35
Tuesday 20 March 2001, 1306hrs EST, Lieutenant Bud Roberts' Office, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA (191806ZMar01)
Still fuming and still with his wife's elbow in a firm grasp, Bud steered her into his office before he let go of her arm, and then turning he locked the door and closed the blinds before he looked at her and said, "Sit down, Harriet!"
Stunned by this hitherto unseen degree of anger, Harriet fumbled her way into one of the visitor chairs as Bud perched on the corner of his desk, his folded arms and crossed ankles indicating that he was in no mood to compromise.
"Bud…" Harriet faltered, "What… what's got into you… I've never seen you like this…" And then as she reflexively rubbed her elbow, her bewilderment gave way to anger. "And how dare you manhandle me like that! In front of the whole command!" She placed her hands on the arm rests of the chair and started to rise only to be halted by Bud's next words.
"I said, sit down, Harriet!" His voice was icy cold, and in that instant, as she subsided back into her seat, Harriet felt a band of ice grip her heart and her flash of anger was replaced by fear. Not physical fear, she knew right to the bottom of her heart that Bud, no matter how angry her might be, would never lay a finger on her, but there was something about his anger today that told her it went way beyond the bounds of what was normal for her fundamentally good-natured husband.
"Whatever's the matter Bud…? This isn't like you…" although the anger was gone from her voice Harriet's attitude was still one of self-righteous defiance.
"The matter is Harriett that I love you… and…"
"Well! You've got a funny way of showing it, Bud Roberts!"
"Harriett! Please let me finish what I'm trying to say!" Bud said heavily. He then waited for a response from his petulantly pouting wife. When she made no immediate response, he sighed and continued, "I love you, but I'm also afraid for you."
Harriet looked up with an expression of alarm on her face, "What? How? Why?"
"Harriet listen very carefully. We have spoken before about not interfering in matters that do not concern us. Yes, I do mean the Commander's personal life. Think back to when the Colonel was in hospital, when you first started to think that Commander was beginning to have more than friendly feelings towards Loren Singer. We were in the minivan outside the hospital, and I strongly advised you at that time to butt out of the emotional triangle of the Commander, the Colonel and Lieutenant Singer. You didn't take my advice, did you? Now, I'm not advising, I'm saying that your interference stops – right here, right now!?"
"But, Bud… it's all so wrong…"
"Harriet," Bud sighed again, "Right or wrong, it is none of our never mind! And your fixation on the Commander's personal life is even more wrong…"
"But, Bud, he's our friend, he's AJ's Godfather, and I can't bear to see him throwing himself away on a useless piece of…"
"Harriet! That's enough! No, it's too far!"
"Bud!" Harriet wailed in protest.
"No, listen. You just went too far on two levels: the personal and the professional. Let's look at it on the personal level first. The Commander is our friend; he's done so much for me, and for you, and as you say, he's AJ's Godfather. Do you really want to throw away five years of friendship because you can't or won't make an effort to at least try and get along with the woman he has asked to marry him? We may not like his choice, Harriet, but we have to accept it, or risk losing him as a friend, and I'm pretty sure that's what will happen if you don't stop this mindless feud you have with Loren Singer. And I have a feeling, a very strong feeling, if he would have heard what you just said in the commissary that is exactly what would have happened. Harriet, the Colonel has accepted the Commander's choice, and has even made peaceful overtures towards Singer. They may never be real friends, but they have at least agreed to end the war!"
Bud cocked his head to one side and added more gently, "Did you know that when the Commander first told Loren Singer that he loved her, they were in the Colonel's room at the hospital? Just about the time we were in the minivan, too. Well anyway, Loren bolted…"
"Just when did Lieutenant Witch become Loren to you?" Harriet interrupted snidely
Bud grinned mirthlessly, "About the time she became engaged to the Commander, but that's neither here nor there! As I was saying, when she bolted, the Commander was left standing and it was the Colonel who they had thought was asleep, but wasn't, told him, 'if you love her, go after her', if I remember correctly what the Commander told me! So, you see, the Colonel has accepted that the Commander has made his choice – and it wasn't her – so don't you think you ought to accept it too? So… on the personal level, no more cocktail parties to introduce him to 'eligible' young women, right?"
Harriet blushed vividly, she would never forget that particular fiasco, and she still hadn't really mended fences with Lieutenant Commander Somers from the IG's office. "No, no more cocktail parties," she mumbled.
Bud nodded with satisfaction, he brought Harriet round from being closed and defensive so she was at least now listening to him instead of just bristling at his every word, "OK, so we're agreed: for the sake of personal relationships that you need to let go, and try to establish some sort of relationship with Loren Singer. But, Harriet, there's a potentially more serious scenario on the professional side. You have got to stop referring to Loren Singer as 'Lieutenant Witch', or 'The Wicked Witch of Washington' or any other derogatory names. Each time you call her a name, or even refer to her in those terms in the hearing of anyone else, particularly the enlisted, then you are in breach of Article 117 of the UCMJ. And that's why I'm afraid for you. I don't want to see you losing two thirds of your pay and being cooped up in the women's brig in Miramar for six months for every time you refer her to by 'Provoking or Reproachful Words'. And it could be much worse, sweetie, it could be said that as Loren has considerable seniority on you that you could be charged with Article 89, 'Disrespect to a Superior Commissioned Officer'. That is a BCD, loss of all benefits and a year in the women's brig. I couldn't stand to lose you for that length of time, and A J sure as hell couldn't either. So, for God's sake Harriett, power down and wind your neck in, please?"
During his peroration, Harriett had staring slack-jawed at Bud, and by the time he had finished her blue eyes were awash with tears that were beginning to trickle down her face. Bud abandoned his perch on his desk and crouching next to her, offered her his handkerchief while looping an arm around her shoulders in a comforting hug.
"Look," Bud continued, "If the Commander's family are happy to accept Loren Singer as his wife, then who are we to gainsay him?"
Harriet stopped mopping her eyes and turned a stricken face towards her husband, "His family have met her?"
Bud smiled in sympathy, "They most certainly have!" he affirmed.
"And they liked her?"Harriet said incredulously.
"So it seems," Bud agreed.
Harriet continued looking at her husband as her brain started to whirl furiously.
Tuesday 20 March 2001, 1648hrs EST, Commander Carolyn Imes' Office, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA (191806ZMar01)
Carolyn was quietly pleased with the outcome of the Coulter trial, not, thanks mostly to Loren's pre-trial review, that she had been overly worried about the result, but she confessed to herself that Temperance Brennan had caused her heart to jump into her throat on a couple of occasions. It wasn't so much what the forensic pathologist had said, but the way she had said it and her attitude which seemed disdainful of the whole military justice system.
All Carolyn needed to do know was to finish drafting her post-trial summation and have it ready for typing in the morning, and then she felt she would be free to have a couple of quiet drinks in celebration of the win. In the normal course of things she would have invited Loren to join her, but with the way things stood between her and Harm it was more important that they mend fences rather than let the misunderstanding – and Carolyn was certain that's what it all boiled down to - fester between them.
Her musings were cut short by the demand of her telephone and sighing she pulled, a legal pad towards her, just in case, and picked up. "Imes!" she almost snapped.
"Whoa! Stand down Commander!" came a laughing voice in her ear, "It's Pete Murray here. I understand you pulled off a pretty impressive win this afternoon, made the opposition drop the charges?"
"Yeah, pretty much so…" Carolyn conceded, although that wasn't quite the way she recalled the case.
"So… how'd you like to kill two birds with one stone?" Pete teased her gently.
"Doing what?" Carolyn asked, with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"Well, it's customary to celebrate a win, isn't it?"
"Yeah…." Carolyn drew the word out.
"Well, we've got a couple of promotions in the detachment to celebrate, so we're having a wet down at Lola's on Eighth kicking off at twenty hundred."
Carolyn considered the Marine Captain's invitation. Eighth Street South East wasn't too far from her apartment and she had been looking forward to a quiet celebratory drink. The trouble is, just how quiet would the drink be in the company of a party of off-duty Jarheads? "I won't be the only sailor there will I, Pete?"
"Hell, no, Sam Cooper's bringing his wife… besides… Patty Bishop's bringing her new boyfriend, he's a medico based up at Bethesda finishing his surgical boards before going fleet. And anyway," Pete dropped his voice to a husky whisper, "You know most of the detachment by sight, and I understand Gunny Galindez will be there along with Gunny Waters and a couple of Sergeants to keep 'em all in line." Pete paused for a moment before adding, "Why don't you bring that new Commander along with you, Commander Houston, isn't it?
Carolyn chuckled, "Austin, Pete. Commander Austin."
"Hell, I knew it was one of those places in Texas!" He paused again, "So is that a yes or a no?"
"OK, I'll be there, Lola's at twenty hundred, but mind; you're responsible for getting me home at the end of the night!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Pete declared emphatically. "But yours or mine? That's the question!" and he hung up before Carolyn could reply.
Carolyn looked at the 'phone in her hand with a half-amused, half-exasperated expression, "Yeah, that'd be right! Dream on Jarhead!"
Tuesday 20 March 2001, 1708hrs EST, Parking Lot, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA (191806ZMar01)
Harm signed out at the CP and trod down the steps into the forecourt and turned towards his SUV breathing a silent sigh of relief as he spotted Loren waiting for him alongside the vehicle. As he drew near her he recognised the signs, although many wouldn't have done so, that she had indulged in a lengthy bout of tears. At the sight of her worried and woe-begone face the last vestiges of his anger completely drained away, and with total disregard for the Admiral's dictat on public displays of affection he reached out his hand and gently cupping her cheek in his hand he followed the line of her cheekbone with his thumb and accompanied the gesture with a soft-spoken "Hey, sweetheart, don't cry; we can sort this out…"
Loren gulped, "Oh. Harm… I'm so sorry… I don't mean to be such a bitch…"
"Hey, you're not… but… we can't talk about this here. Do you want to go home, or… maybe Potomac Park? Seems to me we had a pretty intense discussion there once upon a time?"
Loren nodded, "Home , please, Harm?" she said in a very small voice.
"OK, home it shall be…" he looked her straight in the eye, "And don't worry Loren, there's no lasting damage done, we can and we will work this out. All you really have to remember is that I love you. All the rest is just the baggage we tote around with us…"
"And I love you, Harm. I really do…"
"I know… but let's save the explanations and recriminations until we get home. So climb in and buckle up, please?"
Loren nodded, "OK," she replied solemnly.
Tuesday 20 March 2001, 1753hrs EST, Loren Singer and Harmon Rabb's Apartment, 1054 Canal Street NW, Georgetown, Washington DC (202253ZMar01)
The drive home from Falls Church had been quiet, both Harm and Loren considering the best way to mend fences, and the only interaction between them had been brief hand-clasps whenever the traffic compelled the SUV to come to a halt.
Entering the apartment, Harm hung his cover on the pegs to the side of the door and asked, do you want to get straight into it, or shower and change first?"
"Um… neither," Loren answered, "I want to get out of this first…" she indicated her dress blues, "but after that… I really don't want this hanging over us any longer…"
Harm nodded, briefly, "Good thinking…" he hesitated, "Do you want me to get changed in the bathroom while you take the bedroom?" he said tentatively.
"God, no!" Loren exploded, "Never, never, never! Where will be if we can't even share a room?!"
"It's just, I don't want you to feel pressured…" Harm said lamely.
Loren turned to him and threw her arms around his waist and burying her head against his chest she mumbled, "Harm… except for the day you told me you loved me, you've never put any pressure on me!"
Harm wrapped his arms around Loren and dropped a gentle kiss onto the top of her head, "How did we get it so wrong today?" he asked, genuine puzzlement in his voice.
"A good deal of that is down to me," Loren admitted, raising her head and looking up into his face.
"Well, there's probably plenty of blame to go around, sweetheart. So don't go grabbing too much for yourself!" Harm responded with a half-smile. "But let's get out of uniform so we can sit down and get comfortable – just like you suggested!"
Ten minutes later Loren, now in slacks and a sweater and with her hair down, was sat on the couch while a jean and t-shirt clad Harm sat on the coffee table directly facing her, their knees nearly touching.
'Damn!' Loren thought, 'that is so not fair! How the hell am I supposed to concentrate and muster a lucid argument, when he's sitting there right in my face in that tight t-shirt! No fair, Mister Rabb!'
Harm took a swallow from the bottle of water he had snagged from the fridge and let his eyes roam over the petite blonde sitting opposite him. 'OK, her face still shows slight evidence of a tear storm, but she looks… so… so… cool, calm and collected… How the hell does she do it? And how the hell does she have such a powerful effect on me?' he asked himself as he shifted to a slightly more comfortable position.
More in order to temporarily distract himself from thoughts that were better suited to a more intimate atmosphere, Harm cleared his throat, "Loren, I told you once that I would never intentionally hurt you, but that at times, I was the biggest klutz in the world, and I can, almost effortlessly put my foot in mouth, and with a bit more effort I could probably get two in at the same time.. Now, it's obvious that somehow, this morning, I hurt you… I don't know how I managed that, but I am sorry… and if you tell me what I did wrong then I swear I will never do it again. But…" he held up a minatory finger to delay her reply, "please, don't be too hard on this klutz of a sailor, and remember that no matter how badly he screws the pooch, that he does love with all his heart!"
Loren caught her breath, "Oh, you bastard… how can I be mad at you when you say such wonderful things! And anyway… I'm not mad at you any more… I don't think I was ever really mad at you. You made a comment that was a sort of half praise of Renee, and I… I made all too much of it and I… completely lost the plot! And Harm I'm so, so sorry… and then I felt guilty about losing it with you, and that made me angry at myself… but instead of being honest with myself, I turned that anger on you, and it wasn't until lunch when you stormed out of the commissary, and I complained to Carolyn that you were making a spectacle of yourself, and by extension me. Carolyn just looked at me and asked who I was mad at, you or me and it was only then that I realised what I was doing! And Harm, I left her at the table, and I went looking for you to say sorry… but I couldn't find you… and then I had to get back to court… and I was so relieved when you came in… I could hardly concentrate on the case…"
"Hey, hey, hey, you did a wonderful job on direct with Terri's father… I was so proud of you…" Harm said, slipping off the table and onto the couch next to Loren, who immediately half-turned towards him, rubbing her face against his chest. Harm looped his arm around her shoulders, and gently stroked her outside arm.
"Do I take it then that my apology is accepted?" Harm smiled, dropping another kiss on the top of her head.
"Oh, of course it is you fool!" Loren sniffled, "But it really wasn't your fault!" She stopped for a moment to marshal her thoughts. "I know I was being stupid, but it was all the fault of my damn insecurities. I try Harm, I try so hard not to let them get to me anymore, and you do such a wonderful job of supporting me, that most times, I can fight them off, let them sink back into the depths… but that support just makes it all the more hurtful when I think I see you betraying that…"
"Oh, Loren, never! Not in a million years!"
"Oh, I know, Harm, I know! At least I know when I'm thinking rationally! But every once in a while, I see you laughing and joking with some absolutely beautiful woman and then the green-eyed monster kicks in and I get all these doubts, like why is he with me? Why isn't he dating some tall, slim elegant fashion model type…"
"Because, my darling, tall, slim, elegant fashion model types don't have as much appeal for me in their entire bodies as you do in your pinkie! And remember our pinkie promises?"
"Oh, I do! I do!" Loren giggled damply as the memory of those last few minutes at Potomac Park brought a fresh spate of tears to her eyes, "but I was feeling especially vulnerable this morning…"
"This morning?" Harm raised an eyebrow.
Loren nodded, and then kept her face lowered, refusing to meet Harm's gaze.
"Why was that, sweetheart?" he persisted gently.
Loren mumbled something indistinct against his chest.
"What was that?" he asked again.
Loren twisted her head slightly so that her mouth was no longer muffled by Harm's t-shirt, "Meg Austin," she replied quietly but distinctly.
Harm sat upright in surprise, "Meg?" he queried, "Why, whatever for?"
"Well… I saw the two of you in your office first thing this morning… she hardly waited until you were through the door before she pounced on you… and then you were so close there with her, she brought you coffee and you were sat with your heads so close together… and she's so blonde and so beautiful…"
"So are you!" Harm told her emphatically, "And anyway, it's ridiculous… you might as well be suspicious of Harriet or… or… Carolyn… or that little PO Two who does the general office filing…"
"No, it isn't the same, Harm!" Loren insisted
"Of coursed it is! The one is just as ridiculous as the other!" Harm argued, "Way out in left field!"
"No, no it's not the same! You've never been in love with Carolyn or Harriett or… or…"
"And who says I'm in love with Megan?" Harm challenged her.
"You did!" Loren declared.
Harm stared at her in amazement, as he ran past conversations in rapid review while Loren looked up at him anxiously, desperately afraid of what he might say and that she should, perhaps have not mentioned Meg at all.
Then after what seemed an absolute age to Loren, Harm shook his head in a puzzled fashion, "No, Loren, I am totally certain that I never told you that I loved Meg… I know I never told her that!"
"You may not have told her, but you definitely told me!" Loren argued.
"When?" Harm challenged her.
"When you were ill! When I first found you in your old apartment. You were raving on about her, and how you loved her and you always would…"
"Loren! I was fevered when you found me, right?" Loren nodded, "Then you're right, I was raving! Look I won't deny that I used to be attracted to Meg and it might be that she at one time felt some attraction to me. But we never did anything… anything at all… about it. We were partners, I was her immediate superior, we were in the same chain of command; it was impossible! We never even shared a single kiss! Not even when she saved my ass! Megan and I were friends and partners, nothing more. All the time we worked together I was in a sort of relationship with Diane – and I know I've told you about her, right?"
"Yeah, you did… but…" Loren faltered to a halt.
"Go on, sweetheart," Harm gently encouraged her.
"Well…" and once again, Loren had difficulty in meeting his eyes, "When I was packing your personal kit to bring to you in the hospital… I found… and old shoebox, with a couple of photograph wallets in it… One wallet had a couple of shots of Diane… and the other…"
"Had a shot of Meg on the Sea Hawk!" Harm finished for her.
Loren nodded unhappily, "Yeah, so I figured she must have been important to you, and then you told me all about Diane and the academy… but then you never said hardly a word about Meg, and then she turned up at JAG… and she's so beautiful and tall and… then today, as she was leaving your office, I heard you make a lunch date with her, and then on top of all that you had to go and mention Renee – another tall, slim, elegant blonde!""
"Renee is definitely in the past Loren. And I breathed a huge sigh of relief when she broke off our relationship, although I got to admit, it hurt my pride to be dumped for a mortician!"
Loren couldn't repress a slight giggle at that and Harm tightened his arm around her shoulder in response. "I remember Renee, and I could never figure out what you saw in her…"
"And Meg is just a friend in need, nothing more!" Harm interrupted her. "Loren, Meg got a PCS while I was still trying to cope with Diane's murder. She was posted to Hawaii, and I never heard a word from her after that. I tell you, I still think of her as a friend, but that sort of treatment kills off any romantic leanings pretty damn quickly. And yes, I was happy to see her back at JAG; she's a damn good lawyer and a damn good investigator!" Harm paused for breath, "And if you remember, the day she reported for duty, practically the first thing I said to her was 'Meg, this is Loren Singer, the woman I love!' I don't think I could have made it any clearer to her that if she had any idea of taking our friendship to another level then I wasn't interested. I wasn't interested then and I'm not interested now. You were the woman I loved then, and you are still the woman I love now. Nothing, I repeat, nothing has changed in that regard, and nothing ever will!"
Loren nodded solemnly, her heart rejoicing at the warmth and depth of conviction in Harm's voice, but there was just one more little question she had to ask, "So… what was the oh so private confab about this morning, then?"
Harm leaned back against the squabs and considered just how much he should tell Loren before deciding that this was a case when the whole truth would have to come out, so with a silent plea to Meg for forgiveness for betraying a confidence he said, "Meg had started to form an attraction to an enlisted man, and he apparently was returning her interest. She came to me, not because she wanted advice – she knows she cannot and must not do anything about the attraction. But because she needs to meet with him – in a public place – and make it perfectly clear that they have no future together as long as they are both in the service. What she wanted me for was to act as a chaperone, to accompany her to the appointed meeting place and just sit and observe them so that I could later swear that there had been no sign of improper behaviour."
"Oh… poor Meg… no wonder she needed a shoulder to cry on…"
"Loren, she never…"
"I didn't mean that literally, Harm!"
"Oh… OK… so, now, are you happy that Meg is nothing more to me than a friend?"
"Uh-huh."
"And, sweetheart, if your devils start up again, please tell me… don't just get hostile and shut me out, OK?"
Loren sniffled again, "Yeah, OK…"
Harm nodded, "Good… now look at me!"
Loren looked up just in time for her lips to be captured by Harm's as he kissed her gently but thoroughly. "Oh… wow…" she sighed when the kiss ended.
"Oh, yes, definitely a wow!" Harm agreed with a smile as Loren's head burrowed comfortably into his chest and his arm tightened around her shoulders.
Tuesday 20 March 2001, 2007hrs EST, Lola's Barracks Bar and Grill, Eighth Street SE, Washington DC (210107ZMar01)
Meg and Carolyn, both similarly clad in Jeans and lightweight jackets worn over sweaters over button-down shirts hurried along the sidewalk, their heads bowed to the chill evening wind that was being channelled down the street by the tall buildings on either side until Carolyn reached out a hand and lightly gripped Meg's forearm.
This is the place!" Carolyn called over her shoulder to Meg as she pushed open the door. Meg gave the establishment a quick once over. It was opposite the Marine Corps Barracks and she' d feared it would prove to be some sleazy dive overflowing with obnoxiously drunken, bragging Jarheads, but so far her worst fears were a long way from being realised. OK, the long bar was fully occupied by young (and not quite so young) men sporting USMC style buzz-cuts and a few young women were sat at the booths lining the opposite wall but none of them looked like the type of parasites who preyed on drunken servicemen, and as Carolyn led her towards the back of the bar Meg took the opportunity to study them surreptitiously and came to the conclusion that most, if not all, were probably female marines.
Carolyn saw Meg looking around and asked shrewdly, "Studying the local fauna and flora?" Meg grinned in acknowledgement as Carolyn continued, "Not quite what you expected? Well, it is only a spit from the Barracks main entrance and you get all sorts of Marines from Colonels to Buck Privates coming in here, so no-one does anything too outrageous in case the guy having a quiet beer at one of the back table turns out to be a Bird-Colonel and a misdeed comes back to bite the perpetrator on the ass! Besides, Lola – if she really does exist – hires former Marine Staff NCOs as bar-tenders and doormen, and some of those old leathernecks are really tough!"
Meg laughed softly at Carolyn's words as she led Meg out into an open area flanked on three sides by further booths and by a stage area on the fourth. A lively party was already underway and as the two women walked under the archway that separated bar from dance hall, a tall man in slacks and an open-necked, short sleeved shirt stood to greet them.
"Carolyn! Hi!" he exclaimed with a wide grin.
"Hello Pete," Carolyn replied with an easy smile as he ushered them into seats in one of the booths, "You haven't met Meg Austin yet, have you? Meg this is Pete Murray, he's the XO of the Marine Security Detail at JAG. Pete, Commander Meg Austin, JAG Corps."
"My pleasure!" Pete said enthusiastically eying Meg's fresh complexion and trim figure, and receiving an elbow in his ribs for his pains, "Hey calm down, Jarhead!" Carolyn scolded him, "You're supposed to be all mine!"
"Oof! Damn! Busted!" Pete replied with his easy smile.
Carolyn leaned across and stage-whispered to Megan, "Don't pay any heed – he's like most Jarheads, thinks he's God's gift to women!"
"Only because we are, Carolyn, only because we are!" Pete's reply brought a chorus of laughs and a few yells of 'Oorah!'from those within earshot.
Pete settled back as the noise subsided and smiled across the table at Meg, "Let me give you a few names, Meg. You won't remember them – they're a pretty forgettable bunch, but at least I'll have shown willing!"
Meg grinned and picked up the moisture-beaded beer bottle that had somehow appeared in front of her.
"So… Everyone! I'd like you all to meet Commander Meg Austin, once of the newest and brightest stars of the Navy's JAG Corps! Meg, this is Patty Bishop – Captain USMC – and Lieutenant Commander Danny Walker, he's a doctor from Bethesda, and Lieutenant Sam Cooper – he's one of yours and his wife, Ellen. Gunny Waters you know from the detachment, and of course you know Gunny Galindez…
Meg felt the world spin around her as she turned and saw Victor Galindez looking at her his expression unreadable, "Ma'am" he acknowledged her presence as Pete Murray continued, "and our guests of honour this evening, Sergeant Cartier – as in the watches, Corporal Friedlander and Lance Corporal Somers."
Meg acknowledged and congratulated the three newly promoted NCOs, Cartier a short, wiry saturnine looking man, Friedlander, big, blonde and stolid-looking and Somers, a petite green-eyed blonde who was dwarfed by the bulk of the individual sat next to her.
Caught by etiquette that demanded that Meg stay for at least half an hour, she could only paste a smile on her face and raise her bottle in salute to the promotees, and resigned herself to surreptitiously sneaking glances at her watch until sufficient time elapsed when she could make a graceful departure from the scene, and she silently thanked God that she had sufficient cash on her to take a cab back to Anacostia; she now wouldn't be able to crash on Carolyn's couch as had been the original plan for the evening. But until that time she would have to show at least the semblance of enjoying herself.
And it wasn't long before Meg found herself drawn into a spirited discussion over the last season's performance of various football teams, the discussion initiated by the claim that the Baltimore Ravens had been lucky to beat the Giants in the last Superbowl – a claim which brought forth howls of derision from the listeners to the effect that a thirty four points to seven win could hardly be described as lucky. The discussion widened from then on, and Meg found herself fiercely defending her beloved Dallas Cowboys against the verbal attacks of the Damnyankees ranged around the table and without noticing that as soon as she'd finished her a beer another ice-cold bottle was slid onto the table in front of her along with an array of tortilla chips and dishes of salsa dip, provided free by the management. A ploy that everyone recognised as being designed to increase the patrons thirst to the benefit of the bar's profits.
Victor had made no move to thrust himself on Meg's attention and gradually the good humoured banter, the flow of conversation and the flow of beer conspired to allow Meg to forget her initial discomfort and to relax and enjoy the party, so when the music started and broke into the conversation Meg realised with something akin to a shock that it was twenty one thirty h9urs, and she hadn't felt so relaxed for a long time. As various members of the party got up and moved to the dance-floor Meg settled back in the booth and relaxed as she watched the others dance. Carolyn Imes was dancing very closely with Pete Murray, her head on his shoulder and seemed to make no objection when his hand slipped down from her waist to cup her butt. Meg raised an eyebrow but smiled slightly, happy that her new friend seemed to have someone in her life, even if she didn't. Then as she took another mouthful of beer, her grin broadened at the sight of the diminutive blonde Lance Corporal who was dancing closely with the man-mountain next to whom she had been sitting, she had her hands flat on his chest and was gazing up into his face with a satisfied expression, while he had his hands lightly laid on her shoulders and what looked like an expression of terror on his face.
Meg turned to the visibly pregnant young woman sitting next to her and asked, "Do you know who the big guy is? The one dancing with the tiny blonde?"
The woman squinted and nodded, "Sure do, Raoul Hernandez, Sergeant on the Security Detail," she smiled, "And my brother in law!"
Meg chuckled and raised her beer in salute, "Well, of all the dumb luck! I see I asked the right person."
"You sure did!" the other woman replied, and then cocked her head inquiringly, "but why the interest?"
Meg smiled, "Well, I saw him sitting with that tiny blonde girl earlier and I couldn't help but see the difference in size, and now… well, just look at his face – he looks half-scared to death!"
"And so he should be!" Meg's companion replied with a grin, "the little blonde girl is Julia Somers, just promoted Lance Corporal, and she's got her sight firmly fixed on Raoul, and he's only just realising that his carefree bachelor days are very probably numbered!"
"Does that worry you? Meg asked.
"Hell no! Why should it?"
"Well he is your brother in law…"
"Yep, and it'll do him as much good as it did Enrique to settle down and start a family of his own! Mind, now, he might require a little push or two in the right direction!"
"So you're rooting for the Lance Corporal?" Meg laughed.
"Damn straight!" Maria Hernandez grinned and raised her glass of Pepsi in the direction of the dance floor, "You go, girl!"
Both women laughed, and Meg settled down to chat to her new companion, finding that Enrique was a Marine Corps Corporal and had pulled late duty tonight, much to Maria's disgust, and would join the party later and in the meantime, Raoul had promised to keep an eye on her and make sure she was Ok until he got there.
Meg was about to inquire about some of the other couples she saw dancing when the music changed to a more up tempo beat and a glowing Carolyn and a grinning Pete re-joined the table, both taking long gulps of their beer as they sat closer to each other than was strictly necessary, Pete's arm comfortably around Carolyn's waist, and from the position of her arm, Meg was certain that Carolyn's hand was resting on the Marine's thigh. The first quick dance tune was followed by two more and more and more couples left the floor until the band leader saw that the faster paced music wasn't what was wanted by his audience, and for the next set he had the band revert to a slow, soft jazz music that soon had most of the party back on their feet and back on the dance floor.
It was with some reservations that Meg accepted an invitation to dance from Pete Murray, resolving to take direct and condign action should his hands stray as they had when he was dancing with Carolyn, but he turned out to be the almost perfect dance partner. His right hand held her left in a comfortably loose clasp and his left hand stayed firmly in position on her waist. What is more, he was an accomplished dancer, light on his feet and confident, adroitly leading Meg so that she appeared to dance much better than she actually could. So it was with a feeling of some regret that as the music died that Meg turned back towards the table and then faltered as she saw Victor Galindez return Carolyn to the booth and then turn to face her, "Ma'am, may I have the pleasure of this dance?" he asked formally.
Meg cast a quick look around seeking for any hint that anybody could detect an atmosphere between her and Victor, but seeing nothing but disinterested amusement on Carolyn's face and not wishing to make a scene and arouse suspicion, Meg smiled, "Thank you Gunny, I'd be honoured."
Victor led her back into the dance as the music swelled, and took her in a light. Formal embrace, hand in hand and hand on waist, much as Pete Murray had just done. But unlike the ease with which Pete had danced with her, Meg was quick to detect the tension in the Gunnery Sergeant. Her forebodings were amply filled when a few seconds into the dance he hissed in her ear, "Ma'am, what are you doing here?"
Meg's chin came up, "I was invited by Commander Imes, Gunnery Sergeant, and if you don't like me being here, there's a simple remedy – it's called the door!" she said coldly.
"Oh… I like you being here just fine… ma'am! It's just that I'm surprised to see you here!"
"No more surprised than I am to see you, Gunnery Sergeant!" Meg snapped in reply.
"Why should you be surprised?" He asked, leaning back slightly and looking her in the eyes, "It's a Corps wet-down, and I'm Corps and I work in the same building as these guys!"
"Semper Fi, hey, Gunny?"
"Damn straight!"
"Yeah, well in that case, according to you, I have as much right to be here as you do!" Meg retorted.
Victor's face clouded over for a few seconds until he remembered his remarks about Meg being a Marine even if only briefly, and there being no such thing as an ex-marine. As the memory returned, his face lost its stiff expression, "You're right… Meg, you do have the right. I'm sorry…"
"No… don't be sorry Victor… I just wish that I'd turned round and left the second I saw you this evening…"
Victor stiffened again, "Is the sight of me that bad? Is that why you cancelled lunch today? Then maybe I should leave…"
"No… Victor, that's not what I meant… If anything, the sight of you is too good… and I didn't cancel lunch today, I postponed until tomorrow, because I do need to talk to you, seriously, with a chaperon to swear that nothing improper happened between us, and my chosen chaperon couldn't make it today!"
Victor relaxed again, "Too good… huh? Well, you're looking pretty good too, Meg."
"Ah, Victor, don't please! This is hard enough as it is…"
"Yeah, you're right, I'm sorry…" Victor looked around the dance floor and spotted Raoul Hernandez and Julia Somers dancing closely together, "Ah, hell, if only we were both enlisted or both commissioned…"
"Yeah," Meg replied sardonically," and if wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
Victor was grateful for the break in the music that allowed him to return Meg to her table and after a few bantering words with Carolyn he quietly effaced himself, turning to join Gunny Waters and his wife another couple of Staff NCOs but kept on an eye on Meg's table as he drank and joked with friends.
Gunny Waters studied Victor, he had picked up that Victor wasn't quite himself this evening and noticing his distracted gaze, he followed his friend's line of sight and soon saw that one of the women at the other table was the object of Galindez' interest. To Waters, it didn't matter which one, one of the women was married and pregnant, another was busy wrapping Raoul Hernandez around her little finger and the other two were officers. JAG officers at that. Waters groaned silently; his buddy Victor looked like he was headed straight into a whole world of pain.
At the table which was the focus of Victor's attention Meg kept up a front of laughter, but she was keenly aware of Victor's gaze fixed firmly on her, and she didn't dare look across the room at him. That, she felt, would be like putting an advert up on the Times' Square bill-board.
Then with a sense of relief she felt his gaze lift from her and sneaking a glance at his table she saw that he was gone. A quick scan of the dance floor failed to reveal him and it was with a mixture of relief and regret that she concluded that he had left the party. Needing a few seconds to compose herself, she forced a smile onto her face and turned to Maria Hernandez and asked quietly, "Where are the heads?"
Following Maria's instructions Meg skirted the dance floor and left the hall through a door to the left of the stage which opened into a short hallway pierced by two doors on the right, one marked 'Men' and the other 'Women'. Entering the sanctuary, Meg looked at herself in the mirror and then running the cold tap she wadded a paper towel and carefully dabbed the cool water onto her eyes, her throat and the back of her neck. Tidying her hair, she prepared to leave the bathroom in the hope that Carolyn would be ready to leave and they could make their escape.
She opened the door into the hallway and froze. Just exiting the men's room was Victor, and the sound of her closing the door behind her had made him glance back over his shoulder.
He turned towards her, a degree of warmth in his eyes, "Meg…"
"Yes, Victor…?"
Two steps closed the distance between them and he raised a hand, cupping her chin. His deep brown eyes searching her cornflower blue ones and then he bent his head to hers and kissed her, softly, gently at first and then as his arms went around her and pulled her body against his, his tongue probed her lips and she opened to him as he prolonged the kiss with a fierce insistence and a passion that left Meg feeling weak-kneed as she enthusiastically returned the kiss. At last the need for air broke them apart and Meg staggered back.
"Oh, God, Victor… we… we can't… we shouldn't have…"
"I know… I know…" his voice was as regretful as hers, "But I just had to kiss you… just once…"
Meg flushed slightly, "I… I'm glad you did… I wanted the same… but it can never happen again. Never! Do you hear there?"
"Yes… I hear you… Meg. I don't want to hear you, but I hear you loud and clear!"
Meg nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she brushed past him and re-entered the bar. Victor leaned back against the wall and groaned, "Ai, Madre de Dios! What have I done…?"
Wednesday21 March 2001, 0758hrs EST, Commander Harmon Rabb's Office, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA (211258ZMar01)
Harm paused in his office doorway and watched as Loren continued on to her office, her confident stride giving the lie to her earlier claim that she was too tired and sore to walk. He smiled as her recalled just how that tiredness and soreness had been inflicted, and then with an effort smothered a yawn of his own.
"Harm… Harm…, Hello Harm, earth calling?" Carolyn's voice recalled him from his memories. "Do I take it by that sappy smile that peace and, dare I say, Harmony has been restored to the Rabb/Singer household.
Harm groaned at the well-worn pun on his name, but his lazy smile in answer was all the reply Carolyn needed although it was contradicted by his drawled, "You might think that; I couldn't possibly comment!"
Carolyn shook her head in disbelief and contented herself with a long, slow, disbelief-laden, "Yeah… riiight!" before passing around the edge of the bull-pen to her own office.
Shaking his head in mock exasperation Harm hung up his cover and snapped open his brief-case but before he could do more than retrieve his pen from its depths he was disturbed again by a knock on his doorframe. Looking up he saw Meg Austin trying to smile at him, "Are we still OK for that lunch-time thing, Harm? Catherine's Cookie Corner at twelve thirty?"
"Yeah, we're still good!" Harm confirmed and then suddenly recalled an important alteration to the plan, "There's just one thing, Meg; I'll be bringing Loren with me too!"
Meg looked slightly concerned at that, bringing her more to Harm's attention and as he looked at her he frowned, she didn't look too good, she looked pale and stressed and tired.
"Meg, are you OK? You don't look your normal sunny self…"
"Oh, no, I'm fine… it' just that Carolyn and I went to a Corps wet-down last night, and I ended up sleeping on Carolyn's couch… it's not the most comfortable bed in the world, so I guess trying to sleep would be more accurate. An hour under your magic hands would do the trick… but since that's no longer an available choice, I guess I'll just have to wait till I get home and grab a long hot soak…" Meg teased him with a pretty fair imitation of her usual smile.
"You found somewhere, then?"
Meg shook her head wearily, "No, still in the VOQ, but I desperately need to find somewhere!"
Harm hesitated; sure he'd be helping a friend, but the old loft wasn't in the best part of town, but maybe Meg would be happy to use it as a more convenient base until she found somewhere better,
"Meg… do you remember the old loft I had, just north of Union Station?"
"Yeah, sure, why?"
"Well… it's not the best part of town, but it's a damn sight nearer to here than Anacostia, and it's empty since I moved in with Loren…"
"Oh, Harm… that's very good of you… but…"
"Not that good Megan Austin. I'd expect you to pay rent and utilities, and like I said It's a rough neighbourhood, and the place is difficult to keep warm, but if it's a help…"
"Oh, if I'm paying rent… then I'd like to take a look at it…"
"Sure… Why don't we swing by after secure today… and you can decide and then we can hammer out the details tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sounds like a plan… Thanks, Harm!"
Harm grinned, "You're welcome. Now get outta here I want to do some prep before Staff Call!"
Wednesday21 March 2001, 0912hrs EST, Conference Room, JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, VA (211412ZMar01)
Admiral Chegwidden cast a fulminating glare down each side of the table in turn. This was a fucking shambles! At least three of his senior attorneys looked as if they hadn't slept for a couple of days, and Imes was showing definite signs of a God-damned hangover!
Chegwidden drew a deep breath and paused before he spoke, and when he did, his tone was decidedly frosty, "I find it difficult to believe that I am sat at a table together with conscientious, intelligent, accomplished, professional attorneys who are also supposed to be disciplined naval officers. There are amongst you those, and they know who they are, who so far this morning have neither looked nor acted their parts. I don't care what you do in your off-duty time unless and until it impinges on your abilities to carry out your duties in a smart and sailor-like manner! Today some of you have crossed that line. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the last time such behaviour will manifest itself, or by God you will find yourselves facing charges of dereliction of duty and being unfit to perform your duties due to the effects of alcohol. Do I make myself clear?"
A thunderous chorus of "Yes, sir!" eased his ire slightly, but he told himself, the whole damn crowd of them had best tread very lightly for the rest of the day!
"Now… Rabb!"
"Sir!"
"The case of the incestuous siblings! What's happening there?"
"Sir, on the face of it, there is enough evidence to drop the charges as they stand, prosecute the CO for malicious and selective prosecution, and to charge the convening authority with abuse of authority and exerting undue command influence."
"Mattoni, what's your take on this from the other side of the aisle?"
"Difficult to say, sir. Rabb has his evidence, but he hasn't heard what the CO has to say about the matter."
"Only because he won't speak to me!" Harm interjected hotly. "In fact that's another charge I could lay at his feet – obstructing a JAG investigation!"
Chegwidden slammed his hand down on the table, causing at least three of his staff to jump, one of them, uttering as little squeak of alarm as she did so.
"Thank you, Lieutenant!" he glared at Loren who blushed a bright crimson and then had to bite her knuckle to prevent herself from giggling as Chegwidden turned to Mattoni and Rabb who were staring at each other like a pair of junk yard dogs.
"That's enough Commanders!" he snapped. "Now, Rabb, what do you mean the CO won't talk to you?"
"Just that, sir. I called him yesterday, told him who I was; he said he had nothing to say to me, and slammed the 'phone down."
Chegwidden shook his head in disbelief, "Mattoni, get hold of him. Explain the facts of life to him as they pertain to this case, and then arrange, and if necessary chair a meeting between Rabb and this… this…"
"Idiot, sir?" Carolyn interrupted with a spurious air of helpfulness.
"Yes! No!" He glared at Carolyn, "You're not helping, Commander!" he ground out between his teeth.
"No, sir, sorry, sir" Carolyn mumbled as she bowed her head apologetically, but at the same time effectively hiding the small grin that was twitching at the corners of her mouth.
"H'mph!" Chegwidden snorted, "Don't let yesterday's results go to your head! But…" he managed a grin of encouragement, "Well done Commander, and you too, Lieutenant, you did good work from start to finish"
Rabb's heart swelled with pride as the Admiral congratulated his fiancée, and young Lieutenant Barlow encouraged by Chegwidden's change in mood leaned sideways and clapped Loren gently on the shoulder, "Attagirl!" he whispered, but not quietly enough to avoid the Admiral hearing him.
"Is there something you wished to contribute to the discussion, Mister Barlow?" Chegwidden asked severely.
"Uh… no, sir! Sorry sir!" The chastened junior officer replied.
"H'mph!" Once again the exasperated snort came from the Admiral, "Mister Roberts!"
"Sir!"
"Pack your sea-bag – you're TAD to the Eisenhower for four days. She's in the Med so you'll be away six days in total! You'll be briefing the air wing on new rules of engagement for the Northern No Fly Zone over Iraq." He passed a file down the table to Bud. "So read, and digest the contents of that so that you can explain it clearly, accurately and concisely to the jet jockeys when you get there. Pick up your travel orders from Tiner and be ready in all respects for movement tomorrow at zero eight hundred hours!"
"Ayer, aye, sir!"
The Admiral peered around the table fixing each of them with his piercing stare. "Remember what I have just said regarding off duty behaviour and its effects on your on duty behaviour and deportment. If I ever see any of you in the condition in which some you allowed yourselves to appear this morning, then beware the wrath of Chegwidden, compared to which the wrath of the Lord will seem like a gentle benediction." He paused holding each of them in turn by the power of his personality. Eventually, satisfied that his message had been received and understood, he grunted "Dismissed!"
Wednesday21 March 2001, 1237hrs EST, Cathy's Cookie Corner, Broad Street, Falls Church, VA (211737ZMar01)
Harm held the door open to allow Meg and Loren to precede him into the café and was relieved to find two vacant tables that looked ideal for their purposes. Megan nodded her appreciation and made her way to the further table while Harm held Loren's chair for her as she seated herself and then took the adjacent seat for himself, noting with satisfaction that both he and Loren had a clear line of sight to Meg's table.
The middle-aged waitress appeared quickly and took their orders for sandwiches and drinks; Loren in a spirit of mischief insisted on ordering Tuna and Mayonnaise sandwiches and black coffee for them both. Harm gave a theatrical shudder and reminded her in accents of the strongest loathing that she merely anticipating the weekend's lunches.
"Or paying an homage to Pop's catering skills", she chuckled.
"Or lack thereof!" Harm grinned in reply, but the grin quickly faded as Gunny Galindez entered the café and with a nod of acknowledgement to Harm and Loren he crossed to the table where Meg waited for him.
Without preamble, not even exchanging greetings, Victor drew out a chair and sitting looked across the table, his face expressionless and his eyes unfathomable. "You wanted to talk, ma'am. So… talk."