Stuck in San Diego

[Jerry Garcia]

0715
29 Palms Marine Base
Beach

Jerry was running. He always ran in the morning to avoid the higher temps of the day. It felt as though he had been running for years. He was just at the oceans' edge, splashing through the little bit of water there. As he ran, the events of the last few months ran through his brain. Getting separated from his unit and being listed as MIA, his rescue and subsequent injuries, the mission Pooja was captured, followed by her eventual rescue.

He'd been running on this beach everyday since they had stripped him of his command duties on Delta and shipped him home. His life was now running, and therapy, both physical and mental. Now, he ran. He could still feel the tightness in his stomach, where the scar was from the knife wound. It bothered him, but he tried his damndest to ignore it. He was in better shape now than when he had arrived. At the 5 mile marker he had set up, he turned and headed back toward the main base. Sweat streamed off his body and he could feel the burn in his legs as he ran, but he just kept going. He needed to get to Delta to redeem himself. Nothing else mattered. On Earth he had no life, his life was back on Delta. It was the only thing that kept him alive.

0800
Officers Mess
Base

He entered the mess hall, grabbed a tray and made his way into the line. All eyes had turned to him as he walked in. Rumors had been flying ever since he had arrived. He had to laugh at some of them, but there was always a bit of truth to them all. He grabbed his usual breakfast of 4 eggs, sausage and toast, pancakes and 2 cups of coffee, and made his way to an unoccupied table along the wall. As usual he sat with his back to the wall, no surprises.

As he started to eat the room slowly returned to normal conversation. He took a slow sip of the coffee, looking around for any familiar faces in the small crowd.

<Tag Anybody>

[Marcus Garret]

0801
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

Marcus entered quietly. It was enough of an oddity for Air Force personnel to be on the base. He didn’t need to compound the situation by bringing even more attention to himself than was already there. SGC had let him burn off some leave, but gave him a few days of uncharged leave so he could make it out here to talk to Commander Garcia. He wasn’t sure how they’d found out he wanted to talk to his old team commander, but they had, which was how he’d found himself on a transport to Beale Air Force Base. As large as that installation was, it was fairly easy for them to avoid bringing more attention to a small transport landing and letting off a few passengers before continuing it’s trip to goodness knows where.

The rest of the trip had been made in a rental car, though getting onto the Marine installation hadn’t exactly been easy. Phone calls had been made, databases had been checked, and he’d been queried, repeatedly, by the gate guards. Well, they were just doing their job. He couldn’t blame them for it.

He was starting to get the sneaking suspicion that the story about him going AWOL to save Major Logan had made it back to Earth and had made the rounds within certain circles. Some of the Marines had glanced at his nametag and looked at him with an awed expression. It was probably the work of a couple of folks in the Marine detachment back at Akrotiri, the ones that had been adamant that he should’ve been given a promotion and a medal. Well, he’d seen one of those emails that had been sent back home. The story had indicated that the entire incident had occurred in Afghanistan, and didn’t mention the name or rank of the person that was rescued.

Making it through the line, he looks through the room, figuring that some light discussion over food might break the ice. Ah, there he was, along the wall to one side.

The Lieutenant makes his way over to a seat across from Jerry.

“This seat taken, sir?”

<Tag Jerry>

[Jerry Garcia]

0801
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

This seat taken, sir? Jerry looked up from his breakfast to see Marcus standing in front of him with a tray in his hands. A smile slowly came to his face, Marcus, what are you doing here? Please, take a seat. He reached out his hand to shake Marcus'. Its' good to see a friendly face. How ya been?

<Tag Marcus>

Jerry relaxed a bit as Marcus got himself situated. A few eyes had turned their way, nobody ever bothered him while he was in the mess. Most of these people were afraid Jerry would go nuts and they ended up giving him a wide berth. What brings you to this backwater location?

<Tag Marcus>

[Pooja Garcia]

0801
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

She adjusted the sling on her left hand as the slow throbbing pain was making its presences known and not in a good way. She had the pain killers in her pocket and only a single hand to open them with. Pausing at the door way of the mess hall, she looked around for her husband. He would be here like clockwork for breakfast or coffee or any other meal time of the day. But he had gone through a lot after the recent events; it wasn’t surprising that stress was catching on. Yet some days, he seemed better than other days, or sometimes in between.

Spotting him and Marcus, she moved and picked up a hot cup of tea, since balancing a tray in one hand was going to be out of question. At least she was walking after her leg had healed, sitting in a wheelchair had not been fun, when use of clutches had been not been on the list of things she could do. It was only a week or two left before she could use her other arm as well. Her journey to healing was slow and at times seemed impossible feat to achieve, but she was sure that she would get there.

Reaching over to the two of them, she moved to sit next to Jerry, placing her cup and meds on the bench, she gave Marcus smile and nod, as she quietly listened to the conversation that was getting started. She noticed people watching, but choose to ignore them. She moved her good arm to steal a piece of a sausage from her husband’s plate as she heard Marcus reply. Other than Kim and Kat; Pooja had hardly spoken to anyone else from the Base. Frank was having doubts of which she knew. The only thing she was glad for not being actually arrested by the former general.

<<Tag, Jerry/Marcus>>

[Marcus Garret]

0802
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

Marcus returned the handshake with a smile. It had been a while since he’d seen either Jerry or Pooja, and I was doing him good to see them both.

“Well, somehow or another the powers that be found out that I wanted a chance to just kick back and talk with you a bit. Seems they had some permissive TDY money they could throw at the problem.”

He clears his throat as he sits and begins cutting into his stack of pancakes. “Still getting over the tail end of a rather nasty sinus infection.” He gives the both of them a telling look. “The kind I got in the line of duty.”

It was fairly certain that they’d get a chance to see the records at some point. Well, either that or Kat would tell Pooja all about it. There wasn’t any telling.

“Well, sir. I came out here to check on the both of you. Judging from appearances, y’all are doin’ alright.”

He looks over at Pooja, giving her a friendly smile as well. “Kat sends her regards. She had a bad case of the flu and is still resting up, so she couldn’t make it. She did send a letter with me, though.”

He reaches into the map pocket on the inside of the ABU top, pulling out the aforementioned letter and handing it across to Pooja. He lets out a chuckle.

“Just so you know, both of us were sick at the same time. You can just imagine how ‘pleased’ the medical staff were to have both of us in the infirmary at the same time.”

It was a well-known fact by now that Marcus was anything but a good patient, and Kat hadn’t been a very good patient, either. Wasn’t a surprise to find out that doctors weren’t very good patients.

<Tag Jerry & Pooja>

[Jerry Garcia]

0805
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

As Marcus was getting settled, Pooja arrived and sat next to Jerry. She took a second to give Marcus a quick smile the reached into Jerry's plate with her fork to spear a sausage link.

Well, somehow or another the powers that be found out that I wanted a chance to just kick back and talk with you a bit. Seems they had some permissive TDY money they could throw at the problem. Distracted by Pooja, Jerry watched his sausage disappear from his plate and looked back to Marcus. Still getting over the tail end of a rather nasty sinus infection. The kind I got in the line of duty. The look on Marcus' face said more than he did. No need to go any further with that. Jerry touched the side of his nose and gave Marcus a knowing look. Well, sir. I came out here to check on the both of you. Judging from appearances, y’all are doin’ alright. Jerry looked to Marcus then to Pooja. Pooja is healing well, but as for me, well that all depends on the base shrink. No one will tell me anything about my return to active duty. With everything that happened.....well, I wouldn't be surprised to find myself behind a desk on a permanent basis.

Kat sends her regards. She had a bad case of the flu and is still resting up, so she couldn’t make it. She did send a letter with me, though. Marcus handed Pooja a sealed envelope and Pooja immediately opened it and started reading the letter.

<Tag Pooja>

Just so you know, both of us were sick at the same time. You can just imagine how ‘pleased’ the medical staff were to have both of us in the infirmary at the same time. Jerry knew all too well how Kat was when she wasn't at her best, and having Marcus in the infirmary, at the same time, would drive anyone to give up medicine and start a new profession as the town drunk. Well, tell me, what has brought you all this way?

<Tag Marcus>

[Pooja Garcia]

0805
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

Physically she was healing well, but the nightmares of her time spend in the cell and captures were still yet to go away. So were the emotional scars she had been given during the two months with Titans. Shaking them off wasn’t going to be easy, or smooth. There was more fighting for her to do before she could see the light and heal. At the moment she was still finding ways to live with it all. Allowing herself not to fall into a trance or deep sleep was a challenge of its own, something that kept her awake most night. Allowing her clone to take over wasn’t on the cards. Who knew what the clone would or could do; or even was capable off? Most night she would wake up in ice cold fear, with her heart beating mile a minute, yet somehow never managed not to scream.

Pooja nodded at Marcus as the Lieutenant relayed the message from Kat. She hadn’t seen the Major since she had left Delta with Jerry for healing away from the said place. Horrors and memories were imprinted in the brain. She always had known that going back after his MIA had never been an option and shouldn’t have been one even when orders from Pentagon had come. Something was always bound to happen. Taking the envelope, she opened, pulling out the letter and unfolding it, as she looked at Garret, as he made the telling expression. Giving out a short chuckle she heard Jerry reply, “Let her know to get better soon. And if they let her out; she and I catch up over lunch.”

Averting her eyes to the letter, she began to read the contents, and was going to take her most of the day since it was quite a number of pages, but stuck out a half ear to listen to their conversation. Going back was something she didn’t want to do, but staying back on Earth without Jerry wasn’t what she wanted either. Sitting home and getting worried about him would drive her insane.

<<Tag Jerry/Marcus>>

[Marcus Garret]

0806
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

Marcus gave his former CO a quick smile. They’d gone through hell and back together on several occasions, and he hadn’t expected the powers that be to recall him to Earth for the psychological evaluation. It wasn’t like Jerry was the first to go MIA from the expedition. Hell, Marcus had been AWOL for over a month, and all he’d gotten was a LOR and a permanent note barring promotion beyond O-3E for the remainder of his career.

“We’re all a little worried about you, sir. I was the first one to head back for a while, and I wanted to come out here and see how y’all are doin’.”

He looked over a Pooja, a pained look crossing his face. He ducked his head, taking another bite from his pancakes. He still felt bad about having been unable to get both her and Kat out of that facility. He’d seen her, she’d been right there, and instead of waiting to grab both of the women and run, he’d rushed to get Kat home. He lets out a sigh as he takes another bite.

“I’ll let her know, Pooja. I’m sure the two of you have plenty to talk about.”

<Tag Jerry, Pooja>

[Jerry Garcia]

0806
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

We’re all a little worried about you, sir. I was the first one to head back for a while, and I wanted to come out here and see how y’all are doin’. Jerry gave Marcus an easy smile. He hadn't had anything to smile about since he was relieved of duty and sent to Earth. He had nothing left on this planet to hold him since his parents had been killed. I'm doing OK, Marcus, really. The physical wound are almost completely healed. As far as the psych, well... that is anyones' guess. The docs here don't tell me anything.

As he spoke the memories were dredged up. His month as an MIA trying to avoid capture by the Titans, then his eventual rescue. He rubbed the scar on his stomach, were he had been wounded during that rescue. His mission rescuing Cutter and Pooja being taken by the Titans. His attack on Troy, pinning him to a bulkhead, drawing his knife and holding it to Troys' neck. Pooja eventual rescue and finding out about the cloning on that Titan base. The flood of memories came hard and fast, and at time he thought it might overwhelm him.

How is Troy doing? Jerry had been out of his mind with grief when he had attacked Troy. I have to get off Earth, I can't stay here. I have nothing left here.

<Tag Marcus>

Looking to Pooja, who was silently looking over the letter from Kat What does Kat have to say, sweetie.

<Tag Pooja>

[Pooja Garcia]

0806
29 Palms Marine Base
Officers Mess

Mention of Troy had her stiffing up for a brief second. There was no way the man had actually thought of sending anyone back to Earth just to check on them. The idea of it alone was laughable; he wouldn’t trust her as far as he could throw her. In fact the man hadn’t been trusting when it came to her since she was rescued. She was sure he wouldn’t give a two hoots - as the saying went - even if the real version of her staring him in the face, with proof of her being. Titans had damaged much of her creditability as a person, as a sociologist. Going back only meant fighting for her own survival among her own people. But nothing mattered more to her than Jerry’s trust and faith for her, in her. If she lost that, her battles she was fighting would be futile. As long as she had him by her side, she would keep on battling.

She looked up from the letter she was reading and at her husband, giving him a soft smile, “Just every little bit of news from each member of Delta,” she tsked, as she reached over to her med bottle and made an attempt at opening it and failing, “and just more in detail of the mission where she and Marcus got sick. And of course about this Dr Martin, a geneticists assigned to the place, working away at god knows what. I’m kind of baffled as to why we need a geneticists! You can read the letter over coffee.” She placed the bottle back on the table, ignoring her need of medicine for now.

Looking over at Marcus, she saw the look before he buried himself in the meal. She had been told about what happened and that he had been forced to leave her behind. It was something she couldn’t blame him for; since he did what he had to do. It was about time that someone got it through him, even if it was her. Reaching over she covered his hand with hers and got his attention, “You are going to have to let that go. You only had a short window of opportunity to get only one of us out. Heck, I had no idea you were even there, at least not till I got told, after my return. You did what you had to do at the given time.” She didn’t blame him; he had to know that, didn’t he?

<<Tag Jerry and Marcus>>

OOC: Anyone wanna bribe Jay to bring Agent Charlie in??? ;D ;D

[Beatrice "Honey" Cutter]

0810
Mess Hall

Beatrice sat quielty at a corner table. She had seen her old friend Jerry enter. She had been gathering her courage to join him when she saw the others approach him.

Honey had no animostiy towards either Marcus or Pooja. But she could not bring herself to join the trio. She instead focused on the papers spread out in front of her.

They were the first lead she had of where John Cutter had been sent.She had a descion to be made. She had hoped to discuss it with Jerry. Should she seek out John? Or should she just let him go. Think with her heart or her brain.

[Jerry Garcia]

0810
Mess Hall

Just every little bit of news from each member of Delta, she tsked, as she reached over to her med bottle and made an attempt at opening it and failing, and just more in detail of the mission where she and Marcus got sick. And of course about this Dr Martin, a geneticists assigned to the place, working away at god knows what. I’m kind of baffled as to why we need a geneticists! You can read the letter over coffee. Jerry took Pooja's bottle and opened it for her. As he looked up he spotted Beatrice Cutter across the room and waved her over to their table. It's beginning to look like old home week here.

<Tag Pooja & Honey>

[Marcus Garret]

0811
Mess Hall

Marcus nodded at Jerry’s statement, he understood how all that went, all too well. Hell, he’d have that black mark in his own record for the rest of his career, with all the psych evals every year or so that went along with it. The question about Troy brought a smirk to his face, though. He paused in his eating long enough to answer.

“The Colonel is… “ He lets out a quiet chuckle. He still doesn’t really know how to really put it.

“Let’s just say that he’s having a hard time transitioning to a desk job. I’m not sure if we’ll ever be able to get him out of field work.”

When Pooja starts talking, he swallows the latest bite of pancake, and puts down the fork, looking over at her. He nods at what she says, thinking for a moment. When he does finally talk again, it’s with a quiet voice.

“I know. Part of me does, anyway. I guess…” He shrugs as he tries to find the words. “I think it’s something I’m going to have to work out. Something I’m going to have to forgive myself for. I know you don’t blame me for it, or you wouldn’t be trying to help me.”

He’s just about to start eating again when Jerry waves over at Dr. Cutter, and the Lieutenant turns around and looks back, giving her a smile and a short wave. He’d met her a couple times, but didn’t really know her all that well. That said, he respected her for what she’d been through.

<Tag Jerry, Pooja, Honey>

[Pooja Garcia]

0811
Mess Hall

Removing her hand, Pooja picked up the bottle, which had been open by Jerry and took out two tablets, as she listened to Marcus and understood what he said and why. She knew Kim lived with the same guilt for long time after Jerry had went MIA, at the time she hadn’t really got why the case had been. Never tried to see the other woman’s POV till the two of them had started to talk again and not only for her husband’s sake, but even for theirs.

With Marcus being forced to leave her behind, Pooja knew it wasn’t something one got over easily, given she was still trying to shed the horrors of her experience in those cells. But the fact was it wasn’t his fault, not when he had been on a mission to save Kat and her. Even by risking all his hard work and damage to his career only to get away with one woman and leaving the other behind. He had to know that she was glad that he had found their location and taken the information back to Delta. That alone gave her peace now, knowing she had been rescued, eventually.

Popping the meds into her mouth and draining them with her lukewarm tea, she looked at the Lieutenant, “Just don’t take too long, or,” she tipped her head towards her man, “I’ll have him beat some sense into you.” Seeing Jerry waving to Honey to come over, Pooja realised that it was the first time since her return that she had seen her former team mate. She had no idea where John was or even how he was.

Her memory could only recall seeing the Sergeant on the floor in the pathway from where she was taken, laying there with injuries. Asking regarding his welfare hadn’t even crossed her mind till now, which alone made her guilty and small in contrast on how he had tried to save her while injured. Looking at Jerry, “How has John been going?” she asked him softly as she could. And knew that soon enough the guilt would start eating her away till she knew.

<<Tag Marcus/Jerry/Honey>>

OOC: Sorry for a late reply, RL has been smacking me over the head.

Lou, pray that things are going okay after Irene.

[Vanessa Collins]

0815
29 Palms Marine Base

A car came to slow a stop outside the Marine Base, crunching gravel as the driver of the car hit the break and another person was getting out. Cell phone was glued to the person’s ear, and quietly listening to the person on the other end. Flight from Washington had been long and tiring. Spending a week debating with the very high end of the military, had taken the toll on her face and mood.

“I understand that General,” she spoke as she walked towards the building, “but I need this one chance to prove them wrong. Jerry Garcia might hate my guts but he’s no fool to not to take a helping hand when offered.” Sighing as she heard what Nelson was saying, “The Joint Chiefs aren’t giving me much time to get this off the road. I’ll do what I can in the meantime and get back to you with the results.”

Hanging up, she looked at on SF, “Commander Garcia,” she told him, getting a nod from the Marine, she followed him to the mess. Now why didn’t that surprise her? Looking at her watch she noted the time for San Diego, of course it was morning and breakfast hour. Arriving at the door the SF left her to fetch for herself, which suited her just fine.

Spotting her target was sitting with his wife and Garrett. Garrett, she had to double take at the Lieutenant. Last she knew he was back at Delta. But, she hadn’t been there since Pooja’s return months back. She had been here holding fort to keep the NID, IOA and the like at bay and stop them from having any access to Doctor Garcia. She might have crapped up over the Titans, yet she would help out in any way she could.

Sighing, she walked over and approached the group. She was here for a purpose and wasn’t leaving till she was done with it. “Commander, Lieutenant, Doctor,” she gazed at each face, but still wasn’t sure on how to break the ice with Pooja, who just ignored her presences.

<<Taggy>>