Rating: T for occasional language
Summary: Set in early season 5 when Harm was out flying. This story gives Harm a different (better!) reason for changing his designator than the show provided. And may just open the way for him to find his happily ever after – with a little trouble along the way, of course.
Disclaimer: JAG was created by Donald P. Bellisario and is owned in whole or in part by Belisarius Productions and Paramount Network Television (CBS Studios). This is a work of fiction playing with the characters that I have loved for more than twenty years – I make no money from this and no copyright infringement or disrespect is intended.
Letters Home: Doin' It Their Way
By: visions2share (a.k.a. Vi)
Author's Note: I am hoping this will be obvious but, just in case it isn't as obvious as I hoped – please note that Mac's part of the following exchange is in italics. Enjoy! ~Vi
1400 zulu Saturday, June 12, 1999
U.S.S. Patrick Henry and Mac's Apartment
Mediterranean Sea and Georgetown, DC (respectively)
Hello my Marine! I miss you!
Hello Sailor – mine! I miss you too!
How was your most recent flight?
The flight was good – uneventful – which is always nice.
And here I thought you were searching for adventure.
Oh no thank you – I'd rather come home to you safe and sound.
You better! I'm so excited by the idea of you coming home TO me!
So am I. I dream about it every night!
You are so sweet.
Not as sweet as those dreams.
Careful, Flyboy, you'll spoil your reputation as a devil-may-care adventurer.
Good. My reputation could do with some improving!
I doubt being sweet would improve your rep with the other pilots.
You're probably right about that but I'm too experienced to care what they think.
Yeah, sure.
They are just a bunch of overgrown children. Most of them haven't got the sense God gave a goose – as Gran says.
Oh no – what happened?
They were mouthing off at the kid JAG again today – it's been bad but today he was in the ready room, no clue why, during debrief and it got more contentious.
More contentious how?
The JAG lt told a couple of the pilots he'd have them brought up on charges of conduct unbecoming.
Was he serious? Or just blowing smoke?
I thought he was serious to begin with but the pilots laughed when he said they'd be grounded – he was definitely serious then.
They laughed? I'd have thought the idea of not being allowed to fly would scare them into behaving.
I thought so too – but one of the pilots said something like – 'you and what battalion of legal weenies?'
And the JAG didn't like the name calling?
No. Although do any of us like being called that? But I think the major problem was that a lot of people laughed. I don't know if his feelings were hurt, or his pride, or if he genuinely believes he's God's gift to keeping the Navy running smoothly.
You think he'll follow through and file charges?
I'm sure he's working on it at this very moment.
Are you going to try counseling him?
I know you were thinking about it already.
I tried. Went to the JAG office directly after changing out of my flight suit. He wasn't receptive.
What happened?
A lot of back and forth – but it boils down to he thinks I was defending the pilots and trying to order him not to file charges.
Did you defend them?
No. I merely suggested that as a JAG – a representative of law and good order – it would be better not to sink into the trap of using the law as a weapon in a personal disagreement.
And he didn't agree about the sanctity of the law?
He takes the law very seriously. Unfortunately, he takes himself just as seriously.
Well, at least you tried.
It might have been better if I'd stayed out of it.
Why? You had a responsibility as a senior officer to counsel him not to waste the Navy's time.
I know, but he's decided my counseling was interference in his duties.
He wouldn't?!
He says he is.
No!
He's filing charges against me for interfering with a JAG officer's official duties.
That's ridiculous! Where does a lt jg on his first assignment come off to try to lecture you about the official duties of a JAG?!
I'm not sure he knows I'm a JAG. Or was a JAG. I mentioned, when I first went to his office, that I wanted to talk to him lawyer to lawyer – but I don't think he really heard me through his righteous indignation.
So, what are you going to do?
I guess I'll e-mail Admiral Chegwidden. Unless you think that would make it worse?
Worse? No, I don't see how it would – especially if you explain you don't think the pilots are blameless. I think the only reason the admiral might be upset is if he thinks you're criticizing the JAG but not the pilots.
Oh no – those kids definitely need a wake-up call – unfortunately, I think this isn't going to work that way.
You don't think facing court martial will scare them straight?
I seriously doubt it would even get to a Captain's mast – even if I stayed completely out of it.
Which will leave the pilots thinking it was just a legal weenie temper tantrum – that they are untouchable – and will leave them with even less respect for the position of the shipboard JAG. If they don't respect the position, they won't respect the things he briefs them on – like the rules of engagement.
They wouldn't disregard the rules of engagement no matter how poorly they think of the JAG lt., would they?
I'm afraid they would. Especially if getting out of these charges adds more inflation to their egos. Then they get in a situation with the adrenaline flowing it only takes one poorly considered choice for disaster to strike.
And you were worried about them ignoring the rules before this already, weren't you? I know you said something bad would happen if the situation wasn't resolved. I didn't put it together before – I thought you meant an exchange of words – but you meant a war crime, didn't you?
I'd say, as of today, we've had the exchange of words. I was already concerned that in their search for excitement, adventure and glory they'd cross the line - but now … … yes. I think the situation could have disastrous consequences – not the least of which would be a war crime.
What does the CAG have to say about all of this? Does he know?
He was standing right there – heard the whole thing. In fact, I can't be sure, but he may have been the one to laugh the loudest.
Does the JAG lt. know that?
I'm certain he noticed.
?
Yes, the lt. is preparing charges against him too.
That's going to backfire. I mean I don't know Cpt. Weston but Boone wouldn't stand for that.
This situation wouldn't happen in an airwing Tom commanded. I know he isn't the easiest to get along with but he'd never put up with this behavior.
Boone doesn't like lawyers though.
Tom doesn't like anybody so hide-bound, or by-the-book, that they cannot adapt to the real world. Which describes many shipboard JAGs he's encountered during his career. But…
But?
But he IS extremely aware of the importance of the rules of engagement and what happens when they are violated. And he beats the necessary level of respect for those rules into every single member of his airwing.
How? How would he make young snot nosed pilots care?
Well, firstly by modeling that respect. You know he can be contentious with JAGs but his pilots don't. And anybody who doesn't follow suit gets grounded and spends their on-duty hours at PT or KP, or cleaning the enlisted personnel's head with a tooth brush. And their off-duty hours researching and writing an essay about past instances where pilots screwed up and nearly caused WWIII or got lucky and spent the rest of their life in prison. It works.
I believe it! How do you know about his methods? You haven't experienced them, have you?
No – I've just heard about it – both from Tom and from a pilot or two that swore to its effectiveness.
So, is Cpt. Weston not as … scary?
He has a different style of leadership. It isn't to my taste but everybody is different.
Has he had problems like this with previous JAGs?
Not that I know of but Cpt. Weston was the DCAG on the last deployment – at least according to Tuna and Skates who have been with the Raptors longer than anybody else flying tomcats this cruise.
DCAG?
Deputy CAG.
Oh! So, he's pretty new and most of the squadron are pretty new and the JAG is new – so this is all a result of inexperience?
Inexperience and a dearth of strong leadership are the major issues I see – and will testify to such if this continues to go to hell.
Have you considered counseling the CAG? Explaining the legal ramifications better than the JAG lt. seems capable of doing?
Not really – he's my C.O. Do you think I should go up to a man who out ranks me by two grades and say, "Excuse me, sir, but you really need to take a firmer hand with the pilots and the JAG." ? Would you in my place?
No that wouldn't go over well with any senior officer. So, you'll e-mail the admiral?
Yes. Today. Even if he won't read it until after the staff meeting Monday – which may well be too late for it to serve as a preemptive warning.
Why don't you write up a letter or a letter and a report and e-mail them to me. I'll print them and run it out to McLean after I visit Bud and Harriet this afternoon.
Are you sure you want to put yourself into the middle of this mess?
Of course, I want to help you!
Okay, I'll do that – if you'll take it to him, I'll also send it to his e-mail in case he wants to leave you out of it.
That'll work well. Do you need to call a halt to our date and work on that?
No! I already have some of a report drafted and can knock out the rest and a letter in an hour or so. Besides we haven't had a chance to really chat – just discuss this mess.
So – how did Brumby take the return of his flowers?
I don't know. I secured for the week just as he and Mattoni were getting out of court. The new gunny distracted him and I and my beautiful roses, my sweet boyfriend sent me, slipped out without him seeing us.
Nice of the gunny – did you tell him why you wanted Bugme distracted?
I didn't ask him to – he'd seen my reaction to that hideous bouquet and that I'd returned it to Brumby then he saw me leaving, taking my roses, and stepped into the breach like a good Marine.
Oo-rah!
Exactly. Oo-rah!
Still, it would be nice (funny) to know how Bugme reacted.
I'll likely find out later when I see Bud as he was in the bullpen chatting with the gunny just before and I bet he witnessed whatever happened. He was with me when the damn thing was delivered so I'm sure he was too interested not to pay attention.
Well, of course, he has to keep an eye on things for Harriet with her out on maternity leave.
Yes – and he warned me yesterday that he told Harriet about the roses. She was there earlier to show off Little AJ but left before they were delivered. Bud says she's crazy excited for my visit today and some "girl talk" – apparently, she's going a little stir crazy.
I bet. With Bud back at work this week she doesn't have anybody to talk to except the cute little dirty diaper machine.
Oh Harm! Where did you ever hear a baby described that way?
I've heard something similar many times. There are two that stick out. Tom Boone described me as a loaf of bread sized person that did nothing all day but fill diapers. And Keeter says his sisters always complain their kids' primary function is to make laundry. And I guarantee neither of them used the word 'cute'.
Does that mean pilots are programed not to want kids?
Keeter and Tom are both fairly anti-kid. But it can't be a pilot thing – because this pilot definitely wants to have kids with you!
Good! How many?
I always figured since the woman has to do all the work of carrying and birthing that she got to pick the number of kids.
That's sweet and I don't think I'd probably be up to building a football team – but I think it should be a joint decision.
I'm fine with it being a joint decision as long as we are clear that the mom gets the final say. That you get the final say.
Okay. Agreed. But how many are you thinking?
Well, thinking back I was lonely a lot as a kid – and I know you've told me you were too – so I'd say I'd like at least two but will love and cherish as many as God gives us.
I like that answer. I think I might like a big family. Five or six kids. Although that would likely depend on how well we cope with one and two.
I think that sounds like heaven. What kind of timeline are you thinking for number one?
Despite what we said the day AJ was born I don't want to wait five years.
Me either – I suppose it depends on how fast our relationship moves. I know its old fashioned and maybe a little outdated but I'd really prefer to be a husband before I'm a father.
I don't think I've heard you say anything positive about marriage before.
Well, I've never before dated anybody I wanted to marry.
Wow! I'm really surprised. I guess I thought you weren't interested in ever getting married.
No – I've always known that if the right woman came along, I'd want to get married. Are you so surprised because it doesn't interest you?
Honestly, I've really not given it much thought. My parents' marriage wasn't good and neither was mine to Chris. I guess I never thought my life would lead me to a place – or a man – where that was an option.
Can I ask, why you agreed to marry Chris?
You don't have to answer.
I can answer but … well … I don't remember agreeing to marry Chris – or much more than vague flashes of the actual wedding as I was, unsurprisingly, for that time in my life, completely hammered.
I'm sorry.
Me too. Yet more moments from my past that aren't remotely pretty.
Does your past experience mean you wouldn't be open to considering it in the future? In our future?
No. I think I'd be quite open to it but as I've not witnessed many successful marriages can it be another thing that if we do it, we do it our own way?
Absolutely. And since you don't like surprises, we could discuss our options a lot before any official proposal. Would that work for you?
Yes! I think that sounds wonderful!
Yay! So less than five years on number one? We're decided?
We're decided. How much less were you thinking?
I don't know. I think a lot of that will depend on your willingness. I'd say it might be fun if number one wasn't too much younger than AJ so they can be playmates. But that sounds like I'm rushing you and I don't mean to. Just know that when you're ready so am I.
I think our kids and the Roberts' kids being friends would be wonderful. You might wish you'd not been so blasé about the timing when I'm arranging conjugal visits for the middle of your deployment!
Don't get my hopes up like that! Now you showing up here just to make love (and a baby) is going to feature in every single dream I have for the next six months.
hahahahaha
I think we need a subject change before I become too excited. Have you decided what you're going to reveal to Harriet during your girl talk?
Well, I'm definitely not going to give away your identity or everybody we know will know before Monday morning staff call.
True.
I intend to gush about how great my guy is but also explain that we want to build our relationship without any added outside pressure so are keeping it pretty quiet for a while.
I think that's perfect. When are you supposed to get there? Are you going for dinner?
No just a mid-afternoon visit. Apparently, we should have both some time to chat while AJ naps and some time to play with him. Harriet says he's usually pretty playful after his afternoon nap.
I bet that'll be lots of fun! Do you need to get going? I'd love to chat with you forever but isn't it almost midafternoon there now?
Yes – I'll have to sign off soon. But first, I want to say this last week has been one of the best of my life – I've never been this happy or hopeful before – and it's because of you. I miss you so much but I also love the e-mails we've exchanged this week. I've never felt closer to another human being despite how far apart we are.
I miss you too – so much! I'm ashamed to say I'd almost welcome this situation with the JAG lt. blowing up if it would bring you out to see me. I was so scared to take a chance on bringing up the possibility of us but it's the best risk I've ever taken.
I love you!
I love you, too!
Have fun with Bud, Harriet, and the baby. I'll have the letter and report for Chegwidden to you within an hour or so.
I will – and I'm going to mention e-mailing with you – so I'll tell them "hi" and give the baby Uncle Harm cuddles! Please keep me updated about the situation there – and stay safe!
I will. I'm in the air again at 0300 zulu for twelve hours or so. I'll do my best to e-mail when I'm down and done. And you need to write to tell me what Bud has to say about Bugme and the flowers! I'm so curious.
I am too.
If it comes up you should be honest about him hassling you. Bud would make a good witness if things go sideways.
I am NOT trying to tell you what to do.
I know. I appreciate your concern – and I promise to be honest if it comes up. I have to go now. Miss you. Love you.
Me too. Always.
Author's Note: I hope that wasn't too confusing. Thanks for reading! ~Vi