Title: Old Friends, New Relationships

Chapter Five

By: LizD

Written: Late Summer/Fall 2004

Disclaimers: No disrespect to JAG's cast, crew or creators. With love and thanks.

Old Friends, New Relationships

Chapter Five - Cell Doors and New Doors

0056 EST

Arlington Police Department

"I am AJ Chegwidden." AJ stated after he had crutched himself up to the front desk.

"And that means what to me?" Asked the 22 or 23 man with the corporal stripes on his sleeve. He did not look up from the computer screen or acknowledge AJ in any appropriate way.

AJ took a deep breath and used a command voice that he had not used since he had retried – well actually LONG BEFORE he retired. "That means you are going to tell the detectives that Dr. Gates Madden's lawyer is here and show me to where she is being held."

The corporal looked up slowly. "Your name?" He was not impressed.

"AJ Chegwidden."

"Retired Admiral AJ Chegwidden." Said a man who had been pacing the lobby. "Navy Seal and until very recently … The Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy."

AJ turned to see Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs approach the desk.

"I suggest you do as he requested, son." Gibbs added with his standard impish grin. "He knows seven ways to kill a man, not leave a mark and get him self acquitted of all charges."

"And just who the hell are you?" The corporal snapped. Of course Gibbs had told him ten minutes earlier who he was and why he was there. Kids these days, no respect for their elders.

"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS." He stared him down. "And if you ask real nice, I might just be taking this case off your hands."

"NCIS!" The kid waved him away and turned to call the detectives.

AJ focused his attention on Gibbs. "What does NCIS have to do with this?"

"Officially nothing – but they don't need to know that." He said. "The victim is Navy - - - which is how I got the call."

"Who is the victim?"

"Captain Glenn Schnarr. Navy Intelligence." Gibbs explained. "Also retired."

AJ now understood why Gates didn't want Mac involved. "Is he dead?"

"Not yet … but it doesn't look good."

Gibbs' cavalier attitude was really beginning to annoy AJ. "Do you know what happened?"

"'Professional courtesy' is not in these guys' vocabulary however I have someone at the scene, following the chain of custody of all evidence."

"Thought NCIS was not officially involved."

"Interested by standers – citizens for justice … if you will." Gibbs smirked.

"Whose side are you on?"

"Gates and I … have a personal relationship." Gibbs stated evasively. "Which is also why I got the call."

"She called you?" AJ wonder how many people was Gates going to throw into the mix.

"No." He took a sip from his coffee. "I hear things."

"Have you spoken with her?"

"No, they were waiting for her lawyer to show."

A detective approached AJ. "Mr. Chegwidden, I am Detective David Starsky. You can save the 'Where's Hutch?' comments." He added quickly. "I've head them all."

AJ and Gibbs shared a look like 'Who is Hutch?' These were men of action. Neither had spent much time in front of a TV – network, syndication or the upper cable channels.

"I suppose you want to see your client." The detective continued.

"I would." AJ confirmed.

"Don't worry … she is a smart cookie." The detective explained. "She started asking for a lawyer from the moment we showed up at her condo. She hasn't said a thing."

AJ nodded, that was an upside.

"Admiral." Gibbs called to him. "Tell her I will be back … please."

AJ studied him for a moment and nodded. He might need the resources of NCIS on his side.

Gibbs smiled slightly and left.

AJ and the detective disappeared behind the door marked PRIVATE. He was being led to an interrogation room.

"Detective, " AJ stopped him. "Can you tell me what we are dealing with?"

"Well it is definitely assault with intent – but who knows what the morning might bring."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning the vic is in critical condition, this might turn into murder one."

"Can you tell me what you have?"

He looked down at his notes. "At 11:23 Madden called 911, said her ex-husband had been shot. EMTs and police were dispatched to the scene. Schnarr was found outside the residence … on the sidewalk with a bullet wound in the left upper torso … barely conscious. Madden was administering first aide. The gun was in the apartment – on the counter. When questioned about what happened, Madden asked for an attorney … blah, blah, blah – It will be in the report … when I get around to it."

AJ's ire at not being treated with the respect he had earned in life was increasingly becoming an issue for him. Did he know seven ways to kill a man and not leave a mark? "Take me to Dr. Madden." He stated simply forcing any over reaction down.

Moments later AJ was seated in an interrogation room waiting for Gates to be brought in.

She was led into the room in handcuffs and looked wrung out. AJ nodded for the cuffs to be removed. Gates waited to speak until the officer had gone.

"AJ thank you for coming. I didn't know who else to call."

"You should have called me." He said calmly and almost like he meant it.

"How is Glenn?" She asked quickly. "They won't tell me anything."

"I understand that he is critical." He looked directly at her. "They will not file charges until they know for sure."

"Charges? You're kidding right?" She was still not clear on the gravity of the situation. "AJ it was an accident."

He didn't look like he believed her or didn't believe her; he needed more information. So much of Gates was still a mystery to him. He had no idea if she were the kind of person to shoot another person. Could she kill in cold blood or just plain blind rage? He needed more information. AJ was wise enough to know that a person – any person was capable of doing anything particularly if their life were on the line. But was this a kill or be killed scenario? Or was Gates telling the truth, was this an accident – plain and simple? Well, when guns were involved things were rarely plain and never simple.

"AJ do you believe that is was an accident?" She asked.

He had no reason not to believe her. Their time together was time for play and fun. They talked about music, Shakespeare, baseball and food. AJ was not looking for a lover, nor was he looking for another woman to break his heart. Meredith had done a pretty good job of that. Gates was wild like Meredith, but grounded and fun – truly fun. She had a lust for life and a very sharp wit. Gates was about companionship. He wanted someone he could talk to and someone's company to enjoy, someone that didn't want the rest of their lives, just the time immediately in front of them. Gates was that in SPADES. AJ didn't mind – well not so much – that she was also spending time with Gunny … and God know who else. He had no hold over her, nor did he want one. In the time that he had known her, she had never impressed him as someone who would lie and she was not the type of person to not take credit or responsibility for something – good or bad – that she had done.

"I believe you." AJ said directing her to sit down. "Tell me what happened."

"You are my lawyer, right?" She asked concerned for the first time that AJ may not have been the right person to call.

"I will represent you until we know what we are dealing with." He confirmed. "When we do, if a change needs to be made we will make it at that time."

"What kind of answer is that?" Her level of anxiety jumped about three notches.

"Gates, if this turns into a murder case, I will help you anyway I can, but I may not be the best man for the job."

"You have never defended anyone --."

"Yes, I have – in a military court." He explained.

"You think I am guilty." She accused.

"I don't know what happened. I have don't have enough information to have an opinion one way or another."

She started wringing her hands and pacing the room. "I can't believe this … I thought of all people you would give me the benefit of the doubt."

"Gates, calm down – I will help you anyway I can – trust me." He waited for her to look back at him. "Tell me what happened."

She finally sat down and took a deep breath. "I have to trust you."

0126 EST

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Admiral Janet Schnarr made her way down the corridor toward ICU. She was in uniform and had an air about her that made people step out of her way. She approached the nurses' station and asked for the doctor in charge. She was directed to a waiting room as the doctor was in with another patient.

A rumpled detective type looking man approached her, clearly not the doctor. "You are Mrs. Schnarr?" He said.

"Admiral Schnarr." She corrected.

"I am Detective John London, I would like to ask you a few questions."

"My husband is in critical condition, you don't think this can wait?" She did not look like a hysterical wife or like she was about to fold under the weight of the situation. In fact she looked cool, calm and collected.

"Yes ma'am it can wait." He stepped back. "However, it will only take a few moments and then I won't have to bother you again."

"I will make a statement, you can hold all questions for a better time." She fixed him with a glare that dared him to challenge her.

He didn't and held his pen at the ready.

"My husband and I separated two weeks ago. I have not spoken to him in all that time, but when you check his cell phone records you will discover that he has made several calls to me. I do not know where he is staying, nor do I have any idea why he would have been at Dr. Madden's residence. As I said, we were separated."

"Your husband and Dr. Madden were married?"

"I told you I would not answer questions."

"Does your husband own a gun?"

"Detective London, you need to listen when people speak." She pulled herself up to her full height. "I will not answer questions. If you will excuse me." She did not step away; rather she forced him to step back.

He turned back to her before he left the waiting area. "I hope your husband will be alright."

She had no reaction.

0246 EST

Arlington Police Department

"OK, Gates." AJ said. "Let's go over this one more time."

"Do you believe me?" She asked.

"I do." AJ said reassuringly. "One more time, OK?"

She nodded and took a deep breath. "From the top. Victor was walking me to the door."

"Time?"

"Sometime around 9 PM. Glenn came out of the shadows. He had been waiting for me. He had been drinking. Victor and he got into it."

"Gunny restrained him when he tried to grab you."

"Spin it however you want." She was still slightly annoyed at that whole situation. "Glenn reached out to catch my hand, he didn't raise a fist to me. Victor did not need to 'put him down.'"

AJ was not about to point out to her that the subsequent events proved that Gunny was more accurate in his assessment of what Glenn was capable of doing. "So you sent him away and then Gunny left."

"Yes."

"Then what?"

"I went into my house, made a few phone calls."

"Did you talk to anyone?"

"No, and I didn't leave messages. I picked up a little, fed the cat … you know stuff. I was headed up the stairs to shut it down for the night, when Glenn came back and knocked at the door. It must have been nine-thirty - quarter to ten"

"Did you let him in?"

"No, I told him to go away and sober up."

"But he got in."

"Yes, I must have left the door unlocked." She lied; a stupid lie that could be easily disproven by the physical evidence.

"He had the gun in his hand."

"Yes, but he wasn't going to use it. He just wanted to talk."

"Gates people don't carry guns to talk with."

"He wasn't going to use it." She repeated. "He said it wasn't loaded."

"Clearly that was wrong." AJ took her hand. "Gates, I know you are trying to play this whole thing down as a major misunderstanding between two rational adults, but the man is lying in the hospital and he may die and it looks like you shot him leaving your house. You could be facing a murder charge."

"That is not what happened."

"That is not how it looks."

Gates ran her hand through her hair. "I'm exhausted. Can I go home?"

"Not yet." He waited. "So, Glenn was drunk, he came back, got into your house and had a gun."

"He just needed to talk to me. His wife threw him out and he wanted to talk."

"When was the last time you saw him, before last night."

"Saw him? I haven't actually seen him in over three or four years."

"But you have talked to him on the phone."

"He called me about three weeks ago – maybe two. He and Janet were having troubles." Gates remembered the actual date he called. It was the day after she had run into Janet at JAG.

"Did he call you often since your divorce?"

"Every six or eight months – maybe twelve to fourteen months." She shrugged. "It was not often – it was usually when he started a new therapy or group. He would call, apologize, tell me that he … well it doesn't matter, he would apologize and tell me that he and Janet were working on their problems. I viewed it as a therapy session – one that I couldn't bill for."

"Is that what he wanted to talk about last night?"

"Yeah."

"So other than a phone call three weeks ago, you had no reason to expect him to show up at your house."

She looked uncomfortable with that statement.

"Gates."

"When he first called, he told me he was leaving Janet and that he wanted to try to give us another shot. I told him in no uncertain terms – NO. By the end of that conversation, he was planning on trying marriage counseling again with Janet. I guess it didn't work, because he started calling me almost every day – sometimes two or three times during the day. I didn't answer, nor did I return the calls. Finally, about five days ago I told him to stop calling me. He flew into a rage. Told me that Janet had thrown him out and wouldn't talk to him either. Again, by the end of the conversation, he was calmed down and was going to get into his own therapy and work it out with Janet – somehow. You see; I can always calm him down. That's why he calls me. I should have been his shrink, rather than his wife."

"Gates what aren't you telling me."

"Quite a bit."

"Gates."

"Look, Glenn has some issues." She hoped it would be enough, but AJ waited. "His a borderline … has severe personality disorder … paranoid … he has PSD … panic attacks … he's alcoholic and prescription drug abuser … hell, he is firing on all five axes. It is impressive that he gets through a day. What do you want? He was in Navy intelligence. They don't know what that kind of work does to the human mind. It is sick and twisted. The man is to be pitied."

"What did he do for NI?"

"He worked in cryptology … he was a computer and math genius. I suppose he still is." She exhaled loudly. "One thing he is not … he is NOT dangerous."

"Yet he brought a gun to your house."

"It was an accident. He was leaving, he was handing me the gun – for safe keeping … it went off. It was an accident."

"Let's hope he lives long enough to verify that story."

0751 EST

JAG Headquarters

Mac stepped off the elevator with a spring in her step; she was going to get a jump on the day. She hadn't felt this good in … well … ever … as least not sober.

She had been up for hours – well she had been AWAKE. They had been awake. That morning there was an unanimous decision to forgo their morning run for more … shall we say … horizontal physical … physical … can't call it training, because they were both well trained – it was more like practice. And as we all know, practice makes perfect.

They had made love well into the night after their conversation, agreement and Harm's disclosure of his 'plan', but when morning came, she wanted more. Harm – never one to back down from a challenge – was more than delighted to comply.

"You're incorrigible." He whispered softly into her ear when she woke him up at 0500 with a kiss.

"You encourage me." She whispered back.

Considering the lack of sleep and the morning activities, it was amazing that Mac made it to work on time, much less early. But she was happy and happy people are more productive. It was those happy thoughts that were written on her face when she ran into – quite literally – the admiral in the break room as she went to make coffee.

"Excuse me." She said backing off. "Good morning, Admiral." Even sight of the admiral could not shake Mac's good mood, besides she had a plan.

"Getting an early start today, colonel?" She stated in her usual cool manner.

"Yes ma'am." Mac tried not let it show that her 'early start' was already hours old.

The admiral took her cup and left.

Mac didn't notice her mood or her demeanor; she noticed nothing out of the ordinary, not the circles under the admiral's eyes or the fact the she did not make eye contact. Instead all Mac saw was the perfect opportunity to broach the subject of the JAGman investigation on the Patrick Henry. She didn't need to wait for Harm, and they could talk it over with Bud later. Mac was confident that everything would turn out as planned.

She knocked on the doorframe. "Admiral, may I speak with you a moment?"

"Enter." The admiral looked up. For all her gruffness, she was actually a very good listener. She made decrees and expected them to be followed, but she was true to her word, her door was always open. "What is it, colonel?"

"Ma'am about the incident on the Patrick Henry, Petty Officer Wallace Grinds."

"Yes, good." The admiral interrupted. "I would like you to reopen the investigation."

Mac's plan had been turned back on her. She didn't know how to respond.

"I believe there were several leads that were missed." The admiral continued. "I have put the Article 32 on hold. I'll inform the captain to expect you and Lt Commander Roberts on the morning COD."

"I am a little confused." Mac stated honestly.

"Going against my own policy, aren't I?" She stated simply.

"Yes, ma'am."

The admiral got up and went to the window. "Colonel, I tried something and it didn't work. I accept that." In a distant voice almost as if she were talking to herself she added. "I need to take responsibility … fix what I can, and let go of the rest."

Mac waited.

Schnarr turned back to Mac. "I appreciate that you, the commander and the lieutenant commander – indeed the entire staff – tried to make it work."

"Yes ma'am."

"I actually expected a lot more resistance, but the professionalism this staff has shown has been greatly appreciated."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"We will go back to the tried and true method. The JGs will need to learn from the bottom up." She started shuffling flies on her desk. "I am pulling Matoni back and will be bringing in three others – to start – including Commander Manetti. You three will continue to be the seniors, but I expect that you will spend very little time here. You are used to that – TAD's I mean."

"Yes ma'am." Mac did not know how to respond.

"I would have gone over this with the three of you this morning, but … well you won't be here."

Mac's impression of the admiral was changing. She was not a rigid, egocentric, megalomaniac. She was a leader challenging her people to do their job with different tools. When it was discovered that the tools were flawed, she changed back. Mac was impressed.

"We will schedule a briefing when Rabb and Roberts arrive."

"Yes, ma'am." She said. "Thank you."

"Thank you, colonel." She smiled oddly. "I'll expect your reports to be filed daily – e-mail is fine."

"Yes, ma'am." Mac nodded. "Ma'am, Commander Rabb has a great deal of experience with this type of situation."

"Yes, I know … the pilot, lawyer, poster boy of the USN. Fine, include him in your investigation, but he will need to do it from here. I can't have all three of you TAD at one time." What she didn't saw was that she would be taking a few days off and needed Harm to run the office.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"One more thing, colonel." Schnarr took a deep breath. "I will continue to expect that personal associations between officers in this command remain outside of the work environment."

Mac wondered if she knew something about Mac and Harm or if she were referring to something else. "Yes ma'am."

"Gossip, scuttlebutt and office intrigue have no place here." She fixed Mac with a hard glare. "I won't tolerate it. I expect my officers to set the example."

Mac was still a little confused.

"Do you agree?" The admiral forced an answer.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good." She looked down. "Dismissed."

0833 EST

JAG Headquarters

Mac's Office

Mac was on the phone making the arrangements to get to the Patrick Henry – which meant a drive to Norfolk and several other connections that needed to be arranged. Harm walked in quickly and shut the door. He looked bothered about something. Mac didn't notice, she was still reeling from her 'victory' with the admiral, though one could argue she didn't win anything; it was given to her.

She put her hand over the mouthpiece. "Score one for our side." She smiled.

He looked confused. Did she already know? She couldn't. He had just gotten off the phone with AJ and was tasked with the job of breaking the news to Mac that her best friend was about to be arrested for assault, possibly murder. "Mac, I need to talk to you."

"Bud and I are going to the Patrick Henry. The investigation has been reopened." She said triumphantly. "You will be in on the investigation from here."

"What?" Mac couldn't leave – not today. Gates needed her.

"We leave in an hour." Mac's attention was back to the phone. Apparently the person she was holding for got back on the line. "Yes … thank you … we'll be there." She hung up and smiled brightly at her lover. "Morning. There has been a policy change." She got up from her chair. "You should have been there --- it was great."

"Mac, what are you talking about?"

"The admiral changed her policies. No more JG's, we are doing the JAGmans. The admiral has reopened the investigation on the Patrick Henry and Bud and I are going." She looked out to the bullpen to see Bud walking in. "We leave in an hour. Admiral's orders."

Harm looked over his shoulder toward the admiral's office. "Is that right?" Was the admiral just trying to get rid of Mac?

"Yeah, score one for our side." She said again. "I didn't even have to ask." She decided to not let him believe that it was her amazing powers of persuasion that accomplished the feat.

"It was her idea?"

"100"

"How did the admiral seem to you this morning?" He asked.

"Fine." She thought about it for the first time. "I guess she seemed a little distracted and maybe … I don't know … a little contrite."

"Mac, there is no way to tell you this so I am just going to say it."

Mac could not brace herself for what he was about to say.

Harm knew that so he said it quickly – like removing a band-aid. "The admiral's husband was shot last night outside Gates' condo. Gates was involved."

The air leaked out of Mac's happy balloon as she slowly let the words and their meaning sink in. After a moment, Mac folded into her chair and looked to Harm, ready for more information.

"He is critical – but he is not dead." Harm wanted to add 'yet' but chose not to. "Gates is at the Arlington Police Station with AJ. I just got the call. They are waiting to file charges."

Mac listened to the words but could not respond. So many realities were flooding her:

Gates' ex-husband was Admiral Schnarr's husband.

He had been shot and could die.

Gates would never shoot anyone.

Gates hated guns.

AJ was with Gates.

Gates was in jail.

Mac needed to get to her – to talk to her.

The admiral knew before they spoke.

The admiral had given her orders that took her out of the country.

Mac needed to leave in an hour.

Mac needed to leave in an hour on an assignment that the admiral had just given her that would keep her away from Washington. The orders were given the morning after her best friend was involved in the shooting of the admiral's husband.

Then came the questions:

Did Mac really have to go?

Was the admiral sending her away because of the investigation or because of this new … development?

Personal issues were to remain outside the office, huh? They had no place in water cooler talk or in orders given, right?

Who was going to get Gates out of jail?

Could Gates really shoot anyone?

Would he live?

Gates shot the admiral's husband?

WHY? What happened?

"Mac?" Harm was getting nervous. Mac was normally not this quiet when this kind of information was thrown at her. She usually clicked into Marine Lawyer mode and was thinking and asking a bunch of questions, formulating plans, deciding strategies. She was one of the most decisive women he knew – at least about work – always about work – never about him, or relationships in general.

Jennifer Coates knocked on the door and opened it quickly. "Excuse me, sir, ma'am. The admiral has requested both of you."

"Thank you." Harm looked back at Mac.

Mac's eyes locked on his. How was she supposed to deal with the admiral now? What was she going to do about Gates? How could she possibly leave?

Mac's phone rang. She turned it over quickly and saw the caller ID – GATES.

Jennifer spoke again. "I am sorry, she said ASAP."

Mac looked like a deer in headlights. Harm took over.

End Chapter Five