LBJ

Morning broke, as Dawn and Jackson Miller awoke from their slumber. They had slept well, even though Jackson would be leaving to go out to sea for three months the next day. Dawn wriggled out from under Jackson’s arm and silently padded off towards the bathroom. She sat down on the side of the tub, face in her hands, thinking. She hadn’t been feeling well lately, and it wasn’t like her to be sick. Since LCDR Metcalf’s court-martial, she had been reassigned to Portsmouth Naval Hospital. She didn’t hate it, but she didn’t like it. Not only was she doing Surgical Tech work she was also doing CCU/ICU nurse staffing work. It was getting pretty boring, and she was considering transferring back to the fleet. As soon as her physical was done she was going to request to go back to the fleet, Jackson would be getting out soon, and she wanted to have things squared away for when they got out.
They had been in homeport 7 months now since the Med and nothing exciting was happening. Kellie and Mark were a couple, the Galloway’s had a baby girl, Jackson was looking forward to his 60 days of terminal leave coming up about a month after they got back from Nova Scotia and Iceland. Dawn had extended her enlistment just long enough to stay at work right up until Jackson got back from the cruise. After that, it was homeward bound for them. Dawn started filling the tub with hot water and slid in. The water stung her skin, but soothed her sore muscles. She was so weary and wore out, work was taking it’s toll after the last five years in the Navy. She looked back on her career, and nothing was exemplary of it, except that she made 1st class and SW/AW. That was it. Everything else was just a blur of surgeries, medical emergencies and the court-martial. She wanted more from her career, but it seemed as if this was it.
Dawn washed her hair, and scrubbed her skin til it was a rosy pink color. She heard Jackson stumbling towards the bathroom, and climbed out of the tub. She was towel drying her hair when he walked in. “Morning Baby, How are you feeling?” Jackson gently stroked her back as he spoke the words. “I’m alright, I could be better. What do you want for breakfast?” Jackson rubbed his eyes and yawned deeply. “Sausage, eggs, pancakes?” Dawn giggled, “Jackson Lee Miller! You are always hungry!” as she snapped the towel at him, glancing his mid thigh. “Yeow! Go make me breakfast woman!” Jackson yelped as Dawn ran out the bathroom door.
She giggled all the way to the bedroom, Jackson was always hungry, but he appreciated everything Dawn cooked for him. She reached in the closet for a soft tee shirt, and a pair of sweats. Pulling them on as she went back down the hallway, Jackson bumped into her almost knocking her down, luckily he caught her as she fell and righted her. “Sorry baby, I was thinking about some things. I wasn’t paying attention.” “It’s ok, I was trying to get dressed.” Jackson kissed her and headed for the bedroom.
The kitchen was dark and cool before she switched on thght.ght. Dawn ambled over to the fridge, digging in the freezer for the sausage. She threw it in the microwave for 5 minutes on defrost. The pancakes were easy to make, and in 5 minutes she had six cooked up and on a plate.
Jackson came into the kitchen, making a sniffing sound “Mmmm…. Baby, smells good.” He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. Dawn turned around in Jackson’s arms, kissing him. She whispered against his lips, “I love you Jackson.” He grinned, “I love you too Caroline.”
Jackson pulled away from her, grabbing a plate and sitting down at the table. Dawn brought him a glass of milk and she sat down to eat.
“Baby, I’ve been thinking, once I get my physical done that I should request to return to the fleet. I don’t like working at the Navhosp, and I want to be closer to you once you guys get back.” “Baby, that’s not a good idea, what if you go out to sea while I am out to sea? Who’s going to take care of the dog? Who’s going to pay the rent and all the other bills?” She looked at him, he was right, someone needed to be here. “Besides, I am only going to be gone for three months, eekseeks, 90 days, I’ll be back before you know it.” Jackson finished his plate and got another helping. She knew he was right, she hated it when he was right and shot down what she wanted to do.
They talked for another hour when all the sudden Dawn felt sick to her stomach. She got up and ran for the bathroom, just barely making it. Jackson rubbed her back as she was crouched over the commode, then he handed her a cold washcloth. “You alright baby? Here, let me help you up.” Dawn steadied herself on Jackson’s arm and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like warmed over dead. Then it hit her like a Mack truck. She was four days late this month. “Babe, I think we’re pregnant. I’m not 100% sure, so let’s go over to Langley and get some bloodwork done.” Jackson just nodded, he didn’t really know what to say or think. They got dressed, and Jackson drove over to the hospital at Langley.
The Airman sitting behind the laboratory desk told her to take a seat and that a Family Practice physician would see them shortly. The hospital was pretty empty, which was amazing for a Friday morning. About 30 minutes later, a nurse called them back and took Dawn’s vitals. She was running a slight temperature, but other than that her vitals were within the norm. The nurse led them back to a room and told Dawn to change out of her clothes and into a gown. Jackson couldn’t help but make fun of her, “Hey Baby, your ass is hanging out!” as he reached out and playfully smacked her on the ass. “Ouch! You butt hole!” No sooner did that remark leave her lips the door opened and a female Captain walked in.
“Petty Officers Miller?” “Yes ma’am.” Both Dawn and Jackson answered. “I’m Captain Mulcahey, I will be taking care of you today. So, what seems to be the problem?” Dawn related what had been going on and the Captain ordered a blood test, pregnancy test and a physical examination. Dawn hated the physical part, Jackson couldn’t even watch, he held Dawn’s hand and stroked her face as the Captain checked his wife out. Dawn went over to the lab side, gave her blood and urinalysis sample and they reed ted to the waiting room. After another half an hour the nurse called them back in and the Captain smiled “Congratulations, Petty Officer Miller, you are about 4 weeks into gestation. I would like to see you again in 2 months for your ultrasound and another checkup.”
Jackson hugged Dawn hard, he wanted a baby for so long and they had tried so hard, now when they had all but given up, they were pregnant! Dawn cried tears of joy, a baby! The hardest part was just now finding out, with Jackson going to sea the next day. They walked out of the hospital and went over to the BX. Dawn immediately headed for the stuffed animal aisle, picking out a stuffed cow for the baby. They agreed that they wouldn’t buy anything else until Jackson got back, so they could do it together. They drove over to the Galloway’s house, finding Dave and Leanne awake, told them the news. Dave congratulated Jackson and Dawn and Leanne hugged Dawn as she cried. McKnight and Masterson just happened to be at the Miller’s house when they got home. Mark saw the big grin on Jackson’s face, “Hey Buddy, what gives?” Jackson looked at Mark, “We’re pregnant!” “Holy shit! After all this time of trying?” Kellie was shocked. “Yeah, we were pretty shocked too, just when we were about to give up.” Dawn smiled. I just came over to borrow your tools Jack, I’ll bring ‘em back later tonight.” Jackson took Mark into the barn, getting him the tools he needed.
Dawn went into the house and called her Aunt Trish. “Aunt Trish, I got good news.” “What’s that dear?” “Jackson and I are going to have a baby in the fall. Isn’t that great?” “Oh my stars! That is wonderful! Too bad your parents don’t care about you enough to know. But, who cares about them? I think it’s great news! What do you and Jack want to have?” Dawn took a deep breath, “Well, I want a little boy and Jackson wants a girl. Big surprise.” Trish laughed “Well dear, maybe you’ll get lucky and have both?” “Oh Lord no, Aunt Trish, I can’t handle twins!” “I will let you go Dawn so I can call your cousin Joe and tell him. He is in L.A. these days working on the movies. Never thought he would do that, but this family is just full of surprises. Take of of you and Jack and the baby alright?” “Yes Aunt Trish I will. Take care, Bye” Jackson phoned his Mom in Colorado and broke the news to her that she would be a Grandmother in the winter. His family was excited, finally, Jackson was going to be a daddy!
45 minutes later down on the Oceanfront…Mark McKnight was using Jackson’s socket wrench to tighten up his bed. It squeaked all the time, even when he sat in it using his laptop. Kellie sat not far away watching, dreading what she was going to tell Mark before the night was over. Mark looked over, seeing a confused look on her faceel, el, what’s wrong? You look like you’re upset, wanna tell me?” Kellie looked him in the eyes, and a single tear began to fall down her cheek, “Mark, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I am transferring off LBJ. I requested to go to the Stennis out in San Diego. I have to report out there in 3 days. I’m sorry” Mark looked at her stunned, shook his head and walked away. He knew this meant they were over, but it didn’t surprise him. Ever since he got back from leave at his folks house, she had been acting strange around him, like she had something to hide. He asked her to move in and she flat out told him no, he asked her if she wanted to be with him forever, she said she didn’t know. Anytime he asked her anything concerning the future, she gave him either a no or a vague answer. Only once did she say yes, and that was when he asked her to marry him. And she had been coming around a lot less here the last 3 months, only when she wanted to, not when he asked her to. She had been taking an awful lot of leave the last three months, she worked only 3 weeks of that whole time.
“It’s because of O’Neill isn’t it?” Mark looked at her with fire in his eyes. Kellie began to cry as she nodded her head. Kyle O’Neill had been with them all through the Med, quiet, soft spoken EM, that Kellie had befriended during Dawn’s trial while Mark was home in Michigan visiting his family. “I’m sorry Mark, I have been seeing him the last 3 months, and you too. I just didn’t know how to break it off with you. You were an infatuation for me, and once I had you there was no fun in it anymore. I tried to make myself love you, but I couldn’t.” “Jesus Kellie! All the times we made love, everything I did for you was for nothing? I was just a toy to you? That’s low, REAL low.” “No, Mark it wasn’t like that, you weren’t a toy to me, and you were more than just a fuck. I requested the Stennis because Kyle is going out there and….” she fought back her tears, but to no avail they still fell. “I’m pregnant Mark. I don’t know if it’s Kyle’s or yours, but you don’t need to worry, Kyle will take care of me and the baby.” With that she handed him back the engagement ring he gave her, left some paperwork on the coffee table, and walked out the door.
Mark was floored. He was angry with her, and hurt. He picked up the sheaf of papers on the coffee table, thumbing through them. Sure enough there was a documented account of her last visit to Medical at Sewell’s Point. The date on the papers was just two weeks ago, and they stated at that time Kellie was two months pregnant. They were real, no forged work done there, especially since it was signed and stamped by both the Lieutenant that looked at Kellie and the Admiral that ran Sewell’s. The child growing inside her could be his, could be O’Neill’s. He couldn’t give up just yet, not until he knew it wasn’t his kid. Mark would take full responsibility if it were his. Even if it meant giving up his Naval career to be a single dad. It was the only right thing to do.
Mark went and dug a beer out of the fridge and sank into the couch. This was all he needed, a possibility of being a dad and a bitch of an ex-fiancee’ trying to make his life hell, plus going out to sea in the morning. Life was great, yeah right.
Leanne Gallowas cas crying, even though by now she should be more than used to Dave leaving. “David, I just don’t understand why they are making you go out with the ship. You only have another month left here before we go home!” Dave took her in his arms, “It will be ok dear, they’ll fly me off the ship when my time ends. Like hell am I going to stay there the whole three months. My time comes, I am going to be the first guy getting on that plane going off the flight deck. Promise you thaLeanLeanne nodded her head, “I know, I just don’t think it’s fair. And it’s not fair to Dawn or Jackson, being pregnant and him leaving her. I know she is a tough girl, but she needs him so.” Dave smiled, his wife was a very observant woman. “They’ll be ok dear, It’s only three months.” Dave turned back towards the box of books he was packing, stacking them in neat stacks by author. Leanne left the room, going to find something to drink.
Dawn reached up into the cabinet for a glass, she wanted some milk. The glass was far in the back; she could only brush it with her fingertips. Getting frustrated, she grabbed the cabinet casing and pulled herself up onto the countertop. “Just what do you think you are doing Jaden Dawn?” She turned her head at the sound of her name, Jackson was standing there grinning at her, and she grinned back. “Ummm, I wanted a glass of milk and I couldn’t reach the glass, so I improvised.” Jackson laughed at her, reached up into the cabinet and retrieved the glass for his wife. Dawn giggled and took the glass from him, kissing him playfully on the lips as she hopped down off the counter. “I don’t like the idea that you have to go to sea tomorrow, with us just finding out we’re pregnant. But, it’s the Navy, they could mess up a grilled cheese sandwich.” Jackson chuckled, “Yes Baby, they can mess anything up if they try hard enough. But, I’ll be back before you know it. I promise.” “Promise?” Heled led at her as he bent down to nibble on her neck, “Yes, Baby, I promise I will be back in three months, not a day later.” Dawn drank deeply from the glass, “Good. I already miss you, and you haven’t even left yet.” “Really? Then I have an idea of how to cure you missing me” With that thought, Jackson swung his wife up into his arms and carried her off to their bedroom.
Gently, he set her down on the bed and began to slowly undress her as he nibbled on her neck and ears,eep eep gasp escaped her lips. “I love you Dawn…always have, ever since that night you reset my shoulder, you’ve had my heart in your hands.” Her hands pulled his tee shirt free from his jeans, pulling it over his head and carelessly discarding it onto the floor. After a few minutes, it was nearnbeanbearable for her not to jump his bones right there, she was naked, and lost in the scent of him directly above her. Jackson knew how to bring her to complete insanity, make her beg him to finish her, only to have him extend her pleasure even longer. Dawn pushed on his chest, laying him onto his back, it was her turn to drive him to the edge and keep him there. She began by nibbling his ears, nuzzling his neck, placing light kisses on his jaw as her fingers ran down his chest.