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Part 15
INT
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/ MAIN
TERMINAL
1642 HOURS
Admiral Chedwidden makes his way down through the busy
terminal towards the arrival gate where Trish's flight from Lajola was to
deplane. Approaching the gate, AJ searches the crowd for Mac and finally
spots her standing by the windows that overlook the tarmac below.
ADMIRAL
(as he approaches Mac)
Colonel!
MAC
(turning from the window surprised to see AJ)
Admiral! What are you doing here?
ADMIRAL
Well, when I stopped by the hospital to see Harm
he expressed some concern over weather conditions in the Midwest and he was
wondering why he hadn't heard anything from
you!
MAC
I was going to call him, but I just felt he'd worry if
he knew Trish's plane was late getting in?
ADMIRAL
(gazing to his watch)
By almost three hours?
MAC
Yes sir! A snow storm in St Louis grounded her flight,
sir! But it should be arriving within the next twenty minutes
or so!
ADMIRAL
(bluntly)
Good!........It will give us some time to
talk!
MAC
(her eyes meeting the Admiral's)
Talk sir?
ADMIRAL
Let's take a walk, shall we Colonel!
As the Admiral turns and begins to walk, Mac rolls her
eyes back knowing what topic of conversation was about to
transpire.
MAC
(joining the Admiral by his side)
Then you know, sir?
ADMIRAL
Colonel!........ What is your opinion of me as your commanding
officer?
MAC
Sir?
ADMIRAL
An answer, if you please, Colonel! And do speak
freely!
MAC
Yes, sir! (considering her words carefully)
I find you to be very fair, sir!.......Competent........non-judgmental in most
regards........overall sir I consider you a very good and honorable
man!
ADMIRAL
Blowing sunshine off my ass, Colonel?
MAC
(shocked)
No sir!......Not at all!
ADMIRAL
(pausing turning to her)
Then why in God's name didn't you take a moment to confide in
me?
MAC
I'm sorry, sir! ....... But you're not only my
CO!.......You're the JAG, sir...........the convening authority and to
personally involve you, would not have been in the best interests of either one
of us!
ADMIRAL
(carefully considering her words)
Well, Colonel, hearing it from a third party, was
nonetheless disturbing!
MAC
I'm sorry, sir!
ADMIRAL
(after regarding Mac for a long moment)
What I want to know is if you have taken into
consideration all of the repercussions this may have on not just your own
career, Colonel, but on the JAG Corps and the Navy as a
whole?
MAC
Yes sir! I believe I have!
ADMIRAL
(with an admonishing tone in
his voice)
Well, I sincerely hope so,
Colonel, because it won't be just your honor and integrity in the line of fire
here, but that of the entire Navy! ........ And the rough waters are already
churning!
MAC
Sir, are you inferring that it would have been better if I had
chosen not to file those charges?
ADMIRAL
Not at all, Colonel!.......I am just attempting to prepare you
for the worse!..........NCIS attempted to serve a warrant
for Captain Peterson's arrest this afternoon. However, when they arrived
at his DC hotel room, they discovered that he had already returned to
Norfolk. Well, needless to say, the very presence of the NCIS officers
drew a bit of curiosity and somehow this whole mess was leaked to the
press. I'd say that by the end of tonight's evening news, ....... the two
of you will be national news! And you and I both know the ramifications of
a media circus don't we, Colonel?
Mac takes a deep breath as she observes the deep concern in
the Admiral's eyes.
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