LIFE CHANGES
By Nettie
AN 1:Takes place early Season 10 but as with most of my ffs I make it up as I go…and DPB et al allow me to do it.
AN2: I wrote this nearly three years ago in one piece (no chapters). The events take place in one day/night and although it's just over 4000 words, there's really only one good place to break it. So I'll post it in two chapters (they're just a little long).
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It was the type of phone call everyone dreads. The one where the person you love is in desperate need and you are powerless to help. For Harm the call came when he and Sturgis were aboard the USS Ulysses floating around the Atlantic Ocean.
The pair were onboard to conduct a JAG man investigation into an alleged gambling ring on the ship. They had been there two days and were having a late lunch with Captain Armitage and bringing him up to speed. They had found a Lieutenant to be the convenor of this ring and were recommending an Article 32 Hearing. They had also found some NCOs and enlisted personnel had cases to answer for but these details were yet to be finalised.
The trio had sat down and enjoyed the lunch provided to them, vegetarian lasagne for Harm and the traditional for Sturgis and the Captain. The plates had just been cleared when the phone call was patched through to the State Room they were in.
"Commander Rabb, it's for you. I'm afraid the handset is on the blink. You'll need to take it on the speaker phone. If you like, I'm sure Commander Turner and I can step outside," the Captain offered.
"No, Captain," Harm laughed, ""I'm sure it won't be state secrets."
Harm hit the flashing button on the phone.
"Rabb."
"Commander, it's Jennifer," she sounded distracted.
"Yes, Petty Officer," said Harm aware of his audience.
"Hello?" Jen said again.
"Hello Petty Officer, I'm here."
"Sir, is there something wrong with the phone? It sounds funny."
"You're on speaker phone, Petty Officer."
"Can you pick up?"
"No, I can't. What is it, Petty Officer?"
"Sir…" He could hear her crying.
"Jen, what's wrong?" There was no reply. "Jennifer, are you alright?"
The silence on the line was deafening to Harm. "Jennifer, what's wrong? Is it Mattie?"
"Oh no," Jen replied trying to compose herself. "Mattie and I are fine. It's…it's…"
"It's what?" Harm felt a sense of panic rise up within him. He had had an uneasy feeling all day and now the reason why was going to be revealed. He listened carefully. He thought he could hear Mac calling his name. It was said in such a forlorn manner it scared him, it was as if she was out searching for him.
"Mac? Jen, is Mac there?"
"Oh God, Sir."
Harm looked at Sturgis and Captain Armitage, desperate to see if they could understand the situation. They shook their heads.
"Petty Officer Coates," Sturgis said in a stern voice hoping to calm the situation. "Is Colonel MacKenzie there with you?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Is she alright?"
"No, Sir."
"What is the situation, Petty Officer?"
Jennifer took a deep breath. She knew she would have to explain the situation quickly or she'd never be able to get through it all.
"I spoke to Colonel MacKenzie as we walked out of Headquarters this afternoon, just before 1700. She was going home and I was going to a class and I got home just now and…" She drew in another deep breath. Harm wasn't breathing himself but his heart was racing.
"And…" she continued at a frantic pace, "and I went to go into my apartment and Colonel MacKenzie was standing in your doorway, calling your name, like she is now, and I went to her and I was confused because she knew you wouldn't be home and I called her name and she didn't hear me so I called her name again and she still didn't turn around and then I touched her arm and she jumped in surprise, she hadn't heard me, and then she cowered like she thought I was going to hurt her and…and…"
"Petty Officer, breathe, take your time," said Sturgis reassuringly.
"And…and… she turned around and …and… oh, God," she said hesitantly.
"It's okay Jennifer. She turned around and what?" asked Sturgis quietly.
"She turned around and it's raining here and she was wet, soaking wet, and she was, she was covered, oh God, Harm, she was covered in blood." Jen began to sob.
"Blood? Is it hers? Is she hurt?" Harm yelled into the speaker.
"Yes and no."
"Which one, Petty Officer?" asked Sturgis.
"It's not her blood but I think she has been hurt, badly."
"Oh God!" This time it was Harm's turn to be at a loss for words.
"What's happening now, Petty Officer?" asked Sturgis trying to garner all the information he could.
"I tried to get her into my apartment but she just stood in the doorway and called and called for the Commander. So I let her in, I hope that's okay?"
"Yes definitely Jen. Then…" prompted Harm.
"Then she stood in the room just calling for you and I tried to get her to talk to me but she's not there. It's like she can't see me or hear me. And her eyes, they're just lifeless, vacant. I managed to get her wet clothes off her and gave her some dry clothes. They're yours, sorry Commander; I didn't want to leave her alone."
"That's ok. How is she now?" Harm was fighting back tears; he was so far away from where he wanted to be. "What is she doing?"
"Nothing Sir, she's still standing there and she's calling your name and … and …oh, Sir, it's just awful. I don't know what to do."
"Let me talk to her Jen, give her the phone."
"Okay, but I don't like your chances."
"Mac? Mac?" he called. "It's me, Harm. Mac?" But there was no response and Jennifer's voice came back on the line.
"I'm sorry, Sir, she wouldn't take the phone. I don't think she even knows I'm here. She's completely in her own world."
"Petty Officer, does the Colonel have any injuries?" asked Sturgis, being the voice of control.
"Sir, she has red marks and welts, some bruising and grazes to her arms, especially her wrists and around her neck and across her face."
"Petty Officer, call Commander Lynch at Bethesda, get her to come over and assess the Colonel. It doesn't sound like you'll be able to get her over there yourself and she may not cope with the paramedics." Sturgis ordered.
"We'll call Bud and get him to check out her apartment, see if there's anything there," said Harm regaining some sense of control. "Call us back if things change."
"Yes, Sir." He heard the click and the line went dead.
"If this is Webb's doing I'll kill the bastard myself," Harm yelled at no one in particular. He looked up and realised only Sturgis remained.
"The Captain's gone to see how soon he can get you home," said Sturgis reading his friend's mind.
Harm nodded. "But the case..." he began.
"It's alright buddy, I'll finish up. We'll speak to Cresswell when we ring Bud, I'm sure it will be okay. Harm, Mac will be alright," he said in an effort to comfort him.
""How do you know? Does it sound like she's alright? Does it?" he yelled.
"Let's ring HQ and see what we can do," Sturgis said calmly.
Harm punched the number into the phone and barked instructions at the person unfortunate enough to pick up. He wanted Cresswell and Roberts in the same room and he wanted it now.
"Rabb?" It was his CO and he could tell instantly he wasn't happy but at this stage Harm was beyond caring about anyone other than Mac.
"General, it's Commander Turner. Is Commander Roberts there too?" asked Sturgis.
"Yes he is. One of you care to explain what this is all about?" the General inquired dryly.
"Sir, we've just had a phone call from Petty Officer Coates. She says Mac has turned up at my apartment covered in blood. Coates believes she came from home. Bud, if you still have the key, I was hoping you could go over there and check things out." Harm said.
"Certainly, but why don't you just ask her yourself?" asked Bud.
"By Petty Officer Coates description it sounds like Colonel MacKenzie is extremely traumatised. She is not actually communicating at the moment," Sturgis explained.
"Bud, take someone with you. God knows what happened."
"Yes, Sir."
"I tell you if Webb has…"
"Harm!" Sturgis stopped him, knowing that the General was still listening.
"General, the Captain is finding out how soon Commander Rabb can depart. Our case here has a few loose end I can tie up tomorrow by myself, that's if it's alright with you?" Sturgis asked.
"Definitely, Turner."
xoxoxoxooxoxoxo
It took Harm seven hours to get home. It was the longest seven hours of his life. He tried to rest but every time he closed his eyes he could hear Mac calling his name and could see visions of her in blood soaked clothing. It was a waking nightmare. She needed him desperately and it filled him with guilt he could not be there for her.
It was a little after 0300 when Harm finally got home and he was surprised to see the gathering, his apartment was full. Bud was there, as too was Jennifer. General Cresswell, Deputy Director Kershaw and Commander Lynch were there but he couldn't see Mac.
"Where is she?" he asked earnestly and without greeting.
Bud stood and approached him. "Sir, she's in there with Harriet." He nodded towards the bedroom. "I think she's finally sleeping."
Harm moved towards her but General Cresswell stood and blocked his path.
"Not yet, Commander, I think you need to be fully informed before you go in there. Colonel MacKenzie is very fragile, to say the least. You need to know the details."
Harm looked around the room. So many concerned faces looked back at him. He noticed silent tears trickling down Jennifer's face. He called her name but she just looked at the floor. Harm turned his attention to Kershaw, if he was there then it had something to do with Webb.
"Is this Webb's work?" he asked with a bitterness he had never experienced.
"Yes," said Kershaw with a sad nod.
"I'll kill him. I'll kill the bastard," yelled Harm heading towards the bedroom.
"Mac already did," said Bud stopping Harm in his tracks, had he heard right?
"Clayton Webb is dead – for real this time," Bud added.
Harm turned around, his head spinning.