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Title: Flashbacks
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Rating: 13
Summery: A set of prequel stories to Gold Winds and Dress Whites that looks at Harm and Sera’s relationship over the years.
Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.
Author's Note 01: When I wrote Gold Wings and Dress Whites, I created a background for Sera and a brief concerning her relationship with Harm. How they meet, and what happened from that moment on. Which led to this chapter and the chapters that will follow. You may want to read Gold Wings and Dress Whites first though to understand these prequel stories. I hope you enjoy them. If you do or don’t, please let me know. Either a review or email me, I don’t mind which. Anyway enough from me enjoy chapter one – A.S.
Author’s Note 02: Chapter One takes place after both Harm and Sera have finished with the Naval Justice School and received their posting. (In the real JAG universe it would be just before the pilot episode) Parts of this Chapter are mentioned in Chapters One and Four of Gold Wings and Dress Whites.
Chapter One: July 1995
July 1995
The Fantail Night Club
Washington DC.
Sera waited patiently in line next to Harmon Rabb, Jr. What the hell was she doing going to a nightclub with her husband’s friend, very sexy friend. Damn this was a bad idea. Her feelings for Harm were jumbled at the best of times; she shouldn’t have been doing this.
Harm squeezed her hand. “Relax, you’re going to love this place.”
She nodded forcing a smile. “You’ve been here before?”
“Once or twice,” he admitted as they moved closer, keeping her hand firmly in his. It gave good appearance and stopped unwonted advances for both of them.
Finally they were waved inside the club, a live band was playing near the dance floor, which was crowded with people.
“So what do you think, Sera?” he asked leaning close.
Her pulse quickened at the feel of his breath on her ear, she was married after all. “It’s fantastic, lets dance sailor,” she insisted dragging him onto the dance floor.
He chuckled and let her do it. It was so easy to let go with her and just be Harm. Not Lieutenant Rabb - ex-aviator and now JAG lawyer. No to Sera he was just Harm, he didn’t need to be anyone else.
The music changed to something more slowly and he drew her into his arms, holding her close. There was nothing wrong with this they were friends after all.
“So is Corey excited about going to Pearl?” he asked, not having to shout this time.
“Over excited more like it, it’s the first time he’s been to Hawaii.”
“Well than what ten year old wouldn’t be.”
Her smiled softened, every time Harm spoke of her son his blue eyes warmed, he could have been talking about his own son and not hers. She rested her head against his shoulder, her body pressed close against his. Closing her eyes she let herself move with him in time to the music. She’d done this plenty of times with Chris, but it never felt so – right. Not like it did with Harm. God had she made a mistake in marrying Chris, she’d been so young and they hardly spent a lot of time together. In fact she’d spent more time with Harm in the past three years, then she had her own husband. It had been Harm who’d been there when she’d miscarried, Harm who had held her after her surgery, who had helped her recover. It was Harm she had a special bond with – they were kindred sprites in a way.
Subconsciously Harm stroked Sera’s back. God he shouldn’t feel this way. She was married to his friend. It wasn’t right he wonted to take her back to his apartment and make love to her. To hold her in his arms till morning, to tell her how much he cared for her, needed her in his life. But he couldn’t, she was married and she was leaving. Why couldn’t she have been assigned to Headquarters with him? Why Hawaii? Then they could have? Could have what? God Rabb get a grip, she’s married.
Sera felt his sigh more then heard it, opening her eyes she looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m just going to miss you,” he lied convincingly.
“I’m going to miss you too,” she said gently, than rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks Harm.”
“You’re welcome,” he told her and drew her close once more. Tonight she was his. Tomorrow she could belong to the US Navy once more. Tomorrow she could be Chris’ wife once more. Tonight though she was in his arms and his life.
The song ended and the band announced it was taking a break. Music was piped though the speakers at a more respectable leave for those who still wanted to dance.
“Buy you a drink sailor,” Harm whispered in her ear.
She laughed. “That’s my line squid.”
“Yeah but you’re still not old enough to drink,” he smirked guiding her off the dance floor.
Sera groaned. “I’m sending you a ticket so you can fly over for my twenty-first, than I’m buying you a drink.”
“Honey you don’t have to buy me a ticket, I’ll be on the first plane available,” he found them a table and sat her down. “I’ll be right back,” he dropped a kiss on the top of her head before heading for the bar.
She chuckled to herself nothing Harm did surprised her. Glancing around the club she noticed a young man, a few years older than her waving, she waved back being friendly.
He left the group of people he was with and went over to her. “Sera Mitchell, God look at you, you look great,” he said cheerfully and saw her inquisitive look. “Samuel Johnson, you helped me through algebra.”
She sort of remembered him. “How are you?”
“Great, you?”
“I’m fine.”
Harm returned with their drinks, he put his beer down and Sera’s diet coke in front of her before sitting next to her.
“Umm Harm, this is Samuel Johnson, we went to High School together,” she introduced. “Sam, this is Harmon Rabb, Jr.”
“Nice to meet you,” he shook the man’s hand.
“You too,” Samuel said with a grin, than turned his attention back to Sera. “So what have you been up to? I haven’t seen you since high school.”
“I went to the Naval Academy, than law school.”
“She also got married,” Harm added protectively.
Samuel got the point. “Hey cool. So are you Navy too, Harm?”
He nodded. “Judge Advocate General Core.”
“Well I should head back to my friends, it was nice seeing you again Sera.”
“You too, Sam.”
He smiled uncomfortably and hurried away.
Sera playfully smacked Harm on the arm. “You enjoyed that.”
“I know,” he jeered.
“You didn’t even correct him, he thinks we’re married.”
“I know,” he agreed, grinning. “You didn’t correct him either.”
I didn’t want to, she said to herself. “Well it can’t hurt that much I suppose,” she smirked and they laughed together. God I love him. She realized suddenly and mentally shook herself. I’m not going to do this he’s my friend.
“Hey still with me?” Harm asked, seeing she’d zoned out for a moment.
“Yeah,” she smiled. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he assured. Than took a quick drink. “Don’t forget to ring me when you get settled.”
“I wont,” she said with a smile. “So are you going to the French Embassy for Bastille Day?”
Harm nodded. “I thought I might.”
“With Kate?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Don’t start, Kate is a nice but that’s it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She laughed. “You are so gullible at times Harm.”
“I know,” he sighed. “That’s why you put up with me.”
“True,” Sera dismissed causally and they both laughed.
They spent the rest of the evening talking and dancing; enjoying themselves, just after midnight Harm drove her home. Home being her mother’s apartment, everything in Sera’s apartment had been packed and taken to the house in Hawaii; she and Corey only had what they needed with them.
“I’ll pick up both up in the morning and take you to the airport,” he told her.
“You don’t have to, we can get a taxi.”
“I insist,” he stated, he held her gently by the shoulders and kissed her forehead. “See you later.”
“We’ll be ready at oh seven hundred,” she told him.
“I’ll be here,” giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze, he released her and walked away.
Sera sighed; smiling to herself she went inside. Tomorrow, I’ll deal with saying goodbye tomorrow. She told herself.
******
Harm had arrived early and gotten them to the airport in time, Sera had insisted her family not come to the airport and had said goodbye to them all the morning gone. Since Harm only had a two-seater corvette, they’d taken Sera’s mothers sedan. Harm was going to drop it back and pick up his Vett.
Corey held tight to Harm’s hand as his mother checked them and their luggage in. “Uncle Harm.”
“Yeah kiddo,” he hankered down. “What’s up?”
“Can’t you come with us?” he asked.
God I wish I could. Harm thought to himself. “No kiddo, I’ve been assigned here.”
“But I want you too, you’re like dad, and you make mum happy.”
Oh not fair kid. “I’ll come see you when I get leave, how’s that and I’m sure your dad will be seeing you soon when he gets leave,” Harm told him. “And we can write to each other.”
“Okay,” Corey hugged him. “I’ll miss you Uncle Harm.”
“I’ll miss you to, Corey.”
Sera stopped sharply, seeing her son hugging Harm. It was a beautiful sight and it made her heart break even worse.
“No son should have to be a part from his father,” a soft voice said beside her.
She looked seeing an elderly lady, who smiled warmly. She couldn’t find the words to correct her though. “Actually it’s us who’s leaving, I’ve been reassigned.”
“Oh my dear, the Navy is splitting you up, that’s terrible,” she exclaimed, it was hard not to notice both were in uniform.
“That’s the Navy,” Sera dismissed. “And regulations, excuse me,” she said then hurried over to them.
Corey released Harm, letting him stand, taking his hand again.
“All ready?” Harm asked Sera.
“Yes.”
They found the right gate as the call for passengers to board to given.
Harm hankered down in front of Corey once more. “I want you to look after your mum for me, you’re the man of the house now.”
“I know and I will,” the ten year old assured.
“Good boy,” he hugged him quickly, and then stood.
Corey moved a little, so Harm could have a word with his mum.
Sera gave him a hug. “I’ll miss you,” she whispered.
“I know, “ he said solemnly. “Be careful, I don’t want to lose my best friend.”
“You won’t, you be careful too,”
“I promise, and I always keep my promises.”
She rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Bye Harm.”
“Bye Sera.”
Taking her son’s hand, they moved into line, boarding the plane. She didn’t look back; if she did she wouldn’t be able to get on the plane. If she did it would be all over, her career and her marriage. So she got on the plane with her son.
********************
Chapter Two: January 1997
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania.
********************
Her husband was dead, a training accident the inquiry had concluded. The funeral had been with full military honors, both her husbands and his RIO’s. As the missing man formation had flown above them, she had looked sky would and made a vow, from that day on she was no longer going to let her dreams die; she was going to live them. Live them as Lieutenant Christopher Riggs had lived his.
Sera glanced over her shoulder as soon as she heard the footfalls, seeing Sarah Rabb, Harm’s grandmother. Three days ago she had rang her grandson and had insisted he bring her and Corey to stay a few days on the farm before returning to Hawaii.
Sarah stood beside the young woman. “It’s a beautiful morning,” she noted.
“Yes Ma’am it is.”
“Sera honey, it’s Grams, please.”
Sera smiled warmly. “Are Corey and Harm up yet?”
The older woman snorted. “My grandson up this early, now that would be something.”
Chuckling, Sera agreed. “Corey is a late riser too, I always have trouble getting him up in time for school.”
They’re much a like, Sarah thought to herself. I wonder if Sera has ever noticed it. “Harm was the same, Trish was forever telling him to get up. It’s amazing he’s survived in the Navy.”
“Harm wouldn’t be happy if he wasn’t doing what he is, though I know he misses flying full time.”
“He misses you my dear,” Sarah informed patting her hand. “You and Corey, he thinks of that boy like his own.”
“I know,” tears filled Sera’s eyes. “Corey knows Harm better then he knew his father.”
Slipping her arm around the younger woman as the first tears fell Sarah sympathized. “I know what you’re feeling Sera, I lost my husband too.”
Shaking her head, Sera wiped her tear streaked cheeks. “I don’t think anyone really understands, Grams.”
“Then why don’t you come inside and tell me, maybe than I will,” she said gently.
Reluctantly Sera went with Sarah back into the house, in the kitchen they sat down to a cup of tea.
“Now tell me why I don’t understand,” the older woman said calmly.
“Chris and I had grown apart, I still loved him, but not as strong as I had. I felt deep in my heart I’d made a mistake in marrying him,” Sera began. “We weren’t destined to be together.”
Now the truth comes out, Sarah thought. She’d seen how well Sera and Harm had gotten along on their last visit, Sera had been so at ease with her grandson. “Go on.”
“I was going to request a transfer back to the states and I was going to file for a divorce.”
“Oh Sera.”
“I had the divorce papers all filled out and ready to go when my CO came and informed me of Chris’ death,” her tears fell again. “I ripped them up, I felt so guilty.”
Sarah reached across the table and took her hand. “Sera, honey you didn’t know what was going to happen.”
“I sat there in my office and I couldn’t cry, I just sat there stunned, all I got think of was getting to Corey. He loved his father,” Sera sobbed. “And than I though of Harm, my husband had just been killed and I was thinking of another man.”
“You were reacting, honey. Harm had been there for you every time you needed him, it’s natural you would think of him.”
Shaking her head she wiped her cheeks and stood. “It’s more than that. I couldn’t love Chris any more because I was and still am in love with Harm,” she revealed, and then hurried out of the kitchen.
Sarah sat back, smiling softly to herself. This was something she would keep to herself until the time was right, even though she’d known Sera was in love with her grandson from moment he’d brought her and her son to the farm the first time. Soul mates always seem to find each other. She had found her husband. Harm Senior had found Trish and now Harm and Sera had found each other. Time would tell if they acted on their feelings.
******
Harm walked into the lounge seeing Sera typing on her laptop, which sat on her lap. “You’re up early,” he noted sitting beside her.
“No, you’re just up late,” she smirked good heartedly.
He rolled his eyes at her. “Where’s Corey?”
“In with Grams helping her make breakfast,” Sera informed. She saved what she was working on and than minimized it. The wallpaper that was displayed was a photo of herself, Harm and Corey, taken when Harm had come to visit while on leave.
Harm slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Did you sleep all right?”
“Not to bad,” she answered, and then grinned. “You obviously did, sleep head.”
“It’s the fresh country air,” he mussed.
Sera rested her head against his shoulder, becoming serious. “I don’t know what I would of done without you.”
“You would have managed,” he reassured, and then instinctively kissed the top of her head. “I know you would have,” he quickly changed the subject. “So what were you writing?”
“You’re nosey,” she remarked lightly.
“It’s my nature.”
Chuckling, Sera reopened the program, showing him the letter she’d been working on. Moving the laptop a little so he could read it more clearly.
Harm did, it was a letter to her commanding officer, requesting a change of designator and to attend flight school. He had been expecting his, for as long as he’d known Sera, he knew she loved to fly. He’d taken her flying in his steerman a few times, letting her take the controls since she was an accomplished pilot.
“Harm,” she moved the laptop off her lap and onto the coffee table, turning side on. “I want this, it’s been my dream for so long. A dream I didn’t act on because of my father and because of Chris, but no more. I did the curriculum for aviation at the Academy in my first two years, I can do this, I should have done this from the beginning.”
“Than we would never have meet,” he said solemnly, he cupped her cheek in his hand. He wanted to tell her so much, but he couldn’t not yet it wasn’t time. “I understand though and I’ll help you all I can.”
“Thank you Harm,” she hugged him, feeling the need to be held by him.
Sarah Rabb came into the living room, stopping sharply, smiling at the two of them. Quietly she turned and walked back into the kitchen.
Corey glanced up. “Did you tell Mum and Uncle Harm?”
“No, they need some time alone,” she announced and sat down. “We’ll have our breakfast, they can have there’s when they’re ready.”
“All right,” the nearly twelve year old agreed. Then paused for a moment, thinking before asking. “Grams, does Uncle Harm love my Mum?”
“Yes, though neither are ready to admit it to each other yet,” she answered.
“Did Dad know?”
“I don’t think so dear, why?”
He shrugged. “It’s just Mum wasn’t happy last time Dad visited us, they had a fight and she was sad.”
“Honey,” Sarah smiled reassuringly. “Your Dad loved your Mum, never forget that, but sometimes grown ups well they grow apart.”
“Mum and Uncle Harm never seem too, she’s always happy around him?” there was a little anger in his voice.
“Corey are you angry at your father or someone else?”
His face clouded a little with anger and sadness. “He shouldn’t have yelled at Mum like he did and he shouldn’t have died,” he exclaimed angrily, then got up and rushed out of the house.
Harm and Sera came in, hearing the door slam shut. “What’s wrong Grams?” he asked.
“I think Harm, Corey needs to talk,” Sarah answered calmly. “Sera come and sit down, Harm can handle this.”
She did so, reluctantly. Harm patted her on the shoulder and hurried out of the house, finding Corey in the barn.
“Why did he have to die, Uncle Harm?” the boy asked, tears in his eyes.
“He didn’t want to Core, it was just his time,” he said carefully, coming closer. “I didn’t want to lose my dad when I did.”
“It hurts though Uncle Harm, and I don’t want it to hurt.”
Harm sat beside him. “I know it does, but it want always. You have to remember how much you loved him and the good times you had together.”
“I yelled at him, the last time I saw him, I told him I hated him for yelling at Mum,” Corey told him, his tears slid down his cheeks. “I told him I never wanted to see him again.”
Putting his arm around the boy, Harm let him cry. “He knew you didn’t mean it, Core. He knew you loved him,” he said gently, wondering what Sera and Chris had been arguing over that had upset Corey so much. “And you’ve got a right to be angry, and sad, it’s all natural, but you’ve got to be strong too.”
“I know for Mum.”
“Not only for your Mum, but for yourself also,” Harm told him. “And no matter what happens, you can always talk to me, okay?”
Corey nodded. “What’s going to happen, Uncle Harm?”
Just than Sera came into the barn, Harm saw her and held back his answer.
Corey looked at his mum, waiting until she had sat beside him before asking her the same question. “Mum, what’s going to happen?”
“Corey, I’ve been doing some thinking and I want to do something different in the Navy,” she said carefully.
“Like what?”
“Well I want to go to flight school and be an aviator.”
“Like Dad and Uncle Harm?”
“Yes.”
He though about it for a moment, knowing what it would mean. “Can you do that?”
“I’ll have to put in a request and it’ll have to be approve but yes.”
“I’ll mean a lot of hard work for your mum, Core and then she’ll be assigned to a carrier,” Harm added.
“What will happen to me?” he asked glancing at the two of them.
“Well you could stay with your Grandma in California and go to school there or you could stay in Washington with Grandma Becca,” his mother suggested.
“Could I stay with Uncle Harm?” he asked innocently.
“You can’t kiddo, but you can come visit on your holidays,” Harm told him. “Your Mum will go to Pensacola, Florida to flight school if it’s approved. Perhaps for the eighteen months she’s at Pensacola you and your grandmother could stay near by.”
“We could, so cool,” he agreed trying to sound cheerful, even though it did bother him a little.
“So you don’t mind me doing this, being an aviator?” his mum asked him.
“No,” he shook his head, making his own decision. “You love to fly, and when I grow up I’m going to be an aviator too.”
She smiled and hugged him. She didn’t have to worry about his career decisions yet. “Thank you honey.”
He hugged her back. “I love you Mum,” he whispered, then buried his head against her shoulder as the tears fell. “Just don’t die like Dad did.”
“I want honey, I promise,” she reassured gentle.
Harm drew them both into his arms, this wasn’t going to be easy, but he had a feeling if anyone could accomplish this goal it was Sera. His Sera. His Angel.
********************
4th of July 1997. Pensacola, Florida.
********************
Corey Riggs opened the door grinning. “Uncle Harm, you made it,” he hugged the tall Naval officer.
“I wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to spend Fourth of July with you, Core.” Harm told him, grinning his flyboy grin.
Sera Riggs came up behind her son. “Corey, let Harm in.”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“And go help your Grams in the kitchen.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he said reluctantly and hurried to do so.
Sera shut the door when Harm came in, admiring him.
He turned, seeing her expression. “What?”
“I was just checking out what they say about gold wings on whites,” she smirked.
“And?” he asked teasing, as he dropped his cover on the side table.
“Not bad, but then again I always think that,” she smirked with enthusiasm.
“You’re bad,” he mused, and than gave her a friendly hug.
“I know,” Sera remarked, stepping back quickly. “Come on, I’ll show you too your room. You have to bunk with Corey, I hope that’s okay?”
“It’s fine, are you staying?”
She opened the door to her son’s room. “I am.”
“Good.”
Since arriving in Pensacola Sera had been staying on the base, than at the house her mother-in-law and son were renting most weekends. “Which means?”
“Well I have this case I’m working on and I could use someone to brain storm with me,” he revealed butting his bag on the spare bed, turning.
Sera chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “You forget councilor, I’m an aviator now, not a lawyer.”
Harm rolled his eyes. “Who’ll end up being the wing legal.”
“Oh all right,” she agreed in mock annoyance.
“Thanks Sera.”
She lent off the doorframe and took a step forward; rising on her toes she kissed his cheek and got a good smell of his aftershave. I am so over my head with him, she thought to herself. “I’ll leave you to change.”
“Thanks,” he managed.
Nodding she hurried out of the room, shutting the door as she went. Leaning against it. God why does he have to be so sexy and why do I feel so guilty, I haven’t done anything wrong? Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she continued out into the back yard.
Grandma Elise was at the BBQ with Corey, cooking away. She looked back when she heard the door close. “Where’s Harm?”
“Getting changed, he won’t be long.”
“All right dear.”
Harm strolled out a few minutes late in a t-shirt and shorts; he gave Elisa Riggs a warm hug. “How are you Mrs. Riggs?”
“I’m fine dear, and it’s about time you took some notice and started calling me Elisa,” she insisted.
“Yes Ma’am,” he said, flashing her his best flyboy grin.
“Enough of that young man,” she warned waving her cooking tongs at him. “That sexy smile doesn’t work on me.”
It does me. Sera thought as she set the table. It always has.
Laughing Harm held his hands up in surrender. “It never did if I recall, you always saw right through me.”
“Always, even before you were Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb. Now go help Sera set the table, we’re almost ready,” she ordered.
“Yes Ma’am,” he said quickly then rushed away from her snapping tongs.
Sera laughed. “You are a glutton for punishment, Harm.”
“I know, I just can’t resist,” he jeered.
A few minutes later they sat down to eat; Corey said grace, than the meal began.
“As always Elisa, you’ve out done yourself,” Harm praised.
“Flattery young man will get you every where, except out of doing the dishes,” she teased.
“Don’t worry Harm, they have a dishwasher,” Sera reassured, grinning.
Damn she looks sexy when she does that, he thought to himself. “I bet she still makes Corey wash up occasionally, though?”
The twelve year old groaned. “A lot of the time.”
“That’s enough out of you young man or you’ll be help Harm do the washing up, by hand.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he stated.
After dinner Sera gave Harm a hand to load the dishwasher, and put everything away. Corey headed off to a friends house to set off fireworks with them, on the promise she and Harm arrive later on to join in. Elisa went off to play bridge with a group of ladies she’d met, leaving them alone.
Harm lent against the kitchen cabinet, his arms across his chest admiring the view.
Sera straightened, seeing him staring. “What are you looking at flyboy?”
“Just admiring the view,” he smirked and he had been. Her denim shorts were short and tight; her white t-shirt had Navy written across it in large letters, it was tied in a knote at the front so her stomach was exposed. The only jewelry she wore were gold studs in her ears, that and her Navy ring. What he really noticed was she no longer wore her wedding ring.
She blushed under his gaze. “Do you want to take a walk?”
“Sure,” he lent off the cabinet and followed her out.
Sera grabbed her house keys and hooked them to the belt lop on her shorts after they left the house. The sun was setting and the streetlights were coming on.
“So is it everything you thought it would be?” he finally asked.
“Everything and more.”
Taking a deep breath, Harm slowly let it out and took her hand in his. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” she edged closer, feeling nervous. It wasn’t like this was a date or anything like that Harm was her friend, her best friend. And now. And now what? She wondered. Could they be more?
“Sera.”
She came out of her daze. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Nothing important,” she dismissed. Than changed the subject. “So did you get the new book?”
“I did, thank you,” he released her hand and slipped his arm around her waist, feeling her return the action. “I went and saw Matt and Emily before I left.”
“So how are my brother and niece?”
“They said to say hello and Emily want me to give you something?”
“Oh?”
They stopped, facing each other; Harm drew her into his arms. “She wanted me to give you this,” he lent down and kissed her, a soft gently kiss.
Reopening her eyes, Sera remembered to breath. “My three year old niece told you to kiss me?”
“She did,” he mussed and did it again, this time it wasn’t a friendly kiss, it was more and she returned it, circling her arms around his neck. When they parted both were breathing hard.
“We should.. um..” she began, her voice fading.
He nodded. “Yeah we should,” he agreed. He gave her a smile, and then took her hand, walking with her.
“Should we talk about this?” she asked him.
“We should,” he supposed, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “What ever happens, we’ll take it one day at a time.”
Nodding, Sera agreed. One day at a time. They would do that; soul mates always found each other and it now accrued to her she had found her soul mate in Harm. Now she just to wait until they were both ready and she would wait, she’d waited this long, she could wait a little longer.
********************
Chapter Three: September 1999
USS Patrick Henry
September 1999
********************
Captain Pike came into the Ward Room and spotted who he was looking for. “Commander Rabb”.
Harm stood. “Sir.”
“Can I have a word?”
He nodded and sat when the Captain did. “Is everything all right sir?”
Pike nodded. “We've an aviator and RIO transferring in, they'll be arriving soon. Lieutenants Sera Riggs and Mark Taylor.”
Harm was a little surprised. “Angel and Blades.”
“You know them?”
“Angel I do, I helped Sera change her designator, and we went to law school together?”
“She was a member of the Sabers when they were aboard the Patrick Henry. She then went to the SeaHawk with them, taking over from the Raptors,” the Cag informed. “She has a DFC to her name and has given the President a ride in her Tomcat. She is at the moment Navy's golden girl. Not that she'll be treated any different here.”
“Cag, I doubt Sera will want to be treated different. She's never asked for special treatment.” Harm defended.
“I know all about Sera, Commander and her family. She's had a lot to live up to.”
“I know.” Harm agreed. “It hasn't been easy but she's accomplished everything she's set out to do.”
Pike sat back at the moment, either he was going to have to watch these two or Harm was just playing protective big brother. “Keep Buxton away from her, she doesn't need his cocky attitude forced on her.”
“I'll do that Cag.”
“Good. It's hard enough she looks like a model, without having my pilots acting like they're on heat.”
“I'll keep an eye on Sera, Cag and make sure the boys leave her alone.”
“Thank you Harm.” He stood glancing at his watch. “They should be landing now. Take her under your wing Harm.”
“Aye sir.”
With that said, Captain Pike left.
Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawks came over to Harm and sat where the Cag had. “What was that all about?”
“Lieutenant Sera Riggs, better known as Angel.”
“The same Sera Riggs who gave the President a joyride in a Tomcat?”
“The same. She's been transferred here, the Cag has just gone to meet her and her RIO.”
Elizabeth or Beth as her friends knew her was impressed. “So does that mean Harmon Rabb Jr. now has the official job of big brother?”
“It looks like it.” he smirked.
Andrew Buxton, better known as X-Man, came into the Ward Room a few minutes later with a smug grin on his face. “You should see our new pilot. Wow!”
“She must be a beauty X-Man, your drooling.” Tuna teased him.
“Oh she is.”
“Yeah he just about fell over his tongue when he saw her.” Duke smirked.
Harm had heard enough. He went over to them. “She. Gentlemen is Lieutenant Sera Riggs, better known as Angel.” He informed in a strong command tone. “She has a DFC to her name, which wasn't earned by her looks. You will all give her the respect she deserves. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir.” all said. Knowing not to mess with Harm when he spoke with that tone.
Harm moved to stand in front of both X-Man and Duke. “I suggest you two both keep your opinions to yourself, I won’t to be responsible to what Sera will do to you both.”
“We didn't mean anything by it, Pappy.” X-Man said backing down.
“Good. Because I'd hate to have to clean up after she wipes the floor with you both.” Harm noted. “That beauty holds a fourth degree black belt, in more than one form of martial arts. Clear.”
“Clear Pappy.” both agreed.
Harm saw he got his point across, turning he returned to his table and sat down.
“Mean Harm, but good.” Beth declared grinning.
He merely smiled. He'd enjoyed that.
By the time Sera Riggs and Mark Taylor arrived, X-Man and Duke were happily discussing the day's mission. They looked as she walked past but didn't comment, especially with the look Harm was giving them.
He did smile though when they joined them, standing he gave Sera a friendly hug. “It's good to see you, Sera.”
“You too Harm.”
Mark shook Harm's hand once he'd released Sera. “It's nice to finally meet you in person, Commander.”
“You too.” Harm agreed, than introduced his RIO. “Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawks - Lieutenant's Sera Riggs and Mark Taylor. Angel, Blades, meet Skates.”
They both shook her hand and they sat down.
“So how long have you known Harm, Sera?” Beth asked her.
“Since Law School, Harm and I both went to Georgeton.” Sera revealed. “A few months after we graduated he flew all the way to Hawaii to help me celebrate my twenty-first.”
“He got her drunk.” Mark smirked.
“I did not.” Harm declared.
Sera rolled her eyes. “Yes you did, I woke up with a hangover and I had to be in court that morning.”
Beth laughed. “Did you get there?”
“Just.”
“Thanks to me.” Harm reminded.
She grinned. “Yes thanks to you.” she admitted. “Mind you I had him buying me dinner for the rest of his stay.”
“Which is fitting punishment.” Beth agreed smirking.
“I thought so.”
Their laugher died down when X-Man, Duke, Tuna, Boomer and the other members of the squadron joined them.
Sera tuned in her seat after seeing the expression on Harm's face. The welcoming wagon, she mussed.
“We'd just like to welcome you aboard Lieutenants.” X-Man stated. “If you need anything just ask.”
“Thank you,” she glanced quickly at the badge on his flight suite for his name. “Lieutenant Buxton.”
Mark sat back and watched he liked seeing Sera handle guys like X-Man.
“I'm sure Sera will be able to handle things X-Man.” Beth declared.
“And we've been stationed aboard the Patrick Henry before,” Mark added. “With the Sabers.”
Tuna was impressed, the Sabers were one of the best F-14 squadron's or they had been until their conversion to F/A-18's. He nudged Buxton. “Looks like you're going to have some competition X-Man.”
“Funny Tuna.” he remarked, then addressed Sera again, “So you were a member of the Sabers?” it was a rhetorical question.
She stood, “I was.”
“Sera's father was one of the founding members of the Sabers, when it was a F-4 Phantom squadron.” Harm told them.
“Your father?” X-Man pushed.
“My father, Admiral Ryan Mitchell,” Sera answered, she moved closer to Buxton, standing eye to eye with him. “I don't know what kind of aviator you are X-Man and I wont until I see you action. I do however know what kind I am.” she grinned and saw him swallow hard; knowing Harm was probably trying hard not to laugh about now. “I like competition X-Man.” she emphasized his call sign. “The question is, can you handle it or will you screw the pooch?”
“I don't know the meaning of screwing up.” he retorted. Damn her grin could melt the coldest of hearts. “And the X-Man is never afraid of competition.”
“Neither am I.” she said smoothly.
Mark now stood at her side. “Me either, but than again I fly with her.”
Tuna started to laugh, as did everyone else, all except X-Man who stood their stunned.
Sera smiled. “Gotcha.” she smirked.
Harm and Beth joined them. “Come on Angel, you've played enough. Lets get you settled.” he jeered.
She nodded. “Later X-Man, if you're up to it.”
He grinned despite his embarrassment. “Any time Angel.”
Boomer patted Sera on the back as she walked past to leave with her RIO, Harm and Beth.
Buxton turned, seeing Harm whisper something to Sera before they walked out, which made her laugh.
“Looks like Angel had a big brother to look after her, X-Man. Not to mention a wicked sense of humor.” Duke noted grinning.
“Yeah, looks like it.” he agreed. Then smiled. Bring on round two, he thought.
********************
September 21st 1999
USS Patrick Henry
********************
Captain Pike finished off the briefing and handed out assignments, though before he dismissed his aviators he had one more piece of business to take care off. “Lieutenant Riggs, front and center,” he ordered.
Reluctantly Sera joined the Cag, holding tight to her helmet, she had a feeling she knew what this was about.
“Some of you might be aware of what today is and some of you aren’t,” the Captain began. He smiled. “Today is Angel’s birthday.”
The squad erupted into cheers and whistles and then a rowdy version of ‘Happy Birthday’ coursing Sera to blush hard. She saw Harm grinning at her and knew he was the one who had let it out of the bag.
Captain Pike patted her on the back. “Happy birthday, Sera.”
“Thank you sir.”
“All right lets fly.”
Sera joined her RIO, following the rest of the squad out. Catching up to Harm and Beth, she playfully swatted his arm. “You have not heard the last of this, Pappy.”
“Promises, promises, Angel.” he jeered.
They came on to the flight deck with their helmets on, walking towards their Tomcats.
A photographer’s mate in a green vest approached them. “Sirs, Ma’am, I was asked to get a photo of the birthday girl.”
Sera groaned, this wasn’t happening.
“That would be her,” Harm announced, giving Sera a nudge.
“Would you stand beside of your Tomcat Ma’am?” he asked.
“If I have to do this, then I’m not doing it alone,” she announced and grabbed Mark’s arm, who grabbed Harm’s, who in turn grabbed Beth’s.
The four of them stood beside Sera’s Tomcat, her and Harm together, their RIO’s either side of them. The photo was taken, and then midshipman managing to get one of Sera on her own.
“I’d like a copy of the group shot,” she told him.
“Yes Ma’am.”
“Count us in on one.” the others agreed.
He said he’d do what he could and hurried away.
“You owe me big time, Pappy.” Sera warned him.
“Any time Angel, any time.” he said smiling his flyboy grin. Walking off to his Tomcat with Beth.
Sera shook her head and climbed aboard her own, Mark was already seated, waiting. “Comfy Blades?”
“Yes thanks?” he joked.
She chuckled and settled in, her plane captain making sure they were secure and set to go before climbing down. She closed the canopy, starting up the Tomcat.
“Clear sky’s Angel,” Mark bided, it was something of a tradition for them.
“Clear sky’s Blades,” she acknowledged.
One by one the Tomcats taxied into position and launched off the deck and into the skies.
Sera looked over to the two Tomcats to her left, flown by Harm and his wingman, Tuna. She gave Harm a thumbs up. “See you in a while Hammer.”
“Take it easy Angel.”
“Always,” she said lightly, and then banked, heading away from them with her wingman. The patrol turned out to be routine and they returned to the Patrick Henry without incident. Sera rolled the sleeves of her flight suite up a little as they left the ready room, after they’d been dismissed. She was laughing with Beth. “I sometimes feel like a duck wearing all that gear.”
“So do I,” Beth jeered. “Running in it’s worse.”
Harm rolled his eyes, teasing. “You have a cute waddle though.”
“Typical man,” Sera grumbled light heartedly.
“Well it’s true, Angel,” Mark defended, his fellow male.
Both women groaned as they entered the wardroom, getting a coffee they sat down together, there fellow aviators were wondering in as well, chatting to themselves.
X-Man and Duke came in; since Sera had her back to them they didn’t both to try and hid the cake. However as the room became unusually quiet, it made her look. Both men grinned. “Happy birthday, Angel.”
“Thank you guys.”
“You’re welcome,” X-Man said putting the cake on table.
She saw Harm and Beth smirking to themselves, as was Mark. Looking back to Buxton. “Take a seat Andy.”
“Thanks Angel,” he pulled a chair over and sat down, as did Duke, soon they were joined by Boomer, Tuna and PJ. All shared the birthday cake with them.
“So what did you do for your last birthday, Angel?” Boomer asked Sera.
“I got a promotion and a three day pass, so I got myself a tattoo, it was my birthday present to myself.”
“And where would one find this tattoo, Angel?” Tuna asked grinning.
“Oh I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” she smirked and everyone laughed.
“So Pappy,” X-Man said with a grin. “Do you know where this tattoo is?”
Harm saw Sera frown at him. “I do, but then again I was there when she got it done.”
“So what are we looking for?”
“Gold wings over white Angel wings,” he revealed.
“Harm,” Sera exclaimed and everyone laughed.
“Well if you didn’t want anyone to know, you shouldn’t have taken me with you when you got it done,” he surmised, adding. “Besides it’s cute.”
She groaned again. “You promised not to tell though.”
“No I promised not to tell your father, there’s a difference,” he corrected.
Sera’s roommate, Cassie Ross, patted her on the arm. “Don’t worry, I know where it is and I’ll never tell.”
“Thanks PJ.”
“You’re welcome.”
Mark lent closer to Harm, whispering. “I don’t even know where this tattoo is.”
“I’ll tell you later,” he whispered back.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sera shook her head and stood. “That’s it, I’m going.”
“Me too,” Cassie agreed standing.
As did Beth, joining them. “I could use a shower.”
“It’s a plan,” Sera agreed. “Shall we ladies.”
“We shall,” both agreed and they left together.
The guys sat back and laughed.
“So where is this tattoo, Pappy?” X-Man asked Harm.
“Now that X-Man is on a need to know bases and you don’t need to know.”
“That and he’s afraid of what Angel will do to him if he tells,” Mark smirked.
“Very true,” Harm agreed and the bantering and good humor continued without the girls.
********************
Chapter Four: October 1999
USS Patrick Henry
October 1999
********************
Sera Riggs nodded to the Cag as she passed him. “Sir.”
“Angel,” he acknowledged and kept going.
So did she, standing beside her friend and fellow aviator, Harmon Rabb, Jr. She smiled seeing they’d finished painting his new call sign on his Tomcat. “It looks good. Hammer.”
“Thanks Angel,” he said quietly.
She became concerned. “What’s wrong, Harm?”
“Nothing,” he shook his head. “Nothing at all.”
“What did the Cag want?”
“To wish me luck.”
“Are you going somewhere?”
Harm nodded. This was going to hurt. “Back to JAG.”
Sera stared at him. He was going back to JAG? “Why?”
“Because it’s where I belong, Sera. I’m going nowhere here,” he saw her going to protest and stopped her. “I’m too old and don’t have enough traps. You have more chance of advancing in the squad then I do, pretty soon I’d be taking orders from you.”
She didn’t fully believe that, even though she knew it to be true. “You’re not to old, Harm,” she said softly and then turned on her head and walked away. Tears stung at her eyes, but she wouldn’t let them fall, hurrying off the flight deck and through the ship to the fantail. Gripping the rail until her knuckles were white. Damn it she shouldn’t be feeling this way. She wasn’t losing him; he was going back to JAG. To what he loved, the law, he was a damn good lawyer.
She knew he was there before his hands gripped her shoulders, drawing her against him.
“Do you remember what you said to me, the night I rang and told you I was putting in to change my designator?” Harm asked her gently.
“To follow your heart, which is what you told me after Chris died.”
“That’s what I’m doing now, Sera. I’ve got nothing more to prove, not to myself, the Navy, no one.”
“Will you be happy?”
Not without you, no, he thought, but said something different. “Yes.”
Squeezing her eyes shut, the first tears fell. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise and I’ve never broken a promise yet.”
No you haven’t, not to me anyway, she said to herself. Opening her eyes she turned within his embrace and returned it.
It tore at his heart to see her cry, she was his soul mate, he knew that and yet she wasn’t ready to let go any more than he was. It just wasn’t time. “We’ll see each other. I’ll keep my hours up and qualifications,” he stated. “And you and Corey can some and stay with me while you’re on leave.”
Pulling back she whipped her eyes, smiling a little. “Are you sure we want cramp your style?”
“Well I might have to get rid of my mistress for the time, but I’ll manage,” he jeered grinning that flyboy grin of his. Seeing her smile as well.
“That’s my sailor, a girl in every port,” she laughed.
“Two in some,” he bragged, but his heart sung. She’d called him ‘her sailor’. They both laughed.
“It wont be easy going back.” Sera declared the obvious.
“I know,” he whipped her tear streaked cheeks. “But they’re my family too.”
“Will you stop in and see Matt and Emily, when you get back and give Corey a ring?”
“Sure.”
“So,” she pulled herself together. “Will I get to fly with Hammer before he leaves?”
“I certainly hope so, Angel.”
“So do I Hammer,” she rose up on her toes, hesitating for a moment before kissing him.
He deepened it, pulling her back into his arms. When they did part both were breathing heavily.
Sera blushed and smiled. “I just thought I’d better give you, your birthday present and going away present at once,” she said, and than forced herself to walk away, going inside.
Harm squeezed his eyes shut for a brief minute. Why did he do this to himself? Because he loved her was his only answer.
Beth ran into Sera inside, the look on her face was enough to convince her something was up. “Are you alright Angel?”
Sera nodded. “I just need to be alone.”
Beth grabbed her arm before she could leave. “And perhaps you just need to talk to someone.”
Finally Sera agreed and they went to her quarters, she gestured for Beth to sit down. “Harm is going back to JAG.”
“I know, the Cag just told me,” she saw her friend sit down on the chair she’d pulled from her desk. Now she understood. “How long have you been in love with him?”
“Since law school, when he helped me get over my miscarriage and the surgery.”
“Have you told him?”
“No,” it was a definite answer. “Neither of us is ready for that.”
“Why not? You won’t have regs in the way once he returns to JAG.” Beth put forth the obvious.
“It just wouldn’t work. My first marriage was failing because we were always apart.”
“Angel. Sera, from what you’ve told me of your marriage. It was more then just your husband being at sea that made it fail,” Beth corrected. “You were two different people. Where you and Harm are so much a like, two peas in a pod. And lets admit it, your love for him has survived the distance, you weren’t together after law school. This is the first time you’ve served together. Just tell him.”
“No,” Sera shook her head. “I’m not ready and neither is he.”
“How do you know?”
“I see it in his eyes.”
Beth stood. “If you’re not careful you’ll lose him, Sera.”
“If he really loves me, he’ll wait and he’ll know when the time is right.”
“I hope so Angel.” Beth said quietly and than walked out.
So do I. Sera thought. Getting up she laid down on her bunk. Why did life have to be so complicated? She heard her roommate enter before she perched on the bunk.
“I just heard,” Cassie Ross told her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure, because you look like hell? Cute but hell.”
Sera laughed lightly. “Thanks PJ.”
“No problem,” she grinned. “So you want to come watch ‘Top Gun’ with us.”
“Sure why not,” she got up when Cassie did, standing. “I feel the need for speed.”
Cassie chuckled. “You’ve definitely watched that movie too many times.”
“Tell me about it,” Sera mussed. She was glad she had a friend like Cassie; she always knew how to cheer her up. Just like her other friend and she would wait for him, just as she knew he would wait for her.
********************
Two days later:
********************
“Where is he, Blades?” Sera asked. They’d been engaged by two Mig’s while patrolling the no-fly zone, this was no game both MiG’s were very serious.
“He’s going after Hammer. Turn right now.”
She banked hard, picking up speed. “There he is, hang on Hammer.”
“Get him off my six, Angel.”
She got lock and fired, the MiG exploding in a ball of flame. “One down, Hammer.”
“Thanks Angel.”
“No problem. Where is number two, Blades?”
“He’s coming between us, Angel,” he shouted.
As he said it the MiG shot between them, Sera flying straight though his jet wash, the engines on her Tomcat stalling and she went into a flat spin. “Warpaint, Batman two. We’re in a flat spin, both engines have flamed out, attempting to restart,” she informed and moved quickly to ignite the engines.
From his position Harm watched. “Come on Angel, get it under control,” he whispered. Then after what seemed an eternity he saw both engines ignite and the Tomcat came out of the spin. “Warpaint, Batman leader, Batman two is back in control.”
“Acknowledged Batman leader.”
“Where’s out MiG Hammer?” Sera asked him, a slight waver to her voice.
He looked but didn’t see anything. “Skates?”
“Coming straight at you Angel,” she reported.
“I’ve got him Angel.” Harm stated, he had lock and fired.
Sera banked away from the exploding MiG. “Thanks Hammer.”
“No problem Angel. Lets go home.”
She formed up on his wing and stayed with him. She’d asked to fly his wing this mission, his last mission. She glanced over at his Tomcat. “It was nice flying with you, Hammer.”
“You too Angel, clear skies.”
“Clear skies, Hammer.”
The approached the Patrick Henry and for a brief moment she didn’t want to land, landing meant he would be leaving sooner then later. But it wasn’t meant to be.
“Batman two, this is Paddles.”
She lowered her landing gear and the tail hook. “Paddles this is Batman two.”
“Rodger Batman two, call the ball.”
“Angel has the ball,” she acknowledged and landed smoothly, taxiing out the way to a halt, the canopy opening.
Her plane captain climbed up to her. “Nice work Ma’am.”
“Thank you chief,” she saw him quickly stenciled her kill on the side of her Tomcat. “I bet you’d painted a Tie-Fighter on there if I shot one down.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he said giving her a grin before climbing down.
She and Taylor climbed down, standing next to each other as Harm’s Tomcat landed. “Nice flying up there Angel,” Mark said patting her on the back.
“Thanks Blades.”
They waited until Harm and Beth were climbing down before heading over to them. Harm’s concern was for Sera. “Are you all right?” He asked.
“Yeah, you?”
He gave her his best flyboy grin. “I wasn’t the one in a flat spin, Angel.”
They started inside. “Well you could say I earned my other wings on that one,” she remarked lightly referring to her tattoo.
“You did at that Angel,” he agreed.
Back in the ready room, they changed out of their safety gear and put everything away, both were congratulated by other members of the squadron.
Captain Pike patted Sera on the back. “Nice recovery Angel.”
“Thank you sir,”
“Your ride back to the mainland leaves at nineteen hundred, Harm.”
“Yes sir.”
“Oh and good work out there.”
“Thank you sir,”
He nodded and walked away.
Once they were dismissed, Sera and Harm left together. “Are you all packed?” She asked him.
“Yeah. Did you get the files?”
She nodded. She was taking over as legal wing. “I went through them this morning.”
“Good.”
“Do you want to grab a bit to eat before you leave?”
He knew she was just making conversation to cover up what she was truly feeling. “Sure why not.”
“Okay.”
Through dinner they talked about everything except his leaving, agreeing to met up before he left to take a shower and change. Sera left to do the same thing.
Cassie found her in their quarters getting dressed, since she wasn’t due to go up again until morning, she was wearing her duty uniform. “Are you meeting Harm before he leaves?”
“Yeah,” she pulled on her flight jacket. “I’m on my way there now, we’re meeting in the ready room. Are you coming?”
“No, I wished him well earlier.”
“All right,” she forced a smile and then left. This was going to be harder then she thought, much harder.
Nearly the whole squadron had turned up in the ready room, all saying goodbye to Harm. He was shaking hands; his bag and helmet were waiting on the deck next to him.
Tuna shook his hand. “Be careful out there Harm.”
“You too,” he gestured him closer, seeing Sera come in. “Do me a favor?”
“Look after Angel for you?” Tuna guessed.
“Yes.”
“No problem.”
“Thanks.”
Sera came up beside him. “All set?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
She picked up his helmet. “I’ll walk with you to the Cod.”
Nodding Harm grabbed his bag as Beth came over to him.
She gave him a hug. “I’ll fly with you any day sir,”
“I’m holding you to that Skates,” he jeered. “Look after yourself.”
“You too Harm,”
He smiled releasing her.
Tuna came to attention. “Attention on deck!” he called and his fellow members followed suite. All saluted Harm, who returned it. They stood at ease as he left with Sera, not looking back.
They were given white helmets and vests before going onto the flight deck the cod ready to go. A crewman took Harm’s bag and helmet on board.
He turned to Sera. “I’ve never liked goodbyes.”
“Neither have I, besides it’s not really goodbye. We’ll be seeing each other again.”
“So until next time?”
“Yeah.”
They stood there for a moment, neither making the first move.
“We’ve got to go sir,” the crewman informed.
Harm nodded. “I’ll be right there.”
Sera gave him a friendly hug, releasing him she said. “Safe trip home Commander.”
“Thank you Lieutenant,” he said with a grin. Then boarded the Cod.
Sera moved back and watched from a safe distance as it launched from the deck and into the air. Glancing to her left as Mark came up beside her.
“He did the right thing, Angel.”
“He always does, Blades,” she stated and took one last look. “He always does,” she repeated and followed him back inside.
********************
Chapter Five: May 2000
Fallon Naval Air Station
60 miles from Reno, Nevada.
May 2000
********************
Captain Pete Mitchell smiled as he posed for another photo with the winners of the Top Gun trophy. Another graduating class was finished and ready to return to duty better aviators and RIO’s.
This time the winners were a young woman, Lieutenant Sera ‘Angel’ Riggs and her RIO, Lieutenant Mark ‘Blades’ Taylor. The best had just gotten better.
He shook both their hands and than went over to his wife, Charlie, smiling. “How are you feeling?”
“Like a blimp,” she mussed, referring to her very pregnant condition.
“Come and sit down,” he insisted.
She did. “So that’s Angel.”
“That’s her,” he said as he sat beside her. “Admiral Ryan Mitchell’s daughter; started her career as a lawyer. Changed designators after her husbands death.”
“She also graduated high school at fifteen, four months prior to her sixteenth birthday,” she added. “She was the youngest expectant into the Naval Academy.”
He wasn’t surprised by her information. “You’ve done your homework.”
“I always do,” she said with a smile. “Now invite her over so I can met the lovely Angel.”
“Yes Ma’am,” he said and stood, going over to the two Lieutenants. “Angel, a moment of your time.”
“Yes sir,”
He guided her over to his wife. “Lieutenant Sera Riggs, my wife Charlie.”
“How do you do, Ma’am?”
“Other than swollen ankles, sore feet and looking like a blimp, I’m fine,” Charlie smirked good heartedly.
Sera chuckled softly. “If I may Ma’am, I know something that may help your sore feet?” she offered and saw Charlie nod. Kneeling carefully since she wore a skirt, she slipped off one of the pregnant woman’s shoes and pressed her fingers into certain pressure points along her leg. Seeing the tension slip off Charlie’s face, she did the same to the other leg, than put her shoes back on her. “How is that Ma’am?”
“Angel, you are an Angel.”
Smiling Sera stood and brushed down her knees. “My sister is a doctor, she taught me about pressure points.”
“I thank her too than.”
“You’re very welcome, Ma’am,” Sera said happily. Glancing at the Captain. “Sir will we be seeing you at the ‘Flight deck’ this evening?”
“For a while Lieutenant. When does your ride back to the Patrick Henry arrive?”
“Twenty-three hundred, sir.”
“Well we’ll make sure you make it on time Lieutenant.”
“Yes sir,” she gave a nod to his wife. “It was nice meeting you Ma’am.”
“You too Sera.”
Smiling, Sera returned to her RIO’s side. “Blades, lets get out of these dress whites and go party.”
“Sounds good to me, Angel.”
Within an hour the base bar was filled with the graduating class and other personnel. The party in full swing before and after the Captain had come and gone.
Sera was at the bar ordering another round when she heard familiar steps behind her.
“Hey beautiful,” a confident voice purred in her ear.
She turned her eye sparkled with amusement. “Hi handsome.”
“Sera, god honey I didn’t know it was you,” Jack Keeter said shocked and they both said together. “What are you doing here?”
Laughing with him, Sera gave him a quick hug. “My wings aren’t just for decoration, Keeter, I’m an aviator now.”
“So when did this happen?”
“Two years ago,” she answered and grabbed her drinks, taking him over to the table she and her RIO occupied. Introducing the two of them. “Lieutenant Mark Taylor, Lieutenant Commander Jack Keeter.”
Jack shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too sir,”
“Heck none of this sir, business, Keeter will do fine,” he insisted.
“It’s Blades than.”
“So are you guys just graduating?”
Mark nodded. “Top of the class, with our names on the plaque.”
Jack laughed. “Nice work, Sera, Harm will be wrapped.”
“I hope so,” she mussed. “So how have you been?”
“Good.”
“And you’re here because?”
“Well you know how it is,” he grinned.
“Don’t ask because you can’t tell.”
“That’s it.”
She wiggled her eyebrows at her RIO. “Jack Keeter, man of mystery.”
Mark laughed. “So how long have you known Angel?”
“For a long time, long before she became Angel,” Jack noted. “I went to the Academy with her late Husband, I was also his best man when they got married.”
“Only because Harm wasn’t available, Chris had to settle for second best.” Sera teased.
“Oh darlin’ that hurt,” he said, pretending to be effected by what she said.
She chuckled. “I know.”
“Pain,” he noted they were drinking diet Pepsi. “I thought this was a party, you guys getting soft?”
“No, we’re catching the Cod back to the Patrick Henry at twenty-three hundred, the Skipper would skin us alive if we arrived back drunk,” Mark informed. “And Captain Ingles isn’t a man to mess with.”
“Yes, I’ve have heard that about him.”
“So you know Commander Rabb too?” Mark asked Jack.
He nodded. “We all went to the Academy together, than Harm, Chris, Luke Pendry and myself went to flight school.”
“The regular four Musketeers,” Sera taunted. “Though I must admit I didn’t get to meet Harm until law school,”
“That’s only because Chris knew if you’d met Harm before he’d married you, you would of ran off with him.” Jack said with mock seriousness.
“A strong possibility,” she agreed and they all laughed. They chatted about all times until it was time to leave.
Jack gave Sera another hug, whispering to her. “Go see Harm, sort this thing out soon, sweetheart.”
“I will,” she assured and she was. “One way or another.”
“Good,” he released her and shook Mark’s hand. “It was nice to meet you Blades, look after this lovely lady.”
“I shall,” Mark agreed. “It was nice to met you too, Keeter.”
“Bye Keeter,” Sera bided.
“Bye sweetheart.”
Leaving the ‘Flight deck’, they returned to quarters and got their bags, being taken out to the Cod.
Captain Mitchell was waiting for them. “Captain Ingles called. One of his Tomcats suffered a malfunction and the crew had to ditch, the Captain said you knew the pilot, Commander Rabb.”
“Oh god, Harm,” Sera exclaimed, her face paling with shock.
“They found his RIO, but the Commander is still missing and the weather is making it hard to find him.”
Mark knew this must have been killing her. “They’ll find him Sera,” he assured. “Thank you Captain.”
He nodded. “I hope they find him, Lieutenant,” he said to Sera. “He’s obviously a good friend.”
“The best a girl could have, sir,” she said aimlessly.
“Safe trip Lieutenants.”
“Thank you sir,”
Mark managed to get her on board and into a seat, securing them both. “They find Harm, Angel. This is Hammer we’re talking about. He promised you’d see him again and he never brakes a promise.”
“I know Blades,” her voice wavered. “I just… If anything were to happen to Harm…”
He understood. “Nothing will,” he reassured. “You’ve got to believe that, Angel, he won’t give up. Not while he has your love and friendship to keep him alive.”
She nodded, preparing for take off. In the air, she snuggled closer as Mark slipped his arm around her. Harm had to survive; he had to be alive out there somewhere. He had to be. She hadn’t told him she loved him and she would as soon as she saw him. Closing her eyes, she slowly fell into a restless sleep; dreams of Harm floating around in the ocean hunted her.
Mark held her and prayed Harm would be found alive, to give them the chance to work this thing out they had been avoiding for so long. “Have faith Angel,” he said softly. “Have faith.”
********************
USS Patrick Henry
May 2000
********************
The Cod landed with a gentle thud, its two passengers were out as soon as it stopped.
“They found him a few hours ago,” Lieutenant Cassie Ross informed meeting them. “The Skipper said to get settled, than go see him. They’re going to transfer him to Bethesda, they’re just making sure he’s stable enough to move at the moment.”
Sera nodded. “How is Skates?” she asked as they left the flight deck.
“A little shook up but she’s going to be fine.”
“I’ll meet you at sickbay Angel.” Mark told her.
“Okay,” she agreed and along with Cassie hurried to her quarters. Where she changed out of her uniform into a flight suite. As she headed for sickbay, her stomach felt like a hundreds butterflies had been let lose within it.
Cassie had tagged along. “It’s going to be all right, Sera.”
She nodded; mostly she didn’t trust her voice.
In sickbay, they found Mark; he was talking to Beth, who was up and about. Sera hugged her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she assured, then told her what she’d told Mark. “Sera, he’s suffering for a temporary memory lose. He may not recognize you.”
Fighting back her emotions, Sera nodded and went into the room where Harm was, her heart pounding. “Harm,” she said, almost an audible whisper.
He turned his head to look at her, for a moment it was all-blank, than: “Sera?”
She nodded and went further into the room, she felt sick seeing him like this. “Are you okay?”
Harm nodded, confusion in his blue eyes. “What are you doing here, did they fly you out to investigate the crash?”
God he still thinks I’m with JAG, she thought shocked.
“How’s Chris?” he continued.
Feeling like she was going to crumble, she managed to pull herself together. “Chris died three years ago Harm, I’m no longer with JAG, you helped me change designators. I’m an aviator now.”
“I’m sorry,” he said almost as shocked as she was. Damn that was stupid.
“It’s okay,” she edged closer; taking his hand in hers his skin was still cool. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
“Did we serve together?”
“Yes,” she forced a smile. He doesn’t remember. It’s just temporary. God please let it be temporary. “For a few months before you returned to JAG,” she brushed the hair back from his forehead. “It’ll come back, all of it.”
A doctor and a number of nurses came in. “I’m sorry Lieutenant, you’re going to have to leave. The Commander is ready to be transferred.”
Sera nodded, she bent over and kissed his forehead. “Get better soon Hammer,” she whispered, then rushed out of the room. Not stopping she ran all the way to the fantail, there the tears fell, tears of frustration, of relief. She’s wanted to blurt out she loved him, she’d always loved him, but he didn’t remember that about her.
Hearing Mark coming she whipped her eyes.
He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s going to be all right, Sera.”
She turned and hugged him; burying her head in the crock of his shoulder she just remained there being held by him.
“There’ll be another time,” he said carefully.
“I know,” came her muffled reply.
Pulling away he stroked her check. “Come on, cheer up. Harm is alive and on his way home and you and I have a lot of bragging to do. We are the best of the best.”
She laughed a little. Feeling the weight of the past few minutes lift from her shoulders. He was right. There was no need to dwell on what had happened. When he got his memory back, she knew she’d be hearing from Harm. One way or another Harmon Rabb was going to come back into her life and when that day came, she knew everything would be all right.
********************
Chapter Six: September 2000
USS Patrick Henry
September 2000
********************
Lieutenant Mark Taylor glanced over his shoulder. “He’s behind us, Angel. Do some of that pilot stuff you do.”
“I’m on it Blades.” Lieutenant Sera Riggs said calmly, she slowed them down, than at the last moment jammed on the brakes and pulled back hard on the stick. The MiG flow right under them, giving them a clean shot at it. She was about to take the shot when a second came straight at her firing, a pop in air pressure told her the canopy had been breeched, she thanked god she wore her mask. “Blades?”
“Tuna has him,” he reported.
She went back to the MiG a head of them, getting tone she fired, her missile making contact with the MiG’s engines blowing it out of the sky.
Lieutenant Medwick’s Tomcat came up next to theirs. “MiG two has bugged out, are you finished playing Angel?”
She glanced over at him. “Yeah Tuna, it’s getting a little breezy in here.”
He chuckled, but saw what she meant. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, air pressure is coursing a little instability, but we’ll make it home,” she told him, feeling her heart pounding hard against her chest, she held it together though.
“As soon as we reach the Henry you declare an emergency,” he ordered.
“Aye sir.” She acknowledged and stuck to his wing. As they approached the Patrick Henry she broke off to land first. “Warpaint this is Batman two, declaring an emergency.”
“Rodger Batman two, emergency personnel are on standby.”
“Acknowledged Warpaint,” she lowed her landing gear and tail hook. “Paddles this is Batman two.”
“Batman two this is Paddles, call the ball.”
“Batman two has the ball,” she called and brought the Tomcat down on the deck, it wasn’t her best landing but it wasn’t a bad one either, she caught the number two wire.
“Nice work Angel.” Mark praised, unclipping his mask.
“Thanks Blades,” she said forcing a smile as she did the same. She taxied the Tomcat to a halt and shut it down, opening the damaged canopy.
Her plane Captain climbed up, as she and Mark were getting ready to climb out. “That was a close call, Ma’am.”
She looked where he was pointing and her heart leaped up into her throat. Lodged in her seat, near where her head had been was a bullet. “No kidding chief,” she tried to dismiss and climbed down after him.
Mark had heard everything; he climbed down quickly getting to her side. “Are you all right?” he asked concerned.
Sera nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Damn it Angel, you’re as white as a ghost,” he exclaimed.
“I’m fine,” she stated and hurried away.
Tuna and his RIO came over to him. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a bullet lodged in her seat, two or three more inches and she would have been dead.” Mark snapped.
“Easy Blades,” he settled, and then went after Riggs. “Angel?”
“Leave me alone Tuna, I’m fine,” she remarked leaving the flight deck pulling off her helmet.
He followed, taking his own off. Grabbing her arm. “Damn it Angel, it’s not all right and you’re not fine.”
She shook her arm free; glaring at him she continued walking. Using anger to cover the nightmare of emotions whirling around inside her at that moment. In the ready room she pulled off her safety gear and throw it into her locker along with her helmet. Finding her hands were shaking. NO! She told herself, she wasn’t going to let this beat her. She was stronger then this. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment and forced herself to relax. She wasn’t going to fall apart. Reopening them she joined her fellow aviators, acting if nothing had happened.
The Cag cornered her once the debriefing was over. “Lieutenant, are you all right?”
“Yes sir, I’m fine,”
He didn’t believe her. “Very well, dismissed.”
Nodding she left the room, heading for her quarters. She needed to be alone, to sort this out, to think this out. She’d faced death before; in her line of work it wasn’t unusual. So why should this time be any different?
She paced her quarters feeling confined in the small room, this was ridicules she was a seasoned pilot not some wet behind the ears rookie. Stopping she noticed her hands were starting to shake again, this time she couldn’t stop them. Her heard was pounding so hard her chest hurt. A few more inches and she would have been dead, just a few more inches.
Cassie Ross came in; she knew something was wrong as soon as she saw her roommate. “Angel. Sera?” Suddenly she was grabbing her friend, who seemed to be having convulsions some sort of. She needed help. “Skates!” she yelled, knowing Beth couldn’t have gone that far, having walked there with her.
Beth hadn’t, she rushed in. “Oh god,” she saw what was going on. “I’ll get help,” she told her and rushed out.
Cassie held her friend, sitting with her in her arms. “It’s going to be all right, Sera. I promise.”
Sera couldn’t stop shaking. “So scared,” she mumbled.
“You’re safe Sera, it’s okay.”
Mark rushed into the room; he’d come to see if Sera were all right. “Damn it I knew something was wrong.”
“I sent Beth to get help.” Cassie told him quickly.
He gathered Sera up in his arms. “Then we’ll met them half way, come on,” he urged.
She hurried after him, despite the fact Sera has stopped convulsing Cassie was still worried about her.
They were met half way, the medical personnel taking Sera from Mark and rushing to sickbay with her. They continued with Beth, waiting to hear news concerning their friend. The Captain and Cag arrived to, having been informed. Soon Doctor Michaels came out to them.
Captain Ingles stood. “Doctor.”
“It’s delayed shock sir, the Lieutenant will be fine by morning physically.”
“And mentally?” the Cag asked joining them.
“I’d suggest getting her up in the air as soon as possible, she needs to work through this and she won’t do it on the ground. If you don’t, it’ll be harder for her to get back up.”
“If she doesn’t kill herself in the mean time,” the Skipper remarked.
The doctor frowned. “Sir, the Lieutenant has had a shock to the system. There is nothing physically wrong with her, she needs to work through the fear and the faster she does that the better.”
“All right. Get her back in the air in the morning Cag,” he ordered.
“Yes sir.”
“I also suggest you both talk to her, I’ve told her this is natural. It may help for her to hear it from both of you,” the doctor suggested.
Nodding they followed Michaels back to his patient. Sera was seated on an exam bed, the shakes had past, though she still seemed a little pale.
“Sir,”
“Stay where you are Lieutenant,” Ingles said quickly, stopping her from moving. “How are you feeling?”
“Better sir.”
“Good.”
“Angel, what you’ve been through, it’s natural. All pilots at one point or another experience the same fear you did,” the Cag informed calmly.
“Even some of us none pilots,” the Captain added lightly.
She forced a smile. “Thank you sir.”
The Cag did smile. “You’re not due in the air until oh seven hundred, try and relax.”
“Yes sir.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then.”
“You’re free to go, Lieutenant,” the doctor told her.
“Yes sir.” She slid off the exam bed and followed the Captain and Cag out to her friends.
“Take it easy, Angel,” the Cag insisted.
“I will sir,”
He nodded and left with the Captain.
Beth, Mark and Cassie walked her back to her quarters. “You scared the hell out of me,” her roommate exclaimed.
“Sorry Cass,”
“Yeah well just don’t do it again,”
“I want.” She stated.
Mark pattered her back. “If you want to talk, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks,” she smiled warmly. “I just want to take a shower, and lay down.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then,” he said, and headed off towards the mess hall.
One down, two to ago, she thought.
In the quarters she shared with Cassie, she grabbed what she needed to take a shower.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Beth asked.
“I’m fine, really. Thanks Beth.”
“Hey that’s what friends are for,” she said, before giving her a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“All right.”
After she’d left, Sera went for a shower, then dressed and lay down on her bunk. Cassie had gotten dinner while she’d been in the shower, now she was playing on the computer. This was going to be a long night. Sera decided and closed her eyes. However when she did everything played back in her mind, the attack, everything, except this time the bullet found its mark.
She woke up screaming, sitting straight up the room in darkness.
Cassie scrabbled off the top bunk down to her friend, holding her. “It’s okay, Sera, it was just a dream. It’ll be okay,” she said gently. Hoping it would be.
********************
September 2000
Harm’s apartment
North of Union Station
Washington DC.
********************
Sera road the elevator up to his apartment, she should have called. Not that Harm would turn her away, but he could have company. He could be working or out on a date. The last she didn’t want to think about.
This is stupid, she decided. Suck it up Angel. You’re not a child; you’re a Naval Aviator.
The elevator stopped and she opened the door, walking out, going over to the door. Now it was all that stood in her way, between her and her best friend. The man she’d come to when she’d gotten a three-day pass after her promotion, the man who had given up his bed for her for two of those three days. The man who had rang her when he’d gotten his promotion, even though she’d been at sea. The man she loved – her soul mate. If anyone knew what she was feeling it was Harm.
Gathering her courage she knocked on the door and waited. Listening to his footsteps on the other side of the door, she’d watched him walk. Memorized it. That and the fact he had the greatest six in the Navy, especially in dress whites.
The door opened and Harmon Rabb stood there smiling. “Lieutenant.”
Sera smiled warmly. “Commander.”
“Come in Sera,” he insisted and moved out of the way so she could.
She walked in admiring his apartment as she removed her coat and cover. Here she felt at home. Now she knew she’d made the right decision in coming to him. “The place looks great Harm.”
Having closed the door, Harm joined her, taking her coat and cover. “I'm proud of it,” he said lightly. “Can I get you anything?”
“No,” she shook her head as she crossed her arms against her chest, unconsciously rubbing her forearms. She turned to face him. “I need someone to talk to.”
He gestured for her to sit, putting her coat and cover on the counter before sitting next to her. He'd known Sera since Law School; she'd joined the Navy to be a JAG lawyer, but in her heart she'd wonted to be an Aviator.
Now looking into Sera's sea green eyes, Harm knew something was wrong. “How can I help?”
She hesitated, pushing a lock of brown hair behind her ear. “I don't think I can handle the pressure any more, Harm.”
Now he was worried. Sera never gave up, not even after her husband had been killed in a training accident. “What happened?”
“During a routine mission we had a run in with a couple of MiG's, a lucky shot hit my canopy. As I was landing my Tomcat, my heart was pounding and I thought of nothing else other getting Blades and I on the deck. It wasn't until after we'd landed that it was discovered a bullet was lodged in my seat, it had missed my head by inches,” she recalled, a waver to her voice. Her hands began to shake and she clenched them together to stop it. “I was so scared Harm, I couldn't think straight. I've had close calls before but never like this.”
“Did you talk to someone?” Harm asked her, worried.
She nodded. “After the incident I talked with the Cag and the doc, they kept telling me it was a natural reaction to what had happened.”
“But you don't?”
Sera got to her feet and walked over to the window. “No.”
Getting to his feet, Harm stood behind her, drawing her into his arms. She wasn't as tall as him and her head came just under his chin as he held her close. “We all get scared, Sera.”
“Not like this,” she whispered, then announced. “I can't get back into the grove. I keep it together during missions, but I'm second-guessing myself and I'm having nightmares. I wake up in a sweat, my heart pounding with fear. I just don't think I can go back, Harm.”
“Is that why you're here?”
“The Skipper gave me leave, told me to talk to a Navy shrink,” she turned in his arms. “I don't want to stay with my parents and I didn't know who else to turn to. Everything I have is in storage, I gave up my apartment when Corey and I went to Hawaii.”
Drawing her back into his arms, Harm felt her return the embrace. “You can turn to me Sera, you know that. In fact you can stay here with me. I'll help you get through this.”
“I couldn't put you out.”
“You won't and I insist.”
She nodded. “Thanks Hammer."”
He smiled, feeling he was doing it again. Falling for her, just as he'd done before. Except this time she had no husband waiting for her. No distance between them or regulations. “You're welcome Angel.” He finally managed to say, seeing her smile. Seeing the look in her eyes. Perhaps their time had finally come, after all soul mates always found each other and here they were with nothing holding them back - nothing at all.
Continues in Gold Wings and Dress Whites.
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