Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
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Episodes: Dog Robber 2, Answered Prayers
- Watergate Complex, Washington D.C., a week before Christmas
The elevator moved smoothly upwards but wasn't able to lift Loren out of her dark thoughts. Sometimes it really seemed all world had gone crazy. Their plane in China had been just the first step on the way. She snorted. Darn it, yes, as soon as she had heard that Commander Rabb was defending the pilot who had destroyed it she had immediately feared he would use her as the bully again. Well, this time she had been absolutely determined to shoo him away with her behavior. Luckily he had already made up his mind before his return, so there had been just one awkward moment in the bullpen.
And then - surprise, surprise - she had been chosen to sit second chair for the prosecution. Great. One more case in the center of media attention. One more dance around TV cameras including a probing Stuart Dunston. Oh, and of course one more phone call to Richard with instructions. He hadn't complained much. But his little comments about eventually getting used to it and practice makes perfect had been rather stinging.
She rubbed her temple. Of course Richard was tired of waiting. There had been tension between them since Westland's death, not that she held it against him. She couldn't even tell him a guess how much longer she'd be gone because she had no clue herself. But that wasn't all. She didn't even know what exactly had caused their argument some days later. One word had suddenly led to another and in the end he had hung up on her. They hadn't talked since. And that hurt the most.
The elevator opened and she checked the numbers left and right. At least whatever it was between Rabb and Mackenzie seemed to be back on normal terms - well, to the screwy definition of normal in their case. How two adult people could ... but she had been there before. Nevertheless it was still amazing how much their up and down affected the whole office and how unaware they were of it.
She found the right door and knocked. Webb opened immediately and motioned her in. She eyed him nervously. She hadn't seen him quite a while and their telephone conversations had been short and seldom. He had ordered her to stay put, together with a cryptic remark that something had come up and they were checking it out. Well, he probably had his hands full with other things, considering. Now she noticed fine lines of strain in his face and a hardness in his expression that hadn't been so pronounced before.
"The Watergate Complex?" she dared to ask as they sat down at the table.
"Don't like my choice of place?" Webb's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Don't tell me you are superstitious."
"Uhm - no."
Webb continued studying her closely and she couldn't help moving uneasily in her seat.
"You're looking stressed."
She almost replied you too but bit her tongue in time. Instead she shrugged. She should have known it wouldn't work on Webb.
"Any problems?" he inquired.
She dropped her eyes. "Personal ones." She felt his gaze still weighing on her. "Nothing I can't deal with."
He examined her some more but then - to her profound relief - dismissed the subject. Resting his elbows on the table and tapping his fingertips together he came back to business.
"Well, we had quite a change in direction lately. As Foxhound has confirmed Senvealda seemed to have given up his business of dealing with information and weapons."
"What?" Loren exclaimed startled. "But - but - Why?"
"He's smart," stated Webb matter-of-factly. "He knows we'll hunt him down at any cost if we even think he could have connections to any terrorist organization. So he's playing it safe and has settled for drug business for the time being."
Loren tried to comprehend all consequences of this new development. "Well, has he had in the past?"
"As far as we know - no."
"Then..."
"Unfortunately this doesn't alter anything," Webb cut her short. "His source is still there and even if he doesn't use him or her for selling information at the moment he probably still uses the intelligence for his own interests. What is more: Whoever has been willing to betray his country once in important things is very likely willing to do it again. And to who knows whom. We have to plug this leak. We've just gained more time to do it."
Loren pressed her lips together. She couldn't deny the plain and bitter logic in Webb's words. Finally she nodded reluctantly.
"So what are we going to do? Do we have a lead?"
Webb seemed to relax a little bit and opened one of his files, laying named photographs out in front of her. "Basing on Westland's last words to you and using whatever information Foxhound was able to give us, we've narrow down the list of suspects to these officers."
Loren pulled her chair closer to the table and bent forward. She observed three Commanders, a Lieutenant Colonel, a full rank Colonel and a Captain, four men and two women.
"All of them have reasons to be dissatisfied with their current position, have suffered real or imaginary setbacks and work with the kind of critical information Senvealda would have found interesting. The rest you don't have to bother about but this one -," Webb's neat finger tapped on one photo, "- is entirely yours."
Loren considered him instead of the photo. "Excuse me, but... I'm a bit concerned how Senvealda's men could react seeing Singer going after one more of their informants - considering what has happened last time. Wouldn't it arouse suspicion?"
"Westland wouldn't have told you about their new source without permission. Senvealda doesn't know what or how much the Petty Officer has revealed before he died and it fits in Singer's profile to go fishing for benefits on her own. If you get back in touch with his organization - that's even better. Besides, she's predestined to click with this candidate."
"How so?"
"You've got the same enemy: Admiral AJ Chegwidden. He stands in your way up - and he was head of the promotion board that turned him down."
Loren furrowed her eyebrows and picked the picture up. The Navy Commander had hair of a sandy color turning grey, rimless glasses and a somewhat surprised who - me? expression on his face. She noticed the JAG insignia on his uniform. Her eyes wandered to the name written at the bottom of the picture. Theodore Lindsey.
"Strange. I don't think I've ever seen him at JAG headquarters." She pursed her lips. "I'm not sure ... maybe... No, I can't remember."
"He works directly for the SecNav and isn't much around there. But he will be soon. Petty Officer Michael Roberts, Lieutenant Roberts' brother, has applied for the US Naval Academy. Secretary Nelson will order Lindsey to have a look into it, do the interview etc. I'm sure you'll find a way to approach him. If not, you'll probably get a second chance at Christmas Eve. As far as I know there's a standing order to attend church. Do you have a boyfriend at the moment?"
Loren stared in disbelief. Webb returned her look and she made the connection.
"Oh! You mean as Singer." She blushed. "No."
"Well, now you have one. Although you're going to lose him immediately."
"I will?" Loren felt a bit dizzy. Mechanically she took the small jewelry case Webb handed her across the table. She whistled as she saw the beautiful bracelet, what seemed to be diamonds and sapphires sparkled with inner light.
"Present from your supposed boyfriend. Unfortunately he's made two other girls equally happy as you'll find out when you go to a special jeweler - this address - and have them appraised. Don't be shy spreading the story around at JAG. I want Lindsey to know that you are single again - and that another man has considered you worth a diamond bracelet."
"Let's hope there's no jewel expert at the office who wants to check out the stones," Loren joked, playing with the bracelet.
"Wouldn't matter, they are real. So don't lose it, it's government property." She nearly dropped the thing. Webb smiled at her haste to put it back in its case. He handed her a file and got up after a look at his watch.
"Lindsey's. Put it in the safe when you're through with it I've got another appointment."
Loren nodded. While Webb gathered his things and filled his briefcase she tried to concentrate on the file but kept glancing nervously at the jewelry case with the bracelet.
"Ah - Mister Webb?"
"Hmm?"
"How much is it worth?"
"I guess you don't want to know," he replied with a chuckle.
Unfortunately that wasn't very comforting.
- Watergate Complex, Washington D.C., early morning Christmas Day
"Just take the damn thing back!" Loren shoved the jewelry case with the bracelet into Webb's startled hands even before she was completely through the door. He raised his brows at her muttered "... nearly caused me a heart attack!"
"I don't know if I want to hear the story behind this," he commented dryly.
"Me either," answered Loren sincerely. The shock she had gotten in the Robert's bathroom still turned her stomach. Heck, she had thought she had lost it! Or this Petty Officer Coates had stolen it what would have been only a change in degree. Well, she had jumped to the wrong conclusion but could she be blamed for it, considering Coates record?
"Then let's go on to the things I do want to know." Webb tilted his head. "Lindsey?"
Loren ran a hand through her hair, recollecting the last evening. Harriet Sims surprising invitation to the party at the Roberts' apartment had given her the perfect opportunity to tell her little tale; also - in retrospect - she could have chosen her words a bit more diplomatically. And she sure could have done without the uproar because of the bracelet or Lieutenant Roberts' father - what an awful man ... but that wasn't the point of interest for Webb.
"The contact is made. And yes, it was a nice little story to start with. But I think I'll need quite some time to build up a useful level of acquaintance."
"Then take your time."
She sighed and looked away. Time. It was always a matter of time.
"Still trouble with your fiancé?"
Her eyes snapped back to his face. He met her surprise perfectly calm. She sighed again and grimaced then nodded.
"Go and talk to him. After what I have seen he's a reasonable man. He'll understand."
"Because it's Christmas?" Loren smiled at the irony.
Webb smirked; he had clearly gotten the point of her remark. "I've thought more because of the holidays you'll have time to fly over and do it in person. Lindsey will probably spend these days with family and relatives anyway, so there's no need for you to hang around here."
"Oh." Loren thought about that and slowly started smiling. "Oh."
"Well -" Webb was suddenly hiding a big yawn behind his hand. "Then good luck."
"Thank you." Loren hesitated. She had been so engrossed in her own problems that she had missed until now how ... worn out he was looking. "Well ... uh ... if you don't mind me saying that ... you look like you've had a long night."
Webb heaved a sigh and rubbed his back. "I've played Santa Claus. And yes, it was pretty exhausting."
Loren gasped. She tried to picture him in a red suit, a padded belly and a white beard and just the thought of it caused her to chuckle. Webb pretended to look irritated but the corner of his mouth twitched suspiciously.
"Then happy holidays. Or is there anything else?"
"Well," Loren grew serious again, "As a matter of fact ... there is."
He waited with raised brows. Loren squirmed. This was a really sensitive matter to address.
"Well - uh - as you know Colonel Mackenzie has charged Mister Maat with assault on Harriet Sims and I've heard..." She gulped nervously. "I've heard that chances are good that Lieutenant Maat will get single custody for the child, so ... it would be ... maybe good if Lieutenant Maat ... got in touch with her ... uhm ... Colonel Mackenzie...," trailing off she tried to read his expression but failed. Hastily she continued: "I know this will cause trouble but ... they need to settle this ... I'm sure Lieutenant Maat will understand how important secrecy is in this matter... And Christmas would be a perfect opportunity to seek contact again..."
She prepared for an eruption. But - maybe because it was Christmas or just because he was so tired - Webb just sighed.
"It's a pity we can't charge him with assault on you." He rubbed his forehead. "I'll pass it on. Just stay out of any more trouble, will you?"