Ch02 of "Comforted by his brunette – The Visit" – "Home Comforts"
AU: November 2003. Harm is working for Mattie and meets Jenn Coates at Loren Singer's gravesite. A new life-course branches off as he decides whether to return to JAG.
A.N: THANK YOU: to the readers who advised me on revising and extending the content of Chapter One (which has now been re-written and revised to include the text of the 2015 story "The Visit" by the late author byrthelm.) Your advice and votes were appreciated and I have now revised Ch01, uploading on 28-OCT-2024. I hope that you will enjoy re-reading the revised and extended Chapter One of this story. Then, this chapter two is "the morning after the night before". Mike
A/N: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any character created by myself". See Ch 01 for 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. Mike
Canon Episodes: Hopping back and forth between the end of Season Eight (May 2003) and the AU branch that is coming, away from the rest of Season 9.
"Pas de Deux" – broadcast May13,2003 (S08Ep23): working with Catherine Gale (and more!)
"Tangled Webb, Part 1" – broadcast May20,2003 (S08Ep24) – into the flames…
"A merry little Christmas" Harm gains Mattie as guardian after Mac speaks with her father – S09Ep11 - December12,2003
"What If?" (episode 200) – Coates promoted to P/O 1st class – S09Ep18 - March12,2004
?"There goes the neighbourhood" – Pia Bonfilio – S10Ep08 - ?
Characters from FFNET – H Rabb; Jennifer Coates: (later) Mattie Grace: Catherine Gale.
A/N: Published 28-OCT-2024: Moving onwards from their accidental meeting at Loren Singer's grave in Arlington (inspired by the 2015 FFN story "The Visit").
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Sunday morning, 2nd November 2003
Apartment of Harmon Rabb, north of Union Station, Washington DC, 20002, USA
Jennifer finally untangled herself from Harm's legs and headed for the bathroom around 0830hrs. It was definitely "head call" time.
Amazed by the wall of glass bricks (she had not noticed in the dark last night), she attended to her immediate needs then stood in ecstasy for some time beneath the wonderful power of the shower in the bathroom. She imagined his hands, once again running freely over her body as they had done, for much of last night.
It was just *so* wonderful to be able to luxuriate in the flow of water without fearing that three housemates were forming a queue at the door. She sighed – back to reality tomorrow, rushing to get into uniform before the Monday morning commute to JAG HQ in Falls Church. Of course, His Lordship would be swanning off tomorrow morning, down to Charlottesville on his motorbike for what he had described yesterday as an "1100hrs take-off" for his crop-dusting duties.
He had explained the commitment – and Jenn knew that, for Harm, a commitment was everything. Just look at how he had protected her on the day of their very first meeting.
She suddenly had a vision of joining him one day on a ride out, in matching motorcycle leathers.
This would be limited to "Weekend Rider" activity, of course – because someone (Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer Coates) had to keep the Admiral on the straight and narrow back in JAG HQ during the week.
But the idea of future activities with Harm held a wonderful attraction – especially getting out on his motorcycle for the run down to Charlottesville. She daydreamed for a moment, imagining the feel of his powerful motorcycle throbbing away between her legs...
She hadn't ridden for some time, since Tiny and the Grunge Gang had taken their "chicks" for a ride out. In a short skirt, leather vest and cowboy boots, she would have had no chance of survival if Tiny had messed up the ride.
Oh God – Tiny! To think that she had nearly given herself to that slob during her last liberty, barely weeks before this tall, dashing Naval Officer had saved her from the worst of the consequences of her youthful stupidity: and now he was lying, sated, in the bed where she had given him her most precious gift last night….
"Well, Jennifer Anne Coates, at least you won't be a 29-year-old virgin next week".
Losing her Mom before Jenn had even reached her 16th birthday had robbed her of wise female counsel just as the world (and men!) had begun to look seriously – and admiringly – at "the Preacher's daughter".
She hoped, with all her heart, that this was just the start of something truly special with Harm. An observant woman (both from innate instinct and from her "grifting" con-artist days), she had noticed that he had seemed so beaten down - with a darkness behind his eyes - when they had first met at the cemetery yesterday, but he had steadily brightened during their time together. Then, last night, she had seen a massive shit-eating grin on his face as he had looked down into her soul as he...
"Whoa, steady girl; this may have just been a one-night stand".
Somehow, she doubted that likely outcome – although she DID definitely feel a little sore "down there".
Was this normal following a night of passion? She had no idea - but she was certain that further research (ideally with Harm) was definitely indicated!
Wiping the steam from the mirror, she looked critically at herself as she wrapped a second towel around her wet hair. She was definitely not a "Fallen Woman" – despite the years of staying celibate in deference to her father's "fire and brimstone" preaching.
She wondered if Harm realised that he had awakened a womanly tiger, whose needs would continue to develop….
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Pulling on a robe, Jenn headed back to the bed and leaned in, gently, nuzzling Harm beneath his right ear.
With a grunt, he surfaced. "Morning darling".
"Hey good lookin': Happy Sunday" she replied, leaning in.
Harm wasted no time in exploiting the opportunity. His hand reached out, then trailed down the gap in her robe, one finger-tip tracing a path under her sensitive left nipple as he looked across briefly at one of the loft windows.
"And good morning, Jennifer. Looks nice and bright out there."
"Agreed – it is a lovely Sunday morning, Harm, just a little after nine. Look Harm, I need caffeine and I remember the way you adjusted the Colonel's USMC tar formula into something drinkable. So, I am going to learn my way around your kitchen once you make the coffee, oh my wonderful ex-sailor and ex-CIA agent, whilst you may go shower."
"Aye-aye ma'am – but not just yet. Jennifer, please come here."
He pulled back the bedclothes and patted the mattress alongside him.
She settled where instructed, then leaned in to kiss him once more, as his hand continued to explore the gap in her gown. Jenn relished the closeness – this was a new experience for her and she was growing ever more certain that this mature lover was what she needed to teach and train her in the arts of lovemaking.
"Jennifer, in case you are in any doubt: let me be clear and unequivocal. I want more and I want 'us' to continue - but only if you do as well; I've always believed in the woman's right to chose."
She felt the heat rising in her freshly-showered body. How the heck could this wonderful man have such an effect on her with just two fingers?
She kept her answer short: "Yes, Harm. Me too".
At that point, she knew that she needed more – and she realised what Sarah Mackenzie had deliberately (or even petulantly) turned down. The betting in the bull-pen had been running for years, whilst the two protagonists never seemed to get their act together. Too late now post-Paraguay, because she knew that Harm had definitely moved on – and he had, hopefully, moved on with Jennifer Anne Coates.
She could have oh-so-easily returned under the bedclothes, but she took the active decision to place a fingertip on his lips and step away, off the bed, closing her robe and tying the belt in a decisive knot.
"You, Caveman - coffees, then shower, shave – then who knows?"
"Are you sure, oh Miss Coates?" he raised one eyebrow quizzically, then unleashed the "Flyboy smile" - as he pulled the bedclothes back!
Oh God! She felt herself moistening again, taking an involuntary step towards his bed once more.
Then she raised an admonitory finger to restrain him and then headed to drag her hairdryer out from her seabag.
The thought landed unbidden in her mind: "I'd like to do this every morning - without the seabag of course!"
But not now – she needed caffeine and a replacement of the calories which they had actively burned off during the previous night's exercises. Standing tall, she raised a finger in admonishment to him, then stepped back and away into the galley.
They had the rest of the day available; she needed to be back at the shared house in sufficient time to iron the uniform which she had laundered before she had headed out to Loren's grave yesterday. Her time was the most controlled. Plus, he wasn't in the Navy (or CIA) anymore and had told her that he was single. They both now knew, with certainty, that the other was available…
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She was still daydreaming, warm in her towels and robe, half-listening to Harm singing in the shower, when the rattle of a key in the apartment door drew her attention.
A petite blonde woman, wrapped up against the autumn chill, stepped into the apartment.
Wearing a beautiful form-fitting knee-length leather coat, she carried a porta-crib which contained what looked like a two-month old baby.
The new arrival placed the porta-crib gently on the side-table, tossed her keys into the bowl by the door, unbuttoning her coat as she called out "Hi Honey, I'm home!"
She pulled off her long black gloves, revealing ring-free hands – apart from a wedding band on the third finger of her left hand!
Jennifer stood there, open-mouthed, as the woman removed her coat to reveal a tight grey knitted dress (showing a slight post-pregnancy "mummy tummy"). She then leaned down to unzip her long glossy black boots (definitely a military connection here, thought Jenn), which she then leaned against the wall. She looked down at her feet.
"Darn, cold floor; Harm's gotta sort out this heating."
She looked up at Jenn and smiled, then advanced, holding out her hand.
"Hi, my name's Catherine Gale – and I'm Harm's wife".
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End of Ch02 of "Comforted by his brunette – The Visit" – "Home Comforts"
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Mike, UK, 28-OCT-2024
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Next Chapter – "Ch03 – Working title…"