Author: Steve711 -Steve Pantovich
E-mail Address: Steve711@concentric.net
Title: The Chronicles of Wanderer - Trial of Frank Scully
Copyrighted : April 2001
Category: Crossover
Rating: PG-13 to R - Violence, and Foul Language
Spoilers: A few, but who cares?
Keywords: X-Files/Highlander/Buffy the Vampire Slayer Crossover with a few guest stars.
The Following TV Series have been included in the story. Disclaimers appear at the end with the cast list.
JAG
Star Trek The Next Generation/Deep Space Nine/Voyager
Gargoyles
Xena, Warrior Princess
Seven Days
Brimstone
The Following Book Series have been included in the story. Disclaimers appear at the end with the character list
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
Summary: Frank's been found out and some very powerful people move to try him for murder.
All disclaimers appear at the end of the story. Any character whose names and descriptions are used are the property of their original owners, and no copy right
infringement is intended or meant. No money can be made from this story. It can be distributed freely so long as it is kept in its entirety, with all
notices and copyright information intact.
The characters Wanderer/Steven St. Wolf, Frank Iverson, Brother Aaron, Robert McCallister, The Knights of the Order
of the Grail, Randi Jessup, Brian Jessup, The Standing and Cauldwell Families and this story are mine. Anyone wishing
to use them, please contact me at my e-mail address: Steve711@concentric.net
The character, Robin Goodfellow is the property of Mike Weyer and used with his permission.
Comments and Criticisms are appreciated, please post to the above referenced E-mail.
Author's Note's: When I started to write this story I decided to change some things concerning the characters.
X-Files Mulder and Scully are married and Immortal - So Non-Relationshippers beware.
Highlander: Richie Ryan shouldn't have died in the end of the fifth season. So here he hasn't.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Buffy is an Immortal and this series splits from the third season show, The Judge.
Casca, the Eternal Mercenary: Various of Casca's friends are Immortal. Including the love of his life, Lida.
Author's Thanks:
I'd like to thank the people who helped me in writing this story. It took the better part of a year to complete, but
I think that it was worth it, but they stuck with me, helping and encouraging me to complete it. In no particular
order, they are:
Rebekah Sandell, Mark Safransky, Tim Knight, Mike Weyer, Timbo, Hawk, Dalton Spence, and Jack Caynon. Thank you all
for your time and input on this story.
In memory: I'd like to dedicate this story in memory of five great writers, whose works have been a constant
enjoyment and delight:
J.R.R. Tolkien, Gene Roddenberry, Don Pendelton, Mickey Spillane and Barry Sadler
I'd also like to thank all those great fan fiction writers out there, whose stories I've enjoyed. They showed me
that I could let my imagination run. (Where it went I don't want to know :>))
Thanks and here's the Story. Enjoy.
Never Never Land
July 16th, 10:00 am - PST
Office of Commander Craig Donovan - Military Attache
Craig Donovan looks over the investigating report detailing the murder of Lieutenant j.g. Jake Franzetti. He shakes his head and asks his partner. "Frank, all of this is pure circumstantial evidence. The only item tying Scully to the murder is the so-called eye witness account of a Lieutenant j.g. Nashton."
"Nashton? Christopher Nashton?" Frank asks.
"Yeah, him. Why?"
"I wonder if he set up Scully like he did that seaman on the USS Monroe? I think the kid's name was Scott Seaver."
"What are you talking about, Frank?" Donovan asks.
"About two years ago, Nashton was convicted of homicide in the death of Scott Seaver, a seaman on the Monroe. According to the newspaper article I read, Nashton literally locked him in the engine room when the fire suppression system kicked in. The poor bastard literally had the air sucked out of his lungs. Then, Nashton blamed Seaver for the accident that caused his own death. Do you think he could have been responsible for Franzetti's death, if it could have benefited him in some way?"
Donovan thinks back to the weeks before the murder and then hits his head with the palm of his hand. "Franzetti and Nashton were both trying for the same position. The day before Franzetti died, he was notified that he would get the assignment and the promotion."
"What happened after Franzetti died?"
"Nashton got the assignment and the promotion." Donovan then hits the table and curses. "That bastard!!! He murdered Franzetti and ruined Scully's life just so he could get a promotion."
"So what are we going to do about it?"
"The JAG commander is a former SEAL. Admiral Chegwidden will make sure that Scully gets justice." Donovan replies with certainty. "I'm getting a flight out to DC today. You coming?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Frank replies with a lop sided grin.
July 17th - 12:00pm PST
Navy JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
"Enter." Barks the stern voice of Admiral A.J. Chegwidden. Commander Craig Donovan enters and snaps a salute at the Admiral. Frank Parker walks in behind him and nods his head in greeting. "Have a seat, gentlemen." The Admiral tells them. Then he looks over the pair and sarcastically asks when he sees the National Security Agency identification cards. "What can I do for you?"
Donovan relaxes in his chair and pulls out the Frank Scully file. "I want you to reopen the Franzetti murder investigation, Sir."
The Admiral sits back and asks. "Why do you want it reopened?"
"Because I don't think that Frank Scully killed Franzetti, Sir."
"It's been fourteen years since that case was closed and if I remember correctly, the only suspect is dead. Do you have evidence that would warrant such an action?"
"Yes, Sir." Donovan replies. "Recently, myself, Mr. Parker here, and three platoons of SEALS helped stop the vampire cult serial murders in Los Angeles."
The Admiral perks up at this and demands. "Who ordered you and three SEAL platoons to help in a local civilian matter?"
Before Donovan can speak up, Frank tells the Admiral. "It was ordered through the NSA, Admiral."
"And what does the NSA have to do with a cult of serial killers?"
"They had their hands on a very dangerous device which would have killed a lot of people. We called in the SEALs to help contain the situation. A covert operations group code named Section Seven did most of the work. The SEALs were only there for backup."
"What sort of group would use SEALs as backup?" A.J. asks in disbelief.
"Take my word for it, Admiral. You don't want to know." Frank Parker quietly replies.
Chegwidden, seeing the haunted look in both men's eyes doesn't press the matter, but he asks. "So what does this group have to do with the Franzetti case?"
Both men look at each other and quietly nod their heads. Donovan turns back to Chegwidden. "Frank Scully was there, Sir. He was one of the field commanders for the Section Seven troops."
Admiral Chegwidden sits back and steeples his fingers and lowers his head in thought. After a minute, he looks up at Donovan and Parker and asks. "Why do you think he's innocent now and not fourteen years ago?"
"Two things, Sir. First is this record a friend of mine at the CIA gave me. It contains Scully's activities for the last twelve years."
Chegwidden examines the file. "Most impressive." He comments with respect. "This record shows a man dedicated to protecting this country. What's the other evidence that you have."
"If you'll check the records, you'll find that the only witness against Frank Scully was a Lieutenant j.g. Charles Nashton."
Chegwidden leans forward and asks in a low, angry tone. "Commander, don't try and pin the Franzetti murder on him without some concrete evidence."
Donovan nods and begins to point toward some. "Franzetti and Nashton were up for the same duty assignment. The assignment carried with it a fast track to a promotion as well as a transfer to a very prestigious posting. The day before Franzetti was murdered, he was told that the assignment was his. You'll find a copy of the orders in the file. The day after he was murdered, Scully was arrested on Nashton's statement. After Scully was convicted, Nashton got the assignment, the transfer and the promotion. Copies of those orders are also there."
Chegwidden reads through the amassed evidence. After he finishes reading it, he reaches for his intercom and orders. "Tyner, get Rabb, Mackenzie, Roberts and Simms in here on the double."
A few minutes later five people walk in and the Admiral looks up in surprise. "Mister Webb? What are you doing here?"
"I came to see about borrowing the Commander and the Major for a case." Webb replies, but he then notices Frank Iverson's file in front of the Admiral. <What the hell is Frank's file doing here?> "But I see that I'm going to have to ask you where you obtained that file."
The Admiral picks up Frank Scully's file and asks. "I take it you know this man?"
"I know Two-Step both professionally and personally, Admiral. What does the Navy want with him?"
"Two-Step? What kind of code name is that?" Rabb asks.
Admiral Chegwidden snorts. <Fly boys.> "Two-Step is the name of a very dangerous snake found in Asia. If it bites a man, he'd be dead before he'd take two steps. How did Scully get that nickname?"
"By being just as deadly as the snake." Webb replies deadpan.
Admiral Chegwidden nods and continues. "Fourteen years ago, this man, Frank Scully was charged with murder. He was arrested and convicted on those charges. He received a twenty five year sentence in Groton, but escaped. Six months later, a body was positively identified as him and the case was closed. Now I find out that this man is not only alive, but is a commanding officer in covert operations unit called Section Seven. Would you care to tell me what the hell is going on?"
Webb's face goes blank as he asks. "Are you certain about his connection to Section Seven?"
"You mean to tell me, Mr. Webb, that you know nothing about this unit? Or this man's participation in it?" Admiral Chegwidden barks out.
"Yes Admiral, Section Seven is unknown to me. In fact, every intelligence agency in the free world is trying to find out who the hell they are."
"May I ask why?"
"They recently hijacked a Key Hole satellite from the NRO."
Every person in the room is quiet as Admiral Chegwidden barks out. "They did what!?"
Webb winces. "Section Seven was somehow able to crack the access codes and take over a Key Hole satellite. They used it for two days, after which they wiped the logs on the satellite and returned it to the NRO."
"Anything else?" Admiral Chegwidden demands.
"They sent an e-mail apologizing for taking it without permission. The e-mail was sent over the NRO's secure system. Which shouldn't have been possible either, but they did it. Whoever these people are, they are very good. Now you tell me that one of the CIA's top operatives is working with them. That makes me very nervous. May I ask how you came across this information Admiral?"
"Commander Donovan and Mr. Parker here were with Scully in Los Angeles, helping with the vampire cult murders."
Webb turns to the pair and asks. "What did Section Seven have to do with a local police matter?"
"The cultists had a biological weapon which they had planned on using on the population of Los Angeles. Section Seven, with the help of the LAPD and the NSA, stopped them." Frank tells Webb.
"So Section Seven is NSA?" Webb asks.
"No. I don't know who controls them, but it's not NSA."
"Their field commander is a piece of work though." Donovan mutters.
"Why do you say that, Commander?" Rabb asks.
"I've never meet a man cold enough to shoot me down without a thought, but care enough for his people to actually lead the charge. That St. Wolf guy was insane."
<It can't be.> "Describe the man, Commander." Webb asks.
"Caucasian, about 6'2", maybe 6'3", brown hair, attitude to max, but his people were willing to follow him to hell and back. One of the other people there, the commander of another covert operations unit--" Chegwidden looks up, but Donovan holds up his hand. "Don't ask Admiral, this group is beyond even your security clearance." Chegwidden angrily glares at Donovan, but nods in agreement and Donovan continues. "Like I was saying, this other covert operations commander knew him from somewhere before and said that he was one of the best that he ever served with."
"Damn." Webb mutters as he opens his briefcase. He takes out a pack of photos and sorts through them and asks. "Is this the man?"
Donovan looks over the photo and sees Webb, Scully and the leader of Section Seven standing together in suits. "Yeah that's him. That's the guy calling himself St. Wolf. What is he to you?"
"One of the Agency's best independent operatives." Webb replies with a grimace. "If you'll excuse me I have to make a phone call. Can I use your office, Rabb?"
"Who are you going to call, Mr. Webb?" The Admiral asks.
"Jack Ryan. I'm going to have to inform him that two of his chief operatives are moonlighting."
"Will anything happen to them?" Major Mackenzie asks.
"I don't know. Frank and Steve have done some major missions for the Agency and saved quite a few lives. If anyone tries anything, a lot of good people will be standing by them."
******
Clayton Webb calmly walks into Rabb's office and closes the door. He takes a moment to lock it, walks over to the desk and quickly dials a number known only to a few people. The phone is picked up on the first ring and a cultured voice answers. "Jack Ryan's office. May I help you?"
"Peterson, this is Webb. Put me through to Jack."
"You got it, Webb."
A few seconds later another voice gets on and asks. "What's wrong, Webb?"
"I just found out that Steve St. Wolf and Frank Iverson are working for Section Seven."
"I already knew about Steve being involved with Section Seven, so Frank's involvement doesn't surprise me. How did you find out about their involvement?"
"Admiral Chegwidden has an interesting pair of visitors." Webb replies and gives Jack a run down on the meeting in the Admiral's office.
"Give them whatever help you can, Clay. I want Frank's name cleared."
"So do I, Jack. So do I." Clay replies as he hangs up the phone. He walks out of Rabb's office and goes back to Admiral Chegwidden's office. He quietly walks in and the Admiral asks.
"So what did your superiors have to say?"
"That Frank Scully is too valuable an asset to leave twisting in the wind. They want me to help you clear his name."
"Is this personal or did someone higher up order you to do this?" Admiral Chegwidden asks.
"Jack Ryan asked and I agreed to help. Frank's one of the few people that I can call friend and know that he'll be there for me, if I need him."
"Why Mr. Webb, I do believe that is the first sentimental thing that I've ever heard come out of your mouth." The Admiral replies with a grin.
"Lock it away in your memory then Admiral, because that is the last time you'll ever hear something like that from me." Webb replies with a tight smile.
July 20th - 7:00am PST, 10:00am EST
Groton Naval Base Prison
Prisoner # 2253234, formerly Commander Charles Nashton, XO of the USS Monroe, walks into the grey meeting room, wondering who would be visiting him. <My entire family disowned me because of that bastard Forrester.> He mentally seethes. <If I ever get out of here, I"ll find him and kill him.> As the guard opens the last door to the meeting room Nashton finally sees who's come to visit him. <What the hell does JAG want with me now?>
Harm watches as the former Commander is sat down in a chair and the two marines stand guard just behind him. Harm walks forward and bluntly asks. "How's prison life treating you Nashton?"
"It could be better, Commander. What do you want?"
"The JAG has recently re-opened a murder case and we want to ask you some questions about it."
Nashton blanches, but he holds firm. "What case, Commander?"
"We're investigating the death of Lieutenant j.g. Antonio Franzetti aboard the Missile Cruiser California. We want to hear your eyewitness account as to the events that surrounded his death."
Nashton's face loses all of its color as he demands. "I won't answer any questions without a lawyer being present."
Harm looks back to his two companions. Major Sarah MacKenzie glares back at the man, hatred in her eyes. Clayton Webb shows only the briefest flicker of emotion as he calmly watches Nashton squirm. "Very well then. We'll get you a lawyer and come back in three hours." Harm replies as he and his two companions get up to leave. As Harm exits the door, he leans back in. "Nashton, if we do find out that you framed Scully, I'll personally request a death sentence for you."
Nashton watches as the door closes and he looks down at his feet and begins to shake. One of the marine guards leans down and asks. "Are you all right?"
"NO!! I am not all right. Take me back to my cell." Nashton screams as he gets up. <How can this get any worse? >
Harm catches up with Mac and Webb. As they make their way to the base JAG office, Webb angrily smacks his fist into his hand. "That bastard setup Frank. I'm going to make him wish he were dead."
Harm and Mac, taken aback by Webb's outburst look at each other. "I take it that Frank Scully's a good friend." Harm asks.
"He and his partner have saved my life on at least two occasions. Frank and Steve are two of the rarest people in my business. They actually care. I owe them." Webb admits.
"They sound like good men." Mac replies softly.
"They are." Webb replies simply as they walk down the corridor.
Several minutes later, the three walk into the Groton JAG commander's office. Harm and Mac stand at attention before the JAG commander, Captain Joshua Denton. Denton steeples his fingers before him and quietly asks. "What can I do for you Commander, Major, Mr. Webb."
Harm lays down the folder in front of him and steps back. "Please read this file, Sir."
"Have a seat." Captain Denton replies as he picks up the file and reads it. After a short while, he puts it down and asks. "What are you planning on doing, Commander?"
"I want him to tell us the truth about what happened to Franzetti and if he framed Scully." Harm replies.
"And then what?"
"Then we proceed from there." Harm replies evenly.
"Why all of this effort for a dead man?" Captain Denton asks, pointing to Scully's picture. Harm and Mac look over to Webb and he nods his head. Captain Denton notices the exchange and suddenly understands. "How long has Scully worked for 'The Company'?"
Webb clears his throat and quietly replies. "Long enough for myself and some very powerful people to consider him to be an asset to national security. Here's a copy of his file."
Denton 'Harumphs' and reads the file after a short while he looks up and asks. "I can see why you're trying to exonerate Scully. He's done a lot scary things for you. Are you sure that Scully didn't commit the murder?"
"You read the evidence that we provided to you. Tell me that you couldn't have gotten Scully off with the evidence that the prosecution presented."
Denton looks down at the file and grins. "A blind man who was drunk could have gotten Scully off. I wonder what the defense attorney was doing?"
Harm grins. "Take a look at who was the defense attorney."
Denton reads the file and just shakes his head in disbelief. "Lieutenant Marcus Riley, the worst lawyer in the Navy." Denton stares at the file further and growls lowly. "The prosecutor was Lieutenant Robert 'Win At All Costs' Fitzpatrick." Denton shakes his head. "Who was the moron who chose these two to represent the Navy and Scully?"
"The file doesn't go into specifics, but according to court records, they were chosen completely at random." Major Sarah MacKenzie replies.
"The poor bastard never stood a chance did he?" Denton replies softly. "No wonder he ran when he did. It was his only option. So what are we going to do now?"
"Find someone to represent Nashton and we'll go from there." Harm replies.
"Very well then." Denton replies as he presses his intercom. "Please have Commander Fitzpatrick come in."
Harm looks over to Mac, who shrugs her shoulders in confusion. He turns back to Denton and asks. "Why are you assigning Fitzpatrick to Nashton?"
"Because I don't want Nashton railroaded and your attitude screams 'String Him High', Commander." Denton replies calmly. "And I want Fitzpatrick to make up for what he did to Scully."
Harm grins. "Very good, Sir. When do you think we can interview him?"
"As soon as Fitzpatrick has a chance to talk to him." Denton replies a Commander Fitzpatrick walks into the office and stands at attention. Denton turns to him and gives him a run down on what he was called in for. Fitzpatrick picks up the file and reads through it. After a few minutes he looks up and snidely asks. "Why are we trying to clear a dead man that I convicted of murder?"
Denton steeples his fingers and looks at the Commander. "Because he might be innocent, Commander."
"He's dead. Why worry about it?" Fitzpatrick coldly replies.
"Because Frank Scully is not dead, Commander." Clayton Webb replies just as coldly.
"Why isn't he in custody then? He escaped from Groton and falsified his death." Fitzpatrick demands from Harm.
Clayton Webb calmly gets up and grabs Fitzpatrick by his throat and shoves him against the wall of the office. He forces Fitzpatrick's head around and, in a voice completely devoid of emotion, tells him. "Frank Scully has done more for this country, while he was a criminal than you have, or ever will do, Commander." Webb then let's the Commander go and Fitzpatrick falls to his knees, coughing.
Fitzpatrick looks up and angrily demands. "I want that man arrested for assaulting a Naval officer!!"
Denton looks neutrally at Fitzpatrick and remarks. "I'm sure that Mr. Webb's superior would be more than happy to hear your complaints against him."
"Who is he?" Fitzpatrick demands.
"Assistant Director Jack Ryan." Webb informs a flabbergasted Fitzpatrick.
"The guy who's going to be the next Director of the CIA?" Fitzpatrick mutters aloud, shocked at the implications. "What the hell does Scully have to do with 'The Company'?"
Denton holds up Frank's file. "You have the necessary clearances. Read this."
Fitzpatrick picks up the file and reads through it. He looks over to Webb and asks. "Is this file real?" Webb simply nods his head. "Shit!" Fitzpatrick replies as he finishes reading the file and hands it back to Webb. As he hands over the file, he apologizes. "I'm sorry that I made that remark." He then turns around and asks. "Captain, I formally request to be placed on Commander Rabb's team. Please chose someone else to defend Nashton."
"You had better have a damn good reason for this Fitzpatrick." Captain Denton growls out.
"Sir. The file clearly states that Frank Scully was one of the mercenaries who rescued a large number of children from a group of kidnappers in Libya."
"That is correct. Why are you bringing it up?"
"One of the kids that he rescued in Libya is my daughter." Fitzpatrick replies softly while looking straight ahead.
Denton looks at Rabb. "Commander?"
Rabb grins, holding out his hand. "Welcome aboard, Commander."
"Thanks. This is just a small payback to Scully for what he did for my Laura." Fitzpatrick replies softly. "She once asked me if the men who rescued her were Navy SEALs. I told her that I didn't know. Now I can tell her that one of them was."
"Now who's going to defend Nashton?" Denton asks.
"Cunningham and Kearney are available." Fitzpatrick replies.
Denton sighs and calls out to his assistant. "Beyers, get Cunningham and Kearney in here on the double." Several minutes later, the two Lieutenants walk in and salute. Captain Denton gives them the bad news and both men give Fitzpatrick a glaring look.
"What's going on, Bob? Can't win this one, so you're chickening out?" Cunningham demands.
"Can't defend him because of personal reasons, Mike." Fitzpatrick replies carefully.
"And why is that?" Richard Kearney demands.
"It is beyond your security clearance, Lieutenant." Captain Denton replies.
Both glare again at Fitzpatrick and Kearney asks. "How long do we have with him?"
Denton looks at his watch. "I'll give you two hours, while Commander Rabb and his team buys me lunch at the officer's club."
Nashton curses as he's lead back to the room where he met with the two JAG officers earlier. As he walks through the door, he sees a pair of familiar faces. He glares at them and demands. "What the hell is going on here?"
Kearney pulls out a chair, reverses it and sits down on it. Cunningham also grabs a chair and demands. "You tell us, Nashton. What the hell do you have to do with the Franzetti murder?"
Nashton sits down and calmly tells the two lawyers. "The man who killed Nashton is dead. There is nothing to talk about."
"Commanders Rabb, Fitzpatrick and Major MacKenzie seem to think there is." Cunningham replies.
Nashton tenses up and slowly replies. "I don't know what they want, but Rabb threatened to have me executed."
Cunningham looks at Kearney and both men nod their heads in agreement. Cunningham looks back to Nashton and demands. "We're your lawyers on this case and we have to protect you, but if you continue to stonewall us, we're not going to be able to do shit for you."
Nashton looks into Kearney and Cunningham's faces and realizes that he had no options left open to him. He sits down and quietly begins. "It all started the night that Scully had taken Franzetti out to celebrate his promotion and transfer. Scully and several members of his SEAL team took him drinking and womanizing. I was on OD duty that night and I was angry at not getting the promotion and transfer. Around two hundred hours, Franzetti walks back up the dock and begins to make his way aboard ship. I was on the foredeck and watched him as he fell down several times, drunk. I continued to watch as he tried to walk up the gang plank and he finally fell over the side of the gang plank and drowned."
Kearney and Cunningham look at each other and just shake their heads in disgust. Kearney turns back and demands. "Why didn't you try to save him?"
Nashton looks down and mutters something under his breath.
"What was that?" Cunningham demands.
Nashton glares at them both and slowly, precisely comments. "I thought that if Franzetti died, I would get the promotion." Nashton cringes under the two lawyer's glare.
"Then why blame Scully for the death if it was an accident?" Kearney demands.
"Because I thought that I might not get the promotion if the Captain found out that I let Franzetti die because of his own stupidity. When I heard that Scully and Franzetti had an argument while they were binge drinking, I told the JAG officers that he was a likely suspect."
"You are one fucking piece of work, Nashton." Cunningham replies, barely holding back his anger.
"You're my lawyers. You're supposed to protect me." Nashton barks back.
"And we will. By having you tell the truth." Kearney replies.
"What?!" Nashton yells out. His face turning red in anger. The two marine guards move in and force him back into his seat when he tries to get up. Nashton looks up into the Gunnery Sargent's face and blanches when he sees the smoldering hatred in his eyes. He turns back to the two lawyers and waits for them to continue.
"Listen, Nashton. From what you've told us, the worse thing they could possibly hang on you is negligent homicide. We'll cut a deal with Commander Rabb's team and you'll serve the sentence concurrently with the one that you already have. The only down side to this is that you'll never come up for parole and you'll have to serve the full twenty five years."
Nashton looks down at his hands and tenses them. <Now I'll never find that bastard Forrester. Damn you Scully for haunting me from beyond the grave.> "If I don't agree to do what you propose?"
"Then Rabb is going to try and hang you out to dry, Nashton." Cunningham replies as he leans in. "Rabb is one of the best litigators in the Navy. His partner, MacKenzie, is almost as good. And, they also have 'Win At All Costs' Fitzpatrick on their team. I don't know who the suit is, but I'll bet you that he is someone important."
"He's with 'the Company'." The Gunnery Sergeant Major replies.
Cunningham looks up. "How do you know that, Gunny?"
The Gunny grins. "Back in eighty nine, I was on Embassy duty in Beirut and saw him pass through. The Syrians tried to kill him a few times while he was there."
"Real bad ass?" Kearney asks.
"The Druze and Hizbulah seemed to think so. Every time he went out something went 'BOOM' in the city. A week after he left, a friend of mine at the British embassy told me that the both groups had lost most of their munitions and weapons stockpiles. Some one had blown them up and our friend in the suit and a guy called the Wanderer were the main suspects."
Kearney grins. "I've heard of the Wanderer. He blew up Saddam's main chemical weapons factory during the Gulf War, while rescuing two of our pilots. The guy's supposed to be one crazy motherfucker. If he's involved with this case, then you'd better pucker up Nashton and kiss your ass good bye."
"He wouldn't dare." Nashton replies.
"Hasn't stopped him before." Kearney replies with a grin, turning to Cunningham. "Did you hear about the raid that guy did in Columbia?" Cunningham shakes his head. "A drug gang kidnapped three DEA Agents and their families. They wanted the DEA to free their leader. Only, the DEA wouldn't deal and the father of one of the Agent's wives calls in a favor with this Wanderer guy and asks him to get his daughter and grand kids back."
"What happened?" The Gunny asks with a grin.
"The Cartel had this fortress in the mountains out side of Medelin, Columbia. The operative word is 'had'. When the Wanderer and whoever else was with him got through, the fortress didn't exist anymore. And neither did the hundred and sixteen Cartel soldiers that tried to stop him."
"What about the families?" Cunningham asks.
"Safe and sound. They arrived in Florida the next day aboard a private plane with enough evidence to get the Cartel leader the death penalty." Kearney replies with a grin as he turns back to Nashton. "Still feeling stubborn?"
"I don't believe that this 'Wanderer' has anything to do with Frank Scully." Nashton replies as Rabb and his team walk back in.
"Any progress?" Rabb asks as he glares at Nashton.
"Some. But we still need more time to talk to our client."
"Before you go." Nashton nervously asks. "I want to ask the suit a question."
Webb looks over to Rabb, who nods. "Go ahead." Webb tells Nashton.
"Are you with the CIA?"
Webb grins. "Only on weekdays and weekends, Federal Holidays, not withstanding."
Nashton stares as Webb calmly stands next to Rabb and MacKenzie. He looks to Rabb, who also grins. "Webb is officially an undersecretary with State."
"Who constantly gets us into very strange situations." Major MacKenzie replies with a smile.
"Who is this Wanderer guy and what does he have to do with Scully and Franzetti?"
"How did you find out about the Wanderer?" Webb demands, his voice just a shade above twenty below zero.
"The Gunny mentioned that you and he worked together in the past." Nashton nervously replies as the Gunny glares at him.
Webb's glare snaps up to the Gunnery Sergeant as he demands. "Do we know each other, Marine?"
The Gunny snaps to attention. "No Sir! I just saw you back in eighty nine when I was working Embassy duty in Beirut."
"And how did you associate me with the Wanderer?"
"One of the British Embassy guards told me that you and the Wanderer were putting the screws to the Hizbulah and Druze."
"And how did he find this out?" Webb demands.
"He heard the British Intelligence officer cursing you two out to his superiors."
Webb face turns red at the implications. "That egotistical moron!! I'm going to kill him when I find him."
"Who are you going to kill, Webb?" Rabb asks.
"Reginald Clease. He was the MI6 agent at the British embassy. No wonder we were almost killed in Beirut. If Two-Step hadn't been backing us up, we would have been dead men."
<Two Step? Oh Shit!! That's Scully's SEAL nickname.> Nashton blanches. "Frank Scully is still alive!?" He croaks out, not believing what he'd just said.
Webb grins as he watches Nashton's face lose all of its color. He leans in and quietly tells him. "Alive and working for me, you piece of shit. Either tell us the truth or we're going to tell him where you are."
"You wouldn't!" Nashton mutters, looking into Webb's flat, dead eyes. <Oh God! He would let Scully have me.> He looks around and realizes that no one in that room would stop Scully from killing him. He begins to blubber and begs. "Please. I'll tell you everything, just don't tell Scully where I am."
"Shut up, Nashton." Cunningham orders. Nashton shuts up as Cunningham turns to Rabb. "If my client exonerates Scully, what are you going to do?"
"It depends on what he did." Rabb calmly replies.
"Hypothetically," Cunningham begins. "He didn't do anything to save Franzetti's life, but didn't do anything to hasten his death."
Rabb growls lowly. "Franzetti wasn't murdered? Then why the hell was Scully charged?"
"You'll have to agree to our terms first." Kearney replies.
"What are they?" Webb demands, while glaring at Nashton.
"He serves whatever sentence concurrently with the one that he's serving now." Kearney replies calmly, keeping a close eye on Webb. <Oh brother, this guy is angry. I hope he doesn't try to kill Nashton.>
"He never comes up for parole?" MacKenzie asks.
"No. He does the full twenty five years." Cunningham replies.
Rabb looks over to his two partners, who nod their heads. "Let's hear it."
Nashton hangs his head as he tells them the entire story. When he finishes, everyone looks at him in disgust. Rabb turns to ask Webb a question, but stops when he sees the anger in Webb's eyes. <Oh Damn! I've never seen Webb this angry. I hope he doesn't do something stupid.>
Clayton Webb watches as Nashton admits to his duplicity in setting up a young junior grade Lieutenant for the death of his friend and fellow officer. <I'm going to have this man killed. It's the least that I can do for Frank. This bastard deserves a slow death for the shit that he's pulled.> Webb listens as Nashton finishes his statement and does the only thing he can think of. He calmly walks over and drags Nashton from his chair and slams him against the wall, his hands squeezing his throat. Nashton's eyes become saucers as Webb leans in and harshly tells him. "You ruined a good man's life so you could get a lousy promotion!? I should just kill you now and save Frank the trouble of hunting you down!"
He feels strong arms pulling his hands away. The two Marine guards gently pull him away. Cunningham and Kearney reach down and drag the gasping Nashton back to his chair. Nashton takes a ragged breath and demands. "I want that man arrested for assaulting me."
"Lots of luck of that happening." Fitzpatrick replies sarcastically, remembering what happened to him a few hours ago.
Nashton glares up at him. "What the hell does that mean?"
"It means that I didn't see a thing." Fitzpatrick replies and turns to the Gunny. "Did you see anything, Gunny?"
The Gunny grins. "Not a thing, Sir! Only helping Mr. Webb with a wrinkle on his coat."
Nashton stares in shock. "You can't do this. I have rights!"
"And you'll have the right to keep on living, Nashton." Rabb replies. Nashton stares at him in fear. "If you try to have Webb arrested, then I'm going to try you for Franzetti's murder."
"But, you can't! It was an accident."
"We don't know that." Rabb replies with a satisfied grin. "But when we get you into court the members will have to make that decision. And if they feel that you had something to do with Franzetti's death, then they'll make whatever decision they need to."
Nashton shrinks back into his chair, dejected. "Just take me back to my cell."
"Don't worry, Nashton." Fitzpatrick replies. "You'll be seeing a lot of it for the next twenty-five years."
An hour later, Harmon Rabb looks over his copy of the confession and shakes his head in disgust. He looks over to his partner, Sarah 'Mac' MacKenzie, and mutters. "I can't believe that this man was ever a US Navy officer."
"Believe it, Harm. We can't get all of them."
"But this one is gone." Webb replies gravely and tosses down a sheath of orders.
Rabb picks up the pile of papers from the table and reads them. He looks up, a worried expression on his face. "Are you sure about this, Webb?"
"I'm positive, Rabb." Webb replies evenly.
Harm just shakes his head in disbelief. <Scully must be a close friend for Webb to do this much for him. >
He hands them over to Mac and she reads them over. When she finishes, she looks at Webb, not believing what she'd just read. "You can't send him to Levenworth. We made a deal with him."
"You're deal was that he would stay in jail, not where he served his time." Webb replies softly and evenly, without the slightest trace of anger. "Doing Hard Time in Levenworth is minor compared to what he did to Frank. Actually, he should count himself with the lucky. If I had it my way, I'd just shoot him in the head and toss the corpse in with the garbage."
Harm and Mac shudder, wondering about the man called Scully and how he could have such a hold on Webb. "What do we do now?"
"We go and see Frank and tell him that he's been exonerated."
"What about the charges that he escaped from prison and illegal separation?" Mac asks.
Webb glares at them and softly replies. "If you want me to get a Presidential Pardon, I will, but I'm hoping that after reading his file, that wouldn't be necessary."
"It isn't, but the Admiral has the final say regarding that." Harm replies.
"Don't worry about the Admiral. He'll agree with whatever you recommend."
Harm grins. "Besides, clearing the name of a wrongly accused SEAL always makes him happy."
"What happens now?" Mac asks. "How do we contact Scully?"
"That's not a problem." Webb replies. "I know that he's spending some time at his office. When we get there, you'll probably meet his girlfriend, Cassandra Hastings."
"The fantasy writer?" Mac asks with a grin.
"Are you a fan?" Webb asks.
"I've read every one of her books."
"When you meet her, don't be afraid to ask for an autographed copy. She loves giving them out."
"Oh?" Harm asks with a raised eyebrow. "How many of her books do you own?"
"None. My Mother loves them." Webb replies with a smile. "I got her a complete set of Cassandra's books for her last birthday. Each one had a personal note written on the first page. She loved them."
Harm and Mac look at each other, not believing what they just heard. They both turn as Lt. Commander Fitzpatrick enters the office. "How did it go?" Harm asks.
"Nashton signed the confession. Scully is a free man." Fitzpatrick replies with a smile. "Are you going to see him now?"
"Yes." Webb replies as he grabs up his coat.
"Mr. Webb?" Fitzpatrick asks. Webb cocks his head, waiting for Fitzpatrick's question. "Can I come with you and bring someone with me?"
"Who?"
"My daughter. I called her and told her that I knew where one of the men who rescued her could be found. She wants to go and thank him personally. And I also want to thank him for rescuing her."
Webb looks over to Harm and Mac, both nod their heads in agreement. He turns back to Fitzpatrick. "All right. You and your daughter can come with us. We'll be leaving in about twenty minutes."
"I'll be right back. She's waiting in my office." Fitzpatrick asks as he hurries out.
Webb just shakes his head in disbelief. "I hope that Frank forgives me."
"What for?" Harm asks.
"Frank likes his privacy. Bringing Fitzpatrick and his daughter might piss him off." Webb replies as Fitzpatrick and a young, blond girl walk into the office.
"Commander Rabb, Major MacKenzie, Mr. Webb. This is my daughter, Laura." Fitzpatrick introduces his daughter. The girl shyly smiles and waves her hand in greeting. Mac smiles at her and Rabb grins. "Where are we going?" Fitzpatrick asks.
"I've arranged a helicopter to take us to Frank's place of business. He's there right now."
"Then why is his girlfriend there?" Mac asks.
"She has an office in the building and enjoys writing there." Webb replies as he checks his watch. "If we leave now, we can join them for dinner."
Harm grabs his briefcase. "All right, I hope he knows a good restaurant."
"If he doesn't, Cassandra will." Webb replies with a laugh.
July 20th - 12:30pm PST, 3:30pm EST
Iverson Air Freight Inc., Headquarters
Marine Air Terminal, Jamaica, NY
The Sikorsky Helicopter gently lands in front of a nondescript five story brick building. Webb and his companions exit the helicopter and enter the front of the building. As they enter, Mac notices that everyone had stopped doing what they were doing and were closely observing them. <Damn, it's like walking into an enemy camp.>
Webb grins and opens his trench coat, he reaches in and lays down his gun on the front desk. The young woman, a five foot, two inch, red head, sitting behind it picks up the .380 automatic and sneers. "Clay, how many times have I told you that this pussy gun isn't worth shit?"
Webb doesn't say a word as he walks around the desk, leans in and kisses her. Harm and Mac stare in confusion as the woman wraps her arms around his neck, returning the kiss. Fitzpatrick grins as he looks on. <So the cold bastard isn't as cold as I thought.> Laura giggles when she sees the open shock on the Major and Commander.
Harm clears his throat. "Webb. We're here on business. Remember?"
Webb reluctantly breaks away and smiles at the lovely young woman in his arms. "Heather, is Frank here?"
"Sure is, boyo." Heather replies with a smile, her Irish brogue clearly present. "Him and the Missus is having some practice in the main hall."
"Oh? What are they practicing with?" Webb asks.
"Cassie just gave Frank a three hundred year old hand and half Irish Wolf Sword." Heather replies with a wolfish grin. "They're doing the strip game. If you don't get there quick enough, you'll find them butt naked."
Webb sighs and reluctantly breaks off and walks into the elevator. He turns and looks at his companions. "What are you waiting for?"
"An engraved invitation." Harm replies with a grin.
"Rabb!" Webb snarls out as the three JAG officers and young woman walk into the elevator.
"Touchy, touchy, Webb." Harm replies with a smile as the elevator begins to move up.
"So what is this strip game?" Mac asks with a smile.
"Think of it as Fencing with attitude." Webb replies with a grin as the elevator stops at the third floor and the foursome gets out. Webb watches the JAG officers and Laura as their jaws fall open.
"Oh my God!!" Mac mutters as she watches a bare chested Frank Scully fighting for his life with a dark haired beauty. They watch, in open mouthed amazement, as Frank Scully and the woman feint and slash at each with swords. "My God! It's like they're dancing." Mac softly mutters.
Laura's eyes scrunch up as she recognizes the woman. "Oh God! It's one of the women who was with him when he rescued us."
They watch as the pair quickly trade blows. Mac, Harm, Laura and her Father stare in awe as Frank Scully executes a back flip, landing on his feet, sword extended, catching the woman's slash. Mac grunts in surprise as the woman follows up the slash with a crescent kick aimed at the man's ribs. Scully falls to the ground and does an improvised sweep kick, knocking the woman to the ground. The woman lands heavily and Scully quickly covers her body, knocking her sword away. Scully grins as he ravishes the woman's lips with a kiss. The woman kicks him off and then covers him with her body. Frank looks up at her, grinning. The woman looks down into her paramour's smiling face and wipes the smirk off his face with a deep kiss of her own.
"I should take a hose to the two of you!" Webb yells out with a laugh. Frank and Cassandra quickly separate. Looking around, they spot Webb and his companions. Frank grimaces when he sees the JAG insignia on the Navy and Marine personal's uniforms.
"What's going on, Webb?" Frank demands, sword still in hand.
Webb sighs. "Do you know a Craig Donovan?"
Frank's face turns a bright scarlet. "That stinking bastard!! That low life son of a fucking bitch!! He did it!! He really did it!!"
"Did what Frank?" Cassandra asks.
"Remember that bastard that almost started a fight between our group and those Navy SEALS?" Cassandra nods her head, remembering. "He swore that he would sick JAG on me when it was all over. And the bastard did." Frank angrily grinds out, pointing to the three military officers.
"Frank, honey?" Cassandra quietly tells him as she looks over the group standing by the door. "If they were here to arrest you, then where are the Marines? And why is Clayton trying so hard not to laugh?"
Frank's head snaps up and he glares at his friend, demanding. "What the hell is going on here, Clay?"
Before Clayton Webb can reply, he loses control of his emotions and begins to laugh loudly as Frank stares at him. He quickly regains control and openly grins at Frank. Frank glares at him when Clay tells him. "Gotcha!" Frank continues to glare as two of the officers drop their jaws in shock.
Harmond Rabb turns to Webb, demanding. "Who the hell are you and what have you done with the real Clayton Webb?"
"It's me, Rabb." Clayton tells him with a grin. "I'm getting even with Frank for a prank he pulled on me a few months ago."
Harm, still staring at Webb, calls over to Frank. "Lieutenant Scully, I'm Commander Harmond Rabb, these are my partners, Major Sarah MacKenzie and Commander Robert Fitzpatrick." Harm quickly jumps back as Frank lunges forward with his sword, pinning Fitzpatrick to wall, his blade across Fitzpatrick's throat.
"You bastard!!" Frank angrily hisses out. "You have the unmitigated gall to show up here?"
"I take it that you remember Commander Fitzpatrick?" Harm dryly asks.
Frank glares at him. "Of course I remember the bastard that railroaded me!! I'm going to kick his ass all over the building and then I'm going to kick Webb's ass for bringing you three here."
"Before you do that, read this." Harm replies and looks over to Cassandra as she takes the letter from him.
"Frank, put him down." Cassandra orders. When he doesn't do it immediately, she smacks him across the back of his neck. Frank turns around, glaring at her.
"What?!" He barks out. <Damnit! Cassie's picking shit up from Cordelia.>
"Read this." Cassandra orders. Frank drops Fitzpatrick to the floor and the blond haired girl rushes over to him, helping him up. Frank walks back to Cassandra and reads over the papers she hands over to him. Frank's sword drops out of his hand as he continues to read. When he comes to the last page, he throws the papers to the ground and lets out a scream. "NASHTON!!!! YOU!! MOTHER!! FUCKING!! BASTARD!!"
As Frank's scream dies out, a dozen of his people rush out of the stairway. They stare, their assault rifles and handguns forgotten in their hands, as Frank angrily tears up some papers.
Clay continues to grin as he watches his old friend take out his aggravation on a copy of Nashton's confession. He freezes when he feels a cold barrel pressed against the back of his head. He looks to his side and sees a very angry Heather O'Bannon glaring back at him.
"What did you do to him, Webb!?" Her voice is a low, angry hiss.
Webb smiles at the beautiful woman and softly tells her. "Frank just found out that he was setup by a piece of shit. What he was tearing up was a copy of the piece of shit's confession."
"You don't mean the Franzetti murder?" Heather asks in shock as she puts her gun away. Webb simply nods his head. "Oh God! Frank is royally pissed!" Heather mutters as she watches Frank scream to the Gods above.
Frank reads the four pages that Cassandra hands him and the words don't make sense to him. <Franzetti died because he fell off the gang plank? How?> He continues to read and his rage builds to a seething level. He continues to read the confession until his anger boils over and he screams to the heavens. "NASHTON!!!! YOU!! MOTHER!! FUCKING!! BASTARD!!"
Mt. Olympus
Palace of Artemis
Artemis feels a sudden surge of pure anger and hatred from someone close to her. She quickly walks over to her pool of reflection and checks in on her devotees in Sunnydale and Washington. She doesn't see Dana and quickly searches for her. She finds her in a small city on the African continent and breathes a sigh of relief seeing all of them safe and sound. She feels another flash of anger and quickly locates it in New York City. She wonders who could be calling her there as her pool opens, showing a truly angry Frank Iverson and a worried Cassandra. <Of course. Frank and Cassandra.> She quickly flashes over to Frank's building and stands there, phased out of time. <I'll wait here and make sure that he doesn't do anything stupid to himself or anyone else.>
Frank stares at the torn up papers scattered around the room. Tears begin to form and he openly weeps. <All of the pain, the suffering, that piece of shit Nashton did to me. Uncle Bill wouldn't have disowned me. I wouldn't have lost Claire and she wouldn't have lost our baby.> He looks up and sees one of the main causes of his pain, Fitzpatrick. <Killing him won't bring back Claire or the baby, but it's a good start.> Frank picks up his fallen sword and stalks toward Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick watches Frank closely and can understand the pain that he was going through. <If my life had been taken away by a piece of shit like Nashton, I'd be angry as well.> He hugs his daughter to his chest, preventing her from watching as Frank's anger builds to the boiling point. Fitzpatrick looks down at his daughter for a second. When he looks up, he sees Frank rushing him with sword in hand. He quickly pushes Laura away and tries to block the swing, but realizes that he would be dead in seconds.
Harm watches as Frank picks up his sword and rushes Fitzpatrick. Harm quickly moves to tackle Frank, but he's blocked by Laura, who's been thrown out of the way by her Father. Harm crashes to floor with Laura. Mac also tries to rush Frank, but the tangled heap that is Laura and Harm trips her up. She also falls.
Frank slams Fitzpatrick against the wall and swings the sword back for a decapitating blow. As the sword swings back, its blocked by another blade. Frank looks over, expecting to see Cassandra, but instead sees a strange woman wearing a brown leather blouse and skirt. He grimaces and slides his sword away from her blade and lashes out with a snap kick to her midriff. He angrily curses as his foot sends up shock waves up his leg. "Who the fucking Hell are YOU!?"
Artemis grins openly. "I am Artemis."
"Fuck!!" Frank growls out, realizing who he was facing. "How the hell did Steve know!? He's not a fucking psychic!"
Artemis gives Frank a genuine smile. "I always watch over those who I deem worthy of my gifts and blessings."
"I'm not one of your pet Amazons!" Frank barks out as he tries to swing his sword towards Fitzpatrick again.
Artemis blocks his sword and quietly tells him. "No, but Cassandra worships me and it's for her that I stand here."
Frank straightens himself and looks the Goddess in the eye. Each statement he utters is like the blast of a shotgun. "What I do to myself is none of your fucking business! You didn't live through a trial that was rigged to hang me! You didn't lose the love of the man that I considered a Father! You didn't lose your wife and child!"
Artemis glares at Frank. "And what have you done with your life after this disaster? How many times have you saved the world? How many times have you helped beat back the forces of evil? How many innocent lives have you personally saved? What of the woman that loves you now? Where is she in this blind thirst for vengeance? What will happen to her when you are arrested for murder? What will happen to the people who look to you for leadership?"
Frank is staggered as each sentence is spoken. His anger slowly ebbs away as Cassandra hugs him from behind. He lets his sword fall to the ground, forgotten.
Artemis' glare softens as she tells Frank. "Know this Frank Iverson. The man that you call Father is proud of the life that you made for yourself and all of the good that you have done in the world. He feels proud to have called you his son. Your wife is also proud of the accomplishments that you have made and the love that you have found again."
"I wasn't there for her. I could have saved her. I could have saved our child." Frank softly replies as Cassandra holds him tighter.
Artemis sadly shakes her head. "She knew she was dying, Frank. She made her family swear never to tell you because she knew you would come out of hiding to be by her bedside. She sacrificed her last moments with you, so that you would remain free."
Frank looks into Artemis' eyes and sees the truth in them. He walks over to Fitzpatrick and apologizes. "I'm sorry that I lost it back there."
"It's understandable, Scully. If I had been in the same situation, then I would have done the same thing." Fitzpatrick replies as he holds out his hand. "I came here to apologize to you for what I did."
"You're a better man than I am, Fitzpatrick." Frank mutters as he shakes his hand.
"No I'm not. I should have seen the set up, but I wanted to win. I have to learn to stop doing that." Fitzpatrick replies with a grin. "Or someone will cut my head off one of these days."
"Pardon me." Webb asks politely, but really demands. "But who the Hell is this woman and how the Hell can she appear like that?!"
Frank glances at Artemis who gives him a warm smile. "Go ahead, I can use the laugh."
Frank turns back to Webb, who's now impatiently tapping his foot on the floor. He gives his old friend a devil may care grin. "Clayton Webb, allow me to introduce you to Artemis, the Patron Goddess of the Amazons. Artemis, allow me to introduce you to Clayton Webb of the Central Intelligence Agency."
Webb and the JAG officers just stare in shock as Artemis laughs loudly and disappears. A, "Well done, Iverson." echoes behind her.
Webb angrily turns back to Frank and Cassandra, who are both now laughing. "A jokes a joke, Frank. How did you do that?"
"Sorry, Clay. But the Lady's no joke. That was the REAL Artemis." Frank replies with a grin.
"How?" Webb stammers out.
"Thank Steve for it. She's keeping an eye on some of Steve's people and since we're close to them, she also keeps an eye on Cassie and me."
"What she said about being a Goddess. She can't be." Sarah 'Mac' MacKenzie stutters out, not believing the conversation.
"Oh, but I am." Artemis replies from beside her. Mac quickly turns around and only sees a quick flash and hears a light giggle in the air.
"But getting back to what brought you here." Frank comments, bringing everyone back to the here and now. "What happens to me?"
Fitzpatrick clears his throat and pulls out another sheath of papers. "Your record is being cleared up as we speak and if you want to, you can stay in the Navy with the rank of Commander."
"What about my family?" Frank asks.
"Captain and Commander Scully will be informed of your exoneration and the circumstances of the past 13 years after the hearing that you have to attend. It'll be up to you to contact your Aunt and any other family members." Fitzpatrick replies.
"Who's the girl?" Frank asks, pointing to Laura.
"This is my daughter, Laura. You met her around seven years ago, in Libya." Fitzpatrick softly replies.
"You're one of the kids that we rescued?" Frank asks Laura.
A very shaken Laura walks up to him and touches his face, while she quietly asks. "I'm sorry for what my dad did to you, Mr. Scully. I hope you don't stop doing what you're doing because of it."
Frank takes her hand in his, telling her. "Your Dad was only doing his job, honey. And, no, I'll never stop protecting kids from animals like those that I saved you from."
"Thank you." Laura tells him as she gives Frank a hug. Frank quietly pats her back, reassuring her.
Harm and Mac watch Frank Iverson closely and wonder about the strange woman who just disappeared. As they walk out of the exercise room, Harm leans over, asking. "What do you make of Scully?"
"In two words?" Mac asks, Harm nods his head. "Incredibly weird. Think we should call in those people Bud once mentioned?"
"The FBI's X-Files Division? I think we should. Something like this is right up their alley." Harm replies as he watches Frank walk over and pick up his clothes.
July 21st - 7:00am PST, 10:00am EST
Navy JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Harm hangs up the phone and shakes his head in disbelief. "What's wrong?" Mac asks.
"The entire X-Files Division is away on a case. A Director Skinner told me that they wouldn't be back for several days."
"Any way to reach them in the field?"
"Nope."
"What could they be working on that we can't get in touch with them?"
"Director Skinner said that it was a matter of national security and he wasn't at liberty to tell us."
"Don't let Bud hear you say that." Mac replies with a grin. "He'll be all over it."
"I'll be all over what?" Bud asks as he walks into the office.
"The entire X-Files Division of the FBI is away on a mission that's been classified top secret." Harm replies with a chuckle as Mac raises her eyebrow at him.
"Wow!" Bud exclaims in surprise. "Want me to find out what they're up to?" Harm shrugs as Mac nods her head. Bud beams and quickly leaves.
Harm looks at Mac with a questioning look. "Do you think he could find out what they're up to?"
"I seriously doubt it." Mac replies with a smile. "But he does like that stuff."
Bud grins as he quickly walks to his office and closes the door behind him. He picks up his cell phone and puts on a scrambler unit. He quickly dials a Washington DC number and a familiar voice answers. "What is it, Bud?"
"Frohike, where are Mulder and Scully?"
"On vacation. What's up?"
"Skinner just told Rabb and MacKenzie that they were on a mission."
"Shit!" Frohike mutters as he picks up another phone. "Hold on a sec, Bud."
Frohike hits the speed dial on his cell phone and asks. "Walt? Where are Mulder and Scully?"
"Helping out St. Wolf and Summers. Something about a mutated form of Ebola that will destroy humanity if it's let loose."
"Do they need any help?" Frohike asks.
"No, St. Wolf called in a few friends. They're helping out."
Frohike shakes his head in awe. "God, Skinner. How many favors can this guy call in?"
"As many as he needs, Frohike. I don't think any one of his 'friends' ever counts the favors St. Wolf calls in as paid in full." Skinner replies as he hangs up the phone.
<A mutated form of Ebola?> Frohike shudders in fear as he picks up Bud again.
Bud waits patiently until Frohike comes back on. "Bud, I can't talk about what they're doing."
"Why not?"
"Because it deals with a Covert Ops group that they occasionally work with. And believe me when I say this, these people are on the side of the angels."
"Isn't that an oxymoron?"
"Not with these people." Frohike replies. "Bud, just let it go. What they're doing is saving the world, again."
Bud walks back to Harm's office and sits down. He stares at the desk, his face an open book of confusion. Harm and Mac stare at him as he tells them. "Mulder and Scully are on a classified mission and not even the Lone Gunmen can talk about it."
"That's normal, Bud." Mac replies softly.
Bud shakes his head. "You don't realize something, Major. These guys love blowing the cover off of covert ops groups. When even THEY won't go near a group, you have to wonder who the hell they are."
"Are they scared of this group?" Harm asks.
"That's the strange thing, Sir. Frohike sounded like he respected them. In fact, Frohike said that this group was on the side of the angels."
"Who's on the side of the angels?" Webb asks as he walks in.
"Some covert operations group that the FBI's X-Files Division is working with." Bud replies. "They're supposedly on a classified mission with them now."
"All right," Webb softly mutters. "that makes no sense at all. Let me make a phone call. Is it all right to use your office, Major?" Mac nods her head and Webb leaves Harm's office.
"Hello...this is Webb."
"What do you want, Webb?" A gravely voice demands.
"I'm looking for the X-Files Division. Who are they working with?"
"An old friend of yours."
"St. Wolf?"
"Yes and Section Seven."
"What are they working on?"
"Ryan will have a complete report. But let's just say that the fate of the human race rests in their hands."
"That bad?"
"When the Wanderer is involved? When isn't it?"
"True. Thanks for the information." Webb replies as he hangs up.
Harm, Mac and Bud watch as Webb walks back into the office and he sits down. All three watch him and wait. Finally, he speaks. "They're trying to save the world. That's all I know."
"Webb, why don't I believe you?" Harm replies.
"Believe me or not. That's all I can tell you." Webb replies as he crosses his legs. "What about Frank? He's the reason that I'm here."
"The Admiral has convened a set of members who are at least Flag level in rank. He feels that they would be the most understanding of Scully's predicament."
"Plus all of them have the proper security clearances to read his files." Mac adds in with a smile. "It certainly is impressive."
"Get ready to get even more impressed." Webb replies as he pulls out three more files. "These are from my counterparts in Britain, France and Russia. They also want Frank cleared." Mac looks on the thick folders in shock but eagerly takes all three. Webb then pulls out two more folders. "These are Frank's files from the DEA and Interpol." Harm takes these and notes their thickness.
"What sort of work was he doing for the DEA?" Harm asks he begins reading.
"Read the reports and they'll speak for themselves." Webb replies softly as he gets up. He looks down at Bud. "Lieutenant, while I like you, you don't have the clearances to be here with these files. So please leave with me." Bud nods his head and follows Webb out. Harm and Mac are too engrossed in the files to notice.
An hour later, Mac looks up from her file and watches Harm's face as he concentrates on the records of the man that he was defending. "Harm?" Harm looks up from his file and blinks several times. "Want some tea?" Mac asks quietly.
"Yeah, tea would be good right now." Harm replies as he sits back in his chair. He continues to look at the file in front of him in wonder.
"Want to talk about it?"
Harm sighs. <She knows me so well.> "Yes, I do." Harm replies as he stretches. "Scully's files are incredible. How was he able to do everything that the files say he did?"
"What's incredible is that he's still alive and in one piece." Mac replies as she picks up a page. "Look at this. He actually landed a Lear Jet in the middle of Tehran! How insane is that?"
"Here's a better one." Harm replies with an pilot's envy. "He stole back an advanced fighter jet for Xanatos/Stark. He actually flew the plane out of a Russian Mafia hideout, blowing up the hideout in the process."
"And all of these 'charity' cases." Mac mutters softly. "Rescuing kidnapped children from foreign countries. Hunting down serial killers across the world. Helping deliver emergency supplies to disaster areas."
"Yeah, that's something that I can't believe. Most CIA types don't do things like this."
"I know. And from the way Webb is helping on this case. Why?"
"I think that this explains it." Harm replies as he picks up a sheet. "According to this, Scully and his partner, St. Wolf pulled Webb out of a Chinese prison. Both were ordered to leave him there, but they went in anyway, against orders."
"And this." Mac adds in as she reads a short passage. "Webb's Mother and a dozen tourists were captured by a Muslim extremist group in Egypt. Scully and St. Wolf got all them out without any losses."
"Take a look at this." Harm mutters in shock. "Scully was arrested and slated for execution in Afghanistan when he got caught rescuing some kids. Webb hired a mercenary named Casey 'El Katil' Romaine to help rescue him."
"Harm? Did you just call that mercenary 'El Katil'?" Mac asks quietly.
"Yes, I did. What does it mean?"
"It's Bedouin. It means 'The Killer'. That's not an easy title to get."
Harm grins. "Looks like Webb has some very interesting friends. I wonder who gives them their nicknames?"
"I wouldn't joke, Harm. The Bedouins take that title very seriously. And I think I may know where to get some information on him." Mac mutters as she turns Harm's phone to her. She quickly dials a memorized number and a voice answers.
"Baghdad Restaurant. May I help you?"
"Is Mr. Rashman in?" Mac asks politely.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"Tell him it's Sarah MacKenzie."
A minute later an aged voice picks up the phone. "Sarah? What can I do for you?"
"Abdullah, I need some information on a man."
"And this man is?"
"A mercenary named Casey Romaine." Mac replies and waits for her old friend to tell her. When the silence stretches. "Abdullah? What's wrong?"
"Why do you want to know about this man?" Abdullah whispers.
"It's concerning a case that I'm working on."
"Come down to the restaurant and I'll tell you what you need to know." Abdullah replies as he hands up.
Mac looks at Harm. "Abdullah wants us to go to his restaurant."
"All right. I could use some wild rice with lamb." Harm replies with a grin.
******
July 21st - 8:15am PST, 11:15am EST
Baghdad Dreams Restaurant
Falls Church, VA.
Harm and Mac step into the dimly lite room and stare around them. "Not that busy today." Harm asks.
"No, Mondays are usually very slow." Mac replies as she walks forward and sees Abdullah sitting at his usual table. She and Harm sit down opposite the old man and he quietly asks.
"Why are you searching for one who should not be found?"
"And why shouldn't this man be found?" Mac asks. Harm just watches the old man carefully.
"Because he is 'El Katil', 'The Killer'. None who have faced him or his allies have survived."
Mac looks at Harm and he nods his head for her to go forward with the conversation. "Why is he called 'The Killer'?"
"To face him is certain death. No one is powerful enough to stop him. And if they do succeed, then they would face his friends, the Two Step and the Wanderer. Both of whom are just as, if not more dangerous, than The Killer."
"Iverson and St. Wolf sure do get around, don't they?" Harm replies smugly. Abdullah's eyes pierce Harm like a hawk would a sparrow.
"Why do you speak names best left unspoken?"
"Because we have to deal with them." Harm replies.
"Then I pity you. For to deal with those three is to deal with Destiny and dance with the Fates."
"Even if we're clearing Two Step for a crime that he never committed?" Mac asks.
"You seek to do one them a kindness?" Abdullah asks in surprise. Harm and Mac both nod their heads. "Then the kindness will be returned to you a hundred fold. Few, who are not their friends, seek to honor them or care for them. Most seek to destroy them for what they are."
"What are they?" Mac asks in surprise.
"One is One of the Nine, a General who will lead humanity's armies in the coming trying times. Another is the path to the future true Son of God and the last is a common man who follows and fights because it is right and just."
"Who is what?" Harm asks.
"That I cannot tell you. But know this. Humanity's Destiny revolves around those three and their friends like the moon around this Earth."
"Anything else?" Harm asks as he watches the old man closely.
"Yes, screw with these men and I'll kill you both." Abdullah replies to a shocked Mac and Harm. He sees the shock on Mac's fine features. "Sarah, I consider you almost a daughter, but I will defend those three with my life and my family's lives."
Mac nods dumbly and gets up to leave. Harm gets up with her and Abdullah adds in. "Be careful where you walk with these three. Their enemies are legion, but so are their allies and friends. Get caught between them and you may not survive the experience."
Outside, Mac leans against the building, breathing heavily. "Has he ever threatened you like that, Sarah?" Harm asks worriedly.
Mac shakes her head in the negative. After a full minute of soul searching she looks up into Harm's blue eyes. < Oh God, but I love those eyes.> "I think it's time that we went to see Bud's friends at the X-Files."
"I agree." Harm replies as they walk away from the restaurant. "Do you think Bud can find out when they'll be back?"
"I'm sure that he can." Mac replies with a smile. "He just loves doing that weird stuff.
July 23rd - 6:00am PST, 9:00am EST
Navy JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Frank nervously stares at the Flag level officers who were making up the court of Peers at his Admiral's Mast. He looks over to Harm who only smiles as Judge Owen Sebring calls the case to order. Judge Sebring stares at Harm and requests. "Commander Rabb? Why has this Admiral's Mast been called? And where is the Prosecution?"
Rabb rises and politely tells the Judge. "Your Honor, this is a special case. There is no prosecution. I will present the case as it is to you and the Peers and the Peers will make the decision as to Lieutenant Scully's guilt or not. You will make the decision as to his punishment."
"Lieutenant Scully?" Judge Sebring asks. "You do realize that you are allowed a full trial, don't you?"
"I do, your Honor." Frank replies from his seat. "But I feel that the Navy is doing right by me in this case."
Judge Sebring sighs in disgust, wondering what was going on. "Very well, Lieutenant. I hope you know that I don't sentence lightly."
"I know, your Honor." Frank replies softly as he sits back down.
Judge Sebring sighs again, not liking the informality of the proceeding, but makes a decision. <I'll be damned if I allow this court to become a Kangaroo court.> "Very well, Commander, call your first witness."
"My first witness is former Commander Nashton." Harm calls out as Nashton is lead in wearing his prison clothes and a scared expression as he glances at Frank. Nashton is quickly put under oath and Harm hands over his confession into evidence. "Your Honor, I'm handing in exhibit A, former Commander Nashton's confession as to the events of the night of Lieutenant Franzetti's death. He will confirm the veracity of said statement."
The Peers read the statement and several of them glare at the disgraced former Commander. Judge Sebring calls for Order and glares at Nashton. "What did they give you to sign this?"
Nashton gulps and hoarsely replies. "A combined sentence. I'll have to do the full twenty five years with no hope of parole."
"What was the alternative?" Admiral Boone asks from his seat.
"That I face trial for negligent homicide." Nashton replies in anger, glaring at Rabb. "And Rabb promised to get me sentenced to death if I was found guilty. Rabb's friend from 'the Company' promised to hand me over to Scully or his partner, the Wanderer."
Sebring glares at Rabb who doesn't look at all apologetic. "Why do I have feeling that this was just the opening salvo in this case, Commander?"
Rabb grins evilly. "Because I haven't even brought out the big guns yet, your Honor."
Sebring sighs as the Peers chuckle among themselves. "Then continue, Commander." <Maybe we can finish this today and I can get back to my normal duties.>
"My next witness is Lieutenant Commander Teresa Coulter, Pathologist."
`"Why are you calling her, Commander?" Rear Admiral Terence Decker asks.
"She's reviewed the file on the Franzetti murder and can shed new light onto the cause of death." Harm replies as Commander Coulter takes the stand. She's quickly sworn in and Harm asks. "Commander Coulter, you had a chance to review the files on the Franzetti murder?"
"Yes, I did, Commander Rabb." The thirty eight year old Commander replies as she pulls out her notes.
"Could you please tell us, in your opinion, the cause of death?"
"The initial report reads as if someone beat the man to death, but the presence of various items disproves that."
"What items?"
"The tar that was on the clothes is the same type that was used on naval piers to retard decomposition while the pier is submerged. There is also no evidence of point of impact blows, only a single massive trauma to the body."
"Can you repeat that in English, Commander?" Admiral Boone asks.
"Certainly, Sir." Commander Coulter replies. "What is meant by point of impact injuries is that certain areas of the body would have more damage than the rest. Those would be the areas where the body was struck by a hand, a bat, whatever. What this body has is a single large hit covering the entire chest and back areas."
"Could then Lieutenant Scully have caused these injuries?" Rabb asks.
"Only if he threw him between a ship and a pier piling."
"Any other injuries that could be linked to Lieutenant Scully?"
"No. There isn't."
"Do the Peers have any questions?" Judge Sebring asks. They all shake their heads as Rabb asks.
"Then, at this time, your Honor, I ask that Lieutenant Scully be cleared of the murder charges."
"So noted, Commander Rabb." Sebring responds as he turns to the Peers. "Please take this time and convene among yourselves and render a decision." The Peers nod their heads and Admiral Boone asks the other Admirals.
"A verbal vote good for you?"
"Let's make this quick." Admiral Hall replies as he sits back in his chair.
"All in favor of exonerating Lieutenant Scully?" Boone asks as he raises his hand. The remaining five Admirals also raise their hands. Boone quickly counts off and turns back to Sebring. "We vote in favor of Lieutenant Scully, your Honor."
"Obviously." Judge Sebring dryly replies. "What about the other charges? Desertion, Falsifying his own death and escaping from the Naval Prison at Groton?"
"That's why the Admiral's Mast is being held like it is, your Honor." Harm replies as Webb gets up and hands Harm Frank's files. "All of you have the necessary clearances to review these files. But they can't be entered directly into evidence or leave the sight of Mr. Webb."
"And what are these files?" Judge Sebring asks.
"These classified files detail Frank Scully's life for the last fourteen years. They show what missions he's been on and what he's risked for this country during that period."
"This had better be good, Commander." Admiral Hall replies from his chair. "If you think I'm going to excuse a man who just sat on his ass in Langley. . ."
"Frank Scully hardly sat on his ass anywhere, Admiral Boone. Take my word for it." Harm replies with a knowing grin. He sits back down as the Peers and Judge Sebring read through the files, exchanging them around as they finish them. Harm watches Frank winch several times when a Peer looks at him with a glare. "Don't worry, Frank, your record speaks for itself."
"That's what I'm afraid of. Most senior officers don't like loose canons like me."
"I wouldn't worry about it, Frank." Webb replies with an evil grin. "The fix is in."
"What the hell does that mean!?" Mac demands from her seat between Frank and Harm.
"If Frank gets any jail time, Jack Ryan's going to the President with those files and demanding a full pardon from him, or else."
"Are you going to threaten the President!?" Harm demands, not liking the implications.
"No. But at least twenty percent of the Company is going to quit on the spot. I'm sure that the President will understand the implications of that move. As will the Joints Chiefs of Staff."
Harm and Mac both breathe sighs of relief. "That's your ace in the hole? A work stoppage?"
"Yes, that's exactly it." Webb replies with a knowing smile. "Imagine the morning briefings."
Harm and Mac both stare off into space and begin to smile. "The President would be going insane."
"Jack knows it. And Bartlett is smart enough to know it as well."
Admiral Boone looks over the file that was handed to him by Webb and shakes his head in disbelief at the work that Scully had done for 'the Company'. He looks over to his fellow Admirals and sees Decker grimace. "What's wrong, Terry?"
"Tom, this file can't be real. This man has done so many suicide missions that he can't still be alive. No one is that good."
<Man must be an Immortal like Cassandra.> Admiral Hall thinks to himself as he looks over Frank's photos and the man himself. <Man hasn't aged at all.> He looks over to where Cassandra was sitting. <God, but she still looks great, even after all of these years. I'm glad she finally found someone to love who won't wither away and die on her.> He sees that she's looking at him and gives her a knowing wink. Cassandra smiles back and nods her head.
Cassandra looks over to where Craig Hall was looking at her. She thinks back to when she knew him as a Navy Lieutenant flying Phantom jets into Viet Nam. <Oh Craig, I'm glad that you're still alive. But what will you do, knowing what you know?> She sees Hall wink at her and she nods her head in acknowledgment. <What was that about?>
"This file's too good to be true." Admiral Jackson Thompson replies in shock, his grey head shaking in disbelief. He points to a page and begins to read it. "Frank Iverson, code name Two Step, another agent code named Wanderer and nine unknown individuals, using a captured MI-8 helicopter, raided and retrieved four hundred, thirty seven children. Most of them were under the age of thirteen from an armed compound fifty miles south of Tripoli, Libya.
"In the course of this raid, they terminated two hundred seven known pedophiles, ninety three mercenaries and ninety members of the Libyan Special Forces. They were also instrumental in destroying roughly eighty percent of Libya's known air forces." Admiral Thompson looks at his friends and colleagues. "I find that story a bit hard to fathom."
"It's the truth." Admiral Boone replies. "I was the air commander on the Yorktown when they got away from Libya. The Libyans had sent a dozen fighters after them and I had my squadrons blocking for them. I still remember seeing the faces of those children as they deplaned at Orly."
"Was Scully there?" Thompson asks.
"Yeah, he was. A lot of those kids were clinging to him and his group like they were life lines. The dark haired woman sitting behind Scully was also there." Boone replies as he looks over to Cassandra. "I see that they're still together."
"You do know who that is, don't you?" Terence Decker replies with a smile. The other five shake their heads. "If you have a kid who loves Dungeons and Dragons, then you'd recognize one of the main writers in Science Fiction and Fantasy."
"She's a writer?" Hall asks in wonder. "I thought that she was a Spook like Scully."
"Nope, that's Cassandra Hastings, the writer of the Elven Bard series." Admiral Decker replies with a smile.
"My wife loves those damn books." Hall grouses good naturedly. "She says that Hastings and that Tregarde women are the best writers since Shakespeare."
"I sincerely doubt that." Admiral Thompson replies with a smile. "But I wonder what she did during the raid?"
"Probably helped keep the kids in line." Admiral Jacobs replies for the first time as he looks up from the file that he was reading. The grey haired seventy year old Dean of Students at Annapolis shakes his head in disgust as he lifts up his folder. "Frank Iverson and the agent code named the Wanderer planned and led a series of assaults against the Hezbulah and Druze militias in Lebanon, destroying over twenty tons of weapons and ammunition over a week's period.. Why should I feel that Scully should not be alive after this mission?"
"Probably because the entire mission was a suicide run." Admiral Boone replies softly as he glances over to Scully, dressed in a Naval dress uniform. He looks over to his chest and shakes his head at the commendations and awards present that Frank had earned during his military career. "But what I can't understand is why. Why does he continue to help this country when we treated him like a criminal?"
"Best way to answer a hard question is to ask the person directly." Admiral Decker replies. Boone and the rest nod their heads in agreement and they all turn to Frank and Admiral Decker asks. "Lieutenant Scully." Frank snaps to attention. "I have a question for you. Would you care to answer it?"
"If I can, I will, Sir." Frank replies crisply.
"Very good, Lieutenant." Admiral Decker replies as he sits back in his chair. "The question is Why?"
Frank stares at the Peers and glances to Harm and then Mac. Both are lost as Frank asks. "Why what, Sir?"
"Why are you still serving this country after the Navy screwed you over?"
"The Navy did not screw me over, Sir." Frank replies softly. "Nashton was the one who screwed me over. The Navy did it's best to make sure that I had a fair trial and that I had every opportunity to exonerate myself. But I failed to see my lawyer for what he was. A man who was in above his head and I paid the price. He tried, several times, to get himself taken off the case, but the Judge wouldn't let him. I could have requested a new attorney, but I didn't know that then. Everything that happened to me, happened because I let it happen. Lieutenant Riley was working with several other attorneys to get me retried, but I broke out of prison before they could tell me that they had secured a new trial and that I could be exonerated, then."
"So why do you continue to support this country with your life and fortune? You could have disappeared and no one would be the wiser or really care, Lieutenant." Admiral Boone asks.
"You've never meet, Steven St. Wolf." Frank replies with a fond smile. "He wouldn't let me go quietly into the night."
"Who is this St. Wolf?" Admiral Decker asks.
"He is the Agent code named, the Wanderer." Webb replies from the sidelines. "He and Frank work as a team on a lot of missions."
"A real go getter?" Admiral Boone asks. <A real Agency Asshole no doubt.>
"Actually, he's a mean, sarcastic, son of a bitch who has been known to kill a man just for looking at him funny." Webb replies with a smile. "He's also been responsible for saving the world several times."
"Let me guess." Admiral Boone dryly replies. "Agency born and bred? A graduate of what you people call 'The Academy'?"
"Actually, he's a former Green Beret." Frank replies. "A Medal of Honor nominee who has earned two Silver and three Bronze Stars as well as two Purple Hearts. His men would follow him to hell and back, if he asked them to."
"Most impressive." Admiral Boone replies softly. <Another Hero type. Webb certainly knows how to pick good men for his agents.> "And why does he work for Mr. Webb, then?"
"Steve and I are what are called 'independents', Sir. We work for whom we want to, when we want to. The CIA can't order us on any mission."
"So that's why you have files from the French, British, German and Russian governments?" Admiral Hall angrily asks. "You two are mercenaries looking for the biggest paychecks!?"
"No, Sir!" Frank just as angrily replies. "We have never held back our services because someone couldn't pay us. You can see by the number and type of missions that the both of us have worked on that we don't care for the money, only helping people who need help. Call us Boy Scouts, call us crazy, but we are *NOT* mercenaries out for the biggest buck!"
"And why not?" Captain Sebring asks from the bench.
"Would mercenaries risk their lives to rescue children from a group of pedophiles!? Or fight their way into and out of Libya, with the same children? Would a mercenary face death because a mother asked him to rescue her daughters from a hell hole Muslim country where she would only be a man's property and probably treated worse than his camel?"
"How much were you paid for those missions?" Admiral Hall asks.
"The Libyan mission? Nothing. I never made a penny on that one. Rescuing those girls in Iran? Their families agreed to pay my expenses which they still haven't, nor will I push them. Money doesn't matter to me or Steve. We could care less if we ever got rich doing what we do. It's the mission that counts, Sir!"
The six Admirals look at the man who stood at attention in front of them. They all nodded their heads in agreement. Here stood a man who's body language and attitude screamed 'Hero'. Just because he was wanted for a murder he didn't commit, didn't stop him from doing his best and showing the type of man that the Navy hoped to turn out. The Admirals turn to each other and Boone asks. "Well? What are we going to do?"
Decker looks at Frank and nods his head. "Drop all of the charges. He's more than earned the right to be a free man. Even if he did commit the murder, after reading his files, I'd be hard pressed to convict him."
"I agree." Admiral Hall replies softly. "This man and his partner have done some damn scary things for this country and our allies."
"So, we're all in agreement then?" Admiral Boone replies as the five other Admirals nod their heads in agreement. Boone nods his head and rises from his seat. He looks at Captain Sebring, who overheard the decision and smiles as Boone clears his throat. "Lieutenant, junior grade, Frank Scully." Frank stands at attention. "We've reviewed your files and find that the charges should be dropped." Frank breaths a sigh of relief as Boone continues. "Welcome home, son. I hope that you'll decide to stay in the Navy. We can always use a man with your skills and abilities."
Harm and Mac both jump up and congratulate Frank. Cassandra grabs him up in a bear hug and Frank grins as she kisses him. Harm slaps him on his back in congratulations and Webb walks forward and gives Frank a brotherly hug. Frank hugs Webb back and hoarsely tells him. "Thanks, Clay. For everything."
"Don't thank me, Frank." Webb replies. "Thank Craig Donovan and his partner, Frank Parker for starting the ball rolling. They pulled most of it together and presented it to Admiral Chegwidden."
"How do I get in touch with Craig and his partner?"
"I'll get back to you on that." Webb replies with a knowing smile. "But you'll have to go and see Admiral Chegwidden first."
"Why do I have to see him?" Frank asks.
"Because he wants to talk to you, Lieutenant." Harm replies with a grin. "Don't worry, his bark is a little worse than his bite."
Frank grins as he turns to leave the court room. At the door, the six Admirals and Captain Sebring stand and snap him a salute. Frank, standing at perfect attention, returns it. He stiffly walks up to each man and thanked them for their time and effort on his behalf. "Admiral Boone, I wish to thank you and the other Peers for exonerating me."
"Nothing to thank, Lieutenant." Admiral Decker replies with a smile. "Anyone who could have survived all those missions deserves a second chance. Besides, I think Mr. Webb would have had you out of prison faster than we could put you back in one."
"You have no idea, Admiral." Webb replies with a snicker. "Thank you all for helping Frank. He's a good man and deserves to have his life back."
Boone looks at Webb and nods his head in agreement. "Mr. Webb, your reputation doesn't quite jibe with the way you care for Lieutenant Scully. Why is that?"
"Because we've all been there, Admiral. Frank, Steve and I. We've fought together, bled together and when we've had to, we've killed together." Webb replies seriously. "You can't get closer than that."
"What a band of brothers we make?" Admiral Thompson asks with a smile. <Damn, but they're close. I've seen that in a few military units, but never a group of Spooks.>
As Webb, Frank, Cassandra, Harm and Mac walk away, Harm asks. "What would St. Wolf have done if we sent Frank to prison?"
"Three things." Frank replies, knowing Steve. "First, he'd call in every favor that he could to get me out legally."
"And if that didn't work?" Mac asks.
"He'd try to blackmail the people in power."
"And if that didn't work?" Harm asks.
"There wouldn't be a prison left." Webb replies for Frank. "St. Wolf is one of the most caring men that I know, but he will move heaven and Earth to get Frank free. And prison walls wouldn't stop him from getting Frank out."
"Sounds like a very dangerous man." Harm replies quietly.
"Believe me, Commander. You can't imagine how dangerous Steve can be when he needs to be." Frank replies as they approach Admiral Chegwidden's office.
Tyner looks up from his papers and tells them. "Go right in, Commander, Major, Lieutenant, Miss Hastings, Mr. Webb. The Admiral's expecting you."
"Thank you, Tyner." Major MacKenzie tells Tyner as she passes his desk.
"You're welcome, Ma'am." Tyner replies as he continues to look down at his paperwork as they pass.
The five enter as a group into Admiral Chegwidden's private office and the three Naval officers snap to attention as the Admiral looks up from his paperwork. "I take it that the Admiral's Mast went well?"
"Yes, Sir." Harm replies with an easy grin as the Secretary of the Navy gets up from the chair that he had been sitting in. The Sec Nav glares at the three officers and Webb, but he walks over to Frank and stiffly tells him.
"Admiral Chegwidden has a written apology from the Navy to you, Lieutenant Scully. You will also find your General Discharge papers in that envelope as well." The Sec Nav turns to Admiral Chegwidden. "If that's all, A.J.?"
"Yes, that is all, Mr. Secretary." A.J. replies as the Sec Nav quickly leaves the office.
As the door closes behind him, Frank mutters. "You'd think that he just did something that didn't agree with him."
"He did. He was almost ready to refuse your letter of apology, but I pointed out your rather interesting career and how many times you've pulled the present and previous administration's asses out of the fire. He didn't like being reminded that he owed someone for those 'favors'."
"Politicians are the same everywhere." Frank mutters under his breathe. "Whether it's in the Capital of the United States, a back alley in Moscow or the tent of Bedouin Chieftain. They don't like be reminded that people do things for them."
"That's the truth." Harm replies as Admiral Chegwidden glares at him. Harm quickly shuts up.
"Lieutenant Scully." Admiral Chegwidden begins. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"You as well, Admiral." Frank replies softly as he sees the SEAL symbol on his chest. "You were in the Teams, Sir?"
"Team Two, Viet Nam, Lieutenant." A.J. replies with a smile. "I commanded Team Two on my second tour in country."
Frank smiles as he realizes just how deadly this aged warrior could be. "Always good to see that the Navy has uses for SEALS out of the Teams."
"Is that a crack about what the Navy does with it's SEALS, Lieutenant?"
"Not really. I just hire a lot of them for my air service. Most of them seem to prefer working for me than any other civilian jobs out there."
"And how many SEALS do you have working for you?" Admiral Chegwidden asks.
"About six hundred SEALS, four hundred Force Recon Marines, a thousand Green Berets and even a few former members of GI Joe." Frank replies with a shrug of his shoulders.
"GI Joe?" Harm mutters. "Isn't that unit just a myth?"
"And so it shall remain!" Admiral Chegwidden replies with a full bore glare at Frank. "That unit never existed, nor were there any members of the military who participated in it. Am I clear!?"
"Sir! Yes, Sir!" Frank replies at attention.
"Very good, Lieutenant." The Admiral replies as he hands over two envelopes to Frank. "The top envelope is your apology and discharge. The next envelope is JAG's official dismissal of all of the charges, including the murder charges. You're a free man, Lieutenant. Congratulations." Frank takes Admiral Chegwidden's hand and shakes it. "Now that that's over, what are your plans?"
"I'm going back to my life, Admiral. I still have a lot of work to do." Frank admits. "But it'll be good to see my family again. Where can I find my cousins William and Charlie?"
"Your cousin Charles is in the Pacific, on maneuvers. William is in the Gulf on the Charleston, a missile frigate. I'll make sure that both of them are informed of your return to life."
"Thank you, Sir. I hope it's not too much of a shock to them, especially Bill." Frank replies with a grin.
"Bad blood between you two?" Webb asks.
"When I was arrested and charged for Franzetti's murder, my cousins Dana, Melissa and Charlie came to see me and give their support. Bill was pissed off that my being charged and convicted of murder would ruin his career in the Navy."
"Commander Scully sounds a lot like Nashton." Harm replies.
"Bill is a lot of things, but he's not like Nashton." Frank replies. "He thinks that a man's family makes that man's career in the Navy, so he holds his family to higher standards than he would anyone else." <Like Dana marrying Mulder. Dana said that he's going to be pissed about that one when he finds out.>
"Still, I think that I'll have him quietly checked out by the psychologists. I don't want a repeat of Nashton." The Admiral mutters as he glances at Frank who just shrugs his shoulders as he replies.
"It's your Navy, Admiral. I'm not in a position to argue with you."
"If that's all, Lieutenant, Commander, Major?" All three nod their heads and as Admiral Chegwidden orders. "Very good then. Dismissed!" All five people quickly exit the office and head out.
Frank checks his watch and grunts. "Anyone want lunch? It's on me."
"Sounds good to me." Harm replies with a grin as he looks at his smiling partner. <Damn, but Mac looks good smiling like that.>
"I agree. How about the diner around the corner, they make a great cheese burger deluxe." Everyone hears Harm groan. Frank turns to him.
"What's wrong, Harm?"
"They make lousy salads." Harm mutters. "And their food is very greasy."
"Gods, Flyboys are real pansies when it comes to their stomachs." Frank mutters under his breathe. "If you had to eat what we had to eat to pass survival training, then you'd be happy for a decent greasy spoon."
"No, I wouldn't." Harm mutters as the four leave for lunch.
July 24th - 6:30am PST, 9:30am EST
Scully Home
Bethesda, MD
Frank stands on the sidewalk in front of the house that he grew up in. He pulls at his shirt collar and nervously looks around. He feels a warm arm wrap itself around his waist and he looks down into Cassandra's eyes and smiles. "She's not getting any younger." Cassandra murmurs.
Frank sighs. "I know, but how do you explain to a woman who loved you like a son that you didn't die when she thought you did."
"Frank, if she loved you before, she'll love you now." Cassandra replies as she pulls him forward and Frank stares at the doorbell. He swallows his fear and rings the bell.
A few minutes later, a dark haired woman in her mid to late fifties opens the door and asks. "Yes, can I help you?" She looks at Frank and quickly puts her hand to her face as she quietly utters. "Oh God! Frank? You're alive?!"
Frank grins sheepishly. "I can explain everything, Aunt Maggie."
Margaret Scully's eyes flash as she grabs her nephew by his ear. "You bet your ass, you will, boyo." Maggie growls as she leads Frank into her house. Cassandra follows with a wide smile on her face. As she enters the house, she watches Maggie Scully dress down Frank.
"What the hell is going on in that thick Scully head!? Don't you realize that the Navy will arrest you for showing up here? Why haven't you contacted me sooner? And who is this woman?"
As Frank tries to answer her questions, Maggie Scully turns on Cassandra and demands. "Who are you?"
Cassandra holds out her hand. "I'm Frank's girlfriend, Cassandra."
Maggie glares at her, trying to remember where she saw her before. "Where do I know you from?"
"Cassie. . .urk!" Frank begins and quickly shuts up when Maggie pulls on his ear.
"I didn't ask you, Frank Scully. I asked her." Maggie angrily tells him.
"You may have read some of my books. My full name is Cassandra Hastings." Cassandra replies with a smile.
"The fantasy writer?" Maggie asks as Cassie nods her head with a smile. Maggie turns back to Frank. "At least you still have good taste in women."
"Yes, Aunt Maggie." Frank replies softly, but winces when Maggie twists his ear.
"You should think more with your head, not your pants." Maggie tersely replies. "Now, why the hell are you here!?"
Frank gulps. "I've been cleared. The Navy knows that I didn't kill Franzetti."
Maggie grabs Frank in a hug. "How?"
"An old friend of mine was able to find the real person responsible for Jake's death. The JAG gave me these." Frank replies as he hands over his General Discharge papers and the letter of apology from the Secretary of the Navy. Maggie quickly scans them and then glares at Frank.
"These were dated two days ago. Why the hell didn't you come by sooner!?" Maggie demands.
"I had to straighten out some things, Aunt Maggie. The JAG wanted me to stand trial for breaking out of Groton."
"What happened?" Maggie demands.
Frank grins evilly. "Another friend of mine told the Judge and the peers that I was working for the CIA for the last twelve years and entered my record. The Judge looked through it for an hour and then dropped all of the charges against me."
Maggie smacks him on the back of his head and mutters. "Smart ass." Then she hugs him to her bosom. "But I'm glad to have you back Frank. I can't wait to tell Dana, Bill and Charlie that you're still alive."
"Dana already knows, Aunt Maggie." Frank replies.
Maggie glares at him, demanding. "And how long has my daughter known that you've been alive?"
"Since February." Frank replies softly.
"And why hasn't Dana or Fox arrested you?" Maggie demands.
Frank grins. "Well, Steve and I sorta Shanghaied Dana and Mulder for a mission we were on."
Maggie sighs and shakes her head in disbelief. "And what was this mission?"
"Sorry, Aunt Maggie, that's classified." Frank mutters softly.
Maggie now grins evilly. "Tigger, please come out." Frank stiffens as an orange colored cat saunters into the room, looks at the both of them and yawns.
"Oh Shit! You know?" Frank asks as he recognizes the Guardian.
"I know everything, Frank Scully. So don't bullshit me."
"How did you find out?"
"Some fool tried to attack me in my own house while Tigger was staying here." Maggie giggles. "You should have seen the poor man's face when Tigger changed."
Frank and Cassandra both laugh. "I bet." Frank replies. "But why were you attacked, Aunt Maggie?"
"The fool thought that Fox and Dana left behind some papers that he wanted."
"Did they?" Frank asks.
"Of course not. Fox and Dana wouldn't place me in danger."
Frank relaxes. "And they left Tigger behind to watch over you?"
"They did. Do you know where they are? I haven't heard from Dana in the last three days."
"Last I heard they were in Chad with Steve and Buffy." Frank replies with an evil smile. "Steve was paying a little visit to our old friend Momhamar."
Maggie shakes her head in disbelief. "What are they doing in Chad?"
"Libya actually." Frank replies, but quickly explains when Maggie glares at him. "Steve got some information that some nutcase terrorist was going to kill off humanity with a mutated form of the Ebola virus. He took a team in to take them out and Mulder and Dana went with them."
"And who is this 'Steve'? And how can he just take Fox and Dana into a foreign country?" Maggie demands.
"A pain in the ass boy scout." Cassandra replies with a laugh.
"Boy scout?" Maggie asks. "Why do you call him a boy scout?"
"It would take all day to explain." Cassandra replies with a laugh.
"I'm not doing anything for the rest of today." Maggie replies as she sits down on her couch and points Cassandra to a spot next to Frank.
Cassandra sighs. "How do you explain Steve?"
"Why don't you tell her how he Shanghaied you into that first mission?" Frank replies with a grin. Cassandra glares at him.
"Does she know everything?"
"If you mean about Immortals, yes I do." Maggie replies with a smile. "And that Dana and Fox are both Immortal."
Cassandra nods her head in defeat and grins. "No wonder Dana can control Mulder."
"Taught her everything that I know." Maggie replies with a chuckle.
Cassandra sighs. "All right. Steve found me fighting another Immortal in alleyway in Marseilles, France."
"Was this part of the Game?" Maggie asks.
"Dana told you everything." Cassandra comments as she continues. "We were fighting over something that happened a long time ago. Adam had me on my knees and he was asking me to forgive him what he did to me. He also wanted me to give my word that I would stop hunting him, but I was being stubborn to told him that I wouldn't stop hunting him. Adam had raised his sword to kill me, we both then felt Steve's 'Buzz' and saw him walking out of the other side of the alley towards us with my sword in his hand. He asked us to give him a hand with a problem that he had. Adam told him to get out of there."
"What happened then." Maggie asks.
"Steve shot us both in the heart, killing us." Cassandra tells a shocked Maggie Scully. "When we woke up, we were tied to some chairs, waiting for Steve to come back. Frank walked in carrying another 'volunteer' for the mission that he and Steve were planning."
Maggie looks at her nephew. "What were you two doing, Frank?"
Frank grimaces. "Steve and I were putting together a team to rescue a bunch of kids. The kids were going to be sold to some sick freaks as sexual toys."
Maggie sighs and smiles at her nephew. <William would have been proud to see Frank still care enough to help some children.> "Where was this place?"
"Fifty miles south of Tripoli, Libya." Frank replies with a grimace. "The Libyans never knew what hit them."
"What did the Libyans do?"
"Not much. A company of their special forces tried to stop us, but we took them out as well." Frank replies.
"How many children were you able to save?" Maggie asks in disbelief.
"Four hundred, thirty seven children, almost all of them girls under the age of eleven." Cassandra replies softly. "That's when I decided to never play in the Game again. I saw what seven Immortals were capable of doing."
"And what about the rest of your 'team'?" Maggie asks.
"None of them play the Game, except when they're challenged and they usually offer their opponents mercy when they beat them." Cassandra replies with a grin. "I guess that Steve's been a bad influence on all of us."
Maggie giggles. "You make this man sound like he's a God or something."
"He's close enough." Frank mutters with a grin. "He shanghaied me for our first mission back in 1986. After that, I got hooked up with the craziest bunch of bastards in the world."
"Can you tell me who these people are?" Maggie asks, wondering what her nephew was now doing.
Frank grimaces and looks at Cassandra, who softly tells him. "Tell her, Frank." Frank nods his head in agreement.
"All right, Aunt Maggie, but you may not believe me."
"Just tell me, Frank."
"All right. Right after our first mission, Steve hooks me up with this bunch of what I thought were nutcases."
"Why were they nutcases?"
"Because they claimed to be the descendants of the Knights of the Round Table." Frank replies in a disgusted voice. "But I met their commander, a man called Marc Le Chevalier. The man's body language screamed 'Commander'. When he walked into the room, everyone stood at attention, including me. Steve was leaning against the wall and chewing some bubble gum and having a good laugh. Marc walks up to him and glares at him. That glare would have peeled paint from a battleship, Aunt Maggie. But Steve just grinned and blew a bubble in Le Chevalier's face." Franks shakes his head in disbelief at the memory.
"And this man Steve is what exactly in this organization?"
Frank Grimaces. "He's the personal champion of the man who's the leader of this organization."
"And this man is?" Maggie prompts.
"Merlin of Camelot." Frank tells her in a voice barely above a whisper, waiting for his Aunt to explode.
Maggie sighs and glares at Frank. "Frank Scully, I have found out over the last six months that my daughter is an Immortal, she's married to her partner, who's also an Immortal and that they have a cat that can change into a Saber Tooth Tiger when he needs to. So, please continue. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."
Frank grins at her and continues. "Well, to make a long story short, Steve gets me into the Order as a full Knight and his partner. After that, the really weird shit started happening."
Maggie shakes her head in amazement. "And what are Dana and Fox doing with this man, now?"
"Dana and Mulder are friends with Steve and his girlfriend, Buffy and they like to hang out at Steve's house in Sunnydale. In fact, if you can ask Tigger, he'll tell you that Steve was responsible for giving him to Dana and Mulder."
Maggie looks over to a semi-sleeping Tigger and asks him. <Is it true Tigger?>
// It's true Maggie. This Steve guy got a bunch of us for his friends. My brothers and sisters protect their families now. //
Maggie turns back to Frank. "Do you have one?"
"No, I don't, Aunt Maggie. I didn't have any family to protect, other than Cassie. But she can protect herself." Frank replies.
Maggie sighs as she walks over to a book case and removes a photo album. "You're going to have to get one, Frank." Maggie replies as she opens the album. Frank looks down and sees a boy and a girl, around thirteen or fourteen years old, both had dark hair like his and their eyes were like Claire's, the same blue green color. Frank looks up, his mouth open, pointing to the picture. Maggie nods her head. "They're yours and Claire's, Frank. She gave birth to a boy and a girl just before she died. Annette named the boy, William and the girl, Heather."
Frank quickly sits down and stares at the picture, not believing what he just heard. "Where are they now?"
"Claire's Mother took them. I only found out about them last year and only saw them once.. This photo was sent to me after their birthday party a year ago. Annette was livid that a friend of theirs found out about our side of the family and William contacted me to ask about you."
"I thought that Claire died before she could give birth and the baby died with her."
"She didn't. Annette had the doctors remove the babies by C-section. And since you were dead, and she was the closest thing they had to a relative, the doctors gave them to her."
"Damn." Frank mutters as he looks up from the picture. "Do you think Annette will let me see them?"
"She had better!" Maggie replies harshly. "That woman has absolutely no reason to keep them from you."
"She never liked me." Frank replies.
"I know that, Frank." Maggie replies as she takes out her phone book and quickly dials a number. Frank and Cassandra watch as Maggie quickly talks on the phone and puts it down. Maggie sighs. "Annette will bring the children tomorrow. You can meet them then."
"Thanks, Aunt Maggie." Frank whispers as Cassandra hugs him. "What do we do now?"
Maggie looks at the clock and smiles. "Cassandra and I will fix dinner and you'll tell me everything that you've been doing for the last twelve years. After that, you can go to bed. I'll give you, your old room, Frank. You and Cassandra can share it."
Frank grins. "God, Aunt Maggie, you've changed."
Maggie glares at Frank. "Frank, you are an adult and I'm sure that the young lady is older than eighteen. So, I'm sure that you're both consenting adults."
"I'm over two thousand, seven hundred years old." Cassandra replies to a shocked Maggie.
Maggie swallows hard and stares at the young looking woman. "Why Frank?"
"Because he's a good man. I love him and he loves me." Cassandra softly replies.
"What happens when he dies in another thirty, forty years?" Maggie asks.
Frank grimaces. "Aunt Maggie, this may be hard to tell you, but my life expectancy is about three hundred years."
Maggie glares at Frank in disbelief. Frank continues to explain. "Aunt Maggie, I've drunk from the Holy Grail, I've been given an extended life span for my service in the fight against the Darkness. Most Knights, who aren't killed in battle, live to about three hundred, maybe four hundred years."
"You mean that the cup of Christ exists?" Maggie asks in shock as she grasps her crucifix. "This 'Order' has proof that Christ existed and that he was the son of God."
"He existed Aunt Maggie." Frank replies. "One of my friends was there when he was crucified." Maggie stares in disbelief as Frank tells her. "Casey Romaine was there when Christ was crucified. In fact, he was the Roman Legionnaire who stabbed him."
Maggie's eyes glare in pure hatred. "Why are you consorting with that bastard?"
Frank sighs. "Casey never hated Christ, Aunt Maggie. The only reason that he stabbed him was to give him a quick, clean and relatively painless death. Not the long, lingering one that he was given. He felt that Christ was a victim of the religious leaders in Jerusalem and wasn't guilty of anything. Christ probably realized that Casey was being kind to him and cursed him to stay around until his second coming."
Maggie, in shock and disbelief, asks. "And what will this man do when he finds Christ again?"
"Ask him if he can stay around to be with his family." Frank replies quietly. "Casey met and married a woman who's an Immortal. They've been together for the last fifteen hundred years and it doesn't look like they're planning on divorcing anytime soon."
"What has this man done for the last two thousand years?"
"Been what he's always been. A soldier. He's fought in a lot of wars, but he tries to pick the side that will help their people the most. Casey is not evil, Aunt Maggie, just a soldier of his times. And like those times, killing a man quickly was considered a merciful act."
Maggie nods her head in understanding. "And how do you know him?"
Frank grimaces. "One of my first jobs after I escaped was this mission to take out a Columbian drug dealer who had kidnaped a senator's daughter. I was hired to fly Casey's team into and out of the place. Things went to hell on that mission and I risked my life saving Casey's team and the girl. Since then, Casey's been my friend."
Maggie shakes her head in disbelief. "What will you do now?"
"Continue living my life, Aunt Maggie, but I'll be able to visit you now and hopefully my kids."
"Good. You owe me quite a few family dinners. And you start paying them off tonight." Maggie replies with a smile. "You'll be staying for dinner, Cassandra?"
"Of course, Mrs. Scully." Cassandra replies as Maggie gets up.
Maggie grins. "Don't call me Mrs. Scully, Cassandra. You can call me Maggie."
"All right, Maggie." Cassandra replies with a grin. "Can I help fix dinner?"
"Of course you can. And you can tell me what Frank's been up to the last few years." Maggie replies with a grin as Frank groans in mock fear.
July 25th - 7:30am PST, 10:30am EST
Scully Home
Bethesda, MD
William watches his grandmother and sister as they pull up to their Aunt Maggie's house. "Grandma, did Aunt Maggie tell you why she wanted us here today?"
"No, Will. She didn't." Annette Cauldwell replies as she turns off her car. "But it must be important if she asked me to bring you two here this quickly."
"Better be important." Heather grouses. "I was supposed to be with my friends today."
Annette sighs. "Heather, I'm sure your Aunt Maggie is a responsible woman and wouldn't ask for you if there wasn't a pressing need. If she wants to see you and William today, she will." <Bitch threatened to sue for custody of my children if I didn't bring them here today. I wonder what she wants?>
"But Muffy was going to get her nose pierced. I wanted to watch!" Heather whines. <And maybe get it done myself. >
Annette shakes her head and calmly walks up the front steps. When she reaches the door, she calmly rings the bell. A minute later the door opens up and Maggie Scully smiles at Annette as if she was an old friend. "Hello, Annette. I'm glad you could bring the kids on such short notice."
"Not a problem, Maggie. What's the problem?" <Bitch!>
"Come inside and I'll tell you." Maggie replies as she opens the door and lets Annette and the kids in. As they walk in, Annette sees the man standing in the living room and freezes.
"You can't be alive!" Annette hisses in anger and glares back to Maggie. "Why is that bastard here!?"
"To see his children." Maggie replies simply as she crosses her arms and glares at Annette waiting for her to try to leave.
"I'm calling the police." Annette growls as she digs her cell phone out of her purse. No one moves to stop her and Annette watches Frank closely as he doesn't move an inch. She quickly dials '9-1-1' and a police operator answers.
"What is the nature of the emergency?"
"A man wanted for murder is standing right in front of me." Annette replies. "We're at 14 Davenport Street."
"Don't aggravate him. And stay calm. A police cruiser will be there in less than a minute. Is he armed?"
"He's a former Navy SEAL." Annette replies coldly.
Bethesda PD, Emergency Station
Officer Dani Carter stares at her computer and gulps. <Oh Fuck! A SEAL? I hope they make it in time.> "Adam 7-4, this is dispatch. Over."
"Dispatch, this is Adam 7-4. What is it?"
"Be warned, the perp is a former SEAL. I repeat. The perp is a former SEAL."
"You're joking, I hope."
"Caller confirms it. Be careful."
"Roger that. Adam 7-4, out."
"Adam 5-3, backing up Adam 7-4."
"Roger that, Adam 5-3." Adam 7-4 replies as they switch to code 3 and race to Davenport.
William stares in shock at the man standing in front of his Grandmother, not believing what he heard. He turns to her and demands. "Grandma? What are you talking about? This guy can't be our Dad. He died before we were born."
Annette sighs. "He *is* your Father, William. I don't know how he's still alive, but the police will take him away."
"Why are the police going to take him away?" Heather asks in disbelief.
"Because your Father is a murderer!" Annette replies angrily. "He murdered a fellow sailor in a drunken rage! He should not be free!"
Frank sighs and quietly tells Annette. "I was cleared of that murder. And the Navy dropped all of the other charges against me. I came here to see Aunt Maggie and she told me about William and Heather. I wanted to meet them and Aunt Maggie asked you to bring them."
Annette starts at Frank's calm response, not believing it for a minute. "What load of bullshit is this!? How could you be cleared when you were convicted by the Navy!?"
"By having friends that I didn't think I had. They found the evidence to clear me and presented it to the JAG. The JAG re-opened the case and cleared me for the murder."
"Then who killed Franzetti!?" Annette demands.
"Franzetti fell off the boarding plank on his way back to the ship." Frank replies calmly. "The Duty Officer watched him go overboard and did nothing to help him."
"Why didn't the Duty Officer help him?" Annette demands.
"Because the bastard wanted to get the promotion that Jake was celebrating about. He didn't help him because he thought that he would get the promotion instead of Jake, if Jake was dead."
Annette stares at Frank in disbelief. "But why were you convicted of Franzetti's murder?"
"Because that little weasel thought that if he set me up, he was protecting his promotion. He told the JAG that I was arguing with Jake in the bar and the JAG was real gung-ho about scoring points. So I was railroaded."
"Who cleared you?"
Frank shakes his head in disbelief. "Craig Donovan. He was Jake's best friend and a fellow SEAL. We ran into each other a few weeks ago when I was working with a black operations group called Section Seven. He wanted to arrest me on the spot, but Section Seven's field commander put him in his place real fast. After we finished mopping up, Craig left with his SEAL platoon and that was the last I heard of him, until the JAG came to my office and told me that I was cleared of the murder charges."
Annette stares at Frank's face, looking for any hint of a lie, but sees that there isn't any. She shakes her head in resignation and begins to speak. But the sound of knocking from the front door stops her.
Fred Connors parks his squad car in front of 14 Davenport and stares at the house. His partner, Tina McDermott, gets out of the passenger side and waits for her partner's orders. Fred looks over the house and sees a man and a woman standing next to the large picture window, talking. Fred grins and quickly grabs his binoculars. <Mira's lip reading lessons are finally going to pay off.> He focuses on the man's lips and begins to read them. After several minutes, a relieved Fred puts the binoculars down and walks around the car.
"What's the sitch?" Tina asks.
"Guy just told the woman that he had been cleared of the murder of some guy named Franzetti. He just wants to see his kids." Fred replies quietly.
"Do you think that there'll be any trouble with him?" Tina asks.
"Not if we play this right." Fred replies as he knocks on the door. A few minutes later, an older woman with dark hair answers the door. She sees the uniforms and quietly asks.
"May I help you?"
"We received a 911 call about a murderer being in this house. May we come in?" Fred asks politely.
As Maggie begins to tell the officers, 'no'. A dozen more squad cars pull up and the officers quickly get out. "My nephew was cleared of the murder that you were called about. If you try to hurt him or abuse him, I'll have your badges." Maggie quietly warns Fred and Tina.
"Yes, Ma'am." Fred calmly replies. "I understand what you're saying, but I have to talk to him and get this matter cleared up."
Maggie sighs in understanding as she backs away from the door. "Of course you do, Officer."
Fred walks in with his gun in his holster and calmly walks into the living room. He sees Frank standing a few feet away from Annette and politely asks. "Sir, if you would step away from the woman, I would like to ask you some questions, please."
Frank nods his head and, with hands raised, calmly steps back from Annette. Fred nods his head and asks. "Who called in the 911 call?"
"I did." Annette replies coldly.
"Who is the murderer that you were calling about?"
"He is." Annette replies as she glares at Frank. "He just told me that the Navy cleared him of the charges."
Fred relaxes a bit and asks Frank. "Are you armed, Sir?"
"I'm licensed to carry firearms."
<Oh Shit!> "Are you armed at this time?"
"I am." Frank replies as Fred's hand goes to his holstered gun.
"Could you please remove the weapon, Sir?" <If he does disarm himself, then he's probably telling the truth. >
"I'm opening my coat to show you my holster. I'll raise the coat and you can remove the gun yourself."
Fred nods his head. "Very good, Sir. Tina, please cover me." Fred orders as he watches Frank raise his coat and turns around. Fred sees the gun and quickly removes it from Frank's holster and just as quickly steps back. When he's beyond Frank's reach, Fred looks down and whistles lowly. <A H&K Spec Ops 45? Who the hell is this guy?> He quickly looks up and sees Frank's grin. "Could you please remove your jacket, Sir?" Frank nods his head and let's the jacket slip to the floor. Fred watches him cautiously and silently thanks God. <Okay. Now I'm beginning to believe that guy is innocent.> He then turns to Annette. "Is everyone in the house present?" Annette nods her head and Fred turns back to Frank. "Sir, do you have any proof that the charges were dropped?"
"I do." Frank replies coldly.
"Where is it, Sir?"
"In my briefcase."
"Where is the briefcase?" Fred asks.
"In my old bedroom, upstairs."
"Tina, call in some backup." Fred orders as he watches everyone closely.
"This is Adam 7-4, we need some backup. Code 1. Please respond. Over."
"This is Adam 5-3 and 4-9. We are outside at present and are now moving in. Over."
"Confirmed Adams 5-3 and 4-9. The front door is open and everyone is covered."
"Roger that." Rich Michaels replies as he gently opens the door. He quickly moves in with three more officers and they cover everyone. "What do you need, Fred?"
"Does anyone but you know what your briefcase looks like?" Fred asks Frank.
"Cassandra and my Aunt Maggie both know what it looks like."
Fred turns to Cassandra and Maggie. "Ma'am?" He looks at the older, dark haired woman. "I take that you're his Aunt?" Maggie nods her head. "Two of the officers will escort you upstairs, please retrieve the case without opening it."
A few minutes later, Maggie walks downstairs with one of the Officers carrying Frank's briefcase. Fred takes the briefcase and opens it. He quickly finds the General Discharge paperwork and the letter of apology. Fred sighs in relief and turns to Frank. "Mr. Scully, I need to see your permit for that handgun."
"My ID's in my back pocket." Frank replies without moving.
"Please retrieve it, slowly."
Frank nods his head and slowly removes his wallet from his pocket. He opens it and pulls out an identification card and hands it to Fred. Fred looks down at the card and curses silently. <Oh Fuck! He's a spook!> "W hy does this card have the name Frank Iverson on it? All of the papers from the Navy have the name Frank Scully."
Frank grimaces. "Iverson is the name that I've been using for the last fifteen years. If I used Scully, I would have been arrested."
Fred nods his head in agreement and pulls out his cell phone. "This is Officer Fred Connors. Badge number 3-7-1-8. I need to verify a federal carry permit for one Frank Iverson."
"Permit is verified." The operator replies quickly. "Subject is confirmed as an employee of the CIA. What happened?"
"Just clearing up some things." Fred replies and quickly hangs up. He dials another number and requests. "This is Officer Fred Connors, Badge number 3-7-1-8. I n