~*~*~* *~*~*~
0800 EST
Wednesday
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"Permission to speak freely sir?" Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie asked after receiving her latest assignment.
"Go ahead Colonel," Admiral Chegwidden said, prepared for the rant he knew would follow.
"An article 108, Sir?" she questioned, unaware of why she was assigned this particular case.
"That is what I said, Mac. Is there a problem?"
I'm sure my talents could be used for something more..."
"More what Colonel? You can't expect the most prestigious cases all the time."
"No sir, but, destruction of military property? Isn't this something that can be handled by someone else?"
"No, Mac. I intended on sending Lt. Roberts, but with he and Commander Rabb stuck in California tying up that murder investigation, we are undermanned and you seemed the best candidate for the case, all things considered. I thought you in particular would find this one interesting, but of course if you'd read the file maybe you'd understand that there really is a method to my madness."
"Sir?" Mac questioned, shuffling through the file.
"I assume you'll resolve this matter quickly and without trouble."
"I will, sir," Mac promised.
"Dismissed, Colonel."
"Aye, Aye Sir," she replied, snapping off a quick salute before exiting the office.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
0900 EST
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"Colonel?"
"Yes Tiner?"
"I arranged your flight. Military transport from Andrews at 1100 to Louisiana..."
"New Orleans, Colonel?" the Gunny asked, overhearing the conversation as he shuffled through the bullpen. "I was there once."
"Mardi Gras?" Tiner inquired.
"Beads, boobs, and booze, every man's dream come true," Gunny smiled.
"Sorry boys," Mac grinned. "This trip is purely business."
"Of course, Ma'am," Tiner replied, turning red. "We didn't mean to imply otherwise." Both him and Gunny turned to hurry away.
"Gunny, hang on. Can I speak to you for a minute."
"Of course, Ma'am. We didn't offend you with that Mardi Gras comment did we, because we were totally out of line."
"Relax, Gunny. No offense taken, although I don't think the Admiral would appreciate the mention of liquor and naked breasts at the office," Mac smiled. "Now, the real reason I wanted to talk to you -- what can you tell me about 'Molly Marine'?"
"Molly Marine? That's the female Marine statue, right? If my memory serves me correctly, she was the first U.S. monument of a woman in military uniform. In the last few years she was restored and there are currently replicas of the original standing at Quantico and Parris Island."
Mac nodded. "You don't by chance know the inscription on the original statue do you, Gunny?"
"No ma'am, but I can look it up for you real quick if you'd like."
"That'd be great." Both made their way to the computer.
"Here we are. 'Free a Marine to fight'. The idea was, with women filling service jobs within the Corps, more men were free to take to the battlefields. Today, its just generally taken as a symbol of the importance of women throughout all types and branches of military service."
"Thanks Gunny."
What's this all about Colonel?"
"The real reason I'm on my way to New Orleans. Apparently, a few pig headed Marines have taken it upon themselves to publicly declare that there's no place for women in real military training."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Corner of Elk and Canal Streets
New Orleans, LA
"They've been on my case since we started training, ma'am," Corporal Nikki Barrett said as both she and Mac exited her car. "Coming in as the only women in an all male fighting battalion, I didn't expect things to be a bed of roses. I mean, I was a cop before I joined the Marines. I know how the woman in a man's world thing goes, but this is just over the top. They undermine my abilities and I think they'd do just about anything to get rid of me. Major Bloom doesn't help."
"Major Bloom?" Mac questioned.
"Major Timothy Bloom, our commanding officer. He's the biggest chauvinist of them all."
"Are we talking sexual harassment here or what, Corporal?"
"Let's just say I *know* they are responsible for this," Barrett said, as the full caliber of the vandalism came into view.
Before the two female Marines stood Molly, the tall statue that represented the female spirit of the Corps. Her once proud figure was tarnished, scrawled with derogatory remarks, her front flanked with a crudely drawn moustache and a set of male genitalia.
"Son of a ...." Mac swore, taking in the sight before her. "How can you be sure this was the work of fellow Marines? I can't imagine anyone affiliated with the Corp could be so..."
"Cruel, ma'am?"
"What ever happened to 'The Few. The Proud.'? Mac asked, anger boiling.
"I know these guys, Colonel, and I'd say they're too damn proud for their own good. And as for how I know it was Bloom," she elaborated, "See that window up there?"
Mac followed the direction of Corporal Barrett's pointed finger, her eyes falling on the spider-web like fractured glass of a window, two stories up, that overlooked the statue.
"That's my apartment. I came home last night after training all day, and around 2300 hours I heard the glass break while I was watching TV. I ran to the window and saw a group of men, five or six of them, running back up Elk Street. The man in the back was limping, his left leg obviously injured. Corporal Anthony Stern hurt his left leg in training last week, ma'am. Major Bloom tried blaming it on me."
"Corporal Stern is in your platoon as well, I presume?" Mac asked, shaking her head in disbelief of how far it appeared this corruption stretched.
"Yes, ma'am," Barrett nodded. "And see this here," she added, directing Mac's attention to a particular derogatory comment scrawled along side the inscription at the base of the statue.
"Bloom has called me a 'combat bitch' several times. I guess you can call this his signature phrase when it comes to my presence in his unit."
"I'd like to speak to this Major Bloom," Mac said, hoping she'd be able to keep her cool when she did.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
En Route to training facility
"We're doing some field training this afternoon, ma'am. I'm sure you can catch Bloom before, or after if you'd rather observe him in action."
"Maybe I'll wait, Corporal. That is, if you can handle a few more hours with him."
"God knows I've put up with it long enough. I don't think half a day more will hurt."
"After today Nikki, you won't have to deal with this ever again. You have my word," knowing she would do anything to help her fellow marine.
The ringing of Mac's cell phone cut off Corporal Barrett's response. "Excuse me," Mac said, answering the call.
"Where are you Mac?" Harm asked, almost immediately.
"The Admiral sent me to New Orleans, Harm," she explained.
"Oh."
"Why, you worried?" she teased, knowing full well she'd find a half dozen messages and hang-ups on her machine when she got back to DC.
"Not worried," he told her. "I just called to let you know we're finally getting on a flight home."
"The rain stopped and you didn't lose the luggage this time?" she questioned.
"Yeah, not trusting Bud the first time around was my biggest mistake."
Mac laughed. Harm smiled.
"I miss you."
"I miss you, too, Harm."
"I thought I could stop by and see you tonight..." he explained.
"I was looking forward to seeing you, too, but I guess it will have to wait," she sighed. "Duty calls."
"Care to tell me about the case?" Harm asked.
"Can't. I've got interviews to do, and you've got a plane to catch, remember?"
"Some things are easy to forget when it comes to spending time with you," Harm told her. .
"Goodbye, Commander," Mac said, smiling as she hung up the phone before Harm could say anything else.
"Your boyfriend, ma'am?" Corporal Barrett asked, observing the grin plastered across Mac's face.
"Actually I'm not sure you could call it that," Mac said. It was the truth. She was not sure there were even words to describe her relationship with Harm.
"Oh, so it's one of *those* relationships?" Barrett questioned.
"One of *those* relationships?" Mac questioned.
"The best kind, Colonel."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Mac watched as Major Timothy Bloom led his troops in routine combat training exercises. He seemed to be the epitome of any true Marine leader, until, of course, it came to Corporal Nikki Barrett. He yelled louder, and pushed harder, but still, Mac knew she didn't have enough evidence to prove exactly what Nikki claimed was going on. It was just her word against his, and although Mac's gut told her that the young female Marine was not lying, the lawyer in her knew she was going to put up one hell of a fight to prove it.
Mac took out her cell phone and made a call back to Washington, DC.
First she requested Gunny to fax her the service records of Major Bloom, Corporal Barrett, Corporal Stern and the rest of the platoon, hoping to find anything that could possibly be of use.
Next, she had Tiner transfer her to the admiral.
"So, you caught the vandal yet, Colonel?" he asked.
"Not exactly, sir," she said.
"What do you mean, not exactly?"
"I think there's a lot more going on here than just a simple article 108, sir," Mac said, explaining the situation.
"Colonel, if what this Corporal Barrett is saying is true, you understand the implications this could have on the appearance of the Corp, yes?"
"Yes, sir. These allegations are most serious, but I do believe they are accurate. Nikki Barrett is not just an overly ambitious woman with no other way to get ahead. I truly believe that Major Bloom is using his power to exploit her because of some twisted sense of gender dominance and what he deems best for the Marine Corp."
"I trust your instincts, Mac, and I also trust you will resolve this while preserving the integrity that seems to be lacking down there. Commander Rabb and Lt. Roberts are still en route from California, but I'll see what I can do about getting you some help."
"Thank you, sir," Mac said, ending the call.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" a man dressed in combat fatigues said, approaching Mac.
"Corporal Stern?" Mac asked, noticing the man's limp as he walked toward her.
"Yes, ma'am. I overheard your call, and I was wondering if I could speak to you," he turned, looking over his shoulder at Major Bloom. "In private."
"Sure," Mac said, leading him away. She'd catch up with Bloom later. If Stern was willing to talk, then there was the possibility that she be one step closer to solving this case.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
0500 EST
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Lt. Harriet Sims questioned, entering the admiral's office.
"Yes, lieutenant, sit," the admiral said. "And don't worry Harriet, you're not in trouble."
"I was hoping not, sir. Now, what can I do for you?"
"How would you feel about going to Louisana?"
"Louisiana? Why me, sir?"
"Well, I assume you heard about Colonel Mackenzie's case. It's more complicated then we first thought."
"Sir?"
"Mattoni's in court tomorrow and I'm not doing Singer any favors, so I thought you'd like another opportunity to show me what you've got."
"I'd love to sir," Harriet said, "but what about AJ? He was supposed to stay with a sitter tonight, but since Bud won't be back until late, I cancelled our plans and told the sitter not to come."
"Not a problem, Lieutenant. I'll pick the little guy up from day care and keep him for the evening."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"Yes Harriet, I need your help on this case."
"Thank you, sir. Little AJ will be as good as gold, and I'll do everything I can to help Colonel Mackenzie out."
"Promise me I won't regret this tomorrow?"
"Of course not, sir," Harriet replied, unsure of whether he was referring to her presence on the case, or leaving the baby in his care.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Creole Kitchen
New Orleans, LA
"You're telling me that you are responsible for the broken window, the nasty remarks, and Molly Marine's new sex change?" Mac asked, as she sat across the table from Corporal Anthony Stern, discussing the incident over some New Orleans cuisine.
"Partially responsible, yes ma'am. Not that I'm proud of it. I just did what I had to do."
"What do you mean 'had to do'?"
"I love my job, ma'am, and I'd do anything to stay in the Marine Corp."
"Are you trying to tell me that someone threatened your position in the Corp, Corporal?"
"Corporal Barrett didn't happen to tell you how my leg was injured did she, ma'am?"
"No, she did not. Why don't you explain?"
"It was another one of Bloom's foolish attempts to get rid of Barrett," Stern explained. "Only, the plan backfired, so to speak, and I got hurt in the explosion. Bloom tried using my injury against Barrett, but she's a tough, even for a girl."
"Even for a girl?" Mac questioned, raising her voice. Stern knew he'd said the wrong thing to the wrong person.
"I'm sorry ma'am. Barrett is the first woman I've trained with, and even thought I never considered women to be war material, she puts up a good fight. She's got it rough, and like I said, I'm sorry for what I did, but I was just trying to save my own ass."
"What exactly did Major Bloom do to make a good marine throw a rock and graffiti someone else's property like a pre-pubescent boy?"
"He's crazy ma'am. You have to believe me."
"I do. What I'm having a hard time understanding is how an entire combat unit could turn a blind eye to threats to a fellow marine, and even go as far as participate in her attempted demise in order to save their own asses."
"I was wrong, Colonel. I'm sorry, and I'm here now."
"Once again to save your own ass I suspect."
"Can't a man admit he was wrong?"
"Yes, he can Corporal Stern, by helping me do whatever I need to do to get rid of Bloom, and restore a little bit of the Corp's pride that he has helped damage."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Best Western Hotel
New Orleans, LA
Sarah Mackenzie lay on the bed reviewing the files the Gunny had faxed over, when she was startled by a knock on the door.
"Coming," she called out, rearranging the mountains of papers, and making her way to the door. "Harriet?" Mac questioned, catching a glimpse of her blonde-haired co-worker as she gazed through the peephole.
"Evening, Colonel. I was in the neighborhood and thought you might want a little help."
"In the neighborhood," Mac laughed.
"Okay, okay. The admiral was desperate so you got me instead of waiting for Bud or Commander Rabb to get their butts home and then back out here, but I brought chocolate-chip cookies so, can I come in?"
"Of course, Harriet, I'm glad you're here," Mac smiled, taking her suitcase and ushering Harriet in.
Getting back to work, the two split up the files as Mac explained the case.
"Now, I'm just trying to find some prior indication of Bloom's apparent madness. I can't imagine anyone could have gotten as far as he has without someone realizing something was off."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, VA
"AJ, stop squirming so I can get you clean," Admiral Chegwidden ordered, keeping his commanding officer tone, even though he was talking to a little child. The toddler kicked and splashed, getting the floor, counter, and admiral wet.
"I said stop," the ex-SEAL repeated.
Little AJ looked back at his namesake, laughed, and blew bubbles in his face.
The harsh lines on Admiral Chegwidden's face softened, and he laughed, a deep belly laugh like he hadn't in a long, long time.
"Come on, munchkin, it's past your bedtime," he smiled, lifting the child from the tub and wrapping him in a soft, white towel.
Little AJ cuddled himself in big AJ's arms, and the older of the two couldn't help remember the regret, but especially, the joy that had followed his own daughter's birth.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Best Western Hotel
New Orleans, LA
"You left him with the Admiral?" Mac laughed, as she and Harriet took a cookie break.
"Yes, ma'am," Harriet grinned. "He offered and since Bud wasn't back from California yet, I didn't have much of a choice."
"Starting his SEAL training early I guess. Figures, I always hoped my godson would be a marine."
"I think his daddy might have something to say about that one."
"Speaking of Bud, I assumed the Admiral would wait until tomorrow to send him or Harm."
"And you were hoping for the Commander, I'm sure," Harriet teased.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mac questioned.
"If you don't know I'm not going to explain it, ma'am," Harriet said.
"Funny..." Mac said, shaking her head.
"Seriously Mac, how are you doing?" Harriet asked, changing the subject. "It's been a while since we really talked, and so much has happened in such a short amount of time."
"I'm fine Harriet, really. In fact, I'm better than I expected. Of course I still feel bad about what happened with Mic, but we both would have been miserable..."
"You're happy now?" Harriet questioned. "And Commander Rabb?"
"We're both doing well Harriet, and that's all. Nothing more."
"That I know about," Harriet smiled.
Mac's response was cut off by the ringing of her phone.
"Saved," Harriet whispered. Mac gave her a look of death as she began the conversation.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
15 minutes later
Canal Street
One block from Molly Marine
New Orleans, LA
“We got here as soon as we could,” Mac said as she and Harriet approached a man on the dark street corner. “tell us what’s going on.”
"I came over this way, intending to clean up the statue before Corporal Barrett woke up in the morning. Call it a half-assed attempt at an apology if you will," Corporal Anthony Stern explained, "but when I came over, I saw Bloom's car, parked right over there." He pointed to a deep red jeep parked at the corner.
"I didn't call the cops, because I wasn't sure what was happening, but I called you right away. After we got off the phone I knew something bad was going down, so I'm glad you're here. Bloom and two of our guys are over by Molly, and I think they've finally decided to get rid of Corporal Barrett for good."
"They're on the move," Mac swore. "Harriet, call for backup, and both of you hurry. I'm not letting this turn into a murder case. It's gone far enough as it is."
Careful not to be spotted, Mac, Harriet, and Anthony Stern crept toward the front door of the apartment building, watching Bloom and his men enter the apartment after climbing up the fire escape. Mac took the lead toward Nikki Barrett's door, and, hearing sounds of a struggle on the other side, kicked the door opened.
Startled, Bloom let go of the chokehold he had around Barrett's neck. Barrett continued her struggle, fighting with every ounce of Marine strength in her, kicking and hitting her commanding officer. “Combat bitch, you think you’re so tough, you’re not,” he screamed. "Women should've never been allowed into the service. All they do is weaken our ability to defend. They aren't strong enough to do a man's job."
Both of Bloom's assistants made a move back towards the fire escape, in attempt to get away without being caught. Corporal Stern reached for one of them, a platoon buddy. "I'm sorry," he apologized, knocking him unconscious.
Harriet reached for the other man, and despite not having a mean bone in her body, fought with all her might, and succeeded in subduing the attacker.
Mac reached Bloom, and tugging him off of Barrett, struggled to subdue him as well.
"Gun," Harriet screamed, alerting Mac of an eminent danger.
Before anyone could do much more than more than move, a shot rang out, and Corporal Bloom staggered and fell to the floor, the weapon in his hand clanking as it hit the cool tile.
"I may be a Marine, but I live alone," Nikki Barrett mumbled, sliding the gun back in the drawer she'd pulled it out of. "Is he dead?" she asked.
"You did what any good Marine would have Nikki. This isn't the kind of war you trained for, but combat none-the-less," Mac told her.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
1000 EST
Thursday
Corner of Elk and Canal Streets
New Orleans, LA
"I can't thank you enough ma'am," Corporal Nikki Barrett said, expressing her gratitude to Mac for everything she'd done.
"It's my pleasure, Corporal," Mac said.
Mac and Harriet never did figure out how Major Timothy Bloom had managed to move up the ranks the way he had, as he'd clearly been both crazy and manipulative.
Varied male officers of Bloom's platoon were being brought to court marshal for charges involving everything ranging from destruction of property to attempted murder, but Mac had a sneaky suspicion that with a good defense lawyer most of the charges would be dropped because of extenuating circumstances. If nothing else, she knew that Corporal Nikki Barrett would have a long and successful career as a United States Marine, one she rightfully deserved.
"There was a time when I thought there was no place for women in combat," Corporal Anthony Stern said, finishing the final polishing of Molly's marine uniform. "But I was wrong."
"Women in the military," Nikki smiled. "Fewer and Prouder."
The three marines and one female Naval lieutenant stood tall and saluted the figure before them.
"Thank you, Molly."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
1500 EST
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"Harriet," Bud exclaimed, as she and Mac exited the elevator.
"Hi Bud."
"How was Louisiana?" Bud questioned. "When I came home and you were gone I though you were mad at me for getting stuck in California."
"Of course not Bud," Harriet smiled. "Actually, getting assigned this case gave me some time to spend with the Colonel."
"Girl talk and shoe shopping?" Harm questioned, coming up behind Mac.
"Not exactly," she replied, giving Harriet a quick wink.
"Welcome back Colonel," Harm whispered in Mac's ear, squeezing her hand gently, while Harriet told Bud all about their adventure.
End