Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
---
- Washington Dulles International Airport
For a second Chegwidden just glared at the spy standing in front of him and a wild wave of rage swept over him. He took the last step in a flash, grabbed two fistful of dark cloth and nearly yanked Webb off his feet, going right into his shocked face.
"Goddamned bastard, why did you do that to her?!" His bellow caused quite some heads to turn their direction.
"W-what?" stuttered Webb and fought weakly against the dead grip holding him. "Ouch! Jesus, AJ, be careful! I've got a monstrous headache."
"I don't care about your headache!" The enraged ex-admiral shook the smaller man like a rat. "I really thought you capable of a lot of things but this - this is so unbelievable low even for you, you damned -"
"Darn it, AJ, what are you talking about?!" Webb pressed a hand against his temple. "I didn't do..."
"Don't give me that crap!" Chegwidden violently pushed the spy away who stumbled backwards and nearly fell. "You know exactly what I'm talking about! Do you have any idea what Mac went through these past days? Have you ever spared a thought for HER feelings while you've set up your dirty game? You just used her to fake your death and... Webb? Webb?"
The younger man had stared at him with glassy eyes during the first part of his hissed speech but now he suddenly turned away, clapped a hand over his mouth and doubled over.
"Webb!" AJ stepped closer not sure what was going on but then he saw Webb retch.
"Oh, gosh, I already thought during the flight that he looked sick," an unfamiliar voice interrupted, "Can I help you?"
Irritated Chegwidden glared at the man in the light business suit he had almost collided with a few moments ago. Becoming aware of surroundings again he finally noticed how much attention their encounter had drawn and that cooled him down a little. He still felt furious but his sense told him that the Agency wouldn't be very happy if he blew one of their agents cover in a public place like this. Not to mention SecNav Sheffield's reaction if the incident made the newspapers. And he WAS the former JAG and the reputation of the Navy still meant a lot to him. But it was the sight of Webb, opening his eyes again and looking around frantically that spurred him reluctantly into action.
"No, thank you." Growling he picked up Webb's bag and wrapped an arm around his waist. "We'll manage." He looked around too.
"Oh, over there."
Cursing AJ walked in the direction a helpful finger was pointing and dragged Webb with him. They barely made it.
Although Webb fought his refractory stomach with stubborn resolve Chegwidden felt his whole body convulse as they practically stormed into the restroom. They got quite some bruises as they barreled together through the door of the first open stall where Webb immediately collapsed in front of the toilet and threw his guts up.
"Darn it." AJ shook his head and eyed the heaving shoulders under him. He braced his hands against the feeble walls of the stall. Oh, well, in his opinion Webb deserved any nausea in the world because of the pain he had put Mac through - and his own mother, just to mention that point. Helping him into the restroom hadn't been pity - he would have loved to see the neat spy embarrass himself - but his strong sense of duty ... and the fear of getting something ugly on his shoes.
Finally the deep heaves seemed to subside but Webb kept his head over the toilet. AJ listened mercilessly to his gasps for breath. Somewhere in the background was a voice - "Would you please leave, sir? I'm very sorry, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you." - but he didn't pay attention.
"Bumpy flight, Webb?" he remarked snidely.
The kneeling spy just groaned and started all over again. Chegwidden rolled his eyes. He picked some toilet paper and held it out for Webb as he calmed down at last. Webb's hand shook visibly but he managed to wipe his mouth and drop the paper into the toilet. Then only AJ's quick grip on his collar prevented him from falling face down in the small gap between seat and wall.
"Now, Webb, come on, pull yourself together," commanded AJ annoyed.
With some effort he lifted Webb up and shoved him until he was seated as near to the door as possible, sagging against the stall wall. Stepping over his legs he flushed the toilet.
"Webb." He nudged him with his foot. "Webb!"
Webb's head rolled from one side to the other and fell forward.
AJ frowned and crouched down. A sudden pang of worry mixed with his anger. Nausea or not this wasn't normal. He cupped Webb's face in both hands and lifted his head.
"Webb? Can you hear me?"
Webb's skin was covered in cold sweat and ghostly white. His eyelids fluttered shortly then fell shut again. With growing concern Chegwidden felt for his pulse and found it weak and way too fast while his breath was coming in short, labored gasps. Classic symptoms of a serious if not life- threatening shock.
"Darn it, Clayton - don't do anything stupid here!" AJ rummaged in his pocket and pulled his cell phone out.
"I'd prefer you'd rather not."
The polite voice surprised AJ and he looked up ... into the deadly hole of a silencer.
---
- Washington Dulles International Airport, a restroom
Chegwidden didn't move. Only his eyes slowly traveled upwards over a light- colored business suit he recognized and for the first time he paid attention to the face going with it. Cool blue eyes under brown hair watched him with slight amusement. Yes, the man actually smiled.
"A sensible reaction," he acknowledged. He held out his free hand. "Your cell."
AJ obeyed the order in silence. This wasn't the right time for questions like "who are you?" or "what do you want?" the threat was too obvious. Deliberately he let his right hand drop down on Webb's waist. He knew the agent carried his weapon at his left side but his carefully searching fingers found nothing.
He almost groaned. Of course there was nothing - Webb had probably been on a commercial flight. He still remembered very lively their trip to rescue Tim four - or five? - years ago when they had taken a commercial flight too. He had insisted on taking his own gun while Webb had desperately assured him that they would be provided with other weapons in Italy. He had got it his way and Webb had needed almost an hour to fix the necessary arrangements, grumbling half of the flight about stubborn ex-SEALs in general and stubborn SEAL-admirals in particular. He had actually thought it was funny.
"Get up," business-suit commanded still politely, but the silencer of his gun never wavered. "Out here - and slowly if you please. I want to see your hands anytime."
Again Chegwidden did as he was told. He quickly scanned the room and found it empty except for him, Webb, business-suit and another man with Asian features dressed as a room cleaner. Then he noticed the shadow of a fifth person in the front room. He cursed himself for having been so inexcusable distracted.
The second man searched him quickly and professionally, giving him no opening. Business-suit, who was obviously in charge, inspected his ID card and furrowed his brows.
"Chegwidden, Chegwidden - that kind of rings a bell," he mused as if they had been introduced on a social meeting. Then he smiled again. "Oh, Chegwidden, now. Well, that's a nice surprise."
AJ narrowed his eyes at him but he kept silent. All his instincts screamed that this man was dangerous despite his casual behavior. There was an almost crazy spark in these blue eyes that had the fine hair of his neck stand upright. He considered his chances but at least three were too much... The sharp smell of cleaning alcohol reached his nostrils and surprised he turned his head.
The Asian had silently crouched down over Webb's unconscious body and was rubbing his fingers very carefully and thoroughly with a cloth he had wetted with liquid from a small glass bottle. He wore rubber gloves. A tight knot formed in AJ's stomach as it finally hit him.
"You've poisoned him!"
Business-suit ignored AJ's shocked whisper and addressed his aid. "He has rubbed his face. Take care of that too."
The crouching man looked up briefly then poured more alcohol on the cloth. Though unconscious, Webb jerked in pain as it made contact with his closed eyes.
"Hey - hey! Are you insane?!" Chegwidden stepped forward but froze in mid- step as the gun suddenly pointed directly at his head.
"Stop it, Chegwidden!"
A moment their eyes bored into one another and AJ tensed, ready to fling himself at his adversary... But out of the corner of his eye he noticed an Asian woman in the door to the front room, holding a small automatic in her hand. Very carefully he turned his palms outwards to show his surrender. The crazy spark burnt a second longer in the blue eyes then dimmed somewhat. AJ dared to breathe again.
Business-suit's voice was commanding and he wasn't bothering with politeness any more: "Give him the cloth. Clean your hands."
AJ swallowed hard and quickly rubbed his fingers. Frantically he tried to remember how much of Webb's bare skin he had touched. Hopefully, not enough for the poison to affect him - or they were both in even more trouble.
"That's enough. Now go over there. Help lifting him into the handcart."
Gritting his teeth Chegwidden did as ordered. Together with the Asian he hauled Webb's limp and surprisingly heavy body unceremoniously in the big trash-bag of a cleaning cart. The man added Webb's small carry-on and piled crumpled paper towels on top of his freight.
Looking around business-suit nodded satisfied. "All right. You two go first and we'll meet at the van ... no, wait a moment. There were car keys, weren't there? You've got your car here, Chegwidden?"
AJ put on a blank face and met the blue eyes calmly, although cursing inwardly. An abandoned car in the parking lot of the airport would have aroused suspicion sooner or later but business-suit might well be crazy but unfortunately not stupid.
The man smiled sarcastically as if he had read his thoughts. He nodded at the couple. "We'll meet at checkpoint one. Go."
He tilted his gun and waved AJ backwards in the stall until he was standing over the toilet seat. Stepping up to him he nudged the silencer softly into Chegwidden's shirt while he closed and locked the small door behind them. Outside, they heard the cleaning cart rolling away on the tiles then a door fell shut.
Still this crazy smile was on the man's lips - but not in his low murmur. "Well, Chegwidden, I admit you looked ready to punch Webb out a few minutes ago but I doubt you'd murder him in cold blood."
AJ held his gaze with a stony expression and wished he could wipe that smile out of the man's face.
"I'm going to put the gun away soon but remember this: If you attack me, Webb will be dead. If you try to attract the attention of the security guards, Webb will be dead. If you do anything I find suspicious, Webb will be dead ... and you too among a lot of other people. Understood?"
AJ gritted his teeth even harder and nodded. He was absolutely sure he could take the man out within a second after the gun was out of the way but this was a big airport and he had no clue where they were heading with Webb. Besides, running out there with a drawn gun wasn't a good idea these days. The line "I'm Admiral Chegwidden - stop the cleaning service with that cart" would maybe work in a movie, but in real life security would have him flat on his face before he'd have finished the sentence ... if they didn't simply shoot him first and then asked questions.
And unfortunately business-suit was right. No matter how much he was disgusted with Webb for what he had done to Mac he would never endanger his life out of personal reasons. He wasn't the man to do that. He had never been.
---
- Washington Dulles International Airport
For a second Chegwidden just glared at the spy standing in front of him and a wild wave of rage swept over him. He took the last step in a flash, grabbed two fistful of dark cloth and nearly yanked Webb off his feet, going right into his shocked face.
"Goddamned bastard, why did you do that to her?!" His bellow caused quite some heads to turn their direction.
"W-what?" stuttered Webb and fought weakly against the dead grip holding him. "Ouch! Jesus, AJ, be careful! I've got a monstrous headache."
"I don't care about your headache!" The enraged ex-admiral shook the smaller man like a rat. "I really thought you capable of a lot of things but this - this is so unbelievable low even for you, you damned -"
"Darn it, AJ, what are you talking about?!" Webb pressed a hand against his temple. "I didn't do..."
"Don't give me that crap!" Chegwidden violently pushed the spy away who stumbled backwards and nearly fell. "You know exactly what I'm talking about! Do you have any idea what Mac went through these past days? Have you ever spared a thought for HER feelings while you've set up your dirty game? You just used her to fake your death and... Webb? Webb?"
The younger man had stared at him with glassy eyes during the first part of his hissed speech but now he suddenly turned away, clapped a hand over his mouth and doubled over.
"Webb!" AJ stepped closer not sure what was going on but then he saw Webb retch.
"Oh, gosh, I already thought during the flight that he looked sick," an unfamiliar voice interrupted, "Can I help you?"
Irritated Chegwidden glared at the man in the light business suit he had almost collided with a few moments ago. Becoming aware of surroundings again he finally noticed how much attention their encounter had drawn and that cooled him down a little. He still felt furious but his sense told him that the Agency wouldn't be very happy if he blew one of their agents cover in a public place like this. Not to mention SecNav Sheffield's reaction if the incident made the newspapers. And he WAS the former JAG and the reputation of the Navy still meant a lot to him. But it was the sight of Webb, opening his eyes again and looking around frantically that spurred him reluctantly into action.
"No, thank you." Growling he picked up Webb's bag and wrapped an arm around his waist. "We'll manage." He looked around too.
"Oh, over there."
Cursing AJ walked in the direction a helpful finger was pointing and dragged Webb with him. They barely made it.
Although Webb fought his refractory stomach with stubborn resolve Chegwidden felt his whole body convulse as they practically stormed into the restroom. They got quite some bruises as they barreled together through the door of the first open stall where Webb immediately collapsed in front of the toilet and threw his guts up.
"Darn it." AJ shook his head and eyed the heaving shoulders under him. He braced his hands against the feeble walls of the stall. Oh, well, in his opinion Webb deserved any nausea in the world because of the pain he had put Mac through - and his own mother, just to mention that point. Helping him into the restroom hadn't been pity - he would have loved to see the neat spy embarrass himself - but his strong sense of duty ... and the fear of getting something ugly on his shoes.
Finally the deep heaves seemed to subside but Webb kept his head over the toilet. AJ listened mercilessly to his gasps for breath. Somewhere in the background was a voice - "Would you please leave, sir? I'm very sorry, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you." - but he didn't pay attention.
"Bumpy flight, Webb?" he remarked snidely.
The kneeling spy just groaned and started all over again. Chegwidden rolled his eyes. He picked some toilet paper and held it out for Webb as he calmed down at last. Webb's hand shook visibly but he managed to wipe his mouth and drop the paper into the toilet. Then only AJ's quick grip on his collar prevented him from falling face down in the small gap between seat and wall.
"Now, Webb, come on, pull yourself together," commanded AJ annoyed.
With some effort he lifted Webb up and shoved him until he was seated as near to the door as possible, sagging against the stall wall. Stepping over his legs he flushed the toilet.
"Webb." He nudged him with his foot. "Webb!"
Webb's head rolled from one side to the other and fell forward.
AJ frowned and crouched down. A sudden pang of worry mixed with his anger. Nausea or not this wasn't normal. He cupped Webb's face in both hands and lifted his head.
"Webb? Can you hear me?"
Webb's skin was covered in cold sweat and ghostly white. His eyelids fluttered shortly then fell shut again. With growing concern Chegwidden felt for his pulse and found it weak and way too fast while his breath was coming in short, labored gasps. Classic symptoms of a serious if not life- threatening shock.
"Darn it, Clayton - don't do anything stupid here!" AJ rummaged in his pocket and pulled his cell phone out.
"I'd prefer you'd rather not."
The polite voice surprised AJ and he looked up ... into the deadly hole of a silencer.
---
- Washington Dulles International Airport, a restroom
Chegwidden didn't move. Only his eyes slowly traveled upwards over a light- colored business suit he recognized and for the first time he paid attention to the face going with it. Cool blue eyes under brown hair watched him with slight amusement. Yes, the man actually smiled.
"A sensible reaction," he acknowledged. He held out his free hand. "Your cell."
AJ obeyed the order in silence. This wasn't the right time for questions like "who are you?" or "what do you want?" the threat was too obvious. Deliberately he let his right hand drop down on Webb's waist. He knew the agent carried his weapon at his left side but his carefully searching fingers found nothing.
He almost groaned. Of course there was nothing - Webb had probably been on a commercial flight. He still remembered very lively their trip to rescue Tim four - or five? - years ago when they had taken a commercial flight too. He had insisted on taking his own gun while Webb had desperately assured him that they would be provided with other weapons in Italy. He had got it his way and Webb had needed almost an hour to fix the necessary arrangements, grumbling half of the flight about stubborn ex-SEALs in general and stubborn SEAL-admirals in particular. He had actually thought it was funny.
"Get up," business-suit commanded still politely, but the silencer of his gun never wavered. "Out here - and slowly if you please. I want to see your hands anytime."
Again Chegwidden did as he was told. He quickly scanned the room and found it empty except for him, Webb, business-suit and another man with Asian features dressed as a room cleaner. Then he noticed the shadow of a fifth person in the front room. He cursed himself for having been so inexcusable distracted.
The second man searched him quickly and professionally, giving him no opening. Business-suit, who was obviously in charge, inspected his ID card and furrowed his brows.
"Chegwidden, Chegwidden - that kind of rings a bell," he mused as if they had been introduced on a social meeting. Then he smiled again. "Oh, Chegwidden, now. Well, that's a nice surprise."
AJ narrowed his eyes at him but he kept silent. All his instincts screamed that this man was dangerous despite his casual behavior. There was an almost crazy spark in these blue eyes that had the fine hair of his neck stand upright. He considered his chances but at least three were too much... The sharp smell of cleaning alcohol reached his nostrils and surprised he turned his head.
The Asian had silently crouched down over Webb's unconscious body and was rubbing his fingers very carefully and thoroughly with a cloth he had wetted with liquid from a small glass bottle. He wore rubber gloves. A tight knot formed in AJ's stomach as it finally hit him.
"You've poisoned him!"
Business-suit ignored AJ's shocked whisper and addressed his aid. "He has rubbed his face. Take care of that too."
The crouching man looked up briefly then poured more alcohol on the cloth. Though unconscious, Webb jerked in pain as it made contact with his closed eyes.
"Hey - hey! Are you insane?!" Chegwidden stepped forward but froze in mid- step as the gun suddenly pointed directly at his head.
"Stop it, Chegwidden!"
A moment their eyes bored into one another and AJ tensed, ready to fling himself at his adversary... But out of the corner of his eye he noticed an Asian woman in the door to the front room, holding a small automatic in her hand. Very carefully he turned his palms outwards to show his surrender. The crazy spark burnt a second longer in the blue eyes then dimmed somewhat. AJ dared to breathe again.
Business-suit's voice was commanding and he wasn't bothering with politeness any more: "Give him the cloth. Clean your hands."
AJ swallowed hard and quickly rubbed his fingers. Frantically he tried to remember how much of Webb's bare skin he had touched. Hopefully, not enough for the poison to affect him - or they were both in even more trouble.
"That's enough. Now go over there. Help lifting him into the handcart."
Gritting his teeth Chegwidden did as ordered. Together with the Asian he hauled Webb's limp and surprisingly heavy body unceremoniously in the big trash-bag of a cleaning cart. The man added Webb's small carry-on and piled crumpled paper towels on top of his freight.
Looking around business-suit nodded satisfied. "All right. You two go first and we'll meet at the van ... no, wait a moment. There were car keys, weren't there? You've got your car here, Chegwidden?"
AJ put on a blank face and met the blue eyes calmly, although cursing inwardly. An abandoned car in the parking lot of the airport would have aroused suspicion sooner or later but business-suit might well be crazy but unfortunately not stupid.
The man smiled sarcastically as if he had read his thoughts. He nodded at the couple. "We'll meet at checkpoint one. Go."
He tilted his gun and waved AJ backwards in the stall until he was standing over the toilet seat. Stepping up to him he nudged the silencer softly into Chegwidden's shirt while he closed and locked the small door behind them. Outside, they heard the cleaning cart rolling away on the tiles then a door fell shut.
Still this crazy smile was on the man's lips - but not in his low murmur. "Well, Chegwidden, I admit you looked ready to punch Webb out a few minutes ago but I doubt you'd murder him in cold blood."
AJ held his gaze with a stony expression and wished he could wipe that smile out of the man's face.
"I'm going to put the gun away soon but remember this: If you attack me, Webb will be dead. If you try to attract the attention of the security guards, Webb will be dead. If you do anything I find suspicious, Webb will be dead ... and you too among a lot of other people. Understood?"
AJ gritted his teeth even harder and nodded. He was absolutely sure he could take the man out within a second after the gun was out of the way but this was a big airport and he had no clue where they were heading with Webb. Besides, running out there with a drawn gun wasn't a good idea these days. The line "I'm Admiral Chegwidden - stop the cleaning service with that cart" would maybe work in a movie, but in real life security would have him flat on his face before he'd have finished the sentence ... if they didn't simply shoot him first and then asked questions.
And unfortunately business-suit was right. No matter how much he was disgusted with Webb for what he had done to Mac he would never endanger his life out of personal reasons. He wasn't the man to do that. He had never been.