Chapter 2
1225 Zulu JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia
"Hello Commander, how are you this morning?"
"I am good Bud. How is Harriet doing?"
Mornings in the break room at JAG Headquarters were one of the few times that Harmon Rabb Jr. felt like a normal person. He would stand there making his coffee while exchanging pointless, yet very important, conversation with his co-workers. Once out of the sanctity of this little room, the gloves came off and the world of justice reared its ugly head. Sometimes Harm was taken aback by the entirely crazy world he lived in from day to day. For example, here he was exchanging pleasantries with Bud Roberts, one of his closest and most trusted friends. In thirty five minutes he would be standing across the aisle from the Lieutenant ready to square off in a very heated court martial case in which he was defending and Bud was sitting second chair for the prosecution. If that wasn't bad enough, the officer sitting first chair across from him was an even bigger conundrum.
"Hello gentlemen, already getting our coffee fix for the morning?"
Speak of the devil with the most impeccable timing. Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, his nemesis. Harm had never argued with or fought against any other person more in life than the woman standing next to him making herself a cup of hot tea. She challenged him at every turn and was the cause for some of the latest nights burning the midnight oil and restless nights of sleep. She caused more trouble for him than anyone else he had ever met. And the truth is, he loved her for it. She was the greatest thing that ever happened to him because she made him a better person. Of course, he would never tell her that unless subjected to the most extreme torture imaginable. Between his Fighter Jock pride and her Jarhead arrogance, that little piece of intel was something that he would keep a secret forever. Or at least until she was the torturer.
"Earth to Harm. Commander Rabb, you still with us?"
Harm snapped from his reverie and wiped away the grin threatening to creep across his face.
"Sorry, just lost in thought for a moment," Harm replied.
The Colonel did nothing to wipe the smirk on her face. "Oh really, what.are you thinking of the major butt kicking coming your way in 28 minutes and 13 seconds?"
Harm bit back the snarky remark he knew he wanted to say and followed up with his famous fly boy grin. "Mac, if I were you, I would stow the psychological warfare for a case that actually has merit. I will not succumb to your games nor will I respond to your haughty attitude with a response. Except maybe to say that I know your "tell" and I know something you don't want me to know."
Mac looked back incredulously. He was bluffing and she knew it. "Oh really, and what is this so called "tell" you think you know Commander?"
Instantly, Harm turned to the Colonel and descended upon her so quickly that she braced herself for the impending collision. To her relief, the impact did not follow. Unfortunately, all relief flew out the window as the Colonel immediately became aware of the Commander's proximity to her. If either one of them moved a couple of inches forward, their lips would meet in a heated kiss. The Colonel sucked in her breathe and dared not move. Technically, she could call "Red Light" at this moment forcing the Commander to back off or face the consequences. Fortunately for her, she apparently lost all ability to speak at this exact moment in time.
The Commander was mere inches from death at this moment. Harm was a great soldier and could hold his own in a fight, but he was not stupid enough to think that the Colonel could not do immense damage to him if she chose. The Commander approached his next statement carefully so as to ensure the best results in this little game. "What I know Colonel," Harm whispered, "is that you always try to bait me into an argument whenever you have a weak case. As soon as those snarky words leave your lips (emphasis on the word lips), I know I have you right where I want you Sarah.in a corner."
The Colonel couldn't move. She could feel the heat rising up her body into her cheeks. Her mind was screaming for her to jump him right there in the break room. As she looked up from Harm's mouth as he quietly spoke to her, she found him staring back at her with his intense blue eyes. What was that in his eyes? It almost seemed like.desire, passion. And then, right when she couldn't take it anymore, Harm cracked a huge smile across his face and slowly brushed passed her heading for the exit.
"See you in court Colonel."
'What the hell was that? Crap. That sorry ass bastard set me up. He did the one thing that he knew would rattle my cage and I was impervious to his charm. Sometimes I could just strangle him. Of course, I would have much preferred the "jumping his bones" scenario.'
It was at this moment that Mac realized she was not alone in the break room. Wiping the goofy smile off her face, she looked up she could see Bud staring at her while the corners of his mouth were twitching upwards as he resisted grinning from ear to ear. The Colonel felt a second wave of heat rise to her cheeks, only this time it was in embarrassment.
"He got to you didn't he Ma'am?"
"He certainly did not Lieutenant. The Commander thinks that he can just charm anyone he wants with his cute fly boy smile and his musky cologne and his dress whites and.what was I talking about?"
"Something about your ability to resist the many charms of Commander Rabb ma'am."
"Right, as I was saying Bud."
"So is this what we call work these days people?" the Admiral interjected.
Like finely tuned machines, Lt. Roberts and Colonel MacKenzie snapped to attention and sounded off a resounding 'No Sir' in unison.
"Well then why don't we return to our office Lieutenant and get busy doing some work," the Admiral continued as he glared at Lt. Robert's staunch form.
With a quick 'Yes Sir' the Lieutenant scurried off leaving the Colonel to face the wrath alone.
"At ease Colonel."
"Thank you sir."
The Admiral looked at the Colonel and immediately realized that she seemed somewhat.distracted.
"Is there something wrong Colonel?"
"Not at all Sir, Bud and I were just discussing our case and about Commander Rabb's attempts at mind games. Apparently he doesn't have a very good case because he is just trying to rattle us early." The Colonel knew her excuse was lame but the Admiral either missed this or chose to ignore it.
"Well, Colonel, speaking of Commander Rabb, I need to see both you and the Commander in my office immediately."
"Understood Sir. Sir, if I may, is there some problem?" The Colonel did not like being pulled into the Admiral's office unexpectedly as it usually meant she was in some kind of trouble.
"Colonel, I don't want to have to explain this twice. Just find Rabb and both of you report to my office ASAP." The Admiral turned to leave.
"Yes Sir."
Upon the Admiral's departure, Mac made her way over to Harm's office. As she stepped inside the Commander looked up from his desk and gave her that fly boy grin.
"So Colonel, finally get that tongue of yours untied?" Harm was definitely loving this.
The Colonel steadied herself so as not to go weak in the knees and glared at the Commander. "In regards to our previous conversation Commander, we will be discussing your inappropriate behavior later. For now, the Admiral has requested we join him in his office immediately."
Harm's smile quickly faded. 'Oh shit, what did I do now? Surely the Colonel didn't report him. I mean, this wasn't the first time they had flirted at work. Maybe I have really stepped over the line this time.' In an effort to try and make amends before facing the firing squad Harm jumped quickly to an apology. "Mac, I'm sorry if I."
"Stow it Commander," the Colonel turned and started out of the office. "I don't want to hear it." She put as much distance between herself and Commander Rabb so he couldn't see the grin that was threatening to spread across her entire face.
Harm stood and slowly left his office like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs. 'Of all the stupid things I could have done, I pushed Mac over the line and now she has reported me. I guess it is time to go and salvage what is left of my career. Maybe I would make a good Navy janitor."
After a quick knock and a resounding "Enter" Harm made his way into hel.that is the Admiral's office. He very quickly stood at attention.
"Commander Rabb, reporting as ordered, sir"
"At ease Commander, and take a seat. The Colonel and I were just waiting for you to arrive."
'Yes Sir, and Admiral, if I may sir, I would first like to apologize for my earlier behavior. I was only playing the game as the Colonel and I normally play it sir and I was not intentionally trying to step over the line."
The Admiral stared on in complete bewilderment. 'These two need to.do something to ease the tension around here.' "Commander, why is it that every time I call you to my office unexpectedly you automatically assume that I am mad at you or that you need to be disciplined?"
At the Commander's blank stare the Admiral realized the absurdity of his last statement. "Okay, so it usually means that you are in trouble, but not this time. That is unless Colonel MacKenzie has something she would like to share with the group?"
Throughout the entire conversation between the Admiral and the Commander, Mac had kept her head low and did everything she could to keep from laughing. Harm was burying himself with every word he spoke and didn't even realize that she was still playing the game. Oh, and what a sweet victory it would be.
"Colonel, are you paying attention?"
Finally aware the Admiral was speaking to her Mac quickly recovered. "Yes Sir. I was.just thinking about the court case that starts in 8 minutes and 46 seconds."
This set the Admiral back, even if for a second. 'How in the hell does she do that. I swear, she is an adopted Swiss child if I have ever seen one.' "May I assume that you have no problem with the Commander that requires my immediate attention or the firing squad?"
A small smile crept across Mac's face. "No Sir, I will deal with the Commander's transgression later, in my own way."
"God, I hope so," murmured the Admiral.
Mac's head snapped back to the Admiral immediately. "Sir?"
Quickly recovering, the Admiral decided it was time for a new topic. "Never mind Colonel, let's move on shall we?" He waited for their nods of approval. "As of 0820 this morning the two of you are no longer on the Henderson case about to go to trial."
Harms stunned face said it all. "But Sir, did we do someth."
"No Commander, you did not do anything wrong to warrant being pulled off this case. At least, nothing I have heard of yet. And for the rest of this conversation Commander, why don't you sit there quietly and let me finish before jumping in and digging yourself a bigger hole, okay?"
"Yes Sir."
"As I was saying, the two of you are being pulled off of the Henderson court martial to take over an investigation in Colorado."
Mac raised her eyebrow with intrigue. "Colorado Sir? Not too many naval bases there."
"You are correct Colonel. That is why you and the Commander are heading for an Air Force installation. More specifically, Petersen Air Force Base in Colorado Springs."
"Air Force base sir. What, did the Air Force run out of lawyers?" the Commander interjected.
"No, you two will be investigating a Marine there by the name of Major Thomas Wilkins."
Mac now got into the conversation. "Marines on an Air Force Base? Did I miss something Sir?"
"Well Colonel, if you did you wouldn't be the first. Apparently the SECNAV is just as confused as you are right now. He too was unaware of a contingent of Marines stationed at Petersen. Apparently their presence there is highly top secret. Hell, even I was turned away when I questioned the Base Commander this morning, a General George Hammond, about the job requirements of Marines on his base. His response to me was 'need to know.' Apparently, I don't need to know and the two of you do."
Harm quickly jumped in. "Admiral, if I may, what is the nature of the Colonel's and my job upon arrival at Petersen Sir?"
"That too Commander is "need to know." I am only assuming that the two of you have been chosen because the soldier in question is a Marine and you both have worked on numerous high security cases before."
Harm's curiosity suddenly took a nose dive. "Sir, please tell me this is not another one of Webb's missions?
"Actually Commander, that was the first thing I thought of when I was 'informed' by the SECNAV that the two of you were personally requested. The fact is though, this has nothing to do with Webb this time. Apparently, you two have made quite a name for yourselves all on your own."
Harm and Mac stole a quick glance at each other as they digested everything the Admiral had just said. They were to report to an Air Force Base in the middle of Colorado to investigate a Marine stationed there. That's it. No other information available. Neither one of them could quite quell their churning stomachs as they both realized that they were probably walking into something that neither one wanted to be involved in.
The Admiral snapped them out of their reverie. "Okay people, that is all. Here are your mission itineraries. Your point of contacts upon arrival at Petersen will be a Colonel Jack O'Neill and a Major Samantha Carter, both USAF. They will be your.tour guides so to speak. You fly out of Andrews at 0800 tomorrow morning. Any other questions?"
The Commander and Colonel both resounded off a "No Sir."
"Very well. You two are dismissed." The Admiral waited until they had almost reached the door of his office. "Oh, Commander.Colonel?" The two exiting officers turned to their CO. "I know that this request will probably be ignored like most of my others but.please stay out of trouble."
The Commander and Colonel took one look at each other as the smiles slowly spread across their faces. They both knew that the Admiral's request would never be fulfilled but they would never tell him that. Instead, they resounded back with a quick "Yes Sir."
As they left the office and entered the Bullpen there was only one thought on their collective minds; 'Let the games begin.'
1225 Zulu JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia
"Hello Commander, how are you this morning?"
"I am good Bud. How is Harriet doing?"
Mornings in the break room at JAG Headquarters were one of the few times that Harmon Rabb Jr. felt like a normal person. He would stand there making his coffee while exchanging pointless, yet very important, conversation with his co-workers. Once out of the sanctity of this little room, the gloves came off and the world of justice reared its ugly head. Sometimes Harm was taken aback by the entirely crazy world he lived in from day to day. For example, here he was exchanging pleasantries with Bud Roberts, one of his closest and most trusted friends. In thirty five minutes he would be standing across the aisle from the Lieutenant ready to square off in a very heated court martial case in which he was defending and Bud was sitting second chair for the prosecution. If that wasn't bad enough, the officer sitting first chair across from him was an even bigger conundrum.
"Hello gentlemen, already getting our coffee fix for the morning?"
Speak of the devil with the most impeccable timing. Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, his nemesis. Harm had never argued with or fought against any other person more in life than the woman standing next to him making herself a cup of hot tea. She challenged him at every turn and was the cause for some of the latest nights burning the midnight oil and restless nights of sleep. She caused more trouble for him than anyone else he had ever met. And the truth is, he loved her for it. She was the greatest thing that ever happened to him because she made him a better person. Of course, he would never tell her that unless subjected to the most extreme torture imaginable. Between his Fighter Jock pride and her Jarhead arrogance, that little piece of intel was something that he would keep a secret forever. Or at least until she was the torturer.
"Earth to Harm. Commander Rabb, you still with us?"
Harm snapped from his reverie and wiped away the grin threatening to creep across his face.
"Sorry, just lost in thought for a moment," Harm replied.
The Colonel did nothing to wipe the smirk on her face. "Oh really, what.are you thinking of the major butt kicking coming your way in 28 minutes and 13 seconds?"
Harm bit back the snarky remark he knew he wanted to say and followed up with his famous fly boy grin. "Mac, if I were you, I would stow the psychological warfare for a case that actually has merit. I will not succumb to your games nor will I respond to your haughty attitude with a response. Except maybe to say that I know your "tell" and I know something you don't want me to know."
Mac looked back incredulously. He was bluffing and she knew it. "Oh really, and what is this so called "tell" you think you know Commander?"
Instantly, Harm turned to the Colonel and descended upon her so quickly that she braced herself for the impending collision. To her relief, the impact did not follow. Unfortunately, all relief flew out the window as the Colonel immediately became aware of the Commander's proximity to her. If either one of them moved a couple of inches forward, their lips would meet in a heated kiss. The Colonel sucked in her breathe and dared not move. Technically, she could call "Red Light" at this moment forcing the Commander to back off or face the consequences. Fortunately for her, she apparently lost all ability to speak at this exact moment in time.
The Commander was mere inches from death at this moment. Harm was a great soldier and could hold his own in a fight, but he was not stupid enough to think that the Colonel could not do immense damage to him if she chose. The Commander approached his next statement carefully so as to ensure the best results in this little game. "What I know Colonel," Harm whispered, "is that you always try to bait me into an argument whenever you have a weak case. As soon as those snarky words leave your lips (emphasis on the word lips), I know I have you right where I want you Sarah.in a corner."
The Colonel couldn't move. She could feel the heat rising up her body into her cheeks. Her mind was screaming for her to jump him right there in the break room. As she looked up from Harm's mouth as he quietly spoke to her, she found him staring back at her with his intense blue eyes. What was that in his eyes? It almost seemed like.desire, passion. And then, right when she couldn't take it anymore, Harm cracked a huge smile across his face and slowly brushed passed her heading for the exit.
"See you in court Colonel."
'What the hell was that? Crap. That sorry ass bastard set me up. He did the one thing that he knew would rattle my cage and I was impervious to his charm. Sometimes I could just strangle him. Of course, I would have much preferred the "jumping his bones" scenario.'
It was at this moment that Mac realized she was not alone in the break room. Wiping the goofy smile off her face, she looked up she could see Bud staring at her while the corners of his mouth were twitching upwards as he resisted grinning from ear to ear. The Colonel felt a second wave of heat rise to her cheeks, only this time it was in embarrassment.
"He got to you didn't he Ma'am?"
"He certainly did not Lieutenant. The Commander thinks that he can just charm anyone he wants with his cute fly boy smile and his musky cologne and his dress whites and.what was I talking about?"
"Something about your ability to resist the many charms of Commander Rabb ma'am."
"Right, as I was saying Bud."
"So is this what we call work these days people?" the Admiral interjected.
Like finely tuned machines, Lt. Roberts and Colonel MacKenzie snapped to attention and sounded off a resounding 'No Sir' in unison.
"Well then why don't we return to our office Lieutenant and get busy doing some work," the Admiral continued as he glared at Lt. Robert's staunch form.
With a quick 'Yes Sir' the Lieutenant scurried off leaving the Colonel to face the wrath alone.
"At ease Colonel."
"Thank you sir."
The Admiral looked at the Colonel and immediately realized that she seemed somewhat.distracted.
"Is there something wrong Colonel?"
"Not at all Sir, Bud and I were just discussing our case and about Commander Rabb's attempts at mind games. Apparently he doesn't have a very good case because he is just trying to rattle us early." The Colonel knew her excuse was lame but the Admiral either missed this or chose to ignore it.
"Well, Colonel, speaking of Commander Rabb, I need to see both you and the Commander in my office immediately."
"Understood Sir. Sir, if I may, is there some problem?" The Colonel did not like being pulled into the Admiral's office unexpectedly as it usually meant she was in some kind of trouble.
"Colonel, I don't want to have to explain this twice. Just find Rabb and both of you report to my office ASAP." The Admiral turned to leave.
"Yes Sir."
Upon the Admiral's departure, Mac made her way over to Harm's office. As she stepped inside the Commander looked up from his desk and gave her that fly boy grin.
"So Colonel, finally get that tongue of yours untied?" Harm was definitely loving this.
The Colonel steadied herself so as not to go weak in the knees and glared at the Commander. "In regards to our previous conversation Commander, we will be discussing your inappropriate behavior later. For now, the Admiral has requested we join him in his office immediately."
Harm's smile quickly faded. 'Oh shit, what did I do now? Surely the Colonel didn't report him. I mean, this wasn't the first time they had flirted at work. Maybe I have really stepped over the line this time.' In an effort to try and make amends before facing the firing squad Harm jumped quickly to an apology. "Mac, I'm sorry if I."
"Stow it Commander," the Colonel turned and started out of the office. "I don't want to hear it." She put as much distance between herself and Commander Rabb so he couldn't see the grin that was threatening to spread across her entire face.
Harm stood and slowly left his office like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs. 'Of all the stupid things I could have done, I pushed Mac over the line and now she has reported me. I guess it is time to go and salvage what is left of my career. Maybe I would make a good Navy janitor."
After a quick knock and a resounding "Enter" Harm made his way into hel.that is the Admiral's office. He very quickly stood at attention.
"Commander Rabb, reporting as ordered, sir"
"At ease Commander, and take a seat. The Colonel and I were just waiting for you to arrive."
'Yes Sir, and Admiral, if I may sir, I would first like to apologize for my earlier behavior. I was only playing the game as the Colonel and I normally play it sir and I was not intentionally trying to step over the line."
The Admiral stared on in complete bewilderment. 'These two need to.do something to ease the tension around here.' "Commander, why is it that every time I call you to my office unexpectedly you automatically assume that I am mad at you or that you need to be disciplined?"
At the Commander's blank stare the Admiral realized the absurdity of his last statement. "Okay, so it usually means that you are in trouble, but not this time. That is unless Colonel MacKenzie has something she would like to share with the group?"
Throughout the entire conversation between the Admiral and the Commander, Mac had kept her head low and did everything she could to keep from laughing. Harm was burying himself with every word he spoke and didn't even realize that she was still playing the game. Oh, and what a sweet victory it would be.
"Colonel, are you paying attention?"
Finally aware the Admiral was speaking to her Mac quickly recovered. "Yes Sir. I was.just thinking about the court case that starts in 8 minutes and 46 seconds."
This set the Admiral back, even if for a second. 'How in the hell does she do that. I swear, she is an adopted Swiss child if I have ever seen one.' "May I assume that you have no problem with the Commander that requires my immediate attention or the firing squad?"
A small smile crept across Mac's face. "No Sir, I will deal with the Commander's transgression later, in my own way."
"God, I hope so," murmured the Admiral.
Mac's head snapped back to the Admiral immediately. "Sir?"
Quickly recovering, the Admiral decided it was time for a new topic. "Never mind Colonel, let's move on shall we?" He waited for their nods of approval. "As of 0820 this morning the two of you are no longer on the Henderson case about to go to trial."
Harms stunned face said it all. "But Sir, did we do someth."
"No Commander, you did not do anything wrong to warrant being pulled off this case. At least, nothing I have heard of yet. And for the rest of this conversation Commander, why don't you sit there quietly and let me finish before jumping in and digging yourself a bigger hole, okay?"
"Yes Sir."
"As I was saying, the two of you are being pulled off of the Henderson court martial to take over an investigation in Colorado."
Mac raised her eyebrow with intrigue. "Colorado Sir? Not too many naval bases there."
"You are correct Colonel. That is why you and the Commander are heading for an Air Force installation. More specifically, Petersen Air Force Base in Colorado Springs."
"Air Force base sir. What, did the Air Force run out of lawyers?" the Commander interjected.
"No, you two will be investigating a Marine there by the name of Major Thomas Wilkins."
Mac now got into the conversation. "Marines on an Air Force Base? Did I miss something Sir?"
"Well Colonel, if you did you wouldn't be the first. Apparently the SECNAV is just as confused as you are right now. He too was unaware of a contingent of Marines stationed at Petersen. Apparently their presence there is highly top secret. Hell, even I was turned away when I questioned the Base Commander this morning, a General George Hammond, about the job requirements of Marines on his base. His response to me was 'need to know.' Apparently, I don't need to know and the two of you do."
Harm quickly jumped in. "Admiral, if I may, what is the nature of the Colonel's and my job upon arrival at Petersen Sir?"
"That too Commander is "need to know." I am only assuming that the two of you have been chosen because the soldier in question is a Marine and you both have worked on numerous high security cases before."
Harm's curiosity suddenly took a nose dive. "Sir, please tell me this is not another one of Webb's missions?
"Actually Commander, that was the first thing I thought of when I was 'informed' by the SECNAV that the two of you were personally requested. The fact is though, this has nothing to do with Webb this time. Apparently, you two have made quite a name for yourselves all on your own."
Harm and Mac stole a quick glance at each other as they digested everything the Admiral had just said. They were to report to an Air Force Base in the middle of Colorado to investigate a Marine stationed there. That's it. No other information available. Neither one of them could quite quell their churning stomachs as they both realized that they were probably walking into something that neither one wanted to be involved in.
The Admiral snapped them out of their reverie. "Okay people, that is all. Here are your mission itineraries. Your point of contacts upon arrival at Petersen will be a Colonel Jack O'Neill and a Major Samantha Carter, both USAF. They will be your.tour guides so to speak. You fly out of Andrews at 0800 tomorrow morning. Any other questions?"
The Commander and Colonel both resounded off a "No Sir."
"Very well. You two are dismissed." The Admiral waited until they had almost reached the door of his office. "Oh, Commander.Colonel?" The two exiting officers turned to their CO. "I know that this request will probably be ignored like most of my others but.please stay out of trouble."
The Commander and Colonel took one look at each other as the smiles slowly spread across their faces. They both knew that the Admiral's request would never be fulfilled but they would never tell him that. Instead, they resounded back with a quick "Yes Sir."
As they left the office and entered the Bullpen there was only one thought on their collective minds; 'Let the games begin.'