Incident at Potomac Park, Chapter XXI

A/N - Well folks this is it. Hope you've enjoyed this alternate version of what
could have happened when Loren fell in water at Potomac Falls. A big thanks
once again to JAG writers for their story threads that made this idea
possible. Thanks again for reading - and now on with conclusion...

JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Laurie stood in front of the Admiral. She had just handed in her last report and her letter of resignation. She had wanted to make sure she cleared what was on her desk before she left. It was the least she could do.

AJ looked at the letter and nodded absently. He put it down on his desk pad. Laurie started to ask permission to leave. But AJ wasn't done with her just yet.

"Lieutenant, I want you to know I'm not signing this." Before she had a chance to say anything he continued. "I'm putting you in for an Honorable Discharge due to medical reasons. You need a fresh start without any baggage. So you don't have to resign your commission."

Laurie was touched. "Thank you sir." she said as her eyes shined brightly. She started to salute.

"You don't need to salute me, Lieutenant." He instructed. "Stand at attention, call out 'Aye, aye, sir,' then pivot on your left foot and exit the room."

With textbook precision, Laurie Singer performed the action. But before she left the room, she turned and looked back at him.

"Yes Lieutenant?"

"Permission to hug the Admiral, sir?"

AJ looked momentarily flustered. "Uh well, um, all right…"

Laurie quickly walked over to him and enveloped him in a tearful embrace and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, sir," she said in quiet voice full of heartfelt thanks.

AJ felt a lump forming in his throat as well. "You're um, welcome, Laurie,"

She stood away from him. "Aye sir!" she said as she grinned and executed another perfect about face and headed to the door, leaving a stunned and yet proud and pleased JAG in her wake.

When Laurie opened the door, all activity in office stopped.

Jason stood, concern etched on his boyish face. "Ma'am?"

"It's all right, Tiner. I'm okay," she reassured him with an honest smile.

"Laurie what happened in there?" Harriet asked as she approached along with Jennifer.

"I'm being Honorably Discharged from the Navy due to my medical condition."

"Oh Laurie," Harriet said sadly.

"But I won't be punished or going to jail," she added. She gave the IGO Liaison a sympathetic look. "It's all right Harriet. I was going to resign my commission anyway."

"Resign your commission ma'am?" Jennifer said, troubled by this turn of events. She had hoped it would go better for her. "Why?"

"It just wouldn't work, Coates," working hard to remember how to address her properly. "My memory problems and…"

"And?" They said together.

She bit her lower lip. "And I'm in love…with Sergeant Garrel."

Jennifer's eyes widened in shock. "Does he know ma'am?" she said in a surprised voice.

Harriet gave Laurie a knowing look. "I expect that he does, Coates," then she turned serious. "But Laurie what happens if he turns you down?"

Laurie nodded her head in recognition of that fact. "Truthfully Harriet, I don't know. But the Admiral and I talked about it and resigning my commission or being discharged was really the only way I could go at this point."

"But ma'am, what if your memory comes back?" Jennifer countered.

"Truthfully Coates I hope it doesn't. I'm happy now, happier than I've ever been. And if Jimmy, I mean, Sergeant Garrel, turns me down, well that will be a lesson learned. But like Harriet, I don't think he will."

"Oh ma'am, I wish you the best of luck," Jennifer said with emotion.

Harriet reached out and hugged Laurie, she returned the hug. "Ma'am, if there is anything that you need," Harriet whispered in her ear.

"Thanks Harriet," Laurie whispered back.

Laurie stood back and swiped at an errant tear. "I'd better let Mac and the others know,"

"Good luck ma'am," Tiner said giving her a nod of approval.

"Thanks Tiner." She replied graciously.

She walked over to Sturgis Turner's open doorway where the former Dolphin stood watching what was happening, curiosity etched on his face. "I was about to say something, but did I hear you right? Are you being medically discharged?

"Admiral Chegwidden is processing my papers now."

The Preacher's son couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Well Lieutenant, I don't know what to say,"

"How about wishing me luck, sir?" Laurie said honestly.

"I do and more, Lieutenant," he said reaching out to shake her hand.

She gratefully accepted the handshake. "Thank you sir, that means a lot coming from you,"

Then Laurie got a mischievous glint in her eye. "Is this like a mitzvah, sir?"

Sturgis gave her a deep throaty chuckle. "Indeed it is, Lieutenant, indeed it is."

4-2 Marines' Barracks
Quantico MCB, Virginia

A Corporal stuck his head in the office door way.

James Garrel heard the man approach. He wanted finish this last justification before he looked up. "Yes Corporal?"

"Sergeant, there is someone here to see you." He didn't mention it was a JAGC officer. It wasn't any of his business not matter how curious he was.

Jimmy looked up from his paperwork to see a smiling Laurie Singer standing before him. Jimmy immediately stood and came to attention. "Ma'am."

Laurie worked hard to keep her 'officer face' intact. "At ease, Sergeant. Would you walk with me?"

Sergeant Garrel grabbed his coat. "Yes ma'am,"

As the two walked out together, the entire office watched. A visit from a JAGC officer usually wasn't a good thing.

As they walked together outside along the parade ground, Laurie couldn't help suppress another smile. "I'm being given a medical discharge, Jimmy. I won't be a Lieutenant in the Navy much longer." She said as they continued walking.

He gave her a quick look at they continued walking. "A medical discharge? What about what you did with Commander Lindsey? The information you illegally provided for the audit?"

Laurie stole a glance at him as they walked. "The Admiral doesn't think Laurie Singer should be held accountable for what Loren Singer did,"

James Garrel stopped and turned to face Laurie. He couldn't help but smile at her. "That's wonderful news ma'am,"

She looked at him, praying that she was reading him right. "And Jimmy? That also means I'll be um, available, if uh, you're still interested."

He gave her a shy grin. "I never stopped being interested, ma'am. I just didn't want us getting in trouble."

Her heartbeat quickened. "So as soon as my papers are processed?" she asked hopefully.

"Prepare to be swept off your feet, Ms. Singer," he said with mock seriousness.

Laurie colored. "I'll take that under advisement, Sergeant Garrel," she said as she grinned like a schoolgirl.

xxxxxx

Laurie tossed and turned in her bed. She could hear voices, but she couldn't quite make them out…

She saw herself having some kind of argument with Jimmy. Then she realized it wasn't her…it was Loren. Somehow she had resurfaced and now Laurie could only watch as Loren destroyed everything she had built.

Loren's eyes flashed murderously as she stared at her fiancé. 'How can you be…so thick? Don't you get it?! I threw my career in the toilet! I have no life now beyond helping babies and orphans! Do you honestly think that's what I want to do for the rest of my life?!'

He came closer to her, trying to calm her down. 'Laurie, honey, calm down…'

She turned on him like a wild animal. Laurie was helpless to stop her. 'Don't call me Laurie! My name is Loren! Loren Singer! What in the name of God happened to me?! And who are you trying to calm me down, Sergeant?!'

James looked shocked and hurt. 'I- I'm I'm your fiancé, Lo- Loren…' Laurie's heart broke as she heard the pain in the Marine Sergeant's voice.

That only seemed to enrage Loren further. 'I'm engaged?! To you?!'

He stumbled with his words trying to get them out as quickly as possible. 'Yes, you are, I mean we are, I mean we were-"

'Dammit Sergeant spit it out; are we or are we not engaged?!'

Laurie wanted to reach over and claw her eyes out for talking to him that way, she wanted to beat her to bloody pulp, but her arms felt weak and useless, she couldn't even move her feet!

Laurie Singer screamed.

And as she did, the scene shifted. Now she was outside Harm Rabb, Jr.s apartment door. How she got here, she didn't know and there came Loren. She briskly knocked on the door. Laurie could hear the voices from inside the apartment.

'Whose turn was it to pay for the takeout order this time, you or me?'

'It's your turn, Sailor, I paid last time…'

'Okay, okay, mea culpa' Harmon Rabb unbolted the door and opened it obviously expecting to see a delivery person standing there. 'How much do we – Laurie?'

Instead Loren was there. 'It's Loren, sir, may I come in?'

Laurie couldn't figure out what had happened. She just knew now that she couldn't interfere. She had to watch like unwilling spectator. Harm opened the door to the loft apartment wider.

Mac gave Loren a pleasant smile as she got up from the couch. 'Laurie this is pleasant
surprise-!'

Loren grimaced at the mangling of her name. Laurie silently hoped she would not snap at her. She didn't. 'Colonel, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting…' Loren said in a semi-polite voice as she made her way into the apartment.

Mac stood up. 'We were just taking a break from reviewing case notes and witness statements. Please come in, sit down…'

Laurie watched as Harm looked warily at Loren as she walked over to the sofa and sat down. 'Can I get you anything L-Loren?'

'No sir, I'm fine,' Loren sat on the sofa facing the two senior JAGC attorneys.

Mac was the first to speak. 'Loren? Have you regained your memory?' Laurie held her breath.

'Yes ma'am, I have.' Laurie felt like she was drowning. That meant she was now just a submerged part of Loren's personality again. She was helpless to stop Loren from doing what she wanted.

Harm looked at her. 'Shouldn't you see a doctor?'

Loren shook her head. 'I'm fine Commander, but thank you for your concern. Please just tell me, what happened.'

The two senior attorneys exchanged wary glances. Laurie wondered what they were going to tell her.

Mac began first. 'Loren, Commander Lindsey tried to kill you by throwing you off the Potomac Park pedestrian bridge-'

'I know that, Colonel,' Loren snapped. 'What I need to know from both of you is *what happened after that*?'

Harm gave Loren a questioning look. 'Shouldn't you talk to Major McBurney and Commander Coleman about this? We can call them if you like-'

Loren sneered at the Commander like he was a big goofy dork. Ooo, how Laurie wanted to knock that self-righteous sneer off her face! 'If I wanted to talk to them, I would have gone to them in the first place. I'm talking to you Commander, because you have a vested interest in my welfare or at least you did when you thought I was carrying Sergei's child.'

Laurie could see the look in the Commander's eyes. This was the Loren he remembered.

Loren smirked at him again. 'Now that you know that little secret, why don't you reveal to me what's being going on with me for the past four months?'

'You don't remember anything?' Laurie could see that Mac couldn't believe this was happening again.

'Colonel with all due respect and to be perfectly honest, if I did, do you think I would be here? The only thing I know, thanks to Sergeant Garrel, is that I was severed from service, honorably, though that really doesn't give me a whole lot of comfort.'

Loren turned her accusing eyes on Harmon Rabb. 'So tell me Commander, what happened?'

'Well… ah, Sergeant Garrel rescued you from the waters-'

Loren, disgusted with his verbal dawdling, cut him off. 'Yes, yes, I know, he jumped in and saved my life. That part I have—what about the rest of it?'

The Commander gave her a cutting look which Laurie thought she justly deserved and then he continued. 'Well after NCIS concluded their investigation, they found Commander Lindsey had tried to kill you because you blackmailed him by saying you would tell his wife about the liaisons he had been having with you. He also implicated you in the creation of the report that Commander Lindsey sent to the SECNAV.'

Loren was stunned. 'So the Admiral knows?' Apparently, Loren had never figured on the Admiral finding out about the tryst between her and Lindsey and her part in helping create that audit report.

Harmon Rabb nodded. 'Yes, Loren he does, but he forgave you….'

'He did?' Loren was obviously surprised by this.

'You told him how sorry you were and begged for his forgiveness. You told him it was an unthinkable, unconscionable thing that you did and that if he preferred you would offer yourself up on whatever charges he deemed appropriate-'

Laurie wasn't surprised that Loren couldn't fathom the JAG not punishing her. 'And he didn't?'

'No, he believed you truly had a change of heart. Unfortunately because of your loss of memory, you couldn't stay in the Navy or in JAG Corps, so by mutual agreement with the Admiral, you resigned your commission.'

'We put you in contact with Quantico Youth Center. Once you started work there they said you were a natural…'

Wait a minute! That's not what happened! Laurie wanted to shout. Jimmy had put her in touch with Quantico Youth Center – why was he saying that?

'Great, I'm natural at working with kids and babies,' Loren said dismissively.

Now the Colonel spoke up. 'Loren, you are doing great work there. You've put a lot of lives back together and saved some people that otherwise might have died.'

Loren was still suspicious. 'So I do good work there…' she said cautiously.

The two senior attorneys exchanged a glance, and then Harm replied. 'They say you are the hardest working most dedicated staff member they have or have ever had…'

Loren could see everything she worked so hard for slipping from her grasp. 'But my career with JAG Corps-' Even Laurie felt a twinge of sadness for her about that.

Harmon Rabb seemed to understand her feelings about this. 'You could petition the Navy to reinstate you based on your recovered memory. But it wouldn't be easy, Loren'

Mac seemed to concur with Harm's assessment. 'Most likely you'd be reassigned to another duty station…'

Laurie had all but given up trying to fight what was taking place. She instead focused on listening to her future with Loren.

The Commander sounded like he was pronouncing a sentence. 'You were headed for North Island NAS after your visit to Shannon, Ireland. My guess would be that would be your posting, most likely, under a senior officer. The command you were to take charge of has been given to someone else…I'm sorry Loren.' All that was missing was the bang of the gavel.

The Colonel could see that Loren was too stunned to say anything. 'But you have a fiancé that loves you and will support you whatever you do, Lieutenant. You're very lucky. I can honestly say that I envy you.'

Harm gave Mac a look after she said that statement - then the room and all three of them – Loren, The Commander and the Colonel - vanished as if they had never existed.

Now Laurie found herself walking through a dark apartment. She felt as though she knew this place. She carefully made down the hallway and stood at the doorway to a darkened bedroom.

She suddenly remembered she had practically verbally eviscerated Jimmy here – when she didn't know. She couldn't understand how she got here or why….

Laurie couldn't believe her life had gotten this far off track. She mourned the loss of her feelings of love and tenderness for Sergeant James Garrel.

'Sergeant Garrel…James?' She said cautiously as if the very calling of his name would wound him even more.

'What? You aren't addressing me as Sergeant Garrel anymore?' He said bitterly.

'I-I'm sorry for what I said earlier….'

He nodded his head. 'It's all right. I've had time to think about it. Your memory is back, isn't it?'

'Yes,' was all she could manage to get out.

'Well it's obvious you aren't in love with a lowly Marine Sergeant.' He said the bitterness creeping back into his voice. 'That was Laurie. I guess that's gone now, too huh?'

'I-I don't know what to say….' Why couldn't she just say it? Why couldn't she just tell her that she loved him? To hell with her career in the Navy-

But he beat her to the punch. 'I'll save you the trouble. I'll get my seabag and check into a hotel until you sort this all out. The doctors warned me this might happen, but I was sure we could overcome it.'

She was finding it hard to get her vocal cords to work. 'James-'

James Garrel though, wasn't having any problems. 'It will take me a few minutes ma'am, but I'll be good to go in less than thirty. I know all this is a shock to you – it would probably be best if I gave you time to think—I can call someone from JAG Corps Headquarters to stay with you-'

She shook her head violently. That seemed to release her voice. 'James no!'

"No what Laurie?"He turned to face her."What do you want me to do?" Why did his voice sound so alarmed?

She was sobbing now. Her voice came out in tear filled sorrow. "No James, please don't go, please don't leave me like this…please!"

James dropped his seabag."Laurie? Laurie! Wake up!"Tears began to streak down Loren Singer's face as she looked at James Garrel standing there before her. A part of her fractured mind remembered that his stance was similar to the way he had been standing shortly after he had pulled her from the water.

"Laurie, honey, please wake up!"

James slowly went to her and embraced her. Loren sank into the hug. Huge sobs wracked her body. 'Oh my God, I am so so sorry, I never meant to hurt you, Jimmy, never-'

'Laurie? Laurie, honey, look at me,you're having a nightmare wake up!"

Laurie's eyes fluttered open. It was still dark. She was in bed. Jimmy was sitting on the side of her bed looking at her with concern.

"Honey are you okay? I let myself in and I heard you calling me. Is the baby all right?"

Laurie looked around confused. She swiped at her tear streaked face. "Uh huh," she said nodding. She looked up at him again. She'd never seen such a beautiful sight.

Jimmy looked her over again. "Are you all right? Was it a bad dream?"

She didn't say anything as she reached out and hugged him hard. He stiffened momentarily, before returning her hug.

"I had a…a nightmare…I regained my memory and chased you away…or at least part of me did," she began explaining.

He gently broke the embrace and cupped her face. "Are you all right now?" he asked again.

"I didn't want to chase you away. I want you here. With me." She finished.

He smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, for a moment you had me worried." he quipped.

She sat up in bed taking her face out of his hands. "I'm serious Jimmy."

Jimmy Garrel sat back. "Okay, you've got my attention."

Laurie took his hands in hers. "Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

Jimmy nodded. He hoped he was guessing right. "Are you sure about this? We've only been seeing each other since late March."

Laurie nodded. "I've been with you long enough to know what I want, that is, if this is what you want. I mean, I'm sorry to be so forward, but-"

"Yes." Was all he said.

Laurie wasn't ready for his answer. "Yes what?"

He looked deeply into her beautiful blue eyes. "Yes Laurie Singer, I'd love to share my life with you."

Laurie suddenly jerked as if suddenly hurting. "Aaahh!"

Alarm filled his features. He thought at first he had hurt her somehow. "What is it, what's the matter?!"

Laurie gave him an astonished look as she looked down at her belly and then back at him. "The baby! She kicked me!" Laurie originally was going to wait until birth to find out but the temptation was too great. Her doctor told her it was a very healthy girl that she was carrying.

Jimmy Garrel was dumbfounded. "She kicked you?"

Laurie took his hand and put it on her stomach. "Yes, here…feel…see..there she goes again!"

James Garrel felt her warm baby bump then pulled his hand away as if he had been shocked by an electrical charge. His face morphed from surprise into excited grin. "I feel it too!"

He looked into the Laurie Singer's beautiful blue eyes again. "If she's happy, then we must be doing the right thing."

They laughed and kissed as the girl continued her happy drumming.

1525 Local_1925 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Two weeks later

Every few moments, Harriet or Coates would look up at the closed door.

Laurie had been in with the Admiral for almost an hour. It was her last day at work. She had stayed on long enough to attend Harm and Sturgis getting their awards for their actions in stopping Kabir Atef's dirty missile attack, but now it was time to leave. Harm and Sturgis had just finished the Separation Board hearing for Petty Officer Matthew Devine.

This seemed like as good a time as any to leave JAGC. Jimmy, getting ready for his upcoming role as a father, was taking some leave time to help her on her last day at JAG Corps. He sat by Tiner's desk patiently waiting.

Suddenly, the door opened. Laurie Singer walked out of the Admiral's office. She smiled at Tiner and Jimmy.

As she left his desk for the last time, Yeoman 1 Jason Tiner stood. "Attention!" he barked authoritatively, "Officer on the deck!"

AJ who had come to the doorway, watched as every enlisted person in the office stood ram rod straight. He noticed all the officers were doing the same. He couldn't have been more proud of his staff.

Laurie Singer was shocked and stunned by this display. Even Jimmy was standing at attention. The JAG walked over to her.

"Would you do me the honor of letting me escort you to your car, Lieutenant?" he said as he held out his arm to her.

"I would be honored, Admiral," she replied with a husky voice as she took his arm.

"Ten hut! Lieutenant Departing! Salute!" Harm barked.

Everyone held their salute as the three made their way through the bullpen.

Mac, Harriet, and Jennifer watched the unfolding scene with moist eyes as AJ took her arm and lead her out, escorted by Sergeant Garrel through the JAG Corp Headquarters glass double doors and to the waiting elevator.

-Finis