| Subject: ...For Meritorious Service, Epilogue part 5, sect. 2 |
Author:
TxJAG_b
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 12:25:33 03/02/11 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 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.
*~*
Mac had told Harm she needed to handle this by herself. He had started to
protest but she was firm on this point. Reluctantly, Harm had agreed.
It seemed to take forever before the phone line in Colonel Baxter’s office
clicked. Mac started at the noise and then took a breath. It wouldn’t do to
have a nervous voice when talking to the Navy/Marine JAG.
“Good morning Sir,” she said crisply.
“Colonel, how is it going? How is the Commander?”
“He’s doing much better, Sir.” Mac appreciated the fact that AJ was concerned
about Harm considering the ups and downs their relationship had in the past
year.
AJ was now all business. “Good; glad to hear it…is there something else,
Colonel?”
Mac wished she didn’t have to do this. Twice, she almost backed out. It was
only images of her Uncle telling her not to give in to fear that kept her going.
“Sir…it’s about Colonel Briggs….”
Admiral Chegwidden’s tone quickly changed. “What about him, Colonel? Is he
still giving all of you trouble?” Part of her was glad that he was concerned
for them – it had been a while since she had heard him speak like this…and it
only made what she had to tell him even harder to do.
She looked over at the shell of the man who had been CO of this MEU only days
ago. “No Sir, nothing like that…Admiral, have you noticed Colonel Briggs
repeating himself, being overly forgetful?” Mac hoped her questions would
prompt a similar response about his friend.
The Admiral however, didn’t think this was something worth reporting. He tried to
make it clear he was a busy man. “Colonel, we all get overly forgetful in
stressful situations--”
Mac pressed him. “Yes Sir, I know, but there are other things you should know
about….”
Admiral Chegwidden was becoming frustrated with her obtuse comments. “What
other things, Colonel? You’re not making any sense…just what are you driving
at?” She could almost hear him saying to her (Spit it out, Marine!)
(Here goes…) “Colonel Briggs…he has the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s,
Admiral…he had to be relieved of command. Colonel Baxter has been made acting
CO….”
There was silence on the other end.
“Admiral…” AJ didn’t respond. Mac felt her nerve slipping. She wished now she
had disconnected.
“Sir?” She prompted. That niggling worry was starting to grow (I never should
have done this, I should have let someone else, a doctor, handle it…)
The voice that came back was low and quiet. “Colonel, are you sure about this?”
Mac braced herself. She had just given some very bad news to her boss about one
of his best friends. (Be logical, facts only, Marine) “Without a thorough
medical exam and a battery of neurological tests, sir, no; but the unit’s medical doctor
believes he is and the Colonel admitted as much to me, Sir.”
“Oh…I see…” Mac noted that AJ Chegwidden sounded tired…and old.
That was other part Mac had been dreading. She hated doing this to him. He’d
had so much disappointment in his life – at least his relationship with Meredith
seemed to be going pretty smoothly. “I’m sorry Sir…would you like to speak to
him? He’s here with me.”
“He is? Yes, Colonel, I would, thank you…” The tiredness in his voice made
Mac’s heart ache, God how she hated doing this….
“Sir, again, I’m sorry…” Was all she could think to say to him. It seemed so lame…
“It’s okay, Mac,” AJ said gently to her. He knew she was hurting as well. Mac
had been his confidant many times in the years she’d served under his command. “Thanks for letting me know….” The Admiral said tiredly with a faint smile.
He felt honored and humbled at the idea of Mac taking it upon herself to deliver this news. She had always tried to help him; probably more than she should, but still, he appreciated that it was her giving him an update on his friend.
“Yes Sir,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek, even as she angrily swiped at the
offending moisture. She turned and gave Colonel Briggs a watery smile. “The
Admiral would like to speak with you, Sir.”
“Are you all right, Colonel?” Ashton Briggs was genuinely concerned about why
this woman was crying. He didn’t know her, but the Colonel seemed nice enough.
Mac cleared her throat. “I’m fine, Sir; the Admiral is waiting to speak with
you.” Colonel Briggs nodded and took the phone.
“AJ?” Ashton R. Briggs’ voice was shaky and uncertain.
“Ashton, how are you doing?” AJ did his best to sound chipper and upbeat, but
there was something off in way he was talking – his best friend knew it.
The former MEU Commander held the phone tightly as if it would slip away from
him. “I-I don’t know, AJ. I honestly don’t know.”
AJ Chegwidden was stunned. In all the years he’d known the Marine Colonel, he’d
had never heard confusion in his voice. A child-like confusion. It shook the
Navy/Marine JAG to the core. There was a long silence
“AJ?” Ash called out like a man verbally reaching for a life preserver.
AJ was immediately there for his friend. “Yes Ash?”
“I’m scared AJ.” Brutal honesty. Now that was the Ash Briggs that AJ knew.
But it was also an affirmation that something was terribly wrong.
AJ didn’t know what to say to his old friend. Emotion took over. “Yeah, I know,
Ash, me too.”
As their poignant conversation continued, Mac quietly stepped outside. No one
was in the outer office. She walked over and sat heavily on the sofa next to
the door. It was as if the act of sitting triggered her emotions and tears
began to freely run down her face as she broke down, sobbing as silently as she
could.
36th ACE Airfield, Camp Chesty Puller
Near Mirbullah, Iraq
The Light Colonel had gone to the latrine and splashed cold water on her face
until it began to hurt. It took another fifteen minutes after that to get her emotions
back under control.
When she did she joined Harm, Sturgis and Bud on the drive over to the
airfield. Bud drove and Sturgis took the front passenger seat. Harm and Mac
sat in the back. Mac kept her eyes forward and didn’t say anything the whole
trip. Harm knew she had been crying, but decided that if Mac wanted to talk
about it, she would, in time.
When they arrived at the airfield, they clambered out and walked to the hangers.
Benjamin Lukens and Frank Buell, the crew of Firefly One, were busy doing
maintenance on their helo. They looked up and saw the JAG Corps officers
approaching. They both stood up.
“Colonel, sirs,” Ben Lukens said as he and Chief Buell saluted the JAG Corps
officers.
“Lieutenant, I heard that you and Chief Buell saved the day….” Mac said in a
surprisingly strong voice given what she had just gone through.
“Well, we didn’t do it all by ourselves, ma’am,” Ben said with uncharacteristic
humbleness. “we had some help….”
“You did an outstanding job out there, Lieutenant; Chief,” Sturgis replied,
“you’re to be commended….”
“We really didn’t do that much, Sir,” Chief Buell was as reticent as the Cobra
pilot. “It was a team effort, really.”
“That’s not what your CO said of you two,” Harm couldn’t understand why these
two were acting so skittish, did they honestly think they were still in trouble
after all this?
“He’s recommending that you both receive Silver Stars for your actions.”
Ben looked even more uncomfortable than before. So did Fred Buell. “We
honestly didn’t do that much, Commander,” Ben Lukens said quietly, “we did what
any other member of our unit would do….” Frank nodded his agreement.
Sturgis couldn’t understand their reluctance either. “Lieutenant, you and the
Chief kept at least three, if not more, of your fellow helo pilots from being
shot down by deliberately placing your helo between theirs and enemy fire.
Captain Maxwell witnessed you doing it at least once and Lieutenant Hafez
witnessed the other times you did this. And then you flew into heavy enemy fire
during a Fedayeen counter-attack and kept a squad of Marines from being wiped out.”
“Lieutenant Hawkins witnessed that one, Sir,” Bud added “he said they could have
easily been shot down but you chose to stay with those Marines until Lieutenant
Hawkins’ men could link up with them.”
“You showed intestinal fortitude out there, both of you did,” Mac wanted them to
know how much their actions were appreciated. “So what is going on? Why are
you so bashful? This isn’t like you two….”
Ben and Fred looked at each other. “Well ma’am, sirs, we just don’t want to be
in the limelight anymore,” Ben said speaking for both of them. “We nearly tore
this unit apart and if it hadn’t been for you and the Commander, we’d be on our way
to Leavenworth right now.” Frank nodded again, it was clear that he agreed with
the Cobra pilot.
“We’re just glad we were able to help,” Harm replied.
But Ben wasn’t finished. “I can never take back the things I said to Lieutenant
Dodge, ma’am, they were wrong--I was wrong. I was so worried about my sister’s
honor that I became biased against a fellow Marine. I shouldn’t have done that
and I can’t expect that every Marine in this unit, or in the entire MEU, will
forgive me.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself, Lieutenant” Sturgis saw a little bit of
himself in the Cobra pilot at the moment.
Lieutenant Lukens shook his head. “On the contrary Sir, I don’t think I’m being
hard enough. This whole experience has taught me a valuable lesson.”
“And what is that, Lieutenant?” Harm asked.
“That I haven’t been the example to Chief Buell that I should be, sir. He
should expect more from an officer.”
“Lieutenant, we all have feet of clay,” Harm said in an understanding tone, “the
trick is knowing how to deal with it.”
“Yes Sir, I understand that now, but I also want to help others with these kinds
of situations…and I also want to show the Chief that you have to be accountable
for your actions….”
“What do you mean, Lieutenant?” Mac was curious as to where he was going with
this.
“I mean, there is something more I can do,” He handed Harm a folded letter. “By
your leave, sirs, ma’am…”
He walked over to Steve Maxwell who had been walking toward him. “Lukens, I was
just coming out to talk to you--”
Ben handed him the letter. “Captain, before you say anything else, I’d like to
voluntarily ground myself. Effective immediately.”
That took the acting CO of the helo unit by surprise. “Are you sure about
this? We need men like you up there….”
Ben nodded. “The past few months have taught me a lot about what I didn’t
understand. I want to make this right sir; I’d like to request a transfer to a
training unit. I think I still have a lot to offer other helo pilots…as a
training officer…sir.”
‘The Blue Max’ considered that for a moment. Then he nodded. “I’m still putting
you in for a Silver Star and for Buell as well.”
Ben gratefully smiled. “I understand sir. And thank you…”
Steve sighed. He knew why Ben Lukens was doing this and he wasn’t going to be
able to talk him out of doing it. “We’ll miss you, Lieutenant.” He held out
his hand to Ben. They shook hands.
“Yes Sir, but it’s the best solution for all concerned…” he looked over at Harm
and Mac, who along with Bud and Sturgis, had walked over to them. “Right
Commander? Colonel?”
Harm knew what Lieutenant Lukens was doing. He was trying to make things
right. “Yes Lieutenant, for all concerned.” Ben Lukens went back over to help Chief Buell finish their work on Firefly One as the JAG Corps attorneys silently watched.
Mac’s was disappointed by the fact that after all their hard work, Ben Lukens was stepping down, but she had seen it happen before and she, like Harm, knew he was doing it for the right reasons. She was also very sure he’d be back before too long.
*~*
The JAG Corps Officers stood at attention. In front of them was 36th MEU’s
reorganized Force Recon unit. The Dodge pickup trucks had been replaced with
Mercedes Benz Trackwolf recon trucks. Staff Sergeants’ Mark Dallas and Joe
Corbin stood in front of the lead platoon, Shark Two.
“Platoon! Ten-hut!!” Called out Dallas. “Pre-sent H’Arms!!”
Mark, Joe, Kayce and the others members of Shark Two saluted the attorneys as a
group, but their eyes were on their leader, Silver Leaf, the Light Colonel
Marine Judge Advocate.
Mac was humbled by their salute. She looked at them and nodded. “SEMPER FI
MARINES!” She barked.
The platoon, as one, barked right back to her. “SEMPER FI MA’AM! OOO-RAH!!”
Sturgis leaned over to Bud. “Eerie, isn’t it, Lieutenant?”
“She must have been very good, sir.” Bud replied just as quietly as the
ceremony continued.
Sturgis grinned. “Of that, Lieutenant, I have no doubt.”
After the platoon was dismissed, Harm glanced over at his partner as they
started to walk back to their HMMWV. “You know Mac; I don’t think I’ll ever
completely understand Marines…”
Mac gave her best friend a saucy smile. “That’s okay Harm; I’ll never
completely understand aviators either…”
Harm chuckled. “Oh I don’t know Mac, give it time…”
She stopped and cocked an eyebrow at him. “I will if you will.”
Harm’s smile grew wider. “I think I can live with that….”
They were about to climb back into their Hum-Vee when Kayce Danvers walked up to
them and saluted. “So this is the jet jockey you were so worried about, Ma’am?”
Harm’s eyebrows raised to the brim of his helmet. Bud and Sturgis did their
best to pretend nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Mac merely chuckled at Kayce’s seemingly flippant remark. “That’s Commander Jet
Jockey to you, Corporal,” she said with mock seriousness.
“Sorry sir,” Kayce said smiling at the tall, good-looking Commander. “But she
was really worried about you, so I just had to see this guy for myself.”
Mac felt her face becoming hot. Now it was Harm’s turn to have some fun.
“So the Colonel was worried about me, Corporal?” Harm turned and cocked an
eyebrow at a stoic Colonel MacKenzie.
“Corporal,” Mac said in a low warning tone. She looked over at Harm and gave
him the same. “Commander….”
But the aviator/lawyer was having too much fun and, unfortunately for Mac, so
was Kayce.
“Aye sir,” The Recon Marine said smartly, ignoring the Colonel’s plea.
Mac wished she could shove the three male officers into HMMWV but figured they
would just stall her someway, wanting to hear more from this very talkative member of
Shark Two. She could have called the Corporal on what she was doing, but it
only make it rougher on her once the four had left the presence of this Force
Recon Marine.
That’s when Kayce turned the tables on the grinning Commander. “Begging your
pardon, ma’am, but if my friend called me a Jarhead, I’d squeeze his head like a
grape.”
Now all three men had looks of mild surprise on their faces.
Mac had to admire Kayce’s gutsiness. She gave her former aide an impish grin.
“That’s the difference between you and me, Danvers. You see, I know it’s a term
of camaraderie when he uses it.”
“Understood ma’am.” Kayce said crisply before turning back to the tall Navy
lawyer. Commander, it was an honor meeting you. Thanks to you, and your
team, for saving my unit and for clearing Lieutenant Lukens and Chief Buell.”
She saluted.
“You’re, um, welcome, Corporal,” was all Harm managed to get out while returning
her salute.
As she strode back to the members of her unit waiting for her, Harm and Mac
joined Bud and Sturgis in the HMMWV.
36th ACE Airfield, Camp Chesty Puller
Near Mirbullah, Iraq
Harm and Mac had their sea bags slung over their shoulders. Bud and Sturgis
were pulling theirs from the back of their parked HMMWV.
Harm let out a long sigh as he hobbled down to the flight line. “It’s good to
be going home,”
Mac gave him a look, “You mean you don’t wish you were in Patrick Henry’s crow’s
nest watching planes take off and land?”
“Nope, I miss my bed,” Harm said something akin to homesickness in his voice.
Mac could see that Harm was tired but if she had tried to show sympathy he would
have just waved her off. She decided that playful bantering was the best way to
handle this situation.
Mac chuckled. “This has got to be a first.”
“Oh yeah, Marine?” Harm challenged somewhat playfully. “What about you?”
“Well, I don’t know,” The JAG Corps Light Colonel said thoughtfully. “I *was* leader of
my own recon team….”
Delusions of grandeur, Mac.” Harm said with some irritation in his voice as he
resumed hobbling down the flight line.
Mac gave him a playful smile. You’re just sore because you got blown out of
your cockpit rather than jockeying a ‘Cat the whole time we were here--”
“Colonel, Commander. Thought I had missed you.” It was the MEU CO, Andrew Baxter, walking up behind them. Sergeant Jenkins, Colonel Briggs’ aide, was with him.
“Colonel Baxter,” Harm said as the four lawyers saluted the CO. He returned
theirs.
“I’m in your debt, to all of you; for what you did for this unit.” He said
honestly. “Sorry I couldn’t talk to you sooner.” They all nodded because they
knew he had been busy with after action reports to Brigadier General Thornton,
Colonel Cresswell, the United States Joint Operations Command and the
Provisional government – as well as getting Colonel Briggs to Baghdad for his
flight stateside.
“We were just doing our job, Colonel,” Sturgis replied trying to sound humble.
Bud nodded his agreement.
“Sergeant Jenkins informed me about the other footwork all of you did in
cooperation with the NCIS Major Case Response Team from Washington. I know it
wasn’t easy working with Special Agent Gibbs--”
Harm gave the Colonel a wry grin. “On the contrary, Colonel, he was actually
very easy to work with; and I think both our teams learned something from this
experience.”
“That is pleasantly surprising news, Commander.” Baxter said in a somewhat
relieved voice.
“The Commander is right, sir,” Bud added, “I think the DC MCRT appreciated our
help and cooperation and I know we did theirs…. We may have even learned a lot
from each other.” The junior JAG Corps officer added as a final thought.
That last ‘Budese’ comment lead to a gentle chuckle that rippled through the group. They all knew what he meant. Jethro Gibbs and his Major Case Response Team had been a real asset.
Andrew gave Harm the once over. “How are you feeling, Commander?”
“I’ve been worse,” Harm quipped. Then he became serious. “But if I had to do
it again, I would, without hesitation, sir.”
“Never had any doubt, Commander,” Colonel Baxter replied with a quiet smile.
“You saved GATORFORCE – plain and simple.” Then he turned to Mac. “And
Colonel, you did an outstanding job.”
“Thank you, sir,” Mac said, as a blush slowly rose in her features. Thank
goodness they were outside and the sun could hide her coloring face.
Then he turned to Sturgis and Bud. “And I couldn’t have asked for better
support; not only what you did in the legal sense, but your willingness to
pitch in and help when we needed it. I’ll be forwarding commendations to
Admiral Chegwidden’s office for both of you.”
“Thank you sir,” Bud and Sturgis replied simultaneously.
Baxter nodded to them. “You’re welcome. Colonel, Commander, could I speak to
you in private for a moment?”
Harm and Mac exchanged apprehensive glances, and then Harm turned to Sturgis.
“We’ll be right back….”
As Bud and Sturgis watched, The 36th MEU CO and the two JAG attorneys moved out
of earshot.
“Yes sir?” Harm said a little hesitantly.
“The CO of the Rasheed Air Base owes me a favor, so you’re getting a Hercules
ride back to Baghdad to catch your C-17 back to the States.” But before the two obviously relieved JAG attorneys could thank him, he continued. “Also Sergeant Jenkins told me about Corporal Richards spying on you two. Look; we’re all adults here and as far as I am
concerned, what you faced certainly outweighs any protocol breaches that I may
or may not have been made aware of.”
“We appreciate that, Colonel--” Mac said quickly wanting to get away from this
touchy subject as soon as possible.
But Andrew Baxter wasn’t done with them just yet. “Be that as it may, I would
strongly recommend you cement the bond, so to speak, and then inform your CO.
If he’s half the man I expect he is, I think he saw this one coming.”
“Aye sir,” Harm said a little sheepishly.
“Good luck to you and the Colonel, Commander.” He shook hands with both of
them.
“Semper Fi, Colonel.” Harm added as they started back toward Sturgis and Bud.
“Fair Winds and Following Seas, Commander.” Baxter replied with a smile.
*~*
“So, buddy, what did he say to you two that was so private?” Sturgis asked
knowing all along he probably wasn’t going to pry the real answer out of his old
Naval Academy buddy.
Harm gave his old friend that smile that said ‘I wouldn’t tell you if you boiled
me in oil’. “That he had pulled some strings to get us a C-130 flight back to
Baghdad and then a C-17 flight back to Washington, Sturgis.”
“Hey,” Bud said pointing. “Here it comes now.”
The four looked to the north and saw the unmistakable shape of a Navy C-130 preparing to
touch down at the airfield.
*~*
As Colonel Baxter and Sergeant Jenkins watched, the C-130 rolled down the runway
and gathered speed for its takeoff. Major Lyle Kelly, commander of GATORFORCE’s
Bravo company, came up to where they were standing and saluted. As the three stood
there, Kelly chuckled as he handed the Colonel a stack of the completed after
action reports. “I’ll bet you’re glad to see those legal weenies leave….”
Andrew Baxter cut an irritated glance toward Lyle Kelly. “Major, those ‘legal
weenies’ as you call them, are as good as any Marines I’ve ever fought
alongside.” The Colonel watched the Hercules lift off, set off his flares and then
wheel around and turn north. “I’d be more than glad to share a foxhole with them
anytime.”
Major Kelly was suitably chastised for his rash comment. “Aye Sir.”
The trio watched as the big plane winged its way northward.
Raptor ready room
USS Patrick Henry
Somewhere in the Persian Gulf
Supergirl sat with Lieutenant Sandy ‘Dust Storm’ Ribkins and two other recently
recovered patients; Undertaker aka LT Commander Jason Cintrelle, and LT Commander
Elizabeth ‘Skates’ Hawkes.
Commander Cintrelle took another sip of his soft drink, and then looked over at his Executive
Officer. “So tell me again; what did you see?”
Nicole sighed. Since the first time she had relayed her verbal report to
Captain Ingles, the story had spread like wildfire through the whole ship. Sailors
at sea are desperate for any news or any diversion, and this qualified as both.
There was an immediate spirited debate that dominated the ready rooms all over
the carrier. Attendance at religious services of various faiths went up. There
was even an unofficial lottery on whether or not a ghost had really appeared in
Hammer’s doomed plane. The bets were split 50/50.
She began her story yet again. “Hammer and Clyde had just ejected from their
Tomcat, I was keeping my eye on them because we saw that shrapnel from the SAM
had shredded their restraints. That’s when I noticed it… it looked like someone
else was in the plane…”
“Someone else?” The doubt in Sandy’s voice was still there, even though this
was about the twentieth time she had the story.
Supergirl turned to her RIO. “As God is my witness, Sandy, I swear to you there
was someone else in that plane. Pitcher saw it too.” Unfortunately Pitcher
wasn’t there to corroborate her story. After the assault on Objective India,
Jeff ‘Pitcher’ Rodriguez had been transferred to the Henry’s Marine Hornet
squadron when Dust Storm was cleared to fly.
Commander Cintrelle though, was less dismissive. He had been in the Navy long
enough to never take anything for granted. “Never mind her; you say the ‘Cat
righted itself?”
Nicole took another pull on her soft drink, she wished it was beer. “Uh huh…it was
like someone had taken control of her, and then she nose-dived toward that
Gaskin battery….”
“What about the pilot, could you still see him?” This was the first time Skates
had joined the conversation. Unlike Sandy, she seemed to be interested in what
Nicole had to say.
Bolstered by this sudden surge of interest, Nicole continued. “Sort of;
honestly, it was getting really hard with all that smoke was pouring from that
cockpit. Then he or it dived away from me….”
Jason seemed to know what happened next and this was his first time to hear it.
“…then he augered in – took out the Gaskin….” But it wasn’t a sense for the
supernatural; he knew that a dive like that only ended one way.
Supergirl nodded. “Yeah, direct hit; nothing left but a burning pile of
scrap….” She looked down at the root beer foam drifting down the inside of the glass
she was cradling in both hands. It’s as if she was looking for answers in the suds.
“What did he look like?” Elizabeth said softly. That got her attention. Nicole
looked up to Undertaker’s RIO and saw encouragement.
“Well, he sort of looked like Hammer, but then again, he didn’t…” Nicole didn’t
know what else to say.
“Facial hair?” Elizabeth prompted.
Supergirl nodded. “Yeah, how did you--”
Elizabeth pulled a picture from the breast pocket of her flight suit. “--Harm
showed me a picture of his Dad once. Looked like his spitting image…except for
the mustache. Got my husband to fax over a copy of the squadron Rabb senior was
in.”
Nicole’s startled eyes fell on the image and she sucked in her breath. “That’s
him,” she said in a whisper. That’s the guy I saw.”
Sandy took the photo from Elizabeth and looked at it. Then she handed it back
to her. “That is just too weird….” She mumbled as she pushed away from the
table and started to get up.
Jason didn’t need to see the photo. He knew what was there without even seeing
it. “Stranger things have happened, Dust Storm,” He said quietly to her.
Sandy stopped and looked back at the group. “Yeah, well, no offense, Supergirl,
but I’d have to see it with my own eyes to believe something like that….”
Nicole understood her RIO’s seemingly unfeeling comments. “I don’t blame you,
Dust Storm; I would have had trouble believing it too, had I not seen it
myself….”
“Skates, what do you think?” Sandy said to her, hoping that the fellow Radar
Intercept Officer would support her.
But Elizabeth Hawkes had brushed up against the unusual once before…in the cold
waters of the stormy Atlantic in May of 2001. “I think he was there, Sandy,
giving Hammer what protection he could….”
---TBC - Section 3 will post soon...
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 