LBJ

It was well past taps, and HM2 Miller was stuck in surgery with LCDR Metcalf. What was supposed to be a routine removal of screws in a femur went completely wrong. The screws had grafted to the bone and the patient came out from under anesthesia mid procedure. They had to call an HMC in to put him back under and start all over with new sterile instruments. Miller was tired; she had spent the previous night on the base in bed with her husband. This was their last night in Rota, Spain before they headed back to home base in Norfolk. Jackson had been great to her last night, he bought her dinner and they had seen a movie, then returned back to their room for a bit of fun.
Now, she was stuck in the infirmary and in a bummer of a surgery. After this was closed up and cleaned up, Dawn was definitely heading for her rack. “Miller, suction please.” The LCDR’s voice snapped her back to the job at hand. She suctioned out the wound and handed him a hemostat loaded with a 4.0 catgut skin suture. It was time to close the wound. The LCDR worked quickly, closing the wound, as Miller removed her gown and gloves, regloving as she stood there in working dungaree’s “Dress it and let’s get him out into recovery. I want to see my bed before I have to get out of it.” Metcalf growled. He stood over Miller’s shoulder, removing his gown and gloves, watching her every move.
He noticed how her arm muscles moved and the quick, delicate movements of her hands. She was good at what she was doing. That made him wonder what else she was good at. He knew that she was married to an EM1 down in the reactors, but what the hell, he wanted her, and he would get her. “Done sir.” “Good, now help me transport him” Metcalf kept his eye on her as they moved the med bed down the short passageway and into recovery. Miller tended to the patient’s IV and finished up as Metcalf went and started the surgery history paperwork.

About 15 minutes later, Miller was completing the patient history,

Metcalf came over to her and forcefully grabbed the back of her neck in his hand. “I want you Miller, and I will have you, your best bet is to enjoy this, or I will ruin you and your husband’s Navy careers.” Dawn froze wondering what she should do. The LCDR was an ex-SEAL; he could easily snap her neck without a thought. Metcalf stuck his nose in the nape of her neck and inhaled deeply. “I know why your husband married you, you smell so good, and you look good, you would be my idea of a perfect whore” At that statement, Dawn jumped up out of the chair; Metcalf let go of her neck. She turned to face him, her green eyes full of fire. “With all due respect sir, I have a husband and I really think you need to leave me alone.” “You\'re mine petty officer!” Metcalf struck her upside the head, sending her falling forward onto the deck, on her hands and knees.
Miller got up, her lip was bleeding, and she spat blood onto the deck as she struggled to stand. “Petty officer, I order you to stay down and take what you are going to get. I promise it will be pleasurable, quicd pad painless.” Metcalf grabbed her by the belt and hauled her over the desk. Miller was bent over the desk, blood pouring from her mouth, unable to comprehend what was happening. Metcalf reached around Miller unbuckled and unsnapped her utilities, while his other hand tore open her shirt. Dawn’s eyes focused for a minute and she saw a figure in the passageway. She took a chance and cried out “Hey! Hey you! Get the Master at Arms!” The young man looked inside and his eyes grew wide, it was the airman that she had cared for 3 months prior. “Yes Ma’am!” and she heard his footsteps running down the passageway.
“That won’t help you, Miller, by the time he comes back with the MA, I’ll be done with you and gone.” Metcalf flipped her over onto her back and pinned her underneath him, after he hit her again. She was losing consciousness quickly; she had to act quicker than him. He tore open her T-shirt, exposing her chest. “Very nice…. I bet Jackson loves you very much with a body like you have.” He leaned over, biting her chest.

Time to make a move.

Miller kneed him as hard as she could in the groin; He went down hard and groaned, Dawn kicked him in the ribs and tried to run. Metcalf caught her foot and pulled her down on to the floor with him. She cold cocked him upside the jaw, spewing blood from his mouth. He hit her again, this time square in the chest, knocking the wind from her, sending her to the deck in a heap. Dawn saw stars as she struggled to breathe. He kicked her in the side and she screamed before she passed out.
“Hold it right there Lieutenant. Don’t move.” The MA had his sidearm drawn and pointed at the LCDR. “Oh come on Chief, can’t you see she attacked me? I was defending myself.” “Not by what this airman says sir, put your hands on your head, you’re under arrest. Step away from her, and move slowly in my direction.” The LCDR wasn’t going to fight them, he allowed the MA to cuff him and take him away.
The 3rd class petty officer MA got on the phone, “NavHosp; this is Petty Officer Brooke of the LBJ. I have a rape and battery case in the infirmary. We are not equipped to handle this situation. Please advise and send support.” He hung up the phone and walked over to Miller. “Petty officer Miller can you hear me? Please respond.” Dawn was out cold. HN3 David James arrived a few minutes later with another HN and a c-collar and spine board. They strapped Dawn down and carried her to the closest elevator, up to the quarterdeck, down the ladder to the pier, and put her in the ambulance. The ambulance left the pier in a loud and fast hurry.
Dawn opened her eyes a long while later, slowly looking around. Her head hurt, as did her side. She heard a small choking sound and turned her head to the right. Jackson was there, his eyes red from crying, his face pale. He was still dressed in his utilities, and there was grease on his face mue must have left from work to be with her. He was holding her hand inside his; hers was so small compared to his. “Hi baby, how are you?” Jackson’s voice was tight with emotion.
“I hurt. I feel like I got hit by a herd of horses. What the hell happened?” Her voice came out in a whisper, her jaw was swollen and her ribs hurt. “Honey, LCDR Metcalf attacked you in the infirmary last night, he tore you up pretty bad. Your jaw is swollen, your lip needed a few stitches as did your cheek and you have four cracked ribs. You tore him up pretty well from what Brooke told me. JAG will be in to see you soon and take your statement. I wish I would’ve been there, but I was at work. I’m just glad that you’re alive, Metcalf being an ex-SEAL and all, he could’ve hurt you a lot worse ifn you hadn’t fought back.” Tears welled in Jackson’s eyes, but he didn’t let them fall. “I love you Jackson.” “I know baby, I have to go, we’re pulling out here in the next few hourshavehave to go with the ship. They are sending you home to Norfolk by COD, after we pull out. I brought you some clothes and the truck keys. Please try to sleep when you get home. I love you.” Jackson leaned down and kissed her gently, only then did she feel his tears fall onto her cheek. He turned quickly and went out the door. Dawn cried, of all the times she needim mim most, he had to go.
A loud knock came at her door. “Enter.” A young HN came in, dressed in camis. “Petty Officer Miller, are you ready to get up and get dressed? Your COD is waiting, whenever you are ready.” “Yes, corpsman, help me up.” The corpsman came over and gently helped her out of the bed. “Ma’am, should I send in a female corpsman to help you get dressed and undressed?” “No son, I should be all right. Check with me in 20 minutes ok?” “Yes, ma’am, I will be ban 20n 20.” And he left. Dawn carefully undressed and headed for the head. She took a quick shower, gritting her teeth at the pain involved in it, dried off and stepped outside the room. Dawn rummaged through the gear bag of clothes that Lee had brought her. They were all civilian clothes, her favorite pair of blue Wranglers, white Columbia T-shirt, her lace up ropers. She dressed quickly and put the truck keys in her front hip pocket and her wallet in her back right pocket. Last but leasleast, she pulled out the Resistol hat and held it in her hands. Her wet red hair was brushed straight down her back.
Again the corpsman knocked. “Enter.” “Are you ready ma’am?” “Yes corpsman I am ready. Let’s go” “Yes ma’am.” Dawn exitet tht the door and followed the corpsman out to a waiting humvee. The corpsman opened the door; “Thill tll take you to your COD. From there you will go non-stop to Norfolk. Have a good flight ma’am.” “Thank you son” and he shut the door carefully. It started to rain lightly as the humvee headed for the COD; Dawn hated flying more than anything. The MAA driving stopped near the COD and Dawn got out, as the rain began to fall. She clamped the hat on her head and ran towards the door. “I need to see your ID, ma’am.”, the Marine Private standing guard asked her. Miller quickly pulled it out and handed it to him “We were waiting on you ma’am. Your JAG officer is on aboard and waiting. Have a safe flight home, Welcome aboard.” She nodded and boarded the COD.
A JAG officer walked up and shook her hand before she could even sit down. “Miller, don’t even worry about saluting or anything, I’m pretty laid back.” He spoke in a soft southern accent. He was dressed in jeans, a pressed shirt and hiking boots. “ I’m Commander Deke Milheiser. I will be representing your case against LCDR Metcalf. Have a seat. Can I get you a glass of water?” “Yes sir, thank you sir.” Milheiser came walking back, he wasn’t much older than Miller, but he limped a bit when he walked. “Do you feel comfortable telling me what happened?” “Sir, yes sir” “Do you mind that I tape you petty officer?” “If it helps you, no sir I don’t mind.” Milheiser pulled out a mini disc recorder, setting it on the seat between them. “Please state your name and rank Petty Officer, for the record, before you begin your statement.”

Dawn took a long drink and began.
“Hospitalman, Petty Officer 2nd class, Caroline Dawn Miller… “ Her voice trailed off as she stared out the window. “Continue Petty Officer Miller, when you are ready.” Milheiser was in no hurry; they had plenty of time before they reached Norfolk. She took a deep breath, and exhaled it slowly. It took a lot for her to be able to do this. Tears formed in her eyes, and they silently fell down her cheeks. She felt horrible and dirty, like scum, like it was her fault that Metcalf attacked her. She tried to choke back sobbing tears, but it was useless. She would never be the same again.
Jackson was lying in his rack, he was supposed to be asleep, but it was impossible to sleep. His heart and mind were on his wife. He worried about her, she was such a sensitive woman, and she was easily hurt. Jackson loved her with his whole self and life. What would Dawn be like when he got back to port? Would she be able to touch him? Would she be able to be intimate with him without falling apart? Jackson didn’t know. He couldn’t believe that Metcalf attacked her, why? He wished he would have been there to help her, but he was on duty. Jackson was on duty working the watch when he got the call that she was on her way to the hospital. He remembered dropping the phone onto the desk, picking it back up and telling the person on the other end “Thank you,” before he ran out the door and up the decks. He was upset then and still was hours later. Jackson was upset with himself that he couldn’t stay with her longer, he had to come back to the ship. It had taken his wife a long time to finallke uke up; he was glad that he was the first thing she saw when she woke up. Jackson fought the urge to get up out of his rack and go running in the hangar bay. He would just wear himself down sick and make the upcoming day’s work even more tiring. He closed his eyes and tried to fight the urge to try to sleep, but his body outweighed his mind and he drifted into restless sleep.
Milheiser stopped the recording. “Well, Miller, with your statement, we can definitely get him for attem rap rape, battery, assault, and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. We could do some serious damage to his career. Most likely get him discharged with forfeiture of pay and benefits. Are you ready for the PR repercussions though? I can’t guarantee that we can keep this quiet.”
“Sir, whatever it takes to keep this from happening again That’s all I want.” Dawn closed her eyes; they were 2 more hours out of Norfolk. A little sleep wouldn’t hurt. Milheisroterote some notes on a legal pad as she fell asleep.
Dawn dreamed of Jackson, it would be two more weeks before the ship would hit homeport. Plenty of time for her to get the house back together and make things livable again. She awoke to Milheiser gently shaking her “10 minutes Miller.” They were 10 minutes out of Naval Station Norfolk. It was going to be a short walk from the landinge toe to the pier parking lot. Dawn was looking forward to getting into their truck and going home. She found out through Milheiser that she was on leave until the trial was over, and then she would be allowed tourn urn to duty. The pilot called for clearance and they landed on the rain soaked flight deck of the USS Richard Nixon, which moored next to the LBJ when in homeport. Through the pouring rain, that was common to Norfolk, Milheiser escorted Dawn to the Nixon’s quarterdeck.
Dawn looked out onto the parking lot; she was definitely going to get wet between the Nixon and the truck. She dug in the gear bag, looking for a jacket. Her hand touched a familiar softness and she pulled it. It. It was a black wool jacket with patches all over it. It was Jackson’s Med Cruise jacket. She put it on, grasping the collar in her hands and bringing it up to her face. It still faintly smelled of him, and her mind wandered back to the first time she ever saw that jacket.
They were in Colorado on leave visiting his family, Dawn had forgotten her jacket at touseouse in Carrollton, VA. She sat shivering in the truck on the cold October morning. Jackson looked over at her, “Baby, where’s your jacket?” Dawn looked over at him sheepishly, “I forgot it at home.” Jackson grinned at her aeacheached behind the seat, pulling out that jacket. “Here. This will keep you warm.” He handed it to her, leaning over, gently kissing her on the lips. “Colorado is not a place to forget to bring a jacket to baby.” Jackson whispered against her lips. Dawn smiled now, much the same as she had that day.
“Ma’am, are you ok?” the HT on Q-Deck watch snapped her back to reality. “Yeah, I’m all right. Thanks.” Dawn stepped off the quarterdeck and down the ladder to the pier and crossed the street to the parking lot.
There it was, their brand new Ford Super duty 4x4. Dawn was glad to see it. She pulled the key fob out of her jeans,hed hed a button, unlocking the doors and starting the engine. It was dusk, and the running lights flickered on as she opened the door. The radio was softly playing the local country station, WCMS, and Lonestar’s “Everything’s Changed” was on it. She sat in the seat and shut the door. Richie MacDonald was singing his heart out.



It was warm inside the truck, until she realized that the last time either of them was in the truck was in February. Dawn reached over and turned off the heat. She put the truck in drive and drove off the base. It was strange to be back, she had to think to remember how to get home.
Dawn drove up 64 until she saw the signs for James River Bridge/ Mercury Blvd.. Driving down Mercury, she stopped at Texaco and put diesel in the truck and bought a Coke. They weentienting a house out in the country, out past the city. It was the perfect place for two country people to live. She crossed the bridge, turned down onto a country road, drove about five miles down the road and turned into the driveway. The landlord kept the yard mowed that was good. The house and the barn looked so empty. Jackson had the horses and dog transported back home to the farm before they left. Dawn parked the truck and stepped out, the gravel driveway under her feet crunched, as she took long strides up to the front door.
Her key fit easily into the lock and the door opened with a squeak. Dawn stepped into the living room, her boot heels silent on the carpeted floor. It felt good to be home, but in another sense, it was totally lonely. She turned on the light, leaving her hat and jacket on the couch. Moving toward the darkened kitchen, she could see the red light of the caller ID blinking, and the green light of the answering machine. There were two messages on the machine, both from Jackson. “Hey honey, just calling to see if you are home yet. I think I also called just to hear your voice say that this was the Miller’s. I hope you are feeling better, go ahead and call home and tell everybody that you’re home and have my brother bring the animals back, and don’t forget to pick up some dog food and some groceries. Um, I don’t know what else to say, I love you and I will see you soon.”
That was the first message. The second broke her heart. “Hey, it’s me, I can’t sleep, I miss you so much, I worry about you and how you are feeling. I know that you’re scared and I wish I could be there to hold you and kiss you and tell you that everything is all right. But then I can’t. I have to be stuck on this damn ship two more weeks without you. I love you Caroline Dawn Milleor nor now, forever, for the rest of my life. I gotta go, I love you.”
Jackson’s voice was drowned out by static, the satellite went down. Dawn stood there like she was stuck in concrete, tears welling up in her eyes. She walked away, venturing into their bedroom. The bed was unmade and their clothes from the night before they left were strewn carelessly on the floor. Dawn’s memory drifted back to that night. Jackson had cooked her dinner after he got off work, by the time she got off duty and got home, dinner was on the table and he kissed her hello. She sat and ate dinner with him, he had grilled steak and chicken for her, grilled baked potatoes and corn on the cob. She knew he loved her; he had grilled on the back porch in the middle of February just for her. They took a long, sensual, hot shower together and headed for the bedroom. Their lovemaking that night had been amazing (as it always was), it would have to tide them over until they reached the first port. Now, that had all changed, she was here alone, without him, and it made her feel even worse.
She grabbed some clothes up off the floor as the phone rang. It scared Dawn; the house was silent other than her. “Miller’s, this is Dawn.” “Hey Dawn, it\'s Kel, just checking for Jackson if you are home yet. How are you doing?\" \"Well, bout as best that can be expected. I need to go into town and get some painkillend dnd dog food and stuff. Tell Jackson that I love him and I\'ll talk to you later.\" \"Sure, hang in there, we\'ll be home soon.\" Dawn hung up and threw the clothes in the washer. It was going to be a long night at home by herself. She changed clothes and started cleaning the house, working from the mudroom to the bedroom. There wasn\'t too much to do, other than sweep the floor and wipe things down. Dawn got up off her knees, slowly and stiffly, as she walked towards the mudroom. She pulled on her boots and walked out to the truck.
Dawn drove without thinking, she had to pick up some groceries and dog food and a prescription for Percochet. Her cell phone rang beside her, scaring her out of her daze. \"Dawn Miller speaking.\" \"Petty Officer Miller, CDR Milheiser.\" \"Sir, Yes, Sir.\" \"I have been speaking with Admiral McCauley and he believes that you have a strong case, but we need a few character witnesses. At least 3, people that have known yolonglong time. I will need their names now so that I can subpoena them for court in two weeks.\"
\"Sir, my husband, EM1 Jackson Lee Miller, he\'s known me about four years. EM3 Mark McKnight, he\'s known me three years and EM3 Kellie Masterson, she\'s known me almost five years now. Are those suitable?\" \"Those are fine Petty Officer Miller. I will send word to the ship and have them all on the next COD off LBJ. Thank you and I will be in touch. Please feel free to call me if you need anything.\" \"Roger that sir. Thank you.\" \"Good night Petty Officer\" “Aye, Aye Sir” and Milheiser hung up.
Dawn drove over to Langley Air Force Base. She stopped by the Pharmacy and picked up her prescription. She drove over to the commissary, and got out of her truck. Dawn walked up to the doors and reached in her pocket for her list. She took one look at the list and shoved it back in her pocket, walked back outside and dialed a number on her cell phone. Jackson’s best friend Brian, answered the phone.
“Brian Cantrell. How can I help you?” Brian sounded really tired. “Hey Brian, it’s Dawn, I’m back early, can you bring the animals out? Jackson wanted me to call and ask.” “Hey, no problem, I need to take Teresa out on a vacation anyway. We should be there next weekend.” “Thanks Brian. I appreciate it.” “It’s alright Dawn, that’s what family is for.”
She hung up the phone and walked back inside the exchange. She mentally went through in her mind what she wanted to buy. She went up and down the aisles, getting enough food to last two weeks. Her mind was somewhere else, as was her heart. She found the shortest check out line, put her items on the conveyer belt, and dug out her ID. The cashier looked at her and looked at the ID, comparing them one more time. Dawn stood off to the right and took her ID from the young girl. The cashier rang up her purchases, “$180.89 Ma’am” She reached into her pocket and handed the cashier $200.00. Dawn took her groceries out to her truck, loaded them in and headed home.
Driving home was somewhat frustrating, with all the Mercury Blvd. traffic. Accidents around here were nothing new, nor people not knowing how to drive sensibly. Dawn arrived home a bit high-strung, but took all her purchases inside, putting them away. She turned the TV on just for noise, listening to the local news. It seemed as if nothing had changed since she was gone. Traffic accidents, people dying, people missing, the world never changes. She headed for a shower, taking off her clothes slowly and painfully. The time change between Rota and Norfolk was only five hours, they had actually left the day before from Rota, and arrived the next day into Norfolk in the morning. It was becoming evening, and Dawn was getting tired.
The shower water was quite hot, making her stitches, cuts and bruises hurt even worse. She staggered out of the shower, drying off and doing her night routine.
The bed was cold and lonely, as she laid down and tried to sleep. Dawn tried to figheep,eep, but her body won and she drifted off into fitful sleep.