Title : Where The Sea Meets The Sky
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I forgot to include a disclaimer for NCIS last chapter, so here it is now...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda and rinkrat for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jbird7986 Thanks for your support. It has been nice being out of town, but I've missed my computer!
anna7 I've had fun this weekend, but I've missed you guys! Wish I could take you all with me! (PS - What is 'DURTY'?). Re your other review, you'll have to wait and see!
nikki Ha, ha! :o) - Glad you like the 'wanton misuse...'; I've written that Mac tells Harm she will let the Admiral know, but then things can change!!! Keep reading!
angelab I'm sure none of the 'close quarters' stuff does go on, but it is fun to write ;o); sorry you're stuck at work when vacation stuff is going on - I'll have to keep writing more to keep you occupied at work, reading!
skyefire Thanks for your support. Please keep reading!
abigaile Thanks for your support. Please keep reading!
jtbwriter Hiya! What would I do without your reviews! They make me smile, and give me ideas! ;o) - hope you've still got a job! There's more 'hot' moments to come, I'm sure, so I'll try to give you a warning beforehand! Ha, ha! Thanks as always.
manda Thanks for your support. Please keep reading!
claysmvl Thanks for your support. Please keep reading! The 'Uniform Code of Military Justice is the basis of the military legal system (according to the website I found!) - hope that info helps.
ninjaturtle Thanks for your support. I had a good time away, and got some ideas for WTSMTS and other stories, so stay tuned!
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FANTAIL
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
SATURDAY, LATE AFTERNOON
Mac opened the hatch to the fantail and closed it behind her. Harm was already there, arms resting on the rail, looking out over the sea.
"Hi there, sailor," she murmured, moving to stand beside him. Harm turned his head to smile at her and Mac dropped her head on his shoulder as they stood side by side.
"What did Captain Johnson say?" Harm asked, knowing that Mac had gone to him with the authorization from Admiral Chegwidden to transport Lieutenant Commander Carson back to the States. It had been decided to convene a meeting of the FBI and the NCIS teams at JAG headquarters to determine the best course of action based on
what Carson could tell them.
"He's accepted the change of orders from the Admiral," Mac murmured, adding "I think he's going to miss me," and Harm dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head.
"He's not the only one," Harm said quietly, and Mac turned her face up to look at him. "When do you leave?" he asked.
"Monday. There's a flight out from the military base in Bahrain. I want to talk to Sue and Jack today, and to Gibbs. Sue said something about Gibbs being certain that Carson is a terrorist, given his mid-eastern background. It's going to take some doing to convince him that Carson was caught up in the middle and is not a part of Al Qaeda."
"And how are you planning on doing the convincing?"
"When the Admiral convenes the meeting, we'll have Carson with us. Gibbs will have the opportunity to check out any information that Carson might have, and we can hold him in protective custody until he is cleared."
"Gibbs won't like that," Harm observed, and Mac smiled as she nodded.
"I know, but Carson is JAG, and we get to hear him out first."
"Okay," Harm agreed. Turning to look down at Mac, he asked her another question. "When do we tell the Admiral about the baby?"
"When I get back, I'll let him know," Mac assured Harm, and he nodded in acceptance.
"That's so long as Dunstan hasn't let the cat out of the bag."
"I doubt he will have. In fact, thinking about it, I haven't seen him on any ZNN reports today. Do you think he's okay?"
"Why would you be concerned about Dunstan?" Harm queried, but then had to admit to himself that Stuart Dunstan's recent behaviour had been somewhat erratic. Since his departure from the restaurant in Bahrain Dunstan hadn't been seen reporting for ZNN, but the network hadn't made any reference to the obvious disappearance of one of their top reporters.
"He's a pain sometimes, I know, but it's strange that he hasn't been seen for a while. In fact, since we saw him at the restaurant in Bahrain." Mac's observation of the same details as Harm made him nod absently.
"Do me a favor, if we don't hear anything about Dunstan before you leave, get in touch with ZNN when you're back in DC and let me know if they have any details on him."
"You think he could be in trouble?"
"I certainly hope not, but it wouldn't hurt to check."
Mac nodded, and then smiled up at Harm.
"You're a big old softy, really, aren't you, Captain?"
"Hey! Less of the 'old'," protested Harm, and then grinned. "Although you don't mind jumping these 'old' bones whenever you get the chance!"
"That goes without saying, Captain." Mac's smile turned sultry, and she flirted with Harm verbally without actually touching him.
"This is going to make the next thirty six hours very interesting," observed Harm, as he leaned in to Mac and whispered in her ear. Mac nodded, before turning away.
"I need to go and call Sue first, before we go over the...er...rules of engagement in a situation such as you describe." With that comment, Mac left the fantail, and a naval captain contemplating the upcoming discussions of ROE's in a carrier-based encounter.
SUE'S APARTMENT
WASHINGTON DC
SATURDAY MORNING
The ringing of the telephone brought Levi up off the floor and across the hallway into Sue's room as she finished making her bed. Jumping up to put his paws on the comforter, Sue saw the dog from the corner of her eye and she turned to pat his back.
"What is it, Levi? The door?" Sue was expecting Jack sometime that morning, and then her room mate Lucy was due back later in the day. Heading for the door at the end of the hallway, Sue was surprised when Levi headed for the telephone.
"Hello?"
"Sue, it's Mac. I'm sorry to call on a Saturday and so early. I need a favour."
"Oh, hi! No problem. What can I do for you, Sarah?"
"I need to convene a meeting at JAG with you and Jack, and Gibbs and his team. The Admiral will be in attendance also. This is to do with Lieutenant Commander Carson. I'm bringing him back to DC to tell us what he knows, and if it is anything worthwhile, I may need FBI assistance to get Carson long-term protection after.
"I'll let Jack know. When will you be back?"
"Monday, hopefully. I was planning on setting the meeting up for Tuesday. Jen can let you know details on Monday."
"That's fine. Do you want me to contact Gibbs?"
"No. I think this call should come from me, at least." Mac admitted that keeping Gibbs out of the loop on Carson in the first place hadn't been the best idea.
"All right. How are you all?"
"Harm should be back in time for Mattie's hearing, in a couple of weeks. I'm on my way on Monday, and Mattie should be in the air as we speak," Mac answered, and then asked a question of her own.
"How are you and Jack?"
"We are doing okay, Sarah. Lucy comes back today, though, so it makes getting together with Jack a little more awkward."
"I thought you said Lucy was the first to want you two to get together," Mac queried, and waited for Sue's response.
"She was, and I'm sure she'll be thrilled that we are...together, I mean...it just makes it awkward spending time with Jack here. We've never actually drawn the ground rules for having men in the apartment, for either of us. It's been a mutual thing in the past that we meet up with 'male friends' in neutral locations, or at their places."
"Maybe it is time to have a talk, then."
"I guess so," Sue muttered, and just then Levi came across to her again. "Sarah, I have to go. I think Jack is here."
"Okay. It will work itself out, Sue. I'll call you on my travels, hopefully, and see you on Tuesday for definite."
"That's a date," Sue confirmed. "Bye, and safe journey."
"Thanks. Bye."
As Mac ended her side of the conversation, Sue replaced the receiver on the cradle and turned as Jack put his arms around her waist from behind, nuzzling into her neck as she laughed softly, turning her head to the side so she could see his face and read his lips.
"You making dates again? Anyone I know?"
"Actually, yes."
"Gibbs?" Jack couldn't help it, and as soon as the name came out he knew it was the wrong thing to say. Sue pulled out of his arms and turned fully to face him.
"Why would you ask that?"
"I...I don't know...it just came out. Sue, I'm sorry," Jack raised his hands, in a gesture intended to placate, but it only served to make Sue step back further, putting the couch between herself and Jack.
"I don't understand why you have such an issue with Gibbs, Jack. That call was actually from Sarah. There's going to be a meeting, probably on Tuesday; the missing JAG, Carson, is coming back on a military flight with Sarah. We'll get the official details from Jennifer on Monday, but we've been invited to attend a meeting at JAG, with NCIS present too, to discuss what Carson knows, and to see if we can use the information he has. Sarah wants to talk to us beforehand, though, to see if we can offer witness protection to Carson."
"Gibbs isn't going to like that," Jack noted, and he watched Sue's reaction to his words.
"No, he isn't. But then it isn't his ballgame right now. Carson is JAG, and they will protect him to the best of their abilities. According to Sarah, his Bahraini family wanted to use his dual nationality, and he refused. He gave himself up to go in the brig for his own safety. He's asking for protection to remain in the service, believing that he will be cleared of UA charges, possibly with just a misdemeanor on his record."
"We'll have to wait until the meeting, find out what the full story is, and then take it from there."
"That's no more than Sarah is asking. Jack, I'm not trying to use a friendship to side-step the system."
"You went to NCIS as a favor to Mac," Jack pointed out, and Sue's expression showed hurt at his words.
"What is this really about, Jack? You know that my going to NCIS for Sarah was no big deal. You've done similar things yourself. Are you jealous of Gibbs?"
"What?" Jack's reaction was immediate and heated. "I have nothing to prove to anyone, Sue, and absolutely nothing to be jealous of!"
"Then why do you question me about Gibbs when I make a simple remark that is meant to tease? He's obviously on your mind for some reason, Jack, and maybe it's personal, if you're so damned sure it isn't to do with your professional abilities!"
"I think I ought to go," Jack muttered, turning on his heel. He paused as he reached the door, turning to look at Sue.
Sue, however, hadn't moved from her position by the couch, and while her face showed the horror at how the intimate moment between them had degenerated into this standoff, she stood her ground and didn't go to him.
Without a word between them, or a sign, he left the apartment, and Sue collapsed onto the couch, suddenly feeling very cold.
How had they come to this?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I forgot to include a disclaimer for NCIS last chapter, so here it is now...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda and rinkrat for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jbird7986 Thanks for your support. It has been nice being out of town, but I've missed my computer!
anna7 I've had fun this weekend, but I've missed you guys! Wish I could take you all with me! (PS - What is 'DURTY'?). Re your other review, you'll have to wait and see!
nikki Ha, ha! :o) - Glad you like the 'wanton misuse...'; I've written that Mac tells Harm she will let the Admiral know, but then things can change!!! Keep reading!
angelab I'm sure none of the 'close quarters' stuff does go on, but it is fun to write ;o); sorry you're stuck at work when vacation stuff is going on - I'll have to keep writing more to keep you occupied at work, reading!
skyefire Thanks for your support. Please keep reading!
abigaile Thanks for your support. Please keep reading!
jtbwriter Hiya! What would I do without your reviews! They make me smile, and give me ideas! ;o) - hope you've still got a job! There's more 'hot' moments to come, I'm sure, so I'll try to give you a warning beforehand! Ha, ha! Thanks as always.
manda Thanks for your support. Please keep reading!
claysmvl Thanks for your support. Please keep reading! The 'Uniform Code of Military Justice is the basis of the military legal system (according to the website I found!) - hope that info helps.
ninjaturtle Thanks for your support. I had a good time away, and got some ideas for WTSMTS and other stories, so stay tuned!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FANTAIL
USS SEA HAWK
SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
SATURDAY, LATE AFTERNOON
Mac opened the hatch to the fantail and closed it behind her. Harm was already there, arms resting on the rail, looking out over the sea.
"Hi there, sailor," she murmured, moving to stand beside him. Harm turned his head to smile at her and Mac dropped her head on his shoulder as they stood side by side.
"What did Captain Johnson say?" Harm asked, knowing that Mac had gone to him with the authorization from Admiral Chegwidden to transport Lieutenant Commander Carson back to the States. It had been decided to convene a meeting of the FBI and the NCIS teams at JAG headquarters to determine the best course of action based on
what Carson could tell them.
"He's accepted the change of orders from the Admiral," Mac murmured, adding "I think he's going to miss me," and Harm dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head.
"He's not the only one," Harm said quietly, and Mac turned her face up to look at him. "When do you leave?" he asked.
"Monday. There's a flight out from the military base in Bahrain. I want to talk to Sue and Jack today, and to Gibbs. Sue said something about Gibbs being certain that Carson is a terrorist, given his mid-eastern background. It's going to take some doing to convince him that Carson was caught up in the middle and is not a part of Al Qaeda."
"And how are you planning on doing the convincing?"
"When the Admiral convenes the meeting, we'll have Carson with us. Gibbs will have the opportunity to check out any information that Carson might have, and we can hold him in protective custody until he is cleared."
"Gibbs won't like that," Harm observed, and Mac smiled as she nodded.
"I know, but Carson is JAG, and we get to hear him out first."
"Okay," Harm agreed. Turning to look down at Mac, he asked her another question. "When do we tell the Admiral about the baby?"
"When I get back, I'll let him know," Mac assured Harm, and he nodded in acceptance.
"That's so long as Dunstan hasn't let the cat out of the bag."
"I doubt he will have. In fact, thinking about it, I haven't seen him on any ZNN reports today. Do you think he's okay?"
"Why would you be concerned about Dunstan?" Harm queried, but then had to admit to himself that Stuart Dunstan's recent behaviour had been somewhat erratic. Since his departure from the restaurant in Bahrain Dunstan hadn't been seen reporting for ZNN, but the network hadn't made any reference to the obvious disappearance of one of their top reporters.
"He's a pain sometimes, I know, but it's strange that he hasn't been seen for a while. In fact, since we saw him at the restaurant in Bahrain." Mac's observation of the same details as Harm made him nod absently.
"Do me a favor, if we don't hear anything about Dunstan before you leave, get in touch with ZNN when you're back in DC and let me know if they have any details on him."
"You think he could be in trouble?"
"I certainly hope not, but it wouldn't hurt to check."
Mac nodded, and then smiled up at Harm.
"You're a big old softy, really, aren't you, Captain?"
"Hey! Less of the 'old'," protested Harm, and then grinned. "Although you don't mind jumping these 'old' bones whenever you get the chance!"
"That goes without saying, Captain." Mac's smile turned sultry, and she flirted with Harm verbally without actually touching him.
"This is going to make the next thirty six hours very interesting," observed Harm, as he leaned in to Mac and whispered in her ear. Mac nodded, before turning away.
"I need to go and call Sue first, before we go over the...er...rules of engagement in a situation such as you describe." With that comment, Mac left the fantail, and a naval captain contemplating the upcoming discussions of ROE's in a carrier-based encounter.
SUE'S APARTMENT
WASHINGTON DC
SATURDAY MORNING
The ringing of the telephone brought Levi up off the floor and across the hallway into Sue's room as she finished making her bed. Jumping up to put his paws on the comforter, Sue saw the dog from the corner of her eye and she turned to pat his back.
"What is it, Levi? The door?" Sue was expecting Jack sometime that morning, and then her room mate Lucy was due back later in the day. Heading for the door at the end of the hallway, Sue was surprised when Levi headed for the telephone.
"Hello?"
"Sue, it's Mac. I'm sorry to call on a Saturday and so early. I need a favour."
"Oh, hi! No problem. What can I do for you, Sarah?"
"I need to convene a meeting at JAG with you and Jack, and Gibbs and his team. The Admiral will be in attendance also. This is to do with Lieutenant Commander Carson. I'm bringing him back to DC to tell us what he knows, and if it is anything worthwhile, I may need FBI assistance to get Carson long-term protection after.
"I'll let Jack know. When will you be back?"
"Monday, hopefully. I was planning on setting the meeting up for Tuesday. Jen can let you know details on Monday."
"That's fine. Do you want me to contact Gibbs?"
"No. I think this call should come from me, at least." Mac admitted that keeping Gibbs out of the loop on Carson in the first place hadn't been the best idea.
"All right. How are you all?"
"Harm should be back in time for Mattie's hearing, in a couple of weeks. I'm on my way on Monday, and Mattie should be in the air as we speak," Mac answered, and then asked a question of her own.
"How are you and Jack?"
"We are doing okay, Sarah. Lucy comes back today, though, so it makes getting together with Jack a little more awkward."
"I thought you said Lucy was the first to want you two to get together," Mac queried, and waited for Sue's response.
"She was, and I'm sure she'll be thrilled that we are...together, I mean...it just makes it awkward spending time with Jack here. We've never actually drawn the ground rules for having men in the apartment, for either of us. It's been a mutual thing in the past that we meet up with 'male friends' in neutral locations, or at their places."
"Maybe it is time to have a talk, then."
"I guess so," Sue muttered, and just then Levi came across to her again. "Sarah, I have to go. I think Jack is here."
"Okay. It will work itself out, Sue. I'll call you on my travels, hopefully, and see you on Tuesday for definite."
"That's a date," Sue confirmed. "Bye, and safe journey."
"Thanks. Bye."
As Mac ended her side of the conversation, Sue replaced the receiver on the cradle and turned as Jack put his arms around her waist from behind, nuzzling into her neck as she laughed softly, turning her head to the side so she could see his face and read his lips.
"You making dates again? Anyone I know?"
"Actually, yes."
"Gibbs?" Jack couldn't help it, and as soon as the name came out he knew it was the wrong thing to say. Sue pulled out of his arms and turned fully to face him.
"Why would you ask that?"
"I...I don't know...it just came out. Sue, I'm sorry," Jack raised his hands, in a gesture intended to placate, but it only served to make Sue step back further, putting the couch between herself and Jack.
"I don't understand why you have such an issue with Gibbs, Jack. That call was actually from Sarah. There's going to be a meeting, probably on Tuesday; the missing JAG, Carson, is coming back on a military flight with Sarah. We'll get the official details from Jennifer on Monday, but we've been invited to attend a meeting at JAG, with NCIS present too, to discuss what Carson knows, and to see if we can use the information he has. Sarah wants to talk to us beforehand, though, to see if we can offer witness protection to Carson."
"Gibbs isn't going to like that," Jack noted, and he watched Sue's reaction to his words.
"No, he isn't. But then it isn't his ballgame right now. Carson is JAG, and they will protect him to the best of their abilities. According to Sarah, his Bahraini family wanted to use his dual nationality, and he refused. He gave himself up to go in the brig for his own safety. He's asking for protection to remain in the service, believing that he will be cleared of UA charges, possibly with just a misdemeanor on his record."
"We'll have to wait until the meeting, find out what the full story is, and then take it from there."
"That's no more than Sarah is asking. Jack, I'm not trying to use a friendship to side-step the system."
"You went to NCIS as a favor to Mac," Jack pointed out, and Sue's expression showed hurt at his words.
"What is this really about, Jack? You know that my going to NCIS for Sarah was no big deal. You've done similar things yourself. Are you jealous of Gibbs?"
"What?" Jack's reaction was immediate and heated. "I have nothing to prove to anyone, Sue, and absolutely nothing to be jealous of!"
"Then why do you question me about Gibbs when I make a simple remark that is meant to tease? He's obviously on your mind for some reason, Jack, and maybe it's personal, if you're so damned sure it isn't to do with your professional abilities!"
"I think I ought to go," Jack muttered, turning on his heel. He paused as he reached the door, turning to look at Sue.
Sue, however, hadn't moved from her position by the couch, and while her face showed the horror at how the intimate moment between them had degenerated into this standoff, she stood her ground and didn't go to him.
Without a word between them, or a sign, he left the apartment, and Sue collapsed onto the couch, suddenly feeling very cold.
How had they come to this?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued