AN, This storyline is a crossover using with the series JAG and mention of the lead female character from the series Bones. This will take a different AU plot from my two previous JAG crossovers which were sequels.

JAG Lawyers

Chapter 1 - Reporting For Duty

Major Katherine Beckett, USMC, JAG Lawyer, is reporting for duty at JAG Headquarters at the Washington Navy Yard. Her immediate top boss is none other than the Navy Judge Advocate General, himself, Rear Admiral Harmon Rabb, JR.

She stands at full attention at the front of his desk. Once he turns up his face from reading her records, she speaks out in a very military manner.

"Maj. Katherine Beckett, reporting for Duty as ordered, Sir!"

"At Ease, Major", commands the Admiral.

Kate assumes Parade Rest Position.

"Quite a record you have Major. NROTC out of NYU, top of the class, where you took pre-law, graduating Magna Cum Laude, then Top of the Class also out of Marine Training Base Quantico, Platoon Leaders School, and top marks out of flight training in Pensacola. NATOPS qualified in the Cobra Attack Helicopter as a combat attack pilot. Also NATOPS qualified in the C-130 cargo plane. Shot down in combat during a mission in the Gulf War and sustained injuries that then stopped you from flying combat attack helo's. Continued to fly as a cargo pilot flying C130's until you were approved to complete your Law degree out of Harvard Law, and then finished in the top 10 of the Law Board Exams. This will be your first tour of duty as a JAG Lawyer."

Evident on both the JAG and the Major's Uniforms are the wings they wear on the breast of their uniform above the one pocket. These are Naval Aviator Wings, flight wings worn by all pilots in the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and the US Coast Guard. These wings of gold are awarded to pilots who fly the Sea's and Ocean's of the world. Most have Carrier tours completed. Major Beckett having had duty on the smaller air craft carriers of the Amphibious Fleet where marines were assigned for duty. Major Beckett having served on the smaller LPH and LPA carriers that support Marine Infantry Forces. Those land forces affectionately called 'grunts' by most.

Admiral Rabb himself being a former F-14 Tomcat Fighter pilot before he switched to the JAG Corp due to night blindness. That malady had kept him grounded from flying night combat missions and also performing night carrier operations. That was a definite show stopper for a Navy Fighter Pilot. The Admiral himself had some over forty carrier takeoffs and landings, a distinguishing achievement for Naval Aviators. The admiral chose not to fly cargo missions as a cargo pilot, as the Major had done, when he received his medical disability for combat flight duty. The Admiral chose a transfer to the Navy JAG Corps in lieu of flying cargo aircraft.

"Do you intend to keep up your flight hours?"

"Yes I do, Sir. As the Admiral is well aware, all marines are considered infantry men, grunts as it is termed in military lingo. So despite being a marine pilot or marine JAG lawyer, one can be called back to combat and not necessarily in one's combat specialty. As a marine pilot one could very well find one's self as platoon leader for an rifle platoon serving as a grunt. So yes I need to keep my combat and flight skills up."

"Right you are major. The navy has staff corps, such as the medical corps and JAG corps. These are assigned to Marine Combat units in time of conflict. So the Corps always has its cadre of Navy Doctors, nurses and other Navy staff corps to support them. Marines always dislike being reminded they are part of the Navy during times of war. Hopefully if you are called to combat you will go as a Combat JAG to a marine unit. There at that assignment, you would be advising the Commanding Officer of the Marine unit on Rules of Engagement and other legal matters on their combat missions relative to Geneva Convention rules and International Laws of Wartime Conduct for fighting forces. Violations of such rules would make one a war criminal subject to prosecution after the conflict", the Admiral tell her.

He then continues, "So to keep up your flight skills, the Naval Air Facility on Andrews Air Force Base is the host command for Marine ONE. You can maintain flight hours with that squadron. I myself maintain my flight hours although I have no chance of flying any war-time mission. Although keeping up your flight hours does have it's perks. My last tour with POTUS, I actually took a leg of the trip, piloting right seat on Air Force ONE. The President said it was good to know that his Naval Lawyer could double as a pilot!"

Both get a chuckle from that one remark by the Admiral.

"As this is your first JAG tour of duty, I am assigning you to my top JAG Team headed up by my top Lawyer, LCDR Rick Rodgers, and his team partner, LtJG Jim Olson. You will come on as the second chair to the Commander for courtroom duty and as his senior partner for JAG investigations. Although Jim Olson is a Lieutenant Junior Grade he is up for promotion to full Lieutenant and though junior to you in Rank, he has about 4 years experience over you as a JAG lawyer. So learn from him. I know the Marine Corps is very rank conscious, but in the Navy, we are not as strict. I recall when I reported to one of my combat squadron, my sponsor and wingman was a Lieutenant JG. I had just put on rank as a full Lieutenant. As my sponsor, although junior in rank, he taught me the ropes of being in the squadron. The Marine Corps would have had someone of equal rank or higher rank in a similar situation."

The Major knows where the Admiral is coming from, so she clarifies, "That rank protocol applies mostly to the grunts, Admiral. Marine pilots tend to follow much of Naval Aviation practices, flight experiences trumps rank. As a young Marine Captain, I trained a new pilot who had just got his wings and had just put on Major. Technically he outranked me, but I also had two years experience at the squadron, so LTJG Olson's rank will not be a significant matter for my training."

"Well, I am glad to hear that is the case with Marine pilots, who after all are Naval Aviators, so still follow Naval Aviation practices regardless of Marine Corps protocol. So let me call in your new team for introductions."

"Even in Marine Infantry Units, it is not unusual for the Sargent Major, or Senior Enlisted Advisor, to give the C.O. his 'advice' on a mission, so that is in effect teaching for the Senior from a Junior position."

"Comment well taken Major, so let's bring in your team for an initial intro and brief."

When her team was called in, there was a bit of a surprise when she was introduced to her senior partner and team leader.

"Castle! How is it that you now are known as Rick Rodger's?"

"I reverted to my given name as opposed to my Nom de plume which you knew from our NROTC days at NYU."

"So the two of you have a past history?", queries Admiral Rabb.

"Yes Sir, we do Admiral. I knew Commander Rodgers as Midshipmen Rick Castle from our college NROTC unit at NYU. He was quite the celebrity back then becoming a top selling author with a best selling novel by end of graduation as college student. We all called him Castle back then. He has written other best selling novels since while continuing his day job as a JAG lawyer."

"And that Beckett is why I assumed my given name as opposed to my celebrity name, the status of which is a distraction. I did not want to explain it and recite repeatedly my tale of becoming a best selling author while still as a college student. Let alone how I can continue to write despite a full time day job. Did not want that happening each time at every one of the different Commands I would report to as a JAG lawyer."

"Well, I will have to get used to calling you Rodgers instead of Castle."

"If it helps you can continue to call me Castle, I respond equally well to both names."

"Well, the two of you seem to have that well in hand, so as you were", responds Admiral Harmon Rabb to them after their discussion as he returns to his office,

"Aye, Aye Sir", both say as the Admiral leaves them on their own.

"Beckett, this is Jim Olsen, my junior partner", Castle says making the introductions.

"Please to met you Jim."

"The pleasure is mine Major."

"Call me Kate when not in formal company with other Military present."

"Well, then thank you for that Kate."

Introductions done, Jim Olson continues to brief the Major on their current case load and then gives her the tour of JAG HQ spaces. They review the procedures for duty watch officer which each officer gets every two weeks. He then goes over the chain of command for JAG HQ pointing out the Department Heads and giving a brief summary on them. Lastly, he takes her to the Law Library a frequent location for all the lawyers and enlisted Legal Man, a rating that serves as military law clerks. All in all, it was a good first day for Major Beckett.

Once shown to her office by Jim Olson, Kate makes herself at home at her new desk and continues to move in by fixing up her desk with her personal and work items. One of those personal items being an expensive scale model of the Cobra Attack Helo that she proudly displays on the top of the low bookcase behind her desk.

Upon seeing the model, Rick Rodgers-Castle responds, "That's right, you went flight status after we got commissioned."

"That's correct, Castle, but I no longer fly combat missions due to injuries I sustained after being shot down during the Gulf war."

"Sorry to hear about that Beckett."

"Don't be Castle. I walked away alive after being shot down, and that for a Naval Aviator is reward enough."

"Well, Aye, Aye to that Beckett."

"So now I have a new start as a Marine JAG Lawyer."

"We are glad to have you on board. Get your sea legs in shape and then we can navigate a case! Olsen can help you with that, when you're ready we can dive in."

"I'll let you know when I am ready to take the stick, that should not take long."

"Affirmative to that Beckett, I would not expect anything less."

"I wouldn't have it any other way Castle."

Rick Rodgers was pleased having his new partner in Kate Beckett. She was the top of their NROTC class, but he had come in a close second. The two were always competitive with each other but had developed a strong friendship. They had been close during college days, and although the two never did become romantic, each was extremely fond of the other. At the time, Rick thought it inappropriate to be romantically involved with a fellow midshipmen and had not let the relationship go beyond friendship. Kate had been of a similar opinion. Now as her team leader, LCDR Rodger's would keep that distance.

Despite several failed relationship since college, Rick was still quite single and currently available with no commitment. He wonders if Kate is in a similar situation. Rick knew that he would soon find out about that status. LCDR Rodgers was very happy with his new team partner and looked forward to his tour of duty with her. He could not help but wonder what adventures were in store for them as JAG lawyers.