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Episode: Touch and Go
- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
'Well, that's an interesting composition over there.' Loren eyed Commander Rabb's office. The only advantage of being Singer: normally there was no need to mask her curiosity - because Singer would stare anyway. She didn't want to know what her behavior was probably called but it made work a lot easier.
She thought again of the brief conversation between Rabb and his former partner, Lieutenant Commander Pike, which she had overheard a few minutes ago. So the Lieutenant Commander had had a special encounter with Admiral Hollenbeck ... and that man was now a nominee for the Navy's Inspector General... Well, well, but nothing unheard-of. Why should things in the Navy be any different than in civilian life?
Lost in thought she opened and closed the book she was holding. More interesting was the interaction between Rabb and his three women. Renee Peterson, Caitlin Pike ... and Sarah Mackenzie. She wasn't sure because she had stood across the bullpen but he had seemed to be rather shocked when Lieutenant Sims had started squealing about Colonel Mackenzie's engagement ring - finally at the left hand. She still wasn't able to figure out what was going on between Rabb and the Colonel... Maybe the two weren't either. Although Mackenzie now seemed to be sure about the course of her future.
Loren snorted. Well, it had taken the woman long enough to make up her mind. Their trip to Australia had been what - a year ago? Brumby surly was patient. Hopefully Richard would be like him... Turning away Loren headed for the library. She knew she was asking a lot of Richard. Maybe too much. She still wondered what Webb had said to him. All he had told her was that this man had explained some things to him. He had changed the subject when she had asked what kind of things. And Webb she couldn't ask. God, she wouldn't dare!
Speaking of Webb - he had been surprisingly often at JAG headquarters the last three or four months. Usually she got a phone call just minutes before he appeared in the bullpen and was ordered to keep Westland off his back. Especially the first time had been rather abrupt because the train of events had Webb himself taken by surprise. But a plot to assassinate the Russian President could certainly be labeled an emergency.
Well, Rabb and Mackenzie had saved the day over there and Rabb had even found some lost brother, could you believe that? But right now it seemed to be not such a good thing to have a brother to worry about. Having a relative being a prisoner of war... No, that wasn't easy.
Standing between the book shelves Loren allowed herself to lean against one for a moment and close her eyes. She felt tired. Tired of her role, Singer's selfishness she had to act out, tired of being alone, of missing Richard and her friends... That was the hardest part of this game. The loneliness. No one had prepared her for that.
Sighing she stood upright again. It was no use musing about fate and the future. She searched and found the book she had come for, headed out of the library - and nearly bumped into Petty Officer Westland.
"Ma'am."
"Petty Officer."
Westland looked significantly past her and after a second she turned her head and followed the direction of his gaze. Admiral Hollenbeck was just disappearing out of sight. She looked back at Westland.
"A difficult man, this Admiral," the young man commented.
"Why, you know him?" Loren tilted her head.
"I don't but some friends of mine."
"Friends?"
"Friends." Westland lowered his voice. "Your friends too actually. They're a little bit ... anxious. The position of the Navy's Inspector General is quite a deal."
"You've got an interesting choice of words," stated Loren dryly. "How am I supposed to take that remark? You know someone better than Hollenbeck to fit into the position?"
Westland considered her closely. And Loren held his gaze unwaveringly. Westland was intelligent, ambitious and absolutely ruthless when he wanted to reach a goal. To misjudge his youth and underestimate his wits would be a dangerous mistake. Their first encounters had almost led her to make this mistake once - and it had almost cost her dearly. But she would not be careless again.
"Someone much better," replied Westland finally. He looked around but Loren knew he was watching her every move. She tried to think quickly.
"Well, unfortunately for ... our friends ... he's got quite some support," she probed carefully.
"Unfortunately. But, you know, things can change."
Loren raised a brow. Her voice wasn't more than a whisper. "And how?"
"I'd have thought that you as a lawyer should be able to come up with some possibilities," Westland murmured back.
Loren looked into his face and immediately knew what was up. Favors. Favors and a test. She felt her hands sweating.
"Oh, I can think on my feet as someone told me once. It's just a matter of ... motivation."
"Then I recommend you to feel ... motivated." Westland's eyes darted around. "But let's talk somewhere more private. Later."
He smirked somewhat and turned away. She followed him with her eyes.
- Outside JAG Headquarters, a little bit later
Loren walked nervously up and down. She couldn't get through to Webb. Damn the man, why was he right now talking on his phone? And for so long?! Holding her cell phone to her ear she tried again. This time the line was free and Webb picked up immediately.
"Webb."
"Firefighter."
"All right, shoot."
Loren drew in a deep breath. "The big thing is coming."
Webb waited for her to continue.
"In plain words: They don't want one of the nominees for the position of the Navy's Inspector General. They've got some preferences. And Westland as good as asked me to figure out a way to throw Admiral Hollenbeck out of the race."
"That's a lot," commented Webb after a long pause. "You're sure this is coming from higher up and not because Westland wants to put himself in a better light?"
"I am. And it's a test. They want to see if they can trust me."
"Why do you think that?"
"Westland's given me the name of their candidate."
Webb coughed. "No impossible! They can't move that fast!" He was silent again. "You're right. It has to be a trap. If we take their man out of the nominees they will know you're leaking information the other direction. And if you don't try to fulfill their wish you'll be at least on their wrong side for a while..." She heard him shift the receiver as he continued talking to himself. "But no, there's no way... Hollenbeck has quite strong support..."
"Actually ... there is," Loren said slowly. The silence on the line was heavy.
"Explain that."
"I've overheard a conversation. It seems Commander Rabb's former partner - a Lieutenant Commander Caitlin Pike - has been under Admiral Hollenbeck's command when he was Captain. She told Rabb she once ... got into a situation of sexual misconduct."
"Confirmed?"
"She never reported." She heard Webb breathe.
"Can Westland know about this?"
"I don't know. I really don't know. Maybe he was just probing. Maybe he just wanted to push me and see what I can come up with. He asked for possibilities... It would be too much coincidence ... too much thinking ahead. But this information, even unconfirmed, would be very damaging if made public."
Webb was silent once more. When he spoke again his voice was strained. "I'll call you back."
And the line was dead.
- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
Loren eyed Pike's back and had a hard time to keep her face unmoved.
You get my contempt? Wow, she had already taken a lot since she'd started working at JAG but that topped it all for the moment.
'You've got no idea, lady. No idea.'
The problem was: She deserved it. And she understood Pike's hurt feelings. But the Lieutenant Commander had been caught up in a secret war she had never been aware of. She was, so to speak, a necessary casualty. As was Hollenbeck.
Smoothing her uniform down Loren headed for a drink. God, she needed one right now. When Webb had called and given her the go to leak the information to her ZNN-acquaintance Stuart Dunston... If it had been so damn necessary why did she feel so dirty?
"Ma'am?"
Loren jumped slightly. She hadn't seen Westland stepping up to her.
'Pull yourself together, Loren!' she chided herself, 'You can't afford this musing!'
She accepted the glass he was offering her. They didn't look at each other as they talked quietly. Loren considered the crowd of Mackenzie's and Brumby's improvised engagement party, Westland busied himself with studying the wall.
"That was a nice move."
Loren wanted to throw up at the compliment. She took a sip.
"Just luck. I saw the opportunity - and took it."
"If you say so. It was more than we thought possible. But it was a nice move. Ma'am. Our ... friends ... are pleased."
Loren lowered her eyelashes to cover her emotions. She murmured into her glass. "I hope so."
"You won't be disappointed."
Westland brushed past her and wandered away. Loren watched him a second then tore her eyes of him. Well, they had to wait and see what'd happen next. Their friends were going to be very disappointed that their candidate wasn't going to make it either - despite his newly grown support now that Hollenbeck was out of the race. Webb would take care of that.
Unfortunately this didn't make her feel any better. Not one bit.