| Subject: ...For Meritorious Service, Epilogue part 5, sect. 1 |
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TxJAG_b
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Date Posted: 11:50:32 02/02/11 Wed
In reply to:
TxJAG_b
's message, "...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 27 - continued" on 10:56:42 07/07/10 Wed
THE FINALE…For Meritorious Service – Epilogue – part five
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: Well, here is folks; the last part of the epilogue. As you know there still some threads that
still need to be tied. I did this on purpose so I could have continuity between this story and the new one I’ve been working on for a while that will bring together the JAG, NCIS and NCIS LA universes- because in reality, they are all really part of the same universe. :) Thank you, Donald P. Bellisario and Shane Brennan, for sharing your creations with us.
From Epilogue – part four:
*********
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 unusual, 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. Will you have the Master-at-arms escort the Corporal back to the Brig?”
As the Master-at-Arms approached, Lance Dells broke. “Waitaminnit, wait a damn minute, I wanna make a deal too!!”**
*********
…For Meritorious Service, Epilogue, Part 5
The Navy/Marine Corps JAG pinned Dells with a stony look as he crossed his arms across his chest. “You want to make a deal? And, uh, just what kind of *deal* do you want to make?”
“You want names, I’ll give you names.” Dells said pinned the JAG with a desperate look.
“Not good enough, Corporal,” AJ Chegwidden was looking him up and down like he would a SEAL recruit in BUDs training. “Your buddy Corporal Bannion has already agreed to that and more. Master-at-Arms! Get this slug out of my sight!”
“N-No wait, d-don’t! I know way more than Bannion does! Really!! I-I was on the inside, I can give you names, places, contacts, even people indirectly involved in the attack!”
Alan Mattoni decided to play good cop, or in this case ‘good JAG’ to AJ’s ‘bad JAG’. “Give us a minute,” he said to the surly looking Master-at-Arms then turned back to Dells. “Okay, what do you mean, ‘you were on the inside’?”
Lance thought there might be salvation for him yet. “Mitch may be able to name some names, but he wasn’t in on the planning!” He said bluntly
“That’s a damned dirty lie!” Bannion said heatedly as he moved threateningly toward his erstwhile ‘partner’. Alan’s hand shot out to restrain him.
The JAG wasn’t about to have a ‘he said/he said’ duel in the courtroom. “Lock it up, you two! Now!!” AJ growled at Mitchell Bannion and Lance Dells.
This was his way of letting Bannion know that just because he was turning on Darcy and his pals, that didn’t win him any ‘Sailor of the Year’ Award.
Amy Helfman banged her gavel impatiently. “Counselors!” She gave AJ the ‘Judge eye’. “I’d like to give you that recess you requested, Admiral, unless you would rather--”
AJ Chegwidden, using all his lawyer skills, made his words flow out like soothing ointment on a burn. “My sincere apologies, Your Honor, but it seems Corporal Dells wishes to propose a plea agreement based on new information that has just come to light.”
Amy was not pleased there seemed to be an awful lot of ‘new evidence coming to light’ at the last moment; but if the other traitor could be turned as well, this circus might be worth it. She eyed the JAGC officers and the two accused for a long moment. Then as if giving in, she motioned to them. “Counselors and accused; approach the bench…”
The four lawyers and the two sailors again walked over and stood in front of Judge Helfman’s bench. She looked down on the six.
“Unless some kind of agreement can be reached in the next few minutes, I’m going to throw you all in the brig,” she warned.
AJ nodded his understanding. She might only be a Commander, but Amy Helfman could only be pushed so far. That’s why Admiral Morris had selected her to preside over cases here at JAG Corps Headquarters; she was a fair and ethical judge, but she also did well in unusual situations and this was one of those situations.
“Understood Your Honor,” AJ said as humbly as he could. He shot Alan a quick look. “We would like to amend our previous statement and request a recess to prepare and deliver a proposed plea agreement to Trial Counsel and the Convening Authority, I know this is highly irregular, but if we can come to terms regarding sentence limitations, both Corporal Bannion and Corporal Dells will plead guilty and fully cooperate with NCIS and Naval Intelligence about enemy combatants involved in the attack on JAG Corps Headquarters.”
Judge Helfman stared stonily at the two miscreant sailors. “I expect nothing less.” She said simply. She turned her eyes to Major Clemons and Commander Burford. “Trial Counsel; do you have any objections to the amended request for recess?”
The two Trial counsel exchanged another quick glance before speaking. “No objections, Your Honor.”
Amy Helfman quickly followed up. She didn’t want anything else prolonging this little ‘get together.’
“So noted; Counsel, this hearing is adjourned to reconvene at my call. Step away from the bench,” she said to her assembled group.
As they did, she banged her gavel. “This hearing is adjourned, but to be reconvened at my call,” she intoned tersely to the spectators, press and courtroom personnel.
As murmurs filtered through the room about her decision, Commander Helfman made another brief note in her laptop and then turned it off.
“All rise!” pronounced the Baliff. Everyone in the room stood as Judge Helfman left the room.
When she had left, John looked at Carly. “So, do we talk now?”
Carly shook her head quickly. “No, later….” She said quietly.
“How much later?” He pressed. He knew he was pressuring her, but John felt this had gone on long enough. Plus he had to know why her sudden turnaround.
She gave him a slight smile. “This evening at McMurphy’s Pub, all right?” She said hoping her mock irritation didn’t sound too much like the real thing.
The Navy/Marine JAG walked over to their table. “Well, Commander, Major; I trust you are disappointed with the way things turned out….”
“Mixed feelings, sir,” Carly said quickly. “I would have liked to nail them, but I also want to catch the bastards who trashed our command.”
AJ nodded thoughtfully and folded his arms across his chest. “I see; Commander, how do you feel about what happened here today?”
“I would have liked to nail them - fish in a barrel - sir, but the Major is right; we need to catch all the members of the terrorist cell – even if it means forfeiting a slam-dunk case.”
AJ Chegwidden gave him a piercing look. “And what makes you think it would have been a slam-dunk case, Commander?” I didn’t hear anything from you or the Major except the charges leveled against my clients. No substantial evidence as far as I concerned to make me think you had a real case.”
John Burford was never one to back down when challenged. But before he could Carly answered for him. “Your clients committed treason, Admiral. By all rights, they should be in Charleston or Guantanamo. And we didn’t present any of our evidence because your two clients made a deal with the government which we agreed to honor--”
“But if they renege on the deal, Admiral, we’ll see to it that they face life at hard labor.”
The Navy/Marine JAG gave them both a smile that held no warmth. “Is that a promise, Commander?”
“No Admiral,” John replied with his own ‘no warmth’ smile. “That is a guarantee.”
AJ Chegwidden nodded his head thoughtfully. “Good,” he said brusquely and strode out of the room.
2004 Hours Local
McMurphy’s Pub and Grill
“I miss going to Benzinger’s….” Carly said wistfully as she looked around the room.
“You do?” John wasn’t sure what to say to that. In fact, this whole meeting had him on shaky ground. She still hadn’t said why she wanted to talk to him here – or why she was suddenly being so nice to him.
“Yeah,” she said with a nostalgic smile as she sipped her beer. “--went a couple of times before law school with Tiner and the others…” John could tell she was cherishing the memory.
“You know why we didn’t go there tonight, don’t you?” John didn’t know what else to say. As soon as it came out of his mouth he regretted saying it.
She nodded as she took another sip of her beer. Obviously, she didn’t think it was a dumb thing to say. “Yeah; the Admiral declared it off limits after what happened with Singer…”
The name of the dead JAG Corps officer said out loud left Carly and John silent for a moment.
“How about you….?” Carly began in the middle of her thought.
John looked at her with a puzzled look. “How about me, what?”
She laughed softly at her faux pas. “Did you ever go there?” she said elaborating on her previous question.
Now it was John’s turn to chuckle. He nodded. “Yeah, a few times…good sandwiches…” He took a pull on his beer because he didn’t know what else to do at this point.
“Yeah; great sandwiches…” she said in agreement and went back to studying her bottle.
John could see this was going really well. So much for communication. He sighed. “Yeah….”
“So?” He said inquiringly, giving her an opening.
“So?” she repeated back to him, it was obvious she didn’t know what he wanted.
“As I remember, you wanted to talk…” he prompted. John hoped he wasn’t too sharp with her.
“Yeah; yeah, I do,” She said concentrating on the words on her beer bottle for a moment, as if she was working up her courage and then she looked back at him.
“Carly--” John was feeling self conscious; maybe this meeting had been a bad idea.
“John, I’m sorry for being such a jerk.” Carly blurted out hurriedly. The admission left them both without words. Carly started studying her bottle again. John was surprised by her statement.
“Well,” the Navy attorney began, but she quickly cut him off.
She sighed and put her bottle down. “Look, this is not easy for me to say; I came back here to JAG Corps Headquarters with a chip on my shoulder the size of an Abrams tank, just daring anyone to knock it off.”
“Hey, it’s okay…” John said softly, for some reason, he took her hand and held it. She didn’t resist.
The JAG Corps Major gave him a haunted look. “No; no, it’s not okay…” Her pregnant pause made him wonder what else she was going to say.
Carly looked into John’s eyes. Were hers filled with regret? “You never did anything to deserve the way I treated you….” She drifted to a stop again, waiting to hear what he had to say about her comment.
John Burford smiled gently. “I understand, Carly; you had a lot on your mind….”
She gave him a harsh chuckle. He thought at first she was going to pull her hand away, but she didn’t. “Oh yeah; Captain Franklin Ross Seibert – please don’t remind me….”
“Why? What happened?” John was concerned at her sarcasm. He wanted to ask her if he had done something to her hurt her. Why, he didn’t know.
Carly shook head as if she didn’t want to explore this any further. “He played me; that’s all.” She said simply.
“Played you?” John now felt anger--indignation towards Captain Seibert. After all, she had tried to help him --when everyone else had abandoned him.
She chuckled dryly. “Like the proverbial fiddle. And I fell for it.”
“You mean he was guilty?” John said incredulously. He let go of her hand. Did he see disappointment cross her face?
“He was. Wanted me to get him off. Said it was a mistake. I did some checking before everything went to hell. He was guilty. He had wanted me to get him off and make the blemish on his record ‘go away’ and I fell for it. I always do when it comes to guys I fall in love with.”
John didn’t know what to say to that. In fact this whole conversation had turned his view of her on its head. Maybe that’s what she wanted, maybe she was playing him.
It was as if she was reading his mind. “I know you’re wondering if I’m just saying all this to get sympathy, and maybe part of me would love to see where we could go, but no, I just wanted to clear the air between us. Are we good?” She waited for him to respond.
He was torn. Something inside of him wanted her to know that a relationship with him wouldn’t be bad thing but he also understood how she felt. He had been there himself not so long ago. She needed a friend and partner right now more than a hot bunk mate.
John gave her another gentle smile “We’re good. How about some dinner before we leave?”
She smiled warmly at him. “That would be great.”
*Operation King Cobra, D-Day + 1
36th MEU [GATORFORCE] Battalion Aid Station
Somewhere south of Objective India
Mac was sitting on a chair next to Harm’s bed. Bud Roberts and Sturgis Turner were standing on the other side. Harm was not happy, but then he never did make a good patient.
“I don’t see why I can’t get up,” Harm groused, “I’m fine.”
Mac put her hand on his chest, stilling him. “Harm you ejected from a disintegrating Tomcat and have a possible concussion; don’t you think that’s enough adventure for one week?”
“She’s right buddy,” The Bubblehead quipped, “Getting up right now might not be a great idea…”
Harm turned to his long time friend at JAG HQ, the former Public Affairs Information Officer for the SeaHawk, for solace. “Bud, a little help here?”
Bud tried hard to hide his mischievous grin. “Sorry sir, I’m siding with the Colonel and the Commander on this one.”
“A guy can’t catch a decent break,” grumbled Harm as he shifted in bed. He looked at the three of them who seemed to be enjoying his predicament.
“Okay, ha, ha,” he said drolly. “Look; I’m fine Mac; all of you; I’m fine. I’ve ejected before--”
“You should listen to the Colonel, Commander; she has your best interests at heart…”
Everyone looked up to see Dr. Roh Soong, Saddiyah’s other unofficial guardian, standing at the doorway. “May I come in?”
“By all means, Doctor,” Harm replied, hoping that now that there was a professional in the room, he’d get a second opinion – despite the doctor’s initial comment.
The four made room for the new visitor. “Bud, Sturgis - you remember Dr. Soong, from Aid Station Charlie?”
Both men shook the older Korean doctor’s hand.
“I came to see how the Commander was doing…Saddiyah was worried about you.”
“See Harm, women of all ages are concerned about your health…” quipped Sturgis. Mac covered her mouth to stifle a girlish giggle.
“Don’t you have a tank or two to chase down?” Harm said with mock snideness, referring to Sturgis’ part in stopping Al-Sahood’s armored surprise.
“You know, I may just ask the Admiral for a change in designator, ole Buddy; I kinda enjoyed the thrill of it.” The Preacher’s son said jocularly.
Doctor Soong laughed softly at their joshing.
“So what really brings you down here Doctor? Want to give me a second opinion on my current state of health?” Harm asked hopefully.
Doctor Soong shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Commander. You should at least stay in bed through the rest of the week – give your body a chance to heal….”
“Don’t forget your surgery in the morning for your hand, Sir.” Bud added.
“Thanks a lot, Bud.” Harm said dryly. This time Mac chuckled.
“Why, you’re welcome, Sir.” Bud said with as straight a face as he could possibly manage.
Dr Soong and the others chuckled again. This time Harm joined in the laughter at the good natured ribbing.
“Actually Commander, I came here to thank Lieutenant Roberts for asking Nick Hazon to reconsider his adoption of Saddiyah.”
Mac glanced over at Bud as did Sturgis. “And why is that Doctor Soong?”
The doctor gave Bud a gentle smile. “You told him it would be better for a family from this country to adopt Saddiyah, didn’t you, Lieutenant?”
Bud noticed all eyes in the room were on him.
“Yes Sir, I did.” Bud said somewhat self consciously as his mentors stared at him. (‘Just what do they think about my actions?’), he wondered.
“And you believe that, Lieutenant?”
“Yes Sir; I do.”
“Doctor Soong, if I may ask – why are you asking Lieutenant Roberts all these questions? Do you feel he was in the wrong?” Sturgis Turner asked the question the other JAG attorneys had wanted to ask.
The Korean Doctor shook his head. “No, not at all Commander Turner. In fact, I’m glad he did so. I just finished talking with Nick a few minutes ago and we think we’ve found someone for Saddiyah…”
“Who Doctor?” Mac asked; her curiosity piqued.
“Come on in,” The doctor called out to the closed door.
All four JAG Corps officers stared in shock at the young couple who opened the door and entered the room. The man wore the uniform of the new Iraqi Army and the woman was similarly attired.
Mac was the first to find her voice. “Izdihar? Rafid?”
Doctor Soong smiled proudly and nodded. “Yes Colonel. Lieutenant; Izdihar and ‘Arif Rafid T’Lass would provide Saddiyah with an excellent home.”
Izdihar looked from Rafid to the young JAG Corps officer. “We are to be married soon, Lieutenant.”
When Dr. Soong told us about Saddiyah and Nick Hazon, we knew had to help.” Rafid finished for his wife.
“Nick agreed with us, Lieutenant. Like you said; Saddiyah deserves to grow up in a family in her own country. He will always be welcome to visit Saddiyah, after all, he is her uncle.” Izdihar added.
Bud looked at his mentors; they were all silently nodding their approval. Bud turned back to the couple. “I know it’s not my place to say this, but the insurgent activity--”
Rafid nodded his understanding of what the young JAG officer was intimating. “--yes, and the car bombs and the sectarian violence - they will all be great challenges, Lieutenant, but Nick wants us to raise Saddiyah--”
“--she will get the best protection possible, Lieutenant. Nick said Saddiyah is considered an honorary Marine and has a battalion’s worth of brothers and sisters who will watch out for her. We want to adopt her, Lieutenant Roberts.” Izdihar finished for her husband to be.
Bud looked at them with bewilderment on his face. “You’re asking my permission?”
Izdihar smiled gently at his confusion. “We’re asking for your blessing. Nick told us that the 36th would serve as…Godparents and we want you to be…Godparents as well. I can think of no greater blessing.”
Bud looked at his three senior officers who were now smiling. “Go on, Bud,” Harm said to his mentee. Bud turned back to the nervous couple.
“I would be honored to give my blessing.” Bud said proudly.
Izdihar and Rafid broke into wide smiles. “You will come to the wedding?” She asked and then looked at Mac, Harm and Sturgis. “All of you?”
“We’ll be there,” Sturgis answered for the group.
Operation King Cobra, D-Day + 5
36th MEU [GATORFORCE] Battalion Aid Station
Somewhere south of Objective India
Harm gingerly put his weight on the damaged foot. While not broken, his leg had been
badly bruised. After the Marine medical team consulted with the Romanian surgeon, it was decided to put the aviator/lawyer in a walking cast in case there was a hairline fracture.
“How does that feel?” The surgeon asked as he watched him take his first halting steps. Mac was right there beside him ready to give him support if he wanted it.
“A little odd,” Harm answered honestly as Mac moved closer to support him as he walked stiffly around the room.
“It’s not perfect,” replied the surgeon, “but it should work until you get back to the continental United States.”
“How about the arm?” Harm asked examining the oddly shaped cast in the sling.
“I want to keep it immobile. I had to put in two pins to hold together the broken bones. You’ll regain full use of your hand, but you need to have this looked at in six weeks to determine if you’re ready for the pins to be removed.”
Mac and Harm exchanged concerned glances.
“You said he would regain full use of his hand,” Mac began worriedly.
The surgeon nodded. “Yes, but the damaged ejection seat did a great deal of damage to his hand. You’ll need to see an orthopedic specialist for follow-up. Captain Timas at Bethesda is a good friend of mine; I’ll make sure he gets your medical records on this incident. Timas is an excellent bone reconstruction specialist.”
Harm started to move again.
“Easy does it Commander, you don’t want you to undo all of our hard work, do you?” The surgeon asked pointedly.
Mac gave him a warning look “You heard him Harm, take it easy.” She wouldn’t brook him testing the limits of his mobility. Flyboy or not.
“I will, Mac, when we’ve talked to Captain Lewis and Colonel Briggs,” Harm said determinedly. He glanced at the surgeon. “If I promise to use a cane, will you let me go and talk to these people?”
The Romanian surgeon sighed; why was it the Queen always gave him these impossible patients? “If you insist on doing this Commander, then yes, it will make me feel better.”
Harm flashed him a grateful smile.
“Don’t get too excited, Harm, about winning this fight,” Mac warned, “because if you over-do it, *I’ll* be the one who straps you to the bed.”
Harm chuckled at her fierceness. He had no doubt she’d make good on that threat if he re-injured himself. “I promise, Mac, I won’t over-do it.”
36th MEU Detention Center
Camp Chesty Puller
Mirbullah, Iraq
The ride back to Mirbullah had been little bumpier than Harm had expected. Mac drove, but it seemed she kept one eye on Harm the whole time. For his part, the aviator/lawyer tried not to let the lingering pain from his injuries show through. For once, Sturgis didn’t say anything about Harm and his ‘testing the limits’. Bud had fiddled with his PDA the whole drive. Harm figured Bud had a new game he was exploring.
When they arrived, the MPs escorted them to Captain Lewis’s holding cell, where he sat chained to his chair, his hands manacled. Harm and the others didn’t protest this handling of the Captain – he was former DSD and had been directly responsible for over a dozen deaths – and that was just the ones they knew about. He was a very dangerous man, capable of anything.
Jacques Lewis gave them an unsettling smile. Mac felt queasy, but was determined to see this through.
“Captain Lewis, do you understand the charges against you?” Harm said coolly to Darcy’s co-hort. He kept his cane out of the Captain’s reach.
Jacques Lewis smirked. “Yeah, yeah; I’m being charged with violations of UCMJ Article 104, aiding and abetting the enemy; Articles 106 and 106a, espionage, yeah, I pretty much get it, Sir.”
The ‘sir’ was not a form of respect.
Sturgis got dangerously close to the man as if he was daring him to try something. “You’re also now recognized as an enemy combatant, Captain” Sturgis’ use of the word ‘Captain’ was to remind him of what he had lost.
If Jacques Lewis cared about that or the fact he was considered an enemy combatant, he didn’t show it.
“We all have our reasons for doing what we do, Commander.” He said as if explaining a problem to a dunce. “By the way, where is my lawyer and where is Colonel Livingston? Did you send her to Baghdad?”
Sturgis looked at Mac and then back at him. “Colonel Livingston is dead, Captain; she committed suicide rather than surrender.”
“She left you holding the bag, Captain.” Mac added with a hint of a cruel tone in her voice. It was ploy to make him nervous. But somehow, Mac didn’t feel it was all show.
Harm’s eyes widened at first. Then he nodded.
“Did you have anything you want to tell us?” Harm said sounding genuinely concerned about him and his situation.
“Yeah; yeah, I do….” He said to Harm while ignoring Mac and the others. Then he turned so he could look at all of them. “It wasn’t supposed to happen the way it did, you know.”
“What wasn’t supposed to happen the way it did?” Harm said feigning interest in whatever this jerk had to say.
He moved forward on his seat causing his chains to rattle ominously. “You know; the finger, it was supposed to point at al-Sahood; not Lukens and Buell….”
Harm, Mac and Sturgis exchanged blank glances.
Lewis rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Oh for the love of- you know, al-Sahood, Samir; he was supposed to have stolen and used an American sidearm and killed Dodge. Get it?”
Bud looked somewhat smugly at the three senior JAG Corps officers. It seemed the theory he had first proposed when they were flying into Iraq was correct. Mac smiled at Bud. He was becoming quite the lawyer and investigator.
If Jac noticed their silent conversation he didn’t indicate that he did. He continued his rambling revelation.
“…but those two idiots had to screw everything up and fly to ‘our rescue’ out there…but that didn’t ruffle Darcy a bit. She said, ‘let them take the fall’. I should have known at the time she was protecting al-Sahood, but at the time we all thought it was perfect – Lukens had already threatened Dodge and we had a string of red herrings to keep you busy – like the thing with Gunny Sanchez….”
Harm held up his hand to stop him. “Wait, what about Gunny Sanchez? Were you trying to ensnare him too in all this?” He vaguely remembered that the Gunnery Sergeant had at one time been considered a suspect.
Jac gave Harm a startled look. “Hey don’t lay that racist crap on me, JAG. What kind of person do you think I am?”
Bud excused himself and left the room.
Sturgis sighed as if he had tired of listening to the Captain. Which was partially true. “We’ll let the prosecutors at your court-martial decide that, Captain.”
Mac gave him a nasty smile. “Enjoy your stay in Charleston, Captain.”
Lewis’ bravado died. He stoically acknowledged the lawyers as Bud brought in the Marine MPs who unlocked his chains and began to lead him out of the room.
Uncharacteristically, Harm didn’t admonish Mac. As far as he was concerned, this guy was pure evil.
When they got outside though, Sturgis took up Harm’s usual role. “Mac, you should be more careful what you say to him….”
The Marine Judge Advocate had the decency to look a bit abashed about her recent actions. However, she wasn’t above trying to defend them. “I know Sturgis, but he tried to kill all of us – you, me, Bud, and Harm.”
“Nevertheless, you can’t say something like that to him.” The Bubblehead continued calmly.
Mac’s bottled up anger slashed out. “The hell I *can’t*, Sturgis! Lewis and those other bastards killed Dodge in cold blood, tried to pin it on Buell and Lukens, not to mention they tried to kill all of us and everyone in 36th MEU! And with the help of al-Qaeda!”
“He still deserves a trial Mac,” Harm said quietly, feeling the shame as well. “They all do…no matter what they did or how we feel about them – even Lewis.”
Mac seethed, but he was right and she hated it when he was right about something like this.
She took a deep breath and then reluctantly nodded her agreement.
Bud decided he’d better heal any rifts that were forming – they had all come so far and the wounds of earlier this spring were finally healing – he wasn’t going to let them be ripped open again by Captain Lewis or anyone else. He decided to sum up what they all were thinking.
“Well, all I have to say is - thank God it isn’t us that have to do this one.”
The three senior JAG Corps attorneys looked at him and then nodded. Truthfully, they were all relieved that the Admiral would have to have someone else handle both prosecution and defense of Jacques Lewis and the other members of Darcy Livingston’s gang.
“That’s probably a good thing considering everything that’s happened here.” Harm added somberly.
“Tiner said that Mattoni and Imes will be brought out here to replace us,” Sturgis replied adding what he knew.
Mac sighed. “Well, now all that’s left is getting the Admiral to talk to Colonel Briggs….”
Bud was confused. “Colonel Briggs? Why Colonel?”
“He’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, Bud,” Harm said quietly.
“That explains a great deal,” Sturgis had been as confused as Bud about Mac’s comment, but he hadn’t wanted to probe her given the success of his last effort to talk to her.
“So rather than having Colonel Baxter or us talk to him, I thought an old friend might be better able to handle it than we ever could.” Mac finished. She was not looking forward to placing this phone call.
Bud looked at the Colonel. “You’re the best one to tell the Admiral, ma’am.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bud.” Mac said wryly.
...To Be Continued...
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