A/N: Wow ... the responses to this story so far have really been great, and I thank everyone who's responded so far! It's hard work, getting a story that has taken shape inside your head onto paper/electronic form for uploading. I'm soldiering on, though, because that's what JAG is all about, isn't it?

"The Papers" Chapter 5

Mattie shivered uncontrollably as she felt Ms. Barrows' arms tighten around her, the older woman's hands rubbing her back in a soothing, circular motion. She blinked several times, still not fully awake and with the last vestiges of her nightmare still in her thoughts. She couldn't seem to stop shaking – the memories of the car accident still too strong to let her go.

"It's OK, sweetie ... you're going to be fine." she heard Ms. Barrows whisper in her ear.

How long had she been here? Mattie wondered. She looked around the room, noticing that she and Ms. Barrows were the only ones around, except for Mr. Harris, who stood at the counter quietly watching her. He saw that she'd seen him, and softly smiled to let her know she was alright.

If only she could believe that, she thought. Mattie wasn't sure any more about a lot of things.

She sniffled, and only then realized that her whole face was wet with tears, even the side she laid on Ms. Barrows' shoulder. Mattie hadn't cried this much in years, and now the events of the past few days rushed back on her like an avalanche, threatening to destroy what little control she'd gotten back since waking up in this chair. She shivered again, and she felt Ms. Barrows' arms tighten around her again, her distinctive perfume floating towards Mattie's nose. The fragrance reminded her of the kind Mac wore, and she immediately calmed at the thought of the tough but loving Marine who was a mother to her. She opened her eyes and whispered, "What happened to me, Ms. Barrows?"

The nurse, who was grateful when she felt Mattie finally relax against her a few seconds ago, smiled and rubbed Mattie's back. "I'm not sure, Mattie. You were having a nightmare when I got here – the librarian called me when she noticed you were having trouble waking up." Ms. Barrows decided to gently ease Mattie into talking about what scared her so much – as well as being the school nurse, she also served as a counselor, especially for the girls. She wanted to find out what had happened to cause this smart, level- headed girl to suffer from the emotional problems she was now obviously struggling with, and easing Mattie into a place where she could talk about things was what was most important right now.

"I ... I was having bad dreams. Must've been Harm's 'meatless meatloaf' giving me fits again." She lifted her head from Ms. Barrows' shoulder as she answered, looking the nurse in the eyes and sniffling. She gave her a wan smile. "I told him one day something like this would happen. That's what you get when you try to make a teenager eat healthy."

Ms. Barrows studied the young face in front of her intently. She knew that Mattie used humor to deal with some of her problems, and she was heartened to see her normal personality reassert itself again. She worried, though, that the feelings that brought this ... 'attack' on needed to be talked about and dealt with before Mattie could leave this behind.

She reached up and brushed Mattie's hair away from her face, gently wiping the streaks of tears from the cheek her hand touched. She watched Mattie's tired eyes start to close as she did so, and for the first time saw the weariness in the young girl's eyes. "You haven't been sleeping much lately, huh?"

Mattie's eyes widened as she looked into the nurse's face. "How did you ....?

"I'm a nurse and counselor, sweetie. It's all a part of the superpower package. Also, Mr. Harris over there doesn't pay me unless I read at least one students' mind a week." She winked at Mattie, who grinned slightly at the joke.

"It's true, Ms. Grace," Mr. Harris softly spoke, surprising both girls. He'd quietly approached the two without either of them noticing. "Her salary's based on mind-reading and explaining teenage behavior to us old folks." Mattie glanced up at him and smiled, as Ms. Barrows chuckled. Mr. Harris gave Mattie a kindly, gentle look as he spoke again. "Mattie, I want you to go to Ms. Barrows' office with her. She's going to check you out a little ..."

"I'm not on drugs or anything, Mr. Harris." Mattie spoke sharply to him, an edge in her quiet voice.

"We know, Mattie," Ms. Barrows answered, glancing at Mr. Harris who nodded. "We just want to make sure you're OK before your guardian gets here and we all have a chance to talk, to find out what happened and how we can help." She smiled at the girl, who took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

"Harm's coming?" The light that seemed to spring up in her eyes wasn't lost on either adult, and they silently thought that whatever caused this didn't seem to be caused by the girl's guardian, which didn't surprise either of them. They had watched Harm and Mattie together on several occasions, and could easily see the love between them.

"Yes, Mattie. I want you and him to talk to Ms. Barrows here for a while, if that's OK with you. Then, I think you should go home and try to get some rest. We'll all chat some more when you're back at school again. Now, come on ... let's get you to Ms. Barrows' office." Mattie watched him as he spoke with an intense gaze that told Ms. Barrows that the young girl was weighing each word carefully. She got up from kneeling beside Mattie, and took her hand, gently pulling the girl to her feet.. "Ready?", she asked Mattie, smiling down at her.

Mattie sighed and nodded, resting her head on Ms. Barrows' shoulder as they slowly began walking towards the library doors. Mr. Harris reached down to pick up Mattie's backpack and turned to follow them as they began walking towards the nurse's office.

The phone on his desk rang as Harm was wading through a plea bargain brief, and he grunted in frustration at the break in his concentration. He looked down at the phone, and noticed the light blinking was his direct public line, and he had a sudden sense of trouble. Few people knew that particular number, since he preferred to have Coates screen his calls through the main JAG number. He knew right away that it had to be someone from a small group of people he'd given the number to; his mother, his brother in Russia, the Admiral, Mac, Jen, Mattie, Mattie's father, the Family Court clerk's office, and Mattie's school. He didn't think it was anyone from him immediate family, since they all also had his cell# as well ... and knew that he preferred to be reached that way. That left Family Court, Mattie's father, or Mattie's school – all of them a good reason for the knot that had suddenly appeared in his gut. He reached for the handset and hesitatingly picked it up.

"Commander Rabb"

"Commander, this is Elsie from Mattie's school. I'm Mr. Harris' secretary ..."

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with Mattie?" Harm couldn't help the panic that had started seeping into his usually calm voice.

"Sir, please ... she's all right as far as I know. She ... just had an incident here at school in the library, and Mr. Harris asked if you could come and meet with him and the nurse, who is with Mattie now."

"What happened?" Harm loudly demanded, causing Lt. Roberts, who was passing by his open office door, to stop and glance at him. Harm saw the Lt. come through his doorway as he stood and reached for his overcoat on the coatrack by his desk.

"Sir .. please, I don't know anything more. Can I tell Mr. Harris you're on your way?"

"Yes .. sorry about my tone, Elsie. I'm on my way – give me twenty minutes."

"That's all right, sir – please drive carefully, and I'll tell him you're coming."

"Thanks."

Harm returned the handset to its cradle, and started to struggle into his overcoat and walking to the door of the office, nearly running Bud Roberts over in his haste. The Lt. quickly jumped out of the way and followed Harm as he walked towards Mac's office.

"Sir? Is everything all right with Mattie?"

"I don't know, Bud. The school said there was an 'incident', and that I should come right away. Sorry about almost knocking you over."

"Don't worry about it, sir. If it was little AJ ..." Harm looked into Bud's eyes and nodded in understanding. He reached Mac's open door and leaned in, causing the Marine buried in paperwork at her desk to suddenly look up.

"Harm?" Mac asked, and her eyes widened as she saw the look of fear and worry on Harm's face. She stood up suddenly, nearly knocking over her coffee cup onto the pile of papers on her desk. "What is it?"

"Mattie's school just called. Something happened, and I have to get over there."

"I'm coming with you."

"Mac—"Harm began, but Mac stopped him with a steely look.

"Do you really think I'm going to sit here when I know something's wrong with Mattie?"

Harm saw the look of determination in his Marine's eyes as he watched her grab her purse and coat, and ... something else. Something that looked like ... the love of a mother in protect/defend mode. He'd seen it in his own mother's eyes enough times to recognize it, and he sent her a grateful grin as she passed him, walking purposefully towards the Admiral's office.

"Mac – he'll never let both of us go ... we're both swamped with work." He followed close behind her, his longer strides bringing him into step with hers as they approached the doorway to Coates' office area.

"Won't know till we ask. Coates, please ask if the Admiral has a minute. It's important."

Coates looked up as Harm and Mac practically stormed up to her desk, and her glance at Harm's face told her something bad had happened. He looked back at her, seeing the worry spring into her eyes, and decided to tell her.

"It's Mattie. Her School just called me – something's happened, and I have to get over there."

"Is she OK?" Coates asked in a fearful voice.

"I think so, but I need to alert the Admiral and leave to go find out for sure, Jennifer."

"WE need to leave, you mean." Mac spoke in her best Marine voice.

"One second, sir, ma'am." Coates gave Harm another concerned look, then walked to the Admiral's door and knocked sharply. When she heard the muffled, "Enter!", she quickly opened the door wide to let him see who was there, and announced, "The Colonel and Commander Rabb to see you, sir!"

"What is it? This is a busy day, people!"

Mac and Harm strode past Coates and entered the office, coming to attention in front of the Admiral's desk.

"Well?" the Admiral barked out. He noticed that Coates still stood in the open doorway, which told him something unusual had happened.

"Sir..," Mac began, but was interrupted by Harm.

"Admiral, I just received a call from Mattie's school. There's been some kind of incident, and I've been asked to come to the school right away." Waves of tension radiated from both of his senior officers, Admiral Chegwidden saw, and he put the file he was reading down on the top of the desk.

"What happened? Is she all right?" His mind filled with thoughts of Columbine, and he glanced sharpl between the two officers standing at attention before him. "For God's sake -- at ease, you two, and tell me what the hell's going on with Mattie! Is it connected to what you told me this morning?"

"I'm not sure, sir. The person I spoke with just said that the school vice principal and nurse wanted me to meet them there." Harm's throat was dry, and he swallowed several times. The Admiral studied his worried face for a moment, then looked at the Colonel.

"Colonel?"

"Sir, I don't know anything more than what Harm just said, and I request permission to accompany him."

"Admiral, it may be nothing, and we're all swamped with work ..." Harm began, missing the angry look Mac threw him.

"Harm, if it is something very serious, do you want to face Mac afterward if she doesn't go with you now? At any rate, I don't want you driving in these circumstances. She will go with you."

"Sir, I'm a fighter pilot, and I am in control." "I'm well aware of what you are, Commander, including being a foster father whose child is apparently in trouble and needs help! Mac will drive and accompany you, and then you both will call me as soon as you find out what's happened – then we'll decide how to handle everything. That's an order – dismissed!"

Mac gave him a grateful look as she and Harm both came to attention, and both said in unison – "Aye aye, sir!" before turning and walking as quickly as possible out of the office past the still present Coates, who stood watching them leave with wide eyes.

"Coates --- Jennifer!" The Admiral called out to her when she didn't seem to hear her last name. She turned slowly to him, finally taking her eyes off of the two officers' backs as they rushed from the JAG offices.

"Sir?" she answered in a quiet voice, and he saw the fear in the depths of her brown eyes.

"Come in and close the door."

"Yes, sir. Sorry."

She came to stand a few feet from his desk, and he studied her quietly for a few seconds.

"Don't worry, Jennifer – I know everything will be OK."

"How, sir?" Jennifer's voice was almost too quiet for him to hear. She didn't meet his eyes, but studied the floor by her feet, and he could see the fright all over her like a long overcoat she wore.

"Because those two will get to the bottom of whatever's going on, and they will make sure Mattie's OK one way or another. And, of course ..." and at his pause, she looked up into his eyes before he finished, "God help anybody or anything that gets in their way."

Jennifer laughed and nodded, a knowing grin in her face. She knew what the admiral had just said was true; separately, Mac and Harm were formidable, but together – especially when Mattie was involved – they were nothing less than a force of nature. She'd seen their parental "genes" in action many times, and knew then that whatever was wrong with her roommate and "little sister", Harm and Mac would make everything right again.

They had to.

"I want to know the minute they call in, Coates ... no matter where I am or what I'm doing. You read me?" This last from the Admiral was spoken in the softest voice she'd ever heard from him, and she nodded again.

"Aye, sir."

"Dismissed."

She turned and left the inner office, closing the door behind her as she returned to her desk ... encouraged by the Admiral's words, but concerned at the worry she saw in his eyes.