Thank you for the reviews!
Chloe: Thank you! I love suspense, so I'm glad this is exhibiting some! And don't worry, I have this all planned out, the stalker stuff will be happenin' very soon!!!! (starting in this chapter!)
harmsgirl: Wow, you gasped, lol! Thank you for coming back for more and thanks for your wonderful comments!!!!!
flyboyfan: whoa, lol, well, I've never heard that said to me before, lol. Thank you very much! But do check out other stories too, I don't wanna be singled out! ;) (btw, I just loved the new story you're working on (Uncomplicated Feelings). Do post more of that soon!!!) One story I'd like to recommend is a JAG fic called, "Aftermath." I forget who wrote it (bad me, bad me!!! But I have it saved on my fav story list, click on my profile to get it), but it was really good, very well written and imaginative. Pretty long, but it's worth it!
jagchick105: Oh, you're making me blush! I really do appreciate it, though. I was gettin' so stressed over it. Oh, and my sn, "et-spiritus-sancti" means, "Of the Holy Spirit." It's part of what the priest was saying which was, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." I don't speak Latin, my bro does, so he's been givin' me a bunch of tips. Thank you so much again for your wonderful comments!
CAUTION---The history of Private Thomas has rape-relations
(A/N) My Quantico asylum is going to be similar to Bethesda, with the doctors all having ranks and such. That way I can do a hearing for the dereliction of duty (instead of malpractice) at JAG instead of a civilian trial. I've also (again) conveniently put a sanatorium (for permanent patients) at Quantico.
~sancti
Chapter 5: Back From The Dead
1900 ZULU
Quantico Marine Corps Base
Quantico, Virginia
First Lieutenant Stephens avoided making eye contact with the two officers and the CIA agent. He was in it deep now. They really believed that he had something to do with Arial's kidnapping. How could they? Well, he couldn't really ask that. They had most of the evidence they needed. Nothing tangible, but enough to drag him to a hearing.
He felt his veins suddenly swell with anger. Stephens had been angry with Arial, but now he was furious. The first coherent thing she said had to be his name. And now JAG was convinced that he paid off the Chechens to kidnap Arial. They thought he was a shallow, unfaithful jerk with a grudge. God, if only they knew the truth. But they would never believe him, nor would he have the evidence to support his alibi.
Stephens knew the Commander was speaking to him, something about him needing a lawyer, which he was already aware of (and one was on the way), but he hardly listened. All he could think about was how he could possibly explain the situation to this man---this commander, a successful JAG attorney, a legendary aviator---and a man completely unaware of the truth. A truth only Arial and he, her lover, knew. Stephens couldn't help but cringe. The one woman he loved more than anyone else in the world now wanted to kill this commander. But of course she mixed up a few of the details. She blames her capture and torture on this man. Yet he didn't do anything, and knew nothing of her existence. It was like watching a soap opera in slow motion. But of course Stephens had believed her, at first. But that was before he found out she was crazy. Found out was that Arial thought herself to be someone she wasn't. She was absolutely convinced! And she practically convinced him too, until he realized none of it could be true. He was glad she was locked up. Because if she were free, who knows what she would do. . .
***
Stephens was hiding something---that much was obvious. But Mac still had the nagging feeling that he was innocent. Was it his complacency? No, most suspects had plenty of that. He just didn't look guilty, yes, that was it. More like merely confused. Harm was quickly losing his patience with him. He would ask Stephens a question and he'd get one of three answers, "I don't know, sir," "I can't remember, sir," or "Not sure, sir." After Harm interrogated him for two hours, he let Webb take a stab at him. No such luck.
Mac was about to try, when the door swung open to reveal a civilian. Mac had to restrain herself from groaning. It was Grabaldi. The annoyingly admirable lawyer that defended a Marine Colonel four years ago who was indicted for supplying the Algerians with the materials needed to create chemical weapons. That was also the day Clark Palmer came to the courtroom as Harm (he'd made a cast of Harm's face) and poisoned the Colonel. But, Mac would deal with him. She would've had him beat in the courtroom if Palmer hadn't ruined everything...
"Major, or, I see it's Lieutenant Colonel now. How nice to see you." Grabaldi said with a cheesy smirk and that coarse New York accent.
"Mr. Grabaldi." Mac said, barely above a murmur.
Stephens sighed with relief. "They've been grilling me for three hours, sir."
Grabaldi grunted. "Well, I think we're done here, counselors. Or, you are actually. I'd like to question my client in private?"
The two JAG officers and the CIA operative reluctantly left the room.
***
"Mrs. DeVault, you're a nurse at Quantico asylum, correct?" Bud inquired.
The nurse shifted in the witness stand chair and nodded. "Yes, sir, I am. I'm Commander Wagner's secretary."
"And how often does the Commander sign off patients to Quantico Sanatorium?"
"Objection," Sturgis said calmly, "Calls for speculation."
Bud sighed sharply before turning to the judge. "Ma'am, Mrs. DeVault has been Commander Wagner's secretary for five years. She's a competent witness."
The judge nodded. "Overruled. You may answer the question, Mrs. DeVault."
DeVault glanced over at her boss to see a smug expression on his features. Bud looked at her innocently. "Ma'am?"
She started in her seat. "Um, about three times a month."
"Three times a month?" Bud asked with forced shock. "But the average amount of patients discharged to a permanent facility in Virginia is three a year."
DeVault shrugged. "We have a lot of sick patients." She said, her voice hollow and unsure.
Bud swallowed a chuckle. "No further questions. You're witness, Commander."
Sturgis put his pen down and stood slowly. "Mrs. DeVault, as the Lieutenant said, you've known Commander Wagner for five years, correct?"
"Yes."
"And in those five years, have you ever had a complaint from his patients' families?"
At this, DeVault smiled. "No, sir." She said proudly.
"Thank you, no further questions."
***
"I can't believe I'm second chair." Singer grumbled as she poured her coffee, not actually talking to anyone. "I could blow that guy right out of the water."
"Crediting yourself, ma'am?" Gunnery Sergeant Galindez said cheerfully as he took the other pot of coffee.
Singer rolled her eyes. "I just don't think I should be second chair for prosecution in the Wagner case." She said, almost snarling.
Gunny gave her a crooked smile. "Well, Lieutenant Roberts has been here longer than you, ma'am. The Admiral just thought he'd be the best choice."
Singer roughly ripped open a pink packet of Sweet-and-Low. "Roberts is tiptoeing around this case, it's driving me nuts. Does he really think he can beat Turner?"
Gunny cocked a dark eyebrow and took a sip of his black coffee. "He has beat Commander Rabb in court before, ma'am."
Singer shot the Marine a gawk of disgust. "Rabb let him have that one." She scowled and she turned sharply on her heel.
Gunny couldn't help but smile. One of the funniest things, or only funny thing, about Singer was her attitude. It was close to unbelievable how uncouth she could sometimes be and still live with herself---and still have a job.
***
1925 ZULU
Quantico Asylum
Virginia
"So it's only you that's left." Arial said to the lone voice.
I'm the hardest one to let go of, you know that. It answered. I have been with you the longest.
Arial lifted one corner of her mouth into a tight smile. "It's why I saved you for last."
You know you'll be free if you let go of me. But then you'll be alone. No one to guide you. No one to talk to you.
"I don't need your guidance." Arial responded harshly. "I can take care of him all on my own."
It chuckled. Right. I know you can. But are you certain he's the one at fault?
"Of course he is. He left me there. It's like he didn't even care."
How do you know he's who you think he is? You have no proof!
Arial shuddered. "I can feel it. I don't need any proof. I can feel it." Arial could sense it shaking its head. That's what Arial liked about this one. It listened to her, agreed with her, and then gave solemn advice. It was never harsh or commanding. It supplied Arial with the most comfort. "Leave now. I'm almost in control."
Please, Arial. Let me stay. I won't bother you, but I want to know what happens.
Could she trust it? What it telling the truth? It and the so many others had been lying to her for so long. Arial started to lean towards granting its request, but she changed her mind. "I'm sorry. I can't. I need to be in complete control. I don't want you hanging over my shoulder the whole time."
Arial waited a moment. It was struggling with itself. It knew it needed to go, but it wanted to stay just as much.
All right, Arial. You win. But be careful.
Arial suddenly lurched forward lying prostrate on the ground. It was like she'd been dropped from a suspended chain.
She felt the cold cement on her cheek, and it felt wonderful. She wiggled her toes and blinked her eyes. Never did she have so much control. She wanted to laugh, to cry, and scream, to experience every sensation there could possibly be. So long she had been trapped. Four full months. And now, she was free.
Arial laid her palms down flat on the cement and pushed herself up to her knees. She felt the muscles in her legs work to hoist her up to her feet. She had always been able to move, but now she felt everything. And it was her own thoughts, her own commands to her brain as it sent messages throughout her nervous system telling her muscles to move.
She teetered there for a moment, but then regained balance. And she stood there, fixing her eyes on every corner of the room. It was all very familiar. She'd hardly left the hospital room in the last three days. And seventy-two hours of doing nothing but staring made her very accustomed to her surroundings. But she looked with different eyes now. New eyes, filled with determination, intelligence...and revenge. Arial stretched a menacing smile across her young features. Yes, it was time. But she was still a Marine. A Marine with a crime to report...she better get herself a lawyer...
***
0530 ZULU
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm rubbed his temples, trying to sooth the pain throbbing in his head. He and Mac had traveled back to JAG that day, less than satisfied. Stephens was their suspect, but the lack of evidence was almost embarrassing. There wasn't any way they could proceed with a hearing, much less a trial, yet. But they needed Stephens in custody in case he decided to jump bail. And at the moment, he had good reason to.
Harm continued to stare at the files and papers in front of him, reading the familiar words over and over again, but not really trying to comprehend them. He had too many other things on his mind. For one, he couldn't get those words Thomas had uttered out of his head.
Strengthen us, or else we die...Here in outward signs are hidden...All entire confessed to be...
Harm tried to put them all together. He tried to look for a connection between the eerie words. Or maybe it meant nothing. Just the ramblings of an insane girl. But then there was the way she had looked at him...
A rap on the doorframe shook the aviator out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Mac, with a sympathetic smile on her face, leaning against the doorframe.
"Hey, Mac." Harm said, stifling a yawn.
She kept her smile on, trying to keep her face lit up, but her eyes drooped in fatigue. "It's after midnight, sailor. Go home."
Harm shook his head and leaned back in the chair. "Can't. Not yet. One of the blessings of not being married."
Mac chuckled at that. "Yes, well, the only loved one I have to get home to is Jingo who's probably starving."
When Harm didn't respond, Mac realized that he quickly slipped back into his investigation mode. Mac cleared her throat to get his attention. His gaze immediately locked with hers.
"Sorry." He said, his tone flat, "My attention span is kinda short at the moment."
Mac sat down in one of the chairs. "What's on your mind?"
Harm hesitated, one hand fumbling with a pen. "It's Thomas. I---I just wish we could get through to her."
Mac tightened a smile. "Yeah. But that would mean the universe was giving us a break. And how often does that happen?"
Harm filled in a circle he'd lazily drawn on a legal pad. "Not enough." Harm took in a sharp breath, "Do you think---do you think she recognized us? As allies?"
Mac crossed her legs, lacing her fingers over her knee. "Well, she did calm down considerably after our first visit."
"Her eyes." Harm said out of blue, concentrating on the circle he was filling in. "The way she looked at me."
Mac's lips parted in surprise. "She looked at you?"
"More like into me." Harm corrected her, though he sounded more like he was talking to himself. "It was, it was like she knew me."
Mac narrowed her eyes in concern. "Harm, she doesn't know you. You realize that, right?"
Harm put the pen down after it ripped the circle he was drawing. "Of course I realize it. But I can't get over it. She did it twice, and each time, I felt a shiver go up and down my spine. There's something about her, Mac. Something familiar."
Mac leaned back in the chair, her eyebrows drawn in. "Harm, try not to take this stuff personally. That's what gets you thrown off a case."
Harm continued to stare at the torn circle. "Yeah...I know."
The Marine chewed on her lip, deciding something. "Look, Harm, this investigation is going to take a long time unless we can get something out of Stephens or Thomas. Now our chances with Stephens are probably better, but Thomas seems to be regaining something of her old self. We can't travel to Quantico every day just to check up on her, so how about we request she be moved back to Bethesda. That way we can go to her whenever we want."
Harm grunted. "If Bethesda will take her."
"If she's getting better, they will. Besides," Mac said with a wide smile, "we can get Admiral's Privilege."
Harm was about to reply when his phone rang loudly. Both of them flinched in their seats. They had gotten used to the quiet. Harm cleared his throat and then picked it up.
"Commander Rabb."
"Commander, thank God, I didn't think you'd be at the office this late!"
Harm narrowed his eyes. "Bill?"
"Yeah, it's me, look we have a problem. You know how you said you wanted all and any information concerning changes in Thomas?"
"Yeah." Harm said slowly, giving Mac a confused glance.
"Well, there's been a change...um, she kind of escaped."
***
I dunno about you guys, but I liked writing that chapter!
Write fast?
~sancti