Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned beside the OC's that
I created. Of course. Please remember that while my written
English is relatively good, it is still not my first language. Thank
you for reading.
She leaned against the steel wall of the carrier ship and sighed. Pulling her blackberry out of its holder she carefully flipped through the messages, stopping to mutter a few words to herself before she continued onto the other ones. The activity around her was loud. Friends, family, sailors were all around, some linked arm in arm, all with smiles on their faces. She snapped her gum loudly and tapped her foot impatiently. Her brothers were up on the hanger deck. The smell of jet fuel, the noise...the memories, they all made her sick. As tactfully as she could she hung back and waited. She hated carrier ships. With a passion. Her thoughts went to answering her emails, asking about her cases and reassuring her office that she would indeed be back and ready to deal with the latest child abuse case. She was too engrossed reading her latest caseload to hear the footsteps behind her. The hit came before she had a chance to react.
She could feel her feet fall out from underneath her and saw the silver gray of the ship blur. Her head hurt. Blinking madly she saw a hand come down and cover her face. Reaction took over. Her fists began to fly, but it was to no avail. Slowly and painfully she allowed the darkness to sheath over her, the smell of sweat and jet fuel in her nose.
--
Seaman Michael Roberts walked, his hands in his pockets. After the families had left, the ship was almost back to normal. His parents didn't come. His mother had long since passed, and his father, well; their relationship was rocky at best. He was an abusive alcoholic and only made appearances when he needed them. His brother stopped by for a while with his wife, if not just for the support. At first he wasn't sure if he would like the Navy, it was his father's dream, not his. But, as many tend to do, he began to love it.
He almost tripped. His heart leapt into his throat when he saw what he tripped over. Faster than he had ever run before, he ran, calling for help to anyone who was nearby.
--
Lt. Harriett Simms stuck her head around the corner and flagged down Commander Harmon Rabb and Colonel Sarah Mackenzie.
"Sir...Ma'am. I've been waiting for you. The Admiral told me to stop you as soon as you got in. He needs to see you ASAP." She said in a worried voice.
"Thanks Harriett." Harm said making a beeline to his office. He dropped his briefcase off before he met Mac in the hall.
His knuckles rapped on the door before they heard the usual welcome of "ENTER!". Lt. Bud Roberts was already standing in front of the Admiral with a worried look on his face.
"Have you two seen the news at all this morning?" The Admiral asked his two senior lawyers.
"No sir." Mac replied. "I was looking over the McArthur case this morning...what is going on?"
The Admiral clasped his hands behind his back and faced the window. "There was an attack on a carrier last night. It was visiting day."
"Sir?" Harm called.
"Seaman Roberts was the first to find her. They have him in custody right now, he is the prime suspect. She was pretty beat up, and raped." He sighed and looked at his junior attorney whose face was a mixture of shock and anger.
"Bud...will you be okay?"
"I want to defend him." Bud said instantly, his face hard.
"I know. All three of you are to help with the investigation. And Bud, there are no charges pressed. He was the first one at the scene of the crime, so naturally he became a suspect."
He turned to Mac. "The girl is in the Navy hospital, if you want Colonel, you can go take a look and see if she is up for questions."
"Yes sir. Do you know her name sir?"
The Admiral looked at the folder on his desk. "Lewis. Jade Lewis. Unless it's pronounced 'Ha-day' like in Mexico...but anyway, her name is Jade Lewis. Her brother, Lieutenant James Lewis just finished his first tour. I believe he is a Tomcat pilot." He looked at the three of them, their faces all a mixture of horrification, pain and confusion.
"Dismissed."
The three turned on their heels and marched out of the door. Bud looked at the two of them. "Can..I...go interview Mikey...sir? Ma'am?"
Harm gave him a curt nod. "Of course Bud." He then looked at Mac who still seemed lost in her own thoughts. "WE should go to the hospital."
For once she didn't argue.
--
Harm's hands shook slightly as they drove to the hospital. He remembered Jade when she was an unruly and obnoxious seventeen year old with the drive to do anything. He watched her mature into a responsible and caring young woman to a smart and vibrant social worker who loved her job.
He couldn't imagine anyone hurting her. Well, he could, he knew he wanted to on more than one occasion, but nothing like what laid ahead.
--
"Jade Lewis please."
The woman working at the nurse's desk smiled sadly. "Room 304 down the hall. But...she's still not out of the woods..."
Harm nodded and put his arm instinctively around Mac as they walked down the hall. He hated hospitals. The ugly puke green chairs to the antiseptic smell. He hated it all.
"304...Harm...here it is." Mac stopped in her tracks, almost causing Harm to trip. She peered into the room. A bed was in the middle surrounded by machines and two, rather large men, were sitting on either side.
Clearing his throat, Harm took a step in. The larger of the two men snapped to attention, his eyes red and puffy. "Sir. Ma'am."
"At ease sailor." Mac said in a somewhat tired voice.
"Aye aye." The sailor said with a nod. He extended his hand. "Lieutenant JG James Lewis, sir. Ma'am."
Harm looked the young man up and down. "See you got your wings." He said with a wince as the larger man gripped his hand in a bone crushing handshake.
"Sorry sir." James said releasing Harm's hand. "I did get my wings sir."
"What's your call sign Lieutenant?"
James gave a shy half smile. "Gretzky. Because of my hockey."
"It isn't because of your size." Harm replied with a smile. "You've defiantly grown since I saw you last. You were…5'10, 160 lbs soaking wet. What are you now…6'6?"
"260." James replied. He looked towards Mac.
"Sorry Ma'am for being so inconsiderate. Lieutenant James Lewis." He extended his hand and shook it much weaker.
"Nice to meet you James. Has…your sister woken up yet?"
"No." Came a voice from behind them. Jackson stood up and wiped a few stray curls out of his face. "No, she hasn't woken up. And the doctors don't expect her to." He said bitterly. His face was pulled tight with anger. "You guys better catch the son of bitches who did this to her. Or I will." His green eyes flashed.