A/N: My apologies for an error I overlooked and a huge thanks to db1019 for catching it. The Admiral hearing the case is Admiral Morris. His first name is Stiles. I've gone back on fixed that error (I hope) in the previous chapters and humbly apologize for any confusion it may have caused. Now, on with the story.
January 14, 2004
Grosvenor Square – London, England
0702 Greenwich/ 0202 Eastern
Alison had spent the entire evening working on her opening statement, knowing that this case would decide the fate of her career. She had to beat the majority of the charges to have any chance, yet she believed that she had a good case. There was nothing in the evidence to support an accusation of stalking and as for the extortion charge, it was laughable. She had been following the evidence, trying to build a case so that charges of fraternization could be laid against Harm. It had absolutely nothing, in her mind, to do with their personal relationship or lack of one.
She would even be willing to plead guilty on the failure to follow regulations and not complying with procedural rules and argue it was merely an excess of zeal on her part that had led her to that. She felt certain that Admiral Morris would understand that. Hell, she'd heard a rumor that Harm had even gotten away with firing a submachine gun in his courtroom, giving her cause for hope. The other two charges, conduct unbecoming and the general article charge, just seemed to be vindictive prosecution. As if the prosecutor wanted to make certain that she stayed dead, like a vampire with a stake through the heart.
So now, as prepared as she was going to be, she sat in the park and smoked. She also watched the corner, where she had seen Harm and a woman she presumed was his wife exit the taxi yesterday. Given how late they'd been yesterday, she had adjusted her timing this morning. She also wanted a closer look at the little woman, too.
Finally, after sitting there for a half hour, Alison saw them. After they had separated and Harm was safely out of view, she rose and followed behind the woman. She could now see the petite brunette was a Lieutenant Commander and the wheels started spinning fast for Alison, for she was hoping this would be more evidence for Harm violating the UCMJ with regards to fraternization.
It was only after seeing that the gate she was approaching was marked for employees only that Alison began to look for and find the other gate. Quickly going over to it, she pulled out her ID card and handed it over to the Marine guard.
"And who are you here to see, Ma'am?" the Corporal asked politely
"Lieutenant Commander Rabb, Corporal," Alison replied.
"Very good, Ma'am. I'll call her office and let them know you're here, Ma'am."
"You'll do no such thing, Corporal. You will pass me and not announce my visit, understood?"
"Ma'am, No Ma'am. Regulations require that all visitors be escorted to their destinations by either a Marine guard or someone from the destination office they wish to visit, Ma'am," the Corporal announced.
"Corporal, I am here on a JAG investigation. I do not wish my presence to be announced because I do not wish for Lieutenant Commander Rabb to suddenly be 'not in' or 'in a meeting'. Now, this is an order. You will pass me, you will not announce me and then you will forget you ever saw me," Alison said in her most menacing tone, angry at this insignificant young man for trying to stop her.
"Very well, Ma'am. Commander Rabb's office is on the third floor, suite 304," the Corporal finally said after a moment, while thinking 'God damned officers, always trying to fuck with the enlisted men.'
Alison walked past the guard and headed for the elevators. The Corporal waited until she was gone, then picked up the phone.
"First Sergeant, I have a situation. A Captain Krennick, US Navy JAG, came in. She refused to allow me to call up to the office she's visiting or assign an escort, saying she was on a JAG investigation. Also, her description matches the woman sitting in the park yesterday."
"Who is she after, Corporal?" First Sergeant Galindez asked, as he stood from his chair.
"Lieutenant Commander Rabb, First Sergeant."
"Madre de Dios. Alright, Corporal, I'll handle this. Resume your post."
Hanging up before the other man could reply, Galindez quickly dialed the security desk over at NAVFOREUR and asked to be transferred to the JAG Office.
"Force Judge Advocate's Office, Petty Officer Simpkins, Sir."
"Petty Officer, this is First Sergeant Galindez at the Embassy. I need to speak with Captain Rabb ASAP."
"One moment, First Sergeant," Simpkins said before putting the telephone on hold.
"Good morning, First Sergeant," came Harm's voice a moment later. "What's going on over at the Embassy today?"
"The guard just passed a Captain Krennick to see your wife, Captain," Galindez said. "She told the guard she's here on a JAG investigation. Also, we had spotted a woman yesterday watching the Embassy in the morning and the description matches with that of Captain Krennick."
"What the hell!?" Harm exploded before taking several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. "Alright, Victor. Thanks for the call, I'll handle it from here."
"Aye, aye, Sir."
Once he hung up, Harm exited his office and went looking for any of the officers handling Alison's court-martial. Meanwhile, Victor Galindez wasn't as confident as Harm that the officer would handle it. Instead, he picked up his service issue weapon and placed it in the holster before strapping that on. Now armed and ready, he left his office and made for the stairs. Going up them two at a time, he soon arrived on the third floor. Moving as quietly as he could, she made for the door to Beth's office but did not go in.
Rather, he simply listened and waited. He wanted to have a very good idea of what was going on before he took any action. He could hear two voices, with one doing the majority of the speaking.
"You do know that Harm and I had a relationship, don't you?" Alison asked. "Or didn't he tell you about the weekend we spent in bed at a beach house on Hilton Head?"
Beth just smiled placidly, taking a certain amusement in listening to the lies the older woman was trying to spin. None of shots were going to pierce her armor, Beth knew, because she had two important things going for her. Firstly, she truly believed that the past was the past, so even if Harm had told her last night that he had slept with Krennick, it would have just been ancient history as far as Beth cared. But the second thing was that she trusted her husband and Harm had told her that he and Krennick had never had a relationship.
"Yes, his body back then was simply amazing," Alison continued, watching the other woman. "And the stamina he possessed, he nearly wore me out."
"Well, Ma'am, I'm glad you have such happy memories of the past," Beth replied sweetly. "Or should I say, fantasies."
"Oh, and just what does that mean?"
"Harm told me all about you. How you've been hot to get in his pants for years, but never got there. And now, here you are, trying to lie to me about it. Why? Are you hoping I'll get mad and leave my husband, over something that, if it happened, happened before I even met him?"
"Actually, no. I'm just trying to get more evidence of your husband's continuing fraternizations. I mean, when did you and he start your relationship? Was it when you were shipmates on the Patrick Henry? Maybe engaging in a little hot-bunking between missions," Alison shot at her. "It wouldn't be the first time he's gotten lucky with a subordinate, you know."
"Well, Ma'am, can you really call Lieutenant Pike a subordinate when they were both the same rank at the time of their relationship," Beth replied.
"Oh, I was thinking more of Lieutenant Austin. Harm was a Lieutenant Commander then, you see, and that makes him her superior officer. You do know the reason she had to leave JAG HQ so abruptly, don't you?" Alison asked as she opened her briefcase and removed a file. "See, she got knocked up by your big stud of a husband and had to leave so she could have the baby. Here's a picture of the little girl and here's another of the girl with her mommy, the only thing missing is daddy."
Beth looked at the photos and wanted to laugh, for Alison was clearly delusion in her opinion. The little girl looked like the spitting image of her mother, with only the eyes being a tenuous tie to Harm. They were bluish-green, but Meg Austin's eyes were also green so the coloring could also be maternal in nature. So, she looked and looked before handing them back.
"I assume you have something more than pretty pictures to back up your claim, Captain?" Beth asked, watching. "Something concrete. I mean, that kid looks more like yours than Harm's."
"You mean, like DNA or the birth certificate? No, not yet, but I hope that Admiral Morris will order those once I bring this up in my defense."
"Then I suggest you pack up for bag of lies and take them with you as you leave, Ma'am. Because, frankly, you're just boring the hell out of me."
Alison was furious at the little woman standing across from her. Why couldn't see just be a good little girl and get out of the way. She was especially upset by the smile the woman wore, that teasing look that said that Alison had lost and badly at that.
"Well, Commander, don't say I didn't try to warn you when you husband is hauled away," was Alison's parting shot as she turned to the door. Going out it, she was surprised to see a Marine First Sergeant standing there.
"Excuse me, First Sergeant," she said as she stepped around him. Galindez just watched her leave before opening the door to the office and entering himself.
"Good morning, Ma'am," he said, looking at Harm's wife and enjoying the huge grin that was spread across the woman's face.
"And to you as well, First Sergeant. My only question is, how long were you standing out there?"
"How long do you want me to have been, Ma'am?"
Beth laughed at that, then the entire situation got to her and she just couldn't stop laughing. The utter stupidity of that woman, thinking that her little game would achieve anything. Obviously, she'd never been in a real relationship before, if she didn't understand the mutual trust that existed in a committed relationship.
Galindez just stood there and watched. He'd heard enough from the other side of the door to know the Captain had been tossing around lies like grenades, hoping to take someone out with the explosion. He also thought he knew Captain Rabb well enough to know those accusations were simply sound and fury signifying nothing.
Finally, Beth laughed herself out and looked a little shamefaced at Galindez.
"I'm sorry about that, First Sergeant. Should I assume that my husband knows about the Captain's visit?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I called him just before I came up here to back you up," Victor replied.
Courtroom, NAVFOREUR – London, England
0855 Greenwich/ 0355 Eastern
Alison walked through the door and momentarily paused, examining her surroundings. To her surprise, Admiral Morris was already in his seat at the beach. Commander Alexander was at the prosecution's table, while Colonel Coffman was sitting in the other chair at the defense table. Two Marines were standing on both sides of the door she had come through, as were a pair up front.
"Good of you to join us, Captain," Admiral Morris said as she approached.
"My apologies, Admiral. You said 0900 and it is 0857 now. I was unaware that you wanted to start earlier," Alison remarked as she sat down.
"Well, you're memory seems perfect in that respect. Do you happen to remember what else I said yesterday that might have importance for you today?"
"No, Sir."
"That I was not ordering your confinement, subject to your behavior, Captain. That I suggested you remain in your quarters unless here or eating your meals. Sound familiar?"
"Yes, Sir," Alison replied.
"Then, maybe you could tell me what part of that was unclear?" Admiral Morris said, his eyebrows raising. "Because I think that was crystal clear, personally."
Although she had a good idea where this was going, Alison still tried to play the innocent.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I'm afraid that I'm the one who doesn't understand, Sir."
"Very well, then. Captain Krennick, do you deny that you went to the United States Embassy this morning? That when you got there, you told the guard on duty that you were there to see Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Rabb? That you then told the guard to violate his standing orders and permit you to go to the Commander's office both unannounced and unaccompanied and that you claimed to be there on a JAG investigation?"
"Yes, Sir. I did visit Lieutenant Commander Rabb, as part of my defense strategy in this case," Alison said.
Both Admiral Morris and Commander Alexander looked stunned, unable to believe what they had just heard from the woman.
"Your defense strategy?! What in the hell are you talking about, Captain?" Admiral Morris yelled, his face taking on an ever darker look as his anger built.
"Yes, Sir. I plan on using an affirmative defense, in that I did what I did trying to uncover a pattern of fraternization on the part of Captain Harmon Rabb. The line begins with then Lieutenant Pike, through Lieutenant Austin and on to Lieutenant Commander Rabb. That, in each case, those relationship began while the parties were in the same chain of command and therefore contrary to the UCMJ."
"Your Honor, this is absurd. In the first place, two of the alleged incidents occurred years ago. If she had her suspicions, Captain Krennick should have said something back then. Secondly, there is no evidence of fraternization between Captain Rabb and Commander Rabb. At the time of their marriage, he was at JAG HQ and she was an instructor at the Naval Academy," Commander Alexander stated. "The Captain is simply looking for any possible excuse for something that is inexcusable. Further, considering she is facing charges of stalking and extorting Captain Rabb, she should have known better to approach Commander Rabb on her own. At a minimum, she should have taken Colonel Coffman with her."
"Why? I'm the lead counsel on this case, not him."
"Because, from the reports submitted by both Commander Rabb and First Sergeant Galindez, the visit sounds less like an interview and more like an obsessed woman trying to sabotage another person's marriage, using lies and innuendo to accomplish that," Admiral Morris said. "Like telling her that her husband fathered a child with another woman. You see, First Sergeant Galindez, who used to be a Deputy Sherriff before he came back in the Corps, was outside the door when you were saying all of this and overheard you, Captain."
"Obviously, Sir, the First Sergeant is mistaken about the tone of the conversation," Alison said as the floor dropped out from under her.
"Oh, but that's not all, Captain," Commander Alexander said. "Sergeant, would you be kind enough as to ask my witnesses to come into the courtroom, please."
The Sergeant standing at the door beside the bench opened it and went out. A couple of silent moments later, the door opened and a line of women entered the room. In front was Commander Kate Pike, followed by Lieutenant Commander Teresa Coulter, former Lieutenant Meg Austin and a young girl that Alison instantly recognized as Meg's daughter. The girl appeared to be around seven or eight and had her mother's blonde hair and features. Both Meg and the child were wearing dark blue dresses with strings of pearls.
Alison stared at the women. Kate and Meg she knew, but the Lieutenant Commander she did not. The little girl's identity was plain to see.
"I believe you know Commander Pike and Ms. Austin, Captain. Lieutenant Commander Coulter is here because Commander Manetti saw the same things you did, when she reviewed the files you accessed. She contacted Commander Coulter and asked if she could run some DNA testing on Ms. Austin's daughter, as far as determining potential paternity. Commander?"
"I was able to access the Armed Service DNA Identification Laboratory's database of all service personnel, with Captain Rabb's permission. I then took samples of Miss Austin's blood and compared her DNA to the reference sample. I can conclusively exclude Captain Rabb as the father of Patricia Austin," Teresa said.
"Then why did you name your daughter after Harm's mother?" Alison asked Meg.
"I named her after my grandmother, who died a week before I gave birth. I had hoped she'd get a chance to meet her great-granddaughter before she went, but that sadly did not happen. But she knew about the name, Patricia Catherine, before she went and she was pleased."
At that, Alison sat down and laid her head in her hands, knowing her career was finished. Her choice now was whether to fight it out or surrender. The idea of surrendering was unpalatable to her, but so was the thought of how long she could end up in prison if she fought and lost. She was certain in that event, Admiral Morris would sentence her to the longest term possible.
On her side, Commander Alexander was struggling not to look happy. She'd been handed a case that only an idiot could have lost and the defendant had simply kept digging themselves deeper, making her case that much stronger with every day. The joy, however, came from watching the deflated look on the defendant's face. In her mind, what Captain Krennick had been trying to do left a black mark on all women in the military and this outcome was needed to send as strong a message as possible about what was acceptable.
"Admiral Morris," Alison finally said. "With your permission, I would like to request a day to consider this new information and how it affects my defense strategy."
"Very well, we'll convene at 0900 tomorrow. At that time, I will hear opening arguments," Admiral Morris responded, looking at Commander Alexander who made no objections. "Sergeants, escort Captain Krennick to RAF West Ruislip and see that she doesn't leave the base without one of you accompanying her."
"Aye, aye, Sir," responded the Marines who came forward and waited for Alison to gather her belongings before escorting her from the courtroom. A huge sigh of relief came the moment the doors closed behind them.
"Commanders Pike and Coulter, Ms. Austin and Miss Austin, I thank you for your presence. I cannot yet release you, given that the trial is still pending," Admiral Morris said.
"Would it interfere with the case if I paid my respects to Captain Rabb?" Meg asked.
"No, as long as you don't discuss the case or your testimony, I have no problems with that."
"Thank you, Admiral. I'd like to say hello to an old friend and for him to meet my daughter."
Meg and Patty left then, followed by the others. At the elevators, the group watched as the Austins went through the doors to the FJA's office and smiled.
Force Judge Advocate's Office – London, England
1053 Greenwich/ 0553 Eastern
Harm was resolutely plowing through case files, trying to keep his mind off of the events happening down the hall. When Galindez had called him about Alison being over at the Embassy to see Beth, he'd run looking for any of the officers involved with the court-martial to report the information. The first person he had found was Admiral Morris, who had instantly told Harm that he needed to leave the matter alone. Any actions taken by him could jeopardize the case against Alison, he was told.
So, reluctantly, Harm had returned to his office and left the matter with the Admiral. Still, a part of him realized that Beth had backup. Unless he was totally mistaken, Galindez had probably either gone up to Beth's office or sent someone. Still, the matter kept trickling into his thoughts until he finally heard that Alison had signed in at the security desk downstairs. Then, he was able to more fully concentrate on his work for a few moments.
Then Beth called and filled him in on what had occurred. After listening to her, he told her to write down a statement and send it over to Admiral Morris. He smiled when she told him that Galindez had already taken care of that, which was why she hadn't called him sooner. Still, they each had work to do, so the conversation was necessarily brief before she hung up.
A knock at the door ended his progress. Looking at the file for a moment, Harm marked his place and closed the cover.
"Enter!"
Simpkins opened the door slightly and stuck his head in. "Excuse me, Sir. There are two civilian woman out here asking to see you."
"What about, Simpkins? I'm up to my neck in paperwork at the moment," Harm told him.
"Not sure, Sir. She just said they were in town for a couple of days and wanted to see you before they returned home to Texas, Sir."
"Show them in, please, then don't disturb us unless it's Admiral Kieso or his aide."
Simpkins opened the door fully and Harm's suspicions were confirmed.
"Meg," he said as she walked in, trailed by a young girl that he instantly knew was her daughter.
"Hiya, Harm," Meg said as she approached the desk, which Harm was moving around.
"It's really good to see you."
"Even after I ran out on you, when you got arrested for murder?"
"I don't think you ran out on me. I was in custody for a couple of weeks while they sorted everything out and when I was released, you were gone. I asked the Admiral where you were, but all he told me was that Naval Intelligence had requested your skills," Harm said.
"I'm the one who actually requested the transfer, Harm. The night after you were arrested, I found out I was pregnant. Given some of the cases we'd been on, I worried about the stress affecting my pregnancy. So, I found a safe billet in Honolulu, working on computer hacking for Naval Intelligence until I completed my required time in uniform. After that, I took Patty back home to Texas, opened a little law office and help out on the ranch," Meg told him.
"I take it this is Patty," Harm said, looking at the young girl, whose eyes were staring at him.
"Yes, she is. Patricia Austin, this is Captain Harmon Rabb."
Harm extended his hand to the girl, who ignored it.
"So, you're the one everyone thought was my father," she accused him.
"Patricia Catherine Austin!" Meg said, angrily, before Harm waved her off.
"Well, judging by what I see, I can see where some people might have jumped to that conclusion. They'd be wrong though, Patricia. Your mother and I never had that kind of relationship, we were friends, but never…."
"You never had sex," Patty said, bluntly. "That's what you're trying not to say, right? News flash for you, but out on the ranch, you learn about those kind of things early."
Harm and Meg shared a helpless look at that before they each laughed.
"Well, there's no doubt you're Meg's daughter," Harm said with a smile. "Same sharp tongue and pretty face."
"Easy on the compliments, Harm. She's got a big enough ego as it is," Meg said.
"Grandma doesn't seem to mind. She says I should be proud of how smart I am and that I can't help being beautiful, so I should enjoy it," Patty said.
"And when she says things like that, I want to strangle her."
"I think that's illegal, even in Texas, Meg," Harm said with a laugh.
"It would be justifiable, Harm," Meg replied.
Patty just looked at them, seeing them laughing and talking. She realized that this was the first time that she could recall where her mother seemed to be fully enjoying herself. Maybe she could talk her mother into staying over in London a little longer. Her school hadn't had a problem with her taking time off, seeing as she was already a grade ahead of her age and the school as considering advancing her another grade level.
Unfortunately, the visit was cut short by the telephone. Harm did however invite them to come to dinner, once the case was over. An invitation readily accepted by both women.