JAG and it's character's don't belong to me. I'm only playing in Mr. Bellisario's world. Any characters NOT taken directly from JAG or making cameo appearances from other televison shows DO belong to me.
A/N: Thoughts are in *'s
Old Friends
Chapter One
"God what a mess. Did I really think this was a good idea?" Kate muttered to herself as she waited in line to get into the JAG installation in Falls Church, Virginia. Finally it was her turn and she pulled forward and rolled down her window, handing her Identification Card to the guard. He looked at the card, it was completely regulation, and glanced into the back of her car.
"What's in the box?" he asked her.
Kate turned around and saw the black, hard plastic gun case. **Damn**. "It's a tranquilizer gun. I have all the paperwork stating that it's a necessary part of my work - it's in the glove compartment."
The guard gave her a hard stare and said, "Let's see it then." She opened the compartment and pulled out a small manilla envelope. She tried to smile as she handed both the case and the paperwork to him. **How could I have been so stupid? ** But she knew the answer. It was a part of her job and she carried it with her just about everywhere. No one had ever questioned it before. But then she didn't usually use the car when she went on base.
The guard returned the items and glared at her. "It looks like you have a valid reason for carrying it so I'll let you pass this time.."
**Wow! I didn't expect to get off that easily** and then she looked at the line of cars behind her and knew why. The documentation was obviously authentic but even so she was surprised that there wasn't more of a fuss. September 11 had made everybody jumpy.
Kate found a parking place and headed for what seemed to be the main entrance. She glanced down and wondered if she was dressed appropriately. Everyone seemed to be either in uniform or in their Sunday best. She was wearing a relatively new pair of jeans, a button-down blouse and her ropers. Oh well, this was what SHE always wore to work. It was just too hard to dress up - both on the clothes and on her feet.
Upon entering the JAG office complex, Kate handed her ID card to the receptionist. "I'm looking for Sarah McKenzie, please."
The receptionist barely glanced at her. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Do I need one?"
That got her attention. The receptionist scowled, handed the card back and pointed down the hallway. "All the way down at the end, they'll tell you where to go once you get there. If you don't have an appointment it's just as likely she's in court this morning."
This just seemed to be Kate's day for ticking people off. She hoped Sarah was in a better mood. As she reached the double doors, the doubts started. **What ARE you doing here? Why would she want to see YOU? Have you completely lost your mind? **
Kate pushed the doors open a little harder than she would have liked and walked into a beehive. There were people everywhere and they were all moving around. She must have looked a little lost because this incredibly tall and incredibly handsome officer approached her.
"Are you looking for someone?" he asked.
"I'm here to see Sarah McKenzie. Is she here this morning?"
"Colonel McKenize's office is the one in the corner." With the emphasis on the title.
Kate bit her tongue. **Let's see if we can tick off everybody, why don't we?** She wove around the desks and headed for the office he had indicated. The door was open so she peeked in. Sarah "Mac" McKenzie was digging through a file. Kate knocked lightly.
Mac looked up as if expecting someone, her expression changed to confusion. "I'm sorry, did we have an appointment this morning?"
"No, I just dropped by." **What did she say NOW? This was a terrible idea.** Kate could feel her heart pounding.
"If you're having legal problems, you probably need to see one of the clerks and they can make a report. We'll set your case and someone will contact you in a few days."
"No, it's not a legal problem. I guess it's kind of personal." Another attention getter, apparently.
Mac stared at her for a moment. "Do I know you?" she asked. She looked confused.
'You used to." Kate replied. "Think back probably more years than either of us wants to admit and add about 100 pounds. Does that help you any?"
Another long silence while Mac stared at her. Kate knew when she had figured it out because she could almost see the lightbulb appear over Mac's head. 'Oh my God. Kate! What are you doing here? How did you know..."
"I went home before Christmas. My mom apparently ran into your mom somewhere - she hits all the big flea markets looking for antiques.. She said you were working here. It was too strange. I drive by here every day going to work. Mom didn't know where you lived so I thought I'd just drop in here one day and surprise you. It took me this long to get up my nerve."
"Sit down and talk to me. I have to be in court in an hour, but I've got a few minutes. What are you doing in Virginia? And how did you get past the guard?"
Kate took a deep breath. This was MUCH better than she had ever imagined this would be. After the terrible fight they had the last time they were together, she had expected nothing better than hatred and silence. Granted it had been a long time, but it was a huge fight.
"Don't marry him, Sarah! I've heard stories about him. He's violent. He's going to kill you!"
"Leave me alone, Kate. I'm tired of you trying to make all of my decisions for me. I will marry when and where and who I want to. You're just jealous because no one wants to go out with you."
The end of hours of arguing and screaming. After that attack, Kate left. There wasn't anything else she could say, and she wasn't sure she wanted to. Sarah knew how self-conscious she was about her appearance. She knew she was too fat but dieting was just too hard. She thought that best friends were supposed to be able to talk to each other about everything. But it didn't seem like they were best friends anymore.
I'll give you the short version since time is limited. Kate smiled. "I"m a vet at-"
"Were you in Kuwait?" said the handsome officer who had helped her earlier.. The tone of his voice and his body language said that he had been listening to everything they had said - and he wasn't buying any of it. It was all Kate could do to keep her mouth closed.
"No, I am not in the military," And he cut her off again.
"Then you can't be a veteran. Quit wasting time with whatever scheme you've cooked up and leave, NOW."
Kate had had about all she was going to take. "If you would let me finish a sentence, you might be smart enough to figure out that I never claimed to be a military veteran. However, I AM a veterinarian at the National Zoo."
Mac gasped, "You really did it!"
Now the man was the one who looked flabbergasted. "You actually KNOW her?" he asked Mac.
Mac smiled. "Harm, this is Kate... used to be Murphy. We were best friends in school."
"It's Hadway now."
Now Harm looked startled. "Kate Hadway? Dr. Kate Hadway?"
**Since when did she become THAT famous? The closest she'd come to any kind of personal publicity was when Steve and Terri Irwin shot some scenes at the zoo. She'd been on camera no more than 30 seconds .** "I'm the only Kate Hadway I know. How do you know who I am?"
From the bullpen, Kate heard a familiar voice, "Harm are we still on for lunch?"
Kate felt her stomach clench. What was THAT woman doing here? And oh my God, she's coming over here. She's talking to HIM. Damn and I would have thought he'd have better taste than that. She glanced over at Mac who looked just as confused.
"Harm, how do you know Kate?" Mac asked.
"I don't know her, but apparently I've heard quite a lot about her lately." he replied.
Kate watched the blonde teeter up to Harm on those impossible shoes she insisted on wearing. **I bet he has heard a lot,** she thought. **How do I get myself into the stupid situations?**
As she latched onto Harm's arm she smiled at Mac and started to greet her. Then she saw Kate and she stopped mid-word.
"What are YOU doing here?" she spat at Kate.
Kate took a deep breath, counted to ten and decided that she could be civil. She didn't need to come off as a bitch here. Now she understood why her name had jolted the man. "I was visiting an old friend, Renee. Obviously it's a small world." She tried to smile pleasantly.
Renee apparently decided to keep the truce she offered. "So it seems. Harm, " she changed the subject quickly, "are we still on for lunch?" Harm apparently decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valor and steered her out of Mac's office.
"We'll talk later," was all he said. Kate was unsure if that was aimed at her or at Mac.