Whew! Weird couple of weeks…. Alright, what every one (almost everyone) wants to know – I PASSED! Now just sitting on my six waiting for my license to show up so I can start practicing massage. Very cool! Kinda feel guilty and really bummed that a friend of mine didn't pass it. . . Sucks when all of your buddies don't do well. But, everything happens for a reason.
Now, the second thing that you might want to know (or the first ;)) is about the story. Will Harm be back? Well, wouldn't be much of a story if Harm isn't back now, would it? When will he be back? I believe two chapters from now. Yea, methinks chappie 22, which… guess what? Might have a little smut… Might have a little hitting of the sheets.
This chapter will, successfully, make you hate Vic more. Yay! And, man will you hate Hewitt, which works nicely, methinks. :grins: It's a little outrageous, but it's this whole plot idea that I had when I thought up of the story last year. . . Harm was always going to disappear, always going to have amnesia, always going to be weird with Mac and Hewitt was always… well you'll see/read.
Chapter 21 will be pretty hard to read, not as bad as 19 though. But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. And chapters 22 and 23 will be very bright… ;)
Okay, on with the show…
Jackie
PART 20 – The Clincher
January 23, 2010
1230 Local
Joint Legal Services Southwest
San Diego, California
The one complaint about being a JAG was the odd flow of case loads. It always seemed that the moment the office was really busy, the worst cases would come in. In the instances when everything was running slowly, only the boring, ridiculous cases came in. Mac had learnt to deal with it and was pleased to have Lt. Commander Tali Mayfield back from Falls Church. "At ease, Commander, have a seat."
"Thank you, ma'am." Tali took a seat across from Mac and waited patiently as the older woman finished signing off on a small stack of papers before her. This gave her a moment to study the Colonel and notice that something was amiss. She seemed tired and her eyes were puffy, almost as if she'd been crying. It was no secret that the woman was suffering due to the Captain's absence, but normally she was able to hide it better.
Finalizing one more document, Mac pushed the papers to the side and glanced up at Mayfield. "So, how did the Wolf case go? I heard you won. . .I'm pleased." She smiled with earnest. Something inside of her always knew that Tali would make one hell of a lawyer. She was glad that the younger woman had an opportunity to be part of such a high profile case and work with herself and Sturgis.
"Jin Lei Xu really stepped up to bat for Wolf. . .She even brought the check which signature matched that of Timms' father. . .Apparently she'd seen the two together, knew they were broken up and decided to bribe Jin Lei into helping."
Mac nodded, it had been evident that Jin Lei was still, very much, in love with Kent Wolf. "What about the sentencing?"
Tali sighed dramatically. "I thought we were going to lose it, to be perfectly honest. . .the members took DAYS. . .She was given fifteen years, apparently the Marine Corps is trying to make an example out of her."
It wasn't too surprising. As of late, all Military branches had taken a stronger stance against wrong-doers. This had successfully kept many of them in line for fear of serving a maximum sentence. "Good. . .I assume her daddy's trying to get her out?"
"Yes, ma'am. . .Appeals began the very next day. . .With your permission, I'd like to handle the appeal if possible. . ."
The spunk and willingness to work had never been lost on Mac. Certain things about Tali Mayfield reminded her of her younger self. It was that drive to want to do more, despite the outcome, that made someone a good lawyer. "I'll ask the General to keep you in mind. . .Now, there's some other business to get to. . .You're not going to like it." Taking a folder off of her desk, she handed it towards Mayfield and sighed. Mac watched tensely as the younger woman read the information.
It seemed like hours had gone by until Tali's head rose up and a look of horrid disbelief appeared in her eyes. "Dear God." She covered her mouth with her hand, then shook her head. An indescribably sense of dread grew in her heart. At some point, she'd loved Gregory Vukovic, believing he was the one. Getting close to him had been a near fatal mistake. There was something inside of him, a ticking time bomb just ready to blow up and by the file on her lap, it seemed like the time tomb had two victims – Airman Vincent Arjan and Captain Harmon Rabb Junior. "Ma'am. . .If you need me to take the stand as a character witness. . .I'm there."
Mac sighed deeply. She'd felt almost guilty giving the file to Mayfield knowing that she was hiding away from a bad relationship with Vukovic only to wind up working with him. But, she needed all of the ammo she could get. "I do feel horrible about this, Tali. . .As a friend, I know. . .I saw the look in your eyes when you told me about the two of you. . .But, I trust you. . .I know you'd tell the truth and I need someone to show the members what he can be capable of."
Her willingness to be a witness would bring on certain lines of questioning of things she'd never been forthcoming about. "Since I will be taking the stand, I guess it's time I. . .tell the truth."
"The truth?" Mac creased her forehead in confusion. She only hoped this didn't mean something bad for her side. "What truth?"
Tali played with the edges of the folder as she worked up the guts to discuss an aspect of her life that she'd hid away from everyone. It was a stupid act, she knew that now, but back then, so much was riding on a successful military career that she decided it was best to keep quiet. "I told you once that Vic and I were engaged. . .That I left him when I found out that he'd allegedly raped a woman." When Mac nodded, she took a breath and continued. "I was posted far away from him and he found me. . .When I was dating someone else, he began to stalk us. . ."
"Yes, and you said that nothing had happened and that eventually he. . ."
"He raped me." The phrase was blurted out so quickly, it took Mac ten seconds to realize she'd heard right. Before the onslaught of questions began, Tali continued telling her story, hoping she'd get it all out on the table once and for all. "As a result, I wound up pregnant and had to. . .get an abortion."
Whatever Mac had expected Mayfield to say, this definitely wasn't it. The younger woman always carried herself so well around Vukovic. It was obviously a coping mechanism and her way to deal was by arguing with him, insulting him or beating his pants off in court – three things that Tali Mayfield did with finesse. "You never told anyone, did you?"
Mayfield shook her head. "Things in the military are either black or white. . .there is no in between. . .If you're a woman, there barely is a black or a white. . .sometimes. . .it's just. . .gray. . .I had a promising career. I love the Navy. . .I knew that he could turn around and say a zillion different things and I'd wind up looking like the bad guy because of what happened."
Mac sat silent for a moment, then picked up her pen and slid over a legal pad. "Tali. . .I don't want to question you about this more than necessary. . .You've opened it up for discussion. . .So, let's get through this now." She didn't want to sound insensitive and that was the exact reason why she wanted to get all of the details down on paper. It would give her something to work with, a way to formulize a line of questioning that would damage Vic's character and also prevent Tali from bringing up memories that she'd rather have repressed .
"I agree, ma'am." She reached over and took a proffered box of Kleenex from Mac. "Thank you."
The story was a difficult one to tell, but Mac had become accustomed to disassociating herself from the victim. Not that Mayfield was a victim, if anything, she was a survivor. She'd met Vukovic in OCS and was immediately smitten. He was charming, cute and just romantic enough for her. Before being a lawyer, she'd spent time as a cryptography officer on the US Carrier John C. Stennis where she'd served as a juror in a sexual harassment case. It was then that she'd found a calling for the law. That was all she ever spoke about during phone conversations between herself and Vic. For reasons unbeknownst to her, he started fantasizing about law school as well and the two wound up working as legal aids in the JAG offices in San Diego while attending law school.
Their relationship was kept a secret. To outsiders it seemed as if the two loathed each other, but in private, it was anything but. The night of their graduation, Vic had taken her to the top of a lighthouse overlooking the bay. He'd proposed then and she'd agreed, knowing full well that one of them would likely have to find some other area of the military to work in. The night before their wedding, she'd received a letter with no return address and no postmark. Its contents stated the details of an alleged attack to not one, but two women. As a sick form of retaliation, she'd left him at the altar. When the couple had discussed the letters, Vic denied the allegations, but Tali's gut told her otherwise. He'd grabbed her then, threatened to bash her head in if she didn't marry him.
By the grace of God, she'd managed to get stationed in Italy with hopes of never rubbing elbows with him again. Then, no more than three months later, when she'd managed to put it past her and date again, she'd spotted him. Tali was on a date with Captain Christian Mourning, a Marine that she'd met while attending a function at the US Embassy. Vic had kept his distance then, and even two times after that, when she'd spotted him again. The fourth time, however, was not a charm.
Vic tried to coax her back to him, willing her to believe that he'd change. By the end of that evening, it was obvious that change wasn't part of his vocabulary. He'd managed to get her to talk to him, if anything, just to discuss it all so that they could be 'friends' again. She'd foolishly agreed, thinking only of the chance of battling him in court without weighing her feelings into it. They'd chatted all evening long, had some drinks, but that's where it all went wrong. It was possible that she'd had a beer too many, though it was also probable that he'd slipped something into her drink at one point.
The next thing Tali knew, she was laying in the back of a sedan, naked, with Vukovic on top of her. It hadn't been consensual, not by the very least. And attempts to stop him failed. That evening, she arrived at her apartment and washed the remnants off, vowing never to let anyone know. Thinking like a lawyer, she could imagine herself being picked apart by a defense team claiming that the alleged crime was a method to destroy another officer's career. In the end, she knew it would be a black mark against her and was unwilling to take that sort of blow to a blossoming career. Three weeks later, when she was finally trying to get on with life, a bout with the stomach flu from hell, had her wondering if she'd, unknowingly, taken a souvenir from that horrible night.
Pregnant. When the little blue line appeared across the pregnancy stick, Tali Mayfield felt sicker than ever. She wanted to destroy Vukovic, to pick him apart piece by piece until there was nothing left. The reality had hit her like a ton of bricks. Taking up some leave time, she flew back to the States and had the procedure done under an assumed name. It was the worst thing she'd ever had to do. It was the one thing she'd always regretted and always prayed that God would forgive her for. But, in her mind, she had no choice. She just couldn't have a life growing inside of her that was conceive in such a cruel fashion. "From that point on I, worked harder. . .became a better sailor just to. . .to forget. . .The Navy became my life, my security blanket. . .I felt safe when I was wrapped up in cases and depositions. . .I live for this."
"It couldn't have been easy to be stationed with him in Falls Church." Mac frowned. As if her loathing of Vukovic wasn't bad enough this. . .there were no words to describe it. How the hell could someone like that be allowed to live?
Tali chuckled. "Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad. . .I have a knack for bouncing back. . .I don't let things bother me. . .I mean, I am cautious of him, all of the time. . .My coping method is to treat him the way I do."
Oh, and did she treat him well. Mac could cite the countless times that she'd had to step in and stop an argument between the two of them. She'd once compared them to herself and Harm when their heated lawyer battles were in full swing, now. . .the thought nauseated her. Whatever pain in the ass Harm could be, he'd never be the type to try to. . . She swallowed hard, trying not to think about the previous night. "You do a good job, Tali." Taking the legal pad, she ripped the page out. "I'm going to keep this safe, the last thing I want is for someone to get their hands on it." She stood and walked to a safe that was in the wall behind a painting of six Marines raising the US flag on Mount Suribachi.
"Thank you, ma'am."
(Surprising both women, the intercom came to life. "Colonel, I know you instructed me to take messages but. . .the SECNAV just called and wants to meet with you in an hour at her home in Coronado." Petty Officer Coates' voice said over the line, it was clear that she felt the same way about the SECNAV as everyone else did.)
Mac carefully placed the page inside of the safe and slowly turned on her heal. This is it, she thought with only a tinge of remorse, my career is over. Since the whole fiasco with the island and rescuing Harm, Mac had been patiently waiting for the SECNAV to pull up on her broomstick and take her career away. She would have given anything. . .ANYTHING, to have Harm back, but it was the method in which the SECNAV carried herself that had her feeling uneasy. "Thank you, Petty Officer, I think I'll need a car to drive me." It was a safe bet that she wouldn't be in any type of emotional state to drive back after that meeting.
("The SECNAV has already sent a vehicle for you ma'am.")
1420 Local
Secretary of the Navy
Caroline Hewitt's Mansion
Coronado, California
A sleek, black, Crown Victoria came to a stop just in front of a rather large, certainly posh mansion. Inside, one Marine Colonel, Sarah MacKenzie was preparing herself for what certainly had to be the beginning of the end. She was sure, so damned sure that Hewitt would take her eagles from her. Maybe leaving her at JLSS this long was just. . .mercy. Or maybe the woman was waiting for Mac to let her guard down before attacking. Whatever it was, she was sure that her career was flushed down the toilet. Not that she regretted it. Saving Harm was worth facing any firing squad. "Civilian life, here I come." Mac said under her breath, then stepped out of the vehicle.
Outside of the home, a gentleman in a dark gray suit stood, waiting. "Colonel MacKenzie, right this way." They passed under a large Venetian style façade that made up the entrance to the home. Mac was escorted through the foyer and then pass a modern day 'great hall' with a large fireplace that ran the vertical length of the wall – a good 40 feet. The furnishings inside the home were stunning in old European detail with dark, robust colors. It was certainly not feminine, but it sure spoke of power and wealth. "Madam Secretary's office is just through there, she's expecting you." They came to the end of the room, the gentleman opened a door which opened to a window enclosed passage that lead to another door. "Her office is right in there."
"Thank you." Mac carefully walked down the passage with the feeling that something was watching. There had to be cameras in every section of this home, she figured. Military training, if not common courtesy, told her to knock before entering and once she was welcomed inside, Mac stepped through the door and closed it shut behind her before coming to attention just in front of Hewitt's desk. "Colonel MacKenzie, reporting as ordered, ma'am." Mac stood at attention so perfectly that not even the most hardass Marine Drill Instructor would have a thing to say about it.
Hewitt's chair was turned away from Mac, facing a large window that gave view to a costly garden that she'd recently put in for meditation purposes. She didn't have to turn around to know that MacKenzie was standing ramrod straight without even blinking. It was amusing, truly, all of those silly little nuances that the military did. "What do you think of my digs, Colonel?"
The question came right out of left field and Mac knew it was a test of sorts. It was more than likely that Hewitt was trying to see how cool she would remain under scrutiny and pressure. Well, the woman had another thing coming if she thought that this Marine would break. "It's very beautiful, ma'am."
"I don't suppose you've been in many mansions, have you?" She'd read MacKenzie's file extensively and though the details weren't there, it was obvious where she had come from. Just the fact that she'd been recruited from a small, crappy town in Arizona, screamed 'trailer trash' to Hewitt. It was a good position for her though, it would certainly work out in the long run.
At that particular moment, Mac's mind chose to bring up the Webb Mansion and Manderlee. Now THOSE were real mansions, estates, not some fabricated home, with no history, that was made to look old. "Some, ma'am. . .Not very many."
If there was one thing that Caroline Hewitt was known for, it was her 'shoot from the hip' mentality. It was what got her voted into office and what kept her reign so strong. No one wanted to mess with a ball buster. "Do you like me, Colonel?"
Okay, so maybe THAT question was truly the one coming out of left field. People in power seldom cared who liked them and preferred to point the dislike out rather than question it. This was certainly different and Mac was going to take that ball and run with it. Hewitt had left herself open for a beating and she was planning on putting it into her. "Permission to speak freely?"
Hewitt's chair whipped around and a concerned look slid into a tight smile. "Sure! Hell, at ease and take a seat." It was definitely a treat to see your mark in person, to sense how they are, how they hide things behind that ugly uniform.
"No, I don't like you. . . To be perfectly blunt, I loathe your type. . ."
"My type?" She didn't have to question it, she knew exactly what Mac was talking about.
And Mac knew it too and if she wanted an answer she would get one, MacKenzie style. "Those power wielding types that screw with whomever they choose just because they can. . .just because there is an agenda."
Ah, the key word came into play. This whole thing was exhilarating, intense. God, she was giddy! The Colonel's spunk was excellent. "And what is my agenda?"
Coolly, Mac leaned back into the chair, folding her arms across her chest. It was normally a defensive posture, but with a slightly evil smile and that steely look in her eyes, it was anything but. "You tell me, ma'am. . .Though, I have a sneaking suspicion that my gender is a major part in it all."
Oooh, astute too! I'm getting quite a bargain. She thought to herself, then smiled with earnest. "Yes, you being a female plays a major role in my plans. . .There aren't that many women in the military with your position, Colonel. I don't think you realize that. . . See, the Navy, the Marine Corps, they brainwash you into believing that this is all about the good of service. However, there's much more to it. . .What's the good of service going to do when you're my age? Is that pension going to mean much when you're retired and watching GI Jane on DVD?"
Mac's brow furled, she didn't understand what the woman was getting at. "Ma'am. . .It's not a brainwash. .. I do what I do because it's the best way I can serve my country short of picking up an M-16 and going after the bad guys." She didn't quite see that Hewitt wasn't putting down JAG, like so many others did. No, she did have an agenda, a political one.
"Let me spell it out for you, Colonel. . .How would you like to be the first female JAG?" The question hung in the air like a dense fog that was too stubborn to disappear.
Stunned would probably be the best word to describe Mac's feelings at that present moment. Out of everything that she'd had in mind. . .first, she threatens to torch her career and now a promotion? "Ma'am?" Yes, she was confused, utterly, seeing as Mac never really cared much about being the first woman JAG. The idea was nice, but it was the political ramifications that she didn't care to tango with. She remembered how many times both Chegwidden and Cresswell had their hands tied behind their backs because of political red tape. What was the point of having such a prestigious position when you couldn't do a damned thing about. . .anything? "You want me to be the first woman JAG? That's what all of it is about?"
Hewitt nodded. "It's a little more complicated than that, but, basically, yes, Sarah. May I call you Sarah?."
"No. . .and uncomplicate it for me, ma'am."
There was never a real sureness as to how this would go and how much she would reveal of her plot. Sometimes it was easier to keep one's motives quiet until it all comes to fruition. "I plan on running for President next term. . .I don't believe that President Garver will be voted for another one. . .He's too weak. . .He's a patsy."
Mac swallowed hard, it was difficult to stomach anyone speaking ill of your Commander In Chief, especially someone in politics. Richard J. Garver, preceded Bush as President in one of the most controversial elections in history. Nothing seemed to go right and the battles between Republican and Democrats was at an all time high. Garver was the middle ground, a man with no party behind his back, a fresh look with ideals that appealed to a country in turmoil. Since taking the oath into office, it seemed like all of his promises were put on the back burner, permanently. The Nation had made a terrible mistake. "Some of the President's motives are questionable, but he is still my Commander In Chief." She was curious as to what Hewitt was proposing. After all that had happened, it wasn't difficult to see Hewitt having Garver offed. It was a miracle no one had done so already.
The woman's chuckle offered no hopes that Mac's thoughts were uncalled for. "Colonel, you sound like I want to kill the man. . .No, I will take the position fair and square, but I need a little leverage. . .Me choosing to put a woman in such a high ranking Naval billet, is gutsy and it will get me the votes I need. . .Besides that. . .I need people on my side that I can trust. . . You've been known to not be swayed by one thing or another. . .It's in your records. . .You can do anything you want and no would question the mighty JAG."
"Yes, but they would question why I am there in the first place."
Hewitt shook her head. "The selection for Judge Advocate General is hellacious at best. No one would question it. . . And before you ask, you will make it unscathed, mark my words. . .I have a lot of people that need a lot of favors. And the others. . .well, let's just say I have enough dirt to pave their way to Hell. They won't object as long as you can do the job." She leaned back coolly, placing her hands behind her head. "Now, I do need something from you."
Mac couldn't help but snort. "It always comes with a catch, doesn't it, ma'am?"
"Two things actually. . .I need that Vukovic investigation to go away. . .and if it doesn't go away, I need you to throw the trial."
Ah, it was all starting to make some kind of sense to Mac. The whole 'female JAG' thing was a way to wet her appetite. To soften her up so that she'd decide to bite and take her hands off of Vukovic. "What does he have on you?"
"Excuse me?" Her eyebrow shot up in confusion.
"Vukovic. . .What the hell does that. . .slimy, credent have on you? It definitely has to be something juicy if you bend for him the way you do, ma'am." Oh, but Mac was far off base. In fact, she was playing in a different ball park all together.
"He's my son, Colonel." Once the words were uttered, an eerie silence came over the room. It really hadn't been Caroline Hewitt's intention to give that tidbit away, but now that she had, things would fall into perspective for MacKenzie, whether she wanted it to or not. Inwardly she cursed, but her face never mirrored her distress, she was just a little too tired to constantly hear the berating her son took. "He's been pegged all wrong. It's like the system has it in for him. . . Gregory is really a good kid. A bad lawyer, but that doesn't make him a bad man."
For her part, Mac was speechless. It was nearly a full minute later when the brunt of it all hit her like a ton of bricks. Vukovic was Hewitt's son? Suddenly, it all made so much more sense. "You had him spying on me, didn't you?"
"Yes. . .I needed to make sure no one got in the way of you making JAG. . .Then this year happened and he got involved with that Jarvis fellow. . .I tell you, Gregory was reprimanded severely for that one."
It was the way Hewitt said it that made everything click into place. A high wattage light bulb turned on, illuminating something that was so obscured it boggled the mind. "By someone getting in the way, you meant Harm." She got it now, clearly. Vic's vendetta against Harm wasn't really about her, more so about Hewitt. "Vic is not the 'good man' that you assume he is, ma'am. . .He's had a shady past." She wasn't about to say just how shady a past it was. Mac doubted that Hewitt would be receptive anyway.
"I noticed some. . . condescension between you and Gregory. . .and it seemed to grown when Rabb came into the picture. . .And it was sad really, because you and Vic would make a very nice couple."
Mac felt like she was sucker punched into oblivion. "A nice couple?"
"Yes, quite stunning really. . .He can give you so much more than that Captain of yours."
The picture she was painting wasn't a pretty one and it was doubtful that there was much she could do, though she would die trying. "You had him go after Harm. . .You tried to have him killed. . ."
"I did NO such thing. . .It's not my fault that Gregory is a little overzealous when it comes to procuring what he wants most. . ."
Procuring? Now she sounded like a race horse with people vying for the highest bid. "And what is it that he wants most?"
"You, Colonel. . .But I suspect you knew that."
Yes, Mac had suspected something of the sort when she saw his obvious disdain for any man that came near her. He was distant, almost like jilted lover. "You are insane if you think I would get involved with someone like him."
Hewitt banged her fist into the desk and stood, trying to loom over the Marine. "And you are just another stupid woman, Colonel. . ." Calming down, she slipped around the desk and leaned against the edge, just a few feet away from Mac. Her voice changed to a nauseating, saccharin sweet tone that sounded like nails to a chalkboard. "You shouldn't disregard his charms, he's very much in love with you. . .You two would make a dashing couple, I think."
"In love?" The thought made her sick to her stomach. "Vukovic isn't in love with me. .. I don't think he has a concept of what that word means."
"You underestimate him, Colonel. . .And I think a union between you and my son would be very good for him. . .Maybe take away some of the black marks in his life. . .God knows what it would do for you. . .You too need a little stability in your life."
Stability? Well, Mac couldn't argue with that point, but somehow the words stable and Vukovic just didn't rub together. "You do realize that he and I can not be involved?. . .It's against the good order of the Navy and against the UCMJ."
Hewitt knew it and already considered her options rather well. "Which is why he will leave the Navy and work in the private sector."
It was greatly apparent that Hewitt had been considering it all at great lengths. The term 'disturbing' came to Mac's mind. A white picket fence home with a psychotic serial rapist as her husband. It wasn't quite the fantasy life she'd pictured. "And what if I refuse all of this and prosecute Vukovic to the fullest extent of the law?" The need for terms was becoming clear. Times, terms, something that Mac could latch onto to sway things around. Over her dead body was she just going to roll over in terms of Vukovic. She'd always had an odd feeling about him, a notion that there was something out of sorts on how he came to JLSS. "If you've spied on me enough, you'd know that I am not the type to turn the other cheek."
Damn Marines. Hewitt knew she would, more than likely, be stuck when it came to the willful Sarah MacKenzie. The woman wasn't the type to be swayed easily, so more drastic measures needed to be applied. She needed to hit Mac where it hurt the most. "So far, no one knows that Vukovic is my son. . .I've managed to hide it for years. If he goes to trial, God knows what might come up. . .and let's face it, everyone knows he's been doing favors for me. Hiding the paper trail might become impossible, the media has a knack for connecting the dots . . .Now, if the trial never gets anywhere, he'll just fall by the wayside and my involvement with him will not matter."
"You're afraid that if he gets convicted, it will come out that he is your son and you've been doing special favors for him. . .That would smudge your candidacy."
Hewitt had known she'd gone too far with Vic, but she wasn't aware just how sick he was until it was too late. "In Washington, time does not heal a scandal.. . . Improper command influence has destroyed the careers of so many." She shifted nervously, eyes cast down in shame. "This is a punishment of sorts and I shouldn't be held responsible for my childhood mistakes. . .I gave him up when I was a child really. . .He went into the foster care system and I went on with my life. . .Forgot about him . . .When I decided to find him again, he was in a bad home, with parents that really didn't give a damn about him. . .When he was in trouble with the law, I made recommendations for him to join the Navy, I funded his studies at law school. . .I had the money and figured it was a good idea, a way to make amends. . .I may not have had any rights after I gave Gregory up, but he is still my son. My flesh and blood. . . .It took a while for him to forgive me and he has. . .I am willing to keep him happy at almost any cost."
"You can just rig the case, you don't need me." Hey, if she was already influencing so many, what was a few more?
"After all of the investigation and all the pushing from Loftness, I can't. . .That's way too many pickle jars for me to stick my hand in. . .I need you to botch it."
"And if I refuse? Or if I win anyway and Vukovic is still convicted? What then?"
Persons in power always had a plan B, Hewitt's plan came to fruition only after hearing of Harm's health issue. "Then I'll really go after the only thing that really seems to matter in your life. . .Captain Rabb." Once again the Marine was at a loss for words. "He's of no use to you now anyway. . . I know about the amnesia and how permanent it is. . .Think about it. . .Your job takes a huge chunk of time as it is. . .Do you think you'll have the time to be at his beck and call while he fights it? If he wants to fight it. . .After a while you'll resent him for never remembering. . .You'll come to hate him only to find that a promotion has passed you by while you were caring for a man you are no longer in love with."
Mac shook her head in disbelief. What had happened? How did all of this happen without anyone realizing that they were putting a monster in the SECNAV's seat? Tears burned her eyes, which she successfully blinked away. "I could never hate him. . .And I definitely can't stop loving him."
Hewitt sighed dramatically, "It looks like you need some time to consider it. . . At the end of the year the board is meeting to decide whether or not General Cresswell will remain JAG. . .You have until then."
"And you think I should feel appreciative?"
"It's a rather long time. . .I'm also giving you time to hang yourself with Rabb. . .Trust me, Colonel. . .I've taken care of and buried two husbands. . .These jobs and relationships don't work together, period. . .It is better to have loved and lost."
Mac stood up and then leaned over Hewitt's desk. "I don't believe that. . .I love him, you aren't going to take him away and substitute a poor excuse for a man, no matter who's son he is. . .Find yourself someone else to help you get to the top, because I am not playing. . .And don't worry, I'll keep your dirty little secret." As she turned to leave, she stopped and turned on her heal. "However, if anything happens to Harm, this conversation . . .someone will hear about it, mark my words, ma'am." With that she headed out of the house, only to hear Hewitt's words echoing in the halls.
"Empty threats, Colonel. . . Empty threats. You don't have the GUTS to play hard ball with me!" But a threat non-the-less. It was clear, in the SECNAV's mind, that Sarah MacKenzie wasn't just a push over. She would have to find another way and maybe make good on her promise to rid herself of Rabb. Maybe she should have pushed Vukovic harder? Her son or not, he was of no use to her if he couldn't do what she needed him to. Originally, she didn't want Harm killed, it would be the first death on her conscience. Now, it didn't sound like such a bad idea.
