Honor & Betrayal PT 13
INT
JAG
0800
Admiral Chedwidden enters the doors of the core office to find
several members of his JAG staff gathered around the television monitors mounted
on the wall above them. So involved with what the reporter was
announcing, no one notices the presence of the Judge Advocate
General. AJ glances up to the monitors to view a local
CBS reporter prematurely revealing the news concerning Commander Rabb's
accidental shooting to the grappling ears of his awaiting staff.
REPORTER
............The all out gun battle between the
rivaling gang members killed two of the youths, while sending a third young man
to the hospital where he was treated and released early this morning. DC
police reported that the fourth victim was a naval officer who apparently was an
innocent bystander when the all out gun battle ensued. The Commander is
apparently an attorney assigned to the Judge Advocate Generals Office in Falls
Church, Virginia. His name is being withheld pending family
notification.......In other news......
ADMIRAL
(breaking the long moment of silence as everyone stands
speechless at the news)
OK, PEOPLE!.......Let's get to work!
The personnel whose eyes had been transfixed on the television
monitors snap to attention at the sound of the Admiral's voice.
TYNER
(standing at
attention)
Officer on deck!
ADMIRAL
(as he begins his walk through the office)
As you were! (as he continues his walk past the
personnel that are hastily disbursing to their own perspective jobs he calls out
the names of each of his JAG staff)
MacKenzie... Brumby........ Iams......
Matoni......Becker........and Roberts!.....There will be a
briefing in the conference room at 0815!.......Be there!
ALL
(in unison)
Yes Sir!
********************************
INT
JAG CONFERENCE ROOM
0815
Admiral Chedwidden sits at the head of the conference table
with MacKenzie, Roberts and Becker sitting his right and Matoni, Brumby, and
Iams sitting to his left.
ADMIRAL
(authority in his voice but with concern and exhaustion
evident in his demeanor)
I just got off the phone with Commander Rabb's physician and
apparently as of a half an hour ago, she's upgraded his condition from
serious to fair! So, I believe it's safe to assume that the Commander will
pull through this just fine!
BRUMBY
Seems to me Admiral, that Commander Rabb is one hell of a
lucky guy!
ADMIRAL
So it seems, Commander!.......So it seems!
IAMS
Sir, does anyone know what the Commander was doing in that
part of DC so late at night?
Bud gazes to Mac and Mac to Bud neither sure that it was the
intended meeting between Peterson and the Commander and neither wanting to
divulge that information.
ADMIRAL
You're guess is as good as mine, Commander! But,... the
Commander's a big boy and what he does on his own personal time.......well,
that's his own business! (pauses as he gazes to each of his officers
sitting on each side of the conference table) However, this incident
should serve as a wake up call to all of us that we are all vulnerable to this
sort of thing and that we should always keep our own personal safety utmost in
our minds! (pauses for a long moment hoping that his admonishment would be
taken seriously) Now, as it is not certain just how long it will be before
the Commander returns to his duties here at JAG, there are a few things that
need to be discussed. (addressing Mac) Colonel!.... Your request for
personal leave will unfortunately have to be denied pending the Commander's
return. I'm sorry!
MAC
Yes sir!
ADMIRAL
(gazing to Becker)
Colonel Becker!.....I'm afraid your TDY will have to be
extended! I realize that this is contrary to your request, but I need you
here for the moment!
BECKER
(disgruntled)
Understood, sir!
ADMIRAL
Commander Matoni! Welcome back! I trust that
things are going better for your family now!
MATTONI
Yes, sir!.......Thank you sir!
ADMIRAL
Good!.......Lieutenant Roberts!
ROBERTS
Yes sir!
ADMIRAL
What's the status on the Malory case?
ROBERTS
Admiral Morris ruled on it yesterday afternoon, sir!
Lieutenant Malory will face a court Marshall on charges of second degree
murder. However, sir, it won't be on the docket until sometime in
January.
ADMIRAL
Good! (turning to Mac) Colonel, is there any cases that
you have been working on with the Commander that will give you need for any
assistance?
MAC
Nothing I can't handle, sir!
ADMIRAL
Are you sure, Colonel?
MAC
Yes, sir!
ADMIRAL
(takes a deep breath as he observes each of them)
I know that all of you are already overburdened with your case
loads, but I have full confidence in your abilities to handle the additional
cases which may fall on you during the Commander's absence. Remember, we
made it through four months without him and I am sure a couple of days more or
less won't hurt!
They all exchange glances among themselves as each of them
find little console in the Admiral's motivational speech.
ADMIRAL
(continues noticing their skepticism)
Any questions?
*************************************
INT
MERCY HOSPITAL
1100 HOURS
Harm stirs from his deep sleep as Doctor Marshall stands over
him checking his vital signs. He opens his eyes slowly to observe her
standing next to him her stethoscope to his chest as she listens carefully
to the rhythm of his heart beat. Noticing his eyes opening, she
greets him with a smile.
MARSHALL
Well, good morning.
Rabb smiles slightly as he struggles to keep his eyes
open long enough to converse with Jenna Marshall.
MARSHALL
How do you feel?
RABB
Tired!........Sore! ...... Kind of like I've been the
unfortunate recipient of a stray bullet!
MARSHALL
(smiling with amusement at Rabb's sense of humor)
And your head?
RABB
Oh........... that hurts too!
MARSHALL
Well, that's all par for the course I'm
afraid!
RABB
(smiling slightly)
Gee thanks, Doc! It's nice to know someone understands
how I'm feeling!
MARSHALL
Well, I'll say one thing for you, Commander!......You sure are
a popular guy!
Harm gazes at her somewhat confused by her
remark.
MARSHALL
(indicating the nearby window sill covered with an array of
plants and various flower arrangements)
Well, just take a look!
Harm glances to the window and is spite of his groggy
condition, is amazed by the numerous arrangements.
HARM
All those for me?
MARSHALL
Looks that way!
HARM
(smiling)
Well, it's about time they show a little
appreciation!
MARSHALL)
(smiling)
Gosh, the things one has to go through to
be appreciated, hmm?.......
HARM
To say the least!
MARSHALL
Well, now that I've got you in a better mood, I'm going to
need to take a look at that shoulder! So, (as the head
of his bed starts to rise up at the flip of the button on the
control) I'm going to raise you up a little and I'm going to ask you
to turn a little onto your right side!........(as the movement of the bed
stops) Think you can handle that, Commander?
RABB
(avoiding the subject)
How long am I going to have to be in here anyway,
Doctor?
MARSHALL
Only as long as you need to be, Commander! ....Now, stop
trying to delay the inevitable!
Rabb gives Jenna a look of discontent then complies with her
wishes. Once on his side, Dr. Marshall slips the
hospital gown off his shoulder and gently removes the bandage
covering the wound. Harm's discomfort is obvious even at her
slightest touch to the immediate area or in the movement of his
arm.
MARSHALL
(apologetically)
I'm sorry if this is uncomfortable for you!
RABB
Hey, (he swallows trying to bear up to the pain) ...
It's all par for the course, remember?!
MARSHALL
(covering up the wound)
Well....... I'm about through torturing you for the time
being! (she pauses momentarily to study his face as his eyes wander over
to the floral arrangements on the window sill) So, are you up for
some company?
Harm slowly turns back towards her and observes her smiling
face.
RABB
(inquisitively)
Colonel Mackenzie?.
MARSHALL
Well no, not exactly. But it looks as though it
might be an entire JAG brigade to me! They're five of them waiting outside
in the hall!
RABB
Oh great! .......Just what I need!.....A bunch of guys
coming in here just to gawk!
MARSHALL
(on her way out the door)
Oh,... they're just concerned is all, Commander!
Besides, ... they won't get to stay too long anyway! .... So,..... you up for
it?
Before Harm could really give her an answer, she opens the
door and the brigade enters. First Imes, then Matoni, who in turn is
followed by Bud and Harriet and then of course Brumby! They all gather
around Harm's bedside all gazing curiously at the completely strange state of
being that Harm was in. Harm studies each face individually as they smile
and greet him and their smiles involuntarity vanish as they observe his pale
complexion and bandaged head along with the IV's and other life monitoring
equipment surrounding Harm's bed.
IAMS
(awkwardly, trying to be
encouraging)
Well, Harm!.... You certainly aren't looking as bad as I
was anticipating!
HARM
Gee, thanks Carolyn!
BRUMBY
Ahh, come off the grass, mate! The blimmy looks like
hell!
HARM
Yah, well, thanks Bugme!.......But from where I'm
lying, you don't look a hellofalot better!
Brumby laughs at Harms remark.
MATTONI
Looks like you really nailed Malory in that Article 32
hearing, Commander!
HARM
(quickly growing weary)
Sure did!
HARRIET
(inquisitively)
How long are they going to keep you in here, sir?
BUD
Only as long as it's necessary, Harriet!
As the brigade continues their barrage of inquisitions and
well wishes, Harm's weariness gets the best of him and he slowly gives in to his
healing body's needs.
Carolyn notices Harms's eyes wearily closing as he falls back
into a deep sleep. Strange feelings begin to well up in her as she
observes him lying in the bed before her.....so totally helpless, so vulnerable,
so opposite the man that she had come to know as strong,
independent.....and dare she admit it?......sexy! All the voices of the
other members of the brigade sort of disappear as she studies the man before
her....... Only the sound of her own name drawing her back from her deep
thoughts.
HARRIET
(sharply whispering loudly)
CAROLYN!
IMES
(gazing to Harriet as Harriet is walking towards the
door)
WHAT?
HARRIET
We're leaving! (pointing to Harm) I think the Commander
has had enough company for one day!
IAMS
(somewhat embarrassed)
Oh,.......right!
With those words the final two members of the JAG brigade
leave Harm's bedside.
>TO BE
CONTINUED.............ASAP!!!