Never Say Never

by jpstar57

From when they met in the White House Rose Garden, Mac and Harm were more than colleagues as they understood their attraction to each other. As a result, certain events didn't happen. Mac did not say "Never" in Paraguay. She said something else. AJ is not happy with their choices. They pretty much defy his order of, "Don't get comfortable." Co-Authored with csijagfan & dnieder.

19. Chapter 19

Never Say Never

Chapter 19

Monday, July 8, 2002

2145 Hours Local Time

Potomac Great Falls Park

Border of

Montgomery County, MD

Fairfax County, VA

Mike Connors was on the third shift as a National Park Ranger at the Great Falls. Every day after sundown, he had to do his check at closing time to ensure that there were no more cars in the parking lots on either side of the bridge across the falls. He was looking out for lovers who lingered to make out in the cars and any persons attempting suicide The guard house was on the Maryland side of the falls.

Today, being that it was a warm day, he went out later than usual. As he stepped on the bridge from the Maryland side, he saw a white bundle on the deck about three-quarters of the way across the bridge to Virginia. As he walked closer, he saw the bottoms of white shoes. He quickened his pace to get to it. When he bent over, he saw the blood spreading out from under a blonde head. Some of the blood had spread from the head to the edge of the deck and was dropping over the side into the water.

"Oh my God," he exclaimed out loud. As he said this, he reached for her neck to feel for the carotid pulse. He was relieved to feel on, even though it was weak. He brought his on-duty cellphone from his ever-present belt pack and dialed '911'.

When he heard the operator answer, he stated, "I'm on the Potomac Great Falls bridge. I have an unconscious female, approximately 35 years old, with a bleeding head wound. ~ Yes, I'm giving first aid. ~ Okay, ten minutes."

Mike removed the first aid material from his belt pack and started working on Alison. He turned her over and found the source of the blood at her head just above the hairline, and started to apply his bandaging. It was about eight minutes before he heard the first sirens coming from the Virginia side and then the Maryland side. He stepped aside as EMTs swarmed the bridge to let them do their work. When they had Alison set to transport, Conners asked, "What hospital are you taking her to?"

"Sibley Memorial Hospital in MacLean," a female EMT replied.

"Okay, thanks. I just have to needed that for my report."

Conners followed the stretcher to the Virginia side. As he watched them load the stretcher into the ambulance, he saw the lone car, a Crown Victoria, in the parking lot. He went over to it to find that it was unlocked. He saw the handbag on the passenger seat. He opened it and started to inventory the items. His suspicion that it belonged to the victim was confirmed when he saw Alison's driver's license. He completed his investigation by taking photos with his cellphone camera. He went about notifying his superiors of the incident, letting them manage the notifications that were needed.

2230 Hours Local Time

Sibley Memorial Hospital

MacLean, VA

Brian Crawford walked into the Emergency Room admitting desk and asked, "Could you please tell me where Alison Crawford is?"

The nurse behind the desk replied with a question of her own, "And you are?"

"I'm her husband."

"Sir she is in Room two. Down that hall to the right."

"Thank you," Brian replied as he set off where the nurse directed.

He stopped at the door to the room to compose himself before he went in. When he entered, he saw a female doctor and nurse checking over his wife, who was asleep on the bed with her head bandaged. He was heartened to see that her EKG monitor was steadily beeping along with the rhythm shown on the monitor screen. He announced, "Doctor, nurse, I'm Cmdr. Crawford's husband, Brian. How is she?"

The doctor, whose name tag showed Dr. Carter, "Well, Mr. Crawford, Cmdr. Crawford is in a coma from a concussion. She has a deep laceration to her scalp. It could be considered an avulsion, as the skin was torn into a flap. We had to shave her head to administer eighty-four sutures. She also has a broken jaw from a blow to her right side. We were just getting her ready to be brought in for a CAT scan to check for any further brain injuries. After we do the scan, we'll have her jaw wired accordingly."

Brian looked and saw the bruises on Alison's face. He asked, "When do you think she'll wake up?"

"With a brain injury, it's hard to tell. It could be hours, days, or weeks."

"Okay, please keep me posted."

"Okay, Mr. Crawford. Right now, let's get up to the CAT scan."

Brian stood aside to let some aides come in and wheel Alison's bed out. He went to sit in the waiting room.

After a while, he was dozing. He was woken by a nurse gently shaking his shoulder. As he woke, Brian saw that it was the same nurse, whose name tag showed Kate, whom he had met in Alison's ER room. She told him, "Mr. Crawford, we transferred your wife to Intensive Care on the third floor. The nurses at the desk will direct you to her room."

Brian got up, saying, "Thank you, Kate."

"You're welcome, sir."

Brian went up to the third floor,r where he was directed to Alison's private room. He saw her on her vitals monitor that she was still with him. He pulled the chair close to her bed and settled in to wait.

2330 Local Time

Alison Crawford's Room

Sibley Memorial Hospital

MacLean, VA

Brian was holding his wife's hand as he sat and dozed. He was alerted to a soft knock on the door and it opening to reveal a man about 6-2 with short sandy hair shot with gray. He held up his credential, doing the usual flip and show as he announced, "Mr. Crawford? I'm Special Agent Gibbs of NCIS. This is Special Agent DiNozzo. We're here to investigate how your wife, Cmdr. Crawford was assaulted."

Brian got up to greet the agents with, "Actually, I'm Cmdr. Crawford of Her Majesty's Royal Navy. I work at the British Embassy as intelligence liaison to the White House Situation Room Coordinator."

"Yes, Commander. Can you tell me what your wife was doing at the Potomac Falls Bridge?"

"No, I can't, Agent Gibbs. The last thing I heard from her was that she was staying late at the office, and she would be having dinner at Benzingers before she came home."

"Do you know with whom she was having dinner?"

"She didn't say."

"Uh huh. How are things with your wife, Commander?"

"If you're implying that Alison is having an affair, I will tell you that that is preposterous. We have a solid and loving marriage."

"I wasn't implying anything, Commander. That's a question I have to ask."

"Alright, I can go with that." You'll have to check at Benzingers."

"Okay, we'll do that. How is Cmdr. Crawford?"

"As you can see, she is in a coma. She has a broken jaw and a concussion, and possibly a brain injury. They had to use over seventy sutures to close the head laceration. Her doctors don't know when or if she'll wake up."

"I'm sorry about that. I can say we will work hard to catch her assailant."

"I appreciate that, Agent Gibbs. Please keep me informed. I'll be here or at my home until she wakes up."

Next Day

1330 Hours Local Time

NCIS Headquarters

Washington Navy Yard, NE

Gibbs had DiNozzo go to Benzingers to check on Brian Crawford's story of Alison having dinner there. He found out that Alison did not dine alone. When he got back to the office and reported what he found out to Gibbs, Gibbs turned around to make a call.

When Gibbs finished with his call, his probie Vivian Blackadder spoke up from her desk, saying, "Now we have someone to charge."

"We'll see when he gets here."

"What about the JAG. With what you found out, he wants him remanded."

"We don't take orders from him."

Blackadder turned away in a sulk.

45 minutes later

Harm Rabb and Bob Campbell strode into the MCRT Bullpen. Harm asked, "I'm here to see Special Agent Gibbs. He said he needed to speak with me about an investigation."

Blackadder got up from her desk to say, "Come with me where Agent Gibbs is waiting to speak privately with you."

Blackadder led Harm and Campbell down the hall to the interview rooms and led them to one. Before he went in he turned to Campbell and instructed, "Wait here. I'm sure he's not going to kill me."

"Whatever you say, Harm," Campbell replied as he assumed post outside the interview room.

Harm went in and Saw Gibbs sitting at the table. Harm took the chair opposite him. Harm began, "What do you need to know, Agent Gibbs?"

"Can you tell me where you were last night between 1800 hours and 2145?"

"I had dinner with a friend. Then I went home. I got home about 2030 hours, and I didn't leave my house until this morning to go to work at the White House."

"Was that friend Cmdr. Alison Crawford?"

"Yes, it was. Why? Did something happen to her?"

"You were the last person to see her before she left Benzingers."

Harm was getting a bit peeved as he repeated, "Did something happen to her?"

"She was assaulted. Someone broke her jaw. She's in the hospital in a coma."

"And you think I did it?"

"I'm not thinking anything. I'm just trying to account for your time after you left her."

Harm sighed, got up, and went to the door. He opened it, stuck his head out to say to Campbell, "Bob, come on in here."

Harm sat back down, pulled his cellphone out, and made a call. When it was answered, he said, "Mic, I need you at NCIS in the Navy Yard. These boobs are going to charge me with assault on Alison Crawford."