Doppelgänger Chapter Seven/12
NCIS Regional HQ
Naval Station, San Diego
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Harm leaned back in his chair, pencil in his right hand dancing on his lower lip in an unconscious manner. He was lost in thought.
Mac was right, he thought. Jimmy Conlon should be here—if nothing else, to make up for the rather churlish behavior both of them had engaged in during his brief stint two plus month ago in Indianapolis. He leaned forward and flipped through his rolodex looking for the newest addition to his rather extensive card file – 22 years worth, now. He'd entered the number into his Blackberry, having finally gotten used to using the PDA, but in the office, he typically flipped through the cards. . Jimmy, in an unexpected and sharply pleasant gesture, had given him his card after their joint press conference in March. It was, Harm thought in a rueful manner, as if Jimmy had recognized too, just how "silly" the macho game they had indulged in really was. That gesture made it easier, he mused as the phone rang in the office in Indianapolis, for him to make this overture. The receptionist answered the phone and he put in his request.
"Captain Rabb, NCIS San Diego, California, for James Conlon, please." As he waited for Jimmy to come onto the line, his thoughts flitted to the latest exploits of both his older "daughter" Mattie and his biological daughter. He couldn't help the grin as he remembered Mattie's disgust at being the target of Mahara's attempt to "share her milk" at breakfast that a.m.—almost the entire 6 ozs. or so of milk had ended up in Mattie's lap, necessitating a change of clothing for the still mainly-wheelchair bound teenager. She had stormed back to her room, and Harm had sworn he could see the steam rising above her head. Mac had excused herself, motioning Chloe to sit and finish her own breakfast —with a raised eyebrow tossed in his direction—it had been his "fault," after all, in failing to give Mahara a "sippy cup" instead of a more traditional glass without a lid—as she followed Mattie to assist in whatever fashion Mattie would allow her to in changing. Just then, he heard Conlon's voice.
"Conlon."
"Good morning. How's the weather out there in the 'heartland'?" Harm had learned a long time ago, a general pleasant inquiry on the well being of the other party often helped smooth the way for him to get whatever it was he wanted. (Granted, he had "gone overboard" when trying to track Mac down during the Paraguay event, but it was still a good rule to follow.)
"Sunny—and humid," was the simple and abrupt reply. "What can I do for you, Captain?"
"Sir, we thought you might appreciate our efforts out here if you were to actually observe the court-martial process in the matter of Petty Officer Morrison."
There was a silence, and Harm could appreciate the impact such an offer might have on the other man. Conlon's replay came back within a matter of seconds and Harm had to admit, the man was fast on his feet—as was appropriate for a good attorney. "That's generous of you, Captain." There was a pause. "However, I'm not going to be able to make it—there're a number of things currently 'up in the air'—and I'm not going to be able to get away for a while." Jimmy didn't think Rabb would appreciate hearing he was about to "toss his hat in the ring" and start campaigning for the position of State Attorney General. He continued, "However, I do have an associate or two who might appreciate a trip to San Diego."
Harm demonstrated he was equally fast on his feet. "You mean, Ms. Chase or Ms. Scofield?"
"You've got it. I'll have to ask. There might be one problem with Annabeth, though—she's got an almost two-year old-daughter—she's a widow. So child care might be a problem." There was a pause and Harm thought he could almost literally hear the wheels in Conlon's head spinning. "When exactly is the trial?"
"Next week. Starts on Monday, as a matter of fact."
"I'll check with both ladies then." Conlon unexpectedly chuckled. "I'm sure either one of them would be eager to take a 'field trip' to San Diego." Harm fancied he could picture Conlon leaning forward to make a note. "I'll give you a call later today or tomorrow to let you know." There was a pause. "Thanks for the offer."
"You're very welcome, Mr. Conlon." And with that, the conversation ended.
District Attorney's Office
Indianapolis
Same Day
Jimmy was leaning back in his chair once again and Annabeth was secretly amused — someday, she thought, he's going to lean back too far and fall out of it. He was studying both women intently.
"Ladies, I have a proposition for you."
Mo raised her eyebrows at him and asked, "A 'proposition'?"
He had the good grace to blush just a tiny bit and Annabeth was tickled pink to discover that underneath the brash New Yorker attitude, there was a sense of self-consciousness. "Not like that, Mo." He grinned at her and threw back: "Yellow light!"
Both of the women smiled and relaxed back in their respective chairs. Annabeth swore she could see a glitter of excitement in those stunning eyes. She pulled herself back into "professional mode." "So what's the 'proposition'?"
"Either one of you ever been to San Diego?"
"San Diego?!" Now it was Annabeth's eyebrows that went up. "What's going on?"
Jimmy leaned forward. "I just got a call from Captain Rabb inviting either me and/or one of my staff to go out there and observe Petty Officer Morrison's court-martial." He shifted back in his seat to observe the effect of his words on his colleagues.
It was Annabeth whose quiet whisper broke the sudden quiet in the room. "I've never been outside the Midwest, let alone to either coast."
Mo glanced at her and then followed up with her own remark. "I've been there a couple of times—but it's been years and years ago—as a child."
"I take it both of you would like to go."
Both women nodded—then Annabeth's face fell. "I have Hailey—and it would be difficult to take her with me and. . ."
Jimmy leaned forward. "If child care for Hailey weren't a problem. . .?"
"Then I'd go in a heartbeat."
He shifted back in his chair again. "Okay. What say you 'flip' for the privilege?"
Both nodded and he pulled a quarter from his pocket. "Okay, who wants to call it?"
Annabeth and Mo glanced at each other—then Annabeth said, "tails" while Mo responded "heads." Their responses prompted a grin at each other and then they looked towards their boss and mentor. He promptly tossed the quarter in the air, caught it as it came down, and slammed it down on his arm with his palm. He cautiously lifted his palm and looked at both of them, eagerly sitting on the edge of their chairs waiting for the results. He tossed a lop-sided smile at Annabeth and said quietly, "It's 'tails.'"
Both sat there quietly, stunned, and then Mo got up and reached over to hug Annabeth. "I'm so happy for you—really I am!" She released Annabeth just enough to push her back so she could see her face. "You really could use a mini-vacation. You haven't really had a real 'vacation' since. . ." and here Mo faltered—she really didn't want to bring up Annabeth's widowhood. She gathered herself and added, "If you don't want to take Hailey and/or if Hailey will prevent you from going, I'll take care of her for you!"
Annabeth smiled through the gathering tears in her eyes. "That's okay, Mo. You don't have to do that."
Mo's lips pursed rather tightly. "Yes, I do. It's one thing I can do to help you—something I haven't really been able to find in all these months since. . ." Then a slight begging tone crept into her voice. "Please—let me do this for you. It would help me as much as you. . ."
Annabeth was fighting back the tears. Jimmy hung back, arms folded across his chest, as he watched the unfolding scene. Whatever questions he'd about professionalism in this office when he first arrived, there was absolutely no doubt about the dedication and loyalty between his colleagues—something he both approved of—and found rewarding after all the political infighting in the New York City office. It did his heart good, too, to see such bonding, even though as an "alpha male," it did tend to make him want to squirm just a tiny bit.
So it was settled. Annabeth was going to San Diego, Hailey was staying with Mo at night and would be with her nanny during the day. Annabeth felt a tad bit guilty—what mother wouldn't?—but, at the same time, she felt a tiny thrill of excitement running through her. It was the first time she had experienced that feeling since Jack's death a little over a year ago and, at first, she hadn't recognized it. When she did, it pleased her to no end—maybe, just maybe, the long period of mourning was ending.
End Chapter Seven
