CH. 9 THE VERDICT

"Has the jury reached a verdict?"

The president of the jury stood "Yes, your honor" He gave a note to the bailiff who brought it to Admiral Morris who read it and gave it back.

"Will defense and council please rise"

AJ with Harm and Matt at his sides went to stand to await the verdict

"This jury finds Admiral AJ Chegwidden on the account of drug use, not guilty. On the account of treason, not guilty."

Harm had a slight smile on hearing this, AJ a look of immense relief

"Admiral Chegwidden you are hereby exonerated of all charges and specifications and can return to your duty post. I hope you will take better care in picking friends in the future. Court is dismissed."

AJ then turned to Harm "Harm, thank you, you truly are my best friend" and to Harm's surprise shared a brief hug. AJ then turned to Matt "Lieutenant, I don't know you but I believe it's true if I say that this wouldn't have been possible without you and therefore I want to thank you." The shook hand and then left the courtroom.

They went to AJ's office where they met with the temporary JAG a Captain. AJ wanted to take the rest of the day of and then tomorrow he would get back into being the JAG and the Captain would bring him up to speed of the happenings during his absence.

"Captain, meet the best lawyer the navy ever had. He is just an even better pilot."

They discussed what needed to be done and then left again. "Captain, you have the office for the rest of the day and tomorrow morning then I will be needing you tomorrow afternoon, see you then."

They then went to AJ's home to celebrate. They were all sitting in the living room with a beer when AJ asked the question that Harm had expected to come again.

"How did you two meet?"

"I kind of said that already AJ, I have known him for all his life. So I was there when he was born"

"You said you were something like a hero to him as well, mind explaining that one?"

Instead of clarifying AJ seemed to get more confused by the second. Matt decided this was his question to answer.

"He was kind of my surrogate father, since I never knew my real father"

"Aren't you a bit young to be his father?"

"I was the man of the house and just being a good big brother." Harm said a bit mischievous.

"You two are brothers?" AJ asked astonished, he hadn't expected this.

"Yes, we did everything together. We still do partly. My full name is Matthew Harmon Rabb"

"Is that why you are both an aviator and a SEAL, because you are from a family of aviators?"

"Yes, I wanted to honor my father's name. But Harm's ramp strike shook me up and I found out that by being a naval officer I was already honoring my father's memory and I had to do what I really wanted. So I became a SEAL."

The rest of the night they spent telling stories about their adventures both before they ever met and after Harm decided to return to flying. They went on till late into the night or should I say early in the morning. They were having a late breakfast when AJ decided he didn't want Harm to go yet. The circumstances hadn't been the best but they had cleared the air and he found out what he had liked about his years as JAG. Harm might have been causing him a lot of headaches but they had a good friendship even some sort of father-son relationship. He rarely saw his own daughter and he made Harm the son he never had. For Harm it was the same, he had to be the man of the house at only six years of age and take care of his little brother who never even knew their father on top of that. He had become a lot more grounded since coming under AJ's command because he was the first real father figure. Neither wanted to acknowledge it much but their actions spoke sometimes louder than words.

"Harm I want you to consider remaining here with JAG for a while. The office needs a strong leader and I don't know if I can be that leader. When you were still with JAG they all considered you as their leader and I can't think of a better person they could choose."

"Well, my CO wanted me to have some more command experience and I really do love the law. I wouldn't mind having you as my CO again; I never doubted your leadership. But you need to keep in mind that I never wanted to become the JAG. I liked it for a few days but I hate all the politics involved and I wouldn't have a chance anymore to do investigations and to fly on occasion. If they choose me for a command position it will be as an aviator or maybe an aviator with a law degree but not as a lawyer. I wouldn't be happy in such a position."

"I did want you to become my successor sometime. That is why I was so angry with you when you left to fly. But now I understand why you did it. I want to ask the SECNAV to create an XO position at JAG it would contain some politics but also investigations. If I get it done I want you to be the first in that position, I will give you the time to fly and you don't have to change designators for me. I will make sure your career will not be harmed if you decide to join me."

"I will think about it and ask my CO if he can miss me and I will tell you my decision tomorrow morning is that alright?"

"Yes that is fine with me."

They exchanged some more small talk before AJ decided he needed to get to the office. Harm took Matt to do some sightseeing in DC since they didn't have anything pressing to do that day.