Hello everybody! This is my third story that I originally wrote in French, and fool that I am, my first attempt to translate it into English... And all my gratitude goes to Kat and Arrietty who did a wonderful job to beta-read this quite long story! You should have read it before to measure the huge task it was! Any faults remaining are really mine!

This piece of work takes place in the future, in 2011 to be precise, and as you can't read my second story for the moment, you must know that Harm is the JAG in charge, AJ Chegwidden is retired... Mac is also retired but maybe not forever... but she has too much work at home for now, as she has three children... Yeah! It's a lot! But you will be happy to learn that she has them with our Hotshot Pilot turned lawyer, Harmon Rabb Jr.! It was about time!

There are some big surprises waiting here for your eyes only!
1) Someone is coming back into JAG chief's life,
2) Another will be dead (sorry for the drama, but it will be better)
3) There will be a crossover with a French character: as you people can't see the TV series named PJ (a.k.a. Judicial Police, literal translation), I will explain here, what kind of character the main officer Vincent Fournier is.

He is one of the leaders in a little French police station. He is the kind of guy any woman can fall for. I must say it... It's true! He isn't the big chief, but has worked there a long time and has been involved in a little fight for leadership between him and another buddy who is younger, but with a higher rank. This guy comes across as a keen traveller. He's not a fighter really, but you can count on him in tough moments. He is a friend towards people he has confidence in. However, he does have some slight faults, he is only human! You know what I mean... In some episodes, he is portrayed as a gambler - billiard games in fact. Sometimes he wins, but when he is at a loose end, he can lose his shirt in the battle...

His best friend in the police is named Bernard (quite large sized, the clown of the story, it's a french thing!!), his chief officer is Captain Meurteaux.

JAG: Bellisarius Productions / CBS / Paramount / NBC
PJ: Directors: Gérard Vergez, Christian François, Benoît d'Aubert, Christian Bonnet, Brigitte Coscas for FRANCE 2 (France Télévisions)

The story is mine, and especially the character Sabine Daumier. I keep the right and opportunity to use them in another story with totally different characters, when needed.

I do not make any money with it, I hope nobody will sue me because I had too much fun writing this...

It's important to note that there won't be too much violence in this story, though there are some drama things here and there.

Author: Sabine (French version written the 11 - 2nd, 2002) / translation ended on the 10 - 31st, 2004

Spoilers:
JAG: all episodes including the 6 th season
PJ: none, I just borrowed the characters...

I hope these explanations will be of some kind of help... Here we go, good reading!

As always, the inner thoughts of characters will be between < ... > and the dialogues between “...”

So any comments are welcome at my contact page. Click on the icon below to get it:

Part 1:

A Metro station in Paris, in January 2011,

It all happened very quickly. To this day, I only remember the “accident”. The events which occurred before and after will forever be in a thick fog in my mind. I've even forgotten the date, the hour or the exact place where the accident happened. Need I say more?

I remember the snow, something rare in Paris though we were in the middle of winter. Ten centimetres everywhere so suddenly made driving a car on the open road out of the question. I had to go to the north of Paris, God only knows why. Maybe I had an interview for a job... Whatever... Everything was all right, I had to go, so I did!

Public transport is practical in Paris, wherever you want to go, good or bad weather, it works... Fortunately, when this happened, I was in my early twenties and in quite good shape. When I got to the Metro station, I was frozen to the bone, but still, I had nothing to fear... I have no bad memories of these events. I probably had my head focusing on everything but nothing specific, that's all I can remember...

I was on my way back to the station “Gare du Nord”. I was not apprehensive. I started to climb in the train. I probably had some piece of snow under my shoes. I slipped. I fell upright on all the length of my left leg, in the hole between the train and the platform. I just got the reflex action to put my hands down on both sides, my right leg tucked up on the platform.

I was shocked, no strength remaining in my arms. I must have weighed about a ton at that moment. My hands were hurting, my ankles too. I simply couldn't think. The train doors are only open about 30 seconds so I needed to do something quickly.... Nobody notices me. I don't shout because I can't breathe, and everything is quite blurred around me...

I thought an eternity passed in those few seconds, really! But that day, it was written life would go on a little more... A man came from behind me, he was tall and strong, more than average, of that I am damn sure! He put his arms under mine and lifted me up like a packet of feathers... And it's all over... I climb in the train, I sit down, my belongings curiously still there...

I was as white as a sheet... You can imagine people around finally noticing that something has just happened... They look at me weirdly... Someone, whom I only remember as he was a rather cute, blond haired man, asked me if I am all right. It was probably the one who'd just saved me. I said “Yes! Thank you!” and he vanished... as quickly as he came! All of a sudden, I realized what had just happened, like a violent shot in my head! I could have lost my leg or worse my life... Even now, I am convinced of that because, less than a minute after I sat down, the train started to move away! The timing was very, very short...

I hope to convince you... since that time, I have an angel by my side. Frankly, I mean it, I see no other explanation... This man was out of sight, far behind me, and there was no reason for him to stop and see me. I was down, hidden by people coming and going... even chance wasn't a good excuse! With hindsight, you could see it as a bad joke. The kind of fall that everybody would laugh at. But that day, nobody laughed around me and neither did I. Even today, after all these years, I can only smile slightly, like anyone would smile at an old family souvenir, shared with people who care, with love and tenderness.

I told him “thank you”, of that I am damn sure... Though there isn't a day passing by without me vowing to do more than telling him “thank you”. If only I had known his name...

Part 2:

At my home, in the suburbs of Paris: June - 1st, 2011

Coincidence is a funny thing sometimes. This man I saw in Paris six months ago... No! You won't believe me... He was cited on the evening news. His name was Josh Pendry... The news reader was saying he had gone AWOL, taking top secret files with him. He was due for a court martial on June the sixth for espionage. I couldn't believe my own eyes. This man saved my life, but he was risking the death penalty.

My head was spinning. The memories were coming back so violently I blacked out. As I was falling on the floor unconscious, my mother rushed to help me.

“Hey, Sabine... Come on... Get up!” I hear my mom say in between small moments of consciousness.

<I have to go... I have to testify...> These words echoing indefinitely through my mind, I am finally able to focus on my mom's concerned features. “Mom, don't worry, I am fine, I have something to tell you...”

I finally get up with one certainty, my next destination is Falls Church in Virginia...

“The reason why I fainted... I didn't tell you... so you wouldn't worry about me...”

“What?”

“Well, it happened six months ago...”

After a while and a swear to never do it again, my mother supporting me helped to pay a part of my plane ticket. The thought that, this man might die this way, was equally unbearable for her as for me. <There must certainly be another explanation for these events...> I quickly put my belongings in a bag, call a taxi and get on the plane to Washington DC.

Part 3:

Unallocated warehouse in January 2011

“Ok, the guy is definitely an idiot! This was supposed to be my chance! The perfect guy for this mission.” A greyish haired guy in his fifties was rummaging furiously in his desk to find a pencil. “Now is the time to buy these plane tickets.”

Part 4:

JAG Headquarters (HQ): Falls Church – Virginia: June - 2nd, 2011 – 15h00 GMT
Admiral Harmon Rabb Jr's office

“I have no choice here! How can I help if you don't talk?”

“Harm, I've always considered you as a friend of my family, nearly as a father, each time I needed you, you were there... But there are things at stake that you ignore...”

“Josh, if someone told me that you, growing-up, was to mean you would become a big damn idiot, I wouldn't have believed him! I promised your dad that I would take care of your mother and you, whatever happened...”

“You've never failed your promise! I wanted to become a pilot, I ran away when I was sixteen, you found me and brought me back, then you came to see Mom to explain it to her... I took my chances, as my father did, but there Harm, things are different... You don't understand!”

“That's enough! You are at least right about one thing. You had your chance, you gave it away! I've heard enough of this crap! Lieutenant Josh Pendry, attention!!” 

Josh got up quickly from his chair, prompted by the habit, a look of despair in his eyes.

“Yes, sir!... (talking in a lower tone of voice, he added) Even if there is nothing to do now...”

“What?... I'm going to call your mother, now!”

“No, it's impossible...”

“That, I cannot understand! I (Exaggerating pompously, Harm nearly yells at him) will tell you what is impossible! You just keep your mouth shut though you know you won't get out of this can of worms alone... In case you hadn't noticed it yet, there are people around worrying about you, especially one marine Lieutenant Emy Johnson, without even mentioning your mother, who will certainly kill me for letting this happen to you! And all you tell me is “No, it's impossible!”

Right now, I have my best lawyer, struggling like a madman to find reasons, or should I say reduced charges, to what you just did, and you, Lieutenant, you have the guts to give me that “There's things at stake that you ignore!” But my only concern here is you... I just want you to know... Right now, you should be on duty, flying and praying for your own safety...”

That was the moment Blutch, his personal assistant, chose to come in...“Admiral, Captain Roberts would like to see you right now, it's urgent.”

“Let him come in (Harm focuses on Josh) Lieutenant, we will end this - believe me - one way or another!... Get out now...”

Part 5:

North of Paris, France – January 2011.

It was full night when Captain Fournier was touring around the usual small area he always considered his own home and territory. All of a sudden his senses were on alert. Breaking out of the corner of the little place in which his police station was situated, he automatically put a hand on his gun. He had distinctly heard the sound of broken glass... <What the hell is happening here?>

The police station doorstep was always lit even at this late hour, tags noticeable on the outside walls. But now, shadowy forms could move imperceptibly around the greyish, slightly dusty door without being noticed by anyone, and, with the faint noises coming from the bar nearby, the event was all but normal.

Vincent cautiously peered at the right side of the place... A small flashlight was visible through the bar doors... That was unusual! They only get minor incivilities from youngsters, but no one would have dared doing a robbery with the police station nearby... Two gunshots... Prompted by the habit, Vincent ducked to cover. No time to call for help... One glance, a second... He gets up and runs toward the bar, gun in hand... One more shot, Vincent is down without warning...

A tall thin man whose face is hidden by a black fleecy mask appears out from the bar, takes stealthily his gun out from his grasp and knocked him out. He then runs toward the police station and breaks into it as if he had done this his whole life.

Part 6:

Unallocated warehouse – March 2011.

<Where this god damn bastard had gone? ‘He' won't ruin my life! Never!> The greyish man was restlessly walking back and forth in front of his desk.

<I checked all the flights from France, he cannot be found anywhere! The bastard apparently learnt his lessons well! I swear he's going to pay for this double time!>

The man went to sit down again in front of his computer wondering franticly what he could do from now on. <The only place left was Washington DC... The Chinese would have told me if they had made contact with him. One way or another, ‘he' would have been dead without notice! He managed to get it back! Damn bastard! And he would never go retrieve data directly from the Chinese... Hell! They could kill him for his failure to conclude the contract...>

Part 7:

JAG Headquarters (HQ): Falls Church – Virginia: June - 2nd, 2011 – 15h30 GMT
Admiral Harmon Rabb Jr's office

Roberts reached the desk of his CO and interrupted him. “I beg your pardon, sir... but he should stay... while I tell you the news.”

“What?”

“I'm afraid there is bad news... You can see for yourself on Channel 9, Sir! It's being broadcasted in loops for about two hours now. I called the channel to find out more... They have explained a few things... I'm truly sorry, Josh.”

The Admiral did what the captain suggested to him.

----
The journalist was speaking in front of the ruins of a house. The atmosphere was indescribable. The dust spread through the street was marred by the flashlights of first-aid and police cars on the run, the former helping injured people, the latter allowing them to work properly, inciting onlookers to go away.

“At 13:00 today, an explosion happened in this residence of Baltimore. At this time we have confirmed one deceased and about twenty people with minor-injuries. The name of the victim is to be kept confidential until the family has been informed. The officer in charge of the investigation declared that further investigations will be done, before any explanations can be given...”
----

Harm shut down the TV. Josh had obviously lost all knowledge of his direct environment, his head caught between his hands... “This is all my fault...”, his voice hardly coming through...

Harm knew with certainty who the victim was - Annie Pendry, the mother of Josh, his former girlfriend... After the living nightmare they've been through when Josh, young child, played the Secret service Agent on the USS Stockdale, a missile launcher frigate, Annie decided it was time to move on in her life and the first thing she did was to throw him out of her life and move to Baltimore...

His face as blank as a sheet, Harm sat down near Josh, resting his hand on his shoulder. “I'm sorry, Josh, I have no words to tell you how sorry I am... Bud, would you mind calling the investigator in charge to inform him of our position here?”

Josh replied, his voice muffled “That's not necessary, they called me earlier.”

“What? Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? I could have helped you... Bud, join our fellow friend Clayton Webb. I have confidence in your abilities to convince him to offer freely his so proverbial help.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Bud left the office, while Harm turned his attention back towards Josh, still slumped over, with his head in his hands. “You can't keep quiet anymore... I know how painful this must be, first your father, and now...”

“How did you guess?”

“How the CIA was involved in this nasty operation?... Well... You forget I'm quite used to it.”

Josh breathed audibly deeply to find the strength to talk. “I'll start from the beginning. I was recruited as a temporary agent due to my combined skills as a pilot and as an aeronautical engineer. I was a so-called top gun! The damn best man for this job..."

"...To be honest, Clayton Webb isn't involved in this disaster. He isn't the brains of the operation, he never even guessed its existence! Except me, only one other person knows about this - my CIA contact, Brad Ratcliffe. My CO in the marines, Captain Davis, simply gave his agreement for a non-paid vacation of two months, to allow me to take care of my mother..."

"...You know how much I like to be a pilot! But being allowed to influence the future of our marine vessels is a whole new world to me! I'm really good at making planes, I even can repair them with my eyes closed! The “Tomcat” you used to know, was replaced with stealthy fighters, the first generation with lightened carbon fibre fuselages..."

"...Then, the new and so famous “Stingcat” was made, more tough and undetectable by the newest radars, with extremely formidable precision weaponry. You can't imagine what it's like to fly it! On the one hand the “Tomcat” destroys everything within a fifty yards radius, on the other hand the “Stingcat” can hit a human target in a five meter zone – I should say in the eye of a needle – using any substructures as a conductor. Whatever the substructures are, wood or reinforced concrete, nothing is electrically resistive enough, that is a revolution!..."

"...No need to send men in on the ground to reach the goal, massive destruction may be relegated to an optional extra. Local people and substructures would be preserved. We would have the opportunity to quickly create new democratic governments. If it was a Top Ten target, international peace wouldn't be utopian anymore!..."

"...I'm not one of those people only concerned with what is going on in the air, without reflecting on the consequences on the ground. I saw the collateral damage of our so-called defensive weapons. It's not what I call a beautiful sight..."

"...Then when our best weapon plans were stolen by the Chinese, I had to volunteer even before my contact ended his explanations. It was so easy to be convinced it was useful, I even worked on that plane, without knowing it. You do understand, Harm, don't you?... I was responsible.”

Part 8:

JAG Headquarters (HQ): Falls Church – Virginia: June - 2nd, 2011 – 15h30 GMT
In the Bullpen

“What? I want to talk to Mister Webb right away! And if I don't, believe me, the Admiral Cross will hear about it and... Thank you.” The one sided conversation of Captain Roberts could be heard throughout the Bullpen and especially by one very interested grey haired man who was waiting patiently in the entrance.

“M. Webb! At last! How is your day?”

“Never been that bad since the last time Rabb called! What do you want, Roberts?”

“I am damn sure you already know what I want...”

“The Pendry's son affair, of course! Do I have to repeat myself? What do you want? I have work to do!”

“He was arrested and for now charged of murder...”

“And? This isn't my problem, you know? JAG affairs aren't in my jurisdiction or it would be a first!”

“Stop it Clayton! We both know what's at stake here... Do not make me reveal to everybody about this old affair you got unfortunately involved back in 1999... Plus you already know the truth on Josh, don't you?”

“Well...”

“Come here, right away! And the Admiral will never know...”

“I always thought you were a damn clever bastard Roberts, you know that?”

“Well Webb... It's comforting to know you appreciate me that much! Come here! The admiral is waiting and when it's too long, you know how his mood go mad at ten times Mach speed!”

“Right... right... I'm on my way...”

The grey haired man retreated back to the lifts as quickly as he came in. He hadn't lost his time for once.

Part 9:

JAG Headquarters (HQ): Falls Church – Virginia: June - 2nd, 2011 – 15h45 GMT
Admiral Harmon Rabb Jr's office

Harm rested his hand on Josh's shoulder, but did not interrupt him.

“I won't get bogged down in details, I was fooled by Ratcliffe, that's the only logical explanation... For six months, I collected information confirming Ratcliffe was subdued by Chinese Communists, from the Party's tough line. He was in debt, nearly divorced, disowned by his chief officers after a nasty operation and soon to be court martialled. They had no difficulty trying to convince him, he had lost all he had. He had to give them the plans in France on the tenth of January, it's the reason why I went AWOL. I succeeded in retrieving back the plans after the sale and I destroyed them. But for the last six months, Ratcliffe has been pursuing me, and the consequences?... well... you know them... (his voice started to break down) Mom is dead... It's all over now.”

“No, it's a start... I can't avoid the court martial, you will need...”

The phone rang, Harm got up to answer. “Blutch?”

“Sir, I have in front of me a young French lady who pretends to have news...”

A voice behind was heard, “Will you let me come in?”

“Miss, you can't!...”

Suddenly the door is opened... “If you don't move out of the way, I will walk on your feet!”

The admiral intervened: “Let her go, Blutch... Young lady, keep calm!”

“Listen to me! Please! I have some important news to give you...”

I stopped myself short when I saw who was in the office. First, I saw a man in his fifties, slight, grey haired, but yet the kind that would make you look twice in other circumstances. From his shoulder stripes and my limited knowledge of American military questions, he seemed to be an Admiral, the chief of the place. Then, the second man I would never have thought to see again... I went across the Atlantic Ocean to meet him, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened when I saw him again... He was in front of me, flesh and blood, seemingly exhausted by it all, but still a really surprised look upon his face.

The admiral looked at us alternately. “If someone deigned to explain the situation we are in here...”

Josh interrupted him, as did I, involuntarily speaking at the same time.
“Sir, I believe it...”
“You saved my life... I didn't want to see you in a mess without attempting to do something... anything...”, I added with a contrite look.

With a little smile, Josh began again. “Sir, I gave you the gist of it, not the details of my trip to Paris... Well... Here are the details, right in front of you, well, partially, I guess... This young lady, whose name I don't know...”

“Sabine Daumier.”

“...had fallen in a Metro station between the train's first stair and the platform. I guess I walked past at just the right time. I pulled her out...”

“I said it before - he saved my life... Now it's my turn (I looked at the admiral intensely), this man can't have done what he is charged with... It's impossible!”

The grey haired man asked me in what I supposed to be his usual tone of command, “Were you with him all the time?”

“No, but...”

“Then you are of no help to us.”

“But as I said, it's impossible! He saved my life, it's enough for me...”

“Maybe, but that's not proof!”

“Make me testify for acquittal... I am damn sure there is another explanation…”

Josh cut me short, quite sadly, “It isn't worth the pain, we need direct testimony. Sabine, I do appreciate your concern. I'm happy to see you are in good shape and I really thank you for coming all the way out here just for me. You should go now. I don't want to endanger you... (he raises his hand, in an attempt to touch Sabine's face) No, please don't say a word, just forget me... you really don't know who I am... I couldn't stand it if something happened to you too because of me. You've had enough misfortune as it is.”

“What other misfortune?... You can't speak like that... I might be of some help... unless... let me think... Yes! The TV news in the plane - this explosion in Baltimore... and about six months ago, if my memory doesn't fail me, the French policeman... a robbery in a little police station, this is the link... Coincidence?... I don't believe it!”

The man with stripes was really interested now. “What are you trying to say?”

“I beg your pardon! I'm talking too fast... I don't even know who you are... In the reception, I was only told to come here to see the investigator, I was in quite a hurry!”

“You could say that... I am Admiral Harmon Rabb, Judge Advocate General, but the lead investigator is Captain Bud Roberts, you surely know already Lieutenant Josh Pendry.”

“That's all well and good, but it's not enough for me. What assurance can you give me that you will help him and not get him put away?”

Harm shook his head, nearly angry. “Well, for one, I did not call the security guards to throw you out of this office by force... I knew the French were sometimes bad-tempered but suspicious to this point?”

Really smiling for the first time, Josh intervened before it went too far. “Sabine, Harm is my godfather, I consider him as quite a father... You can talk freely, I have huge confidence in him, he will do all in his power to get me out of this.”

“OK! I believe you! I apologize, Admiral. Here is the whole story. At the beginning of the year, what day exactly? I can't remember... The TV news said that a small police station was apparently robbed during the night. A policeman was injured trying to prevent it, two deaths are still unexplained in the nearby bar. Josh's presence in Paris at this time is confirmed by the fact you helped me... Not so long after that, I heard the policeman had disappeared without a trace... All these events, by themselves, are quite suspicious. But, above all, the explosion in Baltimore this morning, really near the day you will be court-martialled, I may say the coincidence is no more one, isn't it?”

“Harm, the link... it's me!”

Harm, swallowing hard, talked quietly. “I'm not quite sure of the point you're getting at...”

“I didn't tell you how I took back the papers.”

“Don't say anything more, Josh! Young lady, you may go now!”

“No!” The answer came abruptly from my lips.

“Reasons of State!”

“No, Harm, she's got the right to know, needless to say she might give us details we may ignore.”

“Well... You are probably right... But keep the specific details off. Do you read me?”

“Yeah.” Josh turned his attention towards me.

“I found myself in a square place in the north of Paris, near a police station seemingly closed and a bar... The exchange was done there. I may also say I retrieved the papers and stopped two thieves - the deaths in question (I had to make a face at this point because he gave me a sad look)... I had no choice here Sabine! The last man, we talked earlier Harm, succeeded in escaping my grasp.

My was face hidden, but this cop came. He tried to stop me. I injured his leg, he wasn't fast enough, I knocked him out... I didn't want to kill him. He was innocent. I wanted them to believe in a robbery, it was the only idea that came to mind. I left right after I called for medical help, so the cop wouldn't die. I can't explain his disappearance, though he was alive when I left, the ambulance was to come a few seconds after... Believe me, Sabine, I only wanted to retrieve our possessions, I had no need to harm anybody!”

He gave me a pleading look, with something more I didn't want to qualify right now, <the type you can't resist!> said the little voice in my head...

<If I had to testify, you know what I would be saying...>

<Shut up, you! Too little voice...>

My mind was racing wildly. I couldn't help it. The ambiance seemed to be so thick I finally broke it out in a burst into a rushed dialogue “You helped me in Paris! I really don't care what you have done after that, bad or good!”

Josh relaxes himself a bit, the admiral doesn't lose a word of what we are saying, but I don't give a damn! I carry on... “Besides, I don't have any new information on this subject. I'm sorry... Maybe the answers are in the papers you were getting back...”

“No, this cop was there by chance... When I broke the police station's door, there was nobody in there. I'm sure of that.”

“Here I can help you! He was probably on duty call, touring in the area nearby for the night... Most of the time, the little police stations in France are closed for the night or they only let someone in during cases of emergency.”

“Did you hear the name of the cop?” asked the admiral.

“Yes... Let me think... Something like Fourier, no! Fournier... That's right, Fournier.”

“I'll ask for an Interpol search right now... (The admiral went to his telephone) “Blutch?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Call Interpol right away in order to contact a cop named Fournier, who belongs probably to a police station in the North of Paris, in France. Tell them we only need him to testify in defence for a military court. No one will sue him. Otherwise, give me the call.”

“Yes, sir!”

During the phone call, I made myself relax, trying to figure out the main lines of what had just been said. “Josh?”

“Yes?”

“I have one question left to ask... if you are willing to...?”

As we were looking into each other's eyes, Josh sensed there was no need to let me finish my sentence... “Baltimore?”

“Yes.”

“My mother lives... lived there...”

“Oh! I'm so sorry... I...”

“You are not responsible... It's me, it's all my fault...”

“You shouldn't talk like that... I'm aware of the fact I don't know you very well, but I would bet my life that you are more concerned by other peoples lives than you are willing to say, especially when family is in the balance... Don't fight this by the casual story ‘You don't know all what happened...'...”

“I won't do that, because it's safer for you to not know the whole story... Believe me...”

I lifted up my hands in a gesture of surrender. “I give up, I won't ask anymore questions... I promise.”

That make him smile a little, however it didn't last long, as Harm quickly interrupted our chatting. “Young lady, it's time to go now...”

“Can I attend the Court Martial? I'd like to help you with the French policeman...”

“Sorry, the court martial isn't a public event... and concerning the cop, we have an assistant who speaks French fluently, if it's needed.”

I made my last attempt towards Josh. “Can I, at least, give you my address in Paris, to have news from you? I believe French newspapers won't talk about it...”

Nearly smiling at our exchange, Josh finally said, voice muffled. “Mmh... Yes, why not...”

Right after Sabine left the office, Harm gently teased Josh. “What will Emy think about all this, mmh?”

“She may think what she wants, because we broke up over a month ago.”

“Oh!...”

“I know, Harm, I know. Anyway, life is too short.”

“Well... This young lady seems to be sincere...”

“Yeah, possibly... But right now, I have greater concerns in mind...”

Part 10:

Unallocated warehouse, 9h30 GMT, June - 3rd, 2011

Brad Ratcliffe was all but happy. Nothing was happening like it should have... Who would have guessed that Pendry would go right away to the JAG office to be court-martialled? He should have known him better than that though... He had to research his profile prior to making contact with him... How dare had he let this go down-hill! He must have missed something...

Pendry was the hotshot-kind, clever enough, but still quite lonely and fragile due to his father's death and his mother's inability to put up with it. She was well known in Pensacola to be the “mad” type, not allowing his boy to fulfil his own dreams. He was well marked by all his CO's, which was essential to achieve his project. No young ladies around, no close friends who might ask questions... Even better!

How dare all this to start going so bad? He had followed him from Paris to Washington DC, then, to the JAG house... There, he managed to get through the security guards, pretending to be a NCIS agent brought there to investigate an ordinary accident. Conveniently disguised, nobody noticed him. He learned of Pendry's arrest, by spying on a phone call of a Lieutenant who was very focused and angry, trying to obtain useful information. He got out quickly, fearing he would be found out.

Once he arrived in his temporary den, a huge deserted space where empty wood boxes and dust were the main part, he went straight to the table and his camp bed nearby. Logged onto the computer in no time, teeth clenched, he started a search on Josh Pendry, his youth, his military records, everything...

Within minutes, firstly entertained by the unhappy youth of the guy, one name came out quickly, - Harmon Rabb, his godfather. Where had he seen this name before? He swore! For God's sake, the Admiral! JAG in title! His name was on a separate window in the bullpen. How had he become so stupid? Pendry knew the guy and went to him for help!

The Admiral's reputation spoke volumes. He was used to letting nothing get away. Chance wasn't an option and bad things would happen to you if you weren't one of his friends. If he believed in your innocence, then you probably were and everything possible would be done to win, but yet in great respect of Law. Whatever the case, he was dangerous... His only apparent weakness was his wife and their three young children. He knew what he had to do...

Part 11:

A little police station - 18 th district of Paris, June - 3rd, 2011, at 17:30 (local hour)

“Vincent, a phone call for you on line 3, from the United States... Do you want to leave France? You became famous! (Vincent aimed a weird look at him) Well... an Admiral, or someone, is calling you... I don't know what you've done, but you should take advantage of this... after your little bust up with the boss, your accident and your forced holidays, who knows? Perhaps you will get a medal for it?!!”

“Shut up Bernard, would you? I don't even know what you are talking about...” Linking words to actions, he took the telephone, pushing on the appropriate button. “Vincent Fournier, listening...”

“Please, hold on, I will put your call through the admiral...”

“Admiral Harmon Rabb from JAG in Washington DC, JAG stands for Judge Advocate General. Good afternoon, Mr Fournier.”

“Good morning, Mr Rabb or should I say Admiral?”

“Well, sir will be enough. You won't mind speaking in English, will you?”

“No, go on.”

“Thank you. I need your help to lighten a few details about an affair involving two of our servicemen. Some information, brought to my knowledge recently, makes me believe you are a capital witness and we need to hear your statement.”

“How so? I'd like to have more details... And I will definitely need the permission of my commander...”

“You already have it... Your minister has agreed it would be necessary for you to come here to Washington DC, as soon as possible, in order to fulfil each others requests. So you have a special temporary clearance to come, and you will also have the backing from a ministerial agent of your country. Needless to say, it is utterly important to keep all of this in absolute secrecy...”

“Tell me if I'm wrong? I only have to come...” These last words were a statement, not a question.

“Thank you. Your agent has yet made all the arrangements for your travel, he will call you. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye...” Putting down the phone receiver, Vincent turned his gaze towards his friend Bernard. “You won't believe me... I have to go to Washington DC...”

“No! Impossible! But what do they...?”

He cut him off in mid-sentence. “I can't tell you, otherwise I would be forced to kill you..., he added, grinning broadly.”

“No, you are kidding, aren't you? You've got to go the States, wow!”

“You are so silly, sometimes... I told you I would have to kill you...” This time he said it seriously.

Someone interrupted them. “Vincent, the boss wants to see you, it's urgent!”

“I'm already there... Bye Bernard, I will probably quit early.”

“Bye. Have a nice trip...”

A few seconds later, his Chief Officer Meurteaux urged Vincent to come in his office, which was located upstairs.

“Boss, you wanted to see me, didn't you?”

“Yes, sit down, Fournier. I just ended a call with the ministerial delegate Jacques Denton. He's waiting for you at Orly (South) Airport, gate number 7, at 20:00.

“OK. What does he look like?”

“Here is his photo, needless to say he has had access to your personal file...”

“Well perfect. Is that all?”

“Yes Fournier, that's all. I won't ask you anything. I had clear orders not to do so. Even if I'm damn sure there is a link with your little story six months ago... Satisfied or not, I have to let you go without knowing the end of this fairy tale... Go back home to get yourself ready and have a nice trip...”

After this last statement, Vincent thanked his boss and did as he was ordered to.

Part 12:

CIA local agency, Washington DC. 10:15 GMT, June - 3rd, 2011

“You all know what you have to do, right?”

All the guys in full defensive action gear nodded their heads in acceptance to Webb's statement, meanwhile his team partner, Corrs, choose this moment to ask the one question everybody had in mind... “Will you call the Admiral Rabb to inform him?”

“Hell, no! He will want his guys to join in! This is our operation! No need for the lawyers to get us in trouble...” It gained him some chuckles quickly repressed.

“Ok, you are the boss!”

Part 13:

Unallocated warehouse, 10:35 GMT, June - 3rd, 2011

With squealing noises of tyres, three FBI trucks came to a halt along the warehouse broken sidewalk. In the same motion, a squadron of agents took position under cover behind the open doors and the giant trash bins abandoned here and there, Webb in pole position near the small sided entrance.

On Webb's signal, Corrs went to check the giant door for trucks and installed a remote system to block it off. Signalling back that it was operational, Webb ordered silently his men to get into action, mouthing several times an urgent ‘Go!' and entered by the sided door.

Webb and Corrs as always first to go in, ran promptly and stealthily, guns in their hands, through the dusty boxes in disarray. Finally spotting Ratcliffe in front of his computer, hurriedly typing on the keyboard, they knew for sure they had been discovered long before they even intended to come in.

“FBI!!! Stop it!!! Pull yourself down! Now!”

“Oh, no... no... no! You will never get me!” Ratcliffe was almost on the verge of break down.

“I said ‘pull yourself down!'!!”

Finally reaching one last time for the enter key on his computer, Ratcliffe complied with a venomous smile... “Never!” could be heard one last time in a muffled voice...

Part 14:

Admiral Rabb's office, Washington DC, June - 3rd, 2011 – 11:30 GMT

“Sir? Lieutenant Pendry is here.”

“Let him come in... Josh, sit down... I have good news: we succeeded in talking to this French cop, he will be here around 12:00 GMT today. He will be able to testify in your favour. I ask you not to interfere when he is there, is that clear?” Josh nodded his head in agreement. “He isn't aware of all the facts and it would be better to go on like that...”

“All right.”

The phone rang, Harm answered. “Blutch? What is it?”

“Sir, special agent Webb wants to see you...”

He mumbled “Always late... Let him come in!”

Once the door was closed, Clayton shook the hand of his friend, smiling widely. “I heard you! What will your subordinate think of me, mmh?”

“Nothing, if you give me good news... Take a seat, please.”

“Well it depends what you call good news...”

“Spill it!”

“We found Ratcliffe and put him under arrest. If you don't mind me saying, this is good news...”

“Indeed it is!... Care to give me details? The worst...”

“He denies formally being the thief or the spy...”

“Hey! That was him, I didn't lie!” Josh burst out...

“Keep silent, Josh! Let him finish!”

“However, as I was about to tell you, Josh's story is coherent. After a little inquiry of my own, I managed to find that Captain Ratcliffe went AWOL after his wife asked for a divorce, costing him more money than he could bear. He's got the profile ‘disgusted of his own life', and so, being able to break through top secret stuff to an enemy... He made repeated faults in his work, so much than his CO wanted him to resign. I've got the report file to confirm it... To arrest him was easy. He used his credit cards, leading us to an isolated warehouse near Washington. Unfortunately, he had enough time to erase all his computer folders... We think he followed Josh here. Due to the plans and NCIS gear he had borrowed, he apparently intended to sneak into the JAG to get some fresh information. To summarise our position, we don't have any clear evidence to charge him! In the end, it will be Josh's word against his... I'm sorry, Harm...”

“Don't be, Clay! We thank you for what you have done up till now. But it seems that our affair will be solved very soon... We finally found the French cop. We got him to come here and testify... His presence, well and alive, will be enough to clear the charges...”

Blutch came in the office... “Sir, here are the french policeman Fournier and the ministerial delegate Denton.”

“What was I saying?!! Let them come in, Blutch... Welcome gentleman, I'd like to thank you for agreeing to come here so fast.”

Fournier went to shake the hand that the Admiral was holding out to them.

“You're welcome! Don't mention it! But I still don't know in what ways I could be useful... Even Mr Denton wouldn't be able to give me an explanation or didn't want to...”

“Well, he did so on my express demand. Your testimony is essential in this affair and needed not to be spoiled by any false information. Here is the main topic. We know that, six months ago, you were injured in Paris...”

Vincent look alternately at Harm and the ministerial delegate Denton, disbelief in his eyes...

“How so ?...”

“...What I wish to hear you confirm, is the exact location and circumstances in which you were injured and what you have done these last six months...”

Denton, nodding his head in acceptance, motioned Fournier to answer.

“I was ending my night turn of watch around our police station... I heard a noise of broken glasses, then two gunshots coming from the café nearby, at the dead-end angle. A man's face, which was previously hidden, came out abruptly. He was tightly carrying a bag in his arms and a gun in hands... From what I saw, he was almost as surprised as I was. I announced myself to be a cop... In no time, he shot me in the leg... He did it knowingly. I mean it was obviously a professional. I had the confirmation later when I learned he made a call for medical help from the police station..."

"...I may say he was faster than me. He knocked me out and took my gun. When I got up, I was taken care of by the doctors. Somebody told me later that the police station door had been forced, but nothing was missing and my gun was put on a table in evidence! Then I took three weeks of medical leave, and was gone after that in an officer school for six months in the south of France. Until now, nothing was relevant to explain all this mess - two deaths in a bar without any known identity and the one who shot me, gone without leaving a trace... I think that's all... This is where you tell all, isn't it?” Fournier ended there is story turning towards the Admiral.

“Yes, in some ways... Now we know why you disappeared. I thank you. Everybody here will agree to say that Josh is cleared from the charges against him and to talk about your injuries, Mr Fournier...”

“No, Harm! It's my turn to explain and ask for forgiveness...” Josh interrupted Harm abruptly.

“What? It was you?!”

“Yes. And I'd like to make you believe I regret from the bottom of my heart what happened...”

“Well, you had the opportunity to kill me and you didn't, so I can't put that against you without sounding selfish...” Fournier turned his head towards the admiral “But I really would like to know why all this happened... You were talking of some spy story on the phone...”

“I can only tell you Josh, here, had impeached another compatriot to steal an advanced military technology and its sale to some mutual enemy... We will need you to testify at the court martial which will happen tomorrow in a special session, to charge the other man...”

“I'm at your disposal.”

“Thank you, you can go and see my assistant now. He made all the arrangements for your stay.”

“Thanks.”

Harm turns his head towards Webb. “Clayton, I thank you too for the information you gave to us.”

“That's nothing... I will get out now... I've got some other things to deal with.”

Once Clay and the two Frenchmen were out of the office, Harm, smiling widely, made the call he wanted to do for a long time - to give the order to release Josh. “This story is at last closed... You're invited to my home tonight. Mac and the kids would like to see you and besides, I have a surprise for you.”

“I don't know Harm... I'm not in the mood for surprises, I'd like to be alone a little... go see Mom, I haven't even got the time to... (his voice broke down...) That's enough... Surprises, it isn't really what I was planning for my first hours of liberty...”

“Listen, Josh... You won't be able to go through that alone. Sarah told me and I quote ‘if he doesn't bring his ass here tonight, I will go and get him myself', end of quote...”

“She wouldn't say that, never under those circumstances and knowing her like I know her...”

“You are right... It's my idea, I admit it. With what you have endured, there's no way I'd let you down now... Then, please, do me a favour: I have my afternoon free of appointments and as for the little surprise... it's too late to cancel it! I've already taken care of it with Sarah, and this time it's true! She helped me! So I can suggest to you this - we go quietly to your home in order for you to change into civilian clothes, then to the cemetery, and at last, our home... What do you think of that?”

“Mmh... Mmh... OK.”

Part 15:

House of the family Rabb / Mackenzie – Falls Church, Virginia: June - 3rd, 2011 – 18:00 GMT

“Darling, we are here...”

“Harm, honey, I missed you...” She closed the gap between them and kissed him lightly, then Josh too, on his cheek.

“How are you?... It's a tough time... For tonight, I declare a truce, and we won't talk about it unless you are willing to... Know that if you need anything, you can count on us, the door is always open...”

“I know Mac, thanks.”

“I went with him to the cemetery, Sarah... We completed the usual formalities and asked for a funeral service to be scheduled tomorrow.”

“Then we can be with you, Josh. You had it right honey.”

“Well, the surprise now, we don't want to stay in the entrance the whole night, do we? I hope to succeed in cheering you up a little. Anyway, the decision wasn't mine... My dear Sarah would have made me regret this if I had said no...”

“Hey! I'm here! Be careful!” Sarah knocked him lightly on his arm...

“No, don't even try!! I surrender!!” He lifted up his hands in sign of resignation. They even managed to get a little smile from Josh.

“The surprise is in the living room. Come with me Josh, before Mac...”

“Mac... what? I warned you!”

“No, nothing... sweetheart.”

Everybody entered the living room. The kids jumped up at their godfather's neck to greet him home, while Sabine turned back without saying anything and waiting for his reaction. Finally free of the kids' grasps, he got up and saw her...”

“Sabine...”

“I'm happy to see you finally free... I hope you won't mind, I couldn't leave without knowing...”

He crossed the few steps between them and gave her a slight peck on the cheek.

“No, it's good to see you in other circumstances. Even if I will not be a good companion tonight and for some time to come, I'm glad you decided to stay a little longer... Mac, Harm? Thank you...” He shook his head, really smiling for the first time.

“You're welcome, Josh.”

End of the story.

Post scriptum:

As maybe you realized it, the first part of this story is real, it's personal in many ways... I can tell you without going too far that my life was in the balance that day (make your own opinion and tell me...). I'd like to take a moment to thank my guardian angel who was protecting me that day, if I wasn't so rational, I would believe in their existence.

It is truly right that any resemblance with existing people would be totally improbable. I consciously changed the look of my saviour, the dates are not even good, anyway, I can't remember them at all... So you see, I don't want to put anyone in a bad situation, I just thank you whoever you are.

Well I got so much pleasure writing this in French first, then the translation in English, I hope you will like it... I even added some more parts in English that seemed necessary in the end. So English readers will have more to read... and enjoy... Thanks to anyone who took so much time to do so.

Bye... and stay tuned... there is always more to come! :-)