Timing Is Everything
Chapter 28
Wednesday, September 9, 1998
1730 PM
Navy Yard Fitness Center
Washington Navy Yard, DC
After he woke up from the coma John was relieved that Sarah didn't postpone their wedding plans. In fact she put a deposit down on the hall at the Willard. This night she was out with Ann Marie, Diane and Harriet getting fitted for her wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses. She picked it all out in May after she and John set the date. While she and John were dealing with the shooting and its aftermath, the three ladies was keeping the plans for the wedding going. Harriet was just wonderful in working with Sarah on the computer in designing and printing and sending the invitations. John's parents gave Sarah John's part of the list and Sarah had her part of the list settled also.
Even with all that John knew he still wasn't all the way back from before the shooting. So he set up some training and conditioning sessions with a man that Gunny Murtagh recommended. Lt. Colonel Gordon ["Biff"] Creswell met John at the door to the locker room.
Creswell began, "Good evening sir. Ed Murtagh called me from Plattsburgh and he told me about your 'try out' with the Giants.
John rolled his eyes at the 'try out' line. "Will you please do me a favor Colonel? Let's drop the sirs and stuff. My name is John."
"Gordon", said Creswell as he offered his hand.
"I just want to get better here and I don't want you to hold anything back. Did you read the report from the Giants' trainers and Gunny Murtagh?" John asked.
"Yes I did. They said that your agility was good if not a little tentative. I called Murtagh and he said that a boxing training regimen as well as sparring should be right up your alley especially to exercise your shoulder and legs. So let's get started."
With that they went and changed. First Creswell had him do the rope work. John did know how to skip rope. Creswell had him doing it the boxer's way, very energetic and coordinated.
Next they went to the punching bag. John had never done that. To strengthen his left-handed coordination he had him tuck his right hand in his waste behind his back. He showed John how to tease the bag first with the front of his fist, then with the back of his fist. John started slow then as he got more confident and his hand speed increased. They did this for about an hour then they put on the gloves. Actually John put the gloves on where as Creswell put on the hand pads. He showed John jabs and hooks and crosses and uppercuts. Then he called out blow-combinations. They went at this for another hour. Creswell then told him to swim 10 laps before he showered.
2030 Local Time
Washington Navy Yard
Since John and Sarah both worked in the Navy Yard and their two services shared the same parking lot, they always drove to work in the same car. The rationale was that if they had to go away from the 'Yard' on cases, they would use the cars from the motor pool. On nice days they came to work in the Camaro. On the inclement days they took the Trailblazer. That evening Sarah went off to do what she needed for the wedding and left John at the health club, intending to come back and pick him up.
Even though he went through an intense three-hour workout, John was totally refreshed and relaxed. When he came out of the locker room, he found Sarah standing at the Camaro waiting for him.
She was dressed in jeans and man styled shirt, tied at her waste. It showed her navel ring and her cleavage to their fullest. Her hair was spikey from being wet.
'God she was beautiful' was the first thought to race through his brain. The next one was 'that shirt looks very familiar'.
She came up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. "How'd it go?"
"Didn't you say you knew Creswell from Okinawa?" John asked.
"Yeah he was my brigade's JAG Officer. Sometimes we worked out together. He was tough and he taught me how to box. What did he do work you to death?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah he did. He put me through the same stuff Gunny Murtagh did. We're going to do this Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays for the next few weeks."
"Good. How do you feel now?" Sarah asked.
"Just a little achy. I take some Tylenol when we get home." John replied. "What did you girls do tonight?"
"We tried on our wedding dresses. Remember we only have 5 & ½ weeks till the wedding.
"I can hardly wait", John said as he pulled her tighter and kissed her soundly. "Why's your hair wet?"
I took a short shower just before I came to meet you."
"Isn't that the shirt you wore..?"
"…When we first made love; why yes it is. You said you'd never be able to wear it again so it's been hanging in my closet."
"Well it looks better on you than on me."
Saturday, September 12, 1998
1800 Local Time
Chegwidden Residence,
McLean, VA
The whole JAG Staff was at AJs house for his dinner party. There were two reasons for the party. One reason was to celebrate John's recovery and Sarah and his engagement. The other was to introduce his daughter Francesca Paretti. She was his daughter from his former wife Marcella. Marcella divorced him and moved to Italy when Francesca was an infant. Marcella couldn't stand being worried about AJ being in the Navy. Marcella remarried a man named Vittorio Paretti.
Harm was astounded to find she was AJ's daughter. The previous Friday afternoon he was backing out a JAG Staff car on his way to an interview when another car bumped him from behind. When he got out with the intention of exchanging information, he encountered a beautiful woman with an Italian accent. She was about 5'7" with a slim but shapely figure. She refused to give her information to a strange sailor, even after Harm produced his business card and told her that it was illegal to refuse to give information in an accident. Also she insisted that her car was a rental and that it would be a waste of time to get the small amount of damages fixed. She drove away leaving a befuddled Harm in her wake.
When she approached him at the party, he quickly discarded his astonished look for one of cool familiarity.
"Miss Paretti, may I introduce my wife Diane", Harm offered.
"I'm very pleased to meet you Diane and please call me Francesca", Francesca said as she offered her hand. She turned as she heard the door open and everyone turn and clap as John walked in with Sarah. Francesca looked between Diane and Sarah. She wondered why a lot of people were making a fuss over John.
Diane took her by the elbow and guided her over to the arriving couple. "C'mon, I'll introduce you to my sister and her fiancé", Diane whispered. But AJ beat her to it.
After he welcomed Sarah & John with hearty handshakes and a kiss to her cheek, he turned and saw Diane coming over with his daughter
"Sarah, John may I introduce my daughter Francesca Paretti, Francesca, Captain John Marshall and his fiancé Major Sarah Mackenzie. They're getting married next October."
It was only after she heard John's name that Francesca realized why the guests were greeting John so warmly.
"I am very pleased to meet you both. I hope you are very happy wedding day", Francesca said graciously.
Harm had trailed the two women as they approached Sarah & John. Turning so that she could take in the two couples Francesca could see that Diane and Sarah were almost identical. They wore their hair differently and it was too dark to see that they had different color eyes. She saw that each couple clung to each other. She could see how Harm & John each looked at Diane and Sarah. She could see that each man and each woman was in love with the other. She facetiously asked the two men, "Tell me please Harmon & John, how do you keep each woman straight when you are together?"
John couldn't resist answering, "At work it's easy. They wear different uniforms. Otherwise Harm and I try to keep them from shopping or getting their hair done together and before each party we call each other to make sure Sarah and Diane are not wearing the same dress, etc. It's the only way we two men can keep our sanity."
Francesca laughed heartily along with Sarah and Diane.
"When Sarah and John get married I don't think he'll have any trouble telling one Mackenzie sister from the other that day", AJ said to the group.
She asked John, "Papa told me of your injury how are you doing John?"
"I'm doing fine thanks for asking, though it would have been a lot tougher without Sarah with me. She's been my rock", John said as he pulled Sarah closer.
Sarah turned her head to hide the tear she shed, embarrassed by his declaration. Francesca just went and hugged her. Kissing both her cheeks, she softly whispered to Sarah, "Do not be embarrassed by such love. You are so lucky to be so loved by such a man. Hold on to him."
"I will", she acknowledged as she hugged Francesca back. Then she turned and slapped John's arm. "You always make me cry at the worst times." She softened her chastisement with a smile and a kiss to his cheek.
Sarah asked Francesca, "Our wedding day is next October 24. I would love it if you could be there. "
"I will rearrange my schedule. I wouldn't miss it for the world", she told Sarah.
Sarah continued, "While we're here Admiral I have a favor to ask."
"Yes what is it Mac?" AJ said.
Sarah drew a deep breath before she blurted out, "Admiral Chegwidden, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of giving me away at my wedding, Sir."
AJ's eyebrows rose in question. "Mac, are you sure you wouldn't rather have your father do that?"
"With all due respect, sir, no I would not. I don't even know where my father is. Also all my efforts to find him have come up dry. You have been more like family to me than my father ever has. Outside of our families you and Sydney have become the closest friends John and I have. I know John would always be grateful for the care Sydney gave him and I will always be grateful for the love and support you gave me when John was injured. I could never have gotten through that without your help. You have accepted me into your family and there is nobody that I would rather have walked me down the aisle on my wedding day than you."
AJ fought down a wave of emotion at her words. He had taken a special interest in Sarah ever since she came to JAG. He read her record and he was proud that she had come so far under his command.
"It would be my honor, Sarah", he replied softly.
Sarah let out a sigh of relief and visibly relaxed as she smiled. "Thank you, Sir."
"No, Sarah. Thank you", said AJ as she went to hug him.
Francesca was never more proud of her father than now.
Monday, September 21, 1998
0930 Local Time
NCIS Headquarters,
Washington Navy Yard, DC
John was feeling better and better every week since he started working out with Creswell. He felt that he was just about all the way back physically from before the shooting. He was humming to himself as he came out of a meeting with Admiral Magnum. They spoke about his performance since he came back to work. Thomas admired his work ethic. He felt that John had come back all the way professionally. He even told him that he admired that he was still working on his job all during his time in rehab.
He was just outside his office when Webb entered the bullpen, with Diane following closely behind him. "We have some new information on Parlovsky", Diane announced.
"Come on in and let's talk", John instructed them. As he passed Carolyn's desk he told her to come in as well.
Webb began. "We found out that Misha was the one running a rogue KGB operation that took the Vietnam POWs to Russia. We heard from some serious sources in Russia that the government at that time had no idea what he was doing. That means that he could be sending us on a wild goose chase. Also we found Konaplonik. He was found dead in an alley in 'Little Odessa', a section of Brooklyn called..."
"Brighton Beach" John finished. "Remember I grew up in New York. I have some friends in the NYPD who I talked too now and then. They tell me that the Russian Mafia is becoming very powerful up there. Ever since Perostroyka a lot of formerly Russian felons have been coming over to here and setting up shop, mostly up there."
"His buddies probably didn't like the idea that he was caught and he spilled his guts", Diane added.
"That possibility is most likely true. Besides Konoplonik's blood, they found another type on the passenger's side. They matched the sample to Coster," Webb said.
"I knew it. Konoplonik was the driver when Coster shot me," exclaimed John. "That explains a lot. It seems that someone either Sokol or Parlovsky didn't want us going to Russia. Getting at one of us would stop or delay our departure."
"We think Parlovsky put the hit out. We also heard that Parlovsky may be involved with selling nuclear tipped missiles from the Russian arsenal to certain Russian mafia types. Konaplonik had a big mouth and probably blabbed about it so Misha had to silence him. He might be more afraid of his buddies in the mafia than in his government", Webb finished.
"Alright, Clay, you leave tonight, take Carolyn with you. Set up everything that you can. Harm, Diane, Sarah and I will follow let's say tomorrow or the day after. Find out as much as you can before we get there."
"Ok boss. I'll book us our flights. I'll have our itineraries before lunch", Carolyn replied.
"Diane, you, Harm, Sarah and I will meet at my house tonight. I'll call JAG now and let Sarah and Harm know. I'll also call Admiral Magnum and he'll tell the SECNAV and the President. If no one has anything else, let's begin." Everybody got up and set about their different tasks.
Tuesday, September 22, 1998
1830 Local Time
Dulles International Airport
Aeroflot Flight 818 Non Stop to Moscow
Diane and Harm left Sarah Cate to stay with Ann Marie, Pete and Andy. The two babies spent a lot of weekend time together and they became accustomed to each other.
Right now they were settled into their seats on the plane. Diane and Sarah sat in between John and Harm. John sat at the window seat. They were wearing casual clothing.
Earlier that day Carolyn and Webb called saying that they were in Moscow and that they had reservations for the two couples at the Posolskaya Hotel.
John had his 'Giants' 'ny' ball cap on and he pulled it over his eyes and attempted to sleep. "Wake me up when we get to Moscow."
Sarah, Harm & Diane just shook their heads and smiled. They were just as happy that he was with them. They were a team. They all felt that there wasn't anything they couldn't handle as long as they stuck together. They were going into the unknown in Russia. There were so many things that could go wrong. There were too many people that they didn't or couldn't trust. Right now though they felt they were ready for it all.
