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Date Posted: 10:55:53 03/07/06 Tue
Author: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett
Subject: FWWATT Chapter 8 Section Three
In reply to: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett 's message, "FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL Chapter 8" on 10:01:54 03/07/06 Tue

FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL

By Sylvia Bartlett Mohr


Chapter 8: Don't Let It Slip Away

Section Three Explanations and Understandings





AJ was silent. He was not going to discuss any aspect of the 'investigation' on this open line. Boone raised an eyebrow, wondering how long AJ planned to let the silence stretch when Mrs. Burnett could be heard asking her husband. "What, Frank? Just a moment, I'll check. Admiral Chegwidden, my husband wants to know if it is necessary for me to hang up in order for the secure call to be connected. The car is just coming up the drive way. He's going to have Consuelo let them in."

"I don't think that will be necessary. If they have the set up I think they will, you can wait to ring off this call until they are connected with the ship.

"Frank has gone to show them the way back here. Tom, I'm sorry for the remark I made earlier. You know I'm glad he was able to save you. You do know that."

"It was when he got his wings back." Tom admitted heavily. "He's been in danger more than once since, because he got them back. I can't really say I regret him getting them back though. He needed to know that accident wasn't his fault and, for some reason, he needed me to reassure him of that."

"Your opinion of him always mattered a great deal to him, Thomas." The woman said, softly. "Knowing you never really believed the results of the mishap investigation all those years made him doubt it himself. He felt you thought he screwed the pooch on his flying career. When you told him you understood about his eyes and Harm Sr. would have been proud of him and of what he had done with his life after the crash, it meant the world to him."



It was AJ's turn to raise an eyebrow. There was suddenly, while Frank Burnett was out of hearing, an undercurrent of something in the words being spoken between these two. Dear lord, he recognized it. Were Tom Boone and Trish Burnett former lovers? Whoa. Where did that thought come from? That was the undercurrent though. He recognized it from when he and Marcella talked about Francesca.

Tom answered her in that same tone. "God, I wish he hadn't have realized I thought he'd screwed the pooch. I tried not to show it around him."

"Ready room scuttlebutt has a way of making it around the fleet, Tom. Harm knew all too well the things you said out of his hearing. Certain aviators made sure he heard every uncomplimentary thing you ever said of him, just because they liked to grind him down a bit that he was grounded." Her words were sad but unrelenting.

"He grounded himself voluntarily, Trish. The board didn't take his wings."

"What was he supposed to do after, Tom, switch to flying CODs? He was a Tomcat driver, not just a Navy pilot, and you know the difference. I was happy when he went to law school."

"Obviously I owe every day of my career from that first case he worked involving me on right up until now, to the fact Harm did go to law school." Tom admitted, frankly.

"Is the retirement for real this time?" Trish asked.

"It's past time, Trish. I'm tired. Even coming out to sea on temporary duty like this, doesn't hold the same thrill. It's time I go out to pasture."

"I remember you in the pasture up at Grandma Rabb's. Remember that summer?"

Yep. The easy familiarity of the voice and the slight color in Boone's face as AJ regarded him with frank curiosity testified that these two were remembering an intimacy beyond the closest of friendships.

Suddenly, the woman's tone changed. "Oh, Frank's coming in with the young man from the Navy. Hold on a moment." Her hand obviously was placed over the receiver so neither man could hear much of the quick conversation that followed. "Tom, Albert, this young gentleman wants to speak with you."


A new voice came on the line. "Hello? Admiral Chegwidden?"

"Yes?"

"This is Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo with NCIS. I was out here investigating aspects of the commanders' case with Doctor Mallard when the call came through requesting this hook up, so we took the liberty of bringing the line out ourselves. Doctor Mallard can personally explain some of the more private details of what has transpired aboard the Seahawk. Even the secure line we have brought with us will not completely insure all information is kept safe from the media, if the full case is discussed on this call, if you follow me."

"We still need to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Burnett in private about the most current information. What is the nature of the set up you have brought?"

"The phone you are on is in the flag office, correct?"

"Yes."

"We have a unit we can plug in to their phone. Once we do, you have only to turn on the scrambler at your end and the call will be secure, sir. You know the kind of details we would prefer to share in person, I assume."

"Damn straight we do, young man. This is Admiral Thomas Boone." Tom really didn't seem to like NCIS agents, at all.

"No need to bark, sir. I just wanted to be sure you understood."

"We weren't born yesterday, Dinozzo." Chegwidden replied, in a milder tone. "We know what needs to be kept off the airwaves. Be sensitive when you explain exactly what has occurred, but do not hold anything back. These are very sharp people. Don't play with them, Agent."

"Believe me, sir. We will give them a full briefing. If you could both stand by for just a moment. When I am done, they will have speaker phone capability at this end so you can speak with both Mr. and Mrs. Burnett."


"Oh, joy." Tom muttered, softly. "The used car salesman will be able to talk with us, too. Yippee."

"Boone. Stop it. He's Harm's…"

"Stepfather." Boone snapped. "Believe me, Chegs; I am well aware of who and what he is."

"Frank Burnett has always been exceptionally supportive of Harm, from what I know of the man. Tom, Chegs? Where did that come from?"

Tom shrugged. "Well, Trish is right. Chegwidden is a bit of a mouthful."

"And, do you care to tell me exactly how close you are to Harm's mom?"

Boone squinted at him with just a flare of his nostrils to indicate displeasure. "That's need to know, AJ…and you DON'T."

AJ was silent, but thought. 'Okay at some point those two were definitely lovers.'

"As for Burnett, I wonder if you would be so generous in your appraisal of the man if you knew exactly how many times he's had major law firms from across the country try and recruit Harm away from you and JAG over the past few years."

Chegwidden's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Do tell?"

"I imagine there will be a few more offers coming his way while he's recovering." Tom said grumpily. "The old man does not like all those good chances passing Harm by. He could have been a partner in several major law firms many times over, both in DC and on the left coast. I know she puts him up to it, but it sticks in my damn craw, okay? I'd rather see Harm wind up teaching at the damn Academy or Naval Justice then retire to some cushy high priced lawyer job to please his folks. He bleeds Navy Blue and Gold, damn it."

"Sirs, the set up is ready. I have you on handset at the moment, but as soon as you advise me you've switched on the scrambler, you might want to restrict your comments to one's you want both Burnets to hear." Dinozzo knew undercurrents when he heard them and he didn't think either admiral wanted the Burnett's to have heard this last little interplay.


Chegwidden pinked up. He thought he had hit the mute button while they waited the set up being completed. "I didn't think we were on air."

"No, sir…but you will be." Dinozzo was indicating that none of he and Boone's side conversation had been heard by Trish…thank God. "If you'll switch on, sir."

AJ activated the scrambler switch on the phone. "Trish…Mr. Burnett."

"Frank, Admiral Chegwidden, please."

"It's AJ and Tom, Frank. How are you?"

"I'll feel better when we understand fully what is going on with my son."

So, Frank and Tom both were a bit territorial when it came to Harm. That was evident when Tom said, almost softly enough not to carry. "Stepson."

"As you say." Frank acknowledged the correction gracefully. His reason for saying son with such firmness was about establishing claim. He wanted it clear to both Admirals that he considered the man his son even if Harm didn't often think of him as Dad.

Harm was the only son he would ever have. He loved the young man fiercely and had already insured that he would never want for anything in old age, even if he walked away from the Navy tomorrow and never worked another day in his life. He wanted deeply for Harm to live to enjoy the wealth he would one day inherit, even if he strongly suspected the younger man might well donate most of it to charity. Heck, it could be a full time occupation in itself, administering the distribution of his money to worthy causes. "I overheard just enough of what Agent Dinozzo was just discussing with you to infer that there are aspects of this we are to be informed of by himself and the older man with him?"

"There is an ongoing investigation involved. That is being entirely handled by NCIS." AJ explained, simply. "For any future case to go forward, it was best for Harm and the case that no one from JAG be actively involved in that investigation."

"Is my son going to be accused of something?" A mother's fear showed in her voice. No, it was actual alarm. AJ mentally kicked himself. Harm had been unfairly accused of murdering Diane Schonke by an NCIS agent, which Trish was well aware of. She probably didn't get a warm fuzzy having NCIS anywhere near any thing to do with her son. Well, she'd have to get over that.

"Not at all, ma'am." Dinozzo could be heard saying smoothly.

AJ cut in. "Trish, he is a witness in the investigation I am referring to."

"This has something to do with how seriously Harm is ill?" Frank said, tentatively.

"He suffered further injury after he came out of surgery."

"What?" The woman gasped. "Was someone involved with the terrorists aboard the Seahawk?"

"No, Trish. Unfortunately, Harm was a victim of a greedy group of scum suckers. I'll leave the details that should not be broadcast in any way to Agent Dinozzo and Doctor Mallard to explain. When the subterfuge against Harm was discovered and the plot foiled, thanks to Commander Turner, by the way, not all the responsible parties were immediately in hand. There was an additional attempt on Harm because he is a witness."

"Tom, you are confusing me. What are you talking about?"

AJ said firmly. "The details of what he is talking about will be explained by NCIS, Trish. I want to tell you where things stand right now. I also promise to keep you updated on his medical condition until you fly out tomorrow."

"Admiral, you are authorizing them to come out to the Seahawk?" Dinozzo sounded consternated and unhappy.

"Actually, young man, he meant we were flying out to DC tomorrow. Admiral, would it be possible for you to allow us to come to the Seahawk?" This was from Frank.

"Not post 9/11." AJ said firmly. Privately he was glad for that handy excuse.

Frank Burnett might very well have the clout to get someone to authorize them to come out if he thought it possible and the Admiral didn't want a worried mother and stepfather aboard ship while the hunt for a remaining accomplice at large was still ongoing. "Security will not allow that. I'm sorry. You will have to wait to see Harm until he is able to be moved to Bethesda, but, once you reach DC, see that my office has your hotel and room number and I will keep you updated. I imagine I will be coming back to DC within the next couple of days myself. The office can't run itself forever."

"If post 9/11 security were the reason, why did Agent Dinozzo seem to think that's exactly what you had done?" Frank thundered.

Damn. The man was quick…had to give him that.

"The Seahawk has a pretty full pattern." Boone covered his fellow admiral's six handily. "They are doing flight quals for several carrier groups and Pensacola, not sightseeing."

"We wouldn't be 'sightseeing' either, Admiral Boone." Frank had a feeling the Navy men were currently throwing up a smokescreen, but he couldn't prove it.

"I didn't mean to imply you would be. Just that the crew here is pretty strapped handling all these quals. Adding additional flights coming in is just not well advised. Besides, what kind of message would that send to the rank and file? If your stepdad is important enough or your injury is splashed all over ZNN, your folks can come on out and visit you in sick bay, but anyone else has to wait on land?" Boone said with determination.

"What exactly is going on with my son?" The mother asked, tired of these side discussions.

"He has pneumonia, as you were previously informed. However, his lungs were injured when excessive air was forced into them during inhalation therapy."

"What?" Trish Burnett sounded horrified. "What kind of person would do something like that?"

"The details…"

"Will come from NCIS, I suppose?"

"Yes." AJ rubbed his hands up over his head. This wasn't going well. "Because of the injury that resulted from that, he had to have chest tubes in. Doctor Studevant does not want to fly him to Bethesda until the chest tubes are out. That is part of the reason I can't give you a good estimate of how long he will be on the ship. He also is suffering from a reaction to some medication he was given that didn't agree with him."

"Harm doesn't have any medication allergies."

"He does now." Boone replied promptly. "He'll have to get new dog tags showing it."

"I'll have the doctor call you on a secure line to give you a more detailed breakdown on his condition. They are testing to see if his fever is from the pneumonia or if he has another infection going on as well. He's also experiencing some cardiac irregularity which is probably a medication side effect."

"That's an awful lot of probable this, possible that and new drug allergies. What happened out there?" The stepfather spoke now.

"Really, sir, ma'am. Let us tell you the details of that." That was Dinozzo.

"Is Harm conscious?"

"He's been in and out. He has had brief periods of full lucidity, but he has also been delirious. He's very weak and, frankly, he's exhausted. It's been a rough few days." AJ said quietly. "On all of us, but most of all on him."

"You do both sound very tired." Trish was half afraid to ask the next question. "You said he was delirious. Did he talk to his father?"

Chegwidden and Tom both stiffened and looked at each other. How could she…?

Frank said, gently. "Trish, it was a dream."



AJ couldn't let it rest at that. Something forced him to say. "When he promised to work his way back to us? Just before that he had said something, as if his father was with him, asking his dad not to leave him yet. Asking to be allowed to stay and rest longer."

Trish went on softly. "You told him his father didn't need him, you all did and that he needed to come back to you. Thank you for admitting that really happened, AJ. I knew it, but I'm glad you didn't try and hold it back from me. I would have had a hard time trusting you if you had denied it."

"Somehow I felt it was important to admit it." Chegwidden's response was equally soft.

"He was very tempted not to make the effort, Albert. Please keep a close watch on him. My son is very frightened by something he knows he has yet to face and he still is at risk. Encourage him to keep up the fight, if his will to fight seems to weaken. He needs your support."

"He has had that ever since we knew how serious things were, Trish. Even before AJ came aboard, Sturgis, Mac or I was with him every moment, supporting him. We love him too, you know." Tom swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.

"We both know that, Admiral Boone, Tom." Frank assured him. "In that emotion, you and I never have disagreed. Harm is very much loved."

"He is indeed." AJ agreed. "I'll have Doctor Studevant call you with an update. If you have any questions after Dinozzo and Doctor Mallard have given you the details of what has happened, you can ask very general questions the next time we speak. I'll call back in about an hour, Dinozzo."

"That would be fine, sir."

"Is that okay, Trish?" Boone asked, not completely comfortable leaving Harm's folks in the hands of NCIS.

"We can handle the Doctor and this young man." Trish assured them. "We will talk later. Tell Harm I love him, Tom."

"Will do, Trish. Bye now." Tom pushed the button disconnecting the call. "God, I'm glad that's over. Can't say I'm sorry the NCIS has to break the news what was behind all of this."

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