"Nine gold rings" Ch05 – "Countdown to an eventful anniversary"
A little "what if", inspired by Season One, this AU story explores 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: "Defensive action" S1Ep13 first broadcast 13MAR1996: A Separate Peace: Part 2 (S06Ep07) 28-11-2000.
A/N: 28-Dec-2021. A reminder of how survival – or the alternative – can hinge upon the most random of choices. A take on the weekend before the day which shook America.
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28/12/2021: Note: this began as one chapter, then spawned a prequel to the day which America remembers (which will now be published shortly, as Chapter 06). It struck me that the world went to bed on a Monday night, expecting that the only discussion point the following day would be the weather forecast.
A/N: 28-Dec-2021. A reminder of how survival – or the alternative – can hinge upon the most random of choices. A take on the day which shook America.
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Flashback to March 1996 (and the events which introduced Tom to Alison):
Captain Thomas Boone: I am a naval aviator, with 11,000 flying hours - 908 of which were in combat. I know gunfire when I see it. I did not imagine it. The Hind was firing at my men as they hung helpless in their chutes. What I did, I would do again without hesitation, even if doing so meant ending my naval career. God knows it is not a career I wish to end. That'll happen soon enough. But better that than to break the sacred trust between an officer and those he commands to do whatever is in his power to protect them. Not only when such action is obvious or politically correct, but even when it is sure to be unpopular and questioned. The day that I can no longer live up to that trust, you will not have to ask for my resignation, gentlemen. It'll be tendered without hesitation.
Captain Thomas Boone; address to Court martial, JAG Episode "Defensive Action" (via IMDB); some 56 months before the events of "A Separate Peace".
…end Flashback:
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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 the courtroom downstairs.
Tom was very clear to Harm in their post-case conference.
Then he spoke, verbalising the decision which he had reached during the persecution of the claim against him.
[Yes, he considered "persecution" to be far more appropriate than "Prosecution" - and he was darn sure in his determination that this would be the last time that the shadow of Vietnam would tap him on the shoulder. He now had other responsibilities - and a wonderful wife].
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He looked at his godson. Why hadn't Harm gotten married yet?
"Harm, my time is past. It's time for your generation to make your mark."
He smiled - at which point Harm realised that Tom had already made up his mind. Then his godfather continued.
"Besides, I have a wonderful wife and child, with (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 only just turned 40, this second pregnancy had been hard on her. She had already told Tom that this pregnancy would be her last (barring "accidents" of course!).
Tom was monumentally proud of his wife – and grateful to her for putting herself through two pregnancies in fairly quick succession.
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The arrival of Harmon Thomas Boone three days later confirmed to Tom that he had made the correct decision to retire. His life was clearly complete and "The Boones" looked forward to their first post-retirement Christmas.
Alison was, of course, planning on heading back to work after her maternity leave, carving out her own "path to greatness" within the USN hierarchy. Tom knew that the deep-selection process already had Captain Alison M. Krennick-Boone on the lists. She had been promoted a month before she fell pregnant with Harmon T Boone.
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Christmas Eve 2000, 17:45hrs EDT
Home of Tom and Alison Boone, 258xx Priesters Pond Drive, Chantilly VA 20152 USA
Tom had invested his legacy from his parents' bequest into the Chantilly property market when the estate to the west of the feature pond was being established in 1998. He had bought the property "off-plan" and the local realtors and lettings agency had found and managed two successive sets of tenants. The decision of the second set of tenants to move out in the autumn of 2000 was yet another sign that Tom's retirement plans were coming together nicely.
After a concentrated month of re-modelling and re-decoration, Tom and Alison had moved in on Thursday December 7th, settling Thomasina and Harmon on the anniversary of Pearl Harbour. Shortly afterwards, Tom had moved to indulge a long-term interest of his own.
As a retired naval aviator, he was welcomed with open arms by the nearby Steven Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum, where Tom had duly become a guide and conservator at Christmas 2000. Once his availability (and experience) had become more-widely known, he had rapidly completed his induction and training.
Not surprisingly, Tom had volunteered to assist with the conservation (and restoration) of USN assets which had been bequeathed to the Museum.
He was as happy as a hog in a wallow. With the USN pension settled, he could not imagine ever working again. He was very happy to support his young wife and their young offspring.
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The choice of godparents for their second child saw Tom suggesting Harmon Rabb Jr whilst Alison plumped for an old school friend from her days spent growing up in Cabot Cove, Maine. Caroline was delighted to make the trip down to Chantilly for the Christening on July 15th 2001, which coincided with Tom's first post-retirement birthday.
They were determined to re-instate their tradition of wedding anniversaries in New York and they planned their trip for the coming September of 2001, including staying at the Marriott WTC Hotel, which sat in the shadow of the Twin Towers. With corridor connections into both of the Twin Towers, their route to the "Window on the World" restaurant in the North Tower was easy in any weather, ahead of the anniversary on September 11th. Tom and Alison had long-ago agreed and decided that the arrival of their children would complement - rather than constrict - their marriage.
The 22 floors of the Marriott were dwarfed by the pair of 110-floor towers which overlooked the site of "WTC3". Arriving into NYC on the Saturday afternoon and after checking in at the Marriot, the Boone family settled into their 15th floor suite on the west side of the building.
They enjoyed the wide windows which gave a commanding view westwards, along the edge of Liberty Street towards Battery Park and the Hudson River. Tom had previously stayed on the east side of the hotel and was of the opinion that the view down into the Austin J Tobin Plaza was "nothing to write home about".
A suite positioned on the western side of the hotel also gave the children a little longer to sleep in, before sunrise brought light in through the drapes.
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Sunday 9th September 2001, 07:45hrs EDT
Suite 1509, Marriott World Trade Centre
3 World Trade Centre, Manhattan, New York NY USA
Thomasina awoke bright and early on the Sunday morning, bounding into her parents' room in the suite. Alison was just finishing up feeding young Harmon, who was almost weaned by this stage. With both of her children, Alison had researched and followed medical advice. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth — and then breast-feeding in combination with solids foods until at least age 1. She was hoping to have the task completed by Christmas.
Thomasina's early wake-up call led the family to select a room service breakfast before they began their first day of sight-seeing in NYC for this anniversary weekend. Tom had a hankering to visit the borough where he had grown up when his family had moved south from Sault Ste Marie in Michigan, but admitted that the trip up-town would be too difficult with a two-year-old and a new-born.
He and Alison had then agreed that Central Park would mark the northern limit for their travels during this visit.
They began their Sunday with a gentle stroll across Liberty Street to the Greek Orthodox church on the south side, across from the Marriott hotel. Then they took a taxi across to Katz's Deli on Houston Street for coffees and a snack, before travelling onwards to Central Park. That was enough to wear out Thomasina – and Tom, who was carrying little Harmon in a papoose across his chest. Alison snapped several pictures of "Dad with his kids" for the family album before they returned to the hotel.
They found a quiet booth in the hotel bar, for a quick drink before they took their children back to the suite to get them settled. With the kids settled and a game showing on the hotel's cable system, they took advantage of the "Burger and a beer" promotion on the room service menu.
"Tom, tomorrow we really need to eat out. I want to celebrate the day before our anniversary in a restaurant somewhere, with our kids (even if little Harm doesn't really understand the significance)."
She had – unwittingly – adopted Tom's original nickname for Harmon Rabb Jr (which he had, in turn, picked up from Harm senior during their tours).
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Monday 10th September 2001, 08:23hrs EDT
Suite 1509, Marriott World Trade Centre
3 World Trade Centre, Manhattan, New York NY USA
Thomasina slept in longer the next morning, so that the family could enjoy a leisurely breakfast before they spent the rest of the morning, by ferry, out in the harbour visiting Liberty Island. Staten Island was on the itinerary for the next day.
Two-year-old Thomasina became ill on the journey back, so the family went straight back to the Marriott and ordered room-service once more, as they relaxed through the Monday evening.
Alison's desire for a pre-anniversary meal outside the hotel would have to wait!
Tom wasn't prepared to allow the evening to pass without some celebration of their anniversary on the next day, so he ordered a bottle of champagne and seafood appetisers for a late-evening snack - after both children were fast asleep (and after their parents had worked up an appetite!).
Alison fully appreciated the gesture, as they wrapped up the meal. As Tom prepared to leave the tray out for Housekeeping to clear, Alison asked her fateful question.
"Tom, how about breakfast at the World Trade Centre tomorrow morning?"
"Sounds like a good idea. The table is booked for 13:30hrs for our main lunch, but we could get over there early and do some sightseeing on the observation decks on the South Tower. I think there is some kind of hot-dog stand on the observation level around the 107th floor (that's not the absolute top level, because there is a small deck on the very top floor). The forecast looks good and they say that on a clear day you can see for 50 miles. Then we'll head back down to ground level and across to the North Tower for 'Windows on the World', up on the 106th and 107th floors. I'll set the alarm for 08:15hrs."
He smiled: "Hey, we could always come back here between tower visits for a break (or a rest?)."
Alison smiled, stretching out on the bed alluringly.
"That sounds well-planned - unless one of the little-Boones decides to play 'early-morning Alarm clock' for us, darling."
He tenderly kissed her. "Well, I reckon we have worn her out today, so here's hoping."
Alison nodded her agreement. "Just so. Now then husband, as it is gone midnight you can come show me why I married you three years ago today."
"Happy anniversary darling."
They were likely to be lying in for a while on the Tuesday morning….
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End of "Nine gold rings" Ch05 – "Countdown to an eventful anniversary"
Mike, United Kingdom, 28-12-2021