Will You Always Be There?
Chapter 64
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the JAG or NCIS characters. I do not own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
Spoilers: Anything up to and including 'The Straits of Malacca' with some specific references to 'Ice Queen.' Some NCIS eps may be 'loosely' referred to as well.
A/N: Many thanks to aerogirl for her beta reading skills and excellent input.
1030
Monday
March 7, 2005
NCIS Headquarters
Washington Navy Yard
Agent Tim McGee sat down at his desk and turned on his computer. He noticed something unusual in his peripheral vision. He turned to see that a snapshot was taped to Gibbs's computer terminal so he rose from his seat to get a closer look. As he stepped toward Gibbs's desk, Agents Kate Todd and Tony Dinozzo walked into the office. They both noticed the puzzled look on McGee's face.
"What's going on, McGee?" Kate watched as he turned his head slightly in curiosity.
McGee got closer and got a clearer view. "Oh…." He stood up straight and started to walk away. It was a picture of a much younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Kate recognized him right away and stepped closer to get a better look.
The man in the picture was in bed. His arm was up trying to shield his eyes. He was smiling a sleepy smile at whoever was taking the picture. It was Gibbs, all right; Kate would know him anywhere. Forensics Agent Abby Sciuto had come into the office unnoticed and looked over Kate's shoulder.
"Wow…nice six pack. Who's the…oh God, that's Gibbs!" Abby looked at Kate; both women waggled their eyebrows and laughed. Gibbs was wrapped in a sheet that rested low on his waist, revealing a tanned and very well defined torso. Gibbs had been a true 'lean mean fighting machine' in his younger days.
"Is something funny, ladies?" Gibbs stood just outside the group that had congregated around his computer. As he stepped into the group behind his desk he saw the picture.
"What the hell?" He stepped around the desk, quickly dispersing the other three NCIS agents. He stood closer and got a clearer look. He opened his drawer and pulled out a pair of gloves. He put them on and carefully removed the picture from the computer. Turning it over, he saw that someone had written on the back of it. In the right hand corner, the words 'Summer 75' had been written. The ink was fading but it was clear enough to read. There was also a verse written in darker ink, which appeared to have been written more recently. It read:
Who is this coming out of the wilderness?
Like pillars of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all the merchant's fragrant powders?
Behold it is Solomon's couch,
With sixty valiant men around it,
Of the valiant of Israel.
They all hold swords,
Being expert at war.
Every man has his sword on his thigh
Because of fear in the night
Of the wood of Lebanon
Solomon the King
Made himself a palanquin.
Gibbs turned the picture over again. It had been taken nearly 30 years ago. Only Dani would have this picture; though he certainly hadn't kept any of her. This was a picture taken in better times, when he and Dani were both different people. He took an evidence bag out of his desk drawer and dropped it in. He took a similar bag out of the breast pocket of his jacket and handed them both to Abby.
"See if you can get prints from these." He started to walk toward the elevators. The clear bag revealed another picture and what looked like verse written on the back. This one was of a young woman; Abby assumed it was a photo of Gibbs's first wife. It was already all over the office that Gibbs had been taken off of a case involving his first wife. Her husband, a Navy SEAL, had died in a fire, under suspicious circumstances.
"Boss?" Tony knew that this had to have something to do with the investigation at Little Creek. "Where are you going?"
"To Little Creek." He looked back at Dinozzo and Kate and emphasized, "Alone."
Kate immediately began to follow Gibbs toward the elevators "Gibbs, Director Morrow gave me specific instructions to keep you out of this investigation."
"This isn't just about a possible murder/arson on a naval base anymore, Kate. This is personal now." His clear blue gaze held a warning.
Kate stepped onto the elevator. As the doors closed, she leaned back on the wall of the elevator. Gibbs turned to look at her but she was not backing off. This time she was responsible for this investigation and she would know whatever it was that he knew. There was a lot more to those pictures than Gibbs had said.
"What's the story on those pictures? Why is this personal now?" Kate stopped the elevator and folded her arms across her chest.
Gibbs did not want anyone in the office to know this much about his personal life, especially not this. He joked and complained about his ex-wives all the time – they were all fair game as far as he was concerned – but this was different. The first divorce had cut the deepest, and now she had been thrown back into his life again.
"Look, Gibbs, I don't want the information for office gossip. This is my investigation and I want to know what you think this has to do with you now." Kate was getting exasperated.
He knew she was right, but it still pissed him off. "Who wanted me taken off this case, anyway?"
Kate looked down and then back at him. "Mrs. Danielle Graham, for reasons that should be obvious to you. Frankly, given your recent comments about marriage and ex-wives in particular, I'm surprised you want anything to do with this."
Gibbs face hardened; she had no idea what she was talking about. "All right, Agent Todd,
I found the picture I gave Abby taped to my front door last night. It is a picture of my first wife. It was taken in the summer of 1975, as was the one on my computer this morning. It also had a verse written on the back of it."
Gibbs turned and placed his hands on either side of Kate's head and glared at her, riveting her to the wall with his icy gaze.
"It read, 'You are fair my love, and there is no spot on you….'"
He leaned in closer his lips just inches from her. "You have ravished my heart, my sister my bride, you have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace." He thought of Dani and what they had once suddenly it hit him like a hammer.
At that same moment Kate had had enough.
She made a fist and slammed it backward on the wall. Gibbs was startled and stepped back one step, still seemingly determined to do as he pleased as far as the investigation was concerned and to keep his own counsel.
Kate, however, was not going to be deterred. Damn it, he was not going to intimidate her. She had never worked for anyone like him. It was turning into a real love-hate relationship. He was one of the sharpest investigators she had ever worked with and he was also the most arrogant and impatient. He was a game player to the Nth degree and he wasn't going to win this one.
"Stop it." She said in an even and determined tone of voice. "I'm not going to back off. Did you or your wife write those verses on the back of the pictures?"
"No…At least I didn't. I didn't know that she still had them."
Kate pushed the button to release the elevator. She was intrigued now. "How did the pictures survive the fire?"
Gibbs looked at Kate, waiting for her to read what he was thinking.
"You think whoever is responsible for the fire is also responsible for leaving the pictures." She was getting better at reading him, though it frustrated her at times that she had to.
"What do you think?" His expression was sarcastic and not a little inpatient.
"You were ordered to leave the investigation to me, Gibbs. General Creswell notified us this morning that there will also be a JAGMAN investigation being conducted in tandem with ours. It seems that Master Chief Graham may have been an international target. He and a fellow SEAL's photographs were taken while conducting an interrogation and published in a number of newspapers. The wife has also not been cleared as a suspect."
Gibbs remembered the situation being discussed among his superiors. He never put Dani's husband into the mix. He vaguely remembered that she had married a SEAL. He smirked; she'd probably done it out of spite. He hadn't seen her in over 20 years, but he would bet his life that Dani wouldn't kill anyone.
Gibbs exited the elevators walking toward the doors out of the building.
"Gibbs, don't interfere with this….Where are you going?" Kate did not want to go to Director Morrow, but she would to keep this case from being compromised.
Gibbs stopped and turned to look at her knowing she would go to the director. "I won't go to Little Creek, Kate." He turned to walk out of the building. He wasn't going to go…yet.
1200
Monday
March 28
Smith Residence
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Harm and Faith pulled up in front of the residence. It was a beautiful home just south of Rudee Inlet in the resort area of Virginia Beach. They had been notified that Mrs. Graham was staying with her parents until she was able to make other arrangements. They both looked at each other, and then exited the car. Neither officer looked forward to having to interview Mrs. Graham to eliminate her from suspicion in the death of her husband. It had to be done, though, and Harm wanted to start here while Gunny was following up some other leads for him. An elderly and elegantly dressed woman answered the door.
"Can I help you?" The woman looked at them warily.
"I'm Commander Rabb, and this is Commander Coleman. We are from the JAG Corps, ma'am. We'd like to speak with Danielle Graham, if she is available."
Another woman walked up behind the older one. She was a beautiful woman with strawberry blond hair and striking green hazel eyes. Danielle Graham showed little sign of her 48 years, with the exception of touches of gray at her temples. She was not a frail person, though she gave off an aura of sadness.
"I'm Danielle Graham." She looked at the older woman. "Its okay, Mom, I'm expecting them." She looked at Harm and Faith. "Won't you come in?"
Harm and Faith followed her into the foyer and then to what appeared to be a formal living room.
"Can I get you anything?" Danielle Graham was being gracious, but her grief was evident on her face. Her mother hovered just outside the room, seeming reluctant to leave her alone with them. Harm and Faith declined and Danielle looked at her mother.
"I'm okay, Mom – don't worry."
"We're sorry to have to intrude at this time, ma'am, but we need to ask you a few questions," Harm began.
Danielle nodded.
Harm reached into his breast pocket and took out copies of the two photos that had been left at Gibbs's home and office. "Do you recognize these either of these pictures, ma'am?"
Danielle reached for the pictures and blanched. "How?" She paused. "These are pictures of myself and my first husband; they were taken about 30 years ago. What could this have to do with David being killed?"
"They were left in plain sight at Agent Gibbs's home and at his office. There may or may not be link, ma'am. Agent Gibbs has stated that he did not have copies of these pictures and that you were the only one who could have had them. Have you had any break-ins prior to the fire?"
Danielle thought for a moment. "We had some trouble last fall. A number of homes in our housing subdivision were also hit, but we just thought it was some kids' pranks. Nothing of value was ever taken; they usually just broke in and made a mess and got out."
"Did you have these pictures in your home at the time, ma'am?"
"Yes." It occurred to her just then that she had carried them around all these years. "I think so. I had forgotten I had them" She looked at both pictures. She barely recognized herself. She had been standing at the kitchen sink and Jethro had crept up on her and snapped the picture. She shook her head slightly.
"This was a lifetime ago." She turned the picture over and read the verse that had been copied on the back of each picture.
"Do you recognize the verse on the pictures?"
"I recognize the verse – it is from the Song of Solomon, but I didn't write this." She handed the pictures back to Harm.
"Is there a particular reason you wanted Agent Gibbs removed from this investigation?"
"I was told he would be leading the investigation over the weekend. Nothing out of the ordinary was said or done; I just felt it would be awkward. He is my ex-husband. I haven't spoken to Jethro in over 20 years."
Harm smirked and thought, 'And I thought Harmon was bad.' "Were you aware of any threats being made to your husband or yourself in the last few months, ma'am?"
"We were all concerned about the pictures of the interrogations in the paper. Some of the members of the SEAL team intend to sue. We had discussed it but hadn't acted on it yet. We thought that since we lived on base, we'd be safe. We were only supposed to be here another six months, so we just didn't think anyone could get to us there. There was no specific threat made…no."
Faith looked at Harm. "Sir, if I may?"
Harm nodded.
Faith continued. "The other break-ins that occurred in your neighborhood: were they members of the SEAL team as well?"
"No, the other team members lived off base; a lot of the men don't have families." Dani was suddenly having a difficult time believing that she was never going to see her husband again. She still expected him to walk through the door any minute, his booming laughter filling the room.
Harm asked, "Ma'am, why were you staying here instead of at your home?"
"My father had surgery early last week, so I came to stay with my mother and help her take care of him."
Harm continued to ask about the details of her weekend. It seemed obvious to him that she had not been involved. She had been with her mother or father the whole weekend.
1745
Monday
March 28
Harm and Mac's apartment
North of Union Station
Harm unlocked the door; the apartment was quiet and dark. Mac's car was outside so she had to be home. Harm looked toward the living room and saw Mac stretched out on the couch. There was just enough light outside to allow him to see her. He walked over to the couch and sat down on the coffee table. Mac had a book open and lying across her stomach, holding onto it in her sleep. He read the title and smiled and thought, 'Typical Mac…always prepared and studying motherhood.'
He stood again, leaving Mac to sleep, and took off his tie and uniform jacket. He hung them up and opened the neck of his shirt, glancing at Mac to see if she would wake. He got himself a bottle of water out of the fridge and leaned back on the kitchen island, watching. He couldn't believe his coming in hadn't caused her to wake. She hadn't worked that day, so she had been here waiting for him. He would never be able to explain it; it was old fashioned, he knew, but he loved that she was here when he came home.
Mac began to stir and turned her head to see him watching her. "Hey…how long have you been here?" She sat up and placed her book on the coffee table. She walked across the room and slipped her arms around his waist.
"I just got in; you looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake you. Did you enjoy your day off?" He locked his arms around her, kissing her forehead.
"Yes I did, but I don't think I could take too much of this." It had been kind of fun to kick back for a while, but she wanted to be back at work…making a difference. That was who she was.
"Reading up on motherhood, Mac?" He raised a brow and looked at her.
"Yeah…you know, I've been thinking…we are going to need to start thinking about another place to live." She leaned back and looked at him.
He knew they needed to move, but he still didn't like to think of leaving this place. "I know."
"I don't want to move either, Harm." She leaned back and gave him a lopsided smile. She had been reading about how to equip the nursery and all the best things for the baby.
He hugged her to him more closely. "We have four and a half months, Mac. I know we need to do more than think about this. We can look around, but let's not jump into something we really don't want because the baby is coming. We'll find something…that's just right for us."
"Too bad we can't move your grandmother's house closer to Washington." When she thought of home now, she thought of the farm in Pennsylvania.
"I know I want something outside D.C., something in the direction of Blacksburg. It's a long drive there now, I know, but even if we take 25 miles off of the drive it would help. I don't want to lose Mattie, Mac."
"I don't think you have to worry about that, Harm. We had a great weekend last weekend." Mattie was bubbling over with what was happening in her life; her main focus was on getting her pilot's license. It was just a matter of time now.
"Mattie draws everyone she loves into her circle, and I think we're lucky to be included in that."
"Are you tired, honey?" Mac leaned back and looked at him.
"Not really." Harm raised his brows a bit, hopeful.
"Good…what are you making me for dinner?"
1930
Monday
March 28
Faith's Apartment
Alexandria, Virginia
Faith had just finished her shower and was combing out her hair when the phone rang. The name on the caller ID made her smile. It was Michael.
"Hello."
"Hey, how did it go with Commander Rabb?" Mike had been thinking about her off and on all day.
"It wasn't bad. He was pretty much all business. It's a tough assignment, really. I'm beginning to feel like a grief counselor." Her last two major assignments had involved the death of a spouse.
"I don't envy you that part of it."
Silence.
They both spoke at once, then laughed at themselves.
Mike began, "I thought Commander Rabb might have been giving you a bit of a hard time about…well, you know, about seeing us out at McMurphy's."
"I know, I thought he might too. It seems you're the one he likes to rib about that."
"Yeah, I guess he's not as bad as I thought."
"We didn't meet on very good circumstances. You know what kind of first impression I give, and you were trying to get him sent to Leavenworth. So I think we are fortunate that he has a sense of humor at all when it comes to us."
"Yeah, I suppose that is true. I have to say when we were TAD to Iraq last fall, my opinion of him changed. He is a lot more squared away than I thought. He kids around about the Navy-Marine thing, but he really is a fair man….I just wish he had another focus right now, since I seem to be the one he wants to mess with."
Faith laughed and agreed with him.
Mike changed the subject. "Hey, do you feel like a cup of coffee?" He hadn't seen her since Friday night. He hadn't wanted to push her; he wasn't sure what he wanted out of this himself, but he wanted to see her…alone.
"I just got out of the shower." She hesitated, then dove in. "Why don't you come over? For a cup of coffee, I mean." She blushed though she was alone in the room.
Mike hadn't expected that, but he liked the idea. "Yeah, I can do that. Are you sure, Faith?"
"Yes, I am. I'll see you in about half an hour?"
2030
Monday
March 28
Smith residence
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Dani walked out onto the deck of her parents' home. She had just helped her father to bed and left her mother reading in the living room. It was a warm night; warm for early spring, anyway. She stepped off of the deck and walked onto the sand pathway that led over the dune to the beach. The moon was full, so the night was not so dark. She needed to think and just breathe. She still had trouble grasping the fact that David was gone. He had been the anchor of her life for over 20 years. What would she do without him? Both of her sons were on their way home from different parts of the world, she needed them now.
She was used to living alone, but only because she'd known that he was coming back. That had been what sustained her. She could bear anything, because at the end of it all, she and David were together. What about the boys? Right at this moment she didn't know how she would support them when she seemed so unable to even believe what had happened herself. Aaron seemed to be the stronger of the two boys. Boys? They were men now.
Her son Aaron was in Iraq; he was on his way home now. He had chosen the military as a career, but had joined the Army. She had laughed and told him he probably had only joined the Rangers to tweak his father's nose. The thought still made her smile.
Their youngest son Matt, had chosen the Navy, he was just one year younger than his brother. He was aboard the USS Patrick Henry in the Persian Gulf.
She walked up the steps that bridged the dune and sat down on the top step, facing out to sea. She folded her arms and rested her head on them. Suddenly she thought of every cross word they had ever had, every time she had lost her temper or been impatient.
She remembered how patient he had been with her in the beginning. She'd been so raw from her first marriage. She hadn't trusted anyone, and he'd borne the brunt of it. He had loved her through it all.
Suddenly she knew that no one would ever love her like he had, and she felt the loss of it at a visceral level. She doubled over and cried so hard she couldn't catch her breath. She tried to take in big gulps of air to calm herself. She hadn't broken down in front of her mother and father, or anyone for that matter. She thanked God she was alone.
She was not alone, though. Gibbs had parked his car in front of her parents' house and had seen her walk out of the back of the house. He followed slowly behind her as she walked toward the beach. It was odd, but in shadow she looked the same as she had when they were first married. She wore boot cut jeans, she appeared to be barefoot and her hair was long flowing down her back. Her oversized shirt billowed behind her in the wind. They'd always fought about her stealing his shirts out of his closet.
He knew he shouldn't be there but he followed anyway. He reached the top of the bridge to walk across when he saw her sitting at the top of the steps, resting her head on her crossed arms. He started to walk toward her when he heard her begin to cry. The sound stopped him cold, and Gibbs knew he had no place there. This was not the time. He was grateful that there was just enough wind to cover the sound of his retreating steps. He remembered that sound, the heartbreaking sound of Dani when she finally let herself cry.
Gibbs made his way quietly to his car and left without notice. He was relieved that no one had seen him. There were a lot of unanswered questions, but they couldn't be answered tonight. It was going to be a long drive home.
2325
Monday
Gibbs residence
Gibbs leaned back on his work bench and sipped the bourbon from his cup. Who the hell could be doing this? He knew that whoever had left the pictures with the verses had to be involved in the arson at Little Creek. This person had to know enough about him to link him to Dani. Her name was not common knowledge to anyone he worked with. Someone was digging deep in his past and he did not like it at all.
He thought again of Dani, of the sound of her crying for her husband. He remembered the time she had cried for him – at the end, when she had finally given up. In his mind's eye he saw her as they stood outside the courthouse ready to go their separate ways. It was the summer of '84.
"I wish you well, Jethro; I hope you find whatever it is you need to make you happy. It sure wasn't me."
She had caught him out with someone else. It wasn't the first time but it had been the last.
"I know it doesn't matter now, but it really didn't mean anything." He'd meant to say that it wasn't her fault, but it hadn't come out that way.
"You know, I can accept everything but that. Don't say it was nothing. It changed everything." She'd looked at him directly. "I know I'll never be the same again."
She'd looked away gathering her courage. She'd still loved him but she could not stay with him anymore.
"I used to think that women who tracked their husbands down like I did that last time were pathetic. I had to, though; if I hadn't I would have taken you back. I couldn't lie to myself if I saw it with my own eyes."
"Dani…" He didn't know what he was going to say – he just wanted her to stop talking and for this conversation to be over.
She put her hand up. "No… there is nothing else to say." Tears spilled down her cheeks and she turned and started to walk away. She began to run, leaving him behind and never looking back.
They had married very young; they'd been only 18 years old. They had been very happy in the beginning. He smiled when he thought of how he used to tease her about wasting his money on living room furniture; they hadn't used it much that first year. They'd had a lot of potential for happiness, but slowly, without their knowing, it had all slipped away.
He'd made a lot of mistakes, they both had. In spite of it all, he'd thought that he would be with her forever, but looking back to that time he'd seemed to be in a cycle of destruction and his marriage had gone down with it. He had just come back from Lebanon when it all seemed to fall apart. He had been there when the car bomb hit the Marine barracks at Beirut.
Gibbs sat his cup down on his workbench, and then it struck him. Both verses on the back of the pictures mentioned Lebanon. He picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number.
A/N: The verses are taken from the Song of Solomon, from the New King James Version of the Bible.
A/N: I know this isn't the first time I've mentioned a 'six pack'. I have no excuse other than….I like them. (Smile)
Chapter 65
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the JAG or NCIS characters. I don't own any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. Any similarities to situations or to persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
Spoilers: Anything up to and including 'JAG San Diego'. Some NCIS episodes may be 'loosely' referred to.
1535
Wednesday
March 30
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Danielle Graham walked through the glass doors of the bullpen. Petty Officer Jennifer Coates approached her.
"Can I help you, ma'am?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Commander Rabb."
She was directed to Harm's office where she knocked gently on the open door. Looking up, Harm greeted her and asked her to sit down.
"Thank you. Mrs. Graham, for coming so quickly."
"It's all right. I'm in Washington to arrange my husband's burial at Arlington."
Harm picked up his phone and rang Faith's office. "Commander Coleman, Mrs. Graham has arrived. Could you join us, please?"
Faith was in his office almost immediately. She nodded toward Danielle. "Ma'am." Harm directed her to be seated.
Harm began, "We have some new information we would like to discuss with you. NCIS forensics was able to determine that Master Chief Graham died of smoke inhalation. He also sustained a blow to the back of his head, in all likelihood rendering him unconscious."
Danielle folded her arms across her chest and straightened her back, steeling herself so that she could bear what she was hearing. Even though she was deeply involved in the details of her husband's funeral, the reality was still difficult to grasp.
"At least he didn't suffer." Her voice was almost inaudible. She had been haunted by what she thought he may have gone through.
Harm continued, "Forensics was also able to determine that an accelerant was used to start the fire."
Danielle slowly shook her head, trying to make sense of what she was hearing…even though her husband had a dangerous job, she had never thought that they were anything but safe here in their own home. "I should have been home." She knew there was nothing she could have done, but she felt it just the same.
Faith spoke up. "Ma'am, if you had been, it is likely that you would be dead as well."
Danielle looked around quickly at Faith.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." Faith colored a bit and looked at Harm.
"It's all right, Commander, I know that's true." She gave her a broken smile.
"Mrs. Graham, do you know if your husband had any problems with people he worked with, either now or in the past?" Harm wanted to redirect the conversation.
"No, David got along with everyone. I was never privy to the details of their missions, but I knew about his friendships with the other members of his SEAL team. They were like brothers; I can't imagine anyone from the team doing anything to harm him."
"We are still working with NCIS on this case, ma'am. We may have questions in the future and we will keep you apprised of our progress. This may take some time."
Danielle nodded and rose from her chair. She shook hands with Faith and then with Harm. "Thank you."
Harm rose and followed her out of his office door. He watched her cross the bullpen, and just as he turned to go back into his office, he saw something in his peripheral vision.
Special Agent Gibbs stepped off of the elevator and approached Danielle. She looked at him and he felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him. She was still as beautiful as ever – a bit of gray at the crown of her head blended beautifully with her golden auburn hair. He gave no outward sign of his reaction; he never had.
"Dani?" She didn't recognize him at first. Then he saw the recognition light her face.
"Jethro?" She extended her hand and he took it.
"I'm sorry about your husband, Dani." His expression was softer than usual for Gibbs.
"Thank you and I hope you understand about my requesting that you not be involved. It was just awkward…to tell the truth, I don't know what I was thinking." She was still glad she had made the request; she just hadn't meant to cause a problem for him.
He straightened and the expression on his face hardened. He did understand, but he was still not happy about it. "I understand."
The elevator opened again and a young man in an Army uniform stepped off of the elevator. His uniform bore the decoration and insignia of an Army Ranger. His name plate read 'Graham.'
"Mom?" He looked very much like his mother, except for his eye color, a cool shade of blue.
"I'm sorry, son; I was just on my way down. Aaron, I'd like you to meet Jethro Gibbs. Jethro, my son Aaron."
The two men shook hands, the younger one giving the older man a harder and more appraising look. Aaron had been told about his mother's first marriage and he knew Gibbs had been her first husband. He nodded to Gibbs and gently but firmly placed his hand on her elbow.
"Are you ready, Mom?"
"Yes, son, I am." She smiled at Gibbs. "It was good to see you, Jethro."
"Nice meeting you, sir." Aaron then turned and guided his mother toward the elevator.
Gibbs nodded and turned to walk into the bullpen; he hadn't noticed that Harm had been watching this exchange. Harm had just returned to his desk when Gibbs knocked on his door.
"Commander Rabb, a word with you?" He then turned to look at Faith as though he were silently telling her to leave the room.
Harm looked at Faith and she stood. "Commander Coleman, you are dismissed."
"Aye, aye, sir." Faith left the room, but she knew that this had to be about the case. When she had spoken with Special Agent Todd, she'd warned her that Gibbs had not taken the news that he was off the investigation well.
Harm sat down behind his desk and motioned for Gibbs to do the same. "What can I do for you, Special Agent Gibbs?"
"This is about the case at Little Creek." Gibbs did not sit down but leaned against the bookcase near the door.
"It is my understanding that Special Agent Todd is leading the investigation."
"I'm not interfering with her investigation." Gibbs looked away as he was speaking; whether he was trying to be evasive or cryptic, Harm couldn't tell.
"So you're interfering with mine?" Harm gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Look, I have information that may help in this case – do you want it or not?" He leaned forward to push off of the bookcase, stand and walk out of the office.
Harm raised a hand. "What do you have?"
"The verse that was written on the backs of both of those pictures. They both mention Lebanon. I was there in Beirut in October '83." He leaned back again and looked at Harm. "I believe whoever sent those pictures may be linked in some way to that time."
Harm frowned. "What makes you think this is about you and not about Master Chief Graham?" He had to admit the pictures were part of the puzzle, but Gibbs's role in this still remained to be seen.
Gibbs was angry immediately. "Look…no other members of the SEAL team have been threatened, Dani is the only one who had the pictures that were sent to me, and her husband is dead, in an apparent arson. You're going to tell me this is not about me?"
Harm had heard enough. He stood and walked to his office door and closed it. "Special Agent Gibbs, I'm going to tell you that we have not completed this investigation. I'm going to give you the advice that someone once gave me. Do you remember? About conducting an investigation on my own, when it was personal?"
Harm leaned against his desk and crossed his arms. "If you have any other information, Special Agent, I would like it now. Should you be contacted in the future, I expect you to notify Special Agent Todd or myself. Withholding information and acting on your own might be misconstrued and land you in the brig. Are we clear?"
Gibbs glared at Harm; he turned, walked toward the door and opened it. "Yeah…we're clear." He looked back at Harm.
"You're too close to this, Gibbs, and you know it," Harm warned.
Gibbs turned and kept walking toward the glass doors of the bullpen.
Harm knew what it was like to be involved in something so close to him personally. He knew from experience how disastrous it could be. He also knew that Gibbs knew better than this. It seemed that this time Gibbs was running on emotion, as though this were close to his heart. Harm didn't know what surprised him more: that he was acting this way or that anyone or anything got close to Gibbs's heart.
Just as Special Agent Gibbs walked out of the bullpen, Mac was walking in. She didn't notice Gibbs because she had her eyes focused on Harm. The look on her face caused Harm to freeze in place. Something was wrong. She was pale, her expression a mask, something was not right at all.
"Mac?"
"Harm, can I speak with you in your office?" She walked past him as he stood near the doorway. He stepped inside and closed the door.
"What is it, Mac?" He stood in front of her as she slowly eased into the chair.
"I've been hurting all day." Mac placed her hand on her lower abdomen on the left side.
"What do you mean? I mean...where?" Harm's heart was in his throat. It was as though all his fears about their having a baby were being realized.
"My incision, the place where I had my surgery, it has been hurting all day. I didn't think it was anything at first – it just stung a bit after I ran this morning, but now…" She looked up at Harm, her eyes filled with fear. "Oh, Harm, what if I hurt the baby?"
Harm was already turning and picking up the phone to dial General Creswell's office. "Jen, I need to speak with the general, now." He turned back and reached for her hand, gently grasping it.
"I'll get him, sir." Jen heard the insistence in his voice. He didn't usually speak to her that way. She knew something had to be wrong. "I'll transfer you now, sir."
Harm told the general that Mac needed to get to Bethesda right away and that he was going with her. The general gave his permission without hesitation.
"Keep us apprised, Commander."
"Yes sir."
Faith had returned to Commander Rabb's office to arrange tomorrow's meeting to discuss their investigation. She started to knock when Harm opened the door.
"Commander Coleman, I will be out of the office the rest of the day and possibly tomorrow." Harm had his cover and was guiding Mac out of the office. "I will be in touch with you tomorrow morning."
Faith had sensed immediately that something was wrong. "Yes sir." She stepped back to allow them to pass.
It seemed everyone in the office knew. The air was filled with tension and suddenly became very quiet. Mike walked to his office doorway and looked at Faith. She walked over to him.
"I hope everything is okay." Mike looked at her and raised his brows.
She nodded. "I do too." It wouldn't be fair if they were to lose this child. They had been her ideal of the 'happily ever after' couple. Because of them she believed happiness was possible, in spite of everything.
1830
Wednesday
March 30
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Mac lay on the exam table with her head elevated. She had been examined thoroughly, and the baby was being monitored; she could hear its heart beating. Every beat reassured her that everything would be all right. Harm walked into the room.
"Hey." His expression much more relaxed than it had been when they arrived.
"Did you talk to Commander Fletcher?"
"Yes, she wants you to stay tonight." Harm raised his brows, as though he were trying the idea out on her.
"I know."
"I think you should, Mac." He knew she would be difficult about this.
"I know – I just hate the thought of it, though. It's just the scar tissue from my surgery, Harm."
"I would feel a lot better if you would let them keep a close eye on you." He stood beside her and took her hand in both of his. "You gave us both a pretty good scare today, you know?"
She knew he was right. Commander Fletcher had told them that the baby was fine. Mac's pain was not about the baby but about her incision. She would have to exercise more conservatively and the doctor also wanted Mac to stay home until the following Monday.
"I'm sorry."
"Hey, I didn't mean that it was your fault. I just want to be careful now, that's all." Harm leaned in closer and kissed her on the cheek.
She sighed, resigning herself to staying at the hospital. "Oh, all right… but you should go home. There is no sense in both of us being stuck here all night."
"No." Harm's look was loving but very firm.
Mac looked at him directly in the eye and gave him a sly smile. "You're really loving having the upper hand here, aren't you, Flyboy?"
He returned her smile. "Yes, as a matter of fact I am…so no arguments. I called Jen. She's bringing me a change of clothes, and the general gave me tomorrow off, so we're all set."
"Enjoy it while you can, Sailor, because when I get better you are in a lot of trouble." She reached for him and pulled him down closer so that they were face to face.
"Promises, promises." With that he kissed her softly on the lips. She answered that with a sharp nip to his bottom lip.
"Hey…no biting." He stepped back and chuckled.
1900
Jen's apartment
Alexandria, Virginia
Gunny sat in his truck, waiting for Jen to come downstairs. She had called and let him know about Commander Rabb's call. They had planned to have dinner that night. He had offered to pick her up, drive her over and then have a late dinner after. Jen walked out of her apartment building toward him and as she did she passed a young man walking in. The man turned to watch Jen as she passed him. A slow smile spread across Gunny's face. Jen was totally oblivious to the man's attention. Her focus was on him, returning his smile as she walked to the passenger's side of the vehicle and opened the door.
"Hey…what are you smiling about?" Jen got in and leaned across the seat to kiss his cheek.
"Can't I smile if I want to?" He knitted his brow but kept his smile in place. The young man who had been watching got the message that Jen was taken. He shrugged his shoulders and continued to walk into the building. In a few moments, without even knowing it, Jen had made Gunny feel 10 ten feet tall.
"Yes, of course you can…you just look like the cat that ate the canary. What are you up to?"
Gunny put the truck into gear and began backing out of the parking place. "Not a thing."
One hour later…
Gunny and Jen had gone to Harm and Mac's apartment and picked up changes of clothes for both of them. Gunny was a little uncomfortable being there, but Jen seemed to treat the place like a second home. They were on their way in just a matter of minutes and now were approaching the hospital.
"I hope everything is okay for the colonel." Gunny had always looked up to Mac; she was the reason he'd come to JAG in the first place. He had been a witness to the things that Harm and Mac had been through together, the good and the bad. He just hoped all would be well in this situation.
"The commander said that the baby was fine and that the colonel was too. That's enough for me." Jennifer was determined to look at this in a positive way. It was one of the things that Gunny liked about her. She was direct and to the point and had more hope than someone with her background would be expected to have.
They were in the building shortly thereafter. Harm heard Jennifer asking for Colonel Rabb's room number. He had told her what floor Mac would be on but didn't have the room number when he talked to her. He walked out into the hallway.
"Jen?" He looked at the petty officer at the nurses' station. "It's okay, Petty Officer, we're expecting them."
Gunny and Jen walked toward Harm and into the room. Mac was lying in the hospital bed with her head elevated. Her eyes were closed; both Jen and Gunny hesitated, not wanting to disturb the colonel.
"She's not asleep, it's all right," Harm reassured them.
Gunny still felt ill at ease in a situation this intimate with a superior officer. He didn't think he would ever reach Jen's comfort level with the officers she worked for. Mac opened her eyes and turned toward them, pulling up her sheet a bit more.
"Hello, Jen…Gunny. Thanks for helping us out with this. I tried to send Harm home, but he's not taking orders very well these days." She gave Harm an indulgent smile. "I hope you didn't have to alter your plans for us."
"Not at all, ma'am. We were just going to grab a late dinner anyway." Jen was glad to be the one that the commander called on when he needed help, no matter how small the task was. She still felt she owed him a great deal
"It's not a problem, ma'am." Gunny was still very uncomfortable. He wanted to finish this conversation and get the hell out of there. He didn't like seeing the colonel this way; there was something backward about it. He was used to Colonel Mackenzie Rabb, the kick ass no-nonsense Marine. This was not a natural state for her as far as he was concerned and he just didn't like it.
Jen could sense how Gunny was feeling, so she did cut the conversation short and they left very shortly thereafter.
"Gunny and Jen, huh?" Mac smiled at Harm. He sat down on a stool beside her bed.
"Yeah, I think something is going on there, all right." Harm was thoughtful for a moment. "He's a good guy, Mac. Jen could do a lot worse." He knew without a doubt if Gunny and Jen were to have a permanent relationship that Jen would always be taken care of. He still felt a responsibility toward her. He had accepted a long time ago that he always would.
Mac shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, I suppose so. They are complete opposites, though."
Harm raised his eyebrows, feigning a look of wonder. "Oh…really?"
Mac swatted at him, missing on purpose. "You know what I mean. Jen is so outspoken, bordering on insubordination at times. Gunny is a by the book Marine, totally squared away. On the outside, they don't seem to have a lot in common."
Harm considered that statement. "I could think of a lot of things that I know from personal experience. They are both loyal, dedicated to their jobs and their friends. They are both brave on a lot of levels. They both had things to overcome from their lives when they were young. They joined the military and changed their lives, really." He looked at Mac, waiting for her to answer.
"Harmon Rabb…have you gone and gotten deep on me?" She smiled at him mischievously.
Harm chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far." His smile faded when he suddenly thought of Gunny literally saving his life when they were in Iraq. He was the reason he was sitting there today. Harm reached over and placed his hand on Mac's stomach.
"Honey, what is it?" Mac placed her hand over his.
"I was just thinking…" He looked into her eyes then back at where his hand was resting on her stomach.
Mac waited.
"About when the gunny and I were in Iraq. He really did save my life that day, Mac. I could have died that day and never…" He looked back up at her again. He was running out of words, and he didn't want to be too emotional, not now.
"You've never really talked about that day, you know."
"This isn't the time." 'Please, Mac…don't push,' he thought.
She began to stroke the back of his hand where it lay on her stomach. "Maybe not…but you need to talk about this. It doesn't have to be with me, Harm."
"I'm not trying to shut you out, Mac. I just…"
"This was up close and personal…I do understand."
Harm looked at her and saw patience and love in her eyes. He stood up from the stool and then sat back down on the side of her bed.
"Is this okay?" He just wanted to get a little closer to her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek and then her lips.
"It's more than okay…though if you keep kissing me like that, I might not let you leave."
Her lips were just inches away from his.
"You know…that is the second threat I've gotten from you tonight. What is up with that, Mrs. Rabb?"
Mac smiled at him. "Just trying to keep the Sailor in line…in my weakened state."
Gunny and Jen approached his truck and he unlocked the door on the passenger's side of the vehicle. He had been quiet since they left the colonel's room. Jen stood in the open doorway of the vehicle.
"Victor?" She never really knew how to take the silences with him; they came out of nowhere sometimes.
He stood in front of her and gazed intensely into her eyes.
"Are you okay? Did I stick my foot in my mouth again?" Jennifer waited slightly unnerved by the look in his eyes.
"No." Victor's expression did not change.
Gunny had been thinking since he picked her up that it was time to tell her how he felt about her. They had seen each other often in the time since he returned from Iraq. To say he enjoyed being with her would be an understatement. He couldn't remember when he had been as happy as he had been in the last few weeks. Outside of a few good night kisses and cuddling up when they watched movies at her apartment or his, he hadn't been very aggressive in his showing his affection for her. He had definitely been holding back. He was having a great time with her; he didn't want to move too fast and spoil it.
Seeing the long look she got as she came out of her apartment building made him see that he had better make his intentions known. He was through waiting; he just didn't know where to begin.
"Jen…I know that you've noticed that I've been taking…it kind of slow…" This was just not coming out right. "I just want you to know that…I…"
Jen stepped closer to him and slipped her arms into his jacket and around his waist, making him swallow hard. She meant to reassure him but she literally felt his heart rate speed up.
"That you mean a lot to me…you're special…I…" Gunny was looking at her mouth, he just wanted to kiss her senseless.
Jen kissed him quickly and drew back. "Victor, you talk too much."
She kissed him again, and he deepened the kiss, pushing her back against the side of the truck. She pulled him even closer; this was what she had been waiting for. She had begun to think that Victor wasn't attracted to her this way, that she was just someone to spend some time with.
But his kiss was putting all of those thoughts out of her head; his embrace molding his body tightly against hers told her everything she needed to know.
TBC