Ch06 of: "Conversion: re-building - the Aftermath."
A/N: AU. This is a fictional story, in a fictional Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. Mike. Characters borrowed with love and appreciation for the great team who brought us "JAG"; may your following careers blossom.
A/N: AU: "they aren't mine: I'm just playing with them - apart from any fictional character created by myself". Feel free to PM me if you spot any typos - my goal is 100% error-free. Feedback and comments are also welcome. Your opinions, critiques (and requests as PMs) are always helpful - and welcomed.
A/N: Building upon the excellent 2023 story-line "Conversion" by "jpstar57" (with whom I was honoured to collaborate in the creation of that story). This sequel will span (and overlap with) the "Conversion" story timeline from 2004 through to 2019 - when "Loren Diane O'Hara" (Sadik's brainwashed and subjugated puppet, formerly known as Sarah Mackenzie) was executed. John ("jpstar57") and I agreed the parameters of our two story-lines - so I commend you to read the whole of "Conversion" before you begin to read this story. If you don't like the story-line of "Conversion", this story is more positive - but please don't complain!
A/N: Publication date: 20-SEP-2023: Chapter 06 – Our heroes and heroines begin to settle into new life arrangements as the echoes of the catastrophic events of 2004 begin to fade in the run-up to the New Year of 2006. Disney warning: "mild peril".
A/N – link to Canon Episodes: given that the main driver for my story is the "JAG family" healing after the events of "Conversion", I shall not be listing any quoted episodes. I merely state my appreciation that the Bellisario creation has inspired nearly 30 years of fanfiction since that pilot episode back in 1995.
Characters from FFNET – Many and varied. Harmon Rabb jr, Carolyn Imes-Rabb, Faith McBurney-Coleman, Bud Roberts jr, Kate Pike - to name but a few.
A/N 20-09-2023: An Autumn 2023 update on the story, setting up the story for good news in 2006. Thanks, Mike
Ch06 – Autumn 2005 – October to Christmas 2005
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Thursday 1st December 2005: 07:55hrs EST
NCIS HQ, Navy Yard, Washington DC, USA
Carolyn Rabb had conceived during their "hot and heavy" session on Valentine's Day 2005, leading to a birth nine months later in late October 2005.
Both she and Harm had become exhausted by Thanksgiving Day after five weeks of looking after a new-born, as she lined up to return to work in the Navy Yard. Frank Burnett and Harm's mom Patricia had flown eastwards to provide cover for Carolyn's return to duty after her maternity leave.
Their adopted daughter Mattie had celebrated her 16th birthday late in the Summer of 2005: she proved to be worth her weight in gold. Her presence validated all the hard work which Harm (at the time, aided by Carolyn) had invested in adopting his cousin Claire's red-headed daughter at the age of 14 in June 2004.
Carolyn could not believe how readily everyone accepted Mattie as her own daughter. She thanked the Powers That Be for the circumstances which brought Mattie into Harm's life – with her assistance – and the wonderful way in which the "unusual Rabb family" had gathered together.
The new baby was a confirmation of her love for Harm – and an affirmation that "life WILL go on" despite world events.
She – and her Red Team – continued to track and trace the evidence leading to the apprehension of Sadik Fahd and Sarah Mackenzie (in her guise of "Loren Diane O'Hara").
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Saturday 10th December 2005: 14:00hrs EST
Swansea Marriott Hotel; The Marina, Swansea SA1 3SS, UK
During their September visit to Swansea, Caitlyn had been aware that Lester was not yet ready – but soon! She regarded herself as part of his healing process and she was – at the same time – beginning to think seriously about the future.
By the time of their December trip back to Swansea, she was certain that her future lay with Lester Evans. She would just have to be patient whilst he worked things out. As it happened, he didn't take too long.
Flashback: September 2005
The September 2005 trip to the USA (for the marriage of Bud Roberts to Eileen Nestor) reinforced Caitlyn's instinctive feeling that "love was in the air". The entire JAG Corps (well, the survivors and their healing families) were determined to be positive and to look forward.
The creche and child-care facilities in the re-built JAG HQ were almost fully utilised; the desire to bring something good out of the catastrophic events of 2004 had driven a rash of pregnancies. As she met the families at Bud and Eileen's wedding, Caitlyn looked at Trisha and suddenly found herself feeling broody.
This was either a sign or a worrying omen that her future life was aligning without her involvement! She soon relaxed and concentrated on watching how Lester, Lucinda and Nigel interacted with the guests.
She also noted that Lester kept an eye out for Trisha: "a good sign in a potential stepfather" she mused. In fairness, the stars were aligning for both of them.
She knew that she would have to plan something special to help him get through the first anniversary of Alison's slaughter.
She could sense that he was not yet ready - but soon!
Caitlyn Pike knew that Lester Evans was worth waiting for. They set the ground rules for their then-platonic relationship - with certainty that more would follow when Lester was ready.
Kate had already decided that she was ready.
*End Flashback.
Lester took her back to Swansea on Saturday Dec 10th 2005 and they stayed in the Marriott Hotel in the Marina area: Trisha stayed over with Lucinda and Nigel with "Granny Evans" in Pinner. This was becoming an increasingly-regular occurrence, as Lester and Caitlyn drew inexorably closer.
On the Sunday evening, as eight-year-old Trisha Pike stayed over at Chateau Evans in Pinner, she knew that her Mom was happier and was growing steadily closer to the new Brit in her life. She also enjoyed the company of the younger Lucinda and Nigel as well as Miranda Evans, the "best grandmother in Britain in her biased opinion!
One year on from the tragic date of Alison's murder, Lester decided to propose marriage to Caitlyn – confident that she would accept – on Tuesday December 13th 2005.
On the Monday night, over dinner, Lester told Kate the full story of Alison; Caitlyn realised that she was about to commit to this damaged and wounded man – and that she was definitely the woman who could, should (and would) support him henceforth for as long as he would allow her.
On Tuesday morning after coffee, they headed out westwards, out on the Gower Peninsula.
The faithful TR7 was parked, positioned to overlook Worm's Head, the rocky outcrop of land at the western end of the Gower Peninsula on the southern end of the sweeping expanse of the beach of Rhossili Bay;
Kate had been growing her hair longer since their initial meeting in the Summer of 2005. The ponytail felt right as they arrived at their destination.
After a coffee in the Worms Head Hotel, Lester's TR7 looked on as they walked steadily down the slope towards the Coast Guard observation station; they sheltered briefly in the lee of the building.
At 1pm, with dry weather and a 10mph breeze, Lester went down on one knee.
He asked: Caitlyn accepted; they kissed.
The engagement ring took up space on her left hand and she felt completed.
Lucinda (now 3) and Nigel (now two, following his sister's lead) were delighted by the news that they would be getting a new Mother.
Kate and Trisha began to transition across to what they referred to affectionately as "Brit-speak".
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Friday 23rd December 2005, 18:00hrs
The "JAG family" Church, Falls Church VA:
The memories of the Fallen were invoked at the annual Christmas Service at the JAG Church. Friday 23rd December 2005 saw several one-year anniversaries marked and observed, as the wider JAG family prepared for Christmas and another year.
Life rolled onwards towards the new year of 2006.
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Saturday 24th December 2005, 05:14hrs
Home of Bud and Eileen Roberts:
Bud's LtCdr Bud and Lt Eileen Roberts (Nestor as was) had married on Sat 3rd September 2005.
They had finally got together, on Christmas Eve of 2004. Eileen had comforted Bud after the "wine spillage incident" as Bud's grief over Harriet bubbled over as he had raged at the unfairness of life. He had been so grateful that Eileen had arrived to comfort him.
Bud and Eileen were slightly surprised to learn of an addition to their new nuclear family – or pregnancy – when Eileen woke up early on Christmas Eve morning recognising the familiar sensations of morning sickness.
Harriet's children – Young AJ, James Kirk Roberts born Oct2003 – along with Eileen's six-year-old daughter Erin, would be gaining a sibling in the summer of 2006. The Roberts Fertility syndrome was continuing!
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The general love and happiness in the air proved to he the perfect counterpoint to Sadik's nihilistic hatred of life.
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Final A/N 20-SEP-2023: Building upon the excellent 2023 storyline "Conversion" by "jpstar57" (with whom I collaborated in the creation of that story). During a number of chapters, this sequel will span the timeline of 2004 through to 2019 - when "Loren Diane O'Hara" (Sadik's brainwashed and subjugated puppet, formerly known as Sarah Mackenzie) was executed. John ("jpstar57") and I agreed the parameters of our two storylines: so I commend you to read the whole of "Conversion" before you read this story. Mike, UK – 26-06-2023
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End of Ch06 of: "Conversion: re-building - the Aftermath." Autumn to Christmas 2005
Mike: UK, 20-09-2023