Title: VS Episode 8 - All in the Family
Author: Selena
Feedback to: gonzo112376@yahoo.com
Summary: This is a continuation of the 2003 Virtual
Season, coming after episode 7, but before episode 9.
Sturgis "I have no life to speak of" Turner gets his
own episode and some invented history.
Commerical note: Unable to come up with clever
advertising ideas, I have decided to use each
commercial break as an 80's movie quiz. During each
major scene change, you will read a quotation from a
famous (at least to me) 80's movie. If you can
identify the speaker and film, e-mail me back. If you
don't give a good darn . . . or weren't old enough to
notice the 80's, just ignore these. Hee, hee.
Disclaimer: I teach 6th grade. I have no clue about
the judicial system, much less the military judicial
system. Let's use our suspension of disbelief, shall
we? Okay? Cool.
Special thanks to Cathleen for the graphic and Lisa
for the beta read, plus all the "let's give Sturgis a
life" ideas. Also to Susan for yet another beta
read...and for getting back from vacation before I had
to post this.
Rating: PG-13 for mild language
*~*~*~*~*
Friday, 2240 EST
Heartbreak Ally
Newport News, Virginia
"Wheeler! Get over here."
The young man turned unsteadily at the sound of his name, sloshing the entire contents of a beer mug into the lap of another officer who was desperately attempting to impress the lady sitting across from him. Embarrassed and wet, the lieutenant stood quickly, turning on Wheeler.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Several other officers stopped their own conversations at the sharp command and moved closer to the two men.
A lopsided grin crossing his face, Wheeler toasted them with his now empty mug. "It appears as though I'm getting myself another beer. I apologize, gentlemen. If you'll excuse me..."
Bowing deeply, Wheeler started to turn until he heard the quiet voices behind him. "Ignore him, Anderson. He didn't mean anything by it. He's just drunk."
Anderson felt slight pressure on his hand and looked down at his date, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Not wanting to let Wheeler get the last word or the upper hand, Anderson allowed a smirk to cross his lips. "You're right, and even if I did something about it, he'd just get his daddy to fix it."
Wheeler somehow managed to keep his voice to a cold, low whisper. "My father has nothing to do with this, or with me. Not anymore."
Sparing a look at his buddies, Anderson replied, "Really? That's not what I heard. Your father got you into Annapolis, and it seems as though it took both his stars to convince them to actually graduate you. I wonder how many favors he had to pull to get you assigned to a cushy desk job in Norfolk instead of a carrier in the Gulf. I guess the Navy's finest doesn't send his precious baby boy into a war zone, does he?"
Alcohol fueled the temper behind Wheeler's punch, and it impacted with Anderson's jaw even before he managed to get himself into a defensive stance. He landed several more before stunned onlookers joined the fray to help break up the fight. An off-duty MP who had been watching warily from the corner shook his head and asked his buddy to call it in before he walked over to take Wheeler into a restraining hold.
"Lieutenant, I'm going to need you to come with me."
Wheeler only struggled a moment more before he acknowledged the MP's quiet, but firm command. His eyes, however, did not move from Anderson, who used one hand to wipe the blood from a split and already swollen lip. "That's it, Wheeler. Daddy won't be able to fix it this time."
A defeated, broken look on his face, Wheeler said to no one in particular. "Yeah, he probably will."
Music swells. Cue opening credits...
*~*~*
Quiz Quote #1: "Murdered by pirates is good."
This 80's Quiz Quote is proudly brought to you by
Disney's summer blockbuster, "Pirates of the
Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." Remember
people, it's a movie, not a ride.
*~*~*
Thursday, 0900 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm's Office
"Harm, could you . . ."
Sturgis trailed off as soon as he looked up from his case file to see Mac rifling through what appeared to be several weeks' worth of paperwork littering Harm's desk. She paused only long enough to raise her head and quickly reply, "Harm's still in Florida. Might be there another day or two."
"And he doesn't mind your searching his office when he goes on a week long investigation?"
"Only when he 'borrows' and fails to return the Garrison file before he decides to leave town for an indeterminate amount of time." Attempting to keep the irritation out of her voice, Mac stopped and leaned back in Harm's chair. "And seeing as how I can't find the thing anywhere, I say he gets what he deserves."
The somber expression never left Sturgis' face as he said, "Maybe he accidentally took it with him, or left it as his place. Have you tried calling him?"
"No, I haven't bothered. Anyway, he promised to call me later toni. . ." Mac caught her slip-up before the words completely escaped. She noticed, however, that Sturgis seemed to be more interested in the file in his hands than in her words. She quickly covered, "He should be checking in here soon. I'll ask him then, and I'm sure it'll turn up."
Finally taking a good look at Sturgis, Mac said, "Looks like you needed to talk to him, too. Want to take a seat? Maybe I can help."
Sturgis quickly dismissed Mac's offer and began backtracking out of the office. "No, just hoped to get his input on something."
Mac crossed her arms over her chest and nodded slightly. "Gotcha. It's personal."
Offering a sardonic smile, Sturgis moved forward, accepting Mac's offer of a seat. "Why do you people insist on thinking that every single question, comment, and discussion around this place has to involve some sort of personal issue?"
Mac's smile held a bit more warmth as she leaned forward and clasped her hands on Harm's desktop. "Because with this group, it usually does."
"I once said that this place was more like some sort of sticky soap opera than any military installation I've ever seen. Glad to see I'm still right. Since I've been here, I don't think a week has gone by when we haven't lived through the trauma of some sort of botched proposal, broken engagement, night-long vigil, or hostage crisis."
Mac allowed Sturgis to finish his rant before placing her tongue firmly in her cheek. "Well, you should consider yourself lucky. You got here after the stalker, Bud and Harriet's courtship and subsequent wedding, a couple of Harm's crashes, and a few murder trials where the JAG attorneys were, well, let's just say that they were sitting on the wrong side of the defense table."
"You laugh, Colonel, but this is exactly what I mean." Sturgis' voice was all seriousness now. "With all the personal drama that unfolds around here, I am surprised that any work actually gets done. Half the time it doesn't even seem like a workplace, much less an important military base. You all seem to know more about each other than you do about your own families."
The humor slid from Mac's face, and she slowly rose to shut Harm's office door. When she returned to the desk, she cleared away a corner of the desk and sat. "I think you finally get it."
Sturgis leaned back and watched as Mac toyed with the OCS ring on her hand. "Get what?"
"We do know each other better than we know our own families, because that's what we are."
Shaking his head almost imperceptibly, Sturgis retorted, "No, you're not. You're coworkers. This is simply a military billet, and the man in that big office across the bullpen is not your grandfather, and the others working out there are not your little brothers and sisters. They're coworkers, superior and junior officers. They either get to tell you what to do or follow your orders. That's how it is."
Mac couldn't believe it, but she almost felt a tinge of sympathy for the man who sat in front of her. "Is that how it was when you were on a sub? Just coworkers, not friends . . . or brothers?"
"Of course I was close to the men on those subs. We had to be. We were stuck under water or ice or God-knows-what for months. If we didn't work as a team and get to know each others' limits, thoughts, and reactions, then we could find ourselves stuck on the bottom of the ocean without a prayer."
When Mac began to reply, Sturgis stopped her. "We lived with each other, and we would have died for each other. But then when we got off those boats after each tour, we knew that we were going home until it was time again for us come together again and do our duty."
A simple smile came to Mac's face. "Okay, I think I understand."
Sturgis' eyebrow rose a fraction. "So you see the difference between duty and family? The personal things just get in the way of doing your job."
"No, actually I see why even though you've been here a while, you don't quite understand us yet."
Moving to get up, Sturgis just shook his head until Mac laid a gentle hand on his forearm. "Just hear me out." She waited until he sat back down before she sat herself and began. "You said that after you did your job, you went home. Well, you were allowed that opportunity because you actually had a home to go to."
When Sturgis attempted to respond, Mac quieted him with a glance. "How much do you know, I mean really know, about the people you work with?"
Giving a skeptical glance, Sturgis replied, "I've known Harm for years, and then there are some things I've heard . . . or lived through, but on the whole, I prefer to keep to myself."
"And that's the way you think it should be?" Sturgis nodded, so Mac muttered, "I hope they'll forgive me because I'm going to change that today."
Mac knew she still had her audience when Sturgis leaned back comfortably in the chair. She took a deep breath and decided to start with the toughest topic, herself. "I don't imagine that you know this, but my father was a Marine . . . and a drunk. A mean one, actually. When he'd go on one of his regular weekend benders, he'd drink until the money ran out. Then he'd come home and hit my mother until his anger ran out, too."
"Colonel, I . . ."
Mac stopped him before he could say anything else. "I'm not doing this for sympathy. Just listen, okay?" When he said nothing in return, Mac continued. "My mother took as much as she could. Then one day she finally left him, and she left me with him. For the first eighteen years of my life, I lived in so many different houses that I can't even remember them all. But not a single one of them was a home."
Sturgis sat, quietly absorbing Mac's words. "Bud's history is actually just a little different. Only his father didn't have a wife to beat up on, so he hit his sons instead." A smile came to Mac's face as she said, "But even with everything that's happened, Bud and Harriet made their home together. And, no, Harriet's home life wasn't all sunshine and roses, either. Money can make up for a lot of things, I suppose, but not for a mother who is so critical and overbearing that she can't even realize what a wonderful daughter she and her husband have managed to produce."
Now Mac's vision was focused on a distant point out the window, so she didn't notice that Sturgis' eyes were fixed directly on her. "You were there when we met Jen, and so you know what she came from. Her dad was abusive in his own way, even though he managed to cover it up in a layer of misguided religion."
Mac shifted and looked back at Sturgis, so he quickly glanced away. "And, of course, you know Harm's story. Out of all of us, he had that dream family, but then his dad simply had the misfortune of never coming home."
Mac was only a little surprised that she had to clear her throat before she finished. "None of us had the luxury of a place to really go home to, at least not until we each found our way here."
Finally offering what could almost be considered a smile, Sturgis said quietly, "Admiral A.J. Chegwidden's Home for Wayward Children, huh?"
A little of the tension disappeared from Mac's face as she laughed softly. "Something like that." She stood and then ran her hands down her uniform to smooth it as she walked to the office door. "See? You do get it. You've solved the mystery as to why we 'live through the trauma,' as you put it, of all proposals and births and crises. We get to celebrate each others' victories and be there with a shoulder during the tragedies. It's what a family does."
Sturgis straightened and crossed the room until he stood beside Mac. "And that's why someone might, oh, resign his commission to go off half-cocked on some rescue mission half a world away?"
Mac looked uncomfortable for a split second and crossed her arms over her chest again. "Yeah, that's exactly why. Family."
Leaving that alone for the moment, Sturgis asked good-naturedly, "And I suppose everyone else here would prefer it if I were a part of said family?"
Grateful for the slight change of topic, Mac grinned broadly. "Actually, no. You're already in. I think we've just come to the conclusion that you're the long-lost cousin who only associates with us when absolutely necessary."
"Thank you, Colonel," he answered, with only a slight hint of sarcasm.
Mac opened the office door and then led them towards her own. "So, Cousin, why exactly did you come to Harm's office in the first place?"
All business, once more, Sturgis looked down at the file in his hand. "Honestly, I was just looking for a new perspective. I'm trying to decide how to go about this one."
Mac took a peek at the name emblazoned on the top of the file. "You drew the Wheeler case, right? That's just a drunk and disorderly."
"It's a little more than just a D and D, Colonel, he's up for D o D, as well. It seems the lieutenant was out at a Newport News bar last weekend while he was supposed to be on duty back in Norfolk. And to make matters even more interesting, the drunk derelict in question is the son of the esteemed Admiral Ian Wheeler."
Eyes wide, Mac sat down at her own desk while Sturgis leaned against the door frame. "Two star, Persian Gulf hero Ian Wheeler? Rumor has it that he's on the fast track for a Joint Chiefs appointment one of these days."
"One in the same, and I am meeting with both father and son later this afternoon."
Mac now smiled as she leaned back in her chair. "So you're going into an extremely delicate meeting with one of the more powerful Naval officers in D.C., and you were going to ask Harm for pointers? You must be desperate, Sturgis."
"This is that cute family, joking around thing, isn't it Colonel?"
Mac nodded brightly, but then spoke more somberly. "Just hear him out, Commander. Either he'll have a good excuse, or he won't. Obviously, if his father could have smoothed this over, it would never have gotten this far."
Slapping the file against his palm, Sturgis countered, "But that didn't stop him from coming to his son's first meeting with his attorney." Sturgis missed Mac's sympathetic glance before he left her office and headed for his own.
*~*~*
Quiz Quote #2: "Martin Sheen? That's President
Kennedy, you idiot!"
This quote is brought to you by NBC's hit political drama, "The West Wing." Wait, I can't do that since "JAG" is a CBS show. Oh, well. Who cares? Aaron Sorkin will no longer be writing for "The West Wing" next season, so who knows how much longer it will last. Sigh.
*~*~*
1100 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Sturgis's Office
Sturgis felt the dense hostility in the room, as it radiated from both men who sat across from him. Though the meeting had lasted for over an hour, Sturgis felt they were in no better shape than they had been as soon as the Admiral had stiffly introduced both himself and his son. The father held obvious contempt for his son and gave the impression that this meeting was an unnecessary inconvenience. Lieutenant Wheeler's eyes remained averted, and his own contempt for his father's rank and mere presence showed in each of his stilted movements.
"Opposing counsel was willing to play down the drunk and disorderly, but is standing firm on the dereliction of duty. The deal he offered . . . "
"Is unacceptable." Admiral Wheeler interrupted.
Fighting to keep his tone level, Sturgis merely nodded. "Our court date is set for tomorrow afternoon. Commander Hudson is prosecuting, and Captain Marks is presiding." He waited for this information to sink in, and thought he saw the younger man steal a look at his father.
His posture unchanging, Admiral Wheeler didn't acknowledge his son before he commented stiffly, "I believe that Monahan is on the bench for this one."
Sturgis turned his attention towards the elder officer. "He had a family emergency, so Captain Monahan's docket was turned over to Marks. He has made room on his schedule so that several of Monahan's cases, including this one, won't have to be postponed any longer than necessary. He has been briefed about all the cases and will be ready to proceed tomorrow."
Admiral Wheeler gave a disgusted snort, as if to say, 'We'll see about that.' The lieutenant's eyes never left his own hands, though Sturgis noted that they were subtly fisted. The older man, however, took no notice of this and stood abruptly.
"I'll be in contact tomorrow, Commander, before this matter goes any further. Kevin. Let's go."
Showing proper respect to the rank, if not the man, Sturgis stood, as well. Seeing a look of defeat in the younger man's eyes, Sturgis took a chance and continued, "If you would like to discuss this any further, you can reach me here or at home."
He held out a business card, and was summarily ignored by the senior officer, who left without another word, pulling a cell phone from an interior pocket. The Admiral was so intent on his own agenda that he didn't notice his son lag behind. Sturgis didn't speak as the young officer reached for the business card, and then stood at attention with an apologetic look in his eyes.
*~*~*
1920 EST
Sturgis's House
Laurel, Maryland
Sturgis caught himself staring at the pasta in front of him rather than actually eating it. Perturbed at himself, he picked up the plate and added the contents to a clean container before sealing it and placing it in his organized refrigerator. He chose a bottle of water and moved through his apartment until he settled at his desk.
He could have presented a dissertation on the file in front of him, detailing each event from Kevin Wheeler's unremarkable academics to his often black-marked military career. Two drunk and disorderlies, and a couple of very interesting conduct unbecoming incidents. If Sturgis didn't know any better, he would think that this kid wanted to get kicked out. Or maybe he was doing all this to get back at his old man, who for all intents and purposes was an excellent, if extremely demanding, officer.
'What the heck is wrong with this kid?' Sturgis' silent question went unanswered as he drank absently from his bottle. He knew he'd gone over everything possible from the file. There was no way he could argue that it was a one-time only transgression. Wheeler's record couldn't be swept that clean, not even by his father. And if his client, or make that his client's father, was unwilling to deal, a plea bargain wouldn't necessarily keep him from a bust in rank, or even some brig time. Closing the file with disgust, Sturgis thought to himself, 'The damnedest thing is that the man truly believes we're not going to have to bargain or go to trial.'
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock, so Sturgis strode towards the door. He was only a little surprised when he saw Kevin Wheeler standing at his front door, his cover held nervously in his hands.
"Sir, I hope you don't mind my coming directly to your home. I was able to get the address from your phone number."
It occurred to Sturgis that having a client, a junior officer at that, come unannounced to his home might not be the most intelligent thing to do. That thought, however, only lasted a moment when he took a good look at the younger man's face. Stepping aside, Sturgis motion the younger man into the living room. "How can I help you, Lieutenant?"
"That's the problem, Sir. I don't think you can."
*~*~*
Quiz Quote #3: "I never had any friends later on like
those I had when I was twelve."
This quote is brought to you by the new book, Just a
Geek, which was written by the actor whose character
actually said this line of dialogue. I really want a
copy of his book. Seriously.
*~*~*
Sturgis had convinced Wheeler to sit, but he noted that his cover still twirled nervously in his hands. Hoping the silence would encourage the younger man to speak, Sturgis took a seat himself and simply waited.
The quiet of the room did nothing to allay the Lieutenant's nerves, but he knew he couldn't keep the Commander waiting the entire night. "Permission to speak freely, Sir?"
At Sturgis's nod, Wheeler continued, "First, I feel as though I need to apologize for my father's behavior . . ."
Sturgis stopped him with a wave of his hand. "That's nothing you have to apologize for. In any case, I've dealt with my fair share of domineering two stars before."
"But not one who looked at you as an inconvenience, and that's when he even bothers to look at you."
Giving what he hoped was a friendly smile, Sturgis countered, "That has actually happened a time or two."
Wheeler wasn't willing to see the humor in the statement. Instead, his voice was listless as he replied, "But I'm willing to bet those men weren't your father."
All humor faded from Sturgis's face. "No, they weren't, and I'm imagining that it was no picnic to grow up with that, either." Pausing for a moment, Sturgis waited until Wheeler's eyes met his again. "So, do you want to be in the Navy, Lieutenant?"
"No, Sir. I don't."
Sturgis thought he should probably have some resentment towards that blatant statement, but instead he looked at a young man who had spent one too many years in his father's very long shadow. Maybe he should try to talk him out of it, or just listen to some reasons behind that very definite answer. But he didn't. Instead, Sturgis leaned back into his chair and said, "Okay, let's see what we can do."
***
2200 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Hearing his phone ring, Harm tightened his hold around Mac. His voice was muffled as he nuzzled the nape of Mac's neck, and he muttered, "Ignore it. The machine will get it."
Mac had to catch her breath before she whispered, "It could be important."
Not wanting to waste precious time on something as inane as talking, Harm replied, "I've been gone four days. I don't think anything's more important than what we're doing right now."
Mac's soft laughter was cut off as Harm's lips captured her own. The kiss became so intense that she almost missed the deceptively light voice that came through the answering machine.
'Hey, Harm. Guess you're still not back from Pensacola . . .'
Harm stared in annoyance as Mac pulled away quickly and made a grab for the phone. Covering the mouthpiece, she thrust it towards Harm. "You need to get this," she whispered.
Confused, Harm took the phone, but pulled Mac back into his lap as she tried to stand.
"Hello?"
'You're home.'
Not taking his eyes off Mac, Harm said, "The case wrapped up unexpectedly, and I was able to catch a flight late this afternoon. When you called, I was actually . . ." He looked to Mac for help, but she just grinned and shrugged. "Um, unpacking."
Mac made a face at that, and was able to extract herself from Harm's embrace as he continued the phone conversation. "So, what's up?"
'I hate to do this to you when you've just gotten back into town, but are you doing anything right now?'
Harm wasn't sure he'd ever heard Sturgis sound this uncertain, and he knew they were recovering from a slight bump in their friendship. Taking a regret-filled look at Mac, he quickly said, "No, I can unpack anytime. Where do you want to go?"
A few moments later, after Harm had agreed to meet Sturgis at an all-night gym close to his apartment, he crossed the room to where Mac stood washing the few dishes they'd used at dinner. She smiled as she felt his arms come around her from behind. Turning her head, her lips met his briefly. "Heading off for some male bonding, huh?"
Harm kept his face buried in Mac's hair as she turned back to the dishes. He took a deep breath just to remind himself of the scent of her shampoo, not believing how much he'd missed her in the four days he'd been gone.
"Guess so." Taking a step back, he allowed his hands to rest on her shoulders. "So, will you be here when I get back?"
Mac smiled wickedly as she turned, "What, do you want to finish 'unpacking'?"
Once again, Harm cut off Mac's laughter with a kiss. Reluctantly, he broke off the kiss and was all seriousness when Mac's eyes met his own. "Stay. Please."
Mac's slight nod was the only answer he needed.
*~*~*
Quiz Quote #4: "It was our last weekend together, and
we didn't feel like going to Fort Sumter and touring
[gosh-darn] colonial homes!"
This quote was brought to you by the truly frightening new film, "Havana Nights: Dirty Dancing II." Yes, I swear, they have produced a sequel. And, no, the above quote is not from the original "Dirty Dancing." I'm not that obvious, guys.
*~*~*
2350 EST
Local Gym
Washington, D.C.
The dampness of both Harm's and Sturgis' shirts was a testament to how long and hard they'd played before the latter decided to open up about what was bothering him.
"And now the kid wants to take the plea. I think I can get Hudson down to a time served . . . and a dishonorable discharge," he finished, as he took the ball up the court for an easy lay-up.
Getting the rebound, Harm countered, "Dishonorable? Isn't that a little harsh?"
"Because of his record and all the times his father has covered for him, there's no way we can get away with a slap on the wrist. He doesn't want brig time, and to tell you the truth, he doesn't deserve it. He just wants out."
Harm took a shot and then caught his own rebound before motioning Sturgis to the side of the court. "What's his father going to have to say about that?"
Sturgis grabbed the water bottle that sat beside his duffel bag and took a drink before answering. "Have you ever met him, Harm?"
"Can't say that I have, though I have met men like him."
Shaking his head, Sturgis said, "You should have seen the way he looked at his son. Actually, he didn't even look at him. He treated him like he wasn't even there. When I first met the Lieutenant, I thought he was just like his case file suggested: some snot-nosed brat who'd been given an education and position most of us had to fight for. He didn't say a word the entire time he was in my office, and I honestly thought he was some angry kid who knew his dad was going to get him out of any and all trouble he could manage to get himself into."
Harm thought about the Lieutenant's history before he replied, "Isn't that what he's done?"
"The thing is, it's not. It looks that way on the surface, but I don't think the kid has been trying to hurt the Navy or himself. I just think he's desperately trying to get his father to give a damn."
Sturgis stopped to allow Harm to process that information. Wrapping a towel around his damp shoulders, Harm nodded for Sturgis to continue.
"It took him a while, but Wheeler finally opened up a little. He wants to get out of the Navy, and I'm sure all these little stunts are his way of trying to make that happen, and maybe he wants to make his father look bad in the process. The man didn't just get him into the academy, he forced him in. He knows how to be an Admiral, but he sure as hell doesn't know how to be a father."
"I don't understand. How did he railroad him into the military in the first place? He had to be eighteen when he got into Annapolis."
The seriousness of Sturgis' tone became more evident as he said, "Sixteen, actually. The kid's actually pretty brilliant. Graduated early from an exclusive prep school in New England, and then his father managed to get him an early appointment to the academy."
"Prep school? Wheeler wasn't much of a hands-on dad, I guess." Harm paused a moment, wondering if he was delving into a more sensitive area. "What about his mother?"
A flash of quickly and expertly masked pain marked Sturgis' expression for just a moment. "According to Kevin, she was a wonderful woman, at least from what he remembers. She died when he was seven. His dad had him sent off to boarding school the day after the funeral, and the Admiral was back on a carrier before the kid's plane landed." Sturgis paused himself before continuing. "His father's pulled all the strings since then, and now I think he's finally ready to be his own man, and he's confused about where to start."
For some strange reason, Sturgis was reminded at that moment of Mac's comments about family. He took a chance and continued, "I want to help him start, Harm. When I sat there and listened to him talk . . ."
When Sturgis broke off, Harm simply let the silence hang in the air. Through some unspoken agreement, neither he nor Sturgis had talked about their parents during their long friendship. He had some vague memory of Sturgis as a midshipman glossing quickly over the fact that his mother had passed away years before. It wasn't something that either of the young men had chosen to share, and Harm was unsure whether they could start now. He was attempting to choose his words carefully when Sturgis spoke quietly.
"This kid could easily be me, Harm. Or maybe I could have been him."
Harm stared at the man he always thought he had really known. "Sturgis, there's a big difference between you and Lieutenant Wheeler. You were lucky enough to have Chaplain Turner for a father, and now one scared, angry kid is lucky enough to have you for his lawyer. And his friend."
In all the years they'd been friends, Sturgis could count on one hand the number of truly honest talks he'd had with Harm. For a fleeting moment, he wondered why there had never been more. He acknowledged his friend's words with a nod, and then lightened the tone of his voice. "So, is this going to turn into one of the JAG family pep talks?"
Raising an eyebrow, Harm asked, "A what?"
Shaking his head, Sturgis muttered, "Never mind." Then he rose from the gym floor and threw the basketball to Harm. As he walked away, he shouted, "I'm demanding a rematch. Apparently, I'm going to go call and get Hudson out of bed. Time to make a deal."
*~*~*
Quiz Quote #5: "Hey, I like that hat, man. They sell
men's clothes where you got that?"
Proudly brought to you by VH1's new classic, "I Love the 80's." It is fun to watch children of the 80's . . . and their elders . . . discuss that wonderful decade.
*~*~*
Friday, 2000 EST
McMurphy's Bar
Georgetown, Virginia
"And here's to Commander Sturgis Turner, a man who was able to accomplish what few have done before him."
Sturgis turned on his barstool in time to catch the gleam in Harm's eyes as he raised a half empty beer bottle. "What? Lose a client, a case, and be accused by a two star admiral of inadequate counsel all in the same day?"
Smirking, Mac raised a glass of sparkling water to her lips. "Actually, I think Harm's already done that a time or two."
Harm cast Mac a playfully withering glance, but then turned his attention back to Sturgis. "No, I meant that you looked beyond the surface, trusted your gut, and found what really mattered." His expression became serious as he continued, "Doing the right thing doesn't always mean winning. You did good, buddy."
Breaking the silence, Bud handed Harriet her soda glass and then lifted his own. "Commander Turner."
Several voices echoed, and a few silent moments passed before Sturgis glanced around and took in all the smiling faces around him. He honestly hadn't expected to find himself here, surrounded by junior and senior officers and having a drink after one of the most truly horrible days of his entire career. The deal had come through, and Wheeler would soon be free to start his own life, out of the shadow of his father. That deal had come at a price, however, as Sturgis had received one of the worst dressing downs of his career in the middle of the JAG bullpen earlier that day. He was unsure of the consequences of Admiral Wheeler's accusations, but at the moment, he surprisingly found that he didn't care.
Giving into the moment, he shook his head a bit, but then found his eyes locked with Mac's. Her look was more than a little challenging, so he decided to take the chance.
"So I guess this means that I'm one of you people now?"
Harm and Mac shared a look before she smiled wickedly and spoke, "I'm not quite so sure about that. You only got dressed down by a deranged admiral one single time. It's not like you shot off a semiautomatic in the middle of a trial or anything."
"Never going to let me live that one down, are you?" Harm muttered. When Mac only shook her head, Harm continued, "And, Sturgis, no one has ever had to jump ship and track you down in some foreign country, either. So, most of us have you there."
Bud added helpfully, "I don't think you've ever resigned your commission, Sir."
"And I'm pretty sure we've never had to bail you out of jail," Harriet pitched in. "That's something."
The Admiral, who had simply smiled quietly into his drink the entire time, finally spoke, grabbing the attention of all those crowded around the noisy bar. "Commander Turner, I think that as your commanding officer, I can clear this one up. I have yet to see a felony case with the words 'People vs. Turner' cross my desk. I don't think you have anything to worry about . . . yet."
With that, A.J. went back to his drink, either not noticing or choosing to ignore the stifled laughter that broke out around him.
When things quieted down, Mac set down her empty glass and gave Turner a pointed look. "Well, some of us actually had a pretty long day in court today, so. I think I should head home." As Mac searched pockets for her keys, Harm asked, "Do you still have the Garrison file in your car?"
"Sure. Why don't you walk me out?" Harm nodded and threw some bills on the table before he said good-bye and followed Mac out through the crowd.
Bud looked at his very pregnant wife, who agreed that she was ready to go home as well. He began to settle up with the bartender as Harriet excused herself to the ladies' room. The Admiral took a moment to find a quiet corner and call Meredith on his cell phone, leaving Sturgis alone at the bar.
He knew he owed both Mac and Harm a thank you, so he added a bill to the pile on the bar and moved towards the parking lot. Turning the corner, he began to speak, but his words died at the sight before him. Mac leaned against her car while her hands clung to Harm's waist. His hands were gently holding her face, and they both were actively involved in one of the more enthusiastic 'good night' kisses Sturgis had ever witnessed.
Feeling like an intruder, albeit an amused one, he watched Harm and Mac's embrace for only a stunned second before clearing his throat loudly. They broke away quickly at the noise and put more space than necessary between them. Their guilty and slightly frightened looks met Sturgis' stern one.
Even though the only light around was given by a dim street lamp, Sturgis could see the flush creep over Mac's cheeks and the lipstick smeared on the corner of Harm's mouth. He almost broke into a smile, however, when he saw Mac take a step towards Harm. And he knew his buddy was sunk when he watched his old friend take Mac's hand in his own.
Mac took a deep, steadying breath. "You know, Sturgis, one of the most important things family does is to keep each others' secrets."
Sturgis took a step towards them and replied, "I think I can handle that one. I've done it before, haven't I?"
Mac smiled broadly and said, "Yes, you have." Harm looked at her quizzically, but she only squeezed his hand and whispered, "I'll explain that one later."
Turning back to Sturgis, she asked, "So you'll keep this to yourself . . . for the time being, at least?"
Sturgis crossed his arms over his chest and simply nodded. "We can call it my way of thanking you two for helping me out with this case. But, if you two don't want to let the rest of the Navy know what's going on, I'd suggest you cease and desist now. Everybody else should be coming pretty soon."
Mac hurriedly straightened her clothes, then she turned and took a look at Harm. As Mac quickly wiped the smudged lipstick from Harm's face, Sturgis could have sworn he heard whispered "I love you's," but he chose not to deal with it at this point. Don't ask, don't tell.
Instead, he turned and acknowledged the officers who were exiting the bar behind him. They were men and women with whom he had very little in common, but they had somehow become his family . . . whether he'd wanted them to or not.
With a smile on his face and a new lightness in his step, Sturgis turned and headed towards his car.
The End