AN: Thanks to all who have so kindly provided feedback; esp. nighthawk -
your enthusiasm helps to feed the muse! ( Also, we are now firmly in an
AU - as this past week's episode proved that Mac made it back safe and
sound...will she in my little world??? Stay tuned to find out!
JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia 11:30 EST
Harm finally stood up from his desk. He had worked almost nonstop for the past four hours, the research on his latest case making him nearly oblivious to the passage of time. He hadn't handled anything of this nature before and it had been a task finding relevant precedents, both in military and civilian law.
Harm was representing the wife of one Marine Lieutenant William T. Cowardin, MIA for the past 9 months. A civilian lawyer was representing Lt. Cowardin's mother, Sylvia Cowardin, the plaintiff. Sylvia Cowardin was petitioning the Navy to have her son declared legally dead, while Harm's client, Liliana, hoped to keep her husband's status unchanged--alive, but missing in action.
This case had emotions running high on both sides. Each woman claimed that her motivation for acting was love for the missing officer; and each believed the other was acting out of malice and selfishness.
Since the lieutenant had gone missing in Afghanistan back in February, little evidence had emerged to support proof of his being alive or dead. While it was highly unusual to pronounce a missing person, military or civilian, dead after so short a period of time, Sylvia Cowardin believed such a legal declaration was in the best interests of her daughter-in-law and young grandson. On the other hand, Liliana firmly believed her husband was still alive and saw any ruling to the contrary as condemning her husband to death.
The case was difficult, and in spite of a nagging headache that was the natural result of too little sleep, the extra time at the office allowed the Naval lawyer to accomplish a lot in the way of legal research. With Mac back in town, she might be able to lend a hand in formulating the best strategy to use in court next week . . . .
As Harm stretched, he glanced at the clock on the wall.
// 1130.I could take some leave and just go home and sack out.I'll never get any--I could drive south and surprise Mac at Norfolk! //
No sooner had the thought entered his head then Harm headed out of his office towards Admiral Chegwidden's.
"Tyner," he paused at the petty officer's desk. "Could the Admiral see me for just a moment?"
The young man quickly scanned the phone lines and the appointment calendar on his desk before he replied. "He doesn't appear to be on the phone at the moment, Commander. And he doesn't have any appointments before lunch..let me check for you, Sir."
In less than 10 seconds the efficient petty officer had secured Harm 5 minutes with the Judge Advocate General.
As Harm entered the wood-paneled office of his superior, he took quick notice of the crackling fire in the fireplace. Always a good sign; the Admiral never had the patience to deal with a fire if he was in a bad mood.
"Admiral," he said coming to attention in front of the large desk.
"Commander Rabb," responded the admiral, "what seems to be the emergency today?"
"Emergency? There's no emergency, Sir," Harm answered.
"Well that is a relief," the JAG commented dryly. "Usually when you need to see me at a moment's notice, something of an urgent and bizarre nature seems to be the cause."
"Uh, yes, Sir," smiled the tall lawyer weakly. A few too many memories verified that the admiral had a point.
After a moment of silence, AJ Chegwidden prodded his top attorney. "Is there something I can do for you, Commander?"
"Oh, sorry, Sir, yes, Sir" //Damn! This was not the way to get the afternoon off!// "I'd like to use some leave time and take the rest of the day off, Sir."
Chegwidden stared at the man before him a moment before asking his next question. Rabb looked a little haggard; as a matter of fact, he'd looked that way all week.
"Are you feeling all right, Commander?"
"I'm fine, Sir, I just thought since I'd finished all my research on the Cowardin case, I'd drive down to Norfolk to meet the Seahawk and give Colonel MacKenzie a ride home."
"That's very considerate of you, Rabb. Is Mac expecting you to meet her when the Seahawk docks?" //It is cruel to tease him like this, I suppose, but I can't help it. Anything we can do to help these two get their act together..//
"No, Sir, it would be a surprise," Harm answered, his eyes straight ahead, staring at the picture hanging above his commanding officer's head. "I just thought it would be a nice idea, and a more comfortable ride than that shuttle bus." Was the Admiral teasing him about Mac?!
"I agree, Commander. Drive safely and remind the Colonel to stop by my office first thing Monday morning." Chegwidden spared Rabb one final glance before returning his attention to the reports on his desk, "Drive carefully. Dismissed."
"Aye aye, Sir!"
He made a neat about-face and stopped one more time beside Tyner's desk.
"Tyner, I'm going down to Norfolk to pick up Colonel MacKenzie. If you need me, just call my cell."
"Yes, Sir, Commander. I imagine the Colonel will be glad to be back home," he innocently observed.
"Yes, Petty Officer, I imagine you're right," replied Harm, looking steadily at the younger man.
Tyner continued blithely on, barely noticing the rejoinder, "Ship's chow is never easy to get used to. A home-cooked meal or a nice restaurant is a real special treat after being at sea. Have you ever eaten at Christiana Campbell's Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, Commander?"
//Is Tyner insane?//
"No, Tyner, I haven't. What's your point?"
"No point, Sir," came the answer, "Just making conversation."
Harm looked at Tyner again. He wasn't frothing at the mouth, so rabies was out..Maybe law school was getting to him, exams looming on the horizon..
"Thank you, Petty Officer, for the recommendation," Harm said. "Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday morning."
"You're welcome, Sir. You, too, Sir."
Harm was still shaking his head over his strange encounter when he unlocked his car. //Maybe it's just me. Maybe things seem weird since I haven't been sleeping.//
As he merged onto the Beltway, Harm turned up the radio and let his thoughts wander aimlessly. Dinner with Mac would clear his head and then tonight he might be able to sleep without dreaming.
TBC
JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia 11:30 EST
Harm finally stood up from his desk. He had worked almost nonstop for the past four hours, the research on his latest case making him nearly oblivious to the passage of time. He hadn't handled anything of this nature before and it had been a task finding relevant precedents, both in military and civilian law.
Harm was representing the wife of one Marine Lieutenant William T. Cowardin, MIA for the past 9 months. A civilian lawyer was representing Lt. Cowardin's mother, Sylvia Cowardin, the plaintiff. Sylvia Cowardin was petitioning the Navy to have her son declared legally dead, while Harm's client, Liliana, hoped to keep her husband's status unchanged--alive, but missing in action.
This case had emotions running high on both sides. Each woman claimed that her motivation for acting was love for the missing officer; and each believed the other was acting out of malice and selfishness.
Since the lieutenant had gone missing in Afghanistan back in February, little evidence had emerged to support proof of his being alive or dead. While it was highly unusual to pronounce a missing person, military or civilian, dead after so short a period of time, Sylvia Cowardin believed such a legal declaration was in the best interests of her daughter-in-law and young grandson. On the other hand, Liliana firmly believed her husband was still alive and saw any ruling to the contrary as condemning her husband to death.
The case was difficult, and in spite of a nagging headache that was the natural result of too little sleep, the extra time at the office allowed the Naval lawyer to accomplish a lot in the way of legal research. With Mac back in town, she might be able to lend a hand in formulating the best strategy to use in court next week . . . .
As Harm stretched, he glanced at the clock on the wall.
// 1130.I could take some leave and just go home and sack out.I'll never get any--I could drive south and surprise Mac at Norfolk! //
No sooner had the thought entered his head then Harm headed out of his office towards Admiral Chegwidden's.
"Tyner," he paused at the petty officer's desk. "Could the Admiral see me for just a moment?"
The young man quickly scanned the phone lines and the appointment calendar on his desk before he replied. "He doesn't appear to be on the phone at the moment, Commander. And he doesn't have any appointments before lunch..let me check for you, Sir."
In less than 10 seconds the efficient petty officer had secured Harm 5 minutes with the Judge Advocate General.
As Harm entered the wood-paneled office of his superior, he took quick notice of the crackling fire in the fireplace. Always a good sign; the Admiral never had the patience to deal with a fire if he was in a bad mood.
"Admiral," he said coming to attention in front of the large desk.
"Commander Rabb," responded the admiral, "what seems to be the emergency today?"
"Emergency? There's no emergency, Sir," Harm answered.
"Well that is a relief," the JAG commented dryly. "Usually when you need to see me at a moment's notice, something of an urgent and bizarre nature seems to be the cause."
"Uh, yes, Sir," smiled the tall lawyer weakly. A few too many memories verified that the admiral had a point.
After a moment of silence, AJ Chegwidden prodded his top attorney. "Is there something I can do for you, Commander?"
"Oh, sorry, Sir, yes, Sir" //Damn! This was not the way to get the afternoon off!// "I'd like to use some leave time and take the rest of the day off, Sir."
Chegwidden stared at the man before him a moment before asking his next question. Rabb looked a little haggard; as a matter of fact, he'd looked that way all week.
"Are you feeling all right, Commander?"
"I'm fine, Sir, I just thought since I'd finished all my research on the Cowardin case, I'd drive down to Norfolk to meet the Seahawk and give Colonel MacKenzie a ride home."
"That's very considerate of you, Rabb. Is Mac expecting you to meet her when the Seahawk docks?" //It is cruel to tease him like this, I suppose, but I can't help it. Anything we can do to help these two get their act together..//
"No, Sir, it would be a surprise," Harm answered, his eyes straight ahead, staring at the picture hanging above his commanding officer's head. "I just thought it would be a nice idea, and a more comfortable ride than that shuttle bus." Was the Admiral teasing him about Mac?!
"I agree, Commander. Drive safely and remind the Colonel to stop by my office first thing Monday morning." Chegwidden spared Rabb one final glance before returning his attention to the reports on his desk, "Drive carefully. Dismissed."
"Aye aye, Sir!"
He made a neat about-face and stopped one more time beside Tyner's desk.
"Tyner, I'm going down to Norfolk to pick up Colonel MacKenzie. If you need me, just call my cell."
"Yes, Sir, Commander. I imagine the Colonel will be glad to be back home," he innocently observed.
"Yes, Petty Officer, I imagine you're right," replied Harm, looking steadily at the younger man.
Tyner continued blithely on, barely noticing the rejoinder, "Ship's chow is never easy to get used to. A home-cooked meal or a nice restaurant is a real special treat after being at sea. Have you ever eaten at Christiana Campbell's Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, Commander?"
//Is Tyner insane?//
"No, Tyner, I haven't. What's your point?"
"No point, Sir," came the answer, "Just making conversation."
Harm looked at Tyner again. He wasn't frothing at the mouth, so rabies was out..Maybe law school was getting to him, exams looming on the horizon..
"Thank you, Petty Officer, for the recommendation," Harm said. "Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday morning."
"You're welcome, Sir. You, too, Sir."
Harm was still shaking his head over his strange encounter when he unlocked his car. //Maybe it's just me. Maybe things seem weird since I haven't been sleeping.//
As he merged onto the Beltway, Harm turned up the radio and let his thoughts wander aimlessly. Dinner with Mac would clear his head and then tonight he might be able to sleep without dreaming.
TBC