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Obsessed 5: Insights By: slick1969
Summary: Harm begins to get some insights into Petty Officer Simpson. Rating: IM15 Disclaimer: See Part 1. Spoilers: Anything through Season 10 is fair game.
Thursday Afternoon JAG Headquarters
"Sir?" Petty Officer Coates stood in the doorway to Harm's office, holding a thin folder and a box. "The General asked me to give this to you. It's Kelly, I mean, Petty Officer Simpson's personnel file and personal items from her desk. I cleaned it out before the rest of those," and her nose crinkled in disgust, "scavengers could get to her desk."
"Thank you, Coates," Harm replied. As she turned to leave, he asked, "How well did you know the petty officer?"
"Not well enough, I guess, sir. We talked in the office sometimes, about work, but she seemed pretty shy otherwise. You know, worked her eight hours and then went straight home."
"Thanks. If I think of any questions about her, can I ask you?"
"Of course, sir. But I don't think I'll be of much help." Jennifer thought for a moment. "I think she had a hard time fitting in here. She didn't seem to want to be a part of anything the other admin people were doing."
Harm let her go then, tumbling over her words in his mind. In his travels through the bullpen over the remainder of the afternoon, he casually asked the other staff about Petty Officer Simpson.
The answer he got was the same each time. She seemed nice enough, a hard worker, but no one knew anything about her life outside of JAG. And because she didn't go out with them and socialize, she was thought of as a snob.
Back in his office, Harm mulled over what he'd been told - "snob" was not a term he would have thought applied to her. It was clear to him. He didn't have all the facts yet. Maybe her files would reveal something more. He got up and walked out of his office. Right into Mac, nearly knocking her over.
"Slow down, sailor," she chuckled. "What the rush?"
"I was coming to see you, actually. Do you have plans tonight?"
Mac looked at him for a moment, then replied, "Not at the moment. But I suspect that's going to change."
"Coates came by and gave me Petty Officer Simpson's files. I thought we could go through them tonight and come up with a plan of action. I'll even make dinner." Harm tossed in that offer, hoping Mac wouldn't be able to resist.
"And I suppose if I say 'no', you'd be looking at the files anyway?" Mac sounded resigned.
"Are you psychic or something?" Harm joked.
Mac smiled. "So I've been told. So six o'clock at your place?"
"Sounds good to me."
Thursday Evening Harm's Apartment
"This is delicious," Mac told Harm, pointing at the risotto with a fork. "And you whipped this up since you got home?"
"I've had some practice at throwing together quick meals. From when Mattie was still here."
"Do you hear from her often?" Mac risked asking. They had never really talked about Mattie leaving, but she knew how much it had affected him.
"She calls every week or so. She sounds happy. School's going well and the boyfriend is taking her to prom ..." Harm smiled. "I sound old, I know."
"No, it's nice. You know, you're going to make a great dad."
"Thanks." Harm got up from the table and picked up the plates. "So are you ready to get started?"
"I am if you are." Mac stood up and stretched. "Where do you want to do it?"
"Huh?" Harm whirled around and almost dropped the dishes.
"You know - look at the files.
What did you think?" "Nothing," Harm muttered and he turned away to keep Mac from seeing him blush.
Looking though the files, they didn't find anything unusual. She had good fit reps and no disciplinary actions.
Then they opened the box of personal effects that Coates had given Harm.
"What's this?" Mac held up a prescription bottle. She looked at the label. "I don't recognize this name - Symbyax. I wonder what it's for?"
Harm took the bottle from her and looked at the contents. "Whatever it is, it's nearly full and the prescription was filled over a month ago."
"So?" Mac asked.
"So she hasn't been taking them daily, as it says on the label."
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