TITLE: The Case
AUTHOR: VIDZ
PAIRING: um, you REALLY need to ask? Just check out the timeline and tell me if there's REALLY anything else possible with the state of the show back then...
TIMELINE: late season 9
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc of the TV show JAG are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fic. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: you don't get any, hehe.
SUMMARY: I'm running out of title and summary ideas, so bear with me. Anyway, Chegwidden gets a request for help on a case, one two members of his staff are suitable for and two aren't.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Okay, people, listen up!" the words rewarded the Admiral with his officers' undivided attention "We've got a new case."
Everyone took their places around the conference table as Chegwidden took out a folder "NCIS asked for our help on this one."
Seeing everyone was listening he summed up the case "A private clinic in Denver has had an alarming rate of still-births over the last 3 years. Authorities weren't paying attention to it until a Lieutenant Commander at the Navy Operational Support Center in Denver alerted the police and NCIS of his suspicion of having been lied about his daughter being still-born."
Silence reigned among them as they listened appalled. Harm sent Bud a sympathetic glance as the younger man paled in pain before reddening in fury.
"Since Navy personnel was affected the NCIS has been cooperating with the Denver police for the last year and they're close to starting arrests. There's just one last task to accomplish, they need to get the perps red-handed. That's why they've established contact, faking a married couple who wants to buy a baby. And they need someone to play that couple... Since the contact has been so far through intermediates, telephone and email the suspects haven't met the prospective buyers face-to-face yet, which works in our favor as the two Detectives, partners, a man and woman, the original choice for the couple, had just recently been on TV for police brutality. Naturally, they were removed from the case from fear they'd be recognized and after the task force has given it some thought, they'd decided someone who's vibes didn't scream 'Cops!' would be the best choice. They need someone who is not a cop, but who is even more observant and law-aware than a cop, so they naturally thought of us." Chegwidden grinned "I want only the best on this case, that's why I kept it for this office instead of giving it to one closer to Denver."
"The choice for the man falls automatically on you, Mr Rabb, not only because you're easy-going and lax enough not to be immediately spotted as military," Harm looked embarrassed, not having missed the slight rebuke, but wasn't about to change who he was "but also because you're the only male officer in this office who could take on a mission like this and do it convincingly, not just because of your past experience in undercover ops. Though, you can sit this one out if you don't want to." Chegwidden said in a shocking display of empathy "Considering your personal experiences with the NCIS I think it's fair to give you that option."
Harm grimaced, thinking back to Agents Turkey and Gibbs.
"It's okay, sir, I'll take the case. Whatever beef I may have with the NCIS and no matter how incompetent I think they are, it doesn't change the fact that there are innocent victims involved in this."
Chegwidden nodded, satisfied, having expected nothing less from the man.
Mac, not wanting to miss the chance to keep Harm on a string and interested, immediately piped-up "Don't worry, sir, the CDR and I will be on the first flight to Colorado tomorrow morning."
Harm rolled his eyes and sighed inwardly. ' Why does she keep doing this? She herself said there will never be an us, but she still tries to insinuate herself in my life, only to pull back again when I reach out to her.'
"Not so fast, LtCol." Chegwidden's words stopped everyone cold and perked up Harm's ears, while Mac only looked stupefied.
"We want to present them with a happily married couple, not one in the middle of a nasty, messy divorce, LtCol." rejected Chegwidden Mac's offer, causing Harm to release a silent breath of relief and Mac to glare down at the table, angry.
Bud snickered at his boss' reply, but was immediately quieted by the death glare Mac sent him.
"There was really no choice who to select if the suspects are to believe the story." he turned to his right "The rest of the female staff falls out of the running because I don't think the CDR would feel comfortable enough with either of them to pull off the husband routine. The LtCol doesn't qualify because of the stated reasons, LTJG Sims is not only married, but I'm not about to put her through that, so that leaves only one person. Coates, you're a Yeoman, not supposed to go on cases, into dangeorus situations and face suspects in their field. Nobody will hold it against you if you decline, but you are the one I thought of as the best choce for the job."
Jen was no less surprised than the rest of the staff who turned to look at her in shock, her wide eyes aimed straight at her boss. Did she want to...
For an eternity, Jen was at an impasse. While the prospect of working tightly with the Commander and even playing his wife was alluring, she'd already had more action in her life than she wanted for as long as she lived. Sinking her eyes she deliberated, even though she knew she'd already made her decision. Sure, she wasn't looking forward to going into danger and she wasn't arrogant enough to think she would be able to protect Harm if need be, but the thought of the families broken by these greedy people left her no choice. How would she feel if someone had stolen her and Harm's... er... ' Stop that, Jen.' she reprimanded herself ' Don't get ahead of yourself. He doesn't see you like that, remember? Plus, there are still the regs even if he does feel the same...'
To get back to the thought... how would she feel if someone had stolen her baby and told her it had died, just to sell it for a nice price? She knew she'd want justice and her baby back if it could be done.
"I'll do it."
"Good." Chegwidden smiled in satisfaction, having been proven he could rely on his people to do the right thing.
"You leave tomorrow, everything you need to know is in these folders." he passed one to each of them "If anything changed, the NCIS SAC will brief you on your arrival. I don't think I need to specially remind you to pack lightly and nothing that would give your military status away." He received agreeing nods.
"Good. As soon as we're done with this staff meeting you're cleared to secure for the day and go home to get ready. Now that that's settled, let's get back to the regular order of business. Mr Roberts, you get..."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviews are love.
