Chapter 2
Monday JAG headquarters Admiral Chegwidden's office
"Reporting as ordered, sir." The two officers announced, standing at attention in front of the admiral's desk.
"Have a seat." Admiral Chegwidden waved at the two chairs across from his desk.
"Lt. Commander Amanda Parker has filed a formal complaint against Lt. Michael Bradley. She claims he has continually issued unnecessary wave offs in a deliberate attempt to blacken her record and get her grounded."
"She's a pilot sir?" Mac asked looking at the admiral.
"Unfortunately, a mediocre one according to her record."
"Then what's the problem sir?" Harm asked.
"Though mediocre, her landing record at her previous duty assignment was considerably better than on the Seahawk. Her wave off ratio does appear to be higher when Lt. Bradley is LSO."
Looking directly at Rabb, the admiral continued. "You do remember the last time an LSO was intentionally waving off a female pilot?"
"Yes sir, I do." Harm replied, a somber look on his face.
"I've already had Bobbie Latham give me an earful. Apparently the Commander is in her district."
Everyone in the room knew what that meant.
"The Seahawk is docked for repairs at Norfolk. The two of you leave immediately. Commander you take the lead. Colonel, you get to run interference with Senator Latham. Dismissed."
"Aye, Aye, sir" the two officers chorused.
On the Road, Midway to Norfolk
"Harm, what happened the last time an LSO waved off a female pilot?" Mac had been wondering for a while but finally decided to ask.
The pilot's bunkmate was on deck at night wearing the pilot's jacket with her call sign on it. The LSO mistook her for the pilot and threw her over board. We almost didn't catch him."
"I see," was all she said.
"It's almost 11:30. What do you say we stop and grab some lunch before we get to Norfolk, otherwise once we get started on the investigation there may not be much time to eat." Harm suggested.
"Makes sense." Mac pointed to the road up ahead. "I think there's a pretty good diner the next exit or so."
"Sounds good to me."
Dobbsferry Diner. Short while later.
Finished with his tuna salad sandwich, Harm watched as Mac pretty much stared at the roast beef sandwich on her plate.
"Not hungry again?"
"I probably should have ordered something different. Let's just get me some toast to go and I'll nibble on it later in the car." Mac turned around to call the waitress over.
"Toast isn't lunch Mac." Still worried, he could see by the look on her face, now was not a good time to push the issue. "We'll take the sandwich too, in case you really get hungry later." He added.
Back in the car Road to Norfolk.
Having ridden in silence for the last twenty minutes, Harm decided he had to try and figure out what was wrong. Besides, she wouldn't dare kill him while he was behind the wheel. He hoped.
"You do know, that no matter what, I'm always here as your friend." He started.
"Excuse me?"
"No matter what happens, I'll always be your friend, you can count on me for anything. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye." Harm drew an x over his heart with his right hand, flashing her his best Rabb smile.
Trying not to let her amusement show, "okay- to what do I owe the honor of this touch of adolescent melodrama?"
"Well, something's obviously upsetting you. You're awfully quiet and not eating much, I'd like to help. Even if all you need is a willing ear." Harm tightened his grip on the steering wheel and held his breath.
Sighing – "Life sucks." She exhaled.
THAT, wasn't what he expected.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"You heard me. You wanted to know, now you know." Her eyes dared him to argue with her.
"Life in general or is there something about life in particular that sucks?" Meanwhile he was praying – 'please don't let the answer be me.'
She turned her head out the side window and said, "I guess, I don't know. Can we talk about something else?"
Taking another deep breath, "Is it something I've done?" He forced himself to ask.
Smiling just a little, "No Rabb, this time it's not you." She looked at him a moment before the smile faded and she turned to look back out the window.
"Is it Chloe?"
Hesitating a moment, "Not really."
Realizing she wasn't going to say anything else, Harm decided to continue playing twenty questions.
"Webb?"
She didn't move, didn't reply. She was lost out the window. Harm wasn't even sure she heard him.
"Is this about Sadik?"
Mac stiffened instantly. Harm almost thought he could see the hairs bristle on the back of her neck. Hmn.
"Mac, what you did had to be done."
Still no comment from Mac.
"After what he did to Webb," Harm noticed Mac flinch at the mention of Webb's name, but he went on. "to me with the battery, and what he planned for those kids at the night club, he was scum. He needed to be dealt with."
"I know." She answered so softly Harm wasn't sure he heard her.
"Then why so glum, Mac?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"This is obviously bothering you. You have to deal with it somehow, talk to me. You might feel better." Harm was pretty much pleading at this point.
Still unable to look at Harm, Mac let out a deep sigh. "Sometimes I think they're right. My dad, Sadik, I'm just a whore."
Shock didn't even begin to describe what Harm felt at hearing Mac's words.
"THAT is NOT true. You are the most honorable woman I know." A sense of panic rushed through him as he wondered what the hell could have happened to bring that on.
"I used him." She hesitated and Harm decided it was time to end twenty questions and let her find her own words.
"I used him, the way I used, Chris, booze, Dalton, Mic, all of them."
Harm was a little confused, but still listening.
"God I wanted a drink." She sighed again. "But I couldn't do that to myself. I wasn't going to let him win. He was wrong. I'm not weak."
Harm wasn't sure who she was talking about but he couldn't imagine Webb having the nerve to call Mac weak, not if he valued his life. She must be talking about Sadik. But, how could she use Sadik. Something still wasn't adding up. He patiently waited for her to continue.
"I didn't know what else to do. I needed to feel, anything, something. I wasn't going to take that drink. But Sadik was ultimately right. I was weak, I'm nothing more than a whore."
Harm was about to interrupt her when she sighed deeply. "I slept with him, I SLEPT with Clay. I didn't love him. I didn't even want him, but I did it. I slept with him first and asked questions later."
For the first time since she started talking, she turned to look at Harm, relieved to see only confusion, or was it understanding on his face.
"Mac, you have a relationship with Webb. That doesn't make you a whore." He wanted to say so much more.
Looking away again. "You don't understand. There was no RELATIONSHIP. It was the first time, the only time. I didn't plan it, hell I didn't even realize what I was doing until it was over. Sex now, ask questions later." She sounded thoroughly disgusted with herself and Harm didn't know what to say.
Pulling the car over to the side of the road. Harm turned to Mac and took her hand in his.
"Look at me Mac."
She turned to him with tears in her eyes.
"You are a smart, beautiful, desirable woman. You are an accomplished and respected marine and lawyer. Most of all you are human. You are not a machine, no matter how much you may try to convince yourself of that."
He paused to gage her reaction. He saw none and continued.
"Sadik was an ass, a smart ass, but an ass. He knew how to play with people's minds and he played with yours. We all need someone or something at one time or another. You needed something and Webb gave it to you. You didn't take that drink. You proved you were strong, and along the way you showed you're a real woman. A woman who any man in his right mind would give all he owned, to have her love and respect."
Letting go of her hand, he turned the car back onto the highway.
"Thanks Harm."
"I'll put the bill in the mail." He smiled.
TBC
Monday JAG headquarters Admiral Chegwidden's office
"Reporting as ordered, sir." The two officers announced, standing at attention in front of the admiral's desk.
"Have a seat." Admiral Chegwidden waved at the two chairs across from his desk.
"Lt. Commander Amanda Parker has filed a formal complaint against Lt. Michael Bradley. She claims he has continually issued unnecessary wave offs in a deliberate attempt to blacken her record and get her grounded."
"She's a pilot sir?" Mac asked looking at the admiral.
"Unfortunately, a mediocre one according to her record."
"Then what's the problem sir?" Harm asked.
"Though mediocre, her landing record at her previous duty assignment was considerably better than on the Seahawk. Her wave off ratio does appear to be higher when Lt. Bradley is LSO."
Looking directly at Rabb, the admiral continued. "You do remember the last time an LSO was intentionally waving off a female pilot?"
"Yes sir, I do." Harm replied, a somber look on his face.
"I've already had Bobbie Latham give me an earful. Apparently the Commander is in her district."
Everyone in the room knew what that meant.
"The Seahawk is docked for repairs at Norfolk. The two of you leave immediately. Commander you take the lead. Colonel, you get to run interference with Senator Latham. Dismissed."
"Aye, Aye, sir" the two officers chorused.
On the Road, Midway to Norfolk
"Harm, what happened the last time an LSO waved off a female pilot?" Mac had been wondering for a while but finally decided to ask.
The pilot's bunkmate was on deck at night wearing the pilot's jacket with her call sign on it. The LSO mistook her for the pilot and threw her over board. We almost didn't catch him."
"I see," was all she said.
"It's almost 11:30. What do you say we stop and grab some lunch before we get to Norfolk, otherwise once we get started on the investigation there may not be much time to eat." Harm suggested.
"Makes sense." Mac pointed to the road up ahead. "I think there's a pretty good diner the next exit or so."
"Sounds good to me."
Dobbsferry Diner. Short while later.
Finished with his tuna salad sandwich, Harm watched as Mac pretty much stared at the roast beef sandwich on her plate.
"Not hungry again?"
"I probably should have ordered something different. Let's just get me some toast to go and I'll nibble on it later in the car." Mac turned around to call the waitress over.
"Toast isn't lunch Mac." Still worried, he could see by the look on her face, now was not a good time to push the issue. "We'll take the sandwich too, in case you really get hungry later." He added.
Back in the car Road to Norfolk.
Having ridden in silence for the last twenty minutes, Harm decided he had to try and figure out what was wrong. Besides, she wouldn't dare kill him while he was behind the wheel. He hoped.
"You do know, that no matter what, I'm always here as your friend." He started.
"Excuse me?"
"No matter what happens, I'll always be your friend, you can count on me for anything. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye." Harm drew an x over his heart with his right hand, flashing her his best Rabb smile.
Trying not to let her amusement show, "okay- to what do I owe the honor of this touch of adolescent melodrama?"
"Well, something's obviously upsetting you. You're awfully quiet and not eating much, I'd like to help. Even if all you need is a willing ear." Harm tightened his grip on the steering wheel and held his breath.
Sighing – "Life sucks." She exhaled.
THAT, wasn't what he expected.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"You heard me. You wanted to know, now you know." Her eyes dared him to argue with her.
"Life in general or is there something about life in particular that sucks?" Meanwhile he was praying – 'please don't let the answer be me.'
She turned her head out the side window and said, "I guess, I don't know. Can we talk about something else?"
Taking another deep breath, "Is it something I've done?" He forced himself to ask.
Smiling just a little, "No Rabb, this time it's not you." She looked at him a moment before the smile faded and she turned to look back out the window.
"Is it Chloe?"
Hesitating a moment, "Not really."
Realizing she wasn't going to say anything else, Harm decided to continue playing twenty questions.
"Webb?"
She didn't move, didn't reply. She was lost out the window. Harm wasn't even sure she heard him.
"Is this about Sadik?"
Mac stiffened instantly. Harm almost thought he could see the hairs bristle on the back of her neck. Hmn.
"Mac, what you did had to be done."
Still no comment from Mac.
"After what he did to Webb," Harm noticed Mac flinch at the mention of Webb's name, but he went on. "to me with the battery, and what he planned for those kids at the night club, he was scum. He needed to be dealt with."
"I know." She answered so softly Harm wasn't sure he heard her.
"Then why so glum, Mac?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"This is obviously bothering you. You have to deal with it somehow, talk to me. You might feel better." Harm was pretty much pleading at this point.
Still unable to look at Harm, Mac let out a deep sigh. "Sometimes I think they're right. My dad, Sadik, I'm just a whore."
Shock didn't even begin to describe what Harm felt at hearing Mac's words.
"THAT is NOT true. You are the most honorable woman I know." A sense of panic rushed through him as he wondered what the hell could have happened to bring that on.
"I used him." She hesitated and Harm decided it was time to end twenty questions and let her find her own words.
"I used him, the way I used, Chris, booze, Dalton, Mic, all of them."
Harm was a little confused, but still listening.
"God I wanted a drink." She sighed again. "But I couldn't do that to myself. I wasn't going to let him win. He was wrong. I'm not weak."
Harm wasn't sure who she was talking about but he couldn't imagine Webb having the nerve to call Mac weak, not if he valued his life. She must be talking about Sadik. But, how could she use Sadik. Something still wasn't adding up. He patiently waited for her to continue.
"I didn't know what else to do. I needed to feel, anything, something. I wasn't going to take that drink. But Sadik was ultimately right. I was weak, I'm nothing more than a whore."
Harm was about to interrupt her when she sighed deeply. "I slept with him, I SLEPT with Clay. I didn't love him. I didn't even want him, but I did it. I slept with him first and asked questions later."
For the first time since she started talking, she turned to look at Harm, relieved to see only confusion, or was it understanding on his face.
"Mac, you have a relationship with Webb. That doesn't make you a whore." He wanted to say so much more.
Looking away again. "You don't understand. There was no RELATIONSHIP. It was the first time, the only time. I didn't plan it, hell I didn't even realize what I was doing until it was over. Sex now, ask questions later." She sounded thoroughly disgusted with herself and Harm didn't know what to say.
Pulling the car over to the side of the road. Harm turned to Mac and took her hand in his.
"Look at me Mac."
She turned to him with tears in her eyes.
"You are a smart, beautiful, desirable woman. You are an accomplished and respected marine and lawyer. Most of all you are human. You are not a machine, no matter how much you may try to convince yourself of that."
He paused to gage her reaction. He saw none and continued.
"Sadik was an ass, a smart ass, but an ass. He knew how to play with people's minds and he played with yours. We all need someone or something at one time or another. You needed something and Webb gave it to you. You didn't take that drink. You proved you were strong, and along the way you showed you're a real woman. A woman who any man in his right mind would give all he owned, to have her love and respect."
Letting go of her hand, he turned the car back onto the highway.
"Thanks Harm."
"I'll put the bill in the mail." He smiled.
TBC