Love, Which Way Does Come

Love, Which Way does Come


At her small apartment in Oxon Hill, Captain Sheri James gazed at her reflection in the antique full length mirror. Her long blonde hair was tied in a high pony tail. The ends of the pony tail were tucked under and pinned in place. She was pleased with the way that the formal had fit her 5 foot 11 inch frame It had been a long time since she wore this specific uniform. The long formal uniform was like any other Air Force uniform except that it had an ankle length skirt with a slit just up to the knee on the left side and a white cummerbund that was worn around the waist. Sheri continued to prepare for a
formal dinner and reception at the Senator Thorn's home. A dinner, with a reception that she wasn't anxious to attend. The date that she didn't want would pick her up at 1900.

Earlier the day before, her supervisor, Col. Cole Johnson, MD called Sheri into his office.
"Capt. James, reporting as ordered, sir." Sheri gave the Col. the proper salute.
"At ease, Capt. I have a favor to ask you." the middle-aged MD said with a smile.
"Yes sir."
"Capt. it seems that Senator Thorn is hosting a Washington weenie formal dinner and reception tomorrow night. I forgot about my wife having some opera tickets for tomorrow night and I need someone to represent the medical group"
"Sir, with all due respect, am I the right person to ask to be the group's representative?"
"Capt. Major Craig will be escorting you. Just mingle with the Washington brass and you will do fine. Dismissed.
"Yes, sir. Understood, sir." Sheri said as she saluted the Col. and left his office.
Sheri knew why the Col. had selected her to attend this formal dinner. She wished that her friends at work wouldn't pry into her personal life, especially her love life.

A knock at the door yanked Sheri back to the present. As she finished donning her medical insignia on the collar of the formal uniform she glanced out of the window at Major Craig standing at her door. The Major was a nice enough guy, he just wasn't Sheri's idea of the kind of man she wanted in her life. At least, not permanently.
She went dto ato answer the door.
"Hello, Capt. You look very lovely tonight." the Major said as he opened a box and slid a flower corsage onto Sheri's wrist.
"Thank you, Major. Shell we get under way?"
The Major helped Sheri into the official Air Force car. Sheri thought to herself sarcastically, now this is style. The drive to the Senator's house was a quiet one. The car twisted and turned down many DC roads until it came to a stop at the Senator's house near Capitol Hill.

The house was a huge Victorian style house with its' massive ceilings and large rooms. To the right of the entrance was a massive stair case with a golden banister.
"May I take your wraps?" a middle-aged gentleman asked Major Craig and Sheri. "Please feel free to roam around and mingle with the other guests. Dinner will be served presently."
Major Craig began to mix and mingle immediately with just about everyone present. Sheri went in the other direction looking for a glass of punch to provide the means for her to at least give the appearance that she was having a good time. At that point he caught her attention. A tall, slender man roughly 6 foot 4 inches tall, dark hair and the most beautiful gray-green eyes that Sheri hadr ser seen. He was a Navy commander. A naval aviator by the looks of the gold wings that he wore on his uniform above his ribbons. Sheri was disappointed when she saw a female Marine Lt Col. walks over to her new find.
"She must be his date." Sheri said without realizing that she spoke out loud.
The female Marine was dressed in a Marine formal uniform. She was of average size and build, with short reddish-brown hair and brown eyes.

Major Craig appeared once again by Sheri's side. She didn't hear his approach. She was mesmerized by the Naval officer.
"What do you see in that squid?" the major asked.
"A squid?" Sheri was shocked at the term.
"Yeah, you know a person in the navy, just like a Marine is a jarhead or a leatherneck."
Sheri was suddenly seeing a side of the major that she didn't like at all.
"May I have your attention please? Dinner will now be served in the main dining area. Please wait to be called." said the same gentleman who took the major's and Sheri's coats at the door.
As all of the guests lined up for dinner, Sheri was still appalled by the majors comment.
The same gentleman who announced diner began to call off names as the guests were seated for dinner.
"Lt. Col Sarah MacKenzie and Cmdr. Harmon Rabb representing the navy judge advocate general."
A lawyer and an aviator. How wonderful. Sheri thought to herself.
Then it was their turn. "Major Tomas Craig and Capt. Sheri James representing the 244th medical wing at Andrews Air Force base."
Sheri and the major were seated. Dinner began.

When the dinner had ended and all of the guests had made their appeal for appropriated funds or special interests known to the Senators who were present, it was time to call it an evening. Sheri had an early shift in the morning. The ride home was just as pleasant as the ride earlier. Sheri was glad to get home.
"May I walk you safely to your door, Capt?" the major asked.
"I think I can find the way alone Major." Sheri said.
He followed Sheri nevertheless. Tom leaned in to kiss Sheri, she pulled away, thanked the major for the evening and entered her apartment. It was the same small Oxon Hill apartment that Sheri had lived in since she had been stationed at Andrews. The same small apartment that she came home to alone night after night. Sheri changed into something more comfortable and decided that she wanted, no needed to talk to her family in California. Her fingers slowly dialed the number. A woman answered on the other end.
"Hello."
"Hi mom, it's me, Sheri." Sheri's voice was unsteady
"Hi dear. Are you all right?"
"Yes, mother. I'm fine."
Both mother and daughter knew that it was getting closer to 'the anniversary.' No one dared to speak openly about it. After the phone call had ended. Sheri hit the sack for the night.

The next morning Sheri arrived at her duty station at Andrews. It was a short drive from her apartment. When Sheri walked through the door of her assigned floor, her colleagues knew that it wasn't going to be a good day.
"OK. What is everybody standing around for? We have people to care for before the doctors' arrive."
Janet, one of Sheri's best friends since she had been in Washington approached the blonde nurse.
"Hey Sheri girl, what's wrong this morning? Was the evening with major Craig that bad?"
"I don't want to talk about it or him right now, Lt. I'm taking a personal day the rest of the day."
Janet knew enough not to push her friend for answers that she didn't want to give. She also knew that it was around the time of 'the anniversary.'
Sheri departed Andrews and headed for Arlington. On the way she stopped at a street vender and purchased a bunch of flowers.
"You always did like flowers." Sheri said out loud.
Sheri arrived at Arlington National Cemetery and looked for the correct section and row. Arlington was hundreds or thousands of rows of white cross head stones all lined up in perfect rows. A single tear danced on Sheri's cheek as she got out of her car and walked through the plush green grass. She stopped next to a specific headstone.
Lt. Trevor Garrett
U.S. Air Force
California
1964-1993

Sheri kneeled down and laid the flowers next to the headstone.
"Trevor, it's been so long. I still miss you. Why were you taken from me so suddenly?"
As Sheri was getting to her feet and not looking where she was going, she bumped into something or someone.
Sheri got to her feet. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."
""It was totally my fault." said an unknown voice behind her. It was Lt. Cmdr. Harmon Rabb, Jr. The Naval officer that Sheri had seen and the Senator's reception and dinner.

"Hello again, Cmdr." Sheri said with a smile. "Nice to see you again."
Harm was enchanted by this Air Force officer that he kept bumping into. He also remembered Sheri from the Senator's party.
"Looks like we meet again, Capt."
"Yes it does, Cmdr. Please call me Sheri"
"OK, Sheri. I'm Harm. Harmon Rabb, Jr."
"Well Sheri, may I walk you to your car?"
"That would be nice, thank you Harm.
The two officers walked to Sheri's car. They said their farewells and went on their own separate ways.
Sheri hoped that somehow she would see Harm again.
Harm knew that he was captivated by the Air force officer and wanted somehow to see her again.

A few weeks later, Sheri was working her shift. It started as a quiet shift. The census was low and things were going easy. Charting at the nurse's station Sheri saw him again. The Navy Lt. Commander who keeps catching her attention. He was dressed in the standard navy kawki short sleeve uniform. On his right collar he wore the gold oak leave of a major. On his left was an emblem that Sherri didn't recognize. It must be a navy insignia of some kind. Above his left breast pocket he wore his ribbons. They were just below the gold wings, that Sherri recognized as aviator's wings.

"Hello, I'm Lt. Cmdr Harmon Rabb, Jr. I'm here to see a navy petty officer William St. Clair. Can you direct me to his room?"
"I'm sorry, sir. The petty officer isn't allowed to see any visitors. Some legal thing." Sherri explained.
"Yes, I know. I'm his lawyer."
"Sorry, Sir. Please sign the security guest log. The room is right this way."
Cmdr. Rabb followed Sherri down the corridor to the petty officer's room.
Sherri left Cmdr Rabb alone with his client. She wondered what the young petty officer did to need a lawyer and why he came to an Air Force hospital. Sheri continued her work at the nurse's station.
After a while Cmdr. Rabb returned from the Petty Officer's room and stopped once again at the nurse's station.
"Finished Cmdr? Please sign out in the guest book" Sheri said as she grabbed her coat to go off duty.
"Yes I am, Capt." Harm said as he signed the book. You're leaving. May I walk you to your car?"
"That would be delightful. I'm just getting off duty."
"Excellent. do you have time for a cup of coffee?" Cmdr. Rabb offered.
"Yes I do. The officers' club is only a block away. The coffee is much better there then in the hospital canteen."
e twe two officers walked to the 'O' club.
"It was a pleasant surprise to see you again at the hospital Capt." Harm said sincerely. "Arlington is such an unusual place to bump into someone who you would like to see again."
"I know. I was almost feeling guilty that I wanted to see you again." Sheri confessed. "I was there visiting a very good friend of mine, who was shot down overseas almost ten years ago. "
"Oh, a pilot." Harm said half under his breath. "I was visiting a girlfriend who was murdered about six years ago."
"I'm sorry." Sherri said. Sorry that she brought up the subject.
Harm and Sheri arrived at the 'O' club. The lunch crowd is just completing their meals. Sheri and Harm took a small table near the back of the room. Harm's white Navy uniform stood out like a white grain of sand in a sea of Air Force blue.
"Hey look guys. A squid has the nerve to come in our club with one of our ladies." said a rather belligerent Lt. "What are we going to do about it?"
Suddenthe the unfriendly Lt. realizes that Sheri is a Capt. and backs away.
"Sorry ma'am. I didn't know that it was you." the Lt. said as he recognizes that Sheri is a superior officer.
"Very well. I think that you also owe the Cmdr. an apology, Lt. Then we will call it even."
"Sorry for the intrusion, Cmdr. Welcome to Andrews, sir." the embarrassed Lt. told Harm as he went back to his pals.
"Now we can continue." Sheri said with a smile.
The couple sat and enjoyed each others' company and a few more cups of coffee.
"I hate to say this, but I have to be getting back to JAG with these papers on the petty officer or the admiral will have my hide." Harm said apologetically.
"I understand. My CO is the same way when it comes to business." Sherri smiled at the handsome commander. The couple left the club and had a care-free walk back to the hospital parking lot and Sherri's car.
"I hope that I will see you again soon." Sharri wanted to see this navy man again.
"Stop by JAG sometime. I owe you a lunch."
"Will do. Here is my phone number so you can call when you're not too busy." Sherri smiled.
"Thanks again. Bye."
Sherri waved and drove off hoping that she would hear from the Cmdr. very soon.


Sheri really thought that this handsome Navy officer would never call her. During the days that followed, Sheri went about her duties at the hospital.
"So Capt. how was your date with the Navy?" Major Craig asked.
"That's strictly need to know information. You don't have a need to know, sir" Sherri replied.
"Wow, that's telling him." Sherri's best friend Janet said. "I was just coming to tell you that someone send you flowers. They are at the nurse's station."
"Now who would be sending me flowers here? I hope it's not that weasel major Craig."
"You're never know unless you read the card." Janet said anxiously as the two nurses walked over to the flowers.
Sheri took the card. She smiled and turned a bright shade of red.
"Well, who are the flowers from?" Janet couldn't wait for the answer.
"From Harm, Cmdr. Rabb. The Navy Cmdr that Major Craig is so jealous of. He enjoyed our time together the other day and promises to call so we can get together again." Sheri should have been smiling, but she wasn't.
"I thought that you and the Cmdr. hit it off the other day." Janet inquired.
"We did."
"So was's the problem?"
"The problem is..." Sheri hesitated for a moment. "The problem is I don't know if I'm ready to see someone socially."
Janet was becoming a bit upset with her friend. "Look, Sheri. It's been almost ten years since Trevor was killed. I haven't met this Cmdr. Rabb yet, but from the way Major Craig acts when you mention the Cmdr.'s name, he must be pretty nice looking."
"Oh Harm is a doll. I just don't think I can forget Trevor."
"Nobody is asking you to forget Trevor. He would want you to be happy."
"I guess you are right. Even if Harm is a squid." Both friends laughed. "But a very handsome squid." Sheri added.
"Don't worry, Janet. I'll show Harm what Air Force nurses can do." Sheri smiled. "I'll put these flowers in my office.
For the rest of the work day Sheri worked on the mountains of paperwork that she had to do, occasionally glancing over at the flowers that Harm had sent her.

Unexpectedly, the phone rang. "Capt. James." Sheri answered.

"Hey, Capt. James. How about doing some fraternizing with the Navy?" Harm asked.
"That sounds like fun. Where are we going?" Sheri asked.
"Now, now Air Force, I can't give away all of the Navy secrets. I'll pick you up at your apartment at 1500. Harm said.


At the designated time Harm drove up to Sheri's apartment complex. He was wearing white sport slacks and a mustard color casual shirt. He rang the bell, Sheri answered the door with a smile.

"Hi there." Sherri said. She was wearing dark blue slacks and a short sleeve cotton blouse.
"We have to drive to Falls Church." Harm added.
Now Sheri was really curious about what this handsome Naval officer had in mind. She knew that he was a lawyer.

They drove west on the Washington beltway until they came to the exit for Falls Church.
"I have to drop these papers off at the office. I hope you don't mind. It will give you a chance to meet everybody."
After being waved through the security gate, Harm parked the car. The Jag headquarters building was a quaint red brick building that reminded Sheri of a time long past.

"The office is on the second floor. We'll just be a minute" Harm assured Sheri.

The inside of the building was just as spotless as the outside. Sheri followed Harm up the elevator and through a set of large glass doors that was etched with the seal of the judge advocate general.

Inside people were engrossed in doing their jobs, answering the phone, or filing papers. The massive outer office was the central point of activity. Smaller individual offices lined the large reception area.

"Hi, Cmdr. Can I help you with something." said Lt. Roberts.
"Thanks Bud. I'm just here to drop off these papers that the general needs in the morning. Oh, Bud, this is Capt. James."
"Hello ma'am. Welcome to JAG. The Cmdr. will be right with you."
"Thank you, Lt. I'll just wait here."
Bud Roberts continued with his duties. Col. Sarah McKenzie entered the main reception area on her way to what appeared to be her office. As she passed Sheri, she appeared to give Sheri the once over. This made Sheri feel apprehensive.

"Well, that's all tied up for the evening. Let's say we go out for dinner." Harm asked Sherri.
"Sounds good to me, Harm." Sheri forgot all about the Col.'s gawk. All she could see or think about was the handsome naval officer next to her.

"How about Chinese tonight?" Harm asked.
"Sounds great. I know a noteworthy Chinese restaurant on the south side. It's called Shon Hing."
The two officers walked out of JAG HQ and drove to the south side of Washington.. The restaurant was closed.
"Don't worry." Harm said. "I'm a pretty fair cook. We can have dinner at my place. Then we can rent a movie or something."
Harm was concerned that this date might become a disaster.
"That is a wonderful idearm.arm." Sherri was apologetic that the restaurant was closed.

They arrived back at Harm's apartment. It was a good-size apartment, sparsely decorated. A typical bachelor's apartment Sherri thought.
"I was expecting to see model airplanes hanging all over." Sherri teased Harm.
"Oh, I have them in the bedroom." Harm teased Sherri.
"Is that an invitation, Commander?" Sherri was hoping that it was.
"You never know when you're in the presence of Harman Rabb, Jr."
Sherri turned a bright shade of red and both officers laughed.
"Make yourself comfortable and I will start the steaks."
"Can I help?" Sherri asked.
"No, just make yourself at home. I got everything under control."
Harm scampered around the kitchen while Sherri took off her shoes and relaxed in the living room. Sherri noticed a guitar leaning up against a wall in the corner.
"Harm, do you play this?" Sherri was curious.
"A little. I'm not really good at it." Harm was modest.

"When dinner was ready." Harm pulled out the seat at the table for Sherri.

After dinner was over and cleaned up, Sherri and Harm sat next to each other on the sofa.
"Harm."
"Yes, Sherri." Harm answered.
"Remember when we met in Arlington, I said that I was visiting my boyfriend who was an Air Force pilot who was shot down almost ten years ago?"
"Yes." Harm knew this wasn't easy for Sherri. He did his best to make her feel comfortable.
" I received notice that he had been shot down over Iraq. They didn't know if he was alive. I never heard anymore. After time the Air Force just declared him KIA." Sherri said with a tear falling from her eye.
Harm wiped her tear with his finger and kissed her gently.
Sherri continued. "What neither of us knew when he left is that I was pregnant. When my daughter, Christina was born. My parents decided that they would raise Chris as their own, when she was older she would know that I was her mother. For awhile I was her older sister, not her mother. Harm, she still doesn't know that I'm her mother. I just wanted you to know because I think a lot of you......"
Harm cut Sherri off in mid sentence and held her closer to him. "Shhhhh.... It's ok. I think a lot of you, too."
He kissed Sherri tenderly on the lips.
"Seeing my aviator wings must be hard for you."
"Not really. I'm ok. It doesn't hurt that much anymore. It's been almost ten years." Sherri said.
"I was visiting my girlfriend the day we met at Arlington. Jordan was a mental health officer in the navy. I found her murdered outside of her apartment about six years ago. The last time I saw her we quarreled about me going back to flight status. I wanted to fly F-14 Tomcats again." Sherri could see that Harm was still hurting.

Harm and Sherri held each other close and kissed once again.

"I know, I'll get the guitar. Some music books are there in the corner."
Sherri found some music books. "Gee, Harm. We like the same kind of music." she smiled.
Sherri pulled out books with songs from the '60's. "This is great." The songs included 'I'm into something good, 'Cherish,' and 'Along comes Mary.'
Harm played the guitar and sang. Sherri also sang. They were truly having a good time.
After a while Sherri noticed the time. "Harm, I hate to be a party-pooper, but it's getting late. We both have work in the morning."
Harm agreed. "Before I take you home for the evening, would you please have one dance with me?" Harm asked. "There is a CD in the CD player."
Sherri did what Harm asked. Harm took Sherri by the hand as the music started to play, 'When a Man Loves a Woman.' They slow danced holding each other close. Harm kissed Sherri gently on the lips.
Harm wrapped his arm around her waist. Sherri sighed and they began to move in time to the music.There was space between them, but not much space. Sherri was conscious of his body. A srong, graceful male frame.Sherri relaxed against his body, leaning into him and allowing him to support her weight. He caressed her back slowly as they danced, and she sighed softly. Then Harm laid one hand gently on her butt.She enjoyed the slow warmth that spread outwardfrom his touch. The tingling heat was mirrored in her loains and she moved against him, no longer caring if he could feel the hardnessof her nipples pressing into him through their clothing.Without thinking Sherri kissed Harm. Their tongues wound around each other slowly, sensuously, and their hips ground together in an increasingly erotic motion. Sherri ran her fingers down Harm's shoulders to the small, firm pads of his ass. Harm ran his palms over the sides of her body before lightly cupping her breasts.

When the music was over, the couple continued to hold each other close.
"Sherri, I don't want to let you go. I've been so alive since I met you. "Harm whispered.
"I feel the same way, Harm." Sherri kissed Harm tenderly. He picked her up and to her surprise, carried her into the bedroom.
"You said that you wanted to see my airplanes." Harm said with a smile.
With both of them on the bed, Harm's hands moved to the buttons at the top of Sherri's top. He slowly pulled it down. Sherri was not wearing a bra . Harm's eyes shifted to the creamy fleash of her breasts. The top slipped from her shoulders. Leaning forward Harm drew one of Sherri's breasts into his mouth and sucked gently. His tongue caressed her nipple. Sherri gasped, throwing her head back as waves of passion swept through her body. Sherri's breast was too large to fit completely between Harm's lips. He squeezed the base and intensified her sensation. Sherri wiggled sexily as the the rest of her clothes fell to the floor.
Harm gracefully maneuvered out of his clothes revealing his elegant physique. After allowing Sherri a short time to take in the sight of his cock, Harm kissed Sherri passionately. Laying on the bed, Sherri ran her lips up the length of Harm's inner thigh, before slipping his cock into her mouth. Harm groaned and his flesh palsed under her tongue. Sherri could feel her clit swelling and the heat building inside of her. Harm made no move to touch the tiny, aching bud. Sudden;y Harm touched her clit as softly as a butterfly's kiss.
"Oh God." Sherri gasped, "Sooo good....."
"Shhh." Harm put his finger to Sherri's lips.
"Please" Sherri groaned. " I need you... need something . I want you to fuck me now, darling."
Again Sherri eagerly flicked her tongue over his velety head before swallowing his entire length.
"Oh yes, baby." Harm groaned.
Before losing control, Harm quickly pressed Sherri down on the bed.
"You're so beautiful."Harm whispered as he lifted Sherri's hips.
"I want you now." Sherri pleaded teetering close to climax.
Harm smiled as Sherri felt him gently nudging her knees apart with his thighs. He reached under her, parting her tender opening and guiding tead ead of his cock into her. Sherri bent her knees lowering herself onto him. His cock stretched her inner walls, smoothly luberated with both of their juices. The tension between Sherri's legs got so wound up that she was close to exploding, but she desperately held back her climax, wanting the pleasure to last.
"Don't hold back, sweetheart, just let it all out." Harm crooned. Sherri pressed her mouth against Harm's shoulder and cried out as wave after wave of electrifing spasms rocked her entire body. Sherri slumped against Harm, unable to believe what she was experiencing. Harm held still f or a moment before thrusting into Sherri again.
"Don't stop, baby." Sherri cried urgently pushing Harm on. Harm plunged into Sherri harder and harder. He reached down and rubbed her clit.
"Harm." Sherri screamed, as her mind blowing climax shook her entire body. Harm came soon afterwards, filling her with creamy come.
Satiated and happy, Sherri and Harm remained entwined in each others' arms.
"Now that," Sherri murmered in Harm's ear, " is an airplane."

The next morning Harm drove Sherri to her apartment in Oxon Hill. Back at his apartment Harm couldn't get this wonderful and beautiful Air Force Capt. off of his mind. What he didn't know was that at Sherri's apartment, she couldn't get the tall, debonair naval officer off of her mind.