OLD FRIENDS

I do not own any characters from JAG.  I just like to have fun with them. Keep this in mind throughout the story.

A special thank you to Bekki, who writes great stuff, for giving me this idea.

===============================================================================================================================

THE PRESENT

Zoya Nassar was an impressive person to say the least.  Born in Washington DC, she was of Lebanese and Russian heritage. At 5'6, with long dark hair and an athletic figure, she was striking.  She looked more like a model and no one ever guessed what she really did. 

She fidgeted in her seat on the plane.  She was so glad to be going back in the United States.  She had been gone for five months, not a very long time compared to other trips, but this one took a lot out of her. 

The flight from Morocco to Dulles with changes and lay overs would take 28 hours and thirty nine minutes.  That included a ten hour lay over in New York. She was contemplating just renting a car in New York and driving the last 4 hours.  That will get me home about 8 hours sooner. She thought as she eased back her seat.  As she closed her eyes, and thought about her life, something she did every now and then.  Like a movie, things just moved through her head.  She could hear the ZNN newscaster's voice like it was just happening… 

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO - 1978

ZNN – NEWS FLASH

"In other news, Ambassador Alexander Nassar and his wife, Tatiana, were killed today when a car bomb exploded outside their residence in Beirut" The newscaster announced. "Mrs. Nassar, was just returning from a visit to England where their daughter Zoya is enrolled at Queen Ethelburga's College, a preparatory school. The Authorities are still investigating…"

A Lieutenant Commander from the US Navy was sent England to escort Zoya back to the United States for the funeral.  She had been at boarding school when her parents were killed.  She was just twelve years old and wise beyond her years.  The first thing she did was ask him why someone from the Navy was sent and not someone from the State Department.  He had no answer.  On the plane home, he tried to talk to her about things a twelve year old would be interested in.  He mentioned several movies that were popular but she just rolled her eyes.  Finally he asked what she would like to talk about. She turned to him and said, "I find the political climate in Iran interesting.  I do believe that with the current shift in power to the Ayatollah and the exile of the Shah there will be problems of catastrophic proportions."

The Naval officer looked at her in shock and wondered if she was actually twelve.  From that day forward, AJ Chegwidden and Zoya Nassar became buddies. He was the only person she ever invited to a commencement ceremony and spoke to for advice.  AJ looked at her as a daughter and since he had never been a father to his own child, he relished the times he had with Zoya. 

The flight attendant broke her thoughts and offered her something from the beverage cart.  She opted for a Bloody Mary and went back to her thoughts.  A geek to the core, she laughed as she recalled her educational resume.

Queen Ethelburga's College in York, England – She was the Valedictorian at sixteen, unheard of for an American.

Brown University – Number Two - Bachelor's in Political Science in three years.  She would have been number one had it not been for an A- in an Advanced Calculus class.

From Harvard University she received a Juris Doctor concentrating in International Law.

She then took the bar exams in Washington, Virginia, New York and Massachusetts all within two months and passed each one. From there she took a position with the Justice Department. 

Of course this wasn't enough for her.  Her father had been an Ambassador and she wanted to be one as well.  She applied to Georgetown University and received her Masters of Science in Foreign Service concentrating in foreign policy and international security. She applied for and had gotten a position as the Assistant Ambassador in Lebanon.  It was a job she would never assume.  The night before the commencement ceremony she was offered a job she couldn't pass it up.  Commencement morning when AJ arrived to go to the ceremony, he was shocked and to say he was displeased about the decision she had made, was an understatement. That was ten years ago, now he was used to it.  He wasn't happy, but he supported her.

THE PRESENT

As the plane touched down at John F. Kennedy Airport, she made her way to the immigration and customs check point.  She presented her passport and ID, and was quickly ushered through.  Her job had advantages.  Ignoring the dirty looks from the other passengers, who had to wait, she made her way to the Avis counter.  She stood there for a few minutes trying to make up her mind.  She was tired, but was in no mood to stay in New York, and she wanted to sleep in her own bed. She rented a car and then retrieved her bags.  Within forty minutes she was had reached the Cross Bronx Expressway and was on her way to the George Washington Bridge.  She knew it was faster to take the Whitestone Bridge to 678 to the New Jersey Turnpike, but she liked crossing the GWB.  Going this way gave her a view of the empty skyline and reminded her of what she was doing.  It had been 18 months since that fateful day.  She was on her way to a meeting at the Pentagon when she saw the plane fly into the building.  It was something she would never forget.  No one would ever forget it.

Ninety minutes later Zoya pulled into the Molly Pitcher rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike.  Coffee, I need coffee. She thought as she got out of the car. Luckily the Starbucks kiosk was still open. 

"A large coffee please," Zoya said.

"Did you want that with foam?" The clerk asked.

"No, just black," Zoya replied.

"Flavorings?" The clerk asked.

"No, just black," Zoya repeated.

"Milk?" The clerk asked.

"Nooooo, just black," Zoya said again.

"Was that a tall or short cup?" The clerk asked.

"Can I just have a large cup of black coffee, no milk, no foam, no flavorings.  Just a cup of simple coffee," Zoya said rolling her eyes.

"Of course, would you like a biscotti?" The clerk asked.

"No," Zoya said with an exaggerated sigh, when did coffee ordering get so complicated?

Zoya paid the overpriced amount for the coffee and returned to the car.  She took a few sips before she started out for the rest of her journey.  She made over the Delaware Memorial Bridge in record time and was just about to cross the southbound side of the Millard Tydings Bridge, in Maryland, when traffic stopped. 

"God I hate this bridge." She shouted. She threw the car in park and sat.  Up ahead she could see flashing lights and people were getting out of their cars, to investigate.  She also got out of her car and noticed the problem was on the northbound side.  As she moved ahead she realized this was not a normal traffic stop.  "Why me?" She groaned. 

She returned to her car and popped the trunk.  She opened a bag, took out her side arm placing it in the hip holster and secured her ID to her lapel.

"Gun, GUN!" Someone yelled.

"Would you relax, I am allowed to carry this," Zoya replied pointing to her ID.

"Oh my god, she has a gun!" The person yelled. "Help police police!!"

"Lady, shut up!" Zoya snapped in an aggravated tone and started walking towards the flashing lights.

She was just about to jump over the median when she felt someone grab her arm.

"Excuse me, may I help you?" The officer asked.

"My name is Zoya Nassar, Special Agent Nassar to be more precise." Zoya said showing her ID. "I thought maybe I could help you."

"I'm Mike Donogan with the Maryland State Police." The officer stated.

"What's going on?" Zoya asked walking with him.

"We aren't sure," Mike replied.

"Tell me what you are sure of," Zoya said rolling her eyes. 

"Two other officers pulled over a van because of a faulty tail light.  When they approached the vehicle, the men where acting a bit odd so they were asked to get out." Mike advised. "One of the officers noticed a sawed off shotgun in the front seat."

"Was anyone hurt?" Zoya asked.

"Luckily no," Mike replied.

"So that's it?" Zoya said. "You have no other details."

"You might want to take a look at this," Mike said as they approached the van.

Inside the back of the van there was an arsenal and a man bound and gagged.  Their prisoner was lying on the floor in a fetal position, with his head covered and did not look very comfortable. The driver and the other two passengers were handcuffed and standing by the median.

"Do you think maybe you should untie him?" Zoya asked the officer as though he was a child.  How do these people walk and chew gum?

"We aren't sure if he is their prisoner or not," Mike replied.

"Considering he is tied up, I would have to guess yes." Zoya stated, with some impatience. "Did you check to see who he was?  Did you check for injuries? Did you check to see if he was alive?"

"One of the other officers checked him out." Mike said.

"But you didn't think it was a good idea to untie him?" Zoya said sarcastically.

"We've never been in this situation before." Another officer said.

"Officer Polanski," Zoya said looking at his name tag.  "Who's in charge?"

"I am, who are you?" A third person in plain clothes asked.

"Special Agent Nassar," Zoya said walking over and showing her id. "Do you know who these men are?"

"Detective Steve Smyth and they have no identification," Detective Smyth stated.

"What about their captive? Did he have an ID?" Zoya asked.

"No, ma'am," Smyth said. "Excuse me, why are you here? We didn't call the CIA, we didn't think it was necessary."

"I was stuck in the traffic, and you have a van with a hostage and a shit load of weapons, and you didn't think it was necessary to call the CIA or the FBI?" Zoya asked.

"This is our collar," Smyth replied.

"No one is trying to steal your collar," Zoya snapped. "Did you happen to forget we are fighting a war on terrorism here?  We are all working together."

"No, I haven't forgotten." Smyth replied. "But you guys have a way of taking over."

"Well I am going to take over right now." Zoya said walking back to the van.  "Remove the bag from his head."

"We really weren't sure what to do since he had no ID." Smyth stated.

"Jesus Christ, untie him." Zoya ordered.

"If you say so," Polanski replied and began to untie him.

"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Admiral AJ Chegwidden, the Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy." Zoya said. "Uncle AJ, what the hell is going on?"