Season X – Episode 3
“Heroes and Villains" 
 

By Jared Chapman

  

Disclaimer:  I do not own JAG, or any of its
characters used in this story.  Those of you who
do…please don’t sue me.  I’m just another one of the
thousands of fans who love your shows and I am not
profiting in any way from this story.  Those of you
who read this story…please do not copy or redistribute
it.  You could get me in trouble and that’s just not
nice!  However, if you wish to archive it, please send
me an email and I will be happy to say ok!

  

Rating: PG

  

Category:  Entire series will be Harm/Mac and Other
Romance

  

Spoilers:  A little bit of everything to date.

 

Summary:  Episode 3 of the fictional season entitled
“Season X.”  When Sturgis and Bud are sent on a
routine investigation under the sea, both officers
find out what they are made of.  Meanwhile, back in
Virginia, Harm gets more than one lesson in humility
from our favorite Marine.

  

  

1954 Local Time

Sunday 8/3

USS Phoenix

Off the coast of southern China

  

  

---Scene opens in the mess room of the USS Phoenix
submarine.  Young enlisted sailor is having a cup of
coffee when an officer enters the room---

  

Seaman David Ross snapped up from his seat when he
noticed the ship’s XO, Lieutenant Greg Wilcox enter
the room.  A wave of dread rushed over the young man
at the sight of this particular officer.

  

“Seaman, fix me a cup of coffee,” the officer barked
and David responded by making his way quickly to get
what the Lieutenant had asked for.  While the younger
man’s back was turned, Lieutenant Wilcox opened what
appeared to be a sugar packet and poured the contents
into Seaman Ross’ coffee.

  

“Here you go, Sir,” the seaman managed to say as he
handed the fresh cup of coffee to Lieutenant Wilcox.

  

“Thank you, Seaman.  As you were,” he replied as he
turned to leave.  He paused just outside the door and
waited.  A few seconds later he heard a loud thunk and
a sickening smile came over his face.  “Try telling
them now, Ross.  Just try telling them now.”

  

  

---Cut to Opening Credits---

  

*    *    *    *    *

  

  

0852 Local Time

Monday 8/4

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

  

“As you were.  Please take your seats,” Admiral A.J.
Chegwidden said as he strode purposefully into the
conference room where his senior staff was assembled
for the morning meeting.  “We have a lot to cover, so
let’s get right to it,” he began once everyone was
seated.  “Commander Turner,”

  

“Yes, Sir,” Sturgis replied, looking up from his cup
of coffee.

  

“Last night, aboard the USS Phoenix attack sub, a
Seaman David Ross was found dead in the mess room. 
Now, the corpsman aboard the ship is having difficulty
pronouncing a cause of death and some members of the
crew are becoming nervous.  They feel that there may
be a murderer amongst them.  In order to calm the men,
the skipper of the Phoenix has requested that we
conduct an investigation into Seaman Ross’ death.  You
and Lieutenant Roberts will depart for the Pacific
where you will rendezvous with the Phoenix.  Report
back to me as soon as you find anything.”

  

“Aye-aye, Sir,” Sturgis replied.  He was glad to be
going to a submarine, but he wished it were under
better circumstances.

  

 “Very well.  See Tiner for your travel arrangements. 
Moving on,” A.J. continued as he turned his attention
to the rest of the staff.  “Petty Officer Sierra Rosen
of the USS New Haven is charged with possession of a
controlled substance with intent to distribute. 
Commander Rabb and Captain Thomas, you will represent
the government.  Colonel Mackenzie and Lieutenant
Alton, you will defend,” he said handing Harm and Mac
copies of the case file.

  

“Aye-aye, Sir,” they all responded together.

  

“Thank you, that is all,” the Admiral said, standing
and leaving the room.  When he was gone the rest of
the attorneys stood to leave and Harm noticed that Mac
was looking at him from across the table.

  

“Something up, Counselor?” he asked with raised
eyebrows and a half smile.

  

“Nothing much, just picturing what your face will look
like after I kick your six in court,” she replied
casually, then turned and walked out the door leaving
Harm to shake his head and roll his eyes.

  

“Whatever you say, Marine.”

  

  

---Cut to Tim’s office – thirty minutes later---

  

  

“Knock, knock,” Harm said with a smile from the
doorway, causing Tim to look up from the stack of
paperwork on his desk.

  

“Sir, please come in.  What can I do for you?”

  

“Actually, I just stopped by to say thank you,” Harm
replied.

  

“Sir?”

  

“Yeah, I haven’t had a chance to say thank you for
bringing the Colonel back in one piece.  She told me
what you did in Afghanistan.  That took a lot of
guts.”

  

“Thank you, Sir.  But, I was just doing my job.  I’m
sure she would have done the same for me,” Tim
replied, trying to shift the compliment away.

  

“Well, call it what you will, Lieutenant.  But, I owe
you one.”

  

“Permission to speak freely and off the record, Sir?”

  

“Good ahead, Lieutenant.”

  

“I’ll watch out for your Marine, and you watch out for
mine.  Deal?” he said as a guilty half smile crept
across his face.

  

“Deal,” Harm replied with a huge smile.  Over the last
couple of weeks he had grown to suspect that Tim and
Cindy were becoming close.  Now he sat and watched a
tough as nails ex-SEAL blush bright red at the very
thought of his partner.  “What is it about these lady
Marines, Lieutenant?” he asked with a chuckle.

  

“I don’t know, Sir.  But, it’s pretty great isn’t it?”

  

“You got that right, Lieutenant.  You got that right,”
he replied with another chuckle as he stood to leave. 
When he got to the doorway, he stopped for a second
and turned around.  “You wanna hit the gym with me
tonight, Lieutenant?  I usually work with Commander
Turner, but we’ve been looking for a third anyway.”

  

“Sounds good, what time?”

  

“1800 at Bethesda.”

  

“I’ll be there, Sir.”

  

  

---Cut to Bud’s office – Same time---

  

  

Bud was scurrying around his office, trying to get
prepared for his trip to the Phoenix when he heard a
knock at the door.

  

“Come in,” he replied.  Harriet opened the door with a
smile on her face, but it soon disappeared when she
saw what he was doing.

  

“You’re being sent out of town?” she asked in an
understanding, yet upset, tone.

  

“I’m afraid so, Sweetheart.  There was a death aboard
the Phoenix and I have to go with Commander Turner for
the investigation,” he replied without looking up.  He
didn’t notice the silence that followed, as he was too
busy packing.  Finally, after several minutes, he
looked up and found a look of horror on his favorite
face.

  

“Honey, it’s not so bad,” he tried to comfort her. 
“I’ve had to go to sea for investigations before.”

  

“You’re not just going to sea, Bud,” she replied
emphatically.  “I know what the Phoenix is.  It’s a
Los Angles class nuclear submarine.  It’s the kind
that they use to patrol the shores of hostile
counties, the kind with a huge nuclear reactor and no
luggage space,” she finished with a huff.  Bud made
the mistake of letting out a laugh at her antics,
which caused him to receive one of those looks that he
was sure, could kill.

  

“I’m sorry, Honey.  Don’t worry so much, ok?  Besides,
I’m going with Commander Turner.  I’m sure everything
will be fine.”

  

“Ok,” she replied with a wounded look.  She knew that
there was nothing she could do about his assignment,
but she still hated that he had to go away.  And, she
couldn’t help but worry about him being under
thousands of gallons of cold ocean water.

  

“Take care of yourself, Bud.  I love you very much,”
she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  

“I love you too, Harriet,” he replied as he wrapped
his arms around his wife and held her close.  “I’ll
always will.”

  

  

---Cut to commercials---

  

*    *    *    *    *

  

  

1525 Local Time

Monday 8/4

USS Phoenix

Off the coast of California

  

“Welcome to the Phoenix, Gentlemen,” Commander Rick
Tavish, the ship’s skipper, greeted Sturgis and Bud
when they made their way to the control room.  After
surfacing briefly near San Francisco to pick up the
two JAG officers, the Phoenix was now on it’s way back
to its patrol in the South China Sea.

  

“Thank you, Skipper,” Sturgis replied politely.  “It’s
good to be aboard.”

  

“If you will follow me to the wardroom, the XO and I
will give you a rundown on what we know so far,”
Tavish said, waving over a very calm and collected
looking Lieutenant Wilcox.  “Commander Turner,
Lieutenant Roberts, meet my XO, Lieutenant Wilcox.”

  

“Lieutenant,” Sturgis said with an extended hand.  The
young Lieutenant shook both his and Bud’s hands and
the four officers quickly made their way to the
wardroom.  On the way there, Commander Tavish noticed
that Sturgis seemed very comfortable in his
surroundings.  Most visitors, even other naval
officers, rarely seem at ease in their first day on a
submarine.

  

“Commander Turner, I get the feeling this is not your
first time aboard a submarine.”

  

“No, it isn’t, actually.  I served four years aboard
the Alabama as a sonar operator and eventually as XO
before I transferred to the JAG Corp.”

  

“That explains it then.  I suppose you won’t have any
trouble finding your way around to conduct your
investigation then.”

  

“Not at all, Sir.  I’m sure that is why Admiral
Chegwidden sent me.  He knows that you have an
important mission and my job is to conduct this
investigation in such a way that you are not kept from
it,” Sturgis replied confidently.

  

“Very good, Commander,” Tavish replied as the four men
enter the wardroom.  After the four men are seated and
the door closed, Lieutenant Wilcox began the briefing.

  

“Here is what we know so far,” he began with an even
outward appearance.  Inside was another story as he
explained the circumstances while trying to steer them
away from himself.  At the same time he had to be
careful not to be obvious about it.  “It would appear
as though Seaman Ross either died from some sort of
medical condition that we don’t know about, or was
killed or committed suicide in some unknown way.  He
was found in the mess room with his head on the table
and a full cup of coffee next to him.  None of the
crew were in the room at the time, so we don’t know
much more than that.”

  

“Did Seaman Ross have any close friends amongst the
crew, anyone who could attest to how his personal life
was before he died?” Bud asked.

  

“He bunked with Seaman Rhodes and Seaman Green.  They
are both on shift now, but they get off at 1700.  I
can have them come by if you like,” Commander Tavish
replied.

  

“Thank you, Skipper,” Sturgis replied.  “In the
meantime, I think we will start by talking to the
corpsman and taking a look at the mess room.”

  

“Very well, Commander, Lieutenant.  If you need
anything, you know where to find us,” the skipper
replied as he and Wilcox made their way out of the
room and back towards the bridge.

  

“First instinct, Lieutenant?” Sturgis asked when they
were alone.

  

“Something is definitely not right, Sir.  I’ve read
the Seaman’s service record and he doesn’t strike me
as the type to commit suicide.  And, even though cause
of death would be a little hard to determine while at
sea, the corpsman should have been able to find some
sign of what killed the Seaman if it was a medical
condition.  I could be wrong, Sir, but I think we may
have a murder on our hands.”

  

“I’m with you, Lieutenant.  Let’s get started then.”

  

  

---Cut to Bethesda Medical Center Gymnasium – Same
time---

  

  

“Come on Commander, two more,” Tim coached Harm as the
ex-fighter pilot pressed his limit of two hundred
twenty five pounds.

  

“Ten,” Harm called out, now out of breath as Tim
helped him set the weight back on the rack.  “Wow,
that was a good workout, Tim.  I like that routine a
lot better than what Sturgis and I usually do.”

  

“That was the same circuit training that we used to do
between missions in the SEALS, Sir.  It’s meant to
keep the entire body in peak condition.”

  

“Hey, when we’re out of the office, it’s just Harm,”
he replied with a smile.  “I think I’m going to hit
the showers.”

  

“That’s a good idea, Harm.  After all, court starts
tomorrow and you are going to need all of your
strength to beat me and the Colonel,” the younger man
replied with a grin.

  

“She’s rubbing off on you, my friend,” he replied as
they walked around the corner to head for their
showers.  They both stopped dead in their tracks when
the boxing ring came into view.  There in the ring,
two of the most beautiful creatures to ever grace the
Marine Corps were practicing their kickboxing.  Harm
turned to Tim and raised an eyebrow hoping to get a
response from the young Lieutenant.  Tim just looked
at him and smiled.

  

“Harm, I’m sure there is an appropriate reaction that
I should have to seeing that, but I don’t think I can
verbalize it right now,” he said with a laugh.  “All I
can say is ‘Semper Fi.’”  This caused Harm to break
out in a burst of laughter, which in turn caught the
attention of the objects of the conversation.

  

“What do you think you’re laughing at, squids?” they
heard Mac say in her best Marine Colonel voice.  “I
hope you don’t think you could do better?”  She was
trying to sound tough and annoyed, but it was hard to
do when Harm was standing right at the edge of the
ring in a tight, white tank top, his arms and
shoulders swollen and bulging from the workout he’d
just finished.  She looked over at Cindy and found her
having the same reaction to Tim, whose well-defined
upper body was visible thru the gray “Go Navy” tank
that he wore.

  

“I don’t know about that, Colonel.  But, I think that
we could give you a run for your money,” Harm replied
with a cocky flyboy grin.”

  

“Really, well, why don’t you put your money where your
mouth is, flyboy?  You and me, Stickboy, right here
right now,” she taunted.

  

“I’d love to, Mac, but I don’t have my gloves with
me,” he smiled at the handy excuse until he saw her
eyebrows raise and then her eyes dart over to Tim. 
When Harm turned to look, Tim had produced a pair of
gloves and headgear from his bag.  Harm groaned
inside.  Now he would have to back up his talk.

  

“Traitor,” he whispered as he reluctantly took the
equipment from Tim.

  

“Hey, I’m not the one with foot-in-mouth disease,
Sir,” he replied with a laugh.  ‘This is going to be
good,’ he thought as he chanced a glance over at
Cindy.  She was wearing a simple pair of gray shorts
and a red Marine t-shirt, her long auburn hair pulled
back in a ponytail behind her head and she was
sweating from head to toe.  Still, Tim was sure that
he had never seen anything so beautiful.

  

“You looked pretty good up there, Cindy,” he said
softly.  They shared a warm smile before she replied.

  

“Thank you, Tim.”

  

Ten minutes later Harm was ready to go and climbed
into the ring with Mac.  For a moment, he just stared
at her thinking how incredible she really was.  His
thoughts were interrupted when she raised her right
arm and pretended to ring the bell.

  

“Ding, ding, Stickboy.”

  

“You ready for me, Marine?”

  

“Bring it on, Navy.”  And with that, the fight began.

  

For the first several minutes, both Harm and Mac
danced around each other and threw a few soft jabs. 
Neither one of them had expected to be this unable to
punch the other.  Every time Harm had an opening to
throw a good punch, he held it back and Mac did the
same on him.  Finally they heard a couple of boos from
the peanut gallery.

  

“Come on you two, I paid forty bucks for this
pay-per-view, lets see some blows,” Tim called out
with a laugh, knowing full well the reason that no
good blows had yet been landed.  Cindy, who was quite
content with her current position standing next to Tim
at ringside, decided to get her own poke in.

  

“I’ve seen more punching in an episode of MASH,” she
called out, causing Tim to erupt with laughter.  Harm
and Mac both new that the younger officers were now on
to them and they both decided at the same time that
they were going to have to make this look a little
better.  Immediately, Mac moved in and landed two good
punches to the chin and a front kick to Harm’s
stomach.  It was a nice move, but not enough to really
throw him off.  He quickly returned with two good jabs
and stepped out of the way of another kick.  When he
did so, a cocky grin came over his face and the two
younger officers braced for what was next.

  

“Not bad, Colonel.  Not bad at all,” he began, the
smug grin never leaving his face.  “For a girl that
is,” he finished, then waited for her response.

  

“Thank you, Commander.  How nice of you to say,” she
replied, walking calmly toward him with a big smile. 
He totally bought it and relaxed in the ring.  Tim
recognized the trap immediately and turned to Cindy.

  

“He’s toast.”

  

“Oh, yeah he is,” the young Marine Captain responded
with a glint in her eye.  They both felt instantly
sorry for one Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr.

  

“Don’t mention it, Mac…” he started to reply when he
suddenly felt pain in his jaw and his stomach at the
same time.  A moment later he lay on the mat looking
straight up in the air and trying to remember what
happened to him.

  

“Anyone catch the license plate of the truck that just
hit me,” he moaned, causing all three of the other
officers to burst out in laughter.

  

“Sir, I think what you meant to say was: ‘Not bad for
a tank,’” Tim said as he helped Harm to his feet and
helped him towards the shower.  When they were gone,
Cindy walked over to Mac with a raised eyebrow.

  

“You think you might have been a little hard on the
Commander, Ma’am?  I’m pretty sure he was just
kidding.”

  

“So was I, Cindy.  If I wasn’t, he’d need a trip
upstairs to the E.R.,” she replied with a laugh as the
two lady Marines headed for the showers.

  

  

  

---Cut to USS Phoenix – Several hours later---

  

  

“Come in and have a seat, Seaman Green,” Sturgis said,
motioning the young sailor towards a chair in the
center of wardroom.

  

“Thank you, Sir.”

  

“Seaman, you and Seaman Ross were good friends, is
that correct?” Bud began the questioning in a friendly
tone in an attempt to put the young man at ease.

  

“Yes, Sir.  Dave and I got along real well,” he
responded with a thick southern accent.

  

“Did you notice anything unusual about Seaman Ross’
behavior before he died?”

  

“Not really, Sir.  What do you mean, exactly?” Seaman
Green replied with a confused expression.

  

“What he means is, was Seaman Ross depressed or angry
at all before he died?” Sturgis clarified.

  

“Not at all, Sir.  In fact, he was happy because he
had just gotten a letter from his girl back home. 
They were gonna be married as soon as we hit port.”

  

“Is it possible that maybe he was upset and you just
didn’t notice it, Seaman?” Sturgis pressed.

  

“No, Sir.  If there was something wrong with Dave, he
would have said something to me.  I’m sure of it,” he
replied, and then a worried look came across his face.
 “You think he killed himself, don’t you?” he asked in
a worried tone.

  

“That is one of the possibilities that we are
exploring, Seaman.  What do you think?” Sturgis asked,
hoping to get some kind of a lead from Ross’ bunkmate.

  

“I don’t know what happened to Dave, Sir.  But I do
know that he did not commit suicide.  He was happy
with his life and happy with his life on this boat. 
He did not kill himself, Sir.”

  

“Ok, Seaman, thank you for your input.  If we need to
speak further, we will let you know,” Sturgis replied,
wrapping up their interview for the night.

  

“Nothing but dead ends so far, Bud.  Let’s get some
shut eye and take another swing at it tomorrow,” he
said with a yawn.

  

“Yes, Sir.”

  

  

---Cut to Commercials---

  

*    *    *    *    *

  

  

0925 Local Time

Tuesday 8/5

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

  

As Harm made his way into the courtroom and toward the
prosecution table for the beginning of the Rosen court
martial, he noticed his boss, Admiral A.J. Chegwidden,
standing with Mac at the defense table.

  

“Good morning, Commander,” the Admiral greeted him
with a small chuckle.  “You look a little worse for
the wear this morning,” he said, trying not to laugh
at the obvious pain one of his best attorneys was
experiencing.  “What happened to you, Commander?” he
asked, referring to the black and blue marks under his
right eye and the cut under his chin.

  

Harm smiled over at Mac as he tried to think of a
reply.  “Sir, all I can say is: Choose your words
carefully when sparring with a beautiful Marine,” he
said before he realized what he was saying.  The
Admiral instantly turned to Mac who was blushing
bright red.

  

“He deserved it at the time, Sir,” was all she could
say, which brought out a hearty laugh from A.J.

  

“I have no doubt of that, Colonel,” he said as he made
his way out of the courtroom.  Mac looked over at Harm
and smiled.  A moment later, the defendant was brought
in and Mac didn’t have a chance to comment on the
beautiful Marine remark.

  

“All rise,” the bailiff cried loudly as the court
martial was called into session.  A moment later,
Admiral Morris entered the courtroom from his chambers
and the trial was underway.

  

“In the matter of the United States Navy vs. Petty
Officer Sierra Rosen, will the defense please rise?”
he began causing Mac, Tim, and their client to rise. 
“Petty Officer Rosen, you are charged with possession
of a controlled substance with intent to distribute,
how do you plead?”

  

“Not guilty, Your Honor,” Mac replied for her client.

  

“Very well, be seated.  Commander Rabb, you may begin
with opening arguments.”

  

“Thank you, Your Honor,” he replied, rising from his
seat and making his way to stand in front of the
members.  “Good afternoon.  As members of the United
States Navy, each one of you understands that you have
a duty to decide this case on the merits of the
evidence presented here.  Here are the facts of
evidence in this case: One, on the 18th of July, the
Captain of the USS New Haven, after receiving an
anonymous tip, searched the locker of Petty Officer
Rosen where he found one kilo of street grade heroin. 
Two, upon being questioned by members of the Naval
Investigative Service, Petty Officer Rosen offered no
explanation for the heroin being in her locker and
refused to give names of any co-conspirators.  Now,
the defense is certainly going to bring to your
attention the honorable service, which the defendant
has performed over the last three years since joining
the Navy.  They will produce witnesses that will tell
you that there is no way that Sierra Rosen would ever
do or deal drugs.  What they cannot and will not do is
change the fact that Petty Officer Rosen had one kilo
of heroin in her locker.  What they cannot and will
not do is change the fact that Petty Officer Rosen
intended to deal heroin to her fellow sailors.  Thank
you,” he finished, taking his seat back at the
prosecution table.

  

“Colonel Mackenzie,”

  

“Thank you, Your Honor,” she replied as she rose to
rebut Harm’s opening statement.  In reality the Petty
Officer really didn’t have much of a case.  Mac paused
for a moment and looked over at her client, a young
woman in her early twenties with dark hair and dark
eyes.  The poor thing was shaking like a leaf and she
certainly didn’t give off the impression of someone
who was capable of dealing heroin.  Still, the only
thing her client could offer was ‘I don’t know how it
got in my locker, but I didn’t do it.’  Somehow Mac
didn’t think that that would hold up in court.

  

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” she began with a smile as she
faced the jury.  “As Commander Rabb said, my client
has an excellent record of service.  She has moved up
to the rank of Petty Officer first class in just three
years.  She has never received a single negative
remark on a fitness report and, her superior officers
have never disciplined her, in any way.  Yes, my
client cannot explain why the heroin was found in her
locker, but that is because she did not put it there. 
Thank you,” she finished and breathed a sigh of relief
that that was over.  She knew that they would have to
do some more digging if she was going to get her
client out of this one.

  

  

---Cut to USS Phoenix – Same time---

  

  

“Good morning, Lieutenant,” Sturgis greeted Bud as the
younger man entered the officer’s mess and began to
pour himself some coffee.  “Did you sleep well?”

  

“Not really, Sir.  It’s a little hard to sleep when
you know that there are about a million gallons of ice
cold water above you,” Bud replied wearily.  He really
hoped that this would be a strong cup of coffee.

  

“It does take some getting used to doesn’t it?”
Sturgis replied with a chuckle.

  

“Yes, Sir.”

  

“So, while you were not sleeping, did you come up with
any ideas about Seaman Ross?” Sturgis asked hoping
that his partner had something, because he surely
didn’t.

  

“Actually, Sir, I did do a lot of thinking about the
case last night.  I am still convinced that this was
not a suicide.  So, I tried to think of a possible
motive for one of the other crewmembers to murder
Seaman Ross.  Since he has no apparent enemies, I
thought perhaps the Seaman discovered something about
one of the other members of the crew and was prepared
to turn them in.  Perhaps he was killed to keep him
quiet.”

  

“So, you think maybe some one on this boat is planning
something, and Seaman Ross caught wind of it and was
going to go to the Captain?”

  

“I know it’s a long shot, but we don’t have much else
to go on,” Bud replied with a shrug.  Sturgis sighed.

  

“Well at least it’s something.”

  

  

---Cut back to Courtroom at JAG – Latter that
afternoon---

  

  

“The witness may step down.  Commander Rabb, please
call your next witness,” Admiral Morris instructed.

  

“Your Honor, the prosecution calls Lieutenant Michael
Southerly to the stand,” Harm replied before retaking
his seat.  Cindy immediately stood to begin her
examination of the witness.

  

“Lieutenant Southerly, what is your job aboard the New
Haven?”

  

“I am in charge of the weapons and ordinance,” came
the reply from the Lieutenant, a rather short man with
thinning blonde hair and hazel eyes.

  

“Petty Officer Rosen is assigned to you, isn’t she,
Lieutenant?”

  

“Yes, she is.  Petty Officer Rosen is one of my fire
control operators.”

  

“Is she good at what she does?”

  

“Yes, she is.  Sierra consistently scores high in
accuracy and speed in the firing tests that we
conduct,” he responded evenly.

  

“So you would say that Petty Officer Rosen is a good
sailor, then?” Cindy asked, steering Lieutenant
Southerly right where she wanted him to go.

  

“No, I wouldn’t say that at all, Captain,” he replied.
 Cindy pretended to be intrigued, as if his response
surprised her.

  

“What do you mean, Lieutenant?  You just told us that
Petty Officer Rosen was one of your best fire control
operators.”

  

“Yes, she was one of the best fire control operators,
but she was a poor sailor.  Her attitude was never up
to par.  She was constantly complaining about one
thing or another.  It doesn’t surprise me at all that
something like this happened.”

  

“How is that, Lieutenant?”

  

“Captain, Petty Officer Rosen is the kind of sailor
that likes to cause trouble,” he replied firmly with a
cold look in the defendant’s direction.  This did not
go unnoticed by the two defense attorneys who shared a
bewildered look.  Tim immediately reached in his
briefcase for their client’s service record and
quickly looked thru it’s contents.  His
cross-examination would have to be a little different
now.

  

“Thank you, Lieutenant.  I have no further questions,
Your Honor,” Cindy said as she finished her
examination.  Tim immediately stood and approached the
witness.

  

“Lieutenant Southerly, how long have you worked with
the defendant?” he began with an even tone.

  

“About two years now,” was the reply.

  

“And in that time, how many fitness reports have you
filed on Petty Officer Rosen?”

  

“I’m not sure, Lieutenant.  Probably five or six,”
Southerly responded, immediately recognizing where the
defense attorney was going with his questions.

  

“It’s actually seven, Lieutenant,” Tim replied,
holding up the fit reps from the file in his hands. 
“Would you tell us for the record, what did you put in
these fit reps?”

  

“I’m not sure exactly what I wrote about her,
Lieutenant.  I write a lot of fit reps,” the witness
responded, now obviously nervous.

  

“I understand completely, Lieutenant.  Here you are,”
he said handing the papers to the witness.  “If you
would please read for the court what you wrote on
Petty Officer Rosen’s last fit rep under the category
of Attitude.”  There was a long pause as the witness
realized that he was in real trouble.  “Anytime,
Lieutenant,” Tim pressed the witness.

  

“Petty Officer Sierra Rosen shows a true spirit of
teamwork and a willingness to learn.  Her attitude is
in the finest traditions of the Navy,” he read his own
words from the fit rep.

  

“What is the date on that fit rep, Lieutenant?” Tim
asked, closing in for the kill.

  

“It’s dated the seventh of July this year.”

  

“That would be less than two weeks before the heroin
was found, is that not correct?”

  

“Yes, that is correct.”

  

“Tell me, Lieutenant,” Tim said with a thoughtful
glare.  “What happened between the seventh and the
eighteenth of last month to make you perjure yourself
here today?”

  

“Objection, Your Honor!” Harm nearly shouted as he
came out of his chair.

  

“Withdrawn.  I have no further questions,” Tim said,
pausing next to the members with a thoughtful
expression, before making his way back to the defense
table.

  

  

---Cut to USS Phoenix – Same Time---

  

  

“Ok, Bud, that’s two dozen crew members we’ve
interviewed and not a single one of them had anything
against our man or new of anyone who had something
against him.  This investigation is getting cold in a
hurry!” Sturgis said with a frustrated sigh as the two
JAG officers made their way towards the enlisted men’s
quarters.

  

“Maybe we’ll find something among his personal
effects.  Maybe he wrote a letter or left some kind of
evidence,” Bud replied, trying to sound hopeful.  He
too was growing weary of this investigation that truly
had them spinning their wheels.

  

“Maybe,” Sturgis started to reply as they walked past
the crew’s mess room where Seaman Ross died.  Since
his death, the room was not being used and the crew
had been dining with the officers in their mess room. 
They only made it a few steps past the doorway when
they heard a whisper from the mess room.

  

“Commander Turner, Lieutenant Roberts, in here,” they
heard.  When they turned around, they found a very
nervous looking Seaman Rhodes half hiding in the
unused mess room.

  

“What is it, Seaman?” Bud asked quietly, but the young
Seaman didn’t respond.  He just motioned for the two
officers to follow him and then disappeared behind the
door.  When they entered the room, Bud and Sturgis
found a shaking Seaman Rhodes sitting at one of the
tables trying to light a cigarette and failing
miserably.

  

“Here, let me get that, Seaman,” Sturgis offered as he
helped to light the man’s cigarette.  Rhodes took a
long drag before he spoke.

  

“Thank you, Sir.”

  

“Ok, now what is this about, Seaman?  We just talked
to you a couple of hours ago and you said that you
didn’t know anything,” Sturgis replied.

  

“I thought it was nothing at the time, Sir.  But, then
I overheard the XO and the Chief and I knew I had to
find you.”

  

“Slow down, Seaman.  What’s this about the XO and the
Chief?” Sturgis asked, now very much intrigued with
what the young sailor had to say.

  

“Sir, before he died, Seaman Ross told me that he
thought he heard one of the officers talking about
turning the sub over to the Chinese.  He couldn’t see
who was talking and he couldn’t tell me who the
officers were.  Seaman Ross was big time into
conspiracy theories, so I thought that he was just
being paranoid.  That’s why I didn’t say anything. 
But, just now, I was in the head and I overheard the
XO and Chief Barnes talking about leaving the ship in
a life raft and I thought I heard one of them say the
word China,” the young man whispered, seemingly all in
one breath.  Sturgis and Bud were shocked at the
revelation and it took a moment for it to sink in. 
Finally, Bud’s analytical mind put all of the pieces
together.

  

“Sir, Seaman Ross must have figured out who it was he
heard and was planning to go to the Skipper.  Either
the XO or the Chief could have killed him to keep him
quiet,” he reasoned.

  

“This is all just a little too bizarre for me,”
Sturgis started to object, but he was interrupted by
the Skipper’s voice over the loudspeaker.

  

“Battle Stations!”

  

  

---Cut to Commercials---

  

*    *    *    *    *

  

  

1206 Local Time

Tuesday 8/5

USS Phoenix

Somewhere in the South China Sea

  

When they heard the call for battle stations, Sturgis
and Bud immediately made their way forward towards the
control room of the submarine.  When they got there,
they found a swirling mass of activity.  It took a
little maneuvering, but the two JAG officers finally
made it to Commander Tavish.

  

“Skipper, what’s going on?” Sturgis asked when Tavish
acknowledged them.

  

“A Russian made nuclear attack sub just made itself
visible behind us, Commander.  It would seem they have
been in our baffles,” the skipper replied.

  

“Russians, Sir?” Bud asked, wondering what the
Russians would be doing following an American sub off
the coast of China.

  

“Probably not Russians, Lieutenant.  Word is that the
Chinese have managed to get their hands on a couple of
older model Russian subs.  In these waters, I’m
guessing that’s what we’re dealing with,” the skipper
replied.  Sturgis immediately realized the situation
and he knew that they had to brief the skipper of what
they knew.

  

“Sir, I think you need to hear something that just
came to our attention in the Ross investigation,” he
started, only to be cut off by Commander Tavish.

  

“I’m sure it can wait until after we’ve dealt with the
Chinese submarine on our tail, don’t you think so
Commander?” he retorted.

  

“Sir, we may have a traitor amongst us,” Sturgis
replied, trying to be discreet.  He didn’t notice
Lieutenant Wilcox standing a few feet away.  “We think
that Seaman Ross may have been killed to keep him from
revealing a plot to turn this sub over to the
Chinese,” he whispered.

  

“Commander,” the Skipper replied, dropping his voice
also to a whisper.  “I know my crew and I’d be willing
to bet that none of them are involved in any such
plot.”

  

“I hope you’re right, Skipper.  But, with that Chinese
sub behind us, are you willing to bet your life on
it?” Sturgis asked.

  

“He won’t have to, will you, Sir?” they heard a voice
from behind.  In a flash, Lieutenant Wilcox had the
shorter Lieutenant Roberts in a vice-like grip with a
pistol to his back.  “No one moves, or the JAG dies,”
he said waving the gun at the two Commanders.  “Ever
been to Beijing, Skipper?”

  

  

---Cut to Mac’s office at JAG Headquarters – Same
time---

  

  

Harm and Cindy had managed to build a rock solid case
against Petty Officer Rosen despite the blow they took
when Tim exposed Lieutenant Southerly as a liar.  Now,
the two defense attorneys sat in Mac’s office with
their client, trying to build a solid defense for the
following day.

  

“Petty Officer, you are going to have to be one
hundred percent up front with us if you want to have a
chance in that court room,” Tim said emphatically as
he paced in front of his partner’s desk.

  

“I have been, Sir.  I really don’t know what happened.
 The heroin was not in my locker when I left for duty
and when I came back, the ship’s Chief was pulling it
out and handing it to the Captain.  That’s all I know.

  

“What about Lieutenant Southerly?  Why do you think he
tried to sandbag you like that?” Mac asked,
remembering the look of shock on her client’s face
when her supervisor had said that she had a poor
attitude.

  

“I’m not sure about that either, Ma’am.  I was just as
surprised as you about that.  I’ve always gotten along
well with the Lieutenant.  Unless…” she started, then
stopped abruptly.

  

“Go on, Petty Officer,” Mac encouraged the young
woman.

  

“Well, Ma’am.  I’m not sure this means anything, but
two nights before the drugs were found in my locker,
Lieutenant Southerly tried to kiss me.  I told him no,
and he apologized right away.  Then things went back
to normal.  He seemed totally ok after that,” she
finished with a look of confusion.  The same thought
dawned on all three of them at the same time: 
‘Someone with a motive.’

  

  

---Cut to USS Phoenix – Same time---

  

  

“Just put the gun down, Lieutenant.  There’s nowhere
for you to go, so why don’t we just try and work this
out,” Sturgis tried valiantly to reason with the
traitor, but it was no use.

  

“Oh yes there is somewhere for me to go, Commander
Turner.  Have you ever seen the beaches in Asia? 
Nothing but beautiful women as far as the eye can see.
 And all I have to do is turn over this boat to the
Chinese, and it’s all mine,” he replied with an evil
smirk.  Bud, for his part, was playing it surprisingly
cool for someone who had a gun to his back.

  

“You know that we’re not going to let you do that,
Lieutenant.  Now, why don’t you just give it up now,
before you make things any worse,” the skipper tried. 
Wilcox just laughed at him.

  

“Worse, how could it get any worse, Skipper?  I’ve
just admitted to being a traitor.  Even if I drop the
gun and go back with you, they hang me for sure.  No,
I think I’ll be hiding behind the great wall, thank
you very much.”  While the XO was spouting off,
Sturgis was formulating a plan to get Bud out this
situation safely.  “If I don’t signal that sub in the
next five minutes, they are going to blow us up.  So,
I suggest that you all just play along if you ever
want to see your precious families again.”

  

Right as Wilcox finished his little speech, Sturgis
sprung into action.  He darted across the boat from
one side to the other, causing the gunman to pull the
gun from Bud’s back and aim it at Sturgis.  Bud then
elbowed the gunman in the ribcage causing him to
misfire away from Sturgis.  A moment later, Bud had
Lieutenant Wilcox subdued and Sturgis came over to
check on him.  It was only then that the two men
noticed the skipper, sitting with his back against the
periscope tube, with a bright red spot on his uniform
shirt.

  

“Seaman,” Sturgis yelled out to the nearest sailor. 
“Get the skipper to sickbay on the double,” he
ordered.

  

“The Chinese are opening outer doors,” came the cry
from the sonar operator, signaling that the other sub
was preparing to fire.

  

“I have the bridge,” Sturgis said loudly so that
everyone in the control room heard him.  It was a
split second decision, but it was the right one. 
Without the Captain or the XO, Sturgis was the most
qualified man to get them out of this situation.

  

“Make your depth 500 feet, all ahead flank, twenty
degree down angle,” he called out the orders,
preparing to evade the inevitable torpedoes.

  

“Two fish in the water, Sir,” came the call from
Sonar.  “Ten seconds to impact.”

  

“Release counter measures, hard right rudder,” he
ordered, and then he held his breath.

  

“Counter measures effective, Sir.  Both fish are
dead,” the sonar man replied as the whole bridge
erupted in a cheer.

  

“Alright, cut speed to half, hard left rudder,” he
ordered, with a grin.

  

“What now, Sir?” Bud asked when he saw Sturgis smile.

  

“Now, we go hunting, Lieutenant.”

  

  

---Cut to Mac’s office at JAG Headquarters – Same
time---

  

  

After spending a few more minutes with their client
going over the kissing incident, Mac dismissed the
Petty Officer so that she could speak with her
partner.

  

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Lieutenant?”

  

“Yes, Ma’am.  That is if you’re thinking that
Lieutenant Southerly has something to do with those
drugs getting into our client’s locker.”

  

“That is exactly what I’m thinking.  I’m also thinking
that your SEAL reconnaissance training may come in
handy this evening.”

  

“You want me to shadow him, Ma’am?”

  

“Yes, I do.”

  

“Ok, I’ll call you when I have something, Ma’am.”

  

“Very well, Lieutenant,” Mac replied with a smile. 
“Go ahead on home and get some sleep.  You have a long
night ahead of you.”

  

“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied.  As he left his partner’s
office he ran into Harm in the bullpen.  “Sorry, Sir.”

  

“Not at all, Lieutenant.  Is your partner in her
office by any chance?”

  

“Yes, Sir, she is,” he replied with a knowing grin.

  

“Thank you, that will be all, Lieutenant,” Harm said
when he noticed the grin on Tim’s face.  He
immediately went to Mac’s door and knocked.  When she
answered he disappeared inside.  Tim then looked
around the bullpen for Cindy and when he saw her he
motioned her over.

  

“The Commander just went into the Colonel’s office,”
he said excitedly when she came over.

  

“Do you think he’s going to explain his comment to the
Admiral this morning?” she asked, with a curious
smile.  A smile that nearly caused the poor Lieutenant
to melt right there in the middle of the bullpen.

  

“I don’t know, but I sure intend to find out,” he
replied, and the two junior attorneys made their way
to stand outside Mac’s office door.

  

  

---Cut to inside Mac’s office – Same time---

  

  

“Hey, Mac,” Harm said with his best sincere smile.  It
wasn’t a flyboy grin.  It was the heart-warming smile
that he saved only for his Ninja Girl.

  

“Hey yourself,” she said returning his smile.  Then
she got another good look at his wounds and she felt
instantly horrible.  “I’m so sorry, Harm.  I didn’t
mean to hit you that hard,” she said as she walked
slowly around the desk.  When she reached him, she
traced her fingers over each of the marks on his face.
 Her touch was such an intimate one that Harm nearly
had to pinch himself to be convinced that it was real.

  

“Hey, I deserved it Mac.  I really didn’t mean what I
said about you being not bad for a girl.  You’re more
than not bad for anything.  You’re amazing,” he said
softly as he took her free hand and placed his other
hand over the one on his face.

  

“You’re pretty amazing too, Sailor,” she said looking
up into his eyes.

  

“Mac?”

  

“Yes, Harm?”

  

“Would it be alright if I kissed you right now?” he
asked without thinking.  How could he think in this
moment?  Her hands in his and their eyes locked
together were far too much for his brain to handle. 
It was all heart now.

  

“I think you’d better, Sailor,” she replied with a
radiant smile.  He paused for a moment to take in the
way she looked in that moment.  Her eyes glistened
with the smallest of unshed tears, her lips curved
into the most sensual of smiles, and her hands
squeezed his lightly, drawing him to her.  In that
moment, he was sure that he would never see anything
that rivaled her simple beauty.  Then he leaned in
slowly and captured her lips in the most tender and
loving kiss that either of them had ever experienced. 
It only lasted for a few seconds, but it felt like a
lifetime to them.  When it was over, Harm knew that if
he said anything now, he would stand a good chance of
ruining the moment.

  

“Have dinner with me tonight?”

  

“Yes,” she replied, still not fully recovered from the
feeling of his kiss.  He simply smiled and then turned
to leave.  But her voice caught him before he reached
the door.

  

“Do you really think I’m beautiful, Harm?” she said,
involuntarily holding her breath.

  

“Oh, Sarah,” he said as another radiant smile came
over his face.  He strode back over to her and placed
his hands on either side of her face.  Then he kissed
her again, this time with so much force that it took
her breath away.  When he released her lips, he kept
his hands on her cheeks and he gazed down into the
dark brown pools of her eyes.

  

“Sarah, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever
seen,” he said with a sincerity that literally shook
her.  Afraid that if he said anymore that it would be
too much, he turned and left the room, stopping only
at the door to give her a smile of reassurance.

  

  

---Cut to outside Mac’s office – during same time---

  

  

Tim and Cindy were both pretending to go over files
outside Mac’s office door while they tried to listen
to the conversation inside.  Neither of the two would
have normally been caught eves dropping on two
superior officers, but they had both grown close to
their respective partners and they both wanted to see
them together.

  

Neither one of them noticed Admiral Chegwidden walk up
behind them until they heard the sound of his voice.

  

“Attention on deck,” he said, just loud enough for Tim
and Cindy to hear him.  Both officers instantly spun
around and snapped to.

  

“I take it the Commander is in there?” A.J. asked in a
stern tone.  He wanted to know what was going on in
there as much as they did, but he had to be stern when
he caught them eves dropping.

  

“Yes, Sir,” Tim replied weakly.  He knew they were
busted, so he decided not to try and cover.

  

“Explaining his comment from this morning, is he?”

  

“I think so, Sir.” This time it was Cindy that
responded.

  

“Very well.  I’ll expect a full report.  Lieutenant,
Captain, as you were,” he said, walking away with a
wide grin.  Tim and Cindy just looked at each other
and smiled.  ‘One more on our side,’ they both thought
at the same time.

  

  

---Cut to Commercials---

  

*    *    *    *    *

  

  

1354 Local Time

Tuesday 8/5

USS Phoenix

Somewhere in the South China Sea

  

“Weaps, have you got a firing solution for me yet?”
Sturgis called to the weapons officer in the torpedo
room.  After just over an hour of playing cat and
mouse, Sturgis had finally out maneuvered the Chinese
sub.

  

“Yes, Sir.  Tubes one and two are loaded and ready,”
came the reply from the torpedo room.

  

“Fire,” Sturgis replied, and two torpedoes sped toward
the Chinese sub.  Seconds later they all heard the
tell tale explosion and the ship erupted in cheers. 
Then they heard a familiar voice at the rear of the
control room.

  

“Not bad for a lawyer, Commander!”  It was Commander
Tavish, leaning against one of the bulkheads with a
fresh bandage on his side.

  

“Skipper?” Sturgis replied in surprise.

  

“It hurts, but I’ll live.  Now, let’s get out of
here.”

  

  

---Cut to JAG Headquarters – next day---

  

  

“Lieutenant Southerly,” Mac began when they had the
witness back on the stand.  “You testified during the
prosecution’s case, that Petty Officer Rosen had a
poor attitude.  Yet, when you evaluated her for her
fit reps, you gave her excellent scores in this very
same area.  Why the change, Lieutenant?”

  

“Her poor attitude developed over several weeks
leading up to her arrest, Ma’am,” the witness replied,
now having had the chance to think thru his story.

  

“What do you think caused that, Lieutenant?”

  

“I have no idea, Ma’am.”

  

“Are you certain, Lieutenant?”

  

“Yes, Ma’am.”

  

“So, you don’t think it had anything to do with the
incident that took place in your cabin two nights
prior to the discovery of drugs in the petty officer’s
locker?”

  

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Ma’am,” the
witness said, now in total shock.  He had never
expected Sierra to have the courage to say anything
about that.

  

“Oh come on, Lieutenant.  You tried to kiss her in
your cabin and she refused.  Ring any bells?  Let me
remind you that you are under oath.”

  

“Yes, that did happen,” he replied when he realized
that he only stood to loose by trying to deny it. 
“But, I apologized and that was the end of it.”

  

“Really, so you didn’t plant the heroin in her locker
as payback for rejecting you?”

  

“Objection, Your Honor,” Harm said, bolting out of his
seat.  “The witness is not on trial here.”

  

“Overruled.  The witness will answer the question,”
Admiral Morris replied with a thoughtful expression. 
He could see where Mac was going and he was curious to
see where it would lead.

  

“No, I did not plant the heroin in her locker.”

  

“Have you ever purchased heroin, Lieutenant?” Mac
asked with her back turned to the witness as she
strode towards the defense table.

  

“No, Ma’am!” the witness replied emphatically.

  

“So you don’t know anyone by the name of Gerald
Greer?”

  

“Objection, Your Honor,” Harm said again.  “Your
Honor, the defense is on a fishing expedition at the
expense of a respected Naval officer.”

  

“Approach,” Admiral Morris motioned the four attorneys
to the bench.

  

“Where is the defense going with this, Your Honor?”
Harm asked in an annoyed tone.

  

“Commander, the witness has already admitted to
attempting to kiss an enlisted sailor.  I’d say that
the witness’ claim to being a respected Naval Officer
is a little questionable at this point.  Your
objection is noted, however, I am going to give the
Colonel a little latitude,” he replied, causing Harm’s
face to fall.  Then he turned to Mac.  “I do mean a
little latitude, Colonel.  Get to the point quickly,
please.”

  

“Yes, Your Honor,” she replied and with that the four
attorneys returned to their places.

  

“Lieutenant, do you know Gerald Greer?”

  

“No Ma’am.  I’ve never heard of anyone by that name.”

  

“Lieutenant, is this a picture of you and Gerald Greer
outside the Norfolk ship yards last night?” she said
handing him a photo that Tim had taken the night
before.

  

“Yes, Ma’am.”

  

“Who is Gerald Greer, Lieutenant?”

  

“Just an old friend, Ma’am.”

  

“Is he also a convicted drug dealer, Lieutenant?”

  

“I don’t know, Ma’am,” the witness replied, growing
more nervous by the moment.

  

“I’d like to enter this photo and a copy of Mr. Gerald
Greer’s criminal record as defense exhibits C and D,
Your Honor,” Mac said, handing the items to the
Admiral.

  

“Lieutenant, it says here that your old friend has
been convicted twice of trafficking heroin.  You were
seen with him last night and yet you say that you
didn’t plant the heroin in Petty Officer Rosen’s
locker after she rejected your advances.  How do you
explain that, Lieutenant?”  Mac asked, looking not at
the witness, but right at the members.

  

“I can’t, Ma’am.  But, I didn’t plant those drugs.”

  

“So you said, Lieutenant.  So you said,” she replied,
her eyes still locked on the members in the jury box.

  

“I have no further questions, Your Honor.”

  

  

---Cut to JAG Courtroom – following morning---

  

  

“Will the defendant please rise?” Admiral Morris
ordered, bringing Mac, Tim, and their client to their
feet.

  

“You may publish your findings,” he instructed the
foreman of the jury.

  

“On the charge and specification of possession of a
controlled substance with intent to distribute, we
find the defendant, Petty Officer Sierra Rosen, not
guilty,” the foreman read from the paper in his hand.

  

“Thank you, Sir, Ma’am!” the Petty Officer exclaimed
as she threw her arms around Mac.

  

“You’re welcome, Petty Officer,” she replied as the
bailiff lead Sierra away for the paperwork that needed
to be done.  Then she turned to find Harm smiling at
her from across the aisle.

  

“Well done, Counselor,” he said, the depth of feeling
behind the words just a little stronger than usual. 
She was touched by his compliment, but she couldn’t
resist a little banter.

  

“Commander, I believe that makes twice.”

  

“What do you mean?”

  

“That’s how many times I’ve kicked your six this
week,” she replied with a wicked smile as she left him
standing in the courtroom, shaking his head.

  

  

---Cut to Executive Producer credit---

 

*    *    *    *    * 

  

End of Episode 3

 

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