Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters do not belong to me. No money made
here.
Classification: Drama with all characters.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Harm faces consequences for some of his "loose cannon"
behaviors.
PART 7
Harm had just finished working out in the small gym and headed for the showers. His good behavior had earned enough privileges that allowed him to move about the confines of the brig without continuous escort. Strong hands shoved into a dark storeroom and held him roughly against a wall while a dirty rag was stuffed into his mouth and a blindfold tied around his eyes to keep him from seeing his assailants. "You think you're a real comedian JAG. See if you think this is funny." A familiar voice whispered threateningly into his ear.
Harm felt the impact of the first fist to his stomach taking his breath away. "You need to learn a lesson about respect," the voice taunted. Another sharp blow to his side made his knees give out from the pain.
"You think you can put people in this shit hole and not pay the price? Guess again Mr. JAG." Another couple of jabs to the gut sent him to the ground curled up in pain.
"Don't worry, we won't hurt that pretty face of yours. Just remember that if you say a word about this, you won't be able to father any children the next go around if you get my drift," the voice was joined by several others in lewd remarks. Harm tried to push himself up but several boot kicks to the ribs sent him back to the floor were he passed out.
"Harm...Harm time to get up! We're supposed to go to the park and fly kites." Alfred P.'s voice penetrated his foggy head. One eye opened enough for him to see Alfred P. hanging up side down from a tree limb. Harm had convinced his mother to let him campout in their back yard. Stretching slowly he slid out of his sleeping bag and squinted at the early morning sun beaming through the trees.
"Alfred P. why do we have to go so early?"
"We have to claim the best spot to catch the wind. Everyone will be out flying kites today. It's the first weekend of spring break!" Alfred P. had already gathered his kite supplies. "Remember the early bird catches the worm," he yelled as he grabbed his kite and started skipping and running towards the nearby park.
"I don't want a worm," Harm grumbled sleepily and headed into his house looking for something for breakfast.
"Harm are you alright?" His mother quizzed after he bumped his head on the cabinet door and feel to the floor trying to get up on the counter looking for the cereal.
"Yes, I just fell."
"Maybe you should go to the infirmary and get checked out," Green Bay was standing over him in the shower room.
Harm felt disoriented as he looked around to see that he was lying on the cold tiles of the showers. He grimaced in pain as he tried to sit up. "Hey man, you don't look like you fell. You look like someone beat you up." Green Bay persisted.
"I'll be okay, can you just give me a hand up?" Harm looked up to the large black man who towered over him.
Green Bay reached down and with one steady pull had Harm up on his feet. Harm swayed, but Green Bay quickly steadied him as the pain in his chest and gut made him almost black out again.
"Thanks," Harm managed to mumble and started slowly towards his cell and his bunk. It was almost time for lights out, and he could try to sleep off some of his pain. He lay on his bunk fully dressed and passed out again.
Morning call came much to soon for Harm as he slowly and painfully rolled off his bed and joined the line for breakfast. Every breath he took sent made his chest scream out in pain that accompanied the nauseating pain from his gut. He figured he had several broken ribs and decided his kidneys were not in much better shape. Green Bay actually looked worried as Harm gingerly sat down at the table pushing his tray towards the large black man without attempting to eat. He propped his head on his hand and concentrated on trying to ease his pain.
"You need to go to the infirmary JAG," Green Bay suggested between bits of eggs.
"I'm just sore. I'll be okay in a day or two." I hope he thought. Besides Frank had friends that acted as trustees in the infirmary and he didn't want to around anyone that had access to needles and drugs. Although he didn't see them he knew Frank and Walt were behind this.
"I'm getting out Friday," Green Bay announced.
"I happy for you Green Bay," Harm smiled and groaned.
"Someone reopened my case and had my sentence reduced." Green Bay added.
"I guess someone was looking after you."
"Yea, that someone did a better job of looking after me than I did them."
Harm never heard the last comment as he fell to the floor unconscious.
*************
"It hurts." Harm mumbled as a soft hand stroked his brow.
"I know darling, but it will get better." His mother sat by his bed after he awoke from having his arm set in a cast. His eyes gave in to their heaviness and he drifted back to sleep. He had climbed up the big oak tree in the park to try to retrieve his kite and fell.
When he awoke his mother was gone, and Alfred P. sat at the foot of his bed-watching Harm. "Gee look a cast! Neat!"
"Doesn't fell neat. It hurts." Harm pushed himself up against the pillows with his newly casted arm propped on pillows.
"Girls like guys with casts." Alfred announced.
"Why would they do that?"
"I think it has something to do with them practicing to be mothers and wanted to mother us guys." Alfred deducted.
"Oh, I don't really like girls cept my mom and my grandma Sarah." Harm frowned.
"You will one day. Besides Mary Elizabeth Thornberry thinks you're cute."
"Yuck."
"I think she's pretty."
"But she's got all that long blonde hair. I think girls with dark hair are prettier."
"Hey but the commercial on TV says blondes have more fun." Alfred grinned and the two boys started giggling.
"That's stupid. Girls aren't fun at all." Harm added with a grin.
********
"He's waking up. The x-rays show he has three broken ribs, but I'm more concerned about the internal bleeding. If his vital signs and hematocrit don't improve we'll have to take him for an exploratory abdominal surgery." A voice Harm didn't recognize disturbed his hazy sleep.
"Harm?" The voice was the Admiral's.
"Sir?" Came a drowsy response.
"Can you tell me who did this?"
"Not sure. Got me from behind. Blindfolded me. Not sure." Harm fought to stay alert, but he felt so sleepy. Everyone seemed to me in such a frenzy around him. He just wanted to sleep.
********
He was in a white hospital room when he awoke the next time. He had a tube down his nose that made his throat hurt when he swallowed, another must be for oxygen and an IV busily beeping away as it pumped some clear liquid into his vein on his arm. Movement brought a sharp pain to his abdomen. His hand gingerly touched his stomach to find a large dressing that covered most of his abdomen and around his side to his back. It had a couple of tubes coming from it with bloody drainage collecting in bulb like containers. Another larger tube came from the side of his chest and Harm couldn't tell where it ended. Harm groaned and tried to shift to a more comfortable position. He then realized his legs were wrapped in something that inflated and deflated constantly massaging his calves and another tube was placed in his bladder. No way was he going to get up.
"Bout time you decided to wake up." The Admiral's voice again. Harm had not noticed dosing figure in the chair next to his bed.
"What did they do to me?" Harm whispered.
"You had about six hours of surgery. You were bleeding pretty badly internally. You now have something in common with Mr. Roberts...no spleen." He added quickly as Harm reached down to touch his legs. "Damn near lost a kidney too. Oh and you also have a chest tube."
"That explains it."
"What?"
"Why I feel like crap."
"Your Mom's on her way. I couldn't reach her until this morning. She was in Europe. Her flight won't leave Heathrow until 1800 our time."
"Where am I?"
"Sisters of Mercy Hospital, ICU. It was the closest. The doctors assured me you would be fine and they will probably move you out to Bethesda in a couple of days."
"Do I have guards?"
"I don't think anyone is afraid you'll escape."
"Think I'll go back to sleep."
"Harm, who did this?"
"Didn't see them."
"I talked with a prisoner named Deon Willus. He stated that two inmates Frank Rice and Walter Woodard had been harassing you. Is this true?"
"Deon?"
"Big black guy."
"Oh, Green Bay."
"Green Bay? Never mind. When you were investigating the Mahoney case last year you discovered group stealing weapons remember. Frank Rice was a Master Sergeant that was in on it. He's supposed to be transferred to Leavenworth next week. Gunny Sergeant Walter Woodard was serving time for nearly beating to death a Marine in a bar fight."
"Just like my case. Can't prove anything. It would only be my word against theirs..." Harm drifted back to sleep before the admiral could respond.
**********
Temple confessed that he was selling drugs to make the cash he needed from a messy divorce and subsidize his own habit. He began abusing drugs and alcohol when his marriage began to fail. His dealer suggested he sell to help him overcome his money problems. He soon being blackmailed by the dealer and didn't see any way out. He was in some ways relieved that it wasy over.
Sturgis sat across from Lt.Temple as Mac made a deal with him and his defense council. He agreed to ten years confinement dishonorable discharge with forfeiture of all benefits and Temple gave them the names of his dealers.
"I have one more question for you Lieutenant. Did you know a Lt. John Jacobs?"
Mac raised her eyebrows as she realized the possible connection. Temple looked to his attorney who nodded for him to respond.
"Yes, he was one of my best customers. Good kid, despite what you may think of me, I didn't want to do what I did. I just didn't have a choice." Temple rationalized. "He had been using before I started selling over a year ago. I heard he got caught."
"Yes he did and now he's dead." Mac replied icily.
"Did he overdose?"
"No but the drugs you helped make available still wasted another young life." Sturgis responded.
"And have caused many more pain." Mac added with escalating anger.
"Look all I can say is I'm sorry."
"No you can do better." Sturgis added.
**********
"Want some ice chips?"
"You still here? I guess since I'm not there JAG's gotten less demanding." Harm smiled weakly as AJ lifted a spoon to his lips.
"I must admit it isn't as exciting. No gunfire in the court room. No SAR for lost JAG officers lost in the ocean." The Admiral's tired voice droned.
Harm chuckled and grimaced as the pain rebounded from his tender abdomen.
"You don't have to stay. I'll be alright."
"I believe you said that the last time we talked and you ended up here. Anyway Dr. Saul came by earlier. He was one of the surgeons who worked on you. Seems there was a whole team working to save your sorry ass." The Admiral said affectionately.
"Did I pass muster?"
"He said everything looked good, but he would be back with one of the other surgeons tonight. I just wanted to stick around."
"Thanks."
"I'm going to go get some more ice and a cup of coffee."
He stood at the nurse's station as one of the techs handed him a cups of ice and coffee. He spotted Dr. Saul in the nurse's station. "Dr. Saul, your patient is finally awake." AJ called out. Dr. Saul stood up joined by another lab coat attired physician.
"Dr. Jacobs." AJ acknowledged with a frown.
"Admiral Chegwidden." Came an impassive response.
"Admiral, I didn't realize you knew Dr. Jacobs. He was responsible for saving Commander Rabb's life." Dr. Saul seemed oblivious to the tension between the two men.
"You do know who you operated on?" AJ asked in bewilderment.
"Yes Admiral. Would you like to accompany us to check on our patient?"
When the three men entered the room, Harm opened his heavy eyes and looked intently at the faces. One doctor was a total stranger, but the other looked familiar but his drug-fogged mind couldn't remember how he knew the other.
"I'm Dr. Saul and this is Dr. Jacobs." Dr. Saul pulled the covers away, pulled up the loose hospital gown, and listened to Harm's lungs and heart with his stethoscope. Dr. Jacobs had moved to the opposite side of the bed and was gently palpating Harm's abdomen and looking at the drains.
"I know you?" Harm murmured to the familiar face.
"Not really, but you will be fine Mr. Rabb. I want to keep you here for a few more days then we'll let the Navy have you back." He replied maintaining a professional tone. The two doctors jotted something on his chart and started to exit the room.
Harm's memory finally kicked in, "Dr. Jacobs please wait."
The Admiral looked at Dr. Jacobs who drew in a deep breath and turned back to his patient. Saul left the three men.
"You're Lt. John Jacobs father." Harm acknowledged.
"Yes, I was." His voice did not hide his torment.
"I'm sorry for what happened to him. He loved you very much."
"His was a needless death."
"Yes his was...thank you for what you did for me. I know you hold me responsible, but I give you my word that I didn't share anything he told me in confidence...for whatever that's worth." Fatigue was eating away at Harm's energy and his voice began to slur.
"Get some rest, I'll check on you tomorrow." Jacobs replied blandly.
The Admiral followed Jacobs into the hallway. "I want to thank you too for what you did. I'm not so sure that I could have done what you did believing what you did."
"I told you I took an oath. When I can't do my job unconditionally, then I won't do it anymore."
"I was hoping you were beginning feel differently about Harm."
Jacobs looked at the Admiral, "When I'm here, I am a surgeon. When I go home, I am a grieving father. I've got another case waiting on me downstairs. I can't be a grieving father while I operate on someone else's father." He turned and walked hastily towards the elevators and disappeared.
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