Thank you!!!!!!!!
beegirl: Awww!!! Yeah, it's gonna get a little sad, but dramatic. Ah, I wish I could slow down time so this story wouldn't be almost over!!! LoL, well, I figured Webb found out what Grace was doing, and somehow his heart told him to help out a little bit. There will be some aftermath of his decision in this chappy. LoL, and Eric as a CIA-kid was spur of the moment, it just seemed to make sense! Hey, thank you for reading and talkin' to me!!!! See ya next week!!!
MarineJAG: Yay! I'm so glad you like it! And don't worry, this story will never be late. There will always be new updates every Friday!!!! See ya next week!!
Pissed Off Poet: Well, she pretty much told him in the last chapter. She just didn't say exactly how. But it'll all be much better in this chapter! Oh, thank you! When I see Harriet and Bud, I look at the perfect couple. The two of them are so cute together and I want to have them in this more often. Mmmhmmm, seems you're reading my mind...we all know how curious those two get, they'd have to conduct their own investigation :D. Thank you!! See ya next week!!!!!!
Mimmi: Welcome back, mimmi! Glad your computer is up and working again!!! Hehe, well, I have the ending all worked out and some of it written, so there is a plan. And, heh, that is a very good question (will she be sent back at *all*?), and I don't think I'm gonna answer it...just that...life finds a way...*more eerie music plays*...I've grown to become quite fond of Eric, and I'd like to see the relationship between him and Grace expand. But that's all I'm sayin' about that *zips mouth*...And I can't *wait* for you to read about the hearing and what's happening to Singer, so I better shut up and let you read :D !! Thank you again!!!
Prillygirl: Oh, thank you so much! LoL, you truly never know how many ppl read this unless they review, lol! Thank you so much for reading!! See ya next week!!!
AngelQueen: Yes, that was a little angsty. But Grace and Harm's relationship will improve by the end of this chappy! Do not worry yourself! :D Heehee! Well, to find out the answers to the rest of your great questions, look below :) Thank you so much for reading and telling me what you think! See ya next week!!!
maggie: Ah! You're questions shall be answered below! :D Thank you! See ya next week!!!!!
DD2: LoL! Well, the wait is over (for this chappy anyway ;)!! Thank you! LOL, I luv you too!!!!!! :D
Chloe1: Thank you so much! Ah, I couldn't wait to get started writing this chapter!!! Hehe, and you'll also find out who Eric is in the next chapter. Thanks! See ya next week!!!!
e-dog: Yes, it was rough! I feel bad for Grace!! And the German isn't completely correct, but it gets the message across :D. See ya next week!! Ah! And look! You're lucky number *ding—ding—ding!* ~~*200*~~ on the review list!!! *does big happy dance* THANK YOU, E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ArwenUndomiel: Hey! LoL, you're right, I won't tell :D! But trying is always good! You never know, I may just let something slip! :-) Well, maybe one of Eric's parents is in the CIA. Thank you, I luv his character as well!!!! Oh my, I don't think I could live six weeks without JAG. I hope you've taped some episodes in the past to get your daily JAG fix!!! You're right, it is like going back to square one. But read on, and I think you'll like what's gonna happen ;) Thank you!!!! See ya next week!!!!!
Hazel: Hey there! Thank you so much! See ya next week!
kiwi: Heehee! Yes, we are reaching the core parts of the story! And I can't wait until you read the ending that's coming up (about three or so chapters away)!!! See ya next week!!!!!
Emma15: LoL, I was feelin' bad for Grace as I was writing it!!! Thank you so much! You're right, we haven't seen as much interaction between Grace and her mother, and this will give them a chance to bond some as you'll see in this chapter. LoL, Eric being the son of a spook was kind of spur-of-the-moment, but it worked, so I kept it. Ahahaha, and who said I'd have anything change the future....*more eerie music plays*....*looks around*....shhhh..... :D Thanks again! See ya next week!!!
#1jagfan: LoL, well, I'll tell you now it's not a dream, you'll see that in the coming chapters. Heh, but there are a lot of things going on at one times, that's what makes it so much fun! Thank you for reading, and I'll see ya next week!!!!
Moonlights Sundance: I know, I felt bad for her as I was writing it! But it'll all smooth out (mostly) in this chapter. Thanks a bunch for reading!! See ya next week!!!!
jagchick105: LoL, yes, things have gotten yet *more* complicated, if that's even possible!!! Ha, and having Eric as a CIA kid was totally spur-of-the-moment, I had no intention of that happening, it just looked really good, and Grace can use that when trying to make up with him. Oh, thank you! Grace is probably my most favorite character I've written about, and I'll hate it when I finish this story (but there may be a sequel!). LoL, well, I must admit, I was up late Thursday night adding a few things, but otherwise, I just work on this right after school (I'm homeschooled) and I can usually get it done by Thursday. But it's been difficult in the past. I've pulled some all-Thursday-nighters finishing a chapter...*looks around*...shhhhh....anywho, thank you again! Oh, you're kidding! You're 16 on Dec. 28th??? Happy early birthday!! Lol, that's my mom's birthday too! I was always jealous as a little kid cause "mommy gots presents before I's did!!!!" (the bad grammar is on purpose :D). See ya next week!!!!
carby24/7: LoL, you're very welcome! If you ever have any questions, plz ask, and I'll answer them the best I can! Oh, I know, isn't he ugly??? *shudders*, yucky!!! Haha, Eric being a CIA kid was totally spur-of-the-moment, but it just seemed so right to finish the conversation between Grace and Agent Laux. Thank you! LoL, I wouldn't know what to *do* for twenty chapters!!!! I think, including this one, there will be about three more. The last two is a 2-Part conclusion. So it'll be a cliffhanger. But anywho, I'll think about something else that will maybe extend a little and postpone the conclusion. I dunno, I just hafta think about it. Thanks again! See ya next week!!!!!
girlgunner: LoL, I'm very much looking forward to the court scenes. It'll start with a hearing, then there will be enough evidence for a court marshal. But then some stuff is gonna happen, and the court marshal might be...cancelled...lol, Harm and paternal instincts are so funny. I can see him as protective (I'm curious as to how he handles the whole "Mattie" situation...). Hope ya enjoy this chappy! See ya next week!!!
Nikole1025: LoL, thank you so much!!!! Haha, cliffhangers are the best *snicker*...oh no! plz don't die! *hurries and goes back to writing* Ah! And look! You're lucky number ~*210*~ on the review list!! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, NIKOLE!!!!!
motormouth: Hey! Thank you! Um, oh, what the heck, you'll read it in this chapter anyway...Eric's father is in the CIA. See ya next week!!!!
Pennithil: LOL, spooky it is, pennit!!! Ah, I can't wait for you to read this chappy, so I'm gonna shut it and let ya read!!!! See ya next week!!!!!
JagSister: Aw, it's okay! Wow, you're busy!! What's the performance about?? Good lucky with memorizing! Ich, I hate cleaning the house, but it's the "family contribution" which I think I've used earlier in the story :D. Thank you! Eric is such a fun character. You'll see what I'm gonna do with Eric and Grace further into the story. LOL, you guys never bore me!!!! Oh, goody! Plz do continue "Livin' the High Life" and I so wanna know what happens!!!!! Once again, good luck with drama!!!! See ya next week!!
CharmedMummy: *jumps up in down because Mummy reviewed* Omg, I love your questions!!!! LoL, let's start from the beginning! Eric's little secret was completely spur-of-the-moment when I was writing that scene. I thought it would be a nice little twist, and easier for Grace to explain to Eric what everyone at JAG thinks they know. Okay, you so had me really laughing when you said you figured out when nov. 6th would be in 2021. But, since this is staged in the middle of the eighth season, it's more like at the end of year 2002. Because if it were nov. of 2003, then this would be set in the current season. But nonetheless, I must admit I didn't try that hard to figure out what day it would be *hides in shame*, I just picked one out that looked nice in my mind :D. But you have *such* good eyes, pointing out that Harm might have thought it to be a different day, and wondering why Grace didn't say anything. I have to read some of your stuff, you must be an incredible writer!!! LoL, and I learned the word "aperture" from last year's vocabulary book. I don't know how I remembered it, I guess I just liked the way it sounded. Yeah, I know Grace's question about the search warrant was pretty basic, and I could have thought of something more technical, but I admit I didn't spend much time on that part of the chapter. There were so many things I wanted to get down before I forgot them...you know how it is. Um, not sure exactly what you mean with Harriet. I mean, nobody knew Singer was pregnant or that she was having an affair, until, you know. So I'm not sure how Harriet could offer any comfort to Singer. Yeah, I kind of figured Grace still followed them around, kept watch at that cafe, stuff like that to see if Singer broke it off or not. (Answer to your sidenote: I know fraternization charges are stricter in the Marines, Mac got in trouble when she had it goin' on with some colonel, I forget the details, it was an old episode. But then it gets a little complicated. Bud has always been a rank higher than Harriet, but they *were* in the same chain of command before they were married. I know on a carrier, it's strictly forbidden to have any relationship. So, since I'm not a lawyer (aw, shucks), I'm going to assume an officer of considerably higher rank having an affair with a junior officer is illegal (one also must take into account that Lindsey is married). I have access to the UCMJ from a site, so I'm going to look through it to see if I can find anything more about this to help the story)....wow, that was a long sidenote, lol. Ahaha, the questions in the hearing you shall read below!! Oh, and you're not insane! You're brilliant! You catch some things I didn't even *think* of!!! Thank you soooo much, and see ya next week!!!!
A/N: This is my longest chapter yet. Hope ya'll like it. I also want all you folks to remember I'm not a JAG lawyer (ohh, I wish I was, I wish I was!), and the court scenes I did to the best of my ability. :D have fun!
On with the story!!!
Chapter 9: Ashes to Ashes, We All Fall Down1130 ZULU
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown, Virginia
Mac had insisted on giving Grace the bed, and the marine slept through the night on the couch. Grace was kind of glad. She hadn't slept on a real mattress for nearly two weeks now. The pullout bed at Harm's was okay for a while, but her back was starting to stress a little. And she didn't have the heart to ask Harm to sleep on the couch. But this time, Grace gladly accepted Mac's invitation to take her bed.
She heard her mother moving around the apartment, getting ready. It was Friday morning, and the hearing was scheduled at 0900. Grace still thought about the conversation she had with her mother the night before. Harm was going to ask some...difficult questions. Mac also told her that he couldn't think of himself as her father, guardian, or even a friend. In the courtroom, she was going to be the defense's enemy witness, and she couldn't take it personally. Grace was still scared silly though. Even if it was just going to be a hearing. If it moved to court marshal, which Mac was certain of, Grace had a reason to be even more frightened. There would be so many important people there. The judge, jury, all the spectators. Her stomach tightened.
But Mac and her went over what her story would be: "She recognized Commander Lindsey entering Singer's apartment, and being as curious as any teenager was, Grace decided to investigate. But she never expected it to go this far." Grace had come up with a story similar to that, and then Mac worked out the flaws.
Grace sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes. Sunshine fought to get through the curtains in Mac's room, but instead came out the edges, casting the outline of the window on the floor and bed. This day would change her. This day and the next, and the one after that. Grace tossed the covers aside and swung her legs to the floor. She wouldn't let her fear consume her. If she wanted to appear innocent, she had to act like she didn't worry. Because if you are innocent, then what do you have to worry about?
***
Mac knocked on the bedroom door for the third time. "Come on, Grace, let's go! We're leaving in twenty-three minutes!"
The door opened gingerly and Grace stepped back, letting her hands drop to her sides. "It isn't fancy, but I didn't bring much." She wore bell-bottomed khakis and a cream-colored, form-fitting, turtleneck sweater and the black leather boots Mac had bought for her two weeks ago.
Mac smiled, looking her over. "That's fine. Now come and eat some breakfast."
Grace followed her mother to the kitchen, passing the living room, or what was left of it. Papers and books were scattered over the couch and coffee table. A blanket sat crumpled up on one couch, and another blanket had fallen onto the floor. Mac's pillow was also still crunched against the arm of the couch, the imprint of her head still in it. Jingo, who'd been sleeping on the fallen blanket, followed Grace and her mother to the kitchen.
"Has Harm ever been mad at you?" Grace asked as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.
Her mother laughed. "Sure, we've both been ticked off at each other one time or another."
"How long did he stay mad at you?"
It clicked in Mac's head why her daughter was asking this. She put down her coffee, and put her hands on Grace's shoulders so she could speak to her eye-to-eye.
"Hey...he loves you, remember? What happens in that courtroom today is strictly business."
Grace shook her head, shrugging her mother's hands off her shoulders. "He had that look in his eyes, Mac. Just like when—" Grace stopped when she realized the look her father had on his face yesterday, was exactly the same at the dinner table two weeks ago...when she mentioned Vietnam. "Oh, man..." She said tensely. Her body trembled when she thought about it more. No matter what she did, it seemed Grace could still find a way to hurt him. She had kept telling herself that being here was like being given a second chance. But she blew this one too! And she didn't even realize until nearly a day later! Suddenly feeling like the lowest human being on earth, Grace slumped into the chair at the kitchen table. Her mother joined her, a look of concern on her face.
"Grace—really, you're going to be fine." Mac insisted, thinking Grace was still upset about the hearing. But she was way past that. The hearing was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment. She was more concerned about that fact that despite being granted the ultimate wish, she still managed a way to really tick off her father.
***
1338 ZULU
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm watched his client's expression as he told her the bad news. Lindsey had skipped town when he'd been notified about the hearing. Or that's what his wife said. She'd come home to find his clothes scattered throughout the bedroom, and the suitcase gone. And now a warrant was out for his arrest. Singer couldn't have been less interested. She was more concerned about the hearing, understandably. Though Harm thought she might have shown a little grief, but it was like Lindsey didn't even exist to her.
Harm had tried to convince his client to deal, but she refused to do any brig time, which he knew Mac was going to offer. Singer wanted to try her luck at the hearing (which undoubtedly would lead to court marshal) and perhaps get away with a dismissal and forfeiture of pay without any brig time.
Harm leaned forward in his office chair, going through the files in front of him. Singer sat across from him, her expression deadpan.
"Looks like our best defense is to bring out your record, emphasize that it's outstanding, and defend your right to continue your job in the Navy despite making a stupid mistake."
Singer scoffed. "But it'll still be on my record!"
Harm's gaze shifted to Singer. "Well, Lieutenant, you should have thought of that before having an affair."
Singer didn't have a response to that and she crossed her arms, looking down at the floor.
"Do you want to stay in the Navy?" Harm inquired.
Singer's head shot up and she straightened her spine in the chair. "Of course I do, sir!"
"Good. Remember that in court."
The lieutenant sighed and rose from the chair, standing at attention. Harm nodded at the door. "You're dismissed."
Without an, "aye, aye, sir," she turned on her heel and left the office. Harm rubbed his eyes, not really looking forward to the hearing. If Singer's affair had come out in a different way, perhaps an anonymous tip, or they were simply caught, he wouldn't have any problem with defending her. But since it didn't happen like that, he was forced into a difficult position. Part of his defense was to discredit the prosecution's chief witness—his daughter. Granted, he was still mad at her, but he understood why she did what she did. Grace knew something bad was going to happen, and without regard to herself, she jumped on it and tried to stop it. He had to give her some credit though, she did do it legally...well, mostly legally. But Harm would never forget the look on Mac's face when the admiral announced that he would defend. Harm couldn't even imagine what his expression was. Mac said it was a cross between just finding out your wife was pregnant but then realizing you weren't the dad. Harm thought it was a strange metaphor, but he didn't even try to question Mac's logic.
Harm collected the papers he would need for the hearing, which was in twenty minutes, and placed them in his briefcase. Leaving his office, Harm practiced his opening statement in his head.
Your Honor, Lieutenant Singer made a mistake. One that she was going to rectify, quietly and privately so as to avoid—
Harm stopped short when he collided with a figure. He opened his mouth to apologize, but froze after he looked down and saw his daughter standing rigidly hugging a small stack of files to her chest. Her lips were also parted, like she was about to apologize, but no words came out and she simply stared. Harm wasn't sure how long they stood there awkwardly, each wondering if they should say something. It must have only been a few seconds, because no one else around them seemed to notice the awkward encounter. And almost immediately, they brushed past each other and continued in opposite directions.
***
1412 ZULU
Commander Holford's Courtroom
"The government calls Grace Rabb."
Grace twiddled her thumbs in the seat behind her mother. She picked up her head for the first time since she entered the courtroom and looked around. Since it was still just a hearing, there wasn't a jury. But Judge Holford, sitting on that seat five feet off the ground was intimidating enough. And Grace didn't even look in the direction where the defendant's table was. She couldn't stomach seeing her father's or Singer's faces.
Grace stood, feeling her knees buckle a little, but she gained whatever confidence was left and walked toward the witness stand. She turned around and her mother came up to her.
"Raise your right hand," Mac said, "Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
Grace swallowed. She was about to lie under oath. Though her family was never a strongly religious one, her parents still nudged the belief of God onto their children. But Grace couldn't help but think God was standing over her shoulder, shaking His gray-haired head (her childhood image of Him) knowing she was about to lie, despite making this promise to Him. But He had to understand that it could be done no other way. Right? Grace shook away the image of Him, as this huge guy in a white cloak beating her head with a wooden staff.
"I swear."
"Please be seated."
Somehow, in the process of turning back around and climbing up onto the witness stand, she still managed to completely block out the defense table from her view. Her mother crossed her arms and gave a small smile. Her way of saying, "Here we are, and you're going to be fine. Just keep looking at me."
"Miss Rabb, what were you doing on the night of November fifth?"
Grace opened her mouth to answer but faltered when one of the large court doors opened. Clayton Webb entered and sat down behind the prosecution side, giving a nod to Bud, who was Mac's co-counsel. Grace's gaze fell back on her mother.
"I was with a friend at a cafe in D.C."
"And wasn't this cafe across from the defendant's apartment?"
Grace nodded, still looking straight at her mother. "Apparently."
"What happened next?"
Grace crossed and uncrossed her hands in her lap, and she was fortunate no one could see them. "I noticed Lieutenant Singer pull up and go inside. Then a few minutes later, Commander Lindsey, in civvies, also went into the apartment."
"So, it was a social meeting?"
"Objection, speculation."
Mac slightly rolled her eyes in Harm's direction.
"Sustained." Holford ordered.
"I'll rephrase—what did you think Commander Lindsey was there for?"
Grace felt her palms getting sweaty and she placed them flat on her lap. "I—I found it strange, since it was almost 2100 on a Friday night. And it didn't look like he was there for business."
Mac nodded, giving her a boost of assurance.
"You had a camera with you, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"You took pictures of the defendant and Commander Lindsey."
"Yeah, I had recently joined yearbook class at my high school. The teacher requested for homework that I take pictures of every day life—in the city, in the park, that sort of thing. I was there for that reason."
Mac backed up to the prosecution table where Bud handed her a labeled plastic bag. She then held it up in front of Grace.
"What is this?"
"That looks like the tape that I recorded the conversation between me and Lieutenant Singer."
Mac turned to Holford. "May I play it, your honor?"
The woman nodded.
Mac placed it in a small handheld recorder and she stood in the middle of the courtroom as it played. Grace listened to it, taking notice that her voice sounded different when recorded.
"If you breathe a word of this, you'll regret it!" It was the last thing heard before Mac pushed the stop button. The court was quiet for a moment as Mac placed the tape player back on the desk and finally stepped up to the witness. "Grace, did you mean for it to get this far?"
Grace shook her head, but inside, she was nodding. "Not at all."
"Then why did you go to Lieutenant Singer's CO," Mac then held up the photographs, "with this evidence?"
She shrugged a shoulder. "I suppose I just wanted justice."
Mac nodded and then backed away from the stand. She turned to Harm. "Your witness."
Grace's insides churned. This was it. Harm stood, staring down at the floor for a moment. He then looked up at Grace. It hurt her at first. His expression showed absolutely no emotion.
"How old are you, Miss Rabb?"
Grace cocked an eyebrow. "Sixteen."
He nodded stepping into the central part of the courtroom. "Are you a detective?"
Grace bit her lip, looking down for a moment. She knew immediately where he was going with this. "No."
"An NCIS agent?"
"No."
"A lawyer, perhaps?"
She glanced back up, the shadow of a smile barely visible on her lips. "No, I'm not."
"Yet, you found yourself qualified enough to carry out your own investigation. You spied on Lieutenant Singer," He stated, counting her offenses off his fingers, "you invaded her privacy, searched through her personal belongings."
"Yes, but—"
"You even threatened her!"
Mac leaned forward in her chair. "Objection, speculation and he badgering the witness!"
"Withdrawn."
Grace didn't like how this was going and she gave her mother a look. Mac nonchalantly flattened her hand over the table, telling her to hold on for a little while longer.
Harm crossed his arms and Grace couldn't help but think he was looking very pompous at that moment. "Miss Rabb, do you agree that you could've given this information to someone else? A real lawyer, maybe?"
"...I suppose I could have."
"In fact, you could've even done it anonymously! So isn't it true that this was simply a...bid for attention?"
Mac scoffed. "Objection!"
"Withdrawn—Miss Rabb, isn't it also true you had a parent in the CIA?"
Grace's breath caught in her throat. What was he doing? Grace made a fleeting glance to Webb who had suddenly become awfully curious and Grace was certain her mother was going to have a coronary.
"Objection! Your Honor, the witness's family is completely irrelevant to this hearing!"
Harm turned to the Holford, his expression serious. "Goes to witness's state of mind, Your Honor. If I'd be granted a little leeway, the court will understand where I'm going with this."
Holford narrowed her eyes at the former aviator. "I'll allow it, but tread carefully, Counselor."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
Holford nodded at Grace. "You may answer the question."
She swallowed, preparing to lie again. "Yes, but I'm not allowed to say which one."
"That parent was recently killed, right?"
Feeling she was going to hurl, Grace bit her lip, trying to deter the pain from her stomach. "Yes."
Harm moved closer to the witness stand. "You often didn't have contact with your parent, did you?"
By the look in his eyes, Grace knew he was telling her to play along. So she blinked, trying to bring on the fake tears. "No, I didn't."
His expression positively horrified her now. What was that in his eyes? Sorrow? Pain? Was he just acting? "So, isn't it true you just wanted to make them proud?"
Grace caught his use of "them" and realized he wasn't talking about her "parent" anymore. "What do you mean?"
He was right in front of her now, his expression unreadable. "They're gone, aren't they...and you don't have the chance anymore to show them what you're capable of."
Grace didn't say anything. She wasn't sure if he was acting anymore. In fact, she was certain he was talking to her. Did he really think she did all this just to get his and Mac's attention? That she went through all the trouble and pain just to prove something to them?
Grace licked her dry lips, the tears building up inside her to the point where she didn't have to fake them anymore. Her lower lip trembled and she felt those tiny muscles in her face twitch. Why was he doing this to her? Grace opened her mouth to answer, but her breath caught and she put a hand over her mouth, trying to concentrate on her breathing. Finally gathering enough energy to speak, Grace flopped her hands in her lap again, noticing how cold and dry they were. She then focused on Harm, who was patiently waiting for an answer and Grace nodded.
"I miss them...every day. And I guess doing this...would somehow make me feel like," She paused, not to think up more lies, but just to put together what she was truly feeling, "...make me feel like they could be proud of me one last time."
Harm made a sad, rueful smile. "But you don't need to try and impress them anymore...they're gone."
Grace fixed her father with a hostile stare. He was making her out to be crazy, yet at the same time giving her a message.
Harm handed her a tissue from a pocket within his suit, then glanced up at Holford, who stared at Grace with sympathy. "No further questions."
But Grace wasn't done yet, and her confidence came back with a fierceness. "But that doesn't excuse what they did!"
Harm stopped, turning around.
"Lindsey betrayed his wife," she continued, "his wife!" Grace then turned her neck to look at Singer for the first time, tears of anger streaming down her face, "And you! You betrayed the very laws that you swore to defend! How can you expect to just walk away from that? That's why I turned you in! You sicken me!"
Grace's outburst raised more than a couple eyebrows. The entire court was silent for a good ten seconds. Mac sighed with relief. Harm was almost successful in making out her star witness to be a sad, grief-stricken, teenage girl. But then the kid came back, placing out the facts for all the court to see. Harm seated himself back at the defense table, closing his eyes in defeat. His entire cross-examination was quashed in the twenty-second rant of a teenager. But Grace knew that look. Harm had done it on purpose. He knew full well that she was going to come back at him.
Judge Holford clenched her jaw, and nodded at Mac. "Redirect?"
The marine shook her head. "No, Your Honor.
"You may step down." Holford informed the girl.
Grace's knees felt like rubber bands again as she stepped past her mother and father and sat next to Webb. He didn't look at her and instead continued to study the floor. Grace used the back of her hand and wiped away the stray tears. One thing was certain, she did not want to go up there again.
Holford sighed, crossing her hands over the desk. "We'll recess for lunch, then reconvene at 1300 with my decision." She hit the gavel and stood, triggering the few people in the courtroom to stand as well.
***
1820 ZULU
Harm rocked back and forth in his office chair, his chin resting on his fist, the court scene playing over and over in his mind. One of the most torturous things he had to go through happened that morning, and Harm desperately hoped it wouldn't go to court marshal, but he knew it was a dream. There was more than enough evidence to convict Singer...who refused to speak to her lawyer at the moment.
Someone rapped on the doorframe of Harm's office, shaking him from his troubled thoughts. Sturgis pointed over his shoulder.
"Wanna have lunch?"
Harm shook his head. "I'll just have it here."
Clearly sensing his friend's torment, Sturgis sighed, sitting down in one of the chairs across from Harm.
"How are you holding up?"
Harm chuckled lightly. "Like Fort Baxter."
It only took a couple seconds for the Civil War buff to get Harm's meaning. "But Fort Baxter was brutally attacked and defeated." He said, nodding.
"And eventually abandoned." Harm finished for him.
Sturgis made a half smile before becoming serious again. "I have to say, Harm—I've never seen you like this about one case."
Harm leaned forward, crossing his hands on the desk. "It's just she's my—adopted daughter, and having her be a part of this is just too...weird."
"You're allowed to say 'difficult,' Harm." Sturgis prodded.
Harm shrugged a shoulder. "Okay, difficult too."
Sturgis leaned back in the chair, observing his friend. "Bud told me what happened in there...interesting angle you took."
Harm cocked an eyebrow. "You're allowed to say 'weak,' Sturgis." He mimicked.
Sturgis smiled at that, then leaned an elbow on the armrest, lightly tapping his chin. "It is a loser case. And you can ask to drop it. I don't have much on my plate at the moment, I can take it—"
Harm immediately shook his head. "No thanks. I'd like to go through with this." Harm didn't mention the other complications of the case. But Sturgis nodded at the spoken reason Harm gave and stood.
"Well, I'm off to lunch. Don't want to keep Bobbi—Congresswoman Latham waiting."
Harm narrowed his eyes. "You were going to invite me even though you had a date with Bobbi?"
Sturgis shrugged as he buttoned his Navy trench coat. "I was betting you'd say no." With that, the former bubblehead left with pep in his stride.
Harm shook his head at his friend's rarely unpredictable nature as he made his way to the break room, where veggie lasagna was waiting for him. When he entered the break room, his senses told him someone else was in there, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone standing at a counter in corner. But Harm didn't look to see who it was and he went right to the fridge. Harm's brow furrowed when he noticed his lunch was missing. He sniffed the air, and immediately recognized the scent of his homemade sauce. Harm stood, slowly closing the refrigerator door. Grace's gaze shifted to him in mid-chew, and she swallowed hard. She put the Tupperware container, barely half full, down on the counter. Harm sighed as he came over and picked up the container, examining it.
"Did you like it?" He asked jokingly.
Grace lightly shrugged a shoulder. "I like it more when Mom puts meat in it," She then handed him a carrot stick, "but you can have that, I don't like carrots."
Harm cringed at her bitter retort. Harm plopped the container on the counter and stared at the carrot as if it were his last meal. "Look, Grace, what happened in there—"
Without delay, she made a noise that resembled a growl. "Aren't we, like, not supposed to talk to each other?"
"We're not supposed to talk about the case." He corrected her.
Grace scoffed. "Forget that, just what were you doing in there? You could've taken me apart!"
"Heh, Grace, I—"
"And what was all that crap about me and a 'bid for attention?' I don't need attention! I don't want attention! What I needed was to clear my conscience!"
Harm reached to put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down, but she swatted him away. Then making her hands into fists, she placed them against her ears. "No! No—don't touch me, don't talk to me! Just—just leave me alone!" She practically shrieked the last sentence before she stormed out of the break room, leaving Harm there, completely confused by what just happened.
A few seconds later, the door swung open again and Harm half expected it to be Grace coming back to rant some more, but Mac instead entered the room, looking as confused as he felt.
With her thumb, she pointed behind her. "I just saw Grace, she was crying! Was she in here? Did you say something to upset her?"
Harm had to chuckle. "I—I just came for lasagna."
Mac put her hands on her hips, looking quite annoyed. "What exactly did you say to her?"
Harm ducked his head into his shoulders. "Hardly a thing! She yelled at me!"
Mac scowled, snatching the carrot out of his hand, and then storming out of the room. But she stopped sharply when she almost collided with Singer. The two simply nodded at each other and continued on their way.
When Singer caught site of Harm, lunch-less and still utterly confused, she walked up to him, crossing her arms tightly. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"
Harm wasn't sure if he could take any more free speech, but he nodded.
"With all due respect, sir, just what the hell kind of defense was that...sir?"
Before he could respond, the woman continued.
"Sir, I almost considered firing you and defending myself!" Too impatient to wait for an answer, the Lieutenant sighed sharply and left.
Harm stood in the finally silent room, confused, hungry, and feeling sure to combust if any more estrogen came within a few feet of him. As if his prayers were answered, Bud came in with an empty coffee mug. He nodded at Harm and smiled cheerfully.
"Afternoon—or, almost afternoon, sir." Bud corrected himself when he spotted the clock up on the wall.
Harm grunted in reply. Bud pointed to the coffee machine behind the Commander. "Sir, if I may?"
"Oh, sorry, Bud." Harm glanced behind his back and slid out of the way.
As he poured the coffee, Bud took notice of Harm's tenseness, and he put the mug down. "Sir, I have to ask...what happened to Grace's other parent? When you were cross-examining her, you kept referring to her 'parents,' and you used 'them' quite a few times."
Harm blinked, unable to answer. Probably because he half-expected Bud to interrupt him.
***
1800 ZULU
Commander Holford's Courtroom
Judge Holford slipped on her thin-rimmed spectacles and asked the defense to stand. Grace nervously bit a nail and Webb slowly turned his neck to look at her. He continued to stare at her until she noticed, and she put her hand in her lap. She suddenly remembered he found it annoying when others bit their nails.
Holford crossed her hands over the desk and looked at the Harm and Singer. "Considering the amount of evidence against the defense, I don't believe I have any other choice but to recommend a special court marshal. Opening statements will be this Monday at 0900." Holford picked up the gavel, "This hearing's adjourned." She hit the gavel and stood. Once the judge disappeared into her chambers, a low hum of conversation, mostly from a couple reporters and other spectators, rippled over the room. Harm talked quietly to Singer, who looked angrier than ever, and it was clear Harm was trying to calm her down. Mac sighed and turned around, looked at Grace.
"Well...that's that. Now I have to prepare for a court marshal." It was obvious Mac was hoping for this case to be closed during the hearing, but there were simply too much clear evidence.
***
2215 ZULU
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown, Virginia
Grace flipped through the channels, surprised at how decent television was compared the entertainment in her own time. Grace had given up on TV long ago, simply because every time she turned it on, there was sex, nudity, and foul language. That was the point when Dad threw out the television and said, "meaningful conversation was a better way to spend our free time." But now, Grace was fascinated with all the different types of programming. Something called "reality television" interested her the most. She found it intriguing that these people could go about their lives, all the while pretending there isn't a camera in their faces 24/7. And eventually, they'd get paid large sums of money for participating. The absurdity of it all is what drew her to it the most. At the moment, she was watching an MTV reality show entitled, "Newlyweds." It was about some famous couple and basically, the cameras followed them around through their house, and when they went to work. Grace was attracted the guy in the show and she hardly ever paid attention to the girl, finding her to be whiny and annoying.
But the truth was, Grace was just vegging out in front of TV to avoid doing what she really didn't want to do, but knew it was necessary. Mac was out at the store picking up a few odds and ends to sustain them for the weekend, so this left Grace approximately an hour to get it over with and get back to the apartment without Mac even knowing she was gone.
The phone rang for the fourth time that afternoon, and Grace didn't pick it up. After five rings, the machine picked it up and she heard the familiar voice yet again.
"Mac, are you there? Pick up, it's Harm. Grace? Grace, if you're there, please pick up." Grace scoffed and continued to watch the TV, "Okay, you're not there. Mac, call me back as soon as you can, will ya? I need to talk to you."
A click was heard and then the machine made a beep that sustained for about three seconds. Grace rolled her eyes at her father's desperate attempts to contact them. Didn't he realize that after such bad incidents, girls needed to be left alone for a while? No, of course he wouldn't realize. He hadn't lived with a girl, except the two weeks with Grace, for a very long time.
Finally feeling restless to get her task over with, Grace slipped on her shoes and her jean jacket. Going up to the wall mirror, she examined herself for a moment, raking a hand through her hair. Satisfied enough, she then jotted down a quick note for Mac, just in case.
Hey Mac, Eric picked me up and we went out to eat. Sorry, I was hungry and Eric was offering. Be back around six-thirty. –Grace
She stuck the Post-It note on the doorframe, reading it over. The little fight she'd had with Eric painfully entered her mind. She made a mental note to call him when she got back.
***
2235 ZULU
Charlotte's Cafe
Washington D.C.
Grace drained the rest of her ice cappuccino as she worked up the nerve to go across the street. She'd told the cab driver she'd only be a couple minutes. But that couple minutes turned into several, and the driver left not long ago. Leaving a tip, Grace then stuffed the receipt in her pocket and exited the cafe into the cold, windy street. She crossed the thin street quickly and before she knew it, she was at Singer's front step. It was much like Harm's place. Just two apartments stacked on top of each other. Singer's was on the first floor. Grace glanced over at a big window facing the street, and saw that the dark, heavy curtains were pulled. It was clear Singer didn't want visitors.
Grace tugged on the door, but the wind blew hard against it, so she had to work to open it. She then slipped inside, and the door slammed behind her. She cringed. Grace took off her gloves and examined her surroundings. It was a dark, dingy hallway with peeling red paint above the chair-molding on the wall, and brown wood below it. The floor had dulled, thin carpet, much like you would see in office buildings, only it looked about thirty years old. Three lights hung from the ceiling, keeping the short hallway barely lit. Grace didn't like it. She walked gingerly up to the apartment door, desperate to be anywhere away from this creepy hallway. She knocked lightly, suddenly remembering why she was here. She heard a thump from inside, then footsteps. A loud creak split into the air and Grace guessed she was at the door looking out the peephole. There was no sound for a moment, and Grace figured she was trying to guess why in the world she was here. Eventually, she heard the sound of several locks clacking, and then the doorknob turned. What was revealed, shocked Grace. Singer was in total disarray. It was like she went into complete meltdown since that afternoon. She wore gray sweatpants, and an oversized, "US NAVY" T-shirt. Her hair hung loosely at her shoulders, and the blond strands stuck out in several directions. Her face looked like it had aged about ten years, and wrinkles shown where Grace had never noticed before. Her eyes were dark, and bags hung under them. She looked criminally insane, and she fixed Grace with a deep frown.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Her voice was raspy, but it was still Singer.
Grace lightly cleared her throat. "Can I come in?"
Singer cocked a thin eyebrow and sighed, turning her head to look in the apartment. Singer gave her a once-over, then without saying anything, she just turned around and emerged back into the dark apartment. Grace took this as an invitation, and she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Lock it." Singer ordered.
Grace rigidly turned around and examined the four locks.
"You have to jiggle the deadbolt a little." Singer said as she continued towards the kitchen.
Grace carefully locked the door, and then turned around to face the apartment. It was simple. A living room. Further back was the kitchen. To her right a hallway with the bathroom and bedroom. Though dark and a little dusty, the apartment was well kept. Everything was neat and orderly. Grace caught sight of an end table, filled to the edge with photographs. She stepped over to it, and looked at the ones she could see without moving them. She didn't touch them, for fear of being yelled at. So many people. Wedding pictures. Family reunions. Baby showers. Grace had no idea that Singer had such a large family. So where were they?
Grace peered around the room. More photographs were on the wall displaying all sorts of people. But then something struck her. There wasn't one piece of evidence that Singer was in the Navy. Grace found it ironic. Singer's office had nothing but Navy-related (though few) decorations, and there wasn't anything that had to do with her family. Here, it was all family, and no work. Grace smiled sadly to herself. She'd discovered a part of this woman probably no one at JAG knew about. This woman had a personal life. People that she loved. And people that loved her.
"Coffee?" Grace stirred and she looked away from a photograph of Singer holding someone's baby. Grace was far too awake from that ice cappuccino to want anymore caffeine.
"No, thanks."
Singer put down the extra cup filled with black coffee and she sat on one of the maroon couches. Grace sat across from her, her spine straight, and her hands in her lap. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, then spoke.
"I know you probably hate me right now," Singer didn't deny that and let her continue, "but there's something you should know." Grace paused, waiting for any reaction. Singer just took a sip on her coffee, so Grace carried on. "I didn't do this to...scorn you, or whatever you wanna call it. There's something I know about Lindsey. You see he...he has the ability to kill."
Singer scoffed. "Everybody had the ability to kill."
Grace nodded at that. "But I think in Lindsey's case he's...more of a risk."
The lieutenant narrowed her blue eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Grace sighed, trying to decide how to explain things. "Look...it's hard to for me to describe how I know certain things. Call it a...gut feeling—"
"You think Ted was going to kill me?"
Grace clamped her mouth shut. Singer caught on quick. Then again, no one ever said she was stupid. "I know Ted was going to kill you."
Singer sat the mug on the coffee table and put a pillow on her lap. "He probably will when he finds out I'm pregnant."
Grace's jaw dropped. "Pre—pregnant? Already?"
The lieutenant shot Grace a piercing gaze. Did Singer say that on accident? Or purposely? Grace couldn't tell, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
Suddenly feeling a little dizzy, Grace stood. "Can I use your bathroom?"
Singer nodded to the hallway. "The door on the left."
Grace thanked her and left the living room into Singer's hallway. The bedroom door was open, but it was dark inside, the curtains drawn in there as well. Once in the bathroom, she locked the door and turned on the faucet. Grace cupped her hand under the stream and splashed cold water on her face. She instantly started to feel better and continued to thrust the water in her face, not caring as it ran down her neck and into her shirt. Her face dripping, Grace turned off the faucet and stayed there for a moment, her head bent over the sink and her hands gripping the sides.
Why was she so scared all of a sudden? Something in her gut quivered, and every time Grace straightened and reached for the doorknob, she found herself going back to the sink, splashing water on her face. A small puddle formed at Grace's shoes as the water ran off her elbows. Grace took the roll of toilet paper and used most of it to dry the floor. When she thought she felt better, Grace reached for the door again, but she gasped and stumbled back, landing on the, luckily closed, toilet seat. A loud whine echoed in her ears, and pain shot like split wires in her head. And somewhere between the streaks of light that flashed in her eyes, she saw the image of a gun.
As quickly as the painful incident came, everything stopped, and Grace opened her eyes. The deafening whining ceased, and there were no flashes. It only took a moment more for Grace to realize what just happened. She was four years old and with her parents at the mall. She couldn't remember if it was morning or evening. All she knew, was that she was in great pain, and all she could see was a man with a, "big gun" as she recalled telling her parents. A second later, she'd pointed to a man coming out of an elevator. Mom had seen the weapon first and yelled for everyone to get down. The assailant was confused by what happened at first and Dad and two other men were able to neutralize him before he knew what was going on.
Grace believed in this unique sixth sense. And she knew it was in full gear at the moment. But what did it mean? Did Singer have a gun? Was she planning on killing her since she knew of the pregnancy? Grace's questions halted when she heard a buzz at the apartment door, one very similar to the doorbell at her father's apartment. She heard Singer's footsteps as they reached the apartment door. Grace thought she heard her say something, and then she heard the clicks of all the locks. Singer greeted the visitor the same way she'd greeted Grace, only much louder, and with a lot more force.
"What hell are you doing here?!"
Grace knew there was something wrong. She stood from the toilet, and put her ear to the bathroom door. The front door slammed shut, the locks clacking loudly against it.
"Did you really think you could just steal my husband and get away with it, you little slut?!" It was a different voice. A female voice. Grace couldn't identify it.
"Calm down, Holly, it's over, believe me!"
Silence. Then a click, and one of them gasped. "You're right! It is over, bitch!"
Grace fell to her knees when the gunshot went off. She covered her ears, and squeezed her eyes shut, but she could still hear the second gunshot explode from the living room. For a moment, everything stopped, and Grace just shivered, her head at her knees, and her hands pressed so hard against her ears. She didn't even realize that tears were pouring out of her eyes and cascading down her cheeks, soaking into her blue jeans. The door slammed again, causing every muscle in Grace's body to jolt.
Silence.
Grace wasn't sure how long she stayed there on her knees, completely bent forward. Her chest tightened every time she took a breath. After probably a couple more minutes, Grace's neck started to cramp and her ears began to hurt, and she lifted her head up. Her hair stuck to her face from the salty tears, and she brushed it away. Grace put her ear to the door, her teeth clacking. Nothing. The woman had left. Grace got to her feet, her knees wobbly and put a clammy hand on the metal doorknob. No flashes. No loud whine. She turned it, her hand shaking and slipping, and peeked out. The hallway was still darkened. It then took every last ounce of whatever bravery she had to step out of the bathroom. But she must have had a little left over as she inched down the hallway, her hands cupped together on her chest. She peered around the corner. The room was empty. Grace blinked.
"But where—" Grace stopped walking when she noticed the slow-moving stream of thick, red liquid, inch toward the front door. She stood motionless, watching it flow, until the stream thinned and eventually stopped in front of the door. Grace wasn't sure what propelled her to move forward. It felt like someone was nudging her shoulder and she stepped into the living room. It was not until she got up to the maroon couch, when she saw Singer's motionless, bloody body slumped across the broken coffee table.
***
2330 ZULU
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Washington D.C.
Harm didn't think he'd driven that fast in his life, or broke so many road laws in one night. All that was on his mind was the phone call he'd gotten from Bethesda. "Your daughter was involved in a shooting." However, the only words that ran through his mind were, "Your daughter," and "shooting."
"I'm coming, Gracie, I'm coming." Harm kept saying it over and over again, as if somehow Grace could actually hear him if he said it enough times.
He'd called Mac a few minute ago, and she was hurrying from Georgetown as fast as she could (possibly even faster than Harm). Once he reached the hospital, Harm doubled parked in the parking garage and didn't bother to lock his car as he dove into the emergency room. The place was filled with people, and it was loud. Babies were crying, people were shouting, and some old guy kept pacing the room repeatedly yelling out, "I need a drink!"
Harm pushed past the crowd of people to get to the counter. "Grace Rabb?"
The nurse only paid half attention to Harm and shrugged. "No, Grace Rabb, my daughter! She's sixteen! Brown hair, brown eyes—"
Harm stopped when he looked over his shoulder down a white corridor. Amidst all the people, he saw one, small-framed girl sitting motionless in a chair.
Harm muttered her name under his breath and shoved people out of his way.
"Gracie?" He kept calling her as he got closer, but she never looked up. Her expression was deadpan and she stared at the floor. When Harm finally reached her, he sat on his heels in front of her, cupping her face in his hands. "Gracie? Are you all right? Are ya hurt?"
She blinked, her lower lip trembling. She opened her mouth to speak, but croaked at first. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I—I couldn't save her."
Harm looked over his daughter and noticed all the blood on her jacket and shirt. "Are you okay?" He asked breathlessly.
Grace seemed confused and she looked down at herself. She put a hand to her shirt, gently rubbing at the blood. "It's not mine." She murmured. She looked up at him again, only this time, tears filled the brim of her huge eyes. "She just—she just shot her, I couldn't—I couldn't do anything."
Harm gathered her in his arms and she gratefully fell into them, her knees eventually reaching the hospital floor and she wept into his shoulder.
"No, I'm not looking for the lab, I'm looking for Grace Rabb!"
Harm turned his head and saw Mac frantically trying to get the nurse to talk to her. "Mac!" He yelled out.
The marine turned at the sound of her name and bolted over to them. She knelt to the floor, placing a hand on Grace's shoulder. The girl looked over and Mac pulled her up, embracing her. She stroked her daughter's hair and closed her eyes in relief. Harm got to his feet and watched them, but Mac pulled him over, wrapping an arm around his neck. Harm placed his arm on the opposite side around Mac's waist, and they hugged, with Grace stuck in the middle.
***
TBC
***
Okay, I just cried writing those last couple pages *reaches for Kleenex*. One minor note. Monday, my computer is being taken to the computer doctor again. It shouldn't be in that long. However, I'm going to try and still write the old fashioned way. Have a good weekend everybody!!
~sancti