Rating: CF
Spoilers: Maybe a little H&F...in regards to Bud's promotion and A.J.'s retirement.
Disclaimers: Not mine...never will be, but I know I wish I owned DJE.Also, I do not own the song "Lean on Me", I'm just borrowing it for a little while.
Summary: The JAG staff honors all those that perished on 9-11.
A/N 1: Warning: this contains references to 9-11...if you think it's too much, don't read. This is a small little something to honor all the fallen heroes. This is also dedicated to the kids, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, parents, and families that have been touched in one way or another by the events of September 11, 2001. I hope that with this little piece of writing I can keep the memory of all those deceased and alive in our hearts and minds. And to all who have suffered losses due to that fateful morning, know that you are not alone...there is always someone to lean on.
A/N 2: The service at Arlington was the fiction of my imagination...I have no clue if they hold services there to honor those from
9-11.
Archive: Just ask, please.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
Some times in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But, if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
The entire JAG staff was seated inside the small chapel and taking in the words of wisdom shared by Chaplain Turner. The five closest friends sat together in the first bench. Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. sat to the left of his long-time friend and partner Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. To her right sat Lt. Commander Bud Roberts, his lovely wife Lt. Harriet Roberts sat by his side. Rear Admiral Albert Jethro Chegwidden retired sat next to the lieutenant.
Chaplain Turner began, "Fellow officers, we have been gathered here today in the presence of God, to commemorate the fallen heroes of September 11, 2001." He glanced around the chapel. "We have come together to make sure that their souls are not forgotten. That they are not only remembered once a year on the anniversary of their passing away, but on everyday that their spirits reside in heaven." A brief pause followed as he looked at each person in the church. "It is important not only for them, but for their families as well, that we do not forget about them. It is imperative that we reassure those families, that even though their loved ones have passed, tomorrow is a new day. A day to start fresh, a day to celebrate and remember not how they died, but how they lived. We must see past the pain we have endured and we have to live for tomorrow."
Many female officers had begun to shed tears and were trying to stay composed. The men were trying to be men, but it was evident that they also had tears in their eyes.
It was obvious that whether the people present had lost relatives on that horrible day or not, it was hard to go back and reminisce. Every time one thought back to the moment the planes hit the towers or when the buildings crumbled to the ground, one's heart would stop from an overwhelming jolt of pain. When one would recreate the picture of the destroyed Pentagon, the brain would attempt to block out any images to prevent it from causing more heartache. Or when someone would remember that brave individuals prevented another plane from causing anymore damage at the risk of their own lives, the heart would skip a few beats from sadness of such a loss, but also from pride at knowing that ordinary people became courageous heroes.
"We must hold all their souls close to our hearts and never forget." Chaplain Turner finished the service.
The officers attending the service made their way out of the chapel. The tallest side of the chapel sported a tower-like look with a clock located at its pinnacle. There, directly on that wall, was located a list of thousands of people. The list of all who died on that unexpected September morning. The names of those who will never be forgotten.
Crowds of naval officers as well as marines took turns analyzing and paying their respects. After an hour of waiting for their turn, Harm, Mac, Bud, Harriet, and A.J. made their way to the names.
The feeling at seeing so many names on the wall was incommunicable. There was nothing to do but stand there in silence.
"I can't believe it." Mac broke the silence. "This is unbelievable." Tears were now marking their trail on her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away with her fingers, but they rushed down faster than she could swab.
Noticing Mac's state, Harm made his way to her side. `Dam regulations', Harm told himself as he grabbed her small hand in his and laced their fingers together. He took his free hand and helped her remove the tears from her face before he looked back to the wall. After a brief quiet, Harm began to sing.
"Lean on me, when you're not strong. And I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long, `till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on."
Harm had wrapped an arm around Mac's shoulders and Bud had Harriet tucked safely in his arms. A.J. stood there, looked at his friends, and back to the names on the wall. A sudden feeling of thankfulness washed over him.
"Please, swallow your pride if I have faith, you need to borrow. For no one can fill those of your needs, that you won't let show." Bud sang.
"You just call on me brother when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that you'd understand. We all need somebody to lean on." They all sang together.
"Lean on me, when you're not strong. And I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long, `till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on." Mac then sang.
"If, there is a load you have to bear, that you can't carry, I'm right up the road. I'll share your load, if you just call me." A.J. sang.
"Call me," Harriet sang. "If you need a friend," Everyone else sang. "Call me," "Oh baby just," "Call me," "When you need a friend," "Call me," "Ohhh," "Call me." Harriet finished off the song as they all walked away.
"You know what gets to me." Mac stated rather than asked. "I imagined it getting easier. I just thought that maybe as the years rolled by it wouldn't hurt as much. But look, it's been three years and it feels as if it were just yesterday when this happened. I thought that it would eventually become painless...to look back and remember, but it hasn't gotten any easier." Mac said as the others nodded in agreement. Harm tightened his hold on her.
"I don't think it will ever get easier, Mac. But I think that as more people come together and they learn to embrace one another and help each other, the pain will lessen. When people realize that neither race nor religion matters at a time like this." Once again every body agreed.
"Yes, sir." Bud added.
The five of them walked and suddenly looked up as a white dove flew over them.
And so they strolled away remembering all of those brave souls that departed this world for a better one.
THE END
To all who died in New York, in Washington, and Pennsylvania...R.I.P.
