Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
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Episodes: Rogue, Mishap
- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
Loren really had a hard time to suppress a grin as she walked back to her desk. Good God! It was impressive how Webb's predictions were hitting the nail on the head. Especially when it came to Commander Harmon Rabb junior. Throw yourself at him and he'll never stop running. Well, those weren't Webb's exact words but very much the core of them. Oh, she had felt terribly embarrassed as she had walked into Rabb's office a few minutes ago with the intention to do exactly what she had been told to do. This behavior was so ... well, embarrassing. But much to her surprise: It worked.
Next time leave the door open.
She shook her head. Definitely impressive. It was her first hard shot at him and he already couldn't stand to be in the same room with her - alone. That man wouldn't touch Singer with one finger. Not in his personal life and not in his working life as long as he could help it. Poor Commander. Unfortunately she had order to go after him in both sections. Up to a certain point. Webb had made very clear that she wasn't supposed to overdo it. But his face when she had sneaked in and shut the door... Loren quickly restored control over her features. A mischievous grin wasn't appropriate on Lieutenant Singer's face.
She sat down at her desk, glanced at the files piled up to her left and heaved a sigh. Concerning the main staff including Admiral Chegwidden she had made quick and very successful progress to establish her - Singer's - character. Colonel Mackenzie hadn't even remembered her first visit at JAG and without knowing it she had managed to push Lieutenant Sims' buttons all the right way. Wow, that had been a first day at work. Some military officers had some really strange ideas how to serve this country. Stealing the Declaration of Independence, threatening to blow up the Statue of Liberty... Sounded more like something out of a TV-show. At least the story hadn't made it into the newspapers this time. Anyway the important thing was nobody liked Singer. Loren grimaced a little. The cases she was given were extraordinary telling proof of that. Unfortunately that had been the only progress so far.
There had been a case the Commander and Colonel Mackenzie had worked on ... about drug smuggle into the States... But it had turned out to have no connections to her mission. For the rest... At the moment she didn't know what to think of JAG headquarters and the officers in it. But it seemed the relationships between those with marked files - Admiral Chegwidden, Commander Rabb, Colonel Mackenzie and Lieutenant Roberts including his wife - were ... rather complex. Especially between Rabb and Mackenzie - and this Australian.
Loren frowned a little. Brumby was easy to see through: He was clearly going after the Colonel. Her feelings were a different thing - as were Rabb's. Loren wasn't sure what was going on but there was a certain kind of underlying tension ... as if Rabb and Mackenzie would either fall into each other's arms - or go at each other's throats. Or maybe both, the big question was just the order of events. And depending on that it would be a firework ... or very, very ugly.
Shrugging mentally Loren dismissed that thought as interesting but unimportant. She had other problems to deal with, including putting up a good show of "Rabb-hunting". A strange man anyway, this Commander Rabb. His file had shown an extraordinary career within JAG, despite some really crazy stunts he had pulled, and then that man had thrown everything away like it had been nothing. Active flight duty - in his age! The reasons for that she simply wasn't able to understand. But aviators probably had to be a special kind of human being.
Lost in thought Loren fingered the tight bun she had wrapped her hair into. It had been surprisingly difficult to learn how to do it properly and somehow she still feared a strand could come loose. Forcing her hand down, she picked up the next folder and placed it in front of her.
Well, Rabb and the relationships or not existing relationships in this office weren't of any interest as long as they didn't jeopardize her mission. Although she was curious how everything was going to develop. And for her mission: It was a matter of time and patience. And she intended to be patient.
Episode: Into the Breech, Life or death
- A dark parking lot of a supermarket, somewhere in Virginia
Loren shifted her bags in her hands and walked quickly along the rows of parked cars. There was barely enough light to read the license plate numbers. Narrowing her eyes she tried to get a better look while at the same time checking her surroundings. Near the fence she finally found the number she had been looking for. Without a pause she walked through the narrow gap between the passenger's side and the next car and got in. The interior light faded shortly after she had pulled the door shut.
"Good evening, Mister Webb." Loren stored her bags in the leg room.
"Loren," Webb answered the greeting. He turned the ignition and backed the car out. By the time he was heading to the exit Loren had covered her hair with a black cap and propped the right elbow against the door. Her hand shielded her face in a seemingly casual gesture.
"And?" Webb shot her a glance as soon as they were out in the street.
"Not much." Loren sighed. "I'm working, I'm waiting but no approach so far."
"Any suspects?"
"No. I'm working on a list but ... it takes time."
Webb shrugged. "We've known that from the start. Anything else?"
"They don't like me as ordered. Oh, and they're doing a commercial about JAG and the Navy." Loren grinned. "I made sure that I never appear in it."
Webb glanced at her and his face revealed nothing. "How?"
"Just the usual Singer-behavior. I told them I wanted to do it and of course they chose anyone but me."
As Webb didn't answer she considered him closer. He didn't look pleased.
"Mister Webb?"
Webb took the next turn before he answered. "Be careful with that behavior. It's useful but also dangerous. Not all people have the same moral standards as Chegwidden and his staff. If someone takes you at your word you'll have trouble."
Loren's good mood faded. It had amused her how most people reacted to the Singer-attitude of running them over but now she suddenly felt stupid.
"Look, Loren." Webb took another turn. "You're lacking experience. You know that. We skipped a lot of the normal procedure because it's so to say an indoor assignment. But still, this isn't for fun. Just keep this in mind."
"I understand." Loren was fighting her hurt emotions.
"I'm sure you do."
They drove in silence for a few minutes. Loren swallowed her anger. To be honest, he was right. She was inexperienced - because she had never considered to be chosen as a field agent. Not really. Oh, of course, she had had some crazy little dreams ... like probably anyone had who started working for the Central Intelligence Agency. The cinema one-hero-rescues- the-world dreams. Or the TV the-skilled-team-saves-the-day dreams. Nothing serious. Just the usual. Her labor contract showed the word lawyer and as that she had been supposed to work there. Until this mission came up ... and she had been available. She cleared her throat.
"The Australian has been ordered back by his government. He left yesterday," she reported calmly.
"Yes, I know. Moving good-bye scenes?"
Loren glanced at Webb. Was this disrespectful remark his way to tell her that the scolding was over?
"A little. By some."
Webb's response was a grunt. He directed the car to the side of the street and stopped. Loren reached for the door handle but first had to stifle a yawn. Her superior chuckled.
"What, so tired already?"
Loren yawned again. "I'm a hard working, ambitious young lawyer. I've got the right to be tired. So if you don't mind, Mister Webb?" Hesitatingly she added a little smile to her answer. 'Don't push it this time, Loren,' she admonished herself.
"You're a hard working, ambitious young lawyer and spy," Webb replied in mocking criticism. "Go and find your bed."
Loren rolled her eyes, grabbed her bags and struggled out of the car. Webb immediately pulled out into the traffic. She sighed and started walking. She still didn't know if she liked the man or not.