Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.

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Episodes: A Separate Peace 1+2

- A forest, somewhere in Virginia

The small, unpaved parking lot appeared in the light of the headlights and Loren slowed down even more. The sound of the engine and of the tiny stones under the tires seemed to be very loud in the silence. At the weekends the parking lot was crowded beyond anything but now in the cold and darkness of an early evening it lay deserted under the faint light of the stars.

Deserted but for one dark car, now visible in the cone of light. Loren pulled up at its side and turned the headlights off but kept the engine running. She peered into the darkness and after a tense moment the interior light of the other car was switched on for a second and immediately off again. But it had been enough to recognize Webb's face.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She had already discovered that the pleasure of secret meetings was highly overestimated in movies. At least her heart was always nearly jumping out of her chest until she was sure the dark figure was who it was supposed to be. Especially in such a lonely and in the darkness creepy place like this. But with a real trace they had to be even more careful.

Quickly she secured the car and got into the passenger's seat next to Webb.

"Well, Loren, I hope it's important."

Surprised Loren raised her brows. Uh-oh, if his voice was any indication Webb's mood was more than bad. And she had learned soon not to play around in such a case - that man had a tongue like a knife if he wanted to.

So she simply pulled a sheet of paper out of her pocket and said: "I've got a name."

"What?!"

Loren grinned inwardly. 'Well, now I've got your attention.'

"It seems Westland is finally convinced Singer can be something good - if treated well. Or somebody behind him has decided it's worth the risk. Anyway, you know he has indicated more or less hidden for quite some time that he could be very helpful to my career - Singer's career. That he has friends who are very interested in me - and in positions to act accordingly. And after a little nudging he came forward with that name."

Webb reached up to the light and turned it off again after reading the note.

"Damn it - a Captain," he murmured quietly. In the darkness she wasn't able to see his frown but she knew it had to be there. "Then it's going higher up than we've thought."

"Westland's said he's stationed somewhere in Norfolk. I wasn't able to get more out of him - and I didn't want to press too much, I was afraid to shy him away."

"No problem, if that guy exists we'll find him. Good work, Loren." Webb folded the note and put it carefully in the inner pocket of his coat. "What do they want in return?"

"Nothing so far. At least nothing more than the little favors we exchanged over the past months. But I'm sure there's something bigger coming."

Webb drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "All right, so we have to wait and see..."

He was silent for some minutes, just the tapping of his fingers continued. Loren made no attempt to interrupt his thoughts. These last months had been a dangerous walk along the edge and she was more than glad to have Webb as superior. Whenever she had called she had either been able to reach him immediately or he had called back within never more than two hours. And she had needed his guidance a lot. The favors she treated with Westland contained all sorts of information. Small things usually or at least they looked small - but you never knew and she didn't dare thinking of possible consequences. Thank God it was his responsibility to decide what to give and what to deny. For nothing in the world she would have changed places with him.

"All right," Webb repeated suddenly, "Keep me updated. Anything else?"

"Well..." Loren hesitated but then continued, "Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Rabb are investigating accusations against an Admiral Boone... I've heard them talk about a CIA operation in Vietnam - Phoenix, I think - and..."

"God, don't remind me of that," growled Webb angrily, "I've already had a visit from Harm - the Commander. Two actually!"

Loren glanced at him. Well, that probably explained his bad mood which had now returned in full force. It seemed Commander Rabb's visits hadn't gone well for Webb.

'Definitely time to change the subject, Loren!'

"So... no, there's nothing more-" She shrugged. "Except that I'm spending a lot of spare time on Admiral Chegwidden's car."

"His car?" Webb asked puzzled.

"Yes. First I went through a hearing People against a Ford Expedition and now - that I've won - the police have lost it."

"People against- What did he do?!"

"Lent his car to the son of his ex-girlfriend and the boy used it for transporting drugs."

Webb laughed out. "AJ really has it this time! He... Wait a second. Did you say drugs?"

Loren turned her head and met his serious eyes. Then she cursed. How could she have missed this? She had seen Chegwidden's mishap as an opportunity to play out Singer's oh, I'd do anything to get your attention side but never...

"That would be a big coincidence," she remarked after a moment of thinking.

"It would be," agreed Webb, "But never chance it. I'll have a good look into it from the other side. You stay put; I don't want to stir up anyone with you snooping around."

"I understand." Loren was still scolding herself and felt slightly embarrassed. "Uh - I'm sorry, I'll call tomorrow and give you the details available, numbers etc. I can't recall them out of memory."

"First thing in the morning," ordered Webb dryly. He checked his watch. "I'll give you a 15 minute head-start."

"Yes, Sir." Loren just mumbled the words. Wow, that dismissal was almost like one of Chegwidden's. She felt Webb's calm gaze in her back as she climbed out of his car and into her own. Well, she didn't mind leaving this deserted place first. Sitting in the darkness and waiting for the minutes to go by wasn't her favorite activity.

- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia

Loren stared a second at Commander Rabb's retreating back then at Gunnery Sergeant Galindez.

"Well, then, I suggest you'll start right away," she snapped pointedly.

Ignoring the Gunny's cold but correct "Yes, Ma'am" she turned on her heels and headed to her desk. While pretending to shuffle the papers she slipped a hand in her bag and snatched her cell phone. Her very special cell phone also nothing in its appearance gave a hint of its secret inner life. She had understood less than half of the technical explanations but the most important facts were easy to remember: It was almost impossible to bug and was supposed to work nearly anywhere.

Looking around quickly to make sure nobody was paying attention she got up again and left. The first conference room she tried was already occupied but the next one was empty. Standing by the window she dialed the familiar number and waited impatiently. He took the call at the fourth ringing.

"Webb."

"Firefighter."

"One second." Loren heard a rustling sound. "That's all for now. Shut the door." Some seconds of silence. "All right, Loren."

Loren drew in a deep breath. "I think we've got problems. Admiral Boone's case is going to trial. Commander Rabb is defending and has chosen me as second chair."

"That's great," scoffed Webb annoyed, "So I can wait for him to drag me to the stand."

"Oh, I think he's absolutely determined to do that," agreed Loren, "But the problem is that ZNN knows about the trial. It's very unlikely they'll get permission for their cameras in the building but outside is something else."

Webb groaned. "The last thing I need is an appearance on-" He paused suddenly. Loren could almost hear the wheels in his head turning as it hit him. "Oh, DAMN it!"

"I'm just second chair but I'm not sure I'll be able to avoid the cameras at all." Loren rubbed her forehead in an attempt to soothe the slight headache starting between her eyes. This was a complication of her mission no one had expected.

"All right." She heard Webb's sigh through the line. "I need a list. Who can be a problem? Your fiancé."

"Yes," Loren started counting on the fingers. "My fiancé. My grandmother is nearly blind and rather absent-mindedly lately, I don't think she watches much television. Mom is dead, my father is with his second wife in Europe and so is my sister. But my uncle and his family might be a problem. And some friends..."

They went through the list until Loren was rather sure she had covered anyone who would be able to recognize her - and have an interest in doing so. All in all there weren't too many people but still enough to keep Webb busy.

"What are you going to tell them?" Loren eyed the door nervously. "Except for Richard they think I work as assistant legal adviser in a company in Boston."

"I know what you are supposed to tell your relatives," Webb replied gruffly, "And we don't change this story. There's a Navy Lieutenant who's looking quite similar to you and that's all. We just have to make sure those you have regular contact with will react the right way. And that your fiancé is already suspicious of what you do could even be helpful this time."

Loren grimaced a little. She had received a sharp dressing down as she had let it slip that Richard had a pretty good idea about what she really did for a living. Although he didn't know where she was and what the mission was about. Webb had given her a long and harsh speech about duty and the meaning of classified. It wasn't a conversation she liked to remember.

"Ah ... Mister Webb ... maybe I should talk to Richard."

"No, I'll handle your fiancé. You stay focused on your work."

"I- maybe you should know..."

"What? Come on, Loren, I don't have all day!" Webb's voice showed his growing impatience.

"Richard isn't very happy about ... my long absence," Loren rushed out. "I mean this operation is already running longer than we've thought in the beginning and ... and..."

"I see." And strangely Loren really had the feeling he understood. "I'll handle him. Now go back to work."

The line went dead before Loren was able to respond. For a second she just looked at her cell phone before she put it away. She had told Richard that she was going to apply to the CIA the day she had received the result of her last examination. And that she didn't intend to work as a field agent. She had never really told him that her application had been accepted - it hadn't been necessary. She knew he had understood by himself. Then, when she had explained that something had come up and she had to go away for a while ... that she was officially working in Boston but he shouldn't try to come and visit her, too much work and a stern boss, maybe traveling for the company and not in town ... he had simply looked at her and had asked her to be careful. Again he had understood.

Sighing she walked to the door. Because she had not much private contact with anyone of the JAG staff it was fairly easy to sneak away for a day or a weekend and stay in touch with the inner circle of her friends and relatives. It would have aroused suspicion if she had disappeared from one day to the other and the distance from her supposed workplace to her home town wasn't an excuse for breaking up any contact. But it was most of the time more strain than fun and dangerous too - she always feared to be followed and blow her cover. It was quite a possibility that Senvealda's organization had put her under observation.

So she preferred phone calls but that wasn't the same. And it didn't help one bit that her cell was programmed to put any call on the voicemail except for a few hand-picked numbers. She simply couldn't risk getting a call from a friend while being at the office. She couldn't risk giving her voicemail a better greeting than the announcement of her phone number. She couldn't risk having a life - and at the same time she couldn't risk having none because it would arouse suspicion.

It was paradox, it was exhausting and it was very frustrating. But she had no choice. Drawing in a deep breath Loren carefully rebuilt Singer's cold face over her own and left the room.

- The courtroom, JAG Headquarters

Loren watched as Rabb's and Webb's eyes met briefly then her superior was gone and the commander started questioning a very alive Corporal Drax. She couldn't help shaking her head a little.

That was it? A look and an almost imperceptible nod? Considering the rather strange ... friendship between these two men it probably was.

Loren listened a second to Rabb's questioning. The commander was a wizard in the courtroom and even outside an intelligent man ... normally. Was it really possible he didn't see what Webb had just done for him? What risk he had taken?

Webb certainly did, his late night call yesterday was proof enough of that. He had clearly noticed the consequences of his actions mixed up with his earlier testimony in court. Loren was still shocked that he had turned to her for advice. Well, not exactly for advice. But for her recommendation as a lawyer and as an eyewitness to his testimony.

Did Rabb really not see the complications for the CIA and for Webb's career? The Agency didn't look good in this trial. A trial with half of the spectators belonging to newspapers, magazines or TV stations. It didn't look good because of the Phoenix operation itself, their files and reports ... and then there was Corporal Drax. And quite some people at the Agency detested nothing more than bad publicity.

Loren shot a glance at Stuart Dunston. The journalist was whispering with a colleague. Maybe she should have a word with him afterwards. Anyway she'd have to smooth his ruffled feathers because she had used his information so openly. Well, he was a reporter. He would understand. It wasn't like- She almost fell off her chair because of Rabb's next words.

"Then why did you come to testify in this court after all?"

Loren all but jumped up and objected. Was the man crazy?!

There was a wicked gleam in Drax's eyes. "I'm getting a nice pension from the CIA. I was told I'll lose it if I don't testify."

Loren squeezed her eyes shut. She had to fight the urgent need to strangle Rabb. As much as she understood his reasons as a defense counsel - she wasn't stupid, she knew he wanted to point out that Drax had no reason to lie - but HOW COULD HE?! Didn't he see how this could destroy Webb? Hadn't he realized how close Webb had come to lying under oath in Colonel Mackenzie's cross-examination?

Oh, Webb had made very clear, by his actions and by his words, that he had read from the file when he'd testified Drax had been killed. Read from the file and not answered because of his own knowledge. But unfortunately Mackenzie's questioning had later driven him into saying that the reports had usually been done thoroughly.

Webb was Deputy Director. Of course he had had the necessary access to find out about Drax's pension. And of course he had done it - thoroughly as he was. That it had been forbidden territory to talk about had been a matter of unwritten Company rules.

Loren pinched the bridge of her nose. She prayed - prayed - that none of the reporters would make the connection between the two testimonies. Unfortunately Webb had had to walk into this courtroom together with Drax. Damn the man, he had been well aware of the difficulties and did it nevertheless! But it was a good guess that the former corporal would have never taken the stand if Webb hadn't been right there to kick him forward.

Hopefully the attention of the audience had been distracted enough by the man risen from the dead so most of them hadn't seen Webb leaving the courtroom. Hopefully Drax would have enough sense to keep his mouth shut when the reporters were going to jump at him after court.

Loren watched Rabb sitting down. Was this man really that blind? Or did he simply not care?