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Episode: Family Business

- Watergate Complex, Washington D.C.

"My itinerary." Loren let the sheet of paper sail across the table as she sat down.

"Yes, I know." Webb reached out and looked it over. His face was unreadable.

"I get seasick on boats." She knew she was wailing but she couldn't help herself.

"I think the correct term is ship." Webb sighed and handed the sheet back to her. "But the facts are still the same: I can't spare you a trip to this carrier. Nelson has offered his resignation and the President has accepted. So everything is up in the air. We've got a pretty good idea who will get the nod but right now there's nothing to deal with. And even after everything will be settled... Considering the events of the past weeks the new SecNav will double- and triple-check anything even smelling like CIA."

"Who can hold it against him," Loren stated dryly.

"Who can hold it against him," agreed Webb quietly. "So let's get down to business. Your relatives?"

"Informed that I've got a new job and will be traveling around the world with my boss for the next months and that it could be difficult to get hold of me. My father asked me to stop by if I happen to be in Europe."

"Nice."

Loren didn't respond. A carrier wasn't Washington where she had at least been free to use a cell phone anytime she had wanted to. They had had to come up with a plausible excuse for her temporary disappearance to tell her family and friends. The story of a new job had satisfied all but Richard. She had even gotten congratulations on having this opportunity. Of course her husband knew too much already to buy what she had told anyone including him - although it was the truth in a twisted way. He had been worried and definitely not pleased, he had even asked if it was really necessary to go, even suggested she should just quit. She hadn't known what to tell him. And she had suddenly realized that she was afraid to face him. To face him after what she had done ... and would never be allowed to tell him.

Webb's penetrating stare brought her back to reality. She shifted uncomfortably on her chair and said the first thing coming to her mind.

"I've got nobody to water my orchid. It's not like I have the best contact with my neighbors." At his look of mild annoyance she added defensively: "It's very special to me."

"I think I can manage to find a solution to this problem," he commented dryly. "Maybe I'll give it to my mother. She's good with orchids if that comforts you."

Without waiting for her reaction he opened one of the files in front of him and glanced over it. She noticed her written reports.

"Give me a summary of Lindsey."

She was about to answer but instead paused and thought again. She had intended to give him a short update as usual - he had the reports, hadn't he - but exactly that was the point. Webb waited patiently as she eyed him closely. A summary. He had said a summary. She felt her heart beating faster. The silences stretched while she decided on her next words.

"Well." She clasped her hands on the table and narrowed her eyes at them.

"After I made first contact at Christmas Eve I tried to keep in touch with him. I called him to ask for information and advice and I made sure to show enough interest in him and his position to attract his attention. We met for dinner several times, first rather formal and seldom but then more frequent and ... less formal in the past months. Although I flirted with him and indicated that I would do more if it helped my career..." Here she paused and stilled her slightly wavering voice. "... he initiated the next step that led to a sexual relationship."

Again she fell silent and carefully banished any emotion out of her next words. "He repeatedly said he could be helpful to my career and complimented me on my skills and my determination. He also made predictions how far I would go within the service - within JAG. He gave advice how to handle the cases I told him about but he never did anything real to help me. I don't think he was involved in giving me the assignment on the Seahawk although he made some comments when he congratulated me."

She slowly rubbed one thumb with the other. "From time to time I pressed a little, talked about being short of money and fished for something I could link to Senvealda's organization. But there wasn't a definite response. He doesn't seem to have money problems though and once or twice mentioned ways to solve such a problem but ... again there is nothing specific."

Loren took a couple of calming breaths. Webb's silence was complete but she didn't look at him. She concentrated entirely on the best way to express the complex conclusion she had formed of facts, hints, feeling, and guessing.

"I'm sure he isn't clean. Call it a gut-feeling but I'm sure there is something. But whenever we talked about 9-11 or terrorism or treachery ... he seemed to be truly disgusted. He may be weak and has used -" She swallowed. "- used the ambition of a junior officer to persuade her into having sex..." The muscles in her neck tightened and she had to clear her throat. "... but I'm probably the wrong person to judge his morality."

Finally she looked up and met Webb's eyes.

"I don't think he's our leak," she finished seriously.

Webb held her gaze steadily just pursed his lips a second.

"Then we are agreed on that one," he acknowledged nodding slightly.

Loren exhaled and sat back on her chair. Their eyes were still firmly locked.

"And now?" she asked in the end.

"You'll go to the Seahawk. And then we'll end this."

Loren dropped her gaze. She had waited so long for these words ... and now she didn't know if she was happy or scared.

Webb's voice seemed to come from far away. "We can't risk the slightest shadow of a doubt falling on Foxhound that makes getting you out kind of difficult. But service on a carrier is dangerous even for a lawyer." He grimaced. "Even without walking into a minefield. I'm considering killing dear Miss Singer off but it all depends on chances and the new SecNav now. Loren, I must warn you. It might take some time to set something up. And you know how fast a month has passed."

She met his concerned gaze with a brave smile. "I've waited for so long I don't think a few months more or less will make such a big difference. At least I'll be out of JAG headquarters - that's already worth something."

"They can be difficult," Webb admitted simply. He looked away. And once more she wondered about the bond that tied him to these people.

"Well-" He had recovered quickly and glanced at his watch. "Here are the basics: Codes, connecting procedures etc. You know the drill. Read and destroy. Give me a call if any question comes up. You're leaving Tuesday so there is more than enough time."

Loren took the thin folder he was offering her, flipped through its contents and stored it safely in her briefcase. For a moment they simply looked at each other, both at a strange loss for words.

"Good, then...," Loren got up slowly and prepared to leave. "I'll go and visit Roberts. Any information about the Seahawk could be helpful."

Webb just nodded. She saw the tight muscles of his jaw.

"Have you seen him yet?" she asked softly.

He shook his head. "It ... would do no good."

She bit her tongue. She didn't agree but who was she to give him advice on his life? Nevertheless she felt the urgent need to say something else, something personal. They had known each other for almost three years now. It wasn't like they would never meet again but still...

"Have - have you heard about Lieutenant Maat?"

"Maat?" Webb frowned. "I don't know any detail but I've thought everything was settled months ago. Your role in her disappearance wasn't revealed, was it? I told her explicitly..."

"Oh, no, no," Loren assured hastily. She had kept a safe distance whenever Katelyn had been around and except for an emotional thank you in the ladies' room she had never talked to Isabel Maat. "I just wondered if you know that she's got single custody for Katelyn."

"That's good."

"Mackenzie even got her off the hook for going UA - without a punishment. The Colonel fought like a tiger."

Webb looked at the table and smiled. "I'm sure my little wildcat did."

'My little wildcat?' Loren stood frozen in shock. 'And a smile like that?'

"You are aware that Mackenzie and Rabb are closer again since Afghanistan?" she blurted out without thinking.

Webb's eyes snapped up at her and she saw his sharp intake of breath and jumped to the door.

"I - I've said nothing! Absolutely nothing! J-just ignore me, I'm - not -"

She fled to the elevators, kicking herself mentally. She didn't dare to breathe out until the door was safely closed. Then she cupped her face and groaned deeply. Why couldn't she just once watch her tongue? That had been a fine piece of diplomacy!

But it had really thrown her for a loop. Webb had a crush on Mackenzie?! When on earth had this happened?! She had always thought the main friendship was between Webb and Rabb and the rest were more kind of a tag along! Had she been so wrong? Or had the various missions in Afghanistan changed more than just the balance between the two JAG attorneys? And there had been a shift in their relation, she just wasn't sure if it was for better or worse. At the moment it looked like they were going to spoil their rebuilt friendship again by getting ... somewhere else.

But Webb and Mackenzie? Loren shook her head. Yes, she had heard rumors that the Colonel had had a touch-and-go in one of the prison camps and that he had been around but ... he and Mackenzie? And the woman didn't seem to answer his feelings. All right, she hadn't the best opinion of the Marine for some very personal reasons but still... She just hoped Webb knew what he was doing.

Sighing she made a face. As if anyone was able to control who one fell in love with.

But maybe she was overreacting. Webb wasn't blind and considering the strong natural reserve in his character he would probably never say anything in this direction as long as he saw Rabb as a friend ... except for he'd be drunk, drugged or dying. And although any of these possibilities could unfortunately happen in his - their - line of work it was rather unlikely anyone of JAG would be around that very moment to hear his confession.