Chapter 92
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
1830 EST
Chegwidden home
McLean, Virginia
Several more days went by before she had another flash of memory. Sarah was frustrated. She was trying to remember something…anything…about the past year. She decided to go in search of a memory throughout the house. She was looking for something that would trigger a memory…any memory! She drifted through the house picking up pictures. Lifting a beautiful vase and remembering nothing, then going though the music and movie collections, and still remembering nothing. The only time she even slowed down was when she was going through AJ's collection of John Wayne movies, and for some reason she could see herself and AJ having a pillow fight in a hotel. Giggling, she didn't know what that had to do with any of the movies. She shrugged and moved on. Everything else looked normal, right down to her toothbrush next to AJ's.
Angela started to cry, so she went into the nursery and changed her diaper and picked her up. Getting a bottle, she made herself comfortable in the rocker and began softly singing to Angela as she fed her.
"You're Mommy's baby girl, aren't you, darling? Want to hear our song, don't you?" and she sang…
From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern Lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job-
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we're fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets guarded
By the United States Marines.
"Caught you, woman! Singing a Marine song to my precious Angel," AJ whispered, looking at the sleeping baby.
"It's soothing to her. Puts her right to sleep every time," grinned Sarah, getting up to put her back into the bassinet.
"What have you been doing today, Darlin'? Besides corrupting my daughter," AJ grinned, gently hugging Sarah to him.
"I've been looking for something to remind me of the last year. Something that would trigger a memory," explained Sarah kissing the tip of his nose.
"Any luck, sweetheart?" he asked, watching her closely.
"The only thing so far was a brief glimpse of a pillow fight we must have had. I was going through the movies, so the memory doesn't make sense, and was just a glimpse," she frowned.
"It'll come back, Darlin', just don't push so hard. Maybe what's keeping it from coming, is you're pushing," explained AJ.
"Do I have anymore of my things here that aren't unpacked?" asked Sarah leaning her head on his shoulder.
"I believe there are a few boxes from your office in the basement. Want to go check it out?" he asked kissing the top of her head.
"Now, can we do it now?" she asked excitedly.
"Sure, Angel is asleep. Let's go see what we can find," AJ replied, taking her hand and leading her downstairs to the basement. Turning on the light, it didn't take them long to find the boxes that were Sarah's. There, sticking out on top, was her picture of the baby seal. All in white, the seal was surrounded in pink. Her Seal. She had kept it behind her desk the whole time she was at JAG. She remembered. Looking over at AJ, she picked it up and smiled.
"I remember this, AJ. I was behind my desk while I worked at JAG," Sarah smiled softly.
"Yes, Darlin'. I can't remember a time when it wasn't there," he replied, taking the picture from her.
"Had I ever told you why it was there, my love?" she asked, placing her hand on his.
"I assumed you wanted to save the baby seals."
Laughing, she told him, "No, darling. I couldn't have the SEAL I loved, so I bought a picture of one I could have."
"That's why you had this picture all these years? You're sure?" he asked, his eyes full of hope.
To be continued….