twice, showering her with kisses all across her skin.
As sleep came for him again, Harm wondered if he was also being ripped in two, it sure felt like it.
"It's been an honor, Commander Rabb." Harley extended her hand, heart in her throat. They needed to appear professional as possible in this moment.
Harm gave her a wink and took her hand, "The honor's been mine, Lieutenant Commander Steele." He grinned, releasing her hand. "Give 'em hell, Lee." He murmured, hitting attention, giving her a formal salute.
Harley let her face go blank, and hit attention, giving him a salute back. "Aye, aye, sir!" She released the salute and spun on her heel away from him towards the tarmac, keeping her shoulders back. Unshed tears blurred her vision as her RIO climbed up the side of the aircraft to get settled for their journey to the USS Seahawk. She forced herself to walk away from Harm and make the journey across the pavement to the waiting aircraft.
Harm released his salute and relaxed his stance, watching the woman whom he'd come to love walk away. They hadn't said much this morning, but he could tell she wanted a clean break. There would be no letters, just memories. It wasn't easier, but that's what they told themselves. Trying to make it work with her deployments and his unpredictable work schedule as a JAG would be more painful than letting go now.
Harley settled into the aircraft and ran through the checklist. Once everything was set and ready to go, she glanced over to the sideline where Harm stood. He must've sensed she was ready to go, because he stood at attention, giving the plane a formal salute. Harley returned the salute, and forced herself to focus on the gages in front of her. It was time to fly.
Harm stood at attention and watched as Harley took off down the runway and flew up into the sky. He released his salute when the plane became airborne, and watched as it became just a tiny dot in the sky.
"We're ready for you, Commander." The Lieutenant flying back with him said.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Harm flashed him a smile with a nod. He glanced up at the sky, but he couldn't see Harley's plane any longer. Just like that, she was gone.
Dearest Readers,
This one is a bit sad, but really establishes why Harm made his decision to go to San Diego, in this alternate universe, of course. I believe he went with Mac because he was heartbroken and thought being with Mac was the next best thing.
I've still got more one shots and ideas for the time being, so we'll see where the muse takes us.
xoxo
Lumora The White