Falling for AJ

Monday, 24 September 2001
1155 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

"Harriett, are you feeling okay?" asked Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie.  

"Fine!" snapped Lieutenant Harriett Sims as she pushed past Mac coming out of the ladies room.  It was most unusual for Harriett to be rude to anyone, but to Mac?  Her friend?  The maid of honor at her wedding?  Never.

Mac just shook her head.  Something was definitely bothering Harriett today.  She hadn't been herself all morning.  Her hair was down around her shoulders; definitely not in a regulation style.  She'd been short with everyone, officers and enlisted personnel alike, and downright rude to Lieutenant Singer.  'Harriett will be lucky if Singer doesn't mention it to the Admiral,' thought Mac.  'Speak of the devil, here he comes now.'

Harriett reached her desk and sat down.  She turned to her computer and began typing.  "Attention on deck!" called Gunnery Sergeant Galindez as he spied the Admiral making his entrance into the bullpen with Commander Harmon Rabb just behind him.  Immediately everyone stood at attention stance.  Everyone, that is, except Harriett.  Harriett stayed seated and continued typing.

The Admiral walked toward his office, glancing around, and barked his usual, "As you wer...", but stopped in the middle of his word.  As his words stopped, he also stopped walking.  He looked curiously at Harriett.  

Harriett's husband, Lieutenant Bud Roberts, was trying to get her attention.  "Stand up!  Harriett!  Stand up!" he whispered urgently.  She completely ignored him.

"Lieutenant Sims, are your legs broken?" the Admiral asked roughly.

She looked up at his voice.  "Well, hello there," she said.  "Did you say something?" she asked as she continued to sit.

The Admiral was angry now.  "Yes, Lieutenant, I did say something.  I asked you if your legs are broken!" he bellowed as he came around her desk and stood towering over her.

Harriett scooted her chair back and brought her legs out from under the desk.  She put her hands on her thighs and pulled her skirt up as far as she could.  She tilted her legs sexily to the right and then to the left, running her hands down her calves.  She looked up at the Admiral and said in a very seductive voice, "Why no, AJ, they don't appear to be broken at all.  In fact, they appear to be in fine shape.  Wouldn't you agree?"

"Harriett!" cried Bud.

"Shut up, Bud," whispered Harm and Mac at the same time.

The Admiral glared at Harriett, who just smiled saucily in return.  "Get on your feet, Lieutenant!" he yelled.  

Harriett stood up.  "Of course, AJ.  Anything you ask...ab-so-lute-ly any-thing," she enunciated as she stepped closer to him and laid her palms flat on his chest.  Her mouth was almost on his when he reached up and grabbed her hands and jerked her away from him.

"My office, Lieutenant.  Now!" he growled.  

This was not the voice anyone in the office ever wanted to hear directed at them.  It was bad enough when the Admiral was angry or upset.  But this voice?  He was livid.  And Harriett was going to pay the price for her insubordination.  They all knew it.  And yet, every last one of them was thinking, 'Harriett?  Impossible!'

The Admiral turned Harriett roughly and let go of her right arm.  He kept a firm hold on her left, though, as he propelled her to his office.  As they passed Petty Officer Tiner's desk, Harriett said flippantly, "No calls, Tiner!"  

The Admiral let go of her arm as she entered his office, and he turned to close the door.  He looked at Tiner and sighed.  "No calls, Tiner."

"Aye, aye, Sir."

As soon as his door closed, the bullpen erupted in commotion.  

"Oh my God!"  "Did you see that?"  "What's come over Harriett?"  "I can't believe that!"  "But, Harriett?"   Everyone spoke at once.

Bud made his way to the Admiral's outer office and stood outside the door.  Harm and Mac came up behind him, Harm put his hand on Bud's shoulder and Mac, her arm around his waist.  Bud shook his head as he said, "I can't understand it.  She's never acted like that before.  She's always so sweet and gentle and mild-mannered.  But all weekend she's been acting weird.  I mean really crazy.  But this is the worst.  I don't..."

"She's been acting funny all weekend, Bud?" Harm asked.

"You mean since Friday?  Saturday?  When, Bud?" pressed Mac.

"I don't know...I think, Friday night.  She was..."

Suddenly they heard a loud crash and glass breaking inside the Admiral's office.  And Harriett's voice.

Monday, 24 September 2001
1200 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

When the Admiral turned to speak to Tiner and close the door to his office, Harriett came up behind him and put her arms around his waist.  She laid her head against his back and purred, "Mmm, AJ, I've waited so long for this."

AJ knew there was something seriously wrong; this was either (1) not Harriett Sims or (2) she was delusional.  'She certainly looks like Harriett,' he thought.  But so had Clark Palmer when he impersonated Rabb.  His voice was off, though.  This was definitely Harriett's voice.  Why would anyone need to impersonate Harriett Sims anyway?  No, it had to be number 2.  'She's delusional,' he decided.  And delusional people are extremely vulnerable.  'They can also be very dangerous.'

He slowly turned around in Harriett's arms and put his arms around her.  "Do we have to stand at the door, Harriett?" he asked.

"Mmm, no.  Where would you like me, AJ?  On your desk?  In your chair?  On the floor?" her voice became more seductive with each location she mentioned.

"Why don't we start off by talking first, Harriett.  Let's sit down, shall we?" he asked gently, directing her to the sofa.

"I don't want to talk, AJ.  I want your hands on me.  I want you..."

"Harriett, we have to talk first.  Bud is just outside that door."

"I don't give a damn about Bud!  I want you; I always have...since the first day I laid eyes on you."

"Harriett..."

"And you want me, again.  I know you do.  Oh, AJ, please...take me now.  Right here."  Harriett unbuttoned her uniform blouse.  She pulled it out of her skirt and threw it aside.  She yanked her skirt down, breaking the zipper in the process.  

'Again?  Did she say, "Again"?'   Harriett was working on AJ's shirt now, she unbuttoned as she pulled, so it was already coming loose from his pants.  "Harriett, no.  We can't do this.  Certainly not here.  Stop it," he said grabbing her hands, trying to reason with her.  

Harriett jerked her hands free and headed for his desk.  With both arms, she swiped everything off of the desktop on to the floor, shattering the glass lamp shade in the process.  As the phone set fell to the ground, the intercom button was jammed into the open position.  "Take me, AJ.  Take me now," she begged.  "I need you, again."

A crowd was gathering outside the Admiral's office now.  Many had heard the crash and the breaking glass; they wondered whether they should knock or just go inside to make sure no one was hurt.  But as the voices were heard over Tiner's intercom speaker, no one moved.

"Harriett, we can't do this here.  You know that," AJ said.

"We did the last time, AJ.  And it was wonderful.  It's been so long.  I've missed having you in my arms so much."

"Come here, Darlin'," AJ said.  Harriett moved into his arms and he tightened them around her.  "Harriett.  My sweet, sweet Harriett," he said stroking her hair, wondering what to do.

Harm and Mac stared incredulously at each other and then at Bud.  He was as white as a sheet.  But nothing...nothing prepared them for what they heard next.

"Give me another baby, AJ.  I want another one, just like our first.  Only a girl this time, AJ.  And we'll call her Angelica Joy."

Bud had heard enough.  He turned and started to walk away.  But Mac caught him by the arm and said, "Bud, you know that little AJ is yours.  He looks just like you.  Harriett isn't herself today.  The Admiral is just..."

"Darlin', you're going to catch cold if you stand here much longer like that.  Come on, put your clothes back on," said AJ.

"I don't want to put them on, AJ.  I want the rest of yours off," she said as she unbuckled his belt and pulled it out of the loops.  

"Harriett, give me that.  Come on...give me my belt.  Harriett...no, Harriett...stop.  Leave the fly zipped.  Harriett!  God, Harriett, stop!" AJ almost yelled as he grabbed her hands in his and held them tightly.

"Oww...AJ, you're hurting me," she complained.  He loosened his grip and she wiggled her hands free, immediately moving them to grab his t-shirt and pull it up and over his head.  Her hands were back moving over his chest in a flash.  She traced her fingers over the scar on his abdomen; it had a strange shape to it...it almost looked like an arrow.  "Mmm, I love the feel of your chest.  It's so hard and muscular. Oh, AJ, take me now," Harriett breathed.  "I love you so..." Harriett pulled AJ's head down to her and she kissed him.  She released him suddenly and dropped to her knees.

AJ immediately knew what she was planning, so he was ready.  As she reached for his fly, again, he grabbed her hands and lowered himself to his knees.  Harriett took this as a sign that he was finally going to give her what she wanted.

Bud was literally shaking now.  Mac had her arm around him again, and he laid his head against her shoulder.  "God, I can't believe this.  Harriett...  My Harriett...  And the Admiral...  It's not possible.  It's just... not..." he was crying now.

Harriett turned around and put her arms behind her neck, flipping her hair saucily.  That's when AJ saw it.  A nasty bruise on her neck, right at the base of her left ear.  'Okay, now we're getting somewhere,' AJ thought.  "Harriett?  Bend over, Darlin'.  Slow, Harriett.  Slow and easy," AJ ordered.

"Bend over?  He just told her to bend over!  God!  He's going to do it!  He's going to..." cried Bud.  No one knew what to say to Bud.  It certainly sounded like Bud's assumptions were right on target.

Harriett willingly obeyed and bent her head toward him.  "Mmm, that feels good," she purred, as AJ put his hands on her head and began moving her hair slowly.  He didn't want her to realize what he was doing until he had the chance to completely examine the bruise.  "More, AJ, rub me more," she begged.

"I'm not finished with this spot, yet, Darlin'.  Be patient," AJ replied as he continued to look at the bruise.  Finally he touched the edge of the bruise ever so slightly.

"Oooo, that hurts."

"Too much?  Is it too much?" he asked, stilling his hands.

"No.  Not too much," she panted.  "Keep going.  More, AJ.  Oh yes.   Just like that..."

He rubbed his finger lightly over the bruise, and she groaned loudly.  "Ohhh!!"

The crowd outside the Admiral's office gasped.  One solid, collective gasp.  It couldn't be.  The Admiral would never do such a thing.  Not with Harriett.  They had to be wrong.  But as they looked at each other, each one knew exactly what the other was thinking.  The Admiral...and Harriett.  'Poor Bud.'

"Harriett, where did you get this?" he asked a moment later.

"Get... what?" she asked, breathlessly.

"This," he said as he barely touched the bruise, again.

"I don't remember.  It's ugly, I know.  But my hair covers it pretty well.  Don't look at it, AJ.  I'm beautiful everywhere else.  You said so.  You said I was beautiful when we made our baby."

"Harriett, aren't you tired now?  Let's see if you can't take a quick nap, okay?"  AJ didn't like the looks of that bruise at all; he had to get help, and fast.  But he didn't want to alarm Harriett; that could make things worse. 

"Mmm, that sounds good.  Lie here with me, AJ.  I want to feel you next to me."  Harriett shifted around and leaned against AJ's chest.  He leaned back against his desk and cradled her in his arms. 

"I'm right here, Darlin'.  You just close your eyes, and go to sleep now.  Everything's going to be okay now.  Sleep, Harriett..."

Harriett fell asleep quickly, and AJ raised his voice, hoping to be heard outside his office, yet not wanting to wake Harriett.  "Tiner!  Tiner, I need you.  Tiner, if you can hear me, come in..." he stopped as his office door opened.  He saw his entire staff standing in Tiner's office.  Tiner had unlocked and opened the door and still stood with his hand on the doorknob.  Harm and Mac walked through the door.  "Tiner, call an ambulance," AJ ordered.  "Harm, help me get Harriett to the sofa.  Mac, keep her head still."

"Her head, Sir?" Harm asked as he picked up Harriett's legs.  AJ had her torso in his arms as he stood.  

AJ looked out the door, "Somebody find me a pillow...a soft one...preferably down."

"I have a down pillow in my office," Mac said quickly as she supported Harriett's head.  "Lauren!  It's in the bottom drawer of my 5-drawer cabinet.  There's a blanket, too."

Lauren Singer came back in two minutes with the pillow and blanket and handed them to the Admiral.  He was kneeling by the sofa next to Harriett.  He took the pillow and gently eased it under Harriett's head.  Then he covered her with the blanket.  "AJ," she moaned in her sleep.

"Shhh, Darlin', it's all right.  I'm right here.  Sleep now," he said as he laid his arm across her covered body.  "Where's her husband?" AJ asked Mac as she leaned over Harriett.

"Just outside, Sir."

"Get him."

"Admiral, we heard everything that went on in here," Mac said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"We heard a crash and glass breaking...and then voices.  The intercom was evidently jammed in the on position, Sir."

"You mean Bud heard...  Oh, God.  Get him in here.  Now," AJ ordered.  "Where the hell is that ambulance?"

"On its way, Sir," Tiner replied.  "I've informed the guards to send them directly here, Sir."

Bud walked in and came to attention stance at the end of the sofa.  "Lieutenant Roberts reporting as ordered... Admiral," he said.  He couldn't bring himself to call this man 'Sir' right now.

"Bud, when did Harriett start acting... strangely?" AJ asked him.

"I wouldn't know, Admiral.  I'm beginning to think I don't know my wife at all," he sniffed.

"Bud, this isn't Harriett.  You know that as well everyone else here.  Harriett is a sweet, gentle, innocent woman."  Bud locked eyes with the Admiral.  "Bud, did Harriett fall recently?  In the last few days?  Week?  Even the last month?"

"Fall?  Yes, she did mention that she fell.  It was Friday.  Friday afternoon. She was in the library and reaching for a book on the top shelf.  She said the ladder tipped over and she fell, but she said she wasn't hurt."

"Did she say if she hit her head?" asked AJ.

"Yes, Sir.  She said she hit it on the edge of the table, Sir."

"Bud, I'm not a doctor.  But I know a bad bruise when I see one.  And Harriett has a very bad bruise on the back of her neck, just below her left ear.  I got a chance to really look at it a few minutes ago...it's very soft.  Which isn't good.  If I had to guess, from the appearance as well as the severe personality shift and delirium, I'd say it's probably TMI..."  AJ hesitated and looked at Bud.  This was going to hit him hard.  He softened his voice and his tone.  "Traumatic Brain Injury, Bud.  Usually from a contusion or... a subdural hemotoma."

"Oh, God," Bud cried.  "Harriett, Sweetheart..." Bud went to Harriett's side and knelt next to AJ.  He reached his hand to her face and stroked it gently.  AJ stood up and stepped back.  

Friday, 21 September 2001
1555 EDT
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Harriett began to stir.  "AJ?  AJ...oh..."

"It's all right, Harriett.  AJ's fine, Honey.  He's at the babysitter.  Sweetheart, can you sit up?"  Bud helped Harriett to a sitting position.  "Easy now.  You had a nasty fall."

"But, AJ was..." Harriett looked around.  She was in the JAG library.  "But how?  I..."  She was obviously confused.

"Sweetheart, you fell off the ladder.  I told you not to climb that thing.  It's old and rickety.  Let me get the books for you off that shelf from now on, okay?  You could have really been hurt badly," worried Bud.

"My neck.  Bud is there a bruise on my neck...right here below my left ear?"  Harriett turned and showed it to her husband.

"No, there's nothing there.  Harriett, you hit on your right side, not your left.  Let me check that side," he said as he gently turned her head in his hands.  "No, nothing."

Just then Admiral Chegwidden came through the door.  "Lieutenant Roberts?  Is she all right?"  Bud and Harriett started to get up to acknowledge the Admiral's presence; he waved them back.  "No, don't get up.  Harriett, are you all right?" he asked as he knelt down on one knee to talk to her.

Harriett blushed profusely.  "I'm fine, AJ... Admiral.  I'm... fine.  Thank you, Sir."

The Admiral looked at her questioningly.  She had never before called him AJ.  "Bud, take her on over to Bethesda and have a doctor check her over.  Let's just be absolutely sure that she's okay."

"Aye, aye, Sir.  I'll go call them and let them know we're coming," Bud said as he got up and went to the phone, leaving Harriett on the floor.

The Admiral stood and helped Harriett stand up.  She was a little wobbly and he put his arms around her to keep her from falling back to the floor.  "Woah, there, Darlin'.  Not so fast.  Slow, Harriett.  Slow and easy." 

Harriett jerked her head up at those words; he had said them only a few moments ago in his office.  But no, she wasn't in his office a few moments ago.  And it wasn't Monday; it was still Friday.  Oh, she was very confused.  Harriett rubbed her arm; it hurt.  She looked down at it and saw a small red cut.  The Admiral saw it, too.  He straightened her arm out to look at it.  "Does it hurt?" he asked.

"No, Sir," she replied.

"Looks like you're going to have a little scar there, though," he commented.  He chuckled.  "Looks just like the one..."  He stopped.  No one here had ever seen that scar. It was pretty well reserved for doctors and the women he slept with.

"...the one on your stomach," Harriett finished for him.  "The one right about here," she said as she laid her finger on his abdomen.  She looked up at his surprised face and smiled.

...The end.