FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL Chapter 8 -- JAG Safe Haven Fan Fiction

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 10:04:28 03/07/06 Tue
Author: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett
Subject: FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL Chapter 8
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 One: Anchored on a Stormy Sea

I've been lately thinkin'
About my life's time
All the things I've done
And how it's been
And I can't help believing
In my own mind
I know I'm going to hate to see it end.
I have to say it now; it's been a good life, all in all.
It's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
To lie there by the fire
And watch the evening tire�
While all my friends and my old lady sit and pass the pipe around
And talk of poems and prayers and promises
And things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone
How right it is to care.

How long it's been since yesterday
And what about tomorrow
What about our dreams and all the memories we share.
As sung by John Denver ~ Sylvia Bartlett Mohr 22nd November 2004

Harm had drifted off after promising he would work his way back to his life. He seemed to be resting now, rather than simply enduring.

Admiral Chegwidden glanced around the room, regarding everyone present with a thoughtful look. "Doctor Reyes, is the room next to us currently occupied?"

"No, sir."

The senior officer nodded. "Okay. We need to have a conference. Chaplain Turner, would you mind staying with Harm and the doctors while the rest of us use the next room to work out some plans?"

"Not at all, AJ." Matthew smiled, encouragingly. "I'll stay right here."

"Good. Let's go next door, people."

Once they were safely ensconced in the next room, Chegwidden looked carefully at each of them. "The Commander is still going to need our support. Commander Turner, you and the Colonel still have an investigation to complete. I think one of you needs to meet up with Gibbs, review the information he and his specialist have developed and the evidence they have obtained from the Tomcat."

"Why don't I handle that, sir?" Mac offered reluctantly. "Gibbs has already gotten my statement, so he won't be distracted by needing that, whereas I know he still needs to get a statement from Commander Turner."

"I think that would be best as well. I want to stay close to Harm a bit longer. Be sure he doesn't return to earlier days on us again." Sturgis said. "His fever is down from the highest it was at, but still elevated. I'd just like to stay with him for now."

"I have some duties shipboard, I need to attend to." Tom Boone admitted reluctantly. "I imagine you need to get in touch with JAG HQ, AJ. Your entire senior staff is currently aboard this ship."

"I've got Bud assisting Admiral Morris handling the day to day at JAG, but I do need to check in with them. Sturgis, can you and your father handle things a bit longer with no problem?"

"Yes, sir." The young man seemed relieved in fact. "Dad's fine for the time being and I'm not tired at all. Thank you, Admiral."

"The rest of us will work out a schedule to spell you both. I think for the foreseeable future, I still want two of us in there with him. See how things go."

"Sounds good to me." Tom agreed. "Once I finish up the things I need to handle, I'll check in with you up in our office, okay, AJ?"

"Good. Let's get to it, people." AJ led the way out the door with Mac and Boone behind him going into the ship's corridor, while Sturgis used the door adjoining Harm's room to return to his friend's room.

As Sturgis rejoined his father, he noticed Studevant was reviewing Harm's chart and making notations. "How's Harm doing?"

"His fever is stabilizing at 102. I've just drawn blood for another series of blood tests. I'm afraid this has gone into pneumonia. I had hoped to avoid that." The doctor was frowning. "I'm going to have to start inhalation therapy again soon. His lungs have a lot of fluid in them and he needs to start bringing it up. Unfortunately, that will increase the discomfort from the chest tubes. He's still in rough seas, Commander."

"He said he knew it would take work to get well. How long can you let him rest up before he has to begin the treatments again?"

"I want to wait a couple of hours at least, but not much more than that. He's exhausted right now. I don't want to overburden him with things too soon. Keep sponging him off. If you feel his temp going up again, let one of us know right away. Before I start giving him IT, I will get another chest x-ray. It sounds like the left lung is beginning to re-expand, but the right does not show much improvement yet. I hope I won't have to do surgery to patch the hole in the pleural sac on that side. Harm is really not strong enough for surgery at this point.

"The hole may close on its own, but the longer air and fluid keep leaking out, the less likely that is. I don't want to move him back to the mainland while the chest tubes are still in, if I can avoid it." Studevant frowned. "Now that he's a bit more stable, I think I'm going to go have a talk with Abby about her results. I may need to have some of the lab work flown to the mainland for processing. I need specifics."

Reyes remarked. "Stu, is Harm stable enough for both of us to leave him for a while? I really need to attend to some Sick Bay business."

"I believe so. You two can reach Reyes by putting on the light and having whoever comes get him right away. If you need me back here, dial my pager and put in 911. I'll know that means I'm to come pronto. Okay?"

The Chaplain spoke for them both. "We'll keep watch over him, doctors. Thank you for all your help."

After the doctors left the room, Sturgis sat down and allowed his relief to really show. "Harm's resting better than he has since this whole nightmare began."

"Yes, but clearly he has a lot of recovering to do. Do we have him to ourselves for a while?"

"I thought that best. Will they let sleeping dogs lay, Dad?" He didn't have to explain what he was referring to.

His father immediately understood and allowed a thoughtful frown to spread across his expressive face. "I believe so, for the time being, at any rate. Chegwidden and Boone both are very aware we were trying to keep them off the scent though."

"Frankly, I'm more worried about my CO. Admiral Boone is a somewhat different matter."

"I agree with you, Sturgis. I don't want AJ to unknowingly stir things up that are best left alone. This is not the time to revisit that past. Harmon has enough to deal with in the present, just recovering. We must keep watch and pray. The Lord's hand is in all of this, son. We just have to have faith."

Chaplain Turner looked at Rabb with great tenderness. "He's a very special young man, my boy. I feel privileged to know him. The things he has had to overcome to get where he is today. It is nothing short of astounding to me that he is as open, loving and compassionate as he is. However, he needs to put the burden of the past down before he can truly move ahead and find personal happiness. We both know that, don't we?"

"I think even Harm understands that deep inside, Dad. He's afraid to confront that time though."

"Who can blame him? In some ways, the committee sent the wrong signal when we buried that case. The unintentional message I fear he drew from our action was that he had something to be ashamed of. We told him that was not true, but the actions we took are so easily misunderstood by one so young. At any rate, let us not keep raising the specter of that past, right now. I think I will read some Scripture."

"Harm likes the Psalms, Dad."

The older man nodded. "As do you, my boy. I sense a dual purpose in that specification." His eyes twinkled with mirth as his son ducked his head in that move which clearly signaled he'd been 'busted'. "Any particular one you want me to start with?"

"Psalm 23?"

The Chaplain didn't even bother to open the Bible for that one. He just began to recite it.

A smile played across his son's lips as he sponged Harm's face, neck and arms while his father recited the beloved Shepherd's Psalm.

As Matthew finished that, he opened his Bible and began to read Psalm 18. "I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears." He skipped forward a bit. "He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. � He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe. Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered. �He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me�"

Harm coughed weakly. It had a wet sound. The Turners both frowned.

Sturgis leaned in and urged his friend gently. "Try and bring some of that stuff up, Harm."

Harm coughed, harder. It seemed he heard and was trying, but the effort took too much energy and failed to produce any real results. His face twisted into a grimace as the cough made the chest tubes tug. He slipped deeper into unconsciousness, exhausted.

"Dad?" Sturgis was worried. "His chest is really rattling. Should I get one of the doctors?"

"They are aware of the situation, my boy. He needs to rest for a while longer before they start inhalation therapy." The senior Turner went back to reading Scripture.

Sturgis wrung out the cloth and went back to sponging his friend off. "Please, Lord, draw him out of many waters. Help Harm. He's so tired. He has so much to fight, but he can't do it alone. I know You love him. Give him strength for the battles he has to fight. Give him rest and raise him up." The young man wasn't even aware he was praying out loud until he felt his father's hands on his back. The older man had come around the bed to stand behind him and lend him support as he prayed. He felt strength flowing from Matthew, supporting him as he prayed, joining his appeal silently. "Harm may not like to call himself a servant of God, but I know he believes in You. Please, Father. He's so tired. This fever is sapping what is left of his reserves." He looked at his friend with deep concern and faltered.

Matthew began to pray aloud when his son stilled. "Lord, hear our prayer. Give this young man rest in Your arms, strengthen him for the battles yet to come. We call upon You, Father God. In Jesus name, grant this young man peace." The older man hugged his son. "Our Lord loves Harm even more than we do, Sturgis. He will answer our prayers."

"He needs help NOW, Dad."

Harm sighed, but he seemed to breathe just a little easier.

Matthew patted his son on the shoulder. "The Lord knows exactly what Harm needs. He is providing it�deep down inside where we can't see."

Admiral Chegwidden was speaking on speaker phone to Bud and Admiral Morris. "Commander Rabb is still in very serious condition. There has been another attempt on his life, since the last time I spoke to you. I'm not coming back for a while, yet."

"What in the hell is going on out there?" Morris sounded angry. "How many are involved in this ring of organ thieves?"

"We still don't have everyone involved. The investigation is continuing. Unfortunately, Rabb is developing pneumonia."

"We're all praying for him." Admiral Morris said. "I may never let him forget the incident in my courtroom, but Rabb is a fine young man. He certainly doesn't deserve all of this."

"No one deserves this nightmare." AJ agreed. "How are things back there?"

"Nothing near as dramatic as what you are contending with. SecNav wants you to call him and give him an update, too, AJ." Morris replied. "He's getting a lot of questions from the press about Commander Rabb."

"He is next on my list to call." Chegwidden sighed. "We have to keep the details out of the press. I don't want to call Harm's Mom and Frank, until I can give them an idea of when we'll be able to move him to Bethesda. I won't let them hear what has happened first from the media."

"So far, the questions have to do with Harm's shoot out, with that ship. The early reports on what the Coast Guard found, indicate both mines and plastique explosives were packed aboard that ship. The explosion and fire has burned up a lot of the residue, but there is enough to prove the actions taken were more than justified." Bud advised his commanding officer. "Somehow ZNN got some of the recon video Harm's Rio sent to Home Base, pretty dramatic footage. Now, all the armchair quarterbacks are breaking down his actions, and, second-guessing what he might have done different to destroy the ship, while escaping injury or damage to his Tomcat."

"It's bullshit. They are talking about using weapons that aren't loaded for CAP flights." Morris said. "When will the Commander's RIO be heading back to Pax?"

Chegwidden frowned. "I wasn't even aware he was still aboard. He wasn't injured. I'll check into that."

"Actually Admiral Boone told us, he advised the ship's captain to keep him aboard, until NCIS okays him coming back to land. I think the truth is, he can't talk to reporters, while he is on the ship. Is the RIO aware of what has happened to Harm?" That was Robert's asking.

"I'm not sure. I better talk to him, before I call SecNav. I'll talk to you again soon."

"Tell Commander Rabb we're pulling for him." Admiral Morris ended the conversation.

When Bud finished going over some additional business with Admiral Morris; he went to find his wife. Harriet was making copies and alone, when he got there. "Hi, honey." He gathered her into a warm hug.

Harriet knew her husband. "You've heard from Admiral Chegwidden. How is the Commander?"

"There was another attempt on him." Bud's worry showed. "He's got pneumonia, too. They know there are other conspirators at large, on that ship, still. They have him under protection, but he really needs our prayers, Harriet. This is all so awful. Admiral Chegwidden won't come home for a while yet, so I may have to spend some extra time at work. It's a good thing the cases have been light, since Commander Rabb left for that flight."

"The whole senior staff is out on the Seahawk. I still can't believe what happened. How could a doctor be so evil? Trying to try and sell the commander's organs to the highest bidder? And he heard it. Harm heard it. It's so terrible. He couldn't do anything." She pressed her face against her husband's shoulder. "It's all such a nightmare."

"The commander will get through this, Harriet. We'll be there for him, when he comes back. He's going to have all kinds of support." Bud hugged her tighter a moment, then released her. "I better get back to work. Keep praying for them all, Harriet."

"I will, Bud. I have to finish making these copies." Harriet was glad she had work to do and lots of things waiting at home. It kept her from having to think about everything too much.

Little AJ was keeping her busy, too. He knew his Uncle Harm was sick, and he had been surprisingly well behaved the past few days. He'd been a bit clingy with both his parents, but Harriet suspected that knowing Uncle Harm was hurt reminded him of when his daddy was hurt, so she was trying to spend extra time with her little boy. He was so fond of his godfather.

Harriet had a thought. Maybe when Harm came out of the hospital, she and Bud should have him come and stay with them until the doctors said he was strong enough to go back to his own place. She could take a little time off work. The idea pleased her. She would talk to her husband about it later. They certainly had the room and that was partially thanks to Harmon Rabb. He'd helped her so much, getting the house.

Yes, she liked this idea very much. Being around his godson would help Harm heal. He loved children. It would be wonderful, if this whole experience would finally help Harm and the Colonel realize how they really felt about each other. She was certain the godparents of her son were meant to be together. It was their destiny.

Please let them realize it, soon. She wanted happiness for them both so very much, but especially, after this. Harm needed the safe harbor of a loving woman's arms and Sarah Mackenzie was the one meant to be his from the beginning of time. Harriet Sims Roberts knew it was true. They had helped the romance between Bud and Harriet to bloom. Now it was their turn and she would just have to convince Bud the time was right to get them together.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

FWWATT Chapter 8 Section One is above -- Sylvia Mohr Bartlett, 10:18:21 03/07/06 Tue