Sonnets of Life Part 2

Disclaimers in part 1


In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn to me love swearing:
In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.
But why of two oaths' breach do I accuse thee,
When I break twenty? I am perjured most,
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee,
An all my honest faith in thee is lost.
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy,
And to enlighten thee gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see:
For I have sworn thee fair: more perjured eye,
To swear against the truth so foul a lie.
--Sonnet 152


Monday, 4 November 2002
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
1400 ZULU

The atmosphere in the conference room was tense. Very tense. Mac and Harm kept shooting dirty looks at each other while the other officers watched worriedly. Harriet knew the reason behind the strained silence, but had kept it to herself. She knew that everything would come out in due time.

Mac thought, 'I swear, he acts as if this is all my fault! I'm not the one who's been sleeping with another person. If he gives me another look, I'm going to either scream or strangle him!'

Harm thought, 'She could have let me explain. I mean, it was just a fling.'

Sturgis, who had finally grown used to the interaction between his old Academy buddy and the beautiful Marine Colonel, was hoping--no, praying--to get an out-of-town assignment today. He really did not want to be anywhere in the D.C. metropolitan area when this came to a head. He had already refused to listen to Harm about whatever was going on between him and Mac. Sturgis was a prudent man, and knew enough to stay out of his colleagues' personal lives. 'Especially after that fiasco with the Admiral!' He groaned inwardly, remembering his and Harm's aborted attempts to play matchmaker.

Bud realized there was something going on; he just couldn't put his finger on it. Ever since he had returned to JAG, there was a certain tension, but it hadn't been unpleasant. 'Until today!' He was hoping Harriet could shed some light on the reason for the shift in environment.

The Admiral briskly entered the conference room. Before the customary "Attention on deck!" could be called, he gruffly uttered, "As you were."

The tension in the room was so thick, one could cut it with a dull knife. Pointedly not looking at Harm, AJ took his seat, and barked, "Let's get this week started."

Harm was sweating bullets. He was praying to whatever higher powers to listen to him that the Admiral didn't know about him and Hannah. 'Oh, God, please, please, please, don't let him find out. I rather like life, thank you very much.' He knew that even if the Marine sitting across from him hadn't killed him yet, there was a definite chance the former SEAL at the head of the table would.

AJ wondered if Mac had found out about Rabb's unfaithfulness. He was no fool; he had known for months that his Chief of Staff and senior attorney had been sleeping together. He just hadn't wanted to do anything to lose one of them. 'Well, AJ, old boy, now you just might!'

AJ cleared his throat and began. "There has been an incident out at NAS Pensacola. One of the female RIOs, a Lieutenant (JG) Olivia Trent, has reported a Lieutenant Jeffrey Slate for sexual harassment. Commander Rabb, you will defend; Lieutenant Silva, you will prosecute."

"Aye, sir," the two officers responded in unison, as they accepted the case files.

Harm and Mac both breathed sighs of relief. 'Thank God!'

AJ noticed the relief radiating off both officers, and wondered, 'I wonder if she knows, after all?' He shook this thought off, and continued. "Commander Turner, we have reports coming from Norfolk of someone sabotaging the offices' computers. All work has ground to a complete halt, and the offices have been shut down pending a JAGman investigation. Find out who is doing this, and quickly. Lieutenant Roberts."

"Yes, sir?" Bud looked at his commanding officer curiously.

"I am sending you with Commander Turner. See if you can track wherever this is coming from."

"Aye, sir." Bud could hardly contain his surprise and pleasure. Ever since he had returned to restricted duty, Bud had spent most of his time at JAG Ops or the Pentagon. This was the first time he would be going on-site since May. Harriet beamed at her husband. She was proud of how he hadn't let his injury keep him down. Of course, there were times he wanted to give up, but with his friends behind him, he kept on going. 'It also helped when his father finally showed up!' she thought sarcastically. She wanted to like Big Bud, she really did, but what he had done to her husband... Harriet forced her mind away from those thoughts, and back to the meeting.

"Colonel Mackenzie--" AJ began. He was interrupted by the intercom buzzing.

"Sir?" The voice of AJ's yeoman, Petty Officer Tiner, interrupted them.

AJ hit the intercom button, and replied impatiently, "What is it, Tiner?"

'Why did I interrupt the staff meeting? He's in a bad enough mood already...' Tiner berated himself for the action. He knew that he would bear the brunt of the Admiral's wrath, and didn't want to further anger him. He took a deep breath, and replied, "There's a woman on Line 2, sir. She didn't give me her name, just asked to talk to you."

"Well, tell her to call back. We should be done in ten minutes."

"Aye, sir."

AJ refocused on the meeting. "Colonel, give us--" The intercom buzzed again. "Dammit, Tiner, now what?"

"Well, sir... sir, at least let me tell him you're here!"

"Good morning, AJ," Webb breezed into the conference room, ignoring the glares being shot at him.

"Webb, what do you want?" Harm snapped at the spy.

"Shut up, Commander," Mac and AJ barked in unison.

"Well, Rabb, I'm not here to see you, if that's what you're thinking. AJ, I need to talk to you."

"Well, you can wait in my office as well. We should be done in ten more minutes... with no interruptions." He said this part loudly enough for Tiner to hear.

"Aye-aye, Admiral," Webb replied, smirking. He gave AJ a flippant salute, then walked out.

"Now, Colonel, do you have an update on the Henderson case?"

"Yes, sir, I do." Mac spent the next few minutes outlining what she had found from her investigation, and concluded, "All in all, a pretty open-and-shut case, sir."

"Very good, Colonel, very good. Well, that about wraps it up. Dismissed!"

The officers at the table rose and replied, "Aye-aye, sir!"

Returning to his office, AJ wondered, 'What does Webb want this time? He said that he didn't need to talk to Rabb... so does he need Mac? Why?' He sighed, knowing he would be told what the secretive operative wanted... eventually.

"Webb. Why are you here, and why did you interrupt my staff meeting?"

"Good to see you too, AJ."

AJ just rolled his eyes, crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for whatever spook explanation Webb was about to give.

"I need to borrow a couple of your officers. Just for tonight."

"Why?"

Webb sighed, not bothering to give a smart-assed response. 'Uh-oh,' thought AJ. 'What is he getting us into this time?'

"Just call Mac and Commander Turner in here, please."

Raising his eyebrow, AJ asked, "Since when do you give me orders, Webb, and in my own office, no less?" He did as asked, however, and moments later Mac and Sturgis stood at attention in front of his desk.

"Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Turner reporting as ordered, sir."

"At ease. I called you in here by Mr. Webb's request. Webb, would you care to explain what you want? And may I suggest the truth, for once?"

Webb smirked slightly then got down to business. "There's a ball tonight at the Chinese Embassy. We have reason to believe that one of the attendees has been smuggling classified documents out of the country, and that a deal will be going down tonight. I want Mackenzie and Turner on the inside to report on any suspicious activities."

"Why does this sound familiar?" Mac muttered to no one in particular.

"I know, we tried it once before; but, hopefully, this time nobody will get shot."

"Oh, is that why you didn't want Commander Rabb to go?" Mac chuckled, thinking of her ex-partner's propensity to find trouble like a heat-seeking missile.

"Well, that, and the fact that he has the subtlety of a heart attack. We have no desire to shoot up the place, and we don't want to tip our hand to the other side. Your language skills would also come in handy, Mac, and the Commander over here is a good investigator, from what I've heard."

Mac grinned, and said, "I'm game if you are, Sturgis." 'Maybe it'll help keep me from thinking too much. God only knows I could use a night out, even if it's for business, not pleasure.'

"Sure, Mac, why not? I'll have to locate my mess dress, though."

At this, the intercom on AJ's desk buzzed. "Yes, Tiner?"

"Sir, you have a call on line one. It's that woman again."

'Well, can't put her off forever. May as well nip this in the bud now.' Sighing, AJ replied, "Put her through, Tiner."

When he saw the light blink, he lifted the receiver, punched the button, and barked, "Chegwidden."

Mac watched the play of emotion cross AJ's face. First anger, then resentment, disgust, and finally resignation. She tried not to listen to the conversation, but a name caught her ear.

"Hannah, this is neither the time nor the place for this discussion; besides, I thought I had laid it out pretty clearly on Saturday. I do not wish to talk about this. Please do not contact me again." Mac was glad that she had never done anything to merit the coldness and disgust that was now in AJ's voice.

'Wait... Hannah?' Mac's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. 'Why that... I can't believe he would do something like this! That arrogant, good-for-nothing bastard!' She looked over at Webb for confirmation. For once, the smirk was not present. When she saw his nod, she nearly stalked out of the room to hunt Rabb down. Only her military training kept her in place.

When AJ hung up the phone, he looked over at Mac and saw the anger in her countenance. "Commander Turner, you are dismissed; report back here at 1900 hours for the briefing. Colonel, a moment of your time, please?"

Sturgis, who had also noticed the enraged look on Mac's face and in her stance, shot a concerned look at Mac, came to attention, and replied, "Aye-aye, sir."

Once the door closed behind Sturgis, AJ said, "Why don't you have a seat, Mac?"

"Thank you, sir, but I think I'd rather stand."

"Sit down, Colonel."

Swallowing back a sharp retort, Mac did as ordered.

"Now, Mac, I assume you know about Commander Rabb's little... escapade?"

"Yes, sir, I do."

"May I ask how?"

Mac's eyes darted over to Webb, who was still standing in the corner of the office, studying a picture like it contained the answers to life's secrets.

AJ snorted. "As if that wasn't obvious," he muttered under his breath. "Then may I assume you know about my relationship with Hannah?"

"Well, sir, I had my suspicions, but your phone call just now firmed them up."

AJ sighed, and sat behind his desk. "Do I have to worry about losing either of my best attorneys?"

"No, sir; I can promise you, I will be the consummate professional. You do not need to worry about my behavior." The slight stressing of 'my' did not escape AJ's notice.

"Very well, Colonel; but if you ever need anything, like to give Rabb a swift kick in the six, don't hesitate to ask."

"Yes, sir. And sir?"

"Yes, Mac?"

"If you ever need someone to talk to..." Mac nearly gasped; she couldn't believe she had just said that to her CO, yet again!

AJ's heart caught in his throat. He wanted to say, 'Yes, I do need to talk to someone; and I would love to talk to you, about so much.' Instead, clearing his throat, he said, "I'll keep that in mind, Mac. Dismissed."

"Aye-aye, sir." Mac rose, came to attention, and left.

AJ turned to the window and sighed. 'Why do I always have such disastrous relationships? Any woman I get involved with leaves, and the one I really want, I can't have.' He jerked around at the sound of a polite cough.

"Well, AJ, I have places to go, wires to tap, governments to undermine... see you later."

AJ just rolled his eyes and turned back to the window.