Title: JAG: "Incident at Potomac Park"
Author: TxJAGAz
Rating: PG/R language, violence, suggestive comments, adult language
Spoilers: JAG: Any season from 1 to 8…especially "Fortunate Son" "Second Chances" "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown".
New sections are indicated by bold letters. Thoughts of a person are in italics. Scene changes not indicated by the JAG timestamp will be indicated by scene change markers: i.e., xxixx for chapter one, and so on.
Classification: A JAG-NCIS action/adventure mystery thriller
Summary: Begins during "Complications" and just after "All Ye Faithful" and incorporates the story arc of "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown" but with a twist with pieces from "Fortunate Son" and "Second Acts". Commander Lindsey hasn't written his hatchet job (so-called) internal audit yet; Harm and Sturgis are still friends, and Mac and Harm are still abiding by their "JAGathon" détente.
Byrhthelm and I came up with this little idea one day while discussing how we thought Loren Singer's demise, while helping to launch NCIS, might have been handled a different way. This story deviates from canon starting the night that Harm and Loren Singer have their infamous fight over whose baby the Lieutenant is carrying. Anymore, and I'll be giving away the plot.
Disclaimers:
The JAG characters in this story are the property of Donald Bellisario, Belisaurius Productions, Paramount Pictures and Columbia Broadcasting Service Entertainment – this story is for non-profit entertainment of JAG fans only. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.
The NCIS characters in this story are the property of Donald Bellisario, Don McGill, and Charles Johnson. Belisaurius Productions, Paramount Pictures and Columbia Broadcasting Service Entertainment – this story is for non-profit entertainment of NCIS fans only. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.
2045 Local_0145 Zulu
Potomac Park, near Great Falls
Washington, DC
Sunday evening, 5 January 2003
A limp, pregnant body was lifted up and heaved over the icy bridge railing as swirling snowflakes continued to fall. His face impassive, Commander Theodore Lindsey watched briefly as an unconscious Lieutenant Loren Singer fell into the cold rushing water below. Then with satisfied nod, he turned and hurried away from the scene.
As Loren hit the icy water, it shocked her briefly back to consciousness.
"Aieee!" she cried fleetingly before the brutally cold water entered her mouth along with leaves and small twigs, causing her to sputter and gasp.
Teddy Lindsey instinctively paused and turned back at the sound of Loren's half muffled scream and sputtering coughs. She's alive! As he leaned over the railing peering into the dark water, he wrestled with the idea of diving in and saving her I thought she was dead…! But that witch did try and blackmail him, he thought darkly. Let her drown; she deserves it!
He hurried away from the bridge, hoping no one saw him.
Marine Sergeant James Garrel, just back from his first deployment in Afghanistan, was walking down to the Potomac Falls bridge to watch the churning icy water. He had just gotten off his plane a couple of hours ago, but had not changed into civilian clothes yet. He had had a turbulent new year so far with what had happened to his unit and what had happened to his little sister. He had come to the park really without thinking, headed for his favorite spot – the pedestrian bridge at Great Falls. It soothed him to watch the water rush past as he stood on the bridge at the railing. That's what he wanted right now more than anything - to wash away the thoughts of what would happen to his unit and about his little sister in the hospital the result of a Christmas Eve hit and run accident–- That's odd… The Sergeant thought he saw someone diving off the bridge into the water. It was hard to see anything else because it was snowing so hard.
Then he heard it, a female scream followed by muffled coughs and gasps.
He ran down to the bridge, not noticing Teddy Lindsey's departure, the footprints in the snow or the pool of blood that was rapidly disappearing under the heavy snowfall.
"Hey! Is anybody down there?" he yelled into the black rushing water.
"Help me," a weak voice floated up from the wet darkness. "I can't hold on…."
Without thinking about what might happen to his uniform or the icy coldness of the water, James Garrel ignored the jagged rocks sticking out of the rapids and dove in. He swam toward the dark figure clinging to a large branch that she was wedged up against.
2235 Local_0335 Zulu
NCIS Headquarters
Washington Naval Yard
Washington, DC
Gibbs was about ready to go home when he saw Dr. Donald Mallard hurrying into the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) bullpen.
"Thought you'd left hours ago, Dr. Mallard," Gibbs quipped to the NCIS Medical Examiner as he put the finishing touches on yet another crime report.
"I was just finishing up some reports when the guards called," Donald 'Ducky' Mallard said quickly. "Excuse me, Jethro, they need me downstairs at the front door security checkpoint."
"Duck?" Gibbs said as he stood up, sensing the urgency in his friend's manner.
"A young woman fell from a bridge at Potomac Park; she's downstairs," he called out as he headed for the elevator.
Without saying anything else, Gibbs moved to catch up with the NCIS ME.
xxixx
When Ducky and Gibbs arrived at the checkpoint, they found two people, thoroughly drenched, with the security guards. One of the Marine security officers was holding a wad of bloody gauze against the back of the woman's head. Sitting next to his companion, the soaked Marine Sergeant was holding her hand gently. "Stay with me, Lieutenant," he ordered to the Naval officer who appeared extremely woozy and disoriented.
Gibbs could see that the woman's eyes were dilated.
"Okay," she said as if distracted by something no one else could see.
The other security guard nodded to Ducky. "Thanks for coming so quickly, Dr. Mallard. The Lieutenant here, she's got a nasty gash to the back of her head," he reported to the Medical Examiner. "Corporal Stone just placed the gauze on the back of her head when we realized how badly she was bleeding."
"Did you call the Branch Medical Clinic before calling me?" Ducky asked clinically.
The first guard shook his head. "Sorry sir, the Branch Clinic isn't open on Sundays." Ducky scrunched up his face in irritation. "Oh yes, sorry, I'm usually not here on Sundays."
Gibbs looked at the wet Sergeant sitting next to the Lieutenant. "And you are?"
"Sergeant James Garrel, sir-"
"Special Agent Gibbs, Sergeant." The silver haired head of the DC Major Case Response Team noted that the Lieutenant's Corps device on her uniform indicated she was a JAG Corps officer. Gibbs knew and had met some of the other JAGC officers through his casework, but he didn't recall having seen this one before.
Garrel began his report. "Yes sir, uh, Special Agent Gibbs, I was headed down to one of the river crossings in Potomac Park when I saw her go over and heard her scream and cry for help. I dived in and got her back to shore. She seemed dazed and couldn't remember who she was or what she was doing there. I didn't know what else to do, so I brought her here."
"Why didn't you take her to a hospital or call 911?" Gibbs demanded in his usual investigator tone.
Garrel realized immediately that he had messed up. "There was no way she could have fallen from that bridge by herself. Someone was trying to kill her was all I could think. I panicked, sir, er, Special Agent Gibbs, I have a friend here at NCIS Headquarters who I thought might be able to help. I-I didn't realize she was bleeding so badly until the security guards pointed it out to me."
"She's also pregnant, Sergeant," Ducky said gruffly as he took her hand away from Garrel. The NCIS Medical Examiner focused his eyes on her as he shone a penlight in her eyes. "I'm Doctor Donald Mallard, Lieutenant, how far are you along m'dear?"
Loren looked at Ducky with a blank expression. "Lieutenant? I-I don't know…how far I'm along…I-I'm pregnant?" She peered down at her swollen belly.
Donald turned back to the others. "She's got a concussion, possible amnesia, maybe worse due to her fall. I just can't tell yet. We have to get her to a hospital immediately."
The senior of the two guards nodded and began dialing to place the call.
"Did anybody witness what happened?" Gibbs asked the Sergeant.
"I doubt it Special Agent Gibbs," he replied. "It was snowing pretty hard when I dived in. There was no one around when I pulled her out."
"Who were you bringing her to see?" Gibbs said brusquely. He wondered if John Michael McBurney, the JAGC officer detailed to work with NCIS, would want to talk to her after Ducky got her stabilized.
Garrel was focusing on Gibbs previous question. "Special Agent Jim Brookfield I'm sorry, Special Agent Gibbs, I know now I should have taken her to a hospital-"
Ducky figured the Sergeant was obviously worried about this young woman. Maybe he hadn't been the agent of her injuries after all. "It's all right m'lad, we've got her now. We'll take good care of her."
"Ambulance is here, Doc." One of the guards said as he got off the phone.
Two Corpsmen tugging a gurney entered the checkpoint area. Ducky and Garrel helped them gently lower the JAG Corps officer onto the stretcher mattress and strapped her down. The senior Corpsman looked down at her, as the junior one began prepping her for an IV.
"Lieutenant, I'm Petty Officer Simmons, how far are you along, ma'am?"
Loren looked up Dr. Mallard as if he knew more about her than she did.
"She's in her second trimester, fifth month, possibly 19 to 20 weeks," Ducky replied for her. "She has a probable hairline fracture at the base of her skull, possible concussion, and minor lacerations from her fall from a bridge into the Potomac River at Great Falls. No signs of frostbite or hypothermia."
The senior Corpsman nodded and tapped his radio mike strapped to his shoulder. "Central, we have a female, Navy Lieutenant, approximately 25 to 30 years old and in her second trimester, who fell into the river at Great Falls, vitals are-"
He looked over at the junior Corpsman who just finished listening to Lieutenant's heart was unstrapping the blood pressure wrap from her arm. "-BP is 140 over 100, breathing is labored but steady, and pulse is 100."
"Fetal vital signs?" inquired the nurse at Central.
The second Corpsman pulled his stethoscope away from the Lieutenant's belly. He had opened her blouse and had been listening intently. "Pulse is steady and strong, he or she is a fighter." He delicately ran his hands under her shirt along the woman's swollen abdomen. "No signs of avulsions or other injuries to the abdomen." He reported to his partner. He nodded and repeated the information for the Bethesda nurse.
The radio crackled with static "Unit 27, begin an IV with D5W and Ringers Lactate; check for excess vaginal bleeding, watch for signs of fetal distress, and transport as soon as possible."
"10-4 Central, Unit 27 is en-route."
"Corpsman, have her admitted as Lieutenant Jane Doe." Gibbs said as they started to wheel her out.
That stopped them. Usually they followed whatever law enforcement officers told them, but this time they were confused. "Someone tried to kill her." The NCIS Special Agent added in a somewhat annoyed voice.
"And that someone may try again, lads." Ducky hoped by adding his opinion that the two Corpsmen would be more inclined to do as asked.
The two Corpsmen looked at each other for a moment and then nodded. "Aye sir."
Garrel watched as the two Corpsmen wheeled her out. "May I go with her Special Agent?" he asked Gibbs.
Ducky responded before the gray haired Special Agent could. "Probably best if you didn't Sergeant, but you can ride along with me." Ducky said understanding the young Sergeant's concern.
Gibbs meanwhile, pulled out his cell and tapped in a familiar number. "Tony? Get over to the Potomac Park pedestrian bridge at Great Falls now! We've got a case. No, you let me call Viv. You just get there, pronto, DiNozzo." He snapped his phone shut and quickened his pace to catch up with the two Corpsmen.
xxixx
"Spare me, Tony, please?" Vivienne Blackadder groaned as they entered through the Emergency Room's sliding doors. She unwrapped her muffler and pulled her black woven stocking cap from her head, shaking stubborn snowflakes from the cap.
"I'm telling you Viv, it's the God's honest truth. It really happened that way….c'mon now, you believe me don't you?" Tony said as he brushed snow out of his hair and winked at the guard.
"Kill me now, will you?" she said to the now smiling guard at the front desk. He had heard about NCIS Special Agent Tony DiNozzo's infamous 'true-life crime stories'.
The guard winked at the former FBI Agent. "Sorry ma'am, I can't do mercy killings."
"What did you find?" Gibbs snapped as he suddenly appeared in front of them, startling both agents and the guard.
Tony's smile evaporated as did the guard's. "It's snowing pretty hard out there Gibbs."
"I didn't ask you for a weather report, DiNozzo," Gibbs growled. "I asked you - what-did-you-find?"
"We examined the area as best we could, given the fact it's still not daylight yet, Gibbs." the former FBI Agent Blackadder reported to head of the DC Major Case Response Team.
Her somewhat surly tone earned her an evil glare, prompting Tony to blurt out. "But we got portable lights set up on the scene and Pacci and Dobbs are out there right now-"
"Pacci is supposed to be investigating Lieutenant Voss and Dobbs is supposed to be monitoring MTAC transmissions for the Director, DiNozzo." Gibbs told him bluntly.
Tony flashed his boss his best embarrassed smile. "Well gee Gibbs, I figured that this was an 'all agents on deck' type investigation, "
The Head of the DC MCRT gave him a cutting look. "Well, you thought wrong."
Tony's embarrassed smile vanished. "Sorry Boss."
"Well now that you're both done wasting my time, *what did you or they find*?"
Vivienne began tapping her trusty ever-present PDA. "The snowfall had obscured multiple footsteps indicating signs of a struggle at the center of the bridge, Gibbs."
Tony wasn't about to let her steal all the thunder. "We also found blood near the footsteps and it might match a Lieutenant Lor-"
Gibbs' warning look told DiNozzo he was about to say the wrong thing.
"LorJane Doe. er, Jane Doe, the blood might match Lieutenant Jane Doe's."
He turned to Vivienne who was still smiling at Tony's faux pas. "Get in there and stay with her." He ordered motioning toward the first examination room. Then he glared at Tony. "And since you don't have an exact match, get back to Potomac Park and relieve Pacci and Dobbs, now! And find me some hard evidence!"
"On my way, Gibbs," Tony said hurrying back out the ER doors.
As Vivienne entered the examination room to check on their victim, Gibbs pulled out his cell phone again.
0325 Local_Zulu 0825
AJ Chegwidden's Residence
McLean, Virginia
Monday, 6 January 2003
Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden groped for his cell phone. The damn thing was near impossible to find in the dark when it wasn't open. Whoever was calling him on his cell phone at this hour better have a damn good reason for doing so!
"Chegwidden," he rumbled sleepily as he opened the phone. AJ listened intently as the voice on the other end relayed the information
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he said hurriedly. Then the Rear Admiral and former SEAL quickly pulled himself out of bed and began getting dressed.
xxixx
"Thanks for coming down AJ," Director Thomas 'Tom' C. Morrow said shaking hands with AJ Chegwidden as they met in front of the MCRT bullpen area.
AJ though, was all business. His lawyer tone indicated he was not in a mood for niceties. "Tom, you're in early this morning. Now why is my JAG officer at Bethesda?"
It wasn't that AJ didn't appreciate his call. Since Tom Morrow had been named director, he had done a lot to smooth out the bumps between JAG and NCIS that his predecessor had seemed to take delight in making.
Tom Morrow was about to answer when a graying man entered the bullpen carrying a steaming sealed disposable 'to go' coffee cup. "Your JAG officer was thrown into the water near Potomac Falls, Admiral. We don't want her would be killer knowing she's still alive."
AJ looked this newcomer up and down. Dressed in a long gray coat winter coast and sporting a black muffler around his neck, he didn't look military but he carried himself like someone with military experience. He gave him an apprising smile. "Well, they'll find that out soon enough. And you are?"
Director Morrow made introductions. "AJ, this Special Agent L. Jethro Gibbs, the Head of the District of Columbia Major Case Response Team and lead investigator on this case. Special Agent Gibbs is a former Marine Gunnery Sergeant and as such, understands military protocols. Gibbs, this is the Navy-Marine Corps Judge Advocate General, Admiral A.J. Chegwidden."
AJ and Gibbs stared at each other for a long moment as if testing each other to see who would flinch first. AJ had heard about L. Jethro Gibbs from his attorneys and from Major McBurney, the JAG-NCIS liaison,but up until now, their paths hadn't actually crossed.
They both stuck out their hands at the same time and shook firmly.
"Admiral."
'Special Agent Gibbs."
Glad that Gibbs had met with AJ's tentative approval, he elaborated on Gibbs' initial statement. "We need to keep this on the QT AJ, until Gibbs and his team can figure out what happened." Tom explained.
"May I see her?" AJ asked abruptly.
Tom glanced at Gibbs who gave the slightest shake of his head, and then the NCIS Director turned back to the JAG. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea, AJ."
The Admiral was taken aback by this pronouncement, but his shock was only momentary. "Oh? Why the hell not?"
Tom understood that the Admiral was used to getting his way. "She's fine for the moment, AJ - a preliminary examination was done when she was brought here by a Marine Sergeant."
"Brought here?" AJ said interrupting, "Why was she brought here? Why not Bethesda?"
Tom grimaced as if he had tasted something bad. "The Sergeant panicked. Luckily Dr. Mallard, our ME, hadn't left for the day and was able to check her out."
AJ had a thousand questions he wanted to ask, like, 'was he qualified?' but he settled for sticking to the immediate concerns for the moment. "What did he find?"
Gibbs chose to tell the Admiral what they had found. "Hairline fracture to the base of the skull with possible amnesia as a result and she had ingested some water from the river."
AJ noticed nothing was said about the fact that Lieutenant Singer was pregnant. "What about her child?"
"Initial indications are that the child is okay, Admiral. They are monitoring her for signs of fetal distress." Gibbs tone became slightly more deferential. "Sir, I understand this is a lot to
absorb-"
AJ knew what he was going to say next. 'Do you know who would want to do this?' but he was more concerned about his attorney at the moment. "I still want to see her for myself. She is one of my team," The JAG said interrupting the Special Agent's politely worded query.
Tom and Gibbs exchanged a quick glance before looking back at the Admiral.
"Very well, AJ. Gibbs, take the Admiral over to Bethesda."
"Yes sir," Gibbs replied in the same courteous tone. The Head of the DC MCRT had lost this round, but he would get the Admiral to tell him what he knew.
0545 Local_ 1045 Zulu
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland
Monday, 6 January 2003
The Head of the DC MCRT and the JAG walked down the hall toward Lieutenant Singer's room. Outside her door stood an MP.
The armed MP came to attention and saluted when AJ approached. AJ saluted back and then grabbed for the door handle.
Gibbs stopped the Admiral before he went in. "She's safe here Admiral. Do you know of anyone who would want to harm her or her baby?"
AJ didn't know what was going on but he damned sure was going to find out. "Offhand, I can't say I know anyone who would harbor that kind of ill will towards my officer. May I see her now?"
Gibbs opened the door letting the Admiral in.
Vivienne Blackadder, who had been sitting beside the unconscious Lieutenant, stood with a look of concern growing on her face. She wanted to ask who this naval officer was, but by the way Gibbs was treating him, she figured he must be pretty important. She stood away from the bed, letting the Admiral come up close to the Lieutenant.
AJ looked down at Loren. She looked so small and vulnerable laying on her side, her head swathed in bandages with all the monitors attached and tubes she had sticking out of her. Lieutenant Singer had been a royal pain in the backside lately with her first requesting 30 days leave in late November and then asking for maternity leave a few days ago. It was highly unusual to grant this, but because of the state Loren Singer had left his office he figured the more time she had away from JAG Corps Headquarters until her orders came through, the better.
The JAG's cursory examination only found superficial cuts and bruises showing on her face. The fetal monitor chirped rhythmically indicating all was well for now. Loren appeared to be sleeping.
AJ turned to the two NCIS Agents. "Is she being held here against her will?"
Vivienne started to bristle at his off handed comment, but noticed that Gibbs was the paragon of calmness. "As I said Admiral, her would be killer is most likely still out there and if word gets out that she's alive, they might come back to finish the job and since we don't who it is or what they look like, it's better that she stays under wraps for now."
Vivienne made a mental note to not react viscerally to emotion laden comments. "She's perfectly safe here, sir. We have a guard outside her door. For now she is Lieutenant Jane Doe, a young Navy Lieutenant who was found unconscious near a stream in Rock Creek Park."
AJ turned to Gibbs for an explanation. "We don't want the person who is trying to kill her to know anything about her. We want them to think they got away with what they were trying to do to Loren Singer – at least for the time being."
The two Agents could tell the JAG was perturbed about what had happened. Someone had tried to kill one of his attorneys and he might very well know who. Gibbs decided this was time to hit him with his request. "We'll need to know where any staff who worked with her were this Saturday evening or anyone who might have a grudge against her."
AJ looked again at Loren's fragile looking form in the bed. He nodded. "I'll get you a list," he replied quietly.
0720 Local_1230 Zulu
The Pentagon
Washington, DC
Monday, 6 January 2003
"How is Lieutenant Singer doing this morning AJ?" Edward Sheffield asked. Despite rumors to the contrary, the SECNAV could show humanity and wasn't always looking for a political angle.
"Her condition is unchanged, sir," AJ said as he settled into the plush chair across from Sheffield's. The JAG took a sip of his coffee. The caffeine was appreciated considering how little sleep he had gotten last night. "She's still unconscious, but her doctor said her prognosis is good."
AJ was mentally shaking his head; had someone placed a curse on his command? First Lieutenant Roberts failed his medical review for permanent limited active duty, and then he had Lieutenant General Chet Cuban trying to do end runs around Rabb and MacKenzie's JAGMan investigation into the death his daughter, Kristen, who died on the operating table during surgery to remove a cyst on her neck.
The SECNAV nodded thoughtfully, placing his cup back on its saucer. "Any idea who might have done this?"
AJ set his cup and saucer down as well. At least he didn't add 'dastardly deed' to the end of his sentence. AJ thought mirthlessly. "The, uh, lead NCIS investigator on the case asked for a list of the staff who had worked with her up to the time of the incident"
Edward Sheffield sat back in his chair, nodding. "That would be Special Agent Gibbs, I take it."
The Admiral nodded back. "Yes sir,"
The SECNAV leaned forward in his chair. "AJ, I know I shouldn't stick my nose in your affairs, but I would like bring in an attorney from outside your Headquarters staff to squash any appearance of impropriety on our part. They'll work the investigation with the JAG-NCIS Liaison and the DC MCRT."
I knew it! The JAG had prepared for just such a contingency and as soon as he left Loren's room, he phoned Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee and had them fax a copy of the person's service record to him. "Yes sir, I think I have just the person…."
Edward Sheffield was pleasantly surprised by this proactive action on the Admiral's part. "Who AJ?"
"An attorney assigned to North Island NAS, sir. She's a crack investigator and has excellent record in court." AJ handed over the attorney's service record so that the SECNAV could review it.
"Oh?" He said as he scanned the information handed him.
AJ was proud of the research he had done. "Yes sir. Nine convictions so far."
The SECNAV handed the service record back to the JAG. "Out of how many cases?" he asked.
AJ gave him a quick smirk. "Nine sir."
Edward Sheffield was very pleased with the JAG. "Impressive AJ. Have—uh," Edward's face fell. Her name not being important to him, it had evaporated from his mind.
AJ though was ready for this. As he had suspected; the SECNAV had only glanced at her service record not really noticing her name. "Lieutenant Commander Faith Coleman," he finished for the SECNAV.
The SECNAV stood up as did AJ. "Yes, have Commander Coleman assigned temporarily to Major McBurney's office at NCIS Headquarters. I'll make sure orders go through COM NAVDIST Washington without any hitch."
AJ already had Tiner processing the TAD orders. "Yes sir." He said smiling.
Sheffield looking like a professor thinking great thoughts nodded absently until a thought struck him "Oh, and AJ,"
The JAG fortunately didn't have to stop his exit from the room because he knew the SECNAV was going to do this. "Yes sir?"
"Is the Lieutenant still under an assumed name?"
The JAG wondered just how much the SECNAV knew and how much of this was a test. "For the time being, sir." He answered honestly.
Sheffield nodded and sat down behind his desk indicating the meeting was over. "All right, very good. Give Commander Coleman and Major McBurney all the details of the case when you talk to them, AJ."
"Yes sir." The JAG replied wearily.
-TBC