Hell in Paradise

Author: DelphieKat
Rating: PG-13 (just to be safe)
Classification: Drama / Action
Spoilers: Everything up to "Take it Like a Man"

Summary: A Marine is murdered in Hawaii and the best elements of the JAG crew are sent on location to investigate.

Disclaimer: JAG and its characters belong to DPB, not to me...

Author's Notes: The 200th episode is coming very soon. I don't really want to read spoilers to know what will really happen, so I decided to write my own version of this episode. For Boomerang, they shot in Australia, so this time let's go to the Pacific... It's the first time I've tried to tell a story from different characters' points of view. I hope I won't lose anybody on the way...

I hope you are not looking only for fluff, you'll be disappointed; actually, this story does have a plot and might be a little sad. I would just say that an important episode like the 200th may be full of twists and surprises...

By the way, the time in Hawaii is ZULU – 10 (so there is a 5-hour difference with Washington).

Thank you so much Aerogirl for your comments! You really helped me to keep going! Thanks!







1353 ZULU
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia


The bullpen was particularly calm on that early March morning when Harm crossed through the large glass doors. Once again, he was late for the staff meeting so he quickly dropped his coat and his briefcase in his office before he headed towards the conference room. He opened the heavy oak doors carefully and stood perfectly at attention.

"Commander Rabb reporting as ordered, sir."

Admiral Chegwidden looked at him over his spectacles. "Nice of you to join us, Commander," he said, with his usual sharp voice. "What is your excuse today? Traffic jams? Your alarm clock didn't work? Never mind, I don't want to hear the answer. Take a seat."

"Uh... Aye, aye, sir," Harm answered, confused, throwing a side-glance to Mac before sitting beside Bud.

"Now that everybody's here," the admiral started, "I have to tell you that Commander Turner is gone to Pensacola to investigate the actions of a potential serial killer with the help of your former colleague Commander Manetti, so he won't be around for a while. As if we were not already short of staff, you will all be sent to investigate a high profile case. Major Graham was found dead yesterday evening at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii. I received only bits of information concerning the major, so all I know is that she was the coordinator for the MIRA project, about which, Lieutenant," he added, seeing the curious look in Bud's eyes, "I have absolutely no idea. The JAG on site, Major Alberts, seems to consider it as a murder, but hasn't supplied me with any suspect yet. Colonel, since it takes place on a Marine base, you will lead the investigation, with the help of the Commander and the Lieutenant. During your absence, two lawyers from Washington will take care of your caseload, to keep the office operational. Your flight takes off at 0600 tomorrow morning, so make sure all your paperwork is in order before you leave. That'll be all, dismissed," he said, gathering the folders in front of him.

They all chorused "Aye, aye, sir," as they quickly rose from their chairs. Harm and Mac had already reached the doors when the admiral called Bud.

"Roberts, please ask Lieutenant Sims to meet me in my office in ten minutes."

"Yes, sir."



* * * * *



Mac followed Harm in his office as he hung his coat behind his door. "Do you realise, Harm?" she said cheerfully, waving her arms from side to side like a tropical dancer, "Hawaii!"

"Yeah." His tone was anything but enthusiastic. "I didn't hear the admiral talking about Webb, though, so in front of whom will you remove the top of your bikini this time?" he asked, sarcastic. He didn't even care to look at her; he knew she would be boiling with rage at his comment. He remembered that day on the white beaches in Australia as if it were yesterday. How she looked at Mic, the ring at her right hand when they left, her engagement party, his flight in the storm to come back for her wedding, his crash... It would be so easy for the spook to sneak up to Hawaii to... His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a door being slammed shut. As he lifted his head, he realised that Mac had unsurprisingly left his office and that she was closing the blinds in hers.

Harm sat down in his chair and hit the speed button on his phone while he passed his left hand through his short hair. "Mattie, it's me..." He looked at his watch. "You're not supposed to be already gone for school? ... Anyway, it's a good thing, actually. I have to go on an assignment to Hawaii tomorrow morning and it might take a few days... No, I'm NOT abandoning you, I'll be back as soon as the investigation is finished... Yes, I said 'Hawaii'..." Harm grinned when she stopped short in her jeremiads and realised where he was going, but sighed as she started begging him to come along. "No, you already missed half a year at school, you can't come with me... Spring break? What's that? ... Okay, bring me your teacher's phone number at lunchtime, and I'll check over... No, I'm no Judas, Mattie – I'm just a lawyer, and I need evidence... Yes, you're right, it'll be great! Meet you at 1215... Naturally, I'm buying, but no McDonald's... I love you too, Mattie. Ciao!" For the first time that day, a real smile graced Harm's features.



* * * * *



As soon as the blinds of her office were closed, Mac sank in her chair. "How dare you, Harmon Rabb?" she almost yelled. The stinging tears in her eyes started flowing down her cheeks as she gathered the folders on her desk. Did he really believe that she didn't remember that day when he saw her on the beach? Or when he rejected her on the ferry, under the Eternity Bridge? "This time, I won't let you hurt me, Commander," she said, her voice resolute.

Mac grabbed her cell phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. "Honey, it's Mac. How are you?" Mac's voice got lighter the minute she heard her little sister at the other end of the line. "Your spring break is next week, isn't it? ... I'm going on a case in Hawaii, would you like to join me? ... Sure, there'll be plenty of time for a girls' night... The plane leaves tomorrow morning, and I'm presently on the Internet, booking you a flight to Washington at, let's see, 1800 tonight. Now, let me talk to your grandma please, I'll explain everything to her. Bye, Chloe..."

When Mac turned off her phone, most of the anger she resented earlier was gone. She grabbed the first folder on the pile and started to summarise it to help the new lawyers for the hearing scheduled for the next week.



* * * * *



Harriet entered the admiral's office and came to attention in front of the oak desk, while the admiral was staring through the window at the falling snow.

"Lieutenant Sims, you know we are really short-handed these days, don't you?"

Harriet's face darkened, but she steadied herself before she answered, "Yes, sir. I noticed. Is there anything I can do to help, sir?"

"Actually, no... Uh, yes. A new clerk should arrive this afternoon to give you a hand for the next month. Make sure to explain him everything before the end of the day."

She looked puzzled. "Naturally, sir. But, if I may, sir, why the sudden rush on a Friday afternoon?"

The admiral swivelled his chair to face her, his icy glare melting a little. "Well, Lieutenant, in spite of your recent maternity leave, you still have a few accumulated days left to take. Why don't you take a week off to join your husband on his case in Hawaii? You won't be required here until next Monday. That'll be all," he said, looking at her with a hint of a smile.

Harriet needed a few seconds to realise what her CO had just said. She did a perfect about-face, made two steps towards the door and turned around to face him. "Thank you, sir," was all the admiral could hear before she almost ran out of the room.

She flew through the bullpen directly into Bud's office. "Bud, Bud, we're going to Hawaii!" she cried out.

Bud tried to calm her. "Honey, I'm going to Hawaii on a case with Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Rabb. We're not going on vacation."

Harriet jumped at her husband's neck. "No, sweetheart! The admiral told me I was free 'til next Monday, so I can go with you! Can you imagine, our first vacation since little AJ's birth!"

Bud looked at her with a broad smile. "Yeah, our first vacation in almost five years. That'll be fantastic!"



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