Title – A Kiss is Worth A Thousand Words

Author - Duckys_dream

Disclaimer – I own nothing! Please don't sue.

Summary – Mac and Harm meet Joey. She teaches them about trust, expressing themselves and gives them a little bit more self-confidence.

Feedback - duckys_dream@hotmail.com

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"I understand that sir but if the resources I need I can't run your ship the way you need." Joey Gallagher said into the mouthpiece of the portable radio she was wearing. The earpiece rested in her left ear and the small microphone ran down to the left corner of her mouth. Her right ear was free to listen to ambient sound and people talking to her. There was a small black switch box on her belt. Her left hand hovered above the controls.

She was currently speaking via an intercom system to her superior, Martin Landau. Joey was standing on the Bridge of a large ship that was harboured just outside Washington DC. The ship was inactive as a Navy carrier but was used on a daily basis by the Navy as a practical training ground. Landau was a Rear Admiral who'd been taken off active duty after a back injury but the navy allowed him an active role on the training ship.

Joey was a Captain and second in charge of the ship, she was trained as a teacher and it was for this reason that she was in command of the groups of cadets that moved through the daily routine of running a Navy ship. They were currently preparing for a new group of cadets to arrive.

Peering out the window at the side of the ship Joey could see the lines of cadets on the docks. She sighed again. There'd been a spill of chemicals on one of the decks. The chemicals were used for cleaning and were harmless on their own, but when mixed with other chemicals that had been spilt in the same area, the fumes became harmful.

"Sir," Joey said turning her attention back to the conversation. "I need a properly qualified HAZMAT team and someone to occupy the cadets while the spill is contained." She listened as Landau barked about not having a team on hand. He advised Joey that the cadets would have to handle situations like this when they became members of a ships crew. He gave her directions to let the cadets handle the spill.

"I can't let untrained cadets handle something like this. I can't. It's a potentially fatal situation sir. On board a ship there would be specially trained crewmembers to deal with this sort of thing. These guys aren't trained sir."

"Just do it Captain," Landau commanded. "Those boys are there for practical training."

"Sir, I will not put the lives of cadets in danger because this units budget has been exceeded. I am willing and able to load these boys back up and take them to McDonalds for the duration of the day. I will not let them on the ship while this situation endures." Joey said angrily. "Either you provide me with the means to clean up this spill or I walk away. I am the best and only person qualified to provide training on board this ship and you know it sir. You also know that if I walk away, my crew follows me."

"I don't think you are in a position to be making demands to me Captain. Making demands and allegations will get you no where."

"It's gotten me this far sir and I'm hardly making allegations. We're transmitting on a training frequency, training frequencies on this system are recorded for training purposes. I can and will take the recording of this conversation to the appropriate authorities as proof of your negligence and disregard for the proper sequence of events after a spill such as this one."

"Captain," Another voice said through her radio. Joey flicked a switch on the box on her belt.

"Yes Lieutenant." She said.

"Ma'am, the cadets down here are getting restless, they want to know what's happening. What do I tell them?"

"Tell them their captain will see them shortly." Joey said.

"Yes ma'am." The lieutenant said. Looking out the window again Joey could see the lieutenant speaking to the cadets.

"Captain Gallagher." Landau said. Joey flicked the switch back.

"I believe this conversation is at an end sir." Joey said.

"It won't be the last Gallagher." He said almost as a warning.

"I count on that sir." She said and flicked another switch. She turned to a man on her left. "Commander, you're in charge." She said and saluted. The commander saluted as Joey walked past. She left the ship and stood in front of the cadets. They saluted and followed her order to stand at ease. "There's been a change in plan." Joey said. She switched on her radio. "Commander," She said to the man she'd left on the bridge.

"Yes ma'am." He said into his portable radio.

"I'm going off the docks for a while. I'm going to send the cadets back to school."

"Yes ma'am. What about the spill ma'am?"

"As yet, that matter is still unattended. I hope to find resolution in the next hour or so. Keep the area off limits until I return."

"Yes ma'am." The commander said.

"Cadets." She called and they immediately snapped to attention. "Follow me." She said. She started walking. Once the cadets were on the bus and headed back towards their Military School Joey got in her car and started a drive through the morning rush hour of DC.

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