FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
2330 ZULU
Commander Meg Austin watches the news in her townhouse even as she finishes unpacking her stuff. She looks around at the furniture and Toshiba television set and Aiwa stereo system.
"Just two more boxes to go and I can finally settle in," she says.
It is then that she notices the content of what is on television.
She sees a picture of Angela, the teenage girl who is looking for a new kidney.
A reporter identified as Stuart Dunston from ZNN appears on the screen.
"So you were looking for a donor," says Stuart.
"We found a match," says Valerie Pullman. "The Navy made an offer, but the potential donor refused."
"Who was he?" asks the reporter.
"We will not mention his name," says Valerie's husband Denny Ward.
ooooooooooooo
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
1255 ZULU
Meg arrives at JAG Headquarters the next morning, carrying a briefcase full of legal documents.
"Good morning, Sturgis," she says upon seeing Commander Sturgis Turner.
"Morning, Meg," replies Sturgis.
"I saw on the news this evening. Angela's parents were on the news. They were all talking about it."
"I spoke to Stuart Dunston. I told him about Angela."
"He did that for you?"
"Let's just say he has connections to this office. Maybe getting the public on her side would help that girl find a donor. Anyway, we'd better get to work, Meg."
"Of course."
Meg then walks into her office and continues reviewing the case files.
oooooooooooooo
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
2115 ZULU
After a day of reviewing cases and interviewing people over the phone, Meg goes to General Creswell's office to deliver her debriefing.
"The Schindler appeal has merit," she says. "I'd like to write a friend-of-the-court briefing when it comes before the Court of Criminal Appeals. As for the breach-of-contract suit by Raytheon, I recommend a settlement. Here are my reports on these and other cases. Is there anything else, sir?"
The general looks at the folders on his desk containing reports and files and stuff. "You will write your friend-of-the-court brief for the Schindler appeal," he says. "That will be all, Commander. Dismissed."
"Aye aye, sir." Meg stands up, facing General Creswell, and then turns around and leaves. Walking through the main office, she turns on her Motorola cellular phone and dials a number.
"Kelly Reed here," says the voice.
"It's me, Commander Austin from JAG," says Meg. "So you know about your client's interview with that reporter."
"Stuart Dunston? He spoke to me. Did you have anything to do with it?"
"Commander Turner was the one who contacted Dunston. Did you contact the orphanage?"
"His birth records are sealed. They won't say who his mom is."
"She might be dead."
"There's a candlelight vigil at the hospital."
oooooooooooo
PRINCE WILLIAM HOSPITAL
MANNASAS, VIRGINIA
2322 ZULU
Dozens of people are gathered across the street from the hospital, holding candles. Reporters from newspapers and television and radio stations are there. The interview of Angela's parents by Stuart Dunston on ZNN had apparently caught the attention of the rest of the news media. A picture of Angela wearing a cowboy hat is displayed on a tripod.
As Meg holds the candle, her memories rewind to about a year ago, when she held a similar vigil. Feelings from that time surface once again. A tear flows down her right cheek.
oooooooooooo
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
1440 ZULU
Meg enters General Creswell's private office. She stands at attention before the desk.
"I just got off the phone with SecNav," says the general. "That girl in the hospital is getting a lot of attention, including some of our elected officials on the Hill."
"What does he want from us, sir?" asks the commander.
"To provide assistance in finding an alternate donor for her. You will take this one, Austin."
"Will Commander Turner be assisting me, sir?"
"I have Commander Turner doing other projects. You have your orders, Commander. Dismissed."
"Aye aye, sir." Meg turns around and leaves the office. She walks to her private office, where she picks up the phone and calls the Bureau of Naval Personnel to check their records.
ooooooooooooo
2049 ZULU
Meg had tracked down three people who had served with Kevin Miller back in 1988 and are still in the Navy. None of them rememebered Kevin Miller having any family. In the meantime, the prosecution and defense for the case of U.S. vs. Leeka await as the six-member Marine jury deliberate over the gunnery sergeant's fate.
Meg looks over the personnel files faxed to JAG from the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Many of these people had been discharged from the Navy in the past seventeen years; the three she spoke to today are the only ones still serving in the Navy.
The telephone rings and she answers.
"Commander Austin here," she says.
"This is Kelly Reed," saysa a female voice. "I came into contact with someone who knew Kevin Miller."
"Who isa it?" asks the commander.
"Lacey Dawson," says Reed. "She dated him in high school for three years. She's living in Queens in New York. She would like a personal meeting. I will be arranging a flight Saturday. Will your duties keep you here, Commander?"
"I could go to New York," says Meg.
ooooooooooooooo
QUEENS, NEW YORK
1353 ZULU
Meg Austin and Kelly Reed ride inside the yellow Ford Crown Victoria taxi. They had checked into a hotel the night before following a short flight from Washington, DC to New York City. They had spoekn with Lacey Dawson earlier this morning.
The cab stops next to the curb of a residential street in Queens. The neighborhood is typical suburban. A few children play in the quiet tree-lined street.
The two women walk along a concrete path connecting the sidewalk to the front door of a modest two-story home. Kelly Reed rings the doorbell.
The door opens. A woman with blond hair tied in a ponytail answers the door. She wears a white T-shirt and blue denim shorts. she appears to be in her mid-thirties
"You must be Lacey Dawson," says Reed.
"Yeah, that's me" replies the woman. "you want to see me about Kevin Miller?"
"Tell us about him," says Meg.
"Let's go to the backyard."
Dawson leads the two women through a side path to the backyard. The backyard has a singular oak tree with a treehouse built into it. The two women introduce themselves.
"Kevin Miller was my boyfriend back in high school," she saysd. "I never saw him again after he left for the Navy. Where is he now?"
"In prison," says Meg. "For six rapes."
"I'm not surprised."
"Mrs. Dawson," says Kelly Reed, "did he ever tell you about any relatives he might have."
"I only know of one," says Lacey Dawson. "He..he raped me on my prom night. Nine months later I had a baby boy. I gave him up for adoption."
"Does anyone else know about this?" asks Reed.
"My husband and my parents know. I don't know what happened to the baby. I had his birth records sealed. I wanted to know whoever adopted him as his parents, not some girl who was raped by a boyfriend that wouldn't take no for an answer."
"Can you give us the name of the adoption agency?" asks Meg.
"You need me to access the adoption records," says Dawson. "Tell them the reason why you are looking for him."
"Thank you for doing this, Mrs. Dawson," says Kelly Reed.
"That girl's plight drew national attention," says Lacey Dawson. "I don't know if the boy can help."
"Let's just hope. Here's a pocture of her." Reed shows Dawson a picture of Angela.
"So that's his half-sister. She's beautiful." Lacey Dawson pauses for a moment. "I'll sign the waivers for you. But you'll be on your own."
oooooooooooooo
BEST WESTERN MOTOR INN
QUEENS, NEW YORK
1709 ZULU
Meg Austin and Kelly Reed pack their things for their flight back to Washington, DC. The motel room is simplky furnished, with two beds, a table, two chairs, a dresser, and a television set.
"You really have an interest in doing this," says Kelly Reed. "Why?"
Meg tells Reed a long story.
"I'm sorry," says Kelly.
"It's okay," replies Meg. "I have no regrets about it."
oooooooooooooo
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
1333 ZULU
"How was your trip to New York?" asks Major General Gordon Creswell as he walks to his office.
"Very productive, sir," replies Meg. "Turns out young Angela has a half-brother somewhere. The biorth mother of her half-brother signed release forms allowing me and Kelly Reed to look at his records to find out who adopted him."
"Very well, Commander." The general continues walking to his office.
"One more thing, General. I finished my friend-of-the-court brief for the Schindler appeal."
"Then go submit it, Commander."
"Yes, sir."
Meg walks to her office and looks through the casefiles.
She hears footsteps approach the door to her office.
"May I step in, ma'am?" asks a male voice.
Meg looks and sees a man in a white Navy uniform, with his rank markings identifying him as a lieutenant commander.
"Is there anything you want to say, Lieutenant Commander?" asks Meg.
"Roberts. Lieutenant Commander Bud Roberts. I haven't had the chance to formally greet you. I just want to say welcome to JAG. I guess we'll be working together."
"Aren't you currently working on case?"
"The Leeka trial? The case went to the jury. They're still deliberating. All I could do is prepare preliminary drafts for an appeal."
"You worked closely with Harm- Captain Rabb-right?"
"Yes, ma'am. I've worked with him for over ten years. I consider the captain to be a good friend. He was there when I became a lawyer, he was there for my wedding, he was there when my leg got blown off."
"Your leg got blown off?" asks Meg.
"It was in Afghanistan about three years ago. Got a Purple Heart. I decided to stay in JAG."
"Maybe you'll make captain one day. I'm sure you have plenty of work to do, Lieutenant Commander. Dismissed."
"Aye, aye, ma'am."
Bud stands up straight and leaves the office.
oooooooooooooo
MEG'S TOWNHOUSE
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
2240 ZULU
Meg unlocks the door to her townhouse. She checks her Motorola cellular phone for any messages. She plays the one message.
"Meg, this is Kelly Reed,"says the voice. "I found the adoption records for Angela's half-brother. I've just contacged his adoptive parents. I think you can help me find him."
ooooooooooooo
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
1526 ZULU
Gunnery Sergeant Leeka is escorted out of the courtroom by two Marine MP's. His defense attorneys, Navy Lieutenant Commander Bud Roberts and Marine Captain Carlos Bullrider watch as their client is taken away.
Lieutenant Gregory Vukovic, the lead prosecutor, comes out of the JAG courtroom.
"Well, at least you managed to keep him from getting a life sentence," says the Navy lieutenant. The jury acquitted Gunnery Sergeant Leeka of Article 118, Clauses 1 & 4, and convicted him of a violation of Article 118, Clause 2.
Petty Officer jennifer Coates approaches. "Commander Roberts," she says,. "The general wishes to meet with you."
"I'll write a prelimiary draft for the appeal," says Captain Bullrider.
Bud walks through the main office and into the general's private office. Commander Meg Austin, a civilian woman, and a sailor is inside in addition to General Creswell.
"Commander Roberts reporting as ordered, sir," says the lieutenant commander.
"Kelly Reed came to my office with a request from Seaman First Class Jack Culp," says the Marine general. "Her client is looking for a kidney for her daughter. Seaman Culp is the girl's half-brother, and Miss Reed wants to find out if Seaman Culp is a suitable donor. Commander, I am assigning you to represent Seaman Culp in this matter. You will afvise him on all legal matters relating to this issue."
"Hello, sir," says the seaman. "Seaman First Class Jack Culp."
Bud remembers seeing something on television about a girl in Mannasas who needed a kidney. "Is the girl still alive?" asks Bud.
"Yes."
"Sir, I request that Seaman Culp be granted leave for the day so he can be tested," says Bud.
"Request granted," says Creswell. "I'm sure Petty Officer Coates can handle the workload by herself."
oooooooooooo
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
1403 ZULU
The next day, Bud meets with his client in the conference room. Kelly Reed is there. Seamna Culp was a match, and he is reported to be in excellent health.
"I'm going to go through with it," says Seaman Culp. "Commander Roberts gave a leg. I might as well give a kidney."
"Thank you," says Kelly Reed.
oooooooooooo
PRINCE WILLIAM HOSPITAL
MANNASAS, VIRGINIA
2412 ZULU
"We have just received word that the transplant was a success," says Stuart Dunston. "She's expected to make a full recovery."
Meg stands among the crowd across the street from the hospital, holding a candle. She smiles.
ooooooooooooo
MCMURPHY'S TAVERN
2550 ZULU
The staff of JAG's main office gets together to infomrally welcome Commander Meg Austin to JAG. They all have drinks and tell each other stories. They all sit at the bar. Since it is Tuesday,. it is not crowded. It was not so long ago that they bade farewell to Harm and Mac.
"So you were actually quarantined in a sub?" asks Meg.
"That's right," says Commander Sturgis Turner. "I was trapped down there, wondering if I had SARS. And then there was this time when I was he;lping the crew of a ship look for a missing nuke."
"How's that girl who was looking for a kidney?" asks Lieutenant Vukovic.
"She's doing well," says Meg. "I spoke with her family over the phone. Seaman Culp is also recovering."
"I'm beginning to understand why the general wanted me to be his counsel," says Bud. "Uh, Meg, you can tell us about your personal life."
"Maybe another time, Bud," says Meg, sipping a cold Budweiser beer.
oooooooooooo
MEG'S TOWNHOUSE
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
0320 ZULU
Finally, she is finished.
All of her belongings are now out of the cardboard boxes, placed in their rightful places.
She hopes that she will not have to move for a long time.
"Well, Tommy," she says. "I'm moving on, just like you would have wanted."
She lies in bed between her sheets and falls asleep.
On the dresser is a photograph, a silent testimony of an earlier time.
The photograph has an image of a man in a black tuxedo.
And an image of Meg wearing a white wedding dress.