"Answered Prayers" is an episode of JAG that first aired on December 11, 2001. It was directed by Terrence O'Hara and written by Donald P. Bellisario, Paul J Levine and Nan Hagan.
A few days before Christmas, two marines arrest Petty Officer Jennifer Coates (Zoe McLellan) after she absconds from her post and impersonates a Santa Claus outside a mall. Admiral Chegwidden assigns Lt. Loren Singer (Nanci Chambers) to prosecute her, and Commander Rabb to defend. Coates' court martial can't proceed as paperwork needs to arrive from civilian court regarding her enlistment; as it was non-voluntary and imposed by a previous court judgement, Rabb intends to argue that it was defective and have her discharged from the Navy to face civilian justice. But as the records won't arrive until after the holiday, the hearing is adjourned and Rabb is put in charge of escorting Coates back to barracks, to remain until the new year.
For yet more holiday-related reasons, the barracks are unavailable. Coates first suggests she be left with a "brother", who turns out to be fictional, or her father, who clearly doesn't want the responsibility. Harm's last hope is to leave her with Lt. Colonel MacKenzie, who is also hosting her "little sister" Chloe (Mae Whitman); she accepts.
On Christmas Eve, the whole JAG family come together at Lt. Roberts's place for a get-together. Rabb is still babysitting Petty Officer Coates, having not found anywhere else to secure her before her hearing, and Bud's brother and father are also there. During the party, Lt. Singer's bracelet goes missing, and she immediately blames Coates due to her history of petty theft. In the commotion, Coates runs away and has to be convinced to return by Rabb, who convinces her that she can still have a future in the Navy. The bracelet was simply misplaced, and Singer apologises to Coates - but can't promise to drop any charges for her.
Meanwhile, Petty Officer Mikey Roberts (Michael Bellisario) is in the running for a place in the U.S. Naval Academy, to become an officer, and Commander Ted Lindsay (W. K. Stratton) is judging his application on behalf of SECNAV. Mikey and Bud's father "Big Bud" Roberts (Jeff MacKay) doesn't like the idea of his other son also becoming an officer, as he was an enlisted man until his discharge, but a kitchen conversation with Jennifer goes some way towards changing his mind.
The party ends and everyone heads to the church for a sermon by Commander Sturgis Turner's (Scott Lawrence) father, Chaplain Matthew Turner (Bill Cobbs). Chaplain Turner had once delivered a sermon to Admiral Chegwidden's SEAL team in Vietnam, and they share a touching reunion. The sermon emphasises the role of fathers, comparing the role of Jesus's father Joseph to that of fathers everywhere; Harm, Mac, Bud, Mikey and Jennifer all reflect on their relationship with their fathers. Outside the church, Commander Lindsay tells Mikey he got into the Naval Academy, and Big Bud gives Mikey his blessing.
Finally, Harm makes his annual visit to the memorial wall for his father. Waiting for him there is his half-brother Sergei (Jade Carter), who has been freed from prison in Chechnya by Agent Clayton Webb (Steven Culp).
Tropes
- Christmas Episode: The series' third overall, and first since season 5's "Ghosts of Christmas Past".
- Continuity Nod:
- To 'Soul Searching': Rabb fears his Corvette has been stolen again when it goes missing from the garage, but it turns out that Sturgis had just taken it for a spin and not told him.
- To "Second Sight", in which Mac's father died; a clip of her at his deathbed is shown during the sermon.
