Chapter Eight

JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA, 0905hrs

Meg was taken aback by the bitterness emanating from Harm. His whole tense body posture and the unflinching stare from him made her emotional equilibrium unsettled. What could she really say that would bring back their friendship? Her unilateral decision to flee the JAG headquarters situation made the entire situation worse. "I was hoping that we could talk…tonight" Meg said, "…maybe come to an understanding of why I did what I did."

"I'd like to hear the reasoning behind up and leaving…without even telling me that you were going." Harm replied, "…Lieutenant Commander." The sarcasm behind his utterance of her rank cut her to the core. He had never been like this before, "I'm sure that it'll be interesting at least…"

"Well…by your leave, Lieutenant Commander Rabb…" Meg said formally and left the office. Harm let out a deep sigh. He hadn't really meant to be that cutting, but the simple fact that it had been two years since she had left and the fact that he had changed, perhaps gotten more cynical in the process – the fact that Mac had used his heart for a yoyo, shoving him away and then pulling him back. He didn't figure that he had it in him to trust too many people other than the people that he had formerly flown with. He swore softly under his breath as he stuck his head in the case file. Picking up the phone, he dialed Bud's extension.

"Lieutenant JG Roberts." The ever-eager voice of the young Lieutenant JG on the other end of the line brought Harm a small smile at least.

"Bud, Lieutenant Commander Gracen will be in contact with you about the Emmonds case, however I want you to turn her down."

"Sir? Why is that?"

"Firstly, you're still in night school; secondly this is one that a lawyer only on the Virginia bar can manage." Harm declared. "…and I need you to find me another attorney to cover this…because of my impending PCS change to NAVINSGEN."

"Sir we may have to wait on the case until we get an idea of who is coming in to replace those slated to leave for different billets, sir." Bud replied, still sounding a bit confused. "I know that I'm a bit too junior and just recently shuttled in to be considered as transferrable, however the four of you, sir, are outbound."

"That's good thinking on your part, Bud." Harm replied looking over the file while he had the phone cradled on his shoulder. "Maybe it might be better to just wait on transferring the file. I'll go see how far along the docket is, and maybe we can try for a quick…plea-bargain and clear the slate. See if Liandra will consider it."

"Well, sir, I wouldn't underestimate Lieutenant Commander Gracen. She's probably not going to bite." Bud's voice didn't sound like he agreed with Harm's assessment of the case.

NAVINSGEN's Office, The Pentagon, 1100hrs.

Lieutenant Commander Liandra Gracen looked up at the knock on her door to see a familiar face. "Harm, what are you doing here?"

"Well…Admiral Morris wants these case files cleared up…and I need a bit of your time." Harm said as he leveled a wary look at Animal's closed door. "But I'm going to need to clear it with your CO first." He said. "I need to clear the Emmonds case off my slate really fast. There's been some major changes that have cropped up. Lia and I need to make sure that my slate is clear."

"OK…" Lia said. "But I sense a plea-bargain negotiation coming up. But let me warn you in advance, counselor, I'm not going to make it easy for you."

"Wouldn't think of it…" Harm grinned as he headed out her office door and across the NAVINSGEN logo'd carpet over to Animal's office, stopping only to pound the pine.

"ENTER!" was the growled command. Harm winced. That tone didn't bode well.

Harm entered the office. Like most Navy offices, it was wood-paneled and was mostly decorated with Navy memorabilia; paintings and personal souvenirs. There was a scale model of his F-14A Tomcat in VF-41 Black Aces livery. Sitting beside it were a couple of "Remove Before Flight" tags. His HGU-33/P flight helmet with MBU-14/P oxygen mask was on the shelf. There was a picture frame shadow box with the squadron patches of the squadrons he had served with that used to be on his flight suit arrayed neatly displayed on the wall behind his desk. Also displayed on the bookshelves were also photos, neatly in frames, of him and his squadron-mates. Grinning slightly as he noticed there was a photo of him and Animal hanging out on the airframe of a Howler's F-14A Tomcat on one of the shelves; he said. "I didn't know you liked taking a stroll down memory lane, sir." He also noticed the numbered painting of the Sukhoi Killers on his wall in honor of Commander Hank Kleeman and Larry Muszynski. There was also surprisingly a painting of a Howlers F-14A Tomcat with a MiG 29 going down in flames as well on the other wall. That was homage to Animal's MiG Kill during the Gulf War; a Van Heght from the looks of it; not that Harm was very knowledgeable about military aviation art. Neither was Animal, but he would snag a nice painting if there was one.

Animal snorted, "Well, since the only thing that I'll be flying from now on is a desk…" he said sarcastically. "I figured, I'd make it seem as though my office was a dedication to my now passé flying career; at least until I finish my twenty and start flying for United or American." Animal had a vague sense of déjà vu when Harm snorted, his face revealing his disbelief.

"Sir, you'd be bored out of your mind."

"Yeah…that's what Maegyn said too." Animal replied. "And I quote. You'd go crazy inside of a week and try to dogfight with a 737. Knowing me, I'd probably try it too. So what brings you out to the Five-Sided Squirrel Cage?"

"Well, I have to clear up some cases before I get PCS'd to your office. Evidently since this section of NAVINSGEN isn't working out of the Navy Yard, I'm your new legal-beagle and Lia is going back to JAG…" Harm replied.

"So I hear…" Animal's reply was non-committal; he already knew that was going down, thanks to the CNO clueing him in on the changes, but he didn't want to let off that he already knew. "I'll let the JAG pro-tem break the news to her."

"I just need to borrow Lia for a while today to try to see if we can hash out some kind of deal so that the Emmonds case comes across the admiral's desk as complete before I permanent change of station." Harm said. "Rear Admiral Stiles Morris is now the JAG pro tem till he gets confirmed…that is…if he gets confirmed."

Animal nodded. There was scuttlebutt around the NAVINSGEN that there was going to be some confirmation happening soon. "OK…since Lieutenant Commander Gracen is going back to JAG, she won't be dealing with too much on her slate here. And I'll see you on Monday next week. Lieutenant Commander Tracy Manetti will be showing you the ropes here. Hope you can get that case sorted by this Friday secure. Because I expect your ass here at 0700hrs…we got another inspection, this time with Headquarters US 2nd Fleet."

"Aye, sir!" Harm said. "I'll get right to it…" referring to the chat with Lia and their case. "So I can be bright n' bushy-tailed first thing Monday morning, sir…may I just say that I'm absolutely glad to be here…" Harm sounded overly cheerful. Of course he saw the bright side of being transferred to NAVINSGEN. At least he'd be away from the Chinese fire drill that would be the JAG office for the next few months as everyone tried to sort out what the hell they were doing.

"Hoo-fucking ra…" Animal muttered under his breath. "Good…dismissed…" as Harm grinned.

Harm cheerily bade Animal farewell as he about-faced and headed for the door. The position was a good lock for him as he needed a staff position somewhere to qualify for the next rung up to an executive officer position. He didn't know where he'd be placed after selection for O-5; he'd be in the zone in a year, but Harm knew that he would need an XO position somewhere. If there was a position in an RLSO somewhere in the CONUS, he'd be happy, but he'd be just as happy if he was selected for a RLSO position in Japan at Yokosuka.

Starbucks, Pentagon, 1200hrs

"Look, Lia, your guy has no case, he's been absent without leave on three different occasions where the CO has given him non-judicial punishment. He's used up all his rope. If we're going to clear this case, you're going to have to give me better than that."

"Harm, He's already explained his reasoning behind that, each time his wife had a complication in her pregnancy that required her to be hospitalized. Now, I'm going to ask for non-judicial punishment, loss of rank two steps…and a PCS to a shore billet." Lia replied.

"Two weeks brig time, disciplinary letter in his jacket. Loss of rank three steps and a PCS shore billet."

"You're pushing it…Harm." Lia growled ominously. "One week, disciplinary letter, and TWO steps loss of rank. PCS billet to shore. He's going to need the money…for the baby…"

"OK…go see if the AT2 will agree to that…and I'll see if I can manage to inform the judge presiding on what we're going to do. Let me know if he agrees ASAP." Lia looked smug as she drank her grande café macchiato and Harm grumbled. "That doesn't mean you won. It was a plea bargain."

"I still got you to agree; that means I got the better end of the deal…chalk it up in the win column." Lia stuck her tongue out at him. "I'll see if the captain will let me out long enough to go see my client." Harm just gave up and gave the win to Lia.

"We'll see if your client accepts the plea-agreement. You may have to sell it to him…"

"Well, I don't know if I can sell ice to Eskimos, but I'll try…" Lia replied with a touch of humor as she smiled at Harm. "He may agree, maybe he won't. If he doesn't we'll go through this whole damned merry-go-round again."

Animal's Office, NAVINSGEN's Office, The Pentagon, 1300hrs

Lia knocked on the door of Animal's office, noticing that the door was ajar. Animal looked up, still seated in his chair and motioned her silently in. Lia stepped forward, stopped two steps from the front of his desk and braced to attention. "Sir. Something has come up with one of my cases at JAG and I have to go see my client, sir."

"And this cannot be dealt with out of hours?" Animal raised an eyebrow, his expression stony.

"No, sir. It's a time-sensitive case and there has been a breakthrough. I would really appreciate some time."

"Where is the client at…so that I know if I can expect you back today or whether you'll be gone past secure…" Animal glowered. Missing a staff-member wouldn't be a good situation if one wanted to get anything done, but if the case was necessary, he would have to allow it. And he knew to not press for further details other than the location that she would have to go to to interview the client. He was aware of the rules of disclosure for sensitive information and assumed that it would be the same for legal cases as well; client privilege that was.

"Sir, he's sequestered at the Washington Naval Yard Brig." Lia replied…"I should probably be back about 1500; 1530hrs to be safe, sir."

"Very well…I suggest you expedite it. I do have need of you here…" Animal replied curtly.

"Yes, sir…" her reply was equally curt.

"Dismissed."

As Lia exited his office, she closed the door behind her, quickly grabbing her purse and cover and her briefcase, she headed out into the corridors of the fumble-fortress to go find her car in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Animal back in the office grumbled about the files that seemed to have multiplied on his desk. Did the damned things breed like rabbits? Rolling his eyes, unseen by anyone else, in the privacy of his office, he stood up out of his chair, walked over to the shelf, selected a CD, hit power on the Onkyo component stereo system on both the receiver and CD player components that he was able to pick up at a local electronic audio shop, hitting the CD button on the receiver, he turned the volume knob a quarter turn, then hit the tray out button on the CD player which was a basic model which worked well enough for him. He flipped the cover of the jewel case and gently removed the CD of the Pinnock recording of Coronation Anthems by Georg Frideric Handel. Hitting play on the CD player, he watched the tray slip back into the CD player. The gentle violins at the intro to Zadok the Priest lulled him into a much more pleasant mood as he sat down in his seat again and opened up yet another file. Maybe baroque music would give him some peace that was sort of lacking in the everyday hustle and bustle of the Pentagon.

About ten minutes later out in the office area the USACOM (United States Atlantic Command) USMC General Gregor "Greg" Skalicky looked over at YN1 Carran and said "So…someone in here listens to classical?" as the faint refrains of "The King Shall Rejoice" echoed through the reception area.

"Yes, sir…the Captain tends to listen to it when he's agitated to calm himself down." Morna answered the USACOM's direct question.

"Good choice…your commander has good taste in music." the stalwart, grizzled Marine with the regulation high and tight said. "That sounds like a Pinnock recording. Can tell by the way his choir clearly enunciates the words in the chorus." He surprised Morna who thought that most Marines were of the jarhead variety who bashed their chests together and gave each other licked thumbs in the ear during wrestling contests. To find a Marine who could enjoy the fine arts outside of Sousa marches was an eye-opener. "So…any chance I can get in to see Captain Nakamura today?" he grinned affably.

"Of course, sir. Four stars beats an eagle, sir." Morna grinned at him, "Just one moment, sir." Stabbing a button on the phone, she spoke. "Sir. General Skalicky here to see you, sir."

"Send him in immediately…" was the curt order from Animal's office.

General Skalicky walked in to see Animal standing at a brace behind the desk. "Sir!" Animal said. "What can I help you with, sir."

"Well, USACOM has just been notified that there will be a USACOM inspection by NAVINSGEN."

"Well, sir, that is farther down on my list, sir, I just follow what VADM Bennett orders me to do, sir." Animal replied pointing at his files.

"I'm sure though that you'll find nothing the matter with the command. All files will be open to you and all financials outlining everything the command has requisitioned and expenses that the command has incurred. Also, if you will be assessing esprit de corps, I'm sure that you will find that the command is adequately motivated. Captain." The general stated briskly as he looked over at the stereo system. "By the way, Captain. Fine taste in music. I've always liked the Baroque period in music. Fancy stuff but better than that manufactured crap that they call music nowadays." He stated noting that the CD by the stereo. "Pinnock was a good recording for a 1995 release."

"I always buy a recording if it says Pinnock, sir." Animal replied, he knew that Skalicky was trying to get on his good side, but as a NAVINSGEN, he had to be impartial in his findings. After all efficiency in the military involved making sure that every expenditure was being used to maximum effect. Waste was not good and poor morale was even worse.

"Well, good. I'll see you then." Skalicky replied. "You have a good day now, Captain."

"Yes, sir." …nodding at Animal, Skalicky departed closing the door behind him. Animal thought to himself as he smiled wryly. Well, that was swell…

At 1500hrs, Lia popped her head back in the office door to let him know that she was back from her client interview and then shut the door to go back to talking with LCDR Manetti.

At 1640hrs, Animal heard the door open to the office and saw a smiling Maegyn. "Hey…you still listen to that stuff?" Maegyn grinned. "Man, that stuff is old…" she said looking over at his CD. "You know this guy has been dead almost two hundred forty years?"

"Well, he may be dead, but his music sure isn't." Animal riposted, his eyes a lot more cheerful now that Maegyn was there. "…and your favorite music is what…again? Some hair metal band out of Los Angeles? Starts with D or something?"

"Hey, it's Dokken and they're good." Maegyn said smugly. "At least they're not maggot food like the guys you listen to."

"Hmmph!" Animal grumbled acerbically. "Well, at least my music has melodic lyrics rather than thrashing guitars, guys screaming at the top of their lungs and beating the crap out of drum kits."

Maegyn didn't even sound insulted in the least and grinned at him. "Well…you just about ready to pack it in for the day?"

"Yup, just about…" Animal replied as he gathered his files together. "It's been a long day…" He packed everything in his briefcase, shut off the stereo and grabbed his cover from the coat-rack by the corner and prepared to shut off the light in the office. "I think I can secure…" he said as he looked at the clock. It said 1702hrs, so he ushered Maegyn outbound through the door and locked the door behind him. Looking over at Morna he said. "Morna, what time are you securing at?"

"Just a few more files to do and I'll be securing, sir." His yeoman replied.

"Well, try to get out while the sun is still above the horizon, right?" Animal said and then leaning in to the office that Lia and Tracy were using. "Tracy, Lia, I'm securing for the evening. Don't be too long here either. Too many of us end up stuck in here not seeing daylight for hours. Like I told Morna, get out while there's still some sun to enjoy."

"Aye, sir." Tracy said. "You have a good evening, Captain."

"Good night. Sir." Lia said briefly, she'd be back at JAG on Monday, according to what Harm had told her at lunch today; all the more better to be able to get out of the fumble fortress and back at Falls Church where she belonged. She watched the retreating backs of the two senior officers leaving the NAVINSGEN branch office at the Pentagon.

Liandra's Apartment, 614-2475 Virginia Avenue, Georgetown, Washington DC, 1830hrs

Dialing Harm's cellular phone, Lia smiled smugly to herself when he picked up. "Rabb!" she heard on his end of the line.

"I won!" she smugly told him.

"You won what?" Harm asked.

"I talked to my client, he agreed to the one week confinement, disciplinary letter, and two steps loss of rank and PCS billet to shore. He agreed to my terms…and so did you. So…I won!" she grinned though Harm couldn't see her self-satisfied grin over the phone but the tone was still smug.

"I conceded." Harm protested feebly. "You still have no case…"

"Semantics, counsellor. I still won!" she crowed, and rightly she did, as a win against Harm was a rarity.

"All right." Harm grumbled but Lia knew that he was just playing with her. "you win…"