(A/N: Sorry this took me so long to update, but it finally
finished. I had some problems picking out this ghost, but
when I finally got around to writing it, I figured the
nameless guy worked just as well as any other. I kind of
based this on the JAG Christmas episode, but not really.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Standard disclaimers
apply.)
Fade in
AJ was still sitting against the wall when he felt a cold shiver run down his back. He looked up to see a hooded man standing in front of him. The man, he guessed, was dressed in all black, and his face was hidden. AJ stood up, and stood face to face with the man.
"I'm guessing you're the third ghost."
The ghost didn't answer, only nodded. He gestured towards the door, and AJ followed him. Seconds later he found himself standing in the middle of JAG head quarters. The place was busy like it always was, but there was something different about it. He saw Tiner running towards Harm's office, he knocked and then entered. AJ got a glimpse of a woman sitting behind his desk. Where was Harm? Walking closer to the office, he saw that the name plate read Lt. Commander Frederickson. The woman had a stern face, and was chewing out Tiner, now a Lieutenant, for something.
"I told you I wanted that report half an hour ago! What in the hell took you so long?"
"No excuse ma'am."
"I expected better from you lieutenant," she said in a bitter voice. "Is this what kind of lawyer you are going to be?"
"Yes ma'am, no ma'am."
"Get out of my sight."
Tiner snapped to and quickly left.
"Where the hell is Rabb?" AJ fumed. He knew Rabb wouldn't let anyone talk to Tiner that way. He knew that he would chew that commander out something harsh for talking like that to a junior officer.
The ghost said nothing, but motioned AJ to follow him towards Mac's office. Sitting behind her desk, was a young man no then thirty. From his insignia, he was a marine major. Where the hell was Mac?
He picked up on the phone on the first ring. "Major Lastly" he said listening intently. He jumped out of his chair like he had been burned.
"I see. That's great! I'll tell her, okay, thanks Bud."
"Is he talking about Bud Roberts?" AJ questioned looking towards the ghost. The ghost nodded, as they followed Major Lastly towards his office. AJ didn't even bother looking at the name on the door. He was too afraid to look at who was running this office. When major Lastly knocked on the door, AJ could hear a muffled enter. But he didn't recognize the voice.
AJ stood stock still when he saw who was sitting behind his desk. He figured when he retired that maybe Harm or even Mac would take his place, but not this. Sitting behind his desk, was no other Lauren Singer, now a Captain.
"Can I help you major?"
"Ma'am, I am sorry to barge in on you, I know how busy you are and everything, but I just got a call from Bud Roberts."
"Ah, how is Bud doing?"
"He said that the baby is doing just fine ma'am, and she should be out of the neonatal unit within the week."
"That's good."
"Yes ma'am. It's so sad that he and his wife had to resign their commissions to take care of the new baby and all."
"Dismissed."
The major snapped to. "Yes ma'am," he said and left.
A small smile appeared on Lauren's face as soon as the door closed behind him.
"Well at least he won't be getting in my way any more," she said and laughed.
AJ turned to the ghost in anger and started firing off questions as only a prosecutor could.
"What happened to Bud and Harriet? Where are Rabb, Mackenzie, and Turner?"
Getting no answer from the ghost made AJ even madder. The ghost motioned AJ to follow him, and AJ did without any hesitation.
He caught a glimpse of Sturgis on a submarine, laughing and joking with other members of the crew. He must have gone back to working on subs, AJ mussed. Sturgis slipped out of the room, and into his stateroom. AJ noticed that Sturgis had been promoted to Skipper. AJ felt a surge of pride for the younger man. Sturgis sat down on the bed and pulled out a small picture from his wallet. AJ noticed that it was a picture of him and Bobbie, what looked like on their wedding day. But AJ saw no ring on his finger.
"I miss you Bobbie," he whispered to the picture. "But I'm trying. I just couldn't stay at JAG. Not after everything that happened. I can't even face Harm; I wouldn't know what to say to him. After that assassin came to JAG and started shooting-" he put the picture down and choked back a sob. As soon as he calmed down, he picked up the picture again, and started stroking it.
I think JAG fell apart after that. Harm resigned and only told me he was moving. That it would be too hard to stay here. I don't blame him. I did the same thing by summing here. And the with the Roberts baby-" Sturgis shut his eyes tight and rubbed his head, he was about to say something else, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Yes?"
"Skipper, the XO needs you on the bridge," said a young seamen.
"I'll be right there," Sturgis said and stood up. He carefully put the picture back in his wallet, and headed for the bridge. AJ was dumbstruck. What assassin? What was too hard for Harm? And where in the hell was Mac?
AJ followed the ghost, and what seemed like seconds later standing in the cemetery. He had a bad feeling about this.
They walked some ways before walking over to two headstones, where a man with his back to them was standing. Upon getting closer, AJ recognized the man to be Harm. He looked older, with a few gray hairs, and a few worry lines starting to appear. In his hand were two bouquets of roses. He finally looked at the headstones that Harm was looking at, and felt like he had been punched in the stomach. SARAH MACKENZIE RABB and HARMON RABB III was what the headstones read. He noticed that the baby died, the same day that he was born. But how could this be? Then he finally figured it all out. The assassin, Harm resigning his commission, it all made perfect sense now.
Harm hunched over both graves and traced the names with his fingers. He placed one bouquet of roses, carefully against Mac's grave and the other bouquet against his son's grave. He said nothing, just staring each of the graves, while the tears slid down his face. After a few minutes, he finally got up, and brushed the snow off his coat, saluted Mac, and left.
"I don't know what to say," AJ whispered.
The ghost turned his back to him and started walking again. AJ followed him, not knowing what more there could be?
He found himself standing in what only could be a retirement center. They followed a pair of nurses down a narrow hallway, chatting amicably.
"So have you seen the new guy yet?"
"Who? You mean AJ Chegwidden?"
"Yeah, him."
"No not yet, what's his story?"
"He won't talk. Apparently he was the Judge Advocate General until some guy came up and shot up the place. I think the guy's that did it, was named was Coster or something."
"Oh I heard about that. A lot people died that day."
"Yeah, I heard one of his officers was pregnant and when she got shot, they tried to do a c-section and save the baby, but both of them died."
"A congress woman died too right?"
"Yeah, that was so sad."
"So why did the guy do it?"
"Apparently he was stalking one of his officers a few years ago, the pregnant one that died, and when he found out that she was married, he just lost it. They said AJ had the chance to stop Coster before he did anything, but didn't."
"Wow."
"But anyway, AJ just stopped talking after that. The only other family he had was a daughter that lived in Italy. She could come, so the SECNAV just decide to put in here. He won't do anything but sit and stare off in space."
"He's still in shock."
"It's been over three years."
The two nurses separated, but the ghost lead AJ down another hallway stopping short at one of the rooms. AJ peeked in and saw himself sitting in a chair staring at the wall.
"So this is what happens to me? I go into some cationic state after that basterd Coster kills Mac and Bobbie?"
He leaned back against the wall as the implication sunk in.
The ghost turned his back on AJ and started walking away again. AJ followed, but couldn't quite keep up with him. Soon he heard the shrill ringing of the phone. His head shot up, and he found himself back in his office. But how could that be? He looked down at the clock, and saw that it was only five thirty, half an hour until Harriet's party. Was it all just a bad dream?
AJ rubbed his eyes and held his head in his hands, wondering what to do. Seconds later he grabbed his cover and proceeded to close up for the night. He had a party to get to.
On the way to Bud and Harriet's he knew that he had to change. He realized that he his family wasn't ten thousand miles away, but right here and Washington. His family was right now having dinner, and if he didn't hurry he would miss it. He knew he had a chance to change what could be.
When he opened the door, Bud was standing up, with his glass raised; about to make a toast, he smiled when he spotted AJ.
"Merry Christmas sir!"
"I hope I'm not late," AJ said in a gruff voice.
"You're right on time sir."
He took his place at the table, and smiled as he looked around at all his officers having a good time. Yes this was his family, and as many headaches as they gave him sometimes, he would trade them for the world.
END
Fade in
AJ was still sitting against the wall when he felt a cold shiver run down his back. He looked up to see a hooded man standing in front of him. The man, he guessed, was dressed in all black, and his face was hidden. AJ stood up, and stood face to face with the man.
"I'm guessing you're the third ghost."
The ghost didn't answer, only nodded. He gestured towards the door, and AJ followed him. Seconds later he found himself standing in the middle of JAG head quarters. The place was busy like it always was, but there was something different about it. He saw Tiner running towards Harm's office, he knocked and then entered. AJ got a glimpse of a woman sitting behind his desk. Where was Harm? Walking closer to the office, he saw that the name plate read Lt. Commander Frederickson. The woman had a stern face, and was chewing out Tiner, now a Lieutenant, for something.
"I told you I wanted that report half an hour ago! What in the hell took you so long?"
"No excuse ma'am."
"I expected better from you lieutenant," she said in a bitter voice. "Is this what kind of lawyer you are going to be?"
"Yes ma'am, no ma'am."
"Get out of my sight."
Tiner snapped to and quickly left.
"Where the hell is Rabb?" AJ fumed. He knew Rabb wouldn't let anyone talk to Tiner that way. He knew that he would chew that commander out something harsh for talking like that to a junior officer.
The ghost said nothing, but motioned AJ to follow him towards Mac's office. Sitting behind her desk, was a young man no then thirty. From his insignia, he was a marine major. Where the hell was Mac?
He picked up on the phone on the first ring. "Major Lastly" he said listening intently. He jumped out of his chair like he had been burned.
"I see. That's great! I'll tell her, okay, thanks Bud."
"Is he talking about Bud Roberts?" AJ questioned looking towards the ghost. The ghost nodded, as they followed Major Lastly towards his office. AJ didn't even bother looking at the name on the door. He was too afraid to look at who was running this office. When major Lastly knocked on the door, AJ could hear a muffled enter. But he didn't recognize the voice.
AJ stood stock still when he saw who was sitting behind his desk. He figured when he retired that maybe Harm or even Mac would take his place, but not this. Sitting behind his desk, was no other Lauren Singer, now a Captain.
"Can I help you major?"
"Ma'am, I am sorry to barge in on you, I know how busy you are and everything, but I just got a call from Bud Roberts."
"Ah, how is Bud doing?"
"He said that the baby is doing just fine ma'am, and she should be out of the neonatal unit within the week."
"That's good."
"Yes ma'am. It's so sad that he and his wife had to resign their commissions to take care of the new baby and all."
"Dismissed."
The major snapped to. "Yes ma'am," he said and left.
A small smile appeared on Lauren's face as soon as the door closed behind him.
"Well at least he won't be getting in my way any more," she said and laughed.
AJ turned to the ghost in anger and started firing off questions as only a prosecutor could.
"What happened to Bud and Harriet? Where are Rabb, Mackenzie, and Turner?"
Getting no answer from the ghost made AJ even madder. The ghost motioned AJ to follow him, and AJ did without any hesitation.
He caught a glimpse of Sturgis on a submarine, laughing and joking with other members of the crew. He must have gone back to working on subs, AJ mussed. Sturgis slipped out of the room, and into his stateroom. AJ noticed that Sturgis had been promoted to Skipper. AJ felt a surge of pride for the younger man. Sturgis sat down on the bed and pulled out a small picture from his wallet. AJ noticed that it was a picture of him and Bobbie, what looked like on their wedding day. But AJ saw no ring on his finger.
"I miss you Bobbie," he whispered to the picture. "But I'm trying. I just couldn't stay at JAG. Not after everything that happened. I can't even face Harm; I wouldn't know what to say to him. After that assassin came to JAG and started shooting-" he put the picture down and choked back a sob. As soon as he calmed down, he picked up the picture again, and started stroking it.
I think JAG fell apart after that. Harm resigned and only told me he was moving. That it would be too hard to stay here. I don't blame him. I did the same thing by summing here. And the with the Roberts baby-" Sturgis shut his eyes tight and rubbed his head, he was about to say something else, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Yes?"
"Skipper, the XO needs you on the bridge," said a young seamen.
"I'll be right there," Sturgis said and stood up. He carefully put the picture back in his wallet, and headed for the bridge. AJ was dumbstruck. What assassin? What was too hard for Harm? And where in the hell was Mac?
AJ followed the ghost, and what seemed like seconds later standing in the cemetery. He had a bad feeling about this.
They walked some ways before walking over to two headstones, where a man with his back to them was standing. Upon getting closer, AJ recognized the man to be Harm. He looked older, with a few gray hairs, and a few worry lines starting to appear. In his hand were two bouquets of roses. He finally looked at the headstones that Harm was looking at, and felt like he had been punched in the stomach. SARAH MACKENZIE RABB and HARMON RABB III was what the headstones read. He noticed that the baby died, the same day that he was born. But how could this be? Then he finally figured it all out. The assassin, Harm resigning his commission, it all made perfect sense now.
Harm hunched over both graves and traced the names with his fingers. He placed one bouquet of roses, carefully against Mac's grave and the other bouquet against his son's grave. He said nothing, just staring each of the graves, while the tears slid down his face. After a few minutes, he finally got up, and brushed the snow off his coat, saluted Mac, and left.
"I don't know what to say," AJ whispered.
The ghost turned his back to him and started walking again. AJ followed him, not knowing what more there could be?
He found himself standing in what only could be a retirement center. They followed a pair of nurses down a narrow hallway, chatting amicably.
"So have you seen the new guy yet?"
"Who? You mean AJ Chegwidden?"
"Yeah, him."
"No not yet, what's his story?"
"He won't talk. Apparently he was the Judge Advocate General until some guy came up and shot up the place. I think the guy's that did it, was named was Coster or something."
"Oh I heard about that. A lot people died that day."
"Yeah, I heard one of his officers was pregnant and when she got shot, they tried to do a c-section and save the baby, but both of them died."
"A congress woman died too right?"
"Yeah, that was so sad."
"So why did the guy do it?"
"Apparently he was stalking one of his officers a few years ago, the pregnant one that died, and when he found out that she was married, he just lost it. They said AJ had the chance to stop Coster before he did anything, but didn't."
"Wow."
"But anyway, AJ just stopped talking after that. The only other family he had was a daughter that lived in Italy. She could come, so the SECNAV just decide to put in here. He won't do anything but sit and stare off in space."
"He's still in shock."
"It's been over three years."
The two nurses separated, but the ghost lead AJ down another hallway stopping short at one of the rooms. AJ peeked in and saw himself sitting in a chair staring at the wall.
"So this is what happens to me? I go into some cationic state after that basterd Coster kills Mac and Bobbie?"
He leaned back against the wall as the implication sunk in.
The ghost turned his back on AJ and started walking away again. AJ followed, but couldn't quite keep up with him. Soon he heard the shrill ringing of the phone. His head shot up, and he found himself back in his office. But how could that be? He looked down at the clock, and saw that it was only five thirty, half an hour until Harriet's party. Was it all just a bad dream?
AJ rubbed his eyes and held his head in his hands, wondering what to do. Seconds later he grabbed his cover and proceeded to close up for the night. He had a party to get to.
On the way to Bud and Harriet's he knew that he had to change. He realized that he his family wasn't ten thousand miles away, but right here and Washington. His family was right now having dinner, and if he didn't hurry he would miss it. He knew he had a chance to change what could be.
When he opened the door, Bud was standing up, with his glass raised; about to make a toast, he smiled when he spotted AJ.
"Merry Christmas sir!"
"I hope I'm not late," AJ said in a gruff voice.
"You're right on time sir."
He took his place at the table, and smiled as he looked around at all his officers having a good time. Yes this was his family, and as many headaches as they gave him sometimes, he would trade them for the world.
END