A Little Lower Than The Angels
Chapter 10
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the JAG characters. I don't 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 ATW II. Events that took place in the Season 2 episode 'Ghosts' will also be touched upon specifically.
Rating K+
2145
Thursday
Cuidad Del Este, Paraguay
Admiral Chegwidden and his friend the former Vice Admiral Kern were walking toward the Nuevo Hotel Simpatico; they had just left a nightclub that Webb told the Admiral about. A club that Maria Elena had frequented.
For a price, the bartender told him that an American woman had been speaking with a woman known as Maria Elena, but that she did not stay at the bar for a very long period of time. His description of the woman fit Mac and when the bartender mentioned that the young woman had refused many drinks from gentlemen in the bar, it made the ID positive. The bartender told them that the American woman had left alone just a couple of hours before, but the Admiral doubted that Rabb was very far away. They had to be here, in all likelihood, they were at the hotel.
As they were nearing the hotel, they passed an alley and both men were startled by the sound of glass shattering, the street lamp had been broken, darkening the alley considerably. Before they had time to react, the Admiral's face was smashed against a brick wall; he could feel the cool steel, of what he knew was the blade of a knife, at his neck. He heard a voice speaking directly into his ear. "You are in the way, stand down" Feeling the assailant's pressure on the knife at his neck lessen, just slightly, the Admiral saw his opportunity and then the voice continued. "…go home."
Immediately the former SEAL's reflexes kicked in. He disarmed his assailant and had him on his back with his knee in his chest in less than 3 seconds. Between his teeth the Admiral asked him, "Who the hell are you?"
The young man did not answer; he was still struggling to breathe. Another slightly strained voice from across the darkened alley spoke, "Tell him petty officer."
"Petty Officer First Class Michael Brown."
With that both he and Kern knew they had run into some type of Special Forces, or SEAL team. "Well Petty Officer First Class Brown. Let me tell you who I am. My name is Admiral A.J.Chegwidden; I am the Judge Advocate General. Just so we understand each other…" He settled his penetrating gaze on the person that Kern had just pinned to the opposite wall. Even in the semi-darkness, the man knew instinctively that the Admiral wanted his name and rank. "Chief Steven Blevins, sir."
Then the Admiral continued. "I have no intention of getting in anyone's way. I am here to recover my people; they were TAD to the CIA as part of an operation that has since been taken over by another agency."
Both Kern and the Admiral released the two 'assailants' and stood in the shadows of the alley.
The Chief spoke up, "With respect sir, you are walking into an ongoing operation..."
"Chief, I am on my way to Nuevo Hotel Simpatico, where I intend to spend the night. I will be leaving tomorrow morning, the two officers under my command will be accompanying me."
"Sir we are aware of the Americans inside the hotel…our target is expected to encounter…"
The Admiral nodded, "I understand the importance of your mission and your need to acquire your target….alive. You may tell your superiors this, if your 'target' enters the hotel, he will in all likelihood pursue my people, and if he does that, he's mine. Tell them I will not allow my people to be used as bait for your mission or anyone else's." Rabb was not officially one of his people anymore, but he would not allow him to be used or left behind, though he had no intention of telling Rabb that.
He looked at the Chief directly "Is that understood Chief?"
"Yes, sir"
The younger man spoke up, "Sir…If I may ask, were you with SEAL team Three?"
The Admiral gave the young man a direct look and gave him an answering nod.
"You're remembered well, sir. I thought they were kidding when they said the JAG used to be a SEAL." The younger SEAL knew that the older man would not have been able to take him down had he not received the same training he had.
Vice Admiral Kern interjected, "Did any one mention Admiral Richard Kern?"
The young man looked slightly uncomfortable, "Uh…no….sir.
An awkward silence fell for a couple of endless seconds before Admiral Chegwidden broke the silence. "Carry on Chief….Petty Officer.
The two men disappeared down the alley in the opposite direction from the street as Kern and the Admiral walked out of it and toward the hotel. As they walked the Admiral gave his old friend a side long glance. Kern narrowed his eyes and walked a bit more quickly, "Kiss my ass AJ." Both men broke into laughter.
They were still laughing when they reached the hotel, Kern asked if Mr. and Mrs. David Williams were registered there. The man at the desk said they were, but that Mr. Williams had not returned to his room in a number of days. He also told him that he thought Mrs. Williams was cheating on him with another man. Rabb and Mackenzie were there alright.
Kern requested a room in the front of the building. When they were shown the room, the Admiral looked out of one of the two windows. He had a clear view of the street in front of the hotel and the café across the street. Kern checked the other window, which overlooked of the alley. They would be able to see who entered the hotel from either direction. There were only two ways to get into this building and they had a clear view of both of them.
2350
Thursday
May 1, 2003
Ciudad Del Este, Paraguay.
Sadiq Fahd had waited until the streets near the hotel were quiet. He meant to exact his revenge on the two people inhabiting the room registered to Mr. and Mrs. Williams. He seriously doubted that Mr. Williams was still alive, there were no hospitals close enough to treat the injuries he had incurred while he was a 'guest' at his hacienda, as he lay on the table…lying to them. The man who had rescued 'Jane' was with her now, Sadiq remembered again that many of his men were dead at the hands of the man accompanying Mrs. Jane Williams, and it was time for him to pay.
Sadiq stepped into the street and began to cross the road, but just then a van sped around the corner and in front of him. Two men wearing black clothing and masks jumped from the van and grabbed Sadiq and pulled him inside, before he had time to call out to anyone. The sliding door slammed shut as a black cloth bag was placed over his head. The next sound Sadiq Fahd heard were these words, spoken in English with an unmistakably American accent.
"Greetings Mr. Fahd, from the President of the United States."
The van careened around the next corner, whisking the terrorist away to an obscure airfield, where he would be transported, forthwith, to a destination at which many of his 'brothers' now resided.
All that had taken place was observed by Admiral Chegwidden, as he watched from his window.
He chuckled to himself, "The Chief must have told his superiors, they didn't even allow Fahd to enter the building."
"Did they get him?" Kern spoke to him from his 'watch' position at the window overlooking the alley.
"I think so; it looks as though Mr. Fahd is in for a very long trip to a very small cell."
0022
Friday
Hotel Nuevo Simpatico
Ciudad, Del Este, Paraguay
Mac woke with a start; the room was quiet and dark. She felt Harm's arms around her, his deep and even breathing, soft in her ear. She turned over onto her stomach and looked at him. She was still trying to get her mind around what had happened tonight. Harm had said the words, he said that he loved her, even now, it didn't seem real. Reaching over, she caressed his cheek as he slept on, smiling in his sleep, breathing deeply, he rolled to his back, still trying to hold on to her. She allowed him to pull her into his arms and as she nestled under his arm, resting her head on his shoulder, she felt him relax and fall deeper into sleep. Just as she began to drift off to sleep again, there was a pounding at the front door, as though someone were hitting it hard, with their fist.
They were both jolted fully awake, holding on to each other, then quickly letting go, getting to their feet, and at least a bit of clothing along with their weapons. Then there was pounding sound coming from their door again.
In seconds, they were each on one side of the door; Harm opened the door, his gun pointing in the face of the man at the door. The Admiral didn't flinch, he looked at him directly as Harm brought his weapon down, giving Mac a quick and uncomfortable glance. "Admiral…"
He didn't give Harm a chance to continue. "Fahd is in custody, I am leaving early tomorrow morning, if you want a ticket out of here, you had better be in the lobby at 0500 sharp." He started to leave but then paused for a moment, and then turning back toward the door, speaking a little louder, he said. "That goes for you too….Mrs. Williams." The Admiral could only see Harm, who was suddenly aware that he was standing there in his boxers.
"Put some pants on, Rabb." He gave him an irritated glance and walked away from him.
Harm closed the door, to see Mac covering her mouth "Oh God…" She walked back toward the bedroom.
"Don't worry Mac, I'm not in the Navy anymore, no chain of command to worry about."
Mac turned on the small lamp beside their bed and sat down. "Don't even say that." The thought that his career in the Navy was really over, made her physically ill.
"It's true Mac." Harm came to sit beside her on the bed.
"He came all the way down here; he's got tickets for both of us. Maybe he wants you to come back." She looked at him hopefully.
"Mac, I'm not even going to ask. Let's just get back and I'll deal with what ever comes when we get there." He had taken her hand as he sat beside her. He didn't regret coming to Paraguay, but the fact that he really had resigned and the consequences of that resignation were just beginning to come home to him.
"You mean, 'we'll' deal with whatever comes."
"We'll deal with it." Harm reached across her to turn off the lamp, leaning in to kiss her cheek and nuzzle her neck. "Mrs. Williams."
"Oh…now, see how you are?" His mouth on her neck, was already working its magic on her senses.
"Aw Mac…don't you want to see….how I am?"
Harm pushed her back on the bed, wanting and needing her, to laugh and lose himself in her, before any more of the reality of what he had done crept in.
0830
Friday
American Airlines
Flight 227
Somewhere over the Southern Atlantic Ocean.
Harm sat looking out the window, at the clouds that rolled out like a downy white carpet beneath their plane. Mac sat next to the window and had been looking out too. He had been quiet for most of the flight so far, he really hadn't said anything at all, even when they met the Admiral and to her surprise, the former Admiral Kern in the lobby. Harm had followed along, seen, but not heard. He wasn't even making eye contact with Admiral Chegwidden.
It had been an awkward and painful encounter for Mac to observe. She couldn't believe he had resigned….he had given everything up, for her. The thought of it still weighed heavily on her, she was the reason he'd lost everything. He would never admit it, but it was true. How could he not eventually hate her for it?
She might have been totally disconcerted by his quiet behavior, if not for the gentle touches Harm gave her at her arm and back as they got into the taxi and then as they entered the airport.
"Mac?"
The sound of his voice pulled her from her reverie
Mac smiled reaching for his hand, still worrying about what he would do, once they got back to Washington.
He nudged her shoulder with his. "Okay, Mackenzie, what's on your mind?"
"I'm okay."
"We're not starting off this way, talk to me." He kept his voice low, so that only she could hear.
"I'm just….I feel bad, about your resignation." She looked back out the window. "I keep worrying about what you're going to do."
"I'll be okay Mac. I'd do it again, you have to know that." He gently touched her chin, turning her face toward him.
"I do, but I didn't want you to have to do this. I still can't believe you're not going back to JAG with me. I keep thinking….that eventually you're going to hate me." There, she had spoken her fear.
"I have no regrets Mac." She still looked troubled and Harm wanted to reassure her. "Do you remember the Trombatore case?"
Mac frowned not really understanding where he was going with this, but nodded in the affirmative.
"When I was interviewing Mr. Graham, one of the things he said about Beverly Trombatore, that I couldn't forget was, 'If I had only known how little time we had.' It made me think of you, of all the times you risked your life for me, and all the opportunities I had to tell you how much I…how I felt about you. I'm not taking anything for granted anymore, no matter what happens, I'm not going to lose you."
She placed her free hand on his arm, giving him an affectionate squeeze, as he continued.
"That's why I wanted to begin 'this'" Harm held their clasped hands up, just slightly. "Then it seemed that everything at JAG fell apart….but you. Then you accepted this mission and after you left, I thought that all you knew about 'us' was that I wanted to take you to Calisto's and that your kisses were becoming addictive." He couldn't help grinning when he remembered their stolen kisses at JAG and the new addiction he had acquired last night. "I never told you what was behind it all." He waited a beat, seeming to take in all the beautiful features of her face. "I love you. I think I have for a long time."
He continued, "After that nightmare, I believed if I didn't get to you, that something would happen to you and you'd never know what you meant to me."
Harm's words were touching her deeply but they also brought his relationship with Diane back to her mind. "Like Diane?"
"In a way, Diane meant a lot to me Mac, and it hurt that she died not knowing how special she was to me, but it is not the same. You are not a substitute for her or anyone else." He looked deeply into her eyes as he explained; to her surprise and amazement, his heart seemed an open book now.
"Mac, I think if she had never died, if she were alive and living her life, like the rest of us." His eyes suddenly glazed with tears and his voice lowered to a whisper. "I'd have still fallen in love with you anyway."
Harm's simple statement took her breath away. She hooked her free arm into his and rested her chin on his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she felt her own tears begin to start. Trying to regain her composure, she said. "Hey, that's not fair, no making me cry in public."
He turned and kissed her forehead; he slipped his hand out of hers, lifted his arm and placed it around her shoulders, pulling her close to him, totally oblivious to anyone else on the plane. She leaned into him as he shielded her from anyone's prying eyes, resting her head into the strong column of his neck.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the Admiral had been watching them from his seat several rows back. He had reclined his seat and appeared to be sleeping, but he was not.
Their open affection didn't concern him. He had known their relationship was well underway prior to this mission. What concerned him was the weary and haunted look in Mac's eyes. What she had seen and heard would return to her. He knew from his own experience that she needed to deal with it immediately, before it had a chance to damage her and her continued success in her career with the JAG corps. She would need more than the obligatory counseling session recommended after a mission like this.
Kern had been studying them as well. He noticed the tears along with Harm's bandaged head and quiet demeanor. This was not the 'pain in the ass, AJ had described when he spoke of him prior to their trip and in their many conversations about Rabb. He nudged his old friend and said, "The walking wounded."
The Admiral nodded his agreement and returned to his own thoughts.
Pondering Rabb's behavior in the hotel and on the trip to the airport, the Admiral had been surprised that the old Harm didn't surface before they boarded the plane. This was not the cocky aviator lawyer he met when he assumed command of JAG, over 8 years ago, he had been uncharacteristically quiet. Medically, he definitely had to have some type of issue. According to Mac's account of their crash, he had taken quite a blow to his head and had been unconscious for some time. How many more 'hard landings' could Rabb take before he did himself permanent damage? Whether or not he had the discipline to maintain a career in the Navy would be a moot question if he kept this up. Rabb wasn't Peter Pan anymore, he needed to understand that. He knew without Harm saying it that he was just beginning to realize what he had done. The Admiral knew he would want to come back and if the Admiral were honest with himself, he would admit he was conflicted about whether or not he should allow it.
He had always seen Harm as the type of officer who should be JAG; he had the credentials and experience that not many JAG attorneys could boast. He had a genuine feel for how things were in the fleet and he knew the law. His sense of justice was well balanced, though at times, that sense of right and wrong could get him into trouble with the SecNav.
The Admiral smiled as he remembered telling Rabb to 'try out' his chair, that it might be his one day. The problem was, lately in his view; Rabb hadn't been doing the work to get there. He was his best attorney, hands down, but he had gotten too comfortable as JAG's 'fair haired boy.' The Admiral couldn't allow him back if he didn't understand that JAG HQ didn't have a revolving door out front. His tendency to throw his career away and run off on one of his 'quests' had to stop. Had he risked his own career in the past, hell yes he had. Rabb had been a witness, even a partner in that, but it was a different world now, a much more dangerous one, since September 11th.
He could see the back of Rabb's head and he remembered the SecNav's suggestion that he looked on some of his senior staff as family. Maybe he did, in spite of everything; he wanted to see Rabb succeed. He was coming up on 20 years in the Navy, if he wanted to be a 30 year man; he was going to have to change. When the Admiral retired he was sure his new CO wouldn't be as tolerant as he had been with Rabb. The best he could do was try to get his two senior attorneys on their feet before he left JAG. Even if Rabb didn't return to JAG, the Admiral would feel he left a legacy behind, when he retired.
As their plane banked and set its course for the States, though he was still conflicted about what he would do, the Admiral began to drift off to sleep. As he did he thought…'who knows, maybe Rabb and I will go into private practice.' He suddenly opened his eyes; he was wide awake and the thought occurred to him….loud and clear.
'Oh, hell no.'
TBC
