Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
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Episode: Redemption
- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
Well, sometimes she had really no problems getting on Chegwidden's wrong side. Loren shot one last glance at the little girl and walked away. She wondered a bit what her mother wanted at JAG. Anything that had to do with the child? She shrugged mentally. There were enough possible reasons, too many for guessing. But because of the child it was certain that the Roberts were more than eager to help. She didn't dislike children by definition but why make such a fuss about each and any of them? Hey, Richard and she had talked about having some and it was a somewhat exiting thought but wanting children didn't necessarily mean patting any little head that came across, did it? She still remembered very lively how much she had hated barely known adults fussing over her!
"Are you finished here? I need the photocopier."
"Yes, Ma'am. Of course Ma'am." The addressed Petty Officer made a hasty retreat.
Loren shoved her sheet inside and suppressed a sigh. Westland's sudden death had had surprisingly little effect on life at JAG. Well, it had helped that the main JAG officers had been occupied with their own problems at that time. Mackenzie with her second trip to Indonesia and Rabb with ... whatever classified operation he had poked his nose into. Loren's lips twitched as she remembered Webb storming past her on one occasion with visibly fuming nostrils ... and later Rabb with very dark clouds on his face. Her bet would be a stalemate this time. These two men really had a unique kind of relationship.
Anyway, when the Police had informed Admiral Chegwidden of Petty Officer Westland's death, there had been quite some shocked faces and talking but as it was said so nicely: Life went on. Of course the way it had been accurately swept under the carpet had played a major role in that. There had been a seemingly proper investigation, furrowed eyebrows because of the circumstances the Petty Officer had died in and finally the hesitant announcement of a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Things like that just happened. The body had been sent home to his grieving family who would never know what their son and brother had done. And it was a good guess that Senvealda too was very pleased with the outcome. So everything was wrapped up nicely - except for those who knew better.
Loren grimaced a little. Since Westland's death she had order to lie low. There was a tiny chance that someone of Senvealda's organization would approach her again - but only a very tiny. Someone in the Pentagon had far better access to things of interest than Singer could ever provide. Why should they take the risk? No, more likely they intended dropping Singer without a second thought. Well, probably after a second thought.
She extracted her copies and returned into the bullpen. It would have been helpful if Westland had ever introduced her to any other contact ... but unfortunately Senvealda's organization was on the same level with any intelligence service in the point of security. This made it so difficult to damage it seriously: Many short single chains and very few connections between them - you got a hand on one chain and they cut the connections, leaving you with nothing else to work with. Frustrating.
- A forest, somewhere in Virginia
"And your friend can really help us?" Lieutenant Isabel Maat held her daughter Katelyn closer to her. Loren's eyes left the road for a moment to smile reassuringly.
"Don't worry. He likes playing a gruff old man but he's got a heart of gold." '- I hope,' she added silently. Personally, she wasn't that sure of his reaction but he was the only one she could turn to. Again she glanced at the little girl and gripped the steering wheel tighter. Her instinct was telling her she was doing the right thing. She wouldn't allow it to happen again.
The red convertible took the last turn and rolled across the unpaved parking lot, coming to a stop next to Webb's car. Of course he was already here, she had made the phone call urgent enough and he had had a good head start before she had even walked out of the base with Maat and her daughter. She saw him turn his head and the frown on his face as he noticed she wasn't alone. He opened his door.
"Wait here." Loren took a calming breath and got out herself. She met Webb halfway around his car.
"Loren. What's the matter? And who's that?" Underlying anger colored his voice.
She gulped. "That's... That's Lieutenant Maat and her daughter Katelyn. They need help."
In his usual uncommunicative way he waited for her to continue. His unwavering gaze made her even more nervous. This was going to be hard.
"Look, Lieutenant Maat... Katelyn is... Oh, darn it, Lieutenant Maat's husband is physically abusing the child. He broke her arm and that wasn't the first time he had laid hand on her. They are separated and Colonel Mackenzie tried to get the mother single custody but the guy is lawyer himself. They lost and now Katelyn is supposed to be with him the next weekend. Anything might happen-"
Loren stopped in mid-sentence as Webb grabbed her elbow in a dead grip. He practically dragged her across the parking lot towards the first trees.
"You're telling me she's got nothing to do with our operation?" he hissed fuming, "And you've brought her here?!"
"She doesn't know who you are or what we do. I've told her you work in a bank and -"
"You've jeopardized the whole mission!"
"Mister Webb, I know you're angry but you must help them! I was able to get them off the base but I don't know what to do next. You've got contacts-"
"Are you crazy? Let the law take care of it!"
"That failed once! I couldn't stand aside and watch the guy possibly kill the girl!"
"I'm sure Mac is already figuring out how to appeal best! This is none of our business!"
"None of our business? None of our business?! That's always the problem: It's none of our business!"
"Loren, you have a specific task at JAG -"
"I've seen how that works! Never again! We had a case like that in Chicago!"
"- and that doesn't include messing around with -"
"Oh, the man sold himself pretty good and the judge awarded joint custody -"
"- illegal actions like -"
"- and everybody thought he has been warned, even if he had done it once he will not do it again -"
"- helping a mother kidnap her daughter -"
"- even the mother didn't believe he would really harm his own child and -"
"- and I will not -"
"- and the next day the girl was dead! Have you ever seen what can happen to a little child falling down a flight of stairs?!"
"Loren, this is not -"
"Do you know how many bones can be broken in such a tiny body?! Do you know what it looks like in a photograph?!"
"Loren, I know that -"
"Oh, no, he didn't touch her! She was so afraid she didn't see where she was running! Running away from her daddy!"
"Loren!"
"And all that because everybody had said let the others take care of it INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING -"
"LO-REN!" barked Webb and she stopped. They stared at each other, both panting and out of breath.
"I've got your point," Webb added finally much calmer. Loren fought back tears.
"I can't let it happen again," she stated simply. "I just can't."
Webb rubbed his face and started pacing. Loren watched fearfully. She tried to get her emotions under control again.
"I can't believe this!" Webb muttered under his breath.
Loren closed her eyes then forced herself to look at him again. "You - you won't send them back?"
Webb paced some more. "You've put me in an impossible position!"
Loren followed him with her eyes, despair washing over her. Webb caught a glimpse at her face and threw his hands up.
"NO! Damn it." He sighed. "The damage has already been done."
He pinched the bridge of his nose then reached for his cell. "I've got to make some phone calls." He started punching in the first number, paused and glared at her. "What are you waiting for?!"
Loren jumped backwards and fled to the cars. Isabel Maat saw her and climbed out, fear in her eyes.
"Lieutenant? What - what will happen now?"
Loren forced a smile. "It's all right. Really. He's making some arrangements and then you'll be out of here."
Lieutenant Maat glanced unsure at Webb, talking on the phone. Obviously she had heard the shouting; it had probably been hard to miss. "Your - your friend seems to be very upset."
"That's just his usual habit," lied Loren uneasily, "Don't worry, everything will be all right."
The women waited in uncomfortable silence until Webb walked up to them. He seemed perfectly calm, he even smiled rather gently.
"Mrs. Maat, excuse me, Lieutenant Maat, I've arranged something with some friends. Would you please get into my car?"
"I -," Isabel Maat looked from Katelyn to Loren and back to Webb, "I don't want to cause you any trouble, Mister... Uh, I - I really..."
"Lieutenant, you're welcome. You and your daughter. Now shall we?" He opened the door for her.
Lieutenant Maat hesitated again for a second then got in. "I - I don't know how to thank you, Sir. Ma'am. I know you can get into a lot of trouble..."
Webb actually patted her shoulder then reached out and touched Katelyn's hair. "Again: You are welcome."
Loren smiled at the little girl and her mother. Webb closed the door and stepped past it on his way around the car. As his back was to the Lieutenant he reached out in a swift motion, grabbed Loren's arm and jerked her towards him. His voice wasn't more than a low growl.
"You'll ever do this again and I'll cut you off at the knees!"
Loren stared into his furious eyes just inches in front of hers and barely managed a nod. Frozen in place she watched him walk around the car and get in. She followed them with her eyes until they had disappeared between the trees. Then she fell backwards against her car, shaking.