Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
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Episode: Capital Crime
- North of Union Station, Washington D.C.
Loren turned the collar of her coat up and glanced skywards. So that had been the famous Sergei Zhukov, one and so far only brother of Harmon Rabb junior. Half-brother. She walked down the block and around two corners, carefully watching her surroundings. Reaching Webb's dark car she step up to the passenger's side and got in.
"And?" Webb turned the ignition and pulled out into the traffic.
"He was there. A bored young man, fighting his homesickness with the internet, no suspicious papers lying around and no mirror above the bed."
"Mirror?" Webb shot her a puzzled glance.
"A joke. Mister Zhukov is a funny man. He said I would have made a good KGB agent."
This time the glance was exceedingly longer. Loren thought it recommendable to throw in a diversion.
"You've rescued Zhukov and brought him to the States. Do you really think he would cheat you like that and get involved in a crime as serious as stealing uranium? Not to mention the murder of Commander Aikin."
"I really think somebody could take advantage of his innocence and use him without his knowledge. He has been in the same building with one of our suspects, the observation team was absolutely sure about it. Twice. And as you've noticed correctly he's bored and he's homesick. It would be only natural to turn to other Russians. He may be an expert in surviving in a prisoner's camp but these skills are a little out of place here."
Loren shrugged. "Well, he may have been in the same building twice but this time he definitely didn't deliver the message. Not enough time - impossible to get back to Commander Rabb's apartment. And because the monitored conversation mentioned delivery as usual ... I guess he's off the hook now."
"Good." Webb paused. "You don't have to mention our little visit in your reports."
"I understand." She considered her hands. "But what about the FBI?"
"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it."
They drove in silence.
Loren looked out of the window. So Webb wanted to keep this under the hat. Who could hold it against him it would have ended his career - and Commander Rabb's - if Zhukov had turned out to be a loose cannon. Just to imagine ... you acted with the best intentions and then have to fear it could blow up into your face... Her mind started to wander.
"Did you know her? Commander Aikin?"
"No."
Silence again.
"So what are we going to do now? Commander Turner and Colonel Mackenzie are investigating in a completely different direction at the moment. Should I give them a hint?"
"No," repeated Webb slowly. "We don't know if Commander Aikin's death is really linked to the uranium. Besides, I like to have them working from a different angle. If they hit a dead end, no damage will be done. If they get the right turn, fine - maybe they'll come up with something we don't know yet. I'll recommend the SecNav to be open to any suggestions. One way or the other: We've got SEALs put on standby in the Aegean Sea to get the uranium back also I'd prefer to know the name of the man in the background first."
Webb parked the car in a quiet street not far from JAG headquarters. Loren unbuckled her seat belt and reached for the door handle.
"Loren... There are two more things we have to talk about."
Loren paused and glanced at him then settled back in her seat. Instead of speaking immediately Webb stared through the windshield. His wrists rested on top of the steering wheel. Seconds ticked by. Finally he bowed his head and considered his lap.
"Due to a change in my position I'm going to be out of the country a lot for the next time being. So maybe it'll be sometimes more difficult than before to reach me." He took a photo out of his breast pocket and handed it to her. "In case a personal meeting is necessary and I can't make it Elisabeth Bonettry will take my place. Her direct number is on the backside if I'm not available at all. But I'm still your first and hopefully most of the time only contact."
Surprised Loren studied the woman's face and memorized the number. She glanced sideways. "A change?"
"The DCI asked me to take the position of Assistant Deputy Director for Operation in Southwest Asia and I accepted."
"Assistant Deputy... You've been demoted?!" Loren blurted out without thinking.
Webb grimaced slightly. "Official reading is that my special knowledge is needed there but no appropriate position has been available."
Loren huffed. "Wow. A demotion masked as a promotion. That's innovative!"
Webb said nothing and avoided her gaze. She tried to get her wild running thoughts back in order. A lot she would have thought possible - that definitely not.
"It's because of Sergei Zhukov, isn't it?" she probed carefully. "Because you've brought him to the States without permission."
"Sergei?" Webb glanced at her with sincere surprise. "Oh, no, Sergei was part of the deal."
Loren blinked several times. Webb looked out of the window again. He tapped the steering wheel.
"Oh, why not," he muttered finally. "I said no when somebody else said yes."
Her voice was very gently. "You were wrong."
Webb rubbed a hand over his mouth and smiled bitterly. "That's a matter of definition. In the big picture we were both wrong."
"Uhm..." Now she was confused. "So what?"
"The other guy is the protégé of two senators and one congressman."
This time she got it. "Oh."
"No, politics," replied Webb dryly.
They sat in silence. It wasn't difficult to piece it together now. Loren knew how brusque Webb was able to be sometimes. So the other guy had felt insulted and called his cavalry and instead of risking burning his fingers the DCI had dropped Webb. Well, obviously Webb had fought back. And even if he had accepted the demotion he had made the most of it - for the benefit of Sergei Zhukov and Harmon Rabb junior ... and maybe other things. No wonder Webb had looked so strained the week before Christmas.
"Do they know?"
"Who? Rabb and Zhukov? Heaven's no!" Webb sounded right out shocked.
Loren just shook her head. She would never understand this man. Time to change the subject.
"You've mentioned two things to talk about."
"Yes, I did." Webb sighed. "Loren, when I told you to go and talk to your fiancé I didn't mean exactly to go and marry him."
Loren felt a silly grin spreading over her face.
"Well, it wasn't planned but ... it just worked out that way."
Oh, talking in person had made such a difference. First neither she nor Richard had known how to start but then they sat down and talked it over, fought a bit and talked again. And if they had learned anything in the last two years than that their love was strong enough to survive it all. Going to the city hall had been spontaneous but somehow also ... inevitable.
Webb cleared his throat and brought her back to reality. He didn't look very happy.
"Don't get me wrong, Loren, but I wished you... I'm not sure it has been a wise decision right now." He held up his hand and stopped her answer. "Let me finish. Working with Westland was one thing. You were higher in rank and because of that mainly directed the course of action. Lindsey ... is something different. He's Commander. When you get his attention he'll make most of the rules. There's nothing you can offer him for his career but all he can do for you. Senior officers who get involved with a junior officer under these circumstances ... usually have a special reason."
Loren's breath caught in her throat. Cold disbelief washed over her. It couldn't be. What he was indicating - it couldn't be.
"I- You- You can't- You can't ask me to-"
"I expect," Webb interrupted her firmly, "you to do whatever needs to be done. But I don't order you to ... do ... it."
She stared into his face. She saw a hint of sadness there. A hint of regret. But most of all she saw hard and cold determination. He meant every word he had said. She looked away. She looked everywhere but in his direction. The roof of the car, the dashboard, the buildings outside. She couldn't stand looking at him. She couldn't.
"Loren I don't say it has to come to that." She closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. "But I want you to be aware of the possibility. And I want you to be prepared for the possibility."
She shook her head, negating his words. Blindly she reached out, pushed the door open and fled from the car. He didn't try to stop her.