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Date Posted: 14:44:06 03/04/06 Sat
Author: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett
Subject: FWWATT Chapter 7 Section Nine
In reply to: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett 's message, "FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL Ch 7" on 13:01:08 03/04/06 Sat

FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL

By Sylvia Mohr Bartlett

Chapter 7 Workin' My Way Back To You

Section Nine Darkness Looming


AJ frowned in the silence that followed. "Stay here, Tom, Sturgis." He was going to see if Matthew was rested enough to return.

Matthew was just coming into the sick bay area, as the Admiral emerged from Harm's room. "AJ, what is wrong?"

"There was another attempt on Commander Rabb. Sturgis realized something was going on, but not until Harm nearly succumbed to the attempt." The admiral quickly filled the Chaplain in on what had happened.

"Dear Lord. I woke, feeling very troubled. I've been praying in my room until just a few moments ago."

"Matthew, Harm's gone dumb on us. He's hurting bad, but he isn't complaining or moaning. He's holding it all in. He's wasting energy trying to be stoic."

"Admiral, he's afraid to let go of the one thing he can control – his reaction to what is happening. If he lets go, surrenders to it; he fears he'll break down completely and be totally overwhelmed, so he is trying to maintain his control."

"It was awful. He endured the doctors putting three chest tubes in without a whimper, just silent tears and clenching his jaw on the mouth piece. He was getting shocky and he still wouldn't let go, so the doctors medicated him. My concern is the pain meds, the nightmares he's afraid of. What can we do to help him if the meds keep him under and he starts having nightmares?"

"We can pray. God can be there with him, AJ. We can pray and we can speak to him, even though he may not seem to hear; we both know he will sense the support. When he comes to, we need to find a way to let him know it is safe NOT to be strong."

"I'm glad you are back. Sturgis looks pretty wrung out."

"I'll take care of my son, later. I know what he will need and I will provide it. Right now, our concern has to center on Harmon; he's the one in the midst of his worst nightmare – being a victim and unable to stop repeated attacks against himself. It is one of his greatest fears, Admiral."

AJ nodded. "It would scare the hell out of anyone."

"There is a history beyond what you know, my friend. I can not tell you any details as it is confidential, but the fear goes back a long time to a very dark reality." The older man's eyes were deeply troubled. "Demons I unintentionally stirred by my simple request for Sturgis and Harm to perform at the Thanksgiving service may truly be unleashed by all of this. May God help that young man get through this trial and heal the wounds in his soul."

"Amen to that." Chegwidden was troubled; the memory of Harm's reaction to the Chaplain's innocent request in his office rose, fresh and strong. Sturgis had immediately become very protective of Harm. What did the two Turners know that he didn't? Whatever it was, it was not covered in Harm's service record. He followed the Chaplain back into the Commander's room. He had his own inquiries to make when they returned to Falls Church.




When Sarah MacKenzie returned to Harm's room about forty minutes later, she felt spent. Giving her statement had meant quietly and factually revisiting every terrible moment since she had heard Harm was hurt. She had been ruthlessly honest about her feelings, venting her anger on Gibbs when his line of interrogation had seemed insensitive or ruthless.

As they finished, Leroy Gibbs had looked at her and asked one question, from pure curiousity. "Colonel, what exactly is the nature of your relationship with Commander Rabb? Understand I don't intend to include this in my report."

The woman looked down at the floor a moment before replying. "He's my best friend, my partner, at times he's a pain in my six, but, over and above all that, I happen to be in love with him." Her eyes met the other man's issuing a silent challenge.

"Are you sexual partners as well?"

"We have never been together that way. Not for lack of my trying, mind you…I've all but flung myself at him."

"Is the man crazy or is he gay?" Gibbs asked frankly. "You are a magnificent woman."

"He's definitely not homosexual, Gunny. I believe he loves me too much to just sleep with me. With me, he wants it all - love, marriage, children, the house in the suburbs; the whole deal. I am only just coming to understand this now. Something has held him back from grabbing for that future, though; I don't know what it is. He told me, since I've been aboard, since he was hurt; he finally told me he loves me, but he said he doesn't deserve me."

"Why?"

"I don't know, Gibbs. I mean to find out though. This Marine's mind is made up. Harm and I are going to get it right, come hell or high water."

"As I said, Colonel, that won't go in my report. I hope the two of you find a way to overcome whatever has kept you apart for so long. I think you both deserve some happiness."

"Have you ever been married, Gunny?"

"Yes, ma'am. Three times. I don't think I have what it takes to make a success of it."

"Is that part of why you are so damn difficult?"

Gibbs smiled, slightly. "I'm not sure which came first, my 'abrasiveness' or my failed marriages. If you figure it out, let me know."

"I have enough on my hands sorting out a certain sailor; he's quite an enigma, you know."

"You would know that better than I, ma'am." Gibbs responded sardonically. He added. "How about you? Have you ever been married?" The Colonel's hesitation to answer him was intriguing."

Mac finally spoke up. "I was married once. He's dead now."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were a widow."

"He was sort of my ex-husband."

Gibbs' eyebrows rose. "Sort of?"

"I never actually divorced him. He came after me a few years ago and things got ugly. I killed him in self-defense."

"Oh." What else could Gibbs say? That was one hell of a statement. "Had you left him because of spousal abuse?"

"Am I on trial here?"

"No, ma'am. Not at all. I was just making conversation." And you've made me damn curious, he admitted to himself. I am really going to have to get copies of some service records when I get back to my office. Aloud, he continued. "Thank you for taking time to give me your statement, Colonel. I'm sure you would like to get back to the Commander now."

Mac nodded and moved towards the door, to head back to Harm's room. As she reached for the handle, the door opened courtesy of the Goth female forensic specialist, Abby. "Ms. Sciuto." She nodded to the girl and left the room.

"So, she looks a little pissed off, boss. Is it me she is mad at, or did you get insensitive again?"

"Well, things were fine until I asked her if she had ever been married."

"Why, boss? She, a suspect now, or were you hitting on her? Because I think she and Commander Rabb have some sort of thing going on."

"No, Abby, I wasn't hitting on her. I was just curious. She admitted to me she is in love with Rabb, but that has nothing to do with this case really. However, she did just reveal she killed her 'sort of ex' husband in self defense."

Abby's eyebrows went way up. "How does a LAWYER have a 'sort of' ex husband?"

"Good question, Abby. One of several good questions, but they don't really impact either of our current investigations." He smiled bemusedly as several young men began to trail behind Abby into the office, carrying her evidence bags in for her. "Guess we better get to checking this stuff in, before we move on, eh?"

"Yep. That's next on the agenda." Abby agreed, watching and keeping count. Once she was sure all evidence was accounted for; she smiled at her willing assistants. "Thanks, you guys. I'll buy you coffee, later on." She gave them a little wave as they left.

"Well, you certainly have made a host of new chums there, Abby."

"Hey, I intrigue these Navy guys." She grinned, holding up a paper with a list of names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers back home.

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  • FWWATT Chapter 7 Section Ten -- Sylvia Mohr Bartlett, 15:02:21 03/04/06 Sat
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