RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: H/M
DISCLAIMER: I do not own JAG
Author's Note: I once again want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews. Also thank the reviewer who caught my mistake with Sarah Knight's rank. I tell ya, I edited this baby like 10 times and I still missed something. Anyway, thanks for the catch, and her rank is Lance Corporal Sarah Knight. Thanks everyone for reading so far! More to come. Reviews always welcome!!!
Chapter 3: Congresswoman and Colonels
United States Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 1300 EST
All morning had been spent trying to interview many of the witnesses. This included most of Patterson and Barnes' unit, as well as most of the officers on the base. The consensus was that the event was indeed horrible, nobody expected it, but it was definitely a suicide; at least in the minds of most of the officers. The officers seemed to be convinced that the medical examiner was telling the truth because he was a distinguished officer. The enlisted, however, didn't wish to give an opinion as to the cause of death. Whether they were in fear of telling the truth or lying, it was still unsure. Obviously they didn't feel it was their place. Harm found his mind traveling throughout the facts of the case, yet also unable to keep his mind off of Washington, JAG, and especially Mac.
Mac was sitting next to Harm outside again in the shade, eating their lunch at the Colonel Madison's table once again. The Colonel had insisted that they join him for most of the meals, and neither Harm nor Mac minded. In fact, it gave them a chance to talk to the Colonel more and hopefully gain a better handle on all of the events. At the moment, however, Harm and Mac were alone because the Colonel had not yet arrived.
Mac glanced around her quickly to ensure they were indeed alone, and then reached over to grab Harm's hand. He had been in a daze, and finally awoke, looking to her with his flyboy grin. "You awake, sailor?" Mac saw in his eyes happiness, and the month they had been together had given her a new perspective. Looking at him, she could sense his mood. Not just whether he was happy or sad, but even deeper to his thoughts. To his soul. The eyes were merely the windows. Certainly their friendship had allowed her to understand him on many levels, though she knew there were many more underneath that he was hiding from her even still. Now, however, she not only knew him on deep levels but felt she had the right to look and see it for herself whenever she wanted to. More importantly, when she needed to.
Harm took the same inspection of the area around them, and then bent forward to give Mac a nice kiss. "Now I am." Mac reached her hand up and caressed his cheek. If only time could stand still for them, Harm thought. Being in Mac's arms was amazing, and often made his heart tingle with an unexplainable joy. He felt safe, secure, as if with her love only could he imagine conquering the world. Making her happy was his primary goal.
However, Mac heard commotion and leaned away from Harm and straightened her posture. Harm did the same and looked away. He loved and hated hiding their relationship all at the same time. He loved it because the experience had been fun, and it had allowed them time to give substance to their relationship before their friends became too invested in it. Yet, he hated it because he often had to inhibit his own actions from doing something that would end their careers in a heartbeat. It was a risk they both agreed to, knowing they were putting quite a strain on two successful careers. However, that didn't matter in the face of love. The Colonel was suddenly in view and came around to them. "Colonel, Commander."
Both Harm and Mac stood up quickly. "Sir."
The Colonel motioned them to sit and sat down himself across from them. "I hope your morning was successful." Successful enough to leave was echoing through Colonel Madison's mind.
Harm nodded. "Yes, sir. We interviewed quite a few people." It was imperative, however, that any successes in the case were kept between Harm and Mac. Harm had no intention of keeping Colonel Madison that well informed, knowing that CO's often complicated the issues. It was much easier to leave them out.
"I did a bit of interviewing of my own," came Bobbi Latham's voice as she appeared next to Harm. She gave everyone a smile and sat between Colonel Madison and Harm. Mac rolled her eyes, feeling that if Harm and herself didn't solve this soon, the Congresswoman would turn the case into a political platform. Such exposure was not what the case needed whatsoever, and would only shine an unpleasant light on the Navy and Marines. The press was only another reason why the Navy and Marines preferred to prosecute their own.
Harm sighed a bit, sending a quick glance towards Mac to see irritation and contempt. He knew she was thinking along the same lines that he was, both wishing they didn't have to deal with politics in this case. Often Bobbi's agenda involved satisfying her own feelings or those of her constituents, and at that moment it didn't seem that the justice of this case could match such demands. It was a case that needed careful investigating and researching. Glamour would make it much more difficult. For both himself and Mac, Harm replied, "You may be a Congresswoman, but you're not a JAG officer. Leave the interviewing to Colonel Mackenzie or myself."
Bobbi glanced to him, the aura of confidence never leaving her features. It would take much to get her to leave, Harm thought. Perhaps there was reason to keep her involved, but at the moment Harm couldn't see it. Bobbi countered, "I have authorization."
Mac squinted as the sun hit their position just right, and she found herself unable to look at the Congresswoman straight away. Admittedly, Mac didn't want to seem jealous, knowing that in all reality she had nothing to worry about. Her relationship with Harm, though still a bit new, had a sense of heaviness to it. It was fulfilling to both, and often had they talked about their feelings, their commitment. However, Mac couldn't help but feel the need to push Bobbi away not only from the case, in which her help was not needed, but also from her man. This thought surprised Mac a bit, strange to feel it, though unable to deny it. The Marine in her wouldn't let it go away. Mac then quickly chimed in, challenge lacing her voice a bit, "Authorization from whom?"
Bobbi smiled and took a bite of her food. Colonel Mackenzie's defensiveness intrigued her quite a bit. Though they never got along that well in recent years, this time Mac met her with a thick antagonistic fog. Something more was going on, Bobbi Latham knew. Just this conclusion urged her to stay in Cuba a little longer. Her first purpose for coming to Cuba was to show her face on a case that breathed discrimination against women. If the military was involved, it made the case that much more interesting. Maybe she wouldn't stay for the entire time, but she would make her presence known. Barely seeing Colonel Mackenzie's glare, it was apparent her presence was hitting another sore spot that was ultimately hidden. Bobbi only responded simply, "Actually ... he lives in that big white house will pillars."
Colonel Madison couldn't help but laugh a bit, sensing the tension. He replied, "Oh, the people you know, Congresswoman." He laughed a little more, taking his own bite of his lunch. Bringing in different people such as JAG lawyers and Congresswomen certainly livened up the base.
"That's fine, Congresswoman. But you have to remember that the Commander and I are the head of this investigation," Mac commented. Ever the picture of pride and strength, Mac refused to let Bobbi edge her. Of all people, Bobbi Latham was certainly not the person that wanted to test Mac.
Bobbi nodded, sensing that this battle would not end anytime soon. She quickly replied, opposition stringing along her words, "As long as you understand that the deaths of these Marines, while tragic, are merely the elements of something much bigger. That is why I am here."
Mac struggled to hold back and to not say anything further, knowing that what was most important here was the case itself. The voice of reason was echoing inside of her head, reminding her that a personal battle at a time like this would only make things worse. The dignity of a military officer prevented Mac from doing or saying something rash, and she kept thinking of her knowledge of Harm's love for her, and the case that begged for attention.
Harm felt the tension rise immediately, specifically in Mac and decided it best to change the subject. Sensing such changes in her mood came with the territory of the new relationship, and right now it was best for all if he let the air out of the balloon. "So, Colonel, you said you rotate the night shift for the Marines?"
The Colonel nodded in between his chewing. "Yes. Each Marine has to experience the feeling of having to keep watch."
"Lance Corporal Knight took her turn then." The question was simple. In fact, the questions were always simple, Harm thought. The answers to such questions were always intriguing, and opened up a bigger window into the person's character.
Madison nodded. "Of course." Once again, unnerving.
Harm continued, "What kind of Marine would you judge her as?"
Madison shifted in his chair, taking a drink of water. Harm felt his breath even out a bit, sensing a weakness in the armor. Before they had arrived, Mac had noticed the inconsistency in Marine rating and physical training. Usually Marines fulfilling the physical expectations were given at least an average rating. If there had been a problem, especially if the problem tended to be disciplinary, then the rating went down. However, no notes in Miller or Knight's personal reports suggested disciplinary problems, and she had fulfilled her physical requirements with no trouble. Madison quickly answered, "A good rating. Average."
Harm quickly opened the file next to him, and took out a piece of paper. "Here it says she was given a below average rating." Colonel Madison became increasingly more on edge, his eyes giving away his want to leave the questions and these JAG lawyers as soon as possible. Harm was beginning to feel the word cover-up hovering over their conversation.
Madison shrugged. "So? Average, below average ... all the same really."
Bobbi immediately broke in, catching the line of questioning quickly and not wanting to let the Colonel go without an explanation, "Would you react the same way if you were evaluating a man's performance as a Marine?"
"Of course." Though intended to be casual, Madison's hasty response seeped with uncertainty.
The Congresswoman smirked. "I've spoken to others who say you take it very personally when one of your Marines is graded low."
Madison sat back in his chair. It was clear he was outnumbered in this conversation, weathering blow after blow of accusations. It didn't take long for him to assume his rank, remembering that such unwarranted accusations were against the UCMJ. "I would be careful of what you're implying, Congresswoman." The Colonel's tough exterior quickly returned.
Bobbi continued to smile. "I didn't realize I was implying anything. Was I implying something, Commander?" Colonel Madison was obviously a bit uneasy as the questioning took a turn he didn't expect, quickly hiding under the laws of the UCMJ concerning the procedures of questioning a high ranking officer. The questioning certainly took a turn that Harm did not wish it to go, and he looked quickly to Mac to see she was thinking the same thing. It was never wise to go after a ranking officer, only if the evidence supported it without question.
"You know, I think maybe we've asked enough questions," Harm offered, wishing to get out of this as soon as possible. There was a reason why trained, JAG officers were appointed the duties of investigation, prosecution, and defense, and Bobbi Latham just demonstrated this.
Mac agreed quickly, wanting to move this moment on, and return to something much more productive, "I have to get to some more interviews. I'll take care of the rest of Patterson's unit." Sitting here, arguing, making the Colonel of a United States Naval Base angry with them, was not the good use of a day. She then looked to Harm. "Harm, I'm sure you and Bobbi can take care of some on your own. We'll meet up again in a few hours." She reached under the table and patted Harm's thigh, looked to Bobbi, and quickly left.
Bobbi looked away, knowing she had just seen something that she did not expect to see. Perhaps Colonel Mackenzie had intended for Bobbi to see, and perhaps not. At any rate, there was now no question to the hostilities that Mac had served her promptly when Bobbi had arrived. Colonel Mackenzie was protecting what was hers. Harm squinted into the sun a bit as he turned to Colonel Madison, who replied, "You two go ahead. I think we are finished here." Bobbi Latham and Commander Rabb nodded approval, stood, and left the table quickly.
United States Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 1330 EST
Harm and Bobbi Latham were now walking through the base towards the main headquarters to begin talking to some of the other officers. Harm had been very quiet as they left, keeping whatever thoughts running through his mind to himself. Bobbi periodically glanced over at him to see his worried face. Most likely he was thinking about the case, perhaps thinking a bit about Mac. Certainly Bobbi Latham knew her own presence had made situations a bit more challenging, and the case itself was only half of it. Finally breaking the silence, Bobbi said, "I think I'm going to return to Washington. I have some issues I have to deal with." She was needed in Washington more than here. For the moment, it was probably best to let Harm and Mac run with the case in the direction they chose fit. However, that didn't mean Bobbi would leave it completely.
Glancing to her quickly as they walked, Harm smiled. Finally Bobbi seemed to understand such cases and matters belonged in the military alone. Well, Harm thought quietly, at least he hoped that was the reason why she was leaving. Harm replied, wanting to make this point, "I'm not in Congress, just like you're not a JAG officer."
Bobbi nodded absently, catching his subtle argument for her leaving. However, though she was leaving for political duties, she would not leave completely. "I am returning. And I'm bringing the press."
Harm shrugged. "Then I better make sure there's nothing to report when you come back." Such challenges didn't scare him much, especially when he knew that Mac and himself would probably have the case completely investigated soon. It wouldn't take long, and hopefully this little dare by the Congresswoman might speed up their commitment. It was no secret that they both wanted to get back to Washington as soon as possible. Since Harm and Mac had become a couple, both developed an attitude of rather staying in Washington together than be forced apart. At least with this case they were somewhat together, but Harm felt that they might as well be on different cases in the different locations. Not being able to show any affection towards Mac was worse than not seeing her at all.
Bobbi looked away with irritation, now realizing why any relationship between herself and Harm didn't work. They were way too different. In fact, Harm's eyes had always been on one woman in his life, and Bobbi would never be that woman. Not that such a realization bothered Bobbi Latham, knowing Harm's heart would always belong to a certain Marine. It was better to know that. At that moment, Bobbi Latham felt a need to ask, to want to know for sure as to whether Harm and Mac were truly together. Such a discovery had many possibilities, not that she would sell them out. It wouldn't be fair to them, but it was a bit of gossip that was nice to know before it got out into the Washington public. Harm and Mac were known in the Navy and Marines, in Washington, because of their successes. This had the potential of being huge. As she looked to Harm again, he began to walk away from her towards his respective quarters, but Bobbi called back quickly, "You and Mac?"
Harm stopped then, turning to her. Harm suddenly felt like Bobbi had crossed a line. It had been hidden in the sand, and it had been so for a reason. Such an implication was dangerous, and Harm didn't even want to fathom what Bobbi Latham might be daring to do if there was no news about the case when she returned, possibly wanting to use his relationship with Mac against him. Crossing that line blurred the friendship. Whether that was true or not, Harm didn't know, but he knew better than to tell the Congresswoman something that fragile. It was way too soon.
Harm replied with amazing confidence, "No." He then turned and walked away, pretending the conversation hadn't occurred and praying that Mac would understand. Their relationship was not ready for such an exposure, and even though he hated saying that he wasn't involved with the love of his life, it was necessary. Both of them knew it. Both of them understood. No matter how hard it was.
... To Be Continued ...
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