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Date Posted: 10:41:34 02/27/06 Mon
Author: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett
Subject: FWWATT Chapter 5 Section One
In reply to: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett 's message, "FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL Chapter 5" on 10:31:42 02/27/06 Mon

FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL
Chapter 5 Section One

By Sylvia Bartlett Mohr

FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL

CHAPTER FIVE – RIDING ON ROUGH SEAS

By Sylvia Bartlett Mohr



Section One: Realizations

Hey, everyone...I've had more than one comment call the following chapters 'the crying chapters'. Hmmm. Sorry about that. I am a big believer in Angst bringing out new aspects of human character. How can I not be? Number One, I was a nurse. Nothing is more dramatic than making your living working around life and death. You see the best, the worst, the in-between, the raw underbelly of society in a way most regular nine to five workers never will. You see the best and the worst of human beings...you see love and you see hate. Two, my own life has ALWAYS been full of drama, angst, pain and suffering. Yet, I do not kid you when I say this. I would not be the person I am today without every bad thing that has ever happened to me. Nothing that ever happened to me has been wasted. Even the worst things...well, I must admit. I am a great believer in the saying, "What does not kill us, makes us stronger." I hate the cliche, sure, but that does not dim the fact it is true! So hang on to your hats, every one. From this moment forward, this is going to be one heck of a wild ride. Mr. Toad has nothing in comparison. It won't just last through this novel either. This was always intended to be a serial and, though I still plan to take this particular novel only run through Thanksgiving, there will be more. It will continue in another and another. 'Nough said????
Sylvia Mohr Bartlett Repost 2-27-2006


Commander Turner came out of the air squadron ready room. He had just completed taking a full statement from Harm's RIO. The young Lt JG had given a very detailed statement which matched in every way the debriefing report he'd reviewed from the CAG of the Seahawk. He had also obtained statements from the air crew men who had directed the Tomcat to its current perch up on the flight deck.

In the folder under his arm were statements Mac had obtained from the LSO and his crew. He had sent her down to relieve Admiral Boone at Harm's side quite a while ago now. There was really no question Commander Rabb had been acting within regulations, the rules of engagement the CAPs were being flown under and as ordered by his command structure, but the political reality was this all HAD to be well substantiated. Harm had not only done his job, but had performed with courage and determination under fire. A smile tugged at his lips at the thought that his friend probably wouldn't like it, but he would almost certainly receive another medal out of this action.

The Seahawk's legal man was waiting for him. "Sir, Admiral Chegwidden is on the phone. He wants to talk to you ASAP. If you will follow me?"

Sturgis wasn't surprised. He had not actually spoken with his CO yet. In fact, the phone hadn't been answered by anyone he knew from JAG, but rather by a young female Petty Officer Rames. She had informed him the Admiral had been called to the office of the Secretary of the Navy and put him through to the Admiral's voice mail, at his request. His message had probably seemed terse; possibly even deliberately vague, but the information he had to impart wasn't for leaving on a voice mail.

Turner was somewhat surprised to note the ensign was leading him to the Captain of the ship's in-port office. Well, it was certainly more private. There was a Marine guard at the door who opened it for the Commander, saying. "On one, sir."

Just as he prepared to enter, the Ensign said. "Oh, Commander Turner, Dr. Brake gave me this report for you, sir."

"Thank you, Ensign." The black officer accepted the folder like he was being asked to handle an angry rattler. His eyes quickly skimmed the opening paragraph and his gut tightened. He really wasn't going to like this.

He was on auto pilot as he walked up to the phone and depressed the button, connecting to the Admiral. Unconsciously, he came to attention at the sound of his CO's voice.

"Commander Turner? What in the HELL is going on out there? Is Rabb alive?"

That surprised him. "Yes, sir, he is alive and in and out of consciousness. I thought I made that much clear in my message."

"Turner, that message was about as clear as Mississippi mud! Serious but stable? That did very little to alleviate the concerns of half of my staff here. Tiner is totally freaked out over the call he got earlier; he blabbed it to the Robert's and poor Harriet fainted and hit her head. Bud is beside himself."

Sturgis urgently cut in to the tirade. "What call, Admiral? When? From whom?"

His CO bit back an oath and hollered. "Tiner, get your ass in here – NOW!"

In seconds, Tiner's hesitant voice was on the horn, responding. "The man said he was the doctor caring for Commander Rabb, sir. I – I had to pull the Commander's file. He – he does have it indicated he is willing to donate – "

"Did this doctor give his name, Petty Officer?"

"Uh. Yeah. It – it sounded German, I think. Bolburg?"

Grimly, Turner pressed. "Mahlberg, Petty Officer Tiner?"

"Yes, sir. That's it. Mahlberg. Doctor Mahlberg. He said the Commander wasn't waking up from the anesthesia. He said he had concerns he might never wake up and he wanted to know… Did I do something wrong, Commander?"

"No. No, Tiner. It's all right. Nothing like that. Listen, I need you to go and write down every last detail you can recall about that phone call. What time about? How it came in? As close to exact as you can get on everything said – write it all down, sign and date it and have the Admiral lock it up in his safe. Do you understand me?"

"Yes. Yes, sir. Commander Turner, is Commander Rabb --?"

"He's still in choppy waters, Tiner, but he is awake and he will be okay. Put the Admiral back on and go get to writing that statement."

"Yes, sir. Admiral?"

AJ's voice came back on the line. "Okay. Hang on a second. Tiner, close the hatch on your way out." In the background, Turner heard the door being closed. "Now, Turner, what in the hell is going on out there? I thought Harm only had an arm wound."

"Admiral, originally I was asking for NCIS to obtain corroborating forensic evidence from the plane. We heard the audio of some of the reporting on ZNN on the helo out here. There is a lot of damage to the undercarriage of Harm's Tomcat, sir. They were taking 50 caliber machine gun fire as well as the shrapnel from a near miss RPG explosion."

"Originally?" The bite in his CO's tone made it clear he was trying the man's patience beyond tolerance levels.

"Admiral, it appears our arrival at Sick Bay interfered with an attempt – well, Dr. Reyes calls it attempted murder, sir."

"Of Rabb?" The SEAL's voice thundered in his ear. "By a doctor? What in the hell?"

Mac had just appeared in the doorway and Sturgis waved her in, hoping she might relieve him of the burden of trying to explain. As he did that, he flipped pages in the report and his eyes fell on a passage of Doctor Brake's report about the drugs Rabb had been given. "Oh, God, NO!" He stared at the words in disbelief. The ocean seemed to roar in his ears. The world darkened and narrowed. From a distance, he heard his CO yelling.

"Commander? Commander Turner, report."

But the darkness rushed up and claimed him.


Colonel MacKenzie could not reach Turner's side in time. He fainted and as he fell, his head struck the corner of the desk before he crashed to the ground. "Marine?" She yelled. "We need a medic in here. Snap to!" She snatched up the phone. Her CO was hollering at empty air.

"Admiral Chegwidden. Sir, I'm sorry, but Sturgis – Commander Turner. He – he just passed out and he hit his head as he fell."

AJ bit back another oath. "See to him, Mac. I will talk with you later. Next time I do…never mind." The bluster died away. "I'll get back to you later. Go."

"Thank you, sir." Mac hung up and knelt by her friend.


Admiral Chegwidden hung up on the shore to sea call and immediately placed another call. This SEAL wasn't sitting around any more. He'd trade in his stars if he had to, but he was choppering out to the Seahawk on the first available helo. He was going to get to the bottom of things.

Arrangements made, a short while later, he was gathering his briefcase, cover and heavy overcoat when Tiner cautiously knocked on his door. "What?" He bellowed, yanking the door open. His rage vanished. He was looking into the startled, but deeply troubled eyes of Chaplain Turner. "Matthew?" His voice and stance visibly softened.

"Admiral, would I be correct in assuming you are going out to the Seahawk?"

"Yes, sir."

"I know it is asking a great deal, but might I --?"

"Come with me? Absolutely. How did you --?"

"I had a call from my son earlier today. I – I have never heard him sound that way. My boy needs me. He didn't ask, but – "

Tiner had stepped to answer the phone on his desk. He turned and advised. "Admiral, the helo is touching down out in the parking lot now, sir."

Chegwidden gently took Chaplain Turner by the elbow. "Come on, Matthew. We have a helicopter to catch."

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  • FWWATT Chapter 5 Section Two -- Sylvia Mohr Bartlett, 10:48:26 02/27/06 Mon
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