Title : Where Do We Go From Here… (at last, Part III of the Trilogy!)
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG and NCIS characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV – and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I remembered to add NCIS to the Disclaimer – missed it for a few chapters. Sorry!)
Rating : T (I think!)
Thanks for the reviews to : jtbwriter; Radiorox; DD2; Nikki; froggy0319; anna7; Jbird7986; beegirl; JAGFANWI; Abigaile; Judy; roxy; KJFlygirl87; mayaresi; alicia; starryeyes10; skyefire; jnp; JAGJenni; laura carr; AnniGH4ever; Arian04; aserene; rosan; achaon; martini1988; Sarah; wheels04; BlueJay; chawkchic; Manda; BrittanyLS; jaggurl; DushiNoSushi; prymtns; Mey80; kchs123; Sariana of Wind; daisymh; TV Angel 711; Michelle UK; pm; dawnfaer; Mommie; freitazal; judy52sa; Les; Lord Mesron; The Fire Wiccan; Tracy; barb; Elizabeth Warner; s h l o m o 1 1 1; scottiedog; and Deborah Brady
As it has been so long since I last posted, I'm just putting this chapter out without reviews. I have added the latest reviewers to the list above, and welcome them to the story so far… I promise to reply to the reviews following this chapter. Thank you to all of you who have been with the story from the first part of the Trilogy, to all of you who have joined along the way, and to all of you who have been asking me to complete the Trilogy. I'm here now – so on with the story…
From the end of Chapter 24…
"Mattie, has Blaise done something like this before? I mean…well, has he acted as though you've forgotten to meet him, or call him? Anything like that?"
"Not before that, no. In his email he asked if I'd had a good time at Annapolis…" Mattie answered Mac with a reassuring smile, but suddenly her face fell as she remembered. Her voice fell to a whisper. "He knew! He knew I went to lunch on the Sunday. Mac, how did he know?"
"I'm not sure, Mattie, but we're going to find out." Mac put an arm around Mattie's shoulder and pulled her into a quick hug. "It'll be okay, sweetheart." Mac's own experience with stalking had been frightening, and Coster had been homicidal.
Right now all Mac wanted to do was call Harm…
Harm picked up the call on the second ring.
"Rabb."
''Hi, it's me." Mac's voice came through the earpiece and Harm grinned.
"Hey! My favorite marine!"
"Your only marine, sailor!"
Harm laughed. "What can I do for you?" he asked Mac, waiting for her response and expecting some smart-aleck reply.
"I've been to see Mattie this morning…" Mac began, and then faltered.
"Problem?" asked Harm, immediately concerned, and Mac smiled as she pictured the look on his face. As she told him about Bud's findings, and their subsequent vlslt to Mattie, she could practically hear the wheels going around in his head.
"We need to go to the university and talk to Blaise," Mac suggested, and then listened as Harm made an alternative option.
"Jen and I are already in the area. How about we make a little detour? I only have to call Gibbs, and then we're through here for the morning."
Mac could sense the mild tension in Harm's voice, and while she guessed it had something to do with the sting it was not out of line to ask how Jennifer was.
"Is Jen okay?"
"Fine. She has a date tonight, and she's a bit nervous."
"If she needs any help…" Mac began, and Harm ended the sentence.
"She's covered."
"Good. That's all I needed to know. Okay, let me know how you get on…with Blaise."
"That's a given, Mac. See you soon."
"ILY, sailor."
"ILY, too." Harm closed his cell phone and grinned at Jennifer. "Okay, out with it, Jen."
"Out with what?" Jennifer couldn't hide the smile even as she answered Harm.
"What's so funny?"
"Not funny. Just…right…you know? You and Mac really are so in sync with each other. I hope that I…that I can find that kind of relationship someday."
"I know it's not so good, with Bobby, right now…Jen, I'm not trying to pry into your personal life…we just care about you, and we don't like that you're hurting."
"I know, and I'm trying to sort it out in my mind, but Bobby's said and done some things lately that I can't forget. I might forgive him, Harm, but it's not enough to base a lifetime on. Maybe when this case is over, we can sit down and work things out…"
"Whatever you decide, you know Mac and I are around if you need us."
"Thanks," Jennifer answered quietly, and Harm reached over to squeeze her gloved hand.
"Let's go find out what Mr Blaise Purcell has been up to, shall we?"
"What about Gibbs?"
"I'll call him after we've been to the University."
Jennifer nodded, in agreement with Harm's decision. Whatever was going to happen that night would be dealt with at the time. Right now Mattie's welfare was more important.
Georgetown University Campus – Later, Monday Morning
Harm walked out onto the street, Jennifer just behind him. When he stopped suddenly Jennifer only just managed not to bump into him.
"Harm?"
"Doesn't it seem strange to you that Blaise takes off at the same time Mattie's having problems with him?"
While the two of them had been in the Dean's office they had learned that Blaise Purcell had taken leave from his studies, apparently through ill health. The Dean would say no more, and Harm had no grounds to push the issue. With a polite smile he had excused himself and Jennifer and the pair of them had left the Administration building.
Now Harm was curious, and concerned for Mattie, and he wanted answers. Jennifer watched the thoughts crossing his mind through his expressive eyes, and a smile tilted her lips slightly. Harm paused as he caught the smile, and he laughed
"I know, I'm obsessing. You've been around Mac too long, Jen. You're giving me the same look she does when I get hooked on something."
"I learned from the best," Jennifer answered, and laughed too. "What are you going to do now?"
"Right now I need to call Gibbs, then I'll check with Mac and…" Harm stopped as he was interrupted.
"Excuse me. You've been asking questions about Blaise Purcell?"
Both Harm and Jennifer turned as one at the voice behind them. A young female student stood, a set of books clutched in nervous hands as she looked at the pair of them. Harm nodded, and Jennifer gave the young woman a reassuring smile.
"I'm Captain Rabb, and this is Petty Officer Coates. How do you know Blaise?"
"Can we talk…somewhere else? Please?"
"Is there a coffee shop around here?" Jennifer asked, and Harm gave her a quick nod, letting her lead the conversation. The young woman shook her head.
"We need to be away from here. I can get my car and meet you outside of the campus, at one of the parks?"
"Sure." Jennifer gave the name of the nearest park away from the campus, and the young woman nodded. "Oh, wait! We don't know your name."
"It's Tanya. Tanya Bray. I'll meet you in a half hour?"
"That's fine." Harm and Jennifer got into their vehicle, aware that as Tanya was so cautious it would draw more attention if they watched her walk away. Turning his vehicle into the traffic, Harm glanced in the rear view mirror, speaking to Jennifer as he saw Tanya step into a car and drive in the opposite direction. "You know, Jen, I think Miss Bray has something on Mr Purcell that has her terrified."
"I think that might be an understatement," Jennifer returned, the serious look in her eyes reflecting the same in Harm's own gaze.
Montrose Park – Georgetown – 30 Minutes Later
"There she is," Jennifer motioned and Harm turned his head as Tanya Bray approached them.
"Captain Rabb?" Harm nodded as Tanya spoke to him, and he was aware that she was still as nervous as when they had met on the street outside the Administration building.
"Miss Bray."
"I'm really sorry about all this…this hiding away from the campus, but the Purcell's have a lot of pull at Georgetown, and if they found out I was talking to you…or anyone…about Blaise. He…" Tanya stopped, drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Blaise Purcell was very nice to me when I first started my studies and we went out a couple of times. I met his parents, and they seemed to like me too. It went wrong when I had an exam and I needed to study; Blaise threw a fit in class the next day, saying I'd agreed to go out with him the night before and had embarrassed him as it was a party with his parents. I never agreed to go out with him, Captain. In fact, I'd told him that I needed to study, and wouldn't be able to go out for a few nights. He hit the roof, accused me of cheating on him, and threw a book at me. I ended our relationship there and then. He went off, ditched classes, and I didn't hear from him for a week, then one day there was a huge bouquet of flowers and a limousine at the door to the apartment building where I live. His parents were in the limousine, asking me to forgive Blaise and to see him again. It was all so…over the top, you know…?"
Harm nodded, encouraging Tanya to go on. "What did you do?"
"I went with them. It felt wrong not to, as they seemed to have gone to so much trouble…if I'd only been stronger…"
"Tanya, what happened?" Jennifer asked gently, reaching over to touch the younger woman's hand. Tanya turned tear-filled eyes on Jennifer and her voice had dropped to a whisper.
"I went…with them. We all ate at a restaurant, and then Blaise said he would drive me back home. Instead, he drove…to another…house. I don't remember much after that…my doctor says I've blocked it out…but I do know what he did to me…"
"If you've blocked your memories, how…" began Jennifer, but stopped as Tanya rounded on her angrily.
"You think I'm lying? Well, I'm not! He raped me, and got me pregnant…" Tanya paused, tears falling unchecked and dripping onto her clenched hands. Harm watched her silently, his handsome face contorting with distaste as he realised just why Tanya Bray had come forward.
"He denied everything, and his parents backed him up, right?" Both women looked at Harm as he spoke quietly, and Tanya managed a small smile, nodding through her tears.
"I wanted to go to the police, but they said I'd be dropped from my studies. I got to Georgetown U on a scholarship, and my parents give what they can to help me. I can't afford to change location. I went home when I found out I was pregnant, contacted Blaise and his parents. When they turned their backs on me, denying everything, I went to the Dean. When he wouldn't help me I said I would go to the police. That's when he said I would be dropped from my studies if I went to the authorities. He told me I wouldn't be able to fight the Purcell's, they have too much influence, and I could end up with nothing."
"They offered you a deal to stay at University." Harm spoke up again, stating the obvious, and Tanya nodded.
"I hate that I took their offer, but I didn't know what else to do. If the pregnancy had gone ahead…" Tanya began, but broke down again, and Jennifer gave her a reassuring hug as Harm waited for her to continue. Eventually she did. "I had a miscarriage, at just over three months. Since then I've just got on with my studies, avoided Blaise, and tried to stop other women getting involved with him when I could. That's why, when you were in with the Dean, I had to talk to you."
"My daughter, Mattie, met Blaise overseas on a holiday. His parents were with him, and seemed very nice. We had no reason to doubt anything about Mattie and he being friends. However, that has changed recently, and that's why we're making enquiries."
"Get Mattie out of the relationship, Captain Rabb…now, before…before he can hurt her…too much."
"Tanya, what you've done today has helped enormously. If we doubted before, we know for sure now. Thank you."
"If it stops one person going through my nightmare, it's worth it…" Tanya murmured, managing a smile in response to Harm's own. It was infectious, and she couldn't resist.
"I want you to take my card, and if there is any comeback from this conversation, from the Dean or the Purcells' I want you to call me."
"Thank you, both of you. It's actually a relief to have told someone other than my doctor. Someone who believes me…"
Harm and Jennifer made sure Tanya was going to be all right before they gave their goodbyes and turned to leave, and then Harm turned round again as Tanya got to her feet.
"Something wrong, Captain?"
"No…I just wondered…do you know of any others on campus who may have been involved with Blaise, before you?"
"I…I don't know. There were some nasty rumors floating around after my…after the pregnancy, but no-one came to me to say anything. Maybe…maybe they were too frightened."
Harm nodded in response. "Maybe," he murmured, and then gave Tanya another smile. "By the way, my name is Harm."
"Thank you…Harm," Tanya answered, and watched as the two Naval officers walked away before turning to go back to her own vehicle. What she had revealed wouldn't make her nightmare go away, but it made it easier to deal with knowing that other people knew, and that she had helped someone else avoid living that nightmare too. Feeling better than she had for a long time, Tanya returned to the University.
Mac's Office – Judiciary Floor – JAG Headquarters – Monday Afternoon.
"Oh, Harm! That's awful! Will she be okay?" Harm had told Mac about his and Jennifer's meeting with Tanya Bray, and her reaction was predictable, especially the relief of knowing that Mattie had been saved from something far worse than just the stalking issue. As Harm had been the one to save Mac from Coster's manic behavior, he was more aware than most of what a stalker could be capable of. "What do we do now? About Blaise?"
"Hm?" Harm asked, unaware of Mac's words as he had been lost in thought. Mac grinned and leaned forward to drop a quick kiss on his mouth.
"I said 'what do we do now?'. About Blaise."
"I don't think it would hurt to talk to his parents. Let's see what their reaction is to all this. Given what Tanya told us, it would seem they cover for him. If they've done it against Tanya, they may have done it before, and they may do it when we ask them concerning Mattie."
"Then they're as responsible as he is for his actions." Mac's words came without hesitation, and Harm nodded, knowing that Mac was thinking in legal terms as well as being a parent.
'Yes, they are," he agreed, and then glanced at his watch. "I need to get back to my office. I'll see you at home later. How does dinner and dancing with a Navy Captain grab you?"
"I'd much rather be at home with my husband…" Mac returned, not really up to going out. Harm, however, had a surprise up his sleeve. Leaning in to drop a gentle kiss on her lips he whispered in her ear.
"I'm cooking, and the dancing is to the music we make…"
To be continued