Disclaimer: I do not own JAG, Harmon Rabb, Sarah MacKenzie, et al. I've earned nothing but the pleasure of the writing, and the possibility of some nice feedback.
~*~
Last time on JAG…
"Yes, Sir," Harm responds. "We'll be back tomorrow afternoon. We'll finish our report this afternoon and FAX it to you ASAP." Harm listens as the admiral continues. "Yes, we'll have the major with us…No, Sir, I'm sure she'll accept a deal…Aye, aye, Sir." Harm hangs up the receiver.
"I guess you heard we need to be on the morning COD," Harm says to Mac. She nods.
The buzzing of the office phone catches Harm's attention and he walks into the office to grab it.
"Commander Rabb, Legal Office," he answers.
"Commander, this is the CAG. Your flight out of here is canceled due to bad weather in Naples," Colonel Burton tells him. "The COD couldn't take off this morning and it's doubtful the afternoon COD will make it in either. We're expecting a storm cell from the southern Atlantic to hit us around thirteen hundred. So you may as well settle in for at least another day and a half."
Mac stumbles forward into Harm's chest as the carrier makes a sharp turn to starboard…"What was that?"
Harm's arms instinctively go around her. "I'm not sure. The CAG said something about an approaching storm cell. Maybe we've turned to avoid it."
~*~*~
0519 Zulu (0619 Local)
USS Thomas Jefferson
The Legal Office
"I hate storms, Harm," Mac replies breathlessly, holding tightly to the front of Harm's khaki shirt. "Something bad always seems to happen."
"All hands—this is the captain—all non-essential personnel remain in your quarters…two storm cells are about to converge on us…we're in for a rocky ride…I'll keep you updated."
Harm glances up at the PA speaker from which the captain's voice just came and back down at Mac, "Well, so much for our tour."
"Harm, I'm scared," Mac whispers as thunder can be heard.
Harm tightens his arms around her. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm here…I'll keep you safe," he says. "You believe that, right?"
She nods as the ship begins to pitch and roll. Her eyes widen in fear.
Harm widens his stance to keep himself and Mac steady and upright. "Perhaps we ought to climb into my bunk. It's probably safer to be off our feet." They make their way over to the double bunk. Harm climbs in first, maneuvering into the corner and patting the space right in front of him. Mac settles into the vee of his legs and he wraps his arms around her waist. "Better?" he asks.
"Mm hmm," she intones. "Mic would be livid if he knew about this."
"Well, I guess this is something we keep to ourselves," Harm says. "As is that kiss. Mac, I'm really sorry about that."
"Harm, don't even go there," Mac replies. "I already told that I wasn't sorry about it, and that's something I've got to learn to live with."
"Why, Mac?"
"Why what, Harm?"
"Why aren't you sorry?"
"Because that's the first time you really kissed me—me, Harm—not some ghost," she says. "I could feel—Hey! Why did the lights go out?"
"I'm not sure, Mac, the emergency lights should come on soon." He gives her a reassuring squeeze just as the weak beam flickers on. "See, that's better, huh?"
Mac nods. "Harm, how long will we be locked down here, waiting out this storm?"
"It's hard to say, Marine," Harm tells her. "It could be awhile."
"How long is awhile…give me a ball park figure," she requests.
"Upwards of twenty-four to thirty-six hours," he guesses.
"Great," she says sarcastically.
"Well, do you have somewhere else you'd rather be?" Harm asks.
"Actually, Harm, no," Mac sighs. "There's no where else I'd rather be, despite the fact that I'm out in the middle of the Atlantic on a ship caught between two storm cells."
"Not even at home, in your warm bed with…" Harm can't bring himself to say Mic's name.
*
1245 Zulu (0745 EDT)
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
"Admiral…the commander and the colonel are here to see you, Sir," Tiner announces through the intercom.
"Send them in, Tiner," the admiral responds.
Harm and Mac enter his office and stand at attention in front of his desk.
"At ease, have a seat. I'm glad to see you two made it back in one piece."
"Thank you, Sir," Harm says for them both. Mac nods in agreement and smiles at the admiral.
"Nice work on that investigation, by the way. Commander, I want you to handle the case from here," Admiral Chegwidden says. "You have the files, right?" He glances at Harm over the top of his glasses.
Harm nods.
"Good, good…Colonel, so how did you enjoy that ride?"
"Well, Sir, I was just thankful that Commander Rabb was there to talk me through it," she says soberly.
The admiral looks at her.
"I hate storms, Sir, and the commander did an excellent job of keeping my mind off the rolling seas and the booming thunder."
The admiral just continues to look at her.
"Sir?…Admiral, is something wrong?"
"What? Huh? No…" the admiral shakes his head to clear the fog. "I'm sorry, Colonel, I was just remembering the good old days at sea."
Harm and Mac exchange an amused glance.
"So—where was I? Besides in Never-Never Land?" he asks, sorting through the file folders on his desk. "Oh, right…Colonel, you'll be investigating the death of Lance Corporal MacReynolds. Colonel…"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Heads up…she was four months pregnant," the admiral says kindly.
Mac nods.
"Dismissed."
"Aye, aye, Sir," Mac replies as she and Harm stand at attention before turning and leaving the admiral's office.
Mac sits at her desk, contemplating the dead lance corporal and her baby. She is startled out of her reverie by the ringing of her telephone. She stares at it a moment before picking it up. "Colonel MacKenzie." She gets no response. "Hello? Is anyone there?" She still gets no answer, so she shrugs and places the receiver back in its cradle.
"Hey, Mac?" Harm sticks his head into her office. "You want to head down to Quantico with me? I've got to go talk to Major Johnson in the brig and I figured since you had to head down there for your investigation, we could go together."
"Sure, that'll be fine," she offers him a small smile. "When?"
"In about forty-five minutes," he says, checking his watch.
With one hand on the steering wheel and the other stretched across the seat backs, Harm rubs Mac lightly on her shoulder with his fingers. "Hey, you okay?" he asks her.
She shrugs and continues to look out her window at the drizzle. "I was just wondering why someone would want to kill a pregnant woman."
"How do you know she was murdered?" he asks. "The admiral didn't say anything about murder."
"No, he didn't," Mac replies. "I just have this gut feeling."
"Getting a little worked up about this aren't you?" Harm asks. "What's going on with you? You don't even know for sure she was murdered. She could have committed suicide."
"Why would she commit suicide, Harm, at four and half months along?" Mac snaps. "If she had wanted to commit suicide, she would have done it a lot sooner."
"Hey…hey…I'm sorry, okay?" Harm shrugs and puts his right hand on the steering wheel.
"No…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bit your head off," she replies, patting his arm. "It's just that after what happened to Bud and Harriet last year and what happened to—" She looks at Harm with big eyes and slaps her hand over her mouth realizing what she was about to say.
Harm looks over at her. "Is there something you want to talk about?" he asks. "You know I'm here for you, but if this case is going to be too hard on you, then perhaps you should call the admiral and ask if you can pass it onto someone else."
"I'll be fine. I'm a Marine, right? I'll just suck it up and do my job," she says with a decisive nod. The sound of the 1812 Overture fills the car. "I wonder who that could be," Mac comments as she reaches down into her briefcase to grab her cell phone. "Hello…who's there?" She gets no answer and presses the 'end' button. "That's bizarre."
"What's bizarre?" Harm asks.
"That's the second call I've gotten today where no one answered when I came on the line," she tells Harm.
*
1630 Zulu (1130 EDT)
Marine Brig
Quantico Marine Corps Base
"Have a seat, Major," Harm offers.
"Thank you, Sir," Major Johnson accepts, taking a seat.
Harm sits across from her at the round table in the small office. "How are you holding up?" he asks, referring to the death of her lover and partner in crime.
"I'm okay, Sir. Thanks for asking," she replies. "What's next?"
"Well, you need to decide if you want to accept the government's offer or stand trial," Harm tells her.
"I'm pretty sure I'll take a deal, Sir," the major says. "I know I was in the wrong and I don't really have a credible defense. I'm sure a panel won't accept a woman in love plea."
Harm chuckles.
"What's so funny?"
"I said something along those lines to Colonel MacKenzie and she hit me," Harm explains, rubbing his arm as if it still hurt. "The government is offering a dishonorable discharge and eighteen months confinement."
"Eighteen months?" she asks, surprised. "Why so long?"
"Well, maximum confinement for fraternization is two years, so you're actually lucky as far as that goes," Harm explains. "Instead of officially charging you with anything else, the government is stipulating the longer end of the sentence curve and you'll probably have to serve most of that time. They might offer you parole for good behavior after twelve to fifteen months."
The major stares out the barred window for a moment before looking back at Harm and nodding her acceptance of the government's offer. "Thank you, Sir," she says.
"For what, Major?"
"For being nice to me," she says. "I really appreciate it."
Harm offers her a smile and a nod.
*
1645 Zulu (1145 EDT)
Morgue
Boyington Med Center
"Commander Blaney, can you tell me the cause of death?" Mac asks the chief medical examiner.
"Well, Colonel, she died of carbon monoxide poisoning," the pathologist says, flipping through his file. "She was found in her car inside the garage. The engine was still running."
"Were there any signs of the victim being bound?" Mac questions.
"What do you mean?" asks the commander.
"I mean, were there any marks on her wrists or ankles indicating that she had been tied up?" Mac explains impatiently.
"No, Colonel. This appears to be a case of suicide," he says.
Mac shakes her head. "I don't think so, Commander," she says. "I'll be back."
"Her body is scheduled to be released to her family tomorrow," the commander tells her. "You better come back before 1300."
"I don't think so, Commander," she says again, getting in his face. "Her remains are now part of a murder investigation. You hold that body until I say so. You got that?"
"Sheesh, Colonel, calm down," the doctor remarks. "I'll notify the family. When do I tell them they can pick her up?"
"I don't know yet, Commander, I'll let you know," Mac says and leaves the morgue.
*
1730 Zulu (1230 EDT)
Marine Brig
Quantico Marine Corps Base
"I'm Colonel MacKenzie with the JAG Corps," Mac tells the sergeant on duty at the main desk. "I'd like to speak to whomever recovered the body of Lance Corporal MacReynolds."
"That would be Corporal Pemberton," says Sergeant Kenseth. "He's not on duty today, Ma'am." Mac glares at the sergeant. "But I could call him, Ma'am, and ask him to come down."
"You do that, Sergeant," she says sternly and begins pacing the small foyer. Mac listens as the sergeant makes the call, explaining to the corporal why he was needed and who was expecting his presence, ASAP.
"Ma'am, the corporal will be here in ten minutes," Sergeant Kenseth reports.
"Thank you, Sergeant," she replies, taking a seat in one of the vinyl coated chairs. Mac glances up at the clock and watches the slowly moving second hand go around and around, transporting her back in time...
1992
0535 Zulu (1435 Local)
US Naval Hospital Okinawa
Okinawa, Japan
"Lieutenant MacKenzie, will you please follow me?" the naval nurse calls into the small waiting room. She leads Mac to an even smaller office. "If you'll have a seat, Captain Stockton will be with you shortly."
Mac sits and crosses her legs. She looks about the doctor's office at the different posters depicting the development of an unborn baby, the importance of pre-natal vitamins, and one from Aruba. Mac wipes the moisture from her eyelids.
"There are some tissues behind you," Captain Stockton says kindly as she enters her office. "Good afternoon, Lieutenant, I guess you've figured out that you are pregnant…about two and a half months along."
Mac nods as the tears stream in earnest down her cheeks. "How did this happen, Captain?" she asks. "I've been on the pill for seven years."
"The only guarantee against pregnancy is abstinence, Lieutenant. Even the pill is not fool proof," replies the doctor. "I'm going to give you a prescription for pre-natal vitamins, and I want you to make an appointment for a check-up in a month, okay?"
Mac just nods.
"Sarah, what's wrong?" asks Captain John Farrow, Mac's commanding officer and secret lover. He sits on the floor beside where she is lying on his couch. "You've been quiet all evening."
Mac had gone to John's place, just as she does every Friday. He lives off base, while she lives on base.
"John, we have a little problem," she begins, tears threatening once again. "I'm not sure how to tell you…"
"Are you trying to tell me you're pregnant?" he asks.
She sits up quickly and looks at him with surprised eyes. "How did you know that? I only found out today."
"It's written all over you, Sarah," he remarks with a smile. "You're a little rounder in several areas and, believe it or not, your appetite has increased."
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asks.
"Would you have believed me?"
"I doubt it," she replies. "Well, now what? And before you propose, I am not getting married for the sake of the child."
"That's your choice, but you know what that means, don't you?"
"Oh, god…" The tears start falling in earnest. "Separation?"
John nods. "I'm sorry, Sarah, I'm in the unenviable position of having to administratively discharge you from the Marine Corps," he says regretfully. "I've already compromised my command by risking this relationship with you, but I can hide it. You won't be able to hide your pregnancy past another month, two at the most. I'm not going to have a choice." John gets up off the couch and gathers her into his arms as she sobs. "I'm sorry, Sarah, I wish it were different," he coos in her ear. "You understand, don't you?"
Present day
Sergeant Kenseth gets up to speak with Mac, but is stopped in his tracks by the sight of her staring at the clock with tears running her face. He silently retreats and leaves her to her thoughts.
1992
(one month later)
0215 Zulu (1115 Local)
Captain Farrow's office
Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan
"Are you all right, Ma'am?" asks a young private first class, rushing over to Mac's side. Mac is doubled over, clutching her abdomen. The private helps Mac slip to the floor and props her up against the desk.
"Get the captain," Mac whispers. "Hurry!"
Within thirty seconds, John is tearing through the office. "Sarah, what's wrong?" he asks, noticing her hands pressed against her belly. "Private, clear out this office, ASAP, and call the hospital to send an ambulance!" The private did as she was bid and within another thirty seconds, the office is empty, except for Mac and John. He sits next to her on the floor and presses a soft kiss to her cheek. "It's the baby, isn't it?" She nods. "It's going to be okay," he reassures her.
This time, she shakes her head. "It's too late," she whispers and points down to the carpet underneath her. She was sitting in a puddle of blood. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" she chants over and over as the tears continue to fall.
Present day
Harm walks into the brig foyer from a door opposite of where Mac sits staring at the clock. He starts when he notices her. She has her arms wrapped around herself and she is rocking back and forth, whispering she is sorry as the tears roll down her face. He walks over to her slowly and kneels down beside her. "Mac…Mac…are you okay?" He gently places his hand on her knee.
"I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry…"
"Sorry for what, Mac?" Harm asks.
"I'm sorry…I lost our baby…"
Harm is stunned as he digests what she just said. Knowing it's not really their baby, he wonders just whose baby it was.
*****Commercial Break*****
"Sergeant?" Harm walks over to the desk. "Can you please call VOQ and arrange quarters for Colonel Sarah MacKenzie with the JAG Corps?"
"Yes, Sir. Is there anything else I can do?" Sergeant Kenseth asks.
"How long has she been like that?" Harm asks.
"She's only been here about fifteen minutes. She wanted to talk with Corporal Pemberton, and she was waiting until he arrived," Kenseth tells Harm. "She sat down to wait and the next thing I know she's spaced out. I was going to offer her some water or something, but I didn't want to disturb her. My brother use to sleep walk, and the doctor told us it was always chancy to wake someone up, so that's why I didn't want to scare her."
"Thank you, sergeant," Harm says and walks back over to Mac. "Hey, Mac, are you okay?" he asks softly, kneeling down again. "Mac, I need you to wake up."
"I'm sorry…" she says once more.
"Mac," he says a little more firmly and shakes her knee back and forth.
She stops rocking and looks down at Harm's hand on her leg. She blinks a few times and looks at him. "Where am I?"
"You're in the brig at Quantico, remember?" Harm sits beside her. "Do you remember anything?"
She nods slowly, her dream coming back to her, and realizing her face is wet, wipes angrily at her cheeks. "I can't believe I'm crying. I need to speak with Corporal Pemberton. Is he here, yet?"
Harm shakes his head. "Mac, why we don't we put the questioning on hold until tomorrow? I had the sergeant arrange quarters at the VOQ."
"I'm fine, Harm," she says, a bit agitated. She stands and smoothes her skirt. "I'm fine. I can talk to the corporal first. I can do my job."
"Ma'am, I'm Corporal Pemberton. Are you looking for me?" asks the stocky soldier.
"Yes, I am, Corporal," Mac says crisply, trying to shake off her melancholia. "I have a couple questions about when you found Lance Corporal MacReynolds. Is there someplace we can talk?"
"Yes, Ma'am, there's an interview room just down the hall," he says, walking toward the corridor.
"You can go, Harm," she says.
"Uh, uh, not a chance," he replies shaking his head and pointing at her. "I'll be waiting for you."
"What led you to the discovery of the body, Corporal?" Mac asks after she's taken a seat opposite the corporal at the tiny table.
"A co-worker had gone by her house to check on her as she didn't show up for duty that morning," he explains. "A Corporal Smith called here to say that he heard a car running in the garage, but that when he called out, there was no answer."
Mac jots down notes.
The corporal continues, "Private First Class Martin and I responded to the call. When we arrived, we broke the glass on the front door and let ourselves in. We headed straight for the garage and found the lance corporal in the back seat."
"And she wasn't tied up or bound in any way?" Mac asks.
"No, Ma'am," he replies. "It was kind of strange though, she was still in her pajamas."
"And at what time did you find the body?" she queries.
"It was about ten-fifteen, Ma'am," the corporal answers.
"Could you tell she was pregnant?"
"Oh, yes, Ma'am, there was no mistaking that."
"How long do you think she had been out there, Corporal?" Mac asks.
"Several hours at least, she was pretty stiff," Corporal Kenseth remarks.
"Did you look for a note?" Mac asks.
"Excuse me, Ma'am?" the corporal shakes his head, not understanding.
"A suicide note," she explains. "Generally, people who commit suicide leave a note."
"I didn't see one, Colonel," the corporal says. "But I only took a cursory glance around her quarters to determine that there was no foul play. Nothing was disturbed, so I assumed she took her own life, and I called the morgue."
"Thank you, Corporal." Mac finishes her notes. "I don't believe she killed herself. Will you please arrange to have her quarters cordoned off and designated as a crime scene?"
"Yes, Ma'am," he answers.
"That'll be all," she says and stands, preceding him out the door.
"Are you still here?" Mac asks Harm as she emerges from the hallway. "I thought I told you that you could leave."
"Yeah, well, since when do I ever listen to you?" Harm returns teasingly.
"Harm, I'm fine, you don't have to baby-sit me," she argues.
"Can we discuss this someplace else?" he asks, under his breath, indicating the two marines standing at the desk with a nod of his head.
"Fine," Mac says and turns on her heel and walks out the door. She gets into the Navy car and waits for Harm to get in.
"Are you hungry?" Harm asks, checking his watch. "We could get something to eat before I drop you off at the VOQ."
"No, I'm not hungry," she replies stiffly. "I need to go to Lance Corporal MacReynold's quarters and look around."
"Can't that wait?"
"No, it can't. I'm telling you, Harm, she was murdered," Mac says. "I also need to talk with her supervisor and her co-workers. I wonder who the father was."
"I'll drive you."
"Don't you have your own case to work on?" she asks. "I told you, I don't need a baby-sitter."
"My case is pretty much wrapped up. Major Johnson accepted the government's offer without any changes," Harm explains. "By the time I got back to JAG, the workday would be over. I may as well stay and help you, right? Two heads are better than one and four eyes are better than two." He looks over at her. "Mac…seriously…something major happened to you back in the brig. I'm not asking to know what is was, but just let me stick close for a while, okay? You really worried me. I'll let you call the shots."
"All right, fine," she gives in, secretly relieved to have him close by. "The lance corporal lived in housing…35 John Glenn Drive."
Mac steps over the broken glass still littering the tile in the small entrance hall.
Harm follows her in. "I'll look around down here if you want to go upstairs."
Mac nods and heads up the stairs.
Mac catches her breath at the sight of partially put together crib in the smaller of the two bedrooms. She steps in and looks around at the stacked boxes, some with baby clothes hanging out of them. On the dresser is a baby book. Mac flips it open and reads: Kelsey Danielle MacReynolds. Looking around again she spots a rocking chair in the corner with a beautiful baby blanket in progress draped across the arm. "This woman did not kill herself," Mac whispers to herself.
In the lance corporal's room, Mac begins opening drawers looking for letters or a diary…anything that might give her a clue as to who wanted this woman dead. Marine Corps regulations sure had changed in the last nine years. Now, instead of discharging them, the Corps even provided housing to unmarried pregnant soldiers.
Mac uncovered some letters in one of the bed table drawers. She pulls them out and reads the first one: Dear Makenna, I am so excited about becoming an aunt for the first time. I hope you find the baby clothes useful. If you ever need anything, you know I'm just a phone call away. Love, Sophie. Mac made a mental note to get Sophie's phone number.
After determining that all the other letters were also from Sophie, Mac tucks them back in the drawer. She walks around to the other bed table and opens the drawer. "Now, we're getting somewhere…I hope," she says to herself as she pulls out a worn Bible and what looks like a diary. She flips it open to the first page. The last entry is dated only two weeks ago. That means there are more diaries somewhere.
Mac opens the closet door. On one side of the small walk-in are the lance corporal's clothes. Uniforms are lined up across the top bar; her civilian clothes hang across the bottom. Her shoes are lined up along the shelf. Across from her clothes are storage containers, all meticulously marked with their contents.
After peeking into a couple of ambiguously labeled containers, Mac finds what she is looking for. "Bingo," she says and pulls the container from its stack. She drags it to the bedroom door and calls for Harm. She marks his progress up the stairs by the sound his shoes make on the wooden stairs.
"What do you need, Mac?" he asks peeking his head into the room.
"Can you carry this down to the car for me?" she points at the box.
"What's in there?" he asks, lifting it easily.
"Old letters and diaries," Mac replies. "I am hoping that there will be some clues in there somewhere as to the baby's father and to who would have wanted Makenna MacReynolds dead." She follows him down the stairs and out to the car. "I'm going to ask the neighbor a few questions. I'll just be a few more minutes, okay?" Harm nods, climbing into the driver's seat.
Mac knocks on the neighbor's door. She hears a young child call for its momma.
"Hello?" asks a pretty redheaded woman. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Colonel MacKenzie. I'm investigating the death of your neighbor, Lance Corporal MacReynolds," Mac explains. "I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions."
"Sure, although I don't think I can tell you much," the woman says. "By the way, my name's Allison Busch."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Busch," Mac smiles. "Did Lance Corporal MacReynolds have any men friends that came around?"
"Well, not that I noticed," she answers. "Makenna had only been living here about a month and half or so. Oh, wait…I did see this guy once. Overheard them arguing, too. Housing doesn't have the thickest walls, you know. I never saw him again, though."
"Is there anything else you can remember?" Mac asks.
"No, not off the top of my head," she shakes her head.
Mac takes a business card out of her jacket pocket. "If you remember anything, would you please give me a call?" The woman nods and closes the door as Mac walks back to the car.
"Anything?" Harm asks as she gets in. She shakes her head as he starts the engine and heads back toward the main part of the base and the VOQ.
To be continued...