"Hey stranger." A familiar voice from behind Harm said.

"I'd recognise that voice from anywhere." He turned around. "Skates." He gave her a brief hug. "It's been a while."

"You know I'd expect more than an occasional e-mail."

"Things have been busy." Harm offered.

"Aren't they always?" Skate shrugged.

"So what are you doing in town?"

"The CAG grounded me until I got a complete physical and since we don't have any gynaecologists on the Henry I had to go ashore and one had a heart attack, one had flu and another caught the chickenpox from his daughter, so Captain Ingalls sent me back to try Bethesda. But you really don't care about my gynaecologist do you?"

"Not really." Harm smiled. "So how long are you in town?"

"Until tomorrow."

"Do you want to come over for dinner? We should hopefully both get off work at a reasonable time and you can meet Abi?" Harm offered.

"I'd like that."

"Commander?" Faith who Harm had been talking when Skates had arrived said.

"Sorry Faith. Major Faith Williams, Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Hawkes, AKA Skates."

"It's nice to meet you." Faith said.

"You too."

"Skates? Are you a pilot?" Faith questioned.

"RIO. The only one crazy enough to fly with Hammer here after he ejected them over the ocean." Skates clarified.

"No flying stories, she's been immune to them so far." Harm interceded.

"You may want to rephrase that sir." Faith said. "This place is great for scuttlebutt."

"Harm, do you have a couple of minutes there is something I need to talk to you about?" Skates asked.

"Sure, let's go to my office." Harm suggested.

"Could we go outside?" Skates counter offered.

"Sure. Faith can you put these in my office? I'll come and find you when I'm done." He asked handing Faith his files.

"Yes sir."

"She's new." Skates commented as they were in the elevator.

"She's Mac's replacement. She's only been here a couple of weeks."

"Mac's replacement? How long has she been a judge for now?"

"The Admiral decided to wait a while, and then he wanted a Marine lawyer to balance out the office so he asked Mac to keep an eye out for one. Faith was the result of that. She's a good lawyer, a little unconventional but that's not a bad thing."

"And since when have you ever been conventional either." Skates smiled. "Firing guns in court, getting too personal with your opposition."

"I knew there was a reason I missed you."

"There has to be a better one than that Harm."

"So since I take it this wasn't just a social call what's wrong?" Harm asked when they were outside.

"There was another reason why Captain Ingalls sent me back here, rather than anywhere else."

"That would be why you're here?" Harm questioned.

"Right. He's had this feeling that there is something wrong with the air group. Nothing specific that he can put his finger on, but he thinks something is wrong."

"What do you think?" Harm asked.

"Things have been a little tense but I don't know why. We got a new CAG a couple of months ago, which maybe the problem."

"So what does this have to do with me?" Harm asked.

"The skipper can't ask for an official investigation because he has nothing more solid than a feeling. He knows you have your quals scheduled for next month but he'd like you to come out in the guise of doing your quals early and take a look around in your unofficial JAG capacity."

"He thinks people are more liable to talk to me than him because I'm an aviator."

"Something like that." Skates agreed. "He said to tell you that it wasn't an order, more of a request, it's up to you. You can still do your quals next month."

"How did he tell you to ask?" Harm asked.

"Harm, I think he's worried. You know Ingalls."

"What's the new CAG like?" Harm asked.

"You'll hate him. He's more the kind of by the book guy and well you're not."

"You need a little style when you fly." Harm said.

"As long as it doesn't end up with me getting wet feet, I'm all for it." Skates agreed.

"When does he want me out there?" Harm asked.

"I have a tomcat sat on the tarmac that needs to go back to the Henry. I just need a pilot to fly her. Wheels up at 1500 tomorrow."

"I'll need to talk to Mac. She's almost four months pregnant with twins."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks. I'll need Faith to take over as first chair on the Article 32 we have tomorrow. And convince the Admiral." Harm said making a check list of people he'd need to talk to.

"This may help." Skates pulled out an envelope which bore the mark of the US Navy. "A request for you to come out to the Henry for a week from Captain Ingalls to Admiral Chegwidden."

"How did Ingalls say yes?" Harm questioned.

"He said when it came to people asking you to fly you were predictable."

"Nice to know. Can you stay while I talk to the Admiral?"

"I'm on liberty until tomorrow apart from this, so sure."

"Let's go back in."

TBC