Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.
---
- Unknown location, the storeroom, about ten minutes later
AJ shifted and glanced at Webb who was still lying on his back and covering his face with his hands. He was stunned that obviously the agent hadn't known of his own "death". His reaction had been too spontaneous to be an act - heck, the spy was a terrible actor anyway. What game was the CIA playing this time?
Chegwidden narrowed his eyes dangerously. He would have some well chosen words for some people as soon as they'd have got out of this ... but for that he needed Webb on his feet. Unfortunately that was more than a problem at the moment considering the horrible side effects of the drug. Again he glanced worriedly at the younger man.
Pale and sweaty in his crinkled suit Webb was looking worse than he had in hospital almost a year ago. And the agent had really paid a high price for the success of that darn mission in South America. Without knowing that his own part of it - and that of Mac and Galindez - had been nothing more than a sideshow ... at first.
No, not even Webb had been told about the assault team - for the safety of the team members and to keep things as quiet as possible because the government of Paraguay hadn't EXACTLY been informed. But that hadn't stopped him from figuring it out somewhere on the way although he had wisely kept any assumption to himself. Heck, the Agency wouldn't have dreamt of giving him his old job back if he hadn't. Especially after the diversion they had been supposed to create unfortunately got larger than planned by Sadik capturing Mac and Webb. And the missiles still had had priority.
AJ gritted his teeth. He had read the reports about what had happened, when it had happened and he couldn't deny the bitter truth: Maybe the team would have got to them in time to save Mac's life after destroying the missiles ... but not in time to save her from the torture. And he, her commanding officer, had been willing to sacrifice her.
Sometimes he didn't know how to live with that.
He had ordered men and even women to go on dangerous missions before ... and sometimes had sent their last letters home afterwards. And despite what he had told Webb once - they hadn't always known why they had to risk their lives. He had never got used to it. In fact this had been one of the reasons why he had so abruptly changed his career such a long time ago. Nevertheless, he had always accepted the possibility, the necessity ... but this had been Sarah.
And to make things worse there had still been the problem of Rabb.
Of course, Rabb HAD saved Mac out of highest danger and HAD destroyed the missiles and helped the Agency out but ... he had also overstepped a line AJ could not tolerate being crossed. Not this time. Not again. Resigning his commission might have been a legal possibility to disobey a direct order. But even Harmon Rabb, Junior, couldn't be allowed to walk in and out of the Navy just as he chose.
So he had decided to teach the young man one more lesson and had refused to take him back ... immediately. He had told him why - explained it more than he should have - and had hoped desperately that a few weeks of unemployment would get the meaning into Rabb's head.
But Kershaw had spoiled it all by recruiting Rabb to the Agency. He too had been charmed by Rabb's famous luck. It had led to a rather illogical argument including some shouting and to a sharp drop in temperature between their offices. And so he had turned to Webb.
"She'll never forgive me."
AJ jumped. "What?"
"She'll never forgive me this has happened," repeated Webb quietly.
Chegwidden carefully touched his swollen nose and considered his words. The fact that the agent and Mac had actually got involved still surprised him somewhat but - oh, well - whatever made her happy. And Rabb clearly hadn't made her happy right after Paraguay despite his brave "we are talking about Mac" line before he ran off.
No, AJ wasn't blind. He had seen tension between Rabb and Mackenzie rise and fall right from the start. Professionally ... and emotionally. But if he expected ANYTHING from his officers - and he was sure he had made that VERY clear - then it was to keep private things out of business. Obviously he had expected too much from two adults.
Nevertheless, whenever quick progress had been needed in an investigation ... tossing Rabb and Mac together had produced results. No matter how different they were in character they made or at least had made a great team most of the time. But they were a dangerous combustible combination too. Oh, AJ wouldn't deny that their quarrels had been quite entertaining for some years. He had always appreciated a healthy amount of rivalry between his officers. But then it had been slightly irritating. And in the end, while he was struggling for a decision and against the SecNav ... it had been simply annoying. God - sometimes he had really wanted to reach out and grab them by their necks and just KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO THEM...
"Don't underestimate her," he answered with some delay.
Webb snorted softly. "She hates my job."
"She just doesn't understand it."
"That's a difference?"
AJ sighed and considered his hands. "Give her time. She's got a lot to deal with lately. The aftermath of Paraguay, Sadik's death, YOUR death, the treatment for her back..."
"Treatment?" Webb interrupted anxiously and took his hand off his face, "For her back pain? What kind of treatment? What is wrong with her, what did they find out?"
"She didn't tell me. She just said she had treatments."
The younger man let out a frustrated sigh. "Well, at least she's finally consulted a doctor, it was about time. She can be so stubborn."
"You're telling me?" AJ rolled his eyes then his tone softened. "It's not easy for her at the moment. But I'm sure the Roberts are there for her."
"And Harm," Webb stated with a trace of bitterness in his voice.
AJ glanced at him but said nothing. Some minutes of silence passed.
"You know what, AJ?" Webb closed his useless eyes and his lips twitched. "The first time I aimed at a human being and pulled the trigger with intention to kill ... even if the man survived ... I did it to save Harm."
Chegwidden looked down touched by the sadness in Webb's words. He knew, in a way it was his fault that things between Rabb and Webb could never be the same again. The rivalry for Mac might have shattered their strange friendship. But as he had walked into Webb's hospital room and had asked him to get Harm fired as soon as possible he had also asked him to throw away the last pieces of whatever Paraguay had left.
Webb had known that. AJ had seen it in his eyes just before the other man had simply nodded. He had been willing to make that sacrifice. For Harm. Before the stubborn commander could get himself killed ... even if it had meant to place him within arm's reach of Mac as soon as Chegwidden took him back.
AJ breathed slowly.
"I'm sorry."
Webb blinked several times. He hadn't just ... had he? No. No, couldn't be. But he HAD just... What a scary thought. Blinking some more Webb licked his lips before he mumbled: "Let's have another try at these windows."
Strangely glad about Webb's reaction - or better the lack of any - Chegwidden bent forward and helped the other man to reach a sitting position. He didn't know what had got into him to say these words. He hadn't meant to ... at least he thought so. Shoving these considerations almost hastily aside he watched with concern as the agent groaned softly and rested his forehead on his knees.
"You're sure you're up to that?"
Taking a deep breath Webb lifted his head very carefully and held out a hand. He sounded almost as sarcastic as he used to do.
"AJ, if we wait much longer we can check the hinges of the door if rust has destroyed them already. Just give me a wall to lean against and I'll be fine."
Still a little bit skeptical AJ pulled him to his feet. Webb staggered a second but nodded to continue. So Chegwidden shrugged and directed him under the window he had chosen earlier.
"OK?"
"Sure." Webb wiped sweat off his brow then folded his hands palms upwards, forming a ladder. "And ... AJ?"
Chegwidden paused one foot already in the offered step and holding on to Webb's shoulders.
"What?"
"If - if you can get out and have a chance to... Run. Get help. I'll manage here."
The former JAG looked directly into Webb's eyes, his face.
"I'm a SEAL, Clayton," he reminded him almost softly.
A sad smile touched Webb's lips. "But I'm not. So I'm more pragmatically about that. Now get going."
AJ hesitated for a split second but then swung his body upwards in a fluid motion. He got his left foot on Webb's shoulder and stretched for window sill and handle. A second he balanced rather unsteady until his second foot found the spy's other shoulder and Webb's hands at his ankles stabilized him further.
The agent groaned audible under the weight and swayed.
"Jesus, AJ, hurry up!"
AJ twisted and pulled at the handle still a good deal over his head, cursing violently under his breath. It must not have been opened in ages but finally the old mechanism turned and the small window opened reluctantly.
"AJ!" gasped Webb again. The next second he felt a hard push from Chegwidden's feet that sent him down to the floor. Grunts and scratching sounds continued over his head.
"AJ?"
More grunts and a moment of silence. Then: "Move - I'm coming down again."
Hastily Webb crawled aside; just in time before Chegwidden landed back inside their prison. Ruefully the spy massaged his aching shoulders.
"I'm sorry, AJ. My legs just gave way beneath me."
"What? No, it's all right. I made a pull-up at the window frame to get a look around." Chegwidden considered the damage the edge of the sill had done to his forearms. He had lost quite some skin. "It really seems to be a factory site. There's another large building parallel to this one blocking the view so I couldn't see much. But for getting out I need to open a second window. The damned things are too damn narrow. I have no intention of landing head first after I've squeezed myself through one of them."
"Wouldn't be too healthy," muttered Webb and staggered to his feet. "Where do you want me to stand?"
AJ looked him up and down but bit back any comment. If Webb thought he was up to carrying his weight again he was hopefully right. He had the distinct feeling they where slowly running out of time. The sooner they got out of here the better. A moment later he balanced again on Webb's poor shoulders and fought with a window handle. This one was even harder to open and he could feel the younger man tremble under his feet.
"One more second," he called encouragingly. "I just have to make this darn thing ... ah!"
Just as he grabbed the frame and started to pull himself up he felt an abrupt shove at his legs and then Webb's shoulders disappeared. But the little push helped finishing his pull-up and kicking and struggling he squeezed his body through the narrow opening until he was practically wrapped around the little piece of wall between the two open windows. There he paused and tried to catch his breath.
'Not that bad for an old man.' He grinned at the thought.
"Webb? Webb, say something!"
A deep sigh; somewhere out of sight.
"Something. Could you just go now?"
AJ snorted. "Sarcastic jerk."
He pulled his legs free so he was dangling from the window frame for a second and jumped down to the ground.