Author: usmgrad
Subject: HBX challenge July 2007 - Helpers from Above

HBX Challenge – July 2007 Helpers from Above
Author – usmgrad
Disclaimer: JAG and its characters are the property of Donald P. Bellisario and Paramount Studios. I’m just borrowing them while they sleep!

Setting – a “behind the scenes” look at our favorite couple a few years after the “coin toss”

As a fine mist begins to part we see a sparsely decorated bedroom with a couple in bed, asleep. Had it been a work day they would have been long gone, but today’s Sunday and they’re taking the opportunity to sleep. They had been awake all night. If they hadn’t been asleep, they still wouldn’t have seen the two strange looking gentlemen enter the room. The intruders appeared to come in through the wall, but in reality, they weren’t real, just heavenly helpers. As they take in their surroundings the younger one, Simon, questions their assignment, “I still don’t understand why we are here.”

The older one, Joseph explains, “Because the Boss said they’re a special couple, He wants to make sure they’re happy and we’re here to help.”

“What’s to help, they’re asleep!”

“Right now, but they’ll be waking up soon.”

Trying to understand, Simon asks Joseph another question, “So we’re going to be their guardian angels?”

“No, they have guardian angels.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know where.”

“Than how do we know they exist?”

New recruits, have to explain everything to them, “How do you think he survived his ramp strike and she…”

Not letting Joseph finish Simon interrupts, “Why are we here if they have guardian angels?”

Exasperated at his young, inexperienced partner Joseph begins to wonder if he will have to explain everything. “If you had paid attention at your orientation you would know there are guardian angels and heavenly helpers. Guardian angels take care of big things like saving lives and heavenly helpers handle small things.”

“Doing what?”

Now we're making progress Joseph thinks, at least he’s interested, “Well, that’s simple, find car keys, turn traffic lights the right color at the right time, find an occasional missing sock and then there’s work, help witnesses remember things, make sure important evidence is not missed, no misplaced files, no coffee stains on important papers.”

Simon interrupts again, “Ok, that seems easy enough”

“I wasn’t finished because it’s also complicated. We have special instructions; making sure there are no miscommunications, no open doors that should be closed and no ill timed phones calls. Also He said if they ever go to the zoo we are to make sure they stay away from the gorilla, and at all times make sure they stay away from something called webb.”

“Spiders! I hate spiders. Sighing, Simon asks, “OK, explain to me, who are they?”

Pointing to the sleeping man, Joseph begins to introduce his partner to the couple, “He is in the Navy, a lawyer and ...”

Not really listening to Joseph and looking around the room, Simon, who’s a little bit curious and full of questions, sees uniforms. “Hey I thought you said he was a lawyer, he’s got gold wings!” Under his breath, “I don’t have wings.”

“I know he has wings, if you hadn’t interrupted me I was about to tell you he’s also a pilot. He earned a silver star and 2 DFC’s.”

“Is he a hero?”

“To some people I guess maybe he is.”

Looking back at the uniforms, “This other uniform is different it has an eagle, globe and anchor and says ‘Semper Fidelis’.”

“Always faithful, she’s a Marine and a lawyer. You know all this was covered yesterday at the briefing – which you missed.”

Looking off into the distance as if remembering, “I was watching the sunset, He does such a good job with sunsets, yesterday’s was really beautiful.”

Pointing again toward the sleeping couple, hoping Simon is listening this time, Joseph continues. “He was a pilot, and then the Boss needed him to be a lawyer. That’s where he met her. They worked together for nine years.”

“Is that where they fell in love?”

“Yes, but it took almost being separated for them to admit they were in love.”

Everything is quiet in the room until something on the other side of the room moves and begins to fuss.

“What’s that noise?” Simon asked looking around the room.

Joseph moves toward the sound. “Come over here.”

Simon slowly walks toward Joseph. “Who’s that?” pointing at something in a small basket

“This is their son, Matt. He’s why they are asleep right now; he kept them up all night.”

“He’s going to cry and wake them up.”

“No he’s not.” Joseph places his hand over Matt and the infant goes back to sleep.

Absolutely amazed, Simon wonders out loud, “How did you do that?”

“If you would pay attention you would learn how.” After making sure the child would stay asleep John looks up and sees Simon has wandered to the other side of the room, so much for learning, “Simon, what are you doing?”

“Looking around some more.”

Moving to the center of the room Joseph stops and calls to Simon, “Quite being so nosey, all you need to know about them is right here”, pointing to a book shelf full of pictures. “These pictures pretty much tell their story.” Looking at the pictures and shaking his head, “we are going to be sooo busy.”

Ignoring his partner’s request, Simon keeps looking around the room. “Hey look at this – it’s a closet full of shoes.”

“Simon!”

Not understanding his partner’s reaction to his looking around, Simon tries to put logic to his actions, “How am I going to learn about them if I don’t look around? I can’t help them if I don’t know them; I would think you would know that Mr. Smarty Pants. What’s with all the shoes?”

Thinking maybe Simon will learn by hearing a story Joseph tries again to explain who they are, “She wanted 3 things in life, a good job, a good man and lots of comfortable shoes. After her troubled early years the Boss saw to it she got it what she wanted.”

“OK that’s pretty strange, comfortable shoes?” Pointing to the sleeping man, “What about him, did he want anything?”

“His early years were different from hers but just as challenging. After he discovered what happened to his father he never asked for anything for himself.”

“What happened to his father?”

“That’s another story for another time Simon…”

Moving toward Joseph, “Hey, look at this”, pointing to the pictures Simon has just discovered, “are all of these pictures them? They’ve been all over the world; look at all the ships and planes they’ve been on. They’ve been busy, hell, when do they have time to be happy?”

“Simon, watch your language!”

“Sorry.”

“They don't have to find time. They just are. Now we have work to do, they’ll be waking up soon”

Simon asks another question about the sleeping couple, “You said they were special, what’s so special about them?”

Moving closer to the bed Joseph again tries to explain to Simon how special this couple is. “They’ve worked hard all their lives helping others. The man feels things deeply; his emotions are a strong influence in how he handles things. The truth is another driving force with him. He’s tough, ready for anything that might come his way but he’s also gentle, loving, sharing. The woman relies on her intelligence. She is strong, independent, smart, and resourceful. She mentors children, even took in a dog that was bound for the Pearly Gates. Separately each is a strong, independent and self-sufficient individual, but when put together they’re a perfect couple. We are going to see to it they’re happy. Don't you really want that?”

“Well yah I guess it would be nice for them to be happy and now that I look at them up close they do look perfect”

As we leave the heavenly helpers to their work we hear …

“Hey his ear is crooked and she has a tattoo!”