Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: Don't own JAG or characters. This is for entertainment
only. Quotes are from "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
Classification: Drama Harm but other characters are present
Rating: PG
Summary: Harm finds himself the target of an old enemy. Once again
Harm is the pawn and placed in an uncontrollable situation. I hope
you will find compassion in the characters I use later on. This
occurs during season 6. Mic is still around.
A special thanks to Barb and Carolyn for beta reading!
PART 5
"What are you in for?" Nathan asked, as he fidgeted with the button on his sleeve.
Harm was about to say that his being here was a mistake, but realized how many times people around here probably said that. "I'm not sure, I just got here. My name's Harm Rabb."
"Oh well, they will tell you. This is my third time here." Nathan explained, "Tried it on the outside, but couldn't handle it. Too many red lights, blue lights, Christmas lights... the light of the world is Jesus... I'm Michael, God's archangel. I have the power to slay Satan." Nate whispered and leaned towards Harm, as if he was sharing an important secret.
Harm raised his eyebrows and tried to think of a response, "When's lunch?"
"Don't worry I'll make sure you don't miss anything, just trust ole Nate. By the way I'm your roommate." He smiled and began patting his foot nervously on the floor.
"Great." Harm tried to sound enthused. But whatever Harm was thinking was completely overlooked by Nate, who broke into song, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound..."
A couple of guys playing cards nearby yelled out, "Shut up Nate!"
Harm leaned back into the couch and rubbed his head, as a tension headache began to make its presence known.
*************
Harm picked at his meal that was brought to the day room. Most of the other patients had ground privileges and went to the cafeteria to eat. Harm looked around and saw that he, Charles and the 'Pacer' were the only ones remaining in the day room. The 'Pacer' would pick up something from his tray and eat it as he walked the halls. One of the male attendants fed Charles, who never changed positions during the whole procedure.
"You don't like the food here Rabb?" Anthony's voice drew Harm's attention. "It's probably not good enough, is it Commander?" he continued in a sarcastic tone.
Harm just glared at the man and did not respond.
"You don't eat, and they'll put a tube down you and pour it in you." Anthony threatened and laughed.
"Go to hell." Harm replied softly.
"You have problems with aggression?" Anthony seemed to be enjoying himself.
"No, I have problems with stupid people with a little power." Harm responded with a sarcastic smile.
"Funny Rabb, just remember I have the power over you." Anthony leaned over and whispered before he left the day room.
Harm pushed the tray away and stood to leave.
"Rabb, you need to see the nurse about your medication." Anthony added with a smirk.
"I'm not taking any medication."
"We'll see."
Harm walked to the nurse's office where he met Maggie. She was probably in her mid forties and wore her hair short and stylish. When she smiled, she looked younger and her face lit up. "Commander Rabb, I'm Maggie Miller. I'm the charge nurse for this unit, so if you need anything, please come to me. I will also give you the medications your doctor had ordered. Medication times are scheduled..."
Harm broke in "I'm not going to be taking any medication."
Maggie took a deep breath and looked at the man standing before her, "Well then, you will still need to stop by, and I will have you initial where you refused your medication." Her expression indicated that she accepted his response and was not going to argue. Maggie had been a critical care nurse for nearly 10 years until one day the stress of loosing one too many patients led to a break down. She knew she was experiencing burn out but thought she could overcome it. After spending three weeks in a private psychiatric facility she decided to become a psychiatric nurse. That had been eight years ago.
"I will do that." He relaxed and turned away thinking, 'Maybe there are people here who aren't that bad.'
Maggie watched his gait and posture as he walked. He didn't look like the other patients who were admitted to her unit. He made good eye contact and communicated well. She pulled out his chart and began to read. 'Major depression with suicidal ideations. I think not.' She shook her head. Eight years working in a psychiatric unit made her trust her instincts, but at the same time she knew her patients could be very unpredictable. She had also learned not to argue with her patients. There were better ways to encourage participation. Sometimes it just took time to build trust.
Harm was so bored he considered walking with the 'Pacer', whom he found out was named Jerrod. But after hearing Jerrod threaten to cut someone open and spread his insides all over the floor, he decided to scan a sports magazine dated July 1989. He was still flying Tomcats then.
"Would you like a book?" Harm looked up to see an elderly woman wearing a smock and a name pin that read, 'Mrs. Simpson, Volunteer'. She was pushing a cart that held a variety of books, most looked somewhat battered.
Harm smiled, "Sure, what do you have?"
Mrs. Simpson smiled warmly, "If you don't see anything that interests you, I would be happy to go to the library and look. We also belong to interlibrary loan services with the local university.
"This will be fine. I haven't read this since high school." He looked at the title, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee.
"Good choice, I loved that book too." She pulled out the book card and stamped a date. "If you will, just sign here. There is no rush, but whenever you are finished you can return it to the library. It's the one story brick building right behind this one. Or I come through on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."
Harm nodded and flipped open the book, "You're new aren't you." Mrs. Simpson said gently. "My name is Velma Simpson. Since my husband died ten years ago, I come here so I won't be so lonely."
She reminded him a little of his grandmother, "My name is Harm, thanks for the book. I really enjoy reading." He smiled back.
"We have many of the newest bestsellers, if you would like, I will add them to the cart. I really enjoyed reading those John Grisham novels. I think I would have liked to have studied law." Her eyes twinkled.
"I'm a lawyer. I specialized in Maritime law, but have practiced a little of all of it in the Navy."
"That must be exciting. I wonder if John Grisham would write a novel about a military lawyer. Maybe I should write him and give it as a suggestion." She smiled and winked at Harm, who chuckled. She must have been something in her younger years.
Harm chatted a little longer before she had to return to the library. The day room began to fill up again, as the patients began to return from where ever they had been most of the day. Harm decided to retreat to the corner, where Charles sat, to read. He found it difficult to concentrate with Charles sitting across from him, staring blankly.
"You ever read 'To Kill a Mockingbird?' How about I read it to you? If you don't want me to, just say the word and I won't...Okay...When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow..." Harm leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees for support, as he held the book and read aloud.
He finished the third chapter and stopped to stretch. "We'll pick up on chapter four tomorrow." Harm stood up and walked to his room so he could put the book up. As he reached for the doorknob, he remembered he was locked out. 'This is such a pain' he thought and looked around, thankful that Anthony was nowhere to be seen. Another attendant sat at the desk. He was large and overweight by at least a hundred pounds. "Excuse me, would you mind unlocking the door to my room so I can put this book up?" Harm waited for a response.
"Sure, which one is yours." The man stood up, grunting from the extra weight he carried.
"This one." Harm walked towards his room. The attendant pulled a key from the full keyring and opened the door. Harm placed the book at the foot of his bed and returned to the hall. The attendant locked it and returned to the desk.
Harm looked at the name badge, "Ike, thank you."
"Sure thing man." Ike grinned and picked up a notebook and recorded figures in it from a smaller notebook.
"Night medications." A nurse called from the office where Harm had met Maggie earlier. He didn't recognize this one. She was older and looked tired. Harm was the first to the door since he was standing near. "Name?" the nurse barked.
"Harm Rabb, but I'm not going to take anything."
She leaned back from the cart that held the medications and looked at him like he had just arrived from Mars. "Everyone takes their medication."
"I will sign a refusal form, but I'm not taking any medications." Harm repeated, with a little more force.
She impatiently flipped through the notebook that held each patient's list of meds. "It says here you have two medications. I don't know anything about a refusal form."
"Maggie Miller said that I just needed to sign the refusal form." Harm persisted. This woman was getting to him.
"Well, Maggie Miller is not here, I am." She dumped two pills into a small white cup and handed them to Harm. Other patients were milling around behind him so Harm took the pills and walked to the shower room and dumped them into the sink.
"That was not a good idea." Harm turned around to see Anthony and another attendant standing so that the door was blocked.
"I'm not taking any medication." Harm walked towards the two men and pushed his way through to the door.
"Rabb, your time is coming."
"Is that a threat, because if it is you could get in a lot of trouble." Harm turned and walked out into the hall.
"I'm gonna get that prick." Anthony muttered.
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