A/N: I'm long overdue in wrapping up this story. Only one or two more chapters. This part is "meh," but I need to get rid of Hughes. I'm not an expert in military law, so any mistakes about charges, suspensions, and courts-martial are my own.

Mario's Bar
June 19, 2001
2030 Local

Rick Hughes was not going down easy. So far, all his efforts to destroy Rabb had come up short. Mac's ex-fiancé refused to stay and fight. It didn't look like Chegwidden would give him the time of day. Even the SECNAV wouldn't listen.

Okay, so he'd dug up a little dirt. But the fact they shared a hotel suite likely wouldn't be enough. One way or another, he was determined to have a position at headquarters. Damn if he'd go back to Pearl and work under the scrutiny of Sturgis Turner. At any rate, he deserved to be at JAG. If he had to bring Chegwidden down along with Rabb, so be it.

He tapped his fingers on the table, trying to be patient. His "date" for the evening had a penchant for being a few minutes late, but a half-hour was unusual even for her. He signaled the waiter to bring him another scotch, then looked up to see Stephanie walking in the door.

She slid into the booth. "Rick Hughes. I was surprised to get your call. What are you doing in Washington?"

"I'm stationed at JAG Headquarters."

"How did you manage to pull that one off?"

"How do you think? I worked my way here."

The waiter returned with Rick's scotch. "Something for you, ma'am?"

Stephanie ordered a club soda.

Rick waited for the server to leave. "Not your usual vodka martini?"

"I have a feeling I need to keep my wits about me. I know this isn't a social call. What do you have up your sleeve?"

"I need your help with something."

"What if I say no?"

"I don't think you'd refuse. You wouldn't want your father to know about your little problems, would you?"

She pursed her lips. "Okay, tell me what you need."

JAG Headquarters
June 21, 2001
0800 Local

A J Chegwidden rubbed the top of his bald head. During his years as a commanding officer, he'd had to deal with many types. He considered himself a tolerant person as long as people did their job. Granted, some needed a little more discipline than others, but all in all, he'd been lucky to have an exceptional group under his command during his years at JAG.

He didn't mind ambitious people. But if they resorted to deviousness and lies, he had no tolerance. When Bud approached him a couple of days ago about Rick Hughes, he first thought it was a misunderstanding.

Then Bud told him what Gunny had overheard. There was also the earlier incident in the courtroom that Admiral Morris reported. The final straw came when he received a phone call from the daughter of his old friend, Admiral Bennett. Rick Hughes was a different person than the young lieutenant who served under him years ago at Pearl.

Still, if the officer could convince anyone his accusations had merit, it could spell trouble. There was one last thing he needed to know before proceeding. He sighed, then pressed the intercom button. "Tiner, send in Rabb and Mackenzie."

"You wanted to see us, sir? Harm asked as he and Mac entered the admiral's office.

"Come in. Close the hatch."

The two officers stood at attention in front of Chegwidden's desk.

"At ease. Have a seat."

Harm and Mac did as instructed, then Harm spoke. "Is something wrong, Admiral?"

"I trust the investigation at Norfolk went well."

"Yes, sir. Mac and I are finishing up our report. You'll have it on your desk by this afternoon. Fortunately for Captain Selman, we were unable to find any evidence to substantiate Lt. Evans' claim. There was no one to corroborate her accusations."

"I see."

"As it turns out, we learned Lt. Evans held a grudge because she was passed over for a promotion. She decided to get revenge by accusing the captain of sexual harassment. She finally admitted it yesterday afternoon," Mac said.

"I assume charges will be brought against her?"

"Yes, sir," Mac said. "We've already spoken with the convening authority, Captain Johnson."

A J shook his head. "Can't understand people these days. From what I heard, Lt. Evans had a promising career. Why do something to ruin it?"

"I've seen stranger things."

"Good job, Colonel, Commander. I've known Doug Selman for several years. Couldn't see him doing something like that, but we have to take all accusations seriously."

"Since the charges were unfounded, I assume the incident won't affect the actions of the promotion board," Harm said.

"Hope not, but you never know. Have the two of you turned in your expense report yet?"

Mac frowned. In the years since she'd been at JAG, the admiral had never questioned an expense report. "I gave mine to Tiner firs this morning."

"I did too, Sir."

"You didn't stay at the VOQ."

Harm glanced at Mac. He had a strange feeling where this was going. "No, sir. We were unable to get a room there. Matter of fact, there were some conventions in Norfolk, and we even had trouble finding a hotel. Is there a problem?"

"The two of you shared a room."

"We shared a suite. It was the only thing available. Harm and I have done that many times. I know up until now we were only friends, but I can assure you the two of us maintained proper decorum while we conducted this investigation."

"Sir, you know I would never do anything that would put Mac in a bad light. If there's going to be a problem with us—"

"Relax, Harm, Mac. I don't have a problem with either of your conduct. Now that you explained the hotel situation, I understand. And I'm not going to ask if you used one bedroom or two. What goes on after hours and when you're not in uniform isn't anyone's business."

"Sir, if I may ask, what brought this on?" Mac couldn't help but wonder if Mic had somehow been responsible. He'd been a sore loser. Given the fact he'd never liked Harm, she wouldn't put anything past him—including trailing her to Norfolk.

"Lt. Cdr. Hughes came to me a couple of days ago. Claimed he had enough evidence on the two of you to support charges of conduct unbecoming."

"What?"

"That's absurd!"

"That's what I told him. He claimed to have witnesses."

"I can't believe this," Mac said. "I knew he was trouble from the start. What does he have to gain by smearing our names?

"Only a top position here at JAG," Harm said. "With one or both of us out of the way… Admiral, I can assure you these charges are unfounded. I don't know who his witnesses are, but they're lying."

"Harm, Mac. I looked into this myself. Someone is lying, and it wasn't his so-called witness. Hughes doesn't know it yet, but one of his so-called witnesses is the daughter of Admiral Bennet. She set the record straight."

Both officers breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good to know, but I'm not sure I can work with him after this," Mac said. "I'd like to request that I never be assigned to a case with him."

"You won't have to worry about that. Even if there were any truth to Hughes's accusations, and one or both of you had to leave, he's the last person I want on my staff. I'm going to call him in to discuss the matter, but here's what the two of you are going to do."

Rick Hughes watched the two senior officers left Chegwidden's office. He couldn't help but smirk when he saw their expressions. Rabb looked defeated. Mackenzie put on the "brave marine" look, but he knew it was a façade. Their world just got turned upside down.

Neither of them said a word as they went to their respective offices, closing the doors behind them.

Enjoy that space while you can, Rabb. Pretty soon it will be mine.

Hughes went back to his own office. He had just sat down when his phone buzzed.

"The admiral wants to see you," Tiner said.

"Tell him I'm on my way." He couldn't help but laugh. This was going to be fun.

A J Chegwidden stood in front of his desk when Hughes entered the room. He didn't bother to ask him to sit down. He wanted nothing more than to slap the smirk off the man's face, but it wouldn't be there long.

"Hughes, I've looked into the accusations you made, including talking with your witness as well as Rabb and Mackenzie."

"I see, sir. I'm sure you agree about conduct unbecoming."

A J folded his arms. "Matter of fact I do. Imagine my surprise when I received a phone call yesterday from Stephanie Bennett. She told me about how you tried to blackmail her into lying."

Rick's eyes grew wide. "She said what?"

"Thought your tactics would work this time, didn't you?"

Hughes swallowed nervously. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, Sir."

A J rose to his full height and stood face to face with the office. "Do NOT speak until I'm finished with you! I don't like scumbags, and that's what you've become. You lied and tried to manipulate me into bringing charges against two of the finest officers I've ever had serve under me.

"There's been conduct unbecoming, all right, and that is from you. Now, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"Sir, Stephanie Bennet is the one who lied. I should have known better than to believe her. She's had psychological problems for years."

"Enough! What you didn't know is that Stephanie Bennet is the daughter of one of my closest friends. I've known her for years. She came clean with her father a couple some time ago and sought help for her problems. Been sober for close to three years.

"But, sir I can assure you she told me she witnessed Rabb and Mackenzie—"

"Enough! I'm not through speaking. Not only did you try to manipulate Stephanie Bennett, but your actions in the courtroom a few weeks ago were also deplorable. Trying to use the colonel's personal life to get what you want doesn't go over well with me.

"What's more, others here have noticed things you've done. Bet you'd be surprised to know I also spoke with the SECNAV. You can't lie your way out of this one."

Hughes didn't speak.

"You were once a good attorney. That's why I brought you here. I'm not sure when you allowed greed to get in the way of what should have been a promising career. As of this moment, you're suspended without pay, pending the outcome of an Article 32 investigation. You have one hour to pack up your things. Now, get out of my office. I never want to see your face again."