"Nine gold rings" Ch04 – "Who wants to fly forever?"
– or "A wedding and a case of deja-vu".
A little Season One "what if", exploring some plausible (if not-publicly-canon) moves on the "pairings" front in mid-season, beginning in the spring of 1996 then moving forward. No links to my other stories as at August 2021.
A/N: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any character created by myself". See Ch 01 for all the disclaimers.
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. Comments and PMs and suggestions are most welcome. All mistakes are mine. Mike
Canon: Canon Episode: **parallel Universe, summer 1997 ** - A Separate Peace: Part 1 S06Ep08 21NOV2000. A Separate Peace: Part 2 (S06Ep07) 28-11-2000
A/N: 24-Dec-2021. And now, the wedding. Alison meets Mac. In this episode, published on 24-DEC-2021, Tom and Alison get to their marriage, while Alison spots an unnerving similarity in Harm's partner.
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24/12/2021: Merry Christmas to all my readers. I hope to get a number of my stories updated over the coming weeks, subject to finishing the writing and final reviews.
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Saturday 1st February 1997, 17:43hrs ZULU
Phone kiosk, USS Seahawk; eastern Atlantic.
The inquiries into Marilyn Isaacs' wholly-unnecessary demise had convinced Tom of several things:
Firstly that there was nothing inherently wrong with the USN chain of command.
Secondly that there was absolutely no inherent problem with females serving in the front line of active carrier operations.
Thirdly that a sub-standard pilot needed to be called out, weeded out and sent back to dry land without fear, favour, delay or political shenanigans and regardless of gender. "Fit in, fly right or f**k off back to dry land" sprang, unbidden, into Tom's mind. He would apply this philosophy to future briefings (suitably censored, of course!) when greeting new aircrew. His goal – and that of his successor as CAG on the Seahawk – had to be ensuring that every aviator and NFO survived.
Fourthly that there was a great career in naval aviation for Lt Elizabeth "Skates" Hawkes.
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Earlier in the day, Tom had taken "Skates" up on a two-hour patrol. He had noticed, as she began to mount the steps to her rear cockpit, that she paused slightly, then dipped as though her knees were about to give way as her knuckles whitened on the upper step – before straightening up and mounting the ladder in one smooth and well-rehearsed movement.
As he had settled into the front seat, Tom had exchanged a glance with his plane captain. They both smiled and nodded, acknowledging that "Skates" was where she belonged – as well as where she *needed* to be on this day.
The infirmary had given her a clean bill of health and her bunk-mate (pre-warned by Tom with the considerate line about: "I am only asking you – as a personal favour - to watch out because she's had one hell of a day") had reported that Beth had gone out like a lightbulb on the night after the incident and, insofar as she knew, had slept through until dawn.
The next step in Beth Hawkes' recovery – getting her back in the saddle – was a task which Tom had already briefed Bill Ross about.
He had assured the Skipper - and his approach had been approved - that he would be personally checking that "Skates" would be fine (and then to deal with any "blowback" quietly and off the record).
He need not have worried. Beth Hawkes did her job professionally and, at a time of her own choosing, opened up to her CAG about her impressions and feelings about what had happened.
She also confirmed that, although Tom owed her, she was in no hurry to collect! They were both relaxed and laughing as the Tomcat lined up inbound for the trap, which Tom accomplished perfectly as usual..
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Looking ahead, beyond the Seahawk's current cruise, Tom's window of opportunity for greeting new aircrew on the Seahawk was beginning to close.
But Tom knew what was coming next. He needed to sit down with Bill Ross – after he had written to his Alison.
It was time to look forward – and his blonde JAG lawyer figured front and centre in those plans.
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Thursday 13th February 1997, 12:56hrs ZULU
Skipper's wardroom, USS Seahawk; on station in OpArea Eastern.
Alison's latest letter had endorsed his decision – and formally accepted his proposal of marriage. Bill Ross led him through the steps which he would need to check off as he moved towards Flag rank.
In order to advance to rear admiral and command a Carrier strike group (the next step), Tom would need a "Deep Draft" command. Normally this would be captaining a supply ship for a year. Over the coming years, Tom would follow this path, with the career goal of ending up as a vice Admiral in charge of Navy assets. Tom saw this as a perfect duty for him, because he would still get to fly once or twice each month.
In the event, other matters would conspire to disrupt Tom's plan, but that lay in the future as he "came ashore" in 1997 and prepared for his marriage to Alison Krennick.
So, at the end of the Seahawk cruise which included the late and unlamented Marilyn Isaacs and her USD30million Tomcat bonfire, Tom stepped back from flying and took his "deep draft" command between 1997 and 2000.
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Monday 11th September 1997, 12:00noon EST
"Windows on the World" restaurant, 106th & 107th floor, "Tower One"
North Tower, World Trade Centre, Manhattan, New York City, NY 10048
Tom married Alison in New York (his home city) and they celebrated afterwards - with a small group of supporters – with a lunch in the "Windows on the World" restaurant, which was located near to the top floor of the World Trade Centre in New York. They planned to return every year on their anniversary.
"Tom, this is just simply wonderful" Alison breathed as she relaxed into his arms. She had "thrown the bouquet" in the traditional manner. It had bounced off the ceiling and a wall, landing in the hands of Harm's JAG working partner Sarah Mackenzie. The resulting sexual tension could have been cut with a knife, but Sarah blushed beautifully and held the bouquet triumphantly above her head as she turned towards Harm. He just smiled and hugged her chastely as Tom and Alison looked on affectionately.
"You know, she *still* reminds me of Diane Schonke – but upright and breathing, of course" Alison remarked to Tom.
"Steady on, wife; that's my godson's partner you are describing. I have to say, her voice is different and she seems a little more squared-away than Diane was" replied her husband. "It just may be the Marine programming. What did you think when you spoke with her earlier – could she be a Diane clone that DSD have been busy creating in their laboratories?"
Tom was smiling as he carefully kissed his bride's neck. His hand was steadily heading down the back of her wedding dress…
She gently swatted his arm away. "No silly, but the resemblance is astounding – and what is their status?"
Tom shrugged. "As far as I know, they have built a great and close working relationship since this past January. They've been racking up an excellent success rate with their JAG cases, but there is no sign of the horizontal tango."
Alison pouted. "Ah well; I just wish everyone could be as lucky as I am, my darling husband."
"I suspect that Bud Roberts and our former PAO Harriet Sims will be the next couple. Harm told me about Bud finding some really weird Soviet satellite surveillance evidence and cracking a murder case in April. He obviously likes Bud and Harriet - apparently they are now 'seeing each other', he informs me."
Alison smiled. Her first conversation with Harm, once the news had broken about her engagement to Tom Boone, had been slightly strained. However, since early August they had been on good terms and she was delighted that Harm had been chosen to be Tom's best man.
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Over the next couple of years, Tom's career developed steadily, including a secondment to the Pentagon to work on the USN contribution to the Joint Strike Fighter programme.
They had managed to celebrate their first wedding anniversary at the World Trade Centre in September 1998 before Alison's first pregnancy intruded. A lovely little girl named Thomasina Margaret joined them in June of 1999. Alison had barely returned to work full time when she unexpectedly fell pregnant again.
Tom and Alison had planned to wait a further year, but they were still demonstrating their love for each other at every opportunity until the inevitable happened as Alison continued to practice the "Rhythm Method" - aka "playing Vatican Roulette" – as her chosen method of birth control.
She sighed as the news of her healthy second pregnancy was confirmed. Sometimes, you just cannot resist the charms of a randy sailor!
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Monday 21st November 2000, 09:58 hrs EDT
Courtroom One, JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA
Tom was looking at his next promotion just before Alison went into labour, but the (ultimately-disproven) accusation of war crimes dating back to the Vietnam War impacted upon his career path in November of 2000 - and caused him to do some deep thinking in the aftermath of the hearing.
Alison was irate that "RC" Coffin and his alcohol-fuelled delusional allegations did harm to Tom's reputation. Although he emerged with reputation intact, his recent experience of the "Washington Pond" and the life-forms within had led him to put in his papers for retirement.
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Wednesday 23rd November 2000, 12:27 hrs EDT
Harmon Rabb's office, JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA
Tom folded his arms across his chest as he surveyed his godson, who had just successfully defended him in court.
"Harm, my time is past. It's time for your generation to make your mark."
Tom was very clear to Harm in their post-case conference.
"Besides, I have a wonderful wife and – in about 24 hours if the OB-GYN can be believed – a second child arriving. Anyhow, SECNAV could always recall me during the next seven years or so."
Tom and Harm shook hands, then Tom headed home, to greet Alison who now resembled - in her words - "the Goodyear Blimp". Even though she had just turned 40, this second pregnancy had been hard on her.
Tom was monumentally proud of his wife.
The arrival of Harmon Thomas Boone three days later confirmed to Tom that he had made the correct decision and "The Boones" looked forward to their first Christmas following his retirement.
Alison was, of course, heading back to work after her maternity leave, carving out her "path to greatness" within the USN hierarchy. The choice of godparents for "little Harm Boone" saw Tom suggesting Harmon Rabb Jr whilst Alison plumped for an old school friend from her days spent growing up in Cabot Cove, Maine.
They were determined to re-instate their tradition of wedding anniversaries in New York and they planned their trip for the upcoming September of 2001, introducing two-year-old Thomasina to the Big Apple.
Their plans including staying at the Marriott WTC Hotel, which sat in the shadow of the Twin Towers.
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A/N: views, reviews, suggested next steps via PM please?
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End of "Nine gold rings" Ch04 – "A wedding and case of deja-vu"
Mike, United Kingdom, 24-12-2021