Chapter 4
Thursday 26th, 22:00 o'clock
JAG Headquarters, Washington DC
Admiral Chegwidden sat at his desk staring at the file in front of him but his mind was some place else. He had just finished the conference call he had with Admiral Smith. They had established all the details concerning the Anderson case. He had a feeling that everything was going to change.
He had already decided to send Lt. Col. Mackenzei and Cmdr. Brumby to Pearl Harbor and thus was able to brief them.
What he hadn't counted on was that State would move the negotiations to next Monday instead of next month. And as a consequence they had to send the lawyers to Hawaii to negotiate with the other 3 SOBs that were involved with Anderson and also put together another team to negotiate with Anderson here.
State initially decided to take them all there because it was a "neutral" ground and also because the prosecuter that handled their case 5 years ago was stationed there.
Apparently they can be helpful in finding the nuclear weapons that were stolen from SEATAC Naval base, how convenient. And now the SOB had the gull to ask for a new and lighter sentence in order to give them the necessary info to track down and recover the weapons. This story was getting a bit old, but he guessed that USA's enemies were paying good money for weapons that were later used against it.
It was getting pretty late and most of the staff had left the building. He would have to call Col. Mackenzei the tell her to get ready to leave for Hawaii this same night.
The harder task was talking to Cmdr Rabb. He did not know all the details of the case, especially who else was involved: Meg Austin.
The admiral had seen how affected he was after Meg had unexpectedly left JAG, especially considering how close those two were.
And he had a suspicion that Harm had more than friendly feelings toward the young junior officer, and the same went for Meg but they never acted on it because they would never break navy rules, they both valued their careers.
And he supposed that was one of the reasons that compelled Austin to accept a transfer back to weapons. She had done well for her career, if she had stayed at Jag she would have never made Commander in such a short time. But working secret missions with Navy Intel could bring you a rapid advancement through the ranks and also a Purple Heart and Navy Cross. AJ could only imagine what type of missions they were.
It was one of those missions that had her meeting Anderson and changing her life for good.
He was shocked to find out that in the course of a year she got married and than became a widow. And all thanks to Captain Anderson.
If he was shocked, he could imagine Rabb's reaction. And that is why he had to tell him tonight so that the shock subsided and not have a heart attack in the morning when he will see Cmdr Austin walk through the bullpen.
Getting his cover AJ left his office and passed Tiner on his way out, "Mr. Tiner, time to close shop" said AJ.
"Yes, sir" replied Petty Officer Tiner, "Have a nice evening sir"
"I doubted" said AJ with a resigned voice, "You wouldn't happen to know at what time Cmdr Rabb had left the office, Mr. Tiner?"
"About an hour ago sir, he was working late trying to sort out all the papers on his desk. Apparently he could not find PFC Stalks deposition for the Young case," replied Tiner with a knowing look.
"That's a first" said AJ with raised eyebrows. They all knew how "allergic" Cmdr Rabb was to paperwork and that was why his desk was always in a mess. "And you wouldn't know if he was intending to go out or go straight home?" asked AJ looking at his watch. He changed his mind about talking to him tonight, it was rather late.
"Straight home sir" replied Tiner, "Do you want me to call him sir?", he knew that something important was going on considering all the calls the Admiral had received all evening and also the lateness of the hour .
"Yes, tell him I want to see him tomorrow first thing in the morning and by that I mean at 08:00 a.m." said AJ sternly
"Yes, sir" said Tiner already picking up the phone.
"Good night Mr. Tiner" said AJ leaving.
"Good night sir" replied Tiner.
22:45, Harm's apartment.
Harm had only arrived at home when his phone rung, it was Mac telling him that she and Mic had to leave ASAP for Pearl Harbor for Anderson case. She was looking forward to spending the weekend in a paradise island and her "fiancée" was going with her. He had the feeling that Mac only called him to rub it in.
His relation with Mac had always been an emotional roller-coaster. He cared about her, she was a good partner and a good friend, and he even had a romantic interest in her but he was coming to realize that sort of relationship could never work between them.
He was tired, emotionally tired but he was determined to make some changes in his life. In the last couple of months he had come to the painful conclusion that none of his passed relationships would have worked because he was still in love with HER, ever since he met her but he was scared of those feelings. And it took him 5 years and a stream of failed relationships to finally see it. He never felt for another woman what he felt for her, for one Meg Austin.
Harm slowly got up from the couch and went to the bookshelf and picked up a book.
It was Johannes Kepler, 'Laws of Planetary Motion'.
Harm had a soft smile on his face as looked at the dedication,
"This is where I read that Navy pilots make the best astronauts.
Hope you get your chance to become the first lawyer in space.
Take care of yourself and live your life to the full.
Happy birthday, Harm!
Love, Meg"
He still remembered the day she had said those words to him, they had flown to Vanderberg, to investigate the death of Cmdr Atkins, in a tomcat. Meg always loved to fly with him whenever they got the chance. Even that flight was Meg's doing, as he later found out from Chegwidden. She had "negotiated" with the Admiral until he authorized the flight. And than 3 days later she had given him the book as a birthday present.
But the book wasn't the only present she had given him. All day long Meg had taken care of him, took care of all his paperwork (she was doing that every day anyway), got him the coffee and kept Krennick away from him. The biggest surprise had come in the evening. She called him pretending that she had some problems with her car and that she needed some help. So he went to pick her up from the restaurant where she supposedly was on a date, but when he got there he was left speechless. She was waiting for him in a beautiful red dress, along with his mother and grandmother.
She had told him that she hated seeing him so down lately and so she had called Trish and Sarah and told them about her plan to cheer him up. She managed to somehow find tickets on a last minute plane and than picked them up from the airport.
They had spent a wonderful evening, it was probably one of the best birthdays he has had. And it was amazing how well the women got along, even after all those years his mother still asks him if he had ever met Meg again. But the answer was always a sad "no".
Harm went back to the couch and flipped through the book until he found what he was looking for.
It was a picture of the 4 of them taken that same evening. He was standing next to Meg and his mother. He hadn't looked at that picture in a long time. He even thought about throwing it away after she had left Jag so abruptly without saying goodbye, but he never could.
He had been angry with her for leaving without a word, for never calling him back or answering his calls, but the more he thought about it the more he came to realize it was probably the best move for her career and also realized that she had already said her goodbyes the last time he saw her. He just hadn't realized it back then.
Harm closed his eyes to let the memories invade his mind.
It happened some weeks after Diane's murder case, he just had come back from a 5 day leave. It was Saturday morning and he wanted to invite Meg for dinner and a movie at his place that evening but he wasn't feeling so great. By the time evening came he was feeling really bad and called Meg to tell her they had to do dinner and movie some other time.
"What's wrong, you don't sound so good?" Meg had asked with a worried voice.
"I'm fine, just a little tired don't worry" he had replied.
"Yeah right. Look Harm I'm going to come anyway, after I make sure that you really ok I'm going to get out of your hair" Meg had told him.
He knew she would say that, Meg could always tell when something was wrong with him.
When Meg arrived he was feeling really hot.
"Jesus Harm, you're burning up. We need to take you to a hospital" she had said with a hand on his forehead.
"No, no hospitals. You know I hate them. I'll just take a pill and go to bed, I'll be fine", said Harm in a whiny voice.
He would never admit it to anyone but he was enjoying Meg's touch even through his fever.
"Ok fine. But I'm staying with you and you will do what I say, otherwise I will take you to the hospital. Do I make myself clear Lt Cmdr?" Meg had said with a stern voice.
"Yes ma'am", Harm had answered with a mock salute.
"Ok, let's get you in the shower we need to get your fever down. If you feel dizzy just lean on me" she had said guiding him to his bathroom. "Now take your shirt and pants off" she had said while she was helping him get out of his clothes.
"Lt, are you trying to take advantage of me?" Harm had asked trying to give her one of his signature grins.
"Only in your wettest dreams sailor" she had answered already pushing him under the cold shower.
He always thanked God that she could not see the effect her touches and her words were having on him.
Trying to reach for the tap that was behind Harm, she had slipped and involuntarily pushed him into the tile wall and getting wet herself.
"Shit this is cold" she had screamed holding tightly onto Harm and closing her eyes.
Having her so close to him and looking the way she did all wet, Harm felt even hotter and tingles all over his body and he knew it wasn't for the fever. Taking advantage that her eyes were closed and that her lips were parted because of the shock from the cold water hitting her skin, he did the one thing he always has wanted to do: he kissed her.
The moment his lips touched hers he felt like the world had stopped. And on instinct he drew her even closer to him and deepened the kiss. He figured he could always blame it on the fever. He was afraid that Meg would push him away but he was surprised that she responded to the kiss.
He didn't know for how long they've been kissing but Meg was the one that pushed away when she started shivering.
"We should get out of here or we'll both get sick", she said closing the water and trying not to slip again. "Do you feel any better?" she had asked him wrapping a towel around his shoulders without looking at him, and touching his face to check if the fever has subsided.
"Yes, much better", he finally answered. "You should get out of those wet cloths, or you'll get sick as well"
"I will, but first let's get you dried of and out of those wet shorts", she said getting him out of the bath room and into the bedroom. "I'll get some dry cloths you just sit here", she said while she was helping him dry of with another towel.
He loved the way she was taking care of him, and most of all he was enjoying her soft touch. He watched her while she was looking through his well organized closet to look for a couple of t-shirts and pants.
"Here you go. Think you can manage while I go back in there and get changed?" she had asked pointing to the bathroom.
When he nodded she went into the bathroom leaving him alone to change. When she came back she was wearing one of his navy t-shirts and a pair of running shorts, her wet hair combed and pulled to the back. She looked breathtaking and he could not stop from staring at her.
She was oblivious to all that, she was preoccupied by getting him in bed, cleaning the water markings from the floor.
"Ok, all done. I'm going to go in the kitchen and make you some juice and some soup. Now open" she had said giving him a spoon of some fowl tasting syrup taken from his medicine cabinet.
"Stop being such a baby Harm it doesn't taste that bad" she scolded him when he tried to duck his head. "If you don't like the way I'm taking care of you we can always go to the hospital, your choice" she said with crooked smile.
"Fine, you win" he said with a resigned voice, swallowing the syrup and making a face.
"Good boy. Now I'm going to get you that soup, you need a lot of fluids to help you with that fever" she said leaving for the kitchen
15 minutes later she was back with a bowl of warm soup and a glass of juice. And also had a bowl where she had soaked a pair of his socks and a small towel, it smelled fowl.
"What the hell is that?" he had asked her, while she was putting on the socks for him.
"It's vinegar, it helps bring down your temperature. Here put this on your forehead" she said handing him the small towel. "I know it smells bad but it helps a lot" she said looking at him with soft smile on her face.
"You're right it feels better" he said after o couple of minutes. "Thanks Meg, you're a wonderful friend", he told her giving her one of his signature smiles.
"No problem, glad I can help" she said with a lovely smile, "Now let's get some fluids in your body", she sad sitting on the side of his bed and helping him with a bowl of soup. She had spent the whole night taking care of him and talking to him.
She had fallen asleep and he remembered that at one point she turned around and cuddled next to him, and it was a wonderful feeling. After some minutes of watching her sleeping form and holding her close, he fell asleep as well.
When he woke up he was afraid that it was just a dream that he had been hallucinating because of the fever. But then he heard her in the kitchen.
"Morning sleepyhead, feeling any better", she asked him from the doorway a sweet smile on her face. She was wearing her clothes
"Morning", he replied with a big smile on his face. "Thank you for everything Meg, you really didn't have to do all that"
"It was my pleasure Harm, you are my friend and it was the least I could do", she told him with a soft voice. "I should be going, I have some things to do", she said starting to bite her lip nervously.
"Meg, don't worry I'll be fine. Go and do whatever you have to do, you don't have to baby sit me. I don't have a fever anymore and feel much better" he said getting up form the bed.
"Ok, if you're sure, but I'll call you a little bit later. I have made you a light breakfast, lots of juices and got you some medicines from the pharmacy. Oh, and also I got you a vegetarian lasagna in case you get hungry later", she said while he was following her to the door.
"Meg slow down, my brain is still trying to process al you have said", Harm said laughing.
"Sorry", she said with a little blush.
"Meg you are the best friend a guy could have. Go and I'll see you tomorrow at the office", he said giving her a kiss on her cheek.
"Harm, I…" she started but than stopped, looking at him with sad eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked looking intently at her putting his hands on her shoulders.
He could see that something was bothering her, he thought that it must be for the kiss they had shared the previous evening. He started to curs himself for letting his emotions take over his common sense. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her uneasy or lose her friendship.
"Meg if it's about the kiss, I'm sorr..." he could not finish as she put a finger on his lips
"Don't worry it's not about that", she said in a rush, a little blush gracing her cheeks. "It was not your fault, you were not feeling quite yourself and I did respond to it even though I knew better. So let's just forget it, ok?" she said boldly.
That was why he loved her, she was straight up. She didn't let anything hanging, that would later get in the way and make things awkward between them.
If only she knew that he would never regret or forget that kiss. He knew that being his junior officer he could never have that kind of relationship with her, but maybe in the future…
"Than what's wrong", he asked
"Nothing, I just wanted to tell you that I really appreciate all you have taught me, you've been the best partner a junior officer could have, and also one of my dearest friends. I want you to know that I'll always treasure your friendship", she said looking deep into his eyes.
Harm was looking at her with a frown. "Did you get my fever Lt", he asked with a mock voice, placing his hand on her forehead.
"Ha, ha, very funny Harm", replied Meg with a small laugh
"Well it got you to laugh, didn't it?" he asked. "Now get out of here and I'll see you at work. And don't worry about me, I'll be fine", he said opening the door for her.
"Good bye Harm", she said giving him a hug and a kiss, leaving for the stairs.
Little did he know that that was the last time he would see her. When he went into their office Krennick had told him that she was transferred back to Weapons.
Harm heard the phone ringing and with a sigh he reached for the receiver, "Rabb"
"Cmdr Rabb, sorry to disturb you at this late hour, this is Petty Officer Tiner, The Admiral asked me to call and inform you that he wants you in his office tomorrow morning at 08:00 ASAP", said Tiner
"Did something happen Tiner?" Harm asked frowning
"Not that I know of sir, although the admiral has been receiving calls from State and from Pearl Harbor all evening" said Tiner
"Ok Tiner, thank you and good night", said Harm
"Good night sir", replied Tiner.
Harm was thoughtful. "It must have something to do with the case Mac was working on" he said to himself. All he knew was that a Captain Anderson has requested a reduced sentence in order to cooperate in the case of the stolen weapons from SEATAC.
He picked took one last look at the photo, tracing Meg's face with his finger. All those memories that had invaded him that evening determined him to make a decision. He would try to find out where she was and try to get in contact with her, if only to remake their friendship. He was certain that a woman like Meg would most likely be married with kids.
He put the picture in the book and than took the book to its place. He than headed for the bathroom to take a shower and than go to get some sleep.
He knew that tomorrow will be a long and difficult day.