Sonnets of Life Part 6

Disclaimers in Part 1


Like as to make our appetite more keen,
With eager compounds we our palate urge;
As, to prevent our maladies unseen,
We sicken to shun sickness when we purge;
Even so, being full of your ne'er-cloying sweetness,
To bitter sauces did I frame my feeding;
And, sick of welfare, found a kind of meetness
To be diseased, ere that there was true needing.
Thus policy in love, to anticipate
The ills that were not, grew to faults assured,
And brought to medicine a healthful state
Which, rank of goodness, would by ill be cured;
But thence I learn and find the lesson true,
Drugs poison him that so fell sick of you.
--Sonnet 118


Tuesday, 5 November 2002
En Route to Bethesda Naval Hospital
1415 ZULU

Harm got into the driver's seat, lost in thought. He was wondering how he had so screwed everything up. I can't believe I did that! I mean, Mac and I had finally worked things out, and I go and do something stupid like this. He knew each time he was with Hannah that he was making a mistake. He also knew his Marine would kick his ass to the curb, both literally and figuratively, if she ever found out.

He had first met Hannah when she had come to meet the Admiral for lunch. However, the Admiral had been in a meeting with the SECNAV, so Harm had offered to go to lunch with her. Mac had been out at Quantico, finishing up on an investigation, so she didn't know. Hannah had been fun, witty, and God knows, she was beautiful. Her dry sense of humor had him chuckling for hours after they parted ways.

They had crossed paths again at a party given by the SECNAV. The Admiral had been in Italy, taking care of a legal issue involving a drunken ensign, a stolen gondola, and a romp through the Italian naval base in Venice. Mac, who, as acting JAG, should've attended, was suddenly called into work and asked Harm if he would go in her stead. Of course, he said yes. Bored out of his mind, he had spotted Hannah in a corner and went over to say hi. The next thing he knew, he was driving Hannah to her apartment.

The affair lasted for about two weeks, culminating in their attendance at a benefit concert. Unfortunately, they had run into Clayton Webb and his mother. I'll just bet it was that damned spook that told Mac. About a week later, Mac confronted him with her accusations. Why didn't I tell her? I should've known she would've found out sooner or later. He groaned audibly in the silence of the car. "I am such a fool," he moaned. "The best thing in my life, and I lost her." And what about the Admiral? a little voice in his mind asked. You hurt him, too. You betrayed his trust in you. "Don't you think I know that? I can't believe how messed up everything is."


Tuesday, 5 November 2002
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, MD
1400 ZULU

Lieutenant Harriet Sims approached the front desk of the hospital. "Excuse me, but could you tell me where to find Admiral Chegwidden?"

"I'm right here, Lieutenant," a tired voice sounded behind her. Harriet spun around and came to attention stance, as did the officer behind the desk.

"As you were," AJ said. "Walk with me, Harriet."

Harriet studied her commanding officer. She noticed the exhaustion in his stance, as well as the...it almost looked like fear...in his facial features. "Sir, are you alright? What's happened?"

AJ sighed, and kept walking. Eventually, he got to the double doors of the ICU. He gestured to the chairs in the waiting area. "Have a seat, Lieutenant."

Harriet was starting to get really nervous now. The last time she saw the Admiral look like this, he had told her that Bud had stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan. Her eyes widened. "Th...this isn't about Bud, is it, Admiral?" she asked with anxiety in her voice.

AJ's head shot up. "No! Believe me when I say this isn't about your husband."

"Then what is it, sir?" Relief was evident in Harriet's tone.

AJ took a deep breath, and started to explain. "Commander Turner and Colonel Mackenzie attended an embassy party last night. I can't go into details, but there was an attempt on the Chinese ambassador's life."

Harriet nodded. "I saw something about that on the news this morning. They said an officer was shot...and was in critical condition at--" Harriet's voice trailed off as she realized why the Admiral was here. "Oh, my God...it was the Colonel, wasn't it, sir."

AJ looked up in surprise. "Yes...how did you know, Harriet?" he asked softly.

"Well, sir, we all know Colonel Mackenzie's strength and bravery; risking her life to save another's is something she would do. Also," here she smirked a bit, "Commander Turner was at JAG this morning, so it was a matter of deduction."

"He's WHAT?! I told him--no, I ordered him--to go get some rest! Going into work at 0700 after being up until 0300 does not constitute a good night's sleep!"

Harriet laid her hand on her enraged CO's arm. "Please, sir; the Commander probably just wanted to feel like he was helpful, especially since you're not in the office today, Admiral. Please don't blame him."

AJ took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. "Of course; you're right, Harriet. He doesn't need any more problems."

"And neither do you, sir. Now, would you like me to get you a cup of coffee while you change into your uniform, sir?"

"Yes, Harriet; I need some caffeine right about now. I'm sure I could use a shower as well."

"I'll go get you that coffee, sir."

When Harriet got back to the ICU, she saw her normal take-charge CO: alert and ready for anything.

"Here you go, sir."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." He took a sip of his coffee, and then asked, "Would you like to see Mac now, Harriet?" Harriet nodded. "Very well, but I need to warn you: she doesn't exactly look like our kick-ass Marine right now." His chuckle was hollow and devoid of emotion. He led Harriet to Mac's room.

When Harriet saw Mac, she gasped. Tears started running down her face as she hurried to Mac's side. "Oh, Mac! What happened, sir? Really?"

AJ patted a chair, but Harriet refused to leave the bedside. "As I said, Mac saved the ambassador's life. She took an assassin's bullet in the shoulder. That wouldn't have been life threatening, but she hit her head pretty hard on the way down; lost a lot of blood. The doctor says if she doesn't wake up soon, she could lose movement in her extremities. About an hour ago, she went into cardiac arrest." Harriet gasped, and the tears started flowing harder. "Fortunately, they were able to stabilize her, but they think someone should be with her in case she wakes up." Or doesn't, AJ thought grimly. He took Harriet in his arms. "She's strong, Harriet. She'll make it past this. She has her friends to look out for her. Shhh, it's OK, darlin'." They stood like this for about fifteen minutes. Finally, Harriet stopped crying. "Oh! I'm so sorry, sir. I--"

"That's perfectly all right, Harriet. You needed to cry; I'm glad I was here for you." They heard shouting coming from the end of the corridor. "I'm guessing that would be Rabb," AJ commented dryly. He exited the room quickly in order to save the nurse on duty from his over-zealous subordinate.

"I was told to meet him here! What do you mean you can't--"

"Commander Rabb! Stand down!"

Harm jerked around and snapped to at the sound of his commanding officer's voice. "I apologize for the Commander's behavior, Lieutenant...LeClair. However, I do believe if you'd check the list I gave you, the Commander's name is on it. Commander Rabb, with me." He turned and walked away without checking that Harm was following him.

"Sir, I--"

"Commander, I will explain everything in due time. The short version is this: Colonel Mackenzie is lying in a hospital room, and we don't know whether or not she'll survive. If you do anything...anything...to disrupt her recovery, to agitate or stress her in any way...I will be on your six faster than a Stinger missile. Understood?" AJ's voice stayed at a conversational level, but Harm knew he was deadly serious.

"Yes, sir. What happened to Mac? Why is she here?"

"She and Commander Turner attended an embassy party last night, and--" AJ was interrupted by Harriet's excited voice calling him.

"Admiral? Admiral, sir! Mac--the Colonel--she's waking up, sir! She's calling for you!"