JAG Lawyers
Chapter 3 - The JAG Investigation Starts
"The Captain will see you now Commander", says the Petty Officer.
LCDR Rick Rodger's and his JAG team enter the Captain's office to report to her for the JAG investigation they are to conduct. As the team enters, there are two other officers there with the Commanding Officer. One is totally unknown to the team, the other, both Castle and Beckett know from their NROTC days. She also had been part of the NROTC program at NYU, one now Dr. Lanie Parish. Lanie and Kate were close from those days at NYU, as she was pre-med and they were pre-law, both had similar courses. So they were classmates with her on several core subjects. Kate and Lanie had lost contact with each other over the years, as had Castle with both of the two ladies.
When introductions are made. Castle sees the attraction of Dr. Davidson to Major Kate Beckett. He is not surprised, Kate is an attractive woman, and many in their NROTC class had tried to date her, but Kate had shown no interest in any of them. She had been too focused on getting her degree and her commission. Rick Castle also had been interested but avoided any romantic ties, as Fraternization Regulations also applied to NROTC units. So Rick had been friendly with Kate and they had indeed become close friends, as was also the case with Lanie Parish.
When introduced to Dr. Parish, both admit to knowing her from NROTC.
"Been years Lanie, nice to see you", replies Kate.
"Same here, I'm here doing my two week reserve active duty. I completed the autopsies on our vic's. She then turns to Castle and says "When did you start using Rodgers instead of Castle, Rick."
"Long story but we can catch up later", replies Rick.
"Dr. Parish is qualified to do the autopsies as in her civilian job she is Head ME for the FBI in NYC."
"Good, we need a copy of her report."
Lanie hands them her copies.
"Dr. Davidson is Department Head for Surgery and all three victims were operated on by Dr. Perlmutter."
"We will arrange for an interview with all of them shortly", informs Castle.
"We are at your service", replies Dr. Davison, who at the same time is having eye sex with Beckett.
"I'll interview the doctor", replies Beckett and Rick sees that the physical attraction between them is mutual. He gives Kate a warning look, as they should not get too cozy with the people they will interview. He does not fault Kate for her action, as Davidson is tall and quite handsome. Knowing Kate, Rick is aware that she normally does not show her attention to prospective male suitors. So her behavior toward the doctor is telling.
"Just let me know when. I'm pretty busy but we can work you in for the interview. May I suggest maybe lunch hour. We can share a meal and that is the one time I always leave free."
Castle knows the doctor is coming on to Kate and for some reason gets a little annoyed with it.
"Sure, I'll see what I can do to accommodate to your schedule", replies Kate. The comment draws another look from Castle and he sees Kate gets his subtle message.
"That is given the circumstances, so that is my caveat on the timing for the interview."
"I repeat, I'm at your service, but I am sure we can work it out", and again the eye sex. Rick wonders if others caught on to it.
They are shown to a vacant office in the administration area. Here will be their home for the duration of the JAG Investigation. Once they are settled into their temporary office, Castle tells the team, "Let's check in with the Bachelor Officer Quarters for our rooms so we can leave our luggage there."
They tell the C.O.'s Petty Officer to inform the Captain on their location for the next hour or so. Once at the BOQ, the team each gets rooms on the same floor. The rooms can compete with any good hotel accommodations. They have a small bar with a mini-fridge and microwave that serves as a kitchen and dining area as the bar made for a good dining table. Off to the side they have a small couch with a TV on the wall facing the couch, and a double bed is off from both the kitchenette and TV sitting area. The bathroom is large and houses a shower with a fancy sprinkler system for a full body wash. They all leave their luggage in their rooms to unpack later.
As Kate leaves her room, she is on her cell to Castle, "I'm done getting settled in, where should we meet?"
"Down stairs in the lounge area."
The BOQ is a six story building and they are on the fourth floor, so Kate takes the elevator down. As the elevator arrives and the doors open, who should be in the elevator but one Dr. Joshua Davidson.
"Major Beckett", Josh addresses her as she enters the elevator,
"Dr. Davidson", she replies back.
"Just returned to drop something off in my room. I'm on the sixth floor, most of us with On-Base Duty Status are there."
"So you're not married and staying at the BOQ?"
"That is correct, and you?"
"Same."
"Being in the military and moving around between duty assignments makes it hard to form relationships", says Davidson, "Can I offer you a ride back to the hospital, that is if you don't mind the back of a Harley."
"No thank you, I am meeting my team downstairs. So what kind of Harley do you ride?"
"A fat boy."
"Really, I have a soft tail."
"Now that is a surprise, I would not peg you as a Harley rider."
"Been riding since I was in High School."
"Wow, you could afford a Harley in High school!"
"Don't be so surprised. I took my one and only modeling gig the summer before senior year and made enough money to buy it. My dad was shocked, he said a proper lady does not drive a Harley, but I had a boyfriend who drove one. He taught me to ride. My father wanted me to get rid of it, but the more he protested, the more I wanted to keep it."
"Really, again a surprise, who would have thought you could be so rebellious at that age."
"Oh I drove my poor dad almost mad. He vowed to send me to Catholic School, which was an empty threat, I was going into my Senior year. Who transfers to a new school in senior year if you don't have to do so?"
"Quite the rebel were you."
"Fortunately I have mellowed out in my years since, Dr. Davidson."
"Please call me Josh, no sense for formal protocol when it is just the two of us."
"In that case, call me Kate."
Just then they get to the ground floor and the elevator opens.
"See you back at the hospital Kate."
"Sure thing Josh, but I may take you up on that ride in the near future."
"Like I said before Kate, I'm at your service."
They both go their separate ways and Kate heads for the lounge area of the BOQ.
Surprisingly, she was showing her interest in the Doctor. Kate often did not let people in, especially people of the opposite gender. She tried to avoid such liaisons, but she found Josh different somehow. The Harley Fatboy he rode was just another 'pro' to get to know him. It spoke to a bad boy image which in high school and college always was a draw for Kate. The 'con' was he was involved in their JAG Investigation, so she had to be formal with him, at least in public. She could not cloud the investigation because she found Josh attractive, but she had always been good at maintaining a distance, and she could do that now. The question was, did she want to? Certainly what she did in private was her business. She could remain objective here despite wanting to get acquainted with the doctor more in a personal way. They were both military and were schooled to do just that, remain formal and neutral given the circumstances. This case provided such a circumstance.
'So what the heck', was her thought about it. Besides once done with the JAG investigation, she did not have to be so stand-offish with the good doctor. Kate just wanted to see where it could go with Josh. She had not been in a relationship for quite a while now. Maybe it was time to let loose a bit. She wasn't getting any younger and her biological clock was ticking.
"Hey Major", she hears and comes out of her thoughts. It's Rick arriving and right behind him is Lt. Olsen.
"Ready to head back to Dodge?", the commander asks.
"Well yeah, is there a choice here?"
"Let's interview Lanie first and go over her Autopsy Report."
Once back in their office, the team works on an interview schedule with LCDR Parish the first to be interviewed. Lanie's autopsy was meticulous as Castle and Beckett had expected. In their NROTC unit Lanie had gained the rep of being thorough and accurate. They only needed to go over a few points on her report and clarify some items, so the interview went well. As they finished, they were told their next interview would be late as the person to be questioned was still making rounds. With some time to kill, Lanie and Kate get caught up.
"So head ME for the NYC FBI office and you stayed in the City."
"Well after med school I did a two year active duty stint at the Sub Base at New London, Connecticut so was not that far away. I could make it home for most weekends. After finishing my active duty requirement I went active Reserve just doing my weekend drills and two weeks of active duty annually. Started out as an ME intern in the FBI lab and then worked my way up. Heard thru scuttle that you did some combat tours as a cobra pilot."
"Yes I did till I got shot down and had to fly cargo planes due to physical injuries sustained when I got shot down. I develop extreme dizziness when doing combat maneuvers so converted to flying C130's. I then requested finishing Law School for my law degree, passed the board, so here I am, this is my first JAG tour."
"Well, you lucked out getting teamed up with Rick Castle, or rather Rick Rodgers. I have to remind myself of that when addressing him."
"I still address him as Castle, he answers to that name still, but our junior member, Bill Olsen is still getting used to hearing Rick addressed as Castle."
"So what's with the name change?"
"You'll have to ask Rick and hear it straight from him. I am lucky though, as you said, getting Rick as my team leader."
"Still into him like back then."
"Excuse me, that never happened."
"Yeah, right, and I never spent all those nights doing girl talks where you asked if you should push it further with him. If the two of you were not so afraid of being charged with fraternization, you'd had been knocking boots back then. Both of you both thought that was inappropriate given the situation."
"Well, it's even more so now. Rick is my team leader and my immediate senior."
"I guess that answers my question on Rick, but I did need to ask. Also, I saw how you looked at Dr. Davidson."
"Was I so obvious?"
"Only to Rick and me as we got to know your tells from NROTC days. That has not changed in you."
"Well, I still have to be careful, he is after all part of my JAG investigation."
"Yeah, well you know how it goes. Keep it professional during the work hours, but what you do in private is up to you as long as it does not interfere with work. He is a catch though Kate, you should try him."
"Lanie Parish, don't tell me that…"
"He is a long tall drink that quenches your thirst but as long as you keep it hidden, no one will question. I think Josh has been with a lot of the nurses and female doctors here at the hospital."
"So you speak from experience?"
"Just saying girl, make of it what you want. Besides, how long has it been for you?"
"Too long."
"Well, I state my case."
"Lanie Parish, you are incorrigible."
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"God I feel like we are back in college."
"You weren't getting any then either."
"Lanie!"
"Don't over think this Kate. Just go with the flow."
"So you think…."
"I think you'll regret it if you don't try. Beside, once your done investigating… who knows what will come of it."
"He will just remember me as the Lawyer who did a JAG on him."
"He is getting short here Kate and due to rotate to his next permanent duty station. Rumor has it he is headed your way to the White House medical staff. By the time you have the final touches to your JAG, he may have gotten his new orders. That is, if the Captain doesn't request he be extended, surgeons are hard to come by and he is an excellent one."
"So …"
"Plant the seeds now and harvest later. Have I ever steered you wrong?"
"Many times."
"But not this time Kate, trust me. Starting something with Josh, even if it is just a friendship for now could work out in the future. Any way, I'm headed back to my office. Catch you and Rick later for dinner."
"Here's my cell number", Kate says handing Lanie her business card, "give us a call."
With that Lanie leaves, but Kate is still thinking about what Lanie said. Kate hadn't been with anyone in a while and the handsome doctor was just the kind of man she needed in her life. He was handsome, intelligent, a surgeon no less, and had enough of the bad boy in him to make it interesting. He rode a Harley for starters and apparently quite the ladies man. Maybe, just maybe it could work.