I've never played second fiddle before.

Never.

Growing up, I was a sports star...captain of the state champion footy team for three years in a row. As the oldest of three boys, I was the leader. I had to be. My dad was crook with cancer by the time I was 10 and when I turned 13, he was gone. And I was the man of the house.

Yeah, my mum went out on dates every once in a while, but she always came home saying, "He was nice, but he couldn't hold a candle to your father-or to you."

When I joined the Navy, it was the same thing. I excelled in my classes...flew through law school. It was only when I signed up for the exchange program that I suddenly realized I wasn't the only bloke like me in the world.

There was another; a former aviator, turned lawyer, with an ego to match.  But that's OK. I've been accused of having a big head myself.

The whole situation was disconcerting at first. I mean, here I was getting off the plane-after having a bloody good time with some mates who just happened to be on the same flight-and I was greeted by this beautiful woman. A coworker no less, and yet, she didn't fall all over me. Now, granted she was a bit embarrassed about the stuff-up with the bloke who was actually <in> uniform, but it was all fair enough in my mind.

Once we got to JAG headquarters, I realized why she acted like she did.

Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr.

Every time I would turn around they were in each other's offices or teasing each other about something. Imagine my surprise when I found out that not only were they <not> dating, but that Rabb actually considered her a free agent! Buggered if I would've admitted that had I been in his place, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

And so, I pursued her. I ignored her attempts to dissuade me from my ultimate goal: a date with her. But it still didn't work. Sarah was just too wrapped up in Rabb to even think about another man, even if the commander didn't have the first clue about how she felt about him.

When he left to go back to flying, it was almost like my dad was dying all over again. I was once more being put in charge of the "household" and I
had some pretty interesting shoes to fill. I wouldn't say big, because I think I easily filled his vacated spot, but definitely interesting. Rabb had style and flare in the courtroom. The way he tried a case...balls to the wall...well, I admired him.

While he was gone, Sarah seemed to bloom. I think he was, to a certain extent, holding her back. He took the limelight away from her. I was-am-proud of the way she's handled herself…while he was gone and since he's come back. She is a textbook marine. Professional to the end. I have no doubt in my mind that she'll be the JAG before Rabb. As Chief of Staff, she's done a helluva job.

But there's this underlying something that I can't quite put my finger on.  Maybe she's still trying to prove herself to someone…and there's only one person who that can be.

I wish she would just look away from him. Because standing just behind him, playing second fiddle, is the man who appreciates her…who's proud of her…who really cares about her.

She's an easy woman to fall in love with. And I guess I'm not the only one who's noticed. She's been dating some guy, a civilian, for a while now. I can't help but think it's some sort of rebellion against everything that Rabb is.

But, hey, if he makes her happy, who am I to say anything? I only wish that the fellow she'd picked was me. 

END
 

Go to "The Ties That Bind"