Disclaimers in Chapt 1
CHAPTER FIVE
As the Admiral walked into the bullpen at JAG, he was met by a group of officers
crowding around the television, apparently watching a news bulletin.
He walked up behind them unnoticed.
When he cleared his throat, they all came to attention, and Tiner bellowed, "Attention on
deck!"
"At ease," the Admiral gruffly spat out, "Do you not do any work at all once I walk out of
this building?"
"Sir," Bud timidly spoke up, "There was an accident on the Beltway, sir. It looks just like
the Colonels' car. A red corvette, sir," Bud explained, pointing towards the tv, where
there was footage of the destroyed car.
"Jesus Christ! They were lucky to make it out alive! Someone must have been looking
out for them," the Admiral muttered under his breath.
Although on the inside the Admirals' emotions were in turmoil, on the outside he was a
mask of calm.
"What was that, sir?" Bud asked, with a questioning look on his face.
Turning to Tiner, he slightly raised his voice.
"Tiner, I want Turner, Mattoni, Roberts, Sims, Gunny and yourself in my office now!"
He spun on his heel and quickly strode to his office. He turned in his doorway.
"Get back to work people!" and then slipped into his office.
Suddenly there was a flurry of movement, and Tine quickly gathered the people, and
herded them towards the Admirals office. Looks of confusion were shared, and it was
obvious that no-one knew what this meeting was about.
Once inside the office, all stood at attention until told 'At ease'.
"Sit down," the Admiral commanded, "I have some news," he started.
"What sort of news, sir?" Harriet interrupted.
A glare directed at her silenced her, but at the same time told her that it wasn't good
news.
"If you'll let me get to that, lieutenant, I'll tell you."
When no-one else said a word, he continued.
"About five hours ago, the Commander was taking the Colonel home when a SUV hit
them. The crash that you saw on the news bulletin was in fact the Colonels' car."
He paused to let this sink in, and to answer any questions.
"Sir, were the Commander and Colonel hurt?" asked Bud.
"To answer your question, Roberts, yes they were hurt. The Commander had a rather
nasty gash on his head that needed stitches, and many small cuts and bruises," the
Admiral stated.
"And the Colonel?" Harriet asked worriedly.
"Well, the Colonel is another story. By the time that the ambulance got the accident site
she was already unconscious, and had been for quite a few minutes. She did not regain
consciousness en route, and, as yet, has not. It has been pronounced that she's in a
shock-induced coma, and all hopes are that she will come out of this unscathed, but there
are no guarantees. Just be prepared for the worst."
Sturgis swore softly under his breath and a shocked gasp escaped from Harriets' lips.
Immediately Buds' arm went around her, then she began sobbing.
As the Admiral looked around his people, he saw shocked faces, expressionless faces,
and distraught faces.
"Dismissed, people," he said sadly.
Bud wrapped his arms around Harriet and guided her out of the office, with a solemn
expression on his face.
"Bud," the Admiral stopped him.
"Yes, sir?" Bud asked, twisting his body so that he could see the Admirals' face.
"Take her home. Look after her. I'll contact you if there's any change, good or bad."
"Thank you, sir." Bud escorted his wife out and proceeded to take her home.
Chapter 6 will follow soon. :-)
CHAPTER FIVE
As the Admiral walked into the bullpen at JAG, he was met by a group of officers
crowding around the television, apparently watching a news bulletin.
He walked up behind them unnoticed.
When he cleared his throat, they all came to attention, and Tiner bellowed, "Attention on
deck!"
"At ease," the Admiral gruffly spat out, "Do you not do any work at all once I walk out of
this building?"
"Sir," Bud timidly spoke up, "There was an accident on the Beltway, sir. It looks just like
the Colonels' car. A red corvette, sir," Bud explained, pointing towards the tv, where
there was footage of the destroyed car.
"Jesus Christ! They were lucky to make it out alive! Someone must have been looking
out for them," the Admiral muttered under his breath.
Although on the inside the Admirals' emotions were in turmoil, on the outside he was a
mask of calm.
"What was that, sir?" Bud asked, with a questioning look on his face.
Turning to Tiner, he slightly raised his voice.
"Tiner, I want Turner, Mattoni, Roberts, Sims, Gunny and yourself in my office now!"
He spun on his heel and quickly strode to his office. He turned in his doorway.
"Get back to work people!" and then slipped into his office.
Suddenly there was a flurry of movement, and Tine quickly gathered the people, and
herded them towards the Admirals office. Looks of confusion were shared, and it was
obvious that no-one knew what this meeting was about.
Once inside the office, all stood at attention until told 'At ease'.
"Sit down," the Admiral commanded, "I have some news," he started.
"What sort of news, sir?" Harriet interrupted.
A glare directed at her silenced her, but at the same time told her that it wasn't good
news.
"If you'll let me get to that, lieutenant, I'll tell you."
When no-one else said a word, he continued.
"About five hours ago, the Commander was taking the Colonel home when a SUV hit
them. The crash that you saw on the news bulletin was in fact the Colonels' car."
He paused to let this sink in, and to answer any questions.
"Sir, were the Commander and Colonel hurt?" asked Bud.
"To answer your question, Roberts, yes they were hurt. The Commander had a rather
nasty gash on his head that needed stitches, and many small cuts and bruises," the
Admiral stated.
"And the Colonel?" Harriet asked worriedly.
"Well, the Colonel is another story. By the time that the ambulance got the accident site
she was already unconscious, and had been for quite a few minutes. She did not regain
consciousness en route, and, as yet, has not. It has been pronounced that she's in a
shock-induced coma, and all hopes are that she will come out of this unscathed, but there
are no guarantees. Just be prepared for the worst."
Sturgis swore softly under his breath and a shocked gasp escaped from Harriets' lips.
Immediately Buds' arm went around her, then she began sobbing.
As the Admiral looked around his people, he saw shocked faces, expressionless faces,
and distraught faces.
"Dismissed, people," he said sadly.
Bud wrapped his arms around Harriet and guided her out of the office, with a solemn
expression on his face.
"Bud," the Admiral stopped him.
"Yes, sir?" Bud asked, twisting his body so that he could see the Admirals' face.
"Take her home. Look after her. I'll contact you if there's any change, good or bad."
"Thank you, sir." Bud escorted his wife out and proceeded to take her home.
Chapter 6 will follow soon. :-)