Consequences
by Jen
Spoilers: Rest of 2002 Virtual Season, and various season seven episodes.
Disclaimers: JAG, it's characters and creations are owned by Belisarius Productions, Paramount and other people that aren't me. No profit is being made and this is all for fun.
Summary: Sturgis deals with the aftermath of the events of The Human Element.
Feedback welcome at jugrox91@n...
Sorry for the delay in the posting, but here it is for your enjoyment!

**

The candles flickered in the moonlight as the soothing jazz played in the background. The summer storm had dissipated, leaving only intense heat in its wake. The chill from the air conditioner, turned as high as it would go, permeated the open apartment.

She was spooned against him, her back to his chest, his chin resting

on her head. At the bottom of the bed their feet poked from under the blanket, entwined. He was listening to her steady breathing and staring at the magnum of champagne sitting in the bucket beside the bed.

He decided it was extremely obsessive, as were most things he did though, what he had done to the bottle. When he found it in his refrigerator last week, there had only been enough for a few glasses

left, he had assumed it was left over from his last romantic dinner with Renee, however long ago that had been. He wasn't in the mood for bubbly, so he poured what remained down the sink and thought for

a moment. Reaching under the sink, he pulled out a bottle of bleach. He rinsed the bottle thoroughly with bleach to get the alcohol smell and aftertaste out. He decided to save it for the perfect moment with Mac. Tonight, what was left in the bottle in ice now was ginger ale. Mac had thought the gesture sappy, romantic, but sappy.

She rolled over and snuggled deeper into his chest. He squeezed his arms around her tightly, never wanting to let go. He was caught up in the memory of what had transpired between him and Mac only hours before. His recollections were interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

He reached over Mac and grabbed the phone off the night stand. He glanced at the clock and winced as he noticed the time. Anything at 3:15 am couldn't be good.

"Rabb," he answered, trying not to sound anxious.

"I hate to bother you this late…"

"Sturgis," he interrupted, hearing the distraught sound of his friend's voice, "is everything all right?"

"Yes and no. I've been in a small accident, I'm fine, but my car isn't. Do you think you could come pick me up?"

"Sure, no problem, where are you?"

Sturgis gave him the intersection where he was and then hung up. He turned in the night and stared for a minute and his car being extracted from the ditch, and away from the tree, by the wrecker.

"Are you sure you don't need medical attention?" The officer asked him again.

"Yes, thank you for your concern, but I'm fine."

***
JAG theme here

Voice over: Following in the tradition of many great superhero shows, CBS is proud to present "DC: The Golden Years"

Scene: Two elderly men, one dark haired and serious, the other bald and even more serious playing checkers under a tree.

"Wayne, I'm telling you, gets your head out of the sand. You know I'm right."

"But, Luther, really, that nosy reporter was…"

"Yes, Kent was Superman."

"Do you have any proof?"

"No, but I know how we can get some."

Another scene: Late night, the two of them sneaking out of the nursing home, taking a young spunky nurse with them.

Voice over: Tune in this fall to find out what happens when your favorite comic book characters stop getting written about and start getting old. "DC: The Golden Years"

**

JAG Headquarters
1400 Zulu

Harm walked into the courtroom and set his briefcase on the prosecution table. He was surprised to see Sturgis already sitting with his client across the aisle. It had been after 4:00 am when Harm dropped Sturgis at his apartment. He hadn't gotten much out of Sturgis, only that he had been working on his case into the wee hours of the morning.

"Sturgis, what are you doing here. I would have asked for a continuance, I told you that last night."

"And I told you I was fine."

"Did you get any sleep last night? You look like hell." Harm continued.

"Rabb, drop it."

Harm did as he asked, if only because Judge Morris had just walked in the room.

**

"Harriet, I'm on my way to interview some witnesses, I'll probably be gone all day."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Can you drop these files in Commander Turner's office?" Mac handed a stack of files to Harriet.

"Yes, ma'am." Harriet answered again. Mac turned and walked past the Lieutenant and toward the elevator.

Harriet walked into Sturgis' office and placed the stack on his desk. She noticed that they didn't sit flat and picked them up to look underneath.

"A shell casing?" she asked, to no one in particular.

"It certainly looks like one." Harriet was startled when she was answered. She turned quickly, standing at attention when she saw the visitor.

"Chaplain Turner," she said.

"At ease, Lieutenant, it's nice to see you again." He offered his hand to her in a friendly handshake.

"You too, sir. If you're looking for Commander Turner, he's in court."

"Actually, I'd like to talk to you first." He answered. Harriet eyed him suspiciously for a moment, as he went and closed the office door. "Please, let's have a seat."

Harriet helped the older man into the seat in front of him, and she sat across from him.

"Don't worry; you're not in trouble, Lieutenant."

Harriet smiled then.

"Has my son seemed different to you lately?" He finally asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for starters, we normally have dinner every Sunday after church. For the past two weeks, not only have we not had dinner, he hasn't even came to church."

"Maybe he's just been busy."

"Lieutenant, even when he's busy, he always makes time for me."

"I was always the same way with my father, when I lived closer to him." Harriet began to feel a little more comfortable talking to the man before her.

"I suspected as much, that was why I came to you. I haven't seen him since he returned from Toronto."

"Chaplain Turner, do you know what happened in Toronto?"

"I only know what Admiral Chegwidden told me over the phone, which was just the basics. I'm worried about Sturgis is handling this."

"He seems to me to be fine. Last weekend he and Commander Rabb helped me build a huge play yard for AJ and afterward we had a cook out. Nothing struck me as out of the ordinary then."

"I think I'm going to pull some strings and go observe court. Would you like to come with me?"

"I'd love to. Rabb versus Turner is almost as exciting as Rabb versus MacKenzie, but I've got work to do."

**

"Lieutenant, what time was it when you witnessed the robbery?" Sturgis asked.

"Twenty-one hundred," the witness answered.

"Was this inside or outside?"

"Outside."

"Were there street lights around?"

"No."

"So, you can't say for certain that the person you saw was the defendant."

"There was enough light from my headlights. I know who I saw."

"But you can't be one hundred percent positive?" Sturgis asked.

"Objection, he's badgering the witness." Harm said from the prosecution table.

"Sustained."

"Do you wear prescription contact lenses?" Sturgis asked his next question.

"Yes," the Lieutenant answered.

"Were you wearing them that night?"

"I can't see to drive without them."

"Answer the question."

"Objection, relevance," Harm said, standing this time.

"Over ruled," Admiral Morris answered.

"Yes, I was wearing them that night."

"One of the officers at the scene says in his report you were looking for something in your car after the robbery."

"Objection, hearsay," Harm responded. Sturgis pulled out an official police report.

"This is the officer's report from that night, and the officer in question is on the prosecution's witness list. I'll address this in cross for that witness also."

"You can bring it up when you cross examine the officer. The objection is sustained."

In the back, Chaplain Turner sat down on the bench behind the defense. He caught Harm's eye and smiled as he did so. Sturgis finished with the witness.

A few minutes later, the two lawyers met in the back, as the judge had just called lunch recess.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Sturgis asked.

"I came to see if I could take my favorite son to lunch?"

"I'm your only son."

"Harm, you're welcome to join us."

"Actually, dad I need to pass this time." Harm and Chaplain Turner watched as Sturgis walked out the court room doors.

***

You've seen The Osbournes. You've seen The Anna Nicole Show. Now CBS is pleased to bring you the ultimate in TMI. This fall watch The Springers. See what happens when America's favorite trashy talk show host goes home. Only on CBS.

***

JAG Headquarters

It had taken Harm a moment to get over the shock of Sturgis blowing off his father. By the time he had recovered and got back to his office, Sturgis was already gone.

"Do you know what's going on with my son?"

Harm turned then. "I have an idea. But it won't do any good until he's ready to talk. We just need to give him space until then."

"I didn't realize you were an expert."

"I'm an expert at keeping things to myself." Harm answered.

"That's for sure," Harriet quipped behind them. "Commander, the Colonel is on the phone for you."

Harm excused himself and went to his office to take the call.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself, I'm going to be down her for a while, so you're on your own for dinner." Mac said.

"At the risk of getting in hot water with you, that's fine."

"Excuse me, tired of me already?" she asked.

"Never, but it will give me a chance to get some things out of Sturgis. Come by my place when you get through, no matter what time it is."

***

Later that night
Gym

"I haven't done this in a while," Harm said, fixing the face mask and then adjusting the gloves. Sturgis stood before him in the ring, mirroring his actions.

They engaged in a little friendly sparring. Harm was going to try and use this to get Sturgis talking. He was pretty sure his friend was still reeling from the actions in Toronto, but he wasn't sure. Blowing off his father was the one thing he had never, in almost twenty years, seen or heard Sturgis do.

"Your dad seemed pretty upset that he came all the over to the office and you didn't want to have lunch."

"I needed to go over some things for another case I'm working on."

"I could have helped later."

"Why the sudden interest in my relationship with my father?" Sturgis asked, taking a jab.

"I'm just concerned."

"I don't need it."

"Have you talked to anyone about what happened that night?"

"No, I'm fine with it."

Harm decided to drop it then; he knew how much he hated it when people pushed him. He was surprised when Sturgis turned the tables on him.

"What's going on with you and Mac?"

"Nothing," Harm answered. Sturgis could tell by the sound of his voice that he wasn't being totally honest. He could hear the silent snicker.

"I see how it is, you can ask questions I don't want to answer, but I can't do the same with you." Harm was surprised at the agitated sound of his voice. He didn't think he had ever heard him so angry.

"Hey, don't get upset."

"I'm not upset," Sturgis answered, all the while swinging harder at Harm's face than is called for in friendly boxing. Or even professional boxing.

***
In less than one week:

From the network that started the reality television phenomenon, CBS proudly presents our newest hit show, 'Middle School Melodrama.' In this groundbreaking new show, our cameras go undercover in our nation's middle schools to see what really happens when adolescents stop being polite . . . and start getting real. Public education has never been this entertaining. Begins August 15th." (thanks, Selena!) ***

Harm's apartment

Mac went to unlock the door, but was surprised to find it open. She walked carefully into the apartment and followed the sound of the running water to the bathroom. She was surprised to find Harm standing in front of the mirror with a wash cloth over his face.

"You're not sick are you?" she asked, setting her briefcase beside the bed and walking toward him.

"No," he answered, turning to face her and taking the cloth off his face.

"What happened?" she asked, noting the bruises and cuts on his face. "You look worse than you did in Australia. I thought you were going to hang out with Sturgis."

"I did, this is the result." He pointed toward his face.

Harm explained the night's events to Mac, ending with Sturgis pretty much pummeling him in the ring, even with his gloves still on.

"He did that with gloves on? He must have been pretty irate with you."

"I don't think it was me he was seeing."

"Oh," was all Mac said as she motioned Harm to let her finish with his face.

**
JAG Headquarters
Admiral Chegwidden's office

"Commander Turner didn't show up for court this morning?" Chegwidden asked again.

Once again, Harm answered in the affirmative.

"I've called his apartment and his cell phone, and he's not answering either." Harm continued.

"Commander, what happened to you?"

Harm explained again what had transpired the night before.

"This is getting out of hand. Go see if you can track him down."

"Yes, sir." Harm turned on his heel and walked out of the office.

A few minutes later he was on his way down the stairs to his car when he passes Sturgis in the hallway.

"Sturgis, where…"

"I overslept. I hope Admiral Morris isn't ready to chew me out."

"He saves that for me, I told him you had a migraine. We have a continuance until tomorrow. Do you want to talk…"

"No." Sturgis snapped and stalked up the stairs to his own office.

Harm stood there stunned and followed him.

He caught up with him at his office. Without being invited, he came into Sturgis' office and closed the door.

Harm got within a few feet of his desk and realized one of the reasons he was late this morning.

"Sturgis, I've seen you drunk twice in twenty years, the first time didn't turn out very well either."

"Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf."

"Do I have to get your father in here to talk some sense into you? You need to talk to someone about what happened in Canada. You shot someone; it's not the end of the world."

"I know you have no problem looking someone in the eye and shooting them, but I do. I've never had to do it before."

"Do you think it doesn't bother me when I have to take someone else's life?" Harm asked. Sturgis didn't answer, so Harm went on.

"It does bother me, every time. But I didn't have a choice, and neither did you. It was either us or him."

"It still doesn't make it right. I've spent my whole life not only knowing, but practicing the difference between right and wrong. I can't talk to my father about this, I've let him down."

"No, you haven't."

"I've let myself down. If I'm going to kill someone, what difference does it make if I get drunk?"

"Or beat the crap out of me?" Harm tried to joke, trying to alleviate the stress. It didn't work very well.

"You were being your usual annoying self." Harm was happy that at least he smiled when he said it.

"Commander Turner, how nice of you to join us." Harm and Sturgis both turned at the sound of their commanding officer's voice.

"I apologize sir."

"Well, by my count, you owe Admiral Morris an apology. But that can wait until tomorrow. Commander," he turned to Harm. "I'm sure you have work of your own to do."

"Yes, sir." Harm exited the room quietly.

After Harm was gone, AJ reached into his pocket and handed Sturgis a card.

"If you don't make an appointment, I'm making one for you. If you don't keep the appointment, I'll have you declared UA."

"Understood, sir."

After AJ left, Sturgis picked up the phone and dialed the number on the card.

***

My bologna has a first name, it's OSCAR.
My bologna has a second name, it's MAYER.
And if you ask me while I say, that Oscar Mayer has a way with
BOLOGNA

***

Bethesda Naval Hospital

"This is our second appointment." The young doctor said.

"I know."

"Are you going to talk this time?"

"I'm not sure." Sturgis answered, fidgeting in his chair.

"Why don't I start?" She waited for a response from the patient. When he nodded his head in the affirmative she continued.

"Why did you pummel your friend?"

Sturgis sat there for a long while, so long that Dr. Oliver didn't think he would answer. He surprised her.

"I had my eyes closed the whole time. The picture I saw in my mind wasn't Harm and I; it was me and the man I shot. Only it was the man I shot beating me."

"I see, why do you think that it is?"

"I'm not sure." Sturgis answered honestly.

"Do you want to know why?"

"Yes." He answered.

"Well then, that's a start."

***

Cue nice ending music
Next on JAG:

Hopefully, on time!