| Subject: ...For Meritorious Service, Epilogue, part four |
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TxJAG_b
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Date Posted: 11:18:03 12/01/10 Wed
In reply to:
TxJAG_b
's message, "...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 27 - continued" on 10:56:42 07/07/10 Wed
…For Meritorious Service – Epilogue – part four
A/N 1: Thanks to my trio of editors [Mary Ann, Janlaw and Karen] for their usual fine job. Kudos also to AeroGirl, Mkim, Soleil, TZ, Janlaw for providing their help and technical expertise. Also thanks to Lisa Griffon [Yahoo Shipper Group] for her continuing support.
A/N2: Wow, has it really been SEPTEMBER since I last posted?! Okay, apologies all around for making you
wait so long - it has been a busy semester. For those
of you wondering - part five will be the last of the
Epilogue and FMS will be done. To catch you up; Bud
has just finished his talk with Corpsman Hazon.....
Fleet Hospital - 17
Expeditionary Medical Facility
An Nasiriyah, Iraq
Tony was sitting out in the hallway, waiting with his two prisoners, both Saddam Fedayeen. The organized chaos of the facility and possibly the odors of iodine, sulfa drugs, disinfectant, and soap were making them look a little self conscious and possibly even scared while sitting next to the NCIS Agent. Or it might be they were scared about what the Americans might do to them, no doubt their comrades had told them horror tales about what would happen to them. It didn’t help that a stern looking Gibbs had already taken three others [with an armed escort] in to get x-rays. For all these Fedayeen knew, Gibbs had taken them to be executed.
So now it was just a matter of ‘killing time’, so to speak, while waiting to get these guys examined by a doctor and x-rayed. Tony looked around; no newspapers or magazines – but then this was a hallway and not a waiting room. Doctors, nurses, orderlies, and patients wandered back and forth past them.
The former Baltimore police detective could have played mental television trivia, but it was more important to keep an eye on his two skittish prisoners. Every once in a while one of them would give Tony a furtive glance and when he looked back they lowered their eyes to the floor.
Since Tony didn’t speak Farsi and only pidgin Arabic there was no use trying to talk to them. So they all settled for an uncomfortable silence.
Presently two extra large, muscular MPs walked up to Tony and his two prisoners.
Tony gave them his winning smile as he stood up. “Gentlemen…”
The beefier of the two MPs looked blandly at NCIS Special Agent. “You must be Agent DiNozzo. We’re here to escort the prisoners down to see Doctor Rojas in 12B,”
“Wow, I have a reputation,” Tony quipped, but no one laughed or smiled. “Well, I’d guess I’d better go with you guys.”
“We’d rather you didn’t, sir,” replied the less beefy guy.
Tony continued smiling. “Oh? And why is that?”
“We can take care of them, sir, and we understand the situation you are in. They are just going to be checked over by Doctor Rojas.”
“The situation I’m in…well that’s certainly an awkward turn of phrase…” Tony looked for the other MP for an explanation.
“It’s not so much that we rather you didn’t” added less beefy. “You helped out the 36th this morning that goes a long way in our book, sir.”
Tony thought about arguing with them, I mean, after all, they were his prisoners. And Gibbs would have his head on a platter if anything happened to them.
Then he noticed a cute brunette nurse sitting down the hall a little ways from them with a little Iraqi girl who appeared to be on the verge of tears. The girl seemed to be trying to ignore the nurse and concentrate on coloring in her book.
Talking to this brunette seemed like more fun than watching frick and frack here get an examination and besides having been around Gibbs for a while had made him more sensitive to kids’ needs.
“Okay guys, you can have them, but if they come back busted or folded or spindled or otherwise messed up I’m going to come looking for you.” Tony thought his voice sounded like a blend of Eastwood, Wayne and Willis. At least he hoped so.
The two giant MPs looked at each other [more amused by the Agent’s tough guy talk then intimidated] and then at the DC MCRT Special Agent. “Don’t worry sir.” Beefier guy said in a serious voice. “Better that they talk to the CIA then have some sort of accident.”
“All right, I’ll tell the nurse…” he said pointing to one of the passing nurses “to keep tabs on you guys.”
“Yes sir,” Beefier guy answered. He and his partner gathered the two prisoners and escorted them down the hall.
Tony put on his best smile and walked down to the brunette nurse who seemed to trying to have a conversation with the little girl and was failing miserably.
“I take it you’re new at this?” Tony began – not his best opening line, but it sounded pretty good at the moment.
The young brunette looked up and smiled. Saddiyah stopped coloring in her book and stared at the agent.
“I’m watching her for a patient,” the brunette explained She had to admit she liked his smile and good looks - he looked like a young George Peppard or Robert Wagner. “She’s worried that’s something’s wrong with her friend and I’ve been trying to reassure her.”
Tony sat down beside Saddiyah as she continued looking at her coloring book. “Who’s her friend?”
“Pharmacist’s Mate Nicholas Hazon; he was injured in the riots here earlier in the week…”
Tony looked at the picture she had been working on. He tried to recall what Gibbs would do in situation like this. Then he remembered what he had said to that little boy who had lost his parents in a murder-suicide case a couple of weeks back. He’d had been doodling on a sketch pad Abby had given him.
“That’s very good.” Tony said to the girl. Saddiyah liked the sound of his voice. It sounded a lot like Nick. She gave him a small smile.
“That’s the first smile she’s had since she came out here,” gushed the nurse. She hoped she didn’t sound too effusive.
Tony gave her his winning smile again. “I’m very good with kids,” he said lying through his teeth. “By the way, I’m Anthony DiNozzo, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, but my friends call me Tony.”
“Well Anthony DiNozzo, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo,” she replied teasingly “would you mind staying with us until the JAG Corps officer finishes with her friend?”
Tony looked around. “Where’s her family?”
The nurse smiled sympathetically. She hated telling this part. “Dead. Pharmacist’s Mate Hazon is all she has…”
Tony digested that. “Oh…well, yeah, sure.”
“Thanks; and by the way, I’m Kim, Lieutenant Kim Fields.” She said mimicking his verbal miscue and then suddenly feeling shy about doing so, maybe because she found him attractive and didn’t want to chase him off the way she did to most men she met.
“Well Kim, Lieutenant Kim Fields, what do you say to asking her if she needs help with her coloring?”
She gave him a flirty smile. “We can ask her.”
Tony nodded and started to ask the girl permission in her native language, “What do you say…” then he looked back up at Nurse Fields. “Um, what’s her name?”
“Saddiyah…” Kim whispered
“Well, uh, Saddiyah, what do you say, can we help you?”
Saddiyah giggled at the agent’s attempt to speak her language, but she was pretty sure she knew what he meant. She opened the book to a blank page and gave Tony and Kim a crayon each. She pointed to Tony and then the lower half of the page and then to Kim and pointed to the building on the page.
“Looks like I got stuck doing ground work….” Tony pouted pretending to grump about his‘assignment’ - much to Saddiyah’s delight.
Kim laughed softly, “I’m sure you’ll do a good job Tony.”
Tony gave her another of his winningest smiles of his in return. “Thanks Kim.”
Saddiyah liked seeing them smile at each other. She grabbed another crayon and began working on the animals populating the page.
“DINOZZO!”
Tony shot out the chair like someone had poked him with an electric cattle pod
“YEAH BOSS!” he shot back as he scrambled awkwardly to his feet.
“Where the hell are your prisoners?!” The Senior NCIS Agent demanded.
“Down the hall being examined by Doctor Rojas, boss!”
“Why aren’t you with them?” he asked pointedly as only Gibbs can do.
Tony began his explanation innocently enough. “Well boss, Lieutenant Fields here asked me to help--”
Gibbs deftly slapped him on the back of the head, cutting his explanation short. “Go get them!” he growled.
“On it Boss!” Tony said as he scooted down the hall.
Gibbs looked down the stricken child and the stunned Lieutenant. “He was supposed to be guarding some dangerous prisoners!” Gibbs hadn’t been on the defensive like this in a while. Seeing the woman and the little girl staring at him irritated him further.
Kim Fields stood. “Sergeant Nader and Corporal Stone could more than handle them, Special Agent--”
“Gibbs, NCIS” The senior Agent said brusquely, flipping open his wallet and showing her his badge and ID.
“Well Special Agent Gibbs, as I was explaining; Stone and Nader wanted to repay your agent for his service to the 36th this morning…and Tony volunteered to help me with this little girl….”
“Tony…?” Gibbs said sounding angry and confused at the same time while he stared pointedly at her.
She quickly averted her eyes from his steel gaze. “I-I mean Agent DiNozzo…”
Gibbs noted the little girl was giving him as mean a look as she could possibly muster. Kelly had done that to him a time or two when he had to discipline her. He could see Kelly in his mind’s eye giving him her infamous [as he called it] death stare. Sometimes Gibbs would fake dying just to make her smile.
He squatted down in front of her. “He works for me; he was supposed to be guarding some dangerous men.” He explained gently to her.
“She doesn’t understand English very well…” Kim said coldly, obviously rebounding from the dress down given to her by the senior NCIS Agent.
Gibbs reached up to his uniform lapel and pulled off his subdued special agent service pin. Clipping it together, he gave it to the girl.
Saddiyah held the service pin like it was a dead bug.
“Here,” Gibbs said gently, “It’s a pin; you put it on your shirt; like this…”
Kim was touched. How could a guy act like a total jerk one minute and be so sweet and tender the next? “It’s okay Saddiyah,” she reassured the girl in her native tongue, “he’s sharing with you…”
Gibb took the corner of her shirt near her chest and Saddiyah placed her hand on his as he carefully placed the service pin on her shirt.
While Saddiyah and Gibbs shared a smile, Tony came walking back up the hall with his two prisoners.
“Got my prisoners and am ready to go, Boss. Doctor Rojas was just--”
Tony stopped his ramble when he saw Saddiyah fingering the service pin her boss had just given her. He felt a twinge of jealousy at the way she was responding. Saddiyah had been the first kid not to despise his approach. He had to admit to himself that he really wasn’t that great with kids, but he’d hit it off pretty good with Saddiyah, so seeing her react the way she did with Gibbs seemed a little unfair.
That’s when Saddiyah looked up and smiled at Tony, holding out her shirt so he could see the pin. The senior NCIS Agent looked up at his Senior Field Agent.
Tony gave her that special smile he reserved for the girls. “Hey, that’s some nice pin you got there. Did you thank my boss for giving that to you?”
Saddiyah turned and, in very rough English, spoke to Gibbs. “Tan-Tan Kew…”
Nurse Fields was floored. Gibbs didn’t know what say at first. He looked at the girl for a moment. “You’re welcome.” He said stiffly. He looked back at Tony and then stood up.
“C’mon, let’s go.” As they both walked away with their prisoners who were obviously relieved they hadn’t been killed yet, Gibbs turned back to Kim. “Excuse us, Nurse.”
As they started down the hall, Saddiyah got up from her chair and scrambled after them.
*~*
Outside in the 100 plus grit-filled heat the two NCIS Agents were hustling their prisoners back on board their waiting helo.
The Phrog crew chief motioned with his chin. “Looks like you’ve got a groupie, Special Agent…”
Gibbs turned and saw Saddiyah staring wide-eyed at the helo. Nurse Fields was directly behind her. “Come on Saddiyah,” she quietly urged her back toward the door. “We need to go back inside…”
Tony and Gibbs exchanged a glance. “I’ll get them on board, Boss; you go talk to her…” Tony said in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
But his answer surprised the former Baltimore police detective. Gibbs smiled and shook his head “No,” the Senior NCIS said as he took the prisoners toward the helo.
Tony stood there awkwardly for a moment, not sure what to do.
Gibbs looked back at his senior field agent. “Go on, DiNozzo,” he added motioning him toward the two women.
Kim Fields and Saddiyah looked across the field at Tony who started to approach them.
“Here; you’ll need this,” Gibbs said as he tossed what looked like a rolled up towel at Tony.
Special Agent DiNozzo caught the ‘towel’ and looked back at Gibbs who nodded and then ushered the prisoners into the Phrog whose rotors had slowly started to turn.
Lieutenant Fields squatted down next to Saddiyah. “Wait for him to come here,” she whispered in her ear and then looked up with a bright smile as Tony DiNozzo approached.
Tony squatted down in front of Saddiyah. He hadn’t noticed it until now but she had a roll of paper tightly clutched in her hands.
“What do you have there?” Tony asked the girl.
Saddiyah suddenly hugged Tony fiercely, and then turned away from him, taking the ‘towel’ but not before shoving the rolled up paper into his hands.
The former Baltimore police detective was speechless as he continued kneeling, not sure what to do next. Kim Fields walked up to Tony, squatted down and slipped a piece of paper in with the rolled up sheet.
“Call me,” she said into his ear. “I’ll be at Bethesda next Thursday….” and then hurried after the little girl who had gone inside.
Tony slowly stood up, turning around as he did and pocketing the slip of paper. As he looked across the tarmac, he saw Gibbs standing in the side doorway of the CH-46. He and Tony exchanged nods as the Senior field agent walked over and climbed on board the idling helo.
As Tony got himself strapped in, he looked back at the hospital. There by the door stood Saddiyah wearing a right sized NCIS t-shirt. She and Kim were waving. He unrolled the piece of paper and looked at it. It was the picture she had been working on so industriously.
In one corner was a hospital bed with a man on it. On the bed next to him was a helmet with crude Red Cross on it. That had to be Hazon. Outside the building which also had a cross on it was the green grass Tony had colored. Kim had helped Saddiyah with the animals but let her do the people by herself.
Tony could see there were other people on the page as well. A primitively drawn armored car and three smiling people standing by it. The names in English on the paper read ‘Sari’ ‘Harm’ ‘Dr. Soong’.
His breath hitched when he noticed the crude crayon drawing of Nurse Fields and a guy with ‘NCIS’ written on his shirt holding hands with a little girl.
Gibbs watched as his Senior Field Agent carefully rolled up the paper and put it inside his shirt. His mind replayed back to another time when Kelly had given him a similar picture….
**~~**~~**~~**
What’s this honey?
Picture for you so you don’t forget us, Daddy…
**~~**~~**~~**
It was only a short deployment, but to Kelly it would seem like a lifetime.
In his mind’s eye he could see himself holding the crudely drawn picture of their house and Shannon and Kelly standing beside it. Above them was a plane with an American flag on it. The plane was labeled ‘Daddy’. Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs had teared up and only by using his Marine will power was he able to leave the house without watery eyes.
As Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs sat back in his seat on board the helo, tears trailed silently down his face.
*~*
“Okay…sound check, one, two…that’s good…and we’re live in three… two… one…Today America extracted revenge for the brutal terrorist attack against the Judge Advocate General’s Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC just a little over a week ago that resulted in the deaths of over twenty civilian and military personnel….”
Brad Holliman stood facing Sully and the camera, a look of grim determination on the young reporter’s face. Stuart Dunston was glad Brad had agreed to do this. The bit about the deaths was a little much, but you had to get the public’s attention any way you could. He made a mental note to tell Brad to next time say ‘Navy and Marine personnel’ rather than the cold and impersonal ‘military personnel’.
“Dubbed Operation King Cobra, a subordinate military operation to Operation Desert Scorpion, US forces raided an Iraqi fortification previously thought abandoned during the opening days of the US invasion of Iraq….”
As Stuart continued to watch the live broadcast, Mac and Bud came up and stood beside him. As they stood there, Faith Coleman and Captain Natalia ‘Lawboss’ Seranovich joined their little group.
“Counselors.” He acknowledged. They nodded back.
Brad was on a roll. “Calling in air strikes from carriers USS Patrick Henry, USS Reprisal and USS SeaHawk, along with helicopter gunship attacks from US Marine and Coalition forces as a pretext, US forces raided the fortification, resulting in a deadly four hour battle with former regime remnants as well as Ba’ath militia….”
“I hope this meets with your definition of cooperation, counselors.” Stuart said quietly as Brad continued. “My bosses in New York will want to know why I didn’t give the public more.”
“Giving you this next bit was as much as we could do,” Natalia said firmly. “There is a war on, you know.”
Brad continued his report, oblivious to their conversation. “US and Coalition forces’ casualties included at least one F-14 Tomcat reportedly being shot down, as well as several Marines injured in the resulting firefight.”
“Colonel, could I ask for an exclusive interview with Commander Rabb?” Stuart asked.
“You could, but it would be denied.” Mac gave him a smirk. “Operational security.”
The ZNN reporter half-chuckled, half snorted. “I figured as much,” he said sourly.
“I hope our agreement is still intact….” Faith said the sentence in such a way that Stuart could tell it was more a question rather than a statement.
“You have my word Commander Coleman.” The ZNN reporter replied evenly. “You held up your end of the bargain.” He turned to Mac again. “Thank you for the exclusives.”
“Our pleasure Mr. Dunston.” Captain Seranovich will provide you with access to the Coalition and Marine personnel involved in this battle like we agreed.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
“You’re welcome.”
“This is Brad Holliman, ZNN, at the Marine Forward Operating Base near Mirbullah, Iraq.”
Stuart groaned as the words left the young reporter’s mouth. “Great; all he had to do was say was ‘at the 36th MEU Battalion Aid Station’ but no, he had to go and say that….”
“Sounds jazzier,” Bud offered with a faint smile gracing his face.
Stuart shook his head disgustedly. “Yeah, I guess…” he turned to the reporter who was now off camera “Hey Brad, come here….”
As Brad and Stuart critiqued the report, Mac sighed. “I’m going to check in on the Commander….”
How is he doing, ma’am?” Natalia ventured
“Not bad for being blown out the cockpit of his Tomcat…a little shorter, maybe…. She said as an afterthought. Then she grimaced, thinking about Harm’s prior ejections or ‘hard landings’ as he’d sometimes called them. At first she had wanted to say something witty, but then she realized she really couldn’t joke about something like that.
The Staff Judge Advocate nodded. She knew first-hand about the side effects of aircraft seat ejection. “Well, tell him everyone on the Patrick Henry wishes him well, including Captain Ingles, ma’am.”
Mac gave ‘Lawboss’ a sardonic smile. “He won’t believe that, but he’ll like hearing it; thank you, Captain.”
“My pleasure, ma’am, I’d better get ready to sheep herd my reporter entourage by your leave, Colonel, Commander, Lieutenant…”
‘Lawboss’ headed over to Brad and Stuart who had just finished their ‘discussion’.
As Mac turned to leave, Bud stopped her. “Ma’am, how is Colonel Briggs? And have you heard from the Admiral?”
Mac sighed again. It had been a long hard day. “He’s under sedation at the moment, and no Bud, I haven’t. I imagine The Admiral must have his hands full at the moment….”
“Ma’am?” He pressed. Basically he had been in the dark since the 36th went after
al-Sahood and his terrorist cell.
Mac understood his need to know. “Harriet told me that Tiner and Sergeant Givers helped Alan and John Burford capture two spies in the JAG Corps Headquarter offices.”
“They did?” Bud wondered why Harriet hadn’t told him, but he’d save that for later.
“Two spies?” Faith wanted to know more. “Working for Colonel Livingston?”
“Yes,” Mac said to both questions. “And I think the Admiral is busy figuring out how to put the best face on the spies’ arrest and their upcoming hearing.”
1131 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harriet’s Ford Aerostar minivan pulled in right behind Commander Alan Mattoni’s JAG loaner Ford LTD.
“Thank you again for the ride ma’am,” Jennifer said as she undid her seatbelt.
Harriet smiled at her. “You’re welcome Coates; and thank you for your help with little AJ this morning…”
Jen smiled shyly as she opened the passenger door on the van. “Not a problem, ma’am, glad to do it.”
Harriet grabbed her purse as she opened her door. “I don’t know why he was being such a grump this morning….”
Jen chuckled. “We all feel that way some mornings, ma’am.”
Harriet found herself chuckling as well. “True, Coates, very true.”
As they got out of the van, they saluted Alan Mattoni who returned their military greeting.
“How are you doing this morning, Lieutenant?”
“Ready for a day in court, sir.”
Alan’s eyebrows rose to the tip of his cover. “Indeed.” He then whispered to both women in a conspiratorial voice. “Well, I figure it won’t be too long of a day,” Ignoring their astonished looks, he nodded at them. “Ladies,”
“What do you think he meant by that, ma’am?” Coates asked as soon as the JAG Corps attorney had left their presence.
Harriet Sims watched as the attorney walked over to Commander Burford’s Mustang convertible as it pulled into a nearby parking space. “I’m not sure, Coates, maybe trying to shake us up before we get in there….”
“You mean bust our chops, ma’am?”
“Exactly.”
“Well he doesn’t bother me, ma’am.”
“Me either, Coates.” Harriet said firmly.
The two women watched as Alan Mattoni exchanged comments with Commander Burford as he stepped out of his car. They were quickly joined by Major Clemons who had just arrived. She looked a bit flustered at first to see Commander Mattoni conversing with John without her.
The three talked for a moments and then Alan returned Carly’s and John’s salutes and headed inside.
“Wonder what that was about, ma’am?” Jen asked, her curiosity piqued.
“We’ll find out soon enough, Coates.” They walked over to the two remaining attorneys still standing in the JAG Headquarters parking lot.
“Good morning Commander, Major.” Harriet said as she and Jennifer Coates saluted smartly.
“Lieutenant; Petty Officer,” John returned.
“Petty Officer, do you have the copy of the surveillance tape?” Carly got right down to business.
But Jennifer was ready for her this morning. “Yes ma’am, Major, along with the transcript of Corporal Bannion’s and Corporal Dells’s interrogations.”
“Very good. Coates.” Carly praised, taking Jennifer somewhat by surprise. She turned to Harriet. “Lieutenant, how are you feeling this morning?”
“Ready to kick some, ma’am” Harriet replied fiercely.
Her unusually strong response resulted in raised eyebrows from both Coates and Burford. Carly Clemons though, looked pleased.
“Outstanding!” Carly replied just as fiercely, “We’ll see you ladies inside.”
A somewhat bewildered Harriet and Jennifer saluted and went on inside.
John gave his erstwhile partner a sidelong glance. “I thought you two didn’t get along,” he observed as he walked with Carly.
The Major gave the Commander a knowing smile. “We have a common interest,” she said obliquely.
“Besides her dislike of you?” John quipped. He just couldn’t resist.
Carly reached out and slapped his shoulder playfully, then pulled her hand back as if she had scorched it.
John could hear the embarrassment in her voice. “Sorry,” she said quickly. He could tell that she regretted slapping him, be it in jest or not. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” he said to her softly as he turned her around to face him.
Carly’s features softened. “Look; we need to talk,” she said quietly, “but right now, let’s focus on nailing these slugs, agreed?”
John didn’t know what she meant, but she was right; Chegwidden would ship them off to some far northern outpost if they didn’t do their best on this case.
He nodded. “Agreed.”
Carly gave him a pleasant smile as he opened the door for her. That certainly was different; usually she gave him a surly look or grabbed the door away from him – it was one of the reasons he’d stopped coming in at the same time she did. There was definitely something going on with her. Well, the time to worry about that was not right now—she said they would talk.
As Carly and John entered the courtroom, they saw Alan Mattoni and the Admiral conferring with their clients.
AJ had not gotten much sleep at all except for the 20 minute catnap he took on his office couch before getting ready for this morning’s hearing. He had stayed long enough at NCIS to make sure that Harmon Rabb and Sarah MacKenzie were okay, but he couldn’t stick around to see the end results of the battle. He’d have to check into that later.
When they entered the Admiral stood and looked at both of them. “Commander, Major.”
“Admiral,” they said greeting him. Alan motioned for the Sergeant-at-Arms and two MPs to come over to the table. Alan quietly conferred with the court officer and the MPs who nodded.
AJ turned towards Tiner, Givers, Harriet and Coates who were busying themselves with getting ready for the hearing. “You four,” he said to them, “walk with us.”
The Admiral and Alan led the little procession outside the room. Carly’s eyes asked if John knew what was up. He shook his head ‘no’
AJ stood beside the three attorneys. “I’m taking off my Defense hat for a moment.”
He fixed the junior officer and three non-commissioned officers with his steely eyes stare.
“We haven’t had much time to follow the usual protocol in this kind of situation so I’ll just be blunt; I want to know right now if you four can do this; because if not, we can find someone else.”
Harriet and three non-commissioned officers looked at each other and back to the Admiral. Harriet spoke for the group. “We’ll work with our respective attorneys to do the best job possible, sir,” she replied.
“That’s good, Lieutenant. It’s the kind of answer I expected to hear,” AJ said as he nodded giving that faint smile of his that he was so famous for. Then he turned to the others. “But if you take on this assignment and I catch even a whiff that you are trying to undermine our case or Commander Burford’s case by not doing your best, I’ll personally take you down to Norfolk and have you keelhauled. Do you read me?”
“Aye, aye, sir” all four replied in unison.
AJ nodded his satisfaction with their response. “Good. Now I’ll put back on my defender’s hat. Let’s get back inside.”
Both groups returned to their respective tables.
As the clock approached 0952, Harriet and Jason busied themselves with looking through the evidence listings while Jennifer and Marla looked through the witness list again. The Admiral and Commander Mattoni conferred on what appeared to be their opening statement.
John looked at the clock. At precisely 0955, Commander Amy Helfman entered and made her way to the bench.
“All rise!” called out the Bailiff. “The Honorable Commander Amy Helfman is now presiding!” Both groups of attorneys and the defendants stood.
She sat down, opened her laptop and began reviewing her notes for the hearing. Everyone else took their seat as well.
Commander Helfman looked out at both Counsels. “I remind you both that this is an Article 32 hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for a trial, not a trial. Will the accused and their counsel please rise?”
She turned her heard towards Major Clemons. “Trial Counsel, are you ready to begin?”
Carly acknowledged the Judge. “We are your Honor.”
Helfman turned her eyes to the Admiral and Alan. “Defense counsel?”
The Admiral nodded to Commander Helfman. “We are ready, Your Honor.”
Commander Helfman looked at her notes one last time. “Then let’s get started.”
Carly stood again and opened the hearing. “Docket number 6151326,VR-9. The United States versus Corporals Mitchell ‘Mickey’ Bannion and Lance Dells. The accused are charged under the UCMJ with violations of Articles 106 and106a, Espionage, 108, Theft of and Destruction of Government equipment; 121, Larceny and Wrongful Appropriation and Article 128, Assault.”
Judge Helfman looked from Major Clemons to the Admiral. “Does the defense wish to enter a plea for the accused?”
The baliff who had left the courtroom for a moment now was trying to get Commander Helfman’s attention. The military judge nodded and he quickly and quietly approached the bench and handed her a hand written note.
She looked at it and then turned her eyes to the attorneys. “Counsel, will you approach the bench, please?”
Both sets of attorneys walked up the bench, not sure what was going on. Commander Helfman handed the note to the Admiral.
“This was just confirmed by the acting Chief Medical Officer for 36th MEU,” she said simply.
AJ Chegwidden took the note and unfolded it. He scanned it briefly before folding it up again.
“Admiral?” Alan probed carefully.
The JAG addressed the small group in a low voice so the rest of the persons present in the courtroom couldn’t hear. “Colonel Livingston is dead; her rogue unit is in custody, as is Samir al-Sahood and what’s left of his terrorist cell.”
Without waiting for anyone to say anything else, he looked at Commander Helfman. “Your Honor, may we have a moment to confer with our clients?”
The Commander looked like she wasn’t going to grant this request. She hated interrupting court proceedings but she knew that Albert Jethro Chegwidden would not make such a request unless it was absolutely necessary.
“You have your moment, Admiral.” she replied.
AJ smiled graciously. “Thank you, your Honor.”
Alan and AJ approached the two Corporals.
“So what was all that about, Admiral?” Mitchell Bannion began. His tone reminded AJ of snake oil salesman.
AJ chuckled “Well, we just got some interesting news – thought we would share it with you and your partner,”
“Yeah, well whatever it is, it don’t interest me.” Lance Dells snorted and turned away from the JAG Corps attorneys.
AJ ignored the rude response and focused on Bannion. “Well, it seems that the 36th MEU survived the chemical attack Samir planned, in fact, it never really happened….”
The two corporals looked at each other. “Yeah? So?” challenged Lance Dells.
AJ and Alan were really beginning to dislike Dells. Bannion shot his ‘buddy’ a nasty look.
“Lance, let him talk, all right?” he said cuttingly.
Corporal Dells hissed his disgust with his ‘friend’. “Whatever…”
Bannion started to say something else to Lance Dells but thought better of it. He turned his attention back to the Admiral who was waiting patiently for them to finish their little chat. “What do you mean, sir, ‘it never really happened’?”
AJ didn’t care much for Bannion either but at least he pretended to be respectful – even if he wasn’t. “Force Recon, that is, those not loyal to Colonel Livingston, was able to call in an air strike and destroyed the launchers before they were loaded and al-Sahood and his terrorist cell were captured.”
“Big freakin’ deal--!” Lance began snarling.
But Bannion was not cocky. In fact his whole demeanor changed. He looked desperate – as if someone had sealed all exits and room was filling with water. “Shut up Lance!” he snapped. This time he tone was so sharp that Dells clamped his mouth shut but shot his buddy an evil look. Bannion turned back to his attorneys. “So what happened to the Colonel?”
(‘The Colonel’…) AJ thought sourly, (he’s loyal to her to the end.)
“Your friend, Colonel Livingston, is dead” Alan Mattoni retorted bluntly.
All the color drained from Bannion’s face. “Dead?!” Even Dells’ surly countenance was diminished somewhat by this news.
“How?! What happened?” Bannion looked as if he was having trouble breathing. Alan wondered if the man was going to go berserk or have a heart attack.
The JAG knew the look he had seen it countless times before. His lady love was dead. To garner such loyalty, Darcy must have bedded half the men she’d used. “She was mortally wounded in a gun battle with the loyal Force Recon members, gentlemen. Now as far as I am concerned--”
Bannion shook his head as if trying to clear it. “Admiral, sir, I’d like to change my plea to guilty--”
Lance who had been slouching in seat sat upright. “What?! Mick, you’re not serious--”
Mitchell put his hand on his buddy’s shoulder. “Lance, we’re out on a limb here. She’s…she’s gone. We aren’t going to see her again and don’t have anybody to help us…we don’t have any support--”
Lance gave Bannion furious look. “Look you lovesick idiot, I’m not doing time for that broad by myself--”
Bannion didn’t listen to the rest. “Admiral in exchange for a guilty plea,” The Corporal continued quickly as if his life depended on it “I’ll tell you everything I know about Colonel Livingston and her espionage efforts that opened the door for the attack on JAG Headquarters.”
AJ couldn’t believe his good luck. “Let’s me get this straight; you’re asking for sentence limits in exchange for waiving the Article 32 investigation, the guilty plea and cooperation?”
Bannion looked coldly at his friend and then back at the JAG. “Yes sir, Admiral, a plea bargain.”
“You’re a deadman Mickey, Dells rumbled ominously. “You forget that Darcy and Samir have friends--”
“Are you saying that *you* made it possible for the terrorist attack that took place on *my command*?” AJ’s low growl made both Bannion and Dells flinch. They had just admitted to the Marine/Navy Judge Advocate General that they were responsible for Islamic terrorists being able to attack his Headquarters and kill fifteen of his staff.
“We’ll give you protection, Corporal; --in return for everything you can tell us about Colonel Livingston’s operation.” Alan said quickly in a counter-offer to the Admiral’s threatening tone.
“I’ll take it.” Bannion said effectively ending the bargaining.
Now Lance Dells was close to panicking. “Mick! Mickey, you don’t know what you’re saying, man – they can’t protect you – no one can. You know that.”
The Admiral looked coldly at this miserable excuse for a Corporal. “On the contrary, Corporal, we can and will.”
The JAG turned back to Commander Helfman. “Your Honor, I respectfully request a recess to prepare and deliver a proposed plea agreement to Trial Counsel and the Convening Authority. I know this is highly unsual, but if we can come to terms regarding sentence limitations, Corporal Bannion will plead guilty and fully cooperate with NCIS and Naval Intelligence about enemy combatants involved in the attack on JAG Corps Headquarters.”
Alan Mattoni leaned over and whispered in Lance Dells ear. “Corporal Dells, you do realize he won’t be court martialed with you? He’ll maybe even have a separate date set to testify again you….”
“So noted. And what about Corporal Dells?”
The JAG glanced momentarily at Lance Dells. “We will recommend that the Convening Authority detail other defense counsel to represent Corporal Dells.”
Amy Helfman nodded and tapped a note into her laptop. Very well; Trial Counsel, do you agree to the requested recess?”
Carly and John exchanged a wordless glance. Carly turned back to the military judge. No objections, your Honor.”
“So noted; Counsel, this hearing is adjourned to reconvene at my call; counselors--”
Before she could finish, Lance bolted out of his chair. “What?! He’s not being court martialed and I am?!”
“Order!” Amy said banging her gavel. I will have order in this court! Counsel, remind your client he is in a court of law and should act accordingly!”
The JAG looked over at Lance Dells with a cruel smile. “Agreed, your Honor. My apologies. Baliff, will you have the Master-at-arms escort the Corporal back to the Brig?”
As the baliff and the Master-at-Arms approached, Lance Dells broke. “Waitaminnit, wait a damn minute, I wanna make a deal too!!”
---TBC...
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