Bashir's eyebrows rose. 'I thought you were assigned to a ship.'
'I am. They just put her in restricted availability. She needs a lot of work inside and her hull took a lot of damage from debris from the Maury. Not structural stuff, but sensors and that kind of thing. The Michaelson won't be going anywhere for months, and my department head and commanding officer have both told me to take as much time off as I need.'
'Well, good. I guess.'
'I want to be able to see Jen. In person.'
'I'm not sure-'
'Please.'
Bashir rubbed his forehead. 'Okay. I'll do everything I can. If you know anyone with any influence at the brig, it wouldn't hurt to ask them to help. And I'll have to make sure the government doesn't object.'
'Commander Carr and I… have worked together before.'
'Really?' Bashir's smile was rueful. 'Then you know what a challenge defending Lieutenant Shen is going to be. I understand the government even tried to get a statement out of a chaplain who counseled Lieutenant Shen after she got back to Franklin.'
'Commander Hughes?'
'Yeah. She told them to pound sand. My kind of chaplain.'
'Mine, too.'
'I'll let you know as soon as I've had a chance to look at the government's case. I want you to see everything as well, since you apparently know Lieutenant Shen better than anyone else.' Bashir paused. 'Except maybe her father. And his ship, I understand, won't be back from patrol until the court-martial's likely to be over. I wonder if he even knows what's happening?'
'I don't know. Jen asked me not to send him anything, but he might hear from someone else. If the Mahan gets any mail or news updates.'
'Well, nothing we can do about that.' Bashir rose and extended his hand. 'I won't say anything stupid like 'don't worry.' But people like to say I'm smarter than I look.'
Paul grinned, feeling a bit better, and shook Bashir's hand. 'You'll win this case.'
'Against Alex Carr? That'll be a feather in my cap. I'll call you, Paul. Try to get some rest until then. You look pretty beat up.'
I bet Jen looks worse. How can I rest with her alone in the brig? 'Okay.'
His parents took the news with outward calm. 'Oh,' was all Paul's mother said. His father said nothing at all and just tried not to let anything show in his expression.
Somehow, Lieutenant Bashir, Sheriff Sharpe and Chaplain Hughes were able to get the necessary strings pulled for a visit to the brig to actually see Jen in person. Jen had obviously done her best to look good, though given the limitations of her cell and her unadorned uniform that still left her appearing far from great, especially in the bare surroundings of the brig's secure visiting area. From the look in her eyes, Paul could tell Jen knew that she looked every inch a prisoner. But she stepped forward as if she were on the bridge of her own ship, managed a small smile and extended her hand to Paul's father. 'Commander Sinclair. It's a pleasure to meet you.'
To Paul's relief, his father took the offered hand. 'Retired. I'm just plain Frank Sinclair, now.' He gestured to Paul's mother. 'And this is the other Commander Sinclair. Also retired.'
Jen nodded and smiled again. 'A pleasure, ma'am.'
Paul's mother made a small smile as well. 'I have to admit, Lieutenant Shen, I never imagined meeting you for the first time in this, uh, environment.'
Jen's smile grew even more forced. 'Believe me, it's not my idea. And please call me Jen.'
'Alright… Jen. Please, let's sit down.'
Jen sat in one the plain metal chairs, which was bolted securely in place like every other object in the visiting room. Jen's movements were stiff, and she shot Paul a quick glance before looking back at his parents. 'Thank you. How'd you get up to Franklin?'
Frank Sinclair shrugged. 'A couple of retired commanders ought to know enough people to get them a space-available slot on a shuttle. But actually we're up here working for Con-Dyn on some system upgrades for the station.;'
'Paul tells me you've both been in space before.'
'That's right. I rode one of Genghis Conner's research platforms. That's where I met Mrs. Sinclair. She was a ship driver like you two.'
'That's what Paul said. What ships, ma'am?'
'The Glenn and the Carpenter.' She smiled ruefully. 'It was rough duty. They made me chief engineer on the Carpenter. I was always afraid I'd mess something up…' The smile vanished. 'Oh, I'm… sorry.'
Jen's polite smile froze. Silence fell, increasingly uncomfortable as the seconds ticked by. 'I'm innocent of these charges. Totally innocent.'
Paul nodded. 'I already told them that.'
'Too bad you won't be allowed to serve on the court-martial.'
Paul tried to think what to say next. Say anything. What would I say if we were just together like usual? Some joke, I guess. 'I tried to pack it with members of the Michaelson' s wardroom, but I think they caught on to me.'
Jen gave him a blank look, then smiled sardonically. 'The lawyers? Of course they did. They all know you. I expect you're on a first-name basis with every lawyer on Franklin.'
'Hardly.'
Paul's father coughed. 'Whistling past the graveyard, folks? It's a time-honored tradition in cases like this, but given the severity of the charges-'
Jen grimaced. 'I'm sorry, sir. You're right. I'm under a lot of stress and I-'
'Have nothing to apologize for,' Paul interjected.
'I can finish my own sentences, Paul Sinclair.'
Paul looked at Jen, letting his surprise at her anger show, then nodded in agreement. It's not like she doesn't have every right to be tense. 'Yes, you can.'
Jen shook her head, her own gaze dropping. 'I'm sorry, Paul. I… just started another sentence like that. But this is so hard. Commander Sinclair and, uh, Commander Sinclair, I've looked forward to this meeting, but like everything else in my life lately it hasn't gone as I expected. I'm very grateful for Paul's support. Oh, hell, I'm very grateful for Paul. No matter what happens.'
Mrs. Sinclair eyed Jen. 'What do you expect to happen?'
'Expect? I don't know what to expect, anymore. They've charged me with killing my shipmates! I couldn't ever do that, but the Navy's trying to prove I did do it. Now, I don't know what else to expect. Nothing makes sense.'
'Surely you have witnesses-'
'My witnesses are dead, ma'am.'
Mrs. Sinclair paused. 'Paul says you've a great reputation.'
Jen's smile seemed half-born of pain. 'Oh, yes. A great reputation. That doesn't seem to have helped much.'
Paul shook his head. 'Jen's still in confinement because the government's arguing that she could sabotage Franklin like they say she did the Maury.'
Paul's mother leaned close, looking directly into Jen's eyes. 'But you're innocent.'
Jen locked eyes with Paul's mother. 'Yes, ma'am. I couldn't do what I've been charged with.'
They held each other's gazes for a moment, then Paul's mother reached out and squeezed Jen's hand. 'Yes. But I'm Julia, not 'ma'am.''
A knock on the door and a master-at-arms appeared. 'I'm afraid that's all the time you're permitted.'
He wasn't supposed to touch her, but Paul leaned as close to Jen as he could without doing so. 'I'm here. Always.'
'Thanks,' she whispered back. 'God, why now?'
But the master-at-arms was coming forward, frowning, and Paul had to pull back without answering. Jen gave the petty officer a stern look, came to attention, pivoted on her heel, and marched out the door back toward
