TITLE: Pall
DEFINITION: PALL
Pronunciation: 'pol
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, short for appallen, to become pale
1 to lose strength or effectiveness
2 to lose in interest or attraction his humor began to pall on us
3 to become tired of something
4 to cause to become insipid
5 to deprive of pleasure in something by satiating
(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
RATING: PG-13 or R. R to be safe. Mostly for language to begin with, maybe for... other things... later on.
SUMMERY: After an attack on a graduation ceremony at Annapolis the JAG office is thrown into a state of flux.
SPOILERS/TIMELINE/ALTERATIONS I'VE MADE: A little AU, and very messed up, so stay with me here.
-Harm has had his eyes fixed but he's not returning to flying.
-Little AJ is about three months old (I'm assuming he was born in May sometime, and, for the purposes of this story, please just go along with that).
-Chegwidden and Harriet (and Harm, obviously) are Annapolis graduates; Mac and Bud are OCS grads. It's never really been said where Chegwidden, Harriet, and Bud went, so I made an executive decision.
-Mic is on loan from RAN to the JAG office and is still annoying Mac at every turn. THERE WILL BE NO MAC/BUGME RELATIONSHIP. Beyond the fact that I loathe Mic, I can't get past the idea of having two characters named Mic and Mac get together. It's like when my friend Yin Lee married James Yang. Creepy.
DEDICATION: To Tracey Needham, for bringing the character of Meg Austin to life, and to all the Harm/Meg shippers out there.
NOTE: I swear I don't have anything against Harriet or Bud. Honestly.
JAG HEADQUARTERS
0639 (EST)
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
Harm was shaken from his thoughts by a knock at the door. 'His' yeoman wasn't due in for at least twenty minutes so he had no clue who was at the door. Harm had a momentary pang at the loss of the expansive windows that made up the walls of his own office. Real walls were disconcerting after spending so many years in his bright office off the bullpen.
"Enter," Harm called, still feeling that it was too early to be awake, let alone deal with whatever problem had arisen.
The door opened and the sight before him made Harm freeze up completely.
"Oh my god," two completely shocked voices said simultaneously.
"What are you doing here?" Harm asked, standing up and grinning at his former partner.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I thought Admiral Chegwidden was still the JAG," Meg said, moving over to Harm and giving him a hug as he held her tightly.
"I'm filling in while he's in San Diego," Harm said.
"I thought you would have moved on to greener pastures years ago," Meg said with a smile.
Harm smiled back. She was beautiful. Her tanned skin was painted with freckles, something Harm knew happened to her when she was in the sun for too long. Her blonde hair was cut a little differently and had more curl to it than it used to, making her look even more innocent and angelic than ever before.
"Never gonna happen," Harm said. He truly loved working at JAG, and he wasn't sure he would give it up for anything. "Are you back?" he asked.
Meg nodded. "My assignment in Honduras finished up last month and I didn't have anything exciting or, well, anything lined up so when the SecNav told me to get to Washington I jumped at the chance," she said. She looked up at Harm and asked a question she knew she didn't want to hear the answer to. "How's Bud?"
"Not good," Harm admitted, leading Meg over to the couch. "He slipped into a coma late last night. And even if he comes out of it, his career in the Navy is over."
Meg sank back into the soft leather of the couch. "What's he going to do?"
Harm shrugged. "I guess he and Harriet are going to have to talk about it… after he wakes up," he said. The unsaid 'if' hung in the air like the blade of guillotine.
J EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
0659 (EST)
WASHINGTON, DC
WEDENSDAY, JULY 19
Feeling slightly out of place in her lightweight summer blouse and skirt, Mac waded through the masses of suit-clad Special Agents and assorted Federal employees. Damning herself for not setting her alarm clock the night before, Mac prayed that the agents in charge of the Annapolis shooting investigation didn't have any pressing meetings coming up that couldn't be delayed a little to make room for Mac to find out what the FBI had so far.
A Marine guard was standing in front of the elevator, checking badges before allowing anyone in. It had been a while since Mac had visited the Hoover building and she had forgotten how tight security had become in recent years. Mac flashed her military credentials and saluted the sergeant before stepping onto the elevator, feeling even more out of place in the enclosed space.
She absently listened to chatter about cases and personal lives, not really caring about what was being said, just taking comfort in the sounds of people's voices. Her apartment had been far too silent since Chloe went back to her grandparent's farm, and JAG was nowhere near as lively as she was used to. It felt good to be around lively people again.
Getting off on the appropriate floor, Mac found her way to the right office. Special Agent Marilyn Rowe was written on the tempered glass window in the door. Below Agent Rowe's name was her partner's name.
Special Agent William Reigner.
The name sent shivers down Mac's spine.
Good shivers.
Raising her hand to lightly rap on the door, Mac prepared herself for a blast from the past.
JAG HEADQUARTERS
0710 (EST)
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19"Do you have a place to stay?" Harm asked as he and Meg headed for the morning staff call.
"I found a halfway decent place near my old neck of the woods," Meg nodded. "All my stuff is in storage, though. I'm living out of a suitcase at least until the weekend. Hey, you wouldn't happen to know any able-bodied sailors who are good for lugging boxes, would ya?" she asked innocently.
"You are so going to owe me, Austin," Harm said with a good-natured smile. He knew his back would not be happy with him for playing He-Man but he just couldn't not help Meg out. Especially not when she looked at him like she was at that moment.
"Good morning, everyone," Harm said after waving off the group that had stood at attention for him when he entered the conference room. "This is Lieutenant Commander Austin," he said, indicating Meg, "Naval weapons specialist and seasoned JAG investigator. Commander, this is our current line-up. Commander Mic Brumby, currently on loan to us from the Royal Australian Navy. Petty Officers Jason Tiner and Jennifer Coates. And, of course, Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie… where's Mac?"
"The Colonel called a few minutes ago, sir. She said that she was going to stop off at the Hoover Building to see what the Feds have come up with on Annapolis and then she is going to track down a reluctant witness for the Article 32 she's trying," Tiner said. "She said to call if you need her and that she will try to be back this afternoon."
"Very well," Harm said. "Brumby, how is your case coming along?"
"Fine," Mic said, not elaborating. Harm didn't press the issue.
"Alright. Keep me updated," Harm said. Mic nodded curtly. "Okay, now for the depressing part of the meeting," Harm said. "Bud slipped into a full coma late last night or early this morning. And, before you ask, that's all Harriet told me before hanging up, so I don't have any details."
Even Mic was disheartened by this news.
"Coates, I want a complete update from the hospital. No details are to be left out, understood?" Harm said. Jennifer nodded. "Tiner, I need the full casualties list from Sunday. Everything from stubbed toes to mortal wounds. Names, contact numbers, reasons for attendance, rank if applicable. I also need a list of our staff that are available to aid the FBI in the investigation. The SecNav wants JAG to make our presence known in this." Tiner took note of everything he was to take care of and nodded.
"Will there be anything else, sir?" Jennifer asked.
"Um…" Harm said, checking the list he had in front of him. "Yes. When you get a chance Meg needs a new set of keys for the building, the conference rooms, library, as well as for my office. Harriet hasn't been up to coming in yet and I haven't had a chance to pack up Bud's things, so Meg will be in my office until hers is ready. And, if you have the time, password set-up for her computer."
"Yes, sir," Jennifer said.
Looking at the Petty Officers Harm said a quick 'dismissed'. Once Jennifer and Tiner had left the room Harm looked at Meg and Mic. "The Admiral left orders for me to assign you two as partners for the duration of Commander Brumby's stay Stateside. Any arguments about that?" he asked.
"None that I can think of," Mic said, leering at Meg.
"Nor I," Meg said, though she was clearly uncomfortable with the looks she was receiving from the Aussie.
"Good. Brumby, I have some paperwork to go over with Commander Austin, but after that you two should go over your current caseload and see what, if anything, Meg can take off your hands," Harm said.
"Alright," Mic said, grabbing his files and heading for the door.
"Sorry to stick you with him," Harm said to Meg.
"I'll be fine. I survived a year with you, after all," Meg said with a grin.
"Please don't compare me to that jackass ever again," Harm said seriously.
Meg sobered up. "You're nowhere near as bad as him, Harm. Besides, any attention you paid me was welcome."
"Good to know," Harm said as they headed to his office so he could refresh her memory on where he kept things. "If it gets too bad with Brumby, though, just let me know. Mac's been having trouble with him since they met and from the way he was looking at you I'm sure you're going to be getting a lot of his attention from here on out."
"Lucky me," Meg scowled. Harm offered her a smile. "So, how's life been?" she asked.
"Never dull," Harm grinned.
J EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
0704 (EST)
WASHINGTON, DC
WEDENSDAY, JULY 19
Agent Marilyn Rowe opened the door to the small office and flashed a weak smile at Mac. "I had a feeling I'd be hearing from JAG today. I thought it'd be over the phone, but, hey, you Marines are just full of sneak attacks and surprises, aren't ya?"
"That's part of the job description," Mac replied with a half-hearted smile.
Marilyn sat down at her desk and motioned for Mac to take a seat across from her. "We have some preliminary reports ready, but the one surviving shooter isn't talking," she said. "It was a nice shot, especially from that distance."
"Thank you," Mac said. Though she hated to admit it, her marksman training had come in handy more times than she could count since she had joined JAG. So much for a nice, safe career as a lawyer.
Not that she had joined the Marines for 'nice and safe'.
"My partner, Agent Reigner, just went up to speak to our AD—Assistant Director—and when he gets back he'll be able to fill you in on the more recent revelations. He's an ex-Marine and an Annapolis graduate so he's taking this whole case more than a little personally."
"I know. Will and I served together in Okinawa. When the Secretary of the Navy gave my CO—Commanding Officer—the list of agents who he felt would be right to investigate the attack… the Admiral wanted someone who has the military close to their hearts," Mac explained.
"How is your man, the one who was shot saving that girl?" Marilyn asked.
"He's alive, though barely," Mac said.
"What about his family? How are they taking all this?"
Mac sighed heavily. "His wife isn't sleeping or eating… she went home last night and my partner and I got her to eat some soup before getting some sleep… but it's like part of her just isn't there anymore. And their son, AJ, doesn't even know what's going on. All he knows is that something's wrong, and that his parents aren't around to make it better."
"How old is he?"
"Five months," Mac said. "My CO's two yeomen are switching off days babysitting him, and my partner, Harm, and I went over last night so he'd have some more familiar faces, but… it's hard to get away from work at a decent hour. We were short staffed before Bud was shot, and now that he's gone too… there are three lawyers taking on the caseloads that should be spread over six or seven."
"That sucks," Marilyn said sympathetically.
Mac rolled her eyes at the massively blatantunderstatement but didn't say anything. Marilyn opened her mouth to break the silence but the door opened and her loudmouthed partner beat her to it.
"Hey, Mare, Jakobson is all over our six's on this one," William said, tossing a file to Marilyn who caught it with practised ease.
"You haven't worn wings for almost fifteen years, Will, cut the pilot crap already," Marilyn shot back. "It drives me crazy when he does that. The man hasn't flown his damned chopper in fourteen years and yet our AD has yet to chew out his ass, it's always his damned six," she said to Mac.
"I know the feeling. My partner's a fighter pilot and I have to spend far too much time on carriers for my liking so I get pilot chatter from all sides," Mac smiled back.
"That wouldn't be the voice to the lovely Major Sarah MacKenzie, would it?" William asked.
"No, that would be the voice of the lovely Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, thank you very much," Mac shot back.
William smiled. "Contgrats, Mac. You deserve it," he said, leaning down and dropping a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth.
"Thank," Mac said, praying she wasn't blushing too badly. She had had a crush on William when they served together but she had been seeing John Farrow and one inter-chain-of-command relationship was enough for her to deal with at once.
But damn it if the man hadn't gotten hotter since they'd last seen each other.
"So, what do we owe the pleasure of your company to?" William said as he collapsed into his chair.
"The Colonel is JAG," Marilyn said. "She wants an update on our investigation."
William shook his head, feigning disappointment. "I still can't believe you left the grit and grime to be an ambulance chaser," he said.
"You left it for a padded leather chair and a cheap suit," Mac rejoined. "And I don't chase ambulances."
"Do I need to separate you two?" Marilyn asked, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
William chuckled as he shook his head. "I faxed copies of everything we have so far over to the Commandant at Annapolis. He said he'd make sure that Admiral Chuckwagon gets it ASAP."
"Chegwidden," Mac corrected automatically, unable to hide the smirk at the thought of what the former SEAL would do if he found out a Marine was calling him 'Chuckwagon'. "Admiral Chegwidden."
"He's not another Farrow to you, is he?" William frowned. He had never approved of her relationship with John Farrow, and had never made any attempts to hide his displeasure at their quote-unquote romance.
"An emphatic no. He's just a good CO and a good friend," Mac said. "And he's out of town for the next few weeks. Commander Harmon Rabb Jr is acting JAG in his place."
"Out of town?" Marilyn asked, her investigator's mind trying to see if that had anything to do with the shootout at the graduation ceremony.
"A meeting for all the CO's of JAG's all over the world. They're coming together to compare notes on cases, swap personnel if need be, and take some much needed time off before going back to the insanity that is running a JAG office," Mac said. She pulled out three cards and handed them to Marilyn. "My card, Commander Rabb's, and Admiral Chegwidden's contact information. Just try to remember that he's in San Diego so there's a time change and he is not a morning person, so calling early will probably get your head chewed off."
"Aye aye, ma'am," William smirked.
"Fine, laugh if you want, but it's your six that'll be in a sling if you piss him off," Mac said. She shouldered her leather purse-style briefcase. "If you get anything from the surviving shooter, please let me know."
"Of course. What number would be the easiest to reach you on?" Marilyn asked.
"The office number. If I'm not in just leave a message for me to call you—otherwise whatever you have to say will end up the hot topic for scuttlebutt," Mac said.
Marilyn nodded and smiled at Mac as she headed for the door. "I'll walk you out," William said, jumping from his seat and hurrying around his desk to catch Mac before she got to the door. Marilyn watched and smiled after the pair.
"So, how long have you been stationed in DC?" William asked as they headed for the elevator.
"A few years," Mac said. "I still travel a lot, but I like the semi-stability of life in the city." She glanced over at him. "How long have you been in DC? Last I heard you were fresh out of Quantico and investigating fertilizer purchases in Nowhere-Idaho."
"Nowhere-Iowa, actually, and I've been in DC for about ten months now. My partner and I ended up cracking a huge terrorism plot, which got our names in front of the eyes of AD's in better areas than dung duty. We got tossed a few murder cases, you know, the ones that other teams pass over or can't figure out. We ended up on the tail of a serial killer who was torturing and mutilating children before leaving them tied to their swing sets. It… was not good, to the nth degree. We caught the guy, but my partner couldn't deal and he quit, went private sector. I got a promotion and came here."
"I don't know whether to say 'congratulations' or 'sorry'," Mac said.
"I'll settle for dinner," William said.
Mac's cell phone started ringing and she cringed. She as late in meeting a civilian lawyer who had offered to help her track down a reluctant witness.
"MacKenzie," she said reluctantly, flashing an apologetic smile at William.
"Hey, Mac, I know you're probably stuck on the Beltway but Detective Warrens has been calling here looking for you," Harm said, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm sorry, Harm. I'll take care of that right away," Mac said, rubbing her temples. She hadn't planned on stopping at the Hoover building before meeting Detective Warrens. "Um… did the new guy get in alright?" she asked, hoping Harm wouldn't push on the topic of where she was.
"Yeah," Harm said. "I'll fill you in when you get back, 'kay?"
Mac frowned. "Should I be looking forward to this or dreading it?" she asked.
"That's for me to know and you to find out," Harm said. Mac could almost hear his smile over the phone line. "What time do you think you'll get back to the office?"
"I don't know. It kinda depends on how well the search for this witness goes," Mac said honestly. "Probably after lunch. Why, is there anything I need to take care of before then?"
"No, everything's fine," Harm assured her. "Just… be careful, okay?"
Mac smiled. "Always, Flyboy," she said softly before saying a quick goodbye and hanging up.
William was grinning at her.
"What?" Mac asked, blushing slightly.
"Boyfriend?" William asked.
"Best friend," Mac corrected. "I'm not his type," she added as she started walking again.
"I find that hard to believe," William said.
Mac rolled her eyes. "We just… haven't got the best timing," she said ironically. "Either I'm ready and he's not, or he's ready and I'm not, or we're both ready but we're both seeing other people…" Mac explained. "So it's sort of an unspoken agreement that we push aside our feelings and remain best friends and nothing more. Makes things less complicated."
William nodded and then said, "So, about my question."
"It wasn't a question," Mac said.
"Lawyers," William said with an exaggerated eye roll. "Fine. Sarah MacKenzie, will you go to dinner with me tonight?"
Mac smiled. "I'd love to," she said. She handed him another one of her cards. "Call my cell with the details. I get of work at 1800."
And with that she walked to her car, her day already getting much better than it was when she woke up.
What did you think? Obviously William and Marilyn are my creation, as is the conference thing Chegwidden is at.
I still haven't decided if Bud will pull through or not, and I won't tell you which way I'm leaning, either. If you've read my other stories, you'll know I'm not afraid to kill characters off, but I'm also not adverse to the occasional miraculous recovery.
Sorry the story hasn't been all that fast-paced, plot-wsie,yet, but I'm working up to a pretty big story-line so the boredom will be appreciated later, I promise.
Please let me know what you think.
M