For Every Action
Sequel to "An Innocent Man"
~*Prolouge*~
McKenzie Residence
0658 Local
A muffled groan sounded from behind the closed door of Sarah McKenzie's apartment. Outside Harmon Rabb Jr. wondered what could've been causing his usually self-possessed partenar to sound so aggitated. Taking a deep breath he raised a fisted hand to knock on the door.
Still grumbling Sarah opened the door before he could knock. "Mac."
"Harm?" She said looking up to see if she'd heard the voice correctly.
"Ready to go?"
"Go?" Mac raised a brow.
"Mmm. We've got some time. I'll wait on you."
"Harm, what are you talking about it?"
"Meeting at 0730. The Chasvez case?"
Mac shook her head and pulled a hand through her hair. Harm really looked at her for the first time. The very short running shorts, tennis shoes already on.
"Mac?" Harm's lips curled briefly into a smug grin. "You forgot?"
"Yeah." And that is all your fault, Flyboy. She thought as she walked by him and into her room. "I forgot the meeting." She called from just inside her closet. "But the research is done." There was rustling and a quick run of water. Then she was standing next to him looking at a tpicture of the pair of them together. Little AJ's third birthday party. Sliding her feet into the pumps she'd left in the living room, she sighed. "That was a good day." she said quietly and wondered if their most recent kiss had changed anything at all about their relationship.
JAG Headquarters
0755
He caught his breath and sat down opposite his partenar. "Okay, so now what did I do to make you angry?"
Her jaw dropped and the pen she'd held slipped from her grip. He doesn't even realize. Let's see, Friday night, concert, kiss, after party. Saturday—nothing. Sunday—nada. The man—ugh exactly—the man! All right, down Marine. Let it go for now. She tried a smile and succeed but only marginally. "Nothing, Commander. Everything's fine." She looked back down at her paperwork and picked up her pen. "Except you're going to be late for our meeting with the Admiral."
"Mac." He tried to stop her still confused.
"Later, Commander. Right now I have a meeting" she opened to door to her office, "and so do you." she threw over her shoulder.
Colonel McKenzie nodded to Petty Officer Tiner as he waved her into Admiral Chegwidden's office. After a discreet knock she heard the command to enter. Without looking up the Admiral sighed. "Where's Rabb?"
"He was grabbing one of his files when I saw him last."
"Mmm." the older man sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. Hearing approaching footsteps he called "Enter." Looking over the Commander the Admiral arched a brow. "Got everything you need now, Commander?"
"Yes, Sir." Rabb answered shooting a sidelong glance at Mac.
"All right, have a seat and let's get started." Leaning back in his seat, Admiral Chegwidden shook his head. "There's been an incident."
Harm quirked his lips to the side, and the words were out before he knew it. "What's new?" A.J. Sat bolt upright in his chair and pulled in a deep breath. Mac, for her part, shot Harm a shocked look.
Looking over the man he very nearly considered a son again, A.J. reconsidred bellowing at him about the seriousness of his job. Beating back his temper, he tried another tack. Calmly he pulled out crime scene photographs and tossed them across his desk in Harm's direction. "Does this look like it merits your levity or sarcasm?" The tone of his voice was mild but deadly hard.
Picking up the pictures, Harm flipped through them one by one. Absorbing the grusome images had his senseof humor fleeing and an apology on his lips. "Sir, I--"
"Save it, Commander." A.J. Told him more harshly than necessary. "These pictures were taken by the Master at Arms of the USS Thomas S. Gates."
"Sir," Mac began as she worked her way through the pictures. "There are three different victims here."
"Yes, Colonel, I'm aware of that. They are all reported UA within the last 72 hours; the bodies were found yesterday."