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.
~*~*~
0220 Zulu (0120 Local)
USS Benjamin Harrison
Lisbon, Portugal
A group of six, two women and four men, approach the gangplank of the carrier. A short blonde woman is hanging all over a tall muscular sailor. The sailor is helping the woman up the gangplank of the carrier. At the top, the woman and sailor head one way, while the rest of the group head another.
The woman and the man are kissing and whispering together in a quiet, deserted section of some corridor of the ship.
~*~*~
2053 Zulu (1553 EDT)
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
"Commander, Colonel, you'll be leaving for the USS Benjamin Harrison at oh-four-hundred tomorrow morning," Admiral AJ Chegwidden tells his two best lawyers. "The staff judge advocate has been accused of rape. Chief Petty Officer Wyatt went straight to the skipper and, he, in turn, contacted me immediately since it was the JAG, a Major Johnson, who has been accused. I want a thorough investigation and a report on my desk ASAP."
"Aye, Sir," Harm and Mac answer in unison. They about face and leave the admiral's office.
"Behave Rabb…" the admiral calls out after them.
They both stop in mid-stride. Mac glances at Harm before looking at the admiral.
"Sir?" Harm asks looking wide-eyed at his commanding officer.
"Don't give the skipper a hard time and don't antagonize the colonel," the admiral tells Harm with a wave of his hand in Mac's direction. "Understood?"
"Admiral, I…" Harm glances at Mac then back at the admiral.
The admiral glares back.
"Understood, Sir," Harm replies with a nod. Mac precedes Harm out the door.
"So you want to drive to my place and head to Andrews from there?" Harm asks Mac as they walk back to their offices.
"Why don't we just get a car? I don't want to leave my car parked at your place indefinitely," Mac says. "It can pick me up first, and then we can come get you."
"Okay," Harm agrees. "I'll see you at what...oh-three-hundred?"
"Yeah, somewhere around then. You want me to call you to make sure you're up?" Mac asks with a grin.
"That won't be necessary," Harm replies, making a face at her.
"All right, see you in the morning," Mac says.
*
0025 Zulu (1925 EDT)
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
"Hi, luv," Mic greets Mac as she walks in the door, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.
"Hey…what smells so good?" she asks, sniffing appreciatively.
"Spaghetti and meatballs. Hungry?" Mic asks.
"Mmm hmm…Mic, I've got to go to the Benjamin Harrison for a few days, at least," she tells him as she heads to the bedroom to change and pack her bag. "The onboard JAG is accused of rape."
"Sounds tough," Mic says, following her.
"Yeah, well, I've got to be up at oh-two-thirty," she replies. "So, after dinner I've got to hit the sack."
"Sounds good to me." Mic waggles his eyebrows at her.
"Sleep, Mic, sleep…" she says. "I've got to sleep."
0025 Zulu (1925 EDT)
Harm's apartment
North of Union Station
"Harm…" Renee whines. "I made reservations at Maison Blanche."
"Renee…" Harm's voice holds a warning. "I'm in the Navy remember? When they say jump, I ask how high. When the admiral says I go, then I go unless I have a damned good reason not to. Reservations at Mason Blanch are not sufficient."
"Maison Blanche," Renee says, stressing the correct pronunciation.
"Whatever," he replies, continuing to pack his bag.
"Well, when will you be back? I can probably reschedule," she says.
"I'm not really sure how long we'll be gone. I'll call you when I know something," Harm tells her.
"We? Who's we?" she asks suspiciously.
"Renee…" his voice warns again.
"It's Mac, isn't it?" she guesses.
"What difference does it make? She's engaged and we'll be in very close quarters with five thousand other sailors and Marines," he says, avoiding eye contact. "You've got nothing to worry about."
"Huh…says you," she remarks.
*
1446 Zulu (1346 Local)
Bridge
USS Benjamin Harrison
"JAG on deck!" announces the master at arms.
Harm and Mac make their way toward the captain coming to attention. "Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie and Commander Rabb reporting as ordered, Sir," Mac announces crisply.
"At ease," replies Captain Archambault, the skipper. "Has Admiral Chegwidden briefed you?"
"Yes, Sir," replies Mac. "Is Major Johnson in the brig?"
"That's affirmative. The PAO will show you to your quarters," the skipper says. "I'm assuming, Rabb, that you know your way to the legal office."
"Yes, Sir."
"Keep me abreast. That'll be all," the skipper dismisses them.
"Aye, Sir," they reply, coming to attention.
"If you'll follow me, Ma'am, Sir…" a young ensign addresses them. They nod and follow.
*
"Sir, you'll be bunking in the legal office and Colonel, you've been placed with Lieutenant Commander Jarrett, one of our senior LSOs," Ensign Yates informs them as she escorts them to female officer berthing.
"Sir, if you'll just wait here while I show Colonel MacKenzie to her quarters." Ensign Yates leaves Harm at the entrance to the women's berthing as she shows Mac to her quarters. "Right this way, Ma'am."
A few moments later the ensign bangs on one of the thick metal hatches lining the corridor.
"Enter!" calls a gruff voice through the steel hatch.
Ensign Yates peeks her head through. "Commander Jarrett...your temporary roommate is here."
"Bring her in, Ensign," the lieutenant commander says.
Ensign Yates and Mac step through and the ensign performs the introductions.
"Thank you, Ensign, that'll be all," Mac dismisses her. "Please tell Commander Rabb I'll be out shortly."
"Yes, Ma'am," the ensign replies and leaves.
"A JAG, huh?" remarks Commander Jarrett. "What brings you aboard? Don't we already have a legal officer on board?"
"Well, Major Johnson needs help with a case," Mac comments, not wanting to instigate any scuttlebutt. "Good to meet you, Commander. Is there a particular time that you sleep that I should be aware of so as to not disturb you?"
"I work swings mostly, Colonel, and sleep from oh-one-hundred to oh-seven-hundred," she says. "I may be disturbing you, coming in at that hour."
"Not a problem, Commander, I require very little sleep and keep practically those same hours back home," Mac tells her. "If you'll excuse me, my partner's waiting." Mac nods and heads back to Harm.
*
"All set?" he asks.
"Yep…you want to start with Major Johnson or Chief Petty Officer Wyatt?" Mac asks.
"Well, since the brig is right down the corridor from the legal office, why don't we start with the major?" Harm suggests.
"Sounds good," she replies.
*
Harm dumps his sea bag in the small adjoining room of the legal office and leads the way to the brig.
"Corporal, I'm Commander Rabb and this is Colonel MacKenzie," says Harm.
The corporal nods to each of them.
"We'd like to see Major Johnson."
"Right this way, Commander." The corporal leads them down a small corridor and points to a door. "She's in there, Sir."
Mac and Harm both look incredulously at the corporal.
"She?" Mac asks, the surprise evident in her voice.
"Yes, Ma'am, Major Johnson is female. Didn't you know that?" the corporal asks.
Mac shakes her head and looks at Harm.
"And Chief Petty Officer Wyatt?" Mac queries.
"Male, Ma'am," the corporal says.
Mac looks away, trying to keep a straight face.
"Thank you, Corporal. That'll be all," Harm dismisses him.
"Aye, Sir," the corporal responds and heads back to his post.
Mac covers her mouth with her hands as if to hold in her laughter, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Mac…"
"I know, Harm, it's not really funny, but you've got to admit that it is." She grins.
Harm can't help but grin back. "Get a hold of yourself, Colonel. We can't go in there in this frame of mind."
Mac nods, trying to compose herself.
"Are you ready, Mac?"
"Let's go," she says.
*
Harm and Mac square off against Major Johnson.
"Major, do you realize how bad things are?" Mac asks the accused. "At best you're looking at a fraternization charge, at worst a rape charge. In either case, you will probably be dishonorably discharged and confined—not necessarily in that order."
"Major, can you tell us what happened?" Harm asks calmly. How could a military lawyer get herself into this mess?
"Well, Sir, I don't remember very much. We were in Lisbon for liberty," she begins, looking from one JAG to the other. "A group of us left the ship and headed for town. The enlisted personnel broke off and went in one direction while the officers went in another."
"Were you with anyone in particular?" Mac asks.
"No, Ma'am, just a group of us…about a dozen of us, mostly women, but a few men, too," Major Johnson says. "Our group split up once or twice. We must have, since I only remember about five of us still together when we arrived back at the ship. I'm sure the enlisted group probably split up at some point and we must have crossed paths."
"Major, did you know Chief Petty Officer Wyatt prior to that night?" Harm asks.
"No, Sir, and I don't know the chief petty officer now," the major says.
"Are you denying the charge, major?" Harm asks.
"Well, Sir, how can I admit to something I don't remember?" she responds. Mac and Harm exchange a glance.
"Major Johnson, who was with you when you arrived back at the ship?" asks Mac.
"Commander Markus and Commander Daily from Communications, Captain Curtis from Dental, and Lieutenant Commander Helton, a pilot," the major tells them. "Oh, wait…there was someone else with us, but I don't know his name. I didn't recognize him."
"Could it have been Chief Petty Officer Wyatt?" Harm questions.
"I suppose it could have been, Sir. But since I don't know the petty officer, I couldn't say for sure unless I saw him," Major Johnson says.
"How much did you have to drink that night, Major?" Mac asks.
"I had a couple beers at the first club, Ma'am. Then I did a couple of shots later with Lieutenant Helton," Major Johnson answers. "After that, I'm not really sure. I usually stick with beer. I probably had several more before we made it back to the ship."
"Thank you, Major," Mac finishes the interview. "We're going to talk with Chief Petty Officer Wyatt and some of your companions from that night, and then I'm sure we'll have a few more questions for you before filing our report."
"Yes, Ma'am," Major Johnson replies. She stands and comes to attention as Harm and Mac stand to leave.
*
"Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie to the bridge…" comes a loud voice from the P.A. system.
Harm and Mac alter their course and head for the bridge.
"Harm, I don't know," Mac says, stepping over a knee-knocker. "Major Johnson weighs maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet. How could she have possibly forced some sailor to have sex with her?"
"Well, we haven't seen the chief petty officer, yet," Harm replies with a shrug. "For all we know, he could be five-one and a hundred and twenty pounds himself."
They climb the last flight of steps and enter the bridge.
"Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie reporting as ordered." Harm does the honors this time.
"At ease," the skipper intones. "It seems we are about to be inundated by a delegation of Congress members and senators. They want to bunk among the crew, so everyone will be doubling up in quarters and hot bunking when necessary. Colonel, this really affects you more than the commander since he's in the legal office."
"Sir, I can move to the legal office with the commander and free up the bunk altogether," Mac offers.
Captain Archambault raises his eyebrow at her. "That's highly unusual, Colonel."
"I know, Sir, but the commander and I have had to share quarters in the past. We've been partners for years now and nothing has ever happened," Mac replies. "Besides, skipper, I'm engaged to be married…to someone else." She holds up her left hand for proof.
"And what will your fiancé think of you sharing quarters with Commander Rabb?" the captain asks.
"Well, Sir…what he doesn't know won't hurt him," she says seriously.
"I see," the skipper says. "Commander Rabb, do you have a problem with these arrangements?"
"No, Sir." He offers the skipper a quick smile.
"Very well then, Colonel, go ahead and move your gear." Captain Archambault agrees to her plan. "Dismissed."
*
"Top or bottom bunk, Mac?"
"Top, please," she requests. "Hey, you want to get some chow? I guess questioning the victim can wait till tomorrow since it's already almost seven o'clock."
"Yeah, sure, I'm starved," Harm agrees.
*
2233 Zulu (2133 Local)
Legal Office
USS Benjamin Harrison
"Hey, I'm going to grab a shower before I hit the rack," Mac says.
"Okay, I'm going to call Renee," Harm replies.
When Mac goes into the tiny bathroom to take her shower, Harm picks up the phone and connects with Communications.
"This is Commander Rabb with JAG, I'd like to place a ship to shore call please."
The communications officer requests the number and in a few moments Harm hears ringing on the other end of the line.
"Hello?" answers Renee.
"Renee…it's Harm."
"Hey, sailor," she greets him happily. "How's the investigation going?"
"It's going okay so far. It's an interesting case, to say the least," he tells her. "How are you?"
"Oh, you know, same old, same old," she remarks. "Gosh, what time is it there? It must be late."
"It's 9:30 here," he says. "I wanted to call before I went to bed. I'm still not sure when I'll be back. It will probably be a few more days."
"Hey, Harm…" Mac calls, coming out of the bathroom.
"Is that Mac?" Renee asks angrily. "What is she doing in your room, Harm?"
"Renee, my room is also the legal office, this is where we work," Harm answers evasively.
"Isn't it a little late for working, Harm?" Renee asks. "You just told me it was 9:30 there and that you were going to bed."
"A carrier is unlike the real world, Renee, it doesn't conform to a civilian's idea of a normal day," he replies, side stepping her question again.
Mac stands quietly at the door, her hand over her mouth.
"Listen Renee, I'd better go now. I'll call when I know for sure when I'll be back, okay?" Harm hangs up the receiver.
"I'm sorry, Harm," Mac says, coming into the room dressed in a light blue cotton robe, her hair damp from her shower. "I forgot you were on the phone."
"Hey, no problem, I'll just be in the dog house when we get back," Harm quips.
"Well, a dog house on shore can't be any tighter than quarters on a carrier," she replies with a grin. "Look, Harm, if it's really going to be a problem for you I can…"
"Mac, don't worry about it. We're adults and we can handle it. Renee will just have to get over it," Harm reassures her with a real smile.
******Commercial Break*****
0725 Zulu (0825 Local)
Hangar deck
USS Benjamin Harrison
"We're looking for Chief Petty Officer Wyatt," Harm says to a lieutenant.
Mac stands nearby looking around, rubbing her upper arms at the cool breeze. The hangar deck doors are open to the sea as the aircraft are being rotated to and from the flight deck for training and maintenance.
"Chief Wyatt hasn't started his shift yet, Sir," the lieutenant says. "There's a shift schedule over there. You can check what time he's expected."
Harm nods and he and Mac walk over to where the lieutenant pointed to check said schedule.
"He doesn't start his shift for another two and a half hours," Harm reads the schedule. "Let's go see if we can track him down.
"Harm wouldn't it be easier just to page him to meet us somewhere? It would save us a lot of time," Mac suggests.
"Right, we'll have him meet us at the ship's store and then we can go to the office for some privacy," Harm agrees.
Mac and Harm wait patiently at the entrance to the ship's convenience store, watching each patron as he or she comes and goes, trying to figure out which one could be Chief Petty Officer Wyatt.
"You the ones who wanted to talk to me?"
"Chief Petty Officer Wyatt?" Harm asks the tall, muscular seaman in front of him. The petty officer nods and Mac turns on her heel and walks away. "Mac—where are you going?"
"I'm sorry, Harm, I'll meet you back in the office," she says, trying to keep a straight face. "There's something I've got to do."
"Is something wrong, Sir?" the chief asks.
"No, Chief, I'm Commander Rabb and that was Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie." Harm points down the corridor at Mac's retreating figure. "We're here to investigate the allegations against Major Johnson. If you'll follow me to the legal office, I'd like to ask you some questions."
"So, Chief, you realize that these charges could end the major's career…even if nothing comes of this investigation, some damage will have been done," Harm tells Wyatt.
"Yes, Commander, I thought long and hard before going to the skipper, but Sir, I couldn't let her get away with it," the chief replies.
"How did you meet up with the major?" Harm asks.
Mac taps lightly on the hatch and sticks her head in. "Can I come in?"
Harm waves her in. "The chief was just going to tell me what happened," he says. "Go ahead, Chief."
"Well, Sir, Ma'am…me and a couple of my buddies left the ship at around 2100 and headed for town," Wyatt begins. "We left the ship late since my buddy, Staff Sergeant Pemberton, had some paper work to finish after his shift. We didn't want to go without him since we were going to celebrate his birthday. He turned the big three-oh two weeks before our port stop, so we waited to celebrate."
"What time did you get back to the ship?" Mac asks.
"About oh-one-twenty, Ma'am," the chief says.
"And were you with your friends when you reached the ship?"
"No, Ma'am. They left me at the Café Central. They all wanted to go to the Hot Club of Portugal, where there were some dancers and such," Wyatt says. "I wasn't really into that, and I was developing a headache, so I begged off. There were other crewmembers from the Benjamin Harrison, so I stayed put. I didn't know any of them, but I figured I'd just sit until they left and tag along when they did."
"How did you know they were from this ship?" Harm asks.
"As far as I know, Sir, there were no other American ships in port that night; and you know, as well as I do, how easy it is to tell military personnel from civilians, especially if you're military yourself," Wyatt says.
"Chief, how tall are you?" Mac asks.
"Five-eleven, Ma'am."
"And how much do you weigh?" Mac queries.
"About two-sixty."
"I'm assuming you lift weights or bench press or something," Mac says.
"Yes, Ma'am," he confirms. "Ma'am, what has that got to do with anything?"
"I don't know, yet, Chief," Mac replies. "Just trying to make sure I have all the information."
"Chief, you still haven't told us how you met up with Major Johnson," Harm points out.
"Well, I was sitting at a table in the Café Central-alone-when she approached me and asked if she could join me," he says. "I didn't know she was an officer, we were all in civvies."
"Had you been drinking?" Mac asks.
"I had had a couple of drinks earlier, Ma'am, at the first club my buddies and I had gone to. But as I said, I was getting a headache so by that time I was having coffee," the chief says. "The major was definitely drunk, though."
"Why do you say that, Chief?" queries Mac.
"Well, first of all, she wove her way over to my table; she reeked of beer; and she slurred some of her words," he answers.
"Honestly, Chief, I'm having a little trouble putting this all together," Mac admits. "You're trying to tell me that a drunk five foot female Marine major, weighing no more than a hundred pounds soaking wet, forced you—a five-foot-eleven, two hundred sixty pound, sober, weight lifter to have sex with her?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Do you understand why I'm having a little trouble with this?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Can you help me out a little here?"
"I don't know that I can," he says.
"Well, without anything to support your allegations, all charges against the major will have to be dropped and you'll end of with a list of charges against you as long as my arm," Mac says getting in his face.
"Colonel, can I have a word with you?" Harm asks. Mac nods, glaring at the petty officer. "Chief, if you'll excuse us? I'll contact you later to continue our questioning."
"Aye, Sir," the chief stands at attention, only turning to leave at Harm's nod.
"Mac, he's supposed to be the victim, could you go a little easier on the guy?" Harm asks.
"Harm, this whole case smells fishy to me. You can't tell me that you believe him," she remarks. "First of all, the difference in their body sizes; second of all, she's apparently drunk, he's not; third of all, what idiot in his right mind would complain if a beautiful woman had sex with him, much less call it rape and press charges?"
"What are you suggesting?" Harm asks.
"I'm suggesting…I don't know what I'm suggesting. Only that this all sounds ridiculous," she comments. "I could believe it if Major Johnson was built like a Mac truck and the petty officer were short and skinny but…"
"Maybe she pulled rank on him, Mac," Harm suggests. "We need to talk with the major's companions and it probably wouldn't hurt if we had Gunny do a little digging for us. Maybe he'll turn up something."
"Okay, Harm. You call Gunny; I'll go see if I can track down the major's friends," Mac says, heading for the hatch. "Meet you in the officer's mess for lunch?"
"Sure…eleven-thirty?"
"All right, see you, later," she says and leaves.
"JAG Headquarters, Gunnery Sergeant Galindez…"
"Hey, Gunny, it's Commander Rabb," Harm says. "I need you to do something for me."
"What do you need, Sir?" Gunny asks immediately.
"I need anything you can dig up on a Major Brooke Johnson and a Chief Petty Officer Robert Earle Wyatt," Harm requests. "How are things back in DC, Gunny?"
"Well, the admiral keeps grumbling about being short handed, Lieutenant Singer keeps brown nosing him for better cases, and Mr. Brumby keeps calling for the colonel," Gunny reports. "Can you let her know that he's called twice in the last three days?"
"Sure, Gunny, I'll pass along the message. Anything you can find on the major and the chief will be great," Harm says. "Call me as soon as you have something."
"I'll get right on it, Sir. I'll talk to you soon," Gunny signs off.
"Hey, squid…this seat taken?" Mac teases Harm.
He looks up to see his partner grinning at him. "Have a seat. How did your morning go?"
"Pretty well. I tracked down the major's four friends, but I only got a chance to talk to one of them," Mac says. "I talked with Lieutenant Commander Helton, he was just coming off a practice flight."
"And?" Harm wonders.
"He confirmed the major's assertion of a tag along on the way back to the ship and said he didn't recognize the guy either--except from the bar where he corroborated the chief's story of him being approached by the major," Mac reports. "The commander said that the major hung all over some guy all the way back to the ship and once they got on board, the major and her new friend went one way while he and the other three officers went another."
"Did the lieutenant say whether or not the chief was enjoying the major's attentions on the way back or if he was just tolerating her?" Harm asks.
"He said he couldn't tell…it was dark and the major kept up her drunken chatter so that no one could get a word in edge-wise," Mac answers. "But he did say that the major was pretty unsteady on her feet and was certain that if the chief had not had his arm around her she would probably have fallen and passed out somewhere."
"So we need to find out from Chief Wyatt what he did with the major once they were back onboard," Harm says. "I called Gunny and he's going to see what he can find out about the major and the chief. He also wanted me to tell you that Bugme has called three times in the last two days and would you please contact him and get him off Gunny's back."
"Gunny didn't say that, Harm." Mac glared at him. "If you can't be nice to Mic then…"
"Then what? You're not going to invite me to the wedding?" Harm asks sarcastically. "That would hurt my feelings."
"What do you mean by that?" Mac asks confused. "Don't you want to come to my wedding?"
"It's not that simple, Mac."
"Well, explain it to me," she requests.
"I don't really think now is the time or place for that discussion," Harm tells her, looking around pointedly at the crowded dining room. "Finish your lunch, then let's finish our investigation. If we don't get back soon, Lieutenant Singer is going to end up in one of our offices."
Mac frowns.
To be continued…