Chapter X - Incident at Potomac Park
1321 Local_ 1821 Zulu
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland
James Garrel was feeling pretty good about his latest conversation with Loren…make that Laurie Singer. Whether she realized it or not, her relaxing around him let Laurie remember even more of her past than she realized. James was happy for her and at the same time, a little saddened. As soon as she regained her memory, she'd be gone from his life. He was debating why that was so important to him when he almost ran into the Head of the DC Major Case Response Team.
James' eyes flared in surprise as he stepped back. "Special Agent Gibbs! I was just, I-" Why did he feel like he had been caught doing something wrong?
"Sergeant Garrel," Gibbs replied, giving the man a hard look. "Visiting someone?"
"Uh yes sir, Lieutenant Singer, sir," he admitted.
Gibbs' hard look became like granite. "You were visiting an officer on personal business, Sergeant? Did they not teach you about fraternization?" Gibbs knew he was being rough on the Sergeant but he was doing this to make a point.
James felt as if he were facing his old Drill Instructor at Boot Camp on Parris Island. "Sir, if you give me a chance to explain-"
Gibbs knew what the Sergeant was feeling and decided to go with it by getting right in his face. "You don't have to say anything else, Sergeant! You are interfering with my case and that is a felony!" He hoped that the threat was enough to shake the lovesickness out of him.
"Sir, that's unfair!" Sergeant Garrel fired back. "You don't know what Laurie-"
"Lock it up, Sergeant!" Gibbs growled. James wisely did not say anything else, though he really wanted to.
Gibbs stood back a little, but his tone didn't soften any. "I'm not your CO, but I could report this to him. However, because you saved her life, I won't." Before James could thank him or breathe a sigh of relief, the senior NCIS agent continued. "But the best thing you can do for Loren Singer is to forget about her, Sergeant. It was a momentary lapse in judgment. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir," James said stoically. Deep down he had expected this to happen. He'd have to let Dr. Mallard carry the ball from here on in when it came to helping Laurie…Loren recover her memories.
Gibbs could tell from his tone that the Sergeant wasn't going to obey him. At this point the Head of the DC MCRT decided to let the Sergeant's conscience figure this one out. His gut told him Garrel was a good guy…just a little lonely.
1500 Local_2000 Zulu
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia
"Thanks for coming in, AJ," SECNAV Edward Sheffield said as he got up from his desk and came around it to the face the Admiral. "Would you like some coffee?"
The former SEAL shook his head politely. What's the kid gloves all about? Something else has happened. "No thank you Mr. Secretary."
"Ah well, right to business then. First, please extend my thanks to Commander Rabb on the Hendley Friendly Fire Case and to Commander Turner on his excellent work on the Empty Quiver investigation down in Norfolk a few days ago."
AJ nodded, pleased at the recognition for his attorneys. That's not what this little confab is about, but it's good to hear him say nice things about my staff. "I'll do that, sir. Is there something else?"
SECNAV walked over to his desk and sat down. A grave look appeared on his face. "I called you over because I didn't want you hearing this from anyone else first, AJ. I'm afraid the Chief of Information has a bad rash after reading about what is going on with JAG. First Lieutenant Singer is nearly killed and now the joint JAGMan-NCIS investigation is pointing to someone within JAG Corps. Now, I'm not saying it is anyone in your command, but there some additional housekeeping that bears examination."
"So you want to send an investigator?" The JAG tried to keep the surprise and irritation out of his voice. On top of a murder investigation, now this?
"Just to pacify the powers that be, AJ. I have full confidence in you and your command to stand up to the scrutiny." SECNAV Sheffield said almost apologetically it seemed.
1531 Local_ 2031 Zulu
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland
Special Agent Gibbs' second visit with her didn't seem to produce anything new in the way of recovered memories. He talked with Dr. Mallard for a bit out in the hall after thanking her for her help and then he and Dr. Mallard left. Loren wondered where was Jimmy? He usually came around supper time to share her less than fantastic meal with her – and sometimes sneak her in a goodie from one of the snack machines.
Her television was on, but there wasn't anything much worth watching as far as she was concerned. She almost didn't hear the gentle tapping on her door.
She tried to sit up in bed when the tapping started again. "Yes? Come in…"
The door opened and Loren saw the perky blond from her memories cautiously entering the room.
"Is it all right if I come in, Loren?" she said hesitantly. Loren could tell the blond Navy officer was badly shaken by the way she looked sitting in the bed. Loren felt very self-conscious at that moment.
Her memories of this woman…Harriet Sims…were not all that pleasant. Also not knowing what she wanted, she was a little afraid of her as well.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" she said in a polite voice. Maybe feigning not remembering her was the best course of action at this point.
Harriet was stunned. "You don't remember me?"
"No ma'am," Loren replied hoping she would be forgiven for what she was doing.
"Not at all?" she said in an anguished voice.
Something in Loren wanted to reassure the distressed Navy Lieutenant, but something else – maybe self-preservation made her say what she said next as she shook her head. "No ma'am, I'm afraid not. I can tell you're a Lieutenant in the Navy. Did we work closely together?"
In a way she felt safer pretending she didn't remember her.
Harriet moved closer to the bed. "In a manner of speaking, Lieutenant, yes." Her blue eyes were full of sympathy. Loren decided if change was going to happen, it might as well start now and it might as well start with her.
"Ma'am, I know we're supposed to follow protocol, but can we put that aside for the time being?"
Harriet looked at her for a moment as if weighing that comment. "I suppose we can, Loren," she said finally.
"Do you mind if I call you by your first name, Lieutenant…she looked at her name badge…Sims? I hate calling you ma'am all the time."
Harriet liked this Loren. Even if her change in personality was due to a head injury. "Sure, it's Harriet."
Loren gave her a smile. She didn't seem so bad. "Good, call me Laurie, Harriet."
Harriet's face crinkled. She was confused by this request. "Laurie?" she repeated as if it were a foreign term. What kind of game was Loren Singer playing?
Loren nodded understanding her confusion. "I know, it's not my given name, Harriet, but I'm more comfortable with it right now more than with Loren." She explained to Bud Roberts' wife.
Harriet digested that and then nodded and gave Loren a small smile. "Okay…Laurie."
Loren smiled when she heard the name. "Thank you, ma'am," Loren said automatically. When she saw the look of confusion on Harriet's face she began giggling. "Sorry, I guess old habits do die hard."
Harriet smiled and relaxed a little when Loren admitted that. Even the giggles – so unlike Loren Singer – were refreshing. "Why do you want to be called Laurie?" Harriet had to know why and why had she picked that name.
Loren thought about that for a moment. Why did she like that name? Might as well start anew with the truth. "I just like the name…and I want to make a clean break from the past."
Harriet though, was concerned. "Loren, this may not be such a good idea after all,"
Loren didn't like the look of unease that crossed the face of the normally perky Lieutenant. "Why not, Harriet?"
Harriet Sims wasn't sure how to broach this with Loren, but she hoped what she was about say wouldn't upset her too much. "You have to regain your memory so we can find out who did this to you. Running away is the wrong thing to do."
Loren wasn't upset by her words. After all, she was concerned for Loren, and that seemed wonderful considering their past relations. However, she wanted Harriet to know just why she was making the change. "Frankly Harriet, I'm not so sure I want to find out who I was…." She gave Harriet an embarrassed look.
"Why, Loren?" She couldn't understand Loren Singer's embarrassed look either.
Loren girded herself and plunged ahead. "The memories I have, what's left of my memories, don't paint a very pretty picture of who I was, and I really don't want to be that person anymore. I want to start anew." It was the truth – it was how she really felt at this point.
Harriet stared at her intently for a few minutes and then nodded her head in understanding. "You see this as a second chance, Loren, don't you?"
Loren was grateful she understood. "Yes, Harriet, I do, and if I start over, then Loren has to go. I've given this a lot of thought. I know I can't run away from my past and when the time comes, I'll face it. I just can't live with being Loren Singer anymore."
Harriet could see that she determined about this. It was almost as if the old Loren Singer were backing the injured Lieutenant on this decision.
Harriet reached out and took hold her hands. "Okay Loren…I mean Laurie. Okay, everyone deserves a second chance." Her eyes shined as she looked at the pregnant Navy Lieutenant.
Loren was overcome by her gesture. "Thank you, ma'am," she said huskily as she stifled a sob. Harriet was the first to notice her slip and began to chuckle, Loren soon joined her as they shared a quiet tearful laugh.
Loren wiped at her tears with her hand. Harriet dug into the purse produced tissues for both of them. Loren gratefully accepted hers dabbing at her eyes. "Harriet, be honest. Did I cause you problems in the office?"
Harriet chuckled again, but this time it was more muted. "I think you could say we had what one might call an oppositional relationship, Laurie." Loren could tell by the twinkle in her bright blue eyes that her tongue was planted firmly in her cheek when she said that.
Loren grinned when she heard that. "I gathered that from the way you held yourself, Harriet, when you came into to the room."
Harriet's smile faded a little. "What do you mean?"
Loren could see her guard was coming back up. It was time to show her that this was Laurie, not Loren, that was talking to her. "I mean I could tell you were braced for some kind of conflict. I'm very sorry you feel that way about me. You seem like a very nice person," She hoped it didn't sound too much like she was trying to butter her up because she really meant it.
Harriet was caught off guard. This definitely wasn't Loren Singer she was talking to. "Why…uh, thank you…Laurie." Loren would have had some kind of angle for wanting her friendship and as far as Harriet could figure, there really wasn't any angle or ulterior motive.
The woman sitting in the bed in front of her wanted nothing to do with Loren and her past. She wanted to make a fresh start.
Loren had been studying Harriet Sims as well. Maybe it was jealously of her stable family life and love and devotion to Bud Roberts that had put them at odds with each other. But of all people in JAG Corps Headquarters, besides that nice Admiral Chegwidden, she had been the only one to visit and readily accepted what she wanted to do with herself. She decided that maybe a little regaining of memory would be a bad thing right now. She prayed it didn't look calculating.
"And you're married…Lieutenant…Roberts? Is that right?"
Harriet's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, yes I am, but how did-how did you-"
"I remember bits and pieces of my past life, but nothing more than that. They seem to pop in and out of my head at will," Loren explained.
That was certainly true. In late few days Loren had had more images appear and disappear from her memory than she could actually recall. It was a dizzying blur of emotions, thoughts, sights, and smells.
Some pleasant – most not so pleasant.
While Harriet was digesting that, Laurie dropped another bombshell on her that she never thought she'd ever hear from Loren Singer's lips. "And from what I can recall about your husband, he's the perfect gentleman."
That floored Harriet. "Thank you Laurie," she said in a quiet voice full of raw emotion.
As Loren smiled at Harriet, another image popped into her memory. She was visiting a house…Harriet's house? And she and Harriet were talking about something…something having to do with her child? "And you…you stopped me from getting an abortion?" Loren suddenly said to her. "Why was I going to get an abortion?"
Harriet's eyes brimmed again with tears at Loren struggling to remember about herself and this particularly painful memory. "You said you didn't want a child, that the pregnancy was an inconvenience," Harriet said in a voice full of unshed tears. She cleared her throat as she dug into her purse for another tissue to dab at her eyes.
"But you talked me out of that…" Loren said with wonder…and gratitude.
Harriet looked down at Loren's swollen belly and smiled beatifically. "Apparently so,"
"I'm glad you did." Loren gave Harriet Sims a bright smile. Laurie had made her second new friend.
They spent the rest of the next couple of hours talking about JAG Corps Headquarters and the staff there. They also talked about pregnancy and babies and what Loren/Laurie could expect for the four months as her body prepared to release her child to her. She mentioned James Garrel, but only identified him as 'concerned Marine' because she didn't want to get him into trouble since there was that fraternization thing to worry about. Harriet's eyes lit up when she did reveal that she found him to be 'not too shabby in the looks department'. Harriet was more than happy to share her tips on keeping this guy interested in her. After all, they had helped her with her Bud, why not share them? Laurie giggled girlishly and thanked her for the tips.
1609 Local_2109 Zulu
Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie's Office
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
"When, um, was the last time you worked with Lieutenant Singer?" Faith Coleman asked as she sat in the chair in front of Mac's desk. Faith had to fight the urge to straighten up the Marine lawyer's desk. The stacks of papers on her desk were maddening to her ordered logical mind.
"We worked together briefly on the Seahawk in November of last year shortly before the Lieutenant returned to JAG Corps Headquarters for reassignment."
Mac could tell that Commander Coleman was unusually preoccupied with the stacks of papers on her desk. Mac would never win 'neatnik of the year' but then she had always been a member of the 'cluttered desk is the sign of an active mind' camp.
"Did you ask not to be partnered again with Lieutenant Singer while she stationed here at JAG Corps Headquarters before she became Force Judge Advocate for the Seahawk?"
Mac glanced at Major McBurney. She had tangled with him one or two times in the courtroom. Though junior in rank, he could be formidable opponent. And as she was learning now, a pretty good investigator, too.
"I did." If her years of being a lawyer had taught her anything, it was to never give out more information than you had to.
"Do you mind if I ask why?" She could see that the SJA Major wasn't going to let this go until she gave him an answer that satisfied him.
Mac thought back to the Port Chicago trial and how that had gone. "The Lieutenant and I approach courtroom situations differently," she replied dryly.
Faith and Jack exchanged a glance. "There seems to be a lot of that going around where Lieutenant Singer is concerned," Jack replied drolly.
Mac gave him a faint smile, but said nothing.
"One of those 'different approaches' involved how Lieutenant Singer had you thrown off a case for misconduct back in April of 2000. Correct?" Faith stated.
A momentary look of sadness crossed the Light Colonel's face as she thought back to that incident and how it, in turn, had led to her disastrous relationship with Mic Brumby.
Both investigators noted her temporary change in demeanor, but said nothing.
"The judge was correct in severing me from the case and the Lieutenant was justified in seeking to have me removed," Mac said stoically.
"So you had seen the part of the Mishap Report that the prosecution was not allowed to see," Jack added.
Mac nodded soberly. "I did. Inadvertently. When the judge asked, I admitted I had done so, again, inadvertently. My original question while prosecuting was tainted by having seen that report."
Faith knew that these were difficult questions for the Colonel, but if she was Lieutenant Singer's assailant then the ends justified the means. "Commander Rabb, who took over prosecuting the case, reported that he found out that someone had left that report in your car."
"He did." That information, of course, was general knowledge in Corps Headquarters after Harm reported it to Admiral Chegwidden. As a result of what had happened, security in the staff parking lots was beefed up.
Faith had one more piece of information to test her with. "He also said he would 'destroy the career' of whomever put that report in your car."
Mac though, wasn't biting. She knew what it would look like if she did. "I had heard that as well," she replied vaguely.
"Did you know he had said that to Lieutenant Singer?" Jack watched to see how she reacted to that bit of information.
"No, I did not."
Mac worked hard to keep her admiration of Harm and her dislike of Singer from showing. Harm had always watched out for her and him finding that Singer might have done this was not too much a stretch. So why hadn't he mentioned it to her? Apparently because it couldn't be proved and ultimately because the culprit was never caught, mentioning Singer might have been involved would have gained her nothing.
"He never told you?" Faith prodded.
Mac let her lawyerly façade slip a little. "No, no he didn't," she said distractedly as she looked down at her desk blotter.
Jack didn't like doing this to her, but if the Colonel was guilty…. "Just like he didn't tell you when he opened an 'unofficial investigation' with Commander Manetti regarding how the Lieutenant had gotten pregnant and whether or not it occurred prior to her deployment?"
Mac's lawyer face snapped back into place. She knew what he was trying to do. And it wouldn't work. In her mind neither she nor Harm had done this. "We had discussed trying to find out, discreetly, how and when the Lieutenant became pregnant, but he never told me he had conducted an investigation."
If the Colonel was Lieutenant Singer's assailant, she was very good at keeping herself distanced from the whole mess. And though her alibi for that evening was a bit shaky, unless they found evidence otherwise, they could cross her off the assailant list.
It was obvious to Faith Coleman that they needed to talk to Commander Manetti about this investigation before they spoke to Harmon Rabb.
1702 Local_2202 Zulu
Lieutenant Commander Tracy Manetti's Office
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Although she really wasn't considered a suspect in this case, both Jack and Faith agreed that they needed to talk to the Commander to see just what part she might have played.
"We're sorry to have to talk to you this late in the evening, Commander, but we just had a few questions we'd like to ask before you secure your station for the day." Jack said breezily as he and Faith took their seats in front of her.
Tracy for her part had just closed her internal report that was writing for the SECNAV. Sheffield had told her he wanted to get a feel for how the office ran. Tracy Manetti had been working long enough for Edward Sheffield, first as a liaison to his congressional office and now as his 'hired gun', to smoke out problems in the various offices the Secretary of the Navy had responsibility for maintaining.
JAG Corps Headquarters had come to Sheffield's attention because of the Atef Affair (which had catapulted him into this office) but also from his reading about the various unique personalities that made up the Headquarters' office. A former SEAL was now JAG, and he had brought several people into the office that had unusual backgrounds, to say the least. His top attorneys included a former Top Gun, a former Logistics officer who was also a crack criminal investigator, a former Submarine officer, and a former Public Information Officer. And then there were the cases they had been involved in and how they had resolved them…unusual, to say the least. Now, on top of all that, someone had tried to kill Lieutenant Singer. A person, in Tracy's opinion at least, that had done her best to ostracize herself from JAGC. Did she end up making someone mad enough to want to kill her?
These thoughts whirled around in her mind as faced Commander Coleman and Major McBurney.
She gave both investigators a genuine smile. "Well, I'm actually not going to be securing for a while, I'm waiting on a fax from King's Bay. Now, just what did you want to ask me?" Coming from any other person that would have sounded rude, but with her smile and Virginian drawl, it seemed like a polite response to their request.
Faith gave Tracy Manetti a bland look. "Commander, we'll get right to the point. Why did you agree to do an unofficial investigation of Lieutenant Singer for Commander Rabb?"
"You certainly don't beat around the bush, Commander, do you?" Tracy said with playful smirk. "Well to be perfectly honest, Commander Rabb asked for help and I was glad to do so."
"You've worked with the Commander before?" Jack added.
Tracy nodded. "Yes, in Italy, tracking down a serial killer."
"When he told you who you would be investigating, did you have any reservations about doing this?" Faith asked.
Tracy again shook her head. "No, none. I make it a point not to question superior officers unless there is a reason to, and in this case, because of the potential black eye Lieutenant Singer's pregnancy could have caused, I was more than happy to help the Commander with his request."
"Did you know he was not part of the official investigation?"
"Truthfully, Major, I didn't ask. I knew it was important to Admiral Chegwidden to find out the circumstances behind how the Lieutenant got pregnant and that is what I focused on."
"And you found that it was a civilian that might have gotten the Lieutenant pregnant?"
Tracy smiled. They were trying to get her to tell them something they could pin on someone at JAG – possibly Commander Rabb. But in her investigation, she didn't notice anything that Rabb did that would indicate he would try to harm Loren Singer.
"I found that no one from JAG Corps was involved and relayed that information to Commander Rabb."
Faith stood up first. "Thank you for helping us, Commander," she said. Jack stood as well.
"No problem at all," Tracy replied and stood to see them out.
When they left, Tracy Manetti walked back over to her desk and hit a key on her computer opening her report again and made another entry. 'Investigation into the assault on Lieutenant Singer seems to indeed be focusing on Commander Harmon Rabb. Will confer with Commander Lindsey regarding his personal experiences with Rabb.' As she saved the file to her diskette, her phone rang.
"Commander Manetti."
"Commander, this is Commander Lindsey. Per the SECNAV's instructions, I will be briefing Admiral Chegwidden tomorrow at 0700 on personnel interviews for my audit of JAG Corps Headquarters. I just thought you should know."
Tracy fought hard not to grimace. Couldn't he have waited until the JAGMan and NCIS investigations were finished? Why was he rushing this? "All right Commander, thank you kindly for letting me know," she replied.
"Good-bye, Commander," And Theodore Lindsey cut the connection.
"Good-bye," Tracy said to the dial tone. There was something else motivating him besides SECNAV Sheffield's orders and she didn't like it.
1831 Local_ 2331 Zulu
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland
Loren had turned on the local weather station. They were forecasting snow flurries for tomorrow. She wondered what day it was. To her, since her accident, all days had blended together. The only thing she knew for sure was that it was early evening. She was about to close her eyes when she heard a tap at her door.
She turned toward the door as best she could. "Yes? Come in…"
The door opened slowly and revealed a young Petty Officer. Her dark brown hair was in a bun.
Loren immediately recognized her, though now she saw that her rank indicated that she was a Second Class Petty Officer rather than a Third Class Petty Officer.
"Come on in…Coates." Loren said to the noncommissioned naval officer.
Jennifer's eyes went wide with surprise. "You…you remember me, ma'am? I was told you had amnesia-"
"I remember you went UA from the Gainesville," Loren replied. She smiled when she looked again at her rank. "So you decided to stay in, I see. Congratulations on your promotion…" She faltered, and then gave the younger enlisted woman an embarrassed smile. "…though I take it I'm already supposed to know about that, right?"
Jennifer nodded sympathetically. "Yes ma'am. We served on the Seahawk together. I was your Legalman."
Loren motioned for her to come over and sit down. Jennifer slowly sat down on the chair next to her bed.
"How are feeling, ma'am?" she asked being careful not to stare at the bandages.
Loren chuckled at her attempt not to make her feel ill at ease. So she tried to make the young Legalman feel more comfortable as well. "Like a five month pregnant woman that's been banged on the head," she quipped dryly.
Jennifer quickly covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Ma'am, I apologize," she said earnestly not wanting to offend Loren. In times past the Lieutenant would have become very grim and warned her about being too frivolous.
Loren though, this time only held up her hand to stop her. "Don't. I meant it as a joke. And call me Laurie, would you?"
This woman definitely didn't act like Loren Singer. "Laurie, ma'am?" and why the name change?
Loren sighed theatrically. "Yes, and drop the 'ma'am' please. I won't say anything about the breach in protocol if you won't. Agreed?" She gave Jennifer a sly look. Jennifer wasn't sure that meant she was teasing or whether she was truly irritated.
"Okay…um, Laurie," Jennifer said tentatively. She was unnerved by Loren's change in personality and wasn't quite sure how to deal with it.
Loren grinned, happy that she had been able to get the Petty Officer to call her by new name. "Good, now that we have that out of the way, go ahead and ask me why I'm calling myself Laurie. I know you want to."
Jennifer nodded dumbly. That actually was what she was going to ask her. "How did you know I was going to ask that ma—I mean, Laurie?"
Loren's eyes sparkled with an uncharacteristic mischievousness. "Because Lieutenant Sims asked me the same thing when she came to see me."
That surprised Jennifer. She thought she was the first to do this, she had no idea Harriet Sims was such a rebel. Right now though, she was interested in learning more about this change in Lieutenant Singer.
"So why um, Laurie, why the name change?" Jennifer dared to ask her. No one would ever accuse Jennifer Coates of being circumspect.
Loren knew this would be asked again and again. So she'd better get used to answering it and for a change answering truthfully. "To be completely truthful Jennifer, I'm getting a second chance just like you did, though the circumstances aren't exactly the same. Still, I'm getting a second chance and I don't want to be Loren anymore."
Jennifer thought about that. Sure, Loren Singer hadn't been what one would call 'warm and cuddly', but then she was a Lieutenant in the US Navy. Still it probably wouldn't hurt her working relationships if she acted more friendly toward her coworkers and subordinates. But changing her name?
Loren continued her explanation. "What I've seen of Loren's past…my past…I don't like it and I don't like her. I don't want to be her anymore, Jennifer. Do you understand?"
In a way, Jennifer could. She had been there herself not so long ago. And though she had not had not changed her name, she did feel that making the changes she did was a good thing. What she wasn't sure about though was Loren changing her name. To her that seemed a bit drastic and in the long run, it might cause more harm than good. She hoped Loren would understand why she was going to say what she was about to say to her and not take it the wrong way. "I think I do Laurie, but it doesn't change your situation-"
Loren sighed, for, if anything, she did understand that. Changing a name was for her own peace of mind - it was not meant to be used to hide from anyone or anything. "I know, Jennifer. I'll have to face those problems, most of my own making, and I will. But I just don't want to be known as Loren anymore, there are just too many unpleasant memories…all associated with her. I want a fresh start for the both of us," she finished by indicating she was including her unborn child in this decision.
Again Jennifer was blown away by Laurie Singer and what she was saying. It really totally contrary to what would have been Loren Singer's response "But Laurie, I got the impression that you didn't want your child. You were going to put it up for adoption."
"I know," Loren said nodding ruefully as she glanced down at her enlarged belly and then back up at the Petty Officer. "Lieutenant Sims…Harriet…she talked me out of that. Made me realize what I was giving up."
Jennifer filled with emotion at what Loren was telling her. She impulsively reached for the Lieutenant's hand. Loren gratefully took her hand in hers. "I'm glad you're not giving her up, Laurie."
"Me too, Jennifer," Loren replied, her voice suddenly hoarse. Then after a moment she cleared her throat and changed the subject. "So now, tell me about you, after the party, you know, the one where I had mistakenly thought you'd taken my bracelet…"
"You remember what happened?" For a woman with amnesia from a head injury, her memories associated with Jennifer Coates were surprisingly intact.
Loren actually looked ashamed. "Yes. Harriet's son AJ had taken it. I'm sorry I thought you had."
Jennifer was touched by this admission. "Thank you, Laurie," she said quietly.
After a moment of silence and small smiles shared by the two women, Loren broke the silence "Now tell me all about how you decided to come to JAG Corps…." Loren acted like they were two friends at a slumber party.
So cautiously at first, Jen started telling her about how she switched from electronics to legal work and got her paralegal degree. That in turn, allowed her to get posted as Legalman aboard the Seahawk. Then she began to get more comfortable with her, she told Loren about the succession of Force Judge Advocates that she served under – some good, some not so good and then one day Bud Roberts was assigned to her carrier. Loren laughed when Jennifer told her how she and Bud had hit it off so well. They both admitted that if Bud wasn't already married they might have gone after him. That surprised Jennifer because she had no idea that Loren saw Bud that way. Then Jennifer told her about Loren's time as Force Judge Advocate. Loren sobered and listened quietly taking in every detail.
-TBC…